Unlocking Leli's Heart Chapter 1: The City Life

I walked cautiously through the thick forest my ears perked listening for the faintest sound of life, my river-blue eyes scanning the ground and trees for signs of disturbance, pale body tense ready to release the dull-tipped arrow strung on my bow. I hid in the shadows thinking (hoping) she couldn't see me.

"Oh, Kalli you aren't even close." I heard her sweet, song-like voice turn to a giggle that melted my heart.

"Right, because that explains the grass!" I called, looking at the divot in the earth where she dug in her foot to climb the tree. "I got you this time." I muttered as I drew the bow to my eye scanning the tree, stepping closer to the base…closer…closer…

Snap!

"What-?" I was cut off as I heard her squeal and felt her tackle me in the side, pushing us onto the ground; my bow discarded three inches from us, my back impacted into the ground, my cheeks red and my lovely bard resting on top of me her feet in the air swaying, elbows rested on my chest, and her long hair tickled my nose. Her face was hidden in a hood, but my Elvin eyes could pierce through the darkness. She let her long, auburn hair down, her ice blue eyes looking down at me, her perfect skin color shined from sweat, her rose pink lips stretched into a smile revealing her ivory teeth. She moves her hair away to stare at my face while I was too busy thinking.

What kind of rogue am I? How did I not hear her breath, or her muscles tense, her hair sway in the wind, or hear her feet shift or-?

"Aw, what's the matter, Kalli? Are you berating yourself my bard apprentice?"

I blushed, ashamed that I'm so easily read by someone so beautiful. "Yes, I must be the worst student you've ever taught."

She giggled. "I'd have to say otherwise my dear Grey Warden."

"Oh?"

"Mh-hmm. You stay concealed in shadows, you push your senses to their limits, and most importantly I've never taught anyone other than you."

I sighed in defeat. "You're right, I'll learn in time."

My Red-head Orlesian Bard smiled. "Well, I'm glad I could help."
I cocked my head, still keeping my lips in place as if I were deep in thought. "How can I repay you, Master?"

The Bard giggled once more. "How about showing me that gorgeous smile of yours?"

I sighed she's not the first or last to point out that 'beautiful' feature; I smiled showing my own set of teeth. She sighed contently. "There's my beautiful, smiling angel."

I brought my head back to its original position where I had my eyes staring into hers. "I thought angels were only humans."

She shook her head. "I thought a lot of things before I met you."

"Glad I could help you make up your mind." We both giggled, she grinned as she caught me drifting to sleep in my blissful state. "Wake up."

"I'm awake, honest."

"What? No you're not! Get up!" The Bard's voice was altered.

"What?"

"Get up!"

I opened my eyes to see my fire head cousin crossing her arms, her smug yellow aura matching her smile. "Shianni? What are you doing here?"

She laughed. "I'm here because I begged your father for me to get you up to share the good news! You do remember what today is, don't you?"
I raked my brain for any reference to the past months, but only came up with my steamy misadventures with the lovely, redheaded seductress. I shrugged, hopeless. "Summers day?"

Shianni laughed. "No! You and Soris are getting married, remember? Your husband, Neleroas is here early!"

I giggled, blushing. "Of course, how could I forget my own wedding?" I sighed. "Well I should probably just get this over with."

Shianni's yellow aura fused with a bit of worry blue. "That's the spirit, cousin." She muttered to express her worry while at the same time sounding as if she were joking.

I sighed, a little exasperated at how she refused to see things my way, but kept my mouth shut as I got up in my underwear to look for the wedding dress in my footlocker, Shianni's aura turned a worried dark blue, smugness gone. "You…speak in your sleep cousin…you aren't…in love with a human are you?"

I turned to her. "No Shianni. I don't even dream, if I do I'd remember what they're about." Lies. "What do I say in my sleep anyway?"

Shianni hesitated; my ears could hear her shuffle her feet as I acted as if I was still on the hunt for the dress even though it was sitting right on top of everything. "You…speak of a name a lot…it sounds like a woman's name…you…like men right?"
I grabbed the dress, closed the lid of the trunk and put the dress on top and looked at my cousin. "Of course I am, or else Father would disown me, remember? I like guys…honest…I don't look at women that way."

