“There is an old proverb which states that nothing exists entirely of itself and everything is connected to everything else. The gnomes have a shorter (no pun intended) way of saying it. What goes around will come around.”

* From the Journal of Eratus Riverwood

If Shianni never called out her name, I never would have picked out Kallian from the crowd. She sported a thin patchy beige dress with her hair tied up like all the other festival servers.

The last time I saw her, I advised her to reconsider leaving. I did not think she would be one to listen.

And now here we both were, reading the same question off each other’s faces.

“What are you doing here?”

“Kalli!” Shianni pointed. “Watch out!”

A drunk elven man stumbled and sashayed right into Kallian’s side, sending the plates of food on her hands toppling over. Gravy, vegetables, meat, and bread slid toward the ground to the horror of my stomach.

A slice of bread was about to be the first casualty when a silver plate swung through to the rescue, held aloft by Kallian’s hand. The other plate swung through atop her other hand catching what looked like a fried tomato and then a slab of meat. In the span of a single breath, everything was back on their respective plates.

It happened so fast that even the drunk had not even noticed. The offending man turned with a smarmy face, which was wiped away at the sight of Kallian’s glare.

“Watch it!” she snapped like a crocodile baring its maw. The man raised his hands in apology, backing off and bumping into several other parties who yelled at him.

Kallian shook her head as Shianni sighed beside me, hand held over her chest. I coughed and straightened my posture, keeping my thoughts straightened out.

“Be more careful!” said Shianni. “A lot of people put a lot of effort into making those.”

Kallian smirked back, striding towards us. “Relax cousin!”

Cousin? I looked from Shianni to Kallian then back. Maybe one of them was adopted?

“And hand me one of those plates!” said Shianni, taking one of the plates of simmering food off her hand.

“Alright, alright party mistress…,” Kallian rolled her eyes and her newly freed shoulder. “Andraste’s tits. Kitchen work has been killing my arms the entire morning.”

“Kalli!” Shianni tapped her cousin’s shoulder. “Manners!”

“Pshh…” said Kallian. “I doubt that fair-haired wife of the Maker does not give a toot. After all these years she hasn’t struck me down yet.”

As Shianni and Kallian fussed over each other, I stared up into the sky, pretending to mind my own business. However, my mind was keenly aware of the smell of food wafting up my nose painting a picture of creamy gravy slathered over roasted vegetables and fattened meat laid on with soft fresh bread, with a hint of oven smoke.

My eyes drifted to the plate of food, my mouth watering. I stared for several moments before I realized that Shianni was holding the plate right beside her low-necked bodice. I looked away, realizing I may very well have looked like a lecher, but not before I felt an uncomfortable presence glaring daggers in my direction. The source turned out to be Kallian, who appeared to have gotten the wrong impression entirely.

“Say Shianni,” said Kallian, flicking a finger through her cousin’s shoulder. “That is quite a striking dress you have on. I didn’t think you were the type to dress up.”

“I just wanted to try something different,” said Shianni, who peeked a glance in my direction. “That’s all.”

That glance did not escape Kallian’s notice, and her eyes twitched in unbridled rage.

“That is all huh?” she said, as she stepped between Shianni and me. “Anyways, who is the big guy?”

“This is Eratus,” said Shianni, stepping around Kallian and planting herself beside me. “A guest at my invitation.”

I squirmed internally at how things were turning out.

Kallian was about to open her mouth when Shianni interrupted.

“And you will hold your tongue! Eratus, um… this is my rather eccentric cousin Kallian. A bit rough around the edges but a nice person at heart.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” said Kallian, though the twinkle in her eye told me otherwise. “Pleased to meet you.”

She dipped into a curtsy, as politely done as a false smile.

“Likewise,” I said. Kallian being Shianni’s cousin was not an expected relation, and I could tell Kallian was deeply protective of her. No doubt thinking I had some ill-begotten intention in mind. It was a misunderstanding I would like to correct, but I also did not want to unveil the messy history of the two of us in front of Shianni.

“You don’t quite sound like someone from around here,” said Kallian with a sharp note in her voice.

It looked like Kallian was at least in agreeance on keeping our history private for now.

“You are right,” I said. “I probably would be lost out there if I did not have help, which Shianni certainly provided. I am deeply indebted to her.”

“Hardly a debt.” Shianni, twisting a lock of hair and blushing. “I think you have done far more for me than I for you.”

“Uh-huh,” said Kallian, raising a brow in suspicion. I winced as unlike her knife-work Kallian had no subtlety or grace in the conversation. It was all over her face that my presence bothered her.

