Been a while 'tween updates. I find that work, illness and assignments seem to get in the way of my fun times. Crazy. R&R!


Fakes, Sisters and Brothers

"You got into the palace district?"

Leiliana grinned happily, basking in the attention of the astonished Alistair. The room was cramped, only Sten and Oghren were not present, the latter presently soaking up the ale on the ground floor of the brothel. Morrigan sat regally on a table, Wynne had the only chair. Zevran, Leiliana and Alistair on the bed while Dain paced in a very small area.

"I did. No one is looking for a defenceless female such as my self. I went to Andraste's birth rock and then returned. The only time I was looked at, was when I was…looked at."

She giggled.

"Defenceless? They looked at you!"

Leiliana punched Alistair on the arm and he coughed to cover the squeal his indignation had given his voice.

"Wynne, you and Sten get your supplies?"

The mage nodded, gesturing to the packs pressed into the corner of the room.

"We did. And I assume that you four had a grand time rousing up the cut throats and pick pockets at the whim of Sergeant Kylon?"

"Yes, we of course we did. All done using our own cut throat and pick pockets in direct opposition."

Alistair said grinning.

"The Sergeant is probably the only one in the whole of Denerim who doesn't believe Loghain and the slander about the Wardens. Plus we got paid. It helped you make your purchases. But that means that all remains is to pick up the repairs from Wade and Gorim, and drop in on Genitivi."

Alistair darted Dain a look, a quick nod was all the affirmation the man needed and he dropped his gaze.

"Zevran and Leiliana can accomplish the first, with Sten. I believe Oghren will probably be comatose by now. Wynne, care to join Alistair and I to Genitivi's house?"

"And I suppose I am invisible?"

Morrigan said, no moving from the table. Dain dipped to his belt and tossed a draw string bag at her. She caught it, the sound of coins clanking against each other evident.

"I suggest you browse the wares in the Wonders of Thedas, might help you decipher that black tome you insist on dragging with you."


No one responded to Dain's heavy knocking. Instead of looking to the others for ideas, Dain tried the door. It was unlocked and nearly eager to swing open. The rooms were lined in books, artefacts pushed into the gaps between. A man appeared, coming from what seemed to the kitchen. He was young, younger than what Dain had thought, but he strode forward, not guarded.

"Brother Genitivi, I presume?"

The man flinched, not taking the hand he offered. Dain dropped it.

"No, no. I am Weylon, Genitivi's assistant."

"My mistake. Is your master not here then?"

There was a noticeable shuffling of feet and awkwardness before the man answered. Dain gestured a little at his side, close to his leg. A fidget to Weylon, but not to Alistair. He moved back and studied the books, looking around the room. Weylon watched the man before at a movement from Dain darted his attention back to him.

"Yes? No?"

"He is missing. He found some information and left, a long time ago. Excited about it."

Again Weylon's eyes shifted to follow Alistair as he moved down the long main room.

"Research on the Sacred Urn?"

"Um, yes. How did you know that?"

Dain simply made a hand gesture, rendering the acquisition of that irrelevant.

"Where did he go? Did he say?"

"An inn, off Lake Calenhad. But I shouldn't say anymore. There has not been a word from him for weeks. I couldn't take it if something happened to those I sent after him."

Alistair neared a door towards the end of the room, his face wrinkling at something. Weylon saw the movement and made to head towards the ex templar.

"No you mustn't go down there!"

Dain caught his arm arresting the man's movement, but releasing him when Weylon looked at him.

"Why?"

"Its, its Genitivi's office, I must keep it tidy for him."

"I'm sure Alistair will be careful. We must know where Genitivi went, tis a case of life and death."

"Um Dain, something fishy behind here. Well, not fishy exactly, but you know…it smells."

"I said don't touch that door!"

Wynne managed a gasp as Weylon lifted his hands and fire erupted from his palms. Alistair took a single stride and grabbed the edge of the table. He barely managed to flip it up before the fire balls struck the heavy wood surface. Dain slid his shield onto his arm holding it before him as Weylon turned to him. Despite the grin Weylon wore, he was apparently reckless. Though his hands erupted into flame, the balls never formed and instead it was as if a back draft roared. The man exploded into flame, a single scream sounded from the centre of the conflagration before the man breathed in pure flames and he fell to the ground. The flames died out quickly, Wynne moving to step on a few.

"Poor boy."

"Oh yes, poor boy. I'm alright though, by the way. If you care."

