Chapter Three

Hawke had no interest in continuing the discussion she could vaguely remember she and her mother having last night; and so being the coward she was she had rose at the first light of dawn scarcely four or five hours since she'd crawled into bed and had dressed. Trying to explain to a normal dog that they needed to be quiet would have perhaps been hard, but not Kodi, the Mabari had seemed to take her 'sneak' order rather seriously; if she wasn't so worried Leandra might burst from her room at any moment to stop her escape she would have giggled at the way he flattened himself to the floorboards and shuffled forward.

Leaving a note on the table for Bethany telling her to meet her by Elegant's stall in the bazaar when she finally decided to get out of bed, Marea fled the house and the stench of rotting cabbage, wandering the streets that were only just starting to be bathed with the weak morning sun. She took the opportunity to enjoy the moment, but midday she would be cursing the heat and light, but for now she could close her eyes and imagine she was back in Ferelden.

Thanks to Varric the night before her purse had needed to be re-filled with some of the expedition fund, something that she hadn't been overly pleased about when she'd cracked her eyes open, head pounding and tongue fuzzy, and remembered what had happened when she'd gone to the Hanged Man. As she passed the armour store, downing a bottle of elfroot potion to stop the raging Bronto running around her skull, or at least dull the throbbing a little, she found herself pausing to appreciate the wares, Kodi pressed to her knees to stop her from staggering as her sore eyes got used to the morning light.

Squinting at the set of leathers on the armour stand Hawke's fingers brushed across the heavier purse at her hip, biting her lower lip; it was necessity only. Or potions or to pay for their current belongings to be repaired but the idea of having armour that was hers, not something that a balding, nug humping bastard had given her when the leathers she'd bought from Ferelden with her had all but disintegrated, was far too appealing. She found herself coming up with an argument against her own mind as to why she should treat herself to the armour; not that she was putting up much of a counter argument.

Oh to the void with it, she'd buy the leathers and suffer the consequences later. If her migraine was anything to go by she was going to have a bad day anyway, so why not spoil herself a little before the demons sprung and her sister got here? Pointing it out to the proprietor Marea left barely five minutes later with it tucked under her arm and made a mad dash to the Hanged Man; she needed to pick up Varric before they went to question Irene and she could change there.

"Good morning, Coriff."

The balding man looked up from the filthy glass he was cleaning with a threadbare rag and offered her a small, toothless smile, inclining his head in her direction. He pressed a finger to his lips and gestured towards the numerous drunkards passed out on tables around the open expanse of the bar and she nodded in acknowledgement, wrapping her fingers in the thick scruff of fur and skin at the back of Kodi's neck to keep him nearby. Together they slowly picked their way through the bodies slouched on the sticky floor and benches and up the steps to Varric' suite.

She almost felt like a scoundrel when she crept inside of his rooms to find the dwarf still asleep and in bed, no doubt nursing a hangover of his own, but mentally scolded herself; Varric was a grown man with a healthy attitude towards women (from what she'd seen last night when he'd been outlandishly flirting with one of the barmaids) and would probably not take offense to her finding him in a state of undress. So she'd quietly shied round towards the fireplace where she could change in peace and set about changing from one set of battered leathers to the new set she'd just acquired, the Mabari sat just behind her to warn her if anyone approached.

Hawke had had one leg in the thin drakeskin breeches when she heard a quiet cough behind her, and she turned with a barely contained shriek to see her (previously unknowing) host standing behind her, a bathrobe round his shoulders and openly staring at her thighs and, to her horror, her exposed stomach and breasts. Scrabbling to cover herself she pulled the abandoned leathers over her chest and backed into the corner, glowering down at Kodi who seemed utterly taken with this new game and was bounding about in circles.

"Some bloody guard dog you are..."

Varric chuckled and leant his hip on the arm of one of the many chairs around his table, arms crossed over his chest. "Now this wasn't quite what I was expecting to wake up to. Not that I'm complaining of course, I can think of far worse things than having a beautiful, almost naked woman trying to wiggle her way into a pair of breeches."

