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Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4556 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 15
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- 17
Making Home

Two sovereigns. That's all she got for killing thirty-two Tal'Vashoth. For putting her life, the life of her sister, and the life of her friends in danger. Jordan wasn't happy, but she figured it was better than nothing. Two sovereigns may have been a small payment for what she did, but it still brought her closer to her goal than nothing.
When they were out of the Qunari compound, Jordan pocketed the coins and looked to her companions. She could tell they were tired, and told them they could go ahead and go home to get some rest. Their trip had taken longer than Jordan had originally planned, and she was sure her mother was worried about them, but Jordan wasn't ready to go home herself just yet. She also had wanted to make sure Merrill could settle in, and decided to head to the Hanged Man to found out. Once there, she saw no sign of either Varric, Bethany, or Merrill, but she did find Isabela in her usually place at the bar, flinging back a shot.
“Important business to attend to?” Jordan mused.
Isabela took a sip of her ale before smiling over at Jordan. She rolled a silver coin between her fingers. “After a trip like that, I'd say this is very important.”
“Oh yes, most definitely.” Jordan sat down beside her and grabbed what was left of her ale and drank it down.
“If you wanted one, you could've asked,” Isabela said, although she didn't seem annoyed by Jordan's action.
“Care to explain the real reason why you abandoned me?” Jordan asked as she wiped her mouth.
“You know I would never abandon you,” Isabela cooed. “I owe you too much for helping me with Hayder. If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't be here.” She gestured to the barkeep and flipped him the silver coin. He then sat in front of her two ales, one she passed to Jordan.
Accepting the drink, Jordan took a few gulps. “Okay... Why did you leave, then?”
“Like I said, I had things I needed to attend to, which I already have. Besides, does it really matter? It wasn't like you were in any danger. You were just going to talk, nothing more. No need for me to go with you.”
“I suppose that's true,” Jordan said slowly. In truth, she really wasn't mad at Isabela for leaving her, but she was curious to know why she had left so suddenly like she did. But it appeared Isabela was reluctant to reveal the whole truth. Maybe she did have something she needed to check on. “So what's going on with Merrill?”
“Well, Varric got her a place to stay,” Isabela said, seeming almost relieved that Jordan wasn't pressing the recent issue anymore.
“Really? Where?”
“Where else, the alienage.”
“Ah.” Not surprising considering she was an elf. Not unless Varric was able to get her a job as a servant for some noble in Hightown. Then she would have gotten to live in a mansion. “I think I'll visit her, see how she's doing. Is my sister still with them?”
“I believe so,” Isabela said as she sipped on her ale. “She left with them, anyway.”
“Right.” Jordan drank down the rest of her own ale and stood from the bar. “Thanks for the drink.”
“Figured I owed ya.”
“Buy us a round of shots tonight and we'll be even.”
“You got it, sweet thing,” Isabela winked.
Jordan made her way out of the tavern and decided to go the long way to the alienage in order to avoid passing her home. She wasn't ready yet to hear her mother's scolding if she happened to spot her going down the street. She would prefer to have that happen with Bethany by her side.
The alienage was noisy as elves went about their business. Some paid her no heed, while others, she could feel their eyes upon her, probably wondering why she was there. Humans were a rare sight in the alienage, and when they were seen, it was usually always a landlord either demanding rent or kicking tenants out of their homes. Or thugs come to pick on the poor elves. Jordan noticed most of the elves gave her a wide berth, as they probably assumed she was a thug due to the daggers she carried. Whatever it was, she knew they feared her, a dramatic contrast to what she felt from the Dalish.
It didn't take her long to spot Varric, Bethany, and Merrill standing outside a door. They weren't that hard to find, considering Bethany was probably the only other human here, Varric's dwarven stature, and Merrill sticking out like a sore thumb. She might have been an elf, but her entire was very much different from what the other elves wore. They all wore dirty rags, hand-me-downs, and cheap cloth that was easy to make holes in. Merrill's Dalish, animal-hide robe, along with the tree branch she carried on her back were giving her more attention than she needed.
“Elgar'nan. Is this... is this really where the elves live?” Merrill said as she looked around the alienage, seeming saddened.
“You think this is bad?” said Jordan as she joined them. “You should see where Anders lives.”
“Hey, Hawke,” said Varric. “Glad you could make it. We were just about ready to christen Merrill's new home. Everything go well with the Qunari?”
