Disclaimer: We do not own Dragon Age or The Elder Scroll Series
Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Rewritten 2/11/2024
Tabris
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
There aren't many ways an elf can earn a living. Your options were to either serve under a human and hope the conditions weren't too bad, tolerate a foul-mouthed patron because you needed the money, or try your luck at owning a business.
The last one usually had very little success if you didn't have any human backer. Even in the Alienage, owning your own business just got you perhaps one more loaf of bread on the table.
Or you could live up to the stereotypes the humans had for you because you had no other choice. Be just another thieving knife-ear, as they said.
Gin Tabris cared little at this point. An elf in Thedas had to fight every day to survive, doing whatever one could to make sure your family could eat.
Slim Couldry had set him up with his 'friends' long ago; they had taught him how to be unseen (it wasn't hard for an elf to be ignored), how to move his fingers so deftly and quickly the pompous people wouldn't even realize anything was missing until it was too late. It was sad that the only humans he could count on were thieves; at least many of them understood what it was to grow up poor, Couldry being a half-elf himself who grew up in the Alienage.
His green eyes scanned through the crowd around the market, and the shaggy brown locks of hair that framed his face swayed lightly as he did; he wore a simple shirt and pants with boots. The fingers on his right hand flexed in preparation as he spotted his target, a man with a belly far too large and a coin purse far too big. He probably made more money in a day than what an elf did in a year. He was currently eying the gems on a stand, as though he didn't have enough already in fat ring-clad fingers.
Gin saw nothing wrong about stealing from nobles; they had it coming. And most importantly, he did not care. He moved among the crowd, his lithe frame mixing among them, nobody paying any attention to him as his hand reached out for the purse; a swift tug with the right pressure, and the bag was him; the noble did not even notice.
He moved into an alley, disappearing amongst the shadows as he counted his haul. It was not bad: a few sovereigns, fifteen pieces of silver, and nearly double the amount of coppers. Gin felt rather good about himself.
If his father saw him now, he'd be beyond disappointed. The pessimistic side of him reminded him grimly.
Well, it was a good thing his father would never find out.
While thinking of his father he paused, remembering what was in store for him tomorrow. He let a long sigh before he shook it off. There was nothing he could do about that; arranged marriages were a part of their people's way of life in the Alienage. It did not mean he had to like, though, but he was resigned to his fate.
Despite that fact, his heart already belonged to another, and she was hurting as much as he was about it.
Gin shook his head again before gazing back out from the alley. His eyes soon took notice of a tall, cloaked, hooded figure who was speaking to the dwarf weapon merchant Gorim. By Andraste, that person was tall; he had heard rumors of an Avvar woman who had been roaming Denerim for a while now. But he had not paid any attention to it.
By what little he could see through the open front of the cloak, she wore very refined clothing. Hmm, Gin did not think she'd mind sharing what she had in her coin purse. The elf grew a faint smirk on his lips. She'd never know until later, anyway.
He kept his eyes on the Avvar woman as she conversed with Gorim. They must have been joking as they both started to laugh before the woman said her farewells. Now, he could move as she walked through the crowd.
The people around him barely took notice of his presence as he casually followed his new target. Thanks to Couldry, his boots were silent as he glided through the shem and got closer and closer to the cloaked Avvar. It bore repeating that this had to be the tallest shem he'd ever seen, one of the tallest people, period. And he's at least seen one of those qunari at least once, and it bore pointing out that those horned people were HUGE!
Getting his hands inside her cloak would be a bit tricky (that sounded creepy, but then again, he was planning on robbing her), but he had done more difficult challenges. Remembering when he, Couldry, and his friends stole a prized sword collection from the noble's armory still brought a smile to his face. The sight of the stuck-up them bawling their eyes out never failed to cheer him up.
As he stalked his new mark, he quirked an eyebrow as the woman suddenly took a turn to leave the market into one of the numerous alleys. He briefly pondered abandoning his objective; more chances the woman would see him if he didn't blend with the crowd, but it wasn't like Gin didn't know how to sneak through the shadows as well. Might as well see if the shem had left herself open.
The busy streets seemed to disappear behind them. Gin carefully moved in between every corner and large enough object he could find, be it barrels or crates, always making sure the shadows concealed him. The woman sighed audibly in the shade in great relief.
"Damned sun..." He heard her mutter with displeasure as she reached into her belt and pulled out a flask, the movement opening her cloak and letting the items attached to her belt become visible once more. The green-eyed elf grinned as he saw the purse.
She drank the flask's contents greedily as though she desperately needed them. Well, a drunk shem was much easier to mug. Gin wasted no time and moved close in a crouched position; the woman's head was still thrown back as she took in gulp after gulp of her drink.
Gin's hand slowly reached forward, his fingers nearly brushing against the coin purse.
Only for the woman's hand to snap in a flash of movement, grabbing his wrist in a painful vice-like grip. His eyes particularly widened as his heart throbbed in panic. The woman slowly set down her flask, her gaze bearing on him with piercing intensity. Though her green eyes looked a lot like his own, there was something... unnatural about them.
"Well, well. A little thieving rat seeks to bite more than he can chew."
With zero effort, she raised him from his crouch position as her hooded face leaned closer to Gin's. Her beauty was... otherworldly, and she said nothing as their eyes were locked onto each other's. The hooded Avvar lifted her flask; "You know, what I have to brew to make this crap does not nearly taste as good as the real thing."
Her tone was sultry and predatory, and a smile soon formed her lips. His body went rigid, and his eyes had grown large as he swore he saw two long, sharp fangs. It took all his will to bite back the fear as he tried to free his wrist. "Oh, you don't want to play now?"
A shocked gasp left his lips as he plopped onto the ground. Gin did not think about how he freed himself, not realizing she 'let him' go as he ran as fast as his feet could take him.
Serana let out an amused chuckle; "Brynjolf would like him."
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Gin was not sure how long he ran from the market, But he soon found himself out of breath in a remote district of Denerim. His lungs burned as he leaned against an old shack, taking in as much air as he could. Sweat dripped from his face; never in his life did he feel that kind of fear!
He's had his run-ins with guards, lied to get away from trouble, and only succeeded by the skin of his teeth. Personally stole from nobles who could easily put his head on a spike. Faced all the dangers an elven thief like him could go through, but that woman... for reasons beyond himself, he felt that woman was a danger beyond any other thing that could threaten his life.
Like he nearly stole from a hungry wolf, and this one would devour him without a second thought.
He pressed a hand to his chest as though he could reach into his thundering heart and calm it. Gin slowly evened his breathing, trying to regain control. It took him a few minutes before his heart settled; he slowly slid down the wall and sat on the ground with an audible 'thump.' The elf let out a long sigh as he placed his hands on his head.
His current 'winnings' of the day would have to suffice. He wasn't in the right state to do another job after that horrifying woman had given him the fright of his life.
