Chapter 25

The trip back was nearly uneventful…nearly. Solas and Hawke were teased relentlessly for their stealing of the empress's carriage, mainly all of the events they would have to go through because of it. Josephine had made sure that she accepted as many invitations for them as she could, before Lavellan had to stop her, in order to make sure that this type of frivolity did not happen again. Neither of them looked the least bit apologetic. In fact, Hawke smirked at each name Josephine mentioned, and eventually the woman gave up trying to make them feel guilty.

Most everyone traveled along in pairs, riding on horses or in carriages that held their things. Many noted how Hawke and Solas seemed around each other now, the language of their unspoken conversations were different. A caress was so much more now, spoke louder than before. The two were practically in their own world. Every once in a while, one of the others would chuckle, and at least once, Cullen could be heard muttering 'damned elf is making the rest of us look bad'.

It did not go unnoticed that Varric was a nervous wreck. The lengths Hawke was willing to go to in order to embarrass someone for revenge was well known by many, especially by him. He had written all of her stories, after all. Some things had not needed embellishing, while others had had to be dialed back a bit. He now had the added worry of Solas, who seemed more than happy to watch the dwarf squirm.

Eventually though, the curiosity just got to be too much. So when camp had been set up, and guard posts had been established, the party made their move. While few of the women went with Hawke to a hot spring she'd found, Solas had stayed behind to gather his things for a bath. Neither were under the delusion that it was anything other than the groups attempts to gather information, but while Solas scowled at the idea that they would be so nosy, Hawke just gave him a conspiratorial wink as she left.

"Alright, out with it." Surprisingly, it was not Varric that said this, but Blackwall. "What are your intentions with Hawke?"

"How is it that you think you lot are fit to judge my intentions?" Solas asked, looking over at them in annoyance. Blackwall was about to object, when Solas elaborated. "The Snoop (points to Varric), the Spy (points to Iron Bull), the Show off (points to Dorian, who just grins with amusement), and the Haunted (points to Blackwall), and you lot think you are fit to judge my intentions?"

"Doesn't answer the question." Blackwall stated, undeterred. Solas actually stared at him for a moment, surprised with how determined Blackwall seems to be about this.

"If this is about a bet, so help me…" Solas warned, threateningly.

"His question actually is concern." Iron Bull stated, before cracking a grin. "The rest of us are just innocent bystanders with a mixture of concern and bets."

"I suppose there is something to be said for your honesty, Iron Bull, though I question whether or not this group would know the meaning of the words innocent bystanders." Solas conceded, with a sigh. "I have asked Alhasha to marry me. Is that clear enough to everyone of my intentions? (Everyone starts tossing Dorian coin) Ma ghilana mir din'an! Do you all have bets placed on what she plans to do to master Tethras for the stunt he pulled this morning?"

Guide my soul towards death / Kill me now

"Like you have to ask." Dorian said, a bit smuggly. "Of course, there's bets on that. What were you thinking anyway, Varric?"

"Honestly? I thought they'd have been done by then." Varric admitted, sporting a rare blush. This sends the others, except for Solas (and even he is shaking his head trying to hide a grin), into laughter. "That was more of Flint than I ever wanted to see."

"That reminds me. You've broken the rules, Varric, and saw Hawke naked. The consequences of which would be if Solas doesn't kill you, we do." Dorian stated, no longer grinning. "That is a marvelously beautiful and fascinating woman, and you could have interrupted more than a simple interlude with that stunt. She'll more than likely have your bits on a fire for that, so I think Bull and I don't need to kill you ourselves. More than likely, Solas or Hawke will kill you themselves."

"Why is it that you two have this…rule, or whatever it is…for Varric?" Solas asked, a bit confused.

"Nosy friend, plus budding romance, and you have to ask why we tried to keep Varric from being his usual nosy self?" Dorian asked, with a chuckle.

"Point taken." Solas conceded.

"So, are you going to tell us?" Leliana asked, after sinking into the hot spring. "What was he like?"