“As good as you can expect with Qunari. No gaatlok though, so no investment.”
“That's what I thought. Those horned giants are tough nuts to crack. I was actually surprised Javaris even tried. Oh well. Come on, Daisy, let's get you inside so you can start settling in.”
“Oh... right.” Merrill took in a deep sigh, still looking around at the alienage with slight anxiety.
Varric produced a key from his pocket and opened the door, revealing a fairly decent little hovel. As they made their way inside, Jordan found it surprising how large the hovel was, especially compared to most in the alienage. What surprised her even more was the fact that it was empty.
“This is nice, Varric. How did you get it for Merrill?”
“A buddy of mine who rents homes in both the alienage and in Lowtown. He owed me a huge favor, and I know he's been scrambling to find a tenant for this place. He was reluctant at first, since Merrill would be the only one living here, but he knew there wouldn't be a problem. Especially with a vouch from me.” Varric then smiled over at Merrill. “Well go on, Daisy. Make yourself at home. This is yours, after all.”
“This is... nice,” Merrill said as she took a look around. “It has... walls, and everything.”
“Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a drastic change to sleeping under trees, but you'll get used to it. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go see about getting you some furniture. Can't have you sleeping on the floor.” Varric handed Merrill the key and took his leave, shutting the door behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Merrill burst into tears.
“Merrill,” Bethany said as she went and took the elf in her arms. “It'll be all right.” She rubbed her back as Merrill sobbed on her shoulder.
“Really, is it?” Merrill choked. “It certainly doesn't feel like it. It's so crowded here, and... and... I feel so lonely.”
“I know it's hard,” said Jordan. “We know what it's like to leave everything that was familiar, then to be thrown into a place that's completely foreign. You'll survive.”
They let Merrill cry a little more before Bethany took her by the shoulders. “You'll be fine, Merrill. If we could make it, then so can you. We'll help you in anyway we can.”
“I... thank you,” Merrill said as she wiped her eyes. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have broken down like that. It just came so suddenly.”
“You're allowed to be scared, Merrill. This is a tough situation.”
“I know, I just didn't want Varric to see me like that. He's doing so much for me. I didn't want him to think I wasn't grateful.”
“Varric wouldn't have cared,” said Jordan. “He understands just as much as we do. And he knows you are grateful.”
“I really am. To all of you. I don't think I would have been able to do this alone.” Merrill took in a deep breath as she composed herself. Once she was stable, she looked around her new home again and began to smile. “It really is nice. And Varric said I was lucky to have such a place all to myself. Apparently not many elves in the alienage can say that.”
“Nope,” Jordan said shaking her head. “In fact, I would have to say this place is just as good as Fenris's.”
“But he lives in a mansion,” said Bethany.
“Yeah, but do you remember what it looked like when we visited a few nights ago? A major mess. Now, if he were to clean it up a bit, then it probably would be nicer than this place.”
“Well I think I could probably make this into a decent home,” said Merrill, seeming better than she did a few moments ago. “It just needs some decorating. Maybe I can find some plants and put them around the place.”
“Plants would be nice,” said Bethany as she looked around as well. “And maybe you could put a table and some chairs over in that corner. Oh, and right here in front of the fireplace you might be able to put a big comfy chair that you could sit on and read. That would be nice, don't you think?”
“I do like to read, and I brought several books with me from my clan. Yes, I think that would work. I just hope Varric can find me a decent one.”
“He will,” Jordan stated. “That dwarf can find anything.”
Bethany and Merrill went about the house, talking and deciding on where all of Merrill's furniture would go, and what they would ask Varric to locate if he was unable to bring it to her now. Jordan stood in the middle of the main room, watching them go about. She was happy to see Bethany had found someone she could be friends with. Another mage that also had to hide what she was from the world. That was another thing she needed to make sure to mention to Merrill. She was an apostate mage now, which meant she needed to be careful when using magic. Especially blood magic, as that would get her straight to the Gallows and onto a sword faster than anything.
***
For the rest of the day Jordan and Bethany stayed with Merrill, helping her to arrange the furniture Varric eventually brought her. They made her at home, and made sure she would be all right before they left for their own home. There, Leandra was glad to see them, nearly bursting into tears herself when she realized her two daughters were back, safe and sound. After reassuring their mother they weren't leaving the city again, Jordan and Bethany then headed to the Hanged Man to join up with their friends.