Gin took a deep breath as he stood up and dusted himself off; perhaps it was time he went back to the Alienage. He didn't have to worry about making a convincing lie for his father; technically, he never did, and he did, in fact, work for Couldry. The man was a merchant indeed... he just did business 'on the sly' away from prying eyes, and Gin was more than happy to help him.
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A long-suffering groan escaped Gin as he entered the Alienage, seeing people setting up decorations for tomorrow's 'joyous' event. Well, he could say his cousin Soris would be joining in on the misery.
The elf let loose another sigh as he sat on the stone steps with a solemn gaze in no particular direction. Marriage... Sure, he's thought about it, especially his dream of being with the person he truly loved. Still, Gin let out a scoff; how the hell do you raise a family in a place like this?
His thoughts wandered to his 'fiancé'; he really had nothing against her. As he heard from his father and the elder, Neisara was a good and strong-willed woman- a beauty who matched Iona if any of Soris's tales rang true. However, he wondered how she'd feel marrying a lowly thief.
This really wasn't the course he saw his life taking, but Gin was resigned to his fate. An elf could only get so far in Thedas, though he supposed he would end up far better than most of his kin. In some regards, he was more fortunate, having at least a home and a loving family.
He could see his fellow elves were at least happy with the upcoming wedding; there were few reasons for the Alienage to celebrate anything, as it were. Gin rubbed his neck, chosen partner or not, he really should step up and at least make sure his bride Neisara would have a husband that would look out for her and provide. Perhaps his days of thievery were over... but Gin knew better. The only way an elf would get anything was if he took it by whatever means necessary.
Such was the life for his kin here; there was no changing it.
...Even if some claimed otherwise.
Gin still remembered the strange elven woman who arrived one day at the Alienage, sharing tales so grand they couldn't possibly be true. A whole continent beyond the sea to the east. Elves, free elves, who lived worthy lives, who had homes, KINGDOMS, to call their own...
Gin tried to imagine it, but for the life of him, he just couldn't.
At best, Miara knew how to spin a good story. She was likely to hide how things were really just like here. Now, that made sense to him. If nothing else, she entertained everyone about this Tamriel, truth or not.
"So this is where you've been hiding?"
A feminine voice broke his thoughts before looking up before a rueful grin crept on his face; "Looking for me, were you, Shianni?"
In front of the sitting Gin stood an elven woman around his age. She had short red hair with multiple small braids on either side, and she was wearing a simple cotton dress and boots. Her brown eyes danced with partial annoyance as she glared at her cousin.
"It's Kind of hard to prepare one of the grooms for tomorrow's double wedding if he's not present," she crossed her arms under her bust. Soris has been whining most of the day, and Uncle has been looking everywhere for you."
At that, Gin rubbed the back of his neck; "Was doing some 'work' at the market."
Shianni only responded with a dry glare. "Work...Yeah..." She shook her head with a sigh. How much did you 'earn' for today?" Her sarcasm was as thick as the ocean.
"Maybe two months' worth of food and clothes," Gin stated with zero shame as he kept his grin.
His cousin ran her hands over her face; "What am I going to do with you..."
"Oh, spare me; the shems aren't going to need the coin anytime soon."
"I would lecture you on morality, but I know better than to waste my breath. And... Okay, I'm not going to lie and say some of those shems don't have it coming. At least we can use it better." She mumbled the last part as she looked at him. "So, are you still up for later?"
"Sure," He said with a shrug in an easy-going tone; it was necessary to keep up the act when in public. "See you then."
Shianni gave him a warm smile as she walked away. Gin followed her gaze until she was out of sight. He sighed as he rubbed his neck again. That conversation was necessary, yet neither of them was looking forward to it.
Before that, though, he needed to head back home and leave his things. His house wasn't far from the great tree, so it did not take him long. They were 'wealthy' when compared to other elves, and that meant they at least could afford food that wasn't yet spoiled on a regular basis. Certainly, their house was in a better condition than a lot of others in the Alienage; perhaps a better testimony to his father's wealth was the fact he had been able to arrange a marriage with another well-to-do elven family from Highever. His journey to his room to deposit the ill-gotten money was met with his father who was currently dusting off the furniture they had in their home. Always the homekeeper, Gin thought fondly.
"Ah, hello there, son." Cyrion was an elf whose age was beginning to show in the graying of his hair and the wrinkling of his skin. Gin couldn't honestly say he had taken much from him in terms of looks, owning that more to his mother. "How was work today?"
"Productive." Gin smiled easily, "You know, Couldry, the man is fair," Though his smile wavered at his last mark of the day. "Got a bit hazy for a moment there."
"Oh?" Cyrion raised a brow in curiosity. "Did he have troubles with another merchant?"
"You could say that."
"It can be a cutthroat business. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've seen humans double-playing each other in that."
Gin let out a soft laugh; "Don't worry, you know I don't get caught in that." He always made sure of it.
"I know." His father smiled.
The younger elf went to the room he shared with his cousin Soris; finding said cousin lying on his bed as he thoughtfully stared at the ceiling. Soris let out a long sigh that made Gin roll his eyes barely paying him any mind as he tucked away the coin purse safely under his bed, beneath a loose tile.
"Good to see you haven't been wasting your day," The rogue said dryly.
"What am I to do, Gin?" Soris said miserably. "I don't have the first clue of what a husband is meant to do."
"I think among the first rules is 'Don't cheat on your wife.' Considering your usual luck with women, that would be no problem at all." He smirked as he ducked a pillow thrown at him.
"Ha, ha," Soris glared at him. "I'm serious. Having to support your own family and all... I don't think I'm up to it."
"Hey, Couldry gave you the chance to work for him multiple times. You wouldn't have to worry much about money then."
"And have the shems find out and cut off my hands? No thanks," Soris groaned. He leaned back on his bed. "Never had the skills you do, 'cus."
"Well, it's what we got," Gin said as he sat on his bed, joining his hands together. We're elves in a human city. There's not much we can do."
"Unless you do mercenary work like that Miara lady. How much do you think half of that gear she wore cost?" Soris eyed his cousin cocking his head.
At that, Gin paused. Didn't she say that besides those two swords, everything she had she made herself?" There was an enormous scene of pride in her voice when she spoke about her smithing trade. Then again, she probably stole it all, for all we know."
Soris looked at his cousin with a long, dry gaze: "As always, we meet an elf from some faraway land, and your ever-endearing pessimism shines through."
The rogue only shrugged as he lay down on his bed; "Makes more sense than all those stories she said about that Tamriel."
"Oh, that soon-to-be wife of yours is going to have a time with you," Soris droned as he shook his head. "And, of course, you get the hot wife while I get the mouse."
Gin just rubbed his eyes.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Well, the time finally came. There was no stopping it now.
It was nighttime, and the darkly lit streets of the Alienage made it easier for him to sneak into one of the abandoned buildings at the lowermost corner of the district. Seldom, if any soul ever passed through here, they had little reason to. These were rundown places, unfit to live in, and considering the general state of the Alienage, that said something...
