Chapter Six

Choices


I came awake slowly – my head hurt, my muscles were sore, and worse… I couldn't move at the moment.

I heard Alistairs' voice conversing with someone, "I know… I just… don't know how to tell her. She thinks…"

Alims' voice scoffed, "You were prepared to face down a fully grown High Dragon for her, Alistair. Just grow a pair of balls and tell her that you want to 'woo' her – was that the word you used?"

Alistair stammered, "W-well… what else am I meant to call it? I wish to court her with the hope of discovering if she and I could…"

My heart panged – Solona was the last one that he had flirted with, if I recalled. Though, I was unsure when he had faced a dragon for anyone lately. Wait…

I wasn't dead? How was I…?

Alim snorted, "Cailan said that if you don't step up soon, he's going to act on the information that King Jamal gave us yesterday."

My dad? What information had my father given them? And how long had I been out cold?

"I-I… okay. But how do I approach the subject?"

Alim sighed as though he had suffered this conversation more than once, "I don't know, Alistair – kiss her? She's not likely to pull away from you."

"But… she hasn't… we haven't… that might not be okay," Alistair pointed out. Good man – consent was always important… I just wish he would kiss me.

"Then… tell her she looks nice. Ask her if she wants to go on a stroll. Recite a poem from one of those books from the library."

Wait – since when could they read those books…? Did my dad give them a wish?

"I… er… poetry isn't my strong suit. I suppose we'll see how it goes. Though reading those books is… a unique experience."

"Your defense of Avalon while she was riddled with arrows… when the King heard from Flemeth what you did, he was more than happy to grant that wish of yours." Alim said, "I'll admit – it's nice being able to read. I know Queen Pearl went to great lengths to learn our system to get that book to me and Lona."

"I… just figured… she has so many books and they look well-read. I wanted to know what kind of things she liked to read…" Alistair muttered.

"And you really regretted picking up that book on her study desk." Alim teased.

Oh no… the Kama Sutra was the only book I'd left on my desk. I was glad that I seemed to be mostly paralyzed at the moment; I couldn't even blush.

"W-well… I wouldn't say regret. More that I strongly wish I'd had a warning." Alistair sounded so embarrassed.

Alim laughed, "Don't tell me you actually read it. Chantry boy like you?"

"It's… not like I've had that kind of education. I need to know that stuff," Alistair defended.

"That you do – a woman like her deserves a man who knows what they're doing." Alim chuckled. Another pang at being reminded that my mate liked another.

I suppose… I couldn't be selfish anyway. I thought Jinn mates didn't usually find love outside of… us… but then – maybe the fates were involved? Anything was possible. I couldn't stop him.

He deserved all the love he could find. Solona… was a lucky woman.

"Woah – hey… look. There are tears coming from her eyes," Alim exclaimed.

"Do you think she's in pain? Go – find Pearl," Alistair snaped at Alim and I felt his hands roaming my body – looking for opened wounds, I think.

I heard my mothers' voice, "What's wrong?"

"I think she's in pain. Her body is tensed and she's… crying, Pearl."

"Call me mom, boy – I heard that you were one of her mates." Oh raging seas, no. Who had… Cailan!

"Er… that's… I mean…"

A whimper managed to escape my lips, though I tried to bite it back. My mothers' hands moved to my chest. It was quiet for a moment. She sighed, "She must be reliving the heartache – Cailan says you rejected her?"

"I… didn't; not that I'm aware of, at any rate. I can't recall ever… saying anything that might have… seemed like it, either." Alistair muttered.

My mind spun – he… hadn't rejected me? But then…

It still didn't matter – I'd heard them discussing Solona. He loved her – or at least liked her more than a fair bit.

"Now that her body is healed, her heart and mind need a reason to wake up. I don't know what that might be. I don't think she'd leave Oren; she's all but adopted that boy. She sees Aedan as a very good friend, I think. And she has yet to meet her second mate – so, perhaps that would help…"

My second mate…

What if they were like Alistair and liked thinner women? Or – in this world – what if they couldn't stand my magic? What if they just didn't want me? I was… terrified that I would be left mate-less.

