"Hawke?" Varric prompted as they entered Viscounts Keep. "Have you ever met Seneschal Bran?"

"My mother has," she responded as they walked the great hall. "I'm almost certain she bothers him daily about the estate. Whenever I come here, I go to the right to see Aveline. Never been left. It's like a whole new adventure," she said with a sarcastic grin. "Why?"

Varric smiled along with her, but for reasons of his own. "Oh just curious."

Hawke looked down at the dwarf beside her but he remained oddly silent now as they ascended the stairs. When they turned the corner to begin the second flight of steps, Hawke stopped abruptly. Carver, who was behind her, placed his hand on her back and he paused as well. "What is it?"

Hawke shushed him and began to listen to the conversation being had at the top of the stairs. "Insist if you must," a male voice stated, "but Viscount Dumar will see no one. If you've news of Saemus, I will relay it to him."

"Come on Hawke," Varric nudged her to move forward. "It's not who you think it is."

Hawke spun around to look at him. "You little shit!" she whispered angrily and then stomped her feet while moving away from them.

Carver was completely confused. "Uhm Varric? What was that about?"

Varric couldn't help but laugh. "Seneschal Bran has a very distinct voice. If you aren't paying too close attention, he sounds a lot like a certain Choir Boy your sister seems obsessed with. I just wanted to see if she'd notice."

"Apparently she did," Fenris muttered behind them.

They joined Hawke on the upper landing as Bran continued his conversation with a rather rough looking woman. She was informing the Seneschal that she had already tracked down the Viscounts son to the Wounded Coast where he was being held captive by a Qunari. She seemed to care more about the reward than about rescuing the boy, a fact that didn't sit right with Hawke. And when she dared to raise her voice to Hawke as she exited the Seneschal's company, Hawke was determined to make sure this woman had a very bad day.

Dearest Father,

It seems I can not get away from these blasted Qunari no matter what I do. That poster we saw in the market district led us to the Keep where we learned that the Viscounts son Saemus had gone missing. A mercenary band was already a step ahead of us, led by this dreadful Nevarran woman named Ginnis.

While I agree with her assessment that the world would be a better place without the Qunari, I did not care for her crassness. Sure the boy has some questionable taste when it comes to friends, as he was with the Qunari willingly and not a captor like the Seneschal had thought. But he didn't deserve her attitude anymore than I did in the Keep.

I wasn't looking for a fight, but I didn't really try hard to get out of it either. I admit there was a certain satisfaction in taking down this woman and her band of mercenaries. After she threatened to cut out Saemus' tongue...yes Father, I'm glad she's dead.

Saemus called her a murderer and despised her for killing his Qunari friend Ashaad. Had I arrived first Father, he may not have gone willingly with me. I have no doubt I would've killed this Qunari as well, thinking he had kidnapped the boy. My hatred for them continues to grow in this city, and I am not alone. The Seneschal is concerned about their presence, as well as the Viscount. It is clear they are wondering about the political ramifications of the Viscounts son aligning with the Qunari. I may have thought the Viscount was aligning with them myself, had I not known better. Saemus told his father that the Qunari are not monsters to be feared. Oh Father, if I had a moment alone with this boy I would tell him my story and perhaps he would see things differently. I wanted to, on the Coast when he told me that the Qunari are not the brutes others claim they are. But I knew Carver was hovering behind me; it just wasn't the time to open up to the boy.

How anyone could consider those bastards friends I will never know. They see the world only one way, their way, and if you do not fit into that world, you are expendable. Maker forgive me, because I will never forgive them.

"Serah Hawke."

Hawke folded the letter face-down in her lap, looking up to see Cullen standing before her. "Knight-Captain," she acknowledged, nervously folding the piece of paper over a second time. "Good to see you again."

Cullen stopped just short of the steps leading to the Chantry, inches away from where she was sitting. "Are you sure you should be out here alone? I heard rumor the gangs of the area had overrun the guard completely."

"Actually," Hawke corrected, smiling warmly, "I heard that is no longer the case. A group of rogue vigilantes took care of them the other night."

Cullen eyed her curiously. "Is that so? If you don't mind my asking, where did you hear that from?"

Hawke felt her cheeks warm, Carver's voice mentally reminding her she shouldn't be drawing more attention to herself. Especially around a templar who knew what she was. "Around," she said vaguely. "The point is I've been here most of the night and there hasn't been the slightest sign of danger. Certainly that's a change from the way things have been the past few weeks, you must admit."

Cullen nodded. "Still, someone of your... talents... should probably not be alone, either."

Hawke stood, temper flaring as she shoved the letter in her pocket. "Why? You believe if I'm unsupervised I'll make a deal with a demon?" He flinched slightly, and she stepped forward, so they were mere inches apart. "Dancing around that issue again, are we?" She extended her arms to him, wrists locked together. "Take me in, then," she challenged. "That is your duty, isn't it? Gather all the apostates and lock them in the Gallows? I wouldn't want to stand in the way of your commendation."

Cullen reached forward, placing his hands on top of hers. Hawke's anger vanished as quickly as it had come when she saw the vulnerable expression in his eyes. His fingers danced lightly over her wrists, the barest hint of pressure, and then he released her. "Good evening, serah." He stepped around her, walking up the stairs to the Chantry, and left her alone.