It was nearly midnight by the time Hawke showed up to the Hanged Man; Fenris, Sebastian and Anders in tow. As everyone settled in and grabbed a drink Kora noticed a very nervous little red-headed girl walk in and scan the group. Apparently not liking what she saw, she quickly threw up her hood to hide her face and made a mad dash back out the door before anyone had noticed. Kora excused herself and walked out under the guise of getting some fresh air.

The light vomit and whiskey smell was replaced by the smell of salty sea air and rotting fish as Kora made her way out the door and into Lowtown. She looked around and, when there was no sign of the young woman, reached out to try to sense her location. She felt someone at the bottom of the stairs in front of her, a rapid heartbeat conveying fear, so she slowly made her way toward it.

"I can guarantee you have nothing to fear from me," she said softly, making her footfalls a bit louder than she normally would as she climbed down the stairs. "But I know you are afraid." The heartbeat seemed to slow slightly until the hooded figure came out of the shadows.

"Why are you so interested?" she asked. At a little over five feet tall she looked up at Kora and Kora smiled back, careful not to make any sudden moves as she noticed the daggers strapped to the girl's back.

"Curiosity mostly," she replied. "I know everyone at that table relatively well and I wouldn't say I would be afraid of any of them. I'd like to know why you are." The stranger relaxed, picking up on Kora's intentions and smiled back, pulling back her hood.

She wasn't as young as Kora first thought, revealing large, deep blue eyes with crow's feet creeping out when she smiled. Her skin was bronzed, as if she spent a majority of her time outside so she was no Kirkwall noble, but her hair was what Kora found striking. It was more than red, it was a deep blood-red, long and shiny as the braid it was held in curled around the woman's shoulder and hung to almost her waist. She grinned sheepishly under Kora's scrutiny.

"I wouldn't know where to begin," she said, keeping her voice low. "He is your friend, after all." Kora's interest peaked.

"So it's one person?" She asked. Suddenly she heard the tavern door open, feeling the mana and taint buzzing through Anders' veins as he stepped out into the street. Her new friend threw up her hood and scurried away. "Wait, it's just Anders!" Kora hissed, trying to keep her voice from carrying.

"I know," the woman called back and disappeared around a corner headed toward Hightown. Kora was really curious now, not remembering the woman from the game, but she realized it was Anders she feared. Kora turned to face the mage, giving him her biggest grin.

"Whatcha doin'?" Anders asked, looking around then resting his eyes on her. Kora shook her head and schooled her face.

"Just checking things out," she replied, pretending to look at the market area. Anders took her arm and lead her back toward the tavern.

"Not the best time of day for that, love," he said as they walked back in. "Found her!"

"Good," Caden huffed. "Now this meeting can begin."

Kora went over all the details she remembered about Corypheus and the blighted dwarves, Varric filling in the gaps with the intelligence his people gathered. She left out the part about Hawke's father, choosing to get him alone to share those details. Feigning ignorance on the reasons they were after Hawke and his brother, she hoped he would understand later. She found out that Carver was indeed a Templar and that Meredith had given him leave to investigate the cause of the attacks on his life so getting him away from the Gallows would be easy.

"Good," Caden said, taking a swig from his mug. "A few more Templars and you won't have to go." Kora bristled, knowing he was once again trying to be the commander and rolled her eyes. This time she refused to rise to the bait, instead turning to Hawke with a smile.

"So I guess tomorrow we should head to the Gallows?" she asked. Hawke, not pleased with the idea of seeing his brother or visiting that awful place, sighed heavily.

"I don't suppose you could find your way without me?" he asked, batting his long black eye lashes at her. She smiled and nodded.

"Of course," she replied and stood, remembering the conversation they still needed to have, "as long as I can borrow you for a few minutes. Just a few loose ends." Hawke looked at her curiously and nodded, following her over to a small table in the corner. They sat down, Hawke looking at her expectantly.