"Absolutely not! That's private." Hawke said, turning several shades of red.

"Awe, she's blushing. It's adorable." Lavellan cooed. Hawke sank lower into the water.

"Was it romantic? Was he gentle with you?" Cassandra asked, curiously, blushing almost as hard as Hawke. "He definitely seems the type to care about your needs before his own."

"I still can't believe you stole Empress Celene's private carriage." Josephine scolded, though it lost its bite considering she was groaning happily in a hot spring with a smile on her face. "The image you two made, kissing while stealing away in it, was positively romantic."

"Did he tell you to drop em and rebuild the empire?" Sera asked, snorting with laughter. Everyone laughed at that.

"Maker's Balls, Sera!" Hawke snickered, and then calmed down, hesitantly adding. "He…Well, you know what you said about Cullen?"

"Lots of men under him, needs a woman over him, because…positions?" Sera asked, after a moment.

"Solas is like that too…at least sometimes." Hawke said, and then sank back into the Hot Spring try and hide her blush. More chuckling from the other women.

"Do we get to see the ring?" Sera asked, curiously. Everyone looked at her in surprise. "What? He's an elfy elf. They only do things like this when they want it to mean something, and Shiny definitely wants it to mean something, so ring. Not that difficult, yeah?"

Hawke raised her hand out of the water to reveal the ring. It was definitely not the normal ring that one would think to give. She hadn't really explained that part to him back in Arlathan, viewing that a person's natural taste in jewelry was more important than some silly standard. He could have given her a wooden ring, and she would have loved it. Vivienne definitely seemed to approve, but looked saddened, and Hawke decided not to press it.

"I'm glad that you are happy, My dear." Vivienne said, kindly. "Your love doesn't know how lucky he is."

"Thanks, guys. I don't really get to do the whole girl thing very much. It's nice to have this." Hawke admitted. Then, out of curiosity. "So…What kind of things am I suppose to be telling you right now?"

"Only the most sordid and scandalous of details, of course." Leliana replied, with a sly grin. "Did you not gossip with your friends in Kirkwall like this?"

"Sort of? Isabela scarred my brain with the most perverse stories. I'm going to have to thank her for that later. Being on top really is the best." Hawke said, absentmindedly, sending the others laughing. "Merrill thought talking dirty meant literally talking about dirt; and Aveline tried to court a guardsman with metal marigolds, 3 sheaves of wheat, and a goat."

Even as close as they were to them, the men should not have heard them. Yet, out of nowhere, they heard riotous laughter. Unable to keep it to himself, Blackwall burst into laughter too, and then suddenly they all were. Solas left not long after that, after things calmed down between them all. He did not see the look that crossed between the rest of them as he left.

It was relaxing, to be in the hot springs, and it helped him collect his thoughts. Asking her to marry him hadn't factored into his plans, then again, when he'd made those plans it had been without the memory of her. It hit him then, the life he was condemning her to, and he couldn't breathe. She knew every dark secret he possessed, and still she stayed, even when he knew it would cause her pain. It took a lot longer than he'd likely ever admit to anyone for him to calm down, and by that point Dorian was relaxing in the hot spring as well and seemingly waiting for him to come back to himself.

"Finally back, are we?" Dorian asked, seeing Solas breathing easier. Solas, in surprise, turns to see him there. "Good. I was beginning to think you'd never get out of your own head. We have things to discuss, and a self induced panic simply won't do, you understand."

"Self induced panic?" Solas asked, incredulously.

"So you weren't thinking about how her life is going to be completely different after this? How condemned you think she'll be because of who you are?" Dorian asked, arched eyebrow at the ready, and waited. Solas's mouth actually fell open in rare shock. "Oh, don't be surprised. You were muttering about it just now."

"Things to discuss?" Solas asked, not liking the sound of that.

