Authors notes: Surprise, surprise. Onto my own dialogue/events now, hurray! This chapter is short and sweet, as all my main plot ideas happen in act 2 & 3, and this was just a silly way to end Act 1. Enjoy!
Home at last. It's been a month I left Kirkwall for the expedition, and I can hardly wait to tell mother that our fortune is back. Six weeks ago, Carver and I discovered our grandparent's will. Turned out that Gamlen was a liar and a sneak, my Grandparents had forgiven Mother and left everything to her name. After they died, Gamlen had racked up such a debt that he sold the estate to save his hide from the debt collectors. The estate was my mothers. She was so happy to discover that her parents did not hate her after all, but getting the estate back was not going to be easy, again, we needed money.
I had finally gathered the 50 gold that I needed to hire onto Bartrand's expedition. When it came down to it, I was allowed to bring two other companions with me, aside from Varric. Carver was adamant in joining. Mother begged me to leave him behind. She was terrified of having no children left if something should go wrong, so I left him. He was furious with me, to say the least. He called me names, and said he was tired of following in my footsteps. His pride was clearly hurt, but I needed to do what was best, despite how he would feel about me afterwards.
I brought Anders and Fenris with me instead. Not just because of my raging hormones, mind you. Anders knew the Deep Roads, and his magic was incredibly valuable at times in need. Fenris was a skilled fighter, nothing got past him. I knew they were the best choices, and they gladly aided us.
We discovered a costly statue while we were in there, and Bartrand, the greedy bastard he is, stole it. He locked us down there, so willingly letting his brother and his hirelings die so he could have the treasure all to himself. He didn't get so lucky, it took us a week, but we managed to find our way out. And not empty handed, to say the least. We found more valuables then we could ever hope for. This was my ticket out of that shack in Lotown. I had enough to get Mother's estate back and more to last me throughout the years to come. I don't think I had even been so happy in my entire life.
I practically ran all the way home, eager to tell my family the news. I ran up the steps and swung open the door, and there Carver is, suited up, as a Templar.
"Please, talk some sense into him" Mother yells at me. Not quite the home coming I was expecting.
"Don 'try to talk me out of it, sister. My mind has been made."
"Please tell me this is some sort of elaborate joke."
"It's not. I am tired of being known only as your little brother. That's all I ever will be. I finally have a chance to make a name for myself. To be my own person."
"But, a templar Carver?"
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I will not tell them who you really are. Goodbye," and with that, he walked past me and out the front door. My mother fell to her knees, tears running down her face.
"He has no idea how dangerous..." she couldn't finish her sentence, she was sobbing and gasping for air. I knelt down and put my arms around her.
"It's okay Mother. Carver is stronger than you know. He will be alright. I will be here to take care of you."
"Oh darling, I'm so happy you're back. I thought I would never see you again my sweetheart."
I smiled, and lifted her to her feet. "I have some, unexpected news. I think it might help you feel better."
I told her everything. She stared at me in disbelief, and after a few moments, began to cry again. This time, they were tears of joy. We would set a meeting with the Viscount tomorrow, and plead our case. There was no way they could refuse us now that we had the coin. The Amell state was rightfully ours. Gamlen, of course, tried to argue that I should pay him for everything he had done for us, his words, not mine. I reminded him of how he lied to us and made my Mother believe that her parents died hating her and how he sold our Estate in the first place. I informed him if he wanted to take matters before a court, I would be more than happy to let him. Like the cowardly snake he was, he left, muttering about what an ungrateful brat I was. To hell with him I thought, we were finally free of this shack.
It wasn't long before all of my friends heard about our success. Isabela insisted we celebrate my victorious return with a night at The Hanged Man. I needed some fun after a month in that darkspawn infested hole.
"To Hawke!" she exclaimed, and the clinking of mugs went all around the table. There they all were - Isabela, Aveline, Anders, Fenris, Merrill, and Varric. Poor Merrill was having trouble keeping up with the rest of us. Isabela had decided to teach her how to do "body shots". Merrill had never drank before, and her cheeks were flushed with color. She was giggling like crazy before, but now her head was on the table, half passed out.
"Uh oh, looks like Daisy has had a little too much," Varric chuckled. "Any volunteers to help her home?"
"Home? No, she can just use my room, I'll join her later," Isabela said in that seductive voice she used so often.
"You sure that's a good idea?"
"Oh Varric, I was just teasing. She can use my bed for the night. I'll just have to find someone else's' to crash," she laughed, as she took another shot of her rum.
"So Hawke, I imagine you are thrilled to be meeting with the viscount tomorrow."
"Yes Anders, I really hope things work out, for my mother's sake mostly. You have no idea how hard this has been on her."
"You know, the Amell state is just a block or two away from where I am staying," Fenris pointed out. He was actually smiling. I could tell he had been drinking for awhile. He was already at The Hanged Man playing cards with Varric by the time I got there. I blushed at him, unable to look at his glance.
"You mean the mansion that you are staying in illegally? Hah!" Anders glared at Fenris. The two never got along, they both had opposing views on everything it seemed.
"Yes, what of it, mage? I do not need to hide. If my captors want to come for me, let them. I am ready. You on the other hand, hide out in that dank clinic. I'm sure the Templars would love to know of an apostate healer lurking among the refugees."
"Is that a threat, elf? I ought to-"
"Woah, everyone, calm down!" hollered Aveline. Things were about to get nasty.
"We are here to celebrate Hawke's new fortune, not get into childish spats."
Merrill lifted her head finally "Who got spat on? Did I miss it?"
Isabela let out a hearty laugh, and walked over to Merrill, and lifted her up "Come on Kitten, let's get you into bed. You're sleeping in my room tonight." Merrill let out a girlish squeal.
"Really? Will it be like those sleepovers I always hear young human children talking about? Oooh I would love to have a sleepover Isabela! Can we?"
Isabela sighed "Sure Merrill, why not? Okay guys, looks like I'm turning in early tonight. Don't have too much fun without me." She winked.
"We wouldn't dream of it!" I yelled over my shoulder as Isabela and Merrill turned the corner to Isabela's suite. I know if Carver had been here, he would have leaped at the opportunity to bring Merrill back home. It was clear he had a huge crush on her. Carver... I sighed to myself. It would be just Mother and I in that big estate. If only I was able to tell him the news sooner, maybe he would have stayed. No, probably not. He was as stubborn as a mule, and once he had an idea in his head, he always went for it.
"Something the matter, Hawke?" Anders asked, he was now sitting beside me. "If I upset you earlier, I am sorry."
"Oh no Anders, it's not you. I'm just thinking about Carver."
"Oh yes, the new Templar," he said bitterly. "How could he betray you like that, I mean, you're his sister after all."
"That's Carver for you. He always needs to prove something, no matter who gets hurt in the process."
"Are you afraid he'll betray you?"
"No, I don't think he's capable of something like that. He's just trying to show the world he can be his own man. And I guess maybe it was time for him to move on. There was nothing really left for him at home with us."
"And your mother, how is she fairing?"
"Utterly heartbroken, but I think she'll feel a lot better once we move out of Gamlen's"
"No offense Hawke, but your Uncle's place, smells like cabbage." Varric joked. Although, there was a lot of truth to his words.
"Ugh, don't remind me. I have at least one more night there."
"Well, best to get drunk off your ass before going home then. Maybe then you won't notice the smell!"
"Why Varric, you've read my mind."