[ AN: Early-to-mid Act 3. Hawke is now Champion and beat the Arishok in single combat. Hawke has just completed "On The Loose" and has gone back to Meredith to turn the quest in after hunting down the three mages. She has also received the letter to begin "Favor and Fault" from Cullen, but hasn't followed up on that quest yet. ]

There was nothing quite like freely walking out of the Knight-Commander's office after telling her off to make a known apostate feel invincible.

Oh, sure she felt bad that the Circle mages had been confined to quarters, but she felt so much better knowing that she wasn't one of them. Sure, she wasn't exactly thrilled about her newfound celebrity status as the Champion, but if it came with perks like being a mage able to tell Meredith Stannard she was being a moron after doing her favors, Hawke was willing to take it. Three escaped blood mages handled, and Hawke was apparently in the good graces of the templars, whatever her sharp tongue might do.

"Do you think it wise to antagonize the Knight-Commander so, Hawke?" Fenris spoke up behind her as they walked through the corridors of Templar Hall.

"It's not like she can do anything about it," Hawke said with a smug grin. "The people wouldn't stand to see their Champion locked up in the Circle. There'd be riots. And Meredith's all about keeping things in order. She'd never do it."

Anders sighed behind her as they stepped out into the Gallows courtyard. "Must you insist on dragging me in there with you when you pick fights with her? Just because you have a death wish, doesn't mean I care to join you."

"Scared of mean, old Meredith, Anders?"

Anders gave her a very flat look. "A possessed apostate mage, scared of the Knight-Commander of the Templars? No I can't imagine why she and I might not get along. Not all of us have the protection of being the Champion, Hawke."

Hawke shrugged. "Here I thought you would enjoy seeing me stick up for the mages, for once. Aren't you always pestering me to do that?"

"Somehow I doubt the plight of the mages was your intention in bothering the Knight-Commander," Anders grumbled.

"Eh, true," Hawke said, trying not to laugh. "I won't lie and say watching Meredith turn the color of her robes wasn't a good portion of my motivation." She caught sight of another armored and robed figure standing by the stairs in the yard. "Speaking of which…"

Her companions followed her line of sight. Fenris shook his head. "Hawke, is this really a good idea?"

"I can say right now that it's not," Anders said harshly. "Andraste's sake, Hawke, let's just leave. Haven't you done enough here already?"

Hawke rolled her eyes, striding toward her target, undeterred. "Oh, calm down. I just want to have a chat with the man. A friendly chat."

"I'd like to get a lot more friendly with him than just chatting," Isabela said with a grin. "Templars are so… uptight. He seems like he could use some help relaxing, no?"

Hawke snorted, even as she plastered a smug smile on her face. "Knight-Captain," she called. "Do you have a moment?"

Cullen's expression darkened as he caught sight of her and she had the distinct impression that he was steeling himself for an unpleasant experience. "Serah Hawke."

"I took care of those escaped mages for you," she said, stopping in front of him. "Just in case you were worried. The problem's been handled."

"The Order thanks you for your assistance," he said, somewhat guardedly. He was trying to figure out what her angle was, why it was that she'd come over to talk with him. "I trust they didn't give you too much trouble."

"Oh, well, you know," Hawke said casually. "One of them murdered his wife in front of me and used her blood to summon a horde of shades, another abominated after she found out her friends had talked to me, and the last one was drunk in a tavern telling people he was a blood mage to try to get women. I killed the first two, dragged the last one back here. Meredith probably threw him in solitary for a while. Though from what I've heard, solitary confinement isn't much worse than what you're making the rest of the mages do, is it?"

Cullen pursed his lips at her flippant tone, and she actually managed to elicit a frown at her lack of title for Meredith. By the time she finished with a dig at their methods, his expression was amusingly dark. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, then."

She shrugged. "It's not like it was difficult. Makes me wonder though, I thought tracking down apostates was your job, Knight-Captain. I seem to remember a letter from you about taking over Aveline's job if she was losing her touch. I'm just wondering how you think you can handle being Guard-Captain, when you can't even manage the Knight-Captain's duties without my help."

Isabela let out a long whistle, and Hawke swore she could feel Anders glaring daggers into her back. For someone who hated templars, he certainly wasn't a fan of her pissing them off. At least not while he was around. Perhaps that had more to do with the fact that she was doing so 'for the hell of it' instead of actually trying to help people, than anything else.