"Yes, several things actually. I did a bit of research, you know, after you ended up taking some of the red lyrium poisoning." Dorian said, amusement clear in his voice. "The Commander had actually asked about Kindred Souls, and considering what he knew was the stuff out of story books, I offered to find it for him. I think he's trying to work out if our dear Inquisitor is his True Kindred Soul, like Hawke is for you. The thing is, went I went asking after the research, I found some rather interesting details I had forgotten. Not to mention, my father is now ecstatic. He mistakenly thinks I'm trying to find mine."

Solas sighed inwardly, Dorian did like to rattle on a bit, before repeating. "Dorian. Things to discuss?"

"Oh, right. That. You deflected that question back there, when Blackwall asked after your intentions for Hawke." Dorian noted, and Solas immediately tensed. "I don't know if you've noticed, but we've all become rather protective of her. Simply asking her to marry you does not tell us how you will treat her. You have been alone for a very long time. Solas. It can not be easy to adjust, but when something happens, is your first thought of her or yourself?"

"That is something that has not been easy for me to correct, Dorian. It is…easy…to forget that she is not only willing to help me, but also capable of helping me." Solas admitted. "I am use to being alone. I tend to think that way, and if I firmly believe I am right, I tend to carry out that decision without considering how it will affect others. I am aware that is what has lead to several incidents, and that I have hurt Alhasha because of them."

"That's what I was afraid of." Dorian remarked, with a sigh. "You have a very strong willed woman on your hands, you know. Your attempts to hide, run, or push her away to protect her have got to stop. You have to know that not only will she fight through all that, but she'll fight you too in order to get you to see the mistake you've made. If you want to spare her, it's best just not to fight her on it."

"You think I would leave her behind?" Solas blanched, but then realized that that had been a very real possibility until just recently.

"It is her greatest fear." Dorian revealed. "Whatever promises you've made, I can guarantee you that she still fears that you will leave her behind, even if she doesn't realize it. You have a pattern, Solas. Get close, learn what you can, something bad happens, you strengthen your resolve and push her away. It hurts her worse every single time it happens, and no, leaving her permanently won't fix it. It will just hurt her more than anything else ever could."

Solas would have been furious with Dorian's words, but the truth of it was the man was right. He had a pattern, and he knew it. Why wouldn't Alhasha have told him she feared this? Of course, she wouldn't have said anything about it. She'd always been one to keep her fears to herself, and he knew that well enough.

"It crosses my mind, even now, how much better off she would be if she found someone else. She deserves a peaceful life, and she isn't likely to have that with me." Solas admitted, gazing in the direction he knew the woman to be as if he could actually see her. "To never hurt her is not a promise I can make."

"That's just it though, Solas. There won't be anyone else, not for you or her. The way of True Kindred Souls is just that. There are no half measures." Dorian stated. "You really went all out with that spell, it seems, to find the one woman who'd be able to put up with you. The first use of such a specific spell dates back even further than I could trace, and Tevinter likes to take the credit for its creation, though I suspect it was you. It practically set the standard for all other True Kindred Soul spells, as opposed to the standard Kindred Souls."

"She is…extraordinary, pushing me to be more than I am, better than I was. I know I will hurt her, before all of this is over, and perhaps even after, but to leave her…to never come back for her somehow…I don't think I have it in me anymore, Dorian." Solas said, turning his attention back to the man.

"She is a remarkable woman, to be sure." Dorian agreed. "In another life, I would have given you a run for your money, you know. As it is now, it is highly amusing to flirt with her while you pretend not to be listening in the next alcove. Being in love looks good on you though, the both of you. I'm happy for you both. It gives hope to the rest of us."

Unable to help himself, Solas laughed a little, and then in a more relaxed nature, replied. "I saw how you and Iron Bull comforted each other during the Ball. The two of you are very fortunate indeed to have found each other in the midst of all this."

"No need to get all sentimental on me now, Solas."Dorian said, waving his hand as if to clear the air. "At any rate, the goal of the conversation was to make sure that you treat our dear Hawke well."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Dorian." Solas replied, with a sigh as he shook his head. "Though it is not needed. She is more than capable of making me see reason. It is good, to know that she has made such friends as the two of you."

