Dragon Age - Alternate Univers

Siris (OC) was a tevinter slave until darkspawns attacked. Her master and his family died, and she barely survived. but is she sick wwith the blight? Only one way to know: find a Grey Warden. For this, Siris decide to travel to Kirkwall. On the road she meet a mage, emma Caravel, on her way to Ostiwk's Cicle of Magi, and Thom Rainier, a criminal on the run looking for redemption.

With the promise to meet again, Siris depart from their company.

Siris felt sick.

The young elf, Thom Rainier and Emma Caravel arrived late in the morning to Kirkwall. The city gates were… witnesses to the time were the Emporium rule the place. Over slaves. Lots of them. Most of them were elves. Somehow, Siris felt these people -dead by now- pain just by looking at the statues and the tall walls screaming "don't fuck with us!". And all that made her feel sick.

During the Blight, the city became one of the many sanctuaries for refugees. Well… "Sanctuary" was a big word and Rainier, Siris and Emma weren't sure Kirkwall deserved to be call as such. Now, the Archdemon was dead and people were starting to live again. Some returned to Ferelden, but the main observation anyone could make was that fewer people wanted to go in Kirkwall. Save some few travellers such as Siris and her travelling companions.

Emma stayed behind, waiting for Rainier. The man wanted to make sure Siris was in security inside the city, but the mage -for obvious reasons- had to stay away from any form of armoured uniform.

"This is it." Rainier said. "Kirkwall. I went here once. Be careful, Little Bird. This city is a lot of trouble."

"I'll be careful." Siris said. "Ma Melava halani, Rainier. Ma serannas."

"What does it mean?" Rainier asked, curious.

"It means "You helped me. Thank you."." Siris explained, all smile. "You know… I've been thinking about you, and what you are trying to do. I may say something stupid, since the only times I seek for forgiveness was when my master was angry… But travelling alone and going little things is good… but people won't see it. If you're looking for forgiveness, maybe you should seek for other people wondering the same road. Together, you could make a real, good, difference. And if people don't want to see the good in you, then at least you would have tried."

"You mean… creating a group of some sorts?"

"I heard little of the Grey Wardens." Siris said. "But for what I know: they like to reach for criminals ready to die for the greater good. You could do the same. Perhaps not going to such extreme, but Grey Wardens are too much for the world when there is no Blight. You could create something that people could look for when tragedies (other than Blights) hits them; and say: "they are here, we are safe!". It's just a thought though…"

"A good one." Rainier said.

He looked sad. There was in his voice… A little desperation he could not help when something happens to him he thought not to deserve. Siris never imagined meeting a man hating himself so much. If only she could help more…

"I know I should drop the tevene but I don't know how to say it in southern: "Vie umo ti anima, e adore ipse.(1) Be safe. I hope we'll meet again."

Rainier smiled. He bowed with respected -making Siris blushed like a teenager. She was a free elf, but some habits die hard: like being invisible, or not being respected as a living intelligent being. In other words, Rainier (basic) polite attitude was embarrassing for the former tevinter slave.

"I know we already made our goodbyes, but tell Lady Emma I'm looking forward to meet her again."

"Will do."

Rainier stayed there while Siris advanced to the city gates. She could feel his eyes on her for a while, as she waited her turn to explain the guard why she wanted to get in. eventually, the feeling disappeared, so she looked where the warrior was standing: he was gone. And Emma, who was watching at a distance, was nowhere to be seen.

Siris was alone again.

"You, the tiny knife-ear, come forward." The guard said.

"I beg your pardon?" Another one said.

The second guard was a tall strong red hair woman. She looked strict, yet somehow gentle. But she was looking at the man with such eyes, even a pride demon would feel in danger. The city guard did not know where to stand. He tried to stand tall as he saluted his "Guard-Captain", but the man was shaking like a leaf.

"This is no ways to treat travellers, guardsman." The Guard-Captain severely said. "Latrine duty for a month. Perhaps doing the servants job will teach you some manners."

"Yes, sir!"

The guard left as quickly as he could, not wishing to meet his superior's eyes. The Guard-Captain turned to Siris who did not know what to do or say. She felt ashamed to have brought the human trouble. And yet she did nothing wrong, but being here.

"Please accept my sincere apologies for my man shameful behaviour." The Guard-Captain said. "May I help you in any ways? Why do you wish to get in Kirkwall?"

"My name is Siris, I'm looking for a Grey Warden." Siris shyly explained.

For a moment, the guardswoman's eyes changed a little. A light of knowledge give Siris a hint: the human knew a Grey Warden.

"And what makes you think you'll find one here?" She asked.

"Nothing. But I have to meet one." Siris said, putting all her resolution in her words.

The Guard-Captain changed again. Something was a bit off. She turned around and opened the door.

"Please follow me." She said.