Cullen, to his credit, was the image of decorum, though she was sure he wanted to strangle her. She was used to that from people, though. "The Order often enlists outside help when resources are stretched thin, Serah. You've shown yourself to be… competent, if nothing else. As I stated in my letter to you, I would much prefer Guard-Captain Aveline keep her position, but I was ordered to investigate whether or not she was still suitable. Have you spoken with her about this issue yet?"

Hawke waved a hand dismissively. "I'll get around to it eventually. I'm just saying, you ought to keep your mages on a tighter leash from here on out. I might not be here to bail you out next time."

Cullen raised an eyebrow. "One might think that you, of all people, Serah Hawke, would have the least reason to complain about any looseness in Chantry leashes."

"I'll complain as much as I damn well please so long as your stupid Circle policies are making problems that I have to clean up." She met his eyes, holding her ground. "As for 'me, of all people,' I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

His eyes widened at the shameless lie, glance flicking to her staff. "Really?"

She reached back to tap her fingers against the weapon, watching him tense as she did so. "What? My walking stick? They're really quite useful, Knight-Captain. You should think about getting one yourself. Those long climbs up to Hightown are just agonizing without one."

Hawke could swear she heard Anders whisper "Maker's breath, Hawke," behind her. Somehow Anders didn't seem to have figured out that the fact that she could annoy both him and Cullen at the same time only made this whole thing more entertaining for her. She was well aware that becoming the untouchable Champion of Kirkwall had made her insufferable and she was having a wonderful time with it.

Cullen took a deep breath, then let it out again before he managed to compose a response. "I'm certain we will keep a stricter hold on the mages in the future, Serah."

"Either the mages or Meredith," Hawke said. "It's your job as her second to keep her in line, isn't it? I'm just saying, if there's anyone around here who's getting out of hand, it's your dear Knight-Commander. If you ever get the inclination to stop her before she completely loses it, I might bring myself to be mildly appreciative."

"The Knight-Commander-"

"-needs someone to smack some sense into her," Hawke finished for him. "And oddly enough, she doesn't seem to want to listen to the advice of someone like me."

"I cannot imagine why that might be," Cullen said flatly. "Was there anything of import that you wished to speak with me about, Serah, or was this visit simply to critique the way I do my job?"

"Just a friendly chat from a concerned Champion, Captain." Hawke chuckled. "I suppose I'd best let you get back to… whatever it is that you do while standing out here. I'll talk to Aveline about these 'complaints' you received. If you misplace any more mages and can't be bothered to track them down yourself, feel free to shout my direction. I'd be more than thrilled to pick up your slack again."

Cullen gave her a very long, very flat look. "Good day, Serah Hawke."

She turned and walked away, tempted to look back and see if he was swearing under his breath, but not willing to ruin the image of her exit. Once they were out of earshot, Isabela broke out laughing.

"Don't laugh," Anders said bitterly. "You'll only encourage her. Maker preserve me, Hawke, but I'd almost think you want to get us all arrested."

"If I wanted us to get arrested, I'd bring Merrill. 'Hello Cullen, have I introduced you to my Dalish blood mage companion? She's been asking about talking to demons for information, isn't that kind of like the Harrowing?'"

Anders shook his head, looking up to the sky as if he would find someone to help him there.

"Far be it from me to agree with the abomination," Fenris said, "but that did seem rather reckless, Hawke. The templars have been generous in letting you walk free. Is it necessary to flaunt that fact before them?"

"Necessary?" she asked. "No. Fun? Absolutely."

Isabela laughed again. "I agree, Hawke. I thought he was going to smite you when you said 'walking stick.' He was livid." She slipped between Fenris and Anders, slinging an arm across each of the two's shoulders. "Don't feel too put out, boys. Now we know for sure that if either of you are feeling skittish, Hawke's got enough balls for the both of you."

Hawke shook her head, but she was smiling. "Gross."

Anders ducked out from under Isabela none too gently, making a disgusted sound. Fenris merely lifted her arm and stepped free, stoic as always. Isabela rolled her eyes at the two, then stepped up and nudged Hawke in the ribs. "Next time you want to poke the hornets' nest, count me in to tag along."

"And me out," Anders snapped.

Fenris simply sighed.