"Sebastian Vael to see you," Bodahn announced to Hawke, who was seated at the dining table with several parchments spread out before her.

She sighed. "Still so formal Bodahn, even though you know there's no need. You can send him in."

Bodhan bowed before gesturing for Sebastian to enter, and then offered them refreshments and something to eat. Hawke smiled as Sebastian sat down at the table, accepting Bodahn's offer for some fruit. She wasn't sure what had brought him to visit, but she was glad. "Trouble?"

"Not at all," Sebastian replied. "Though it looks like I'm interrupting some very important letter reading."

Hawke laughed as she looked at the stack of notes. "My mother used to take care of most of these for me," she said with a touch of sadness in her voice. "Unfortunately I've let them pile up as of late. It seems the more I do for Kirkwall, the more Kirkwall wants from me."

Sebastian glanced at the letters. "May I offer assistance?"

"Maker, please," she said handing him a stack. "I have a pile for junk, things to reply to, and things that need doing," Hawke explained pointing out the three piles.

Bodahn delivered drink and food and the two began sorting through the mound of paperwork. "Here's a nice one," Sebastian commented as he handed her a letter from Macha to read, thanking her for her assistance with her brother Keran a few years ago.

"Aww, that was sweet of her," Hawke said. "I should check on Keran one of these days, or maybe ask Carver if he can keep an eye on him."

Since she had brought up Carver, Sebastian took the opportunity to ask, "Have you been to see your brother? Since your Mother..."

"No," Hawke quickly answered. "I know Uncle Gamlen went to see him, but I haven't." She knew what his next words were going to be, and chose to end the conversation for him when she read over another letter. "I'm going, soon. Promise. Who is Corbinian?"

Whatever encouraging words Sebastian was going to reply with about Carver left his mind at the mention of Corbinian. "How in the Maker's name... Corbinian is my cousin. But how did you..."

She waved the letter in front of him. "It's from Lord Falk of Starkhaven. He claims to represent Prince Corbinian Vael, the true heir to the throne. I thought you were the rightful heir to the throne?"

"Corbinian is my cousin," Sebastian explained. "No remaining noble in their right mind would put him on the throne. Besides the criminal ties he has within the city, my cousin is a bit of a con artist, and all of Starkhaven knows it."

"Says here he has some money stashed away in Antiva," Hawke explained as she continued reading. "He wishes to use that fortune to hire an army to retake the throne. All I need to do is open an account in Kirkwall so the money can be transferred safely and quietly without arousing suspicion."

Sebastian laughed. "I suppose you need to keep a hundred sovereigns in this account for the transfer yes? It is an old con my cousin has tried throughout the years, though usually he claims to be representing some rich noble that passed away and left no heirs, offering the deceased's money to random strangers. If you don't mind, I would like to respond to that one personally."

Hawke shook her head, handing him the letter. "By all means. Send him my regards and thank him for considering me important enough for such a task," she joked.

Going through his stack, Sebastian found one from Elren, the father of the girl Lia that was nearly killed by the Magister's son Kelder. He tossed it in the reply pile to be dealt with later. He wasn't familiar with that particular story, but the letter implied the girl wasn't doing too well. Hoping to shield Hawke another day from the sad news, he kept it from her for now.

Finding a more positive letter, Sebastian handed her one of thanks from the boy who was working for Athenril that she allowed to escape for a better life. His sisters were now maids and he was living the life of a shepherd, starting his own flock and farming as his father had before him. Hawke smiled at that one, feeling good about the decision to help the boy leave Athenril's employ.

They spent the rest of the morning sorting through other letters, some from old friends in Lothering, others addressed to Gamlen about some debts he had yet to pay. Sebastian hid another in the reply pile that was addressed to Leandra from a friend of hers in Redcliffe. In just two hours they had managed to get through all of them, Hawke reading the last.

She could not contain the giggles as she read the letter. When Sebastian gave her a questioning glance, she held on to her side, feeling the oncoming pain from laughing so hard. "Maybe you'd like to save this one? Just in case?"

