They planted a tree in the middle of the Alienage long ago. Today it stands tall, healthy and green in sharp contrast to the city around it. For we are the poorest of the poor, the unwanted and the unwelcome huddled on the other side of the wall that separates us from the human part of the city. We are allowed to go there, to work on the docks or in their taverns and in their homes, but when dusk comes we must return. Any elf caught outside the Alienage at night is likely to mistaken for a sneak-thief or a pickpocket, and let us be honest, the ones that stay out there at night probably are.
Our elder tells us that the tree is called the 'vhenadahl', and in the ancient elven tongue that means 'tree of the people'. Its roots are deep and the elder says that as long as the vhenadahl lives so shall we. But he also says that there was once a time when our people lived in their own lands. He says that we were once ageless and strong, that it was the humans who took all this from us.
Is it true? Have we fallen so far? We are not unhappy. As poor as we are, we have a home. The Alienage is no prison, it protects us, just as the vhenadahl shelters us. We dance and sing and make merry, stealing what moments we can to enjoy what little we have and I believe we appreciate it more than the humans do. They have everything and appreciate nothing.
And perhaps the day will come when the humans come and try to take the Alienage from us, too. If that day comes, I swear they shall regret it.
Ildri Tabris heard a voice just outside the realm of sleep.
"Come on cousin... It's time to wake up..." She recognized Shianni's voice and groaned. It was met with a laugh from the other woman. Ildri decided that she may as well get up, seeing as she wasn't going to be getting any more sleep today. She stood and stretched, running a hand through her golden tangles. Ildri was quite tall for an elf, with high cheekbones, bright green eyes and pale blonde hair.
"What in Thedas has you waking me up at this time of day?" Ildri groaned, looking out the window. "I don't have to work today. I was hoping to get a little more sleep than this." Ildri worked in a tavern not too far from the Alienage in order to help her father make ends meet. It wasn't the best job, but Ildri didn't think that she had the temperance to work as a lady's maid. Shianni rolled her eyes and sighed in mock disgust.
"Do you remember why you don't have to work today?" Ildri thought about it and couldn't come up with a whole answer.
"Isn't it somebody's wedding or something today? I can't quite..."
"A DOUBLE wedding! You're getting married today, and so is Soris!" Shianni interrupted, too excited to let her continue. Ildri's eyes widened, remembering. She ran around in a near panic, trying to find her hairbrush and her dress. "And by the way... your groom, Nelaros? He's here early! Also, just to let you know… he's gorgeous. I don't think men should be allowed to look that good."
"Why didn't you come and wake me earlier? I didn't get a chance to bathe last night... I probably still smell like dirty human." Ildri wrinkled her nose, Shianni laughed.
"Your father and I figured you deserved it. You had a pretty late shift last night, no wonder you forgot." Ildri had located her brush and was running it through her hair. Shianni went and retrieved the dress from the other room where it had been laid out. "I'll leave you to freshen up. Soris is waiting for you outside."
Thirty minutes later Ildri was ready to go meet her fiancé. Her father met her before she went outside. "So… the bride appears." Cyrion smiled at her. "Your mother would be so happy for you."
"I wish she could be here…" Ildri said, and Cyrion nodded.
"You and me both." Her father ran a hand through his iron-grey hair. "Before you meet Nelaros, there's something you should know. There are some things that I didn't tell the matchmaker when he left."
"What do you mean?" Ildri asked.
"It wouldn't have helped you find a match… if anything, it might have made his job more difficult."
"Are you talking about the things that Mama taught me?" Ildri asked. "You didn't tell the matchmaker that I know how to fight?"
"That's exactly it. People don't usually want their children marrying someone they think is going to cause trouble for the Alienage."
"I understand." Ildri said, smiling. "I love you, Papa. I'm going to go find Soris, and maybe see what trouble we can stir up." She smiled and walked out the door before he could respond. She walked through the alienage, the place that had been her home for the past sixteen years. She'd never known anywhere else, and didn't know if she ever wanted to. There was a pulse, a rhythm, that she didn't know if she could live without. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't know that she had almost passed Soris until he reached out and touched her arm.
