Dragon Age Origins: A Grey Wardens Tale.
Chapter 3: Kallian Tabris Part 1.
A warm and bright autumn day shone over the city of Denerim which bustled with life with its people preparing for the coming winter; the market buzzing with activity as Blacksmiths flaunted their metalworks, bakers stepped out with trays laden with freshly risen bread, butchers offering discounts on meats of all cuts, but today was more than just a buzzing market day.
The Elven Alienage sat on the banks of The Drakon River; the village built around a single large tree at its centre where Elves of all walks of limited life available to them though employment often came as simple mercenaries, slaves/servants or cheap labour.
A small girl sat on the riverbank waiting for her mother to return from Highever with the news that they'd be leaving Denerim for a new home that treated their kind better than almost every Human living within the walls of Denerim.
A group of Elves in ragged clothes returned from begging for coin returned with a small handful of silvers each for the people were feeling generous today for the upcoming Feast Day celebration was only a month away.
Strings of carefully tied flowers hung on strings over each house, hovel and shelter in The Alienage as well as tables and chairs lined the paths in preparation of the post-wedding celebration as today was going to be a Wedding Day for two beloved individuals among the City Elves: Kallian Tabris and Nelaros Marks.
Out in The Marketplace stood a single Elf woman; thin and nimble in body type but strikingly beautiful as her stringy auburn hair hung in bangs around her face though her longer strands of hair were tied in a ponytail at the back of her head, she wore a simple brown patchwork dress as she mopped the blood-strewn floor of the butchers shop.
"Kallian! Have you finished mopping yet?!" screamed an older woman; a cleaver in her hand as she sliced through the hind leg of a cow, peeling away at the bloody flesh and causing a bigger mess for the Elf to clean.
"Leave her be Mother… it's her wedding day today, do you want a bride to be covered in blood on her wedding day?" spoke the butchers-man; his bearded and grimy face hid a smile that beamed towards the young Elf, The Elder Woman grimacing with disgust that Elves did indeed get married.
"It is quite alright Ser; I don't mind cleaning up after your dear mother as she works" Kallian spoke; the mop's fibres soaked through with cow's blood. Lifting the mop high and plunging it into a pail of water until the fibres were soaked through until ready to resume mopping.
"Kallian my dear… you are a good egg" The Butchers-man spoke; clapping his hand against Kallian's shoulder and almost knocking her over upon realising how thin the girl was even though she'd been working for him for over a year.
"Pity she's a knife-eared wench" The Mother spoke with scorn; spitting the bad taste of cow's blood from her mouth as some had spluttered out from the cow's carcass on the last cut she'd carved.
"Kallian; take these and head home… a bride should never be late on her wedding day" The Butchers-man spoke handing Kallian a pouch holding at least twenty silver coins; his idea of a suitable wedding gift for an Elf whereas he'd have given more to a Human.
"Thank you Ser; shall I save you a cake slice?" Kallian accepted the pouch with open hands; her usual pay was nothing more than fifty coppers and that was on a fair day but to be given twenty silvers was quite the gift.
"There's a cake?!" The Butcher stated with surprise; knowing how expensive wedding cakes were for he didn't have one at his own wedding and thought that might have been why his wife had left him barely a year into their marriage.
"Oh yes; my Cousin: Soris saved his coins so we could buy a fresh one" Kallian spoke; her admiration for Soris showed in her tone of voice for he had gone hungry for many days for the sole purpose of buying a fresh cake much to the protests of family and friends including herself.
"Impressive since those cost at least a Sovereign" The Butcher spoke with clear sensations of being impressed by an Elf's fortitude to save up so much coin for another person; especially when so many Humans trampled over each other to get ahead in life.
"Soris is a good man; I'm honoured to call him family" Kallian spoke softly; her fingers twirling around the tie-string of the pouch as she thought of her family, her thoughts moving towards the new family she'd begin on this very day.
