"Kallian.". My name is quietly whispered in the dark, but I don't react. Why should I? Today's the day I've been dreading for the last few months. Today is the day I'll be forcibly married to a man I've never met in order to 'strengthen ties between alienages'. "Kallian.". I groan at whoever's saying my name and bring my hands up to cover my face. "Come on! I've let you sleep in as long as I can!". I remove my right hand from my face and show whoever's talking what I think of them. "Ha ha, very funny. Now,". I hear a scrapping noise as someone moves their feet. "GET UP!". A tremendous weight slamming into my stomach forces air from my lungs and my eyes to snap open.

My hands are snatched from my head and I see my cousin's face looming above me. Shianni's bright eyes, wide smile, and short red hair obscure my sight. "Nice to see you're finally awake.". Her warm breath and the smell of booze wash over me. Looks like she's already enjoying my wedding enough for both of us. I suppose there's no harm in it. I lean up and rest my forehead against hers before saying a single, croaking word. "Up.". Shianni chuckles a little and gives me another whiff of booze, then stands up. I slide out of bed and cringe when my feet hit the cold floor. I'm still adjusting when Shianni starts talking to me. "So, do you remember what day it is?".

Obviously I'd remember a day I was dreading. Maybe I can play ignorant and hold on to my denial for a few more hours. "The day the elves rise up and take back the Dales?". Shianni rolls her eyes and takes my hands in her own. My cousin starts swinging our arms and speaks in a high, cheery voice. "It's the day of your wedding! Aren't you excited? You and Soris are both going to be married off today!". I groan and roll my head back. Shianni allows me my small groan and when my head's back to normal I tell her what I've told her a thousand times. "Shianni, I don't-". She reaches up and places a single finger on my lips before finishing my sentence for me. "-do dick. You've told me that before.".

I close my mouth and feel my lips form a deep frown. Shianni smiles and tries to cheer me up. "I'm not saying you have to like marrying him or do anything with him, but you do have to at least show up for the wedding and get hitched.". She drops my hands and nudges me a little. "Besides, I can sneak you away and take you to The Pearl later.". I smile a little and my cousin and try to cheer up for her sake. The promise of sneaking to the whorehouse later cheers me up a tiny bit, but I'm still dreading the hours until then. However, Shianni believes my smile and thinks I'm cheered up. "See, it's not so bad!". She pats me on the arm.

"Now come on. You need to find Soris and get ready.". My cousin turns and leaves with a single promise. "I'll bring booze and sovereigns for The Pearl later.". I smile and nod at her, then look around my family's small house in an attempt to stall having to get ready for the wedding. A single dining/living/sleeping room is connected to my own tiny bedroom and the only door in the entire house is used to enter and exit the building. I'd keep looking around, but I can see my father moving around in the kitchen. If I don't get a move on, then he'll start worrying about me. I stop looking around and move to the small chest in my room. Inside, I find my wedding gown and a health potion.

There's also a small grease trap, but I have no idea how to use it. My mother tried to teach me, but by the time I was nine it was clear to everyone I was a warrior and not a rogue. Once I'm dressed I decide to head out and find Soris. As I walk through the kitchen I avoid my father at all cost. We've argued and fought about my marriage so much that I know both of us will be relieved once all of this is over. Part of the problem is my fault for not speaking up before my father paid for my future husband (Nelaros) to move here, and part of it is my father's fault for refusing to believe I only liked women. At first he thought it was a ploy to get out of marrying.

Now he's accepted it as truth, but he couldn't do anything to stop the wedding. Still, it's not his fault. I make sure not to slam the door when I exit in case he gets the wrong idea. Once I'm outside I look at my home and sigh. The cramped, dirty slum is the exact same as always. Filthy, smelly, and far less than what my people deserve. It's terrible, but it's still home. If those damned humans try to take it from me, then I'll fight with every breath I have. I hear some drunkards drinking to my wedding and screaming congratulations at me. I recognize a few of them from my trips to the inn and Pearl, so I wave at them before heading towards the main square where my wedding will be held.

