I dropped fifty silver into the collections box in Lirene's Ferelden Imports before walking up to the woman in charge assuming she was Lierene.
"If you're seeking aid, leave your name with my girl," she said as I walked to her, crossing her arms over her chest, "nobody came from Ferelden without trouble. But I'm not giving priority to anyone who already has work and lodging."
"Actually, I'm looking for someone," I started, "I hear that you know where I can find a Ferelden Grey Warden."
"The only Ferelden Grey Wardens I've heard of are the ones sitting on the throne," Lirene frowned knitting her brows together, "we're out of the Blight's path, why would you need a Warden?"
"The healer was one of them once, wasn't he? A Warden?" A woman spoke up beside me.
"Well, he's not now," Lirene glared at her, "and he's busy enough without answering fool questions about it."
"Then I suppose I should start up a list of only smart questions." I replied blankly,
"I do not joke, serah," Lirene frowned, "you see what our people face in Kirkwall? No jobs, no homes, some can barely buy bread. This healer serves them without thought for coin. He's closed their wounds, delivered their children, helped them in any way he could."
"Then why does he need to hide?" I asked.
"He's a good man, and I won't lose him to the blighted templars." Lirene stated.
Ah. Templars. So he's a mage.
"Oh, perish the thought. Another delicate mage flower." Carver said rolling his eyes.
Oh Carver, how you never let me down.
"He doesn't want to be locked in the Gallows just for using the gifts the Maker gave him." Lirene glared.
"I can hardly blame him, I wouldn't want to be either." I nodded.
As much as I complain about Gamlen's Grody Hovel, I'd much rather be there and free, than kept in a gilded cage.
"I suppose it's not my secret to keep," Lirene sighed, "Anders has certainly been free with his services. Refugee's in Darktown know: to find the healer, look for the lit lantern. If you have need enough, Anders will be within."
Only if you have need enough? Who's inside when you don't have enough need? I'll keep these thoughts to myself before I get punched in the face or something.
"Thank you." I told Lirene before turning to leave. I stopped by the collection box and threw in another fifty silver before walking out the door.
"Hey, we heard you in there, asking about the healer," an angry voice said as a group of men confronted us outside, "we know what happens to mages in this city."
"You want him safe? Don't pick fights with other Fereldens while the templars are after us all!" Carver shot back angrily.
Ah yes, thank you for shouting the fact that we're harboring a mage to the entire Lowtown district, Carver.
"Ferelden? But… You, your clothes…" the man said shocked, "I figured you for a Kirkwaller. Sorry. Maker bless the rule of our King Alistair."
"Right, now that we know where what's-his-face is, what do we want to do?" I asked, "Carver and I need to visit our former estate and kill some slavers and grab some things that Gamlen left behind. And the entrance to that is also in the Undercity."
"I don't care, lead away, Sister." Carver said.
"I'm easy." Varric replied.
I knitted my brows together. Really? How am I ever supposed to get out of your big fat shadow Sister?! What? You're giving me a chance to lead?! I don't want to! I sighed, and started on the way to Darktown. I'll figure it out as we go along I guess.
We wandered through Undercity, people shouting angrily at us as walked on, trudging through the grime and muck.
"This is it," Carver said pointing at a ladder, "that should be the entrance to the estate."
"And that's the lit lantern." Varric said pointing at the lantern hanging above the door to our right.
"I guess we'll talk to the Warden first then." I said moving towards the door and pushing it open.
As we walked inside, a blonde mage was standing over a boy laid out on a table. What I guessed were the boy's parents looked on anxiously as the mage worked healing magic. Shiny.
"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation," he said turning to us quickly grabbing his staff, "why do you threaten it?"
"What?" I asked dumbfounded, "I didn't realize I was threatening your sanctum by WALKING INSIDE."
"Are you the Gray Warden?" Carver asked throwing a hand over my mouth muffling my voice as I muttered more unkind words, "Sorry about my Sister, she's kind of…weird."
I bit his hand, and glared at him, "WEIRD?! That's the best you can come up with? Really, Carver?"
"Unique?" Varric offered.
"Hmm," I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, "still a bit dull but I guess it works."
"Did the Wardens send you to bring me back?" Anders said clearing his throat, "tell them I'm not going. Those bastards made me get rid of my cat. Poor Ser Pounce-a-lot. He hated the Deep Roads."
"You had a cat named Ser Pounce-a-lot in the Deep Roads?" I asked raising a brow.
"He was a gift! A noble beast," Anders pouted, "from the Hero of Ferelden too!"
"The Hero of Ferelden gave you a cat?" I asked staring at him blankly.
"Yes, she was in Amaranthine doing Warden Commander business," Anders said, "she's the one that made me a Warden too, in fact, she used the right of conscription on me when templars were trying to take me back to the circle."
"Right," I said, I wasn't sure whether or not I believed him, "so if the Hero of Ferelden is the one who gave you the cat, then why'd the Wardens tell you to give it away?"
"She had to go back to being the Queen of Ferelden. So, while she was gone they said that he 'made me too soft' and I had to give him away to another friend in Amaranthine." Anders frowned.
"So you came to Kirkwall to escape the Wardens," I said trying to get this straight in my head, "because they made you get rid of your cat?"
