Family History
"It's a shame the Chantry is closed right now," Leliana murmured, as she and Epona walked the streets. "I would have loved to pray, but it is good they are praying for those lost at Ostagar and good King Cailan."
Epona scowled. "Now is not the time anyway. We're looking for Genitivi's house, remember?"
"I suppose... I just..." Leliana perked up. "I see Narascha, Lawrien and Torph."
Epona followed her gaze, and there they were on the opposite side of the market. Morrigan, Cobian and Calenhad were just ahead of Epona and Leliana, and Morrigan honestly looked a little at a loss. Th same way Epona felt to be honest.
She had never been in a city before, or at least not one this huge. It felt too crowded to be honest. Epona didn't really like it, even if the freshly baked goods smelled nice.
"I have never seen such a collection of merchants and people before..." Morrigan looked almost awed. "Tis always so?"
"It is." Cobian nodded. "Denerim used to actually be an outpost of the ancient Tevinter Imperium. The Tevinter mages made a tower which is now Fort Drakon, but over time the teyrns took it over as Tevinter lost ground and were driven out of Ferelden, then the city itself was gradually built around the tower. Fort Drakon is actually where they tend to keep important prisoners."
"So if any of you get captured..." Morrigan smirked.
"Yes, we're probably in there," Cobian sighed. "A daunting thought considering nobody has ever broken out of it before."
"Then let's do our best to avoid capture," Epona said.
"As long as you keep your face covered, I think we shall be good," Leliana said. "It is a shame to hide your hair though, it's such a pretty shade of red."
"And very recognisable," Epona said. "All other elves here are city elves. There are no Dalish. There is no way for me to blend in without a proper disguise."
"Tis probably best you keep your hoods up," Morrigan agreed.
"Let's press on and find Brother Genitivi," Epona insisted.
.:.
"This... this is my sister's house..." Alistair grabbed a note from his pack, his brow furrowed as he scanned it, then looked back at the house. "Yes, this is the right address... I'm sure of it!"
Ciara tilted her head. "You going to go see if she's inside?"
"I don't know..." Alistair shifted awkwardly. "Do I seem a little nervous? I am, really am. I don't know what to expect. I really would like you to be there if you're willing." His words were coming out in a rush. "Or we could leave I suppose. We're pretty busy after all!"
Ciara chuckled. "We can go in."
"Will she even know who I am?" Alistair's brow furrowed. "Does she even know I exist? Sister... that sounds very strange... sister... Siiiisssssttteer..."
"Alistair, calm down," Ciara urged.
"Right, er, yeah... I'm babbling..." Alistair grinned nervously. "Let's go. Let's just go!"
Alistair knocked on the door, then peered his head in. "Err... hello?" he called out.
"Eh?" a brown haired woman poked her head out from behind a wall, then gestured them in. "Come in! You have linens to wash? I charge three bits on the bundle, you won't find better. And don't trust what that Natalia woman tells you either. She's foreign and will rob ya blind!"
"I'm... uh... not here to have any washing done..." Alistair began hesitantly. "My name is Alistair. I'm... well... this might sound rather strange, but are you Goldana? If so... I suppose I am your brother..."
That was a wonderful explanation. Ciara felt the urge to applaud.
"My what?" Goldana's brow furrowed. "Yes I am Goldana, how do you know my name? What tomfoolery are you two up to?"
"Perhaps you could explain, Alistair?" Ciara offered.
"Right, yes!" He nodded. "Look, our mother, she worked as a serving girl in Redcliffe Castle long ago, before she died. Did you know about that? She-"
"You! I knew it!" Goldana yelled. "They told me you was dead! They told me the babe died along with mother. I knew they were lying!"
Alistair flinched. "They told you I was dead? Who? Who told you that?"
"Thems at the castle! I told them the babe was the King's, and they told me he was dead. Gave me a coin to shut my mouth and sent me on my way. I knew it!"
"I'm sorry... I didn't know that... the babe didn't die... It's me, I'm your brother," Alistair said, a little more hopefully at the end.
Goldana scoffed. "For all the good it does me! You killed mother, you did, and I've had to scrape by all this time. That coin didn't last long, and when I went back they ran me off!"
Ciara frowned. "That is hardly Alistair's fault now, is it?"
Goldana sneered at her. "And who in the Maker's name are you? Some tart following after his riches?"
"Hey!" Alistair scowled. "Don't speak to her that way. She's my friend, and a Grey Warden, just like me-"
Ciara elbowed his side. "Maybe not mention the Grey Warden part around here?" she whispered sharply.
Alistair winced. "Right, good point. Sorry, Ciara."
