"A Journey's Path"
Written by: Toni the Mink
Commissioned by: Azalon
Dragon Age and all related indica © Bioware
Aidan, Elandil and all other fancharacters © Azalon

A/N: This was a story asked for by a Dragon Age fan, who asked it be about her characters. While this is OC-centered, official characters will be making appearances as well.

Also, I have never even HEARD of Dragon Age until Azalon came up and asked this story from me. So if anything comes off incorrect or any official character comes off Out of Character, please forgive me. ^^; You may also give suggestions or correct me in some places.

"Stop! Come back here, thief!"

Aidan did the exact opposite and ran away faster, his loaf of ham tucked tightly under his arm. Well, not his ham exactly. But those bounty hunters were stock full of food! He didn't think they'd miss it too much.

Apparently, he was wrong.

"I said come back!" the mercenary screamed as he gave chase, "That's mine!"

"You can spare it, can't you?" the quick-footed teen street rat grinned as he jumped up the side of a building and launched off over a tall fence. The bounty hunters raced after him, not nearly as nimble as the agile boy, and struggled to climb over. This gave Aidan the head start he needed.

"Stop him!" the hunters cried, grabbing the attentions of some other Samaritans, "He stole our food!"

Great, at this point, the town guards were going to want to get involved. He was no stranger to them. Damn selfish hunters, always wanting their bounties AND every little bit of food. Aidan couldn't help being a poor boy, forced to steal in order to survive….

Okay… he could've gone for the loaf of bread rather than the ham, they probably wouldn't make so much of a fuss. Then again, they are greedy bounty hunters, they would've hunted him down as well for the same thing. May as well spoil himself.

Crash! The hunters broke down the fence. Won't be long before they catch up. Aidan ducked into the nearest alley and dove behind a row of barrels…

"Away with you!"

Aidan jumped back in shock. He certainly was not expecting an elf to be hiding in the exact same spot.

"Whoa, sorry…" he breathed, "What are you doing here? Why are you hiding?"

"I said away!" the elf hissed, holding up a broken piece of wood as a defense mechanism, "Or I'll spear your heart, human!"

Despite the threat, the elf didn't look the least bit intimidating. He was short, thin, frail, and very much exhausted. Poor thing probably hadn't eaten in days…. Aidan didn't have it in his heart to fight, or even argue with the creature.

"Easy, easy, I'm not going to hurt you," Aidan said softly, "I'm trying to hide from these hunters…"

"Hunters?!" the elf's eyes went wide with fear. "No… not the master's hunters!"

"What..?"

"You!" the elf lunged forward, but wound up staggering forward, nearly toppling onto Aidan. The teen grabbed him by the arms to keep him steady. "Unhand me, human!"

Aidan stepped back a bit, though held his arms out slightly in case the elf was about to fall again. "You… You led them here… I can't be caught… not now..!"

"You're on the run..?" Aidan asked.

"I cannot return to him! He'll kill me!"

"Who?"

Aidan twisted his head at what sounded like a stampede. "I thought I saw him go that way! Quickly men!"

"Oh great…!" Aidan turned back to the elf, who didn't lower his wood. He stepped forward, took a hold of the elf's shoulder with one hand and grabbed the arm holding the wood with the other. He began pushing him back.

"I said unhand me!" the elf struggled to break free, but in his condition, it was for naught.

"Shush!" Aidan cried, "And stay down!" He pushed him down behind the barrels, made sure he was covered completely, and then rushed outside the alley, right in front of the bounty hunters. "Looking for me?"

"Grab him!"

Aidan was out of reach before the group of hunters could even grab for him. The street rat led the hunters down the road, peeking over his shoulder to make sure every one of them were following him and away from the elf. Good, they were!

Only… now they're all chasing him. Great! Now what?

Aidan turned a corner, and screeched to a halt… right in front of him were a line of Kirkwall's best guards. Just his luck…

Wait, their backs were turned! They were occupied with something else. Aidan wasn't sure what it was, but he used it to his advantage. As the band of bounty hunters rounded the corner, Aidan ducked against the building nearby and pressed himself against the wall, trying to make himself as less noticeable as possible.

Unprepared for the line of guards in front of them, every single hunter ended up crashing into them. They all toppled over each other in a large dogpile. Curses were exchanged, punches were thrown, the guards were not the least bit happy being bowled over by a bunch of hunters. The hunters on the other hand were befuddled and confused by what happened, and the thought of now being arrested was on the forefront of their minds. In all the midst of confusion, Aidan was able to slip away and return to the alley.

