Dragon Age Origins : Original Fan-Fiction
Power of the Ring
Chapter One: The Reluctant Groom
It was a lovely day in the Alienage in Denerim, most of the elves were already up and about celebrating. For today there was to be a wedding, a double wedding in fact. It would mean new blood for the Alienage, it would mean a day to forget the troubles and difficulties of the oppressive life most lived within the Alienage's walls.
Inside a worn down house, Darrian Tabris slept as dead as a stone, his mouth wide open and one leg slipping from beneath the covers and off of the bed. Dead to the world, and unaware that the day he had been dreading had finally arrived.
"Cousin?" A soft voice called, tinged with a bit of micheviousness. Darrian just mumbled in his sleep, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. "Oh, Cousin!" The voice called a little bit louder, footsteps drawing closer. Still, Darrian did not seem to noticed, and if he had noticed, he was quite adept at ignoring the voice.
He did not feel the gentle pressure of hands on the sheet underneath him, nor did he see the smirk that graced his cousin's lips as she hefted the sheet out from under Darrian and sent him crashing to the floor.
"Yaa-aaaaahH!" Darrian shouted as he was forcefully awoken, limbs flailing as he was sent through the air only to land ungracefully on his ass. "Damn it, Shianni, was that necessary?" He grumbled, his eyes narrowed as he looked up at his cousin.
Wearing a satisfied smile, Shianni nodded. "Your father sent me to get you up. The way you sleep you're likely to miss the whole thing."
"What whole thing?" He asked, standing and rubbing where his hip had hit the floor. Darrian had begun to stretch when Shianni's reply knocked the wind out of him.
"Your wedding."
He let out a deep and resentful groan, than climbed back into bed, drawing the covers over his head. "Its not until tomorrow... Let me have a day of rest, will you?"
Shianni whipped these covers away from him as well. "The brides have arrived early. The wedding's today."
"I'm not going." Darrian stated simply, covering his flame red hair with a pillow as he rolled to face the wall.
"Come on, Cousin, its a day to celebrate!" Shianni leaned over him, shaking his shoulder. It was than the scent of wine hit his nostrils. His cousin had been drinking.
"Than celebrate. You've already started anyhow." He mumbled, still trying to drown out his inevitable future.
"Nevermind that, I've seen your bride. Soris's too. He's green with envy." Shianni smirked.
Darrian's ears perked up at the thought of Soris being jealous. He sat up and finally looked at Shianni. "So what, she's not a total cow than?"
Shianni chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course not cousin! Your bride to be is quite beautiful. Soris said she was. . . what were his words? Oh yes! A dream come true."
The elf scratched his jaw as he contemplated. Maybe this wasn't a total loss. At least he wouldn't be like that elvish woman Elva who was stuck with a waste of an elf as a husband."What about Soris? What about his bride?"
Shianni glanced away, attempting not to giggle. "She's. . . very nice. Lets just say you're lucky you have your father who was able to pay for a proper bride. Anyway, you're up. You should round up Soris and go and meet your bethroved. At least get a glimpse of her before the big day?" She sighed, looking wistful. "I wish it was my big day.."
"Than you marry her." Darrian retorted, glancing back at his bed as though considering the idea of climbing back into it. His cousin chuckled, shaking her head.
"You're not getting out of it, Cousin. Now get dressed, be a man." Shianni winked, than left his room.
Darrian sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. Why is my manhood based on this marriage? "Bah!" He grumbled, kicking out his foot and hitting his toe hard on his wooden bed frame. Cursing under his breath he removed his sleeping clothes and began to open drawers of his beat up old dresser. "Clothes, clothes, clothes. . " He mumbled, digging through the drawer. It took a moment before he noticed the clothes hanging on a nail in the wall. They were the finest garments he had ever seen, nicely tailored and made of soft silks with thick golden thread. He thumbed the material, looking at it in wedding clothes, I suppose. Well, my father does have good taste.
In a few moments he was dressed, looking rather dapper in those fine wedding clothes and his finest soft leather boots.
