"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
Aidan woke up feeling much better and well rested, despite having slept on the hard floor. Elandil's massages were really something else! He wondered if it was an elf thing, or if he was really that special..?
Speaking of the elf, where was he? Aidan glanced around the room, and spotted Elandil curled in the corner, sound asleep. Why wasn't he in the bed? Poor thing must already feel like he's imposing. He could carry him to the bed, but then he didn't want to risk waking him up. He looked too peaceful. It must have been a good long while since he had a restful sleep.
Aidan got to his feet, took hold of the blanket on the bed, and carefully placed it over the sleeping elf. He wasn't fond of the idea of leaving him behind, but he figured they could use a bit more items for their journey. At least he was given a bit of gold so that he didn't need to steal anything anymore.
Quietly, he crept to the door and went into town.
It felt strange not having to sneak around the walls of Kirkwall. Now that the guards knew him well, they were always on the lookout. But he had no reason. Aveline would no doubt expect to see him soon, and he had money now.
He picked up a few more pounds of meat, and some small weapons. Each time he went to a new stand, guards would eye him suspiciously. He had to shake his gold sac a bit to get them off his back. This would be annoying, but hey, it's only a few more guards…
Better them than the mercenaries in front of him…
In front of him?
"Yes, I'll take those sheets and that club if you don't mind," one spoke to the lady behind the stand that stood next to the one Aidan was shopping at.
Aidan gave the clerk a small nod of thanks before stepping away. The docks where his little home was wasn't too far from here… If those mercenaries were lurking around the lowtown of Kirkwall, they may come across Elandil if he wasn't aware of them. He'd better warn him to stay in the house…
He turned off and went towards the direction of his home. But as he rounded a corner, he nearly came face to face to another mercenary.
"Wha..?" the mercenary tried to get a better look at Aidan, as if he saw him somewhere before. "Aren't you-?"
Aidan didn't stick around to let him find out. He turned on his heels and walked quickly the other direction. Hopefully, the mercenary's interest wouldn't last.
"Come back here, boy!"
Damn! Aidan gave off a sprint and rounded another corner, slowing up when he noticed two more walking ahead of him. Where did all these mercenaries come from?
"Stop that boy!" Aidan heard the other guy not far off. Before the two in front could turn around to see, the teen dove into the nearest building.
"Where did he go…?"
"Oh never mind him! We've got a job! Keep your eyes peeled for the elf…"
Aidan meanwhile glanced around himself to see where he ended up. Given the many people with drinks, seated at tables eating, and most of all, the picture on the wall of a man being hanged, it was safe to assume he ducked into the Hanged Man tavern.
Aidan was never one for under-age drinking. He had broken enough laws with all that stealing over the years. But he couldn't risk going back out and getting caught by those mercenaries. Elandil would be in trouble! Then again, he already could be if Aidan didn't go back to warn him!
No… Elandil was safe. He was too frightened to leave the house the other day, he knows better than to chance anything.
Aidan hoped anyway.
The Hanged Man was no slum. Many friendly travelers came and went. Perhaps one of these travelers knew something about wild elves and where they stayed… Aidan and Elandil certainly couldn't leave Kirkwall on a blind hunt. He made his way through the tavern and kept his wits about for anybody who may know something.
"So then as I free the princess, what should happen?" cried out a hearty voice. Aidan's attention went to the center of the tavern, where standing on a table, waving his glass of beer around a crowd of awed onlookers, was a stout dwarf. "Well, I'll tell you what happened! That damned dragon is what happened! Moment that princess was saved, its chained trap I gave it broke off. Took a bit of her tail off, it did. Man alive was she pissed."
The dwarf took a swig of beer, before he continued, "Well, this dragon, now she was pissed as anything! She blew fire at me as I gave chase. I reckon she wanted that princess back, but I made a promise I'd save her…
"An' there we were! Back against the wall, cornered by this dragon! She flashes her big sharp teeth… She gives me this nasty snarl…. The princess grabs my arm in fear. I could see it in her eyes. I knew I had to protect her! So I step in front of that dragon, and I pointed my beloved Bianca at her eye," he gestured to the crossbrow strapped to his back, "And I said to this dragon, 'You ain't havin' this princess!"
"The dragon stares at me…. And no lie…. She scoffs! 'I don't want that princess!' she says to me. 'I'm straighter than the arrows on your crossbow! But I'll take that donkey off your back!"
The crowd burst into laughter. The dwarf twitched his nose. "True story!" he cried, although he himself could hardly keep a straight face.
After the crowd settled, the dwarf took another swig and continued. "So after all that, me and the princess, we escape. I saved her life! What did she do? She got married to the prince of Duloch. Just my luck. It ain't easy bein' an elf…"
The crowd gave applause before dispersing. As they cleared out, the dwarf jumped down from the table and approached the bar, slamming the beer mug on the tabletop. "Another round!"
"On me."
The dwarf glanced over at Aidan who approached him. He gave a thankful nod. "Appreciate it."
"Trying to make things easy," Aidan grinned, slipping a piece of gold on the bar, "So... I take it by those stories you get around a lot."
"That I do!" the dwarf raised his drink, "Name's Varric. I've seen more things than you'll ever imagine. I could write a book, y'know. There's this time, probably before you were even born, when I-"
"That's nice," Aidan interrupted. Varric twitched his noes and glared at the teen, who cleared his throat. "Sorry… I'm in a bit of a rush… I'm trying to get my friend to a village filled with wild elves."
