Our hunt for the relic was about to be put off again for at least a few weeks. Marian had saved enough coin to sign onto the Deep Roads expedition that Varric's brother was leading, and Isabela was going as part of the entourage. I tried to stress the dangers of the Deep Roads to Isabela, but it was in vain; she insisted that it was necessary because not only did she owe Marian for helping her out of that tight spot with Hayder, her share of the profits from the expedition would be able to help us buy real information about the relic. I thought she just couldn't resist the idea of an adventure this insane.

The day before the expedition was due to leave, we all gathered at the designated meeting place in Hightown, so that Marian and Varric could convince his brother to let them sign on as partners, and show him both the money and the entourage they had to offer. The other members of the expedition were there, too; a mis-match of small mercenary companies, it seemed, both human and dwarven. And, standing next to their cart, were two familiar faces I definitely wasn't expecting to see.
"Bodahn! Sandal!" I rushed over, hugging them both in turn. "What are you doing here?"

"Faellathi Tabris, as I live and breathe!" Bodahn guffawed, beaming from ear to ear. "I could ask you the same thing! You disappeared on us at Redcliffe Castle!"

I could hear the ensuing reactions from my friends behind us.

"Did he say Redcliffe Castle?"

"Tabris? As in Neria Tabris?"

Sweet Maker, Bodahn, did you have to give me away like that?

"I-I've been travelling with a friend- Isabela," I pointed her out; she was busy chatting with one of the mercenaries.

"I see! Well, Sandal and I came here for the business; it was suffering considerably in Ferelden, what with the Blight and all. So we came for a fresh start, didn't we Sandal?"

"Hallo!"

"Hi, Sandal, I'm glad you and your father made it out of Ferelden safely too."

"Enchantment!"

"Ooh, looks like Bartrand's about to make a speech. He's the leader of this expedition we're going on. Me and the boy are to be providing the supplies for 'em, see," Bodahn pointed out the dwarf who'd been talking with Varric and Marian.

"We've chosen one of the hidden entrances," the dwarf boomed, pacing back and forth. "The Deep Roads there will be nice and virginal, ready for a good deflowering. It'll take a week for us to get to the depth we need, and there are bound to be leftover darkspawn from the Blight. Big risks, big rewards."

"We shouldn't be taking any needless risks," Marian pointed out. "No point in finding treasure if we die before we get to sell it."

"This isn't a foolish endeavour," Bartrand responded seriously. "This will work! Now, before we…wait. Who invited the old woman?" He glanced at Mrs Hawke, who was making her way through the small crowd towards Marian and Carver. I'd met her briefly at the Hawke residence near the Hanged Man couple of times, when I'd had a message to deliver to Marian from Isabela or vice versa. They lived with Mrs Hawke's brother, their Uncle Gamlen.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Ser Dwarf, but I need to speak with my children," she said, pulling Marian and Carver aside.

Bartrand continued his speech, but I was too distracted watching the Hawkes to listen. They appeared to be arguing, and then Carver stormed off. Marian looked distressed, and Mrs Hawke had her face in her hands. I sidled over to Isabela.

"What happened?" I whispered.

"Well, you know about what happened to their sister, Bethany, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Mrs Hawke already lost one child; she doesn't want to risk losing both her remaining children in this expedition, so she doesn't want Carver to go. Carver suggested Marian stay behind instead, but Marian's sided with their mother; she'll take the risk herself, seeing as it's her coin, but she won't let Carver come with us after all. So he's gone to sulk about it somewhere, I suppose."

"Damn."

"I know. Who needs enemies when you have family, right?"

"Will you shut up, I'm trying to listen," the man behind us scowled. Bartrand's speech was almost at an end, anyway; he told everyone to meet up here tomorrow at first light, and then we were dismissed.

"Faellathi Tabris, huh?" Varric said, catching up with us. "Something you'd like to share with the crew, shortie?"

I poked my tongue out at him. "I'll tell you when you all come back from the Deep Roads alive."

"Fine, but I'll hold you to that."

"Tabris?" Cassandra repeated. "As in Neria Tabris, the Hero of Ferelden? Who IS this girl?"

"Patience, Seeker, we'll get to that. I thought you wanted to know what happened in the Deep Roads?"

"…I do. Go on, Varric."

So, at first light the next morning, everyone gathered again, this time with enough supplies to last at least a few weeks underground. All of our friends were going, save for Aveline and myself, and Carver of course, although he didn't show up to say goodbye. I was reminded of the night before Neria and everyone else left for Denerim, while I stayed behind at Redcliffe Castle.

Isabela clapped me on the shoulder. "Relax, duckling, we'll be back before you've even noticed we're gone," she said reassuringly.

"Move out!" Bartrand called out, and the various groups making up the expedition fell into line. "See you soon!" she winked, jogging to meet up with Marian.

Bartrand had said it would take a week for the group to even get to the depth they needed before they had a hope of finding anything of value, so I tried to wait as patiently as I could for news. My patience lasted exactly two weeks, and then I went to the Hawkes' house to see if they'd perhaps come back early. I knocked at the door, and Gamlen answered. He scowled down at me over a small pair of glasses, then called out behind him. "Leandra! One of Marian's friends is here!"

He left, and Mrs Hawke appeared. "Come in dear, come in, do you have news?" she asked hurriedly.

"No, sorry, I came to see if you did."

"Not a peep, I'm afraid. You haven't by chance seen Carver around, have you?"

"No. Is he still upset with Marian?"

"I believe so, I haven't seen him since our argument before they left. I feel terribly about it."

I patted Mrs Hawke's arm. "He's...grumpy, a lot of the time. But he'll come back soon, I'm sure of it."

Mrs Hawke chuckled. "That's one way to describe my boy. Let me make us some tea, I'm sure with everyone away you're in just as much need of company as I am."

We had a nice chat that afternoon, punctuated by Gamlen walking past us a few times, muttering about 'entertaining knife-ears in my own home.' I felt a bit better after talking with Mrs Hawke, but by the end of the following week, I was just as anxious as before.

I headed back to the Hawkes', and this time, the front door was slightly ajar, and I could hear arguing inside. I pushed the door open a little further, and, with Mrs Hawke on his heels, Carver stomped out of the room on the right. Wearing templar armour. His trademark scowl lost its edge in surprise when he noticed me in the doorway. "Faellathi?"

"How…?" My throat had gone dry. "How could you?" I whispered hoarsely. I didn't give him a chance to answer; I turned heel and fled, sprinting all the way back to the Hanged Man. How could he become one of them? Whatever he thought of me, how could he become one of those…those bastards who would hunt Marian, his own sister? He knew what they did to mages, the kind of things they got away with. Did he really feel so betrayed by not being invited to the expedition that he would do something like this? I underestimated him.

Traitor.