The gigantic tree in the middle of the square is dangling with colorful flags. Every shop in the square is closed up and everyone around is quietly talking. I see two people I recognize as my mother's friends talking near the stage in the corner of the square, but I can't bring myself to go over to them. The memory of losing my mother to those filthy shemlen who think they're better than elves is too painful. Talking to them would only open up new wounds. Besides, I see Soris near the tree. I smile and charge my cousin. Soris has his back turned to me, so he screams in terror when I ram into him and scoop him up in my arms.

"Kallian!". I drop my cousin at his scream, but the second he's on his feet I ruffle his messy, brown hair. Soris bats my hands away and greets me with a smile that nearly splits his face in half. I want to talk of light things that avoid our fate. Soris just wants to get down to business. "Are you excited about getting married?". I decide to let Soris know what I think. I grab my throat, throw my head back, and let out a gagging noise. Soris laughs a little before clapping his hands to get my attention. Once I'm looking at him my cousin tries the exact same tactic as Shianni used. "It might not be that bad! If we're being honest I'd trade for him.

I met him and he's almost exactly like you!". He almost smirks at me before finishing. "A brute in battle.". I scoff and pretend to look offended. However, the expression of silliness has dropped off of my cousin's face. He nods towards the edge of the square where two unfamiliar elves are huddled together and talking. "We'd better go meet our future spouses.". Well, looks like it's now or never. I promised my father I'd marry the man he wanted, but I never said when. I turn to leave, but a hand on my wrist stops me. "You know I can't let you do that.". My fight deflates from me as I allow Soris to drag me towards my future husband. I groan as we walk, but don't try to break away again. I'd only make it harder at this point.

When we approach the two elves I nearly recoil at the man my father's promised me to. He looks like he could be my brother! Short, ruffled blonde hair; soft, blue eyes (which look better on me); and paler skin than most elves. I once again feel an urge to rebel against everything and run, but Soris places his hand on my back and refuses to let me go. My groom is fidgeting and looking around when I meet him. Soris releases me and pulls his bride a small distance away to talk. My groom smiles, but seems to falter when I don't smile back and just keep looking at him. What does he want me to do? We're going to marry either way and I'm sure anything he says is going to piss me off, so why not save us both a lot of heartache and not say anything at all?

He obviously doesn't follow my logic and tries to start off our marriage to a wonderful fantasy start. "Hello, I'm Nelaros. So,". He fidgets some more and can't seem to meet my eyes. "are you nervous about being married?". I decide to be straight with him and not be around the bush. "I'm going to run away or leave you as soon as I can. I don't do dick, and I definitely don't do your dick.". Nelaros seems to lose all of his energy and not know what to do. He doesn't even fidget. He just looks at the ground and mumbles what I'm assuming is 'sorry'.

I'd harass him more in the hopes of chasing him off, but something else happens before we can start. A loud noise near the entrance to the square causes all of us to turn. What I see causes my heartbeat to fill my ears and my vision to shrink down to a pinpoint. Three human men are grabbing and hooting at a group of elven women. Shianni, Soris's bride, and a few elves I've seen around the alienage are among the women. I feel my hands curl into fists. I need a knife. None of the men are armed or armored. I could take them all out before they could react. One of the men grabs a woman and yanks her close. Fuck the knife. I feel wind snap by my ears as I charge the men.

I'm halfway across the square when Shianni acts first. She grabs a nearby vase and smashes it over the lead man's head. One's down, but two are still standing. I'm nearly upon them when Shianni sees me and grabs me. I begin fighting, screaming, and biting my cousin's shoulder. Both of us begin cursing one another, but Soris is the deciding factor. He comes over and both of my cousins work to subdue me as one of the men drags the unconscious one away. The last remaining man begins screaming at Shianni. "Do you know what you just did?! That was the Arl's son!". Shianni's arms drop and she begins struggling to breathe at the news.