"Cousin? Is something wrong?" She shook her head and looked up at her cousin.
"No, I'm sorry. Just thinking about something that Papa said is all." She smiled at him. "So, have you met her yet?" Soris nodded.
"Of course. Not all of us sleep in all day, you know." Soris teased, and Ildri pushed him playfully.
"So what's she like?" Ildri asked.
"She's not bad… could be worse. At least she's not like Elva." Soris said. Elva was another woman in the Alienage, bitter and cold-hearted. A scream cut through the air, and Ildri's head snapped towards the source of the sound. Nola, another young woman from the Alienage, was being pawed at by a human. Ildri hurried over just as Nola broke away from him.
"Come on, I just want to have a little fun." The man said, leering at Nola. Nola shuddered and the man laughed. "Look at the little whore! Shaking like a leaf…" Ildri felt Soris' hand come down on her shoulder.
"Ildri, I don't know if we should get ourselves involved-"
"One of us is going to get hurt if no one does anything." Ildri retorted.
"That doesn't mean it has to be you, though."
"Who else is going to do anything?" She asked, and when he didn't respond, Ildri stepped towards the human. Her skin crawled as his lecherous gaze fell on her.
"Aren't you a lovely little thing?" He slurred at her. The stench of alcohol wafted off of him, making Ildri want to retch.
"Leave. Before someone gets hurt." Ildri commanded, and he laughed.
"Look at it! Trying to tell me what to do!" Ildri moved just in time to miss being hit by small shards of the bottle her cousin had used to hit the man with. He collapsed, and Ildri suppressed a sudden urge to spit on him. One of the other men ran over and shouted at them.
"Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
"Encouraged a drunken sot to go and sleep it off?" Ildri asked.
"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life. This is the Arl of Denerim's son!"
"Well maybe you should take the spoiled brat home." Ildri snapped.
"Uppity little bitch… You'll regret this, mark my words." The two of them picked up the unconscious man and carried him out of the Alienage. Ildri turned to Shianni, who was far paler than usual.
"What have I done?" She asked. "Maker's breath… what if I just started the next Purge?" Ildri pulled her cousin into a tight embrace.
"You're kidding, right? Do you honestly think he's going to tell anyone about this? If word got out that an elven woman bottled him, he'd never live it down." Ildri reassured her.
"Do you really think so?" Shianni asked, and Ildri smiled.
"I'm sure of it. Now, why don't you go and clean yourself up? I promise we won't start without you."
"All right. I won't be long." Shianni squeezed Ildri for a moment before walking away.
"Does that sort of thing happen often?" An unfamiliar voice asked, and Ildri turned around. Two elves she didn't know were standing behind her.
"No, someone just started the party a little early." Soris said, then cleared his throat. "Ildri, this is my betrothed, Valora." The elven woman smiled at her. "This is Nelaros." Shianni wasn't kidding... This guy is gorgeous.
"It's good to finally meet you both." Ildri said warmly. She extended her hand to Nelaros and smiled.
"Yes, it is." Nelaros' hand was sweaty. "Are you nervous?" He asked, and Ildri shook her head. "I wish I could say the same."
"So…. You came from Highever?" Ildri asked him, hoping to calm his nerves. Well, at least he doesn't think he's the Maker's gift to women.
"Y-yes, we both did. I was the blacksmith's apprentice, and I think Valora worked with a seamstress." Ildri nodded. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but was interrupted by Soris.
"Ildri, I need to borrow you for a moment." She knew by the tone of his voice that he thought there was something wrong. She looked up at her betrothed. I just met the man, and now we're getting married? I wish there had been some time to get to know him better.
"All right. We won't be long." Ildri smiled at the pair one last time and walked after her cousin. She followed his gaze until it settled on another human, wandering the alienage. She gritted her teeth. Haven't we had enough from the humans today?
"I see you noticed him too. What do you think we should do?"