"Will you avert your eyes!" she hissed her face beetroot red as she shifted under his lecherous grin and only relaxed when the dwarf turned his back to her. Her dignity safe, for now, she finished squirming into the breeches, which looked much tighter than they felt, belted them and tugged on her shirt, tugging the sleeves down from where she bunched them by her elbows. "You can...look round now."

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but to what do I owe the pleasure at this blighted hour of the morning?"

Sighing Marea sat down on the edge of the table and set about tugging on her boots and strapping the greaves over her shins. She seemed to be thinking hard on what she was about to say and actually paused for a moment before she looked over at him with a sad smile. "Mother and I had a bit of a spat last night...We both said some pretty hurtful things and – well I'm being a coward and hiding, then I saw these and decided I had to have them."

Well...the only one who actually said anything hurtful was me...

"Ahh. Right. I have something I wanted to give you buy the way," he continued briskly, glazing over the sudden awkwardness in the air as he fished through his coat pocket hanging on the wall. Tossing a coin purse in her direction he chuckled, "Now you've learnt your lesson you can have this back, put it in the expedition fund to make up for your outlandish buy."

Smiling sadly, the blonde nodded. "Thanks, Varric."

She tried to ignore the way Varric was looking at her, his gaze something akin to pity, and picked up the re-enforced dark drakeskin corset, slipping her arms through the thin straps and quietly set about tightening the laces from her stomach up over the swell of her breasts. Quietly she tested her movement, swinging her arm in a long arch and arched her back into a handstand; the drakebone dug into her waist a little but it wasn't something that restricted her and would yield with more wear.

Placing her feet back down on the floor she was grateful to see a mug of something steaming hot and the familiar waft of the herbal tea hit her nostrils. Raising her eyebrow at her companion she lifted it to her lips and took a sip, closing her eyes at the tangy flavour and recognizable flavour of...

"Are you teasing me again?" she asked honestly, placing her drink down to shrug into her harness for her weapons and wrapped her belt of pouches around her neck.

"Tease you? I don't think even Ihave the balls to tease you, Elfroot."

Yes. He was teasing her.

Narrowing her eyes good naturedly Hawke folded her old leathers and placed them on the table before she took another sip. They would have to stay here until she could get them home and she winced at the promise of the argument she and her mother would undoubtedly have when she finally showed her face; reaching down she absently scratched behind Kodi's ears before tugging her hair out of the messy braid that looked like she'd done it in the dark. Which she had.

"I've been thinking – "

"That's not a healthy habit to get into, Hawke. Leave all the planning to me," he chuckled and grinned when the blonde stuck her tongue out at him childishly.

"I've been thinking that we should go look at the Chanter's Board for work," she continued on, blushing when his gaze turned incredulous. "Don't look at me like that, dwarf, there are always jobs on the Chanter's Board."

Varric remained silent for a moment, picking out his words carefully before saying, "We're not a charity, Elfroot...Besides I thought you didn't believe in the Maker."

"I don't, but whether or not I believe in the Maker has nothing to do with the fact that rich nobles put small tasks on there that they pay well for. It's worth a look right? I mean the day before I met you there was this man wandering around asking if anyone had seen his wife's dog...Had a stupid name, something like Truffles – Tha – no...Taffy I think. But the point was that Kodi found the daft creature trapped in a crate and when I handed him over I got a couple of sovereigns for my trouble. Nobles are always willing to part with their money for shit they can't be bothered to do themselves."

"Whatever you say, Hawke. You're the boss."

Too damn right I'm the boss.

Combing her fingers through it to loosen the knots she noticed Varric watching her avidly, eyes hooded in concentration. She was afraid to ask exactly what was going through that mind of his, it was probably something to do with turning their morning into an action packed tale where the bedazzling heroine and her charming dwarf took out an entire platoon of corrupted guards void bent on taking a poor maidens dignity. However he didn't look away as he usually did when she turned her scrutiny on her and she shifted awkwardly. "What?"

