Chapter. 1

A nice day for a, Red Wedding

They planted a tree in the middle of the alienage long ago. Today it stands tall, healthy, and green – in sharp contrast to the city around it. For we are the poorest of the poor, the unwanted and the unwelcomed huddled on the other side of the wall that separates us from the human part of the city. We are allowed to pass the wall to work on the docks or in the human's taverns and in their homes, but when dusk comes we must return. Any elf caught outside the alienage at night is likely to be mistaken for a sneak thief or a pickpocket… and let us be honest, the ones that stay out there at night probably are.

Our elder tells us that the tree is called the vhenadahl, which in the ancient elven tongue means "tree of the people". Its roots are deep and the elder says tha as long as the vhenadahl lives, so shall we. But he also says hat there was once a time when our people lived in our own lands. He says that we were once ageless and strong, that it was the humans who took all this from us.

Is it true? Have we fallen so far? We are not unhappy. As poor as we are, we have a home. The alienage is no prison – it protects us, just as the vhenadahl shelters us. We dance and sing and make merry, stealing what moments we can to enjoy what little we have… and I believe we appreciate it far more than the humans do. They have everything and appreciate nothing.

And perhaps the day will come when the humans come and try to take the alienage from us, too. If that day comes, I swear they shall regret it.

Kali curled herself into a linen cocoon as a form of silent protest, unfortunately for her, her cousin Shianni was having none of it.

"Wake up, Cousin! Why are you still in bed? It's your big day!" Shianni cheered.

Shianni was an elf of normal height with a svelte physique and modest curves, her crimson hair contrasted beautifully with her fair skin and shinning, mirth, filled pale green eyes. She wore a simple multi-layered olive dress with detached shoulders and a high collar that complimented her swan-like neck.

Kali sat up in her bed, in noting but her chemises, and glared at Shianni tiredly. "What… why are you in my room, Shianni?"

Shianni gave a Cheshire grin. "Because I begged your father to let me share the good news. You do remember what today is, don't you?"

"Get-drunk-before day?" Kali grinned a feral smile. "At least, that's what your breath tells me."

"No, you idiot!" Shianni smiled good naturedly. "You and Soris get married today!" Her smile gained a suggestive tilt. "And your groom, Nelaros, is here early!"

Kali stood from her bed, she matched her cousin in height, but unlike her cousins more sylphlike form, Kali had a lean, muscular, physique – chiseled from a lifetime of training – with respectable curves and skin the color of aged parchment with a head of silky raven-like hair, and sharp amber eyes, like a feline predator stalking her prey.

"Yeah." Kali deadpanned. "Ugh, I still detest this "arranged match" business!"

"Then who are you going to marry, then?" Shianni asked rhetorically. "Besides, I snuck a peek… he's handsome!"

Kali scoffed. "If you like him so much, you have my blessing ."

"My time to be the blushing bride-"

"I am not blushing."

"-will come in all do time, dear Cousin." Shianni sighs. "Oh, it'll be such a grand time, music, dancing, feasting! Oh, it'll be so much fun! You're so lucky!"

"At least one of us will be enjoying ourselves."

"Oh, hush you!" Shianni chastised. "Now come get dressed, I still need to find mine before I go to the other bridesmaids."

Kali grumbled, but complied, as she was shimmed out of her chemises and dressed in her gown.

It was a gorgeous thing, made from slightly translucent fine silk as white as freshly fallen snow – that emphasized her tanned complexion – with a plunging neckline and bare shoulder design, that ended just above her ankle with three-quarter length draped sleeves and a mobility slit up her left leg that came up to just under her waist with a floral crown of marigold flowers that sat upon her raven hair – and complemented her own amber eyes quite nicely.

"Oh, you look… divine!" Shianni gushed.

As much as she hated to admit it, Kali fuckin rocked this dress. "I'm still apposed this whole marriage!"

"Yes, yes, whatever you say, Cousin, now go see to your father, I still have to go find my dress."

Rolling her eyes, Kali exited her room to greet her father, while Shianni burst from their home like a woman possessed, and met his misty eyes with her own.

"Ah, my little girl. It's… the last day I'll be able to call you that." Cyrus sighed. "Ohm I wish your mother could have been here!"

"Me too, father, me too." Kali agrees. "But could we talk about this arrangement."