Even if he hadn't rejected me yet, Alistair still liked someone else. I'd share him if it meant I could still have him, but I didn't appear to be his type at all.

But Oren – sweet, innocent Oren – I couldn't leave him. I hadn't told him yet that his father was still alive after that battle. I'd looked up information on Fergus before the battle – I knew the battle would go badly, but I thought Loghain was a traitor. But thanks to it, I knew Fergus lived.

I decided to live; for Oren…

I slipped back into unconsciousness.


My eyes slid open slowly – Alistair was sitting in a chair beside the bed. He was asleep – there were deep bags under his eyes.

Darrien walked into the room with a bowl of something. Surprise lit his eyes when he saw me awake. He set the bowl – a soup of some kind – on the bedside table and passed me a glass of water.

He had to help me sit up so that I could sip at it. He then moved to shove Alistairs' shoulder. The former templar jerked awake and looked accusingly at Darrien, "What was that for?"

Darrien motioned to me. The moment Alistair saw me sitting up, he looked… relieved? He muttered, "Ah… how are you feeling?"

My voice was a rasp, "Sore."

He frowned and motioned for me to turn my back to him. I was confused, but I did so.

His hands came up the back of my shirt and began to rub. A gasp spilled from my lips – it… felt nice.

"I used to do this for the Mabari in the Redcliffe Kennels. Mabari like having their muscles massaged after a nice hunt. I-I like to think the principle is still the same. Does it… help?"

I nodded shyly – hoping Solona wouldn't walk in and misunderstand the Warriors' kind gesture.

Alim poked his head in and looked surprised, "Ah – good timing. You're awake. How are you?"

"Sore – hence the… massage. Where is everyone?" I asked softly. I wasn't sure where we were.

"I stayed on to clean, Darrien is our chef and Alistair was your nanny. Everyone else was designated to stay in your house. We're currently in the home of the Witch of the Wilds – the one who had the treaties?"

I nodded – Flemeth.

Alistair spoke softly, "Your mother also came around a few times to help you heal. Your father granted us all the ability to read your native script…"

"What did you do to gain his favor?" I asked.

Alistair went red but said nothing. Alim filled me in, "None of us could leave the house – the coin kept flashing 'not safe, please wait' then gave us an estimated time. Alistair was the only one that could leave. When he arrived beside you, you were… there were apparently a lot of arrows and cuts. Flemeth arrived to rescue you – but she was in a terrifying form; he thought she was going to attack. He stood over you – determined to protect you from further harm. When your dad heard about it, he told Alistair that he could wish for any one thing – that even if he couldn't personally grant it, he'd pull favors with someone with who could. Alistair wished for us all to be able to read your native language."

I blinked – wondering what form Flemeth had taken. I'd have to look it up later.

I muttered, "Thank you."

"Why? Why didn't you follow us into the house? Why did you just…?" Alistair asked.

"I… something was draining my magic in the tower – from the moment we stood in front of it. By the time… we got the beacon lit… I only had enough magic to send all but one of us in. I had to choose. It was a good thing I was in contact with Loghain."

"You what?" Alistair asked in a hard voice. I flinched away when his hand dug into my side hard enough to bruise. Darrien yanked him away.

Alim snapped, "Alistair – what the hell? You can't just… hurt her."

Alistair looked startled, "I… I'm sorry. I didn't intend… but Loghain left the field! He abandoned Cailan and us. He's a traitor!"

"What? No – I asked him… the beacon was lit after Cailan was already 'dead', Alistair – it was lit far too late. If I hadn't told him about the Darkspawn and the ogre, he'd think we were traitors for lighting it too late. He thinks we left the King to die. Speaking of… is he safe?"

"Cailan? He's fine. He was apparently having a shower when we arrived at the house. Loghain… retreated after Cailan would have died?"

I nodded, "He… oh – speaking of…"

I answered my bracelet, "Loghain?"

"Thank the maker – I've been trying to contact you for a week and a half – since the blasted diamond on this thing glowed red. Are you well? How badly…?" Loghains' voice was panicked.

