I do realize I've been drawing this out as long as I could XD I'm trying not to have Hawke move faster than the Arishok - which she tends to do regardless of my effort. Anyway, sorry for the wait :)

Ellie, as always, you are a great beta!

Bioware/EA owns everything, I just put my Hawke through weird things.

Hawke did not bother to knock, but waltzed right in and made her way up the stairs in total darkness, with the half-moon the only thing lighting her way. She was used to it, having walking this path many times over the years she known the elf. "Honestly, Fenris." She muttered under her breath, shivering in the chilly air.

The elf might have claimed this mansion as his house, but he had made no effort to make it homey; he hadn't even bothered to clean it up or attempt any repairs, and the negligence showed. The mansion's frame stood firm, but outward appearance could be deceiving, as dust had accumulated ever since Fenris moved in, and cobwebs are everywhere - not that she discriminates against spiders, but the amount of cobwebs seems to indicate there's a whole clan cohabiting with the elf. She knew Fenris had been wandering from place to place without staying for long, but she would have thought he'd have a certain preferences for decorations. As it stands, the blinds were too torn to cover the open windows, letting the cold night air seep in. If she wasn't familiar with the elf, or the fact that she doesn't believe in ghosts, she would have say the mansion have a haunting eeriness to it. Not to mention, lacking people and care, Fenris' mansion is nothing more than an abandoned place, save the presence of one elf. Fenris indeed take the concept of being a loner to a whole new level.

And the nobility thought my moving to High Town was bad, Hawke rolled her eyes and walking toward the flickering light coming from one of the back rooms. She smiled briefly, basking in the sudden warmth when she entered the room; he must have came back here right after dust, seeing as there are fresh logs stacked onto the old burning woods.

Fenris was standing at the window, staring down at the dark corners of High Town. He had been restless lately, getting tired of waiting for the drawn-out inevitable of facing Danarius. If only the coward would come out and face him.

For all Danarius' bravado, he've only been sending incompetence fools after Fenris; and even though Fenris dread the moment when Danarius choose to reclaim this mansion, he is getting bored of playing this waiting game. This old wound that keep festering him, and making him wonder why he is letting the blasted Magister affecting him from miles away. He would rather end it quickly, and deal with the situation sooner, but until Danarius show himself, Fenris know his hands are tied. He hated the feeling of being helpless, and promised himself that he will deliver the most painful end to his old master.

His musings for Danarius' death was cut short when he felt another presence in the room; he looked over to see Hawke with her clothes dusty, and blinked at her appearance. "Hawke?" He left his place, moving over to her. She had a distracted look on her face, and though they had been through a lot of skirmishes lately, she is not usually so unkempt. I just left her this morning with Varric, he frowned, she couldn't have already gotten herself in trouble that quickly.

"Fenris." Hawke smiled in greeting, then saw his questioning gaze.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at her with concern when Hawke looks down take stock of her disheveled appearance.

Hawke smiled sheepishly, combing her tangled locks with her fingers and dusted her clothes the best she could.

His green eyes examined her. "I thought you were still resting?"

"Oh, I was, then I found out what Isabella was...is...running from. I wanted to kill her, but Varric told me to cool down first, so I went to the Arishok and basically duked it out for a few hours or so." She paused, noticing the dread in his eyes. "Oh don't worry, I only had minor wounds, and Anders patched me up. Again."

Fenris stared at her, a tic in his jaw, but Hawke just grinned. "Some might say you have a death wish." He told her.

"Or I just like dangerous men." She winked, then sobered up at his glare. "But enough about me, I have some questions for you."

He grunted, giving her a mocking glance. "I heard that before. Did not end so well, did it?"

Turning, he went to the rotting cupboard and took out a wine bottle. With the way Hawke looks tonight, and considering where she was coming from, he suspected she is here to ask for advice, and possibly wanted someone to talk to. Despite their rocky start, he did start to open up a little, and in the end respected her. He did not remember his past life, and had been running for a long time; there was no time to make friend, or even trust any one. He was a loner - and still is, though Hawke tried to draw him into her inner circle and showed him how different life could be. Thanks to her he had made the decision to stop running. He couldn't say it make a big impact in his life, for he is not a free man - not yet; but he had realized that he at least had the freedom to make the choice.

