Author's note: My first Dragon Age fic! Also my first multi-chapter fic. I've been wanting to write about my Warden for a long time, but I didn't think it would be good enough if I tried. Well, screw that and I'm writing it whether anyone reads it or not. Though I welcome critique/reviews if you do happen to read it of course. I love writing and I love learning to write better.

Surana (mage elf origin) will make an appearance later! I feel like, of all the origins, it's the mage who has the best chance of surviving the events of their origin if Duncan isn't there to recruit them.

Warnings: The first two chapters deal with the events of the City Elf Origin, so warnings for mentions of sexual assault. There are no graphic scenes here, but it is mentioned.

Rating: T for now, but might be M later if I feel like writing that.

Chapter 1

Summer Wedding

Shianni looked excited as she went off to find the other Bridesmaids and her dress, leaving Niko sitting on the lower mattress of the rickety bunk-bed.

'Well at least someone is happy about the wedding,' he thought.

Niko Tabris sure wasn't. And he could imagine Soris, his cousin and fellow groom in the double-wedding, was just as nervous.

Niko dug the heels of his hands into his eyes, hoping this was all just a bad dream.

He hadn't slept well the last few nights, too frazzled and alert to fall into anything close to a peaceful rest as the wedding drew near. He'd gone out in the middle of the night to climb the rooftops and practice with his bow and arrows. He preferred the dual weapons his mother mentored him in; the close combat of a short blade and the swift, fluid movements it took to wield them. But archery was a useful skill, and Adaia had always taught him to be practical.

He sighed, wishing his mother were here for his wedding. Maybe she'd have helped him to get out of it. Or maybe, since she wasn't a fool, she would have simply helped him get through it. But she would have at least listened to him. And he could really use someone that would listen to him for once.

He didn't want to get married. He didn't want to settle down and start a family. No one cared what he wanted though. Whenever he tried to tell any of this to someone, they just chuckled and asked what he expected to do instead. They never actually listened to his ideas though. And why would they? What kind of life did an elf from the city expect to have? How could any of them ask for more than a hovel in the Alienage, a menial job, and a family to raise into the exact same life?

Niko shook his head as he moved to the wash basin to clean up a little. What was expected of him was so different than what he'd always envisioned for himself. He wanted to see the world, to travel beyond the Alienage walls and out of Denerim, to sail seas, and climb mountains.. or die trying.

Staring at the chipped and rotted wood of the wall in front of him, he felt that dream slipping further and further away.

Cyrion was tending to the fireplace when he saw that Niko was up and moving.

"Morning, my son. It's your big day!" He said happily as he set the fire poker down. The shadows of flames flickered over his aging face as he looked to his son, regarding him with pride and sadness. "Oh I wish your mother could have been here."

Niko frowned and dried his hands, hesitating on what he wanted to say. "Could we talk about this arrangement?"

"Still not pleased I can see," his father said, unsurprised. "Of course we can talk."

Niko heaved a sigh, unsure he wanted to try this conversation again, but he just had to. "Do I really have to get married?"

As he anticipated, his father simply explained what Niko already knew; that marriage was what set the children apart from the adults, that he wouldn't be taken seriously until he was wed.

While no elf in Denerim was anything but poor compared to the general population, Cyrion had been working as a servant in a Bann Rodolf's employ for years and was much better off than many of the elves in the Alienage. Niko was well aware that his father had paid a nice dowry to the family of his betrothed. He was a good father who always wanted the best for his son, which was why Niko hated to complain.

"But I don't want to get married," he said, almost appalled at himself for how close that had sounded to whining. He was being sincere though. The idea of marriage terrified him. Since he was a kid, all he'd ever wanted was to see more, do more, and be more, like heroes in the stories he heard. He'd always wanted to put the training his mother gave him to proper use on real adventures. He'd long ago grown out of corralling the other elven children into the market streets for "swordplay", nearly poking each other's eyes out with sticks as they battled epic monsters brought to life only by their imagination.

But with marriage came responsibilities at home. Once he was wed, the hand that reached out for those distant hopes and dreams would be severed.

His father chuckled, shattering Niko's melodramatic reflections. "I understand, son. Before I met Adaia, I was ready to go hunt for the Dalish."