“Um,” said Shianni. “Maybe we can talk about this later; besides Kallie, don’t you have kitchen duty to tend to?”

“I am just-,” said Kallian, when the Lorekeeper’s voice ran in my head.

“Knight-Lieutenant Riverwood, there is a corrupted entity approaching your location.”

My head cleared as instincts ingrained by habitual combat sprung to action. However, unlike Kallian, I kept it subtle. One hand moved from the side of my belt to the pommel of my sword. I gathered my will, ready to call upon the power of the light upon the first sign of trouble.

I had more than enough experience dealing with situations like this in Alterac, prepared to strike but without announcing it to everyone else.

A gruff voice called out to us, as the crowd parted in his wake.

“Kallian!”

Valendrian arrived and Shianni dipped her head in deference while stepping back. Kallian did no such thing, keeping her casual posture. He was trailed by a familiar human, sporting a breastplate emblazoned with an eagle. His long black hair tied back into a ponytail like some sort of forest ranger. A gray warden, and the older of the two I met the past evening.

I relaxed ever so slightly, easing my hand away from the weapon and toward the side of my belt. I did not know much about these wardens but they were not like those monstrosities I faced in the underground ruins. At least they made no sign of it yet.

“Kallian,” said Valendrian. “What are you doing, dawdling about!?”

Now I knew Valendrian ranked high on the elven social hierarchy, but that did not appear to matter to Kallian who casually turned her head to the elder.

“Oh, hey Hahren,” she said. “Just helping out as usual.”

“People have been complaining about the timeliness of their food,” said Valendrian. “And we have a backlog of plates in the kitchen. We have guests from other alienages, and it would look poorly on us to be passing out cold meals.”

“I will get right to it Hahren,” said Kallian. “But I just wanted to be sure my cousin was okay with the human she invited over.”

Shianni gave Kallian a look of murder.

“Eratus?” said Valendrian. “He is quite welcome here.”

“What?” said Kallian, surprise etched across her face.

“He has done us a great service,” said Valendrian as he turned to me. “I see you have been acquainted with our resident troublemaker. She has not bothered you at all has she?”

“Not at all.” I said while giving a knowing glance to Kallian.

Annoyance flickered across Kallian’s eyes but she kept her mouth shut.

“Good,” said Valendrian, clasping his hands. “On a brighter note, I wanted to introduce you to another special guest.”

He gestured behind him.

“This is Duncan. A Gray Warden.”

“We’ve met before,” said Duncan with a reserved yet warm smile. “But it is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Likewise,” I said, mirroring his smile.

“You have?” said Valendrian.

“I had business at the Arl’s manor last night,” said Duncan. “We were both present, although I had to leave on short notice.”

“I see,” said Valendrian, with a curious look on his face. “The young heir takes after his father. I hope that affair was not too burdensome.”

“I can attest that the welcome I received was neither more nor less than the usual tidings in Ferelden,” said Duncan. “But not to my distaste.”

“Really?” said Valendrian, chuckling. “That is quite contrary to a warden’s character. From what I hear of the merchants from Orlais, a Gray Warden’s visit is an event befitting an entire banquet on its own.”

Duncan chuckled. “I prefer things to be only as long as they need to be, which is why I left after I had what I needed. Although, I did hear things went awry after my departure.”

Duncan turned to me.

“Really?” said Valendrian. “Tell us Eratus, might you share with us what happened?”

“Some of the lordlings had too much wine for their heads,” I said, skimming over the details. “But everything was taken care of.”

“Hm… that would explain why the Arl’s heir left the city this morning,” said Valendrian, brushing his chin in thought. “On an extended hunt, with his engagement broken as well.”

“You are as well-informed as ever,” said Duncan. “Maybe next time I should just come straight to you if I have any questions.”

“People run their mouths when they feel unseen,” said Valendrian. “And we elves rarely are hardly visible. It is a matter of prudence for me to keep tabs on the ongoings of our betters, and I would be glad to share in anything that could help a friend.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Um, what is a Gray Warden doing here?” said Kallian, stepping in between the three of us.

Valerian rubbed his forehead while Shianni looked at Kallian with irritation.

Duncan gave her a side-eye, but Kallian kept her gaze, neither flinching nor backing off. Fearless bordering on recklessness.

Then Duncan smirked.

“She keeps her composure, even when facing down an unknown and armed human. A rare talent and an even rarer individual among elven-kind wouldn’t you say Valendrian?”

“I would hardly regard that a talent…” Valendrian shook his head in irritation. “How many times must I tell you girl. Mind your manners in front of a guest.”

“And I just don’t like it when humans feel the need to stick their mind in our business,” said Kallian.