"Still not pleased, I can see." Cyrus chuckled. "Of course we can talk."

"Do I really have to get married?"

"It's time for you to have your own life." Cyrus repeated for the umpteenth time. "Unmarried, you're a child forever. Besides the dowry has already been paid, the Chantry has issued the permit, and everything is ready. All we need now is you."

"But I don't want to get married!" Kali whined.

Cyrus laughs. "I understand. Before I met your mother, I was ready to go hunt for the Dalish. Just be gad I chose the match. Without parents to represent you, children like your cousin Soris end up marrying whoever the elder can find."

"So who did the elder choose for him." Kali asked, trying to change the subject.

"I don't know; I haven't met the girl." Cyrus admitted. "You should go and see for yourself, if your curious." He sighed. "All right, time for you to go find Soris. The sooner this wedding starts, the less chance you two have to escape."

"A small chance is still a chance." Kali pointed out.

"Still have your mother's smart mouth, I see." Cyrus chuckled. "Oh, one last thing before you go, my dear. Your martial training… the swordplay, knives, and whatever else your mother trained you in. best not mention it to your betrothed."

Kali rolled her eyes. "He'll find out sooner or later."

"Later. Definitely later." Cyrus decided. "We don't want to seem like troublemakers, after all." His tone turns mournful. "Adaia made that mistake."

"The humans who killed her made a bigger one." Kali growled.

"Our world is full of so many injustices." Cyrus sighed. "Take this. Your mother would have wanted you to have it. It's the very least I can give you, as you start your new life." He hands Sienna a pair of knee-high brown, armored, leather boots. "Go on, then. I still have some things to do, and Soris is no doubt waiting for you."

Kali nodded before she put on her new boots and exited their home and stepped out into the Alienage. The only part of the alienage that was in any form of decent shape was the walls, after all, the humans needed them too. But the houses were little more than reclaimed wood and crumpling stone, even less could be said for the roads. The alienage represented the bottom of the "food chain", and all an elf needed to do to remind themselves of that fact was look outside.

Almost immediately, her ears were assaulted by the off-key singing of some nearby drunkards, never one to be meek nor keep her mind to herself, Kali walked over to the drunk quartet.

"Oi! What're you lot up to?"

The lead elf, a man of normal height and build – for an elf anyway – with fair skin, bright red hair, and dark colored eyes, turns around in a drunken stagger. "Sshhele-hic-brating, o'course! T'is a weddin' a'fer all!"

Kali gained a peculiar glint in her eye. "Well, I don't suppose you've brought of gift for the bride-to-be, have you?"

The lead elf blinks. "Why, O'course I – er, we 'ave!" He rummages in his purse, before pulling out a handful of copper. "H-hic-ere, ye' are!"

"Surely you can do better than this." Kali exclaimed. "It's a sign of bad luck to present the bride-to-be with a subpar gift, you know."

"A-Aye, that… that makes sense." The elf nodded. "H-Here, ye are."

Kali pocketed the extra ten copper before doing a curtsy. "Why thank you, kind sir."

Kali left the menfolk to their merry making and set off to find her cousin, passing the vhenadahl along the way, only to be stopped by a familiar sight.

"Kali!" Called Dilwyn. "Oh, you look absolutly gorgeous!"

Dilwyn was an older elf woman with fair skin and a lithe build, her silver hair was tied up behind her head, leaving her brown eyes unobscured. She wore a dress of autumn colors that bared her shoulders with a window between her breasts.

"Dilwyn!" Kali cried out. "It's been ages! How have you been."

"Oh, we're getting by." Dilwyn waved. "But we were just talking about you!"

"Really?"

"Oh, yes, in fact we were just talking about how much you look like your mother!" Dilwyn gushed. "But, don't let us distract you from your big day!"

"Oh, yes… I had, almost forgoten."

"Don't worry dear." Dilwyn soothed. "It's completely normal to be nervous, Maker knows I was when I married my Gethon." She snapped her fingers. "Speaking of, we've gotten you a gift!"

"You didn't-"

"Nonsense!" Dilwyn scoffed as she shoved a purse filled with fifteen silver. "It's the least we can do, after all, your mother would be quite cross with us if we didn't, now let us not distract you anymore than we already have."

