The Hanged Man was not one of Hawke's usual haunts.
The grimy space and rowdy atmosphere typically drove her off to a more civilized place, but tonight was different.
Hawke was in a good mood today and she decided to join Varric at his table that night.
"Really, Hawke? You come to the Hanged Man but you won't even buy a drink? Even when I offer to pay?"
Hawke laughed.
"I don't need any drink to lift my spirits today, Varric. Don't worry though; there will be a time when I ask for that round."
"I knew were going to save it. You'll use this as an incentive to make me do things."
He switched to a voice that attempted to mimic Hawke's.
"'Oh Varric! If you kill that nasty spider for me, I won't make you pay for that round!' Maker I can see it now," he sighed good-naturedly.
Hawke laughed again, but stopped when she heard something.
A sound was pushing its way out of the background noise and into her consciousness, nay, her body.
The tune began to pick up pace and Hawke felt the childish need to get up and dance.
Varric noticed the tapping foot, the lopsided smile, and the faraway look in her eye.
"Planning something more dangerous than a spider?" asked Varric, alluding to his previous statement.
"Well, if my dancing counts, then yes," said Hawke, a gleam in her eye.
"Hawke? Dance? Oh, this I have to see," said Varric, leaning back in his chair.
Hawke smiled as she shook her head, but pushed her chair back from the table.
She walked to the clearing in the room and gave a slight nod to the musicians.
The tune began rather slowly and Hawke began the motions of a well-known Fereldan dance.
It wasn't long before the tune began to pick up pace and the clapping of Hawke's hands became louder as she grew more confident in her steps.
The room stopped its loud shouting and murmured as they witnessed the unusual sight.
Hawke's feet began to move faster as the tune picked up and her smile widened.
She threw a challenging look at the musicians and they gladly stepped up the pace.
The tune was near a whirlwind of melodious sounds and Hawke kept pace with the music, her feet deftly keeping beat with the near impossible tempo and her hands clapping as she twirled in tight circles.
People thronged about the dancer as she obliviously lost herself in a world of her own.
When it seemed that neither dancer nor musician could go any faster, the musicians resorted to a build up in the song, a piling of emotions and tempos that resulted in a note full of energy and mirth.
As Hawke struck her final pose, the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts, and Hawke blushed as she remembered where she was.
The people mobbed her and she smiled helplessly to Varric as he smiled to himself, shaking his head.
"Oh, this is definitely going into the story."