The city of Denerim was smaller than the cities from Linn's world, but the bustle was enough to unsettle her as she checked around the shops. Linn had learned even more about Leliana's life as a bard after they had been attacked by Orlesian mercenaries. Leliana had been betrayed by her former teacher, and that was what had truly made her go into hiding. Said teacher was supposedly in the city. Linn just hoped for one more day of rest before they needed to fight this Mar… It wasn't Margaret. Was it Marjorie?
As Linn pondered the name of their new foe, she noticed a familiar figure pacing in front of a house. As she approached, he looked her way. Alistair gave her a little wave, and Linn stopped beside him to look at the house.
"Well… uh, here it is," Alistair said while nervously tugging at collar. "My sister's address. She could be inside. Could we… go and see?"
"I don't really know if I should go in with you. This is your family-" Linn started but stopped when she noticed Alistair giving her those sad puppy eyes.
Alistair fidgeted with his sleeve before he asked, "Do I seem a little nervous? I am. I really don't know what to expect. I'd like you to be there with me, if you're willing." Alistair looked at the door before turning back to Linn and said, "Or we could… leave, I suppose. We really don't have time to pay a visit, do we? Maybe we should go."
"No… Come on, Alistair. You've come this far, and I'll be right behind you."
Alistair led her to the door while babbling, "Will she even know who I am? Does she even know I exist? My sister. That sounds very strange… 'sister.' 'Ssiiisster'?"
Linn reached in front of him and knocked on the door before he could continue any further. Alistair turned to Linn with wide panicked eyes as they heard the door being unlocked from the inside. A short blonde woman opened the door and gave them a tired look.
"Err… hello?" Alistair said awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
The woman looked the two of them up and down before she replied in a tired tone, "Eh? 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 she'll rob you blind."
"Lovely," Linn muttered as Alistair gathered his courage.
"I'm… not here to have my wash done," Alistair said, and Goldanna gave him a baleful stare. "My name's Alistair. I'm… well, this may sound sort of strange, but are you Goldanna? If so, I suppose I'm your brother."
"My what?" Goldanna asked with an accusatory glance. "I am Goldanna, yes… how do you know my name? What kind of tomfoolery are you folk up to?"
"He knows your name because he's been looking for his family," Linn spoke up when she noticed Alistair giving her those sad eyes. "Please… we've come a long way. Just listen to him."
"Look, our mother," Alistair started before pausing to gather his thoughts. "She worked as a servant in Redcliffe Castle a long time ago, before she died. Do you know about that? She–"
"You! I knew it!" Goldanna shouted before she clasped her hand over her mouth and gestured for them to come inside the house. After the door closed behind Linn, Goldanna continued in almost a whisper, "They told me you was dead! They told me the babe was dead along with mother, but I know they was lying!"
"They told you I was dead?" Alistair asked with a heartbroken look. "Who? Who told you that?"
"Them's at the castle! I told them the babe was the king's, and they said 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. I'm him; I'm… your brother."
Goldanna let out a derisive snort before she said, "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!"
Linn moved in front of Alistair and glared at the woman. With the contempt in her voice leaking out, Linn said, "Your mother dying is not Alistair's fault… Neither is how you were treated by Redcliffe. I'd suggest you calm yourself."
Goldanna stiffened at Linn's glare and retorted, "And who in the Maker's name are you? Some tart, following after his riches, I expect?"
Linn's eyes widened at the woman's audacity. The woman simply turned back to Alistair with a look of disgust. Linn took a step forward before she felt herself being pulled back behind Alistair.
"Hey!" Alistair shouted, and Goldanna glared at him. "Don't speak to her that way! She's my friend and a Grey Warden! Just like me!"
"Oooh, I see," Goldanna retorted with spite. "A prince and a Grey Warden, too. Well, who am I to think poorly of someone so high and mighty compared to me?" Goldanna paused to give Linn a glare as well before focusing back on Alistair. "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 got five mouths to feed, and unless you can help with that, I got less than no use for you."