Shianni smiled, her aura turning smug-yellow once more. I sighed in relief, only audible for my small ears. When it hit me I never remember the dream-woman's name. "I'm just curious, what name do I say in my dreams?" I wasn't casual enough; Shianni's aura mixed with blue and yellow again. She shrugged.

"I'll tell you, eventually. For now get dressed and ready for the big day; I need to check on the other bridesmaids." She left through my door leaving me to my own thoughts. I stood in front of the mirror and pointed out flaws only I could see. My hair was long, reaching the mid section of my back, and unlike Shianni's colorful, fire hair, mine was a deep blood red, the blood I wished I could shed with blades or fists. I looked at my reflection's eyes, eyes the color of a freshwater river, I looked at my pale, snow-like skin the only down side to having being the offspring of an Orlesian clan-elf and a Ferelden slave. I stared at my lips now in a concentrating frown, their color was a pretty light pink, my smile seemed like it was the only attribute I considered pretty…even beautiful sometimes. I was shorter than most elves, I only came up to Shianni's chin who was at average height she came to a human woman's chin leaving me the smallest thing on earth (besides the dwarf merchants). I couldn't get the conversation between Shianni and I out of my head, she was right I don't like guys…but I don't like girls either, and I knew it was because of my 'gift'. My gift that I was born with included the following: One: I could read people's auras, (everyone) human, elf, even animal, but once someone was dead I saw nothing. Two: I could see the past of a living thing by skin contact, unless they put a mental block up in which case I get a major headache, Three: I had very good hearing and sight, even for an elf, and Four (I'm pretty sure this has to do with it anyway): I loved no one. I tried. I feel nothing. Oh, and then there were the dreams of the redheaded Orlesian Bard woman. At first I thought it was me, well the me I always wished to be: smart, flirty, clever, a Bard, and human, but once the dreams took a more…passionate turn I realized this woman had to exist, since I dreamt of her every night two years ago on my 18th birthday. I pushed the thought away as I put on the dress (the white, gold trimmed dress); the shoes that went with it, and quickly tied may hair in a pony tail as I headed for the door to the room that served as a kitchen, living room and (at night) my Father's bedroom. My Father stood looking into the fire, his back was to me. I walked with more noise than I'd normally allow. He turned and saw me; a smile on his aged, weather-beaten face he came up to me in my strapless dress and hugged me. "My little Kallian."

Thankful that we both were wearing gloves and therefore I couldn't feel the shock of his touch and see a few memories of Mother, I hugged him back. He let me go, looking at me with his brown eyes (I got my eye color from Mother), his aura a happy-yet-sad orange-blue. "I guess it'll be the last time I'll ever call you that."

I smiled wearily. "Father…I'd like to talk about this…arrangement."

He smiled, aura matching his I-saw-this-coming look. "I knew this was coming, what's wrong?"

I flushed at my stupidity. "I-It's just that…what if I don't love him?"

He sighed. "That's what I thought about any elf before I met your mother when she was captured and put in this Alienage…" He sighed deeply. "She was such a fool."

I felt my rage boil in my blood. "The shems that killed her made the bigger one!"

"Kalli watch your language! I think it's time you found Soris, and please keep the…rogue training to yourself we just don't want to seem like troublemakers."

I sighed, feeling the rage cool down a bit. "Yes, of course." I walked to the door calling out a farewell as I left.

I looked around at the auras. Happy orange, lust pink, smug yellow, giddy violet, remorse black…wait remorse? I followed the aura to its source: Nessa and her family. I approached my friend Nessa, wanting a few answers. "Nessa, what's going on? Why is your father packing?"

Nessa's dark aura lightened with the color of hope. "We…have to move."

"Why?"

Nessa's father who was never too fond of me pushed Nessa aside. "We have to go to Ostagar to serve the soldiers. We were kicked out by the human who once owned our home…said we couldn't pay enough to keep it."

