So many thoughts were going through my head. I just couldn't think straight. A wedding.. this soon? I looked at my betrothed. He was handsome enough, I suppose, but I just didn't want him. I was hoping I could escape.. but then those shemlen came and ruined my plan. It's not as if I don't like Nelaros. I'm sure he's a nice guy, and I'll learn to love him. Someday. But considering it was an arranged marriage, and I only met him today.. I mean, all marriages in the alienage are arranged and I could have gotten worse. Soris.. my cousin, as it seems has no parents and was given a mouse of a bride named.. was it Gelora? Menorva? I couldn't remember.. Maybe I'm being selfish. But I'd rather wait until I find a man that I love and loves me back before getting married. Isn't that too much to ask?
Standing up on that stage with Nelaros, Soris and.. his bride was frightening. Everyone was watching... I couldn't make a run for it. And the priest... of course, she was a shem, you don't get elven priests but.. I wish there was. I am so terribly terrified of humans. The only time that is not so is when I confuse it for rage. I just wish, that this time, it could be rage.. Maybe then I'd stop being scared and just run off. Find the Dalish, maybe.
Suddenly, Vaughan and a few of his.. 'friends' marched onto the stage, interrupting our wedding. I could see Shianni hiding in the background. Earlier when we caught him trying to.. 'attract' some of our friends, she hit him over the head with a bottle, knocking him unconscious. I had hoped that would be the last we would see him. Apparently not. We can't prevent him from coming either, him being the Arl of Denerim's son and all..
"Sorry to interrupt, Mother, " he chuckled, talking to the priest "But I'm.. uh, having a party and, ha, we're dreadfully short of female guests" He laughed a laugh that you could only hear from the most twisted beings of the earth.
"My lord, this is a wedding!" The priest exclaimed loudly, trying to make Vaughan see sense. It wasn't happening.
"Ha!" he yelled, pushing Soris' bride out of his way in the process "If you want to dress up your pets and have tea parties, that's your business. But don't pretend this is a proper wedding." Pets? Pets!?
"Don't you speak about us like that!" I yelled angrily, then instantly covered my mouth and looked down. What have you done now, Kallian, what have you done now...
"Shut up, knife ear," He replied sternly, "Now, let's take.. those two," he gestured to me and Soris' bride "The one in the tight dress and... Where's the bitch that bottled me?"
"Over here, Lord Vaughan!" replied one of his companions, who was obviously drunk, and he grabbed the back of Shianni's dress.
"Let me go, you stuffed-shirt son of a-" Shianni yelled, struggling to run off.
"Oh I'll enjoy taming her, and the pretty bride.." Vaughan turned around to face me, an evil glint in his eyes.
"You will not take Shianni!" I yelled, right up in his face. All fear for him had gone, in that moment.
Vaughan ignored my comment and smirked at me "Ah yes, such a well-formed little thing" He was obviously trying to size me up.
"You villains!" Nelaros commented, not very enthusiastically. Vaughan didn't even take his eyes off me to comment upon what he said.
"That's quite enough, I'm sure we all want to avoid further, um... unpleasantness," He was still smirking at me, his eyes only looking a little sterner.
"If you even dare touch me, or Shianni, or anyone, I'll kill you!" I screamed in his face, and slapped him. Hard. Left a red mark on his face. He bloody well deserved it.
He angered, and yelled at me back "You little bitch!" And punched me in the face. I fell back, and my head slammed hard unto the wooden floor. Everything turned black.
I awoke in a room made of stone, and wood.. A room in the Arl of Denerim's estate, I could tell. A random, black-haired woman in the background was on her knees repeating "Maker keep us, Maker protect us, Maker keep us, Maker protect us"
Other than her, the first thing I heard was Shianni. Typical "Stop it! You're driving me insane!" She moaned. I sat up, my eyes only just opening.
When she saw me sit up she sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the Maker you've come through. We were so worried.."