“Here you go,” said Isabela as she handed Jordan a bottle and shot glass. “I owed you, right?”
“Right, but...” Jordan looked at the bottle, somewhat surprised. “Chasind mead? How'd you get this? It's my favorite!”
“I have my ways,” Isabela teased. “Enjoy that.”
“I will.”
Isabela then gestured for them to follow her to Varric's back room. Within, they found the dwarf along with Merrill and even Fenris playing a game of Diamondback. Merrill was losing badly, while Fenris wasn't paying much attention to the game. When the three humans entered, they laid down their cards and greeted them.
“I wasn't expecting you here,” Jordan said to Fenris. “Finally decided to get out of that stuffy mansion and join society?”
“Varric forced me here,” he grumbled. “Although I can't say it's been horrible.”
“How can it be horrible when you're hanging out with us, huh, handsome?” Isabela went and planted a big kiss on his check, making Fenris cringe away.
“Come on in, you two,” Varric gestured to Jordan and Bethany. “Have a seat, order a drink. Here, I'll reshuffle and we'll deal everyone in.” He took all the cards and began shuffling them together to deal them out to the six players.
“This is nice,” said Merrill. “I think I could get used to this.” She sounded a little tipsy, and Jordan could see her pupils dilated a little, and her poster wavering.
“Hey, don't get this girl too drunk,” said Jordan, sitting right next to her. “This is her first night away from home. She should be able to remember some of it.”
“Oh, she'll be fine,” Isabela waved off. “Isn't that right, kitten?”
“Were you still going to teach me how to do body shots?” Merrill asked. “Cause I really want to know what they are.”
“One step at a time, kitten. You first need to get used to the regular ale you're drinking before you go after the hard stuff. Maybe later me and Jordan can give you a demonstration.” She winked over at Jordan.
“Or how about you do a demonstration on yourself,” Jordan teased. “Your boobs are big enough.”
“But what's the fun in that? It's so much better when you have a another person. Or two. Bethany? Care to get to know your sister better than you wanted?”
“No thanks,” Bethany said while staring at the table. “I think I'll just stick to the ale. Like Merrill.”
“You have some strange ideas for entertainment,” Fenris stated.
“You can always join in if you want,” Isabela winked. “The more the merrier.”
“Dwarf, are you ready with those cards yet?” Fenris asked, trying to ignore Isabela.
“Right here, Elf.” Varric began divvying up the cards. “Are we playing partners?”
“Sure,” Jordan said after taking a shot of her Chasind mead. She coughed from the sharp burn it caused going down her throat. “Let's see... you and Bethany, Isabela with Merrill, and... are you any good at this game, Fenris?”
“He's actually very good,” said Isabela. “We were partners before I went to get more drinks and ran into you.”
“Good, because I'm horrible. So don't hate me, Fenris, if we lose.”
“It's kind of hard not to hate you, Hawke,” Fenris smiled. “So let's get started, shall we?”
The odds were already against them, due to the fact Varric was a master at the game, and Isabela was skilled at cheating. Jordan called her out several times, but never could she prove Isabela had done so. Eventually it got to the point they were all too drunk to really care, or even play the game correctly.
“So, Varric,” Jordan said as she peered at her cards. “What's the lowdown in Kirkwall? Any pots I might be able to stick my hand in?”
“Well, now that you've mentioned it...” Varric took a swig of his ale. “I have heard some rumors that I thought you might be interested in. Let's see... apparently there's this woman in the alienage looking for her lost son who I believe ran away. Doesn't sound like much, but she's been seeking help from the templars.”
“Oh?” Jordan leaned herself against the table. “Do we think he's a mage?”
“That's the rumor, but I think going and finding her, and talking to her first, would get you more information. Her name is Arianni.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“A few others. There's a nothing runaway, a wife leaving her husband. He wants her found and brought back to him. He's a lower noble in Hightown. Don't know his name, but I'm sure he's not going to be hard to find. And... hmm, I guess three lost and founds: A woman doesn't know where her brother went and is trying to find someone who would look for him. Catch with that one, however, is he's a templar recruit. If you plan on going after that one, I suggest you leave Blondie out of it.”
“Speaking of him, where is he?” Jordan asked. “Why is he not here having fun with us? Why is Aveline not here either?”
“I went to go get Blondie, but he apparently was busy with some patients that had been waiting for him to return. He felt bad for making them wait, so he took care of them right away and probably doesn't plan on leaving his clinic again for awhile.”