I looked at Nessa's father in the eyes, but after seeing his aura, decided to hold my tongue. "Very well, I'll go then." I started to walk away to continue to find Soris until I felt Nessa's bare hand touch my shoulder. "Wait." I heard her call as I saw a few glimpses of the human's cruelty. I turned to see Nessa's worry induced aura. "What's wrong, Nessa?" I asked.

"It's just that…I'm afraid of what waits for me in Ostagar…I'll be the first young woman the soldiers have seen in a while…and…I'd rather not have my fate set just because my father was too stubborn to ask for help…" I knew what she meant. So many humans who were bored with their wives, wanting something more…'Exotic'…came to this particular Alienage in search for women to satisfy their craving; that was just the beginning of how my mother was killed. I hadn't a clue how the men in Ostagar were, whether they had the manners to treat elves differently or not, but I knew there'd be a few handful of men who either had the experience or heard of what it was like to rape a helpless elven woman and I knew I just couldn't take the chance. "Nessa, I think I persuade your father to get you to stay."

Her aura turned to a copper color relief. "Oh thank the Maker! But how, father rarely considers my opinion why would he favor yours? He'll only let me stay if he thinks I have a future here."

"I think you could stay with my Father."

"Really?" Her eyes widened.

"Yes, just let me speak with him, you try to stall." I ran back to my home, and after convincing my Father, ran back to Nessa's father who was just about to leave through the gates with Nessa right behind him. "Wait!"

Nessa's father groaned. "What now?"

I panted when I caught up with them- Rogues are not meant for running-. "I think that Nessa should stay."

Nessa's father scowled. "I will not be convinced to split up my family by a twenty year old!"

I smiled. "What if I'm not just speaking for myself?"

He raised his eyebrow. "Interesting, who is he?"

I knew I'd be able to win; I have been renowned for my silver tongue and my peacekeeping ways, able to calm even the most enraged soul. "My Father volunteered to care for her."

His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. "Really? Would he care for her? Provide for her? How can I trust him with my daughter?"

I gave a small laugh. "Well…he raised me didn't he? And I'm not one to boast, but I think he did a pretty great job don't you?"

He chuckled. "That is true! Oh, Kallian I'm starting to believe I was wrong about you!" He turned to his daughter. "Is this what you want?"

Nessa nodded. "Father I fear of what the soldiers will do to me, please, let me live here."

Nessa's father nodded. "Very well, Nessa I'll honor your decision, I have been a fool for not listening to reason."

Nessa hugged her father. "Thank you so much!" She let go and after saying their farewells left to go to my Father's house, leaving me with her father.

"I should get going then, I have a long journey ahead of me."

I nodded. "Farewell sir."
He laughed. "Such manners even after I was so rude to you, please, call me Berkan."

"Very well, farewell Berkan, and may the Maker guide your path."

He smiled. "Ah, three things a man will love you for and three things I hope are passed down to your children: your smile, wisdom and gentleness." He nodded once and turned to walk out the gate. I flinched inside at the mention of the word 'children'. It was something I never really wanted in life; it was something my Father wanted me to have just so he can be called Grandfather, and I felt like that's what all people expected me to have, well besides one of my bridesmaids Maria, a black haired elf who accidentally stumbled upon me praying to the Maker, begging Him to take my powers away. She was the only one who knew everything about me, and, because of her, I was more cautious about where and when I prayed, I can never afford to slip up again. I was so wrapped in my own thoughts that I rammed into Soris, nearly knocking both of us in a puddle. "Whoops, sorry Soris!"

Soris grinned. "Have a lot on your mind, cousin?" I could see from his aura I wasn't the only one who wasn't too thrilled on the whole 'arrangement'.

"Aw, Soris don't tell me you're getting cold feet."
He chuckled. "And you don't?"

I frowned. "Point taken."

"You shouldn't, Kallian. From what I hear your betrothed sounds like a dream, mine sounds like a dying mouse!" I could see his aura turn green with envy. I giggled.

"So I take it you would like to trade?"

He laughed. "I bet you'd like that wouldn't you?"

I felt myself blush. "What are you talking about?"
Soris chuckled. "You know full well what; Shianni told me about your dreams."

