The air put little cold kisses on her cheeks when she looked at the clock tower.
She's late, again…
She didn't mind, though. The rainy weather brought back memories of her clan. It was one of those days that made city people think before leaving the comfort of their home but Ellana never gave much thought to it.
She couldn't tell whether it was inherited by her mother or cultivated by years of wandering around the rainy mountains. Rain always made her storm out of her house, minding not her mother's constant warnings about catching a cold. Despite the countless coughs and sneezes, she couldn't resist the feeling of tiny drops landing on her skin and the smell of earth reeking into her nostrils.
The memory put a little smile of her lips. She let her eyes wander at the huge clock tower again enjoying the weather when a short man asked her if she could take a picture of him and his wife.
"Thank you."
She observed them giggling over the photo. Their smiles were kind. She had never seen Humans smile that way. They always seemed too troubled to enjoy themselves. Despite their politeness, she felt a bit unwelcomed. The city was huge, though. An 'outcast' like her should probably fit it. If not, then… that was a problem for another day.
"Hey!" The sudden voice made her turn away from the dwarf couple. "Ellana!"
She watched the girl with the short black hair at the distance approaching her.
"Hey."
"You enjoy our perfect weather, don't you?"
"It's not that bad…"
"Try living here for three years and then talk to me, again! I feel like deep mushrooms will sprout out of my armpits!"
Ellana couldn't resist chuckling but the girl seemed to enjoy it. There were only a few people that could make her feel so comfortable.
"How do you feel?"
"Like the Dread Wolf is going to snatch me any time now!"
"What's this, again?" Her voice was curious "I always forget! Merrill told me once but—"
"The short version?"
Ellana's fingers ran cautiously through her green scarf, thinking of the old stories her mother had told her.
"Maker, yes!"
"Elven god, traitor, locked away our gods, terrifying wolf with six eyes, all red."
"That's it! Do you think there's an actual dog out there, stalking and kidnapping Dalish virgins?"
"Why not? The goddess Mythal was said to be able to turn into a dragon. There are many stories of wanderers saying that they saw an old lady transform into a powerful beast. I'm not sure about the kidnapping virgins part, though."
"You have to teach me that! Please Ellana! A dragon! Imagine that! I could be the first to earn the title of Fireball Champion!"
She suddenly felt her hand squeezing her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Marian. It's impossible. But even if I knew how, it would need the skills of a professional Shapeshifter to do it."
"Crap!"
She finally released her shoulder, picturing herself turning into a mighty beast that breathed fire. Ellana could also picture it. She had understood from her tomboyish look and harsh words that Marian was nothing close to a lady of the court. She guessed that Kirkwall had that effect. So many riots and attacks happened every year that it was only natural that the children of Kirkwall would turn out to be fighters than courtesans and courtiers.
"Are you in for tonight?"
"What's tonight?"
"The Grey Wardens are playing at the bar I'm working! Nine o'clock sharp! Be there."
"I don't know…"
"Of course you do. Do you have anything better to do tomorrow? It's Friday, Ellana! And you'll have company until I finish work. Remember Isabela? Theron? He is the lead guitarist!"
"She made sure of it…" She recalled the first time she'd met her because the name Theron meant nothing to her. She'd met Isabela at a café Marian used to hang out. She had been so elegant in her office clothes, strict but exotic at the same. She'd told her she worked for a company that exported ships at the Docks. Or something like that.
However, the next time they had gone out for a drink, she looked more like a pirate than a businesswoman. Drinking one shot after the other, cursing in terms Ellana couldn't understand and asking her where she could buy a parrot, kissing strangers...
These were the highlights of their night.
"Come on! Do it for me!"
"Fine."
She didn't have anything else to do and she hadn't even attended so many classes to have tons of reading. It was her first time in a big city, away from the forest, the camp and her responsibilities as a First.
She surely felt lucky that she was allowed to come here. Winning a scholarship in the University of New Amaranthine was a first among her clan. She couldn't have asked for anything else. Despite the relevantly small number of elves throughout the University, it was good to see that dwarves and Qunari had their fair share.
"Thedas to Ellana! What are you thinking?"
"I'm sorry. I was thinking about my clan…"
"Ah. I know that feeling."
Marian stopped outside the huge building of the Department of History and Foreign Cultures. "Don't let that affect your mood. I was in the same position some years ago. I know it is tough. Okay?"
Ellana nodded, feeling embarrassed for letting her homesickness show. But Marian was right.
"See you after my afternoon practice then!" She smiled at her, again, taking a glimpse at her watch. "Shit! I'm late."
Ellana saw her running away towards the sports facilities. She wondered how she and Marian had started hanging out in the first place. She was clearly quite popular as Captain of the Fireball team. She found it difficult to see how tossing a ball around demanded so many hours of practice. But she would be happy to go to Marian's first match and find out what it was about.
"Please complete this form and place your signature here."
"Of course." She answered picking a pencil from the tin case on the woman's desk.
"It's Ellana Lavellan, student number 1264002, female, elf origin?"
"Yes."
"Great. Just fill in your details and the new module you wish to attend."
