"I was a thorn in the Kirkwall Chantry's side for many, many years." And damned proud of it judging by his grin. He was an open supporter of mage rights, protested the Rite of Tranquility and fought for the poor and downtrodden. Hawke's mouth was the source of all his troubles and his heart. "It's probably why no one was surprised that Anders blew up the Chantry."
He, however, hated that action. So many innocent people died. Hawke would've much preferred to destroy the Templar barracks or Meredith's office. That would've been a stand he could take without feeling guilty. The Chantry was a horrible institution but the innocent people there didn't deserve to die.
Red lyrium always made Hawke feel guilty. He knew it wasn't really his fault it got out in the world but flames did he feel like it. Varric probably carried the same guilt. They could've destroyed it all before it got free of the underground tombs that it inhabited. "Did Varric ever tell you the story of how we fought the varterral?"
Lavellan didn't seem comfortable talking about himself or his clan so Hawke was happy to change the subject if he liked. The elf could keep his secrets.