I couldn't care less. The humans who rule this city have been lording themselves over us for too long! It's about time they get what they deserve! I almost manage to break free of Soris's grip. I elbow him in the gut and charge, but he still holds on to my wrist. Now I'm swinging my one good arm at the man, screaming, and snapping at the air like a rabid dog. The man cowers away and I snarl off a threat. "IF HE'S THE ARL'S SON, THEN JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE'LL DO TO YOU!". I break free of Soris and the last human runs away as quickly as he can. I go to charge after him, but Shianni grabs my waist and works together with Soris to heave me into the air.

I keep screaming, cursing, and kicking. However, I've had these outburst before and my cousins know when I'm calmed down enough for them to put me on the ground. When my feet hit the floor I'm calm, but still pissed. I've killed humans before, and I'm only a few kills away from an even twenty. The Arl's son deserves death along with his friends. They're the kind of humans who're worse than all the rest. They're the kind who think it's their maker-given right to fuck any woman they see, and when human women reject them they think they can rape elven women with immunity. They're also the kind I can see growing into killing my people for fun and because they can get away with it.

I'm still pissed and pouting when Shianni hugs me, mumbles something about needing another drink, and walks away. I have no idea why she's so worried. If they come down here again, then all she needs to do is let me at them. I know how to kill and I know what wells to dump bodies into. Suddenly, Soris taps my arm and warns me of another problem. "Human.". I look up to see a dark-skinned man with flowing dark hair wearing thick armor standing near the edge of the square. I curl my lip and begin stomping over towards the man. Soris jogs beside me and tries to calm me down. "I think you need to take a deep breath and-". We're too close to the man to keep talking, so he whispers his last few words. "oh Maker we're too closed to stop.".

Damn right, and we aren't stopping no matter how close or far away we are. The man looks at us as we approach and attempts to greet me with a friendly smile. My natural scowl doesn't even put him off. The man starts to open his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it. "Leave. Now. We don't need your kind here.". The man doesn't drop his smile and speaks in a surprisingly friendly tone. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but I have business here and need to stay. I don't plan to harm anyone or break anything. I simply wish to watch the public wedding and see old friends I have in the alienage.".

I feel my heartbeat begin to pound in my ears and my hands clench into fists. "Leave, or else I'll drag your body out of here.". The man's smile doesn't falter, but neither of us can speak when elder Valendrian approaches both of us. I instantly feel my rage leave me. Valendrian offers me a deep frown and launches into a lecture. "Tabris, calm yourself! This is my friend, Duncan. He's a grey warden and a good man.". Duncan slaps Valendrian on the back, smiles even larger, and talks to the elder instead of me. "Don't worry, I like her! She has spirit! And, from the looks of it she's a brave fighter.". Valendrian keeps frowning.

"I'd say the world has far more use for those who know how to stay their blades.". Valendrian pats Duncan on the shoulder and motions at all of us to go to the stage in the corner of the square. "Come on everyone! Time for the wedding!". I dig my heels in and Soris is once again forced to drag me along. I fight a little, but not nearly as hard as I physically can. I want everyone to know I don't want this, but I also don't want to upset my father. Luckily, I'm frozen in fear when I'm on the stage. My groom, Soris, and his bride are all standing on the stage with a priestess in front of us. She's about to start getting deep into the ritual when a commotion at the steps of the stage gets everyone's attention.

I turn and nearly leap off the stage, but my rage causes me to simply stand and shake in place. The three men from before are climbing up the stairs. The priestess begins to say something I'm not listening to, but one of the men cracks her across the skull and she goes down. That's when the Arl's son speaks. "Come on boys, it's a party! Grab a whore and have a go!". He grabs Soris's bride and I lose it. I leap for him with my hands outstretched. That's when Nelaros grabs me and tries to keep me in place. "I'LL KILL YOU, NELAROS! LET ME GO AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW A REAL ELF FIGHTS!". I turn to shout those words at my 'husband', then turn to scream at the three human men. That's when a fist meets my face.