Niko smiled a little at the idea of his father, young and ready to run out on his wedding to find wild elves, only to change his mind once he laid eyes on his bride. The implication made Niko wonder if he'd feel the same once he met his betrothed too.

He highly doubted it though. He'd already come to the realization that, while he did think girls were very pretty, he was far more attracted to men. Of course, being such a close community, most people in the Alienage had caught wind of that juicy bit of gossip when he'd been caught sneaking around with a strapping young city guard.

It was a long story.

And he suspected the scandal played a part in why his father and the Elder wanted to marry him off all of a sudden, though no one had said anything of the sort.

"Just be glad I chose the match," Cyrion went on. "Without parents to represent you, children like your cousin Soris end up marrying whoever the Elder can find."

"So who did the Elder find for him?"

"I don't know. I haven't met the girl. If you're curious, you should go find out for yourself," his father suggested, sounding like he wanted to end the conversation. "Alright, time for you to go find Soris. The sooner this wedding starts, the less chance you two have to escape."

Niko tossed him a smirk before turning towards the footlocker near his bunk-bed.

"A small chance is still a chance."

His father chuckled again. "Still have your mother's smart mouth I see."

Niko smiled. He was always glad when others likened him to his mother, whether they meant it as praise, tease, or an insult. She'd been a bit of a wild one when she was alive and Niko was cut from the same cloth. And everybody knew it.

"Oh one last thing before you go," his father said to him as Niko got his wedding clothes out of the footlocker. They were fine, silken garments - almost too garish for his liking, but the colors were subdued enough.

"Your martial training..." his father went on and Niko was sure he was not going to like this. "The swordplay, knives, and whatever else your mother taught you. Best not to mention it to your betrothed."

Niko frowned as he knelt down to tuck the bottoms of his striped pants into his boots. "She'll find out sooner or later."

"Later. Hm. Definitely later," Cyrion advised. "We don't want to seem like trouble-makers, after all. Adaia made that mistake."

Niko winced, feeling old remnants of anger rise in his chest as he straightened to face his father. "The humans who killed her made a bigger one."

"Our word is full of so many injustices," his father said, sounding a bit drained as he turned away. Niko was too angry to regret saying it though. His father was right. There were so many injustices. Too many. And he didn't want to stay here and see more oppression forced on his people. He wasn't sure he could do any less than his mother had and get killed over it someday.

Knowing the conversation was over and there was no chance of calling off the wedding, he felt disheartened and nearly didn't hear his father's next words as he gently placed a pair of leather boots into his arms. "Take these. Your mother wanted you to have them."

Niko held the boots with care, running his fingers over the pattern of vines that marked them. A faint smile crossed his face.

His mother was gone, yes, but they carried her memory with them. And he'd carry her memento to the wedding since she couldn't be there herself, he decided, slipping off the boots he'd been wearing and putting these ones on instead.

His father shooed him off then to go find Soris.

Niko stepped outside to the dirt and ramshackle homes of the Alienage. Down the cobblestone path, near the gate entrance, he heard some interesting drunken poetry from some celebrators. It was good to see everyone in such high spirits. Weddings were cause for revelry among the whole community and he'd be gulping ale and having fun too if it weren't his wedding.

And it did seem as if everyone was celebrating, except for him. The place was crowded with people talking about how grand the wedding would be and congratulating him as he passed. He went by the Vhenadahl tree and heard an older couple talking about how much he looked like his mother and father. After chatting with them, he learned they were friends of his family - Dilwyn and Gethon. They gave him 15 silver coins as a wedding gift, and the option of running out on the ceremony suddenly seemed like a bratty thing to do. Though he ended up giving most of the coin to an old friend, Nessa, so she and her family could stay in the Alienage. Apparently their human landlord decided to turn their home into storage. What an ass.

He'd always liked Nessa. She was strikingly beautiful and she was never as impressed with Niko (or afraid of him) like a lot of their other peers in the Alienage. He'd been quite the little ringleader as a child after all. Once he handed her the silvers though, she was awestruck, pulling him into a hug and exclaiming that she loved him before running off to convince her parents to accept the charity and stay in Denerim.