Alistair said, appearing from behind the table. He lifted a hand, gingerly tapping his hair as if testing for burn. Dain simply nudged the body out of the way and moved down to the door that had seemed so important. Then he smelt it. Rot. Behind the door the slow lazy hum of flies. He looked at Alistair the man already wincing.

"Yeah, I thought so. After you."

"Thanks."

Trying the door, it seems that whatever Weylon wanted to hide was behind this door and worth locking. It didn't stand up to the quick jolting shoulder barge. Dain swallowed hard, sluggish flies roused by the sudden movement bumped into his chest and face. He waved them away, only succeeding in wafting the vomit inducing smell to his nose.

"I was right. Yay for me."

Alistair said, a hand clamped hard over his nose and mouth. Wynne strode in and just as quickly reeled back, stumbling. Dain caught her and set her right.

"Dear Maker. What did he do?"

Breathing unhappily through his mouth Dain moved further into the room, finally at the end of an unmade bed the source of the stench. It was barely recognisable as human. Maggots roiled in the pulpy remains of flesh, flies too gorged to take off buzzed angrily at the intrusion.

"I think, think, this was the real Weylon."

Dain turned away from the remains, instead looking for any sort of information. Alistair found it first, tossing the small bound journal at him. He caught it and flicked through the thick pages,

"It talks about his research, but it points to a village…Haven. The other end of Calenhad further west from Redcliffe."

"Good great. Now that we know this, can we go?"

Wynne said from her station by the door, a hopeful look on her face.


"Wynne, if you want to go back to the 'wonders' just say."

Alistair said. Wynne smiled,

"Very well. I wish to go back to the Wonders of Thedas, I started reading a very interesting paper before Sten started to go on about the mages back in Par Vollen."

"Can you go there and go back to the pearl without getting in trouble?"

"I will try my oh so very hardest young man."

She said patting his arm before moving away from them, circumventing the foul mouthed noble girl and her maid. Dain fell into step with Alistair, the warden's steps getting slower and slower the closer he got to his sister's home.

"Um. I don't know if this is a good idea. I mean, she doesn't know who I am, even know I exist. A sister, sister. Sister. No come on lets just go. Lets go."

"This way."

Dain grabbed Alistair's wrist before he could take off, with his free hand he knocked on the door. The faint call of entry came snaking through the door. Dain opened the door and all but shoved Alistair through it.

The house was gloomy, really only lit by the fire and a few candles dotted around the sparse interior. A woman with the same coloured hair as Alistair spoke without looking up from the pile of material on the table.

"I can do your laundry for you, two bits a bundle. And don't trust that foreign woman, she can't do it cheaper and…"

"Excuse me, are you Goldanna?"

She looked up. Life didn't seem to have been kind to her, there were frown lines hard around her mouth, but she came closer.

"Aye, that's me. How do you know my name?"

Alistair ummed and ahhed, scratching his chin hard before a quick nudge had him coughing out his words.

"I am Alistair. I guess, I am your brother."

She didn't scream. She didn't cry. There was no weeping, gnashing of teeth, nor did she run to hug him. Dain didn't know quite what she should do, but he thought there would be more.

"I knew it!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Those guards thought they could fob me off with some silvers. But I knew. Knew there was a babe. You killed mother."

Alistair looked nothing short of shocked. He looked at Goldanna; Dain knew that the illusion of what he had built in his mind was shattering into pieces.

"Alistair was a child, a baby that is hardy his fault."

Those narrowed and angry eyes turned to him.

"And you? Who are you? Some sort of servant for his high and mighty over there?"

"No. He is Grey Warden, like myself. Why are you doing this?"

"Oh a Grey Warden is it, come to lord it over me then."

"Goldanna, Alistair came here looking for his family."

"Well he found me. What do you think?"

Alistair's mouth fell open but nothing came out. Dain could only think of one thing to do. He grabbed the pouch, a few sovereigns within, he tossed it to her and turned to Alistair.

"Let's leave. Now."

Alistair nodded woodenly, nearly throwing himself out into the sunlight, raking his hands through his hair.

"What was I thinking? How could I have thought that everything would be fine?"

"Because it was what you wanted."

"But, how?"

"Everyone is out for themselves Alistair. You should learn that."

The glow in Alistair's eyes threatened to die. Did he mean that truly? Dain turned, but dragged Alistair with him, throwing his arm around the man's shoulders.

"You don't need her. You have others who care about you. Brother."