"I…I'm sorry. I don't know what to say…" Alistair muttered with his head down in shame.
Linn gently touched his arm and said, "It looks like all she wants is your money. Come on. Let's go."
"Yes, it really seems that way," Alistair murmured. "I wasn't expecting my sister to be so… I'm starting to wonder why I came."
Goldanna's face turned red as she looked from Alistair to Linn. She retorted, "I don't know why you came either or what you expected to find. But it isn't here! Now get out of my house, the both of you!"
Linn nodded toward the door, and Alistair led the way out of the house. Before closing the door behind her, Linn took a moment to flip the bird at the woman. The sound of a bucket hitting the door brought a smile to Linn's face before she noticed Alistair on the verge of tears. Linn once again touched his arm, and Alistair gave her a sad smile.
"Well, that was…" Alistair said before taking a deep breath. "Not what I expected. To put it lightly." Alistair looked back at the door and continued, "This is the family I've been wondering about all my life? That shrew is my sister? I can't believe it. I… I guess I was expecting her to accept me without question. Isn't that what family is supposed to do? I… I feel like a complete idiot."
Alistair's head hung low, and Linn led him away from the bustle to an alley where they'd have at least a little privacy.
"A wise man once said, 'Family don't end in blood,'" Linn said gently, and Alistair stared at her in confusion. "Being related doesn't mean that someone will care about you… You can believe me on that one. I… I lost my entire family, but I found one of my own. I made one. And sure, it's wonky to say the least. A little difficult at times… What I'm trying to say is… You don't need her. You already have people who care for you."
Alistair raised an eyebrow and asked, "Such as? The only person who ever cared about me was Duncan. And he's gone."
"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Linn asked with a chuckle. "I care for you, Alister. Why do you think I would come all this way? And you have the others as well. Leliana, Wynne, and Rabbit for starters. You aren't alone, Alistair."
Alistair looked away as a blush spread out across his face. He replied after taking a moment to gather himself, "I… Thank you. I'm glad you came with me."
"I am as well… Now we should probably find the others. At least one of them has likely gotten themselves into trouble by now."
Linn turned to see if she could spot any of the others. Unfortunately, they had wandered well out of sight. A playful bark led her to the marketplace where she saw Rabbit playing with the local children. Wynne, Sten, and even Shale could stay out of trouble, but she worried about the others. Under different circumstances, Linn would also trust Leliana not to make any rash decisions, but the reveal of Leliana's old mentor-turned-enemy made Linn reluctant to leave her alone for too long.
"Looking for me?" a familiar Antivan voice came from the shadows, and Zevran flashed her a smile as he walked from a nearby alley.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Do you know where Leliana is?" Linn asked as her focus shifted from stall to stall.
"Worried that she may get into trouble, are you? I last saw her on the other side of town. There was a particular building that seemed to be of interest to her."
Zevran pointed to a section of buildings in the distance, and Linn took off toward the street. She could feel the cold air stinging her lungs with each breath. What if Leliana had been caught? What if– Linn's panic came to an abrupt halt as she saw Leliana walking in their direction. Leliana crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow as Linn slowly came to a stop.
"Just… wanted to make sure that… there weren't any Orlesian… mercenaries holding you at knifepoint," Linn explained between gasps of air.
Leliana uncrossed her arms and wrapped them around Linn's right arm.
"Do I truly seem that unreliable?" Leliana asked in a small voice.
"No… Just distracted," Linn answered as she finally started to breathe normally again. "Which can be dangerous for anyone… No matter how capable they are."
Leliana sighed but didn't argue as she watched Alistair and Zevran catch up to them. Linn took another look around the marketplace, but she couldn't find any of the others. Perhaps they were in one of the shops.
"I was able to find the scholar's house," Leliana spoke up quickly before Zevran could catch his breath. "Perhaps we should stop by."
Linn raised her brow and asked, "So you don't want to confront your old boss today?"