“Damn it,” Jordan breathed. “I'll have to go retrieve him later.”
“And as for Aveline... not sure. Probably dealing with guard-captain business or something like that.”
“Ah well.” Jordan took another shot from her now half empty bottle. “So is that it? Just three search and retrieve jobs? Varric, I thought you could do better than that!”
“Oh I have tons more things I could tell you, Hawke. Those were the three I thought would interest you more, though. There was one more, however. Something about a priest trying to find the right thug in Lowtown. Don't know too much about the job. All I know is that not many are going after it. Could be dangerous, or they just don't want to get involved with Chantry business.”
“Keep checking, find out whatever you can. Who knows, maybe I'll be the one to do it. Helping the Chantry might actually be beneficial for once.”
“You could help the Chantry, I suppose,” Isabela said as she stared at her cards. “Or you could do something actually worth something.”
“Oh? And I suppose you know work out there that Varric doesn't?”
“Actually I do.” She smiled over at Jordan. “Weren't you suppose to be going after a mercenary group called Flint Company?”
Jordan had to put down her cards to stare at Isabela confused. “How do you know about that? I took the post right after it was put up. No one else saw it but me and... Bethany.” Her eyes darted to her sister who was trying to hide her face. “Bethie?”
“What?” Bethany looked up at her sister innocently. “If you're wondering if I told her, then, yes, I did. You said helping a prince might get us enough coin so we may not have to enter the Deep Roads. But since that day, you haven't said much about it.”
“That is true, but I've been busy so it must have slipped my mind. In any case, yes, Isabela, we are looking for that group of mercenaries. Are you saying you know where they are?”
“I do.”
“Care telling me where?”
“Their base is a mansion in Hightown. I paid little heed to them at first, but when Bethany here asked me if I might know anything about them, I recognized the name. It was simple to find out they were still there, waiting to make their move.”
“Make their move?” asked Bethany. “What do they plan on doing?”
“Probably waiting to make their move on the last remaining royal,” Jordan said. “Remember, Bethie, Sebastian Vael is a royal prince and it was his family who was killed. They were probably hired to kill all the family. Not just the ones sitting on the throne.”
“Vael? Is that the name of the royal family in Starkhaven?” Fenris asked.
“That's what the grand cleric told us,” said Jordan.
“I heard they were all killed. I didn't know they had another son in Kirkwall.”
“They do, and he's a brother in the Chantry. He's actually the one who put up the post to kill Flint Company. Bethany and I saw him and the grand cleric fighting about it. I thought it would be good money, so I took the post.”
“And it will be good money as soon as you kill them,” Isabela grinned. “I can show you the mansion they're in. It would actually be best to go after them during the day. They won't expect an attack then.”
“Then we'll go after them tomorrow. How about it?” Jordan raised up her mug.
“You know it, sweet thing.” Isabela raised hers as well and they clashed them together and drank them down.
“So why didn't you know about them, Fenris?” Jordan asked after wiping her mouth clean.
“I don't really know all that much going on in Hightown,” he answered. “I'm trying to keep a low profile, after all. If I'm discovered living in an abandoned mansion, not only would the usual happen, but the nobles might have me strung up because there was an elf living amongst them who wasn't a slave.”
“You mean a servant,” Jordan corrected.
“Is there really a difference?”
“Yeah, there's a big difference. Servants get paid.”
“Paid or not, they're still treated like slaves. Servants are just glorified. But you wouldn't really know about such things.”
“Excuse me?” Jordan had to put her cards fully down on the table as she stared at him. “I don't know what it's like to be a servant? To be barked at and ordered around? I was in the Ferelden army before I came here. Then I had to play lackey to a smuggler—an elven smuggler—for a year in order to pay my family's way into the city.”
“You had to pay your way in?” said Fenris.
“Yes. In fact, I had to pay a lot in order to get my family from Ferelden to Kirkwall.”
“How did you come?”
“By sea. We sailed in from Gwaren and docked at the Gallows. The city guard wouldn't let us in at first, but then my uncle brought us one of his 'friends' and she was able to pay our way. Provided we worked for her for an entire year. Why? How did you get in?”
“I snuck in. I basically came in the back way and snuck into the city unnoticed. If you had just gone around and walked the Wounded Coast, you could have probably done the same thing.”
“That wasn't an option,” Jordan said, starting to get heated.
