Hawke hunched over the bar, tankard clenched in his hand.

At the camp, Isabela, Fenris, and Anders argued about the other being at fault for letting him out of their sight. None of the three had any clue where he was.

Well, good. Maybe it would distract them for a little while. He could do with a few hours without the three of them harping about depression and plans and whatnot.

His eyes strayed to the letters on the bar, unopened. He couldn't bear to touch them. He recognized their handwriting, and he knew what they were going to say. 'You're being stupid, come back, let me come with you, we can work it out…stop being an idiot…blah blah blah'.

He loved his friends. But he couldn't bear to hear their words.

Several drinks later, Hawke mustered the courage to open them.

And several drinks later, he came back to the camp trying not to cry because it was just the ale, angrily packing up camp while Isabela, Fenris, and Anders – who had previously been arguing – stared openly.

"Hawke?" Anders was hesitant, remembering the last time he'd had so much ale.

"We're leaving."

"Where?" Isabela asked.

"Kirkwall."

Isabela stood up. "Hawke, that's suicide-"

"We're going."

Much to Isabela's not-surprise, Fenris stood up and began helping. When Isabela glared at him, he glared back. "Trust him, Isabela."

"He's drunk, Fenris."

Anders paused by them, nodding in Hawke's direction. "But he's also holding the letters. And they're open."

That was as good enough a reason as any.

Hawke held on to Bethany, tight as he could, and she laughed, holding on just as tightly. "I missed you brother." Around them, Varric, Merrill, Aveline, and Donnic were chatting with some of the Wardens that had come with Bethany, leaving the two siblings to their reunion.

"As you should have," He kissed her cheek. "But I missed you as well, sister."

Their exchange of feelings was interrupted by the sound of angry voices entering the room.

"Fenris, we're just going to hide out here and wait for him. He'll turn up eventually. It's freezing outside."

Bethany's eyes lit up as she pulled away from her brother. "Isabela!"

"Maybe you should wear more clothes. You'd be warmer."

Hawke shook his head. "And Anders."

"Well, maybe you should get laid, you'd be happier."

Varric chuckled, somehow having found a bottle of alcohol. "Good to be home, right Hawke?"