His facial structure was similar to Carver's, just a bit longer in the jaw and with larger eyes. And those eyes, they were the same color as Garrett's. That warm chocolate brown that would make the most stoic woman giggle like a school girl. He wasn't just the Champion, he was handsome; no wonder every woman in the place turned when he walked in. The only problem was he knew it, using it to his advantage at every opportunity. Kora kept her guard up and schooled her features.

"So, Your Grace," he said, reaching over the table toward her hand. Kora saw him coming and moved her hands to her lap with a demure smile. Admitting defeat, Hawke shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "What loose ends do you need to tie up?" Not wanting to draw out this conversation, she decided to get right to the point.

"We need to discuss your father and his involvement in all this." Hawke's façade cracked, shock taking over his handsome features. Kora felt his heart quicken as his defenses went up.

"You will need to be more specific." Kora nodded, choosing her words carefully.

"Your father was the last mage the Wardens coerced into re-setting the seals," she said softly, slow enough that she was sure she wouldn't have to repeat herself. "That is the reason the Carta is after you and Carver, because your blood is the only thing that can break the seals and free Corypheus." His eyes narrowed and he visibly bristled, refusing to accept this stranger's word for fact that his own father was a blood mage.

"And where exactly did you get this bit of information?" he asked snarkily. Before he could continue with his little rant Kora reached over the table and grabbed his hand firmly, her temper flaring up.

"If you think I would leave my home, my family, to travel across Thedas just to tell someone I'd never met that his father performed blood magic under duress just for kicks you are a bigger ass than I thought," she hissed, glancing at the other table to see Anders put a hand on Sebastian's arm, probably to assure him that Kora would not harm Hawke. Her eyes locked back onto Hawke's.

"I hate this knowledge," she began, loosening her grip. "I hate the responsibility, the power. I hate that some of it I got too soon and the rest I got too late." Her thoughts wandered to Kinloch briefly but she shook her head to focus. "I would not tell you this if it were not true however you will find out for yourself when we get there. I just wanted to warn you…" Kora felt her chest tighten, tears stinging behind her eyes as she thought of her brother Vaughan. "I know what it is like to find out someone you love is capable of something you find so foul. I didn't want you to be caught unaware." She let go of his hand and waited for a response.

Hawke's mind flew in every direction. Anger, fear, disbelief, sadness, they all flooded his chest as he pondered the idea that this woman was indeed telling him the truth. And why would she lie? As she said, she traveled across Thedas to find him, to tell him and help him in this deed that was far bigger than he originally anticipated. But how could he believe something this horrible of his father?

Malcolm Hawke was his teacher, his protector, his guide in so much more than controlling his magic. He was a great man, a man who stood by his morals, a man who loved his wife and children. Someone who would not harm anyone unless they were endangering his family, not stoop to such levels. It just didn't make sense.

"Why?" Hawke barely got the word out, his eyes boring into Kora's. She took a deep breath.

"They threatened your mother." Hawke glared down at the table top, the loss of his mother too recent for him to process this new information easily. And a blood mage killing her? Just the connection he did not need at the moment. Kora gave him some time, let everything sink in before reaching across the table again.

"Sleep on it," she said gently, running her fingers over his clenched fists until they loosened. "This is so much more than you bargained for, I know that. Take it all in and we can talk more when you're ready." She glanced over at her brother who was being lead to the back stairs by his wife, his eyes tired and movements slowed by the alcohol. Kora smiled. "I think we all need a good night's sleep." Hawke's eyes met hers.

"How do you do it?" he asked. "How do you keep all that knowledge, all that bullshit bottled up inside, only to be released when needed?" Kora laughed out loud, only then realizing how it was that she was able to.

"I'm a Berserker. It's what we do."

Sebastian and Fenris waited for Kora in the tavern as she dressed, her head a bit foggy from the night before. Once her conversation with Hawke had ended she made the mistake of admitting she needed a few drinks. Those drinks apparently multiplied with the help of Elissa once she returned from putting Caden to bed as well as Varric so her eyes felt like they were going to explode. Sebastian and Fenris had offered to escort her to the Gallows, hence the reason Sebastian had knocked on her door so blighted early. She was regretting accepting.