"I'm alright – I only just woke up."

"People want someone to be responsible for the disaster at Ostagar. Despite my words, they've begun calling the Wardens traitors when they found out that the beacon was lit too late. No one believes that the tower was overrun. I'm sorry – I've been forced to place a bounty on any surviving wardens. Anora – my daughter – is being hailed as the Queen since her husband died at Ostagar without an heir – so they think – and Alistair likely died too, anyway. I'm… her regent. I'm doing what I can. As of now, I could only get you off the hook as a foreign princess. People will believe the wardens have kidnapped you. I've done what I can, but my friend reports that people are… I tried, Avalon."

"I understand. I can handle things from here. Oh – the heir of Highever yet lives so I need you to put him in as Teyrn. He's a young boy of 10, but…"

"Highever? I thought the Couslands were traitors to the throne, conspiring with Orlais?" Loghain sounded shocked.

"What? No – someone tried to slaughter us all the same day that I arrived! I don't doubt that lies were told, but Bryce – my fathers' cousin – had sent his men south to join the king and then we were all ambushed while waiting for Howes men – we were told that they were delayed. Bryce was simply the courier to the empress for Cailan – in his peace negotiations."

"… What is the heirs' name?" Loghain asked.

"Oren Cousland, son of Fergus. Aedan lived and we're in custody of Oren at the moment." I sighed. Something held me back from mentioning who the traitor was or that Cailan was alive.

"I'll handle it – from now on, Oren Cousland is the Teyrn unless Fergus is found alive – and if Fergus can't be found and Oren falls for any reason, you will be the Teyrna. The Couslands are your family, after all. Thank you for telling me."

"Thank you for listening. I'm sorry that you had to retreat…" I muttered, starring at Alistair.

"You warned me that you had a bad feeling. I should have listened more. You have proven yourself, Avalon. My daughter would be honored to negotiate an alliance with you when you have time. But you do what you need to do – know that you have my support."

He cut the connection.

Alistair frowned, "He… only retreated… because the battle was lost?"

"The reasoning he gave me – when I asked what he might do if things went bad before the battle – was that we cannot expect to win later if all of our forces died there. His reasoning was sound, so I… placed a bit of faith in him." I muttered.

Alistair looked away, "For a week and a half, I've believed he was a coward and a traitor. I suppose someone ought to tell Cailan that we were wrong. Excuse me."

He stood and left. It was good that I wasn't living for him at the moment. Perhaps once Oren was completely safe, Aedans' wishes ran out and I met my second mate, I could reconsider things.

But he wanted Solona. And damnit, he deserved to be happy. I would help him in his endeavor to break free of the curse that the Mates of Jinn suffered. He wouldn't be loveless without me if I could help it.

My chest squeezed tightly and my breath wouldn't come. Alim moved to sit beside me, "Hey – hey… he isn't rejecting you."

I shook my head, "He… it doesn't matter. I'm going to strangle Cailan for telling him; it wasn't for him to tell."

Alim and Daylen exchanged a look with a frown. I changed my clothes – not caring about their presence – before heading downstairs. I approached the old Hag, "I've woken."

"So I see girl." She gave me a look, "And what do you intend to do now?"

"I intend to take your daughter with me and end the Blight within the next… let's say one year? I'll need her if I'm going to prevent…"

Her eyes were sharp, "So you know about that do you? Very well. You have the treaties, make an army. One year, you say? If you manage that, I'll even have to grant you a boon."

"… Very well." Granting a boon – among the Jinn – was a sacred thing. She was – to me – saying that she would owe me a great debt. Like my father had offered to Alistair for his defense of me.

She nodded, "I'll tell the girl to pack her things – you get the others of your people and inform them."

I nodded and summoned all my people; Cailan, Alim, Darrien and so on. Only Oren was left at the house.

Cailan scooped me into a hug, "I just heard you were awake!"

"… we need to dye your hair or something if you're going to walk around Ferelden with us. The old witch is sending her daughter with us. I've vowed to have this blight ended within the year so we need all the help we can get."

