A/N: This is a short chapter, so, as a bonus I'm posting two this week!

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Act One

Chapter Thirteen

The Secret Friend

The next day, Paden spent some time out on her own. So much had happened the last few days, and she hadn't had much time to process it all. The main thing on her mind, though, was Anders. She had lain awake for a couple hours last night thinking about him and his poor friend Karl, and that whole thing with the spirit of Justice. It was enough to chase anyone off for good, or at least give them a pretty big headache. But Paden didn't feel that way about it. She had an overwhelming desire to help Anders, though she knew there was nothing she could do. His problems were beyond anyone.

But perhaps she could just be his friend, if he wanted one. Maybe all he really needed was someone who would lend an understanding ear. He had said that she was the first he'd ever told about Justice. He probably wouldn't have told her had Justice not manifested when he did, but still, she felt a bit honored that he would trust her with his secret, especially after only just meeting him. She felt a close connection to him, as if she had known him a lot longer than she actually had. She had to stop herself several times that day from going back to Anders's clinic to see him again. She didn't want to crowd him. And what if he didn't really want to see her again?

She sighed and shook her head. No, she would wait, a little while anyway. Maybe a day at least, to allow him to recover from the situation with Karl. But she would go visit him, that much was a certainty.

Paden had taken the loot she recovered from the Amell cellars to the Lowtown market in the morning and sold all of it, making a whole sovereign in gold. Now she had some errands she needed to run, and she finally was done being alone.

She went back home to see what Carver was doing. When she walked in Gamlen was standing by the desk shaking an envelope next to his ear. When he saw Paden he startled slightly and held the envelope out to her.

"A letter came for you while you were gone," he said. "I was just putting it here on the desk."

Paden quirked an eyebrow at him. "Really? Is that all? You weren't checking it for coin or anything?"

Gamlen sputtered. "I was just making sure nothing would fall out."

"Gamlen," Leandra scolded with a sigh.

Paden snatched the letter from his hand and went to the other side of the room to read it. It was from Athenril.

Hawke,

I know we didn't part on the best terms. You were right, I was trying to squeeze more work out of you than was justified. You've more than paid your way into the city. It's been tight since you left, though. If you're looking for more work, for real coin in your pocket, come see me in Hightown, anytime before sunset.

Athenril

"Hm," Paden grunted. "Athenril's actually apologizing for trying to take advantage of me. Sort of."

"What got into her?" Carver said.

"She wants us to keep working for her," Paden said. "For coin this time."

Carver laughed incredulously. "You can just tell her to shove off," he said.

Paden made no further comment, but she felt inclined to at least see what kind of work and pay Athenril might have for them. Could they really afford to be that picky? It was work being offered, and at the moment it was the only offer they had.

Paden folded the letter and stuffed it into her pocket. Then she went to lean against the wall next to Carver. "Come with me to the Gallows?" she asked.

He looked up at her. "What? Are you joking?"

Paden shook her head. "I need to get some lyrium potion. There was a dealer in Lowtown that carried some before, but she's sold out now. The Gallows is the only other place I can think of to find some."

"You're asking for trouble, Sister," Carver said.

"Not really," Paden said. "You think they'll be surprised to see another mage there? I'll be just one in a multitude. And besides, it's not like I'm going to go stand in the middle of the courtyard and perform a blood ritual. There's so many people there all the time, they won't even notice us." She sounded sure of herself, but inside she was shaking at the idea of even stepping off the ferry at the Gallows docks.

"If you say so, Sister. I'll go just to keep you out of trouble."

"Well, thanks for that," Paden said, taking what she could get. Tensions had been high between them since their argument the other day. She wished there was something she could do about it, but Carver was stubborn.

They headed out to the Gallows, which was no small task, since they had to board a ferry to take them across the harbor. The Gallows stood alone on a small island in the middle of the bay; the perfect place for a prison. Even though it wasn't used as a prison anymore, a lot of people—especially mages—still thought of it as one.

Paden hadn't been back there since that day Gamlen had arranged for the bribe to get them into the city a year ago. It still looked exactly the same as it had then. As she walked through the huge southern gate and gazed up at the bronze statues of slaves bound in torment, the same old feelings of being trapped crept over her. She forced herself to keep walking without so much as a hesitation to indicate her feelings. She wasn't trapped here now like she had been a year ago. The gate was wide open, and she would be able to leave any time she liked.