I wake up with a pounding in the back of my skull and a bit of blood in my mouth. I groan and slowly sit up as I hear Shianni calling my name. Is it my wedding day already? That's when I remember who I am and what happened. I shoot up and open my eyes to see myself in a bare room surrounded by the other women. One of the bridesmaids is praying in the center of the room, but everyone else is around me. All of them look relieved I'm awake, but Shianni is the only one that talks. "Cousin! We worried you might have gotten hit too hard...". I hold up a finger to tell Shianni to be quiet, stand up, take a deep breath, and begin beating the wall.

"I GOT KNOCKED OUT WITH ONE HIT?! THAT'S FUCKING NUGSHIT! I'VE TAKEN HARDER HITS IN TRAINING!". I'm interrupted from banging my head on the wall when Shianni pulls me away, grabs my shoulders, and tries to reason with me. "We need to get out of here.". I nod and tell her my plan. "I'm going to slaughter them like pigs and get us out of here.". One of the bridesmaids speaks up. "Us? Five unarmed women?". One of the other bridesmaids speaks up. "Maybe we should just do what they say, go home, and pretend none of this ever happened.". We can't argue or debate anymore because the door opens and five armed and armored guards walk in.

The leader begins saying something, but I'm starting to fall into another rage. I snap when one of the guards draws his sword and decapitates the praying elven women. HOW DARE HE KILL AN ELF! I'LL RIP OFF HIS SKULL AND PISS IN IT! I feel myself crouched down on the ground and breathing heavy while the guards lead everyone else away. One man reaches for me, but a deep, feral growling noise from me stops him. The guard shuffles back and nobody touches me. Now there's only two guards left. My vision is blurry and all I hear is white noise. Slowly, I stand. The guard is moving his lips and I vaguely hear something about how 'it'll be easier if I don't fight'.

Then, I see Soris come through the open door with a sword in his hand. "Hello?". His voice is distant and far away. I can't even hear what the guard says. All I know is Soris leans down, lays the sword on the ground, and slides it through the guard's legs until it comes to rest at my feet. Instantly, I yank the weapon up. It's not my usual two-handed weapon, but I can kill with it. "Oh, shit!". I look up at the guards as they draw they weapons. Yes, I can definitely kill with this. I scream and charge the nearest guard. My vision is still blurry, my ears are filled with noise, and my entire body is shaking. The guard doesn't even get a hit in before my sword is lodged deep into the meat of his throat.

The next guard is attacking Soris with his back turned to me. Bad move. I leap onto the man's back and get him in a choke-hold using my sword. I lean in close to his helm and whisper the last words he'll ever hear. "I'm going to slit your throat like the pig you are and rape your cold corpse.". I have no intent of touching his corpse, but I want his last thought to be one of fear, disgust, and worry. Finally, I yank my sword closer to me and feel his hot, thick blood run in between my fingers. I groan and pull the corpse closer to me. I rest my head against his helm and allow myself a moment of peace. Shem blood washes over my hands and I groan in satisfaction.

Then, Soris brings me back to reality. "Save the women!". I sigh, drop the corpse, and begin taking off his armor. Soris gasps and I put his fears to rest as I take off my own clothes. "I'm just putting on his armor and taking his sword!". Soris grumbles something, but I ignore him. It's time to save my cousin (and everyone else) while getting to kill shems! Once I'm armored and armed with a two-handed sword I nod at Soris and go through the door. We're in a hallway with many doors, but I choose the one at the end. I burst through into a gigantic kitchen with a shem cook in the middle. The man gasps and points at my bloody armor and sword. "What are you two-".

