Gale barely got any sleep at all in the night, having stayed up as long as she could to look after her father. She was woken abruptly from what little slumber she had been getting to the sound of shouting in the streets and ran to the window, seeing her father being tossed around by a group of thuggish looking men.

"Da!"

She ran downstairs and out into the streets, her sword in hand. She pushed her way through the growing crowd and threw herself in front of her father, protecting him. "Leave him alone!"

A chuckle sounded amongst the murmurs and Gale's eyes narrowed as she looked up at the patron of the Kennedy family as he stepped forward. "Jerrick..."

Jerrick was a tall, paunchy man with greasy hair and an overpowering stench of pipe smoke and ale. He was the patron of the merchant family, a high born human, and he was one of the wealthiest men in the merchant guild. And as such, he and his family always looked down on the common folk, treating them like dirt and the elves like less than dirt.

"A little late to come running to daddy's rescue, now isn't it?" Jerrick sneered. "You left your poor, dear old man to go off galavanting with the Inquisition and for what? To let him sink even further into debt? Really now, how cruel can you be?"

"Shut your mouth, you filthy cur." Gale snarled. "The only reason Da is still in debt is because you're nothing more than a worthless, sleazy, lard-assed crook who takes advantage of the common folk and pays off the guards and anyone else you can so your shady business can continue!"

"My word! Such horrible language for such a young lady!" Jerrick leered at her. "But, what should one expect when you run with heretics and mongrels?"

"The Inquisition is our only chance of surviving the coming war!" Gale retorted. "They fight for all of us, regardless of race or station or nationality or religion! They fight so that pompous twats like you and your idiot, bottom feeding sons can continue living!"

"Gale..."

Gale looked down at her father. "It's alright, Da. Let's get you back inside."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere, you wretch. You and your father will have to pay off your debts, one way or another."

"Gale, no..!"

"Let me go!"

Jerrick snapped his fingers and his goons started to pry Gale away from her father, trying to drag her off, but Gale would not have any of it. She broke free of their grasps, drew her sword and cut down anyone that tried to touch her or her father.

"Stupid knife-eared cunt!"

Gale turned her blade on Jerrick, eyes narrowed as blood dripped down her cheek. "Call me that again, I dare you."

Jerrick balked, taking a step back.

"What's going on?"

Gale's eyes never left Jerrick or his men as two newcomers pushed through the crowd. Hearing someone approaching behind her, she turned with her blade ready only to have it catch against another's blade.

"Samuel..?"

Samuel had been the first of the two newcomers to push through the crowd. When he saw Gale with her sword drawn, he knew she was in a tough situation but he didn't expect to see the bloodlust in her eyes when she spun and made to attack him- thinking him another enemy.

"Gale, stand down, it's alright now."

Gale eyed him cautiously. "You left last night, without a single word. Your job is done now."

Samuel winced- actually winced- at her tone, which surprised him. "I went to get help." He stepped forward slowly, moving his hand up to rest on her sword hand- lowering it as he lowered his own. "And I told you once before, you're not some job, Gale."

Gale took a deep breath and sighed, letting him lower her sword before she turned to look at the second newcomer as he stepped through the crowd. "You?" It was the stranger who had listened to her troubles the night before.

The stranger offered her a smile. "You know some very intriguing people, Gale Mustela." He offered her a small bow. "I should properly introduce myself: Alistair Theirin, at your service."

Gale's eyes widened. "You? You're the King of Ferelden?"

Alistair nodded as he stood straight, chuckling sheepishly. "I should have introduced myself last night, please forgive me."

Gale shook her head. "No, it's alright, sire. I'm more surprised than anything else."

Alistair turned his attention to Jerrick and the rest of the Kennedys. "Now, what is it that I hear about you exploiting Master Mustela?"

Jerrick began to frantically explain the situation, lying through his teeth left and right. Alistair stood and let him say his piece, arms crossed and his face now hardened and stern. As Jerrick finished, Alistair looked back at Gale and asked her to verify or deny what the merchant lord spoke.

"He lies, sire. As I told you last night, my father took out a loan with the Kennedys in order to save our bakery. The interest on the loan kept increasing each time he got close to paying it all off, so I took a job with the Inquisition and sent everything I could spare to help my father. But even that was not enough. My father's debt should have been paid off months ago. And now, the Kennedys are resorting to beating a defenseless, broken down old man."

Alistair looked back Jerrick. "Funny, I seem to recall putting in place several laws that prevent this exact situation from occurring."

Gale turned her attention back to her father, checking his wounds.

"How is he?" Samuel asked, kneeling next to Varrian.

Gale shook her head. "Not good. He was already weak, broken."

Hearing this, Alistair gestured for his guards to arrest Jerrick and escort them to the dungeon, then called for the court healer. "Samuel, help Master Mustela back home and the healer will be there as soon as he can. Gale, don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Gale nodded, following after Samuel as he helped her father back to the bakery. She didn't bother looking back at the king, just focused on making sure that he father had everything he needed.