Dearest Father,

You know better than anyone how much I adore being woken up early, especially on a day that I had planned to do nothing but clean the library.

I heard a loud shouting coming from outside my bedroom window. No amount of pillows over my head was going to drown it out, so I stumbled out of bed to see who was so rudely preaching in the courtyard at such an early hour. Preachers and protesters were becoming quite common as of late, but normally they had the common decency to wait until after lunch.

When I finally managed to open my eyes and get a clear view of what was happening, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. First Enchanter Orsino, of all people, speaking rather openly to the nobility of Hightown about how mages are feared, and how Knight Commander Meredith uses that fear to take control over Kirkwall. He even called her out on the stalling of finding a replacement for Viscount Dumar.

I knew this wasn't going to end well considering there were Templars in the crowd. I rushed to get dressed, hoping to calm him down and get him back to the Gallows before Meredith found out about his little speech.

Unfortunately she showed up the moment I exited the estate. Even worse, Orsino spotted me, and called me into the argument, saying that perhaps I was someone who agreed with his rants. I told them both that they needed to calm down, but Meredith was obviously agitated at Orsino's attempt to make her look bad.

I asked Orsino if he was trying to cause a rebellion. He said that the people of Kirkwall needed to know what was really going on in their city. I had heard about, and been witness to, some extra patrols of Templars, but I saw it as a good thing. Without a Viscount, Meredith is doing her best to keep control over the city. Orsino should be grateful he's even in the courtyard of Hightown; a few years ago he would never have been allowed outside the Gallows.

I told Orsino he had gone too far. That whatever his cause or reasoning was, this was not the way to get Meredith to listen to him. But in trying to be fair to him, I also asked Meredith why, as of late, she had been increasing forces and tightening control over the Gallows. I had heard enough about it from Anders to know Orsino wasn't entirely wrong.

Meredith asked me if I could do much better, but before allowing me to answer, she brought up Mother's death. A blood mage took her life, and I was unable to stop it.

This was not something I hadn't told myself a hundred times, but hearing it from someone else was difficult. While my friends assured me that there was nothing I could do to save her, here was Meredith telling me what I always knew all along. She was right though, I could do no better in controlling the mages that turned to the power of blood. She insisted Kirkwall needed its Templars more than a new ruler, and she was right. Though her methods may be extreme, there had been little word of blood mage activity since losing Viscount Dumar to the Arishok.

Orsino made some claim about how Meredith would see evil around every corner, but once again I told him that what he was doing was wrong. She was doing her job, keeping Kirkwall safe, and though he didn't agree with her methods, the body count in Kirkwall was proof enough for me that it was working. Orsino disagreed, became more and more upset, and I feared that Meredith was losing her patience with him.

A silence fell upon the crowd, and we all turned to see what had quieted them. Grand Cleric Elthina arrived. I'm guessing someone told her what was happening in the courtyard, as it was a rare occurrence these days to see her outside the Chantry. She told Orsino the same thing that I had; regardless of his opinions on Meredith, this was not the way to express them. She then asked the Templars to return Orsino to the Gallows, and told Meredith to do the same. Meredith wasn't all that happy to be scolded in front of the nobles, but she obeyed, and returned to the Gallows as well.

I was thankful the confrontation was over, and had hoped to crawl back into bed, but Elthina asked me to remain.

"You have my thanks, Champion," Elthina said. "You didn't have to step in, but I appreciate that you did so. I don't want to think about what might have happened if you had not done so."

"I'm afraid I had little choice," Hawke told her. "I suppose Orsino thought I would side with him, but I can not agree with what he tried to do here. Isn't there something you can do? The Chantry is in charge of the Gallows, is it not? Can you find a way to make peace?"

Elthina shook her head. "I'm afraid you have quite the estimation of my abilities. I may be able to put out a flame or two, but this fire has been fueled for a long time."

"What can we do about it?" Hawke asked Elthina. "I fear things may get worse before they get better, and the last thing Kirkwall needs is another fight on its hands."

"I agree," Elthina said. "I will go to the Gallows, speak with both of them. Hopefully they will see reason, if the Maker wills it."

Hawke nodded. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know."

"Thank you again, Champion," Elthina said. As she turned to leave, she paused, and looked over her shoulder at Hawke. "One more thing, while I'm here. You may wish to visit the Chantry when you get a chance. Sebastian has returned."

I could feel my throat tighten and my stomach do flip-flops at this news. Sebastian was back in Kirkwall? Why had he not come to see me? Why did he not write beforehand telling me of his return? I ran back to the estate and looked through the latest correspondences that were delivered by messenger, but there was nothing from him.

I wanted to run to the Chantry at that moment, but I didn't. If Sebastian wanted to see me, surely he would have made the effort. While I was relieved to hear of his return, I couldn't help but wonder what happened in Starkhaven, why this wasn't the first place he came to upon entering Kirkwall, and why did I have to find out from Elthina that he was even back in the city?

My answers await in the Chantry, but if Sebastian isn't ready to see me, I do not want to pressure him into doing so. I will wait, but hopefully not too long.