She emerged from her room dressed in a simple white tunic and brown leather pants with matching boots up to her knees. Her hair was pulled back into a braid, hidden by the hood of a brown cloak she had picked up in Amaranthine when she was last there. She smiled as she walked down the stairs, nodding to Sebastian as he motioned for her to go first.

"Considering how much you consumed last night," Sebastian quipped, "I'm surprised you are standing My Lady." Kora's fingers went to her temple to put some pressure there.

"Don't worry," she assured him, "I'm feeling the hang over." She winked at Fenris who gave her a nod. Still not opening up, Kora thought. Deciding to make it her life's mission to make that elf smile she tried to come up with creative ways as they made their way down to the docks.

The boat ride across the bay was slow going, the waves bashing the little row so badly Kora thought for sure she would have to swim to get to their destination, secretly glad she didn't wear armor like Fenris always did. She took the opportunity to study the warrior, his head turned away from her to keep from possibly vomiting on her.

He was far more muscular than the game gave him credit for, his legs thicker than hers but not quite as wide as say Caden's. His shoulders were definitely broader than a normal elf but the greatsword strapped to his back was the reason for that. Every movement made his bicep strain, his markings appearing to breathe. And his hair was stark white and looked so silky, so much so that Kora barely resisted reaching out to touch it. The boat docked with a bang, breaking her daze as Sebastian stood and offered her a hand. She took it and followed him into the courtyard.

Kora had to concentrate on not letting her mouth gape open at the sight of the bodies hung just outside the entrance, some in Templar armor and others in mage robes. Meredith really is a dictator, she thought as they made their way inside, her stomach turning but not just at the sight of the dead.

Cullen was here.

Fear engulfed her with every step she took, knowing it was one step closer to judgment. Would he blame her? Would he forgive her? Would he pull her into his arms, hug her like he used to or would he haul off and deck her? Her mind was a jumble of questions with no answers flinging about until she felt a gauntlet covered hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Fenris asked, obviously concerned. Kora nodded and smiled, following it up with an obvious swallow. Sebastian motioned to a figure standing off to the side surrounded by others in Templar armor.

"There he is," he said, moving aside for her to pass. Kora contemplated asking the men to accompany her but realized that would seem childish. Unless of course Cullen proceeded to beat her to death but she was sure he wouldn't do that. Kind of. Ok I'm going, she thought, took a deep breath, swallowed again, and practically marched toward the Knight Captain.

As she approached she could hear him giving instructions to the others, apparently new initiates heading out to hunt mages on the Wounded Coast. His voice was stern but even and left no room for question.

"I will not hear of any of you abusing authority," he insisted. "No one other than a mage will be taken into custody. Is that clear?" They all replied with a stiff 'Yes sir" and he waved them off impatiently. Kora's throat dried up as she took a step closer. He seemed to notice her but didn't pay too much attention, barely looking up from the clip board he was holding. "Yes?"

She opened her mouth to speak but realized she didn't know what to say. How does one address someone they abandoned by dying? Kora laughed, mostly at herself as she looked at the ground. Really, she thought, you are acting like a child, not an Arlessa. She looked back up at him and saw his eyes were fixed on her.

"Can I…" Cullen could see the woman's eyes now, a bright but deep blue, like sapphires when light shines through them. He knew he had seen eyes like that before but it was long ago, it wasn't possible, she was…

"Hi Cullen," her voice just above a whisper, her smile shy and fleeting while he stood there staring at her. She shuffled her feet, eyes dropping back to the ground as she waited for him to respond and squeezed her eyes shut. Maker, why isn't he saying anything?

Suddenly she felt a knuckle under her chin, slowly lifting it up. Still terrified, she opened her eyes one at a time to look at Cullen. His expression was so mixed she couldn't make it out but she could feel his heart beating at a rabbit's pace. Again she tried to smile but couldn't hold it, her lip quivering as he held her chin gently.