Cailan pouted at me, "I'll dye my hair. Your father gave us some interesting information the other day."

I sighed, "What information."

"That you can 'replace' a mate. It's rare, but it can happen. So… if your second mate, let's say, rejected you, then someone else could take their place. I might have a chance with you," he smirked.

"I'll see if you really are my second mate, Cailan – but I won't be 'replacing' my true mates. I didn't know it was even possible, but I will not do it. If both of my mates reject me then I have no mates. It's that simple. And on that note, how dare you?"

My anger was thick in my voice. Everyone looked confused – including Cailan, "What? How dare I what?"

"How dare you tell the others who my first mate was? That was not for you to say. It's a sacred moment between mates when we finally tell them what they are to us – you robbed that from me, Cailan. I told you in confidence and you went and told everyone else?" I snapped.

"Not everyone – just your mate and your mother…" Cailan defended – and indeed everyone else did look confused. But I knew Alim, at least, knew.

"Then who told the rest?" I growled.

"Maybe someone overheard it… or your mate told?" he raised his hands in surrender.

"… I'm rather hurt about this, Cailan. There… it is a sacred thing among the Jinn and only to be shared when we've been accepted. We can't press them into it or… I would never want my mates to feel obliged to be with me just because they are my mates – do you understand? And besides that… just… you robbed me of a very precious moment, Cailan." I didn't know when the tears had begun.

"I… I didn't know. I'm sorry, Avalon…"

"You knew I hadn't told him – you knew that I didn't plan to. You should have acted in accordance with my wishes. Just because a mate of a Jinn has never been with anyone before rejecting their mate completely before doesn't mean that it isn't possible… No… don't touch me right now. I'm feeling raw and betrayed. So please… just please… understand where I'm coming from. I spent 4,000 years planning how this would go and I just had it taken away from me."

He looked dejected. Faren scoffed, "I think he saved you a lot of heartache, Princess. What if your mate never made a move without him…?"

I cut him off, "Then it wasn't meant to be. Soulmates… it wasn't for Cailan to tell. There are traditions, and telling ones mate that we belong to them is as anticipated to us as a wedding is to humans. It's a huge deal. He basically robbed me of my wedding as well as potentially making my mate feel obliged to me. I didn't want that."

Alistair – the subject of our discussion – wouldn't even look my way. It was clear to me that he just… didn't want me. It couldn't be coincidence that he was looking toward Solona. Maybe my words about 'Just because a mate of a Jinn has never been with anyone before rejecting their mate completely before doesn't mean that it isn't possible' were getting to him.

It hurt to see how he loved her – but that was why I'd said it. He needed to know that I would support him… no matter what.

I looked away, "As I was saying – we'll be leaving here as soon as Morrigan joins us. We will camp each night in my home for safety. It would likely be best if we took turns in who walks each day, only all appearing when we're in a major place – the Circle, Redcliffe, Orzammar, or such. That way, we don't all expend our energy needlessly. We need to elect a leader – preferably two – that can switch off and pick who they are taking each day. After all, we will need a representative when dealing with the treaties anyway and someone needs to take the position of Field Commander."

"What about you? You went through the Joining with me," Aedan pointed out.

"I… did. I am a warden in almost truth. My blood – as you all know – cannot be tainted, but I did gain all the benefits of being joined. I can sense them, my strength and stamina did increase… but as I serve you, Aedan, I cannot lead. I am a Jinn – you are my master." I sighed.

"Right…" Aedan muttered.

"So, I vote for Aedan as leader number one," Sereda quipped, "Ava will always be with him; guiding and advising, so it's basically like picking her."

"Alright – Aedan is leader number one. Who is number two?" Solona asked.

I spoke – softly, "I… vote for Solona."

"What? Why me?" She asked.

"You spoke up." I lied.

"Got a point," Aedan grinned, "So Solona and I are the leaders."

"You'll be Commander – I'll take constable. People won't appreciate a mage commander much anyway," Solona shrugged.

"Fair enough…" Aedan shrugged.