“How much did you pay, anyway?” Fenris asked. “Was it really worth it?”
Angered by his words, Jordan stood fast and slammed her fists into the table. “More than worth it. My family means everything to me, and I would do anything to keep them safe.” She then pushed her chair away and walked out of the room.
“Whoa, what happened?” Merrill said as she blinked several times. She had been startled by the noise of Jordan's loud exit.
“Hawke overreacting,” Fenris said as he crossed his arms.
“She's not overreacting,” Bethany sighed. “She really did pay a big price to get us here.”
“Really?” Fenris sneered.
“Yes.” She looked down at the table. “She doesn't know that I know, but I do. We only had four sovereigns to our name, and no one would take four refugees and a dog on their ship for such a small price. Jordan, however, offered something else. Herself. Four nights with the captain along with the four sovereigns as payment. Then a fifth night in order to keep him and his men quiet after it was discovered I was a mage. She really would do anything to keep me safe.” Bethany sighed once more as she stood herself and left the room, more quietly than her sister. She then made her way through the tavern, looking for Jordan, but not seeing her. She finally found her standing outside, leaning against the brick.
“You didn't have to leave, if you didn't want to,” Jordan said once Bethany joined her.
“I'm tired,” said Bethany. “And I know you are to.”
“Not really. I've actually been thinking.”
“Jordan, why don't you ever get any sleep? Are you having those nightmares again?”
Jordan glanced over at her sister. “Don't you think either you or mother would know considering we share the same room?”
“A lot of the times I wake to find you not there, so I have no idea if you're sleeping with us or not.”
Jordan looked back down the street. “Yes, I've been having them again. But not a lot. I'm getting further in them, though, I still don't know who I'm looking for.”
“I thought you were looking for Carver.”
“No, it can't be Carver. That wouldn't make sense.”
“We'll figure it out.”
“Maybe, but until then I think there's something else we should try and figure out.”
“Hmm?” Bethany stared at her sister who turned back to her.
“It's something else that we've been putting off. I blame Aveline since she was the one who got me all those boring jobs. But now that we have time, and since I don't feel like going home just yet, I think we should do it.”
“But I thought Isabela said it would be best to go after Flint Company during the day.”
“I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about going to Darktown, finding the entrance to the Amell mansion, and getting back Grandfather's will.”
***
It was past midnight by the time Jordan and Bethany located the sewer entrance that would allow them access to the Amell estate. It had been pointed out to Bethany on a map by Gamlen during one of his drunken, and more persuasive states. Finding the entrance was easy, and getting in would be easy too. The only hard part would be going through the mansion and trying to find the will without being noticed by the slavers inhabiting the house. Or to try and get out alive, at least.
One thing that Jordan was excited about when it came to the entrance was that she noticed it happened to be right next to Anders's clinic. She hoped that either before or after they got the will, she might be able to visit him. See how he was doing. It was slightly surprising to her, however, as she and Bethany went by his clinic to find him standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He stared at them curiously as they passed.
“And what are you two up to this late at night?”
“You should know us by now,” said Jordan. “We're always up to something.”
“We're on a mission,” Bethany answered.
“What kind of mission?” He stood away from the frame, looking interested in what they were doing.
“We're about ready to break into our ancestral home and reclaim the will of our grandfather,” Jordan smiled. “Care to join us?”
“I don't see why not. Last patient went home about an hour ago. But... why are you down here in Darktown? Wouldn't it be easier to break in from above ground?”
“You would think, but the Amell estate is currently inhabited by slavers, no thanks to our uncle. Going through the front door isn't an option, and neither is asking the slavers nicely if we can look through the cellars. There's a secret entrance right here that will put us right in the cellars, and hopefully to where the will is located.”
“A few more questions arise,” said Anders as he followed them to an area littered with debris. Most of it was thrown out wood, large pieces of indistinguishable metal, and other types of garbage. Bethany went about removing the pieces quietly with magic. “Why are you after this will so badly? Is it going to give you the estate back?”
“We can only hope,” answered Jordan. “It would be nice to get the mansion back, give Mother a place to live that isn't in Lowtown. And a place away from Gamlen. But we're mostly going after the will to see what our dear uncle is lying about. He says Grandfather left nothing to Mother, that she was never even mentioned.”
“But he keeps changing the story,” Bethany added. “And he stutters a lot when talking about, and always tries to change the subject. Mother and him keep fighting about it.”