"You say that like it's a small thing," Anders replied, "yes, I'm here because there's no Warden outpost, no darkspawn, and a whole host of refugees to blend in with, as well as some other reasons of my own."
"Right, so," I started grabbing Varric by the arm away from his talk with Carver, "we're" I gestured to the both of us, "part of an expedition to the Deep Roads. Any insight you can give us will save a lot of lives."
"I will die a happy man if I never have to think of the Deep Roads again," Anders frowned, "you can't imagine what I've come through to get here. I'm not interested…"
Ahhh there it was. The I'll help you, but only because I need you to help me with something look.
"A favor for a favor," Anders said interrupting himself, "does that sound like a fair deal? You help me, I'll help you?"
"Let's be more specific," I said rubbing my temples, "I don't do anything involving children or spiders. Fuck spiders. If there are spiders involved I'll rip your head off."
"I have a Warden map of the depths in this area. But there's a price," Anders said pacing in front of me, "I came to Kirkwall to aid a friend, a mage, a prisoner in the wretched Gallows. The templars learned of my plans to free him. Help me bring him safely past them and you shall have your maps."
I frowned greatly, "if I end up stuck in the gilded cage, I will rip your head off."
"If we fight templars, it's because they decide that anyone who befriends a mage deserves death without questioning." Anders stated.
"Doesn't fighting them prove their point? We don't need to give them more reasons to hunt us." Carver argued.
"These of my terms," Anders said sternly, "if you want my aid with your expedition, meet me in the chantry tonight. I sent word to Karl to be there. Maker willing, we'll all leave free men."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait," I said raising a hand, "didn't you say they knew of your plans to free him? Doesn't that mean they'll know to be there?"
"We have to try." Anders replied stubbornly.
"Alright, fine," I said and turned to Carver placing my hands on his shoulders, "we'll go clear out the estate, and then we'll go home. Varric, Anders, and I will go to the chantry tonight. I need you to stay with Mother."
"What? I should come with you!" Carver glared at me, "if anyone should stay with Mother, it's you!"
"I'm the one they're making the partner, I'm the one that needs to see this done," I sighed, "but I need you to not be with me when this goes down. If there are templars there, and there probably will be, someone will need to take care of Mother while I'm stuck in a gilded cage."
Maker be damned I hate when I have to be responsible.
"Fine," Carver huffed, "let's go clear out the damned estate."
The three of us entered the Undercity entrance to the estate, roaming around and killing groups of slavers as we looked for the vault. I hated to say this, but, thank god there were slavers here and not spiders. We managed to clear our way up to the vault fairly easily. I stopped to stare at the adornment above the door to the vault.
Sadness filled the pit of my stomach then. An ogre head was hung over the door in a threatening manner.
…Bethany…
I shook my head quickly to banish the thoughts and continued on; we searched around and finally found the documents we were after. Along with some family letters that I took along with me, they looked like they were written for Father, and there was no doubt I'd want to take a look at them later.
"…so, blood's blood and all but you are taking advantage of my hospitality," we heard Gamlen say as we entered the hovel, "it's only fair if you make something of a… monthly contribution—"
"You sold my children into servitude," Mother retorted angrily, "and now you're asking me to pay rent?"
"Er… Maybe just put something towards food?" Gamlen said shrinking slightly.
"You should be paying us, Uncle," I said raising my brow at him and frowning, "we found the will."
"Grandfather left everything to Mother and us," Carver said looking down at the documents, "I guess he had some sense after all."
He passed them to Mother.
"Don't worry though, Gamlen," I said smiling sweetly, "you're still my favorite Uncle."
Well it was true, I mean, he's my only Uncle.
"Er…ah…I should…" Gamlen said looking around for an escape.
"Gamlen how could you?" Mother said after reading the will.
"You're the one who ran away, Leadnra," Gamlen shot back, "what happened to 'love is so much more important than money?'"
"It is!" Mother shouted.
"You didn't even come home for the funeral!" Gamlen accused.
"The twins were a week old!" Mother shot back.
"We all have our burdens," Gamlen retorted, "mine was looking after a life you abandoned. How long was I supposed to wait? I took care of Father. I stayed! And on his deathbed, all he could talk about was…Leandra."
I could feel waves of sympathy being emitted from Carver who was standing next to me. Kindred spirits indeed.
"Look, Sister," Gamlen said, "I shouldn't have done it, but I did. And there's nothing I can do to get it back."
"I don't expect that, Gamlen," Mother replied lowering her tone, "it's enough knowing that Mother and Father didn't die angry, I'll petition the viscounts for rights to reclaim the estate. Maker willing, you'll have your house back within weeks."
"You don't have the coin or standing to even get an audience with the viscount," Gamlen said rubbing his forehead, "you've got to be someone in this city to live in that house again."
"Well then Mother, sounds like we've got work to do then," I said putting a hand on her shoulder, "more than likely I'll probably end up doing some random task for the viscount. It's a gift I have."
Mother smiled at me, "thank you, dear."
I grabbed Carver by the arm now and took him aside and with a hushed voice I said, "Don't tell Mother a single word about where I'm going tonight. Got it?"
"Yes, yes, Sister. Try not to get captured by templars." He rolled his eyes.