"We could get rid of him… permanently." She suggested, and Soris looked at her with fear in his eyes - a look she'd only ever seen in the eyes of elves, never in the eyes of a human. "I'm serious. I'm sick and tired of these shems." Soris swallowed and chuckled nervously before darting towards the human. She sighed and followed him. Her hatred for humans, she was sure, had started when she had discovered that her mother had been murdered by humans for no reason. And after working at the tavern for a few years, she had seen what happened sometimes to the unlucky girls who worked there. She'd been fondled more than a few times, but it had never gone any further than that. She shook her head and passed Soris, reaching the human first.
"Good morning. I've heard that you are to be married today." The human said. Ildri looked up at him, allowing her hatred to paint her face.
"Get out. Your kind are neither welcome nor wanted here." Soris sighed, but she ignored him.
"Do you intend to force me to leave?" The human asked.
"If that's what it comes to, then yes." Ildri growled.
"I understand your mistrust of humans. You can't have had a very pleasant life here." The human said.
"Your pity is also unwelcome." Ildri snapped. "Now what's it going to be? Leave on your own, or not?"
"Enough, child." Another voice said, and Ildri looked over at Valendrian, the elder of the Alienage.
"I am simply trying to make this shem leave, elder. I see no reason for him to be here." Ildri glared back up at the human.
"I agree, his presence is unexpected, though not as unwelcome as you say." Valendrian turned to the human and extended his hand, which the human accepted. "It has been some time, Duncan."
"I did not realize that he was a friend of yours, elder." Ildri said quickly. Shit, shit, shit! I'm in for an earful now.
"I apologize for not being more forthcoming, but you didn't give me much of a chance." Duncan said, and Ildri shrugged.
"It appears that you have this matter well in hand. We will be waiting with the others." She hurried away, Soris in her wake.
"Well, that didn't go like you thought it would." Soris murmured. Ildri ignored him and took her place beside Nelaros. Soris shook his head and stood next to Valora. Nelaros looked down at her and touched her arm.
"Is everything all right?" He asked.
"I'll tell you about it later. This is supposed to be a happy time." She replied, and Nelaros took her hand. Valendrian finished his chat with Duncan then followed them onto the stage.
"Friends and family. We have come together today to celebrate not only this joining, but our bonds as a whole. We are a free people, but as you all know, this was not always so. The prophet of the Maker, Andraste, freed us from the bonds of slavery so long ago. As our community continues to grow, remember that our strength lies in our commitment to each other, as well as to our traditions." Valendrian nodded towards the priestess.
"Thank you, elder." She walked out to the center of the stage and turned to Ildri and the three other elves. "We shall begin. In the name of the Maker, in whose name we say the Chant of Light, I-" A sudden noise at the gates interrupted the priestess, and Ildri looked past the woman to see what had caused the commotion. Bile rose in her throat as she saw a contingent of armed men, with the lordling Shianni had hit leading them. She glanced over at her cousin, who had gone pale.
"Milord, this is quite unanticipated…" the priestess said.
"I apologize, Mother, for interrupting." The lordling said, smirking.
"Is there something that I may assist you with?" The priestess asked.
"Not you, but…" his eyes roamed over the elves assembled on the stage. "I believe that they may be of some use to me." He pushed past the priestess and onto the stage, ignoring her protests. "Let's see here…"
"Milord, what are you doing?" The priestess asked.
"Why, Mother, I'm hosting a party… and we need some female guests."
"I wonder why." Ildri asked loudly. "Maybe the shemlen women don't want anything to do with you either."
"What are you doing?" Nelaros whispered.
"Trying to save Shianni." She whispered back.
"Be quiet before your betters, whore." The lordling snapped.
"Betters? I see a little boy in a man's body. You must make your daddy so proud." Ildri taunted.
"We're taking that one," he said, pointing at Ildri, "the nervous whore, those two… find that red-haired bitch. The one that bottled me." Ildri stepped out, hoping to distract them.