"Elves aren't men; only Humans are true men" The elder woman spoke with her racist scorn of Elves once again; hacking away at the Cow's hide until she could pull away at another cut of meat, intentionally passing it over so the droplets of blood would splash across Kallian's work-dress but missed entirely as Kallian appeared to be quite nimble on her feet and stepped aside as she set the mop down.
"You better hurry along before she turns that cleaver on you" The Butcher spoke pushing his door open to Kallian indicating for her to leave once he spotted his own mother raising the cleaver over her head but aimed for the Elf rather than the meat.
Kallian nodded to her employer and rushed out from the Butchers Shop with the pouch of coins held to her breast; her excitement alive in her brain as she hurried down the market streets to the portcullis that barricaded the rest of Denerim from The Alienage was still raised but could be lowered at any time, it bothered Kallian that her people were treated so badly but today that hardly mattered.
"Returning home knife-ear? What do you have there? Stolen coin! I'll be having that" The Guard grinned through the slit in his helmet; his ugly pudgy face barely contained within the helmet as he reached for the pouch but his intentions were to also grab a hold of the Elf's breast.
"I earned these coins with my hard work Shemlen; the rest were a wedding gift!" Kallian shouted back by using the Elvish word for Humans; pressing her pouch harder to her chest in defence as she stepped away from his predatory hand.
"Ha!" The Guard laughed hard; drawing attention of some drinkers at the nearby Gnawed Noble Tavern as well as a balding chubby man who was scrambling to pick up some ancient scrolls, "A gift? For a knife-ear? Humans don't give gifts to Elves".
"Stop!" Before The Guard could take the pouch from Kallian a shout stopped him in his tracks; an elderly Elf stepped towards the lowered portcullis, his grey hair and weathered face indicated that he was the oldest amongst the Elves in Denerim as he was dressed in the Elvish Tunics of olden times.
"Valendrian!" Kallian exclaimed with happiness; seizing back her pouch from the hands of The Guard of whom glared at the elderly Elf as if he was ready to cut the old man down at any moment.
"Guard… I beg you to please let the girl pass with her coin for today is a special day" Valendrian spoke; his voice as tired as he always appeared, a noticeable bottle hidden behind his back while his opposing hand carried a walking stick: a long length of wood that was only slightly taller than the Elf himself.
"I don't know… can you make it worth my while?" The Guard glared at The Elder Elf; relaxing his grip of Kallian only slightly as he noticed the bottle in Valendrian's hand, his grip on The Elf lessening at the idea of alcohol.
Valendrian swallowed hard as he held out a bottle of wine to the guard; his expression one of begrudging as he had to pass up, "I offer you this fine wine of elvish make; more potent than even your behind-the-bar wines at the taverns".
"Very well; but do not let me catch you with so many coins again" The Guard glanced around for anybody still watching before taking the bottle; allowing the pair of Elves to pass before uncorking the wine and taking a long draft only to realise it was nothing special except just cheap crap, turning to arrest the Elves only to realise they'd both vanished.
"Valendrian; you shouldn't have to give up the wine for me" Kallian laughed as she walked into their village centre: a large tree and could be seen from nearly anywhere within the city limits.
"Worry not child… I gave him the low quality swill that guards like him are used to; the real stuff is in my house" Valendrian wore an affectionate smile as he spoke; lifting a bony finger to his parched lips that curled into a sly grin.
"You sly old man" Kallian giggled to herself upon calling out Valendrian's trickery for his skills as a Master-Class Rogue had not faded with his age.
Before Valendrian could answer Kallian's witty comment; a tall, bald Human man stepped out from behind a corner, wearing gleaming chainmail under armour with a silver griffon emblazoned as a crest on his breastplate, the wicked-looking Axe slung over his shoulder that seemed to shimmer in the air like it was on fire, but his face stood out to Kallian for the signs of battle showed in the deep circles around his eyes and the scars that lines his cheeks.
"Ser Claude; a pleasure to see you again" Valendrian spoke with a hint of surprise in his voice that Kallian instantly picked up on; watching as Valendrian embraced the Human as if welcoming an old friend or beloved family member.
