"Not just the Hawkes think that," Raeli adds quietly.

Merrill smiles brightly at Raeli. "Well. You have to like me. We're spirit friends!"

Raeli laughs. "It's more than that."

"Really?"

"Yes," Raeli confirms.

"I like you!" Cia adds brightly.

Merrill giggles happily. "I like you too!"

"Excellent! We all like each other!"

"An important part of being friends," Merrill says seriously, giggling.

"Very!" Henri agrees brightly.

Ilska rolls her eyes at the antics.

Merrill giggles at Ilska, feeling much lighter than when they headed up the mountain. 

As they get closer to Kirkwall, Merrill's step regains its spring.

Raeli seems pleased about that at least.

Merrill stops at the turn for the Lowtown Alienage. "I'll see you all later! I've just got to- this...way. Bye!"

She disappears. 

Henri shakes his head. "That girl."

It doesn't take Cia, Ilska, Raeli and Blaise long to get back to their place in the basement of the Hawke's mansion.

Where Anders is waiting, a somewhat rueful smile on his face. 

"Hey, kids," he says to Ilska and Cia.

"Feeling better?"

"If I say yes, would I not get a hug?"

"You get the hug either way."

"Then I'm going to go with a solid 'maybe'."

"Better than a no," Cia decides and skips over to hug him.

Anders folds down into eir arms, sighing in relief. 

"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you. Did you pick some magic to try?" 

"Blaise got a spell for Fade-walking."

"Fade-walking?" Anders pulls back to look at em, then look at Blaise. "Are you trying to return to the Fade?"