"Kora?" he whispered, eyes shining. She nodded slightly, tears she didn't realize had been pooling in her eyes falling down her cheeks. He moved his hand from her chin to cup her cheek then brought up the other, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "But… how?" Kora let out a half-sob-half-laugh, finally starting to relax slightly under his warm gaze.

"Oh, that is a long story my friend," she said sniffling. "One I would love to share but…" she reached up to wipe her face but because he hadn't let go yet she took hold of his hands.

The skin on the back of his hands was smooth as she ran the pad of her thumbs over them. The tips of her fingers she'd cupped inside his palms dragged across calluses, making her smile as she squeezed them tight. He was there; he was really there and in front of her and not angry. She shook her head, not sure whether or not to believe what was happening as she watched Cullen's eyes scan her face.

The tiny scar above her right eyebrow is still there, he thought, smiling at the memory. She had gotten into an argument with a local at The Spoiled Princess, some fool thing he'd said about mages setting her off. Cullen tried to be gallant, stepping between her and the much larger man but she was faster, letting the drunken idiot get one punch in before she took him down. He remembered bringing the rag up to her eye to stop the bleeding and she didn't even flinch, instead smiling like mad with her eyes shining.

Her eyes. They were the same bottomless blue with that thin golden ring around the pupil. Wanting to take in every detail he lowered his gaze, noticing her angular nose and high cheek bones were rosey. Probably from the wind crossing the bay, he reasoned, but when his eyes fell to her lips his breath caught in his throat. They were a perfect shade of pink, her bottom lip still trembling slightly to the point of distraction. His cheeks turning crimson, he dropped his hands from her face and reached back to grab the back of his neck.

"I, uh… I would like that," he stuttered, making her smile wider. He noticed her lip had stopped trembling and he relaxed a bit. "How long will you be here?"

"Don't know," she replied, trying to remember what she was really there for, "but it could be a short visit depending on what your response to my next question is." Cullen arched his eyebrow.

"What question would that be?" he asked, a faint smirk taking over his lips. Kora giggled.

"Well, it's a three parter," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose and keeping her voice low, "First can you please keep my presence here and the reason for my presence a secret? From Meredith, I mean." She watched his body language change from relaxed to tense, standing at attention. Not as easy as I'd hoped, she thought.

"That depends on your intentions," he replied almost automatically. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them, Kora giving him an annoyed look as she rested a hand on her hip.

Cullen's eyes rested on that hip. It was fuller than when she was younger but not in a bad way, the curve pulling on the leather just enough to make the seam obvious. His chest began to burn in a way that he hadn't felt in a long time, a longing he thought lost when he had mourned her death all those years ago. Realizing he was staring he swallowed and looked back up into her eyes.

"Oh please, don't look at me like that. Like I would make you do anything to get you booted from the order," she laughed. Relishing the idea of falling back into a familiar banter with his old friend, his mood lightened.

"Ha, you just haven't come up with a really good way yet," he retorted. Kora laughed.

"Oh yes, always my fault right? I was such a terrible influence on you, poor, innocent Cullen Rutherford," she said sarcastically. "Bull shit." He crossed his arms and glared down at her playfully.

"As a matter of fact, all the bad ideas were yours, Kora Kendalls," he replied, following it up with a grin. "Greagoir did always refer to you as 'The Troublemaker'." Kora feigned shock, holding a hand to her chest and batting her eye lashes.

"I am quite sure I have no idea what you are referring to, Messere." Cullen rolled his eyes.

"Right."

"What?"

"Kora…"

"Cullen…" Before he could stop himself he reached out and pulled her into his arms, pushing his face into her hair and squeezing her so tight she could barely breathe. Laughing, she latched onto his waist and squeezed right back. Her laughter elicited a few low rumbles from him until he pulled back to see her face again.

"Maker I missed you." Kora fought back the tears threatening to reappear as her heart swelled, that sentence making her happier than she could have ever thought possible.

"I missed you too."