Niko then stopped by Alarith's store, hoping he could linger inside and pretend it was just any other day, perusing the shopkeeper's more discreet goods. Niko did a bit of work for some "interested parties" in Denerim, which mostly meant a bit of low-grade smuggling, leaving things at drop points, or playing the hired blade to make sure a negotiation went smoothly. Alarith's shop benefited from some of the smuggling work Niko had his hands in. Yet Niko found no refuge here as his friend shooed him away, knowing what he was trying to do. The store was closed for the wedding anyway and Alarith wanted to get ready for the festivities. So the young groom wandered around the corner, where some kids were playing, pretending to be King Maric and other human heroes.

"Why don't you play as elves?" he asked them.

"Do you know any stories about elven heroes?" the little girl rightfully asked.

Niko didn't, but that didn't mean none existed. So he made one up and told them the story of Tathas, the sneaky bandit, and smiled proudly as he walked away listening to them argue over who got to play as his fictional heroine.

When he reached the gates on the other side of the Alienage, he caught sight of the distinctive red hair that many of his family members had. Soris removed himself from the tree he'd been leaning against when he noticed him approaching. Niko tried not to grimace at the sight his cousins' bright wedding clothes clashing with his fiery hair.

"Well if it isn't my lucky cousin," Soris said. "Care to celebrate the end of our independence together?"

"Is running away still an option?" Niko asked with a mirthless smile.

"Are you insane? Where would you go?" Soris challenged. "Into the woods to live with the Dalish elves?"

Seemed like going off to join the Dalish was a popular alternative when young city elves were faced with marriage. They both heard all the stories about the Dalish from Alarith before. Alarith had been a slave in Tevinter and claimed he met a Dalish clan when he escaped to Ferelden. A lot of people in the community thought they were just a myth, a story passed down by the Hahren. Niko didn't hold much of an opinion on them himself.

"I'm just not thrilled at the idea of getting married," he admitted to his cousin.

"You're not thrilled? Apparently, your bride is a dream come true. Mine sounds like a dying mouse."

Niko rolled his eyes, but smiled. He couldn't blame Soris since he wasn't exactly cheerful about this arrangement himself. He briefly wondered if he'd be more excited if his betrothed were a muscled smith or sailor. Maybe. If the guy had a ship for them to sail off on. Ah, he could dream at least.

"I'm sure she's quite nice," Niko attempted to reassure his cousin, though his distinct lack of enthusiasm made his words ineffective.

Soris rolled his eyes.

If his cousin had shown any interest in running out on the wedding, Niko might have actually made a serious plan to escape. It would be just like him to do something like that, dragging Soris right along for the ride. But they were supposed to be adults now, at least that's what this day was partly supposed to signify. Running out and disappointing everyone would be a childish thing to do.

They bumped into Elva then. She had a lot to complain about as always, though they'd done nothing but greet her.

"A lot of good a wife'll do you," she said to Niko snidely. "We all know you're into a different sort."

Soris's ears turned red as he started shifting from foot to foot. Clearly he was more bothered by the remark than the person it was directed at. Niko had to wonder if his cousin even believed those particular rumors about him. Niko himself had never confirmed or denied them, especially after they took an exaggerated turn, as rumors often do. It just didn't do for a young elf to prefer to dally with men instead of women. Maybe in other places it wasn't a big deal, but marriage and having children was such an important part of the Alienage culture. The part about his liaison being with a human… Well, that was another thing elves just didn't do (or weren't supposed to do, rather).

"M-maybe we should go find our brides," Soris suggested.

"Maybe you should, so you can leave me alone," Elva spat.

Niko nodded and looked back at the bitter woman as they turned to walk away.

That's about when the trouble started.

The gates were closed, supposed to be keeping trouble out. But since when did that stop the shemlen from going where they wanted to go? Niko froze as three nicely-dressed humans walked in, their apparent leader grabbing hold of one of the bridesmaids. Niko knew her; her name was Nola. She cried out and struggled, freeing herself from the man's groping hands and ran from him, though he'd wrenched her arm in the process.

Rage boiled inside of Niko as the despicable human told his friends to grab some "whores". He loudly singled Shianni out too, spiking Niko's protective instincts - the ones burned into him by his mother's murder.

He felt like a guard dog on a leash when Soris whispered to him that they shouldn't get involved.

"I won't let these humans abuse the women," he said through clenched teeth.