“So we want the truth, no matter what it might be.”
“Makes sense. I haven't really met your uncle yet, but the way the two of you talk about him, he must be horrible.”
“Worst than horrible,” Jordan laughed. “More like downright unbearable! I can't wait until we get enough coin to get out from under his roof. I'd like to at least buy the mansion back, but if not, then a nice little place in Hightown wouldn't be bad.”
“And the name Amell,” Anders pondered. “I think I actually knew an Amell in the Circle in Ferelden. Any relation to the two of you?”
“Perhaps. If you're referring to our cousin. We really don't know much about her.”
“I knew her. We weren't the best of friends, but she was interesting. Don't know what happened to her after the Ferelden Circle was destroyed by Uldred. She could be dead... maybe it was for the best.”
“Why would you say that?” Jordan questioned.
“Because she was tranquil.”
This caused Bethany to stop what she was doing and stare at him. She was saddened by the information, Jordan just as much. That could have easily been Bethany's fate if she had gone to the Circle.
“Are you almost done?” Jordan said to her. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I'm nearly there.” Bethany went back to removing the debris. “Ah, I think I found it.” She removed one last piece of wood to reveal a hidden trapdoor embedded in the ground. It was covered in mud, the hinges and lock rusted, and looking as if they really didn't need the key. Bethany bent down and placed the key within the lock, but it broke apart before she could even turn it.
“Must have been some time since it's been used,” Jordan said as she looked over her sister's shoulder.
“Isn't that a good thing?” said Anders. “At least you know the slavers don't know about it.”
“Which should hopefully make this a whole lot easier. Are you two ready?”
“Lead the way, Sister,” said Bethany.
Bethany opened the trapdoor and Jordan went in first. The entrance was a narrow tube with a slime covered ladder that lead several feet down. The tunnel was just as filthy, stagnant water splashed their feet while the thick smell of sewage assaulted their noses. It was a confining place, made even more so by the lack of light. Neither Anders nor Bethany lit their staffs, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention. Jordan eventually brought them to a wooden door, nearly rotted away, only being held up by its iron supports. Gently she pushed the door open, revealing a large room that was completely full of empty crates. The stench, however, proved that not all the crates were empty. Some still containing the rotten food that had been left within them.
“I think I prefer the smell of the sewer,” Jordan said as she held her nose.
“This smell is nothing,” said Anders as he entered the room after Bethany and Jordan. “Wait till you get in the Deep Roads. The smell of darkspawn is one you will never forget.”
“Ah yes, darkspawn stench is pretty horrible. I've smelled it on the surface. Can't wait to smell it confined underground.”
Stealthily, Jordan took them through the crates, having to sometimes make a path when there was none. They reached the other side, and to an open doorway that lead into another large room that was empty. On each wall of the room were more doors, leading off to places unknown. Jordan wasn't sure which one to take.
“Maybe we should have asked for a map,” Jordan said as she investigated one of the doors.
“I don't think it would have helped much.” Bethany had went to go investigate the door opposite of her sister. “This is just a storage room. No other outlet.”
“Same with this one,” said Anders.
“Then we'll go this way.” Jordan opened her door. A set of stairs came into view and they followed them up. It was like this for some time, a maze of rooms which caused them to backtrack several times when they reached dead ends. It amazed Jordan how complex the cellar of her ancestral home was. It was no wonder the slavers hadn't found the Darktown entrance yet.
“Hey, Jordan, come look at this.” Bethany had gone to investigate a certain room off to the side. When Jordan joined her, she saw it was nothing more than another storage area, but there was something hanging on the wall that Bethany was staring at. It was a shield with a dark red herald.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Don't you recognize it? I'm sure this is the Amell crest. It looks exactly as Mother described it.” The herald appeared to be two birds, eagles perhaps, facing each other. They had their wings folded in, talons touching as they appeared to be climbing up the shield. It was an inspiring thing to see, and Jordan knew she wanted that shield to hang in her home once she had her own.
“It'll be ours one day,” said Jordan. “But right now the will is our main focus. Do you think it might be in here?” She looked around the room, but say nothing else within.
“No, I don't think it is,” said Bethany. “Uncle said it was in a chest in the upper cellar. I don't think we're there yet.”
They rejoined Anders back in the larger room, finding him studying something on the ground. When they came back in, he stood fast and gestured for them to go no further. “Stay where you are. I think I just found a magical trap.”
