Lowtown
Hidden Hovel
Thirteen Months and four days after the fall Ostagar
Athenrilwas not pleased with Garrett's news, ever since Garrett and Bethany had gotten that raise from when Athenril had used a shipment as bait to lure enemy Smugglers and to take prisoners. The following months Athenril learned everything about the competition and preceded to to disrupt their business and and drove them out of business then recruiting the the enemy Smugglers who were left standing at the end.
But another thing had happened while Athenril was to busy with all that to notice, the raise she'd given had speed up the process of paying off the debt greatly but Garrett stayed on anyway 0to save a bit of money up for after he quit. That morning Garrett and his sister Bethany had gone to a meeting of Athenril's in one of her hovels in Darktown. Bethany had agreed to wait outside after some persuading and Garrett had gone into the hovel to tell Athenril that he and his sister were done.
At first Athenril seemed to be okay with Garrett barging in to her hovel, Garrett had noticed that Athenril seemed to have taken a liking or at lest an appreciation of him and his sister. Over the time of working for her, Athenril had come to use Garrett and his sister when things needed to be done fast, she even gone so far as to say that he was possibly her best worker.
While Garrett had waited for the Athenril's meeting to end he made sure his face was emotionless so as not to draw her suspicion. When Athenril was done she had beckoned for him to sit and so he joined her at her table and told her the news, she didn't like it at all. "You think it's that easy, after all I've done for you and for sister, that you can just walk out like nothing," Athenril said coldly as she leaned in with her hands on the table. "Our debt is paid in full, I've checked and checked and triple checked, it's done ,that job was our last. That was the deal, you lent the money to Gamlen, money that is now paid back with interest included. Beside there isn't that much competition any more. You've survived these times, and took out almost all the others. Now, pretty much all that's left is the Coterie and the Dwarven Merchants Guild" Garrett replied not backing down from Athenril's angered gaze.
Athenril let a small smile show at Garrett's boldness, usually her workers backed down when Athenril pushed an issue, but not Garrett Hawke. Athenril then leaned back into her chair calm as if she never had spoken so coldly, then she smugly started to talk. "Hawke, once your out of my employ there will be no one to help you with your sister's little... problem, and to top it off your jobs as Dockers would be over." "I'm aware of that, we'll mange" Garrett replied as he stood up, ready to leave good thing I saved some money up he thought. Athenril stopped him as he turned around with her words.
"You won't last long like that Hawke, you'll have no stable job, you don't have the coin or status to keep her safe for long, but I'll be here when you realize that" Athenril said. Garrett, his back facing Athenril, grew angry at that, but he wouldn't show Athenril how her words had affected him, not even bothering to turn around and reply, he stormed out.
Having left the Hovel and walked further into Darktown, Garrett made it to Tomwise's booth where Bethany was waiting for him. Bethany was leaning against the wall to the right of Tomwise's booth when she noticed Garrett walking towards her.
Straightening up, Bethany waited until her brother reached the booth then asked "so, how did it go?" Tomwise listening as well, leaned in to hear as Garrett breathed heavily and said "Athenril let's us go, and as expected... we lost our jobs as Dockers." Tomwise smiled and clapped on Garrett on the back saying "knew you could do it Garrett," while Bethany smiled saying "at lest it's over, what a relief."
After talking for while about what it was like without Athenril with Tomwise, Tomwise's brother Samwise arrived with some supplies for Tomwise. Samwise walked to the booth as Garrett looked sadly at the stump just above his elbow where Samwise's right arm used to be. Putting the bag of supplies on Tomwise's booth as he when back with his brother, "you get everything" Tomwise asked.
"yeah, I got everything, anyway Worthy's back from Orzammar, says he's selling runes at a discount because he's overstocked, we should take a look if we have the time." Garrett looked at Samwise and said "Worthy is selling Runes at a discount, something must have gone bad in Orzammar, where is he, I might need some Runes."
Worthy was a friend of Garrett's and Tomwise, they had met him about a month ago when he order some smuggled Runes, Garrett had to make a two day journey in rain to get the job done. Worthy had taken pity on Garrett and give him a tip along with a free Rune, ever since they'd struck up a friendship. "In Hightown, the marketplace" Samwise replied as he picked a bottle of water from Tomwise's booth while Tomwise began sorting the supplies.
Samwise was struggling with opening the bottle with only his left hand and was about to try to open with his mouth, when Garrett suddenly grabbed the bottle, opened it then handed it back to Samwise. "Thanks Hawke" Samwise said as he took a drink, "it's Garrett, you don't need to be so formal" Garrett replied trying not to look at Samwise's missing right arm.
