PREVIOUS NOTE:

OK, first: I don't know why I am uploading this, I usually write stories (since high-school, I'm at university now (or college from the US people) and this is a story I had written years ago but I have never dared to publish anything. I hardly dared at school to present myself to literary competitions or anything but the other day I saw this on my computer again and a friend of mine encouraged me so I wondered "why not?". So here I am.
I have adapted it to be a Dalaric fic even if I don't ship them romanticly I love their friendship and I think this story it suits better to them as I wrote this story as a gay couple. I'm more a delena shipper but I'm not a crazy shipper that don't see the bad stuff in that relationship either, anyways, back to the story I have some important information to say: some characters don't have the same personality or relationship between them as in the series, you will discover it as the story progresses, just a heads up. It will be a long fic, I think, about 20-25 chapters, it will depend on how the edition is doing and FINALLY BUT NOT LESS IMPORTANT: The story as I said is finished but I have to translate and edit it to upload it here so surely there will be a weekly chapter even some weeks there may be two chapters depending on how I carry it, I don't promise anything because I'm at uni and working part time so I don't know but I'll try weekly uploads. LAST IMPORTANT THING: English is not my native language, so I'm already sorry for any mistake, I would appreciate if you let me know of any errors in writing, spelling, etc.
Sorry for being so annoying with this large note but I thought it was important to let you know about everything before starting this journey. Nothing more, just that I hope someone reads it and likes it. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Cold.

It was cold.

It was strange, it was the middle of August and that was not normal. Maybe he should have taken it as a sign of what was going to happen, but for Alaric, the fact that it was cold on an August morning only meant that he would have to put on an extra shirt and walk a little faster to warm up.

His life was quiet. He lived in a small town near the sea, a secluded place where life was easy and calm, people laughed and worked, children played, adults complained about previous times, couples loved and let each other... And Alaric that normality gave him life.

At his 28 years old, he was everything that was not normal in that place: too dark skin compared to the other people in that town, more strong accent and with too much sense of justice. It was all too much.

He lived alone, on a small farm near the cliff where he could see the sea. His sea. It was the only thing that calmed the storm inside him, his thoughts, betrayals and disappointments that had been his life until now. His sea calmed him, and it was precisely the one that was going to bring him what he had been longing for too many years.

His home.

Just like many years ago, had been taken it off of him.

He started the day like any other: he woke up with the light coming through the window and with his little dog licking his face lovingly. At least someone loves me thought the boy. After that pampering session he went to have breakfast, oatmeal porridge and some milk that he had milked the day before.

"It's so cold today, Simba", he commented out loud to his dog.

But that wasn't going to change his routine. It couldn't, so grabbing an extra shirt he headed towards the town market.

It was Sunday, and like every Sunday the market was packed: people shouting, haggling, children running and angry mothers. It was like seeing a zoo from the sidelines and it was something Alaric loved. What he didn't like so much was that wherever he went they would stare at him and talk behind his back. About all that. The boy could understand why the villagers had their qualms; he was the new one in town, they didn't know where he came from or his past and he was completely different from them... and not just physically.

He had learned to ignore when they looked at him and pointed at him, and had even learned to ignore those who looked at him with desire. He didn't want that, he just wanted to live in peace once and for all.

With all this in his mind he arrived at the market and went to his only friend's stall in that place.

"Ric" the girl exclaimed when she saw him arrive. "Here, look at this cake, I've saved a piece for you, and for free". Elena was a young girl, brunette and vey small and charming. The daughter that everyone would like to have always thought Alaric. The daughter of the town's pastry chefs, she was a friend to everyone and never had a bad attitude toward anyone. She was pure good, and yet behind that facade there was something more about her, something that told him that she was much more than the mere daughter of some townie bakers... there was life inside her and that attracted Alaric like flies to the honey cupcakes from her stall, since day one. She was full of life. Like I always was, he thought. Maybe that was why he adored her, because she reminded him of what he was once... and what he would never be again.

"I was going to buy it for you anyway, you know?" he said, smiling as he took the portion. "And your mother doesn't like it when you give things away".

"You know that I don't care" she shrugged. "How are you? We haven't seen each other in a week!" she exclaimed. "You know that I would go to see you without hesitation, that I love you very much, but-" Alaric smiled at his friend and gently cut her off. "I know Elena, don't worry, I'm fine, just like last week, nothing has changed" he said.

The young girl smiled at him and frowned looking at the sky. "What is changing is the world, because look how cold it is in summer!".

At that moment Alaric laughed at his friend occurence while the church bell began to ring.

What neither of them knew was that the world was really going to change. And their lives.

END NOTES

I know that it is very short, this firsts chapters are. Simply a small setting and presentation about the characters (more to come yet) so that you get an idea. The chapters will be from the pov of both Alaric and Damon each time. Chapter one has been about Alaric so you know what to expect on the next one... Damon's chapter. Eventually there's gonna be chapters from both sides.

I will probably have the second chapter translated today so if I finish editing it on time maybe I can get it uploated in some hours so you don't have to wait to get Damon's introduction and you can have both during today or tomorrow. And that's it, sorry for this long notes, I promise not to be this annoying on the next ones.

I hope you liked this little bit, you can comment on what you think and I will answer you as soon as possible. Thanks.

PS: I don't have social media I only enter to see things about TVD and other shows that I recently discover and watch but since I don't know anyone from the fandom I have no account. I'm thinking of creating one on tumblr or twitter in case you want to ask me or tell me something about the fic, I can post previews of next chapters. I don't know. I don't even know how this site or fanfiction worlds work yet so let me know what you think.

THANKS, LOVE. AROA.