"Ah, you're dressed. Good." His father greeted him as he left his room. Darrian shot the man a rather cross look. "What? You don't like the clothes?" His father asked, feigning surprise.
"The clothes are fine. Its the reason for them." Darrian mumbled, acting a bit like a brat as he brooded. "Do I really have to go through with this? Can't just Soris get hitched?"
Cyrion shook his head at his only child, not disappointed but understanding. "Its a right of passage, son. Its a new beginning for you. You should be proud." The older elf furrowed his brow as he appraised his son. "I did my best to find you a bride to be proud of." He added, a hurt tone in his voice.
The young Tabris sighed, hiding his face in one of his palms. "I know, I know. Its just. . Not what I pictured. After hearing about how you and mother met.. an arrangement seems less than ideal..." Cyrion smiled understandingly as he placed a firm hand on Darrian's shoulder.
"I know son. I know."He said wistfully, thinking of Adaia,his deceased beloved, and how much he missed her. "Your mother would of had nothing to do with such an arrangement either. You are very much like her."
Darrian looked at his father, noticing the wistful glimmer in Cyrion's eyes, and a smile danced on his lips. "You've always said that. That I remind you of her with my sneaky sneaky ways." In response, Cyrion chuckled.
"I don't think I ever put it that way, boy, but yes. Its true. She taught you her skills well." He looked pained for a moment, his eyes darting to the doorway, than back to Darrian. "Perhaps. . it would be best to keep those skills between us, hmm?"
Darrian raised an eyebrow in confusion before comprehension dawned on him. "My bride to be doesn't know. And it could cause trouble if it was known that there was an elf good with a blade within the Alienage." He responded quietly, his head hung in despair. "Don't worry. I doubt it will come up. I've kept it hidden thus far, haven't I?"
"True, except for when you almost got caught picking the pocket of that noble lady who came through here." Cyrion added, his tone sharp and disapproving.
"She took those coppers from those hungry children! They would of had no supper if I hadn't dealt with that shemlen!" Darrian spit angrily, tightening his fists at his side.
Cyrion's gaze softened. "I know, Darrian. Now, enough of this. Go fetch Soris and lets start the celebration, hmm?"
Darrian sighed, a rather pathetic look crossing his face. "Do I have to?"
"Enough of the complaining, Darrian. Your bride to be is quite beautiful. And talented too. You will have a good future together, its all I can do for you."
All I can do for you
Those words echoed in Darrian's mind, ever since his mother was murdered by some filthy shemlens, his father had done everything he could for Darrian. He did remarkably well, considering how life could be in the Alienage. The young elf's brow furrowed, his devotion to his father fighting against his good sense.
"All right. Might as well get this over with. At least she's good looking." Darrian shrugged as he commented offhandedly, trying to give the impression that his father's words had not influenced his decision.
Cyrion smiled, lines crinkling by his eyes and the corners of his mouth as he watched his son depart the house.
"You're a brave boy, meant for better than this." He said to himself, his smile fading as Darrian left the house. "If only your mother was here. ."
Outside Darrian was greeted by other Alienage residents, wanting to take his hand and congratulate him on his big day. He put on a brave face, nodded quite a bit, though he wasn't quite sure what most of them were saying. Gah, I'm glad I only have to go through with this once. I don't even think I knew the last guy.. Darrian shook his hand in the air, trying to ease the stiffness that was caused by all those greetings. He turned to walk towards the Alienage's entrance, one of Soris's favorite haunts, when he heard some rambunctious laughter coming from an alleyway.
There was a small group of elves, he recognized the lot, they were the only ones that drank more than his cousin Shianni. At least she seemed to keep it to celebrations. The three men wobbled on their feet, raising their respective glasses and bottles in greetings as Darrian approached.
"Happy Birthday!" The one of the left cried out, shooting his hand in the air and spilling cheap ale down his front.
"You idiot, its not his birthday!" The middle one chastised, raising a hand to smack the back of his companion's head, but stopped midway through. "Wait. Is it?"
The last one shrugged, "We're celebratin' sumthin, ain't we?"
Darrian watched them for a moment, an amused smirk on his lips. "Certainly you are. But its not my birthday."