Tomwise stopped sorting for a moment to put his hand on his brother's shoulder and say "Garrett and Bethany are good friends, they helped us a lot, you can loosen up." Samwise nodded then said "thanks... Garrett," as took another drink from the bottle and started to talk with Tomwise about the shop while Garrett and Bethany took their leave.
As Garrett and Bethany headed towards Lowtown to tell their mother about the news, while walking thought the Lowtown Market Garrett asked his sister how Samwise was.
"When Tomwise first asked me to help Samwise I noticed that he seemed depressed, which is understandable. I did what I could to numb his pain when Tomwise ran out of herbs, he seems... okay for what he's been though. He does understands that it was no one's fault, even Tomwise knows that, if anything they both blame Athenril" Bethany said.
Garrett thought about his sister's words for a time then finally said "I feel bad for Tomwise, his brother can still work but missing an arm makes everything harder, it's all up to Tomwise to look after his brother, they've got no one else." Though he would never tell Bethany, Garrett saw some similarities between himself and Tomwise. Both of us are just trying to make better lives for our families, at lest I've got Leandra and Gamlen, I don't know about Tomwise's parents, he's never said and I've never asked thought Garrett as they walked.
When the Hawke siblings went into their uncle Gamlen's house the first thing they noticed was that Leandra and Gamlen had been waiting to hear how it went as Kane sleep. As Bethany closed the door and locked it, Leandra and Gamlen stood up and asked how it went. So Garrett told his mother and uncle about it and after he was done there was silence for a time, before Gamlen finally spoke up frowning.
"You sure that was wise, no more protection from Templars and no steady source of income, maybe you shouldn't have quiet." Leandra suddenly looked at Gamlen with an annoyed face and said "my children, the heirs of the Amell legacy have been in servitude, servitude! For roughly a year when they should be Nobility, it's about time they left that life." Gamlen just scoffed at her and replied "look all I'm saying is that now they've got no jobs and no protection, Athenril's work might not have been easy but it paid the bills. And I was once Nobility too remember, I wish we could all go back to that life. But if wishes were poppy we'd all be dreaming."
Bethany was about to cut in but Garrett stopped her and said "look, this is the way things are, the only ones who change it are ourselves." Bethany nodded in agreement but then decided to ask something she'd been wanting to ask for a very long time, "Gamlen I still find it hard to believe that our Grandparents didn't leave Leandra anything?" From the reactions of everyone expect Gamlen it appeared they'd wanted to know this as well but had never asked, Gamlen crossed his arms before finally speaking.
"Look your mother" he began as he pointed a finger at Leandra "was suppose to marry the Guillaume De Launcet, their marriage had been arranged since they were kids, but instead she ran away with some Apostate from Ferelden, or Orlais, or from wherever the hell he was from."
Gamlen, now almost glaring at Leandra continued "you don't get to stay the favorite child when you do that;" Leandra looked surprised then said "I wasn't their favorite, they loved us equally Gamlen." Gamlen looked at his sister and chuckled coldly then said "you really believe that don't you... you were always their favorite Leandra, even when you left they still preferred you. When the end came, I was all they had left, I looked after them, I arranged and went to their funeral."
Leandra looked slightly hurt but said "the twins had just been born, I didn't have the strength to come." Garrett looked at his mother and uncle argue then decided to cut in, "but she was still their daughter, there must have been a part for her in the will" he said crossing his arms. Gamlen scoffed at Garrett then said "I told you, I got everything but I lost it all, yeah I'm a failure I know!" Leandra stepped forward saying "where is father's will, if I could see it for myself," "it's not here all right! It was read, it went into the vault, no one needed to look at it again" Gamlen replied defensibly.
Bethany looked Gamlen straight in the eye and said "did Grandfather mention mother in the will, he did, didn't he," Gamlen give her a look of pure annoyance before speaking. "Our father died when you were still in diapers and Garrett was still in short pants, so you'll excuse me if I don't remember the exact words written in the will," Bethany narrowed her eyes simultaneously as Garrett narrowed his eyes, in that one moment it was clear that Garrett and Bethany were brother and sister, two pairs of dark blue eyes that reminded Gamlen so much of Malcolm Hawk.