"That's it," I moaned, rubbing the back of my head. It hurt "Vaughan is dead. I don't know how. But he will die,"
Shianni laughed nervously. "I wish.."
I sighed, hopelessly. I knew she was right. I could never kill a shem, anyway... "We need to get out of here,"
"Forgive me if I don't hold my breath. The door is locked and solid, and we're unarmed!" The... random girl said, panickedly.
I stood up, thinking of my options. "As soon as we see a way out, we take it. If we can, find a weapon and fight,"
"Even if we did find weapons, we can't fight.." Shianni sighed.
"Speak for yourself.." I muttered. It was no secret that I had training with weapons when I was a child. Only a little but still enough to get by. Mother taught me. If only she were here to see me now...
"Look, we'll... do what they want, go home, and try to forget this ever happened!" The girl's desperation was not well hidden. I could just tell she was hoping for someone to suggest something else.
"She's right. It'll be worse if-" Soris' bride started.
"Or we can fight" I interrupted.
"The only one here who has training is you!" Shianni exclaimed, obviously wishing that were not the case.
There was a moment of silence, and suddenly we heard footsteps, and they were getting louder.
"Someones coming!" The random girl panicked. I really wish now that I knew her name.
"As said, if you see an opportunity to escape, take it," I ordered. I could tell none of them were listening to me.
But then again, I probably won't listen to me either.
Just then five armoured and armed shemlen entered the room. I could feel the beads of sweat on my forehead already. I hated being around humans... I was either scared of them or angry at them. Unfortunately at this given moment of time, I was scared of them. Terrified, in fact. They all had their swords in their hands, as if they were ready to attack us at any moment.
"Hello, wenches, we're your escorts to Lord Vaughan's little party," The shem in front said just a few seconds after they entered. I subconsciously took a step backwards.
"Stay away from us!" The girl who was praying screamed. Her voice was so high pitched it hurt my ears. It was not a wise move. The shem instantly struck her with his sword, leaving her bleeding and lying on the floor. The rest of us knew this would happen to us if we tried to speak out. I gulped in response.
"You.. killed her!" The random girl exclaimed. I still wish I knew her name.
"I suppose that's what happens when you try teaching whores some respect," The shem droned. My teeth were chattering from fear. I could barely move. "Now, you grab the little flower cowering in the corner. Horance and I'll take the homely bride and the drunk. You two, bind the last one. She's the scrapper,"
I was assuming I was the 'scrapper' as the four shem left with Shianni, Soris' bride and that random girl which I assumed was the 'drunk'. No wonder I didn't know her name. The two shem walked towards me with perverted smiles on their faces. I felt beads of sweat on my forehead and I was shaking more than ever.
"Don't worry, we'll be perfect gentlemen," One of them said sarcastically. I gulped.
"Now, you heard the captain. Be a good little wench or you'll end up like your friend, there" The other demanded.
"I... " I started, but was not able to finish my sentence. I was so close to tears.
"What was that?" One of the shem demanded. I opened my mouth to answer but then closed it and a sultry little smile appeared on my mouth instead.
"Umm... Hello?" Soris said shyly, at the door holding a sword. I could see a crossbow tied at his back. I could tell the sword was for me. The two shem turned around to face him.
"Ohh look at this," One of the shem laughed "A little elfling with a stolen sword"
As they walked towards him he slid the sword between them and it landed at my feet. I picked it up. It was a little big and heavy for me but I could manage for the meantime. I held it with both hands as the shem drew their weapons and said in unison "Oh shit..."
I didn't look at what Soris was doing. I leaped onto one of them immediately. Was a great thing to do as he got the wrong idea and dropped his weapons, with a little grin on his face. I took advantage of this weakness and it the sword over his head, cutting part of his nose of. He grasped hold of his face and screamed as I stood on the bare ground. I aimed the sword for his neck - and missed. It hit his shoulder causing a great deal of pain. I was not used to the amount of weight this sword carried. I aimed slightly above his head this time and it hit his neck - making a fatal blow as I almost cut his head off. He fell to the ground, dead. I looked towards Soris. He was lying on the floor and the other shem was just about to kill him. A great rage dawned within me and I charged towards him, drilling the sword into his back, hitting just below his heart. He fell to the ground, dead and I smiled a little in victory.