I was part of a family once, he sighed, memories of a village, smiling faces, greenery and thatched roofs flooded his mind for a brief moment before he shook himself out of it. Reminiscence about what he destroyed would only brought unwanted emotions.

Perhaps I can make amend someday, he thought to himself, but not until I am free from Danarius' poisonous existence.

He turned his attention back to Hawke, who had already took a sit before the fire to warm herself. She fidgeted for a moment, before drawing her knees up and hugging them. She glanced over at him, then rest her chin between her knees and stared into the fire with a long sigh, basking in the warmth of the fire with a lost-puppy look about her.

He had seen her being self-conscious, uncertain, mad, happy, and had even seen her cried once when the Templars took Bethany; but seeing her flustered and knowing the cause is rather...amusing. Entertaining, even. He is not as close to her as Varric is, but he could understand her, and it's rather hard not to tease the otherwise fearless Hawke. Fenris sat down next to her, and handed her the wine bottle, watching as she took a healthy swig.

"What's bothering you?"

"The Arishok and Isabella."

"Is there a reason?" He asked.

She took a deep breath and took a long drink from the bottle, and another. Fenris halted her hand and wisely took the bottle from her. She sighed, laying her head sideways on her knees. "Apparently, Isabella wasn't just running from Castillon, but the Qunari as well."

"Ah." Fenris blinked, sensing a story. "She wasn't shipwrecked then?"

"Oh she was, but the Qunari's dreadnought crashing at the same time was not a coincidence." Hawke said as she sat glumly. Sighing, she told him all that she and Varric had deduced that morning, and about her battle with the Arishok. "It lasted for a long time, yet he did not say anything about the relic afterward."

Fenris took a deep breath, processing the information and finding the words to explain the questions Hawke must have. "Hawke, I did tell you that the Triumvirate follows the Qun and govern the people from its teaching, do you remember? The Arishok is part of the Qun, and there is nothing else for him."

"I understand that he is a leader, and that giving out important information is dangerous. I just feel like I've been running around for nothing."

"Self-pity?" He chuckles. "That's not like you."

"Once in a blue moon." She shrugged.

"Hawke, you're a guest at the compound, the Arishok spoke to you directly." He stated, knowing that she is not looking for compliments, but something concrete to understand. "And you just came back alive from a match with the Arishok. I wouldn't say that was nothing."

"What do you mean?" She frowned. "Did you think that I would die that easily?"

"No, Hawke. Your skills are not being questioned, rather, it is the other way around. The Arishok let you fight him, that is an acknowledgement of your skills; it says that he think you can fight well, well enough for him to test your talents in a match."

"I think I kind of forced him into it, I was angry, and he knew I needed to vent it."

"I doubt anyone can force the Arishok to do anything." He said. "The Qun teaches the Qunari to make choices, and he had chosen to test you in an arena. He could just as easily turn you away. Don't underestimate your worth."

"I'm not." Hawke mumbled. "I was just expecting something else. I thought I was beginning to understand, but he became more confusing."

"The same could be said of you." He smiled softly. "He couldn't understand you, as your actions does not fit the norm."

"A refugee making a name for herself? That's not a daily thing, but it's not that uncommon. The Hero of Ferelden stopped the Blight, I think that's more impressive."

"That's a high standard."

"And the Blight doesn't happened frequently, for which I am thankful."

"But you stand out, Hawke, like a swan amongst ducks." He said, then cringe at his own reference. I am rubbish at flirting, he admitted to himself.

"You are terrible at this." Hawke laugh, echoing his thought. "But thank you, I think."

"Well," He cleared his throat. "The point is that you are different, and the Arishok deemed you worthy."

"Not worthy enough to share information with." She tsk'ed. "I thought you said the Qunari is direct?"

"They are." He affirmed. "Brutally, even. Tact is not a concept the Qunari can understand, they would not cover their meaning with pretty words."

She shot him a skeptical look.

"It's a straight route, Hawke, don't circle around it."

Hawke ran her fingers through her hair, staring into the fire as she try to understand his meaning. "So...he did not want to tell me about the relic, because of its importance, and I understand he refused my help not just because I am an outsider, but also because Isabella was the one who stole it in the first place. He knew Isabella is my friend, and that I had nothing to do with the thievery of the relic, therefore I was not to blame. But I don't understand, he could have hauled Isabella in and get the information from her. Sure, I would have fought back, but he couldn't possibly refrained just because of our friendship." She let out a frustrated breath and folded her arms. "The dots are there, Fenris, but I'm having problem connecting them."