"Wha? than why are we drinkin'!" The left one cried out, looking strickin.
"Its my wedding day."
"OOOOOOOOOHHHHH" All three said in unison, than shooting nervous glances at each other.
"Aren't we.. supposed ya know..." The one on the right asked. "Ma pa said he got gifts on his weddin' day. . "
Darrian's smirk widened, and he resembled a cat who had ate a canary. "Indeed. And you three are fine, upstanding gentlemen. Certainly you wouldn't ignore such a tradition?" His voice took on a soothing, manipulative tone, the same tone he usually reserved for manipulating shemlen.
"Of course not!"
"We'd never!"
"Its just. . . . " They eyed each other again, than the spark of an idea lit in the middle one's eyes. "We thought money woulda been better. So ya can spend it how ya please."
The other two nodded in assent. "We have..." They took a quick tally of the coin between them. "We've got thirty bits. A good bit of coin, eh?"
Darrian crossed his arms, looking down his nose at them and sniffing in disgust. "Only thirty? I suppose it will do, though forty is that is usually expected in these affairs."
He than sighed heavily, glancing away as if he had been wounded.
The three drunkards exchanged glances nervously. "Ah. . 'ere. This oughta cover it than. Forty bits."
He couldn't help but smirk as his back was still to them, his face taking on a look of gratitude as he turned towards them and took the coin. "Thank you good sirs." Darrian than left them to their drinking, slipping the coin into his pouch. Well, maybe there is a plus to this wedding business after all. He thought as he continued down the path. It wasn't long before he came to the giant tree that grew in the middle of the Alienage. He stared up at it, wondering momentarily if it felt trapped like he did.
"Darrian?" A voice called to him, tenatively. He turned his head to see an older elven couple he did not recognize. He stepped towards them. "Yes? I'm sorry, but have we met?"
"I am Dilwyn, and this is my husband Gethon." The gray haired lady said, her eyes smiling. "We were friends of your mother's."
Gethon nodded, smiling kindly. "You look very much like her. We have been looking forward to this day."
"You. . knew Mother?" Darrian asked tentatively, unsure of if he had heard them right. He had never met a friend of hers from outside the Alienage.
Dilwyn nodded, and Gethon placed a hand on Darrian's shoulder. "Sure did. We've been saving a bit, for this day. We want you to have this." He placed a small coin purse in Darrian's hand.
Hardly noticing the weight of a sizeable amount of coin, Darrian continued to stare at Dilwyn and Gethon. "Can you tell me about her?" He asked.
"After the ceremony, we promise."
Darrian sighed, slipping the coin purse in his pocket. "I'll hold you to that." The couple chuckled as Darrian walked off.
Shortly after that, he stumbled across his cousin Soris. His darked haired cousin was looking rather glum when Darrian walked up to him.
"Ah, you're here. Shianni finally woke you?" Soris asked, the chuckle in his voice made Darrian sure that Shianni had already told Soris how she had woken Darrian up.
He rubbed his sore bum, grimacing. "Unfortunately. Wish I could've just slept through today."
"You and me both." Soris said with a shrug. "Your father wouldn't stand for it, though. He'd of dragged you out and strung you up like a scarecrow for the ceremony."
Darrian chuckled, picturing it. "That would be a laugh." After a moment he caught his cousin's eye. "So, Shianni says you've met them?"
Soris sighed deeply, his shoulders falling. "Yes, saw them arrive. You're a lucky guy, Darrian. Always have been."
He clapped Soris on the shoulder, a grin on his lips. "Its not luck, Cousin. Its skill." Soris pushed Darrian's hand off his shoulder.
"Your skill had nothing to do with this. Your father's money did. I have to deal with whoever the hahren could find for me."
"Yeah. . . I've heard." Darrian covered his mouth to stop from bursting out laughing. "Shianni says. . . she's nice? That's something?" Though he had been trying to reassure his cousin, Darrian failed miserably and Soris shot him a cold look and shoved his shoulder slightly.
"Yeah, she's nice. Come on, you should meet them." Soris said crossly.
