"Are you sure you want to do this?" Merrill asked softly as they dodged a group of late night dock-hands on their way to work.

Calenhad shook his head skirting an elven couple on their way back to the alienage. "Not really, but Carver wants me there."

"And why am I coming along?"

".. Because you are my friend." He dropped his gaze to the ground. If Merrill heard the small hesitation in his answer, she didn't mention it. It was mostly true anyway, Merrill was his friend and that was enough to warrant an invitation to the Hanged Man with him. Carver's newest friend, a dwarf this time, wanted to throw them a party for their last day in servitude to the Red Iron. Calenhad hadn't met him but he knew he was a rogue, another leather clad, blade wielding grump for his brother's quickly growing collection of metal clad giants. He felt a twinge of guilt using her in such a way, wanting someone he could actually see eye to eye with, both literally and figuratively.

"Who all is going to be there?" Merrill asked followed by a grunt and apology as she collided with another woman.

"I assume all of Carver's friends will be there, warhound included."

"You know them all though, right?"

"Most of them, you know more then I do. I never met the elf. Or Varric."

"You never met Fenris?" Merrill asked surprised.

Calenhad shook his head as he kicked a small stone from his path. He had heard about the lyrium branded elf, but had yet to meet him. Carver had taken Merrill with him when they had first met, something about how he figured a blood mage would be a better choice for chasing down a blood mage. Calenhad knew that was half a load of oxen shit but didn't argue.

"How long has he known this Varric person?"

"About a week or so I think. Not long."

"Are any of your Red Iron friends going to be there?"

"They are not our friends, and no." Thank the Maker for that. Lucky for them most of the Iron saw the Hanged man beneath them, sticking mainly to the Rose or The Blushing Hussy in the Red Lantern District. He just hoped Jareth didn't decide to show up uninvited. The very last thing Calenhad wanted was Jareth showing up completely snockered to make a last desperate attempt to reenact a more lurid version of what happen in Meeran's office. Or worse make a scene by retelling the story to a tavern full of drunks. Every vile detail only Carver and Aveline knew laid bare for the rest of Kirkwall. He could almost picture it, Jareth on a table laughing as he explained every swipe of his tongue across Cal's throat, or each shudder that caused friction between their pressed bodies.

"Hey." Calenhad jumped slightly as Merrill's hand gripped his elbow and forced him to a halt beside her. "Are you alright? You look as if you might be sick. We don't have to do if you are worried."

Calenhad shook his head trying to dislodge the memories. "No, I'm ok. We are already here anyway so we might as well go in." He flashed her a smile before looking up at the upside down effigy hanging over the door. He could feel Merrill's hand slide down his arm and over his wrist, her fingers searching and finding his own locking tightly together. "It will be fun." He added as she pressed herself against his side. She smelled of woodsmoke and pine, of juniper berries on a cool evening breeze. She was always a lovely reminder of home, until the door of the Hanged Man opened and swept it away in a gust of piss and vomit.

"Is it just me, or is this place big and scary?"

"It's not just you. The place goes downward toward Darktown a fair piece." He had to lean close to her ear so he wouldn't need to yell over the gales of laughter that erupted at a nearby table.

"And that's where the creepy feeling sets in?" She asked thoughtfully as she scanned the crowd.

"No, Isabela is where the creepy feelings set in." He corrected her with a small grin.

Merrill laughed as she leaned heavily against Calenhad's side, her free hand reaching across her body to join the other completely enveloping his own. "Mostly her feeling other people in a creepy way." She smiled and gently patted Calenhad's hand when he cringed at the thought. "Sorry, I always forget you are one of her favorite targets."

"Yeah, but with Carver and Sebastian here, she will probably ignore me."

"Hello little Hawke."

Calenhad sighed softly as he turned and smiled at the woman speaking to him. "Hello Edwina."

"You're here lookin' for your brother's little party? He's up in Varric's suite tonight. Come on I was just takin' them a round." She smiled warmly as she headed toward the stairs in the back of the taproom.

Merrill gave Calenhad's hand a squeeze as they followed the waitress through the tavern. The place seemed far busier then usual as they weaved their way carefully through the drunken rabble. The dock workers were in their usual place taking up all the tables nearest to the door where the smell of rotten fish and animal shit would, hopefully, find it's way back outside. The foundry workers were all grouped together further in where they usually filled the rest of the taproom with the smell of burning coal and melted steel. As they approached the stairs he saw the reason the place seemed unusually full. The miners were taking up a corner usually used by the foundry workers, easily recognizable by the smell of dirt, stone, and blood. The bandages many of them wore around their limbs and heads suggested the mines were shut down... again. He really had to wonder why they didn't just close the mines down for good or at the very least relocate to less hazardous mines. He didn't see Jareth in any of the crowds, with any luck he wouldn't show up at all, and if he did hopefully Edwina wouldn't tell him where they were.