"If she still had the relic, he would certainly be more active in his pursuit." Fenris replied, working through the facts himself. "So that mean the relic is somewhere in the city."

"It's been years."

"Indeed." Fenris agreed. "And if Isabella had found it, she would not still be here. Same thing applies to the Qunari."

"So he'd have been leaving her alone because of our friendship?"

"She is your friend, and though you are not directly responsible for her, you would have defended her. I believe the Arishok does not want to waste your talents over a thief. His main concern is the relic."

"Hmm." Hawke chewed on her lip. "I vaguely remembered you said something about Qunari don't abandon debts."

"Correct." Fenris grimaced. He was not fond of the pirate, but he had gotten used to her. Not to mention, Hawke is the one that would be affected if harm befalls her friends.

"Then there will be a time when he will demand justice." Hawke looked to Fenris with worries in her eyes. "What does Qunari do to thieves?"

"Depends on the degree of the crime."

"Then I guess we will have to find out what the relic is."

xxxxxxxxx

After a little bit of resting, Hawke bid farewell to Fenris and went home, deciding to let the matter be until tomorrow morning. She wanted to check on her mother first, knowing Mother would be more reassured by the sight of her daughter. She dreaded seeing the state of her room, given what happened to the ship; she was grateful for Sandal's strange talent all the same. Though she had no idea how the boy managed to follow the Winters undetected or got on to their ship.

"Marian!" Leandra exclaimed when she saw her daughter walk in.

"I'm alright, Mother." She smiled, standing still while her mother rushed over and subjected her to a concern-filled hug. "Is my room Ok?"

"The room...Well..." Leandra hesitated, letting go of Marian.

Marian ran a hand over her face. "Did we at least save the trunk?" She asked. "Because most of the things we managed to save from Lothering..."

"Half of it is gone, darling. But- I did found this amongst the rubble." Her mother sighed, pulling out a dark red piece of fabric from her pocket and hand it to Marian.

"This would survive. Figures." Marian smiled, fingering the soft cloth. It was the present that she got for her first birthday, or part of it; it came from the first dress Malcolm and Leandra had bought for her. Marian had outgrew it, of course, and it was handed down to Bethany when the younger girl grew big enough. When Bethany, too, had grown bigger than the dress, they had donated it to another child when they moved to another village; Marian had cut out a small piece of the dress and kept it as a keepsake, to treated it as a tender memory after her father gone.

The dress was a bright color when it was first purchase, and Leandra had kept it in a good condition when it was still in her care; the cloth, however, is showing sign of negligence, and had faded into a duller red and look a little drabby, yet it held a sentimental value for Marian, and she was glad that she is still in possession of it.

"We do have other rooms." Leandra said, as a way to console her daughter.

Hawke let out a long sigh, wincing as her body ached despite the healing she received from Anders. The Arishok was an exceptional fighter, and she was abled to see his strategic process, so the pain was worth it. "I will think of something. Mother, it's late, you should go to bed."

"Want to sleep in my bed? We could spend the night reminiscence."

"I would push you off the bed, Mother, and you know it." Hawke laughed.

Her mother smiled tenderly. "At least stay nearby?"

Hawke nodded, giving her mother another quick hug. "I'll be in the study."

"Sleeping on the table can't be good." Her mother frown. "Why don't you just use one of the rooms? We have plenty."

"Exactly." Hawke smiled ruefully, making her mother rolled her eyes.

"This is your ancestral home, sweet." Leandra clucked her tongue. "You should get used to it, you'll settle down someday."

At those words, Hawke pulled her features into a comical expression, something between horror and maidenly bashfulness, hoping to draw a smile out of her mother. The older woman only shook her head.

"Someday, Mother, but not today." Hawke declared in a theatrically grandiose voice. "Today, we shall all go to sleep!"

With that, Hawke shuffled her mother to her bedroom, and took off before Leandra can say something more.

Even though Hawke was tired to the bones, she was determined to reread at least one chapter detailing the Qun rules, and interpret the words for herself to see if she can accurately discuss them with the Qunari healer. Their first meeting was not exactly what she would call a friendly one, though it might just have to do with the Qunari's disposition.

