I'm a weak, weak girl... I couldn't help it, when I feel like writing something I write that certain thing! At the moment I feel like writing Dragon Age: Origins fanfics... as opposed to the two I still need to finish... I'm a weak, weak girl...

But, don't worry, the other two I'm slowly working on! Slowly... Yeah, I'm a bad, bad girl and a weak, weak girl...

Anyways, this is chapter 1 of my Dragon Age: Origins fanfic: I Come From The Stone. It's based around my main Origins character, my Dwarven Commoner, Kaela. Kaela Brosca.

Here's a pic of her if you want to see her... in her night shirt/dress thing... (Remove the spaces): http:/ emmy20211. deviantart. com/ art/ Kaela-Brosca-194174930

Chapter 1:
Farewell My Crappy Home:

My life has been anything but easy. I was born casteless; to a drunken mother who didn't care about me or my older sister, Rica. My sister and I were forced to sell our services to the Carta boss, Beraht. I had to do the foul jobs Beraht didn't want to 'dirty his fingers with'. I was always with my closest friend, Leske. While I did this, my sister was dolled up and swung in front of the nobles; Beraht hoped some noble man would pick her up and get her pregnant with a son, raising our family, and him, into the noble castes. It wasn't until one day, when I was trying to finish a job for Beraht that everything fell apart... but it wasn't a completely horrible thing to happen.

Leske and I had just been given our next task; make sure Everd won the Proving that day. Simple enough, right? Leske and I went straight to the Proving grounds to make sure he succeeded.

As we entered, the first thing that caught our eye was a human man, talking with the Proving Master. "Stone's embrace!" exclaimed Leske, "That's one of them. One of the Grey Wardens. Oh I dare you to go over and talk to him. Say, 'Welcome to Orzammar, Warden Ser. May I drink your bath water?'"

I shot him a glare and replied, "I'll take that challenge, but I am not saying that!"

"Fine, just go talk to him."

I took a deep breath, gave him one last glare and walked up to the Grey Warden, biting my bottom lip nervously. The Grey Warden smiled at me and said, "Stone-met and blessings on your house. That was the proper greeting for an outsider last time I visited Orzammar. Has it changed? Or is there a reason you're looking at me so strangely?"

"In my part of Orzammar, we just say hello..." I replied. Who needs formality when you live where I did?

"We do the same in my part of Fereldan," replied the Grey Warden with a chuckle, "My name is Duncan. I'd say, 'Of the Grey Wardens' but I suspect you already know that. Pleased to meet you."

"I am Kaela of..." I tried to think of something to add, but I couldn't. I wasn't going to lie... even if I wanted to. I glanced down and in a small voice finished, "Of nobody." I let out a sigh and looked up to see his reaction, which actually took me by surprise. He looked... troubled.

"Ah... of course. That's what the face-brand means, then. I remember that now."

There was a very uncomfortable silence that followed. I didn't know what to do. I generally made it a rule not to talk to many others, it didn't turn out nicely. After witnessing a few dwarves cast disgusted glances in my direction, I realised I had spoken with the Grey Warden enough. "I guess you want me to leave now," I said, keeping my eyes focused on the ground, and biting on my lip again.

Duncan smiled slightly and replied, "I never turn down the chance to meet someone new. When we visit Orzammar, we tend to remain in the Diamond Quarter. You forget how much of the city you miss."

I was amazed! This human knew I was casteless, but he still didn't wish to cast me aside! And he hasn't even spat on me! Not once! Now this human I liked. I smiled back and asked, "Is it true you're here looking for recruits?"

Duncan nodded and said, "The Wardens are always looking for those who have the courage to spend their lives in battle against the darkspawn. It's rare we find those with both the skill and the will. The best Wardens are ruthless to their enemies, compassionate to their friends, and inspiring to their troops. It's a lot to look for, but I hope to find it here. And I hope you also may find what you are looking for."

He gave me a farewell nod and walked back over to the Proving Master.

Leske nudged my arm and said, "I can't believe you talked to him! A Grey Warden!"

