Chapter 103: Alien Nation

"Nice shot, by the way," I praised Kallian.

"Not that nice – I meant to nick his cheek."

Zevran chortled, and I howled, bending over and propping my hands on my knees as I laughed. "Well thank you for erring in that direction! A guard with an apple pinned to his nose would not have helped our cause any."

Kallian flushed and looked away, but I saw a smirk before she turned.

When we all finally got our giggles under control, we turned back to the Alienage gate. Kallian took a deep breath, steeling herself, and squared her shoulders. Then she marched through, and we followed her across the bridge.

My first visit to the Alienage was a revelation, and not in a good way. Much of it was in worse shape than even the game had demonstrated; the buildings all sagged together, looking one stiff breeze from total collapse, and even those that were well-maintained were clearly old and worn out. There were half-dressed children running around and playing games, ribs visible from long-standing malnutrition, bare feet blue from the cold.

The children gave us a wide berth, even as some of them tentatively waved at Kallian, staring at the group of us with wide, frightened eyes; within moments, they were gone. The further we walked, the more elves I noticed watching us – from balconies and alleyways, through doorways and from behind abandoned crates. Word apparently spreads fast in the Alienage. We were all very careful to keep our hands well away from our weapons, and we let Kallian lead.

No one approached us until we reached the centre of the Alienage, and I got my first look at a Vhenadahl. It was beautiful, huge and green, and someone had decorated it with paper lanterns and other colourful, handmade ornaments. A grey-haired elf who I recognised as Valendrian was waiting for us, as we got closer to the massive tree, and when he saw Kallian, he let out a cry and held out his arms. With a sob, she ran into them, and he folded her into a protective hug. We stayed back, respectfully, to allow them to have their reunion. After a moment, he gestured to a nearby elf who was watching with an inscrutable expression, and I heard him say the name Cyrion. With a nod, the elf jogged off, presumably to go get Kallian's family.

A bunch of the elves who'd been watching us approached cautiously, greeting Kallian with enthusiasm even as they stared at us with barely concealed suspicion. It didn't take long before a familiar red-headed elf came running – Shianni, Kallian's cousin. The two women hugged, both crying, and then pulled a smiling Soris into the embrace when he showed up. They talked quickly, Shianni's dirty looks morphing to begrudging appreciation, and I guessed Kallian was telling them that we had been responsible for her rescue from the dungeon. Soris nodded, pointing at Wulf and Leliana.

The crowd of elves now surrounding us parted to allow a tall, tired-looking, salt-and-pepper haired elf to shuffle through. He stopped, shocked, when he saw Kallian, and dropped to his knees, reaching one hand out towards her. She cried out and dove to her knees at his side, wrapping her arms around him as he kissed her forehead, tears streaming down his face. Everyone turned away, giving them as much privacy as they could, given the public nature of the reunion.

Valendrian addressed the crowd, shouting to be heard. "Go about your business. These people are no threat to us. They brought us the supplies for the plague and the warning about slavers, and now have brought Soris and Kallian home. Please, go home."

Slowly, with a lot of shoulder patting and handshaking and hugging, the crowd dispersed, leaving us alone with Kallian, her family, and Valendrian. The Hahren gestured to us, and we came closer; Kallian actually smiled at us, shifting to stand next to Wulf, as usual. I saw Cyrion raise his eyebrows at this, but it seemed both Kallian and Wulf were unaware of the connection they apparently shared. I hoped it wasn't just gratitude, on Kallian's part, or protectiveness on Wulf's, or we were going to be seeing heartbreak down the road.

We were all introduced to Valendrian, Cyrion, Soris, and Shianni, and they all thanked us profusely for our help, both with the rescue and the plague. The elves began talking amongst themselves, Kallian telling them what had happened to her, though she glossed over the abuse. Apparently Vaughn, after the unsuccessful rescue attempt by Soris and Nelaros, had kept her as a plaything, and a cautionary tale for other women who'd been kidnapped. Soris had had no idea she'd survived, and hadn't seen any of the other victims either; it was assumed they were all dead. When Howe imprisoned Vaughn and declared himself Arl of Denerim, he'd passed Kallian over to his son, Thomas, and eventually, Nathaniel.

