Chapter NINETEEN

The expedition took nearly eleven days to reach the Deep Roads entrance Bartrand had selected from Anders' maps. Their great number was good to have should a fight arise, but not so much if they were going for speed in travel. Thankfully, it had been a fairly uneventful journey, but Aria well knew that was not a sign of things to come. Everyone in Ferelden knew the Deep Roads were something terrible to be feared, and with good reason.

They ventured nearly three days into the carefully constructed tunnels before they hit a cave in. Bartrand barked for them to set camp, his unpleasant demeanor reaching new levels of loathsome for Aria after he hit the unfortunate dwarf who informed him of the collapse.

Varric and Aria offered to search for an alternate route, and Aria promised the merchant Bodahn that she'd look for his wayward simpleton of a son, Sandal, who had decided to disappear. Naturally, Fenris and Anders accompanied them.

They battled nearly two dozen darkspawn before they found Sandal, who had amazingly turned an ogre into crystal. A trail of darkspawn pieces and parts littered the ground before the simple dwarf man, and when Aria asked him how he'd dispatched of them, he simply replied with "Boom!" As for the ogre, all he said was "Not Enchantment!" He also gave Aria a new rune stone he'd crafted. From the weight and energy of the thing, Aria could tell it was a powerful one.

Aria led them through yet more caverns and side passages, and they managed to find a way around. They quickly reported back to Bartrand, then settled down to rest for the evening. Bartrand had issued a gag order on everyone so that their formidable presence was left as undetected as possible. No one could speak above one another, there was to be no singing, and no one could practice sparring, as many of the young men and dwarves were wont to do.

Aria set her bed roll next to Bodahn's fire at the far edge of the encampment and listened to the people around her speaking softly. Though they were in the Deep Roads, it was close enough to the surface that the molten core of the Deep Roads provided no warmth. The stone was cold and so was Aria. She curled up next to the fire, using her pack as a pillow, and laid there watching the flames until nearly everyone but the first watch were either laying down or fast asleep. She was startled and nearly whipped her blade at Fenris when he appeared next to her.

"It's just me," he softly said, placing his own bedroll next to hers. He didn't seem at all worried about her blade.

Aria simply nodded, then situated herself again. Anders set himself up on the other side of her, Varric on the other side of him. In a few moments, she could hear Anders and Varric both softly snoring. When she turned to look at Fenris, she found he was watching her, his eyes lit with some dark emotion she couldn't place.

"I thought you were fond of sleeping," he murmured, softly enough that only she could discern the words.

Aria smiled bitterly. "I used to be. Seems...It's not so important anymore," she replied just as softly. Her heartbeat went skittering when he inched himself closer, his eyes never leaving hers as he moved.

"You think too much, sometimes," he nearly whispered.

"If there's a way to stop, I'm all ears," she laughed quietly. She reached out to gently touch his face. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, his hand covering hers.

"I've a confession to make," he said after a moment, his eyes riveted on hers as soon as they opened.

A lump rose in Aria's throat and anxiety set her nerves to singing. She offered him a smile as she asked, "About what?"

"I...saw you. At the falls. When we first started out from Kirkwall." He bowed his head in shame, wincing as though he expected her to strike him.

She tilted his chin up slightly, adjusting her pillow under her neck so that she could more comfortably look at him. His eyes bore testament to the guilt and shame he felt at having glimpsed her in her most vulnerable state. She sought to allay those feelings, even as her pulse spiked in excitement.

"So?" she asked. "I'd rather it was you than any other person in this camp."

Fenris actually blushed at this and he avoided her gaze for a second before he pulled her to rest right next to him. He flared his lyrium brandings and flooded her with warmth. Aria didn't bother to protest. She was starting to get cold from sleeping on the chilly stone floor, despite her thick wool blanket, and the comfort his presence and warmth gave her would allow her weary mind reprieve.