"Good. Glad that's settled then." Dorian stated, with a smug grin. "I'd hate to have to figure out just what in the Void I'm suppose to try and threaten you with. Seems like whatever scratched up your back could do far worse than anything I could come up with."

Solas didn't think he'd ever laughed so hard before.

Returning to Skyhold felt like coming home, Hawke decided. The family was definitely bigger, but whenever she returned to this place, the feeling of home would wash over her. She noticed that Solas would relax more when he was here. There was always something happening, some reason to be running about, someone who needed help, someone who was willing to help. This time was no different.

Her and Solas had opted to take their time returning to Skyhold, and so the others had gone ahead of them. It had been nice to have that time alone, and it was at least one guaranteed time the dwarf could not interrupt. The scene they came upon, once they finally arrived, was nothing like what they had expected. A Chantry mother stood in front of Josephine and Lavellan, looking like she was trying very hard to impress upon them something she felt was very important. Hawke and Solas looked to each other, and back to the scene in confusion, right before Hawke grinned and went in for the kill 'so to speak'.

"Please, Inquisitor, you must see how important this is." The Mother implored. "Now that Orlais is no longer at conflict, and the Breach is closed, it is more important than ever that we elect a new Divine. Sister Nightingale and Seeker Pentagast must be made ready to be presented to the council at once."

"You do realize you're trying to bully the Herald of Andraste into giving you want you want, because you want it?" Hawke asked, casually, as she strolled up to them. "Considering that the Chantry all but vilified the Inquisition at its founding, I am surprised you can walk in here without being singed on your own holiness. As it is, I'm afraid that Seeker Pentagast will be unavailable to you. She has a prior engagement she doesn't know about yet, and a dwarf with an insane amount of unattainabley touchable chest hair.

"And Sister Nightingale?" Lavellan asked, her lips twitching in an effort not to laugh.

"Oh, I'm sure between the lot of us, we can come up with some excuse to give that will fend off the vultures." Hawke supplied, with an innocent smile. "If we're not careful, The Hero of Fereldan may just come in and whisk her away. I hear the two of them were very close during the last Blight. I doubt Zev would mind too much, especially if he gets to watch, or join in the fun."

"I have been trying to get in touch with her." Lavellan admitted, sheepishly.

"Don't let Cullen hear you say that." Hawke replied, now grinning like the cat that found the cream. "He might just get a complex. He use to have a huge crush on her, and if he hears that you two are in touch with each other, he may not be able to help himself."

"Really, Hawke." Josephine lightly scolded, though it looked like she welcomed the diversion.

"Alright, I'll behave." Hawke said, pretending to pout, then looked like she had an idea. "Oh, lady Mother, before you go, a friend of mine had a question they put to me. Unfortunately, I am not privy to the inner workings of the Chantry, so I told him I would find out. Would you mind answering a question for me?"

"I suppose it could not hurt." The Mother replied, a bit reluctant, seeing that she was not about to get what she wanted today. "The Chantry is always looking to guide new flock."

"Is it true that on the full moon, you all get naked together, and use the holy oils to lather each others-" Hawke was unable to complete the sentence due to several things happening at once.

The Mother in question balked, and spun about to leave. Josephine looked like she'd swallowed a lemon. Lavellan was shaking with silent laughter she was trying very hard not to let out. Solas, however, didn't even bother. He laughed outright, sending the Mother even faster on her way.

"Wait, where is she going?" Hawke asked, before calling out to the Mother. "I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE CHANTRY HAS ORGIES?!"

Everyone within hearing distance stopped at that, and then dropped everything they were doing to laugh, causing the Chantry Mother to move faster to get out of the Keep. Lavellan lost it, holding onto her knees, her shoulders shaking as she laughed outright. Josephine tried to look composed, but even she was having troubles. When the Mother was out of sight, Hawke turned back around to them, grinning sheepishly. She had the good grace to look slightly guilty about it.