Sebastian grinned at her giddiness as he took the letter. Reading it, for a moment his face turned as red as his armor.

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Sebastian stood, crinkling up the letter and tossing it onto the table. He bent down and kissed the top of her head. "I assure you Hawke, I have no problems in that department," he said before exiting the estate to return to the Chantry. Hawke turned a brighter shade of red than Sebastian had as she rested her forehead on the table, fighting the images of Sebastian's "soldier" that flooded her mind.

Dearest Father,

I had an enjoyable morning spending some time with Sebastian. It was nice to just sit for a while, going through some letters and laughing comfortably. He's being very kind, checking up on me. I know that's what he's doing, even if he won't admit it. A few of my friends have just "dropped by" since Mother's been gone. It's sweet of them, but sometimes I wonder if they are just waiting for me to completely lose it. I haven't Father, not yet anyway. But Sebastian bringing up me not seeing Carver probably has something to do with that.

Truth is I've been avoiding my brother again. I'm terrified he'll blame me for not saving Mother. After all the blame Mother put on me for Bethany, I don't think I could take it from Carver. There's so much distance between us already, I fear this may be what tears us apart forever. And I don't want to lose my brother. He's all I have left. But I made a promise to see him, and so I will, very soon.

While sorting through correspondences this morning I came across one asking for my assistance in disposing of "formerly living things." The wording of the letter was disturbing, and I'm ashamed to admit I hid it from Sebastian because it mentioned my burning of the Qunari bodies a few years ago. That's not something I am proud of, and this letter just meant that others are aware of my actions. What kind of reputation do I have with some organizations I wonder?

I decided to act on the letter, find out all I could about who sent it. I was instructed to visit the docks, Lowtown, and Darktown. Not sure what I was walking into, I took Varric and Isabela with me. The two of them are no strangers to the shadier sides of Kirkwall, so I figured they'd be more than happy to come along. Merrill ended up tagging along only because she was at the Hanged Man when I arrived.

When we got to the docks I was immediately confronted by a Qunari outside their compound. He told me a patrol had recently gone missing along the Wounded Coast and asked me if I had anything to do with it. Of course I didn't, and told him so. Strangely he believed me and let me go about my business without another word. Which reminds me, I need to ask Isabela why she keeps avoiding any talks with the Qunari. The minute we were approached she suddenly found someone else very interesting to talk to and didn't join us again until we were done.

I found the person I was supposed to meet, and true to the letter, he and some friends were surrounding a body that they assumed I could get rid of for them. I asked Varric and Isabela what they thought I should do. According to Varric, the uniforms these men wore he wasn't familiar with, but the uniform of the body he knew to be one of the worst street gangs in Kirkwall. Isabela agreed, said that if this strange group was getting rid of these thugs then we should help.

So I found myself helping one gang get rid of evidence of killing another gang. I wasn't very comfortable with that to be honest Father, but Varric and Isabela both assured me it was the right thing to do. After all this time, would they steer me wrong? I hope not, because I trusted their opinion.

After we visited all three locations and took care of business, I was told there was one more body to dispose of along the Wounded Coast. While we were there I found out what happened to that Qunari patrol: demons. I'm not exactly sure what or who summoned an abomination to attack Qunari, but if I am being honest with you Father I don't mind a few less of them wandering around Kirkwall. Don't worry, we took out the demons.

I still don't know who hired me to do this job. We had a run-in with the rival gang near the last corpse but they were no match for us. I came home to find a hefty amount of gold as payment and a letter of thanks that was signed by Anonymous. Sometimes I wonder about all these letters that I receive. I suppose if I kept a low profile none of these opportunities would come my way.

When we were in Lowtown I found a book by Shartan that I thought would be perfect for Fenris. When I went to store it in my trunk until the next time I saw him, I realized I had several things I had kept for my friends. Tomorrow I should make it a point to deliver some of them. It'll give me a chance to catch up with everyone too since I have hidden in this estate far too much lately.

I miss you Father. And Mother. And Bethany. I miss Carver too, and I will make a promise to you as well that I will go see him. Maker, please let him forgive me.