this story was not only inspired by my favorite game but also by a song called All of Me by Matt Hammitt

this chapter has been done for a while i just have been to busy to type it up so here it is finally :) enjoy and please leave a review if you like

some content rated M and MA for mature audiences only

We managed to get back to the alienage without any more incidents. The gates were already open and Duncan and Valendrian were waiting their attention diverted from their conversation as we approached.

"You have returned." stated Valendrian looking over our party taking notice of Brianna and Valora assisting Shianni, "Has Shianni been hurt? And where is Tromey's daughter Nola?" I shook my head sadly and retrieved Nola's necklace from around my neck.

Valora looked down sadly at her shoes, "Nola didn't make it. She resisted…"

"And they killed her," Shianni finished weakly.

"Nelaros too," Soris stated, "The guards killed him even though he was unarmed."

"I see," Valendrian sighed in disappointment. "Would the rest of you ladies please take Shianni home? She needs to rest and I need to speak to Fìera and Soris." Brianna and Valora nodded and left with Shianni in tow. We watched their retreating forms in silence.

"Can you tell me what happened?" the elder asked

I looked away, shame and embarrassment coloring my cheeks, "I'd rather not talk about it. What happened with Shianni is for her to tell, not me."

He nodded, " what about the Arls son? Does he live?"

I looked down at my feet shaking my head, "no, he gave me no choice."

Valendrian rubbed his face tiredly. "Maker preserve us all."

Then the garrison could already be on their way. You have little time," Duncan spoke his voice rumbling gently so quite he had been that I had forgotten he was standing there.

Cousin what should we do?" Soris asked worriedly.

"I told you I would take care of it," I smiled sadly. "Have I ever broken a promise?"

An elf whose name I couldn't remember came running us to the elder out of breath he exclaimed, "the guards are coming!"

"No one panic let's see what comes of this," Valendrian said calmly.

A full retinue of guards came marching into the alienage. "I see Valendrian, elder and administrator of the alienage."

"I am here captain," Valendrian acknowledged stepping forwards. "I take it you have come in response to today's disruption?"

The captain approached his guards at attention behind him. "Don't play ignorant with me elder. You will not prevent justice from being done." His gaze searched out behind Valendrian his voice raised. The Arls son lies dead in a river of blood that runs through the entire palace! I want names and I want them NOW!"

I pushed Soris behind a support beam hiding him from the guards and stepped towards the guards.

"It was me," I confessed softly. Soris' arm reached out to grab me; I brushed past him. The gaze of the captain turned in my direction. "I killed the Arls son."

"You expect me to believe one slip of a girl did all that?" he scoffed.

Valendrian bristled, "we are not so helpless, captain."

He regarded me again this time more intensely taking note of the weapons I carried. The armor gracing my body was stained red with blood. "Very well, I suppose you could have done it. You save many by coming forward. I don't envy your fate but I do applaud your courage."

I raised my gaze to his nodding solemnly. This was my fate by coming forward I had saved not only Soris but also the entire alienage from a purging.

"Take her in to custody; she will wait in the dungeons until the Arl returns. The rest of you back to your houses!" he indicated two guards who approached me I pulled my weapons from the scabbards my face expressionless. I could have fought, but chose to surrender instead; I laid the weapons on the ground at my feet and stepped away from them.

Duncan cleared his throat, "captain a word if you please?"

"What is it grey warden? As you can see the situation is well under control."

A small smiled flashed quickly across Duncan's face but was gone as quickly. "Be that as it may captain. I hereby invoke the right of conscription. And remove this woman into my custody." He stepped in front of me placing himself between the guards and me.

"Son of a tied down…" the captain cursed.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. What is the right of conscription?" I asked my face a mask of confusion.

Valendrian answered softly, "grey warden's have the right to drafter people they deem worthy into their ranks. It can be any one from a slave to a prisoner to a king. It is a policy that King Maric reestablish during his rule."

"And Duncan can do that for me?" awe spreading across my expression. Valendrian nodded rising a finger to his lips for silence.

"Very well grey warden; I cannot challenge your rights, but I will ask one thing." Duncan inclined his head, "get this elf out of the city, TODAY!"

"Agreed."

The guard captain glowered at us issuing orders to his men to "move out".

We watched them march out of the alienage until the city gate slammed closed behind them.

"You're with me now. Say your goodbyes and see me when you're ready." he stooped to the ground retrieved my weapons and returned them to me. "Do not take overlong. I agreed to have you out of the city forthwith."

"I understand," I acknowledged. "Thank you, you probably just saved my life. You didn't have to do this for me."

"Hmm…" his eyes bore down into mine, his gaze so intense I had to look quickly away slightly flustered.

Soris peaked out waving at me, "I'll just go say my goodbyes now."

Valendrian waited to speak until I was out of earshot, "it seems you got your recruit after all Duncan."

"Not in the way I would have liked old friend."

"No?" Valendrian shrugged. "Either way it's out of my hands now. If you will excuse me, I must tend to our people and prepare a funeral pyre. Goodbye Duncan, take care of our girl and Maker keep you."

Soris grabbed me up into a huge bear hug, "thank you thank you cousin, you really saved my hide back there…"

I hugged him back, "I only did what was right."

"As you always do," He released me staring me directly in the eyes. "You have always been my hero since we were kids. It's just official now."

