Yes, yes, I know... "YOU STARTED ANOTHER ONE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"
In my defense...I was planning this one as soon as I was writing The Lion and the Panther. I just haven't been able to start it until I got my XBox in the mail so I can start writing/playing Origins again.
And honestly I love Origins a lot more than Inquisition...Origins...yes...
Annnyway, please review! I'll probably have the second chapter up tonight as well lol, if I'm being honest with myself.
And for my Star Wars Fanfic readers, yes, I am still working on my SW fanfics. I almost have another Binary Skies chapter edited and ready and I'm working on the next In The Thick of Battle Chapter.
I have to focus on multiple tasks or I'll never get anything done, I'm weird like that-I can't focus on just one thing, it has to be multiple things.
Enjoy!
"Wake up, Cousin," came a distant but familiar voice that grew clearer with each word. "Why are you still in bed? It's your big day…"
Aurora Tabirs slowly stirred awake with a groan, slowly sitting up and rubbing her head, a few stray strands of long blonde hair falling into her face. "Just a little longer," she protested, squinting deep blue eyes against the light of the candle her cousin Shianni had lit in the room.
"Come on, don't make me use cold water again!" Shianni threatened playfully, the elven woman shaking her head with a small laugh, short red hair bouncing about as she did so. "You do remember what today is, don't you?"
Inside, Aurora balked. Of course she knew what today was—she'd been counting down every day leading up to today with dread, knowing each day that passed was a little more of her freedom slipping away. Still, she decided to play oblivious.
"Summerday?" she offered, swinging around to sit on the edge of her seat.
Shianni sighed in exasperation. "No, you idiot—you're getting married today, and Soris too. That's what I came to tell you! Your groom, Nelaros…he's here early!"
Aurora stood up, tempted just to fall back into bed and deny the existence of reality outside her bedroom. Her heart panged, and Aurora felt her spirits drop. "I don't like the idea of this arranged match business."
"And who else are you going to marry?" Shianni scoffed. "Besides, I already snuck a peak—he's handsome!"
Looks aren't everything, Shianni, Aurora thought.
"There's going to be music, decorations, feasting…weddings are so much fun! You're so lucky!" Shianni said dreamily.
"Maybe you're the one who should be getting married," Aurora quipped. Shianni laughed.
"All in good time, Cousin, this is your day, not mine." Shianni sighed, shaking her head. "All right, I'll stop tormenting you. I should go talk to the other bridesmaids and find my dress."
Before she left the room entirely, Shianni paused and turned back to Aurora. "Oh, Soris said that he'll be waiting for you outside, so move it!"
Aurora rolled her eyes, grabbing her knapsack from the foot of the bed and moving to her footlocker to drag out the wedding clothes she had stored there a while ago. Once the knapsack was firmly around her shoulders, Aurora made her way towards the exit. She'd hardly left the bedroom before she ran into her father Cyrion.
"Ah, my little girl. It's…the last day I'll be able to call you that. Though I wish your mother could have been here," her father said sadly. Aurora's already low spirits dipped a little more, but she resolutely tried to claim her freedom one more time.
"Could we talk about this arrangement?" she asked seriously, arms folded over her chest. Cyrion sighed.
"Still not pleased, I can see. Of course we can talk," he said warily.
"Why can't I choose who I marry?" Aurora asked in a pleading tone. If she was going to marry, she wanted it to be for love—not because an elder had said they believed a stranger would be a good partner for her.
"Tradition, child," her father chided her, starting on a lecture Aurora had heard far too many times by now. "With so little contact between alienages and so few chances to travel, you must trust your elders. The dowry has been paid, the Chantry has issued a permit, and everything is ready. All we need is you."
"But I don't want to get married!" she returned in exasperation. Her father laughed as if she was simply a child throwing an adorable fit.
"I understand. Before I met Adaia I was ready to go hunt for the Dalish. Just be glad I chose the match. Without parents to represent you, children like your cousin Soris end up marrying whoever the elder can find."
Aurora sighed, allowing him that much. "I appreciate your efforts," she relented, though she still hated the idea of an arranged marriage.
"All right time for you to go find Soris. The sooner this wedding starts, the less chance you two have to escape!" he joked.
"A small chance is still a chance," Aurora said with a shake of her head.
"Still have your mothers smart mouth I see," her father mused. Aurora started to leave, but her father stopped her. "Oh, one last thing before you go, my dear: the martial training…the swordplay, knives, and whatever else your mother trained you in…best not to mention it to your betrothed."