Morrigans' voice cut in, "This is all well and good, but I'm under orders to be at Avalons' disposal. So – Avalon – I will be your humble guide. Or, if you prefer, I can simply be your silent guide."

"I prefer you speak your mind – even catty quips can end up as good ideas." I shrugged.

She chuckled, "Good – I suggest a little town not far from here as our first stop. It's called Lothering and would be a good place to purchase goods and listen for information."

I glanced at Aedan. He shrugged, "Up to you, cousin."

I nodded slowly so he said, "Then it's decided. We should travel in groups of five. Today, I will have Morrigan, Avalon, Alistair and my hound, Barker."

I nodded and sent the others back before they could protest.

Morrigan began leading us through the woods.

Alistair idly asked, "How far is 'not far', anyway?"

"3 Days on foot," Morrigan said before looking at me, "Where were you born?"

"Atlantis – an underwater city on the planet earth. Mom was visiting her family; a ducal family of mermaids… she went into labor a month before she was due to or I would have been born in my fathers' home. He has a nice home – 3 sections; one for his dragonkin mate, one for his elven mate, and one for mom. Each section has plenty of room – he wanted a lot of kids. I built my home on the expectation of one mate because I misinterpreted my dream-vision."

She hummed – I was sure this confirmed a suspicion of hers, but I wasn't sure what.

"And how many rooms are in your home?"

"18 – all on the second floor, with balconies, walk in closets, en suite bathrooms and thick curtains since the sun shines 22 hours a day. Though, one bedroom was converted to a study about 300 years ago."

She didn't ask more questions.

I wasn't sure why she asked either question, but my understanding of her was that she had a reason.

Aedan spoke with Alistair softly – but I could hear them thanks to my dragon blood, "Any idea who her mate is? I didn't… I know it isn't me. Masters can't be mates or something – also, not Solona."

Alistair flushed, "How do you know it isn't Solona?" oh, shit – was he going to be jealous that I slept with his girl?

"Those two had a fling around the Dalish Camp after recruiting Lyna. Speaking of, it isn't Lyna, Sereda, Faren, Alim or Darrien because her mates are both meant to be… human… Maker – don't tell me it's you."

"… If it weren't?" oh, ouch.

"My next guess is Loghain. Age doesn't seem to be a factor with the Jinn. But, if it was you, then it would make more sense. It'd make sense as to how you could get out when no one else could! That's as much your home as hers." Aedan deduced.

Alistair coughed. "It isn't Loghain."

"That's… wait. So you rejected her?" Aedans' voice went from victorious to deadly.

"I didn't mean to. She… I don't know when it was, but she must have misconstrued my words. I can't think of any instance when I would have… said something that could be interpreted as… that."

I sighed and said, "When I told you what Loghain and Cailan were going to try. You said – and I quote – 'why me? Just – not that you're … I mean…' and then got very quiet. I apologize for putting you on the spot back then. I suppose it's all worked out anyway."

"It has?" he asked.

"Of course – don't worry; I won't stand in your way." I flashed him what I hoped was a smile that would put him at ease. I must have failed; he frowned.

"What do you mean by that, Ava?" Aedan asked.

I shrugged, "Exactly what I meant. Now, if we can drop this topic; it's making my chest hurt."

"Okay… how did you hear us?" Aedan shot.

"My grandfather – well, great grandfather – on my dads' side was a Dragon. I have very sharp senses. Just the basic 5 senses, mind you. So, your whispers were like talking normally to me." I shrugged.

"Can you take the form?" Morrigan asked in interest.

"… I can't shape-change. Not that I'm aware of. Mom was Mer, so I can heal well, dad was Jinn so I am too, grandma was a banshee so I can turn incorporeal for just under a minute, grandpa was a siren so I can sing beautifully and my great-great-grandma was a Swan-Maiden so I can die of a shattered heart. That's both sides of my family. There's more, but… yeah; no skin-walker or Fae blood. I do have a bit of witch, but that was 7 generations ago and I'm not likely to have inherited that brand of magic."

