Nimara's Dream

Okay so this is my first foray into fan fiction and my first time writing for a good few years, so i will say now that i dont expect huge praise but please be gentle :) This is a project aimed at mature readers due to some of the subjects i have chosen to write about. This does not mean im writing a 200 page sex fuelled gorefest, but there will be some mature content.

I have based this story upon the origins of the alienage elf. I loved the game and this origin was the first to tug at my heartstrings. I have of course put my own spin upon the story as i didnt just want to write a synopsis of the game. Some dialog you will recognize from the game some you wont. You may find that a few characters have changed a bit (Like poor Nelaros not being such a wimp). I hope at least one person enjoys it as much as i am enjoying the writing. Any comments are of course welcome as is advice, i find encouragement of both kinds does inspire me to work at finishing a ptoject.

There was something to be said for the warmth of a bed and the comfort of deep sleep. That something appeared to escape her dear cousin this very moment in time. Shianni's voice batted playfully at Nimara's dream causing it to waver then shred like smoke as it began to slip away against the waking flood. She opened one catlike green eye and squinted up at her.

"Whazupn"?

"Oh yes, well that's an eloquent start", Shianni couldn't help but laugh as her cousin tried to sit up, this resulted only in her tangling her legs in the bedclothes further. She groaned and flopped back onto the pillows "Why in the name of the maker's undergarments did you wake me Shianni"

Shianni's grin widened impishly, "why surely my fair cousin, you have not forgotten such an important event, you have a big day ahead of you" Nimara opened both eyes this time and cast them at her cousin suspiciously, while her brain (currently consisting of dust and feathers)hunted about randomly for some idea as to what Shianni could possibly mean. Her head hurt and argued instantly that she stop all higher brain functions now lest it explode, she ignored it and tried to think. Last night might be a good place to start but all she could remember was a lot of ale, which in hindsight could explain the headache and the feeling that a Nug had slept in her mouth. She rumpled her currently mad looking hair

"Did…did we go to the tavern last night"

"We did indeed; you declared your last night of freedom to be upon you and insisted on dragging your bridesmaids to the pearl"

On hearing this Nimara hid her face in her hands, the pearl of all places….oh maker something else had just barged its way into her memory with all the delicacy of a constipated bronto.

"Was there…um did I….dance?" she peered through her fingers at Shianni.

"Oh yes there was dancing"

"Crap"

"On a table at one point"

"Oh maker….please tell me I didn't do the remigold"

"I would never lie to you dear cousin, sadly you were told to get down after the third verse" Shianni was trying desperately to keep her face passive, but the red hue slowly creeping up Nimara's cheeks was almost too much to bear. Meanwhile Nimara tried gamely to remember anything else, she hoped there was nothing worse than the remigold and a few drinks, the pearl was a brothel and Maker knows what could have gone….wait, last night of freedom??.

"Shianni would I be correcting in guessing there is to be a wedding today"

"Oh yes, and its going to be wonderful, there's going to be food and music and dancing, the alienage is all decorated, weddings are so much fun!" Nimara narrowed her eyes at her cousin, she couldn't tell if Shianni was being serious or just tormenting her.

"Oh bugger, its me, I'm getting married aren't I"

"Yes of course you are silly, that's why I've been trying to wake you, your betrothed has arrived early, Nelaros is in the alienage and he's dying to meet you"

"Oh crap"

Shianni's grin almost split her face in half as she watched the horror dawn on her face. The rare occasion she could secure such an expression on Nimara was well worth the effort, even this early in the day

. "Indeed fair cousin, and I'll also remind you that our dear cousin Soris will also be getting married, so unless you want me to pour cold water all over you get up, your love will not wait forever!"

Her shoulders shook with mirth as Nimara groaned into the pillow, it was indeed cruel to taunt her this way, but the cousins had always been close and this may well be her last opportunity to have the upper hand in a game they had played well over the years.

"If I start running now do you think id make it to the city gates before anyone spots me"?

Shianni cocked her head to one side as if to consider the question , "weeeell, your fast, I'll give you that much, however the chances of you being spotted are elevated slightly by the fact that your currently naked and your hair looks like its been savaged by a mabari". Nimara couldn't help but giggle as she visualised her 'betrothed" standing aghast while a pink and white blur streaked past him. Although being as she had yet to meet him she had to imagine the expression part.