"You look different with your hair down you know. It's longer than you would have expected," he explained and she watched, turning a soft shade of pink, as liquid gold eyes traced the flaxen curls down to the curve of her behind, now very defined thanks to the well fitting breeches. Perhaps she should have kept the old leathers, these actually showed her figure – Maker help them all.

Snorting she tossed her head side to side a couple of times before setting to work on braiding said hair, "How so?"

"It softens you; with it up you're Hawke, the stunning woman who could cut your heart out and feed it to you without batting an eyelid, with it down you look like a woman, one who could charm your heart out of your chest with a bat of her eyelids," he said, perhaps a little shocked at the apprehension. He knew of course that there was a person beneath the persona he'd been creating but the idea that she was a living, breathing, feeling, loving woman with hopes and fears was a little more insight than he wanted.

"Don't be ridiculous, Varric," Marea chuckled and looked over her shoulder at him, tugging the plait to one side so she could finish it off. "I'm a rogue, not a woman."

"They can't be the same person?"

"Not according to my mother, no," she remarked dryly, binding the base before teasing small curls from the main body to hang around her face. She'd never done it before, but Varric immediately approved, she wasn't a man so she needn't look like one; he'd drive that home even if it took him weeks, months even years to get through to her.

"So what does your mother think you are?"

"Not sure," the blonde answered with a shrug and a sad smile. "I think the spawn of the Archdemon always works well."

"Nonsense. You're a beautiful woman, Hawke. There isn't any reason why people can't see you for what you are every now and then. Now, if you excuse me, I need to get ready."

"There you are! I've been waiting here for ages where have you been?"

Varric, Hawke and Kodi padded over to the apostate, her sister wearing a sheepish smile as they got closer and Bethany saw the new leathers. A short look passed over the brunette's face as she took in Marea's appearance, a look that was suspiciously akin to jealousy (though the blonde sibling convinced herself she must have just been imagining it) and waited for the two rogues to explain themselves.

"Sorry Bethany, Varric takes foreverto get ready. You see that chest hair; each single strand is set in place with infinite care – it was a mystery to behold."

The dwarf snorted and gently pushed Hawke's hip with a feral grin, "Says she who, in all her naked splendour, was trying to shimmy her way into those breeches. I think the proprietor forgot to tell you that you needed to sew yourself into them each morning."

Bethany watched them in silence for a moment, silently seething over how well the pair got on; she knew it was selfish, but she wanted the attention to be on her, like it had back in Lothering. She wanted the old Marea back, the one from before Papa died, where Bethany had been able to tell her older sister what to do and she would do it. It seemed that in Kirkwall being pretty wasn't enough, not unless you were a noble with the money to back you up and her sister had something that she didn't, a noticeable ability to look after herself which translated itself into one thing only; sex appeal. Aveline preferred Marea – that much was blatantly obvious from the way the woman looked out for her and now Varric had fallen for her charms...But why had she been naked?

Oh Maker...She slept with him. That has to be it; she must have slept with him and that's why they're so close.

Jealousy didn't suit the little ray of sunshine one bit, Varric decided, and Hawke seemed all but oblivious to it. It might have been a confidence booster if she had realised that he sister was envious of her but he decided to take neither side. Whatever was going on between them both could stay between them until they saw fit to sort it out; he knew he certainly didn't want people nosing about the drama that was his and Bartrand's relationship.

"How did you sleep?"

The youngest Hawke sister was jerked out of her reverie at her sibling's question and turned her attention to Marea, who was crouched down next to Kodi affectionately rubbing his ears, prompting several loud, and excited, whimpers as his short tail attempted to wag it's way free of his bulk. Shrugging she chose the most spiteful thing she could think of without outright insulting her: "Alright, once you and mother stopped shouting at each other. She seemed quieter than usual this morning..."

With a soft, and somewhat disinterested, hmmm, Hawke got to her feet and turned her piercing gaze on Bethany, enjoying the way she squirmed under the almost-glare. "Shall we get going then? We have a Grey Warden to find."

"What?"

Ah yes, Bethany didn't know yet. Giving Varric a meaningful look over her shoulder for him to fill her in she quietly set about scaling the steps to Irene's Ferelden Imports so they could ask her a few friendly questions and pushed open the door.