I felt anger pulse through my heart. "Who else knows?"

Soris caught my look. "No one else, only me; she worries about you."

"Oh." I felt ashamed for thinking Shianni would stoop that low. When it hit me Soris might have a few answers to my questions about who I dream of. "Did she say-?"

"She said I wasn't supposed to tell you." He crossed his arms, his aura changing to a smug-happy yellow orange. "Come on, Kallian don't look at me that way! I'll tell you after the wedding, ok?"

I beamed. "Promise?"
He made an X over his heart. "I swear." He sighed sorrowfully. "Oh, Maker I hope my bride has as good a smile as yours, Kalli."

I blushed. "Oh come on Soris, you can't possibly think my smile is that pretty."

He chuckled. "I'm not the only one who thinks that Kalli."

I giggled. "True." We were both quiet for awhile then I smiled and bowed low, pointing to Shianni and the other bridesmaids. "Shall we?" Soris sniggered and grabbed my hand as he walked by. "Let's." We both giggled and pulled each other to the betrotheds we could never truly love for two completely different reasons, and if I would've known what would occur then I'd…no…I'd still would've dragged Soris and myself to our destinies if I'd known.

Anyway we approached Shianni waving us down, everyone was staring at us, no one saw the shem that snuck up on Maria. The dumb copper-head grabbed Maria's neck wringing her, dry-humping her, his drunken aura mixed with lust. Maria screamed her aura a panicked dark green. "Let me go! Please! Stop!"

The shem chuckled and let her go, Maria ran behind me I placed a protective hand in hers. The copper-head spoke. "What's wrong? We're just looking for a little fun…come on boys grab a whore and have some fun." His filmy gaze met Shianni's and he approached her. "Oh, hello…pretty thing…come to keep me company?"

I felt rage boil in my blood as shock passed through Shianni, Soris grabbed my arm his touch and memories bringing me back to my controlled state. "I know what you're thinking, but please don't do this."

I let Maria's frightened gloved hand go and shook Soris' hand off. "I'm not going to start something needlessly, but I won't let them harm Shianni." I didn't hear his reply; I heard no one as the copper-head turned his gaze on me. "Oh look at this pretty little bride. Enjoy the hunt boys, this one's mine." He approached me hands raised to grab my face. Shianni yelled at him. "Don't you dare touch her!" The shem didn't listen, instead he did the exact opposite: he placed both his hands on my cheeks. I was blinded by the confusing images of his past-when one is drunk the past can be a bit blurry-and was immediately brought back by his words, and his tightening grip. "So small, so fragile…almost like paper and glass…let's see the glass shatter." He smiled tightening his grip painfully. I felt the bones begin to crack, I felt myself blacking out.

"I said don't touch her, pig!" I heard Shianni's voice and heard a bottle shatter. I reopened my eyes to see Shianni holding a broken off bottleneck and the shem lying on the ground unconscious we all felt relief until one of his goons showed up mouth open in awe. "You bitch that's Vaughan the arl of Denerim's son." Shianni turned white as two other goons picked him up and every elf began to panic. I had a clearer head and smiled at the know-it-all. "You know he's not supposed to be here; if you don't say anything about this little…mishap, then we won't."

The goon looked ill, his aura turning into a brilliant flame colored rage-fear. "Y-you bitch! This isn't the last you heard of us you knife-ears!" He ran off as two new strangers approached: a tall, blonde, tan male of average height, and a tan dirty-blonde female with ears that poked out of her fancied up hairstyle. The male spoke. "Is everyone alright?" Shianni smiled deviously and took her spot next to me. "We're fine just a bit shaken."

"The arl's son drank a little too early." Soris said in response to the dirty-blonde's puzzled look. Shianni glared at Soris while I giggled at his attempt to make both of us look bad.

Nice try, but it'll take more than a corny observation to scare them off. I thought as the auras remained their happy/concerned/curious color they had swirling about since they got here.