"Sounds like a yes to me" Bethany said as Garrett walked to Gamlen and said "you haven't told us everything." Taking his eyes off Gamlen and turning towards Leandra, Garrett asked "I'm curious Mother, I know our Grandparents were Nobility but almost nothing else, why don't you ever talk about them?" Leandra smiled lightly with pride and began.
"The Amells have been a Noble family since Garahel drove out the very first Bight." Frowning slightly Leandra continued "But the Amell family has carried Magic in our blood for as long as we can trace, it's been stain on our Noble linage. No family of good standing would ever marry into a line with Magic, when our parents found out that I chose Malcolm... I was bringing more Magic into our line not less. I think that's what hurt our parents the most, before they knew Malcolm was a Apostate Mage, they liked him even though he wasn't Nobility. When they did find out however then they grow to dislike him and tried to ward him off. But to no avail. In then end I ran off to Ferelden with him" Leandra finished, smiling at the memories of her and Malcolm when in their youth.
Garrett calmed down and looked back to Gamlen and neutrally said "please, Uncle Gamlen, we all have a right to see the will with our won eyes." Gamlen calmed down and breathed heavily then said "yes, I suppose your right, but you won't be seeing the bloody thing, It's still locked up on the estate, and that's LONG out of my hands, so don't blame me."
Bethany had calmed down as well but was still suspicious and asked "you didn't take your parents will, especially after you lost the estate?" Gamlen scoffed again saying "it was old news, what, you think I've been waiting here for twenty five years waiting for Leandra to sling back into town." Leandra went to Gamlen and asked "who bought the estate Gamlen? Maybe I could speak to them once we've got some money, was it the Reinhardts?" Gamlen hand up his hands calmly replying "no one you know, get used to Lowtown, Sister, that's where we're going to stay" before walking to sit down a chair near by the fireplace, ending the conversation.
Sighing Bethany decide to ask again later, as she turned to go to her room she noticed Kane still sleeping, chuckling she thought to herself lazy dog, can sleep through anything.
After relaxing at home for a couple of hours the Hawke family was awoken by the long ringing of a bell, the bell that signaled a meeting in Kirkwall's town square for news. Getting up from the table where Garrett was relaxing, he heard Gamlen get out of his room as Bethany and Leandra up stood from their game of chess.
Looking at Gamlen, Garrett asked him "any idea what's it about," Gamlen would know, he'd lived in Kirkwall all his life, but instead a knowing answer Gamlen just shrugged. "News obviously, probably a new election on the council seat or maybe a marriage between Nobles, happens every now and again" Gamlen said.
Putting on boots as he continued "probably best to see what it is though, the Nobles and higher ups don't like it if we don't listen to their so called highly important news." Bethany signed and got ready to leave same as Leandra and Garrett, hope it's at least something important, not a marriage between Nobles thought Garrett lead his family out the door and began the walk to Hightown while Kane stayed behind to guard the house.
When they reached the town square in Hightown the group crowded with the other Lowtown residents on the floor. The humble people of the Elven Alienage where either on the same level as them or the level just below it, the poor of the poor people of Darktown stood way on lowest level looking uncaring at this news. The Nobles and higher class Citizens stood at the highest level where they could see everything including all the people below them, in most of their worlds literally and figuratively.
As Garrett, Bethany, Leandra, and Gamlen waited for the news they spotted Aveline, now a Guard and in full Guard Armor in the opposite end of the square on their level, seeing them she nodded politely.
After almost ten minutes of waiting, Viscount Dumar himself, a Noble, two City Council members, some messengers, a Ship Captain, and a dark haired Knight of some kind with a heavy mustache entered and stood at the platform to speak. Now standing in the center of the platform Viscount Dumar got the people's attention and began to speak.
"Citizens of Kirkwall, word has just arrived from the Docks of Ferelden," he began as people in all levels of the Town Square started to murmur. Ferelden has fallen to the Blight, if the Darkspawn cross the Waking Sea somehow... Garrett thought darkly as he realized Bethany, Aveline, and good majority of the citizens were thinking the same thing.
That it all stopped when Viscount Dumar held up his hand for silence, almost instantly stopping the murmuring, the people of Kirkwall, even those in Darktown grudgingly respected Dumar. "It is my extreme pleasure that the Blight has ended! The danger is over and the borders of the Free Marches will now opened to the public in a week" Viscount Dumar said with a look of joy, then moved to allow the others to speak.
First came the Knight of some kind, his armor lined in blue shined in the light as he moved to speak with a thick Orlesian accent "greeting, my name is Stroud and I'm a Grey Warden, I've come on this voyage to bring word that the Blight has been stopped in Ferelden.
