Well, here was Bethany Hawke, trying to thwart her the only way she knew how - by being polite and kind and straight-forward in an amazing naive way. She knew that if she could just find the right words, words that would not make her sound like an apostate pariah, she would be all right.

"Oh, no, I am courting you -- it's only right if I ask permission. I just ... " She sighed, and gave him a crooked smile as she plucked up the parchment. She offered it up to him to read, "Please, be my guest. I could use some help figuring out the phrasing of, 'I really want to make your son an honest man and a father but only when we get to that bit.' I have a dowry -- Mother and Marian put it aside for me, even though I was in the Grey Wardens. Never thought I would use it so ... well. Perhaps I could bribe her with sweets and gold?"

She is joking. Mostly.