"Soris, this is Valora." I caught Shianni's eye and bowed before the blonde hair blue eyed male and gave him my gloved hand. "And this handsome man must be Neleroas." He kissed my hand and let me stand properly again before speaking. "I'm a very lucky man to be so warmly welcomed." He smiled. "Well, here we are, are you nervous?"

"I was until I saw you." I smiled. Lies, lies, lies!

"I will wake every morning finding new ways to make you happy." He whispered in my ear.

Gulp! True I had absolutely no experience in this, but I knew a sex reference/invitation when it was presented. Shianni was gone to my relief; just me, Soris, Neleroas and Valora standing beneath the tree.

"I think…we should leave you guys to get ready." Soris said. "We'll see you in a second."

Neleroas smiled. "Don't be too long now." I chuckled nervously as Neleroas and Valora passed us by and then turned to Soris. "Alright Soris what now? Jumping at your shadow again?"

"Ha-ha, very funny Kalli, but no. There's another human here, this one's armed." I looked at the direction Soris pointed at and saw the shem. He had two blades: a long sword and an iron dagger, he wore armor and he had tanned skin and a dark beard and darker eyes, but that didn't get my heart pounding; no, what got my heart beating faster, sweat pouring down on my neck and my nerves ready to spring; what I saw- more like what I didn't see – was he had absolutely no aura! "Let's go see him, see what he wants."

I didn't wait for Soris' reply; I walked up to the man with the invisible aura, taking my gloves off for this encounter. When I got within two feet of him he turned his head. "Hello there, I suppose a 'congratulations' is in order."

"Oh, thank you. I'm Kallian, but everyone calls me Kalli." He nodded his head and looked in the opposite direction as if he didn't really care. I couldn't take the silence for long, nor did my curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

The man smiled warily. "I'm afraid I can't say, but I'm looking for…something."

"Oh? Have you found what you're looking for?"

The man nodded. "I think I have."

"Then you can leave."
The man smiled again. "I'm afraid I'm not leaving yet."

"Oh, then we can compromise?"

The human chuckled. "She keeps her head level even when faced by an experienced and armed adversary; a quality gift."

"I'd say; whenever her cousin stirs things up with the other humans, she soothes them." Our Elder strolled in the conversation standing next to the shem. "It's good to see you my friend."

"Same to you; did you say she ends certain situations?"

"Indeed, almost like she knows how people feel; she meets a stranger and embraces them like family, besides certain humans of course."

"Wait, so you know this…this human, Elder?" I asked staring at the man who was also staring me down.

"Yes, his name is Duncan of the Grey Wardens."

I bowed my head before him feeling utterly embarrassed, extending my bare hand. "Well met, Duncan."

The Warden laughed. "So quick to change your tune are you?" I put my hand down, smile faded, knowing his true meaning from his words I know who you are and what you do.

"What's a Grey Warden doing so far out here?" I asked.

"I came looking for a possible recruit." He put simply.

"He's here to see you, Kallian." Our Elder added.

"Me? Why?"
Duncan cleared his throat. "Well I did come here eighteen years ago to recruit Adia, but since there wasn't a coming Blight she wanted to stay with her family and more importantly her small, blood-red headed daughter and I respected her word and left her alone." I was in shock, for this was the man that wanted to take my mother on the adventure of her life, the one she refused just for me. "Once I heard that she was dead I had no intentions of returning, but your Elder told me much about you, but you must be bored with such talk, you have a wedding to attend to don't you?"

"Oh, yes…Farewell, Duncan."

"We'll talk after the ceremony." I nodded again and turned expecting the Ceremony to take place whether I loved Neleroas or not, to talk to Duncan, to hear the name of the dream-woman from Soris, to be a part of the supposedly bright future my father and many others already saw for me; what I didn't expect was Vaughan coming with his goons before I could say 'I do' with his goons, grabbing Maria, Vanessa, Valora and Shianni brining them to the center, pushing everyone out and me being knocked out after offering myself to go as replacement for the others, after being laughed at by copper-head saying that I was beautiful, but wasn't going to 'satisfy' him and all of his men.

I was in complete darkness hearing everyone's voices.

"Maker keep us, Maker protect us!" Vanessa's chanting in the background.