Soris's eyes widened as the human apparently took notice of them and came over.

"What's this?" the shem asked, mocking. "The two grooms come to welcome me personally?"

The much taller man walked into Niko's space, trying to intimidate. His smelled faintly of ale mixed with expensive fragrances.

Niko looked up to meet the man's gaze. His indignation overwhelmed his desire to keep his own hide intact, which was what kept his feet firmly planted as the human towered over him.

"You need to leave," Niko warned as he stood his ground.

The man, 'Vaughan' his friend had called him, scoffed. And like all pompous assholes, he expected them to know just who he was. Like they knew every self-important shem in Denerim.

Behind the man, Shianni was moving towards something, attempting to be inconspicuous. Niko noticed out of the corner of his eye that Soris was trying to silently gesture for her to stop. Vaughan noticed this too and turned around just in time to take a bottle to the head, knocking him out cold.

Everyone was silent and still for a moment as they stared on, trying to pretend that wasn't blood staining the noble's fair hair. No one could believe what just happened.

Shianni looked quite satisfied with herself though, and Niko couldn't help but be proud of her as the pervert lay unmoving on the ground.

"Are you insane?" one of the dirt-bag's followers yelled as he ran over. "That's the Arl of Denerim's son!"

The righteous anger immediately melted from Shianni's expression then. She slowly raised her hands to cover her face as she realized how much shit they were in. "Oh maker..."

Niko knew it too, but that didn't dampen his malice for these bastards. "Then just imagine what we'll do to you two," he threatened, turning his vehement glare on them. His anger swelled. How dare they come here, to their home, on a day of celebration, and then act surprised when they defended themselves!

"You've a lot of nerves knife-ears," the other man warned. He seemed to study Niko's face, as if to memorize it for later. "This'll go bad for you."

He and the other human picked up Vaughan. Soris attempted to calm Shianni down while Niko scowled at the two men carrying their comatose friend away. Shianni eventually ran off to clean up, and Niko was suddenly aware of the two other women approaching them.

Soris introduced the shorter-haired girl in the gaudy yellow gown as his betrothed, Valora.

Niko looked to the other woman, presumably his fiancée. Her name was Nesiara.

His first impression was that she was friendly, likeable and every bit as pretty as Soris had implied. She really was stunning, dressed in a white blouse and adorned with gems, her green eyes matched by the sweep of color on her eyelids. He wondered if she was as reluctant about this marriage as he was.

"Well here we are," she looked to him, a small smile on her lips. "Are you nervous?"

He met her gaze, unsurprised to find that meeting her hadn't made him want to run away any less. Not that it was a viable option anymore. She seemed like a nice person, really, but they were supposed to get married? Right now?

"Not really," he answered, glancing down at his mother's boots. It was true. He wasn't nervous anymore. He was just discouraged. Now that the commotion was over, he was brought back to the reality of today. It seemed his life was going to go exactly the way everyone expected it to, rather than the way he'd always dreamt it would. "Are you?" He asked her.

"I was nervous on the trip down, but now that I'm here..." She sighed, sounding distant and dreamy. And Niko glanced up to see the happiness in her eyes. "I'm looking forward to what's next."

Niko felt heat rise to his ears, and was grateful his skin was too tan for it to be very noticeable. She was imagining her future too. Their future together. Probably full of kids, and a house in the Alienage, and him in a respectable job - perhaps a Bann's servant like his father. He grimaced, feeling like a total ass for seeing it as a curse while she was so looking forward to it.

When the brides left to get ready, Nesiara joked about hunting him down if he tried to run off. He forced a smile, wondering if she was merely teasing or could tell he'd been seriously considering it. She actually had quite an appealing personality and he wouldn't have minded getting to know her a bit without a marriage looming over them.

"Don't look now, but we have another problem," Soris warned.

"What do you mean?" Niko asked, turning to see what his cousin was looking at.

"Another human just walked in."

Niko looked to the gates where a dark-skinned, dark-haired man entered, well-armed and armored. On principal, everyone in the Alienage was wary of humans coming into their home. Niko, for one, did not hate all of them on principal however. Despite the fact that his mother had been killed by humans, and that truth taxed him on this, it was Adaia herself who taught him that not all humans were bad.