Leliana shook her head and replied, "We are too tired. It would be better to wait until tomorrow."
Alistair and Zevran murmured their agreement as Leliana led Linn toward a house in the distance. Kids could be heard playing in the distance, but the area around Brother Gentivi's house was unusually quiet. In fact… there was a member of the group also being unusually quiet. Linn turned to see Zevran staring warily at a nearby building. The Gnawed Noble Tavern. Linn turned back to Brother Gentivi's house and took a deep breath. She could figure out what was special about the tavern later. Right now, they needed to save the Arl. Linn knocked on the door and waited. There was the sound of someone fumbling with a lock shortly before the door opened to reveal a dark haired man.
"Yes? How can I help you?" the man asked nervously as his eyes lingered on Alistair's sword.
"We're looking for Brother Gentivi. Is he here?"
The man's eyes darted around the marketplace before he quickly ushered them inside. Linn took the lead into the house. The man watched her nervously as the door closed behind her group. He eyed her sword before he asked, "Why are you looking for Brother Gentivi?"
"I know that he was searching for the Urn of Sacred Ashes… We were hoping that you could point us in the right direction."
The man cleared his throat and muttered, "He was on the trail of the Urn, yes. Whether he found it… the Maker only knows." Sweat beaded the man's brow, and he desperately told her, "I haven't seen Brother Gentivi in weeks. He's sent no word; it's so unlike him. I am afraid something has happened. Gentivi's research may have led him into danger."
"In trouble?" Alistair asked with a look of worry. "Do you think it's because of the Urn?"
The man fidgeted with his ring before he replied, "Perhaps the Urn has been lost for a reason. I pray for Gentivi's safety, but hope dwindles with each passing day."
Linn noticed the man's eyes briefly lingered on a door at the other side of the house. He stiffened when he noticed her watching him closely. The man continued with a slight stutter, "I-I tried to send help, but some knights came from Redcliffe looking for him not long ago. I sent them after Gentivi, and they too have disappeared."
"Where did they go?" Alistair asked, and the man looked at them with fear.
"No, don't ask me where they went. You'll go after them, and what if ill-luck should befall you too?" the man cautioned, but Linn cut him off.
"We're strong, and besides… the Urn could really help people. There's a Blight going on. Don't you think it could help if we did find it?" Linn asked, watching the man closely.
"So be it," the man acquiesced with a sigh. "All he said before he left was that he would be staying at an inn near Lake Calahad, investigating something in that area."
"What exactly was he investigating?" Leliana asked and met Linn's gaze. She was on edge as well.
"I don't know," the man admitted nervously. "All I discovered from going through his research was that he was staying at the inn."
Once again, Linn and Leliana caught each other's gaze as Zevran chimed in, "Through his research? Did you not say that he spoke to you personally?"
The man stuttered now more than ever as he replied,"Y-Yes, of course he told me, b-but I also went through his things to see if I could find his whereabouts."
"You sound nervous. Hiding something?" Zevran asked, and Leliana let go of Linn's arm as the man's attention focused on the elf.
"That's n-not true. I told you everything I know. Brother Gentivi told us— t-told me about the inn and that's all."
"Us? Who's 'us'?" Linn asked as the man threw up his hands.
"Us? I mean, me. T-There is no us…" the man lied as he tried to look as harmless as possible. Suddenly his demeanor changed, and he glared at the group and said, "Why do I keep up this charade? I gave you a chance to turn aside and forget that you ever heard of Gentivi and the Urn. But you persisted."
The man muttered a spell as Linn and Alistair drew their swords. Linn used her shield to deflect the magic to the ground. As the mage focused on Alistair, Linn, and Leliana, Zevran maneuvered to attack him from behind. There was a small groan as Zevran stabbed the man in the back. As the man fell to the ground, Linn looked around to see the mess around them. The man had spoken of research. Linn put her sword away with a sigh before she rolled up her sleeves to get started.