"Sleep," he softly said, his fingers combing through loose tendrils of her hair. "I fear tomorrow may be the end of the easiest part of this journey."

Aria didn't respond. She rested her head next to his, their "pillows" pushed together. He threw his blanket across hers, then settled his arm comfortably over her shoulder. He flared his warmth once more and she closed her eyes.

Fenris watched her fall asleep, taking the liberty of smoothing her hair. Though she hadn't been able to take her customary bath in a few days now, she still smelled of lavender and vanilla. He heard a soft snarl come from just beyond where they lay and his green eyes collided with the brown ones of Anders. The mage was furious, but said nothing. He didn't have to. The look on his face said it all. Fenris quirked his sardonic half smile at the mage, kissed the top of Aria's sleeping head, then laid his own down to rest.

Aria woke some time later, feeling the most refreshed she'd felt in what seemed an age. Fenris was helping get the cooking fires going when she woke. Anders was talking with Bartrand, pointing to places on the map. Most of the camp had been picked up and the expeditioners moved about restlessly. Aria swiftly gathered her gear and made for the front of the train. Varric joined her and they scouted ahead for a bit, retracing their steps from yesterday and making sure there were no new darkspawn in the area. Satisfied that it was safe, they returned to where the expedition waited. Bartrand led the way back through and they spent the next two days navigating the huge, ancient tunnels down to the forgotten Thaig. Each of those two nights, Aria fell asleep next to Fenris, and each of those two nights, the hatred between Fenris and Anders deepened.

"This is it," Bartrand reverently said as the scouting party consisting of Fenris, Anders, Varric, Aria and himself stopped outside a very old, sinister looking door.

Aria watched as Anders and Fenris wrenched the door open and the scent of dust and decay that rushed out nearly made Aria gag. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and stealthily crept into the darkness. Something about this entire place just felt... Wrong. Off. Sickly. An eery glow emanated from the curiously twisted rock formations throughout the structure, adding to the evil aura that permeated the chasm.

"Is that... Lyrium?" Varric asked from behind her, startling her somewhat.

"It's not like any lyrium I've ever seen," Aria replied as the rest of their scouting party joined them.

Aria continued looking around, searching for anything of value. Here was where they would make their fortune, she realized. They would take back whatever they could carry, and with the expedition's assistance, they could take all of it. Artifacts, jewels, stone tablets that hadn't been touched in who knows how many ages—priceless items that scholars and collectors would pay for handsomely. If they could make it out of this place alive, that was. With that thought, the icy fingers of worry grazed the back of her neck and she kept her daggers at the ready.

They ascended a banked set of stairs up to what looked like an altar. A black and red glowing idol of some sort sat on the altar and Aria swore she could hear soft singing. Fearing what magic the item held should she touch it directly, she turned the idol over with the tip of her dagger and inspected it. When nothing happened, Varric snatched it up, his eyes going wide in the low light.

"Bartrand, look at this!" he said, tossing the idol to his brother. "Could be worth a fortune."

Bartrand gave a low whistle and inspected it for himself. "You could be right," he said, turning back toward the doorway as he looked it over.

"Let's keep looking. Probably more like it around here," Varric suggested as they started to spread out and explore the ancient thaig's secrets. There were several chests, vases, and stone tablets littering the chasm. They all located items of interest and called out to each other. Aria and Anders perused a stone tablet with dwarven runes that looked particularly promising, when an ominous grating sound filled the thaig.

It was then that Aria saw the door closing. "Varric! The door!"

The four remaining party members rushed it, but in vain. Bartrand had sneaked out behind them and It was closed. Varric jiggled the handle to no avail.

"Bartrand! The door closed behind you!" Varric called out, placing his ear to the door so he could hear what was happening on the other side.

"Sorry brother, but this is too good to split three ways," Bartrand replied through the door.