"Are you alright?" I asked Soris, helping him up to his feet.
"I could ask you the same thing.." He replied, with a frown on his face, glancing at the dead woman on the ground.
"I'm fine, now answer me. Please," I insisted, worriedly. He had his hand on his side, as if he was covering something.
"I... got a little injured" He admitted, and uncovered his side to reveal a deep cut, gashing with blood.
"You should go. You have no training and you have no way of surviving this without healing magic," I insisted, and turned around. But before I went away Soris put his hand on my shoulder.
"Let me come with you," He replied, his voice giving away every inch of pain he was feeling. I faced him again.
"I can't let you go on like this. You gave me a sword and I am grateful. But I can't allow you to do this.." I looked down on at the ground, then looked up again and asked him with deep curiosity "How did you get these weapons anyway?"
"That Grey Warden, Duncan, gave Nelaros and me his crossbow. But, that recruit Elissa gave us her sword too. The one you're holding now. We should bump into Nelaros later, he's gone to see the others,"
"Nelaros... came to save me?" I asked, in utter awe. It's surprising how attached he's become of me, despite only meeting him a few hours ago. Mind you, he is supposed to be my husband..
"Not just you, but yes. He's the reason we're here," He explained.
My face immediately turned to a frown. It's impossible for me to love a man I only knew a few hours... right?
"You're getting out of here. I'm going to find Nelaros and the others" I said immediately, trying not to show any emotion. I grabbed keys from one of the shem's corpses and opened a door that lead outside. Soris had a worried look on his face, but he understood and left. I closed the door behind him and advanced into the castle.
As I walked into what appeared to be a kitchen, some shem chef walked towards me angrily. "What's this? I don't recognise you, elf! Wait... is that blood? You're a bandit! Rebel! Outlaw! The guards will make quick work out of-" Then suddenly, an elven servant punched him in the back of the head. The chef groaned in agony and collapsed, not dead but unconscious.
"You have no idea how long that shem's had it coming," he explained to me. I thanked him, and he walked off. I searched the kitchen and found two large kitchen knives and a large backpack. I tried to shove Elissa's sword in the bag and it just fit, with the handle poking out the top. I would use the two knives as weapons, for now. The sword was too heavy and the knives would be much more practical, despite not being made for battle.
When I walked into the next room I was instantly questioned by an off-duty guard. "Why are you holding those knives, elf?" I felt a little fear creep into me but I ignored it.
"Take a wild guess," I replied bluntly, and threw one of them at him. It landed in his neck, knocking him back, dead. The other off-duty guards instantly took notice and grabbed anything they could find.
There were five of them, I counted them immediately. They mainly did not have armour or weapons and those who did had barely anything. This fight would be too easy. I threw the other knife at one of them and it hit his chest, him then dead. I ran up to him and the other dead guard and grabbed the knives from their corpses, preparing myself for the other four. I ran up to two of them and allowed my knives to stab into their stomachs, killing them. The next one had armour but no weapon, so I ran away from him and to the other who was wearing only a helmet, with two daggers. Perfect for me. I threw both my knives at his chest and stole his daggers. The last man looked at me with a scared look on his face as I approached him. We met face to face. I said a single word. "Go". He did, he ran off for dear life. I smiled again. I really should not be enjoying this..
I inspected the daggers I stole. They were lighter than the knives, but also longer. They were from the exact same make. They would be much more efficient than some random kitchen knives. I took the helmet from the dead guard and shoved it on my head. I would need some form of protection, and that would be only the start of it.