"You okay?" he asked as he peered behind the barrels. He jumped back once more as the elf lunged forward with his wood. "Whoa, easy!"

"Away with you…" the elf murmured, wavering from left to right before his legs suddenly gave out and he collapsed to his knees.

"This is the thanks I get for saving you..?" Aidan muttered, "Hey, you sure you're okay?"

"I do not need you to help me…" the elf muttered, "Away…"

"Look, I don't want to hurt you…"

"Lies… All you humans are the same. We elves are not that much different than you, yet you look down upon us, make us your slaves, treat us like dirt, kill us when you feel threatened…." The elf leaned forward, catching himself on his hands.

This elf had a bad attitude, Aidan thought. But still… he couldn't just leave him there. "Not all humans are like that," Aidan assured. Hopefully, he could convince the elf to allow him to help. "I for one never really met an elf. But I don't have anything against them. Can you stand?"

He offered a hand, but the elf weakly brushed it away. "I'm fine…" he went to stand, but toppled over once more.

Aidan knelt by him. He didn't touch him, but was close enough to just offer assistance if needed. "You said those hunters are after you, right?" he asked, "You're on the run, aren't you?"

"It's none of your concern," the elf spat, slowly raising himself back to his feet and struggling to walk out the alley, only to be pulled back by the street rat. "What are you doing?"

"It's getting late, but it's still bright enough to see clearly," Aidan responded, "Roaming elves will stick out like sore thumbs, especially those being hunted…" he narrowed his eyes at the elf. "I don't mind elves, but not everybody is like me. You won't last a minute. How you got here by yourself is a wonder."

"It's none of your business," seethed the elf as he went to walk, but suddenly jerked upright and fell to the side, falling onto Aidan who caught him.

"Easy there!"

"Excuse me…"

There was a suddenly growl… Aidan glanced round for the source, as the elf looked downwards in shame. Once Aidan noticed this, he realized the growl came from the elf's stomach. "When was the last time you've eaten anything?"

"I was waiting for the right moment to move…" the elf replied, "Sneaking around town isn't easy. There are too many people everywhere…"

"You certainly don't know Kirkwall like I do. I can get you out, but you are in no condition to do any traveling. I know a place you can stay for the night."

"I don't need your help…"

"Yes you do. Shut up," Aidan looked around himself, finally spotting a bed sheet a story or two above his head on a clothesline. He jumped on one of the barrels, scaled the wall a few inches, and leapt to the air, snatching the sheet off the line. He covered the elf from head to toe, so that only his face showed through.

"Why are you helping me..?" asked the elf.

"Because I don't have anything against elves, remember?" Aidan grinned, "Like I said, not all humans are the same…"

The elf stared hard at Aidan… and his stomach growled once more, loudly, and enough to almost buckle his knees. He was hungry, he was weak, and he was at this boy's mercy.

"… Very well… Lead the way…"

Living on his own, stealing what he needed, basically being a street-wise urchin, Aidan had all the skill he needed to sneak through town without being spotted, to where the emptier parts and abandoned houses were. The perfect place for Aidan to hide, and to call "home" of course.

"Make yourself at home," Aidan said, as he lit a few candles to give light for the small house.

The elf couldn't do that. It felt a bit awkward for the elf to be in the human's home. Everything he was doing for him contradicted his beliefs on how humans treated elves, not to mention his own treatment… And yet this human boy had not only helped him escape the hunters, but went so far as to open his home for him.

"Something on your mind?" Aidan asked, noticing the puzzled look on the elf's face.

He blinked in response. "Oh… no… Just…" the elf glanced away, "… Thank you…"

"Anytime," Aidan smiled as he went to a large basket up against the side of the room with a plate.

The elf pressed himself against the wall, and slowly slid to the floor. "Out of curiosity, human…" spoke the elf, "Now that you have taken me and brought me to your home… What do you plan to do with me?"

"Well, for starters, I'm going to feed you," Aidan responded. He approached the elf with a plate full of ham, and some bread rolls. "Eat up."

"You're… feeding me?" the elf blinked, astonished.

"You haven't eaten in days. You need to eat. Go on, take it."

"But were you not saving this ham for yourself? You went so far as to steal it from a bounty hunter…"

"You need it more than I do. Now eat."