Aria and Anders shared a look—one of stark disbelief. Varric launched himself at the door and screamed curses at his brother. When it was obvious that the scoundrel was not merely playing a cruel, practical joke, Varric sank against the door, his brother's betrayal cutting him straight to the marrow of his bones. Aria tested the door as well. The lock was stuck fast. She attempted to pick it and broke one of her tools in the process. She sighed and sat next to Varric on the floor, her mind racing as she considered their current predicament. Fear weighed heavy, and a crushing sense of claustrophobia crept in on her senses. She hated being in the Deep Roads, underground, where no one would find them, where the whole country could fall on them. She shivered and began scanning the room for alternatives. Anders and Fenris had already started looking for another way out, disappearing into the shadows at the ends of the giant chasm.

"C'mon Varric. I'm not getting eaten by darkspawn. Not it if I can help it anyway," Aria said after a moment. The dwarf accepted her hand and let her haul him back to his feet.

"I swear, I'm going to find that sonofabitch, sorry Mother, and I'm gonna kill him!" Varric shouted one last insult at the door.

They all began immediately searching for an alternate route, desperation starting to take root in all of them. Aria mumbled angrily to herself. Of all the places she'd been in the past year alone, this was not where she was meeting her end. She was not dying down here, Maker and Andraste both be damned!

"Here! There's a tunnel," Aria called after a few moments, Anders and Fenris by her side. Varric trod over wearily to join them. Anders and Fenris looked relieved. Varric was still processing his brother's actions—shock, anger, and disbelief warring for dominance in his features.

They entered the tunnel and met with heavy resistance. They fought through more darkspawn, and creatures that Varric said were rock wraiths. They made their way through the tunnel and into yet another chasm. More rock wraiths assaulted them, however the fighting abruptly ceased when a rock wraith the size of a mature dragon appeared. It offered them help, but when Aria consulted Anders about the creature's nature, they realized it was a demon. Aria turned the demon's help down, much to everyone else's approval. They fought it and though Aria was sure they didn't kill it, it disappeared. They raided the chamber for valuables, which amounted to a sizable sum for each of them, and made their way back into the tunnels.

The party continued onward, dispensing of more wraiths until they came to a huge chasm. At the center stood yet another wraith that dwarfed the previous enormity they'd encountered. Weary from the constant battling, Aria called them all to her and took refuge behind a large pillar when the monstrosity unleashed an attack that filled the chasm with destructive red beams. Hateful, ruinous energy lashed out, searing all it touched.

"If we get out of this alive, I'm going to filet that brother of yours and feed him to the fish!" Aria snapped, out of breath. The red beams diminished and they returned to attacking while it recharged.

"Not if I find him first!" Varric yelled back once they took refuge behind another pillar again.

"He's a dead dwarf," Fenris spat, launching another assault as the creature recharged once more.

It felt as though hours and hours had gone by while they whittled away at the beast and finally, Aria launched herself at the monstrosity's face, burying one of her daggers into the dome of light that served as its head. She fell to the ground so hard that a few of her ribs cracked and the impact knocked the breath out of her. Her head cracked against the hard stones and her body went first painfully rigid, then completely limp.

She laid there a moment, her head spinning, unable to breathe for the pain. Anders wrenched her to her feet and she cried out, doubling over against him, wheezing and fighting for breath. She struggled for control of anything, her mind blank in her panic to breathe.

"Shh, shh, just let me-" Anders soothed, his voice sounding dull and disembodied, and she felt the healing white light of the mage's considerable ability wash through her.

The ribs knit back together and the muscles she'd torn in her exertions were also repaired. She was concussed, but the worst of it was taken care of by the mage's gifts. Aria took great lungfuls of air, struggling to stay standing. She stood in his embrace for a moment, trying to clear her head and get her bearings again. He released her abruptly and strode away from her without a second glance. She stumbled a little, but quickly regained her balance. His sudden rejection hurt, but right now was not the time to deal with it. There was work to be done. They all joined Varric, who stood looking wide-eyed and speechless at a dragon's hoard worth of treasure.