The Archdemon has been slain and Ferelden has a new king, but the danger still exist thought the Darkspawn are scattered and unorganized but some have made it here to the Free Marches, me and my fellow Grey Wardens will be doing occasional sweeps in, under, and around Kirkwall. Citizens of Kirkwall , no harm will come to you while the Grey Wardens in the Free Marches do their duty and all we ask as that you be aware of the sweeps and do not interfere" Stroud finished with that and moved aside for the next person.
Next the messengers stood in front and began to speak but we're clearly only aimed at the Nobles "greeting we ask that people of the Free Marches, not just of Kirkwall, but from all of the Free Marches please donate to Ferelden. Though the Blight was stopped, the cost was great and will require much rebuilding, we ask to please help Ferelden as they have in your time of need."
The Grey Warden Stroud suddenly stood next to the messengers and speak on "it is true, Ferelden was not only able to contain the Blight but end it and kill the Archdemon. While the Free Marches closed their borders to the public and strengthened their defense like every other nation, Ferelden stood it's ground built a new army to replace the one lost at Ostagar, an army made of Men, Woman, Dwarfs, Elves, Mages, and Templars, lead by one of the last two remaining Wardens in Ferelden.
The First Warden has commanded the Wardens to donate to Ferelden, we ask that you do the same" Stroud finished eying the Nobles, then moving aside once again. Then the Noble stood in front and spoke "for the events in Kirkwall, it has been decided that a celebration is to be held every year from this point on to honor the efforts of Ferelden. Tomorrow will be the first official 'Ferelden Day', a festival is being planned and we ask that all of Kirkwall join the celebration."
Then Viscount Dumar stood in front and spoke of some upcoming events then dismissed the crowd and with his companions left the Town Square. Garrett watched as the Viscount bid his people farewell and left, smiling, Garrett chuckled with relief, "they did it, Ferelden survived.. and won!"
Bethany and Leandra smiled as well, Gamlen just shrugged and said "glad the Blight's over," then people started to go back to what they we're doing while talking about the news of the end of the Blight. The Hawke family went back inside Gamlen's home to relax and enjoy the day, when they reached home, Kane ran up to them, almost asking what had happened.
Leandra, Gamlen, and Bethany moved to rest in their rooms while Garrett pat Kane and the head and told him "hey Kane, Ferelden beat the Blight, they survived." Kane barked happily then started to run in a circle around Gamlen's house in a fit of joy, laughing Garrett watched Kane, then went to the room he shared with Gamlen to sleep.
The Next night
Lowtown, during the celebrations for Ferelden Day
"Gamlen, come on you've had enough" Garrett said as he picked up Gamlen by his shoulders, the celebrations for "Ferelden Day" had been grand, especially for those who loved their Ale. Free Ale was given to almost all the citizens of Kirkwall along with a festival that put everyone in a good mood.
Gamlen had taken a liking to all the free Ale and now could barely stand on his own now, Garrett had taken a few cups of the free Ale and Bethany had tired Ale for her first time and didn't really like it. Remembering how he, Tomwise, Samwise, and Worthy had watched Bethany try her first Ale at the table they were sharing. At first Bethany had taken her first drink pretty well, then coughed and said "it's strong, why do you like this stuff." Worthy laughed at that, Dwarfs are notorious for drinking thought Garrett as he took the now empty cup of Ale that Bethany had tired saying "I don't think you should drink more, you don't even like it."
Bethany had nodded in agreement, as Samwise got another refill from the people kindly giving out the free Ale as the Bards around Lowtown sang songs of Ferelden. Tomwise just sat there laughing as his brother tired to hit on the pretty Elven serving girl but only got Ale." "At lest he got the Ale" Garrett had said laughing with Tomwise as Samwise started walking back embarrassed, turning Garrett noticed Bethany with a frown and a thoughtful look on her face.
"What's wrong" Garrett asked, "this" Bethany replied as she turned to face her brother across the table.
Garrett raised his eyebrow curiously wanting his sister to elaborate; Bethany sighed then waved her arms to indicate Lowtown and all of Kirkwall saying "all of this, Ferelden day, they'll celebrate Ferelden on this day, but what about all the other days. Remember after we barely started living here, people, not just the Nobles looked down on us, they called us Ferelden riff raff, I can't help but think that every other day of the year, it'll be the same."