"Let's go talk to him," Niko suggested. This man was, so far, not making any intrusions like Vaughan and his men had. So Niko decided to be tactful first.

"Good day," the man greeted upon their approach. "I understand congratulations are in order for your impending wedding."

Niko was careful not to show it, but he was surprised by the man's graciousness. "Thanks. But..." He glanced at Soris, who still looked nervous. The poor guy. He was actually somewhat on-board with this wedding business and he already had to deal with Vaughan, and now another potential problem. "Please go," he told the human. "We'd rather avoid any unpleasantness."

"What manner of unpleasantness might you be referring to?" the human asked.

Niko shook his head. Was this guy seriously that out of the loop about how things worked, or was he messing with them? "The Alienage just isn't a good place for humans to be."

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of leaving," the human told him bluntly.

Niko glanced to the dual blades the man carried on his back, aware but unafraid. "Fine. Maybe we can compromise?"

"He keeps his composure even when facing an unknown and armed human," the man noted conversationally to someone behind them. "A true gift, wouldn't you say, Valendrian?"

Niko turned to see the Elder coming over to stand with the human.

"I would say the world has far more use of those who know how to stay their blades," Valendrian replied, almost chiding. "It is good to see you again, my old friend. It has been far too long."

Niko watched this interaction with interest, and suddenly felt disrespectful. "I'm sorry. I had no idea..."

"I was hardly forthcoming, and for that I apologize," the human said, and Niko was beginning to like him.

Valendrian looked to the grooms. "May I present Duncan, head of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden."

Niko nodded to the man. "Well met, Duncan."

"And you, lad."

Soris shifted awkwardly while Niko lingered to listen to the exchange between the two men, though it had nothing to do with him. At the mention of the word "Blight", Niko glanced to Soris but was disappointed to see he wasn't following the conversation at all.

But he was discouraged from asking about it by Valendrian, who then went off to prepare for the wedding ceremony. Soris wandered off too, and Niko was about to follow, but dread filled him at the prospect of going anywhere. As if leaving this spot meant stepping directly into his unwanted future.

He glanced to Duncan, who was watching him with an unreadable expression.

Well the Elder was gone now, so there was nothing to stop him from asking questions.

"I'm curious about the Grey Wardens," he said. "What exactly do they do?"

"We dedicate out lives to fighting darkspawn wherever they appear, doing whatever it takes to stop them. It is our only charge."

Niko inclined his head in curiosity. "Are there elven Grey Wardens?"

He was surprised to hear Duncan not only answer in the affirmative, but to mention one specifically by name; Garahel. He wondered why he'd never heard of this elven hero before, and he was reminded of the children playing make-believe games about Tathas. If only he'd been able to tell them about Garahel, whoever he was. Duncan wasn't about to tell him the story right now, but Niko decided that he would have to learn it sometime.

"How do you know the elder?" he asked then.

"Valendrian and I have known each other for almost twenty years... since the time I tried to recruit your mother, in fact."

That certainly got Niko's attention. His mother had been a skilled rogue, and imagining her as a slayer of monsters made him feel like a little boy again, hero-worshiping her as he did.

"You tried recruiting my mother?" he asked, surprise in his tone.

"I did. Your mother was a fiery woman," Duncan said, sounding impressed even after two decades. "She would have made an excellent Grey Warden."

"So what happened?" Niko asked because, obviously, Adaia hadn't joined the Order.

"I never made the offer," Duncan told him. "Valendrian convinced me it was better for her to remain here with her family. As there was no Blight, and thus no immediate need for recruits, I deferred to his wishes. But it seems she passed her training on to you, am I right?"

Niko nodded, intrigued, as apparently Duncan had already heard things about him. Most people in the Alienage did, but Duncan wasn't from around here.

Again, though, he was reminded of his pressing wedding business and wasn't able to ask anything else about it.

When he found himself on the decorated platform with Soris and their brides, the nerves really kicked in and he felt his heart trying to beat its way out of his chest.

"I can't do this..." he grumbled.

"You had your chance to run." Soris teased, smirking at him. "Coward!"

Valendrian opened with a speech before the Chantry Mother started the ceremony.

They didn't get far, and Niko would have welcomed any interruption... except for this one.