The four of them took what they could carry, Anders fashioning a wagon of sorts from two staves and blanket. They also found the key that opened the door which the demon had claimed only he could do. So much for needing his help, anyway. Aria was glad that she didn't accept the deal. She could sleep with a clear conscience. That was never a path down which she ever wanted to trod.

They camped in another abandoned thaig that night, one that was blessedly darkspawn free and looked as though it had been centuries since another living soul had occupied it at all. They lit no cook fire, as they had nothing but dry rations to sustain them here. Varric shared his wineskin with everyone, Fenris shared his dried venison strips, Anders a loaf of bread, and Aria contributed some dried berries and nuts for their dinner.

"I'll take first watch," Anders gloomily stated, having grown accustomed to the hirelings. It also piqued his jealous ire that Aria chose to sleep so close to the Tevinter fugitive. So angry was he, that it made him physically ill to watch her fall asleep within the elf's embrace.

Weak, irritable, and still fuzzy-headed from the nasty fall she'd endured earlier, Aria was asleep long before Fenris and Varric had even unpacked their bed rolls. Varric and Fenris sat talking in the reddish darkness, the only light coming from the molten lava flows all around them. They were deep within the earth now and the stones held on to the warmth.

"What do you plan to do with the money you get from this expedition, elf?" Varric said once Anders had disappeared and Aria was lying a few yards away, her back to them.

"I don't know. I suppose I should fix up the mansion," Fenris said, sitting back against a fallen pillar.

"But you won't," Varric chuckled.

"No," Fenris said, looking over at the dwarf, the corner of his mouth lifted in his trademark sardonic smirk. "I probably won't."

"So, what's with this sudden coziness with Hawke?" Varric asked, lowering his voice considerably.

"I don't understand your question," Fenris hedged, just as quietly.

"I think you do," Varric pressed. "I have stories to tell. It's better if there's insight into a situation."

"There is no situation. She gets cold easily, she hasn't been sleeping, and we all know how Aria loves her sleep. Helping make it so she is at her best keeps all of us alive," Fenris diplomatically stated.

"Well-played elf, but that's not the story I see. Very well, keep your secrets. They'll come out sooner or later," Varric nonchalantly replied, setting about to unrolling his bed roll.

Fenris did the same, near Aria, but not so close as last night. It felt like ages had passed since then. Truth be told, he hadn't slept that good in years, what few hours he did manage to sleep. He felt oddly about the whole thing. It felt as though... The entire set of dynamics surrounding both Aria and him had shifted. It wasn't necessarily an uncomfortable feeling, but at the same time, it was foreign to him. The unknown could be just as frightening as it was thrilling.

They had only slept a couple of hours before Anders returned with word that there were stirrings in the tunnels behind them. They quickly picked up their small makeshift camp and pressed on, eager to find a way out of the cramped tunnels and into open ground where they could more easily defend themselves.

At last, many hours later, or so it felt, they emerged from the Deep Roads. Luckily, they were but a mile or so away from the entrance they'd used to enter that blighted hell hole and quickly picked up the road that would lead them back to Kirkwall.

"How long until you think we return?" Aria asked as they picked up the road to Kirkwall.

"A week, if we're unlucky," Varric replied.

"And...if we're lucky?" Aria glibly asked, stretching her arms to the sky and delighting in the warmth of the late afternoon sun. How dwarves lived in Orzammar she would never understand. She felt as though she couldn't breathe and would wilt without open sky and sunlight.

"We stumble over Bartrand's corpse along the way," Varric spat, picking up speed.

Aria followed, along with Fenris and Anders, and they made excellent time. They traveled nearly 10 miles by the time the setting sun forced them to stop and make camp for the night. Varric shot a couple of rabbits and roasted them on a hastily erected spit over the cook fire. Anders gathered some wild carrots and some tender leaves for added sustenance, then constructed a simple lean-to out of pine boughs to cover them all should it rain. Fenris worked on sharpening blades and repairing bolts.

