Coming back from the kitchen, carrying a tray with the teapot and another cup, I made my way to the coffee table. Set the tray down. Before I could finish pouring for the mage, he spoke up.

"The templars learned of my plans to free him."

"What?" I looked at him sharply. "What did you do, Anders?"

"What makes you think it was me?"

"Either you've done something, or it's someone we trust. I'd rather it be you running your mouth or being too direct in your letters with him." A pause. "Wait. How do you know, exactly? It's not like they would've come to you and said, 'We know'."

"The maidservant we've been using as a go-between told me, when I went to-"

I didn't hesitate to interrupt him, crossing my arms. "You tried going in again, didn't you?"

"That's not important."

He had someone trustworthy being a messenger, and yet he just kept trying to find ways inside, without any plans on how to get out.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't Templar sense mages?" Why did I have to keep reminding him of that fact? It didn't extend to me, but there wasn't much reason for a little girl to go into The Gallows, was there? I didn't want to test if they'd sense magic if I shrouded myself with shadows.

He simply glared at me, breathing hard.

Not wanting to poke the bear any more than I already, clearly, had, I crossed the floor to give him the fresh cup of tea. "Here. Talk to Varric. Breathe."

"Right." Giving himself a shake, he swallowed a large gulp. "My friend, Karl, the one I talked about in the letter you never responded to," Nice. Antagonize the person you're asking for help from. Awesome, Anders. "he's in the Circle Tower. The templars found out that I've been planning on sneaking him out. I don't know how." Obviously directed toward me. "Help me bring him safely past them, and you'll have your map."

"I never got a letter, Blondie." Varric sounded confused.

"What?" I took a step back, unsure if I'd heard him right. My message never got to him? But… The elf hadn't said there'd been any problems…

"I got one from you, about reaching out about trading favors." A nod at me. "But nothing from Blondie about the details."

"Who did you send the letter with, Anders?"

"One of the Carta, that man that always hangs around the clinic."

My expression grew severe, I could feel the chill settling around me. I would find him, and I would politely ask what had happened. Yep. Nothing more. Not yet.

"When was the last time you heard from your friend?" Back on track. Business-mode.

"A few days ago. His last letter" A deliberate refusal to look anywhere near me. He hadn't told me about this one, it seemed. "said the knight-commander was turning the Circle in to a prison. Mages are locked in their cells, refused appearances at court-made Tranquil for the slightest crimes. I sent another message earlier today, I've just come back from there actually. It said to meet me tonight in the chantry." A pleading tone, now.

The chantry? That was outside the Gallows. How would he get there, if they were being locked inside their rooms? Something wasn't sitting right about this…

"How do you plan to do it? If the Hawke's don't agree."

"However I have to. If templars are with him, I swear, I'll free him from them. Whatever the cost."

Making a humming sound, Varric falls into deep thought. Thinking it over. Keeping his own counsel.

"Those are my terms. If you want my aid with your expedition, meet me in the chantry tonight."

"I'll have to talk to the others, I can't just pledge their help with this one." A frown from Anders had him holding up a hand. "Calm down, Blondie. It might just be half the team, is all. I'm sure they'll wanna help."

"What's the other thing on tonight's agenda?" I tilted my head, curious.

"Ah, we're supposed to be getting back something that was stolen."

A whisper in my mind. "Speak to the elder Hawkes. Offer time."

What. Offer them… Was she joking? "Do you know something I don't?"

"…I like them."

Oh. Well. If she liked them, how could I refuse that? Rolling my eyes, I motioned toward the door.

"Varric and I have some things to discuss still, Anders, but you know I'll be there tonight."

Relief and… chagrin played on his face. "I'm… sorry. I should've come in with a cooler head." A long moment of silence, where he seemed to be struggling with something internally. Neither of us broke the silence. On my part, I didn't want to scare him off of whatever he wanted to say. "I haven't been calm about this, at all. And I'm sorry, Commander."

Waving my hand. "Relax. It takes more than that to piss me off, you know that. Now, shoo."

A smile, and he was gone.

Leaving me and the dwarf alone again.

"Which Hawke is the most… open-minded?" I murmured.

He replied just as softly. "Marian and Garrett are good listeners. If you want fewer questions, I'd go with Garrett."

"Do you know where I could find him?"

"Right now?" Rubbing his chin, he gave it a few minutes of thought. "Probably… at the mines, helping with a problem they've been having. Something killing the workers."