Paden could see at least a dozen Templars upon first glance. Some were on guard duty, keeping a watchful eye, while others milled around in pairs or groups, seemingly paying no heed to others around them. None of them were looking for apostates in the Gallows. They were simply there to keep the peace. As long as Paden did nothing to shatter that peace she should be fine.

Paden remembered a couple shops where mages were allowed to sell their crafts. She was hoping that one of them might carry some lyrium. They found the shop, exactly where it had stood a year ago. Paden began to browse the wares, mostly potions and enchanted trinkets. She carefully looked at each bottle, but she didn't see any lyrium. Of course, it was unlikely it would be displayed with the other wares.

"Good day," the shop keeper said to her. He was a Circle mage who wore enchanter's robes. "Welcome to Sol's Shop. I am Solivitus. Is there anything I can help you find?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you're permitted to sell lyrium potions here?" Paden asked.

Sol arched an eyebrow and glanced around. "No, not exactly," he said. "But…for the right price I do carry some secret supply in the back." He put a finger to his lips and made a shushing noise.

"For the right price?" Paden said.

"I have to cover my risks," Sol explained.

"I have coin," Paden said, and it felt good to say it.

"Well then, fifty silver per bottle, and not a copper less I'm afraid. It's not the easiest product to get ahold of, nor the safest to keep in stock."

"That's a bit steep, though," Paden said.

"Will you be a regular customer?" Sol asked.

"If your prices were lower and you're a reliable provider."

Sol smiled. "Then I'll tell you what I can do for you. They don't let me out of the Gallows often, which makes it difficult for me to replenish my crafting supplies. If you were able to retrieve some things for me, I could give you a handsome discount on anything you purchase from my shop. Does that sound like a good deal?"

Paden smiled. "It does. Just give me a list of what you need."

"Excellent," Sol said, rubbing his hands together. "I'll get you that item then. How many would you like?"

"Two for now," Paden said. "Thank you."

Sol went to the back of his booth and unlocked a heavy chest.

"I was wondering," Paden said conversationally. "Have you heard of a mage here called Tobrius?"

"Tobrius?" Sol said, glancing up at her. "Of course. He's been here longer than I have." He retrieved two small vials from the chest and handed them to Paden. "Here you are. Go ahead and put them away quickly; no need to attract the wrong kind of attention, if you get my meaning." He glanced around to make sure no Templars were nearby.

Paden took the vials and tucked them into her belt pouch. Then she handed Sol the money. "Would you happen to know where I might find Tobrius?" she asked.

"He's usually in the courtyard this time of day," Sol said. "An older man, gray beard, gray eyes. Usually wears a purple cowl."

"Thank you," Paden said.

She motioned to Carver, who had wandered over to the neighboring shop to browse, and then they went back into the main courtyard. Paden looked around for a man matching Sol's description of Tobrius, and finally she spotted someone in a purple mage's cowl.

They approached him, and the expression on his face when he saw them indicated that he recognized them.

"More mages," Carver said, irritated. "You talk. I'm going to ask the guards about their training."

Paden glanced back over her shoulder and saw Carver walking away. She didn't try to stop him. If he didn't want to associate with other mages, that was his choice.

She turned back to the man in the cowl.

"I know your face," he said. "I am Tobrius. You and that man are both Hawkes." He pointed to Carver, who was by then half way across the courtyard.

Paden frowned. "You recognize us? But we've never met you."

"I remember your father," Tobrius said. "Malcolm was a good man."

"I found a letter you sent," Paden said. "About a friend of his you could not name."

"Ah, the Templar," Tobrius said. "Your father could not write to him directly, lest the Order find out."

"The Templar?" Paden said, arching her eyebrows in surprise.

"He allowed your father to leave Kirkwall," Tobrius said. "'Rule is not served by caging the best of us.' A wise man."

"Not something I would expect from a Templar," Paden admitted.

"There was a time when the rules of the Order could be…interpreted to suit a situation. Unlike these days." Tobrius turned away from her, and then looked back over his shoulder. "I will send the letters I held," he said. "It seems fitting that they return to family." And with that he walked off, leaving Paden standing in the courtyard.