I blushed looking at the dirt.

He clasped my shoulder, "I'd like to follow your example. No more daydreaming, I'm settling down. Valora's a good woman and she had ideas about making our lives here better for everyone."

My head shot up and I gawked at him, 'Wow, that's great cousin. I wish you two the best."

"Uncle had the women take Shianni home. Will you see her before you go?"

I hesitated, my heart torn, "I don't know. I may have saved her but she also witnessed me kill. That can be just as traumatizing to her as what Vaughan did."

"Go," he insisted. "It will break her heart if you don't." he gave my shoulder a final squeeze before walking away."

I looked to the sky offering my thanks to the ancestors for my luck this day. I took off quickly across the alienage to my home elves gossiped as I passed, ignoring their comments leaving the story telling for Soris.

I entered my home inside Valora stood by the fire heating a kettle of tea. She turned towards the sound of my footsteps.

"Oh, there you are," she said brightly. "I wanted to say thank you for everything you did."

I sat down at the small dining table in front of the fire as she poured three cups of tea. I added a dollop of honey to Shianni's cup and mine. "Don't mention it. We're going to be family after all anyone else would have done the same."

"You're wrong," she said her tone turning dark along with her eyes. "Most elves ignore the abuse that goes on. Nelaros was the only person I knew who was brave enough to fight back. That is I mean, until I met you."

I frowned sadly sighing, "he sounds like he would have been the perfect match for me."

"I'm so sorry that you never got to know him," she consoled taking my hand in hers. I squeezed it in appreciation before taking it back.

"Promise me you'll take care of Soris?"

"I will, I swear it," she vowed she looked over her shoulder to the bedroom. "Shianni seems to be regaining herself. I will leave you two alone. Good luck in your travels and thank you again." She finished her cup of tea and left the house. I swallowed mine in two gulps burning my throat. I picked up Shianni's and took into the bedroom where she was resting.

"Cousin?" I called softly her form was so still I wasn't sure if she heard me I moved closer to the bed. She opened her moss green colored eyes and smiled at me.

"You took all the responsibility for what happened today. You're amazing you know that?" she exclaimed hoarsely.

Setting her teacup on the nightstand, I sat down next to her on the bed. "I just did what had to be done Shianni." I leaned forward and helped her into a sitting position.

"You always do. Someday they'll write legends about you, a hero for all the elves to aspire to," she grinned weakly.

"You have to know I can't stay. Duncan conscripted me into the grey wardens to save me from being arrested and sentenced to death."

"No!" she cried her eyes going wide. "It's not right you're being punished for a spoiled child actions."

I brushed her hair gently away from her face, "I know but I knew that fighting back would have its own consequences." I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "How are you holding up?"

Her eyes darted to the doorway checking to see if we were alone. "I'm alright as far as the others know Vaughan just roughed me up a bit. If the others knew what he really did…" her voice broke and I took her hand in mine. "I don't want them to know. They'll treat me like a fragile doll or something."

I smiled at the mental image. "I can't ever imagine that happening," I joked.

Her eyes widened and she hit me on the shoulder giggling. We laughed until she cried and I held her in my arms, till she could cry no more. I laid her back on the bed, "cousin I have to go now. Know that you are stronger and braver than any one gives you credit. What happened doesn't have to define who you are unless you want it to." I hugged her tightly kissing her gently on the forehead. I rose from the bedside.

"Wait," she whispered. "There's something I need to say before you go. First… you've always been there for me but what happened… what you did… it was beyond what anyone could ever expect from another person." She closed her eyes gathering her thoughts together. "When the world was at its worst there you came, with fire in your eyes like a legend out of a storybook. I'll never forget that."

"Shianni, I want you to know that even after everything that's happened I would have still done it the same way. I've made peace with my decision to save you and kill him."

Tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes. "I love you cousin make us proud out there."

"I love you too," I answered my voice cracking, waving a final goodbye and leaving her room.

"Maker watch over you," she prayed to the empty room.

Father stood outside our door. He turned towards me as I stepped out of the doorway.

He took my hands in his unshed tears glistening in his eyes, "if…if this what the maker has planned for you, then I guess it's for the best. Your mother would have been pleased."

"Father," I whispered embracing him tears threatening to fall. "I am afraid."

"I wish there was another way, this is not the life I wanted for you. I had hoped to keep you here near me. Now…now I have to lose you for you to live," tears spilled over his tired eyes soaking into my crimson hair. He pulled away looking down at my face, "take care my girl. Be safe and wise and… and you know. We'll all miss you very much. I love you Fìera."

"I love you too papa," I whispered as he release me and turned away from him. I wiped away a tear that slipped down my cheek. I worked my way back to Duncan the center of the alienage was filled with elves who offered prayers condolences. Word must have already spread of what happened in the palace. Nola's parents stopped me by the great tree offering their thanks for Nola's necklace even though they were consumed by grief. I could only offer them my apologies for not being able to save her. Her mother hugged me breaking down into tears in my arms before her husband led her away. I waved my farewell to the rest of the elves and came upon Duncan waiting patiently at the gates.

"Are you ready child?" he asked calmly.

"Yes" I said offering one final look over my shoulder, Soris stood with his arm around Valora who was standing next to my father and Valendrian. The waved at me I inclined my head to them in farewell.

"Good," he said exiting out of the alienage into the world beyond.