"Oooohhh, I see. A prince and a Grey Warden!" Goldana mocked. "Well who am I to think poorly of someone so high and mighty compared to me?" Goldana's eyes narrowed. "I don't know you, boy. Your royal father forced himself on my mother and took her away from me, and what do I got to show for it? Nothing! They tricked me good! I should have told everyone! I've got five mouths to feed, and unless you can help with that, then I've got less than no use for you!"
"I... I'm sorry..." Alistair's face fell. "I don't know what to say..."
Ciara checked her pockets. She didn't have much money on her right now. Lawrien did, but Ciara knew if she brought Lawrien here then she'd just punch Goldana for being a 'mean sister', which, alright, yes, she was. But she was right. She doesn't know Alistair, and her mother was taken from her. Ciara could feel a slight bit of sympathy for that part.
But she also didn't suffer those who hurt her friends.
Ciara raised a brow. "And who would have believed you, Goldana?"
Goldana's brow furrowed.
"If Arl Eamon disagreed with you, all the nobility would have sided with him, as well as many of the common people. You would have looked insane," Ciara said. "Thankfully you took what you could and got away with it, but if you had kept going after Alistair you would have been killed."
Goldana grimaced.
"You and I both know that." She approached Goldana. "I don't like how you're speaking to my friend-" She held up a finger when Goldana went to snarl at her. "And I don't care how angry you are. Alistair did not take your mother from you, and if you ever say that again, I will ram my knife into your gut-"
"Ciara!" Alistair protested as Goldana took a step back from her, terrified, but Ciara grabbed her wrist and forced her hand open, dropping a good handful of coins into her palm.
Goldana stiffened against her.
"That should be ten gold," Ciara said. "Don't spend it all at once."
Ciara turned on her heel and walked back up to Alistair. "That will be enough for her to take care of herself and her five mouths if she plays her cards right," Ciara explained. "But I wouldn't recommend coming back here, Alistair. She isn't what you're looking for."
Alistair's face fell again at that. "No... I suppose not..."
They walked back outside, Alistair closing the door behind them.
"Well that was not what I expected... to put it lightly..." Alistair sighed. "This is the family I've been wondering about my entire life? That shrew is my sister? I can't believe it."
"Were you just expecting her to welcome you in with open arms?" Ciara asked.
"Well... yes? I thought family were supposed to accept you without question. Isn't that what they are supposed to do?" Alistair's shoulders slumped. "I... I feel like a complete idiot..."
Ciara frowned thoughtfully. "There will be many times when people are only out for themselves. Narascha told you about her brothers, remember? They both betrayed her in their own ways, meanwhile Torph's sister loved him unconditionally. My blood family with the exception of one were all cruel, horrid people, while the family I choose have been amazing, despite their flaws. It's about the people you choose to let into your life, those are the bonds that matter." Ciara jabbed him. "But you also need to look out for yourself more too. You can't always rely on people, even your loved ones can hurt you."
Alistair faltered. "I..." He shook his head. "Let's just go... I need some time to think..."
"Alright." Ciara nodded.
.:.
"Dwarven crafts!" A voice yelled. "Fine dwarven crafts!"
Narascha froze mid step, much to Torph's curiosity. He grimaced when he saw the colour drain from her face, just as the voice cut off.
"Nara, you okay?" he whispered.
"My lady!" a dwarf by his stall gasped. "My Lady Narascha Aeducan?"
Holy shit, the guy's jaw had actually dropped.
"Wait, weren't you the funny guy who kept telling me off for telling Narascha to join us?" Lawrien grinned.
Narascha instantly softened. "Hello, Gorim."
"I can't believe it's really you..." Gorim said shakily, smiling brightly. "I knew you survived. I just knew it. I never stopped believing it, and neither did your father."
The smile instantly dropped from Narascha's face. Gorim offered her a sad smile.
"Before I left for the surface, King Endrin sent for me, and it was almost more than I could endure, seeing him so..." Gorim's face fell. "As if... as if he was long dead and rotten... as if he was merely an empty husk collapsing in on himself..."
Narascha looked devastated.
Torph scowled. "You really saying this to her now? You just reunited, and you're telling her all this shit-"
Gorim sneered at him. "Don't interrupt, casteless."
Lawrien scowled, but before she could say anything, Narascha cut in. Torph startled at that. Fuck, he hadn't thought she would tell off her friend for Torph.
"Don't speak to him like that, Gorim, you speak to a Grey Warden and my friend!" Narascha snapped. "And least you forget we're both casteless now too."
Was it weird that the Princess of Orzammar was calling Torph, a casteless, her friend? Fuck yes. Did it feel good? Fucking hell yes.
Narascha didn't just pick anyone to be her friend, and the fact Torph was there.
