"Oh, Hawke's friends don't really like me. Varric is nice! And Isabela."

She points inside the house. "Would you like some tea? Varric brought me some yesterday. It's nice, floral!"

Anya grumbles internally about people that can't appreciate how adorable Merrill is, and nods enthusiastically.

"We'd love that. Thank you so much."

Tabs can sense that internal grumble, and agrees heartily. 

"Yeah, well, people always tell you what you should be and how you should act without really knowing you. Especially when it's about something they don't understand and don't want to."

Merrill hangs a kettle over the fireplace, and sparks the flames beneath with magic. "That's true. Shem rely to much on that Chant of theirs to really understand anything. We Dalish have our own histories and knowledge. We don't need theirs." 

She smiles at Anya over her shoulder, a little worriedly. "Not that it isn't lovely! Very pretty!"

"I have literally no attachment to my history or culture, go wild with the human jabs. We deserve it."

"I don't want to be disrespectful. It's not a nice feeling, being looked down on for things you can't control."

She pours a small amount of dried leaves into the kettle. 

"I think you're a lot more grounded than people give you credit for."

"Oh! I, uh, didn't know people were saying that about me. I don't really know a lot of people here, yet."

Ah. Shit. 

"Just from what you've been saying. About Hawke's friends?"

Anya attempts to further cover. "Is there a Dalish grapevine? Is there Much gossip?"

"I did hear some things, going through clan Sabrae." She projects 'thank you' eyes at Anya.

Merrill stiffens somewhat, but relaxes soon. "I can't imagine anything nice. I didn't leave on good terms."

"Well, yeah. But I'd rather draw my own conclusions. Power-mad mages don't leave their clans for the clan's good, after all."

"You seem sensible. I imagine you had a good reason. And that's just by knowing you for like five minutes."

"Carver says I could use a little more sense, some times. He had to help me find my way back home last week. Even though the Hanged Man isn't that far."

Tabs nudges Anya.

Anya playfully glares at Tabs. "Sounds cute. And helpful! The best type of person."

"He's very sweet!" Merrill starts pouring the tea. "He's frustrated though. Not like Anders, it's different. I think he wants something for himself. I can understand that. Though maybe not the specifics."

She hands them both a cup. "If you don't mind me asking, what brings you to Kirkwall? It's not a common place for mages or Dalish elves?"

She pokes at her backstory.

it was meant to be just a pitstop, meeting up with someone who was going to take you to Rivain. However, the story changed once you took control of it.

"We were just going to pass through on our way to Rivain..."

"That's a good idea! There aren't as many Templars there, which I guess makes sense, being so close to Tevinter."

"Yeeeah. Problem is is that Tabs' and I have kinda fallen in love with Kirkwall? If you can believe it."

"Oh! Well. That's...lovely?"

"We are fully aware of how batshit insane that sounds."