Aurora's eyebrows rose in surprise. "He'll find out sooner or later."
"Later," her father said quickly. "Definitely later. We don't want to seem like troublemakers after all. Adaia made that mistake."
Everyone was doing a wonderful job at killing Aurora's mood. She was going to be extremely gloomy and grouchy for her wedding at this rate. Bringing up her mother's death in such a way…well…it would be a while before the memories returned to the back of her mind.
"Mother was a clever rogue," Aurora said softly.
"Yes…that she was." Her father shook his head, walking over to the cabinet and pulling out a worn and familiar pair of boots from their depths, handing them to Aurora. "Take this—your mother would have wanted you to have it. It's the very least I can give you as you start your new life. Go on, I still have some things to do, and Soris is no doubt waiting for you."
"Thank you, Papa," Aurora said with a nod, making her way to the door and stopping just long enough to put on the boots before she ventured outside to the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Alienage. The closely built, run down houses framed the tight alley her house was nestled at the end of, the flies were buzzing about in their usual clusters, and there was a small group of drunken elves already in sight even though Aurora hadn't even made it two paces out her front door yet. Filthy water splashed underfoot here and there as Aurora made her way down the weathered stone pathway, eventually arriving in the square where people were bustling about, mostly preparing for the wedding. Nessa, one of the other Alienage girls, and her family seemed to be packing up for a trip.
Odd.
Aurora made her way towards the family, stopping to accept gifts from friends of her mother's she didn't remember and the party of drunken elves who had wandered into her path—she managed to get forty bits from the drunken elves, and her mother's friends had apparently saved fifteen silvers for her, which made her feel at least a little better. She could at least enjoy the wedding presents if not the wedding itself.
"Many blessings, young one. We hoped to stay for the celebration, but we must be off," Nessa's father said as Aurora approached.
"Where are you going?" she asked curiously, noting the decently sized cart they were gathered around.
"The Ostagar Ruins," Nessa said rather gloomily. "The army camp there is calling for laborers."
"We wanted to look for work in Highever," Nessa's mother said, though her father quickly cut in.
"But there's just not possible."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Aurora asked sincerely, noting the grim mood the two women seemed to have about the situation.
"You're still a child—you can't do anything," Nessa's father said rather harshly. "Enjoy your special day and put us out of your mind."
Seeing the flicker of offense in Aurora's eyes, apparently, Nessa's mother quickly cut in. "What my husband means is you're very generous, but we don't need charity to solve our problems."
There's nothing wrong with accepting a little help, but whatever, Aurora though, holding her tongue and giving a polite nod. "I understand. Good luck to you," she said instead.
"Many thanks. Again, blessings on your day," Nessa's father said tersely before they turned back to what they were doing and Aurora started to walk away. To her surprise, Nessa quickly caught up to her, stopping her from going too far.
"Wait, can I talk to you a moment?" Nessa asked as they came to a stop.
"Of course," Aurora replied, turning to face the other woman.
"I apologize for my parents. They're too proud to accept help, much less ask for it. My parents will labor in the army camp and expect me to do the same, but…I don't like the idea of being surrounded by human soldiers who haven't seen a woman in months."
Aurora couldn't help the shiver that went down her spine at the thought, sympathizing with Nessa's concerns almost immediately. She'd be afraid in such a situation herself, or at least paranoid. "Would some money help?"
Nessa sighed. "Of course, but I can't imagine anyone here has much to spare. We'd need another three silvers to make it to Highever and another ten to rent a house here big enough for all three of us. But…that's just dream talk. Nobody has that much money, and if they did, why would they give it to us?"
Aurora smiled just slightly, pulling out the majority of the coin she'd just received doing her wedding present rounds and pressing it into Nessa's hands. "Here's ten silvers. Take it. Stay here where you belong."
Nessa's eyes grew wide as she stared in wonder at the ten silver coins. "Where did you get this much money?" Her expression lit up, and she started to laugh with joy. "Never mind, I'm sure not talking you out of this! Thank you, thank you so much, you saved my family, I love you! Now I just have to handle the parents."
Without another word, she turned back to her family to share the news, and Aurora quickly made herself scarce before Nessa's family could try to make her take the coin back.
After wandering a bit longer and receiving a few more congratulations, Aurora managed to spot Soris lounging by the gates to Denerim's market district.