Garrett put his hand on his sisters shoulder saying "Bethany I think your right, but not everyone will be like that, the people of Kirkwall and of all the Free Marches now what Ferelden had done, people will be grateful." "I hope your right brother" Bethany replied smiling, "sorry to interrupt you touching moment here, but I think that's your uncle over there falling over" Worthy suddenly said.
True enough, Garrett and Bethany looked where Worthy was pointing and saw Gamlen falling, "better get him home" Garrett had said signing as he and Bethany got up to take Gamlen home. Now Garrett had Gamlen by his shoulders and started dragging him off home as Bethany followed and waved goodbye to Tomwise, Samwise, and Worthy.
Once they had gotten home and sat Gamlen down on a chair, Bethany and Garrett went to relax and wait for Leandra to return from Hightown. Leandra had an idea to go to Hightown and ask some old friends what Gamlen wouldn't tell her about their family estate and will, she had brought Kane with her just in case something happened.
After waiting for an hour or so Leandra returned, raising up Garrett went to his mother and asked "you learn anything," Leandra just shook her head no saying "I asked around, but only Gamlen knows the details." Leandra said she was tired and went to her room to sleep, Garrett sighed then turned to Bethany saying "yeah, I guess I'll call it a night, see you in the morning."
Bethany nodded then sat up from where she had been sitting when Garrett left to his room he shared with Gamlen. Looking at Gamlen, whom had been practically knocked out in the chair ever since arriving home, and suddenly had an idea. Bethany walked to Gamlen and started to shake him, grunting then opening his eyes Gamlen gave her an annoyed look.
"My headache is killing me, go away" he said trying to knock out again, but Bethany stopped him. "Gamlen, who owns the estate now" Bethany asked, Gamlen scowled then replied "no one you care to know, go away," then holding his forehead he slumped back into his chair trying to get over his hangover.
Bethany grabbed him by his ear and asked again "Gamlen, who owns the estate now," this isn't right, but we need to know she thought while doing this. After a couple minutes of arguing with Gamlen and taken advantage of his hangover, Bethany finally got Gamlen to relent, almost shouting Gamlen spoke.
"Okay! I was running low on coin so I wagered the estate on a game of dice, I lost to a slaver, he owns it now, you understand now, let me rest!" Bethany nodded then let him be, as she went to the room she shared with mother and opened, she noticed Leandra sitting near the door, she had heard everything. Leandra now sat there looking at Bethany teary eyed, Bethany walked in and closed the door, sitting down next to her mother she asked "mother what's wrong?"Leandra looked back at her daughter with teary eyes saying "it's coming here again, things are so different, our estate owned by slavers, my children forced into servitude for a year, knowing how little my parents left me, sometimes I wished I had died with Carver."
"Don't say that" Bethany said holding her mother, now teary eyed as well she said "Carver sacrificed himself to save us, all of us, he wouldn't have wanted this, he'd wanted us to live on for him." Bethany chuckled as she held her mother and said "besides, Garrett and I'll find away to get our old life back, well get back the estate and live like true Nobles here in Kirkwall." Leandra chuckled at that as well saying "I hope your right Bethany, then I can spend the rest of my days happy, you'll be Lady Hawke, one of the finest Nobles in Kirkwall."
Leandra laughed lightly then continued "and we'll work on your brother, he's gonna be a hard one, he never liked anything about my stories of Noble life." Bethany laughed lightly at that as well, remembering her mother telling her children about Noble life, Garrett and Carver had never found the appeal of it. Leandra smiled looking at her daughter "and just imagine trying to get him a wife." Bethany nearly burst out laughing saying "you'll have to cage him somewhere just to get him to meet them," laughing lightly Leandra and Bethany went to their respective beds and started to sleep.
Just before knocking out Bethany wondered our room has two beds, one for me and one for mother, Gamlen's room just one bed, wonder how brother is sleeping.
Gamlen room
When Gamlen had entered the room he shared with his nephew and dropped himself on his bed and almost instantly started snoring loudly, Garrett had looked on annoyingly, and got off the bed.
I was enjoying sleeping on the bed... guess it's another night in the living room Garrett thought as he grabbed a pillow and blanket and moved to the living room.
As Garrett laid down and began to dose off, Kane suddenly slouched down next to him and licked his face.
For the love of... never mind, it's better than Gamlen's snoring thought Garrett as he turned so as not let Kane lick his face went to sleep, as he began to knock out he wondered why did I let Bethany get the room with two beds again... wonder how she's sleeping, before finally falling asleep.