Aria was angry that her toiletries were abandoned at the last expedition encampment, but she craved to be clean. She went to the river that ran parallel to the road, though far enough that the trees and boulder formations hid her from view. She stripped and waded into a shallow part of the river, until the water was up to her waist. The water was absolute heaven on her dusty, dry, sunlight-starved skin. Filth, gore, dust, and whatever noxious things she'd been forced to endure washed away and she felt slightly more human when she emerged from the water again some time later.

It was nearly dark by the time she returned to their makeshift camp. Varric handed her a large leaf plate with her dinner on it and she ravenously devoured it. They sat around the fire in companionable silence for a good long while, each lost in their own thoughts. Varric had taken the liberty of counting up the worth of their spoils and estimated that Fenris and Anders would walk away from this endeavor roughly 200 sovereigns richer, while Varric would keep 350, and Aria would receive 450. No one argued with his logic. Flipping coin was something he was adept at, as were games involving the juggling of numbers. The jewels, jewelry, and other items would be sold and the profits divided equally between the four of them, once they returned to Kirkwall.

"I'm sure Bethany and your mother will be ecstatic when you return," Varric finally said at last, breaking the long silence. His gaze was studying Hawke's visage. She seemed withdrawn, exhausted, but happy.

"I'm buying the Amell estate back as soon as we get back to Kirkwall. I'm not spending another Maker-forsaken night in that shit hole Gamlen calls a house," Aria nearly growled, tossing a twig into the fire.

"Moving up in the world," Anders quietly stated.

"We all are," Varric said with a smile. "I'll take first watch. Get some sleep."

Aria was all too happy to comply. She was thoroughly exhausted, though it was nice to be somewhat clean again, and she was beyond happy to be back on the surface. She unrolled her bed roll and settled near the fire, her gaze immediately seeking the sky. Anders took a spot across the fire from her, and Fenris took a spot near Aria.

The moon was not out tonight, but the stars were. They were bright and infinite in number. Aria laid on her back, staring up at that sky, thankful to be out of the Deep Roads. She was thankful to be headed home. But most of all, she was thankful that soon, she'd be able to lift her family from the hole they'd been plunged into when the Blight destroyed Lothering. Mission: Accomplished. Now she just had to make it back to Kirkwall in one piece.

She sighed at this thought and turned to see Fenris lying on his side watching her. She smiled timidly at him and he returned the gesture with the slight lifting of the corner of his mouth. Exhaustion stole over her, and she could no longer keep it at bay. She mouthed "Good night" to the elf, who mouthed it back, and then, she allowed her eyelids to drift shut. Her last thought before she succumbed to deep, dreamless sleep, was of the happy homecoming she was sure to have. Maker knew she'd bloody well earned it.

They reached Kirkwall before sunup five days later, having traveled all night the night prior. Every single one of them was sick to death of this journey and the promise of a warm hearth, good food, and a soft bed under a proper roof was enough to keep them traveling through the night.

Anders detached from them as soon as they hit Kirkwall, muttering only a terse "Farewell" before he headed to his own humble abode. Aria, Varric, and Fenris went to the Hanged Man for a hearty breakfast, after which Aria and Fenris left Varric to catch up on his own rest.

They walked up to Hightown together, Aria seeing Fenris safely home. He invited her in for a bottle of wine, but she graciously declined, her mission for the day clear. Go to the Viscount, buy the title, and have Aveline and her guardsmen remove any soul left in the estate. Today—she was going home.

The price on the mansion was surprisingly cheap. The Viscount accepted 25 sovereigns on sight for the place and quickly signed the deed into her name. He even provided a decree for Hawke to take to Aveline to clear the estate of any lingering nuisances.

The Guard-Captain was overjoyed to see Aria, informing her that the expedition had returned much fewer in number than it had when it left. Bartrand was nowhere to be found and many people had spread rumor that Hawke had been slain by darkspawn, along with Varric, Anders, and Fenris.

