this story was not only inspired by my favorite game but also by a song called All of Me by Matt Hammitt the words moved me but fit the whole city elf/alistair romance.

this chapter fought me a little bit i had something completely different written down for this chapter but when i went to type and edit it my fingers decided it didnt like what i had wrote and i ended up with this chapter one i am much happier with. i hope you enjoy it

rated T and M for implied content

The gate stayed shut behind me, no friends or family followed, Duncan and I were officially alone and I was outside of Denerim for the first time ever. The sun was low in the western sky we would have to find a place to camp before nightfall but Duncan seemed in no hurry to camp. Instead, it seemed he was trying to put as much space between us and the city.

We traveled in silence; Duncan seemed content to leave me alone to my thoughts. I was sad and my heart heavy, sad to leave my family sad to have lost the chance at a normal life sad that too many people lost their lives today over stupidity. We followed the main road until the sun sank into the horizon and painted hues of red and orange across the sky. Duncan started looking for a place to camp just off the path we found a small clearing surrounded by trees. Duncan sent me to collect wood while he tried to start a fire. I collected as much as I could uneasy leaving Duncan's side.

I handed him the pile of wood I had collected and sat down on a fallen log watching him set up camp. A few traders stopped drawn by the sight of our fire. Duncan chatted with them easily I left them to trade and share news and hunted in the nearby woods. After catching a few rabbits and a couple of squirrels and stumbling upon a bush of berries, I made my way back to camp.

The men whistled over my bounty. Taking my knife, I cleaned the surface of the log creating a makeshift table to skin my kills. When I was finished I buried the pelts in the dirt to dry them, I took a few of the smaller sticks and stripped the bark off using a rock I smoothed their surface making a cooking spit and hung it over the fire. I sat near the fire watching the men.

"She's very lovely, perhaps you would be willing to trade for her?" one of them asked Duncan.

He laughed his chest rumbling, "I do not think you want to go down this path friend."

I turned the meat slowly watching the trader carefully through my lashes my voice cold as ice, "I am not for sale. You would do best to leave for I have no tolerance for anyone who believes in slavery."

The trader huffed offended, but got up and walked several paces away leaving his friend behind.

I watched him closely, and he raised his hands in surrender, "I do not deal in slaves or flesh. I am interested in them pelts you buried though."

I looked behind me where they were drying, "do you have a sleeping roll to trade? Or a traveling pack?"

He nodded opening his large backpack displaying his wares. My eyes widened at his collection he had many fine things including some jewelry and chocolates. The price my pelts would fetch for would not be that much so I only picked out what I needed. I had some silver and bronze bits saved but knew I would need money for where Duncan and I are heading. I traded the pelts for a sleeping roll, a potion pouch a blanket. I thanked the trader and offered him some of our dinner. He accepted joining Duncan and I as we ate.

"what puts you two on this path?" he asked Duncan.

I looked up watching Duncan's face as he answered, "We travel south to Ostagar to join the king's army. Darkspawn have gathered at the edge of the Korcari Wilds."

The trader paled but nodded. "I had heard that King Cailan was down there with the bulk of his personal armies I also heard that his uncles' men were soon to join them as well."

"This is true, when I was there last neither Eamon's nor Rendon Howe men had arrived. Many of the other nobles' armies were slowly trickling in," Duncan stated his tone concerned.

I finished eating and excused myself into the trees to relieve myself. When I returned the trader was no longer there. I sat on the ground my back propped up against the log.

"You should get some rest we leave with first light it will be a long day of travel tomorrow."

I nodded laying out my new bedroll and lying on my side. I heard Duncan putting out the fire behind me and I pulled my blanket around me tightly. Exhaustion overtook me and I fell heavily into a deep sleep.

"Fìera," a musical voice called my name, "Fìera come to me." I turned around in circles searching for the source of the voice.

"Where are you?" I called into the darkness. Shadows moved around me changing into different shapes.

"Fìera," it whispered.

"Please," I begged, "I can't find you."