"Come on Nim, time to get dressed, its not so bad, he's actually quite handsome, I managed to sneak a peek"

Nimara rolled her eyes, she couldn't care less if he was handsome, fat or bucktoothed, he would be the same as most city elves in Denerim's alienage. Either boring, loutish and drunk, or the other extreme, sweet dependable, and once again, boring. The idea of being married off to someone she had yet to meet never appealed to her and it wasn't gaining any popularity points right now. However plans had been made and a dowry already paid, and she had been swept along in the tide of tradition. The idea to run had occurred to her more than once but she could not embarrass her father or the rest of her family that way, she had her mothers wild streak but she loved her family and would cause them no pain. No, the dreams of the little blonde elfling wishing to be a great and noble warrior queen were a long time gone, but she had accepted this as only an alienage elf could when growing up, what right did she, a mere elf , have to aspirations of glory. They were no longer slaves, she mused as she got out of bed and washed in a basin, and yet every elf here knew that they were lower than dirt in the eyes of most humans, not that the Shem here skimped on reminding them now and again. Alienage elves worked as servants or labourers glory in war belonged in the fantasies of the young before they grew old enough to be ground down by the perpetual sneers and disgusted glances.

Shianni helped her into a simple but pretty wedding gown and fussed with her hair until it was up in a tight bun held with a jewelled pin which Shianni announced to be her wedding gift to her cousin.

"I hope Nelaros doesn't mind tattoos, at least you picked a pretty one, thank the maker I talked you out of the first one you chose"

Nimara's lip curled upwards into a smirk as she looked herself over critically in the mirror. The colour of her hair had long since drained from blonde to pure white, it was a pretty but harsh contrast to her green eyes and generous mouth. An intricate dalish design was etched over the brow of her left eye, a souvenir of her not yet buried wild streak. She had been told she was pleasing to the eye and fair of voice, if somewhat rebellious in trivial matters. By all accounts she was a good match, and if she were to believe her families praise, so was he. She stuck her tongue out at her own haughty reflection and took a deep breath, time to put away fancies of freedom and glory and take it like a girl!

"All right cousin I am as pretty as I am ever likely to get, to my doom I go, if you would be so kind as to play the funeral dirge in my wake..."

Shianni burst into another fit of the giggles and shoved her playfully towards the door.

"You had better find Soris on the way, he looked ready to bolt too last time I saw him"

Cyrion Tabris greeted his daughter in their kitchen with a warm but slightly sad smile. "Maker's breath but surely this cannot be my wild daughter so bedecked and ladylike." Nimara snorted and kissed his grizzled cheek. "Be thankful Shianni nabbed me before I could get a head start" Cyrion sighed and shook his head, but couldn't wipe the smile from his face, his daughter would continue to taunt him about her impending escape till the very last moment.

"Still as wilful as your mother was, and speaking of which, would you be so kind as to NOT scare off your groom by introducing him to your sword collection"

Nimara mock pouted but nodded an affirmation. As proud as she was of her mothers weapons and the abilities taught to her, she didn't think showing Nelaros her collection of 'pointy things' was likely to impress. However if her father expected her to fully ignore her training, well…what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. The training was all Nimara had left of her mother now, and she relished every drop of sweat, every muscle ache and small injury it yielded. To relinquish it was to say goodbye to who she was, and where she came from, and the king of Ferelden himself could not pry that particular prize from her.

She would miss living in this tiny house with her family, all alienage families were close , and she found herself wondering what it would be like to not wake up and see Shianni across the room from her, would mealtimes seem quieter without Soris taunting her about her love for dalish lore. She would not be far from them but all the same her eyes seem to be trying to drink in every detail, holding it to memory as tight as a baby will curl its fist round its parent's fingers.