"Not wise, boy," said Varric, "Those wild elves, they don't take kindly to humans. Can't say I blame 'em. Humans tend to look down on other species, y'see. See themselves as superior, feel threatened by things they don't understand, rudely interrupt your story before you can even start…"
"Sorry again," sighed Aidan, "My friend, however, he's a runaway slave. And I want to help him. Will they be willing to take him in?"
Varric rubbed his chin. "That's quite noble of ya, boy," he said, "I suppose not all humans are the same. There's this friend of mine, Hawke. Greatest hero of Kirkwall. Could tell ya all about him if ya wanted."
"Another time," Aidan smiled, "What can you tell me of the wild elves?"
"Well, they got this little camp some ways outside this town," said Varric, "Not very accustomed to humans, like I said. May or may not take in city elves. Guess it depends on their situation… They pretty much like to keep to themselves…
"Tell ya what, boy," he spoke, "You may wanna ask Daisy 'bout them."
"Who?"
"Daisy! Well… Merrill actually. I just like Daisy," Varric chuckled, "More suiting."
"I see…" said Aidan, "Where can I find this Merrill?"
"Daisy's been hanging around Kirkwall lately," responded Varric, leaning back on his stool, "Check the alienage section."
Aidan did as told, and searched the town for Kirkwall's alienage. The bounty hunters he had seen earlier had left the area by then, but just to play it safe, he crept in the shadows, and through alleys, just like old times. The guards kept their eyes out, but he knew how to evade their radar. Likewise, he made himself scarce to the mercenaries.
That Varric fellow said to try the so-called alienage section of Kirkwall… He had honestly never traveled to this area of town before. But just as he thought, there were elves left and right to him as he neared the Hightown section. This section must be the elf part of town.
Finding Merrill wasn't as hard as he thought. He asked around for her, and a few elves, while not keen with speaking to a human boy, were polite enough to assist and point him to the direction of a home, where one of the friends of the great hero Hawke lived. This Hawke person must have really been something else…
"Yes?" a rather beautiful elf opened the door after Aidan knocked. "May I help you?"
"Are you Merrill?" asked Aidan.
The elf woman nodded. "I am. I take it you wish to hear the tales of my adventures with Garrett Hawke?"
"No," said Aidan, "I've been hearing that name all over… He sounds like something else, but I've got another issue I need to deal with first."
"Very well… what can I help you with?"
Aidan cautiously peered around himself, making sure nobody else he didn't want knowing about this was by chance listening. "I… I have this friend… and he's an elf."
Merrill raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Where is he?"
"At my home… I want to free him. He's an escaped slave, you see…"
"An escaped slave, you say?" Merrill gave a warm smile, "You are not like any other human. Not too many of them go out of their way to help elves of all species…"
"That's what everyone seems to think," said Aidan, sporting his trademark grin, "But I'm not like any other human."
Merrill's smile brightened. "Come inside," she offered, stepping over and opening the door wider for the boy, "Let's talk, away from preying ears."
Aidan couldn't for the life of him understand humans' bitterness towards elves. They were just as normal, just as capable, just as, well, human in a sense as humans themselves were. Merrill was not only kind, but she made spectacular blackberry tea!
Aidan explained his situation over tea, whereas Merrill told him everything she could about her people. "Varric is correct," she explained, "There is a camp south of Kirkwall, but unlike the elves here who at least try to be tolerant, these elves are very unwelcoming to humans."
"What about city elves?" asked Aidan.
Merrill leaned forward, staring into her tea in contemplation. "Only if the need is great," she explained. "They feel the city elves have turned traitorous and filthy as humans- no offense- But given your friend's situation, they may make an exception."
"Do you know how to get there?" Aidan asked, jumping slightly in excitement.
Merrill stood from her seat, and searched around for a parch and a pen. "Once you exit town, you must stay on this path," she explained as she drew a map together, "The shortest way is through the forest, but it may take about a day to reach it. Be very careful, many wild animals may attack you."
"I'm prepared!" Aidan gave a grin. Merrill didn't quite share the sentiment.
"Are you really?" she said, "These elves can be extreme. Your friend must behave in a certain manner with them. One offensive move and he will be exiled, if not worse…"
"Worse…?"
Merrill nodded, and stood straight up. "May I speak with your friend?" she asked, "Perhaps I can better explain the situation."
Aidan nodded. "By all means."
Aidan couldn't believe how late it had gotten. He had left Elandil all alone all day. The poor elf must have been worried! He couldn't wait to go home and assure his safety. With all those mercenaries roaming around all day, he couldn't help but be worried about him as well.
Merrill herself had to sprint in order to keep up with the rushing Aidan. "Hurry!" he called over, "It's this way! Through this alley and straight up to the docks!"
Elandil must have lit a few more candles, as his house seemed unusually bright. "Here I come!" Aidan called out, "I'm almost home, Elan-UMPH!"
Aidan felt delicate hands slip over his mouth and yank him into the alley. Merrill shushed the teen loudly as she nodded towards the outside. One of the familiar mercenaries had just raced past, with a flaming torch in hand.
"What's that guy doing here?!" Aidan gasped.
"Let's use the shadows if we're going to get closer," said Merrill.
The teen agreed and the two snuck closer, as more and more mercenaries raced by them as if fleeing from hell itself. Aidan couldn't help but feel more and more warmer as they neared his house. Peeking out, he could finally see why…
His humble home was in flames.
"Elandil…!"
