Don't Cry Da'len

The cool breeze gently swept across his face. Nature itself bid him a good morning. Staff in hand, he made is way through the forest. The sun breathed through the leaves above. Birds sang their soft songs. Dew dripped from the tips of leaves. This was his sanctuary, one so few could easily navigate where others would find only death.

This world was still new to him. Having recently woke a mere three months ago. There was much to learn and much to be done. Even so, his encounters with the Dalish left him discouraged. It must be fixed. The world needs to be fixed. Elves should not be that way. They're wrong.

'It was the only way,' he thought to himself as he wandered through the wilds.

"No," he whispered. "I cannot think of the past now."

The rustling of some bushes from behind gave him pause. He glanced back. Was he being followed? He waited but nothing happened. The moment he turned away the bushes shook again. Intuition told him that an animal was not behind this distraction. Slowly, he made his way to the noisy bushes.

He peered over them, and much to his surprise, saw a small elf child. She was covered in filth, and possibly dry blood. Even her blonde hair could be mistaken for brown. She was on her knees, as if she was trying to crawl through the foliage. She gave him a quick look and gasped. She stumbled to her feet and dashed behind a nearby tree. Hiding behind it, she peeked around back at him.

'What is a child doing out here alone?' He wondered. For a moment, they watched one another. Tears continued to stream down her face. She had been crying for a while, before he found her.

Solas took one step towards her. Immediately, she screamed at him.

"Stay away!"

Solas stopped, as requested. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"No..." She sniffed. "I'll hurt you."

"What is your name, da'len?" He asked, a way of changing the subject.

She rubbed her eyes with her fists. "Elora," she whimpered.

"That's a very pretty name. My name is Solas," he smiled and took another step forward.

"Stay back!"

Once more, he stood in his place. "Where are your parents, Elora?"

"With the clan..."

"Where's your clan?"

"I..." She whispered, "I don't know!" She began to cry more now.

"Are you lost? I can take you back to your clan." He took another step forward, just a few more and he would be face to face with her. She did not protest this time.

"Clan does not want me..."

"Why not?" He continued to make his way to her.

"I'm a monster..."

He knelt down before her. She hid her face against the tree.

"You don't look like a monster to me," he smiled.

She glanced at him and then shrieked. Fire flew from her hand, landing at his feet. It wasn't enough to be a threat, and it quickly died. However, she continued to wail at the sight of fire still burning in her hand.

That's when he felt it, his heartbreaking. He should have realized sooner the reality of the situation. The Dalish could be so cruel. It angered him so, yet he felt only sympathy for the child. How old is she? Five? Six? Far too young to be cast out. Left to fend for herself, likely to die alone in the harsh wilds. The Dalish claim to care for their own kind, but how can such claims remain true when they toss out one of their own? Revering magic the way that they do, yet the fear of mages remain.

Solas carefully placed his hand atop the fire in hers. Smoke escaped through his fingers, and the fire was gone. Astonished, Elora's eyes widened.

"Woah...how did you..?"

Solas chuckled, and in his hand he allowed fire to grow into a ball. Then he made it disappear into the air as quickly as he made it appear.

"You're dangerous too?"

"Yes, I suppose I am." He looked away, an attempt to hide the sadness he felt. He tried to push the thoughts of so long ago out of his mind.

"Did your clan not want you too?"

He looked back at her without answering the question. "I can teach you. No one will call you a monster."

"Really!?" Her eyes lit with excitement, the corners of her mouth almost touching her pointy ears.

"If you'd like."

"And then I can go back to clan! Be with Mamae again!"

Solas frowned. He knew. They would not take her back. They did not have the decency to explain to her that she could not return. That she could never see her parents again, see any friends she may have had again. The life she had among the Dalish was now gone.

"First, let's get you cleaned up. Are you hungry?"

"Oh! Yes please!" She grinned.

Using his staff, Solas pushed himself to his feet. "Come then."

He returned to his original path. Elora rushed to his side and grabbed two of his fingers. This startled him at first, but he returned the gesture by giving her and a light squeeze. With that, they continued on through the dense woods, together.

Note: This isn't the end of this story. Just the beginning. I do have an ending planned though. Maybe I'll write a few more chapters than I originally planned. Anyway, I hoped all who reads enjoyed this little story!