She was very careful not to mention rape or torture, but the pity in the eyes of her family was obvious. And I couldn't blame them – she'd been through hell. Somehow, though, talking to them about what happened, even the abridged version, and hearing them praise her strength and courage, she seemed to come alive. Her rigid posture relaxed some, and she smiled and laughed, not sardonically like I'd seen before, but actually mirthful. She was absolutely gorgeous when she smiled, which was not lost of Wulf, who watched her with longing eyes.

After a bit, Kallian asked if we would wait while she went to the home she shared with Cyrion and now Soris, and we agreed, settling down in the grass near the Vhenadahl to wait. The children were back outside playing, and the elves walking around in the Alienage largely ignored us, though at least we weren't the focus of so much rage anymore. I did notice that many of them, male and female both, had poorly concealed weapons – I could see bulges under sweaters, in waistbands, and several 'walking sticks' that I was quite sure were actually disguised spears. And there were rakes, hoes, and shovels laying around, apparently abandoned, in places where they could be easily grabbed and used as weapons. I wondered if several of them had actually even been sharpened.

Zevran had obviously noticed the same, and he frowned when our eyes met. Nothing good could come out of this. I stood and walked towards Hahren Valendrian, who was standing nearby talking with passing elves.

"Hahren?"

"Yes, my Lady?"

I scowled. "Please call me Sierra? I really hate the 'lady' thing."

He chuckled. "Ah, you are Warden Aedan's sister. He said something similar."

I laughed. "I'm very happy to see everyone here safe, and Kallian and Soris back home. But, Hahren..."

"Yes, Sierra?" he prompted.

"These people ... they need to hide their weapons. There will be a purge if any guards come through here and see so many armed elves."

He glanced around, assessing each of the people within sight. "I don't see any weapons."

I shook my head. Looking around, I pointed at one. "There. That man has a dagger sheathed in his armpit. That one's got a sword down his pant leg. And no one makes walking sticks that long. It's a spear. I'm not even all that well trained, and I can tell. Someone from the army, or a guard ... they'll know instantly."

Zevran approached. "Yes, cara mia, you are correct. This will bring a world of trouble onto the Alienage, no?"

Valendrian paused, thinking. "What would you have me do? I have already tried – and failed – to convince the people not to arm themselves."

"I think that ship has sailed," I muttered, and Valendrian grimaced. "Maybe ... Zev? Could you at least teach them to hide them better?"

"We'd need different weapons. Swords and traditional daggers aren't easy to conceal, yes?"

"Hmm." I pouted. Zevran laughed, and Valendrian chuckled.

After a while, Kallian emerged from her house, exchanging hugs with her father, Soris, and Shianni. She walked over, expression sad but determined. There were tear tracks on her cheeks. "I am ready to go now."

Valendrian twitched. "You aren't staying? Kallian-"

"I cannot, Hahren. Surely you must understand. Nelaros is dead." She choked back a sob. "I may not have wanted to marry him, but he died because of me. My father cannot afford another wedding contract, and even if he could, who would marry me now?" She gestured down at herself, and we all flinched. "The guards may still come after me, if they see me. I will bring nothing but trouble if I stay here."

"But, my dear, where will you stay? What will you do?"

"You can stay with us, for now, until you figure it out," I offered. "No one will bother you at the estate. I'm sure Duncan won't mind, and the Arl won't even notice."

Valendrian looked at me, a strange expression I couldn't interpret on his face. "Duncan?"

I nodded, incredibly glad that the world knew about Duncan so I was free to tell the elderly elf. "Yes, that Duncan. He's staying at the Arl of Redclffe's estate with us."

"We will make sure she's safe, ser. I promise." Wulf stood behind Kallian, close but not touching.

Finally, sadly, the Hahren nodded. "Your mother would be so proud of you, Kallian. Please come to visit as often as you can."

Kallian closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead, then threw her arms around the elder's neck. "I promise."

With that, she turned and marched out of the Alienage, and we all shuffled along behind her.