Disappearing into my room, I quickly changed into my leathers, sliding Vigil into the sheath hidden in my boot.

"Mind if I tag along?" Came the question as I stepped through the doorway after, fully kitted out.

"Why not?" I smiled.

...

"You know, just by looking at the bodies, I'd wager-" A loud roar cut me off, coming from the direction of the cavern.

A dragon.

"Well, this just got fun." Taking off at a full-on sprint, the dwarf following as quickly as he could, I raced toward the source of the sound.

It didn't take long to find it, along with Hawke and co, who were currently backed into a corner.

I was on the higher ground, and in a split second decision, I chose to keep running. It wasn't a fully grown dragon, anyway. Wouldn't require all the finesse in the world. Leaping from the edge of the upper floor, Vigil out and ready, I landed on the beast's back. Slammed the blade into the back of its neck. A brief violent thrashing before it collapsed, dead.

"Fancy meeting y'all here." Hopping down, I nimbly landed on my feet. Slid the dagger back home.

"That was… really impressive, actually." Marian shook her head in wonder, the others with her giving various words of agreement.

"I like to leave an impression." A shrug.

"There are more." A quiet thought drifting through my head.

"I doubt this one is it. Based on its size, I'm guessing there's more than one." Glancing deeper into the cave. "A nest, probably."

"We have to clear them out." Aveline spoke up, in City Guard mode.

"Oh, I agree with you on that."

"Man, you guys killed it already?" Varric was just reaching us.

Garrett gestured in my direction. Something passed between them, a smug expression coming through strong on the dwarf's face.

"Is there anything you can't do?"

"Handle people calling me 'kid'."

...

"…I like the older Hawkes."

"You said that." I retorted, watching Marian direct Carver and Aveline on how to remove dragon teeth from the skull of the freshly fallen high dragon.

The fight hadn't been overly difficult, nor had it been easy. When the dragon had been about to clamp its jaws shut around Bethany, who'd been cowering for the most part, Carver had lunged. His longsword slicing across the neck.

Rearing back, the dragon tried to retreat, but… bled out before it got very far. Before it had even left the ground. Not a way I would want to go.

The spirit returned with a sassy tone "I particularly like the older Hawkes."

A dull ache started in the pit of my stomach, making me inhale sharply at the sensation.

An apologetic feeling washed over me, and the voice fell silent once again. I frowned, wondering what that was all about.

"Varric said he was going to talk to you." Garrett stood beside me, looking on.

"He did." I nodded. "He also spoke to Anders, about what his conditions for the map were."

"Good. When we didn't receive anything from him, like your letter had said we would, we figured he'd changed his mind." Marian's voice was quiet as she approached. "What brings you all the way out here, though? Don't tell me Varric dragged you here." Fondness. No heat behind the words.

"Oh, no. Nothing like that." A slow shake of my head. "I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

"How open-minded are you? On a scale of blood magic to the wrong flavor of tea."

Yet another look between the two of them.

A little push, maybe. Holding out my right hand, I summoned fire. Let little flames dance from my fingertips.

"I'm not saying it's blood magic, per say. I'm just wondering how open you are to… hard to believe things."

"Then I'd have to say blood magic."

"I think we can help each other. I'll leave the details of Anders' conditions for the map to Varric." The flames died, and I dropped my arm back to my side. "You're supposed to be recovering stolen goods tonight. Anders needs help, and it must be tonight. If you agree to the terms, after the dwarf tells you, come to my home before you go get whatever was stolen. And that has to be what you do first, whatever you decide. If you help him first, I might not be able to help. Because I'll be waiting."

"We'll talk to Varric." The rogue assured me.

"I'll take my leave, then." Backing toward the cave, I gave a nod to them. "Have a good rest of your day." A flash of… something… "And I'd take Hubert up on his offer, if I were you."

As I was making my way through the mines, the voice came again. "They are good people."

"Are you… giving me visions, without triggering my actual vision process?"

"…It is something I am able to do, yes." Hesitation. "It comes with a price."

"What's the price?"

"Me being awake."

Another pang hit me, then. Almost knocking me off my feet.

"You're the reason my stomach hurts." It wasn't an accusation, coming out in a pleading tone. To make it stop.

A warmth filled me, soothing the pain, but not getting rid of it entirely. "I'm sorry."

Then, silence. She was asleep again just as quickly as she'd awoken. The pain went with her.