Valendrian was going to admonish Kallian but Duncan spoke first.

“I can see she meant no offense. Protective of her own, an admirable quality. I will say there are many reasons as to why I am here.”

“It isn’t because of what is happening down south is it?” said Valendrian. “I’ve heard of the rumors of a blight…”

“Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss things in depth too much,” said Duncan. “No need to cause an undue panic.”

He peeked back over to Kallian, eyeing the dagger tied to her side.

“That weapon,” said Duncan. “Family heirloom I take it?”

“Yes,” said Kallian, shifting her body sideways away from his sight. As though to protect it from a thief. I knew just how protective she could get regarding that specific weapon. “And it is not for sale and never will be.”

“Oh, I would never,” said Duncan, as he turned to Valendrian. “She is quite a reflection of her mother. The apple did fall quite close to the tree in this case.”

“My-my mother?” said Kallian. “You knew my mother?”

“For a time,” said Duncan. “A good person who may have made a fine warden. However, I must get going. It was good to see you my friend and I wish the merriest of festivities to the rest of you all.”

Duncan left us, swerving through the crowd and vanishing down one of the alleys leading to the rest of the city. Whoever these Gray Wardens were, they were well-respected and known wherever they went. Corrupted entity or not, my impression of him had not changed with this meeting. A strange person with unknown motivations. Pleasant, but I had seen cruelty and savagery masked by polite mannerisms far too often.

“Kallian!” said Shianni. “How could you speak like that!”

“How does he know my mother?” said Kallian.

“Enough,” said Valendrian. “Shianni please see to your guest, I think you should take him indoors, the ruckus outside is about to be in full force.”

“I wouldn’t mind that,” I said. It would be the perfect opportunity to clear things up with her, in private.

“Wait,” said Kallian. “You’re going to leave a human alone with Shianni?”

“And you my dear need to pass out food and help out in the kitchen,” said Valendrian. “Are we clear?”

“But-“

“Are we clear? I will not have you make an embarrassment of us in front of any more guests. Not after how you ruined your own wedding.”

Now that I did not know. I resisted the urge to guffaw at the revelation even as Kallian stood with an open mouth against Valendrian’s blank stare. Then she wrestled her face into submission.

“Yes,” she said. “I understand Hahren.”

She then looked towards me.

“Do enjoy the festival and the company of my sweet cousin, and I would like to properly apologize later.”

“No offense taken,” I said, noting the veiled threat under her words. “And I look forward to it.”

Kallian departed, and I made a mental note to find and clear up the bad air between us.

“Good,” said Valendrian. “Now I must be off as there are other events…”

A commotion went off, and not the merry kind.

“Oh dear,” said Valendrian, rushing toward the sound. “It looks like they have already started. I must be off.”

With his departure, it was just Shianni and me.

“Well,” said Shianni. “That was rather interesting. I take it the two of you have met before?”

“Duncan and I? I thought that was obvious.”

“No silly,” said Shianni, making it clear she was not fooled. “You and Kallie. I have known her since we were little and I could always read the emotions off her face. Enough to tell me this is not the first time you two met.”

“Oh,” I said, knowing just how obvious Kallian made it. I was not sure whether I should tell her the whole unvarnished truth when my stomach let out another growl.

“Uh,” I said, embarrassment flaring through my cheeks.

“You should partake in sustenance Knight-Lieutenant Riverwood.”

Shianni giggled.

“But first,” she said, beaming at me. “Maybe we should go to a place where we can quiet down that belly of yours. It is going to get rowdy here soon.

“No complaints about that,” I said, looking forward to laying down my pack, resting my feet, and most importantly eating food.

She led us in the opposite direction of the groups and pairs of people congregating toward the raised central platform. Elves manually lifted barrels of ale top. Even after all these weeks, it was surprising to see elves doing manual labor instead of using a levitation spell or drinking common beer instead of spiced wine.

And the occasion appeared to be a drinking competition, which meant it was going to get loud, very quickly.

Even as we sought to escape, we could hardly take a few steps without someone calling out for Shianni. The first was a couple elders who complimented her on the organization of the entire event. She thanked them, while humbly deflecting that she merely had a small piece of the whole affair.

Next, a few of the younger children asked where the festival games were, to which Shianni pointed them in the right direction. More questions and a few gestures of thanks, as we trudged our way to our destination.

So now I knew her to be competent, humble, and graceful as well. A true pillar of the community, which reminded me a lot of my own first love back home. She really did seem like her, which made me feel so much worse about the whole situation.

As we got to the clearer surrounding edges of the alienage, I got a better view of the elven houses. Most of which were shanty looking buildings made up of leftover bricks and planks.

