A/N: Just a short chapter today thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age or anything within it

In the morning Merrill was startled awake by a clamoring in her bedroom she sat up from the table, realizing there was a blanket draped around her shoulders, and looked at the bedroom. Hawke had risen and had a blanket secured tightly around her intimate parts she looked very confused and was talking to herself, "Maker were am I? Where are my clothes? Is this Merrill's house?"

Merrill went to the doorway of the bedroom and leaned in the frame, "indeed this is Merrill's house," she said with a smirk.

"Merrill!" Hawke exclaimed falling backward onto Merrill's bed, "how did I get here?"

"You came here drunk, after sleeping with Isabela of course."

"D-did I leave my clothes at the hanged man?"

"No you took them off after you got here."

"I know this looks really bad Merrill but it's not like it seems."

"And how does it seem Hawke?"

Hawke cleared her throat and ruffled her hair, "decidedly like I slept with another woman and then troused over here only to become naked in the process."

"And how is it not like that?"

"Maybe I'm sorry would be better."

"Yes that one sounds better I think."

"I'm sorry Merrill."

"It is ok Hawke, you did not mean anything by it I am sure."

"I didn't, no, still I am sorry. You know sleeping with Isabela, it didn't mean anything."

"Oh? Well who you sleep with is hardly my business Hawke."

"Right," Hawke said breaking eye contact to look at the ground, "where are my clothes?"

Merrill grabbed them from the main room and tossed them to Hawke, "I will go outside so that you may have some privacy putting your clothes back on."

Once outside in the sunlight Merrill thought about what Hawke said, "sleeping with Isabela, it didn't mean anything" why would she tell her this? Why did she care what Merrill thought of her sex life? So many questions Hawke had raised with a simple statement, it was so frustrating. Just then Hawke walked outside and looked at Merrill, "yes well, thank you for the bed."

"You're welcome Hawke. I hope you have a better day today."

"I never have bad days," she said with a deadened looking smile.

"Everyone has bad days Hawke."

Hawke looked at the ground, "yes I suppose drowning your sorrows in a tankard would constitute as a bad day wouldn't it?"

Merrill put her hand on the warrior's shoulder, "Bethany will be ok."

"Maker what did I tell you last night Merrill?"

"You told me that Bethany got the taint and that you had to take her to the Gray Wardens"

"I am sorry that I drunkenly dumped my problems on you Merrill."

"It is ok. I understand."

Hawke got a bitter look on her face, "how could you possibly understand? How could anyone understand what it is like to have to have to give up someone they love, with the possibility of never seeing them again, to the Wardens just to save their life from the taint."

I would understand better than you know, she thought, though unwilling to share her own story of loss she just shook her head and said, "maybe you should just go home Hawke."

"Right," she said stalking off.

Merrill watched her walk away, be careful Hawke, you don't know people like you think you do.