The place was full to the brim, the dingy walls lined with the grimy faces of the desperate; and though it was as clean as was possible in such a building in Lowtown the rancid smell of body odour, stale blood and pass permeated the air. It was a place for refugees to come for help, and they seemed to be cracking under the strain. At the forefront of the 'shop' stood a stern looking woman with plain, clothing and brown hair hanging around her face; the poor lady had put in an effort, but nothing could hide the tell-tale dark circles beneath her eyes.

"Will everyone please step back!" she shouted over the cries of the destitute; pleas for assistance, food, money, work, help.

"Bethany, you wait outside with Kodi, make sure he doesn't run off and upset a cart would you?" Hawke asked quietly, glancing down at the Mabari at their feet who was trying to cover himself with as much dust as possible. The younger woman looked like she was about to protest but at a sharp look she sighed and nodded, taking Kodi by the ruff and dragged him back outside.

Marea slowly walked past the long cue, gently pushing her way through the crowds and not one person tried to stop her; she got the distinct feeling it was because she was so well equipped, not to mention she'd had to school her features into a mask of quiet indifference. Scenes like this made her want to vomit, especially knowing that there were people in Hightown who could do something about this. It wouldn't cost them much either, if everyone of them put in one or two sovereigns then people like Irene could house these poor sods.

"Please you gotta help! The baby's come early; Mama's bleeding you gotta help her!"

The woman Irene sighed and ran a hand over her face, turning to nod to one of the assistants who got to her feet and disappeared out the back. "I'll send word to the healer but..."

"My boy can't move, there was an accident in the Bone Pit and – "

As Hawke and Varric gently muscled their way through the last few refugees Irene raised her hand to silence the man, turning to look at the well armed newcomers. After a long moment of silence she slowly opened her mouth to speak, "If you're seeking aid, leave your name with my girl, we serve everyone here...no one fled the Blight and Ferelden without trouble, but I can'tgive priority to those who had already found shelter and work."

"Is there any way I can assist these people?" Marea asked quietly, looking around the grimy faces with hard eyed children peering out at her from beneath filthy cloaks – her heart squeezed again and she sent a silencing look in Varric's direction as he mumbled her name. Probably to discourage her from giving her help – the miser.

"If you've coin to spare we won't turn it down, leave it in the donation box at the front. Anything else?"

The blonde fell silent for a moment, choosing her words carefully before she tentatively broached the subject she'd come to ask about. "I'm actually looking for someone, and I heard you knew where I could find them; a Ferelden Grey Warden..."

Irene's eyes hardened to flints at the question and Hawke immediately regretted being so forward. She should have lied, bribed, anything... "The only Ferelden Grey Warden I know of is sat on the Throne. We're out of the Blight's path now, what need would you have for a Warden?"

"The healer was one of 'em once, weren't he? A Warden?"

At that moment Hawke could have kissed the woman who had cried about her mother being in labour and she made a mental note to give the girl some coin before she left. Irene however sent her a withering look and folded her arms defensively across her chest. "Well he isn't anymore, and busy enough without asking fool questions about it."

"Then I'll be sure to only ask very clever questions about it."

Another narrowed glare was sent her way. "I do not joke, Serah. You see what our people suffer in Kirkwall. They have no jobs, no homes; most cannot even buy bread. But this healer, he serves them without thought for coin; he's closed their wounds, delivered their children. He's a good man; I wouldn't see him handed over to the blighted Templars."

Hawke mentally sighed and closed her eyes; there were always, always Templars.

"He's a mage then?"

At the solemn nod she received Marea offered the woman a wry smile, "Tell me he's got gorgeous eyes and a killer smile and I'll marry him on the spot, mage or no."

Irene smiled sadly. "He's got the eyes, but I've never seen him smile. I think he's lost more than all of us, somehow. But I suppose it's not my secret to keep, Anders has certainly been free enough with his services. Refugees in Darktown know – to find the healer, look for the lit lantern. If you have need enough, Anders will be within."