"I'll kill you for this!" She shouted, and then her world turned black.
Ildri awoke with a groan and sat up. Suddenly woozy, she remembered the events that had filled her day thus far and was enraged. She put a hand to her head to ensure there was no bleeding. She was glad; she didn't want her dress stained with blood just yet.
"Ildri! Thank the Maker you're all right." She looked up into Shianni's hazel eyes and groaned again.
"Dammit. I was hoping they wouldn't find you." Ildri rubbed her head again. There was a small bump, but she didn't think she was concussed.
"They were adamant about having me here. I think they would have torn the place apart looking for me." Shianni said.
"That shem dies today." Ildri growled. Shianni helped her to her feet and Ildri looked around. They were locked in a small room and the doors were too thick to break through easily. All the women from the wedding party were there; Shianni, Valora, Nola, Salli, and herself. They all knew what was planned for them.
"If you fight, you doom us all." Salli warned her. "There's a chance that we might be able to go home after, if we don't fight."
"Do you... Not you, Valora, this is your first day here. But do you-" Ildri looked at the other three women, "-know any of the stories about this man?" When the other women were silent, she continued. "Vaughan Kendells is a sadistic son of a bitch. This isn't the first time he's taken elf women - just the first time he's done it so publicly." She sighed. "Do you remember Nesiara? She disappeared last summer, just after I started working at the tavern. They found her body three days later at the docks. She'd been abused, horribly, and then either they killed her when they were done with her, or she threw herself in the water." She looked each of the other women in the eyes. "The last place she'd been seen was doing a delivery to the Arl of Denerim's estate. Where we are now." This was met with more silence. "Now, you four can do whatever you want. I'm not going to tell you what to do. But I am going to tell you what I'm going to do." She thought about her mother. Was this why she had died? Something similar to this? Ildri didn't ever recall seeing her mother's body. "I am going to fight. I am going to fight until they kill me. I'd rather die than be used as a plaything, a toy, by a human." She spat out the last word with all the rage and disgust she could bring to bear. "And maybe it won't work. Maybe they'll tie me up and use me anyway. But I'll die knowing that I was strong. That I fought it as best as I could." Before anyone could respond a sudden noise outside the door drew their attention. Eight guards entered the small room, stinking of sweat. It made Ildri want to wretch.
"You all set for Lord Vaughan's party?" The one in the front leered. Nola, shy, quiet little Nola, launched herself at the human who'd spoken. Without hardly even glancing at her, he drew his sword and swung it lazily. Nola's hands went to her stomach and she fell to her knees as blood pooled on the floor. Ildri knelt beside her and took her hand. Nola's dark eyes latched onto Ildri's bright ones.
"Here, lie down. you'll feel better soon." She murmured, lowering Nola to the floor. Nola's other hand clutched her stomach as she cried out.
"For fuck's sakes, shut the bitch up!" One of the guards complained. The one in the front, with Nola's blood on his blade, shrugged and leaned over, driving his sword through her heart. She gasped and was finally still. Stifling her tears, Ildri reached out and closed the girl's eyes.
"I can't believe you killed her!" Salli cried out. The man ignored her and assigned two guards to each woman until only Ildri was left.
"This one's the loudmouth." He said.
"I'll kill you, you know. For what you did to Nola." Ildri promised.
"Sure you will." He said, then turned to the other guard. "What do you say we have a little go at her first? Vaughan's going to be busy for a little while with the others."
"Sounds like a plan to me." The other replied. "Who goes first?"
"What do you think? I do, you lout. Hold her down." The guard said, gesturing in her direction.
"Oh, you're such a manly man. Scared of a little elf woman? Think you can't take her on by yourself?" Ildri goaded. "If you're scared of me, how in flames do you actually do your job?" The guard backhanded her, and she fell to the floor. Just a little bit closer…
"Andraste's flaming tits, he wasn't kidding." He waved the other guard away. "Show you who's scared…" He stepped towards her, and Ildri smirked, causing him to hit her again. "Don't know what the hell you're smiling about-" Once he was close enough, Ildri launched herself at the guard and drew his sword.