“A trap?” Jordan asked. “Why would there be one down here?”
“I don't know, but it feels old.” Anders went back to studying it. “It could be the slavers don't know about the Darktown entrance, but they probably guessed there was something down there. So placing a trap to discourage thieves would keep any who found a way in from going any further. I believe I can disarm it, though. The magic is primitive.”
“Please do. Bethany.” Jordan turned to her sister. “Do you sense anymore?”
“Not in this room, but there could be more up ahead.”
“Ah, damn it!” Anders heaved as something sparked in front of him. “It's got me!”
“What? Hang on, Anders.” Jordan went over to find a dark energy had wrapped itself around Anders's hand. He was trying to pull away, using his other hand to work magic to undo the bind, but nothing appeared to be working.
“Primitive?” Jordan questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“Stronger than I thought,” he said still trying to get his hand free. “I was caught off guard.”
“I'll let this one slip,” Jordan smiled down at him. “Just be glad Fenris isn't here.”
“Yes, I can just imagine what he'd be saying right now.” Anders rolled his eyes. “Anything you might be able to do to help me? If there is, you might want to be quick about it. I'm sure me messing with this trap just set off a few alarms. Slavers may be down upon us any minute.”
Just as he said it, Jordan began to hearing shouting coming from one of the doorways they had yet to go through. There was also many feet beating against wood. They were far, but getting closer fast.
“Shit,” Jordan cursed as she looked to the doorway. “They really are about ready to drop down on us. Bethany, can you put a shield over that doorway, hopefully to stall them for a little while.”
“On it, Sister.” Bethany ran past Anders and Jordan, stopping and raising her hands to place a shimmering, purple shield over the doorway. As soon as she did, an arrow bounced off of it, followed by a man who slammed right into it and fell to the ground unconscious. “There's a lot of them!” Bethany shouted.
“Hold them for as long as you can, Bethany.” Jordan then turned back to Anders. “Hold still, Anders. I'm hoping this will work.” She took out Edge and focusing the blade down, driving it straight into the wooden floor that was right next to Anders's trapped hand. The suddenness of her plunge made Anders jump, which was enough to free his hand as the black energy surrounding it dissolved from the blade's enchantment.
“Thanks,” he said as he flexed his hand, making sure there was no lasting damage from the spell.
“Don't mention it,” said Jordan as she pulled Edge free of the wood. “Just try not to do it again. Although I do find it surprising it happened to you. Don't you have two minds in that head of yours?”
“Sometimes two minds are not better than one.”
“In this case.” She helped him off the floor and together they joined beside Bethany to take care of the slavers.
With the two of them next to her, Bethany released the shield over the doorway. Instantly the slavers began to pour out, shouting that they were fools to break into their home. It didn't take long for the fighting to begin, Jordan striking fast and taking out the first two slavers before they could even remove their weapons. Anders and Bethany spread across the room, sending out fireballs and ice spells to the slavers still coming through the doorway.
“You dare break into this house!” one of the slavers yelled. He was a mage and stared Jordan down as she ripped her way through his fellows. “You will soon join your family if that's the reason why you're here!”
“No,” Jordan said as she ripped the throat open of one of the slavers. “We're here to actually reclaim the house back. You don't deserve it!”
“What?” the mage growled. “Gamlen, that fool. We own this fair and legal. He sold it to us to pay off debts! But if he sent you to get it back, then I will make sure he pays just as you will.” He sent a spell after her. Jordan spun to the side, the spell barely missing her. It did, however, hit the side of the magical shield that was surrounding her. She noticed there were two, as she saw the flash of both blue and purple. Bethany was occupied with several slavers who were beginning to surround her, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Anders, all the way on the other side of the room, knocked a slaver to the wall, and stabbed another one through the gut with the blade on the end of his staff. He then pierced his gaze on the mage attacking Jordan. Sweeping his hands forward, dust from all over the room began to collect and swirl. It formed in front of him, becoming a large mass that was then hurtled forward. The mage, seeing it coming, placed up his own shield to block the giant dust ball. The ball hit his shield and exploded, dust going everywhere. The mage coughed as the dust choked him and completely obscured his vision. It was just what Jordan needed as she ran forward, right through the thick dust cloud and stabbed both daggers right into the mage's chest. He spat up dust soaked blood before falling to the floor.