Inclining her head in thanks the blonde reached for her coin purse and emptied a couple of silver onto her hand turning to the teenage girl who had inadvertently assisted her. Taking her hand she pressed the coin into her palm and smiled warmly down at her, watching in delight as her eyes widened impossibly. Marea wasn't sure whether or not to recoil from the embrace suddenly forced upon her, but she simply bore the thanks in silence before striding to the exit, dropping a couple of gold pieces into the box on her way out.

"You're a real soft touch you know that?" Varric grumbled accusingly as she tied the pouch to her belt once more.

Smiling sheepishly Marea shrugged and nodded to Bethany who walked over slowly to meet them, the Mabari bouncing wildly around her feet. She quickly retold everything that had been said inside the shop and the younger woman nodded in agreement.

"No mage should suffer for an accident of birth."

"I agree," Hawke said quietly and for once their gaze softened as they looked at each other; for all their animosity towards each other at times they wouldn't live without the other. "But it's not an accident of birth, mages are dangerous, yes, but they are what they are. There are plenty of people who don't have magic who are more likely to kill a man."

They were suddenly interrupted as Kodi let out a vicious snarl, crouching onto his forepaws dangerously as a large group of armed Ferelden men stomped towards them. Placing her hand on his head as a silent signal for him to stay Marea settled her unnerving gaze on the crowd, frowning slightly.

"We heard you in there; askin' about the healer. Don't think we don't know what happens to mages in Kirkwall!"

She'd been about to defend herself when Bethany suddenly jumped to her rescue, much to both of their surprise. "Look! We're Fereldens just like you trying to stay out of the Templar's sight!"

The leader frowned, taken aback by the information and he silently scrutinized their faces; he looked a little dubious as he stared at the younger woman but as soon as he looked a little closer at the blonde's features he relaxed a fraction. "I- I'm sorry. With your clothes I took you for a Kirkwaller...Maker bless our good King Alistair," he said meekly and bowed awkwardly before the group dispersed.

As loathed as she was to admit it Hawke was rather glad Bethany had been there, because Maker knew she would have put her foot in it and blood would have been shed.

"Well...Looks like we're taking Darktown."

"Yes, and while we're down there we can locate the cellars for the Amell estate," Bethany added matter-of-factly, staring at her sister. It was obvious from the way Marea froze for a moment that she didn't want to do as her sibling asked, but after a moment or so of conflicted silence the blonde bobbed her head in acknowledgement and started down the steps, following Varric's instructions on how to get into the sewers.

Maker how do people live down here?

The question and the realisation that this could have been them had they been less lucky had hit her like a raging Ogre and she'd barely suppressed the bile that rose in the back of her throat. And she had thought the people in Irene's store had been desperate; they had only had a taste of the void that was Darktown. It was aptly named; the only light that seemed to illuminate the blanket of forced twilight came from the scattered lanterns in high brackets along the walls and from the luminous moss that covered said walls.

Consequently it hadn't taken them long to find the lantern above two large doors that belonged to the healer, and Varric had all but had to drag the blonde away from the ever growing group of children before they completely leeched her of all her coin.

"You're a guard dog," he complained and looked down to Kodi as Marea silently walking in front of them, seething no doubt. "Guard her from people who want her money."

The Mabari had cocked his head in the dwarf's direction with sad, forlorn eyes before barking once and bounded towards his mistress, growling softly at anyone who so much as made a move towards her before demanding attention from her with slobbery licks to her hand for his job well done. When no such praise was forth coming he sulked back to Varric with a whine.

"Don't worry. I'll get you some scraps later."

Rejuvenated by the promise of food Kodi dashed back to cut off another beggar, much to Hawke's frustration.

"Look! There's the cellar...right next to the Warden's clinic. Do you think we could just – "

"No Bethany," Marea said firmly and turned her disapproving gaze on the younger woman. "We're not going to rush headlong into a nest of slavers with a mage and two rogues. As and when I've learnt enough about the place we'll bring Aveline along to help us."