Holy shit that was awesome.
Gorim winced. "Right... Anyway, Lady Aeducan, he couldn't even rise from his bed, and the room stank of decay." Gorim lowered his head, swallowing thickly, then raised his eyes to meet Narascha's gaze. "He asked me to give you the shield of Aeducan, and this letter." He reached behind his stall, right into the back of it, opening up a chest with a key that was tucked into his belt.
A beautiful shield sat within in, as did said letter.
Narascha's face was blank. "Did he say anything else?" she asked, her voice monotone.
"He barely spoke at all," Gorim said softly. "Every word felt like the entire length of the Deep Roads. 'Find my daughter', he said. 'No other deserves this.' that was all that he said. His eyes have haunted me ever since..." Gorim winced. "If it was possible for a man to die of regret, I think King Endrim did..."
Gorim awkwardly laughed. "But well... we shouldn't dwell on the past... I can hardly tell you how good it is to see you alive."
Narascha stared at the shield in the chest for a moment longer, before she forced a thin smile on her face. "It is good to see you as well, old friend. I didn't expect to find you here."
Torph's blood was boiling. What the fuck? He just laid all that shit on her, then wanted to be all 'buddy buddy' now? Lawrien looked uncomfortable, shifting, staring at Narascha in worry.
"Aye." Gorim smiled. "And far happier in my exile than I ever expected to be. I... I have a new life now... a group of surface dwarves, merchants, they helped me when I was injured travelling off the mountains. My leg healed wrong, and I don't think I could fight again, but..." His smile grew. "It was worth it. My life is great, Lady Narascha. I have married into a surface family. My wife is lovely, and her father is the best smith in Denerim." He smiled sheepishly. "We're... we're expecting our first born before the Spring."
Narascha patted his shoulder. "Look at you, Gorim, a merchant now. That's amazing news! Congratulations."
Gorim softened. "Thank you, my Lady. It was wonderful to see you again, but you must have more important duties than to catch up with me. Have a look at my father-in-law's craft. All fine work, and I'll cut you a discount," he added, winking.
Narascha chuckled. "Thank you, Gorim. I'll take the letter, but keep the shield."
"My lady?" He frowned.
"I don't use shields." Narascha shrugged. "Keep it, sell it, I don't care."
"But, Lady Narascha-" Gorim protested.
"It was nice to see you, Gorim. Take care now." She nodded, and marched off.
Lawrien frowned and eyed Gorim. "You dumped all that on her so you would stop being haunted by King Endrim's eyes."
Gorim flinched. "I-"
"You should have caught up with her first, then revealed this later somewhere better." Lawrien's eyed the market place around them. "Not in the middle of the street. Narascha deserved better than that."
With that she turned and walked after Narascha, and Torph stuck up his middle finger at Gorim and followed after them. Fuck that asshole, that was a shitty thing to do. By the time they caught up to Narascha, she was in an alley, reading the letter with a heavy frown.
Lawrien and Torph stopped just before her and waited silently. It took a while, Narascha must have read the damn thing three times, before she finally lowered it.
The worst part was? Narascha started laughing. It wasn't out of amusement. No, Narascha was clearly at breaking point with that letter. Lawrien immediately sat down next to her, and Narascha leaned against the wall, still laughing, her shoulders shaking.
Her laughter cut off abruptly.
"I knew he had never believed in my guilt," Narascha said, through a sharp, nasty grin. "I knew it. He sacrificed me to keep his ass on the throne, and now because Bhelen is making too many changes at once, the old man is crying to me about it."
Lawrien's face fell. "Narascha?"
"Know that whatever you do, you bear all the pride and honour of House Aeducan," Narascha whispered, then snarled and slammed her axe into a bunch of crates. "WHAT FUCKING HONOUR DO I HAVE IN THAT MISERABLE HOUSE?!"
Torph stumbled back, shocked.
"I WAS PARADED THROUGH THE STREETS IN CHAINS! ACCUSED OF MURDERING MY BROTHER! AND HE LEFT ME TO ROT WHEN HE KNEW I DIDN'T DO IT!" She was tearing through crates, and boxes, like there was no tomorrow, before she finally dropped her axe and stumbled back, laughing. "And he's disowned Bhelen... I'm his 'only' child..."
She cackled. "That fucking idiot!"
Torph didn't know what to say... fuck... how could he help?
"I trained my entire life to protect our family... our people... and I was tossed aside like trash to protect his Royal Majesty's reputation..." Narascha doubled over, still laughing, tears in her eyes. "Fuck, it's actually amazing. It's so funny!"
Tears were already in Lawrien's eyes, but she bit her lip, sat up, and yanked Narascha into a hug.