There was no one in the Amell estate and it looked like it had been vacant quite some time. Aveline sent a few guardsmen in to clean it up a bit before Hawke moved her mother and sister in. Aria hired a cleaning service to come in as well. Then, she met with Hubert, who she tasked with procuring household items such as linens, furniture, groceries, and the like. She paid him up front, handsomely, and he took to the shops with glee, enlisting the help of a couple friends of his who happened to be interior decorators. Just as Aria was descending the steps from Hightown into Lowtown, Anders came running to her.

"Aria, you have to go to Gamlen's. Now," he said, desperation cracking his voice. "Now! Before it's too late!"

"Anders, what in Andraste's name is going on?" Aria wearily asked, jogging the rest of the way down the steps and through the Lowtown marketplace.

"Templars," Anders growled in the voice of Justice. "I have to go! I can't!" He ran back towards Darktown, drawing his hood over his head so no one would see the white light of the Fade cracking his skin.

Rage, fear, and despair slammed into Aria then and she raced to Gamlen's. As she burst through the door, she realized she was already far too late.

The Templar, Cullen, greeted her amiably as she made her reckless entrance. She'd worked with the man before and had much respect for him. His eyes were sad as he regarded her.

"I'm sorry, Hawke," he said. "Harboring an apostate is a hanging offense, but the Viscount dismissed the charges against you due to your good standing in this city. High reputation notwithstanding, however, I am forced to take Miss Bethany into the Circle."

"There must be another way-" Aria began to say, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Aria don't. I will be okay," Bethany reassured her, hugging her sister. "I'm so glad you made it back. Take care of Mother."

The templars led her sister out of the house, refusing to grant them any further chances to converse. Cullen inclined his head to her as he departed, smiling sadly before shutting the door. Aria stood looking numbly at the door for a few moments, unable to process what had just happened. They had—they had taken Bethany, and she had just let them. Bethany had gone willingly, but still... The Gallows. She was in the Gallows now. When Leandra collapsed to the floor sobbing, her protective instinct took over and she held the woman.

A long time passed before Leandra stopped crying and the Hawke matriarch stood of her own volition. She looked down at her eldest daughter and smiled through her tears.

"They said you were dead. I feared the worst. I'm so glad you've returned," Leandra said, tugging Aria to her feet.

"I know this in no way makes up for Bethany being taken into the Circle, Mother, but...pack your things. We're not staying here any longer."

"Thank the Maker!" Gamlen hooted. "Freedom!"

"What do you mean, child?" Leandra asked, taking the roll of parchment Aria offered to her. She read over it and her eyes flew wide, brows arched high on her forhead. "Oh Aria! The expedition was a success then? I can go home! We...we can go home!"

"What?!" Gamlen snarled, snatching the parchment from his sister. His eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw fell slack, and his skin went green when he read the deed to the Amell Estate. It was now dubbed the Hawke Estate—owned by none other than Aria Hawke herself.

Aria packed Bethany's things away in her trunk and dragged the heavy thing outside. She then packed her own things, and took the trunks and satchels full of her Mother's possessions as well. Aria then borrowed Lady Elegant's three pack mules and the remaining two free Hawkes made the trip up to Hightown.

The guards and cleaners were putting the finishing touches on when they arrived, and a few of them helped unload the mules. Aria left her mother to start setting up the place to her liking while she returned the mules to Lady Elegant. From there, she went on a spending spree. She had the grocers deliver food to the estate, bought a few new dresses for both her mother and herself, a new necklace for her mother, and from there, she was off to meet with Hubert at the furniture store. She bought two new beds with fine linens, two sofas, several chairs for the study, some rugs, a dining table with ten chairs, a writing desk, a beautiful deep bath tub, and a work bench; all of which were promptly delivered to the estate.