"I guess you should have been scared of me after all." Ildri said, then she attacked. It was two against one, but only one of them was armed. She quickly cut down the unarmed man so she could focus on the other guard. Just as she stepped towards him, a crossbow bolt pierced his thigh from behind. Ildri quickly slashed her stolen blade across his throat to stifle his scream, then turned towards the doorway. Soris stood there with a crossbow in hand.
"I guess you don't need rescuing after all." Soris quipped.
"Not me, but the others. And I don't know if I can do it all by myself." She replied. "Where'd you get weapons?"
"Duncan, the human Valendrian knows. Nelaros is waiting for us further down. We've got to get moving."
"Then let's go." They left the room and bumped into another elf, who gave them directions to where the other women were. The two of them met a few guards along the way, and Ildri threw herself into their midst, hacking and slashing at them. Her dress quickly darkened from the cream color that it had been when she'd put it on to a dark crimson. Not all of the blood was human, however – her reckless charges had cost some of her own blood, as well. When the guards lay dead around her, Ildri panted heavily, regaining her breath.
"Ildri, are you going to be all right?" Soris asked softly.
"Not until I see that the others are safe." And that the bastards who did this to us can't do it to anyone else. Ildri poked around, making sure that she hadn't missed any guards. When she found none alive, she ran down the hall once more, Soris hot on her heels. They arrived at a door, and Soris' face split into a wide grin.
"I left Nelaros here. He wanted to stay and guard the hall." Soris threw the door open just to see Nelaros fall to the floor, laid open by one of the guards. They all had their backs to Ildri and Soris, so they had that advantage. Once the humans were dead on the floor, Ildri turned to Nelaros and found him still breathing. She knelt down and put his head in her lap.
"Got here... too late." He rattled, coughing up blood.
"No, you didn't." She reassured him. "You were able to save me, and we're going to save the others." He laughed grimly.
"I don't know anything about it, but I'm pretty sure you can't fix me now." She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. He reached into a pocket and pulled something out, pressing it into her hand. "I had hoped to put that on you earlier. I made it." Ildri looked down and saw a thin golden band. With her hands trembling as they were, it took her two tries to slip the ring on her finger. Once it was on, she smiled down at him.
"It's beautiful. And it fits perfectly. Thank you, Nelaros." He smiled red and breathed his last. She laid Nelaros down on the floor and closed his eyes. "Let's move. We have to get to the others before…" Ildri stopped, unable to continue speaking. Soris nodded and fell in behind her. All she could think about now was getting to the man who'd caused all this and putting an end to him. When she finally got to Vaughan, her dress bore hardly any resemblance to the one she'd put on that morning to be married. She kicked down the last door in the estate and saw Shianni on the floor, her dress torn and rumpled and her face bruised. Ildri felt a sudden surge of pride at her cousin. If they got anything out of her, at least it wasn't freely. When Vaughan turned to look at what was causing the commotion Ildri saw three bloody scratches down his face, and she smiled for what felt like the first time in ages.
"Now, look..." was as far as Vaughan got before she burst into motion. Ildri attacked his companions first, trying to keep Vaughan alive as long as possible. He tried to sneak around her, but she noticed and slashed at his face with her dagger. Vaughan cried out and shrank away from her, his hands clamped over his face. Once she was finished with his companions, Ildri slowly approached the lordling and put her sword to the base of his throat. He took his hands from his face, revealing a large gash down the right side of his face. Ildri's blade had removed most of his right eye. "Look, I can give you money! Money enough to get out of Denerim, to leave this place behind! All I ask is that you let me live!" Ildri spoke over her shoulder to Soris.
"Soris, please take the ladies into the hallway and close the door. I'll catch up." Soris collected Salli and Valora, but Shianni refused to leave.
"No. I want to stay." Soris let her be and took the other two away.
"Are you sure, Shianni?" Ildri asked.