"Thank you, Dilwyn, Gethon." Kali bowed before setting off once more, only to run headlong into Nessa and her family packing their things onto a small handcart. "Nessa? What's going on?"

Nessa was an elven woman of normal height and lithe build, with peach-like skin and auburn hair tied into a bun, her brown eyes sagged with stress and fatigue. Like many elven women, she wore a dress that bared her shoulders with a high collar, that was light green in color.

"The landlord decided to sell our building for storage space." Nessa sighed. "So we're packing up to move to the king's camp up at Ostagar."

"Ostagar!" Kali gasped. "You can't go there, you'll be treated even worse than you are here! And that's not including the dangers of trying to even get there!"

"We don't have a choice, unfortunately, I'd love nothing more than to stay here – maybe even open a shop – but, silver doesn't grow on the vhenadahl." Nessa sighed.

Kali doesn't even think, before handing Nessa ten silver. "Here, take this and open that shop here in Denerim."

"But father-"

"But nothing, it's just coin, I'd rather you all stayed here where it's safe, than try and brave the wilderness chasing uncertainty."

"I… thank you, Kali!" Nessa teared up. "I'll never forget this!"

Kali left Nessa and her family with a spring in her step and her head in the clouds, shortly after, she had finally found her cousin, leaning against a tree.

"Well, if it isn't my lucky cousin." Soris snarked. "Care to celebrate the end of our independence together?"

Soris was of average height and build with fair skin and bright fiery red hair and green eyes as sharp as a whip and as clever as a fox. He was dressed in a pair of yellow stripped, slightly baggy, trousers that are tucked into a pair of brown leather knee-high boots with a green and brown doublet – with the collar and collarbone being a puke colored green and the stomach and shoulders being brown, the rest is a light green color.

"Is running still an option?" Kali snarked back.

"Are you insane? Where would you go? Into the woods to live with the Dalish elves?"

"It could happen…"

"Live in the forest with the savages, far from humans? Sounds like a dream. Hmm. Not that we'd know where to find them." Soris pointed out. "Besides, why would you run? Apparently, your groom's a dream come true. My bride sounds like a dying mouse."

"Maybe you'll get a cage for a wedding present." Kali joked.

"That's terrible." Soris laughed. "Let's go introduce you to your dreamy betrothed before you say "I do"."

Before the meet their respective betrothed, Soris turns to Kali. "Nervous?"

Kali, in turn, shakes her head. "Not me. You?"

"Uh, a bit. The rest of my life is a long time." Soris pointed out, before sighing. "Well, let's get this over with."

Before the four to be married could introduce themselves, a drunken and lecherous band of noblemen approach from behind and the leader grabs one of the bridesmaids from behind.

"Let go of me!" She cried. "Stop, please!"

The bridesmaid breaks free from the noblemens grasp and runs and hides behind the other elves.

The Nobleman looks around. "It's a party, isn't it?" He looks to his friends. "Grab a whore and have a good time." He laughs cruelly. "Savor the hunt, boys." He turns back toward the elves, more specifically, Shianni. "Take this little elven, wench here… so young and vulnerable…"

"Touch me and I'll gut you, you pig!" Shianni spat.

"Please, my lord!" A nearby elven man cried. "We're celebrating weddings, here!"

The Nobleman approaches the elf. "Silence, worm." Before slapping him, hard enough to send him to the ground.

"I know what you're thinking, but maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't get involved…" Soris tries in vain.

"Shianni will get herself killed!" Kali whisper yells.

"Fine." Soris yields. "But let's try to be diplomatic, shall we?"

The Nobleman notices the approaching duo. "What's this? Another lovely one come to keep me company?"

Kali's blood boils. "Dream on, human."

"Do you have any idea who I am?" The Nobleman scoffs.

Shianni uses the momentary distraction to grab a nearby bottle to smash over the humans head, seeing this, Soris shakes his head, telling her not to do it. The human sees this and turns around, just in time to see the bottle in mid swing, the human could do nothing but watch as the bottle made a swift connection, knocking him the fuck out.

One of his goons with a rather pathetic looking chin strap runs up. "Are you insane?! This is Vaughan Urien, the Arl of Denerim's son!"

"W-What?" Shianni covers her face. "Oh, Maker…"

Kali steps forward and glares up at the human. "The just imagine what we'll do to you two!"