Ignoring the consequent tetchy grumblings under Bethany's breath about her overly prepared sibling, Hawke pushed the door open and slowly walked into the room. The walls had mostly been scraped free of moss and growth, though it looked like it might be starting to grow back, and had lines of makeshift canvas beds, bloodstained and battered. To the right was a small crude improvisation of an alter, where she assumed people could pray for their loved ones safe recovery or to beg the Maker to take their soul into his bosom.

For the most part the clinic was empty, save a worry worn woman, two men of differing ages and a boy, perhaps no more than eight, lying prone on a table. The younger of the two men was frowning in concentration, his hands aglow with healing magic that passed into and through the boy; he faltered for a moment, but it was a short moment. With a surge of willpower the light brightened and then receded entirely. The child sat up groggily and the woman, who Hawke assumed was his mother, sobbed in relief, clutching him to her as her husband reached out to gently squeeze the blonde's shoulder in thanks.

Seeing them standing just inside the doorway however, had the three refugees fleeing to the door and out of harm's way.

No one moved for a few seconds as Ander's regained his strength and Marea simply took the opportunity to scrutinize what she could see of the man. He was tall, of that there was no doubt, and though she was not a particularly tall woman she was certain that he would tower over Aveline; perhaps if Carver were still alive he might have had someone to keep him company up in the clouds. And from what she could see from the robes he wore he was well build, no doubt from his time in battle and then in helping to move sick people; blonde hair was tied at the back of his head.

Suddenly he whirled round on them, his staff suddenly in hand and he raised he free hand palm towards them in warning, his voice thick with anger. "I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation; why do you threaten it?"

Maker...Irene had been right about those eyes.

The sheer depth in them, the suffering and pain but also bright resilience staggered her for a moment. She'd only seen eyes like that on two other people; her father and...herself. Just as it looked like his patience was about to wear thin Hawke answered.

"An odd occupation for a Warden. Aren't you usually more about taint, darkspawn and death? Not healing and salvation."

Some form of recognition shone in those expressive eyes and he lowered his hand a fraction, watching them suspiciously. "Did the Wardens send you to bring me back? Well I'm not going - " he said petulantly and jabbed the tip of his crackling staff in her direction threateningly, "- those bastards made me get rid of my cat. Poor Ser-Pounce-Alot, he hated the Deep Roads."

Marea couldn't help but actually smile, though she expertly hid it behind a cough and a raised hand. "You er...had a cat called Ser-Pounce-Alot in the Deep Roads?"

"He was a gift; a noble beast. Almost got ripped in two by a Genlock once, he swatted the bugger on the nose, drew blood too. The blighted Wardens said he made me too soft...I had to give him to a friend in Amaranthine," he continued fondly only pausing when he noticed the look the blonde woman was giving him. "You look confused."

"Well, I just always thought that joining the Grey Wardens was for life."

"That's only partly true, the hopelessly tainted by the darkspawn and plagued by nightmares about the Archdemon part doesn't go away. But it turns out that if you keep a low profile you don't have to wear the uniform or go to the parties."

Hawke nodded once, then twice and sighed, "It sounds like you've been through a lot. It can't have been easy to get where you are now, I'm sorry."

Anders' gaze softened slightly at her compassion and slowly placed his staff back to its station against the wall and he simply nodded in thanks. Perhaps in another time he would have been outrageously flirting with this woman by now, but age had mellowed him somewhat, she was beautiful, if not somewhat sharp at the same time; but she certainly knew how to dress herself. His eyes having subtly roved her slender frame his eyes flickered to the woman just behind her, and more importantly the staff at her back.

Another mage and an apostate from the looks of things. It explained the older woman's understanding where he was concerned.

As the man looked over at Bethany and Marea saw the recognition pass over his features she stiffened. But of course Bethany would have to ruin it. For one long moment she'd actually found a man who, for the first time in years, had caught her interest; and now he was looking at her just like everyone else. Of course she shouldn't have expected any less, the two had so much in common. They were both mages, both apostates, why in the Maker's name did she think for one moment that he might have been attracted to someone like her?