"Can't I just wait for the ceremony? Enjoy my last moments of freedom?" Darrian asked, hopefully.
"Nope. Come on." Soris seized him by the arm and dragged him away. "Its not like I want to get married either. But its our duty. And if I have to do it, so do you."
"You've always like to share the misery, Soris." Darrian mumbled as Soris led him away.
"Oh! Soris!" An unknown female voice called, and the sound of quick footsteps warned of an approach. Darrian and Soris turned to see two elven lasses, one who dark haired whose looks reminded Darrian of a rabbit. The other was a graceful blonde, and Darrian couldn't help but smile as they were introduced.
"Darrian, this is Valora, my bride to be." Soris said as Valora bowed respectfully, giving Darrian a smile. "And this.." The blonde stepped forward, eyeing Darrian appreciatively, obviously enjoying what she was seeing. "Is Nesiara."
"I've heard a lot about you, Darrian. I am glad I've finally gotten to meet you." Nesiara said softly, fluttering her eyelashes. In response, Darrian reached out and took her hand, bringing the tips of her fingers to his lips and causing her face to go cherry red.
"Good things, I trust?"
"Of course, but they seem not to of done you justice." Nesiara said sounding pleased.
Valora giggled. "Come on Soris, lets let them talk a bit?" She pulled her groom off to the side and left Nesiara and Darrian with only each other as company.
"How was your trip? You are from Highever, right?" Darrian asked sounding genuinely curious.
His soon to be bride nodded. "It went well. I was travelling with a caravan that didn't have much, so the bandits were uninterested."
"Thank the Maker for that."
"Um... Cousin?" Soris asked out of the corner of his mouth. "Shouldn't we.. you know.. be going? To get ready?" It was quite obvious Soris was not comfortable, and was eager to get away. Before Darrian could reply that he wanted to see Soris suffer, Shianni came walking up the road.
"I'm here to collect the girls. We've got to get ready." Shianni said, surpressing a giggle when she saw Soris's relieved face.
"I'll see you at the ceremony Darrian.." Nesiara smiled as she gave him an alluring glance.
"What's this? A party?" A harsh male voice said loudly from behind them.
"Uh oh." Soris muttered as they all turned to see Bann Vaughn, the son of the Arl of Denerim, heading towards them. He was flanked by a pair of greedy eyed young nobles.
"Shemlen." Darrian muttered, narrowing his eyes in hatred.
"All these knife ears, out and about celebrating. Quite the sight. Am I to be entertained as well?" He asked, eyeing Shianni and the other girls in a way that made even innocent onlookers feel uncomfortable.
"Please, Ser, its a wedding. . ." Soris pleaded meekly.
"It's a party, isn't it? Grab a whore and have a good time!" Vaughn chuckled nastily and his companions joined in.
"This party isn't for you." Darrian said, stepping up to Vaughn and staring straight up into the human noble's eyes. "I'd suggest leaving."
"You know elves, every now and then they get this idea in their heads that they're people." Vaughn growled, than reached out and grabbed Shianni by the wrist.
"Let go of me, filthy Shemlen!" Shianni cried out, wrenching her arm out of his grasp.
"She's got spirit, fellas!" Vaughn said with a sick sort of pleasure. He reached out to grab Nesiara this time, but Darrian smacked his hand away.
"Your attentions are unwanted, shemlen bastard!" Darrian warned in a cold, hard voice. Behind him Soris hid his face in his hands, knowing this could not end well.
"You should learn respect, boy!" Vaughn raised his hand to strike Darrian, but instead there was a loud crash and Vaughn fell to the floor. Behind him stood Shianni, holding the remnants of the wine bottle she had broken on the back of his skull.
The other two nobles gasped and hoisted Vaughn up on their shoulders, retreating out of the Alienage.
"Shianni, what have you done!" Soris cried as Darrian remarked "Nice shot."
"That was Vaughn! The Arl's son!"
Shianni's face went pale and the rest of the bottle slipped from her grasp. "Oh no..."
Darrian threw an arm around Shianni, chuckling slightly. "He'd never admit he was taken down by an elf. A female no less."
Soris calmed slightly. "I suppose you're right. You should go get ready Shianni."