"You've got a lot of nerve, knife-ears." Pedo-stache growls. "This'll go badly for you."

Shianni approaches Kali and Soris as the humans carry away the Arl's son.

"Oh, I really messed up this time." Shianni bemoans.

"It'll be all right." Soris soothes. "He won't tell anyone an elven woman took him down."

"I hope so." Shianni sighed. "I should get cleaned up."

"Is everybody all right?" Asked Nelaros

"I think we're just shaken." Replied Soris' bride-to-be. "What was that about?"

"Looks like the arl's son started drinking too early." Soris laughed nervously. "Um, well let's not let this ruin the day, uh, this is Valora, my betrothed."

"Then this one must by my betrothed."

"A pleasure." Nelaros greets. "Soris said much of you – some of it was even positive."

Kali gives a look, one many men know too well.

"Hey, I just wanted to give you a sporting chance to run." Soris laughs nervously. "I'm… sure the two of you have a lot to discuss."

As Soris retreated with his bride-to-be, Kali turned back towards Nelaros, and presided to have the single most awkward conversation she'd ever had.

"Well, here we are… are yo nervous?" Nelaros asked awkwardly.

"Sort of nauseated, actually." Kali replied.

"I thought I'd stay calm, but now we've met… let's just say I'm not calm."

Kali sighed. "I'm just not interested in this whole deal."

"Are you saying you don't want to marry me?" Nelaros sounded like a kicked puppy.

"I just don't want to get married at all." Kali specified.

"I see." Nelaros said. "Well, I hope in time you can learn to-"

"Come on, cousin." Soris interrupted. "We should let them get ready."

"We'll see you two in a bit." Valora replied. "Don't disappear on us."

"It'll be fine, you'll see." Nelaros said before departing.

"Don't look now, but we have another problem." Soris whispered once their betrothed's were gone.

"Is it Vaughan? Has he returned?" Kali said as she turned around.

"Another human just walked in. Could be one of Vaughan's men or just a random troublemaker."

Kali got a good look at the human. He was tall and of brawny build with his black hair tied back into a ponytail with a full, bushy, beard covering his face. He wore a pair of dark trousers that were tucked -into a pair of knee-high brown leather boots – with attached leather knee armor – over which he wore a blue quilted padded jack with a scale armor monastic scapula that was held close by a brown leather belt that held armor, with a breastplate covering his upper torso and elbow length brown leather gloves – with attached leather elbow armor – covered his hands, forearms, and elbows. With a silver emblem of a griffin with it's wings out stretched attached to his left shoulder, and upon his back sat two swords.

"Either way, we need to move him along before someone does something stupid."

"Right." Kali replied. "Let's go talk to him.

Soris nods. "Let's do this quickly."

The man sees them coming and bows while crossing his arms across his chest.

"Good day." The man greets in a surprisingly soft voice "I understand congratulations are in order for your impending wedding."

"Do you have business here, human?" Kali cuts to the point.

"I do." The man replied. "I believe, however, that I may have already found what I was seeking."

"And what might that be?"

"That is my business."

"Then you'll be leaving, I assume."

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of leaving."

"Fine. Maybe we can compromise."

"She keeps her composer, even when facing down as unknown and armed human." The man looked to the Elder as he approached. "A true gift, wouldn't you say, Valendrian?"

"I would say the world has far more use of those who know how to stay their blades." Valendrian replied. "It is good to see you again, my old friend. It has been far too long."

"You know this human, Elder?" Kali asked.

"May I present Duncan, head of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden."

"Why would a Grey Warden come here?" Kali asked.

"The worst has happened." Duncan's tone turns grave. "A Blight has begun, King Cailan summons the Grey Wardens to Ostagar to fight the darkspawn horde alongside his armies."

"Yes… I had heard the new." Valendrian replies. "Still, this is an awkward time. There is to be a wedding – two, in fact."

"So I see." Duncan responds. "By all means, attend to your ceremonies. My concerns can wait, for now."

"Very well." Valendrian turns toward Kali and Soris. "Children, treat Duncan as my guest. And for the Maker's sake, take your places!"

"Please, do not let me interrupt further." Duncan apologizes. "We shall speak more later."

With no more time to waist, the wedding must commence. And so it did, until Vaughan returned with his cronies in toe.