"Oh, I hope she comes to!" Shianni's worried voice followed by the cool touch of a rag…no a torn section of someone's dress…soaked in water.

"She'll be fine. Remember the thug that stabbed her in the gut? She lived then."

"But she didn't blackout! She stood, took the blade out and said she forgave him! She never blacks out!"

I felt Valora's hand touch my wrist replaying the time we were brought to the castle as they tossed me in the cell, hitting my head on a rock, which explained why I felt pain and why I was blacked out. "Her pulse is normal."

"Then why isn't she waking? Shut up Vanessa! You're driving me insane!"

"Look her eyes are opening!"

I woke up to see Shianni remove the torn part of her dress from my head, to see Maria on my right side smiling in pride and Valora smiling shyly. "I told you she'd be alright."

"You don't know that!" Shianni snapped. "How are you? Are you ok? Where are you hurt?"

Everyone's aura was worried blue and panicked green. "I'm fine, Shianni, really. How is everyone else?"

Shianni smiled. "We're fine just scared, we were more worried about you; you're really brave for what you did."

"I saved no one yet. I'll try and talk to him; he must be sober by now."

Shianni rolled her eyes. "He'll listen once he's had his way with us."

"Maker keep us, Maker protect us!"

"Great now this again." None of us could tell Vanessa to shut up; the door broke down and a least a dozen guards burst through the door before we could say a thing.

"Hello wenches." The lead guard spoke. "We're your escorts for Vaughan's little party. We'll take…" He pointed to Vanessa, Maria, Valora, and Shianni. "The preachy blonde, the black haired one cowering in the corner, the homely bride and the drunk." He turned to two of the guards. "You two; bind the last one, she's the scrapper."

Vanessa stood between us and the guards. "No! I won't let you-!" The guards used their blades and slit her throat; her body landed at our feet dead. The rest of the small group left for the…'party' and I was left with two idiots.

One of the guards smiled at me. "Right, you heard the Captain be a good little wench and just maybe we'll let you go early." I couldn't help but to smile, Mother has trained me explicitly well, and now was the time to prove that her training wasn't a waste of my time. First step: play the victim. I raised my hands in front of me, acting ready to be bound. "Alright boys, you want it? Come get it." The guards stared at my alluring display of body movements and my twirling hands, but what they didn't see were my makeshift daggers hidden in the back part of my dress. Second step: know where your weapon is. I smiled, gripping the handles in each hand. "Well boys, there's two of you, one of me, and one dress zipper, pick a hand, one has the zipper…the other has a…surprise, it's a win-win." One of the guards elbowed the other in the rib cage, their lust aura blazing. "Vaughan was right: she will be easy to tame."

"Looks like she already is." The other replied.

Third step: Give them a reason to approach. The guards picked their hands. "Alight pretty thing we picked your body parts, now you pick ours." Fourth step: Unleash your fury.

"Die, fools." I lunge the blades in their hearts before they could react, I smiled in my triumph.

"Whoa awesome job, cousin!" I turned to the voice and smiled.

"Soris!" I motioned to the lifeless bodies at my feet. "Like what I did?" Soris couldn't speak for a moment. "Looks like we didn't have to come save you when the girls have yo-." His eyes met Vanessa's cold, lifeless ones. "What happened to Van-?"

"She died, Soris, but you have some explaining to do!" I ran up to his face, fear entering every pore. "Who's 'we'?"

Soris gulped. "M-me and Neleroas."

XXX

I kicked the door open wearing some hand-me-down leather armor that luckily fit me, but was also a bit revealing wielding a long sword in one hand and a real dagger in the other, rage filled my gut at the sight I beheld. "What in the name of the Maker did you do to Shianni?" I demanded seeing two goons and cooper-head looming over Shianni's trembling body lying on the floor, clothes torn, eyes red and swollen. "P-Please just g-get me out of here! I want to go home!" she managed between tears.

"Shut the fuck up, Bitch!" The cooper-head replied tossing a shiny object at my cousin, making her yelp then pass out more from fear than pain. The brat turned his head and saw me fully, and paled, aura darkening in fear. I smirked. "Alright, Bastard, I see you've got something to say, so say it! Now!"