"I want to see this bastard die." Ildri nodded and returned her attention to the human, who was cowering in the corner.
"Please, I beg of you-" He began, but Ildri pressed the point of her sword against his throat.
"My friends are dead and my life is in tatters because of you and your kin. I have nothing to lose, but you still possess your other eye." Shianni had come up behind her now.
"Give me the knife." Shianni ordered. Ildri shook her head.
"No. I won't do that to you." Ildri said. Shianni glared up at her, but Ildri ignored it.
She slashed the dagger down the other side of his face, ruining the left eye, then leaned close and whispered in his ear. "The only reason that your death is not lasting any longer is because I have to get the others out of here. Be grateful for that, human." And with that, she pushed her sword through his throat until it came out the other side. Shianni moved away and retched in the corner while Ildri cleaned her blades. They silently rejoined the others and took the alleys towards the Alienage.
Valendrian and the Duncan were at the gates when they arrived, as well as numerous other elves.
"Is everyone all right? Where is Nola?" Valendrian asked.
"She was the first to fall." Ildri replied, and Valendrian sighed.
"Salli, Valora, please take Shianni home. She needs to rest." When the other women had left, Valendrian turned to Ildri. "I don't even know what to ask you." He sighed and shook his head.
"You don't need to ask. I'll tell you. Soris and Nelaros came to rescue us, I killed a lot of guards, we found Nelaros, who died, killed more guards, and eventually found and killed that bastard and his two cronies."
"Then it's likely that the guards are already coming." Duncan said.
"Why has it come to this…?" Valendrian murmured, and Ildri turned to Soris.
"Give me the crossbow." He didn't ask why, he simply handed it over. "Now get out of sight. There's a bit of blood on you, but not as much as on me." He opened his mouth to argue, and she pushed him. "No arguing, Soris! NOW!" He didn't go very far, but he was out of the direct line of sight. She handed Duncan his crossbow and he put it away just before the guards came through the gate.
"Valendrian, we need to have a chat." The captain called out.
"I don't think that will be necessary, ser." Ildri said, stepping forward.
"So you know what we're here for." He said, taking in her blood-soaked dress.
"I have a sneaky suspicion that it might be about what happened at the Arl of Denerim's estate today."
"Where are your accomplices?" He demanded, looking around the Alienage.
"I am the only elf guilty of murder today." Ildri informed him.
"And I'm the King of Antiva."
"We're not all as helpless as you like to believe." Ildri met his eyes, daring him to challenge her again. He merely shook his head.
"You've done the Alienage a service by stepping forward. I won't lie, you're in for some tough times, but you've got nerves of silverite." Raising his voice, he addressed the others. "This elf will be taken into custody to await the Arl's return." The captain took a pair of shackles from another guard and stepped towards Ildri. Before she could take a single step, Duncan put a hand on her arm.
"Captain, I need to have a word with you."
"You've run roughshod over the law in this city once already, Warden. You planning on doing it again or something?" The captain asked gruffly, glaring at the other man.
"Actually… yes. I invoke the Right of Conscription." Duncan said, and the captain's brow furrowed.
"You'd best not make a habit of this, Warden." The captain warned him. "If she's still here tomorrow, I'm locking her up."
"I understand, captain." Duncan replied, and the guard captain left, taking his men with him.
"Okay… does someone want to explain to me what just happened?" Ildri asked. "Elves can't fight in the King's army, everyone knows that."
"I have recruited you into the Grey Wardens. We don't have much time, I need to get you out of Denerim before the sun sets. Make your goodbyes and meet me back here soon." Duncan explained, and Ildri frowned.
"What if I don't want to be a Grey Warden?" She asked.
"I didn't offer this out of pity. That is something Grey Wardens cannot afford to have. I offer because I see that you are a fine warrior, and a capable young woman. I don't care that you're an elf, I care that you can get the job done." Duncan replied curtly.
"I'm afraid you don't have much choice in the matter." Valendrian said. "The guards will be coming back to make sure that you have left, and if you haven't, I don't know what they'll do. To you, or to the rest of us."