I fought my way to the armoury. How I managed to find it, I do not know. It was difficult - the guards in the hallways were both armoured and armed and I did not get out of it uninjured. I had a few small grazes and a huge cut on my arm. I found some bandages in a chest in the armoury, and I covered up my wound. I found some armour that looked roughly my size, and put it on over my wedding clothes, including a better fit helmet. That should stop me from getting any more major injuries.
I exited the armoury to see that thankfully, no more guards were on my path. For the time being, anyway. I made my way to a door that looked like the way through, and opened it to find three guards surrounding a blond elven man, wearing fancy clothes. Nelaros. At that moment, the guard that Nelaros was facing struck him down, and Nelaros fell to the ground. Dead. My jaw dropped open.
"You... killed him..." I was barely able to say it. The three guards faced me, and before they could say anything, I screamed "YOU KILLED HIM!" and launched myself at the guard who did the evil deed.
After I had fought them, I broke down into tears over Nelaros' body. I didn't know him for long but he was to be my husband. He was also still a person, a person who cared for me. Cared for me like no one else did, except mother... and she also died at the hands of a shemlen.
"I will not forget you... " I promised him, and wiped my eyes. I stood up, and walked towards the next room. I could not waste time grieving, as much as I wanted to.
I fought then onwards. I did not allow time for idle chat or anything. I stormed into a room, killed what was there, and head off. I could not allow myself to wait. If I allowed myself to wait not only could that be risking things for my cousin but also... it would allow me enough time to think. Specifically, about Nelaros. I could not allow myself to cry over him. Especially not now of all times. I needed to save Shianni.
Eventually, I got to a room that looked like Vaughan's. I opened the door to see a shocking sight. Shianni was lying on the floor, in her underwear. Her dress was lying on the floor not far from her, slightly torn. It looked as if Vaughan had ripped it from her. I did not want to know what would have happened if I did not come when I did. Vaughan was standing over her and when he heard the door open, he turned around to face me. He smirked as soon as he saw who it was.
"My, my. What have we here?" He commented, as if my armoured and armed presence meant nothing.
"Don't worry, we'll make short work of this one," One of his 'friends' commented. I then noticed Vaughan and his two companions were carrying swords on them. Brilliant. They were expecting intruders. Just makes my job harder.
"Quiet, you idiot!" Vaughan yelled at him "She's covered in enough blood to fill a tub. What do you think that means?"
"It means you only have mere minutes to live," I retorted. "Talk, and quickly. You have limited time,"
He sighed, but didn't seem too bothered by the fact that he'd be dead soon. "Here's our situation." He explained "You are skilled, obviously. We fight here, perhaps you could even manage to kill us. My father won't let that go. Your pigsty of an alienage will be burned to the ground. Or, you could turn and walk away, with forty sovereigns added to your purse. You take that money and leave Denerim tonight. No repercussions and you can go wherever you like,"
I was tempted by this offer but I would not give in this easily. "And what of Shianni? And the others? What will happen to them?"
"They shall stay. They'll go home tomorrow, slightly worse for wear and you'll be long gone. That's the deal. Take it or leave it" He replies.
"Not good enough," I answer angrily, and throw one of my daggers straight for him. It misses, and hits one of the shem behind him, killing the man.
Vaughan angers. He yells "I always regret talking to knife-ears!" As I lunge for him. The dagger does not miss this time, and it kills him. I retrieve my other dagger from his dead companion and just glare at his live one. He ran away just like the coward he is.
I open the door to the back room to let out the other two women, then rush to Shianni's side.
"D-don't leave me alone.. please.. please, take me home.." Shianni cries, then hugs me, crying into my shoulder. I hold her, trying not to squeeze too tight.
"It's okay, I'm here now. I'll protect you," I say soothingly. I sit there holding Shianni for a few minutes whilst she cries into me.
Soris' bride comes over holding Shianni's dress. It was torn, but she seems to have stitched it up in the time I was holding Shianni. I mouth a 'thank you' to her.
"Come now, Shianni, let's get your dress on you," I look at her and give her a comforting smile. She smiles back and gets up. She puts on her dress and hugs me again.
