So...I kind of let this story die a bit. Life got in the way and My brain couldn't keep up anymore. However, I think I'm going to try and revive it again. If you have stuck around and remained interested in this story...thank you, and I hope what I produce lives up to what I have already written. -Ash
Alice folded the piece of paper and stuck it back in its place, fondly remembering those first few months before the expedition. Her friends had in the years come to be more like family to her, and Kirkwall it seemed had come to rely on her and her small group of companions. She skimmed the next few pages, remembering the many tasks they had done over those months. From dealing with rogue crazy mages and templars, the Viscount and the Qunari, murderers and general craziness, Alice had thought they would have been too busy to make it to the Deep Roads expedition; but they had gathered enough coin to become partners. She found the point where she had recorded the details of the expedition and began to read:
We had done it! Between all of the crazy things Varric had come up with us to do, and people asking for our help, we finally managed to scrape together the money for the expedition. Batrand had no choice but to take us once Varric stepped in and pointed out that we had the coin that he so desperately needed, and now the time had come. I couldn't believe the time had finally come, but with Varric and Beth on either side of me arguing over where we we're going to enter the roads with the maps spread out on the cobblestones, and the rest of my companions milling around chatting with the hired hands and each other; it was really coming together. Bartrand was making some bad taste virginal joke, which made Isabella snigger and Varric roll his eyes, so I took a moment to breath a sigh of relief (after first making sure I stomped on Isabella's foot). This was finally going to be the real beginning of my family in Kirkwall, what Mother and Bethany had been working towards ever since we cleared the old manor of slavers. We we're going to make a name for ourselves, and I was finally going to be able to keep Beth safe from the Templars. Things we're going to be ok after this was over. I felt a nudge to my side and saw Varric grinning at me.
"Earth to Hawke...Think we lost you there for a minute." I jumped and he chuckled under his breath.
"Sorry Varric, I think you almost bored me to death for a minute, had to startle me to restart my heart." I chuckled as he glared at me. "Sorry Varric, lost in thought. What did you say?"
"Hawke, if you're going to keep making me repeat myself I'm going to have to start charging you for it. Now if I have your undivided attention, what I said was, Bartrand is only going to let us bring four companions with us on the expedition. Now Bartrand has agreed that you do not count but apparently I do, so we need to decide which three we are taking with us."
It was Beth's turn to elbow me.
"You're taking me with you right? I know Mother won't approve, but I want to go, you can't leave me here." I sighed, and just as I was about to open my mouth I heard someone running into the courtyard. I turned around just in time to see Mother pushing her way into the middle of the courtyard.
"Aliceira! Bethany!" Mother spotted us and rushed over, clutching at my arm. "Thank the Maker I found you before you left and took my baby with you! You cannot seriously be thinking of taking Bethany with you on this crazy expedition, can you!?" I could feel Beth tense beside me, and I rubbed the back of my neck in frustration. I knew Mother was going to be difficult, but couldn't she handle this outside of a public place. I took a breath to explain but Beth cut me off.
"Mother! I told you not to worry about me! Alice will take good care of all of us. She will never let anything bad happen. Right Alice?" I looked between her and Mother and sighed.
"Beth, you know I would never let anything happen to you, and Mother you should know that too." Mothers face fell from hopeful to disappointed.
"Aliceira. You are going to take my Bethany away from me just like Carver! How could you! You can't take her with you into that place. If you do I could never forgive you." The courtyard was so quiet you could hear my sharp intake of breath and Bethany's gasp. Beth took a step towards Mother, and I almost thought she was going to slap her.
"Mother! You know it wasn't Alice's fault that Carver was taken from us. And as for me I can take care of myself! If I wish to go on this expedition you cannot stop me. Alice you will stand behind me, wont you sister?" I took a deep breath. I really didn't know what to do. If I take Bethany, Mother will never let me live it down. Did I live with another Carver situation and let Bethany resent me forever, or make Beth happy and incur mothers wrath. Apparently my internal monologue had taken too long and now Beth and Mother we're arguing back and forth at top volume. I rubbed the back of my neck and glanced at my companions. They we're all trying to look occupied, but I knew they we're watching. Bethany was shouting something about how she would rather fight Darkspawn than hide from the Templars, and I knew it was time to intervene.
"Beth, Mother, enough." I stepped between the two of them and they both huffed. "Mother, Beth is a grown woman and should be allowed to make her own decisions." Mother opened her mouth to argue, but I held up my hand to stop her. "Beth is grown and should be allowed to make her own decisions, however, I do not think that the Deep Roads are a safe place for her." The shove to my shoulder took me by surprise and it took me a second to regain my balance. I looked at Bethany and could see the anger in her face.
"Alice! How could you! I've worked with you, along side you, to earn this money, and now you're just going to leave me here!" I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. I knew she was going to be angry, but I had to do something to keep her safe.
"Bethany. I know you are angry with me, but I have to be sure you are safe. I couldn't keep Carver safe, but I will do everything I can to make sure you are. You may hate me for this, but if it means your safety, then I will do what I have to." The glare coming from her was almost enough for me to change my mind, but when she saw I wasn't going to change my mind, she turned on her heel and stormed off towards Lowtown. I was fairly sure the back of my neck was going to be completely raw before we even made it into the deep roads, but I turned towards Mother when I heard he sigh of relief.
"Aliceira, I knew you would do the right thing. Maker be with you, and keep safe, but I better catch up with Bethany before she does something." And with that my Mother left us to our business. Varric cleared his throat from somewhere behind me.
"Well, your Mother is quite the charmer Hawke, and as much as I love a good bit of drama we better get going." I shot a halfhearted glare in his direction, a heaved a big sigh.
"Yea, yea Varric I know. Fame, fortune, ladies to ogle your chest hair and all that awaits us." He chuckled as I turned towards the rest of our companions. "Fenris, Isabella, Anders grab your stuff we're heading out in the hour." Fenris nodded and walked off to gather his things, as did Isabella, but Anders stood by and looked at me a bit apprehensively. I could see there was something he wanted to say so I took a few steps toward him.
"Is something on your mind Anders?" He looked down at his feet and kicked some dirt off the toe of his boot before he said anything.
"Well Hawke...I know I said I would go with you to help, its just...I don't know if I can. The Deep Roads for a Warden is not a happy place, and the thought of being underground is...terrifying..." He trailed off with a shudder, but picked up again. "I mean, I'm going with you don't get me wrong, but I just thought I would warn you that I may not quite be myself." He stared at the ground again, fidgeting. I let out a low chuckle.
"Anders, you don't have to worry. I know this was a lot to ask of you, but we need you. Your gifts as a healer are something we really need on this expedition." I nudged him on the shoulder, "Your gifts as a Grey Warden are just a bonus." He let out a small chuckle.
"Hawke, you are such a charming flatter. I will go and gather my things and will be ready to go within the hour." He turned to go, but I touched his shoulder.
"Anders, I hope you know I wouldn't have asked you if we really didn't need you." He smiled and nodded.
"I know you wouldn't Hawke. I will see you in an hour." And with that, he turned and walked away.