"Let me guess. Zevran?" Solas asked, still chuckling slightly.

"No one, actually, though Zevran will laugh about this when I write to him about it later." Hawke replied, grinning all the more for it. "It got rid of her, didn't it?"

"How can you…I just…How have you not caused an international incident by now, Hawke?" Josephine asked, frustrated. All the colour washed out of Hawke's face in an instant.

"You're forgetting, Lady Montilyet, I have." She said, her voice despondent, and she walked away. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I…need to go talk to Anders about the Healers Clinic he wanted to help extend here."

"I didn't…She just…ugh…I really stepped in it this time." Josephine groaned, realizing what she's said. "I did not mean to imply that. Hawke is one of the most dedicated people the Inquisition has. It's just…she…"

"Does not always bother with social niceties?" Lavellan supplied.

"That is one way of putting it, yes." Josephine said, with a bit of a sigh. "How am I supposed to fix this?"

"While unorthodox, Alhasha's methods usually get the results needed." Solas said, as if in thought. "Maybe an acknowledgement of that might help, or a fruit basket. Dorian says everyone loves those."

Varric, Anders, Iron Bull, Scout Harding, Cullen and Leliana sat around a table playing Wicked Grace. Biscuit had become their unofficial official mascot for the game, and Sera had taken to tossing treats to see how far the pup could jump to catch them. The whole thing was rather amusing. So when Hawke walked past them looking like a wet blanket, Iron Bull called out to her to come over. She seemed surprised to see them, but happy to join the game.

"So, trouble in paradise already?" Iron Bull asked, after a round. "I had you two pegged at post question bliss for another two weeks."

"It's not that." Hawke admitted. "I just…I may have caused an international incident…again."

"Don't look at me. My newly un-possessed ass is innocent." Anders declared, raising his hands in surrender.

"This time." Cullen remarked, eyeing the man.

"No building is blown up, so what's the deal, Hawke?" Iron Bull asked, wondering, though he thought he might have an idea.

"I asked the visiting Lady Mother if the Chantry clergy got together under the full moon, stripped naked, and lathered each other up in holy oil to have orgies." Hawke asked, completely laughter was nearly instantaneous, and she couldn't help but join in after a moment. "I don't think Josephine was particularly happy about it though. Might cause another international incident."

"Oh, I wish I could have seen the look on her face!" Leliana said, through her laughter.

"I may have also suggested that you were escaping with The Hero of Fereldan and Zevran to go have kinky threesomes, which Lavellan and Cullen may or may not join in on, and that Cassandra was about to have her hands full of the unattainabley touchable dwarven chest hair." Hawke added, keeping them going.

"That explains what the boy was talking about earlier." Anders said, laughing, with realization…right as Varric passed out into his cards.

Cole showed up, looking very worried for Varric, and looked to Hawke. "You're sure this will help?"

"Yes, Cole, though not right away." Hawke replied, without missing a beat. He seemed to look a bit better about it. "It will help more than one person in the long run. Trust me."

"You help like Sera. Laughs make people brighter, happier." Cole said, with a smile. "I like that we help."

"Think you can help me sneak him into Cassandra's room without being seen?" Hawke asked, hopefully.

"They won't remember seeing." Cole replied.

"That's just as good." Hawke exclaimed, mischievously, and the two left as they carried an unconscious dwarf between them.

"I wonder…" Anders mused, before shaking his head. "You what?…I don't want to know. Whatever he did to get her to do this…he probably deserves it."

"Oh, he most definitely deserves it." Iron Bull replied, with a bit of a chuckle. "Seems our nosey dwarf couldn't help himself, and saw Hawke nearly naked."

"Oh dear." Anders said, sounding a bit far off. More cheerfully, he added. "So, who wants to do the eulogy?"

