It's been many years since I've written for the sake of writing. The Dragon Age series, particular this most recent game, have been so inspirational and I just need to get a lot of this stuff out and on paper…figuratively at least.

While I am taking the liberty of ignoring the first encounter Hawke has with her brother after the Deep Roads excursion, I found the remaining encounters with Carver to be unsatisfying, albeit necessary to prevent the game from grinding to a halt just so their meetings could be extended. This is my take on how Hawke and Carver's relationship develops through their meetings in Act 3.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

Reunion

"Carver?"

She watches as the man whom she has addressed turns to face her as he wipes the thick blood from his blade. It is indeed Carver, her brother. His face looks weathered, saddened by some unknown burden. A look of shock flashes across his face.

"Sister," he remarks, puzzled. "What are you doing here in the Deep Roads? Again?"

As he sheathes his greatsword, she pays careful attention to how much he has changed in the past number of years since she last saw him. His time with the Wardens has not been kind to him. Even in the dull light of these cavernous tunnels, she can see flecks of grey beginning to peak from within the dark shiny mop on top of his head.

"Evidently, checking up on you," she chuckles. She is glad for the encounter. In the days since the expedition, she has carried much guilt with her for her brother's fate.

He would never admit it outright, but he too is glad to see her familiar face. His assessment of her is similar to hers of him. Her once-softened features have begun to crack, evidence of a life that has been much harsher than a woman of her age should expect. Their family has always been in hiding in a manner of speaking – what, with three apostates in the bunch. But back in Lothering, they at least had a home. They had a place to refresh themselves after a hard day's work. Carver quickly thought back to the time when he and his sisters were more carefree. He decided to become a soldier, training at nearby Ostagar in the north. Both of his sisters did odd jobs throughout the village, tending to the fields, or helping to sell wares at the market. His mother tended to their home while, before his death, his father worked hard at the gristmill, hiding the fact that he was blessed – or was it cursed? – with magic. They always lived with the fear that the templars from the Circle at Lake Calenhad would arrive on their step and take him away. The sister standing before him now – and the one who they were forced to leave behind – were also both afflicted with magic. He shakes his head quickly to clear his thoughts and respond to his sister, who was now looking at him expectantly.

"Well, if you're not in the mood to chat, dear brother, I will take my leave," she says as her nose wriggles a little at the perceived insult.

"I am sorry," he replies. "It would seem that my mind was elsewhere for a moment. But truly, I know that you are not that concerned with my wellbeing. What's the real reason you're here?"

She smiles at him slyly.

"You know me too well, Carver. We were approached by the sister of one of your fellows, Nathaniel," she says, motioning towards her own companions. "Little did I know that you would be one of his party."

He notices now that she isn't alone, not that he would expect her to be. A mage, an elf and a dwarf walk into a bar he thinks to himself, as he notices who has accompanied her. But it was no joke. These were the people she cavorted with – truly a strange group. The dwarf was the easiest for him to get along with. In fact, he almost missed Varric's stories a bit. Sure, they took excessive liberties with the truth, but they were always entertaining. Carver recalls that he was the subject of a few tall tales himself.

"Dwarf," he says and nods in Varric's direction.

"Human," Varric quips in return, nodding back.

Carver acknowledges the elf as well. Prior to the Deep Roads expedition with his sister, Fenris seemed to be traveling in the group more often than not, while he was left behind to look after his mother and uncle. He resented the fact that she left him behind so often, as if she were trying to keep him in her shadow. The resentment was promptly replaced by anger as he saw that mage sharing glances with her. It was quickly becoming apparent that their relationship had developed significantly in the years since they last traveled together. His stomach churns at the thought of his sister and the mage. He is too much of a danger for her to be involved with. He knows the dangers that his sisters and father faced throughout their lives only too well – did this bastard have to bring more attention to that fact?

"It was clearly a blessing that you were not found to be a mage, for one of my friends would most certainly have holes burned into his head with that look, Carver."

Her voice interrupts his thoughts and his face softens.

"I…I don't…what do you mean?" he stammers.

She already has her hands on her hips in disappointment with his denial.

"Really Carver? We have to play this game?" she questions.

"What would you have me say? That I'm happy to see Anders is still hanging around? Oh yes, my sister. I am overjoyed that you have taken it upon yourself to fraternize with such an upstanding citizen of Kirkwall's Undercity. In fact, am I invited to the wedding? I would love to –"

"Carver!" She conjures a burst of energy towards him, knocking him backwards a few steps. When he regains his footing, he sees that she has already turned her back to him, and he uses this to his advantage. He rushes at his sister, ready to knock her clean off of her feet, but she senses his advance at the last instant and sidesteps. Her face has turned a shade as crimson as her hair and she is on him, beating fists in a furious flurry on his armored chest. Her hands begin to bleed, as she takes out some unknown rage on her brother.