An elven servant walks up behind the man and knocks him over the head. My battle high is going down a little, but I simply grunt at the man in appreciation before thundering past him and into the dining hall. We're instantly stopped by three guards. One shem dares to speak to me. "Why are you two covered in blood?". Soris begins trying to think of something, but I save us time. I scream, raise my two-handed sword, and cleanly decapitate the man in one swing. The other guards scream and pull out their weapons. I plunge my sword into the belly of the nearest guard, then chase the other guard across the room when he tries to run. I impale him on my sword and watch him squirm for a few seconds.

Then, Soris fires a crossbow I didn't know he had and ends the man. I grunt and slide the corpse off my sword, then begin tearing through the estate. I pay no attention to where I'm going. I rip open doors, find shems, and kill them. I shove elven servants out of the way, but no shem is left alive. I search every hall, every room, every corner, and every single inch of the castle. Unarmed, armed, young, old, blind, deaf, begging, fighting. All of them find their end on my sword. If they run I chase them down, if they beg I make their death slow, if they fight I whisper a final threat in their ear. My shoulder is ruined, my armor is dented, my sword is bent, and blood is seeping out of multiple wounds all over my body.

I'm only briefly brought back to my right mind when I enter a hallway and see Nelaros cut down by a guard. Looks like he wanted to finally help. Sweet. Wasn't a brute in battle like me though. I didn't like Nelaros, but he was an elf and deserves to be avenged. The man who cut him down is smirking, but when he looks up his smile vanishes. I brandish my weapon and scream like a wild animal. The two men with the guard try to draw their weapons. I cut all of them apart limb by limb and relish in their screams of agony. I'm holding up the bleeding, begging guard captain when Soris catches up with me. He shoots the man dead and says something, but my battle rage hasn't cooled.

I'm soaked in the blood of shems, but I need more. I toss the corpse away, loot Nelaros for my wedding ring (to sell or keep), and keep tearing through the estate. However, the shemlen have either died or fled. I only find one standing outside a big, fancy door. The man is the heaviest armored and armed like I've never seen. I scream my challenge and he briefly falters. That's all I need. I charge the man, toss my sword to the side, and wrap him in a hug. Then, I slam him into the ground and yank his two-handed sword away from him. When I cut his throat the blood spurts out and baptizes me in the inside of what a shem smells like. I begin yanking off my own armor and trade it for the guard's. When I'm dressed and armed I make sure Soris is with me, then enter the fancy room.

What I find makes me start shaking worse than ever. The Arl and his two lackeys are standing around Shianni. My cousin is curled up on the ground and clutching her stomach. I don't need to ask what happened. The lackeys turn and begin backing away. "Elven whore!". One of them snarls at me. I show him my teeth in an animal like way. He cowers. "Shem bitch!.". I turn my attention to the Arl's son. He's holding up his hands and trying to talk. "Woah! Woah, let's be reasonable! I'll give you some gold and you can go! I won't do anything to any of you, and you'll leave. Sound good?". I ask the one person that matters. "Shianni?". My cousin shakes her head and can't meet my eyes. "Make them pay.".

I scream and charge. I take out the two lackeys first. One decapitated and the other cut open like a fish. I want to savor killing the Arl's son. I make sure to cut off one of his hands first. Then, when he's screaming I force him onto the bed and dig my knee into his gut. I take my sword and use it like a saw. Slowly, cutting into each appendage and popping it off. His blood flows, splatters, and washes over me. Finally, I end his life. I take my bloody hands, place them around his head, and dig my fingers into his eyes. His screaming and the white noise in my ears make a beautiful sound together. I don't stop pushing until I hear his eyes pop.

Finally, my thumbs sink deep into his skull and I feel soft, squishy meat engulf my fingertips. I rip my hands out of his brain and walk over to Shianni. I carefully help my cousin up and she puts most of her weight on me. "Did you make them pay?". She whispers. I shake my head. "We need to find Soris. He'll take you back. I have unfinished business.". Shianni shakes her head. "Please, come with me. You've done enough. How much of this castle runs red with the blood of shemlen?". Soris arrives just in time for me to hand Shianni to him. "Not enough. Never enough.".