She frowned. Was he going to return with the letters? She hopped he would. While she waited to see for sure, she browsed the wares of a weapons dealer in the courtyard, though her mind wasn't on what she was looking at. She was thinking about what she had just learned. Her father had been friends with a Templar in the Gallows, and that man had helped her father escape to become an apostate. She had never heard of a Templar doing that before. They must have been very close friends for him to risk so much.

After a while Paden felt someone come up behind her and she turned to see Tobrius there, a pack of letters in his hands.

"Such a friendship," he said. "Few like your father remain. Even fewer like the Templar." He handed the letters to Paden. "Rest well at the Maker's side, Ser Maurevar Carver."

Paden looked up in surprise upon hearing the Templar's name, but Tobrius had already turned away. Paden glanced at the letters, then opened one and read it quickly. They were all written by her father, sent to Tobrius, but meant for the secret friend, the Templar.

Paden knew the letters would interest Carver a great deal, and perhaps they would help to loosen some of the tension between them as well. At least that's what she hoped for as she approached him by the fireplace later that night.

"Here, I got you something," she said, handing him the stack of letters.

"Why?" Carver asked suspiciously.

"We ended on a…tense note the other day. Take it as you will."

Carver took a look at the letters. "These are by father," he said. "Are you sure they aren't meant for you? I bet another mage could get more out of them."

Paden shook her head and came closer, taking one of the letters out of the stack and opening it for him. She handed it back and pointed to a particular line of text. Carver read it aloud.

"For your service that cannot be admitted, I ask that you accept this trinket, and know that I shall respect your name. Thank you, conscience of the Order, Ser Maurevar Carver." He looked up from the letter in surprise. "Carver?"

"The Templar who allowed Father to leave Kirkwall," Paden explained. "Your namesake."

"A Templar?" Carver said, still in surprise. "Have we met a Templar who isn't a colossal prig?"

Paden shrugged as she looked at the fire. "Father must have felt he was worth honoring. I read the letters. Father seemed very fond of him, and very grateful for the friendship. I think if it wasn't for that Templar, Father would never have escaped the Circle or had a life of his own."

Carver stared down at the letters. "A man who let him look ahead," he said softly. "A name that let him have a future—a way to go forward. That's what I was to him."

Paden nodded and gave her brother a soft smile. "Father was proud of you, Carver. I know he was. You were the child he really wanted—not me or Bethany."

"And what makes you think that?" Carver asked, a bitter note entering his voice. "He spent much more time with the two of you than he ever did with me."

"Out of necessity, I think," Paden said. "It was more important that she and I be trained in our skills diligently and as soon as possible. You remember what it was like when Bethany was learning to control her abilities. It was like that for me, too. He needed to focus on her as often as he could so that she wouldn't accidentally blow up Lothering one day. But I know he didn't want mage children. And when you turned out to be free of magic he was very relieved."

"Did he tell you that?" Carver said in surprise.

Paden shook her head. "I overheard him talking to mother once."

"Why did you never tell me this?"

Paden shrugged and glanced at her brother. "I was a child. It didn't matter to me then. But… it does now. It matters to me that you know how proud father was of you. I think he saw you as what he always wished he could have been."

Carver looked at her, a grateful and almost soft expression on his face. "I…don't know what to say, except…thank you…for telling me."

Paden didn't expect more than that from him. For Carver that was a lot, and it meant a lot to Paden to hear him say it. She knew that for him to know that their father valued Carver that much was a big deal. She hoped this would be a step toward Carver's own future. One that he could be proud of.

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A/N: I had decided at the very beginning that I wasn't going to include any of the DLC content in this story, since I didn't have it when I originally played Paden. I have since played her two more times with the DLC, but I'm still not going to include most of it, like Sebastian, or either of the DLC quests. I may have the dog later on, though. All that to say, since I'm not including DLC quests, I thought it would be fun to add the bit about Malcolm not wanting mage children (something they don't learn until Legacy). I figured it would have been an easy thing for Paden to overhear as a child. Anyway, those are my reasons, and I thought it added a nice touch to the end of this canon scene.