Seeing the mage down, the rest of the slavers scattered, but none of them were able to escape. Both Bethany and Anders had placed more shields over the doorways to keep them closed. Seeing they had no way out, the slavers renewed their attack, going straight for the mages. Jordan went to help Bethany first, stabbing one slaver in the back then rolling in front of another and using Ripper to tare his throat out. Bethany smacked Honor over the head of one slaver, then released a spell to freeze another in place that was nearly close enough to strike her. Honor then came around and shattered him, a third slaver slipping on the pieces of his frozen and broken comrade.
A rush of heated wind blew past them as a fireball hurtled from the other side of the room, incinerated the rest of the slavers. Once they were all dead, Jordan dusted herself off, covered with both ash and dirt.
“The both of you okay?” Anders asked as he made his way to where they were.
“Just fine,” Jordan answered. She looked to her sister to make sure of it. Bethany nodded that she was fine as well. “Nice trick with that dust ball, by the way.”
“Thanks,” he smiled. “I like to make up my own spells at times. Catches other mages off guard.”
“Certainly would. I thought you were going to summon a stone fist there for a second, then I realized there was something different feeling about it.”
“You really do know how to read magic signatures, don't you?”
“When you grow up with two mages, it's hard not to. Now...” Jordan turned her attention to the doorway the slavers had come from. “I'm hoping because those slavers got here so quick we're very close to our goal. Come on, let's go see.”
The doorway opened to a hall with another set of stairs at the end. They took them to a door at the top, and once opened, revealed a bright room that was different from the ones below. They had been dirty and nearly empty, storage rooms that if they had come at a different time, Jordan realized, probably would've held people who had the unlucky fate to be shipped off as slaves. She tried not to think of how many slaves had passed through those rooms as she entered the new, more cleaner room that held within it several chests and wardrobes. They were collecting dust despite the fact the room was fairly clean.
“Do you think this is the top cellar room?” Bethany asked quietly. They weren't sure if more slavers were around, and didn't wish to attract more if there were.
“This has to be it,” said Jordan. “Come on, start looking through these chests and see if we can find Grandfather's will. Hopefully the slavers didn't throw it out.”
Together, the three of them began looking through the chests, Jordan having to occasionally pick some of the locks. Some of the chests and wardrobes contained old clothes, while one did have a few trinkets that might have been worth a few coins. Jordan pocketed these before making her way to another chest that when opened, was full to the top with papers. If the will was here, then there was no doubt to her it would be in this chest.
She began searching through the papers, handing off handfuls to Bethany and Anders when they were done looking through their own chests. As Jordan threw useless papers on the ground, she then came to a picture that startled her when she saw it. It was a picture of Bethany with brown hair, or at least the woman in the picture looked like Bethany. She was in a long, flowing dress, silver in color and breathtaking. Her hair was long, cascading over her shoulders in curly waves. Eyes blue and youthful looking, with no signs of worries or weariness. There was also a huge ring on the woman's finger. In real life, Jordan estimated the diamond was probably the size of a pea. Big for a diamond ring, meaning it had cost a fortune. Immediately she realized who this woman was she was staring at. Leandra Amell, her mother before she left her life in Kirkwall to be the wife of an apostate mage always on the run.
“Wow,” Jordan whispered as she continued to stared at the picture. She couldn't believe this was her mother. She had always thought her mother to be pretty, but the woman she saw in the picture was gorgeous. Apparently Leandra had given up more than just money for love. She had sacrificed a lot.
Jordan kept the picture, not wanting to throw it on the ground with the rest of the papers. As she removed it from the top of the pile, the next piece of paper caught her attention just as much as the picture had. She read the top line:
The Will and Testament of Lord Aristide Amell
Jordan began to read, skimming through the parts that either didn't make sense to her, or what she wasn't looking for. There were many other papers with it, continuing for several pages. When she finally reached the part she was looking for, she read and dropped nearly everything else she was holding. Her mouth opening slightly.
“Bethany...” she whispered slowly. “Bethany! I... I found it out.”
“You did?” Bethany and Anders made their way over to her, and looked over her shoulder at the will.
“Yeah, look at this. I can't believe it.” Jordan handed Bethany the will so she could read it better.
“Maker!” Bethany exclaimed. “Is this really true?”
“I'm afraid it is,” said Jordan, her voice becoming harder. “Which means our dear uncle has a lot of explaining to do.”

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age 2
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Blood Promise