My chainmail armor is split, my sword is a twisted piece of metal, and I'm soaked in blood by the time I'm back at the alienage. My entire body is sore and aching from the hours I spent combing through the estate and slaughtering anyone I could get to. I want to go comfort Shianni before taking a long nap, but I can't. The second I cross the bridge into the alienage I'm stopped by Valendrian, Soris, and Duncan All three of them block my path. I open my mouth and say two words. "It's done.". Soris is looking at me with wide eyes and a smile, but Valendrian is scowling and shaking his head. "You shouldn't have done that.". Duncan doesn't chime in and I can't read his expression.

Valedndrian keeps lecturing me. "You know they're going to come after you and Soris!". I shrug. I wasn't considering that when I killed everyone I possibly could, and I'm still not worried. I'm a survivor and a few shemlen aren't going to stop me. I decide to tell my elder as much. "We'll go to the Dalish. If I have to cut down a few shem to get out of the city, then I'll gladly kill them before joining the elves of the wild.". Duncan shifts his weight, but I can't tell what he's thinking. The man doesn't seem too bad if Valendrian is friends with him and I'd like to know what he thinks of me. I hear the thundering of armored boots coming across the bridge. Looks like I'll never find out.

I draw my destroyed weapon and turn to see five guards standing there. The head one struts forward and eyes me as he asks a simple question. "Who tore apart the Arl's Estate, murdered his son, and killed almost all of the staff?". I fall into a fighting stance and make a quick decision to take all of the blame. Soris doesn't deserve being put down like a rabid dog (the fate that awaits me). The guard goes 'hmm'. "I doubt a single person, no matter how savage of a fighter, could take down all of the palace, but I'll accept it.". He points back towards the human part of the city. "Come quietly and we'll hold you in a private cell until the Arl returns.". I shake my head and start to charge.

I'm stopped by six hands grabbing me and holding me back. I scream and begin fighting to get free and the guards begin screaming for my captors to release me so they can kill me. A loud, clear voice cuts through all of the screaming and shuts everyone up. "I conscript this elf into the service of the Grey Wardens!". Everyone freezes, but I doubt their hearts drop like mine. The wardens dedicate themselves to fighting monstrous Darkspawn when a blight arrives, they die young, and their short lives are full of fighting and struggle. I love fighting, but not fighting monsters plagued with the deadly Blight. I want to argue, but my panic is causing me to go silent.

I'm shocked into silence, but Duncan and the guard are talking. "You sure you wish to conscript her? She's given my men more trouble than the rest of her people combined, and you're letting her escape justice.". Duncan stands firm. "I'm conscripting her. Give her an hour to say her goodbyes and we'll be leaving the city by horse.". The guard sighs before turning around and motioning his men to fall back. Everyone releases me and I numbly take Soris's hand as he begins walking me back towards my house. "Thank you.". He whispers to me. I shrug and he chuckles a little. "You know, you've always been my hero ever since we were children. Now it's just official.".

I'm touched one of my closest friends and cousin would feel that way about me, but I can't react right now. I'm still numb thinking about how I'll have to spend the rest of my short life battling Darkspawn. I'm still not feeling anything when my cousin takes me into my house and explains the situation to my father. My father embraces me and manages to whisper a few words of comfort in my ear while I clutch onto him like my life depends on it. I don't remember much of the goodbye. All of my thoughts are focused on what's to come. When Soris begins pulling me away I give my father a kiss on the forehead. "I love you.". We both say it at the same time. Finally, Soris begins dragging me away to my new life.

"I'm hungry!". I slam my horse on the side to catch up with Duncan as I complain. He ignores me and I sigh. Our white stallions are loaded down with supplies for the long ride to Ostagar. Apparently, that's where the start of the Blight is. It's where thousands of Darkspawn will horde together in their attempt to enter Ferelden. The Grey Warden's job- well, my job- is to stop them. When the Darkspawn's leader (the Archdemon) shows itself, then Duncan's promised me he'll know what to do. Once the Archdemon is dead, then the Blight will end. Duncan's already warned me that Blights last for years on end and not to expect to be free of fighting in it.