A guttural scream emits from deep inside of her.

"Why did you come with me? You never should have come!" she shrieks at him.

He grabs her wrists before she strikes him again and pushes her off of him. Anders and the others rush towards the siblings. Varric pulls at Anders' coat to prevent him from coming between them.

Carver sits up and nurses his chin, even though he can't recall when it was hit. "What are you talking about? You're insane, girl!"

"She's dead, Carver!" she cries. And breaks.

"What? Who's dead?"

"Mother…mother is dead," she chokes, between tears. "And I couldn't stop it. And you weren't there to help…" Her voice becomes a whisper, and she can no longer bring herself to continue.

Carver stares at her, dumbfounded. His mother…dead? How? When?

"I wrote to you, Carver. I sent you letters. But no one could ever find you, and they were all returned," she sobs. Varric eases his grip on Anders, who slides next to her position on the cold, damp ground, placing his hand lightly on the back of her neck. She melts at his touch and buries her face in his shoulder as he encircles her shrunken form with his arms. She is shaking with grief.

None of her companions have ever seen her break in this way. Carver's eyes meet Varric's, who nods, sadly, confirming what his sister has told him.

"I'm…I'm so sorry I wasn't…" Carver begins, but cannot finish. Fenris approaches him and offers a hand and help up. He accepts both, and slowly walks towards his fellow Wardens who have started to make camp for the night. He cannot face his sister and this revelation right now. He must regroup.

She stays on the ground, kneeling and wrapped in her mage's embrace. Long moments pass before she moves. Varric and Fenris draw near a small fire being built, leaving the two alone with their thoughts and her tears.

Reparation

After some time, she and Anders approach the area of the temporary camp. He leads her to a secondary fire that Varric built in anticipation of her return to their group. Once she is settled, Anders finally leaves her side and moves toward where Carver is resting.

"Can I have a moment, Carver?" he pointedly asks.

Carver looks up at Anders and sighs. He rises, nods to his companions and walks with Anders to speak in a more private location.

"Come to lecture me, mage?" he hisses.

Anders lowers his head and shakes it slowly.

"Carver, you have no idea how long your sister has been trying to reach you. She has been devastated with the loss of Leandra, and has done nothing but blame herself since the day she died," he advises. "Your mother was murdered, Carver…horrifically. She believes that had she not brought you on that cursed expedition, you would have been there. That somehow you would have been able to protect Leandra and prevent everything."

"And so you're here to make sure the blame is placed squarely on my shoulders, is that it?" Carver replies angrily.

"No. I'm here to tell you that you are not at fault. There is nothing anyone could have done. We didn't know where to look or who to follow until there was nothing we could do, but be there when she died. Your sister found the man responsible. She tracked him and when she found him, she destroyed him. Your mother did not die alone…"

Carver's eyes shimmer from the distant firelight as they fill with tears and regret. His regret lies with his decision that his family died when he was forced to join the Grey Wardens in order to survive the taint that infected his blood. He believed he would never see any of them again, but now, his sister returns from the allegorical dead. But his mother will not.

"Anders…I…thank you," Carver stammers. "You've been better family to her than I these years."

"Oh?" Anders says, raising an eyebrow.

Carver glances at him. "I've seen the way you look at her. Our father died a few years before we came to Kirkwall. Do you really think I haven't had practice fending off her suitors?"

Anders dares to force a smile as Carver continues.

"I recognize that there is love there. Despite everything within me that says that disaster is on the horizon, she has not had much to make her happy. I am glad for her to seize whatever does give her peace."

Anders nods in appreciation.

"I believe I also owe you thanks for my life," Carver says. "Had you not been there with us, I would have succumbed to the taint down here years ago."

Anders says nothing, merely extending his arm in her direction. Carver looks at him and wipes at his eyes to remove the tears that linger. He walks slowly towards his sister. Anders sees her look up at him as he motions to sit with her. Her face, drawn from weeping, relaxes as she nods. She appears relieved, perhaps fearful that her prior outburst would have prevented further communication with her brother. The mage fingers the buckles on his coat, watching the siblings attempt to converse. Eventually their conversation leads to embrace. She holds her brother for long minutes. Finally, she raises her head and her eyes meet those of her love. They sparkle. He melts.