I nodded and said, "Let's just go find Everd and Mainar."

"Yeah," replied Leske as we walked towards the preparation rooms. At least, that's what I called them. I'd only been in the Proving Grounds once before, and I didn't get to find out the names of everything then, and I doubted I would now. Besides, I preferred my own name for it.

Leske and I scanned the open space as we reached the other side of the tunnel like feature. "There's an open door there," I said, staring at the said door, "Maybe he's in there."

"Might as well check it out," replied Leske, "beats opening closed doors on people."

"My thoughts exactly."

We walked up to the open door and stuck our heads in, swearing under our breaths as we saw Everd lying on the ground, mumbling incoherent words and waving his arms around like a lunatic... or just someone trying to bat flying nugs off their head. Stone, I'd love to see a flying nug...

Leske walked up to him and growled, "Sod it! He's stone drunk. He could draw a dead man for his bout and still lose. Ach. Beraht's going to kill us if we slip up on this!" He glanced over at me and added, "He's still mad about the time I told the barkeep Beraht had demanded free ale delivered to my door- Hey, I just had an idea..."

I blinked, glanced down at the drunken Everd, looked back up at Leske and said, "Great. We're running out of time. What've you got?"

"So you've been rubbing my nose in how you're the meanest things with a blade, right? Everd's armour is over there and you're about the same size..."

I looked from the chest beside me to Leske and back to the chest before sighing and nodding my head. "If I do this I'll win by skill alone. I won't use the drug."

"You've got a heart of stone, salroka. Get in the armour."

As soon as I hopped into the armour, the Proving Master's voice echoed around the room. "Bout three is next. Officer Mainar versus the warrior Everd! Fighters, report to the ring!"

"Well... here I go," I whispered, far more anxious than I had ever been in my life. This was going to be fun, but by the ancestors, I was nervous. I bit my lip and headed towards the doors.

oOo

It had been going so well. I was unstoppable. I was winning the Provings, not easily mind you but you tend to pick up a lot of skills working for Beraht, like tripping people, attacking from behind and such. Quite useful. Then, the brainless, drunk, idiotic Everd had to stumble onto the field! As soon as I saw him, I knew I was in trouble. There was going to be no way out of it. When the Proving Master demanded that I remove my helmet, I did, suddenly very confident. I was glad that they found out... sort of. A casteless had defeated them all. A casteless was better than them! The Proving Master was going on a rant. Insults should be common to my ears by now, but it still hurts every time you hear others insulting you. He was calling me almost every name in the book, even claiming I was rejected by the ancestors. I refused to believe that. I had just beaten them all. I was not rejected by the ancestors!

"She has no place here!" screamed the Proving Master, making me growl under my breath.

The Grey Warden suddenly spoke up and what he said took me by surprise. "Except as your champion..." Then he turned his back on the Proving Master.

The guards were suddenly upon me. It was like they spawned out of nowhere! But I wasn't going down without a fight! I just proved that casteless can be warriors, and I was going to continue proving that fact. I managed to fight off the guards for a while, but I started to get tired. I couldn't keep this up for long. Then, someone whacked me on the head from behind, knocking me to the ground. As I tried to get up I was hit again... and again... and again. Until I finally succumbed to the darkness...

oOo

"Are you awake yet? Psst. Can you hear me?" Leske's voice made me stir. I had a throbbing headache and my entire body was sore. I reckon they continued hitting me after I fell unconscious. "How hard did they sodding hit you, anyway? Did you have to put up such a fight?"

"I wasn't going to just surrender," I replied, sitting up, "Is that you, Leske? What happened?"

"As soon as everyone saw your face-brand, the place went mad." I remembered that fact clearly, especially with all the shouting and yelling and insults flown at my direction. "Shut all the doors, examined everyone for family and caste. One of the guards recognised me and figured we must be working together. They burned three candles to the stump interrogating me about who put us up to this. I think they knew, you know, about Beraht."

I rubbed my forehead and sighed before asking, "What's the sentence for ridiculing the entire Warrior Caste?"