But Gin was fond of this old rundown place; many happy memories were made there. Simple times in which he could... get away from the outside world. No human nobles, no poverty, no fake smiles when you had nothing to be thankful for in this harsh life an elf was forced to live.
Only the two of them. And that was always enough.
...But after tonight, those simple, beautiful moments would be no more. They both knew it, and there was nothing they could do about it
Demure arms wrapped around from behind as he felt her pressed against his back. Shianni felt light tears from her eyes as his warm, larger hands embraced hers. Neither spoke as they let their embrace comfort them in their silence.
Neither was really sure when it all began, but in truth, they did not care. They had been close since they were children playing games with Soris. As they grew, feelings grew to affection and finally grew into love. Be damned what the society or the Chantry thought of their actions as sinful or disgusting. They had each other, and they loved each other with every fiber of their hearts.
They were happy, and that was all that mattered to them.
But now, this arranged marriage had been made. And neither could stop it as much it brought them both heartache.
Gin felt Shianni's hands tighten; "I hate this..." her whisper was faint but full of emotion. She had been crying.
"You and me both. We probably should have run off last year when we had the chance."
He felt Shianni shake her head; "But we just couldn't leave our families like that." And that was the truth.
The rogue let out a weary sigh. "I think we both knew it would end up like this."
Maybe they had been fooling themselves for a long time, believing a lie in which they could continue like this without consequence. But it was a happy lie, in which they found comfort with each other, in here, the one place where everything just made sense in this insane and unfair world.
They had spent a lot of time dreaming here. Of could be, what should be.
"Maybe," She conceded.
But eventually, everyone has to wake up.
She let out a shuddering breath, "So then this is it?"
"...Yeah." How else could this work? Just keep the affair hidden even more than they already had?
They would be risking a lot. While he was a thief, he could pride himself on not being a total bastard pig like some people can be.
He was to be married tomorrow. Their simpler and secretly happier life was over now, and Gin needed to see this through for their family.
Even if it meant to end the best thing that ever happened to him.
"I love you," Shianni breathed out.
Separating themselves, Gin turned and looked into his cousin's tearful eyes. His hands rested on the sides of her face. "I love you, " his voice full of emotion.
In an instant, she leaned up as their lips met. This night was their last, so they fully intended to make it as memorable as possible.
It was several hours before dawn as the lovers finally left each other, returning to their respective homes. Both gained as much or as little sleep as they could. As the sun rose, their lives would be forever changed by the coming day...
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Serana kept to the shadows as she wandered into the Alienage, it was only out of curiosity to see how these elves here fared that she decided to observe from a distance, and perhaps she'd even see that little thief. As the morning sun rose, people were already active for today's event. A double wedding, well, if nothing else, it wasn't going to be in a temple. She recalled the last time someone brought up marriage to her and Miara, and they both laughed.
As far as they were concerned, they did not need a ring to solidify their love for each other. She still finds this hard to believe, considering how they first met: They nearly killed one another.
They had started as enemies. She was a shriveled monstrous thing that awoke to a world that had changed so much in her absence. Why, she didn't even know what kind of elf Miara was, and at that moment in time, she didn't care. All she saw was a body that radiated power, full of mighty blood that would quench a great thirst that had not been satiated in thousands of years.
She lunged to her neck... and then the elf shouted her into the crypt.
Oh, it took every trick Serana had at her disposal to get Miara and her party to spare her life, even more so to make sure the Elder Scroll remained in her grasp. She wanted to take her to the Dawnguard Fort, and Serana had complied under the promise that she would feed first. Weakened as she would, Serana would have become ashes in the sun, and then the elf would be without answers.
So they were kind enough to take her to a bandit camp and let her run wild. Oh, the sensation of feeding after so long was orgasmic.
She had rejuvenated on the spot, her strength returning once again. Then Serana turned to the elf and her companions, gave them her most sincere thanks, and flew into the night towards her family's castle.
The string of curses that could be heard echoing throughout the mountains made her laugh all the way.
Then she arrived home... and remembered that her family had not parted ways kindly.
Her father was always hard, cold, and ruthless, but he had become even more uncaring if that was even possible. The first thing he asked her after millennia of absence was to see if she had the Elder Scrolls.
Serana had seen what he'd been doing: inciting war against other vampire clans and boldly attacking the mortals. Harkon had gone mad; he would bring every force in Tamriel to side against them.
For their sake, Serana had to take action, so she turned to the one group of people she could even remotely rely on.
The fact that said group was a bunch of vampire hunters spoke volumes about how dire her situation was...
At least, Miara was... relatively accommodating. The threats upon her life were far less than she expected. Of course, Serana, sharp-tongued as she was, couldn't help but rile up the elf. She just loved pissing her off.
The vampire shook her head as she smiled fondly. Oh, that wonderful mess of a Dunmer she grew to love, who saw her at her lowest and stood by her side during those impossible tasks. Before Serana knew it, she had lowered down her castle walls and invited the dark elf in, laying bare to all her fears and her pain.
"Oh, for the love of- Have you ever seen Valora yet? You're just going by whatever gossip you hear; you're acting like a Shem."
"I will have you know gossip can be quite informative."
"Sure, it's informative, horseshit."
"Love you too, cousin..."
Pulled from her thoughts, the Nordic vampire gazed out from the shadowy alleyway upon hearing two male voices lightly arguing. One was a young elven man with short red hair and the other... Serana felt a tug on her lips as she smiled. "We meet again, my little thief," she whispered.
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Rubbing his eyes with a loud groan, he stood outside his house with Soris. Gin, since waking up, had gotten dressed and prepared for his wedding beside his cousin. Who had not stopped whining about why he got the 'mouse' and Gin got a walking 'goddess of beauty.'
He loved Soris like a brother, but honestly, he drove him insane sometimes. Hopefully Valora can rein her future spouse in. Gazing out among the crowd, he faintly smiled, seeing everyone in high spirits for today's event. If nothing else he was glad this little distraction helped everyone to forget about the hardships for least the day.
He chuckled, seeing a few children playing around. Well, at least someone would be enjoying this party.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Gin bit back a sigh as the crowd for the double wedding was growing around the large makeshift platform under the shade of the vhenadahl. Mother Boann of the Chantry had finally come, and she was speaking to the elder and his father. Not far away, he saw Shianni conversing with some children with Nola and one of the bridesmaids to whom he did not know her name.
His eyes wandered before stopping and narrowing at three approaching figures. Humans, dressed in clothing that marked them as nobility. And while he did not know them personally, their reputations preceded them.
Vaughan Kendells, son of Arl Urien of Denerim. The man was a complete and utter pompous ass who was both cruel and sadistic. As always, at his side were Lord Jonaley and Lord Braden, who were just as vile as Vaughan.