Siris did not make the human repeat herself; she followed the guard into the city, climbing stairs, going down stairs, then climbing some others again… How a city could have so many stairs? It was inhumane! No wonder it was called the "city of slaves": even the streets were a torture! As they arrived to what was called "Hight Town", Siris noticed a gigantic building not far for the city, yet isolated from it.

"That's the Gallows." The Guard-Captain said, acting more "normal". "Kirkwall's Circle of Magi, ruled by Knight-Commander Meredith. The Templars do not rule the city but certainly act like it. Remember: if something bad happen, come the city-guards, not the Templars."

"Yes, My Lady." Siris shyly said.

"Call me Guard-Captain Aveline. I'm no lady."

So many humans were saying there were no ladies or lords. Back in Tevinter, everybody free and with small round ears was a "lord" or a "lady".

Guard-captain Aveline also pointed to building "ruling the city" as she presented it: the Viscount's Keep; which was also the city-guards Headquarters. However, the human did not lead the small elf up there. The stopped in front of a noble house and knock with strength on the door. A dwarf opened.

"Ah! Guard-Captain Aveline!" He said with a jolly voice. "Please come in! I'll call Messere Hawke immediately. Who should I announce with you…?"

"Siris." Aveline simply said.

"Very well. Please! Have a sit."

Aveline stayed on her two feet, put invited Siris to sit on the chair near the fireplace. The elf looked so tiny in the armchair obviously made for humans. The house was beautiful and well kept. At a point, a tall woman with black short hair and a red mark painted on her nose got down the stairs; a huge dog was with her, and one of the strangest elf Siris ever met. The man had a dark skin, yet moon-white hair falling into his eyes. His black clothes could not hide the most unusual set of tattoos: they were white and… shiny.

"Welcome Aveline!" Said the human. "You must be Siris. Welcome to you too."

"This young lady needs to meet a Grey Warden. Since I know nothing about a Grey Warden in Kirkwall, I'll leave the matter to you, Hawke. See you soon."

Aveline left and Siris felt extremely anxious. The white-hair elf did not look friendly at all, yet the little traveller could feel some kind of pain, a memory of pain. She could not help but empathize with him; even if he might not notice it -or want it. Siris could also swear she saw him somewhere, before. But where? When?

"So? Why makes you want to meet a Grey Warden?" Lady Hawke asked sitting in front of the tiny elf.

"It's… complicated." Siris said, not willing to tell her story again.

Hawke's accent was Ferelden, and Emma told Siris to be careful to who she tells her story about surviving a darkspawn attack. If the elf had the Blight, no one would want to help her get a Grey Warden.

"And I might just forget where to find a Warden." Hawke said, not spitefully, but careful. "Either you tell me what brings you here, or my memory might just… slip away."

"Kaffas…" Siris muttered, making the white-hair elf stood up a little. "All right. But I beg you not to get mad at me."

"I make no promises." Hawke said, rising an eyebrow, looking at her friend with a worried curiosity.

"I… survived a darkspawn attack, but know not if I'm sick."

She wasn't going to tell them she was a tevinter slave, nor that her master died. Especially since the white-hair elf was trying to kill her with the power of stare. At a point, Hawke came back from her mental wondering and asked "Fenris" to go tell "Anders" she'll be at the clinic very soon.

Fenris. Siris thought.

She knew that name. But where did she heard it? Blasted memory! The young elf could remember ancient elven carvings in every possible detail but not a simple, modern name? Either ways, it was suspicious. A white-hair elf with shining white tattoos named "Fenris", who frowned when he heard her swear in tevene… No. No, it could not be that person, could it? Siris put all her thought in a corner of her head while the elf throwing a suspicious look at her before leaving.

Hawke went upstairs and came back in a full armour and a staff. A mage noblewoman? Siris needed to show respect. And yet, what were the customs for this type of people in the Free Marches?

The small elf followed the human down what looked like a secret passage in the house's cellar. It arrived directly in what Hawke referred to be "Darktown". From a double door, Siris could hear an argument.

"I can't turn my back without having them fighting…" growled Hawke. "Anders, Fenris, enough!"

The two men stopped immediately to fight. Fortunately, their argument was only with words, but Siris just knew that the elf would have killed the man and not even regret it.

The man in question "Anders", was a blonde human in mercenary's clothes. He had a magic staff and lots of cats around his place. He looked nice, although there was something strange about him. Hawke pushed Siris towards the man.

"Siris, meet Anders. Anders, meet Siris. The girl needs help."

"About?" Anders replied, still grumpy from the fight.

"Blight."

Anders turned around to stare at Siris. He looked worried, anxious and dead-serious. With is staff, he pointed one of the beds.

"Sit." He ordered. "Know that I can't and won't make her a Warden."

"I know." Hawke said, with pain.

(1) "Live for your soul/heart and love yourself."

I used Katie's Almost Totally Made-Up Tevene Dictionary/Reference, that you can find here: /works/227715/chapters/345947

Next Chapter: "The City of Slaves, Part 2" coming soon.