Chapter 28

"This is it," Alistair said, swinging his arms back and forth. "This is the address, I'm sure of it. She could be inside. On the other side of the door."

Leliana hummed noncommittally. "Shall we go inside?"

Her words went unheard as Alistair continued talking. "Will she even know who I am? Does she even know I exist? My sister." He shook his head. "That sounds very strange... 'sister.' Siiiiiiisssster. My goodness, I think my tongue just died."

"Alistair?"

"Well, I'm babbling now. Haha. Can't go in like that. We should just go. Yes. Go. Let's."

"Oh no, you don't." Leliana caught him by the bicep as he turned to bolt. "Loghain's off to seize Bann Telmen's lands. Denerim is enemy-free right now! This might be the only chance you ever get!"

"But–"

Leliana whirled him around and pushed him towards the door. "No buts. Not unless you want me to go all Stabbity?"

Alistair dug his heels in, making it difficult to budge him. "I think I'd prefer that, actually."

"Alistair, you came all this way just because you wanted to meet your sister. If you don't do this, you'll regret it for all your life. You said so yourself."

A sigh. "I did, didn't I? Well, all right then. I'll go meet my long-lost sister." He turned and smiled nervously at her. "But I'm doing it just for you."

She smiled back. "Flattered. Now go."

"You're still coming, right?"

"Yes, yes."

It was a small house; two-storeyed but otherwise unremarkable, just like every other house in the vicinity. Alistair's sister greeted them as soon as they crossed the threshold, mistaking them for potential clients who needed some washing done. A washerwoman, then. Leliana had to admit, she didn't see much of a resemblance but it was always possible that she took more after their mother. Even King Cailan hadn't been much similar to Alistair at first glance.

However, it became quickly apparent that the two siblings were nothing like each other. As soon as Alistair introduced himself, Goldanna's entire disposition changed.

"You! I knew it! They told me you was dead!" She didn't sound very happy about it. "They told me the babe was dead along with Mother, but I knew they was lyin'!"

Alistair's eyebrows shot up. "They told you I was dead? Who? Who told you that?"

But Goldanna didn't reply readily. She had her fists clenched by her side, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet with her eyes closed and jaw clenched. When she opened her eyes again, Leliana knew she was ready to explode.

Oh dear.

"Them's at the castle! I told them the babe was the king's, and they said he was dead. Gave me a coin to keep my mouth shut and sent me on my way! I knew it!"

She got louder and faster as she talked and Alistair flinched from the venom in her voice. Leliana felt bad for him, she really did. It wasn't his fault.

"I'm sorry. I... didn't know that. The babe didn't die. I'm him; I'm your brother," he tried again, but it just wasn't meant to be.

"Fat loada good that does me!" She was pacing like a caged beast now, her eyes fixed upon Alistair. "You killed Mother, you did, and I've had to scrape by all this time? That coin didn't last long, and when I went back, they ran me off!"

Leliana decided then that enough was enough. This was a bad idea. So she put her hand on Alistair's shoulder and said, "I think we should leave."

Big mistake. Goldanna now focused on her.

"And who in the Maker's name are you? Some tart, following after his riches, I expect?"

A tart?! Why I–

"Don't speak to her that way," Alistair said aggressively before she could even open her mouth. "She's my friend, helping us Wardens end the Blight."

Goldanna scoffed at that. "Oh, I see. A prince and a Grey Warden, too. Who am I to think poorly of someone so high and mighty compared to me?" Sarcastic contempt was practically dripping from her every word. "I don't know you, boy. Your royal father forced himself on my mother and took her away from me, and what do I got to show for it? Nothing! Oh, they tricked me good! I shoulda told everyone!" She jabbed a finger into her own chest and held up her head. "I've got five mouths to feed and unless you can help with that, I got less than no use for you."

Alistair took a step back after that onslaught. "I... I'm sorry. I... don't even know what to say."

Goldanna took a quick step forward and Leliana almost reached for her knives, but the woman only snarled at Alistair. "I don't know why you came or what even you expected to find, but it isn't here! Now get out of my house, the both of you, before I call the guards!"

Leliana didn't need more incentive to leave. She gently caught Alistair's bicep and pulled the dazed man out. She walked him away the house and towards the market, hoping it would help.

After a while, Alistair said, "Well. That was not what I expected. To put it mildly."

Leliana said nothing. Let him ramble.

"This is the family I've been wondering about all my life? That shrew is my sister? I can't believe it." He paused and shook his head. "I was expecting her to just... accept me unconditionally, I guess. Isn't that what family's supposed to do?" He glanced back at Goldanna's house and shook his head again. "I feel like a complete bloody idiot."

Honestly, she didn't even know what to say. Leliana had been taught to approach all problems from every angle imaginable and as such, she could see both sides to this. An estranged brother desperately trying to find somewhere to belong. An estranged sister who has suffered all her life and wanted nothing more than financial security. It wasn't outrageous, her claim, but Goldanna could have – and should have – phrased it better.

"Come here," Leliana said quietly and led him away from the stalls. With the tip of her boot, she started drawing lines on the ground. "You are familiar with the Tevinter number system, yes?"

"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

"Look," Leliana told him, having finished with her handiwork. "Tell me if you agree."

As Alistair studied the symbols on the dirt, she did too.

IX = X + I

"Nine equals ten plus one?" Alistair said, both impatient and puzzled. "Leli, what is this?"

"Is it correct?"

"Nope."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay." Holding his bicep, she walked him around the simple equation and took him to the other side. "How about now?"

I + X = XI

Alistair said nothing, only blinked in surprise. Leliana placed her cheek on his shoulder.

"Sometimes, all you need is a change of perspective to recognise someone else's truth. Goldanna has suffered greatly, Alistair. She is unsatisfied with her life but is powerless to do anything about it. other than blame herself, she finds it easier to blame you. The prince. She thinks on the could-have-beens. You alleviating her poverty and keeping her in affluent surroundings. In her mind, you owe her that. In reality, you don't owe her a thing."

Alistair didn't say anything.

Leliana sighed. "It's not your fault, Alistair. You have to be good to yourself, because chances are that everybody else is just out for themselves. You know that now."

At long last, he said, "Yeah. Yeah, I suppose you're right."

"Are you ready to go? Aedan should have found Brother Genitivi by now."

"Yeah. Just... give me a moment."

Leliana looked on as Alistair backtracked to Goldanna's door, unstringing his purse from his belt as he did so. He then dropped the purse through one of the open windows and walked back to her. She didn't say anything. He just shrugged.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Leliana nodded. "Okay."