Kendells strode ahead of his comrades. He was a tall, handsome man with short, well-groomed brown hair and a goatee. Sadly, that handsome exterior masked the monster from within.
Gin kept his eyes solely on the humans who were approaching Shianni and the bridesmaids. He bit back a snarl as he started to walk over.
The son of the arl got too handsy with Nola, causing her to shriek in fright and back away. The elves grew terrified at the humans' presence and the trouble they were bound to bring with them.
"Well, now, I heard there was a party going." His voice alone made Gin furious, so full of arrogance and contempt. "But I see no whores and no ale."
"It's a wedding, I believe," One of his lackeys said with an infuriating smirk.
"All the more reason to bring some, " he smiled disgustingly at the women there. Though already we have some fine material here." Vaughn was looking straight at Shianni, and Gin had to hold himself from killing the man on the spot.
"Touch me, and I'll gut you, Shem." He felt proud that she showed no fear despite the man's status. At least, he hoped Shianni knew this was an arl's son. If they crossed a line in his eyes, they could all be hanged, and no one would even bat an eye.
"M-My lord, please." An elven man tried to stop the situation from escalating. "It's a wedding; there's no need to be-."
The back of a hand stroked him with great force. Vaughn growled with disgust at the elf: "I won't have any of you knife ears talk back to me!" The elves around him backed away in fright.
Gin was about to jump in when Soris desperately said, "Please, don't make this any worse."
Frost danced around Serana's hand with an enraged sneer marring her ruby-red lips. No matter the place, there was always that arrogant and cruel kind of nobles who thought the world bowed down to them, be it here or Tamriel. Well, mostly in High Rock, but that was her personal opinion.
Self-entitled, cruel degenerates who knew nothing of the true meaning of proper nobility. Only greed and lust were the vices of fools like these, and they'd harm any who got in their way. Granted, her own family could not be counted as kind nobles themselves millennia ago. But she had gotten better; her mother was another story; she was… complicated.
The predator within her wanted nothing more than to shove ice spikes into each one of those fools and drain them dry of their blood. Till she took notice as the leader of the fops was speaking to her little thief, an elven woman crept up behind with a large vase in her hands.
Her sneer turned to a smirk as Shianni smashed it over Vaughan's head. "Oh, I like that her."
On the plus side, she had struck that arrogant blue blood.
On the other hand, she had struck that arrogant blue blood.
Serana knew there would be consequences to this. Nobles like him would not let insults like that go unanswered, much less if they came from 'filthy elves' like them.
Serana realized with joy that it looked like the redhead had just realized what she had done and was now panicking about it. Oh, she was so glad she chose to sneak in; so far, this wedding had not disappointed. Usually, the ceremonies she was used to attending were filled with more drunken brawls, a daedra or two popping up, and someone getting killed.
The vampire suspected she might have to carry out the last part of the 'rich daddy's boy' there chose to come back and do something dumb. Hmm, she couldn't just kill him in the middle of the street; now, if it were behind closed doors, that'd be easy. But again, only if he started something.
Ah, casual thoughts about murdering someone. Now Serana felt like she was at a wedding.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Jonaley and Braden dragged away their semi-conscious comrade out of the alienage, who swears he will get even for this slight. Shianni lightly shook before Gin rested her hand on her back; "Will keep an eye for him if he shows up again. Don't worry."
"You know his reputation, Gin, how he treats women, especially elven women. And I just-"
Soris raised his hands; "Breathe, Shianni."
The redhead rested her hand on her chest, taking several calming breaths. She gazed toward Gin, who gave her a reassuring look that helped her nerves. Around her, the people also calmed themselves as the festivities resumed.
In the shadows, Serana watched on and noticed another human strolling into the Alienage: "Now, who are you?" She was not the only one; Gin, Soris, and Shianni were also aware of the man's presence as he stood near the vhenadahl.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
They thought (or at least they hoped) the mess with the shems was over until a new arrival entered the Alienage. The Tabris trio looked at the man who wore a mix of leather with silver plated gear; his skin was a sun-kissed tanned one would find in Antivans or Rivaini folk, dark hair pulled up in a ponytail with a very thick beard around the lower half of his face. The feature that caught their attention the most was two blades sheathed behind his back, the weapons alone already made them nervous.
"Oh great, another shem," Soris muttered. "This one is armed."
And yet... he didn't look like he was planning on causing trouble. His expression was calm, almost serene, as he looked up the sacred vhenadahl tree with appreciation. But still, Gin knew better than to trust in looks alone.
"What could he want?" Shianni whispered.
Gin pondered for a moment, green eyes staring intently at the human. "I'll ask."
Soris did a double take, trying to reach out to his cousin; "Wait, don't-!" But it was too late; his cousin was already walking towards the armored human. "Ahhh, great..."
Shianni internally sighed before following with Soris not far behind.
How long has it been since he had seen the vhenadahl of Denerim? Duncan was unsure but showed the sacred tree of the elves the due respect. His eyes took in the view of all the people gathered for the dual weddings his old friend had written to him about.
"Excuse me." Hearing a voice behind him, Duncan turned to see three elves standing a few feet away. I guess it did not take long for them to find him.
"Andaran atish'an," Gin and the others perked up hearing the shem speak elven; "You two are the grooms to be, yes?"
"You know elven?!" Shianni exclaimed, failing to mask her surprise as the man nodded.
"In my travels, I picked up a few words. I consider myself grateful to have earned the friendship of a few elves I've met in my life."
Soris lifted a brow; "Are you here to see a friend then?"
"Indeed, but I have also other business within the Alienage as well."
At that, Gin tensed up: "I apologize for sounding rude, but I'd like to ask you to leave. We had a run-in today with several unpleasant humans. Everyone is still a bit on edge."
"I understand, but I am afraid I cannot. I have shown no malicious intent, nor would I ever."
The elf did not relent; Duncan was pleased to see he had inherited that same spark from his mother. "I am serious. It'd be best for everyone involved if you just left quietly."
Duncan did not back down. "And I, too, am serious when I tell you I will not be leaving." There was a strength to this boy; he could feel it and would further test it if need be.
To his satisfaction, the elf looked at him in the eye without fear. "Please, you need to leave now."
He let out a soft laugh, "You keep a level head even in the presence of an armed human. A fine trait." Duncan turned to his right with a smile; "Wouldn't you say Valendrian?"
The three elves stared in surprise as their honored elder approached them, a welcoming smile present on his lips directed at the human. "I think the world has too many people eager to reach for their blades." He faced them, "May I present you Duncan, Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens."
The various states of shock amused the Warden in question, and their faces shifted. "T-The Warden-Commander?!" The dark-haired male elf sputtered in astonishment.
Adaia's son blinked a few times, mouth opening and closing as he searched for the right words. "I'm sorry, I-I had no idea."
"It is of no concern" Duncan raised a hand placating. "I wasn't exactly forthcoming."
"It is good to see you again, old friend, " the elder said pleasantly. But what brings you here?"