Cyrion noted her gaze and chuckled, "come now young one, your groom is waiting and there is little chance of you escaping now" He clasped her hands gently and took a long hard look at her. Aye she was as fair as her own mother was there was no mistaking that, she was strong too and beneath that tough little exterior was a good heart, true her mouth tended to engage before her brain could provide such niceties as tact at times, but again this was another gift from Adaia, who at times was just as wild and wilful. It was hard to imagine that his little girl would soon no longer be a child, even harder to imagine her in Highever where he could not hear her throaty laughter or catch her expression when she found something particularly amusing. But all fathers must let their children go, he only wished her mother could see her now.

Nimara interrupted his thoughts "A chance is still a chance dear father"

Cyrion couldn't help but laugh, he hugged her once and then watched his child head for her new life.

The sun was weakly attempting to gain purchase in the watery sky but the alienage itself was bright and vivacious. Flowers and paper streamers decorated everything, lights hung from houses ready for the celebrations which would likely carry on into the evening. Food was being laid out and ale rolled in, not to mention copious bottles of elven wine.

"Oh well", she thought "if he's an oik I suppose I can drink till he's pretty"

She searched the crowd meaning to find Soris, and was distracted by a strange man, a human standing bold as brass and just as shiny, in the middle of all the bustle. He was receiving guarded looks from most of the other elves but remained relaxed and unconcerned. Then again with a sword and dagger strapped to his back he could well afford to feel safe amongst the servile elven folk. There was still resentment here against humans, and although Nimara was no racist she was well aware of all the nasty little things they got away with when they entered here, not that the elves were inept at dealing with the humans if they could get away with it. This heavily armed man could be trouble in the blink of an eye but he was in equal trouble if he made too many people nervous, a mob was deadly when its intent was to protect its own. With eyes narrowed and jaw clenched she made as if to move towards him, to do what, she wasn't yet sure.

"AUNTY NIIIIIIIM!"

Nimara turned to see several small children running across the alienage dodging bewildered elves and stacked tables, they were led by the smallest of them, a little elfling with bouncing curls the colour of a crow's wing. She was grinning wildly and had a small flower clutched in her hand which she promptly held up to Nimara. She smiled and bent down to the little girl, taking the flower and tucking it behind her ear.

"Lilleth my dear, have you and your little gang been good lately, no teasing the shem children, no midday raids on the markets fruit stall? "

The other children snickered wickedly, they had often been saved by Nimara or Shianni when they had been caught at various misdeeds within Denerim's market district, they found it highly amusing whenever Nimara scolded them because they knew all to well from their own parents, that the two cousins were just as bad if not worse when they were younger. But she had been their hero the moment she had stepped between a particularly nasty trader and little Lilleth. Poor Lilleth only 5 at the time had simply taken a pretty bead from a stall; the owner had flown into a rage intent on using a switch on the poor girl. Nimara had stepped between them catching the switch as it came down, it had given her a nasty weal on the palm of her hand but she had not budged, not a wince or hiss of pain escaped her lips as she glared at the trader. The man had backed down quickly from her gaze, Nimara handed him back the bead and the switch and had escorted the children home giving plenty of admonitions about the dangers of the market District along the way.

"Are you really going away Aunty Nim, for really real?"

Nimara nodded, I'm afraid so little one, I am to be married and carted away by my betrothed to Highever, I shall miss you a great deal".

Small tears appeared in the little elf's eyes as she stared up at her beloved hero, Aunty Nim defender of elflings and bringer of a defiant sort of justice. Nimara kissed the child's forehead and then leaned in close so only the little girl could hear her whisper.

"But I plan on escaping upon the back of a dragon and leaving for Antiva to have great adventures, I'll bring you back a real assassin of your very own"

Lilleth squealed and hugged her tightly, tears quickly forgotten at the prospect of such a present. She and her gang raced away down an alley leaving Nimara grinning after them. Once they were gone she tried to find the armed man again, but he was nowhere to be seen. She did however see Soris leaning against a fencepost looking a little pale. She did feel a little sorry for him, when you were unmarried you were still considered a child amongst the elves. Parents would choose a match for their children in order to help them progress to adulthood. Soris' parents had died a long time ago, and so it was down to the Alienage Elder to find a match for him. She could well understand his trepidation, like her he wasn't too keen on the idea of an arranged marriage but at least she would know that her father would have tried his best for the most compatible match possible.