She hummed in consideration, "You aren't dead now – and the fool has broken your heart…?"

"I… have two mates. And at the moment, I'm focusing on Oren – Aedans' nephew and my sort-of adopted cousin." I admitted.

"If the child died?" Morrigan asked idly.

Aedan growled at that but I answered, "Then I pin my hopes on my second mate. If that fails… well… I just hope Aedan has made his second wish by then, because he won't get it otherwise."

Alistair was frowning as he looked to the ground. This was why we didn't tell our mates until we'd been accepted – if something like my situation arose, then they shouldn't feel guilted into being with us. We came to a stop as a Mabari barked from the side.

I blinked at him – it was Valor; the Mabari I saved at Ostagar.

Alistair looked confused, "Well, hello – who's this then?"

"Valor – the Mabari I aided at Ostagar," I muttered.

The dog barked – his whole rear-end wagging at me. I frowned, "You're choosing me? Why in the raging seas…?"

The dog barked again. I sighed, "Oh, very well, then – but you had best earn your keep. I expect you to chew on the bad guys with fervor."

The dog assented and leapt toward me to rub against me. I rolled my eyes. Morrigan sneered, "I suppose we are to have another mangy beast following us about? And you seemed like you could understand it."

"I can. Aedan is my master, so I can understand your spoken language. Barker there is bonded to him, so I could understand him too. As such, I can understand the base form of Mabari language. They really are quite intelligent." I mused, passing the dog a bit of jerky.

She scoffed but continued leading us.

Alistair moved closer to me, "So… um… a-about us…"

I sighed, "You really don't have to worry. I won't stand in your way. You shouldn't feel obliged to me just because Cailan opened his big fat mouth."

He looked confused, "What? I don't… er… did you know… Darkspawn kidnap women?"

"Uh-huh. They didn't take me because I can't be tainted. They taint the women they kidnap to turn them into Broodmothers; that's how they reproduce." I said idly.

He looked like his worst fears were confirmed, "So… they rape those women…?"

"What? Oh – Fates… you don't know? No, they force-feed the women their blood, flesh and vomit to turn them into ghouls. They – the women – turn into big lumpy piles of boobs and tentacles from the waist down while retaining their native race look from the waist up. They then asexually reproduce a thousand little spawn each month, of which, only the strongest survive the month it takes for them to be fully grown. Human Broodmothers turn out Hurlocks, dwarves give way to genlocks, elves to shrieks, and finally, the Qunari make Ogres. They don't rape the women – they defile them in other ways until the women are no more and only a darkspawn is in its place. I'm sure those creatures tried to taint me before leaving and you showed up. When the gunk didn't take, they left me to die. That's how they work."

"… Maker…" he sounded sick.

Aedan and Morrigan had both been listening in. Aedan asked, "I… you looked that up?"

"I did – around the Dalish Camp – remember I told you they were worse?"

"I… suddenly do recall, yes. But you didn't clarify. Damn. Do the grey wardens know this?" Aedan asked seriously.

"Of course they do – they have a whole prison kept off the maps just for studying demons and various types of darkspawn. They know a lot. They even know the resting places of all the Old Gods, but they're so deep in the ground that it's impossible to reach them. But yeah – they keep the Broodmother thing a secret so they can still recruit women. If a female grey-warden doesn't die during their calling, they turn into an aware broodmother. One who knows what's happening to them."

Alistair stopped and threw up. I panicked, thinking he was sick and went to heal him… but nothing was physically wrong with him.

"Sorry – just… the thought of that. It's so wrong. We should warn the girls – Solona, Lyna and Sereda." He coughed.

I passed him a breath mint after giving him water to wash his mouth out. He accepted both gratefully.

I said, "Well – it's better than what you thought happened to untainted women when kidnapped by the Darkspawn. At least I wouldn't have been aware of what was happening, nor would I have been repeatedly raped by those nasty things."

"That… doesn't make the Warden fate better…" Aedan said.

"No, it doesn't – but the girls will be fine. We tell them this and you can bet they'll simply commit suicide to avoid that when their calling does come." I shrugged.