Leske cleared his throat. This was going to be unpleasant. "Public whipping. Loss of your left hand for stealing the armour. Loss of your right for befouling a smith's work... Public flaying for impersonating a higher caste, and if that doesn't kill you, they'll put you to death for polluting the Proving," he said, "That Grey Warden suggested exile, but it didn't seem like anyone was listening."

"Great," I groaned, finally stumbling to my feet, "Is there any way out?"

"No, I checked, and the cell is built straight into the cave wall. That door's the only way out, and they confiscated my lock-picks. What's it look like on your side? You see any way out?"

"No... it seems solid. But this-"

I was interrupted by the sound of a door opening, and then I frowned in confusion as I saw Jarvia walk towards me. "Good. You're awake. Beraht will be glad to hear that."

My frown was still on my face as I asked, "Jarvia? What are you doing here?" How the sod did she get into this prison!

Jarvia glared and me and said, "You caused a lot of trouble today. Beraht lost a hundred sovereigns for Lord Vollney. The entire Proving was declared invalid, and the Assembly already called for an investigation. You can't imagine the state Beraht was in when he told me to get you."

"Where are we?"

"That's right; you've never had the privilege of being down here. You're in one of the deep cells in Beraht's estate. He built it into the ruins of old Orzammar. Plenty of room to store gold and lyrium. And nice thick walls so no one can hear the screams."

My frown deepened. What the sod happened when I was out? "But how did we get here?"

"I brought you. You've got every guardsman at the Proving thinking that if he takes your head off, the ancestors will bless him forever. But they know whose hand holds the whip. When Beraht claimed you, they knew who's going to get to watch your last breath."

Great. So basically we were busted out of prison by Jarvia and brought to another prison to die by Beraht's hands... how was this not comforting! "I'm not scared of him." I spat at her, "All we did was follow his orders."

"You risked exposing him before the entire Warrior Caste! Now they're asking questions, and as long as you have tongues to answer them, you're a threat. Enjoy your last night together. Sorry we had to put you in separate cells, or I'd suggest you have one last tumble. Beraht'll be by soon to make sure you maintain your silence."

"Stone!" I growled as Jarvia turned her heel and left, "we have to get out of here."

"How," demanded Leske, obviously just as desperate as I was to escape.

I bit my lip as I stared at the door, franticly trying to think of a plan. And then I had a thought. I whacked my hand against the door, making it rattle loudly. In the naturally soundproofed cell block, it sounded like a bronto charging into the bars.

"Hey!" yelled the guard, walking towards me, "Leave off with the noise. You're giving me a headache."

I had originally whacked the door with a completely different plan in my mind, but him saying that made another one pop into my head. So, in a weak voice I said, "Oooh. That's how it started for me too."

"What do you mean?" he asked, leaning forward.

I put a hand to my forehead and whispered, "I... I'm burning up. Stone, I think I'm going to pass out."

Leske caught on fast. Thank the ancestors for that. "When that happened to my sister, healer said it was the plague," he said, faking a very good worried tone, "Said if it wasn't treated right away, everyone who'd seen her would die."

"D-die?" stammered the guard, "I don't want to die."

I gasped and clutched my throat, "W-water. I need water," I murmured, making sure to look extra helpless.

"Aren't you going to help her?" demanded Leske.

The guard looked from me to Leske and then said, "I-I'll come in and take a look." He opened the door and walked in before adding, "Now, hold still while I tie your hands behind your back..."

All helplessness vanished. My on-the-spot plan actually worked! "I don't think so," I snarled before slamming my fist as hard as I could over his head. Miraculously, he fell to the ground straight away.

"If we want to get away with this, we can't leave one man alive to tell Beraht what we've done," said Leske suddenly.

I nodded in agreement, and knelt down to the man, whispered 'sorry' and snapped his neck. Stone, I didn't like killing people. Ironic, considering that's what I had to sodding do to survive as a casteless. I quickly rummaged through the dwarf's pockets and grabbed the gold key before running and opening Leske's prison door.