"I don't suppose you fancy trying to leg it now"? She asked as she walked over to him.

Soris rolled his eyes " oh yes I can see it now, us running away and joining the Dalish to hunt deer and meet some handsome hunter….well you not me…I mean…hunters are good but id like one with girl bits…please"

He was fiddling with the embroidered shirt Shianni had no doubt wrestled him into that very morning, he looked about as comfortable as a nug at a dwarven barbeque.

"I don't know what you're complaining about anyway, by all accounts your groom is quite the catch, my bride sounds like a dying mouse"

"Then maybe you'll get her a cage as a wedding present"

Soris made as if to punch her arm "oh you are an evil…..uh oh this isn't good"

Nimara followed his gaze to the main gate in time to see three well dressed human men striding into the alienage. Their clothing screamed 'nobility' and the way one of them wavered on his feet, stumbling and pushing a small girl out of his way screamed 'drunk'. They had reached a group of young elven maidens, three of her bridesmaids; she could see Shianni's red hair among them. The tallest of the men laughed and began to shout, unmindful of who heard, they were human and nobility and therefore in control here.

"Looks like we have stumbled into a party"

His gaze fell on Shianni whilst his two fellows closed in on her other bridesmaids like hunters stalking deer.

"Well boys, grab yourselves a whore and have a good time, it's a day of celebration after all" He made a grab for Shianni who dodged out of his way but found herself backed up against a wall.

"Touch me and I'll gut you like a pig" She hissed, her eyes darting left and right, searching for an escape route or possibly a weapon.

An elf she knew vaguely from the local tavern stepped forward, "Please Milord there is to be a wedding today..."

He didn't get very far, one of the nobles lashed out striking the elf across the face and knocking him to the floor.

"Then this is most certainly a party isn't it, and we're here for a good time"

"Oh maker", Soris moaned, "that's Vaughan, the Arl of Denerim's son, this is going to get bad quickly". He saw Nimara start forward and grabbed her upper arm. " I know what's going on in your head , you cant get involved with these humans" He saw her eyes take on a certain shine that he had become accustomed to and knew his advice would be falling on deaf ears.

"Objection noted, now get out of my way, Shianni's going to get herself killed, you know her temper"

She began to stride towards the group, a petite lithe woman draped in a wedding gown with all the purpose of a golem undertaking an order. She hadn't got far however before Vaughan had already spotted her.

"Well well, get a look at this lovely little thing, and a bride no less, I wonder if her purity is as white as the dress she wears so well"

He swaggered over to her and looked down his nose as he took in her appearance. She stood glaring back at him, eyes bright and alert, chin lifted in clear defiance.

"You need to leave this very second, we..."

He laughed in her face, hand lashing out and closing around her throat, "do you even know who your talking to you little knife eared whore" Nimara's upper lip lifted in a snarl, her own hands came up to claw at the one around her throat, he laughed again and lifted her a few inches from the floor. He seemed to bring his head forward to kiss her but his attention was drawn away by Soris who seemed to be looking behind them and shaking his head at someone. Vaughan whirled round in time to meet the ceramic bottle hurled at him. He ducked in time to save his face but the heavy bottle cracked against his skull and Nimara was finally released as he collapsed instantly to the floor. Shianni stood over him, breathing hard between clenched teeth.

"PIG" she screamed, seeming on the edge of hysteria. She helped Nimara to her feet, her eyes never leaving the prone figure. They were wide and very afraid, she knew all to well the implications of what had happened here.

"Oh I really have gone and done it now" she whispered as the remaining lords dragged Vaughan away, all the while eyeing the elves with fear.

"He wont alert the city guards he wouldn't want to tell them an elven woman took him down" Soris said hopefully, but they all knew that a retaliation from a Denerim lord may not involve the proper authorities. Nimara massaged her throat and watched the nobles leave before turning to Shianni, "Look there's not much we can do now, so lets get ready, unless of course you plan on giving me a leg up over the wall and some leather pants" This raised a small smile from her cousin who took a deep breath and started to usher the other bridesmaids into their places.