Hawke groaned out loud as she closed the book; she had barely finished the chapter, but her eyes is refusing to be open any longer. Pushing everything to the back of her mind, Marian staggered over to the fireplace, laid herself down in front of it, and was out the moment she made herself comfortable.

xxxxx

A sensation of something waving over her face woke Hawke up, and she opened her bleary eyes to see the a shadow looming over her. The girlish giggles identified Merrill, and Hawke groaned. Why did I made friends with people who would not leave me in peace again? "Five more hours." She growled, starting to roll over, but found herself unable to. Her whole body ached.

She groaned again, cursing the Arishok in her head, and hope that he's as sore as she is. Not wanting to move lest her body hurt more than it already is, Hawke opted to stay motionless on her side.

"This is no place for a lady." A laughing, accented voice said.

Hawke opened one eye to see Sebastian smiling down at her. He was crouching next to Merrill, and the two of them had the same identical mischievous glint in their eyes.

"Go away." She mumbled, closing her eyes. "I need to sleep."

"But Hawke, it's already afternoon." Merrill said, her tone curious. "Did you not sleep last night?"

"Evidently not." Sebastian chuckled when Hawke pretended to ignore her friends. He put one arm under her knees, one arm under her shoulders and used his hands to rolled Hawke toward him so he could lift her up.

She squawked, startled by the sudden movement, and glared into Sebastian's amused face as her muscles protested. "Sebastian!"

"Sleeping on the floor can't be good for you." He merely smiled at her indignant look, and proceeded to carry her toward the living room.

"I appreciated the concern," Hawke whined, clenching one hand on his shoulder. "But everything hurts!"

"Ah, yes. Varric warned this might happened." He winced, and Hawke eased her grip on him. "I shall be careful, then."

Indeed, he took slower steps, carefully balancing her in his arms, with Merrill followed and smiling brightly behind them. When they reach the sunny room, he gently deposited her onto the long sofas - a favorite of her mother's. During the renovation of the Hawke's estate, her mother had insisted on overseeing the furnishing, for which Hawke was thankful for.

Hawke let out a relief sigh as she settled onto the plush cushion, and look toward her friends. "Listening to gossip, Sebastian? Shame on you."

He laughs a little, but appeared unrepentant as he pulled out a chair for Merrill, then sat on the other side of Hawke. "I'm actually here to borrow a book, though Varric said you might not be alive."

"Really? I do appreciate the concern, seeing as I am such a delicate woman." Hawke glowered.

"Ooh, you sparred with the Qunari?" Merrill clapped her hands, leaning forward with an expectation expression. "How did it go? Did you shanked him?"

"No, but I'm sure the Arishok is covered with bruises...If bruises even show on that skin." Hawke commented, wincing when she tried to stretch.

"If I may?" Sebastian gestured at her, and Hawke raised an eyebrow, but she nodded her consent. He moved his chair closer, putting his hands on her head and began to massage her temple, then his fingertips moved down the back of her neck to her shoulders, pressing down gently with his palms as he went.

Hawke took a deep breath and relaxed. "Your wild past is showing, Sebastian." She smiled a little, sighing as her muscles slowly loosen up. The ex-Prince had mentioned of his life before the Chantry, and it seemed he was as bad as Isabella. It's a shame he is devoted to the Maker now, as his voice and his soulful eyes made many maidens swoon. It would have been amusing if he was not so straightlaced.

As if I needed more perverts as my friends, Hawke snorted to herself. Still, the conversations they would have had would have been entertaining; though seeing him blushing when talking with Isabella was amusing enough.

"This is so romantic." Merrill sighed dreamily, watching them with her chin in her hands. "Can I have a go after Hawke? Oh wait, I'm not injured. Don't mind me."

"Oh Merrill." Hawke smiled, motioning for Sebastian to stop. The Prince sat back in his seat, and Hawke slowly sat up in hers. "I'll feel better once I eat something."

"If you are sure." Sebastian nodded, standing up. "But, I still need the books."

Hawke smiled, gesturing for them to walk with her to the study.

xxxxxxxxx

When she managed to convinced Sebastian and Merrill that there will be no danger of her throwing her family and friends to follow the Qun, they left, and Hawke went to the Hanged Man in search of the Pirate.