When she finally returned to her new home, it was nearly dusk. Mother had directed all of the deliveries with happy grace, and when Aria finally stepped over the threshold of her mansion, the place actually felt like home. The Hawke matriarch even had water heated for a bath waiting for her daughter.

"Freshen up, my darling. Then, we'll dine together. It has been both a terrible and wonderful day," her mother greeted her.

Aria lugged the heavy buckets from her bedroom hearth to the new tub across the room once mother had exited. She then stripped out of her road-grungy clothes and delighted in the scented foam bath. She laid in the tub, not letting the horrors of earlier steal into her thoughts. She'd deal with that later. Right now, all she wanted was to just enjoy the fruits of her many labors.

Nearly an hour after slipping into the tub, she finally emerged and let the water go down the drain in the floor. That was a nicety she hadn't experienced in all her years. She dressed in a fine new robe and silly looking, but comfortable slippers before she wearily descended the stairs.

They ate broasted quail, asparagus, and boiled potatoes for supper, supplemented with a fine Rivaini wine Varric had sent whilst Aria was out. After supper, Leandra surprised Aria with a decadent chocolate cake for dessert. When they had finished eating, Aria bade her mother good night.

Aria waited until her mother had disappeared behind the closed door of her own chambers, then toured her new home. The foyer was decorated with bold, hanging tapestries in shades of green and silver. A matching rug adorned the grey marble floor, which shone like a mirror under a fresh coat of polish. A few chairs sat off to the side, with a decorative end table between them. Upon the end table was an ornate oil lamp, currently unlit.

From there, Aria went into the Great Hall, where she could receive guests. Two large hearths occupied the north and east walls, fires burning merrily within them. A large mahogany writing desk stood to the left of the northern hearth, two ornate letter boxes occupying one end, book ends in the shape of hawk heads made of bronze on the other. Aria lifted the hood that covered its built-in shelves and saw that it was stocked with parchment, ink, fine quills made of what could only be eagle feathers, a blank leather bound journal, wax, and a signet that was waiting for its impression to be forged. Aria made a mental note to check with local craftsmen tomorrow to create her new house crest and have the sigil relief stamped.

There was a dais upholstered with light purple and sage green brocade in front of the eastern hearth, in front of which was also an oblong mahogany coffee table. Upon the table was a simple black ceramic vase full of lavender, lilac, and Andraste's grace. Two overstuffed light brown leather chairs flanked either side of the dais at the ends of the coffee table, creating a comfortable little space in front of the hearth. The tapestries that hung in this room were of deep purple, trimmed in silver. Matching runners and area rugs also adorned the space, giving spots of traction and warmth on the the shining surface of the grey marble. The window treatments were of heavy violet drapery, with white gossamer curtains beneath. They had been drawn closed for the evening.

Aria made her way into the dining hall, where the table she'd picked out had been set up. It was made of ebony, with matching chairs whose backs were carved into the shapes of trees, reminiscent of Dalish crafting. Their seats were upholstered with hunter green velvet. A green brocade runner went down the center of the large table, and at its center was another black ceramic vase full of lilacs, lavender, and Andraste's grace. The tall, arched windows in this room were adorned with heavy deep green drapes over cream-colored curtains. Aria went over and closed them, noting that someone in the neighboring estate was watching. She turned and regarded the enormous chandelier that suspended in the center of the room over the table. The chandelier was the original, its crystals dangling merrily from its wrought-iron arms, recently cleaned, with fresh candles placed in the dozen or so holders. None of them were currently lit and Aria couldn't remember if they'd been lit at dinner.

Aria went into the kitchen after touring the dining room. It was the size of Gamlen's entire hovel. The enormous cast iron stove was clean and the coals from dinner were cooling inside. A copper tea kettle sat on one burner, no doubt left there by Mother for breakfast. Hanging over the grey marble island were several various copper pots and pans, all glowing faintly in the dim light offered by the torches. A simple, round, wrought-iron chandelier hung low from the ceiling, fresh candles in its sconces as well. Several torches hung from wrought-iron sconces on the wall, a few of them still lit. Aria doused them after wiping down the grey marble counter tops. She wanted to make sure they were spotless for when Mother made breakfast.