"Well, if it isn't my lucky cousin. Care to celebrate the end of our independence together?" he asked as Aurora drew nearer. Aurora groaned loudly.
"Is running away still an option?"
Immediately the smile was gone from Soris' face. "Are you insane? Where would you go? Into the woods to live with the Dalish elves?"
Aurora shrugged. It wasn't looking like that bad of an option right now. "It could happen…"
"Live in the forest with the savages, far from humans? Sounds like a dream. Not like we'd know where to find them," Soris finished in a mutter. "Besides, why would you run? Apparently, your groom's a dream come true. My bride sounds like a dying mouse."
Aurora stifled a laugh. "Maybe you'll get a cage for a wedding present."
Soris laughed loudly at that. "That's terrible. Let's go introduce you to your dreamy betrothed before you say I do."
Aurora took the lead as she and Soris made their way towards the stage in the Alienage square where the ceremony would be taking place. There, she saw her bridesmaids and Shianni waiting for them, Shianni waving to get her attention. Aurora smiled and started to make her way towards the woman, but the smile started to slip from her face when she saw a small group of humans approaching from behind them. A rather tall, light ginger came up behind one of the other bridesmaids, grabbing her by the arms. The black haired woman gasped and struggled, managing to break away and put a few feet between her and the man.
"Let go of me! Stop, please!" she cried, trembling in fright.
"It's a party, isn't it?" the man asked with a cruel twist to his mouth, watching the girl as she continued to back away. He turned to the two human men flanking him with a laugh. "Grab a whore and have a good time."
"Savor the hunt, boys," he continued, turning his eyes on Shianni. "Take this little elven wench here. So young and vulnerable."
"Touch me and I'll gut you, you pig!" Shianni snapped, eyes narrowed at him.
"Please, my lord! We're celebrating weddings here!" the elven man next to Shianni pled. The ginger approached the two with a snarl, backhanding him so hard the poor elf was flung to the ground.
"Silence, worm!"
Aurora's jaw and fists clenched, her eyes flashing dangerously at the sight before her. Soris caught her mannerisms, speaking in a soft and fearful voice behind her. "I know what you're thinking, but maybe we shouldn't get involved…"
"I won't let these humans abuse us," Aurora hissed.
"Fine, but let's try to be diplomatic, shall we?" Soris said in obvious agitation. It was at that moment that the ginger noticed them, his greedy eyes riveting on Aurora.
"What's this? Another lovely one come to keep me company?" he asked, fingers grasping her jaw in a firm grip that made shivers run down her spine before she yanked herself free from his grasp, refusing to back away despite his uncomfortably close proximity.
"Dream on, human," Aurora spat venomously.
"Ha, do you have any idea who I am?" the man sneered at her, though Aurora did not back down.
Beside her, Soris started to make don't do it gestures, and the ginger turned just in time for Shianni to hit him as hard as possible with a nearby bottle, knocking the human out cold. One of the man's wingmen approached, anger and shock clear in his voice.
"Are you insane? This is Vaughn Urien, the Arl of Denerim's son!"
"What? Oh, Maker…" Shianni gasped, mortified and covering her face with her hands. Aurora did feel a spike of fear at the revelation, but she stood her ground.
"Maybe his father should've taught him better manners," she returned coldly.
"You've a lot of nerve, knife ears," the other crony said as he approached. "This will go badly for you."
Aurora only gave him a dirty look, turning her attention to Shianni as she approached them, shaking her head.
"Oh, I really messed up this time…" she whispered fearfully.
"It'll be all right," Soris reassured her. "He won't tell anyone an elven woman took him down."
"I…I hope so…I should go get cleaned up," Shianni said shakily, brushing past them while two of the onlookers approached them.
"Is everybody else all right?" Soris asked the two.
"I think we're just shaken. What was that about?" the woman asked him.
Soris laughed nervously. "Looks like the arl's son started drinking too early." He cleared his throat. "Well, let's not let this ruin the day. Uh, this is Valora, my betrothed," Soris informed Aurora. Aurora's eyes flickered to the blonde and lightly tanned man standing beside her, sizing him up. Maybe he was handsome by Shianni and Soris standards, but…Aurora wasn't seeing much that she did like, and he looked a little…shallow, or at least a little dim.
"And who's the fellow with her? Not mine, I hope," Aurora said casually, unable to stop the quip before it slipped past her lips.
