Brother and Sister

Faren ducked beneath a swing of a hammer with a strangled yelp, and grinned when Zevran attacked the dwarf from behind, slicing his throat open. The moment they had stepped towards the palace they had been ambushed by these fanatics of Harrowmonts, starting an all out brawl.

Faren saw Torph's back hit a wall, and he had nowhere to go. His eyes widened, panicked, as the massive dwarf raised his hammer above his head and swung down hard at Torph's head. Zevran threw a dagger, but it only skimmed off the fanatic's armour.

Narascha's axe caught the hammer mid swing, and she howled as she braced herself, swinging her axe down hard, forcing the other dwarf back. The problem was the sudden movement threw back her hood, revealing her face in the middle of the Diamond District.

Fuck.

Faren saw Torph's eyes widen in horror, just as a few nearby nobles gasped. Those assholes had all been watching like it was a performance at a circus.

"Isn't that Lady Aeducan?"

"Why is the Princess here? She was exiled!"

"The Kinslayer! How did she get through the gates?!"

"She's with the Wardens!"

"Is she back to kill Bhelen?"

The last fanatic dropped when Shale crushed them with their fist. Shale then eyed the growing crowd with bemusement.

"Shall I crush them, dwarf girl?"

Narascha huffed, rolling her eyes. "Trust me, you won't find much in there except hot air and maybe some dwarven tradition."

Faren couldn't stop the snort that escaped him, even as Rica rushed down the stairs with Vartag right behind her with a squad of guardsmen. Alistair immediately stepped in front of Narascha, hand on the pommel of his sword, Sten doing the same thing, while Torph approached them, already the lazy expression glazing his look.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked, scratching his ear.

"We came to assist with these fanatics of Harrowmont's," Vartag said carefully, already gazing past Alistair, trying to see the blonde behind him, though Alistair was staying firmly in the way, a glare set on his face. "But I believe you must have a good explanation for her being here."

"She has a name," Torph sneered.

"Torph, do you not know who that is?" Rica asked, desperately.

"We've been travelling together for about a year now. Of course I know who she is." Torph snorted. "Fuck sake. Do you really think I'm an idiot, Rica?"

She looked startled by that, even flinching back while Vartag scowled.

"I would suggest handing over that kinslayer so we may imprison her for the duration of your stay here."

"You try it, and we're going to test the magical resistance of dwarves," Lawrien growled, storming up to him, looming over him. "You will not touch one of my Grey Wardens."

"Grey Warden?" Vartag's scowl deepened.

"Yes, Narascha is a Grey Warden," Ciara said. "Thank you for that addition, by the way, she has been a fantastic help in defeating the Blight so far. It's impressive how she can take on orges and darkspawn generals and keep surviving each time."

Lawrien leaned closer, her voice a mere whisper, but Faren could hear every word regardless of that. Elven hearing was such a good thing.

"I know you're scared of Narascha," Lawrien said, a gleeful note in her tone, despite how she whispered to Vartag. "I can feel it pumping through you. The terror. The anger. Trust me, I know what Bhelen did, and I would love to make him suffer for it because Narascha is one of mine, but she choose not to have that fight. She choose to have us put him on the throne because she thought it would be better for Orzammar, but say the word. Try and arrest her, and I'll make sure by the end of this, there will only be one candidate for the throne."

Faren saw Epona smirk, her bow was notched, ready to fire, and Sten had his sword at the ready. They would fight here if need be, but Faren really hoped it wouldn't. This would get messy fast.

"Go on," Lawrien dared. "Make my day."

Honestly, Faren was surprised Ciara hadn't intervened and tried to be diplomatic yet, but he could see her daggers were drawn, and that she was guarding Narascha's back, eyeing the guards with a cold, hard stare.

Guess there was no room for diplomacy here then. Well, Faren supposed the guards were trying to take one of their own, so it makes sense.

"Stand down!"

Bhelen's voice rang out across the grounds as he stepped out the palace. He looked remarkably calm despite the situation, but Faren knew he was probably pissing himself right now.

Served the fucker right.

"My Prince?" Vartag looked at him warily.

"Stand down, Vartag. All of you now. The Grey Wardens are allies of Orzammar," Bhelen insisted, then eyed Torph, then smiled warmly. "Good job taking care of the Carta for me. You did well."

Faren paused. Was Bhelen really showing off that they were allies now of all times?

Torph smirked. "No problem, your Highness."

Bhelen's smile sharpened. "Let's go inside and talk properly. All of you here in fact, right, Narascha?"

"Sure." Narascha crossed her arms.

.:.

"I was concerned when I heard about you being attacked by Harrowmont's fanatics," Bhelen admitted, eyeing Torph.

Torph shrugged. "They picked death by Grey Warden. A common death these days."

"Indeed." Bhelen smirked. "But now I'm even more concerned that my beloved sister is here."