"We need to find a cure for this," Aedan muttered.

"I'll get my mother on that – but we'll need samples of blood and tissue from every kind of darkspawn – including Broodmothers – first. I can spell the vials to have the samples stay fresh and I'll be sure to warn my mother to be very, very careful when handling anything. I only took that risk because I was willing to become a grey warden the same day – but that turned out to be unnecessary."

Aedan cut in, "You two were talking about something else before – it could do to lighten the subject."

I snorted, "It wasn't a light topic, I would think."

Alistair looked… somewhat distressed. My heart ached – I wanted Aedan to stop bringing it up and making Alistair feel torn.

Morrigan pulled me aside – making the two men walk together. She said, "You do not believe he wants you?"

"Of course he doesn't. He wants Solona – the female mage recruit that we elected as secondary leader. He… has flirted with her several times. Before that, he flirted with Lyna. I'm… not his type." I flushed.

"… Hmmph," she hummed, "I do not believe that is the case. The fool never once left your side as you recovered in mothers' home."

"He likely just felt responsible. Can we… not talk about this?"

She shrugged and the rest of the day was silent.


The next day saw me tending to Griffins and looking up information about what we would face in Lothering. I almost groaned when I saw that there were two possible companions, 3 chantry board missions that could gain a sword, 2 sell points – one of which was a loathsome cockroach – and… that it was the home of the protagonist from the second game. Hawke.

I wondered if it were Garrett or Marian. I looked up what they looked like – in default – and made a mental note to search them out. I was allowed to interfere. According to this, one of his or her siblings was doomed to die without interference. I contacted my dad.

He gave me 10 more of the trinkets that could prevent death. I didn't plan to tell Hawke that I would be holding onto their sibling. Not until I saw them again. I had a feeling that if I was in game one, I would be needed in game two as well.

It said here… if Hawke was a mage, then Bethany dies – if Hawke is not a mage, then Carver dies… I wasn't so sure it would be that coincidental, so I was going to give a ring to both Bethany and Carver. I looked more and blinked; they're twins?

I shook my head, continuing to look up all the information for Lothering that I could.

I would need a box of traps, healing potions, some poison… oh – there were missions from the 'Blackstone Irregulars'. Conscript people to the war and bringing in thieving deserters. Good causes – I'd push us to accept that.

I also learned something when I saw the possible gifts I could find. Alistair liked small statuettes and I clicked on his link. Going immediately to the 'gift' section of the page, I found 4 statuettes, 2 runestones, his mothers' amulet, the joining chalice, and Duncans' Shield.

The shield and the amulet I did more digging on to find out how to get those. The amulet looked easy enough – but the shield was only obtainable after my oath expired. We had to kill Howe, release a prisoner after finding his papers in the main bedroom, then go to the Denerim Cache.

I bit my lip before contacting my youngest sister, Sia.

"Hey sis – what's up?" she asked at once. She had been free for 10 years now – and settled with her 5 mates.

"I need a favor. Your Dryad Mate… she can make little wood statuettes, right?"

"Of course – a breeze for her to do really. How many do you need?" she asked.

"As many unique ones as she can make. A little warrior, a little dragon, and so on. If your troll mate could make a few from gemstones too, that would be wonderful. I'll pay, of course…"

"That depends what they're for – you know…" she began.

"I… my mate. My first mate. I uh… apparently have two. Both humans. He doesn't want me, but I won't… it doesn't mean that I don't want to lavish him in gifts, ya know? He likes statuettes and runestones. And cheese."

"… your money is no good here. We'll do it. I'll make a few cheeses, Clover will work wood, and Venjo will work stones. We'll get you a set within a month."

"Thank you, Sia – so much."

"Not a problem. We were just looking for a new project anyway!" she said – and I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Well, let me know if you need anything, and I'll do my best."

We hung up and I sat back. I was now determined to get his mothers' amulet to him… though, maybe I should let Solona be the one to give it to him. It might be more meaningful to him that way.

I sighed – I should start a journal just to keep up with everything. I pulled down a blank journal and began to write.