For once, Isabella was not standing at her usual spot, so Hawke decided to bother the woman by going to her room. There, she found Isabella waiting.

"I've been dreading this." Isabella said, sitting composed on her bed, but with a grimace on her mug. "It is going to be awkward."

Hawke stare coolly at the Pirate. "And you did not think to notify me that dealing with the Qunari might, somehow, be more awkward than this?"

"I did." Isabela shrugged. "You just didn't listen."

"Ah, yes, the whole three words, 'Qunari are dangerous', does say everything that you hid from me. From all of us."

"I didn't think it mattered, alright?" The pirate sighed. "We just...sort of bumble along, and at first I didn't trust you enough; after a while though, I just couldn't find a good place to start."

"Isabella..."

"Oh, alright." The pirate sighed. "I should have told you, but you know now. Don't get hung up on it."

"I had the wind knocked out of me," Hawke narrowed her eyes. "And behaved like a fool, and now you tell me to not get hung up on it? I thought you're better than that, Isabella."

"That is the problem." Isabella spat, revealing her anger. "You thought this and that; did you ever stop to think perhaps I am not the person you think I am? You act as if you know me, but you're wrong. The me in your head is nothing more than your expectations of me. Expectations you have no right to demand, expectations that I don't like, and I refuse to do your bidding like some kind of simpleton!"

"I have not treated you like a simpleton."

"No, you just go on and expect the rest of us follow you! I'm not you, and I will not pretend to be like you." The pirate hissed.

"I don't want you to pretend to be like me." Hawke hissed back, clenching her hands on the table. "I only asked that you tell me things that could put us all in danger. Do you not think that if the Arishok and his men were the rumored savages, we would not have been standing here, arguing about your omission? I understood your reason to keep it from us at the beginning, but you chose to continue your silence. I have a problem with that."

"And what are you going to do? Fight your way through the undercity and reclaimed the bloody relic?"

"I offered my help, did I not?" Hawke rubbed her temple, trying to stem down the resurfacing of anger.

"Hawke..." Isabella paused, unsure of what to say. She was not used to others caring for what she want, or offering help.

Hawke slammed her fist on the table. "We can't stall this forever, Isabella. At least finding the relic would help getting the Qunari off your back."

Isabella listened to Hawke, but refused to meet her gaze.

"Oh Maker, there is more, isn't there?" Hawke asked.

"I'm sorry, Hawke." Isabella's arms tightened around herself. "There is more. Remember Castillon, the man who send the hunters to hunt me? He wants the relic, or he will kill me."

"And you think the Qunari won't?"

"It is easier to avoid the giants - I can see them coming a mile away, but Castillon is crafty." Isabella looks over to Hawke, her eyes asking Hawke to understand. "I don't want to live on the run, Hawke."

"Maker, Isabella!" Hawke ran a hand over her face, before leveling a hard look at the pirate. "And don't say it was to keep me from harm, because it's doing the opposite of the claim."

"I don't want to argue about this." Isabella sighed.

"I don't, either, which is why I need to know you won't keep something like this from me again." Hawke sat down, clearing her mind so she can focus on what need to be done. "Which also bring us to the relic. Where is it?"

"I don't have it."

"Of course you don't, but surely you have some clue as to where it could be?"

"So far, no. I lost it in the shipwreck, and I haven't seen it since. And believe me, I've been casting nets to try and find its whereabout."

"It can't just disappeared into thin air." Hawke allowed a small smile at the dagger stare from the Pirate. It seems Isabella is more anxious to recover the relic than she lets on; but that's the big part of the problem. Finding the relic is one thing, choosing who to give it to is another, and Hawke wasn't sure if either one of those choices would bring the peaceful outcome she wanted. She should have guessed something was afoot sooner, what with Isabella dodging her killer at the beginning of their acquaintance - not that she think Isabella is in as much danger as she believed.

Give the relic to Castillon, and the Arishok will be on their tails for the rest of their short lives. Give the relic to the Arishok, and she might lose Isabella to Castillon.

Hawke blew out a breath, not liking either.

"Where is Castillon?" Hawke asked, picking the lesser devil. "If we get rid of him, then perhaps he wouldn't chase you to the end of the world?"

"Easier said than done." Isabella shook her head, taking a seat next to Hawke. "He is hard to find, unless he want to be found."