The Warden grimaced, his expression shifting to one of utmost seriousness; the change was so fast it worried them. "I am currently in recruitment. The Blight is gathering in the south, and we need all the Wardens we can get to assist the army."
The mere word made the three elves pale considerably. They had heard the news, with some voices deriding this wasn't a true Blight, but if the Warden-Commander was so certain... Andraste preserved them; the thought was beyond terrifying.
Valendrian's gaze was grave; "You truly think this is a coming Blight?"
"I have no doubts, old friend. This is why I am recruiting. I will also be stopping at Kinloch Hold. At the same time, I would like to visit Orzammar and the Dalish camps in the Brecilian Forest. I do not have the time."
Shianni unconsciously gripped Gin's wrist as a cold shiver ran down her spine. "But you can stop it, right?"
Duncan turned his eyes to the redhead. " The more able individuals who are willing to join the cause, the better our chances." He did not lie to them or give a small lie for comfort. He spoke the blunt truth.
The elder shook his head. "These are Dark times, but for the moment. Let us have this day full of joy."
At that, the Warden-Commander soon grinned with a nod; "I agree. It's the small precious moments that give us comfort before the coming storm."
Soris heaved a sigh; "Getting married sounds way simpler now."
Duncan chuckled before his gaze shifted towards one of the dark alleys between two houses. Serana's beautiful brow rose. It was like he could tell someone was hiding there. That is, her… The instincts and experience required to do that spoke volumes. Now she was a bit curious about this man.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
In a few moments, the ceremony was ready to start; he and his cousin stood side by side with their respective brides. Nesiara was truly a beautiful woman; coming from a rather wealthy elven family, she received a proper education, so Gin suspected she must have a mind to match her looks. He had only heard praises about her and her sweet demeanor.
In short, she was the perfect spouse, just not for him.
It was not Nesiara; the young woman deserved far better; it was just that she wasn't who he truly wanted to be with.
His attempts to appear upbeat and excited about today's ceremony did not seem to fool her completely, as his bride gazed at him in concern. "You look rather down, " she said.
"What?" Gin was a bit taken aback by her statement. "O-Of course not. This is a happy day, isn't it?"
She gave him an understanding smile. "I know it can be difficult to marry someone you've never even met. I'm nervous, too. But I promise I'll do my best to make our lives happy."
With that said, Gin felt like a complete jackass; here he was whining about his life when he wasn't the only person enrolled in this arranged marriage business; he had not stopped to consider his bride's feelings in the matter at all. Nesiara was probably giving up on a lot, just like him.
The least he could do was work hard to make sure she could lead a relatively comfortable life.
Before he knew it, the wedding had started. Elder Valendrian began with the customary he would always use for the Alienage celebrations. Then, the Revered Mother began reciting the passages of the Chant to make the ceremony official.
All the while, Gin fought the urge to look at Shianni directly. Sneaking in glances to confirm she was avoiding looking at him all the same. This whole affair weighed heavily on them both, but they knew there was nothing to be done. Their love would remain a memory, one best left forgotten as the two now were to form their own separate lives.
Perhaps it was for the best... that's what Gin was telling himself. Perhaps in time, he'd come to believe it.
He tried focusing on the Mother's words; he'd have to say his part after all, so he needed to pay attention.
But a dreadful sight made his body seize, and his mind freeze. Where once there was joy and delight, there now was only fear. Cries of shock rang out as frightful whispers swarmed the Alienage. The smarter elves ran back to their homes when they had the chance; the rest were too scared to move.
Vaughan Kendells and his cronies had returned... along with a squad of armored soldiers.
The Revered Mother gulped nervously. It was clear she shared the elves' feelings on this development. "M-My lord, this is... unexpected."
"Apologies, Mother." Vaughan's tone made it clear he did not feel apologetic in the least. "But you see, I'm having a party, and to my dismay, I find myself lacking... female guests." He leered at the women.
"My lord!" The Mother was shocked, "This is a wedding!"
"Oh please, dress up your pets if you want, but don't pretend this is a real wedding," He said with contempt. "Now, where is that bitch that hit me...?" His eyes scanned across the crowd, making Gin's heart skip a beat.
"Over here, Lord Vaughan!" One of his lackeys cried out joyfully, holding a struggling Shianni.
"Let me go!" The redhead shouted.
The elves could only watch, horrified, as Vaughan's men began picking women of their choosing. The thought of fighting back only momentarily crossed their minds; they knew full well that trying to fight the armed soldiers would only end in slaughter for them.
No elf would dare pick a fight with a human lord.
"Ahhh, yes," Vaughan's voice dripped with malice. "I'll enjoy taming her."
No elf but Gin.
"Get your disgusting hands off her!" The green-eyed groom shouted, stomping forward with the intent of wringing Vaughan's neck with his own hands, consequences be damned.
Years of bottled-up anger and resentment rushed to the surface. All his life, he was forced to sit back and see how this damnable shems toyed with their people like they were less than trash, endured the humiliation, the indecency, the hopelessness of the tyrannical human yoke, knowing that if he ever dared fight back, dare even raise his voice against them, he'd pay it dearly.
No, he couldn't give a damn.
He would not let them hurt Shianni; he'd die before that happened! And he'd kill that disgusting Shem even if it was the last thing he'd ever do.
He barely got one foot close to the noble before one of the soldiers punched him across the face, knocking him out swiftly.
Vaughan pursed his lips as he stared at the downed elf before breaking into a wide smile; "Now then!" He clapped his hands together and rubbed them eagerly. "Ladies... we have a party to attend to"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Serana's eyes glowed with brilliant wrath; fury boiled through her entire being as her fangs grew within her mouth. Watching Vaughan and his men take away several ladies by force, she knew what those bastards would do to those girls. And she'd be damned she would allow it!
From observing his old friend and Adaia's husband go to help his son, Duncan's eyes sharply turn back to the dark alley, seeing a colony of bats burst from the darkness and into the sky. He was certain he was seeing things as he swore they were following the noble and his men.
Cyrion slowly turned his son as he lightly shook him; "Gin!"
Relief flooded him as his son groaned before hissing as he held his head in pain. He sat up as his eyes shot open; "Shianni!"
The elder shook his head; "Vaughan took her, yours and Soris's fiancées, and the bridesmaids for his 'party.'" Disgust and rage seethed from his lips.
Soris and Cyrion helped Gin to his feet. Rage could be felt rolling off his body as he seethed. "I am going to kill him..."
"You'll be killed," The Warden said, approaching them. He spoke matter of factly.
His eyes glowed with righteous fury, "I don't care. I'm going there."
"Then I'm going with you," Soris said in an uncharacteristic display of courage. "I'm not much of a fighter, but I'm not going to stay here and let those shems do as they please."
"Are you two insane?!" Cyrion cried out in concern. "Their estate has dozens of armed guards. You'll get slaughtered!"