She nodded, looking relieved as color returned to her face. She than disappeared into a house with the brides and bridesmaids. Soris turned his attention back to Darrian, opening his mouth to speak but stopping as his gaze became fixed above Darrian's shoulder.
"Another Shemlen."
Sure enough, there was a man clad in a mismatched set of grey and white armor with two blades strapped to his back and a garish beard like the ones worn on the occasional drunkard that wandered into the Alienage was standing near the Hahren's home.
Darrian narrowed his eyes angrily and started towards this man. Soris hurried after him, urging caution. "Don't do anything stupid, Cousin.." he warned, but was dismissed with a wave of Darrian's hand.
"I'm dealing with this before there is any more trouble."
When they drew closer, it became evident that this man had a pompous bearing, standing as though he had every right to be there, intruding on elvish territory. His dark hair was graying at the temples and pulled back in a short pony tail. His face was grizzled and scarred, and his dark eyes eyed them curiously.
"You're not welcome here, Shemlen." Darrian said bluntly, not bothering to hide the barb in his voice.
"I have business here." The man replied simply, looking at Darrian a bit curiously. "Though I might of just found what I was looking for." When Darrian refused to back down the man continued. "Surely it has not escaped your notice that I am both armed and armored. Any fight between us would be rather one-sided."
"You have no business here." Darrian warned, taking a step closer.
"Duncan! Good to see you!" Valendrian, the white haired village elder, called out as he approached them.
"The courage to stand his ground against an armed man that is bigger than he. Quite the elf you have here, Valendrian." The man obviously called Duncan responded and Darrian stepped away.
"Duncan there is a wedding today, and these are the grooms to be." Valendrian said pleasantly, indicating Soris and Darrian.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know.." Darrian waffled, looking ashamed that he just threatened a friend of their elder. Damn it, Damn it. I'm an idiot. I know all shems aren't bastards like Vaughn..
"Its all right. I was not the most forth coming." Duncan smiled calmly, eyeing Darrian appreciatively. "You are Adaia's boy, are you not?"
Darrian blinked in surprise. "How did you-" He was cut off by the elder.
"This is his wedding day Duncan." There was a warning tone in Valendrian's voice that Darrian did not understand. Duncan backed down, nodding slightly.
"Of course. Don't let me ruin it." Duncan said in a tone that made Darrian know he had just been dismissed. Soris grabbed Darrian's shoulder, pulling him towards the dais.
"Come on, its about to start."
Darrian glanced over his shoulder as he was led away, his light blue eyes locking with Duncan's dark ones, and Darrian couldn't help but be curious.
Nesiara, Valora, Shianni and the other bridesmaids waited for them on the dais, as did a chantry priest.
"Ah, thank you for fetching my groom, Soris." Nesiara said, eyeing Darrian once more. "Seems I have hooked me a playful one. What fun that will be."
"Soris! I thought you'd run off!" Valora said, chuckling nervously.
"Don't be silly." Soris chuckled, just as nervously.
As they lined up on the dais, Soris by Valora's side, and Darrien by Nesiara's, Bann Vaughn thundered into the Alienage, with more than two lackeys this time, looking murderous.
As he and the other two nobles stormed onstrage, the Chantry Priest looked frightened.
"Please ser, its a wedding!" She pleaded, much like Soris had earlier.
"Ha! 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. Now we're here for a good time, aren't we boys?" Bann Vaughn chuckled, his eyes still bearing an evil glint as his companions chuckled as well, moving to surround the girls. "Let's take those two, the one in the tight dress, and... where's the bitch that bottled me?"
"Over here, Lord!" One of his companions called.
"I won't let you take them!" Anger welled up inside of Darrian Tabris, his fist balling at his side. In mid swing, his arm was caught by one of the lordlings, and Vaughn turned to face Darrian.
"I don't believe you have much of a choice." And with a swift backhand, Darrian went crashing down to the ground. The last sounds to reach his ears were of Shianni screaming as Bann Vaughn and his men hauled her and the other women away.
I will stop you... I won't let you hurt them...
And than he knew no more.