"You are what he wants, aren't you?"

"Are you suggesting I should be bait?"

Hawke grinned at Isabella's arched eyebrow, and nodded. "If we say that we captured you and want to give you over to him for, say, two hundred sovereigns."

"Only two hundred? You're selling me so cheap?" The Pirate huffed in indignation.

"I don't want to be too greedy." Hawke explained. "Beside, since we'll be getting you back soon, I'd feel guilty taking too much."

"He's a despicable person, you shouldn't feel guilty for anything."

"True." Hawke considered a higher price. "Four hundred? Too high, and they might not bother."

"With the way he had been angling after me?" Isabella snickered. "I doubt it. And since I'll have to suffer the bastard's company, I'm entitled to 50 percent."

"All you have to do is to be tied up while we'll be doing the real work, and you want a bigger share?"

"You have no idea how smelly Castillon's men could be. 50."

"It's not like you'll be fighting." Hawke rolled her eyes.

"Since when did I ever stand on the sideline?"

At the question, Hawke look over to Isabella under hooded eyes, and the Pirate pouted.

"You need to get over it." Isabella groaned.

"You, me, Fenris, Varric. Twenty five per. Period."

"The thought of those piss-poor, slimy jerks laying hands on me..."

"It was your fault, consider it your punishment. Twenty five, and that's final."

"You're being harsh."

"Considering two cracked ribs and multiple bruises I received from the Arishok, I'm actually being generous."

"You've been through worse." Isabella flick her hand dismissively.

"Thank you for caring." Hawke glared.

"Of course I cared. Why do you think I've been trying to keep you out of this?" The Pirate replied.

Rolling her eyes, Hawke stood up and bid farewell to the source of her headache, temporarily of course, to seek out Varric. She did not have to go far, for the dwarf was pacing in front of Isabella's room.

"Hawke!" Varric stopped, his eyes watching her warily.

"The tavern is in one piece, isn't it?" She growled, answering his silence question, stalking down the hallway toward his room.

"Not just that." He followed, closing the door behind them. "How did your, eh, meeting with the Arishok went?"

Hawke, as usual, made a beeline toward the comfortable bed and dropped herself onto it, staring at the ceiling with her hands under her head. "Did you get the story out of Isabella while I was busy with the Qunari leader?" She asked instead, wanting to get a plan in place.

"Yes." He grunted out, standing next to the bed and idly tapping his chin while his eyes still on her. "She is sorry, and while that was not the excuse you like, it still had kept us away from the reach of Castillon thus far."

"I know." Hawke grin, looking over at the dwarf. "You are either a champion for lost causes, or a meddler."

"Both." He grinned back. "What's on your mind?"

"If Castillon is as horrible as Isabella think he is, then perhaps we can help by eliminate the threat." She said, then sighed at the knowing look Varric gave her. "And yes, my darkest motivation is to return the relic to the Arishok."

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"Liar."

"You wounded me with such accusation." He snickered. "But it's cute how our little bird has a crush on the horned giant."

"I'm not trying to get into his good graces if that's what you mean." Hawke growled, sitting up. "I just think that it's wrong to have this bickering over...Wait, what exactly is the relic anyway? I forgot to ask Isabella that."

"It's a book." He said, then chuckle at the comically puzzling expression on Hawke's face.

"You mean all this over a book?" Hawke frowned. "The Qunari must be bigger readers than I thought. And why did Isabella went through all the trouble of going to Par Vollen just to steal a book?"

"I didn't go to Par Vollen." The door opened, and Isabella walked in, obviously having been eavesdropping in the conversation. "And it's not just a book. I don't know its value exactly, but it there is a whole deal of fighting for it. I merely took it while nobody was watching."

"Isabella..."

"What? It's not like I stole it from the Qunari. They lost the bloody thing a long time ago, so it's not really my fault."

"Orlais did gain the possession of it during the Exalted Marches." Varric confirmed.

"They planned to give it back to the Qunari, so I thought getting it would be fun." Isabella shrugged. "Beside, even if I have not taken the book, the Tevinter Magisters would have attack the Orlais convoy."

"Oh, Maker." Hawke groaned. "Not only the Qunari and Castillon, but now the Tevinter Magisters are involved, too?"

"Broody is going to love this." Varric grimaced.