"Valendrian; tis good to see an old friend… I just wish it were under better circumstances" The Human spoke; his voice gruff and weary from a long trek but a battle-hardened strength kept him going.
"Have you come seeking new recruits for your Wardens?" Valendrian spoke again only this time with a more morbid tone of voice; his old eyes narrowing as he gazed upon The Grey Warden.
"I'm afraid to have to say yes" Ser Claude nodded his head as he spoke; his darkened eyes setting on Kallian as if assessing her with a simple glance only halted as Valendrian raised an arm in objection to Ser Claude's prying eyes.
"I see; can it wait until this evening? We have an important ceremony in an hour" Valendrian stated; wishing to postpone the selection of any Elf who'd reluctantly have to leave The Alienage under The Right of Conscription, walking alongside Kallian but sending a glance back towards his friend and noticing that he still gazed at Kallian as she walked.
Ser Claude glanced at Kallian for a split second; his eyes gazing upon her pretty face framed by her auburn bangs, the skinny body from working a difficult job, the pouch of coins held to her breast, he instantly knew what was coming in the coming hour, "I understand; I shall wait until nightfall to decide upon a single recruit from The Alienage, I've already conscripted a man from the city".
Waiting until she and Valendrian were out of earshot of the mysterious Shemlan; Kallian lent in to whisper to her Village Elder, "Who was that? How do you know him?".
"Yes; he is a Grey Warden and a close friend though I do wish I could see Duncan again before I die" Valendrian spoke solemnly; his eyes gaining a far-away look as his walk came to a stop outside a house that had fallen into disrepair, broken glassless windows, a door barely still hanging onto its hinges, gaps in the walls only covered by loose planks of wood and a large bucket of water that was almost empty.
"You shouldn't speak so morbidly Elder; you have plenty of life left but you really need to move out of that house with this year's winter looking to be harsher than the last one we endured" Kallian stated; recalling last winter where a pair of beloved elderly elves had passed away from the bitter cold winds blowing through an old ramshackle house.
Valendrian laughed as Kallian blushed at her sudden outburst of sentimentality; waving his hand dismissively at her concerns for an old man like him, "You'll make a fine wife tonight; now hurry along and prepare with your Father".
Kallian separated from Valendrian only to be suddenly embraced from behind by a short red-haired figure, a cute face with big green eyes and dressed in the same simple brown dress that Kallian wore for her hard toiling work at The Butcher's Shop only hers was not bloodstained.
"Cousin! Time to get ready for your big moment!" spoke the cheerful Elf; the woman's hands embracing her friend and family member after having been apart for hours but felt like days.
"Shianni; thank you but I could use your help to get ready… you know how difficult my hair is" Kallian spoke; pointing up to her stringy and grimy hair that still had spots of cow's blood in amongst the greasy strands.
"With pleasure; you know how I love messing with your hair" Shianni spoke with excitement in her voice; ever since being children she'd loved doing peoples hair on special occasions and even secured work as an Assistant Horse Groomer that allowed her to satisfy her love of working with animals.
"Ever since we were small" Kallian stated; recalling a memory of how Shianni had nearly shaved her head bald as part of a prank and resulted in a month long grounding for them both.
Partnering up with her Cousin; Kallian pushed through the front door to her home, the house was small but quaint, a simple room with a small fire oven for cooking, a healthy fire within the hearth, a table with three chairs and three doors leading to the two bedrooms and a tiny washroom that only contained a toilet and a small wooden tub barely big enough for an adult to bathe in.
"So today is the day my little girl becomes a woman" Cyrion spoke; as Kallian's Father it was his duty to prepare her for the trials and tribulations of being a wife in Ferelden's Capital City, the city was already unfair to Elvish Kind and supporting a husband as well as bearing children would be difficult life for his daughter but he intended to support her none the less.
"Father… what is wrong? You appear unhappy… you're not ill? Are you?" Kallian took only a single look at her Father's expression of reflection and immediately rushed over to him to grasp at his hands, her feet barely making so much as a sound when crossing the dirty and sometimes-creaky floorboards.
