A/N: I just wanted to say that this is my first real fanfic, so comments are greatly apprieciated. I hope you enjoy it.
Update 1: I felt that the first chapter here was way too short and that I left alot of details out. So, I expanded on it. I hope it's a much better read now.
Chapter 1: The Torn Viel
"Wake up cousin!" a red haired elf demanded loudly. "It's your wedding day! Did you plan on sleeping till noon?" The elf was shouting to another who was sleeping rather heavily on a small framed sleeping elf was also a stirred slightly at the shake of her cousin.
"...5 more minutes..." the sleepy elf said. "I don't care what today is I'm tired Shianni..."
"If you don't get up now I will get the ice water again." said the elf named Shianni."One...Two...Three!" At that moment Shianni grabbed the blankets underneath the sleeping elf and pulled, hard.
*Wham!* the elf fell to the floor with a hard thud.
"I warned you Kyra..." Shianni said trying to stop laughing.
The elf named Kyra was still flat on the floor where she fell, with a disgruntled look on her face. "Alright, alright I'm up! Did ya have to do that Shianni?" Kyra said.
"Well hurry and get your dress on then. You need to find Soris so you can both be ready. I'm going to get my dress and join the other bridesmaids, I'll see you out there." Shianni said with a sincere smile. She gave Kyra a hug and then ran outside.
Kyra gave a sigh and wondered about the events that would come. She changed into her dress and got ready. If she was to be married then she was sure to at least look her best, especially in her beautiful wedding gown. She then put on her mother's leather boots, a git from her father earlier that day.
Kyra then walked to the door ready to be married. Only...nothing could prepare her for what was to come. Nothing...
Kyra was covered in blood. Most of it wasn't hers, but she was also cut-up. Still though, if she was in pain she didn't show it at that moment. She was worried about something else...Someone else. Tears were streaming down her face like a raging river. Her cousin lay on the floor beaten, battered, and broken. And the man who did it to her lay dead by her blade. She dropped her daggers and fell to her knees by her cousin.
Shianni was quivering on the floor where she had been the moment Kyra barged in. The bastard had raped her, they both had known that. He was about to do worse when Kyra had saved her. "...Cousin...is that you?" Shianni was still disoriented but tried to hide it.
Kyra couldn't stand it, her cousin lying on the floor quivering with fear. "I'm so sorry Shianni...I-I..." She couldn't even speak anymore, she had been crying so much. "I'm sorry.."
"Did you kill them?" Shianni asked tearfully. "All of them?"
"Like dogs Shianni" Kyra said. "Like dogs...I'm gonna get you back home. No one is ever gonna touch you again, I swear. I'll always be there to protect you... Always."
It had taken them awhile to get back to the alienage. They knew the guard would be coming right away. Kyra had just murdered the Arl's son. However, she didn't care. Soris had taken Shianni to Kyra's house to be looked after, while Kyra stayed behind to explain what happened to the Elder.
"I did what I had to Elder," Kyra said without a tone of remorse."What would've happened if I didn't make it there at all?"
The Elder sighed."I know your intentions were noble Kyra...you really are just like your mother. I don't think she would have wanted you in danger like this. I have a great fear that the conseque-"
"I know Elder..."Kyra said in a monotone."I know what my punishment will be... You don't have to lecture me anymore, I'm ready to accept it."
"I see," said the Elder."You were always a brave one Kyra..."
Before the Elder could say anymore a scrawny elf boy came running up shouting that the guard was coming. He tried to direct some of the elves on the streets to their houses but to no avail. Immediatly the guard captain spotted the elder and approached him, flames burning in his eyes. Kyra simply stood near the Elder and watched almost with a bored expression on her face.
"I want to know who is to blame right now Elder, or I will burn this entire alienage to the ground!" shouted the guard Captian.
"And what exactly would it be that needs responsibilty taken for Captain?" the Elder said.
"You know damn well what I speak of Elder!" the Captain shouted. "I want to know who is responsible for this murder!"
All around many of the alienage elves were now cowering in fear trying to find the highest or darkest places to hide and still watch the unfolding event. No one seemed to want to make a single movement for fear that the guards may take them.