After the Blight is over, then Duncan promised I could visit my family again. My life still belongs to the Wardens, but he'll at least allow me to get closure. It's something. I'm still mulling over how I feel about becoming a Grey Warden as we ride through the thick woods south towards Ostagar. Neither of us have said a word for three hours. Duncan's the first to break. "I almost made your mother a Grey Warden once. She wanted to stay for her family. There was no Blight, so I allowed it. I never imagined her daughter would grow to be an even greater warrior than her.". I love being compared to my mother and my ego purrs, but I scoff and glare at the human riding beside me. "I don't care what you or any of your shemlen think.".

Duncan sighs and pulls on the reins of his horse. I don't know why I don't keep riding, but I yank my horse to a stop a few feet in front of Duncan. When I turn my beast around to look at the man I see he has a map out. However, I clear my throat and he looks me in the eyes. "You don't want to be a Grey Warden, do you?". I don't know. I honestly don't know. I shake my head because I don't want him to start thinking I like him. I quietly respect him, but that's all. Duncan sighs and nudges his horse up so we're side by side and facing opposite directions. "Okay. Here.". He pushes the map into my hand. I offer him a scowl before looking at the map.

We're marked in the middle of the woods and a red path is leading to another part of the forest. "What's this?". I demand as I eye Duncan. The man remains emotionless. "A map to the Dalish. Go live with your free kin if you want. You'll be able to kill every human you see, be free of a forced marriage, and never have to worry about Darkspawn. I'll send secret word to your cousin, Soris, that you escaped and fled to the Dalish. If you're lucky your family members might join you. If not, then at least you're free.". I look at the map in my hands. The Dalish! My mother use to speak highly of their freedom and skill in battle, but she warned me that they looked upon us city elves as 'domesticated' and all of them were generally wary of outsiders unless you knew them on a personal level.

Duncan begins riding away. "If you wish to reach the Dalish within the week, then you'd best get riding.". I turn and see that the human isn't even looking back. Can I do this? Can I really abandon the man who saved me and go live with people I don't even know? I try to picture myself with a Dalish tattoo covering my face, sitting around a fire in a Dalish camp, and telling Dalish children Dalish stories. No. That's not me. The Dalish need someone to help them, but so do the city elves. I need to help people like Shianni, Nelaros, and the bridesmaid that got cut down. I crumple the map up and shove it into my saddle, the yank my horse around and ride up beside Duncan.

The human doesn't turn around or acknowledge me. Instead, he holds out an apple. I snatch the fruit up and bite into it. I tear the food apart and toss the core to the side. "How did you know I wouldn't run to the Dalish?". Duncan looks at me with another one of his kind smiles on his face. "I knew your mother and I know you.". He looks forward to the trail and keeps speaking. "You aren't a kind woman. Somewhere along the line of your life you lost any ounce of kindness or compassion you had. You take pleasure in killing and fight for no other reason than to shed blood.". I feel my anger rising, but surprisingly don't snap. I'm pissed, but I can control it and not lash out at Duncan.

My calmness pays off because he keeps talking. "You're a violent woman and I see not a single ounce of kindness in you. So far, you've only showed me pettiness, rage, and a thirst for blood. You're the farthest thing from your mother's personality, but I can see something in you. A potential for goodness and kindness.". He meets my eyes again. "If that potential is nurtured and fed, then I know it can grow into something great. Just like your mother always wanted.". He looks back at the riding trail. We don't talk for the rest of the ride.

Author's Note: This chapter is extremely long because I didn't want the Origin story to get chopped up into tiny bits and decided to write it all in one go. Usually they'll be much shorter. I've slightly edited some scenes and added the forest scene to make it more dramatic, and other scenes will be slightly edited or changed. Nothing too major, but a little tweak here and there along with some side-quest thrown in once in a while.