Day 8
I was able to buy a decent sized journal with the money I got from Gretchen. The hours weren't different from back home and, although the work was heavier, I was able to keep up my pace. Gretchen really liked the fact that I was eager to learn and quick to pick up on things. Dirk was mostly silent but his stature was able to scare the thieves that tried to steal some bread from us. Rael accompanied me at night to make sure I got to the bakery safe. Thomas wasn't all too keen to have an elf sleeping over but he minded it if only because Rael gave him a pouch of money.
After Rael's explanation, I've been making sure to talk to him about anything and everything to keep his mind off his situation. Since he opened up with me, I decided to open up myself as well. I started to talk to him about my children, about my husband. I tweaked my home slightly to fit my story as well. He listened aptly and didn't ask too many questions that would give me away.
On one of my days off, Rael caught me writing in my journal and looked at my writing. He made a confused look but let me write nonetheless. All he did was watch over my shoulder as I wrote in my journal at the table. Then I got tired of his curious glances and sighed, letting my charcoal that I got from my work, drop.
"Yes Rael? If you have a question, you know you can ask." I said.
"Your letters are so weird. Who taught you how to write?" He asked as he grabbed my journal. "I can barely make out some of your words. You have horrible handwriting." I pouted and quickly snatched my journal from his hands.
"At least I can read it…" I mumbled defiantly. Rael chuckled and took my journal back and wrote in it.
"See? This is how you need to write." Rael stated while giving me back my journal. I couldn't read what he wrote. I bit the inside of my cheek and my brow furrowed. "You can't read that, can you?" Rael asked, sitting down at the table. I did a quick glance up and then looked down. I frowned and shook my head.
"No. I can't read." I mumbled, my cheeks getting red from embarrassment and shame.
"No wonder your penmanship is atrocious. Fine! I'll add that to my list! I'll teach you." Rael chuckled and patted my head. My cheeks burned but being around Rael felt nice.
"Thank you." I said sincerely.
"Ok but first these are the letters and of course the numbers." Rael started to explain while scribbling all over my journal.
"Can't you at least find some parchment or a vellum and not on my journal!" I snatched my journal back again. Rael chuckled and pinched my cheek.
"Oh come on it's just a journal, why are you being so protective over it?" Rael hummed, putting his chin in his hand and leaning against the table.
"It helps me deal with things and it's private." I explained while hugging the journal close to my chest. Rael laughed.
"So secretive." Rael poked my cheek. I stuck my tongue at him.
August 18th 9:27
I finally got the date! And I'm surprised to know that I am three years before the fifth blight. I didn't think something like this would even happen. It's always the same thing, person would get to the fifth blight as it's starting and automatically become a Grey Warden and boom, save the world. Here I am with no experience in fighting, a cook, and smack dab in Denerim. Still, I have a roof over my head, food, and a steady income so I'm grateful.
It's been eleven days since I came and things have gotten into a set regime. I would get up early and go off to Gretchen's Bakery. I have the way memorized now but Rael was insistent in taking me every night. As he taught me the alphabet, he was also teaching me several easy defense tricks. 'Just in case,' he said.
He started talking about his mother too. Rael told me that it was she that taught him to fight and use daggers. She even taught him how to pick locks. Rael gave me a small knife to carry everywhere in case I needed it. Although I knew my way with a knife, I didn't know how to fight with it. We practice after he teaches me how to read and write.
Thomas didn't like the fact that Rael was staying with us but we both paid him every day so he begrudgingly accepted it. He often warned Rael not to have the guards catch him. Elves weren't allowed to live outside of the alienage and Rael has been with me for nearly two weeks. Thomas was a grumpy old man but he did give respect where respect was due. He apparently was Rael's mother's friend and that's why he accepts Rael.
"You really are a fast learner." Rael said, looking over my penmanship on some spare vellum. I felt a bit a pride swell and smile.
"Thanks." I giggled.
"A few of your letters suck though." Rael said bluntly. I rolled my eyes.
"I'm trying at least." I sighed.