Kyra stood her face becoming slowly angrier as she looked at the rest of the guardsmen. She saw how they all looked at her fellow kin,she could tell what they were thinking when they looked at a female elf. She closed her eyes and drew a single breath. As soon as she opened them her face looked as if it were made of stone.
"I did it!" shouted Kyra. There was a look of pure asonishment from half of the guard's garrisson and the entire group of Elves that had gathered around them, trying to find out what was going to happen. "It was me, only me.I killed one of my guard escorts, took his weapon and killed everyone else."
"You expect me to believe one bloody knife-ear killed the Arl's son and his entire group of bodyguards!" shouted the Captain, staring directly at Kyra
"We are not as helpless as you think Captain." said the Elder.
The Captain considered his situation for a second, as if he was contemplating the easier option. Finally he decided. "Well I respect your bravery knife-ear, but I do not admire your punishment."said the Captain."Very well, grab the knife-ear and bring her along. She will wait in the dungeoun until her punsihment is decided. You boys can do with her as you wish until then."
The look on Kyra's face could still be considered stone-like. Yet she did not look angry. For that matter she didn't look like she was feeling anything at all. Then she shivered, as if she zoned out of the situation. As she looked at the guards approaching her she grew angry once again. It must have been the look on their faces.
At that moment a tall dark-skinned man in shining white armor stepped forward out of the elven crowd. No one realized he was there.
"I'm afraid I have to step in here Captain." said Duncan, the Grey Warden whom everyone seemed to forget was standing there watching the scene unfold.
The Captain once again looked frustrated. "This is not your conflict Warden, what could you possible have to add to this matter?" asked the Captain.
" I hereby conscript this young elf into the Grey Wardens. She is to be released into my custody and I will be responsible for her from this point on." said Duncan, as Kyra looked up at him with a rathewr blank and curious expression.
The Captain's head looked like it was about to explode. His whole face was red. He wanted to shout at this Duncan, but in the end he decided the matter was out of his hands. "Very well Warden, but I want her out of this city by tonight!" shouted the Captain, a tone of spite in his voice."She is no longer welcome here!"
"Agreed." said Duncan.
The Captain pulled his men out and the Alienage breathed a sigh of releif once more.
"Gather your things Kyra, we leave immedialty," advised Duncan." You can say your good-byes and then we head out to Ostagar"
To be honest Kyra didn't really know what had just happened. As she figured it out in her head her expression returned to a solemn carved look. Her mouth seemed to be a straight horizontal line. She didn't exactly know how to respond to Duncan, but she did know that he had just saved her life.
"Thank you Duncan, I suppose I owe you my life." Kyra said with a tone of indifference. "Give me 5 minutes and I will meet you by the gates."
As Kyra walked through the alienage she could think of nothing. She felt no remorse, no grief for leaving her entire life behind. There was nothing left for her here. She was always different, they always had this look they gave her, now it didn't even matter. As she walked through the Alienage she heard them. Some of her fellow elves thanked her for standing up to the shems. But many simply gave her looks of disgust. "Bout time they find a way to get you out of here, you were always trouble." Thats what most of them said. Yet as she walked toward the Vhenadahl she didn't care anymore. And she started to feel cold oncemore. Then she noticed her cousin Soris running up to her.
"Hey Cousin! I can't believe you took all the blame for that, you saved alot of people today." said Soris. "Shianni asked about you, she wants to see you before you set off."
That was when Kyra felt a tear in her eye. She knew what Shianni felt right now. And It was her fault for not being fast enough."I can't do it Soris, I can't face her, it's all my fault. Tell her I'll miss her and to stay safe..."
Before Soris could respond, Kyra had already taken broke into a sprint toward the gate until she saw Duncan standing there.
"There you are, is everything set? Are you ready to go then? asked Duncan.
"Yes Duncan I'm ready, and thank you again." responded Kyra trying so hard not to show the strain in her voice. Duncan had noticed her running toward the gate, but made no notion to bring it up. He also noted the tone of her voice."Alright, lets set out then." said Duncan.
They set out immediatly. Kyra didn't look back until they were far from the city. At the makeshift camp they had made to sleep for the night before continung there journey to Ostagar, all Kyra could do was stare into the dimly lit campfire. All the while twidling a bloody ring between both her hands, and a single tear running down her expressionless face as she thought of what was supposed to be one of her happiest days.