"Milord!" The Priestess exclaimed. "This is… an unexpected surprise."

One of Vaughan's cronies pushes over a child as they approach with multiple guards in toe.

"Sorry to interrupt, Mother, but I'm having a part and we are dreadfully short of female guests." Vaughan laughs as he stops behind Valora.

"Milord, this is a wedding!" The Priestess objects.

"Ha! 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." Vaughan scoffs. "Now, we're here for a good time, aren't we boys!"

"Just a good time with the ladies, that's all." Chin strap laughs, followed shortly by Pedo-stache.

"Let's take those two, the one in the tight dress, and… where's the bitch that bottled me!"

"Over here Lord Vaughan!" Pedo-stache called as he grabbed Shianni.

"Let me go, you stuffed shirt son of a-"

"Oh, I'll enjoy taming her." Vaughan growled. "And see the pretty bride…"

"Don't worry, I won't let them take you!" Nelaros promised.

"I can handle myself!" Kali replied. "We have to fight!"

"Ah, yes… such a well-formed little thing." Vaughan purrs.

"You villains!" Nelaros cries.

"That's quite enough." Vaughan laughs. "I'm sure we all want to avoid further… um, unpleasantness."

"Don't you dare touch me! I'll kill you!"

"Ha! This one has spirit!" Vaughan laughs. "Oh, we're going to have some fun."

Chin strap walks up and slaps Kali hard enough to send her to the ground, knocking her out. When she comes too, Kali hears the sounds of a prayer being frantically uttered.

"Maker keep us, Maker protect us, Maker keep us, Maker protect us-"

"Stop it!" Shianni shouts. "You're driving me insane!"

"Oh, thank the Maker you've come to." Shianni gasped. "We were so worried…"

"All right, that human dies." Kali growls.

"Glad you've still got some fight in you." Shianni grins.

"They locked us in here to wait until that… bastard is "ready for us"." Valora shudders.

"Then we need to get out of here!" Kali replies.

"Forgive me if I don't hold my breath. The door is locked and solid, and we're unarmed!" a bridesmaid cries.

"Maker keep us, Maker protect us, Make keep us, Maker protect us-"

The group of not scared shitless bridesmaids and Kali stand.

"Great! Now this, again." Shianni groans.

"Look, we'll… do what they want, go home, and try to forget this ever happened!" The bridesmaid persuaded.

"She's right." Valora agrees. "It'll be worse if we resist."

"It'll be worse if we don't!" Shianni yells.

"Someone's coming!"

"Be quite. Don't do anything until I say." Kali orders.

The Captain of the guard enters the cell. "Hello, wenches – we're your escorts to Lord Vaughan's little party."

The praying bridesmaid stands and shouts. "Stay away from us!"

In response, the guard strikes her down.

"You killed her!" The other bridesmaid yelled.

"I suppose that's what happens when you try teaching whores some respect." The guard said before turning to his men. "Now, you grab the little flower cowering in the corner. Horace and I'll take the homely bride and the drunk."

The guards to the mans right take Shianni away as the man looks to the remaining guards.

"You two, bind the last one. She's the scrapper." The man says before he leaves.

"Don't worry, we'll be perfect gentlemen." The right deadman walking said

"Now, you heard the captain. Be a good little wench or you'll end up like your friend, there." The left deadman said.

"Try it." Kali growls. "See what parts you lose first."

"Ha! Horace was right; she's a scrapper!" The deadman laughed.

Shortly after that, a fist drove it's way into his skull, hard enough to launch him into the air and make his spin a few times before flopping to the ground.

"What the!"

The second guard was fast enough to grip his sword, but that was it, as he too found himself violently meeting the ground.

Kali could only blink as she stared at the man who just saved her.

The man was almost two heads taller than her with a lean, but brawny, build. He had blood soaked blonde hair and wide, intense, blue eyes, like he had just come from a battle, and based on his shreds of clothing ans scraps of armor, he did.

"Hello." The man greeted. "Where am I?"

Hello! This story's not dead! Sorry for the wait, and for starting over once again, but I wasn't satisfied with what I had previously wrote. But hey, we're starting with Dragon Age again, so hopefully that makes up for another rewrite and a dialogue and description filled chapter, there should be more action in the next chapter.

Thank you all for reading, following, favoriting, reviewing, and most importantly waiting.