"You're thinking too hard again." Merrill whispered as she tugged Calenhad's arm pulling him up the stairs. "Don't worry so much, it will give you even more wrinkles!"

"I don't have that many wrinkles Merrill." He frowned as he rubbed his forehead as Merrill giggled in his ear.

..~~

"... Off and shove it straight up his ass!" Carver grunted loudly before draining the contents of his mug.

"It's a wonder you worked for the man so long."

"It's not like we had a choice, Fenris. The man did get us into the city."

"Yes Aveline, but we don't work for him anymore. Thank the Maker for that. I don't think I would survive another day under his boot." Carver sighed as he shoved his empty mug to the center of the table.

"You are resilient Hawke, you would have survived as long as you needed."

Carver snorted as he leaned back in his chair and looked toward the dwarf. "Is that what you will put in your newest book? The Resilient Hawke; Ferelden Refugee."

"That is a terrible title. Edwina, it's about time you got here. I was just about..." Varric's voice cut off suddenly causing everyone at the table to look up and follow his gaze toward the doorway as the waitress began switching empty mugs for full mugs and unopened bottles. "Ah, this must be Hawke's... big... brother." Varric looked curiously at Carver, one eyebrow raised in question.

Carver nodded as he watched the two forms standing just outside the door. "My elder brother, yes. Calenhad stop hovering and get in here." He grunted as his eyes fell on the mages linked hands. He couldn't help but notice how close the two were standing together, Merrill pressed firmly up against Calenhad's side, hips bumping as they moved toward the bench across from him. "Cal this here is Varric," he pointed at the dwarf sitting on one end of the table. "and Fenris." He nodded toward the elf sitting at the other end.

"Hi." Calenhad murmured as he stepped over the bench and sat down between Merrill and Fenris.

Carver scowled as he watched his brother's hand disappear under the table with Merrill's. "I think it's time we open something stronger." He said reaching for one of the new bottles of whiskey. He concentrated on opening the bottle, pretending not to notice Merrill sitting flush against his brother's side. Close enough that he knew their hands had to be resting on one of their legs, probably Merrill's.

"They are adorable together." Isabela whispered in his ear as her hand fell on his own thigh, a bit too high.

Carver rolled his eyes and took a large swallow from the bottle, coughing when it burned its way down the back of his throat. He handed the bottle to Izzy and glanced across the table again. He had to admit there was a modicum of truth in her words. Merrill was a very attractive woman. Black hair framing her fair face, exotic looking tattoos, big bright blue eyes, pouty lips and a warm smile. He could easily picture them together standing eye to eye. Her pale fingers in his hair or caressing his dark blushing cheek. The contrast of their skin quite beautiful to look at. Twin gazes a mixture of fear, curiosity, innocence. Both of them mages and both of them understanding the other in a way he never could. Take away the demons and they would have been the perfect Ferelden couple... Void take them both.

Fenris cleared his throat pulling Carver's attention from his brother. "Do I have something on my face." He asked, eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Calenhad.

"Huh?... I mean no... no sorry I was just... well no." Calenhad's gaze dropped causing his hair falling in a veil of brown and gold to cover his face. At Carver's angle he could see Calenhad's eyes twitching trying not to look back toward the elf.

Fenris raised a hand and looked at it thoughtfully. "Yes it really is lyrium, and yes it does extend down the entire length of my body including my feet." Fenris sighed as he dropped his hand on the table and looked again toward Calenhad who was once again openly staring at the markings on the his neck and face. "Was there something else you were curious about?" He asked when he noticed the curious look in the other man's eyes had not left. "You may ask if you wish I shall not fault you for it. Most people are quite curious."

"It's not just lyrium is it." Carver winced when he saw the sudden change in his brother's face as he flinched away trying to move even close to Merrill as he did. Any closer and he would have been sitting in the woman's lap.

Fenris' face twisted in both confusion and anger causing Carver's back to stiffen as he twisted the bottle between his palms. "No it is..." He could almost feel when the elf's gaze switched targets, now settling on him and nearly boring a hole straight through his head. "Is there something you failed to mention, Hawke." Fenris asked through clenched teeth.