"By the Maker, I can't believe you sometimes! Yes, this is Nelaros, your betrothed," Soris stressed before he led Valora a few steps away to give Aurora and Nelaros a moment. Nelaros turned to her, looking worried.
"Do I really make such a poor first impression?" he asked, and Aurora sighed. No one had recognized it had been said in good humor. Of course.
"No, of course not. I apologize," Aurora said graciously. Hopefully in time Nelaros would get acclimated to her sense of humor, or they'd never get along.
"I…understand. Its all I can do to keep myself calm."
And here comes the small talk. What to say, what to say…
"How was the trip from Highever?" she asked politely, not really interested but needing something to fill the air between them.
"Uneventful, thankfully. The trade caravan we accompanied had little of value. I think that kept the bandits away," Nelaros said happily.
Right…
"Come on, Cousin—we should let them get ready," Soris said suddenly as he returned to Aurora's side, rescuing her from any more awkward conversation, even though she and Nelaros had hardly spoken.
"We'll see you two in a bit. Don't disappear on us," Valora said.
"Or we'll come find you," Nelaros said cheerfully.
So much for the escape plan, then.
"Don't look now, but we have another problem," Soris suddenly said after the two had left, his eyes somewhere near the gates. Aurora turned around.
"Anything to put the wedding off for a while."
"Another human just walked in. Could be one of Vaughn's or just a random troublemaker. Either way, we need to move him along before someone does something stupid," Soris told her, nodding towards the black haired, bearded human in white and steel armor with a sword and dagger on his back.
"Right. Let's go talk to him," Aurora said with a nod.
"Let's do this quickly," Soris said, his nervousness evident in his voice as they started towards the human.
"Good day. I understand congratulations are in order for your impending wedding," the man said graciously, crossing his arms and giving a small bow in greeting. Aurora was thrown off almost instantly. She'd…never had a human show her any kind of respect for her. It was an alien concept for her, like a human marrying an elf.
"Thanks, but please go. I'd rather avoid any unpleasantness," Aurora said carefully. The man laughed lightly.
"What manner of unpleasantness might you be referring to?"
Aurora sighed. "The Alienage just isn't a good place for humans to be."
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of leaving," the man said in a firm but calm tone of voice.
Aurora felt annoyance starting to settle in. She was just trying to do what was best for everyone. "I will ask once more, politely. Please leave," she stressed.
"And I refuse yet again; now what?" the man challenged, an eyebrow arched in question.
"I'm not backing down. This is no place for you," Aurora said firmly, trying to keep things as civil as possible. After all, he was armed to the teeth, and she was still in her every day clothes without any weapons—now was not the time for a fight, even if he seemed to be pushing for one at this rate.
"Surely it's not escaped your notice that I'm both armed and armored. Any fight between us would be rather one-sided."
Her frustration was getting worse. She hadn't said anything about a fight—was he seriously trying to pick one with her? "Do you intend on using that weapon?" she asked coolly, eyebrow arched challengingly to emphasize her point.
"Not unless I'm left without a choice."
Uhg, we're just going in circles here, but I'm not about to fight someone when I'm in no position to fight them.
Aurora ground her teeth—obviously, she wasn't going to talk him into leaving. Negotiation was in order. "Fine, maybe we can compromise," She suggested, hoping she wasn't about to start another circular conversation.
"Ah, the diplomat comes out. It seems your temper isn't as fiery as I've been led to believe. What would you say, Valendrian?"
"I would say the world has far more use of those who know how to stay their blades," came the voice of the Alienage elder as he approached, coming to stand beside the human. "It is good to see you again, my old friend. It has been far too long."
"You know this human, Elder?" Aurora asked, surprised.
"May I present Duncan, head of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden," Valendrian said.
Aurora bit her tongue to keep from smiling once the bashfulness from trying to chase out a Grey Warden passed, the realization dawning on her that Duncan had been testing her. It was slightly amusing. "Well met, Duncan."
Duncan returned the smile—though it was ever so slight. "And you, dear girl."
Valendrian cut in. "But my question remains unanswered. Why are you here, Duncan?"
"The worst has happened. A Blight has begun. King Cailan summons the Grey Wardens to Ostagar to fight the darkspawn horde alongside his armies," Duncan said seriously, though Aurora noted that his answer still did not answer the question. At least not to Aurora—Valendrian seemed to have heard all he needed to.
"Yes, I heard the news. Still this is an awkward time. There is to be a wedding. Two in fact."