"No Kallian; I'm not sick but I am thankful that you've found a good man who'll take you as a wife" Cyrion spoke softly as a parent would speak to his child; his rough, course hands worn down from working in the vast fields for years on end showed more sights of his age than his lined face did.
"Daughter; will you honour your father's heartfelt request?" Cyrion spoke again after a long silence; releasing Kallian's hands as he crossed to the back wall; pressing his hand against a secret panel as the wall slid open.
"Of course Father… what do you wish of me?" Kallian spoke with Shianni by her side only for them both to gasp as Cyrion opened a hidden compartment in the wall and took out a beautifully flowing white dress with embraided floral patterns.
"This was your Mother's… she wore it on the day she and I married under the very Tree you pass by every day and it would honour her memory if you were to wear it today" Cyrion spoke while recollecting the memory of his own wedding day; after his wife's death of disease he's considered selling the dress for enough coin to raise a Daughter on but decided to keep the garment for this very day.
"Oh… its beautiful; I'll change into it right now" Kallian spoke with such amazement at the preservation of the pure white dress that she took and dashed into her tiny bedroom with Shianni close behind her, Cyrion stood with a wide yet proud smile as he awaited the sight of his one and only daughter up on the alter.
Inside the small room where only a bed, a cracked mirror and a dresser stood as furniture; Kallian stood in front of the mirror as she stripped out of the plain work-dress until she stood in only her undergarments: a simple black matching pair she'd stolen from a market stall when she'd come of age and needed something that fit her thin frame.
"You've barely changed since we were children Cousin; only a little bigger in the bust I see" Shianni spoke with a naughty smile; carefully eyeing the orb-like breasts that hung in Kallian's chest as well as the curve of her hips.
"You need to stop being such a girl and find a man too Cousin" Kallian snapped back as she began donning the dress; the exquisite dress fitting her perfectly like it was sown for her, the dress coming with a circlet for her head that would frame her face from her hair perfectly once her hair was washed.
"Oh pish-posh; I'll settle when I'm good and ready or when I find a man good enough for me, but are you ready to begin your own family?" Shianni dismissed the comment about her own love-life when she too had suitors only she'd refused to so much as meet with them until she was good and ready.
"I've been ready for a year now; I cannot wait to begin a family with my husband" Kallian spoke with such happiness in her voice that shone through all doubt and pretence that she'd fail at her wifely duty.
Slipping on the wedding dress with extra care to not damage the sentimental piece of clothing; Kallian found that her Mother's Dress was a perfect fit on her as the dress hugged her body nicely and made her appear to be even more beautiful than normal.
"Let me do your hair too; this tail and bangs just won't do at all" Shianni spoke; pulling the hair tie out and letting Kallian's shoulder-length hair fall free, taking a comb from her belongings and straightening out the auburn hair until Kallian appeared to be more a princess than a lowly Elf working a bloody and messy job.
Stepping out from her room adorned in the wedding dress, a pair of one-toes sandals, and flowers in her auburn hair; the very sight of her made Cyrion burst into tears as he felt her last gift, a bouquet of wild flowers around a single bloom of Andraste's Grace: a blue petaled flower that rarely grew in populated areas.
"My dear girl… your mother would be so proud of you" Cyrion wept where he stood; tears rolling down his cheeks as he saw his only daughter dressed and ready for her wedding day ceremony, his hands wiping away the tears as Shianni exited Kallian's Room in her own fine dress to serve as a Bridesmaid.
"Shall we go?" Kallian spoke upon accepting her bouquet; offering her right arm to her father as they walked out together as Father and Daughter into the evening sunset to be greeted with the smiling faces and beaming eyes of every Elf Man, Woman and Child stood in unison each with flowers in hand forming a path to a raised alter where a Male Elf stood beaming in happiness as he saw his Bride.
Standing upon the raised platform serving as an alter for their ceremony governed by a Sister of The Chantry; an elder woman dressed in the white and yellow robes of a Sister but with an added golden tail to the front and back of her robe indicating her higher status as Revered Mother.
