"You're telling me you live here?" Varric asked, staring wide-eyed at the estate before them. Renna rolled her eyes.
"Well, not technically. This is...was...my grandfather's vacation home. He always loved Val Royeaux. He used to come here to 'get a feel for the pulse of the people'." she explained. Varric chuckled drily.
"Even Hawke's estate was only half this size, if that." he reminded her. She smiled at him.
"Just remember that my father is Bann of Ostwick. It is basically something like your Viscount in Kirkwall, but over a slightly larger holding." she pointed out. Varric let out a low whistle.
"I knew you were a big deal, Freckles, but you might be an even bigger deal than I thought." he said in mock seriousness. She rolled her eyes.
"Let's just go inside." she laughed, leading the way through the gates. A few servants bowed as she passed: she had spent a lot of time here, and they knew her face well. One familiar face greeted her at the door.
"Lady Renna, thank the Maker you are all right." the old woman said, embracing her tightly.
"It is good to see you, Ari. How have you been?" she asked. The woman snorted and brushed a strand of silvery hair out of her face.
"You don't get to ask me questions, my lady. Many thought that you were dead for a long time. We received news about your dear grandfather, but nothing of you. Your mother and father have been frantic, writing letters to me every other day to see if you've shown up. Those letters stopped after a few weeks. I suppose I'll have to tell them you're here." she rambled. Renna nodded.
"I know that the Inquisition's ambassador, Josephine, has contacted them and told them what was happening. She has received no official response, although they acknowledged her letter." she said. Ari nodded.
"This Inquisition, girl, did you join of your own volition? Or are they forcing you to be a puppet? If they are, we'll get you out of there straight-away." the old woman hissed. Renna smiled fondly. Ari had always looked out for her.
"I assure you, I chose my place. I know what I do is right." she promised. Ari smiled softly.
"Good. I have heard you've been invited to Madame de Fer's salon this evening. Let's get you into something acceptable." she said. Renna was barely surprised: Ari always seemed to know everything that was going on in the world before anyone else.
"We will wait here. Perhaps we can act as a guard when you attend the salon?" Cassandra suggested. Renna opened her mouth to say something, but Ari stepped forward, her small, slightly hunched frame somehow managing to be imposing.
"We will have none of that. You lot will get yourselves cleaned up just as she will. We'll find something for you to wear, even if it is Trevelyan dress armor." she replied sternly. Cassandra nodded and allowed some other servants to lead them away to separate rooms. Renna followed Ari to what used to be her bedroom. She smiled fondly at the memories the place evoked. It made her heart ache for her grandfather, but she was glad to at least have the memories of him. "Now, I think I have the perfect dress for you, young lady. They've already started a bath for you." Ari barked. Renna shook her head with a smile on her face.
"Prepared as always. Why don't you come back with me, Ari? Come see Haven." she requested. The old woman, who was like a grandmother to her, smiled fondly.
"Child, do you truly think I could just leave your late grandfather's estate to all these layabouts? If I went with you, the summer estate would fall to ruin. We cannot have that." she reminded her. Renna sighed.
"Sometimes I just wish to have a familiar face, is all." she answered wistfully. Ari put a bony arm around her waist and squeezed.
"I understand, girl." she said, heading out of the room. She paused before closing the door. "Darren would have been quite proud of you, I think, taking charge of things in the midst of chaos like you did." she said before exiting. Renna felt tears well in her eyes. Darren, her grandfather, was very close with Ari. Renna had always suspected that they had something greater than simply friendship. She stripped out of her sweaty clothes and sank into the hot bath. It felt nice to relax for a bit. Scrubbing the dirt off her face and body was refreshing. When she rose, Ari blew into the room and headed straight for the closet. Renna sat, drying herself off, while the mistress of the house flew through fabric.
"Ah-ha!" she exclaimed, finally making her way out. "What do you think of this one, my lady?" she asked, holding out a simple, but still very Orlesian, gown of blue silk. Renna smiled. It was one of the few dresses she actually liked.
"It's perfect. Why do you keep calling me that? You never call me that." Renna asked. Ari stared at her.
"You're the mistress of the house now, Renna. Your grandfather left everything to you." she said, as if she should already know. Renna plopped back down on the bed in surprise.
"He...he left me everything?" she breathed. Ari nodded and pulled her to her feet, dressing her as she stared off in her state of shock.
"All of his estates, control of his small businesses, his random belongings, that ridiculous old cat of his-" Ari rambled.
"I love that ridiculous old cat." Renna interrupted. Ari raised an eyebrow at her.
"So did he. You can take it to Haven with you when you return. For now, I have been taking care of the estates for you. I have made sure everyone gets paid and nothing gets stolen. Don't you fret." she replied, lacing up the back of the dress, more tightly than Renna would have normally liked. She gasped in surprise, but allowed Ari to finish her work. "Sit." the woman said, grabbing a comb and running it through her dark red hair. Renna closed her eyes while Ari hummed a familiar tune. This was very reminiscent of her childhood. She felt the woman's bony old fingers winding through her hair, twisting and pulling it away from her face. "Beautiful." she finally said. Renna opened her eyes and smiled. The old woman hadn't lost her touch.
"Thank you, Ari." she said cheerfully. Ari smiled fondly at her.
"Yes, yes. You are going to be late for a salon with Madame de Fer. No one is late for a salon with Madame de Fer. Get out of here." she said, teasingly shoving her out the door. "Besides, your escort is waiting for you." Ari said mysteriously. Renna stared at her.
"Escort? What escort?" she asked. Ari only laughed and closed the door in her face. She had no idea what to expect.