His son whipped his head at him angrily, "So you're saying we should leave them?!"
"Of course not!" His father said, stunned. "I'm saying you need to think this through. If you march there, you won't make it beyond the gate."
"Then we sneak in," Gin declared. Trust me, I know how to. Mom taught me all she knew, remember?"
Cyrion looked conflicted, his face flashing through various stages of conflict, worry, and, finally, resignation. "Alright..." He sighed. "Promise me you will come back safely, " he said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Gin grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly, "I will."
"You will need weapons, " the elder Valendrian expressed. "I have a few hidden away in my house."
Soris cracked a smile, "I thought elves having weapons was against the law."
The elder matched his smile with his own, "Oh, some laws are more like 'guidelines.'"
Gin turned his gaze to the Revered Mother, who shook her head; "I saw nothing. Save them, but please avoid any conflict."
"...I'll try, but it could be unavoidable." She conceded to his words with a sorrowful nod.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Vaughan chuckled, along with Jonaley and Braden, who eyed their playthings for the day. Nesiara held a crying Nola beside a fearful Valora and bridesmaids. Shianni stood protectively in front of the other girls, glaring in defiance.
"Oh, she is spirited for a knife-ear mongrel," Vaughan states, noting Neisara's glare as well; "So is she, but I'll enjoy taming my red-haired pet first."
"...Knock, knock…"
A dark, sultry, and pure malicious voice startled everyone in the closed study. Valora was the first to see a towering mass of darkness slowly stroll out from the shadows. The light of the fireplace enhanced the figure in every person's view, with the three nobles sharply turning only for the towering being to stand a head taller than all of the human men. Glowing orange eyes glared with unholy anger at Vaughan, Braden, and Jonaley.
Fear gripped Shianni and the girls as the figure spoke again; "I let myself in for the party."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
"You make it seem so easy," Soris muttered, impressed at his cousin's deft fingers in picking the lock. They were trying to sneak into the Kendells estate through a back door that most likely led directly to the kitchen.
"Don't focus on me," Gin admonished. Keep watch for any guards." He focused on the task at hand, leaving no room for hesitation or doubt. They needed to rescue the women before it was too late.
The door clicked, much to his satisfaction. With the lock taken care of, he motioned for his cousin to follow him. With silent steps, they entered what appeared to be the kitchen, carefully closing the door back so as not to make any noise. Soris closely followed behind his cousin, trying to imitate his steps so as to sneak in properly.
They found a second door. Gin signaled Soris to wait behind as he looked through the keyhole. "Are there any guards there?" the dark-haired cousin asked.
"Just one, but..." Gin's voice came confused. "He looks tapped out." The rogue took out his borrowed blade and slowly opened the door. The cousins noticed the sole guard among the tables with his head lying atop it, a hand still clutched to a mug. They could hear the faint sounds of snoring coming from him.
"Drunk on the job?" Soris snorted. "Not very professional."
"Well, I'm not gonna complain," Gin said. Better not look at a gift horse in the mouth.
They entered the corridor when they saw another guard, though rather than preparing for a fight, they saw him half lying on the ground, the upper half of his body pressed against a wall. His eyes closed as his chest rose and fell in steady breaths.
"Another one?" Soris said incredulously. He looks like he just fell over and passed out." This didn't make any sense.
Gin slowly shook his head. "Something's off here."
From the hallway to each room they inspected, they found servants, guards, and mabari hounds in a deep slumber. Both cousins found it extremely unnerving to see people who either fell to the ground as they were walking or sitting on a chair, couch, or desk slept soundly. Both inspected a guard's room, finding several men and Mabari fast asleep.
"Did a mage stroll by and decide to put everyone to sleep?" Soris looks down at the massive war hound.
Gin tapped his finger on a sleeping guard who sat in a chair. There was no reaction; "Your guess is as good as mine." Idly he saw a rather large coin purse on a table he no so shamefully took and placed in his pocket.
His cousin only snorted with a shake of his head as they continued to inspect more rooms of the Estate. One room made both glare at the sight of a sleeping guard beside an elven woman lying on the bed with part of her clothes torn. Seeing how no one reacted when being touched, they dragged the Shem bastard into a storage room opposite, locking it.
Placing a blanket over the woman, they continued their search.
Navigating through the estate was a challenge in and of itself. With no way of knowing the proper internal layout of the building, they had to keep prodding through every door and room until they could find the correct one. Every second they delayed was another second in which the girls could be suffering at the hands of those disgusting humans.
But considering the state in which all the people present were, it was also a strong possibility that Vaughan and his cronies had succumbed to this mysterious plague of slumber that had befallen his estate. They prayed to the Maker that this was the case.
Finally, they came upon a door guarded by two soldiers who now lay unconscious on the ground. This was most likely the door to Vaughan's chambers, and they took the presence of the guards as a sign, most likely to make sure no one interrupted his 'fun.'
Gin's knuckles popped white as he tightened the grip on his blade; Soris nervously held his blade as the other Tabris took the lead. He held up three fingers and began counting down, kicking down the door as he finished, bursting into the room ready to slay the Shems if need to in order to save the women.
It was then that they realized they had walked into a nightmare.
They had expected horror; they had expected to find them in the middle of the most deplorable act of depravity possible. A room filled with sin and the painful cries of the elven women.
But what met them was silence and a visceral stench.
Soris backed away, heaving as he threw up over the floor. Gin paled considerably as his mouth quivered at the sight.
Blood, there was blood everywhere. On the floor, splattered across the walls, guts and dismembered limbs littered the room. It was a sight straight out of a nightmarish horror story. Vaughan and his friends... they had been massacred as though a bear had descended upon them and mauled them apart.
No, even an animal wouldn't have attacked with so much... cruelty.
Andraste be merciful, there was a severed head, impaled into a wall through a dagger to the mouth.
Gin realized in a mixture of horror and morbid satisfaction that it was Vaughan. His expression was that of agony and terror. His last moments had been filled with as much pain as the one he had inflicted upon so many innocent people throughout his life.
The rogue breathed out in relief when he saw the women huddled up in a corner, shivering and silently crying, their eyes closed tightly as to avoid looking at the horror. They seemed to have been spared Vaughan's brutality, but some had borne witness to the savagery inflicted upon him.
Perhaps it was deserved, but nobody should witness carnage like this.
Like the wind, he was by their side, kneeling down to Shianni and Nesiara, who held each other. Slowly, his hand went for both of them; the moment his hands touched their shoulders, they froze. "Are you both alright?" His voice was a whisper.
Their heads turned to him stiffly. Their eyes were wide, and fear and terror were etched on their faces as tears rolled from their cheeks. Neither said a word, despite their mouths trembling; they just stared at Gin.
Finding a bottle of ale, Soris drank it down before heaving an explosive sigh. He threw the bottle in the fireplace before turning to his cousins and the rest; "Let's get the hell out of here."
