By the fucking Maker do I hate shems.

Kaya Tabris was, as usual, pissed off. She watched her targets from the rooftops, eyes furious and teeth clenched. A group of humans were visiting each household in the Alienage, collecting taxes. Taxes that each elf in this dump almost killed themselves to get from the meagre wages they were paid as servants. She took a swig out of her bottle, the alcohol burning in the back of her throat. So far these shems hadn't physically hurt anyone. But Kaya would watch. If those fucking shems laid a hand on any elf...they'd be spitting bloody teeth so quick they wouldn't have the time to say 'back off knife-ear'.

When they moved on, so did she, following them silently above. She had done this so many times it wasn't even remotely funny. And the last time she had, those shems did make the mistake of hurting an elf. Unfortunately for her, the humans she very nearly disfigured came back with guards, and they very nearly killed her. She eyed the purple bruise on her arm, a gross contrast to her pale skin. She survived. She persevered. Rinse and repeat.

She made a promise that she probably couldn't keep. Her father had burst into tears when she came back home that day, bloody and beaten. Her heart wrenched at the memory, guiltily squeezing the bottle in her hand. But she had to do this. She had to make sure. No more elves to be dragged off and never seen again. The alcohol burned in her mouth.

When the shems finally left, Kaya took a final gulp from her bottle. "I need a drink," she muttered, getting up to climb down.

She was greeted cheerfully by everyone in the pub, all faces she saw on a regular basis. All of them drinking buddies, many of them bedmates. She sat beside a bunch of her oldest friends, motioning towards the barkeep for a drink. "Hey losers," she grinned, her eyes glancing around the rest of the pub, "you guys seen my cousins?"

"Not today," the elf beside her shook his head, then he grabbed the empty bottle she had still been holding. "Shit, Kaya, were you drinking on the roof again? You're gonna get yourself killed, and not by shem. By snapping your neck."

"Oh fuck off," Kaya snarled, "I'm not an idiot. Takes way more than this to get me tipsy."

"Yeah, yeah, sure," he waved a hand, "hey, your dad came in here earlier looking for you. Seemed urgent."

"Dad did?" she asked, to no one in particular. "Guess I better go see him. Thanks."

She gave a playful slap on her friend's back, leaving the pub as quickly as she could. She sped down the alleyways and streets, avoiding the garbage scattered everywhere. Her house was a dingy thing, the roof in dire need of repair and the steps old and broken. Home sweet home and all. "Dad, I'm here," she called through the open door, taken aback immediately by the sight of her two cousins sitting in the living room. "Woah. Have you two been here all day?"

Soris, brown haired and dorky, said nothing. It was Shianni who grinned, her flaming red hair a target for the eye. "Sort of," she said. "We've been waiting for you."

She sat lazily between them on the lumpy couch placed in the middle of the room. "That's not creepy at all," Kaya laughed, relaxing in her seat. "What's going on?"

"You're getting married," a voice said beside them, her father leaning against a doorway.

Kaya blew a strand of jet black hair out of her eyes. She hadn't really processed what he said. "What now?"

"You're getting married," he repeated, moving to stand in front of them. "Soris is too. You two will have a double wedding."

"What the fuck?" Kaya gaped, not bothering to watch her language around him. Soris shifted uncomfortably beside her.

"Language," he warned mildly, but he shook his head. "I'm sorry to spring this on you so suddenly, dear, but it's just...with what happened with you and...those guards...it's time for you to settle down."

Kaya groaned. She knew that this day would come sometime but...this was way too soon for her. "Are you serious?" she scolded him, "were you ever going to, you know, plan this with me?"

"This is our way," he reminded her gently, not minding that she was giving him a hard time about it. "You knew this day would come. And I...I fear for you. It won't happen for a few months, but that will give us the time to prepare. Marriage will give you a little more protection from the humans."

"I don't need protection from those assholes," she snarled hotly.

"Yes! Yes you do!" her father shouted, but it was desperate instead of commanding. "They almost killed you, Kaya! And I know you still watch them! Please, Kaya, I'm begging you, listen to what I am saying. I don't want to lose you like your mother...I can't."

Kaya's heart caught in her throat, her hand squeezing the couch. That was still raw for the both of them. "Sorry dad," she said quietly. Then she grinned slightly. "It's just...can you blame me...us? Soris and I are kind of what we call 'mega hotties' and we have a reputation to uphold."

Soris choked and her father and Shianni laughed. "I know, I know," her father smiled, rubbing his forehead, "this isn't easy for you. It certainly wasn't when I had to...but I promise it is worth it."

They talked for another few hours, going over what to expect and reassuring that everything will be alright. When her father left, Kaya frowned. "I need a fucking drink."


She hated seeing her father on the verge of tears. It was her weakness, and she liked to think she didn't have that many. And this time...it might be the last time she ever saw him. The nobles who hurt Shianni were dead and gone, but so was her fiance and her life had taken a turn that none of them could have predicted. She was going to become a Grey Warden.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise," she said sadly.

His lower lip trembled, but he smiled. "No. I'm so proud of you. I just wish..."

"I know," she nodded, and hugged him tightly. "I love you. You hear me? I fucking love you."

"Language," he chuckled, and she could feel tears dripping onto her back. "I love you more than anything. Please come back to me one day."

"I will."

And that was a promise she did indeed keep.