It was at this point he realized he hadn't yet released Laina's hand, feeling a little awkward, he nonchalantly let her go as he unlocked the door. The room beyond was dark, it had only one bed, an old table, a basin of water, and a fireplace. All-in-all, the place was a dump, but it was all he had at the moment, and he doubted the dumbstruck elf cared what he was living in. Hawke entered first, making his way to the fireplace before anything else, his hand illuminated in a small swirling flame as he knelt down and lit the remnants of wood he had burnt the night prior.
The black gauntlet and pauldron fell from his right arm to the floor as he began to unfasten the armor on his upper body. As he peeled the chain mail from his bare back, a strange sensation came over him, Hawke hadn't removed the armor for almost a week, it had almost become a second skin for him, but the cool air on his skin was refreshing. Grabbing a small cloth, he came to the water basin and began to rinse himself in the cold water, washing away the grime of travel, and Laina began to speak once his back was turned.
"You mentioned children?" She paused briefly. "I've never handled children..."
"Neither have I, but you're a woman, and your not tall and intimidating, that should give you a far better chance than me." He stopped for a moment to scrub his face, taking a breath after he finished and drying himself with the small cloth. "Besides, tending to scraped knees and what not is the easy part, I have to teach them how to use their magic without killing themselves, no small feat, especially for someone who has never seen the inside of The Circle."
Hawke pulled a thin knife from under the water basin and splashed a bit of water onto his beard, preparing himself for his first trim in what seemed like ages.
"That woman you were with...is not...your...?" Hawke almost cut a chunk out of his face at the question, shocked that she would even assume such a thing.
"What? No... why would you... nevermind, I just met the woman today and I had thought about killing her for calling me out in public as she did, but her sisters are the mage children I, err.. 'we' will be taking care of... Be careful with your assumptions."
Once he finished, he let the water in the large bowl settled so he could check his reflection. He hadn't lost his touch, now clean with a perfect trim, he turned around to see Laina's reaction, he was rather amused by the girls feelings, he had never had a fan who was so, enamored by him.
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Hours passed and the two had carried on much the same, her awkward attempts at conversation being salvaged by Hawke until both had run out of things to talk about, then sat in what he considered a comfortable silence. It didn't last long however, the quietness of the room was broken by the sound of the door knob's turn. Reflex consumed Hawke as he shot up from the edge of the bed and in a blur of movement, he had snatched the dagger from Laina's waist, Jerked the door open, and had the blade pressed to the throat of the intruder. Anger and adrenaline twisted his face as he stared into the eyes of the Starkhaven woman he had spoken to at the bar. Shocked and a little ashamed by his action, he tossed the dagger back onto the bed and stepped out of the way of the door, allowing her entrance to the room.
"I have come back. I know you don't like loose ends." She clutched a white arrow in her right fist, a familiar arrow for one just like it had buried itself into his shoulder the day he left Kirkwall.
"Where are the girls?"