Strong arms enveloped me from behind pulling me close. Any fear I had washed away from the comfort of those arms. I closed my eyes and leaned backwards.

Warm breath tickled my ear, "I miss you when you're not around. I would love to stay here with you forever. Nothing bad able to touch us immersed in this wonderful place."

Opening my eyes I sighed, content in agreement.

A dark cloud shadowed over head, "but you can't stay." His words crushing the peace I felt.

I struggled to turn around to see the face to whose arms where holding me tight. The grip tightened holding me into place.

"Fìera you have to get up now!" the voice yelled panicked pushing me away, "WAKE UP!"

The dream shattered and I opened my eyes to the pitch black of night. I was not alone the trader who had offended me earlier was lying atop of me pawing at my clothes. I opened my mouth to scream only to find his dirty hand covering it. I fought against him trying to buck him off me reaching my arms around trying to reach my weapon. My hand met metal and I griped tightly lifting a dagger to plunge into…nothing. He was gone; I sat up seeing Duncan who stood above my attacker sword pointing at his throat.

"Check his pack for rope," Duncan instructed. Keeping his blade pointed at his chest. I scrambled to his side searching the trader's things and finding a few lengths of rope. Handing it to Duncan, who dragged the trader over to a tree and began securing the trader to it.

I stood looking down at the traders form my dagger clutched tightly in my hand. Anger coursed though my body, I took deep breaths trying to remain calm. Lowering myself to his eye level I raised my blade a hairsbreadth away from his throat. He tried to back away but with nowhere to go he began screaming in fear of his life. Duncan came around the tree, watching the scene unfold.

I leaned forward my voice barely a whisper, "remember this blade at your throat the next time you even think of attacking another woman. I spare your life this night but fate will not smile down on you in the future and know that if I ever see you again I will not be so kind."

Pulling back away from him, I withdrew my blade from his throat and sheathed it at my waist. I stood meeting Duncan's gaze, my eyes remained clear but anger and tears burned behind my eyelids. I blinked furiously refusing them from falling.

We packed camp quickly leaving the trader alone and still tied to the tree. Perhaps someone would come upon him and release him then again perhaps not, he was no longer our concern.

It was early enough that light had began to spread across the sky we decided to keep traveling south instead of finding a new place to set up camp. Duncan did not feel the need to fill the silence between us instead watched me intently. I chose to ignore the intensity of his gaze concentrating on the road we traveled instead. We camped just south of The Hest Road at the tip of the Imperial Highway. We were directly north of Ostagar and would be at the army camp by midday tomorrow.

"You continue to surprise me," Duncan murmured after building a small fire to cook my remaining meat.

My head shot up startled by the rumbled of his voice. His eyes flicked to mine, "your mother did not have your calm. She had a fire in her much like your own but she rarely controlled what came out of her mouth."

I cocked my head listening intently, "when tried to do what she thought was best, Even if it did cost her life in the end."

It was Duncan's turn to look intrigued. "How did she die? Forgive me that is none of my business."

"No its alright." my eyes traveled skyward as I searched for the words, "she was killed by humans. We were in the market one day when she just got scared after seeing a group of them. She told my father to take me back to the alienage and stay with me. Her final words to me were telling me how much she loved me and how she hoped one day I would understand." My gaze turned to the fire watching the flames lick the wood hungrily.

"And do you?"

I shook my head, "no neither did my father."

"Hmm," Duncan murmured thoughtful. "Have you ever been outside of Denerim before?"

I tossed a small stick into the fire, "just for hunting and gathering with others from the alienage and never far outside of the city. This is the first time I have been outside without anyone of my kind before."

"There will be others at camp. Mind you that most will be servants but there is one male elf grey warden."

"That's good then, may father would like that. Have there been many elf grey wardens?" I asked sleepily, curling up on my bedroll.

He smiled grateful to talk about a subject he was quite familiar with. I fell asleep listening to Duncan regale some of the tales of elven Grey wardens.