Carver turned a dark gaze on Fenris as he set the bottle down carefully on the table in front of him. "His name is Calenhad Malcolm Hawke and he is my...elder...brother." Carver's voice was calm, steady and lined with something that made everyone in the room shift uncomfortably. "What else was there to say, Fenris."

Fenris started at Carver for another moment, both sets of eyes challenging the other before they came to a silent understanding. Fenris nodded slightly as he turned back toward Calenhad who was now apparently gripping Merrill's hand far too tight, if her pained face was any indication. "No they are not. They are actually silverite laced with lyrium. You are... perceptive." Fenris cleared his throat again as he looked down at his own mug.

"Well!" Isabela clapped her hands together. "Now that the introductions are complete, let's play!" Her tone was far too cheery as she pulled out a deck of cards and slapped them on the table.

"As long as we don't play strip wicked grace." Carver smirked as he pushed the bottle toward the pirate.

"Tsk, afraid you are going to lose your shirt again?"

"Yes." He chuckled as he snatched up the cards and began shuffling them, completely missing the flush that suddenly flooded Calenhad's face.

..~~

He could feel the gaze on him, even before he felt the first twinge of a much deserved hangover in the back of his skull which was quickly escalating. "What have I told you Calenhad." He grumbled as he tried to sit up, only to feel the world tilt underneath him sending his stomach into a free fall.

"I am creepy when I stare." Calenhad said softly, his voice lined with a smile.

Carver snorted as he finally managed to push himself up into a sitting position and lean back against he wall, eyes trying to focus on the spider web hidden in the shadows above his brother's bed. One of them would have to get up there and take care of that one of these days, unless Cal had a secret spider removal spell he hadn't known about. "Something like that." He muttered as he closed his eyes trying to ignore the steel spikes in his brain and the sudden pitch of his stomach that reminded him vividly of the first time he stepped foot on a ship back in Gwaren.

"Do you want some help?"

Carver shook his head slowly from side to side. "I'm fine, just need a minute. Next time Isabela insists on a Dalish drinking contest, slap her for me."

"Aveline already has, or so I heard."

Carver chuckled then winced as the sound of his own voice sent another spike through his head. "Who told you that?"

"Aveline, last night when she brought you home. You don't remember?"

Carver shook his head again. He remembered little of what happen after the twentieth or so hand of wicked grace, and next to nothing after Merrill taught them all a Dalish drinking game. He vaguely remembered Merrill getting completely snockered. Calenhad and Sebastian had to take her home early. Sebastian had returned, Calenhad hadn't. He was pretty sure that was about the time he decided a good blackout was in order. Mission accomplished. He snorted. "Why did Aveline hit Izzy?"

"I am not entirely sure." Calenhad's voice was far closer then it had been a moment ago. A second later he felt one of Calenhad's cool hands on his forehead, the other resting gently on his bare stomach. Carver flinched at the touch, he knew without even looking his brother was touching the upturned howling head of his mabari tattoo. Before he could protest he heard the familiar stream of words fall quietly from his brother's lips followed by the gentle warmth of his spells coursing through his veins. "I wasn't there." Calenhad continued. "Though I wish I had been to tell you the truth."

"Oh right, you went home with.." Carver cleared his throat as his brother's hands left his body as quickly as they had come. "With Merrill. Thanks." He sighed as he opened his eyes again watching as Calenhad returned to his own shit bed. "She is a beautiful woman, isn't she."

"Aveline? Yes she is, but don't tell her that, she might take it as an insult."

Carver laughed shaking his head. "No, I meant Merrill."

Calenhad shrugged as he looked away from Carver and toward the door. "I suppose she is pretty enough." He rubbed his right eye as he looked back at Carver. "Her tattoos make her eyes stand out. Reminds me of the waters outside Highever." Calenhad coughed as he looked at the floor.

"Hmm, So when did you get home?" Carver asked as he looked at his own lap suddenly interested in a thread that was coming loose along the seam.

"I came home after Sebastian and I dropped Merrill off at home. I was tired."

"You didn't stay with Merrill?" Carver looked up and had to fight back a laugh when he saw his brother's face twist in something caught between horror and revulsion. He couldn't say he wasn't at least a little relieved to see it.

"No! Merrill is sweet and pretty but.. No." He gave a small shudder. "Everything else aside, she deals with demons. I think she is sweet on Sebastian anyway." Calenhad smirked. "She was very talkative while he carried her home."