Solas searched for Alhasha, after calming down Josephine. They would be fine, he knew that, but some subjects were still too raw to speak off so flippantly. Lavellan had asked if he would look for Varric too, while he searched for Alhasha, as she would like for the dwarf to accompany her on the next mission. That was something that had him shaking his head. After such an eventful time at the Winter Palace in Hal'am'shiral, he would have expected her to want to take a bit of a break, but she was already planning the next few days.

Varric was not at his usual spot, and whenever Solas inquired about him, many would start to laugh uncontrollably. He suspected Alhasha's retribution had finally been enacted, which brought a slight smile to his own face. It was only an after thought which brought him to the gardens, that he found at least one of the people he was looking for. She and Biscut were playing with the young boy that Morrigan had brought with her. For a moment, he simply watched them, basking in the happiness they seemed to exude.

"Hello, I'm Kieran. You're like her, but you're an elf!" The boy, Kieran, exclaimed, happily, upon seeing Solas.

"Yes. You may call me Solas, if you like, Kieran. If I may I ask, what do you think of Lady Hawke?" Solas asked, politely.

"She is beautiful. Her eyes, have you seen how bright they are?" Kieran stated, looking back to Alhasha. "The two of you are connected."

"You can tell that?" Alhasha asked, curiously.

"It's like so many strands. They float in the wind when you are apart, but the closer you get, the tighter they are, the more I can see them." Kieran explained, smiling. "You love him."

"Very much so." Alhasha replied, with a little smile.

"That is good. He looks like he was lonely before." Kieran said, sympathetically.

"Kieran, are you causing these two trouble?" Morrigan asked, as she strolled up to them.

"Mother, have you met them? They share a bond, Mother. Isn't that wonderful?" Kieran asked, happily.

"Indeed. Don't you have studies to get to, little man?" Morrigan asked, arching her eyebrow at the boy in a way only a mother can.

The boy sighed, and moved to shuffle away, but at the last second he moves to hug Alhasha. "Don't worry. He isn't lonely now. He loves you too."

And then he rushed off.

"I hope he wasn't troubling either of you." Morrigan stated, fondly watching the boy as he left. "Not many understand him, and I worry as any mother would."

"Nonsense. The boy is gentle soul." Solas replied, kindly. "It is good to see one so open, especially one so young. He sees more than most. It is a gift not many would appreciate."

"I never thought I'd see the day where you were a mother, Morrigan." Alhasha said, happily. "It looks good on you."

"So, who is this then, little songbird? Aren't you going to introduce me?" Morrigan, asked, with inquisitive eyes.

"Morrigan, this is Solas." Alhasha explained, though whether she saw the knowing look in the woman's eyes was unclear. "Solas, this is Morrigan, one of Flemeth's daughters. She was at the Winter Palace."

"I have heard mention of you before, and I believe we may have met briefly at the Winter Palace. It is good to officially make your acquaintance, Lady Morrigan." Solas said, looking at Morrigan intently. "How is it that you know Alhasha?"

"She called for help across the Fade, and I was too curious not to answer. The Kokari wilds do not offer much in the way of companionship. She needed someone, and I needed to be needed." Morrigan replied, with a kind smile. "I take it she met you in a similar fashion?"

"In a manner of speaking. She pulled me through the Fade to where she was." Solas admitted, surprising Morrigan. "She is…extraordinary."

"That she is. Hawke, I hate to cut our time short, but I do have to get to the War Room. The Inquisitor wishes to discuss Crestwood. We should get together sometime, and catch up. It has been too long, my friend." Morrigan said, and with a nod to Solas, she left.

"That boy houses the soul of an old god." Solas stated, as soon as the woman was gone. "That he can literally see our connection as so many strands may be a result of that."

"She does love that boy. I wasn't lying when I said motherhood looked good on her." Alhasha replied. "You came to find me. What were you wanting to talk about?"

"I can't seem to find Varric, and the Inquisi-" He had been about to say something, but Alhasha's laugh burst forth in an instant.

"She'll have to…find…someone else!" Alhasha said, through her laughter.

