Chapter 17: The Rebel (Kallian)
- It's time for our bride to get up!
Kallian woke up when she heard Shianni's voice.
- What? Already? Why do I need all this?
She remembered what day it was. It's the day of the double wedding: she and her cousin Soris are about to get married to two unfamiliar elves from Highever.
- Come on, wake up! Or I'll pour cold water on you! Your fiancé Nelaros has already arrived! I have managed to take a peak at him - he is so handsome!
Kallian got out of bed and began to dress up. For such an occasion, her father left her mother Adaia's white wedding dress - there was no money to buy a new one.
- Well, marry him yourself, I don't like the idea of an arranged wedding.
- Grumpy as usual? Okay, I'll go find my dress, - Shianni said and ran out of the house.
When Kallian finished dressing, she was met by her father, Cyrion.
- My little girl! What a pity that my mother did not live to see this day.
- What a pity that we couldn't heal her wounds… Can we talk about the wedding?
- I see you're still unhappy? Let's talk.
- Why can't I choose a groom... or a bride?
- These are the traditions. We are dying out, and there is very little contact between the alienages. So we have to resort to arranged marriages. Everything is ready, there is no going back.
- But I don't want to marry someone I don't know!
- I understand you. I was about to go and search for the Dalish when I met Adaia, your mother. We wouldn't have met if our parents hadn't agreed on our marriage. Nelaros, your fiancé, is from a quite wealthy elven family. He is said to be good at blacksmithing. And yes, he's handsome, at least in Shianni's opinion.
- Well, then we'll see.
- And yes, one more thing. All those sword and dagger tricks your mother taught you. You'd better not show them to Nelaros.
- He will find out sooner or later.
- It's better to be later then. Go, everyone is waiting for you.
Kallian went out and met Soris, already dressed in a decent wedding attire.
- Hi, sis, - he said. - Well, let's celebrate the last day of freedom, shall qw?
- Is there still a way to escape?
- Where? To the Dalish? We won't find them. Besides, why would you escape? You have such a fiancé that I would marry him myself. And my fiancee is a dead mouse.
- I'm sure she's not that bad. Come on, let's get this over with.
Soris and Kallian approached the vhenadahl, the main tree of the alienage. A large crowd of elves had already gathered there, in which for some reason there were three humans in expensive clothes.
- Jonaley, Braden, let's get that redhead! - The blond-haired human said in an authoritative tone, pointing his finger at Shianni.
His friends grabbed her.
- Get off me, you freaks! - she called.
- Grab the elven whores! We need company! - the same man shouted.
- Please, my lord! We're getting married here! - shouted one of the elves.
The man slapped him.
- Silence, despicable worm! I don't care about your masquerades!
Kallian got angry and walked forward while Soris staggered back.
- Oh, look, this beauty is coming to us herself! - said the man and immediately got a foot in the groin.
- Ah! What are you allowing yourself? I…
Kallian gave him two more blows to the face. Shianni helped her by hitting the human with a bottle in the head and knocking him out.
- Are you crazy? It's Vaughan Kendells, the son of the Arl of Denerim! - Jonaley shouted.
- Oh Maker… - Shianni whispered.
- Even of he is the king's personal jester, I don't care! No one dares to offend me and my family, shem! - Kallian said. - Get out of here and take him with you.
- We'll be back, - Braden said, helping Vaughan to his feet. - You're dead, knife-ear.
Three humans left the elfinage.
- It will be all right, - Soris said. - He will be ashamed to tell that he was beaten by two elven girls.
They were approached by a thin, fair-haired male elf and a short elven girl with bangs, both were unfamiliar to them.
- What happened here? Forgive me for not being able to help you, - said the male elf.
- We are all so scared here, - the girl added in an unpleasant voice.
Everyone covered their ears.
- Kallian, this is my fiancee, Valora, - said Soris.
- And next to her, I presume, is Nelaros?
- Yes, - said the elf. - And now I consider myself a very lucky elf.
- Valora, let's leave them alone.
Soris and Valora stepped aside.
- Are you worried? - Nelaros asked.
- Certainly. We have a lot to learn about each other. But so far I really like what I see.
Both couples were approached by Valendrian, the hahren of the alienage.
- Glad you're all right. Tell me what happened.
- Rich shems wanted to kidnap Shianni. I stood up to them, - Kallian said.
- Maker protect us! I hope your behavior won't cause us problems.
Yeah, with a hahren like that, it's no wonder the elves are oppressed. Kallian would definitely confront the shems if she was in charge.
- Let's get started, - said Valendrian.
All the elves stood in a circle in front of the hahren and the two couples.
- Friends, today we are celebrating not only the creation of two families, but also the strengthening of ties among our people. We are a free people, but this has not always been the case. Andraste, the Maker's bride, freed us from slavery. Let us honor her sacrifice for all of us!
Before Kallian had time to realize how delusional Valendrian's speech sounded, some of the elves made way for Vaughan and his friends, this time accompanied by a dozen of guards. Now Kallian will not be able to hit the Arl's son.
- Forgive me for interrupting your folk performance, but I'm having a party, and there must be some female guests at it, - Vaughan said, grabbing the hand of the first girl that came across and pushing her towards the guards.
- Yes, there are more than enough ladies here! - Braden added.
- And where are those two that beat me up? - Vaughan asked.
- Here's one! - Jonaley said, pushing Shianni toward the guards.
- Oh, I'll start with you.
Vaughan approached Nelaros and Kallian.
- Leave, you gnat! - he shouted to the groom.
Nelaros was about to hit Vaughan, but the human struck him first and hurled him towards the vhenadahl. For the first time, Kallian was truly frightened.
- What, you don't want to hit me anymore? Scared, aren't you? You and I will have a lot of fun, - Vaughan said angrily, hitting Kallian with all his might.
Losing consciousness, Kallian realized that she had no regrets. She will kill this bastard even if it costs her life.