"He... carried her?" Carver raised an amused eyebrow.

"Yes, over his shoulder like a bag of turnips. She wouldn't stop petting his hair and talking about how shiny he looked in the moonlight, or how shiny he would look if she could see him in the fade."

"Andraste's tits!" Carver burst out laughing. "She didn't!"

Calenhad blushed slightly as he nodded. "She is not as innocent as she seems, Carver. The things that came out of her mouth after that were a bit... awkward." He bit his lip trying to hold back a grin as his cheeks turned darker at the memory.

Carver held up his hand. "Spare me the details, I don't even want to know." He scratched his head and rand his fingers through his hair. "Where is Gamlen and mother?"

"Gamlen is probably at the rose. Mother took Maferath for a walk around Hightown to cool down."

Carver sighed heavily as he let his head drop against he wall behind him a little too hard. "What did you do this time?"

Calenhad smiled. "Actually this time it was you."

Carver raised his eyebrow as he stared at his brother's face for a long moment trying to decide if he was actually telling a joke. When he saw nothing of the lie in his eyes, he became suddenly very curious. "Ok, what did I do to anger our dearest mother?"

"She read the contract that was delivered for you this morning."

"... What contract?"

Calenhad blinked as he tilted his head to one side. "The contract with Varric?" He frowned. "You are now a partner in the Tethras' deep roads venture."

"Varric managed to talk me into THAT?!" Carver sounded horrified as he tried to find any bit of lie in his brother's voice or face, sure this was some kind of joke he and Varric planned to get back at him for getting so drunk.

"No. If I remember right, you were the one to talk him into it. And then you insisted he put it in writing. The contract was delivered this morning by messenger."

Carver groaned as he closed his eyes and covered them with one hand. "And what did mother say?"

"Something along the lines of... Carver would never do this.. You are a terrible influence on your younger brother... No way he would have entered such an agreement unless you pushed him to it while he was too drunk to have any sense left."

Carver barked a humorless laugh, dark and tinged with anger. "Dear Maker." He shook his head as he dropped his hand to his side and looked over at his brother. "What do you think of all this?"

Calenhad shrugged as his gaze dropped somewhere below Carver's face. "I think you are making a mistake. But I was never a good judge of such things to begin with."

"Exactly how much is the venture going to cost me?"

"Forty three sovereign."

Carver sighed again as he shifted his gaze back to the spiderweb, then to the small partition they used as some form of privacy screen for their morning business, and changing when the other was in the room with them. "Well, at least I won't have Meeran taking all my money anymore. Forty three sovereign is an odd number."

"Well it's actually fifty but..." Calenhad cut off and stood, walking over to Carver's bed again and knelt down beside it. He watched as his brother pulled up the loose board and dug around in the hollow area below. He could see the glitter of Calenhad's staff for a brief second before the mage's arm moved to obscure it from view. After a moment he pulled his hand back and offered Carver a small pouch as he slid the board back into place with his free hand. "I saved up some money, it's... It's only seven Sovereign." He said apologetically.

Carver took the purse and weighed it in his hand. "How?"

Calenhad shrugged one shoulder, standing up and brushing off his trousers as a small smirk spread across his lips. "I am content with filling my free time with less... expensive hobbies brother."

Carver blushed, giving a slightly nervous laugh as he looked down at his hands holding the small coin purse. Between Meeran and mother, it was amazing Calenhad managed to save any money, let alone the sum he freely handed over. Carver had less of a problem holding onto his coin, only to spend it selfishly on expensive whores at the Rose, or cheap whiskey at the Hanged Man. "Thank you, Calenhad." He managed feeling like a total and complete ass. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed as he poured the coins out onto his hand and began counting it. Not because he didn't trust his brother's word, but because he didn't trust himself not to turn a deep shade of crimson if he were to catch his brother's eye again. Especially since he could feel the self satisfaction that was no doubt etched across his brother's face as clear as day. Moments like this were rare between them. It had been many a year since the last time Calenhad had managed to put him in his place. Since he had made him actually feel like the younger of the two.

Calenhad nodded heading toward the door, his steps light as he moved. Carver knew that look was not going to leave Calenhad's eyes anytime soon, he just hoped he could avoid Cal until that look finally faded. "I will make you something to eat. Aveline will be here in a little while. She said she might have a job for us. It's along the coast so we will probably be out all day." Carver groaned at the knowing tone in his brother's voice. Maker he hated that mage.

*A/N Got a slight block, so the next chapter may or may not take longer then usual.. sorry!*