“In here,” said Shianni, opening the door to one of the houses.

I followed her through, seeing a quaint looking hallway, divided by hanging-rugs. I noticed in one segment where the rug lopped down that the walls were cracked with age, confirming my impression of the state of the house from outside.

Still, it had a cozy and homely feel to it, and I say that in a genuine manner given the clothes laid about haphazardly, brooms used for cleaning left by a wall, and plates left for washing later. It was not a cesspool but it was not sterile either. It was a place where people lived.

“It isn’t much but…” said Shianni. “I hope you find it to your liking.”

“I don’t mind at all,” I shook my head. “Peace and quiet. I have not had either for months.”

“Please,” said Shianni, as she set the plate down on the table. “Have a seat and eat! I just need to clean up a few things.”

She moved past me into another room muttering, “Oh Soris… how many times do I have to tell you not to leave your clothes lying around.”

I eyed the chair on the table with trees and other animals carved along its side. I frowned as a pair of what looked like horned cows reminded me of my first night in this world. A cold night spent in a cage with countless numbers of those beasts yawing through the night.

I carefully took a seat on one, mindful of any sound of bending or cracking. Evidently, the craftsmanship extended far beyond mere show because the spindly chair held up my weight without issue.

Now that I was seated, my attention turned to the most pressing matter at hand. The plate of food. A steaming pile of meat, veggies, and gravy that tempted me with each passing breath.

I wasted no time in grabbing a fork, sinking the prongs through the pile, and stuffing my mouth.

For many months, all I had to eat were dry mana biscuits, bitter healing potions, stale beer, and tasteless slop from the inn. They say absence often makes the heart grow fonder. When that first bite of real food with actual texture and flavor, I found the saying to be equally true for the stomach.

I stuffed my mouth, chomped, and swallowed. During that time, the stress and strain of my situation did not bother me, nor did any concerns of the future or the regrets of the past. All I had was the warmth of the present welling up until a tear streaked down the corner of my eye.

“I take it the meal is to your liking?” said Shianni.

Her voice yanked me out of my trance. She gazed over my shoulder, eyes brimming with amusement.

“Sph-Sorry,” I said, choking and gulping. “I have not had real food in so long.”

“Really?” said Shianni, taking a seat beside me. Close enough to be bordering on intimate.

I continued to cough.

“Are you okay?” said Shianni. “I promise it is just food.”

“N-no,” I said, finally clearing my throat. “Besides I trust you.”

“Good,” said Shianni. “And since you trust me, I was hoping you might tell me a bit more about how you know Kallian.”

Straight to the point. I froze, trying to think of what to say. I had a feeling that Shianni was reading the inner conflict on my face so I opted for the truth.

“We met at the market-“

“In the fighting pit, right? The same ones the Blackstone mercenaries have setup shop at?”

“Uh…”

“I knew it! Kallian has always been one to spoil for a fight, and the only one who knows about is me. Maker help her if the Hahren or her father ever got wind of it…”

“She does handle herself well, especially with that knife of hers.”

“She’s practiced every day,” said Shianni. “Her mother left her a dagger as her only memory before passing away.”

“Oh.” That explained why she was so adamant about having the knife back.

“So, if you met her at the fighting pits. Were you there as well?” She frowned, and I could feel the disappointment seep through. “I didn’t take you to be one to fight for sport.”

“It wasn’t for sport. It was just an easy way to make money. Also, we never actually fought against each other. We did not actually get acquainted until a job later.”

“With the mercs?” Shianni raised her brow.

“Yes, but it was just a task or two,” I said, it was technically three if you counted the bakery but two sounded better. “I really needed the money.”

“I can understand that, but knowing Kalli, it is hard to believe she’d trust a human, let alone one she had just met.”

“She didn’t. I helped her in a bad situation, an injury.”

“She got hurt?”

“She was knocked out but suffered some minor wounds,” I said, knowing that was a major understatement. Kallian was a hairs breadth from the afterlife by the time I got back to the inn. “I stayed with her until she recovered.”

“Oh Kalli…” Shianni shook her head. “I hope she didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

“Well, she did assault me as soon as she woke up.”

“Ah,” said Shianni. “That sounds more like her.”

“She did come back and apologize later, and helped me out a bit in return. A bit thorny but she is true to her word,” I said. “At least I think she has a good heart underneath it all.”

Shianni laughed. “That’s the nicest anyone had ever said anything about her. It seems I owe you another favor, this time for saving my errant cousin.”

“Oh, please,” I chuckled. “There is no debt to be repaid.”

