"Have you spoken to Henry?" Maxwell asked. The remains of breakfast sat on the table between them.

Evelyn took in a deep breath. She leaned back in her chair and gave a slow shake of her head. "Not in a while. No."

Maxwell frowned and looked hard at her. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Evelyn let out a small bark of a laugh. "Let's see. . . Last time we saw each other he called me a heretical whore. I disgraced the family and ruined our good name. Oh, this was a good one." She snorted. "I'm am a smear on Andraste's name and no better than Tevinter scum." Evelyn bit the insides of her cheeks and looked away. "But mostly, he blames me for your injuries. And now. . . When he finds out that you're leaving the Templars. . ."

"What?" Maxwell got up from his chair and stalked to the fireplace. He whirled around and narrowed his brows in thought.

"More asshole than usual, I know." She sighed and picked up her tea cup.

Maxwell looked up at her. "No." He shook his head. "Don't tell me. . ." He squinted at her.

Evelyn cocked her head and met his eye.

"That's why you ran yourself into exhaustion."

Evelyn closed her eyes.

"That's why? Isn't it? Oh, Andraste's Tits! Eve. Evelyn." Maxwell moved back to the table and knelt on one knee in front of her. Evelyn opened her eyes and looked at him. "None of it was your fault. I take the blame for this. You would have been fine. I know that now. You would have faded and ran in time, but I interfered."

"Maxwell," she said. She shook her head. "You don't have to-"

"Maker! Do you think I haven't thought about this? I spent weeks laying in a bed that wasn't mine. And then I spent months. . ." It was his turn to close his eyes and take in a deep breath. "I had time." He opened his eyes. "And it was because I doubted you that this happened. You're not the same girl who left for the Chantry. I should never hav-"

"Maxwell," she smiled at him and took his scarred hand into her own. She swallowed her own cries of guilt. "How about we don't blame anyone? It was an unfortunate event. That simple." Maxwell pursed his lips. "And anyway," she continued before he could say anything else, "while I adore you, my carelessness wasn't for your sole benefit." She withdrew her hands and rose.

Evelyn wandered over to the window and turned her back on him. "You're right. I'm not the same person." She ran a finger beneath her eye and wiped the moisture on her leathers. "I had to change. Quickly. And. . ." She stilled. "This is hard, Max." She shook her head. "This is really hard."

Maxwell watched his sister deflate, and frowned. He rested a hand on her shoulder. "I believe it. I would never want to be in your position."

Evelyn sniffed. She dabbed at her other eye.

Maxwell pretended he did not see. "You didn't talk to anyone, did you? I knew you-"

"Oh, shit." Evelyn gave a rueful laugh. "Yeah. Yeah I talked to someone. The wrong fucking person, apparently." She sniffled. "But I talked to someone." She turned and shook her head at him. "Y'know me. Always pick the wrong guy."

Maxwell arched a brow at her. "Cullen? You two seemed fine to me last night."

"Ah." She walked over to the loveseat and sank into it. "Cullen." She covered her mouth with her hand and stared into middle space. Cullen. She was not sure how she felt about what she had allowed to happen the night before. She pushed it from her mind. Not now. "No. Didn't talk about it with Cullen. I tried, but. . . No." She slouched into the armrest. "I chose Blackwall."

Maxwell joined her. "What happened?"

"He chickened the fuck out. That's what happened." Evelyn snorted. "I was named Inquisitor and. . . And he. . . Suddenly our duty came first and. . . It was as if nothing had ever happened." She swallowed hard.

"Oh, Eve," Maxwell wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Eve, I'm sorry."

"But you can't. . . I can't. I'm the leader. So, no, I can't take time to sit back and mourn poor Emmer. I- A demon was in my head. In my head, Maxwell. Do you know-" She shook herself. "And, I've got an elf who thinks that spirits are people. And I've met spirits. . . Balls, we've got a spirit here. He's a bit weird, but he's a good kid. Everything we are doing challenges, well, everything. No wonder the Chantry didn't want to support us. We're terrifying." She rubbed her forehead. "But no, I've just gotta suck it up, and soldier on." She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. "I've gotta save the fucking world." She clenched her left hand.

Maxwell gave her a squeeze. "If anyone can, it's you."

Evelyn laughed and punched him lightly in the arm.

Maxwell screamed and fell over onto his side clutching at his arm.

"Oh Maker!" Evelyn sat up and reached out for him. "I'm so sorry. Are you alright? Do you need a healer?"

Maxwell stopped and stared at her, his eyes wide.

"Maxwell?"

He gave her a wide grin and fell over in laughter.

"Oh! That was not funny." She glared at him.

"That was priceless," he said through his laughter.

"Was not!" She punched him again, only this time with a lot more force.

"Oh!" cried Maxwell. "Oh, you've started it now. It's battle time."

"You want to fight?" Evelyn beamed at him. "You sure you're up for it, being crippled and all."

Maxwell stuck his tongue in his cheek and shook his head at her. "I don't have much to worry about a whiny little sister."

"Ha!" Evelyn lunged for the bed and took hold of a pillow. She swung it just in time to hit Maxwell as he leapt after her. The length of the pillow hit him square in the chest with a feathery whomp.

"Your Grace!" cried a soldier as he and another came barreling up the stairs.

Evelyn landed on the mattress on her side and Maxwell bounced off of the edge and fell to the floor. Evelyn giggled. She crawled up onto all fours and peered over the edge of the bed.

"You alright?"

Maxwell grinned up at her. "I'm great."

"Your Grace? We heard yelling."

Evelyn laughed again. "Just some sibling competition, boys." She grinned at them.

"Inquisitor," said the elder of the two. They both saluted and turned on their heels.

Evelyn waited until she heard the echo of the door closing at the base of the stair before she lay down on the bed.

"Maxwell," she said.

Maxwell got up onto his feet and dusted himself off. "Yes?"

"Thanks for coming."