Carver hated the Deep Roads. He was also very much starting to hate darkspawn. He looked over to Anders, who had only just been forced to sleep; apparently, this place affected him worse due to the taint of being a Warden. It made the Hawke boy regret having dragged him down here, even if the mage had happily agreed to joining him.

Maybe a bit too happily.

Bethany had stayed behind with their mother, Carver unwilling to force them both into the Deep Roads. Isabella was also sadly absent, being far too distracting to Carver. So he was there with Merrill, Anders...and Varric. The dwarf's stories were at least entertaining as they hunted a way out of this maze. Bertrand seemed to have no plan to share the expedition's wealth- should have figured on that, though the dwarf turnin on his brother as well was an unfathomable surprise. He'd never do that to either of his own sister.

Three days passed with them on this path, and Carver felt like it was running in circles through the thaig. Then he heard the noises. At first he thought it was more darkspawn, since they seemed to be everywhere. That only lasted until he realized he could hear voices actually speaking clearly.

"Twenty-seven? Are you kidding me?"

"Andraste's flames, Mari! Not everyone can be the patron saint of killing these arsewipes like you. What is your count them? Forty-three?"

"Fifty even actually, Nate. Do try to keep up, alright?"

Carver recognized one of those voices. He looked up to lock eyes with Anders, and both took off through the passage ahead towards the duo.

"Marian!" Carver laughed. He was seeing his sister for the first time in nearly two years, and she looked strangely similar. She turned in surprise as she heard him and grinned widely. In seconds both had shouldered their weapons and were wrapped in a hug.

"It's been too long," Marian sighed happily.

Carver squeezed once more before stepping back to assess the woman his sister had become. Not that much time had passed, but it had been an exceedingly trying one for both of them. She seemed more natural and comfortable now, even here. Thinking on it, he realized it might be that she was more at ease here. The man beside her was as appraising as Carver was, though the man still managed to stay right at Mari's back. Must be an excellent second for her.

Then Carver looked to his own group. Merrill was looking at them and the rocks equally; Varric's eyes were wide- no doubt sensing a story; Anders however...

"Anders you can stop pretending not to know my sister well," Carver sighed. Marian looked over at Anders with a shrug, which the mage mirrored perfectly. Then they shared a hug, natural and warm.

"You had one job Anders. You were going to protect my family. So how did you end up stuck down here in a Maker-forsaken ancient thaig that barely had a tunnel to break into?"

"Umm... oops?"

Carver watched as Marian thwacked his blonde mage companion on the head. "Oops? I should be furious with you, Anders! Oops?"

The younger Hawke chose to interject, saving his friend from further undoing. "I swear you two are the siblings."

"Siblings? Whose siblings? I like siblings."

Carver looked at the elf briefly and made introductions. Merrill squeeled in delight to meet another Hawke. Varric seemed about to burst with questions.

Anders, for his part, subtly moved to Marian's side. Carver noticed right off and understood his suspicions about the heale's loyalty had been spot-on. It only made sense. It was even amusing, watching the duo. Even as Mari answered questions, Anders backed up with information not, infinitely more talkative than the other Warden among them.

Then Marian officially introduced her companion, blushing lightly as she did. The others may not notice, but to Carver it was very obvious, and made him consider the man with a much more discerning eye. Howe may have seemed unflappable, but now that he hinted Carver saw the man was not just watching Marian with a purely professional eye.

That was...priceless.

The duo suggested traveling with Carver's group, as they had finished their job here (whatever that was supposed to be) and had planned to continue to Kirkwall anyway. Carver didn't oppose it- he'd done the bulk of work after all, and if Marian was willing to see mom afterwards it couldn't be that bad an idea. Anything to get out of this forsaken place.

In fact, in the end, Carver appreciated their attendance. With three Wardens they were able to avoid most of the darkspawn up until the final cavern. The one filled with more treasure than he could possibly have hoped. He turned to Varric excitedly, almost bouncing in spite of the pains of that last fight. The dwarf's grin matched.

They had done it. They were rich.