"Do I want to know?" Solas asked, and now Alhasha is holding onto her sides from laughing so hard. "Just what did you do to him?"

"He's…he's…" She can't speak for a few good minutes. "…a bit tied up at the moment. Best tell her to leave without him."

"Alhasha…What did you do?" Solas asked, now morbidly curious. She calmed down enough to whisper it to him, and he blanched even as he laughed.

The first thing he noticed upon waking up, was that his nose itched, but when he went to scratch it, he discovered he couldn't move either. That's when he discovered his next bit of unfortunate news. Oh, this could not get any worse, but it could…and it did. This was by far the worst situation he's ever been in, but he was not going to call out for help. He was perfectly happy to die in quiet embarrassment, hoping that no one found him.

Of course, he knew that Flint would get back at him eventually. He didn't know why he'd been so surprised when she'd made to knock him out, but this? Damn it, his nose itched! He hadn't expected the kid to get involved, or Blondie, though he should have suspected that last one. Anders was notorious for helping Flint with her pranks, if only because he thought he could get into her smallclothes that way.

He blamed Dorian, truth be told. It'd been from him that she'd heard the story of what they'd found while searching about the Winter Palace. Now, he's tied up, strapped to a bed, spread out, with only a hat for his bits. He wasn't even sure who's room he was in, but he dreaded finding out. His nose really itches, and it's driving him up the wall. He sighed, once again damning his own curious nature or getting him into this mess, as he waits for whoever it is that's supposed to find him.

An hour or so later…

Cassandra had just gotten through reading the latest chapter of Swords and Shields. She'd opened the door to her room, and upon seeing what was inside, quickly closed said door. She wasn't seeing this. She did not see Varric tied to her bed spread eagle buck ass naked. Maker's Breath, the only thing he'd been wearing was a hat on his bits.

Hawke is gone on some fool dragon hunt, and the Inquisitor is off in Crestwood, and she was not about to go back in there! What was she suppose to do? This was even worse than some of the things she'd read in that smutty book series he wrote. Her face was beet red just thinking about it.

"Seeker, I know you're still standing there." Varric stated, in resigned defeat. She sighs, and walks back in, quickly closing the door, and looks anywhere else except for at him.

"This is most inappropriate, Varric." She scolds, not sure what else to say, thoroughly embarrassed.

"Look, if you're not going to untie me, can you at least scratch my nose? It itches." Varric whines.

"Not before you answer my questions." Cassandra insisted. "I'm going to assume you did not do this to yourself. Who did?"

"If I tell you, will you scratch my nose?" Varric asked, wriggling his nose. "Come on, Seeker. Show a little sympathy."

"Alright, fine." She agreed, with an annoyed sigh. "Now out with it."

"Flint." Varric answered.

"Hawke did this to you?" Cassandra asked, wide eyed, in shock. "Why?"

"Why do you think?" Varric asked, with a huff. "I practically walked in on them about to have sex, with her already naked, barely covered by a towel, and trying to get Chuckles out of his clothes!"

She reluctantly scratched his nose.

"So, I get why she did this to you, but what do I have to do with this?" Cassandra asked, very clearly embarrassed.

"Really, Seeker?" Varric asked, annoyed and embarrassed. Who knew dwarves could blush this much? "She's tied me up like a Wintersend goose, and left me in your room. What do you think you have to do with this?"

"Well, I…I mean…I just…I thought…" Cassandra stammered, her blush now matching his. "This is not how one shows interest."

"Clearly you haven't looked under the hat." Varric teased, making her blush that much more. "This is a clear opportunity if there ever was one. You have to have at least one fantasy where you abuse your power over a 'prisoner', Seeker."

"Be that as it may, we might want to untie you. Your hands are turning purple." She said, and began working to untie him, with a smirk. When he was untied, she moved to the door to give him his privacy to redress, but before she left, she turned her head towards him slightly and added. "If you really want to 'show you interest', you're just going to have to court me properly. We'll talk about tying you up after."

And with that, she left him there, with a gaping expression on his face.