He eyed Narascha, who was staring up at a painting, a family portrait even, of the old king, old queen, Trian, Bhelen and Narascha herself when they were younger. Narascha and Bhelen barely looked as if they were in their teens.

Mother of course hadn't been around. The artist had to use an old portrait of her to paint her in.

That thought hurt more than Narascha cared to admit.

"Don't be afraid, baby brother. I'm just here to haunt you for a bit until you give us our army," Narascha said coldly.

"So I take it you met up with the Grey Warden expedition and joined them then?" Bhelen asked.

"Yes."

Bhelen sighed. "You don't have to give me one worded answers, Narascha."

"And I'm still pissed off. You could have easily banished me." Narascha sneered. "Instead you left me to get torn apart by the darkspawn. You gave Trian a kinder death than I."

"I would have had it the other way, but everyone knows you're the better fighter."

"That doesn't excuse it. You could have banished me or thrown me to the Legion of the Dead," Narascha snapped. "I got lucky that Harrowmont still cared about me."

"If I didn't care I wouldn't have given you that necklace." Bhelen reminded her and Lawrien tensed up, gasping softly. "Which you still have, don't you?"

"What? What necklace?" Torph frowned.

Narascha tensed. "It's nothing."

"He gave her a poisoned necklace in case it became too much. It would have sent her to sleep. Strong but painless," Lawrien murmured. "He had been scared that Narascha would break."

"Poison?" Alistair screeched. "And you still have it!"

"Calm down!" Narascha snapped.

"We should crush him."

"Nobody is crushing anyone, Shale." Narascha sighed, rubbing her forehead, she glanced back at Bhelen who looked more wary now. "See what you've done? Calling me out? Should have just kept quiet, Bhelen, and kept talking to Torph about business."

"I'm curious as to why you would help me."

Narascha nodded. "That's fair. If this was Trian he would want revenge. He would do anything to get revenge and be damned the consequences." Narascha's eyes narrowed on the portrait, of mainly, herself still in the painting. "Mother however taught me it was better to be smart than angry. To concentrate through it all and push onwards. So I learned and when she died I taught you all that she taught me. Just as shame that she didn't teach Trian those same lessons otherwise we wouldn't be here now."

Bhelen sighed. "That doesn't answer my question, Narascha."

"It doesn't?" Narascha met his eyes and he paused. "I want things to change before we die out down here. We have people like Torph who aren't allowed to fight because they were born in Dust Town, even when he won fighting alone at the Proving. We push away our surface brothers and sisters despite the fact that if they weren't up there we would die out. Trian and Harrowmont would abide by our traditions. Mother and I would have only been useful for breeding and house alliances."

Torph scowled, as did Alistair, who was pacing the floor.

.:.

Torph wanted to punch an asshole in the face. Breeding. Really? Fucking animals.

"You want to change things though. You already have been."

"I see," Bhelen nodded. "I'm glad you do too."

"I won't forgive you for what you did to me. You could have chosen another method," Narascha replied. "But I won't let my anger cloud my judgement. We work together on this and you win yourself a crown and we get ourselves the dwarven army we came for."

"Agreed." Bhelen smirked, he looked absolutely pleased. "Now, how about you come with me to renounce Harrowmont publicly?"

"Why bother?" Torph frowned.

"There are rumours that Harrowmont and my sister worked together to kill Trian. If we show that my sister is on my side then it will present the idea that she does not believe Harrowmont to be a suitable candidate for the throne," Bhelen explained.

"Harrowmont was kind to me." Narascha scowled. "Far kinder than any of my family members in the moment I needed you all the most. But no, you betrayed me, and father turned his back on me, then wept afterwards because he 'made a mistake'. I will not sully Harrowmont's name. No. You may do that on your own, Bhelen. You're the one who started this, so you deal with that yourself, because I am done looking after you. You betrayed me. You tried to make me a breeding housewife just like Trian wanted, and when I refused you sent me to the Deep Roads to die."

Torph's fists clenched. He had the overwhelming urge to punch Bhelen's face, but there were a lot of guards around, and Rica might earn the repercussions.

Fuck.

Bhelen winced. "Narascha-"

"You're an adult now, Bhelen. You made it very clear that you no longer wanted my help when you stabbed me in the back," Narascha said sharply. "You will not change my mind on this."

Bhelen sighed. "This could be your best chance to change the public opinion on you. If you are seen to be on my side, none of the guards would try to arrest you-"

"If they try to arrest Narascha again," Lawrien said sharply. "Then they're fighting all of us. She's a Grey Warden of Ferelden, and if any of you try to touch her, I will burn you all."

"Again, death by Grey Wardens." Torph shrugged. "But let's keep my big sister happy, yeah? No arrests, no trying to murder each other."

"I will help you, Bhelen, because you need it, because you can't win this throne on your own." Narascha smirked. "So when that crown is seated upon your head, you will remember that I was the one who got it for you. That you are nothing without me."