"Thank you... so much," she says, slightly happier. "How did you manage to do that?"
I explained to her and the others how Soris saved me, and how I made him go home. I also explained how Nelaros died, but only briefly. The girls tried to comfort me but I did not allow them to.
"The only thing that matters now is that we're safe," I smiled. The only true smile I've had all day. "Let's go home. I'm sure our families will be awaiting our arrival."
When we arrived back at the alienage, Elder Valendrian, Soris and the Grey Wardens Duncan and Elissa were there to greet us. Although the two of them were human, I felt safe around them simply because of their role in saving us.
"You have returned. Has Shianni been hurt? Were is Tormey's daughter, Nola?" Valendrian asked us as soon as he saw us.
"Nola didn't make it. She resisted, and... " Soris' bride half-sobbed.
"... they killed her" Shianni finished for her.
"The guards... also killed Nelaros," I explained, looking down. I could not show my upset. Not here. Elissa put her hand on my shoulder and when I looked up at her she smiled slightly. Just like the smile I gave Shianni earlier. I smiled back, knowing I had found a friend in her.
"I see. Would the rest of you ladies please take Shianni home? She needs rest," Valendrian asked, knowing that Shianni was hurt. You could just tell by looking at her. The two women took Shianni away. I waited here, as it was obvious they wanted to speak with me.
"Now tell me, what happened?" He asked. The four of them looked upon me, expectedly.
"I killed Vaughan. And a load of his men on the way there, too" I explained, bluntly. I could see the shock in Soris' face.
"What?" Soris exclaimed, shockedly. I ignored his side comment.
"The garrison could already be on their way. You have little time" Duncan mentioned.
"Let them take me," I said simply.
"No!" Soris almost yelled "I won't let you do that,"
"Watch me," I replied, but with a look of sorrow cast upon my face.
At that moment a group of guards marched into the Alienage. I gulped.
"I seek Valendrian, elder and administrator of the Alienage!" Their leader demanded.
"Here, captain," Valendrian replied calmly "I take it you have come in response to today's disruption?"
"Don't play ignorant with me, elder. You will not prevent justice from being done," The captain replied with a serious tone to his voice. "The arl's son lies dead in a river of blood that runs through the entire palace! I need names, and I need them now!"
"It was me. I did it," I confessed, my voice hopefully not giving away any of the fear that I was feeling. It didn't seem to.
"You expect me to believe one woman did all of that?" He replied, not entirely believing the truth.
"We are not so helpless, captain," Valendrian replied to the guard's naive comment.
"You save many by coming forward. I don't envy your fate, but I applaud your courage," The guard said, honestly. I sighed. At least I would die at the hands of a good man. "This elf will wait in the dungeons until the arl returns. The rest of you, back to your houses!"
"Captain... a word, if you please," Duncan interrupted.
"What is it, Grey Warden? The situation is well under control, as you can see," The guard retorted. I looked at Duncan, then at Elissa. She was smirking at the guards. I could sort of guess what was gonna happen next..
"Be that as it may, I hereby invoke the Grey Warden's Right of Conscription. I remove this woman into my custody," .. I guessed correctly.
Son of a- Very well, Grey Warden; I cannot challenge your rights. But I'll ask one thing: Get this elf out of Denerim. Tonight,"
"Agreed," Duncan replied. I smiled. I got a second chance at life. A chance to prove to the world I could be more than just some little elf.
Before we left the alienage, Soris came up to me. "You are my hero, you know that?" he asked me, and hugged me. "I'll miss you,"
"I'll miss you too, Soris," I replied, hugging him back. "I'l come visit you, and Shianni, I promise," I smiled at him.
"You better!" He laughed. "I wouldn't want to lose my cousin because of this,"
I laughed with him. "Goodbye, Soris. I will see you again," and I followed Duncan and Elissa out of the alienage. I could not wait to begin my new life. My life as a Grey Warden.