"Darrian, get up NOW!"

Why is she shaking me? I want to sleep. Maybe when I do I'll wake up from this nightmare.

"Darrian, I'll get a bucket of cold water."

Ugh, not again... Alright, open eyes...

Light streamed into the room as I opened up my eyes to the world around me. My cousin, Shianni, stood over me, arms crossed across her chest, shaking her head at me. "Time to get up sleepy head. It's you're big day; don't want to be late."

I sat up, threw my legs over the edge of the bed, and stretched my arms and back till they cracked, making Shianni cringe at the sound. Sighing, I looked at my cousin and smiled. "Remind me what day it is?"

Shianni giggled at me. "It's your wedding today, you silly goose."

A sudden thought of terror came upon me all of a sudden.

That's right, it is my wedding... my wedding... The one Father had arranged. I am to marry an elf woman from Highever, who my father practically bought. We fought about this when he first told me about this. I had stormed out and hid outside of Denerim in the forest, practicing with my bow and knives until I calmed down enough to come home. I didn't talk to father for days.

Despite the feelings I had for the wedding, I looked up to Shianni with a half smile and said, "Oh ya, well I better get my butt out of bed then. Don't want to keep everyone waiting."

Shianni smiled. "That's the spirit. And don't worry, Soris is just as nervous as you are. I'll leave you to ready yourself." She winked at me as she left the house.

Sighing, I closed my eyes to the world again, wishing, no, praying to the Maker that this would be over. Praying that this was a dream. Hoping that some how he could get his father to reconsider.

I forced myself off the bed and walked over to the washing basin, which Shianni must have filled with hot water, and stripped to my smalls to wash. After scrubbing my body and hair with the bar of lye and rinsing off, I dried myself off with the towel left near by and gazed at the elf in the mirror hanging on the wall. He was not a happy elf. Shianni had told me that the tattoos on my face looked like tears. I never saw it. Not until now.

I combed my hair and pulled it behind me pointed ears. Seeing the wedding clothes laid out at the foot of my bed I pulled them on. Unfortunately, my shaking hands made it difficult to do up the small buttons, and I was starting to get frustrated. Suddenly, there was an extra pair of hands where mine were failing. I looked up at the smiling face of my father, eyes intent on the task at hand.

"I'm not sure if your hands are being normal or if you're nervous." His eyes met mine, a bit of sparkle in them. At least one of us was happy. My hands were not shaking because of me being nervous, and he bloody well knew that. Years ago, after mother had died father had to send me to Lady Aven, the woman who used to take care of the orphanage. She was a old strict woman and did not take to little elven boys disobeying orders. Soris and I were the worst of the trouble makers. Well, Soris just followed my lead. Every time she'd find our sticky hands in her pantry or her laundry at the top of our Vhenedhal, she'd take her husbands belt and wrap it across my knuckles until they bled. Of course she'd make me lie to my father when he'd come for me after his shift at Bann Rodolf's house. After the fire had taken Aven I told my father the truth about her. Ever since my hands have never been the same.

"Thank you father." I gave him a sad smile.

When he finished with the buttons he placed his hands on my shoulders and looked at me. "I'm sorry that you didn't have much of a say in this, but I'm a father, and as a father, I want what is best for my son."

My gaze fell to the ground. "I know father. I just wish I had more of a say in this."

His smile grew all of a sudden. "I was just like you when I was your age. I was not happy about the arrangement either. Adaia was just as scared as I was, except I was just about ready to go chase after the Dalish." I had to chuckle at that, for that had crossed my mind as well. "But my father told me, just as I am now telling you, that you will never be a man as long as you're not married. You will always be a child to everyone else's eyes. But Nesiara is a beautiful woman, and a good cook, from what I hear. She will make a find wife." For a moment I thought he was done his little speech, but then he added on. "And a fine mother too."

"I knew it!" I accused pointing a finger at him playfully. "You're not concerned about my being a child the rest of my life. All you want is grandchildren to fuss over!"

That made him laugh. "You saw right through me, huh?" I laughed along with him. "Ah, there's the young man I raised. Now, go and find your cousin, Soris. You two need to go meet your brides."

And for a moment there I had forgotten my sadness. But I kept face for father. "Just let me get my blades." I ran back over to the bed and kneeled next to it reaching under for my chest. Inside were two magnificent blades, which he carried on his person all the time, usually hidden from everyone's eyes.

"You're taking them with you? But why?"

I strapped them under my jacket and stood facing him again. "These blades are like a woman's makeup. If I don't have them on me I feel absolutely naked!"

Another bought of laughter came from him. "Alright, but don't let Nesiara see them. You don't want to frighten her away!"

I was already halfway to the door when I called back over my shoulder, "Or do I?"