As if following orders, the elf took a chuck of ham and stuffed it into his mouth. He would have minded his manners if he wasn't starving and was rather welcome with the food.

Aidan chuckled at this. "You really haven't eaten in days," he said, "Go on, take as much as you'd like."

The elf stopped himself from stuffing a roll in his face. "But you don't have much in supply… What will you eat?"

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

The elf glanced downwards. "No one has ever been this kind to me…"

Aidan sat across from the elf, careful to keep his distance, not because of any fear or hate, but out of respect. This elf was abused in the past, he could easily tell that. He was even willing to risk his life to keep as far away from Aidan as possible… Aidan knew he needed to play it safe if he wanted to help him.

"Hmmm…" he leaned forward, resting his hand on his chin and studying the elf before him.

The elf flinched backwards slightly. "What is it…?"

"It just occurred to me… I never got your name."

The elf blinked. "You want to know my name..? Do you really care that much?"

"Care?" Aidan gave a puzzling look. "Well, I care about your well-being… but, I mean, I'm just curious."

"Oh…" the elf lowered his head, "You were nice enough to help me and be so kind…. I at least owe you my name. It is Elandil."

Aidan nodded. "I see… Where are you from, Elandil?"

Elandil casted a sideways glance. "I lived outside of town, with my master…" he shuddered at that last word, "He was not nice to me… I was a slave since birth… Only now was I able to escape, before he could kill me…"

"You're safe here, I promise," Aidan smiled.

"Thank you, human…"

"Call me Aidan."

"Very well… Aidan…" Elandil bit off a piece of his roll. "Thank you for your kindness. I will repay you somehow…"

"That's not my concern," said Aidan, "I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Though I have been a slave all my life, I have learned many things about the relations between elves and humans… We are not different from you, yet you treat us like lesser beings…"

"Hey, I don't personally!" said Aidan, "Like I said, I have nothing against elves. You're just as human as- er, I mean, you're as much a living person…" Aidan shook his head, fumbling over his words, "Uh… living being as I am."

Elandil gave a small smile. "I wonder if you really are that naïve… or just pure hearted."

Aidan gave a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't get much of an education myself," he said, "I was poor all my life, you see… I was only twelve when I lost my parents to the Blight... Been on my own ever since. I don't have time to be ignorant when I'm just trying to survive."

"Yet you go out of your way to help another," said Elandil, "You are certainly different from other humans."

"Hey, just trying to be a good citizen," Aidan got up from the floor. "You need anything else?"

"I… I'm okay…"

"All right then. It's getting late. Let's hit the sack."

"…. Aidan?"

The teen glanced over. "Yeah?"

"I hate to ask this… You've already done so much…" Elandil looked up at Aidan in the eyes, "But would you be willing to help me out of town? I want to get as far away from here as possible, away from my… my master…"

"Where will you go?"

"Anywhere but here…"

"Come on now, you need a safe place."

"Not that I don't appreciate everything, but I don't want to stay here long."

Aidan sighed. "I understand…" he scratched at his head. "Well… this IS this other place I heard of…"

"A place?"

"Not sure where or what it, but I know it's where wild elves gather. You'll be safe among them."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. I promise."

Elandil gave a sincere smile. "Thank you…"

"Right now, get some rest. You've been running long enough."

The elf nodded, and went to lay on the floor.

"Hold it," called Aidan, walking over to the bed and clearing space.

"What are you doing?"

"Here," Aidan patted the bed, "Sleep here."

Elandil sat back up. "Your bed?" he asked, "No, I couldn't… you've already done so much…"

"I don't sleep here every night," said Aidan as he gathered some other sheets from the corner and placed them in the middle of the floor. "I'm used to sleeping on hard grounds. Take the bed and take a load off. You look like you really need a good night's rest."

"Are… are you sure?"

"For the millionth time, yes! Now come on!"

Elandil nodded quickly and went over to the bed, his own sheet still wrapped around his body. As he laid down, Aidan pulled the covers over him. "Good night. Sleep well, my friend."

Elandil smiled. "Yes… Thank you…"

Aidan grinned in response before going over and snuffing out the candles, engulfing the house in total darkness. Elandil could hear him approach the center of the floor, dig into his pile of sheets and making himself comfortable.

He was nervous at first and found it hard to sleep. After a while, however, he heard a faitn snore coming from the floor. Aidan was sound asleep, and with that innocent noise, Elandil knew he had nothing to worry about.

"….My friend."

Elandil then fell asleep with ease.