"Dear Marian,

I heard the news about you defeating the Arishok and being named the Champion. I am very proud of you. Our family is made of heroes, is it not?

I have just arrived to Amaranthine. It is a small town, but I find it quite interesting. Finally it is a place where nobody cares about my uniform or my staff. I do not know if it is an acceptance or a mere toleration, but it is refreshing anyway. I am tired of frightened stares.

I am leaving for the Vigil's Keep with a caravan in a couple of days, so I will be there by the time you get this letter. I hope I will be able to prove myself useful.

Maker bless you,

Bethany."

Hawke finished reading the letter aloud, then put it aside and sighed.

'Why is she doing that to me? It looks like a report, not like a letter to a sister.'

'She's trying to be a proper Warden,' Anders smiled. 'Don't worry, Cassandra will beat this out of her head soon.'

'A proper Warden?'

'The Order suggests all the members to avoid any relationships with outsiders, family included. Of course not all the Wardens follow these rules, some keep their marriage or even get married after their joining, others make friends in all the towns they pass through or keep in touch with their relatives, but many do support the separation. They believe that to be a truly neutral force the Wardens have to be detached from the world. Following this rule varies from branch to branch. Stroud is quite conservative in this matter and many others.'

'What other matters do you mean?'

'Well, you've seen his men. Those big guys in heavy plates are what he believes true Wardens should be. One or two mages in a group are fine as long as they can keep his precious warriors alive. No offence.'

'None taken,' Hawke grabbed a bottle of wine Fenfis left on the desk for her few days earlier. 'Is it different in Ferelden?'

'Totally. You may say the Ferelden branch is a completely new organisation. Cassandra believes that having family and friends gives strength. And she accept people from various backgrounds as long as they prove their determination and capability to fight. In fact, when I joined the Order there was only one warrior stationed in the Vigil's Keep, and he was a dwarf.'

'That was years ago. Things change. People change.'

'Basic principles don't. Though you are right about... things.'

'Had something happened that made you leave Ferelden? You never told me.'

'Yes. But I don't want to talk about it.'

'Was Cassandra involved?'

'No. Not directly... Marian, please...'

Anders closed his eyes and started to rub his temples with his fingers. Hawke stepped back in silence as she knew this posture too well. Somehow her question triggered Justice's anger, and now Anders was fighting with him for the control over the body. It looked like Anders was quite successful as not a single glowing crack opened on his skin. In few moments he fell to his knees and dropped his hands. Marian exhaled in relief.

'Sorry, love,' he whispered. 'It's just... A truly horrible memory.'

'It clearly is,' she shook her head.

'He won't let me tell you. Maybe later...'

'As you say,' she sighed and left the study.

What was he hiding, Hawke wondered. It doubtfully was a fight with templars no matter how big because that was not something he would refuse to talk about. And he said Cassandra was not involved. Judging by her letter Hawke found some time ago she still counted him among her friends and cared about his safety after several years apart. Even his cat seemed to be alright. What else could it be? Marian had no idea.

Marian was standing in front of the mirror and looking at her reflection. She was wearing a bright purple dress with golden embroidery and a tight corset. Her hair was neatly combed, and her makeup was more visible than usually. Anders was watching her leaning against the door jamb.

'You look pretty,' he smiled.

'Pretty?' she touched her hair, then corrected the corset. 'I look stupid. I can't wear such things in public. I'll step on the hem and fall down.'

'You won't. Everything will be fine.'

'And why aren't you wearing that garment I bought?'

'I'm not sure if I should go with you,' he looked away.

'You should,' she approached him and put her arms around his waist. 'Otherwise I'll need to ask Sebastian to accompany me. Or Fenris.'

'If you put it this way...' he planted a kiss on her forehead. 'I'm coming. But promise me we won't stay there for long.'

'I promise.'

Comte De Monceaux sincerely believed that he was one of the most influential people in Kirkwall. He was rich, had one of the biggest mansions in the Hightown and considered himself a friend of the late Viscount Dumar (Maker bless his soul) among other things. So when the official period of mourning had ended he suggested that now the noble citizens should have celebrated the Champion's victory over the qunari and offered his home as a place for the party. His neighbours supported the idea, especially since they did not have to pay anything for it. The Champion was kindly informed about the forthcoming event three days prior the date. There were rumours that five messengers were sent away before the invitation actually got on Mistress Hawke's desk, but nobody could confirm or disprove them.

The Champion was a strange person. Nobody would dare to judge her as a woman since she was as far from an average Hightown lady as the moon was from the sun. But they could not resist discussing her. She had enough of power and money to rule the city, but she was not interested in politics. She was not interested in serious business either. Nobody actually knew much about her. She lived in a mansion with only three servants. Weird people visited her frequently, and the Captain of the Guard was the most decent of them. Some neighbours claimed that a tall blond man was actually living with her while others said she favoured the Starkhaven prince but had to hide her feelings since he preferred a life of a Chantry brother. Though the last rumour was debunked when Mistress Hawke appeared at the party hand in hand with the aforementioned blonde. They definitely looked like a couple, so many nobles were utterly disappointed because their plans for marrying their sons to her had been ruined.

However, there was one person that made the Champion look almost normal. It was Knight-Commander of the Templar Order, Meredith. It seemed she had no personal life at all, only her duty. Nobody had ever seen her wearing anything but her shiny plates. The Comte was astonished by her appearance and the party, but it turned out that she wanted to discuss the restoration of the Viscount Keep with him, and since she was in the area she decided to pay him a visit. It took a lot of effort to persuade her to stay a little longer than she planned. Messere De Monceaux supposed that it could grant him even more influence in the city. But it seemed only the Champion was not intimidated by her presence. Leaving her companion to talk with Prince Sebastian, she grabbed two glasses of wine and went towards Meredith.

'Knight-Commander! What a surprise!' Hawke offered one glass to Meredith.

'A surprise indeed,' the older woman accepted the wine, but put in onto a windowsill a moment later.

'Do you enjoy this party?'

'I did not come here to celebrate. But I like to see so many happy faces. It is... refreshing.'

'You could relax sometimes as well,' Hawke smiled.

'I have no time for that,' Meredith paused, then continued. 'I believe you know that the man you are here with is an apostate.'

'He is not. He is a Grey Warden. And before that he was a Circle mage.'

'He's got a proper training then.'

'Of course!'

'Good. But what does the Warden do here in Kirkwall?'

'Nothing you would be interested in, Knight-Commander,' Marian tried to look as innocent as possible.

'Watch him closely, Champion. Mages cannot be trusted.'

'You don't have to tell me how to deal with mages. My father was one of them. As well as my sister.'

'Your sister?' Meredith's eyes narrowed.

'She is a Grey Warden as well, serving in Ferelden.'

'It seems you have many connections with their Order.'

'It seems I do.'

'The Chantry accepts donations for rebuilding of the damaged orphanage building,' Meredith said after a minute of silence.

'I'll keep it in mind,' Marian nodded.

When the Knight-Commander and soon after her the Champion left the party everyone sighed in relief.