"So I see. By all means, attend to your ceremonies—My concerns can wait for now."
"Very well. Children, treat Duncan as my guest. And for the Maker's sake, take your places!" Valendrian scolded them before he disappeared, and Duncan gave another slight bow.
"Please, do not let me interrupt further. We shall speak more later."
"Oh, Soris, there you are! I was afraid you'd run off," Valora said as they reached the stage where the wedding was about to take place.
"No, I'm here, with Nelaros' blushing bride in tow!" Soris joked.
"You look radiant!" Nelaros commented, gazing at Aurora in her wedding clothes. It didn't make her feel beautiful or anything—she only shifted uncomfortably.
The Chantry Mother appeared then, taking her place while everyone else attending the wedding got settled. "Looks like everyone's ready," Soris commented under his breath.
Aurora's stomach clenched uncomfortably, and she was convinced she was about to throw up while her life flashed before her eyes. What was she doing, going along with this? She didn't want any of this, even if she had been given a good match according to everyone else—it wasn't her choice!
"I can't do this…" she muttered in a low tone of voice. Soris had the gall to laugh.
"You had your chance to run, coward!"
Everyone kept reminding me I didn't. I should have still tried while I had the chance…
Aurora watched, still feeling sick and panicky as Valendrian took center stage for a short speech before the ceremony began. "Friends and family: today we celebrate not only this joining, but also our bonds of kin and kind. We are a free people, but that was not always so. Andraste, the Maker's prophet, freed us from the bonds of slavery. As our community grows, remember that our strength lies in commitment to tradition, and to each other."
The Chantry Mother stepped up, flashing Valendrian a smile. "Thank you, Valendrian. Now let us begin," she said pleasantly, facing the small group of four as she started. "In the name of the Maker, who brought us this world, and in whose name we say the Chant of Light, I—"
Soris suddenly went rigid as his eyes fell on something behind the Mother, and one by one everyone turned to see Vaughn returning with his two goons and even a full and well-equipped guard in tow. Aurora sent a quick glance around the immediate area, noting that Duncan was nowhere to be seen—they wouldn't have any help fighting back against whatever Vaughn was about to do.
"Milord! This is…an unexpected surprise," she said before Vaughn shoved a little boy to the ground, purposely walking up the steps to the stage.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mother, but I'm, uh…" Vaughn paused to laugh. "I'm having a party and we're dreadfully short of female guests."
The Mother made a disgusted noise. "Milord, this is a wedding!"
Vaughn laughed loudly. "If you want to dress up your pets and have tea parties, that's your business, but don't pretend this is a proper wedding." Vaughn looked around at everyone gathered a greedy, lustful look in his eyes. "Now…we're here for a good time, aren't we boys?"
The one who'd spoken up first after Vaughn had been knocked out earlier laughed. "Just a good time with the ladies! That's all!"
The one who'd called Aurora knife ears only laughed, obviously drunk, or at least tipsy. Vaughn surveyed the people there like they were goods at a market gesturing as he did so. "Let's take…those two, the one in the tight dress and…where's the bitch that bottled me?"
"Over here, Lord Vaughn!" Knife Ears Man called as he grabbed Shianni.
"Let me go, you stuffed-shirt son of a—" Shianni immediately started shouting, though Vaughn's loud laughter cut her off.
"Oh, I'll enjoy taming her!" He turned around, eyes resting on Aurora in her wedding dress. "And see the pretty bride…"
"Don't worry, I won't let them take you!" Nelaros tried to say firmly, but Aurora could hear the shake in his voice. At least he was trying.
"I can handle myself! We have to fight!" Aurora told him quickly and in a low tone while Vaughn approached.
"Ah, yes…such a well-formed little thing," Vaughn purred, seeming to undress her with his eyes. It made Aurora's skin crawl.
"You villains!" Nelaros spat, his anger clear. Vaughn only laughed.
"Oh, that's quite enough. I'm sure we all want to avoid further…um, unpleasantness."
Pleading would do no good, nor would bargaining, so Aurora went right for the threats. "Don't you dare touch me! I'll kill you," she promised, eyes ablaze. Vaughn laughed, apparently encouraged by the threat he must have thought she couldn't fulfil.
"This one has spirit! Oh…we're going to have some fun," Vaughn breathed, stepping away. Aurora had barely even registered that one of his goons had approached them before said crony backhanded her and she hit the ground hard enough that everything went dark.