"I would hope that I don't scare you so much as to escape"

She first took the speaker to be Soris and was ready with a quick remark, when she turned she was looking into the gentle smiling baby blues of another elven lad.

"Ah yes Nimara, may I introduce you to your groom", Soris's voice was honeyed and filled with laughter at her apparent surprise. Right now however she heard none of it, she studied her grooms face , his mouth, his brow, light blonde hair that curled around his shapely ears, a slightly nervous smile and eyes that seemed to be all for her.

"Well I guess looks might well count for something", she conceded to herself, her intent gaze had finally overcome the young elf and he blushed a deep scarlet.

"Well I suppose I should leave the loving couple alone before the ceremony" Soris remarked grinning his ass off.

"Considering I can see Valora heading this way it seems you have a meeting of your own" Neloras replied smartly, Soris stopped grinning , wiped his forehead and left to meet his bride.

Nimara was still looking at Nelaros and smiling, so he had a sense of humour, and he was certainly handsome in a home spun sort of way, those muscled arms gave away his blacksmithing heritage, he was definitely, well, broader than most alienage lads, and oh maker she was damned if he wasn't standing there giving her the same appraising look as she was to him. To her wonder and perhaps a tinge of shame she felt her own blush starting, and given her pale skin he could probably see it. Calm yourself woman, she thought to herself and composed her gaze to look at him once more. If she were to be married off perhaps there was a chance of potential with his match. He caught her looking again and stepped closer, but not enough to invade what she thought of as her 'personal space barrier'.

"I apologise that I was not here soon enough to stop that oaf from harming you, I was ambushed by my family about preparations and only got here in time to see your cousin disarm him" he looked down at his feet, she could see him struggling with a hundred questions about what had happened. To give him his due he seemed to decide that now was not the time and instead looked up and gave her a smile that warmed her to the soles of her boots. Nimara felt herself panic. She was talented at many things, blades, unarmed combat, lock picking and stealth. She could perform most alienage work as well as any man. And yet she had not put one toe into the world of romance and what she was feeling now was a little frightening.

"You dropped this" he held out the small flower that Lilleth had brought her, it must have fallen when Vaughan grabbed her. She opened her hand to receive the flower but he leant forward and carefully threaded its stem into her hair, being extraordinarily careful not to touch her delicate ears. While he did this she was busy being aware of how close he was to her. A small breeze drifted past them, bringing his scent to her. The sharp but pleasant smell of burning wood, wild grass, a slight hint of steel and below that the smell of his skin. She breathed him in, and to her surprise a small shiver raced along her spine.

"Are you nervous"?

Her brain screamed " Yes , I'm marrying you today , I'm leaving the only home I have known along with my family and all I can do at this moment in time is wonder what you look like with your shirt off, and I'm also wondering what the hell I do when it is!"

Thankfully her mouth translated it into something less likely to make her wish for a convenient hole to fall into.

"I was until I saw you",

She watched him blush again and couldn't help but slip her hand in his, it was warm and shaking slightly so she gave it a gentle squeeze. It was at this moment she finally let go of her reservations about the whole situation, this would happen one way or another, she could kick and scream all the way if she chose or she could trust that her father and accept that Nelaros was a good man who would certainly try to make her happy. As they stared at each other , the silence not quite awkward, she tried to fix in her eyes what she wanted to say. She knew there were reservations, and that it would take time for them to really know each other, but maker willing she was ready to try, and if love were allowed to bloom so be it. She wasn't all steel inside. There was space for such emotion as love though she guarded it as bravely as any mother bear protecting her cubs.

A metallic gleam caught her eye and she spotted the stranger once again, his demeanour had not changed since the exchange with the lords, he seemed to stand as if he belonged there. Nelaros followed her gaze and placed a hand on her shoulder, almost as if to restrain her, but still unsure of his would be bride he did not pull her away.

"He shouldn't be here," she muttered, "there has been enough trouble today and eventually someone is going to take offence to him being here," she eyed a few lads who had decided to 'celebrate' early as she said this.

She touched the hand at her shoulder gently and tried to smile with reassurance, "I promise I shall be diplomatic, it's just best if he wasn't here" With that she dropped his hand and went to meet the armoured stranger.