All were in agreement.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Leaving the estate, the girls had only just stopped sobbing as their fear was leaving them. But all of them still shook badly, enough so that Gin had them sit in an alley to recover. He said nothing; he asked nothing of what happened to Vaughan and the other two so as not to get the girls in a worse state. He held both Shianni's and Nesiara's hands, respectively, which eased both.
Soris sat beside his fiancée, who clutched him tightly. He said nothing but held her in sympathy.
All were silent for the longest time before Nola finally muttered out, "She tore them apart..."
She?
Gin and Soris met each other's eyes before remaining silent to let the girls recover. On a roof above them, Serana peered down at the small group. She winced at the girls' state: "Maybe I went a 'touch' overboard?"
For obvious reasons, Serana had an intense hatred for rapists. Why, in some bandit camps, when she and Miara discovered such acts, the Nordic vampire went mad berserk, killing everyone and everything in the camp.
Well, the girls were safe. That was all that mattered.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
In the alienage, the elder and Cyrion paced while others waited and prayed. The elder Tabris could not keep himself still and walked back and forth in front of the great tree. He had never been more frightened for his son's safety before, nor had he been more terrified for what Shianni and their women had to be going through. They were quiet, peaceful folk, but sometimes that made them more enticing prey for the humans.
It was disheartening to know this wasn't the first time something like this happened, with shem taking advantage of their kin like they were naught but toys. He had grown up spared such horrors, but he wasn't blind to the fact such things happened. He lived in the Alienage after all; eventually, you hear or see things. An elf was beaten and robbed or casually murdered. It was the disheartening reality that this was usual for the Alienage.
The closest thing he remembered witnessing was that poor man who tried to stop the Templars from taking his daughter when she proved herself to be a mage. Cyrion's heart had gone with them. After all, little Neria would sometimes play with Gin and the others when they were children. But the law was clear; even so, the beating the man received was very much uncalled for; the Templars were more numerous and armed; they did not need the violence they committed against him. Now, he was just a reclusive man who lived separated from the rest of his community.
It filled him with shame and impotent rage. He should have gone with his son; he should have done something instead of cowering... But against humans, what were they to do?
"They're back!" Someone finally shouted, and there was much rejoicing.
Cyrion could breathe again. His eyes welled up with tears as he saw his son, nephew, and niece returning in tow with the kidnapped women. None were missing, thank Andraste...
He, elder Valendrian, and various other elves approached them. It was then that they realized with dread that some of the women, including Shianni, were wet with blood.
"Oh, Maker..." He breathed out in horror.
"They're okay," Gin assured them as they handed the shaken women to be tended by the others. "That's not their blood. Someone, something..." His son sighed as he ran his hand over his head. "Tore Vaughan and his companions' apart. Literally"
Leaning against a house, Duncan listened to every word with a lifted brow. His head shifted upon hearing the marching steps of armor feet.
Gin and the others turned, seeing Sargent Kylon ahead of several of his men. Elder Valendrian walked up to the auburn-haired human as he stopped; "What is this, Kylon?"
"Apologizes, Elder, but we discovered Bann Vaughan Kendells, Lord Jonaley, and Lord Braden were murdered." Kylon paused before turning his gaze to Gin and Soris; "And it was reported these two snuck in trespassing."
"Don't beat around the bush, Kylon." Gin spoke up, having some respect for the sergeant since he was a good and fair man. Say what your officers already think." He saw the hate-filled gazes of the guardsmen, who glared with cruelty.
"They believe it was you who killed Vaughan. I don't believe it; the reports make it clear that what happened to him... couldn't have been done just by an elf. But that doesn't matter to my superiors; they want someone to be charged guilty for this before Arl Urien returns..." The Guardsman sighed, refraining from massaging his temples. "I have orders to arrest you."
Waves of shock waved across the crowd of elves. "No!" Shianni cried out against the injustice of it all.
"Kylon, please!" Cyrion stepped forward, begging the man in desperation. "You can't do this!"
"I'm sorry," The man said with sincere regret. "It's out of my hands; if not me, then someone else would have come. And it could get... bloody."
Alienages had been purged by less after all.
"I did it myself," Gin spoke up, surprising everyone.
The Grey Warden raised a brow.
"Soris had nothing to do with it," He continued. "I'm the only one you should arrest."
Cyrion placed a hand on his shoulder, looking at him with frightened eyes. "Gin, no, they'll execute you!"
He smiled sadly at him, and the tears welled up in his father's eyes. "It's a fair price for the Alienage's safety."
Shianni stepped forward, angrily looking at the guardsman, "Do they know what Vaughan did? What he was going to do?!"
"Shianni, don't," The rogue said softly. "You'll make things worse."
Her gaze whipped at him, hurt and desperate. "It's not fair!"
"...It's never is, " he said with resignation. Such was the life of an elf, after all.
It was at that moment that another voice made itself known. "Before you are forced to carry your duty, Sargent." All heads turned towards Duncan as he approached. "I invoke the Right of Conscription to recruit Gin Tabris under Grey Wardens."
A silence fell on every one present; in the shadows of the alley, Serana had followed the group. She had listened to every word as she felt her blood boil. Typical nobility horseshit, times like this she was glad her family stopped caring about such nonsense. However, she was surprised by her little thief's declaration to take all the blame.
Such selflessness. There was no fear or hesitation in his eyes, as he knew death would await him. Part of her wanted to intervene hearing such noble words until that Duncan fellow spoke up.
The sergeant's brow lifted as he eyed Duncan, who now stood in front of a shocked Gin and his family. Was a shem helping them?
"There's no bloody way he can do that!" one of Kylon's officers yelled, with the rest muttering in agreement. "The knife-ear needs to die for killing Bann Vaughan!"
"QUIET!" Kylon roared with a sharp turn and glare to his now cowering officers. "In case you brats forget, a Warden-commander has the right to conscript 'anyone', be they a murderer, thief, or common civilian. Unless you idiots want to take it up with Duncan personally." The officers froze at the sight of the Warden-commander's intimidating glare.
The Sergeant did not wait for a reply since Duncan's glare was enough to shut those brats up; "Gin's all yours, Commander."
"Good luck." The guardsman smiled at the elf, "You're going to need it." And departed the Alienage.
Gin could only remain frozen throughout it all, hardly believing any of this was happening. He had narrowly escaped the hangman's noose and thrust into the ranks of the Grey Wardens. To serve with them was considered an honor, but it was not a choice Gin had ever seen himself taking. Fitting, since the choice was made for him, his fate was now sealed. Though considering the circumstances, he shouldn't complain.
"Duncan..." Cyrion softly spoke, looking at the man with gratitude. "You saved my son."
"Do not thank me yet" The Warden cynically said. "A Warden's life is one of duty and sacrifice. Young Gin has quite the road ahead of him, but if he's anything like his mother, I'm sure he's up to the task." He turned to face his recruit. "I'll give you one hour to gather your things and say your goodbyes; the sooner we depart, the better." That said, he walked away to wait at the Alienage's gates.
