"Yes, the both of you, carrying that weight." Both respect and sympathy mingled in her tone, even if she'd never breathe a word of it to Meredith. The Knight-Commander could be cold when she wanted to be, but she didn't deserve that burden any more than he did. She needed to remember that the other woman was a person, too, and not just a fearsome title.

She moved to go secure the lantern, casting him a wry glance over her shoulder. "I had very little choice in the matter, if you'll recall. And I'm almost certain that her victory was much more dignified than mine." Slaying dragons was also more impressive than fending off rampaging Qunari by skirting around pillars. "My family has a very nasty habit of stumbling into things and getting involved."

Hawke cast her eyes out to the water, watching it shrewdly while he worked. "I suppose it'd be nice to meet her. We could compare embarrassing stories and scars, even," she teased. "But I think I would have to go back to Ferelden to do so." And that wasn't in the cards. Not right then, not with Bethany in the Gallows.