Aria made her way through the hall, its low arching ceiling giving a slight claustrophobic feeling as she surveyed what were the mansion's servant quarters. Here, not much attention had been paid beyond the rigorous cleaning the crew had given it earlier. Aria made a mental note to order some comfortable new beds and furnishings. Mother would need help running the house while she was away, and if she was to have staff, she wanted them to be comfortable.

Aria went back to the great hall and took a piece of parchment from the desk's supply. She fitted one of the quills with a sharp, pretty new head and dipped it in some black ink. She quickly jotted a shopping list down for the servants' quarters, then corked the ink and left the list on the desk. She'd probably be adding to it later.

The guest wing was in little better shape than the servants' quarters—six rooms in total. They all needed new linens, window treatments, furniture, the works. She was actually somewhat excited about going shopping for such things. Back at Gamlen's, there hadn't been room and he was extremely resistant to any feminine or homey touches they'd tried to make to the place.

There appeared to be a garden out back, but Aria didn't venture out. It looked overgrown and wild—something she'd have to remedy at a later time. She had just gotten the house today, after all. She continued up the staircase, going to the left where her private study and a private sitting room existed.

The private study was adorned with rich, deep red and gold tapestries. The western wall was adorned with bookcases, between which high, arching stained glass windows stood. The windows were covered with deep crimson drapes, lined with gossamer blinds. On the north wall, there was a handsome mahogany desk, a twin to the one downstairs. It was also stocked with stationery and the trappings required, but off to one end was a fancy silver tray. Upon it was a large crystal decanter filled to the brim with amber liquid, which she guessed to be bourbon. She strode over, uncorked it, and poured a bit into one of the crystal rock glasses, then made a circuit of the room, sipping slowly. The hearth was cold, but had been thoroughly cleaned. There were new rugs on the polished, dark hardwood floor; paisley patterns of black, red, and gold. Aria lowered herself onto the closest of the two overstuffed, dark leather couches and sighed, looking around the rest of the room. Fresh candles existed in the wrought-iron chandelier at the center of the room. A large, mahogany coffee table sat in the center, and she realized it would be perfect for hosting Wicked Grace nights.

Aria finished her drink and sat the glass back on the tray, intending to clean it in the morning. She padded up to her room, taking care to move silently. When she entered, she took in the room, still in awe. She sat on the new bed, an enormous, oak four-poster with intricate carvings. The canopy was hung with lilac-hued drapes, lined with white, gauzy inner curtains. The blankets were the same color and stuffed with down. The sheets were a soft cream and of a high thread count. The pillows were little clouds, just waiting for her to rest her head. She sat there for a few moments, hardly able to believe that this, all of this, this house, this bed, these clothes, this life—it was hers now. She'd fought tooth and nail, bled, cried, and sweat for it. Gone were the days of living on the good graces of others. Gone was the crushing weight that hounded her over her mother's plight. Gone were the times of just scraping by from day to day. She had, at long last, made it.

But Father and Carver were still dead. And now, Bethany was in the clutches of a ruthless Circle of Magi. The aftertaste of defeat was bitter in Aria's mouth and she did not stem the flow of tears that fell from her eyes. Her beloved little sister was a slave to the Templars now. If she'd taken her into the Deep Roads, Aria might have saved her sister from that fate. For all her victories, that one defeat seemed to darken them all. She walked over to her new writing desk and uncorked the bottle of wine that sat there.

When the bottle was gone, Aria's tears had ceased flowing. Her mind and body and heart were finally numb. Despite the terrible loss, though, Aria allowed herself to feel completely empty of everything as she crawled beneath the soft, sweet-smelling sheets that adorned her lavish, comfortable new bed. Tomorrow was another day, and for once, Aria wanted to just stay home.