"Our stuff is probably in that crate," he said, nodding at the brown container sitting nearby, "Now let's get going!"

oOo

I didn't expect we'd actually come across Beraht. But he was there. Right near the exit. With two others. I didn't know what to do, so I fought him while Leske fought the other two. I escaped death three times in the fight, and it wasn't until one of my daggers managed to take a perfect swipe that I realised it was over. I had sliced off his head. I had just decapitated Beraht.

Leske ran up to me and laughed as he said, "Did you see him there, all, 'When we're done with you?' And you just charged in and sodding slaughtered him!"

I nodded, smiled at him and said, "I was hoping he'd have time to beg for mercy."

"Oh, he was begging all right. That look of utter surprise on his face when he tasted his own blood. That was as close to begging as Beraht gets."

I laughed alongside Leske before we both went quiet, suddenly realising what had just happened. "Let's get out of here before anyone comes to investigate."

"You said it. Fortunately, if Beraht's got them trained like he says, it should be a good long time before any guardsmen turn up here."

We managed to run out of Beraht's estate with no more resistance. We ended up at Beraht's shop in good time, shot each other a smile and ignoring the shopkeeper, we ran out into the Commons. Probably not the best thing to do, considering I was wanted for treason and Leske was wanted for conspiring with me.

"There they are! Seize the fugitives!" yelled someone as soon as Leske and I left the store. We were greeted by several guards and the Proving Master. Not sure why the Proving Master was there, but he was. Stone, we were so sodding screwed!

"Drop your weapons and walk down slowly," snarled the Proving Master in a deadly tone, "We will use force if you resist."

'And you would even if we didn't resist,' was the first thought that popped into my head. "I just killed Beraht. You should be thanking me," I stated bluntly, deciding it was better to verbalise the second thing that popped into my mind.

"He's dead? Beraht had many enemies, but also powerful allies. They-"

"Beraht would've butchered us if she hadn't killed him first!" interrupted Leske angrily.

"Your friend has once again demonstrated her courage."

"Duncan?" I murmured, noticing the Grey Warden in the midst of the crowd, with Rica standing by his side. Rica was alright! "We Grey Wardens travel far and wide in search of those with the potential to join our ranks. It seems I have found one."

I could practically feel my eyes light up as I asked, "Are you asking me to become a Grey Warden?"

"Let me make my offer formal. I, Duncan of the Grey Wardens, extend the invitation for you to join our order."

The Proving Master barked, "This woman is wanted for treason! You can't do this!"

Duncan looked down at the Proving Master and said, very simply, "I can and I am," he turned back to me and continued, "It would mean travelling to the surface lands and thus leaving your people, but it does offer you the chance to strike a blow against the darkspawn and the Blight."

I nodded violently. "Then sodding yes, let's get out of here now." I could finally leave Orzammar! I'd wanted to since I was a little kid! I could go to the surface and be free! Stone, this was great!

"Then before these witnesses, I hereby recruit you into the Grey Wardens. Know that you are most welcome."

The Proving Master shook his head in disbelief. "This is highly irregular. The warrior families will be... most upset..."

"Look at you, you duster!" said Leske, making me beam, "A Warden! And to think I knew you when you were stealing bread."

"Before we brave the Deep Roads, I would like to make you a gift of this mace, since you have so few possessions of your own," said Duncan, handing me the weapon. Probably not something I'd use, but it looked wonderful. "It was once wielded by the Warden Foral Aeducan. I think he was related to your king. I know you will continue his proud example." Duncan bowed to all the others and added, "Goodbye my friends, and thank you for your hospitality."

I grinned as he started to walk away. Before following him, I gave Rica a hug. "Be safe, little sister," she whispered in my ear.

"And you, big sister," I replied, relinquishing our embrace. "I'll be back one day Rica, so that I can check up on you."

"I know you will. But now, go and join the Grey Warden ranks. You do our family proud."

My smile returned as I gave her one last quick hug and ran after Duncan. My new life was about to begin.