Dragon Age Origins: The Tale of Solana

Chapter 1: Solana Tabris

Denerim: the largest city and capital in Ferelden. Long ago, the elves lived as slaves to humans, and though they have been free for many generations now, they are far from equals. Here they live in a walled-off community known as the Alienage, working as servants and laborers when they can. Despite these hardships, Denerim's elves are a strong people who take pride in their close community.

This is the only world Solana has ever known... until now.

She lay asleep in her small, rickety bunk bed. The smell of clean sheets made her drift even further into a dream of her mother. The fuzzy memories of her teaching Solana how to wield her dagger as an extension of her arm. "Mother, I miss you," she said with a gasp of breath from intense training.

"Shush now, Solana. Now show me the move again and we can go grab a sweet roll later." Her mother's smile brought tears to Solana's eyes before she knew it. The smile dropped and her mother's eyebrow lifted. "Cousin? Cousin?"

Solana slowly began to wake up to the dull outline of Shianni. "Wake up cousin," she laughs with her hands on her hips. Solana sits up on her bed with a snarl. Figures she couldn't get any sleep with Shianni knowing about the wedding today. "Why are you still in bed? It's your big day!"

Solana plopped back down onto her pillow and pulled the cover over her head. With a groan she shuddered. "...Just a little longer..." She began to desperately try and recall the dream with her mother.

"Come on! Don't make me use cold water again." Shianni gave a shake of her head. "You do remember what today is, don't you?"

Solana stood and made her bed. Oh yes, she remembered what today was. The impending marriage that her father was going to make her do. She sighed and wondered what Mother would want her to do. With a sly smile, Solana turned and asked, "Summerday?"

Shianni, being her straightforward personality, took it as literal. "No, you idiot. You're getting married today! Sorris too! That's what I came to tell you! Your groom, Nelaros... He's here early!"

Solana's eyes grew big and she began to pace around the room. "Already? Then I guess I don't have a choice."

Shianni giggled and grabbed Solana's hands. She raised them up and smiled big. "That's the spirit! Well, sort of... Alright, Alright, I will stop tormenting you. I should go talk to the other bridesmaids and find my dress."

Shianni gave a squeal of delight and turn to run out. Solana stood there a bit doubtful of the wedding to come. She was about to turn and get ready when suddenly she heard her door swing open and Shianni poked her head back in. "Oh, Sorris said that he'll be waiting for you outside. So move it!"

And like that, she was officially gone. Solana shook her head. She walked over to the only chest inside the small room. It was dusty, and old. She blew the dust off, causing a large cloud that caused more than a few coughs. She lifted the lid. Inside was the gorgeous wedding gown of her mother's. A beautiful garment that had finely embroidered silk panels and elegant stitching in gold and silver thread.

She pulled out the garment and quickly changed. At the small table in the bedroom, she fixed her pixie cut, raven hair into a few fine braids throughout. With the few selection of makeup that the Alienage can afford to sell, Solana put on some light blue eyeshadow that went well with her glass like eyes. Her cheeks flushed against her already pale skin, and so she gently put on the expensive lipstick. When she looked into the small hand mirror she barely recognized herself.

"I almost look like a shem," Solana comments. Human she did seem like, or shem, as the elves have gone to call humans. She stood and takes a breath. "Mother, please be with me on this new journey..."

She opens the door and is greeted by the nice warm air from the fireplace of the living area. Her father, Cyrion, stood nearby. He looked up as the bedroom door closes behind his beautiful daughter. For only a split second, he thought he saw his long deceased wife Adaia. But no, this was no illusion of the past. This was his daughter. He quickly came over to her.

"Ah, my little girl. It's... The last day I'll be able to call you that. Oh, I wish that your mother could have been here!"

"Please, Father," Solana begged. "Could we talk about this arrangement for a moment?"

Cyrion gave a strained chuckle. Just like his daughter to be as independent as ever. "Still not pleased, I can see. Of course we can talk, you know that."

"Why can't I choose who I marry?" Solana's blue eyes welled up in tears. "Mother would not have like to see me shipped off to some stranger I have no feelings for."

"It's tradition, child. With so little contact between Alienages and so few chances to travel," Cyrion sighed. "You must trust your elders." Upon seeing the look Solana gives him he wipes a tear from her cheek. "The dowry has been paid, the Chantry has issued the permit, and everything is ready. All we need is you."

"You paid a dowry for my groom?" Solana was shocked to hear that. What could they possibly have to afford a dowry? They barely had enough money to get by, let alone to pay someone to marry Solana off. Oh, now she really wished Mother was here to talk some sense into Father.

"There's a lot to arranging marriages. Probably the biggest factor is deciding which spouse travels to what Alienage. One side gets new blood and a new face, and the other side loses a family member. The dowry helps even things out."

Solana looked at her Father. An eleven man who has spent the majority of his life working for and around shems. His years were finally starting to show. Solana knew he should have kept the money for himself but there was another reason he wanted her married off. To keep her safe. As much as she did not want to go through with this, she knew her father needed the peace of mind knowing she would be taken care of.

"Well, if that's the way it is, I guess I'm ready," she finally said with her shoulders drooped.

Cyrion smiled big. "That's my girl; you'll be fine. Think of this as a blessing, not an obligation. All right, time for you to go find Sorris. The sooner this wedding starts, the less chance the two of you have to escape," he gave a great belly laugh.

Solana found the thought less than funny. However, he did look more relieved now. She gave her father a strong hug. "Thank you, Father."

He returned the hug with all his strength. Solana was the first to let go and was about to leave when Father stopped her. "Oh, one last thing before you go, my dear."

"Yes?"

"Your martial training... The swordplay, knives, and whatever else your mother trained you in. Best not to mention it to your betrothed."

"What? Why not, it's not like I will use it to cause any disturbances. He will learn someday about them, and Mother wouldn't want me to hide apart of myself." When her father wouldn't keep eye contact, Solana let go of the door handle. "I take it you didn't say anything?"

"Well, it's not exactly something that would have made it easy to find a match for you. We don't want to seem troublemakers, after all. Adaia made that mistake."

"Mother was a clever rogue," Solana said with her chin raised high.

"Yes," Cyrion said with forlorn look in his eyes. "That she was." He walks over to a small desk that had something wrapped up underneath. He unwrapped the item to show a pair of curved hide boots. He handed them over to Solana. "Here, take these. Your mother would have wanted you to have them now. It's the very least I can give you, as you start your new life."

There was a moment of silence as Solana stroked the new pair of boots. Some mothers knit booties for their unborn babes. Adaia, who was much more practical, made leather boots adorned with patterns of vines for daughter. She looked up at her father and blinked back tears. Cyrion has the same difficulty to keep back his own. "G-go on, then. I still have some things to do, and Soris is no doubt still waiting for you."