"Y-yes! Of course!" He bowed before me, whimpering like a baby. I took the opportunity to swap my blades for a longbow. "I am prepared to offer you a-!" He couldn't say a word before I took out his two goons with my bow made of oak, and arrows stolen from the Dalish. I tossed the human-made thing aside, pulling out the dagger, pointing it at his neck. "Any last words, Shem?"

He was bawling now. "I-I-I thought-!"

I laughed at his demise, looking at his pale blue eyes. "That what? I would listen to a proposition to betray my family? You thought wrong! Now you die the same way you had Vanessa butchered." I slit his throat enough to keep him alive to suffer before he suffers for all eternity in Hell; there is no mercy for the merciless. I turned to Soris who for the first time has seen this side of me (The Rogue side) and decided better to keep his mouth shut as I ran to Shianni's side. Soris took this as his cue and went to save the other girls trapped in the closet. I clutched the ring Neleroas forged for me, reminding myself of his feeble attempt to save me. The fool should've known! He wouldn't have chased after me! I scolded myself silently until Shianni stirred under my leather gloved hand. "What 'appened?"

I sighed. "A lot of things, Shianni, you're safe now."

She reached up and touched the blood from the armor. "So much blood…same color as your hair." She sniggered. "Guess you got your wish."

I shook my head. "Now's not the time for jokes, cousin."
Her eyes widened a little, fear engulfed her aura. "You killed them all, right?"

"Not just them, but all the bastards that harmed you, me, the bridesmaids, and the ones who mercilessly killed Vanessa."

She lay back in my hands like a ragdoll. "Good…" She closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.

XXX

So we all got back to the gates and guess what happened? The stupid guards came! They hadn't a clue who did the slaughtering, but knew an elf did the dirty work, so I took the fall, that's when Duncan recruited me, he only gave me a few hours to say good-bye. I was reminded of my promise by father, hugged by Maria and Nessa, thanked by Soris who refused to tell me of the dream-woman, hinting he'd marry Valora, but I saved Shianni for last. I walked into the room that was once mine to see her standing before me, as if expecting me. "You're very brave for what you did, saving us, and taking the blame for everything."

I shrugged. "Just followed my moral values and applied my skills I learned from mother."

She beamed. "You always do, Kalli: do the right thing that is, and someday they'll write legends about you. You came with such rage in your eyes, surrounding your being, like, like…" She couldn't find the word to describe me. "I'm sorry, Kalli. I would say 'hero', but that sounds like it'd be too weak."

I smiled hugging her, knowing she'll be back on her feet in no time. I turned to leave, but she grabbed onto my hand, towing me back. "Here I want to give you these." She handed me a book with leather bounding, but no title. "I found it before we were taken, before the wedding. It…explains a lot cousin, read it. It explains your gifts and…dreams."

"Thank you, Shianni."

Her aura turned guilt scarlet. "I would tell you her name, but…I can't. It's not my place, you seriously have to meet by chance, or so it says." She shrugged returning to her old self already. "Oh, and here, I have a feeling a Grey Warden will look less suspicious carrying this around than a common city elf." She handed me a gold coin, I looked at her in awe. "It's what Lord Vaughan threw at me. Before you came he said…I had to…dance for him if I wanted it."

"Shianni-." I started, seeing her aura change to the mood of the memory. She raised a hand to stop me.

"Please, it's enough that you know how everyone feels, what everyone's seen, but I'll be alright, really. I just don't want people looking at me like I'm made of paper and glass…like how they see you: fragile and defenseless."

"I'll miss you, Shianni."

"I'll miss you too."

We hugged and I left out the door, only to be stopped by her voice one last time. "Hey."

I turned to see her smiling.

"Try not to get killed out there, okay?"

I smiled and nodded. "I promise." And for the last time that day I left the only place I called home.

XXX

I OWN NOTHING! They all belong to Bioware, well except Kalli, she's mine, mine, mine, mine =D hope u enjoyed it, leave comments!

C U next time in Chapter 2

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