"Fine. I'll be back shortly." Duncan pulled a bundle out of his pack and offered it to her.
"What makes you think I want charity?" Ildri spat.
"It's not charity. It's regulation. All recruits receive a set of armor. That is, unless you want to go traipsing through the woods in a blood-soaked dress."
"All right, I'll take the damn armor." Ildri snapped, and accepted the parcel. "I'll be back shortly." I don't want to leave. This is my home, everything I've ever known. She looked up and caught sight of Soris and ran over to him.
"Ildri! Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't want to know where I'd be if you hadn't stuck up for me." Ildri pushed aside her emotions for now, Soris wasn't the one to talk to about them.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Ildri replied, trying to act normal. I don't think I know what 'normal' is anymore. "Anyway, I'm leaving. That guy Duncan is taking me off to be a Grey Warden." Soris' eyes widened.
"Really? Wow! I didn't know that elves could join them. I thought it was like the King's army."
"Well, apparently they're not as picky." Ildri said. "I can't stay long. I have to see Papa and Shianni before I leave." Soris reached over and pulled Ildri into his arms.
"I'll miss you. Good luck out there, cousin." Ildri pulled away and walked across the Alienage to her home. This might be the last time... No, don't think like that. Everyone she spoke to was giving her gentle encouragement in the best way they knew how. She saw her father and ran into his embrace.
"Papa..." She murmured. She wanted to tell him everything - her fears, her doubts... but he spoke first.
"Ildri... Your mother... she would be so happy right now. Happy that you got out of the Alienage more so than the circumstances that surrounded it, but I think you understand what I mean." She nodded. It didn't look like she could talk to him, either. "The girls brought Shianni here, if you want to see her." Ildri nodded.
"That was supposed to be the next stop, Papa." They looked at each other for a moment, tears in both of their eyes.
"I guess this is goodbye." Cyrion said quietly.
"Not for forever. I'll see you again, Papa. I promise." Cyrion nodded numbly, and Ildri walked into the house behind him. Salli had gone home, but Valora was still there with Shianni.
"We heard that you're leaving." Valora said.
"Good news travels fast, I guess." Ildri quipped, but her heart wasn't in it.
"I didn't have a chance to thank you properly earlier, so I'd like to do it now. Thank you, so very much for what you did for us today. I don't care what the others think of it, I think it was the only decision to be made." Ildri nodded. "I'll give the two of you some time alone." Ildri watched for the other woman to leave before approaching Shianni. She was lying on a bed, her face washed. Her bruising would take some time to heal, but at least she was alive.
"How are you doing?" Ildri asked, and Shianni shrugged.
"The others think that I only got roughed up a little, but I'm sure that you know better." Ildri felt her anger grow, thankful that the shem who'd dared harm her cousin was dead. Shianni put her hand on Ildri's arm. "I took some of your advice… that's why…" she gestured lamely towards her face.
"I know you did. I just wish that I'd gotten there faster."
"I know that you got there as fast as you can. And nobody's blaming you for what happened. If anything, I'm going to be blamed for hitting him with that flaming bottle. And also-" Shianni paused, catching Ildri's eyes. "-thank you for not giving me that knife." Ildri embraced her cousin, holding her close. Shianni had only caught onto part of what was bothering her, but she didn't want to burden the other woman more than she already was. Shianni kissed her cheek before releasing her. "I'd appreciate it if the others didn't catch on to exactly what happened in there."
"You won't have to worry about that. I'm leaving, remember?" Ildri reminded her.
"That's right. Valora mentioned that, but to be honest, the sound of her voice kind of annoys me already. So I just blocked it out." Ildri smiled.
"I'll miss you. Take care of yourself, Shianni. Get better."
"I will. I love you too, Ildri. Don't get stabbed." Ildri chuckled and stood from the bed. She quickly changed into the Warden Recruit armor, then headed back to Duncan.
With help from both simison and Kal-El Fornia, I'm re-writing my chapters. Thanks for reading!