August 27th 9:27
"No like this. First if someone is trying to stab you, you block the hand that holds the weapon and hit at their throat. Don't hit too hard or you might crush their windpipe and kill them. You only want them get stunned." Rael explained while showing me the moves. We were using a really stiff baguette as a knife while Thomas was weighing in some herbs. I was shaking slightly as he was showing me this and I had a stiff face.
"I'm not sure if I should-" I started.
"You need to learn how to defend yourself Nia. I won't always be there to protect you. Now come on and don't hesitate." Rael said, coming at me slowly with the baguette in hand. I whimpered slightly. I have never gotten into a fight since elementary school and that was only consisted of slapping. He moved slowly and I did how he asked besides hitting him in the throat. "You need to block harder. That wimpy block will only have him slash you and not stab you. Come on, like you mean it!"
"I can't! I have never fought before!" I whined.
"Stop being so cowardly and grow some balls!" Rael shouted at me.
"But-" I moaned like a child. He hit me on the head with the baguette. "Ow!"
"Alright, we can still do this but we need to think about it in a different matter. Think about this; I'm a home invader and your children are right behind you. Are you going to stand and fight or run while your kids die behind you?" Rael asked seriously. I clenched my teeth and felt the rage rise inside. "There we go, that's the face I wanted to see! Now, I'm coming at you so be ready!" He came at me faster but I focused on the situation he explained. I blocked the hand with the fake baguette knife and punched his throat. He came out coughing and my guilt immediately replaced the rage.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry!" I cried out, helping him to a chair. Thomas laughed at his desk.
"About time you hit him! I've been waiting for that all week!" Thomas cackled and slapped his desk. I frowned at him while Rael cleared his throat.
"Good." Rael squeaked out and I gave him something to drink. "That's how you need to fight. I'll teach you more later but for now we might as well get some sleep. Also, try to invest in some warmer clothing. Ferelden tends to get colder once we start getting closer to Harvestmere." Rael laughed. "You got me good but remember that's as strong as your punch needs to go. Anymore and you might accidentally kill someone. You don't want that on your conscious right?" I shook my head furiously. Rael nodded. "Good girl."
"Thank you again Rael, for doing all of this for me." I said sincerely, fidgeting with my shirt. Rael gave me his toothy grin.
"Of course."
9:27 Kingsway/September 7th
It has been a full month since I've been in Denerim. Rael doesn't stay with us anymore since he feels that I was able to handle myself for the most part. It was lonely not being able to see him in the mornings. My little corner now has a small drawer for my clothes and a small tub for when I needed a bath. I have been taking care of Thomas' home by cleaning and organizing when I could. I was able to read for the most part but my penmanship still needed work. I've switched to those letters for my journal as well. I've taken over cooking, cleaning, and laundry for Thomas. He's very grateful for it as his back was starting to suffer. Thomas was 54 years old and pains sometimes wracked his body.
I liked doing these things. It made me feel less of a burden. Thomas did snap and told me that just because I was doing this didn't mean that he was going to lower my debt. Either way, I hated feeling useless at home.
Home, now that was a word I barely used. My phone was tucked away in a secret corner of my drawer. It didn't turn on, not like I expected it to though. Whether it worked or not was a mystery. The memories of my children and my husband rang very clearly though. How were they? Were the kids behaving? Did my husband miss me? How's their finances? What about my mom, my brother, my dad? I couldn't know and I didn't have any way of knowing how they were.
I kept thinking that I was stuck in here and truthfully the only one who might have the answers is in a shack in the Korcari Wilds. There was no way I could even make a trek by myself. I was hesitant in venturing and exploring the city let alone the wilds outside. There were so many questions I had and no answers.
Not only that, I started to have weird dream about that misty green place with the floating islands. They were only fleeting glimpses and faded memories but I remember being there for the past few nights. I wondered what it was. Either way my hands were full on trying to learn everything I could on how to read, write, and fight. I never knew my life would be playing out this way and the only reason why I haven't completely broken down yet was because of Rael and my journal.
But God Almighty, do I miss my family…
9:27 Kingsway/September 13th
"Wow…" I breathed out. The smell of rotten fish, sewage, and the musk of the workers permeated my nose but nothing could stop me from being awed by the size of the ships and the vast ocean in front of me. I coughed slightly from the smell but watched the ripples of the water as I stood near the pier. The sailors were all looking at me with curious glances but they weren't the ones I was looking for. I held on to the cloth that held the extra food that I made at Thomas' place.
