** ** ** **
Alistair had worried for Amelia in the days that followed. She'd made no mention of their talk after that night, and he grew frightened to speak to her of it. He wanted to ask her what had changed, for surely, her future was now different. Was he still in it, he wondered? Or would she find a man that would give her a slightly higher chance of being a mother? The thought alone had his heart beating fast.
"We'll be passing by Denerim. Does anyone need to go into the city for anything before we go by it?" Amelia called out as they packed up their camp.
He aproched her, nodding, "I'd like to stop by, if we could. I don't know if I've ever told you-"
"Oh wonderful. Another secret," she snorted, crossing her arms.
"This one doesn't affect you in the slightess. I promise. In fact, forget I ever said anything."
She'd wounded him. Amelia recognized the signs, the way he began to retreat from her, "What's in Denerim, Alistair? Is this the former almost lover?"
The question had the effect she had hoped. He blushed, shaking his head, "of course not! No! You'd think I'd take you to see… no! It's my sister."
"Did Maric have another illegimate child?!" Amelia asked, curiosity dripping from her words.
"Erm… no. My mother's daughter. King Maric had nothing to do with…. Anyways, she lives in Denerim and I was wondering if we could stop by and say…"
Amelia nodded, "You've never contacted her before, have you?"
"No… I thought that maybe I could warn her of the Blight, do something for her before it's too late. She's the only family I have, and I'd feel awful if something happened to her and I didn't warn her."
She nodded, thinking of Fergus. Deep down, she knew he was alive. Amelia avoided the subject vigorously, saying little when anyone questioned her past. Sometimes, she'd lie awake and count her heartbeat, almost sure it was saying Fer…gus…When they had been younger, Fergus had made a prick in her finger and in his, smearing their blood together. Amelia had thought it a stupid idea, knowing that they already shared the same blood because of their parents. "This is a promise," he had said stubbornly, "that no matter what happens, we'll always look after each other."
Her stomach twisted at the memory, the eagerness in his eyes and the power in their vow. "We can stop by her house, Alistair. Perhaps you'll find…"
She broke off, her eyes eerily blank. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, calling out commands to the group. Alistair groaned as he realized what he had asked of her: searching for his sister when he and Morrigan had cruelly denied her pleas to look for her brother.
**
"Wait, I think this is it. Yes, that's the address," Alistair breathed as they walked by a Denerim house, "Do you think we can go inside?"
"Don't you want to do this on your own?" Amelia asked, trying to peek into the house.
"No. Please, I need you with me. Do you even think she'll know who I am? My sister. Siiister," he giggled nervously, wringing his hands, "Maybe we should just forget about this? Yeah. Let's do that. Let's just forget it and go."
Amelia rolled her eyes good naturely, "The only place we're going to go is into your sister's home. Now let's go in there." She knocked the door, smiling at Alistair as a faint "come in" greeted them.
She could barely see the similarities between Alistair and his half sister. While Alistair's eyes sparkled with laughter and happiness, hers were sharp and cold.
"Erm, no. I'm not here to get my clothes washed –"
"Actually, we could use some clothes washed," Amelia told Alistair, sighing when he shot her a look.
"Are you Goldanna?" He continued, "if so, then I guess that makes me your brother."
The dirty blonde haired woman narrowed her eyes, "My what? I'm Goldanna, yes. How do you know my name? What kind of tomfoolery are you folk up to?"
"Maybe I should wait outside," Amelia mumbled, starting to retreat and only pausing when Alistair grabbed her hand.
"No! Please, stay. I can't do this alone," shaking slightly, he turned back to Goldanna, "look… our mother was a servant girl at Redcliffe Castle when she died, I'm not sure if you know about that-"
"YOU!" Goldanna's eyes flashed angrily, "I knew it! They told me the babe had died along with Mother, but I didn't believe them!"
Alistair blinked, "They told you I was dead? Who told you that?"
"Thems at the castle! I kept telling them the babe was the kings but they never listened. Gave me a coin to shut my mouth and sent me on my way."
"I… didn't know that. The babe didn't die, I'm him."
Goldanna scoffed angrily, "A lot of good that does me. That coin didn't last long and when I tried to go back they beat me away. I knew I should have told everyone!"
Unable to stand the look of shock on Alistair's face, Amelia spoke up, "Goldanna, Alistair came here looking for a family."
"And who's this? Some tart following after your riches, I suppose."
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that. She's my…friend and a Grey Warden too, just like me!" Alistair snapped at his sister.
"A Prince and a Grey Warden too. Well who am I to talk to someone so high and mighty," Goldanna snarled at Alistair, her lip curling viciously, "I don't know you, boy. Your royal father forced himself on my mother, and what do I have to show for it? Nothing unless you're going to help me feed five mouths."
"Someone should cut off that tongue of yours!" Amelia hissed, her hand inching to her dagger.
"No. Just let's go, it's her house," Alistair sighed, shooting Goldanna a look. "Love, please-"
"So more than a friend. Hoping you'll bear his noble spawn? Even if he does fill you up, he'll leave you high and dry like his father left my mother."
Amelia let out a growl, taking a step forward. Alistair grabbed her arm, holding her back, "You respect her, Goldanna. She's a Cousland."
Goldanna let out a laugh, "and that's supposed to scare me, is it? Everyone knows that the Couslands are done for. Howe turned his troops on him after they tried to kill him, the traitorous bastards."
"That's it!" Amelia yelled angrily, launching herself at Goldanna.
"Momma?"
"Get back into your rooms, you snot!" Goldanna snarled at the young girl peering at Amelia, her eyes frozen in fear at the sight of her dagger.
"Momma, is she going to hurt you?"
Defeated, Amelia shoved back her dagger into the holster, "I'm not. Your mother is not worth my time."
Alistair stayed rooted to the spot. Amelia walked past him, and outside. A second later her scent reached him, snapping him out of it. Goldanna was still glaring at him, even as he pulled out a pouch with some gold in it. She snorted, "Pity cash?"
Hate rose to his throat, and before he could say something he regretted he fled from his sister's home.
** **
"Well…that went well."
Amelia looked up at Alistair as he closed the door to Goldanna's behind him. Sighing, she stood up, "Are you okay?"
"I'm just dazed, I guess… that's the family I couldn't wait to meet? That evil, money hungry woman is my sister?" Alistair frowned, "I was hoping she'd welcome with open arms. Isn't that what a family is supposed to do?"
Ignoring the ache in her heart, she looked at him sternly, "Everyone is out for themselves, Alistair. You'll do well to remember that."
He watched, slightly stunned by the bluntness in her voice. As she walked away from him, he tried to fight the feeling that she was right. Only when despair overwhelmed him, did he realize she was right.
*****