A/N: From Chapter 25 of my 'Journal' fic. Popped it in here for completeness, and to add some of the ripples that the delivery of the letter caused. Go karma!

Written on a standard piece of stationary bearing the monochrome letterhead of a Hightown weaponsmith. Delivered — along with a heavy, two-handed sword — by Vashyn, a young illiterate elf boy that reminded Fenris a little too much of himself.

Delivery gratuity was two sovereigns eighty-nine pieces, or approximately four years worth of reading and writing lessons for Vashyn and his little brother.

The widower fruit merchant who taught the boys used the money he earned from tutoring to gradually expand his fruit selling business into the Alienage. He now employs several elves to sell the produce that the Hightown nobility do not purchase to Alienage elves, at profitable, but still very affordable, prices.

The Alienage's dramatic drop in scurvy and other diseases was noted by a number of herbalists, and was mentioned in a medical journal by Chantry healers in 9:35 Dragon.

27 Bloomingtide - 9:31 Dragon

Dear Fenris,

I'm sorry if you took my teasing the wrong way. It never occurred to me until Bethany brought it up that mentioning your ears might seem offensive.

I thought we had moved past these things, and were back to being joking, laughing friends, or whatever — but I understand that is no excuse. Please believe me when I say I never meant any insult. I truly have nothing against elves, or you. On the contrary, I admire you greatly.

This is all very awkward to write, especially with the smith and his apprentice both watching me. I hope the lad remembers to tell you everything; I let my tongue get carried away a bit. It doesn't help that I still haven't had any rest — I couldn't sleep after you stormed off, so I went out to buy new daggers, then decided to get you something too, to apologize.

I'm rambling, so I will close now, with the hope that you will enjoy your new weapon. It is so big and unwieldy that the smith has not been able to sell it in the weeks since I sold it to him, but I know you have the skill it takes to really tear the place up with it.

I look forward to seeing you use it soon, and I hope you will come to The Hanged Man tomorrow to meet up with me and Varric. Don't make me come get you. (That was a joke. Oh forget it, sarcasm is so difficult to pull off in written form.)

Yours,

~ Hawke

P.S. I actually rather like your ears. (That was not sarcasm, nor a joke, just to be clear. So please do not test your new blade out on me. (Also not a joke.))

Letter found tucked into The Book of Shartan, apparently being used as a bookmark.