It was the last time she listened to Varric. Her mother had been right; she couldn't hold a candle to the beauty that was her younger sister.

Her next words shocked them both.

"We need a way into the Deep Roads; you can tell me willingly or not."

Surprise flitted over his face for a second or so before he frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't threaten me, little girl," he hissed his gaze sliding to the Mabari now growling a warning by his mistress' feet, once again shocked when a restraining hand wrapped around the thick fur at the back of its neck. Bitch didn't suit this woman, she was too kind for that, even he could tell. "You have no idea what I've had to do to even get here. If you think that you can waltz in here and demand th – but...a favour for a favour, does that sound like a fair deal?"

The blonde, who had the decency to look a little shame faced at the tone she'd used, nodded complacently, her long fingers momentarily distracting him as her carded them through the fur on the Mabari's back. "That would be a fair trade. Of course I'll help."

Smirking Ander's raised an eyebrow, watching the hint of a flush raise on her cheeks; he'd embarrassed her. Good. "You don't ask for my terms...what if I was asking for the Knight-Commander's head?"

"Then I'd glad cut the bitch's head off myself and arrange her on a pike so you can see her at your leisure," Hawke ground of softly, her gaze ablaze as she looked at him, behind her she felt Bethany shift and she turned to offer her sibling a honest smile. She meant it; for the fear and pain the woman had put Bethany, her mother and by association herself over the last year the Wild's scum deserved no less.

Once again her words surprised him, and the fervent belief and bitterness that had encompassed her stare had sent his mind reeling. Yes, in another time he would most definitely have been trying to charm those skin tight breeches off of that pert little arse. Coughing once Anders had to suppress a small smile, "Sounds tempting...but that's not what I ask. I have maps of the Deep Roads in this area, but there's a price for them; I came to Kirkwall to help a friend. A mage, a prisoner in the wretched Gallows. The Templars learned of my plan to free him, help me bring him safely past them and you shall have your maps."

"Marea..." Both the blonde and Anders turned to look at Bethany as she tentatively whispered her sister's name and looked between them carefully before she continued. "I don't like the sound of this...We don't need more of a reason for the Templars to chase us, if we're caught – "

"I'm afraid by this point if we're caught even out in the streets we'll both probably be put to death," Hawke cut across her sharply, sending an apologetic look in Ander's direction before turning to the brunette. "Besides, this is the Gallows the place you're constantly telling me is worse than death, would you have me leave youthere because it was too dangerous; you say a mage shouldn't suffer for an accident of birth, I'm not leaving an innocent man there to rot. Not to mention we need those maps," she turned back to the man in front of her and inclined her head, "but even if you couldn't help us I would still offer my services."

So perhaps she was going a little over board with trying to impress him, and she wasn't even sure if it was working, but she did believe that. A mage shouldn't be punished for being something they couldn't control; if people weren't so hypocritical as to use magic for when it was helpful to them she was certain the Divine would have had all children with magic killed the moment they showed signs.

"Thank you," Anders breathed and bowed his head in return, the hint of a smile on his lips as he continued. "It is hard to come across someone who shares my views, especially one who doesn't have magic themselves. But the woman accompanying you – your sister? – is an apostate as well, I shouldn't be surprised that you should want to keep her safe. Meet me at the Chantry tonight; I have sent word to Karl to be there, Maker willing we'll all walk away free men."

Smiling Marea folded her arms and shifted her weight onto one leg, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him, "I don't really want to put my fate in the hands of an absent father; I make my own luck. We'll see you tonight."

With that she turned on her heel and started towards the door they had entered through, gesturing for Varric and Bethany to follow her. As they passed through the exit the blonde paused and turned to look at the mage who was still watching them leave with a strange look on his face. "Oh, by the way Anders, I'm Marea Hawke, but call me Hawke, everyone else does." And with one last bob of her head she was gone.

"Marea Hawke?"

The mage tested the name once, then again, liking the way it sounded on his tongue. Well, she might not have faith in the Maker but he was almost certain that He had been smiling down on him when Hawke had stepped into his clinic.