Time passed at an agonizingly slow rate. With her brother's team gone, Bethany had little to do but pace restlessly about the few rooms of her uncle's house. At times, the walls seemed to suffocate her, and she was desperate to escape their stifling confinement. The safer areas of Lowtown only held her interest for so long. While she had traveled to the other areas of Kirkwall many times before, she had no desire to wander very far on her own.
Leandra tried to offer her youngest comfort and reassurance. "I know you're worried, dear. I am, too. But looking out the window every three minutes isn't going to make them come back any faster."
"I know." She exhaled loudly, and collapsed into a chair.
"I must say, it is rather touching to see you so concerned about your brother," her mother said with a knowing smile. She didn't answer. "Unless you've been so anxiously awaiting the return of someone else…."
Bethany's head snapped upwards and her eyes widened in surprise. Leandra laughed. "Did you really think I hadn't noticed what was going on? That I didn't know the truth as to why you were spending less and less time here?"
"But...but you never said anything!" she sputtered.
"I was hoping you would eventually confide in me on your own." Leandra stroked her daughter's hair. "I know you're a grown woman now, but I'd always wished I could always be a friend to you."
Bethany contemplated the best way to start what had the potential to be a frightfully awkward conversation. "I love Anders," she said bluntly.
"I had a feeling you might."
"You're not upset?"
"Upset? Why would that make me upset?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Because he's an apostate living in Darktown, and I thought…I thought you wanted better for me," she admitted.
Leandra sat next to her. "Well, it's true that parents always want their children to lead successful, fulfilling lives. I know things already haven't been easy for you and Garrett, and I just want to see my remaining children happy." She folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them. "And I suppose I'm not in any position to judge if you decide to choose a life alongside an apostate. I just hope you would keep me in that life. I don't want to repeat the mistakes my parents made."
"I would never leave you!"
"That's good to hear. I don't regret any of the choices I made, but not a day goes by where I don't wish your grandparents had gotten the opportunity to see you and your siblings at least once."
"If they didn't approve of Father, I doubt they would have thought too kindly of me."
"I prefer to believe that with one look at you, they would have seen the error of their ways." Leandra brushed the hair from Bethany's eyes and cupped her chin in her hand. "My little girl has grown up to be a strong, courageous, compassionate woman. I couldn't be prouder." The first hints of tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. "And if you've found someone else who sees and appreciates all of that, it would be wrong of me to disapprove."
Bethany gave her mother a half-hearted smile before folding her arms on the table and resting her head on them. "I just wish they were back already."
"I do, too."
"Even though I don't know what's going to happen next." She sighed again, something she had been doing quite often in her lover's absence. "Sometimes I feel strange when I'm with him, but not in a bad way. Even though he makes me feel safe, I can't help but be anxious about the future. I'm so happy with him, and then I wonder if maybe it's too good to be true."
"Welcome to being in love, my child. Your feelings will level out eventually. Everything is new and thrilling at this point, like the moment when you first light a fire and the flames snap to life. It soon calms down to a slower burn, but as long as you are attentive and nurture it, it will keep going. Love is the same way – it may not always be as glamorous and dazzling as it was in the initial moments, but as long as you take care of it, it will be there to keep you warm."
Bethany looked up at her. "You didn't know Father for very long before you ran away with him."
"You're right."
"So how did you know things were going to work out?"
"I didn't." She wasn't satisfied with her mother's answers, and Leandra could tell. "There is an element of luck in all of life's pursuits. I'm old enough now that I can dispense sage advice from my own observations."
"I'd just feel better if I could be assured that everything was going to be okay in the end."
Leandra chuckled. "Wouldn't we all. Things usually do have a way of working themselves out, but you don't want to miss out on all the ups and downs of the journey." She patted her daughter's arm. "I had hoped that with all this time you've spent with Garrett since we escaped from Lothering, some of your better qualities would rub off on each other. As much as I may lose sleep over his antics some nights, one does have to admire his carefree spirit. Similarly, I know that you help keep him grounded and remind him when it's necessary to be more responsible."
She offered another weak smile. "I know I haven't been very good company since they left. I'll try to be in better spirits."
Leandra stood up. "Let's see if we can distract each other. Shall we go out and see if we can get some fresh food for tonight's dinner?"
Bethany obediently followed her mother out to the marketplace. She had never intended to keep secrets from her, and she did have to admit she felt a little better after their friendly chat. Life with an apostate for a partner had blessed her mother with love, if for too short a time. She could only pray she would be lucky enough to follow the family tradition.
AN: So we're rapidly approaching the end of Act I. Big thanks to everyone who's read, left reviews, and/or messaged me. This has been fun so far! For those of you who have speculated as to what's coming up next - you're probably exactly, 100% right. Because if someone in Dragon Age II is actually happy about something, obviously it can only last for about 30 seconds...
