this story was not only inspired by my favorite game but also by a song called All of Me by Matt Hammitt the words moved me but fit the whole city elf/alistair romance i hope you like it and i cant wait to see what road it travels down
rated M and MA for mature audiences only
I was running towards something or was it away… its confusing here the only thing I can sense clearly is him. His face, hidden from me but I a feeling of being safe of being loved, protected, and cherished washes over me when he is near. His arms stretch out in front of him, is he reaching for me? Or warning me away?
'Do I know you?' I wonder, 'have we met before? Did I brush against you somewhere and now you are alive here in my dreams a temptation I can never have?'
The world slowly comes into focus men, women, elves, dwarves and other creatures around me locked in life or death battle. The acrid smell of blood assaults my nose, as it stains the ground as well as my clothing. My heart skips a beat as my amber eyes meet his whiskey colored eyes.
His lips move but his words are lost in the thunder of sound around us. His eyes open wide, fear etched on his face, staring at the sky behind me. My pulse pounds in my ears, behind me the ground shakes with fury. I am afraid to look but incapable of running, slowly I turn…
"Wake up sleepyhead time for you to get ready," Shianni giggled.
"Wha?" I mumbled blinking my eyes rapidly against the light. Any remnants of the dream faded away into my subconscious.
"You've overslept, today's your big day or did you forget already," she asked.
I shook my head sharply shaking the remnants of the dream away it was nothing but a blur now anyway. I looked at my cousin her short red hair framing her delicate face. Do not ever call her that by the way you would be lucky to get away with only a black eye.
"Of course I remember what day it is cousin." I sighed softly and put on a pleasant smile letting Shianni ramble. Today was my wedding day I wasn't opposed to getting married but was disappointed in the way which we got betrothed. Humans get to pick their own partners some of them even did it for love. Not many elves got that same privilege. My father had arranged my match with an elf from the Highever alienage. Valendrian, the elder of our village, had also found my cousin Soris a bride from the same alienage. Today was going to be a double wedding.
"Listen to me going on when you should be getting ready. He's here you know, they arrived early you should go find Soris and properly introduce yourselves to them." She hugged me quickly and I caught the scent of whisky on her breath. "Your father wanted to speak to you as well before you left."
"Thank you Shianni," I smiled "go celebrate some more and I will see you in a while." She grinned sheepishly and exited my bedroom. I raised myself up from the edge of our bunk beds and crossed over to an elegantly decorated chest in the corner of the room. Lowering to my knees, I knelt in front of it and taking a deep breath, unlocked and opened it. On top was my wedding dress and slippers, standing up I took them out, looking the dress over before putting it on. It slid over my skin like satin the color of cream with gold embroidery tracing the trim around my wrists and along the hem. Gold swirls curled throughout the skirt of the dress. The neckline cut to scoop low at my neck but not so low that it was indecent. It had taken me months to sew it together.
Nelaros had sent me the cloth after father made the wedding arrangements. Bending down I slipped on my slippers, standing I smoothed the dress down my sides crossing to the washing bowl I poured some water and washed my face carefully trying not to get the dress wet. Finishing, I took some of Shianni's lip dye to my lips and added a bit of color to my cheeks giving them a rosy glow. I undid the braids from my long ruby colored hair, taking a brush I worked the knots out from sleeping until nothing but beautiful waves hung past my waist. I looked into the tiny mirror we shared and smiled to myself. I tried to make it reach my eyes but could not quite make it there.
Sighing, I looked away from the mirror and out the tiny window. This would be my last days in this house with my family. I was set to start a new home with him and I was scared. I didn't know the first thing about being a wife, my mother never had time to pass on this information. I crossed my arms across my chest staring at nothing. The sound of father shuffling in the living room startled me from my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I put a pretty smile on my face leaving the bedroom I shared with Shianni.
"Father," I asked. "Cousin said you wanted to speak to me?"
"Ah, my little girl," Cyrion smiled giving me a carful hug. "You look so beautiful in your wedding dress. I wish you mother could have been here to see you."
"Me too father," I agreed softly my smile fading. Plastering a large smile on my face," but it is a beautiful day to get married."
"I hope the match I've chosen for you bring you as much happiness as your mother brought me," he smiled wistfully tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.
"Tell me about him again father?" I asked to distract him from crying. My father hated showing me his tears; though I knew thinking of mother often brought them to his eyes.
"Nelaros is the youngest son of a good family from Highever. He is an expert at the blacksmiths anvil. And is very handsome from what I hear," he winked. I smiled slightly looks were not important to me but most of the elves cared about them, something to do with breeding. I guess my father thought Nelaros being handsome would make me happy.
"All right my dear you should go find Soris. The sooner the wedding starts the less chance either of you have to escape," he joked.
I laughed, "Well, a small chance is still a chance for Soris. Thank you father, I will make you proud today."
"One last thing Fìera, your martial training…the knives, bow and whatever else your mother trained you in, best not to mention it to your betrothed."
I paused taking a sharp breath, "You didn't tell him?"
"Well, it's not something that would have made it easy to find a match for you and we don't want to come off as trouble makers after all." he explained. "Adaia made that mistake."
I nodded sadly, "Mother was a clever rogue until those humans killed her."
"Yes, she was our world is full of so many injustices. Losing her was one of them," he sighed deeply turning towards the table he took a pair of leather boots and handed them to me. "Here take these your mother would have wanted you to have these. It's the very least I can give you as you start your new life." He embraced me tightly pulling back slowly studying my face carefully, "You look so much like your mother. I know she would be so happy for you today."
"I love you father," I murmured.
"I love you too Fìera," Cyrion said letting me go. "Now off with you, go find your cousin Soris. I have a few things to finish around here before the wedding." He smiled gently pushing me towards the door. Turning quickly away so I wouldn't see the tears falling down his face. I set mothers boots by the door and taking a quick breath to calm my nerves I opened the door stepping out into the alienage.