Gin plopped down on the ground, the stress of the situation finally weighing down on him. He let out a long, suffering sigh as he ran his hands over his brown locks. His family remained at his side, comforting him.
The crowd of elves slowly departed, taking the women with them so they could help them forget this horrible day ever happened. Neisara stayed behind, looking at Gin with a myriad of emotions as she knelt. "I guess this was never meant to be, huh?"
"It seems so..." He muttered. "What will you do now?"
"I'll... go back to Highever, to my family." She let out a humorless laugh. "I don't think they'll arrange another marriage any time soon," Neisara planted a soft kiss on the cheek. "Goodbye, Gin, thank you." And so she left, not knowing if it'd be the last time the two would ever see each other again.
Soris soon joined a cousin's side, and Shianni followed suit, hugging Gin, who returned the hug. "Well, this was one hell of a wedding."
"I do not want to hear another word about any wedding for at least a year," Shianni muttered, resting her head on Gin's chest. That earned a chuckle from her two cousins before she looked up to her secret lover; "How are you holding up?"
Gin gave a look; "Should be my line after what happened. All I care about is every one of us is safe."
"Can you really say that?" Soris asked sternly. "You're a Warden now, Gin. That's a harsh life. Fighting Darkspawn till the day you die."
"Well, thanks for the reminder, " his cousin grumbled as he stood up. I guess I need to get my things now." Few as they were...
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
It almost felt like he was sleepwalking through the whole process; the only things he had to pack were a few items of clothing, along with a pair of quality daggers Couldry had given him. He took in every part of his house to memory, knowing it'd be likely that he would never see the place where he grew up ever again.
An elf's life to the end, where his fate was already chosen for him.
Well, Gin supposed there were worse things. At least the Wardens had an honorable cause; it was more than he could say of his life of thievery. But he would never regret it; he had cared for his family that way.
He wondered if his mother would be proud of him.
Gin strapped the burlap sack to his back and headed out, meeting his father on the way before leaving the house. "I can hardly believe any of this is happening," He muttered mournfully. "When your mother died, I promised I would do everything in my power to make sure you had a good life... I feel like I failed her."
His son was quick to brush away such foolish concerns, "You have nothing to feel sorry about." He placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You're the best father I could have asked for."
Cyrion blinked away his tears as he pulled his son into a tight, warm embrace. "I love you, son."
"I love you too," He muttered back, trying to hold back the tears.
It took him a bit to let go; neither of them wanted to. But when he did and stepped out of the house, Cyrion fell on a chair, overwhelmed by the weight of having lost something so precious and irreplaceable. There was little to give the older elf comfort, so he held on to those precious memories he had of their time together as a family.
Coming out of the door, he saw Soris standing at the entrance's side. "I can never repay what you did for me," He said with self-loathing. "You took all the blame, and I... I just stood back and let you do it like a coward." He couldn't meet his gaze out of shame.
"Don't sell yourself short," Gin assures him. "You would have done the same in my place."
Soris let out a humorless laugh, "Think you give me too much credit" The cousins exchanged a quick yet strong hug. "Good luck, cousin. Give those blighters hell."
Gin smiled at him and moved on, finding the next daunting challenge waiting for him by the tree. Shianni was waiting there to say her goodbyes.
Neither said a thing as they stared at each other. The redheaded elf threw herself at him, circling her arms around his shoulders as she silently cried. Gin held her tightly, his face set into a mournful grimace.
There were no words they could have exchanged to properly express the turmoil they felt, not openly, at least. They could cry about the injustice of this situation, the unfair circumstances that put him in this precarious situation in the first place. But that would not help; it would not soothe their aching hearts. The things they dreamed of the most would never come to be, and they knew that.
Such was an elf's life.
The act of letting go of an embrace never felt so painful.
Gin walked away, looking back at the faces of the elves gathered there. From the proud yet solemn face of the elder to the compassionate and pitying looks of his fellows. Maybe the Alienage was a hard place to live in... But it was his; this had been his home all his life.
Gin walked through the gates, knowing most likely he'd never return.
Duncan was waiting for him there, beckoning him to follow. They walked in a heavy silence before Gin finally broke it.
"Why me?" He asked, making the Warden-Commander turn to face him. "Out of all the people you could have chosen, why use your power to spare my life?"
Duncan pondered his answer for a moment. "I once tried to recruit your mother." His words made Gin's eyes widen in disbelief. "She was a great fighter, spirited, courageous. Adaia's spirit was a sight to behold." He chuckled, "Valendrian convinced me out of it, and your father very strongly insisted as well." He smiled at Gin. "I heard she passed all she knew to you, but not's the only thing she gave you, you have the same spirit after all. A Warden is more just than martial skill; he is that same conviction and determination your mother had as you do."
Gin only looked stunned as Duncan continued, "You've shown bravery and selflessness to protect your loved ones. Whether you see it or not, you are a good man."
The elf was silent as Duncan purchased some horses from the stable master. Mounting their new rides, Gin's eyes stayed with Denerim as they were leaving it further and further behind.
"Will I ever see my family again?"
The Warden-commander grunted, "I won't lie, a Grey Warden's life is perilous. But that does not mean those with family are cut off from them. Depending on how we fare in Ostagar, you can see them anytime or write letters."
At that, Gin felt relieved, "Thank you, Duncan."
Unbeknownst to the Warden commander and Warden recruit who were making their way to Kinloch Hold, a colony of bats followed them a good distance away in the sky.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Soris gulped as he walked through the dark candle-lit room of an abandoned building with his head bowed and his hands grasping each other anxiously. Few times had he directly reported, usually it was through other liaisons of elves like him, that was how the network functioned.
But the recent events had put his superiors on high alert; the arrival of those foreigners implied great danger for their operations.
His superior glanced down at him, cloaked in the darkness, "Report."
Soris gulped, "A-A a few days ago, at the docks, arrived-"
"We know of this," The voice said tiredly and irritated. Ah right, perhaps that was not the proper way to start, these people always made him anxious. "Unless you have anything of interest, I suggest you leave now."
"Well, the other day, one of these individuals visited the Alienage and told stories about Tamriel."
His master sighed, and an eye roll followed. "And this is important information because..."
"I-I" Soris struggled to find the correct words, he thought the information he had with him was important enough to warrant attention... but apparently his superior did not believe so. "I thought that maybe knowing the name of this person would help us spy on her."
Eyes narrowed impatiently, "And that name is?"
"Miara Redoran"
"..."
When there was no response, Soris shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know what kind of role she has among the Tamriels, but she seemed-"
"Are you certain?" his master interrupted. "Are you truly certain that was her name?" The question seemed desperate, even frightened.
Soris had never seen any of them act like this before.
"I... yes" Soris numbly nodded.
"...Start from the beginning."
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