“Really?” said Shianni. “Then I suppose you wouldn’t want to be helped to a second serving of food?”

“Well,” I said, coyly. “Maybe I do feel a bit of a debt is owed though.”

She laughed again, and a smirk tugged the edge of my lip. It was all too easy to enjoy her company but now, it felt like a betrayal to Katrina. I decided to keep the pleasantries going on, at least until the conversation flowed to a point that I could work out the issue at hand.

“You seemed to be quite the beating heart of this entire festival,” I said. “At least from all the praise thrown your way on our way here.”

“I-I wouldn’t go that far,” said Shianni, looking away, a shy blush edging along her cheeks. “Most of the actual work was done by the artisans. The brewers, cooks, carpenters, and traders who brought the supplies. I just brought them all together.”

“A rare enough skill that I wouldn’t downplay at all,” I said. “I’ve seen enough festivals go awry without someone to wrangle everything together.”

“Truly?” She looked at me with a renewed interest. “What sort of festivals?”

“Nothing too impressive,” I said. “Just a bunch of farmers getting together. A lot of music, food, and drunkenness.”

“Now who is downplaying?”

“Okay I may have understated it a bit,” I said. “We had one every year owing to our wine harvest. Visitors from all over the world stopped by. Men and women from other countries, elves, dwarves, even a gnomish artificing group.”

“A gnomish artificing group?”

“Eh, just imagine a particularly short dwarf,” I said, realizing my slip of tongue. “Although if any of them heard me say that they’d kneecap me to their height.”

“They must be quite a sight,” she said.

“They are some of the most inventive beings out there,” I said, tapping the sword. “The weapon I wield was fashioned by one. Most folks think it is Dwarven-make but it was developed in a gnome forge.”

“I’ve seen it a few times,” said Shianni. “It doesn’t seem to be made up of anything ordinary. Mind if I see it?”

“Not at all,” I said, drawing the weapon. Even in the dim lighting of the room, the mithril blade glimmered with a pale blue hue. Shianni reached out toward the point.

“Careful,” I said, causing her to stop. “The edge is very sharp.”

I flipped the sword onto its hilt and passed it over. She held it with both hands taking a few cursory swings.

“It is as light as a kitchen knife!” she said. “Definitely no ordinary steel. Silverite perchance?”

“Not quite,” I said, not having a clue what that was. “I know it by mithril. It is mined deep from the earth and the secrets of forging it are known too only a select few.”

“It must be quite special then.”

“Eh I don’t have too much of a personal attachment to it.” I scratched the back of my head. “But it is on loan from a friend who holds it quite dear.”

“Oh. He must be wanting it back then,” said Shianni.

“He probably does. Although my journey back has been delayed a bit.”

She gave the blade a few cursory flourishes with both hands.

“Not bad,” I said.

“I’ve been training you know,” said Shianni. “I started shortly after the second time I nearly got kidnapped. Especially given the news of even more kidnappings going on.”

“Ah,” I said. “Who would want to kidnap elves?”

“No clue,” said Shianni. “But there have been more disappearances recently than normal. Desperate times are afoot in the city, so I figured I should learn to defend myself.”

“Maybe Kallian could help out with that,” I said. “She definitely knows her way with blades.”

Shianni wrinkled her nose. “If Kallie finds out I would never hear the end of it. I used to make fun of her all the time for playing with knives as children.”

“No harm in changing your mind as an adult.”

“Yes, but you know how Kallian is,” said Shianni.

“Point taken.”

Shianni paused for a moment.

“But maybe if I had a proper teacher?”

“Is that a job offer?” I said, smirking in a playful manner.

“There would be boarding and lodging,” said Shianni. “And you’d get to eat here every day.”

“That’s quite… generous.”

“And,” said Shianni. “Maybe you would like it here and if you are interested in something more… I would be obliged.”

The playful smirk on my face vanished. She stared at me, and I could distinctly tell from the closed distance and longing eyes what she was conveying. Looking into her eyes, it was hard not to fall in love with this girl, but it would be a betrayal of the person I left home to let this go on any further.

“Shianni,” I said. “I would think myself a vain man to have desired anything more than what we have now.”

She folded her hands across her lap. “If it is given, freely offered, you can’t really take it away. All you would be doing is accepting a gift.”

I smiled, like a grown-up looking at some petulant youth.

“Where I am from,” I said. “Such things are reserved for people who know each other a little bit better.”

She looked toward me with hopeful eyes.

“Then maybe that is something that can change.”

“Shianni,” I said. “What would your friends and community think of you if you were to be with me?”

“I don’t think they would think much about it,” said Shianni.

“Then what would you say if I told you I was not from this world?”