"Nia! What are you doing here?" Rael asked as I spotted him moving cargo. His bandana was fitted tightly over his head with a few of his red locks peeking out. I see now why he has such a dark tan. Working out here underneath the sun would do that to you.
"Here. I made some extra food and since today was a rest day I thought about bringing it to you." I took the cloth that held the food in a small metal pot along with another cloth that held some dried fruit and bread. Rael's face grew red as a few of the other workers howled and whistled.
"That boy got whipped!"
"Oi does she have a sister!"
"Get a room!"
"Be quiet! We're not like that!" Rael shouted back but they all kept on shouting things. Rael growled in frustration and led me away to a quiet ally. Rael shuffled and rubbed the back of his head. "Thank you but try to be careful. Sailors that come back after a long trip with no women tend to get grabby."
"I'll just stab their hand or break a few fingers." I shrugged. Rael chuckled and took the food. He opened the pot and there was stew inside. We both sat on crates as he ate.
"It's good but you didn't have to give it to me you know?" Rael chuckled sheepishly.
"I noticed that you have sullen cheeks and a little on the skinny side so I wondered if I could get you to fill out by giving you some food." I fidgeted with my tunic. Rael patted me on the head.
"Thank you. Now that I noticed it, you're on the short side for a human." Rael laughed as I pinched his cheek. "No but really, thank you for this. I haven't had good food made for me like this for a while."
"Doesn't your family cook for you?" I wondered. Rael scratched at his nose and shrugged.
"It's only a few cousins and my dad now. We don't get any good food at my part of town either. We try to grow some herbs or potatoes but we go through those quickly. The thing about tight knit communities like mine? Everything is everyone's. Clothes quickly become hand-me-downs to other families, food is shared amongst everyone with the kids getting the better share, and anyone with spirits is quickly drained. The only thing we don't share is money. You need to be careful though because if you try to save money and they catch wind of it? You'll find a broken down door and everything gone." Rael scowled.
"Supposedly we should be helping one another out but every group has a rotten apple or, in my case, apples. There are some elves that all they do is try to mooch off the rest and even if you try to get them jobs, they won't because they are being taken care of by everyone. It makes the ones that actually try look bad. I love my family. My dad keeps working even though he's old and his knees hurt. My cousin Shianni, even with her loose mouth, works hard at being a seamstress. We try so hard but trying doesn't account for nothing if we're only stomped to the ground." Rael ripped the bread in half and bit into it angrily.
I sat there watching him eat silently and brought my hands together. There was nothing I could do. I had no seat of power to help the elves and it was true what he said. It would take a miracle to even get an elf into a normal life where he wouldn't be looked down by everyone. I looked at his ears, the lack of hair on his face, his cheekbones, those slanted and clear eyes. It was these differences that marked him as an elf and, according to this world's logic, lower than a human. It wasn't fair but there was nothing I could do.
"I wish I could help." I mumbled softly, looking down at my intertwined hands. Rael place his hand on top of mine and gave me a clear stare.
"You are helping, you're listening to me." Rael said softly. Then a passing sailor whistled where we were sitting and Rael stood up quickly. "I said shut it!" They went off laughing and there was redness on his cheeks. He groaned audibly and put the metal pot together and gave it to me.
"Thank you for this. I'll visit you later on ok? Also the next time you come, try not to look so pretty." Rael laughed before walking off back to carry cargo. I tilted my head and my eyebrow rose in confusion. I was not pretty and I didn't even do anything. All I had on were normal clothes and my hair was up in a tie. I shrugged and headed back to Thomas'.
Yay! Next chapter! Beta'd by Fearanightmare. The start of this is going to be more slower as I'm trying to expand on how Nia gets to learn how to fight as well as filling in some character development with her and Eren once he comes along.
Shout out to FearaNightmare, Lord Inquisitor B Joseph H, naturaetsophia, Commander Ray, PFCDontKnow, and Anemone Iris Sidera for following/favoriting!
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Anon: I hope you like where this is going just like Days of Our Lives!
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