"Hello again Nelaros" Kallian spoke kindly as she stepped up onto the Alter where her Groom stood in finely woven tunic and breeches of traditional Elvish design, beside stood his friend: Soris while Shianni took her place beside Kallian as a Bridesmaid.
"Are you nervous?" Nelaros spoke; his voice kind and gentle while his hands were rough from working in a Blacksmith where he hammered metal into Breastplates, Shields and other pieces of Armour but did not forge weapons due to him being an Elf.
"Not at all; in fact I'm excited to be your Wife" Kallian spoke softly; her bouquet of flowers held up to her lips in place of a veil: her chosen words made Nelaros smile sweetly to his Bride, the pair standing apart as The Chantry Mother began her announcement of their wedding's beginning.
"Greets and Maker's Blessings to all who stand in attendance today; I am Mother Boann and it is my honour to preside over this binding of holy matrimony" The Revered Mother began to hold the ceremony; taking the hands of Kallian and Nelaros in her own before bringing their respective right hands together, only stopping when a sudden shout interrupted the rites of matrimony.
"Hold on just one minute! You can't have a party without The Arl of Denerim's Son being in attendance" shouted a Human Man from outside the group of Elvish Onlookers; the man shoving through the group until he reached the front, the man stood with the stature of a Noble and dressed in the fine clothes of the Higher Class Humans, his muddy brown hair slicked back but his sneering smile sent chills down Kallian's spine.
Kallian held her bouquet of flowers tightly; her nerves wrecking her mind as she not only sae the smug-looking Noble approaching but also no less than five other equally smug men each carrying either a sword or a dagger at their belts and joined by a sixth: The Guard from only an hour ago.
"Ser Vaughan Kendells; please do not interrupt this holy wedding ceremony" Mother Boann spoke up; raising a hand in defiance of Vaughan's interrupting of the wedding ceremony though her hand was visibly shaking at the sight of the weapons each man carried.
"Shut it old hag! I go wherever I damn well please and your Maker can go fuck himself" Vaughan spoke so suddenly with a swift motion of his left hand that batted the elderly Chantry Mother across the face; knocking her to the floor.
"Ser; look… these knife-ear girls are on the pretty side, particularly the one in the white dress" spoke one of the men; a short, frayed haired, rat-faced man dressed in simple smocks and a belt with a dagger.
"Yes; indeed they are… I think I'll have a few of these girls for myself tonight" Vaughan spoke; seizing Kallian by the elbow with his right hand and pulling her down from the Altar, gazing into her sky-blue eyes and smiling a sickening smile as he pictured all the inappropriate things he would like to do with her once he'd taken her away.
"Ser; I please beg of you to unhand my Bride or I'll force you too" shouted Nelaros; his left hand grabbing a hold of Vaughan's left arm casing the Noble to glare at Nelaros with murderous intent in his eyes, not realising that The Guard stood behind the Noble already had a hand on his Longsword.
"Your Bride?! This knife-eared wench is far too good for another dirty knife-eared boy" Vaughan stated with a laugh as he spoke down to the Elves like slaves; tightening his grip on Kallian's arm as he signalled to his Guard with a simple snap of his fingers.
A scream rang out across The Alienage as The Guard from the portcullis drew his Longsword and slashed the weapon across Nelaros' chest; the blade tearing deep through his tunic and flesh so easily that a flash of blood and steel came when The Guard finished his swing and letting Nelaros collapse to the wooden floor of the platform.
The Noble's friends quickly whipped out a Dagger each; slicing through the air at any Elf that dared to try and stop them, Elves dropping to the ground clutching bleeding wounds on their arms or chests, one or two Elves clutched severed fingers in desperate hopes of not losing the use of their hands.
Kallian along with Shianni and two other Elf Women stared in silent horror as Nelaros and several other Elves including Soris collapsed to the ground from bleeding wounds inflicted by Sword or Dagger, the women dragged violently towards The Arl's Mansion where it was unlikely they'd see their home again for the next few days if not ever again.