Torph almost choked at that. Go Nara, he didn't think she would ever say something like that.

Bhelen's eyes hardened. "You're really going to be this petty?"

"I'm a bitch when I'm pissed off," Narascha laughed darkly. "The only reason you rarely saw it was because I loved you. Now here you get to have it, baby brother."

"Very well," Bhelen sighed heavily. "But do not get in my way."

"No worries about that, Your Highness. I'll make sure you get that cushy throne chair."

Bhelen's scowl deepened. "I really wished you had told me about her presence earlier, brother." He eyed Torph.

Torph shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm sure Rica will tell me off for it later."

Bhelen breathed out heavily through his nose. "Very well. Killing Jarvia bought me great favour, but getting rid of Harrowmont entirely will need to be something dramatic enough to end this debate forever. What do you all know of the Paragon Branka?"

Narascha snorted.

"That she's probably been eaten by darkspawn in the Deep Roads," Torph said.

Epona's frown deepened out of the corner of his eye. Torph grimaced as he thought about it. Didn't she hear the Archdemon once talk about a smith in the Deep Roads? Fuck, how long ago was that shit?

"Two years ago she heard of something the ancients created. It inspired her to leave everything behind and take herself and her House into the Deep Roads," Bhelen explained. "She is the only Paragon in four generations, and turned her back on her duties. If she returned, her vote would outweigh the entire Assembly's."

"Great," Lawrien groaned. "Now we're going to the Deep Roads?"

Torph sighed. "Yep. More walking. I was enjoying having a rest in the Grey Warden estate."

By the time they finished talking to Bhelen, Torph wanted to go drown himself in alcohol, but instead he went to Rica's side who looked upset.

"Hey, sis," he said softly.

"Torph, I was so worried," Rica said, anxiously. "Why are you with her?" She eyed Narascha, but she had already walked straight out the royal family's quarters with most of the others on her heels.

Just Lawrien and Ciara remained behind, guarding the doorway with the royal guards. Aw, they weren't leaving him alone? That was sweet.

"I know you are, but I'm fine. Narascha is my friend," Torph reassured.

"She's evil-"

Torph snorted. "She's terrifying, that is for sure."

Rica's brow furrowed. "What-"

"When we were in Ostagar, that was the first place we fought against the Blight with all the humans, it was hell. We were overrun in darkspawn, but Narascha didn't once falter. She kept yelling at the humans to keep fighting, to give them courage. She would slaughter through countless waves of them. Then she took on an ogre that charged at the human King, and killed it. She literally had Lawrien, our Warden Commander, throw her at it. Then after that? After that she fought a Vanguard Hurlock."

"She..." Rica's eyes were wide, a little bit in awe, and in fear too.

He didn't blame her. Narascha was terrifying.

"She had planned to stay behind, to hold the Vanguard back, to let me, a Dalish elf, and a city elf escape. Three of us should have meant nothing in her eyes. I'm casteless, and elves, well humans hate elves, so nobody would have blamed her, but Narascha was willing to die to get us out alive. The Princess was going to sacrifice herself for three people who were lower than commoners," Torph continued on. "My point in all this? I trust that woman with my life. She has never once made me feel like less of a person because I'm from Dust Town too. She respects me, and I respect her."

Rica's eyes widened. "I don't understand. Why? She murdered her own brother-"

Torph shrugged. "Maybe she didn't, maybe she did. I don't give a shit."

"Torph-"

"With Narascha I have fought against waves of darkspawn, hordes of undead, fucking demons and abominations. We've walked, ran, sailed, all over Ferelden for nearly an entire year together, and again, she has been awesome and terrifying that entire time." Torph gritted his teeth. "If I died fighting at her side, I would be honoured."

Rica's jaw dropped.

Torph smirked at Lawrien and Ciara, Ciara who looked so amused, while Lawrien beamed. "Don't you two go telling her any of this, got it?"

"You have our word," Ciara chuckled.

"Not a word." Lawrien grinned.

Torph saw a shadow in the doorway of Bhelen's chambers, but ignored it. Bhelen could hear about how awesome his sister was then weep he lost her as a Commander through his own bullshit. Narascha was a Grey Warden now. She was one of them.

The thought almost made him grin wolfishly, but he softened when he looked back at Rica instead.

"That is how much I trust Narascha Aeducan," Torph said, smiling at Rica. "And she is the one I trust to get me alive out of the Deep Roads."

Rica softened. "Bhelen told me you were going to the Deep Roads to look for Branka. I know you're a Warden now, but to me, you'll always be that little boy toddling around, pulling on door handles."

Torph couldn't help but grin at that.

"Please, just try to stay safe," she said desperately.

"I'll do my best, Rica." He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. "Stay safe, and say hi to my nephew for me."

"I will do," Rica said shakily.