The woman had already completed 'New Haven, New Thedas: Andrastianism and the World in the Years of the Inquisition' in one of the boxes and with elegant letters Ellana wrote her new choice next to it.
"A World Turned Upside Down: Fade, Myth and Fact in the Making of Ancient Arlathan? Are you sure about it?"
Her voice made Ellana's eyes turn away from the sheet.
"I— yes. Is there a problem?"
Mother Giselle was an excellent professor, so it didn't have to do with that. In fact, it was a last-minute change when she found out that she had totally missed that a module on Elven Culture existed.
"I'm sorry. Where are my manners. I'm not implying anything, it's just…" She cleared her throat. "The Professor is a bit… faddy, if you like."
"Faddy?" She slowly placed the pencil back looking at the woman's sun-kissed face.
"Well… many students usually change it after one or two lectures." Her accent made Ellana feel a bit worried. It couldn't mean that it was bad. Elven history was probably a bit too much for some Andrastians. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you nervous. Just that you can change it again if you don't like it."
"Thank you, Miss Montilyet." She handed her the sheet feeling quite confident about her decision.
"Josephine's fine. We are not so far apart. Age I mean."
"Of course. Have you been working here long?"
"Is it too obvious?" She chuckled. "Two years. I came here after graduating from the University of Antiva. Have you ever visited Antiva City?"
"No. My clan never travelled that far away from the Free Marches. But I'd like to go some day."
"I see. If you go, make sure to take a ton of sunscreen with you. The Antivan sun can burn you up in a second."
She saw her placing the form aside and then stood up tidying her skirt. The woman seemed really nice for someone she'd met a few weeks ago. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to drop by or contact me. I'll be glad to help. Do you have the secretary's number?"
She always felt happy when people were nice to her. She preferred it from comments about her ears anyway. She left Josephine's office silently and walked through the crowded corridor when she finally found the right Amphitheatre.
"Ellana! Here!" Someone waved at her and when she moved closer, she came across a familiar smiling face.
"Hi." She hurried to sit and rummaged her bag for the correct textbook.
"Is it done?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure about it? Like sure sure?"
"Why shouldn't I, Krem?" She examined his face, again.
New haircut…
"Maybe because everyone says it's awful? If you wanted something more challenging, you should've picked something from Public Relations."
"I don't think it will be that hard. I've been studying Elven history since always!"
He folded his arms on his chest leaning back to take a closer look at the girl next to Ellana. "Just saying that if you have a shitty professor, then it will suck for the rest of the semester. Trust me."
"The secretary told me I can change it again if I'm not pleased."
"And that would be the smartest choice!" He stressed that last part.
Ellana was aware that he was retaking that first-year module only because he had failed it last year. Krem reassured her that the new professor must be a hundred times better than that Archdemon, Professor Calpernia.
That made her wonder about her new module.
Could it be that bad?
The bar was crowded when she opened the heavy door. A blend of cigarettes and alcohol flooded her nose as she walked and her eyes caught the stage on her left. Humans and dwarfs were chatting and drinking at the middle of the bar. Some of them wore outfits that made her wonder.
She had to search for the right table and when she found it, she noticed Isabela's black curls falling gracefully onto her exposed cleavage.
"Hey!" Her voice was loud, overpowering the strange music piercing Ellana's ears.
"Hi."
She was exactly as she remembered her. A mixture of businesswoman and pirate, fun and business, who appreciated fine liquor and mischief.
"I've already ordered a bottle of red wine."
"Okay."
"You don't have to be so tense." Isabela's naked arm found its way around her neck. Her strong perfume made Ellana's nose itch a little. "Just relax, freshman. Have a little fun! Have a drink!"
"I'll try."
"So, how is University life going? We didn't speak much last time."
"It's fine, I suppose…" Her eyes avoided Isabela's eyes, searching the crowd of cheerful humans for some familiarity.
"Hmmm… That calls for something stronger than wine!"
She was sure that this meant no good. Especially after catching a glimpse of Isabela's devilish smile. "Bring us a bottle of Aqua Magus."
The waiter seemed captivated by her face and after checking her out for a few seconds, he remembered he had to a job to do.
"Aqua Magus?" Ellana's voice was curious at first.
"I'm sure you'll love it." She winked at her, grabbing the almost empty wine glass in front of her. It made Ellana wonder how much she had already drunk while waiting for her.
Her face was a little difficult to interpret. Ellana didn't know if she wanted to just chat or mess around with her. She looked like a woman who wouldn't mind either male or female company.
Ellana's stomach twisted a little. She didn't want to end up throwing up in a corner or doing something more embarrassing than that.
She finally took her eyes away from Isabela's glass when the music stopped and the band appeared on stage. A dwarf, a human... and an elf?
"The elf boy is Theron!" Isabela whispered in her ear, attracting her attention from the longish black hair and elven features. "He's a Dalish like you. He's delicious, isn't he?"
Ellana's fingers reached unconsciously for her face. Humans found Dalish with vallaslin amusing. It was a rare sight that caused a million questions she always tried to avoid. The process of getting those tattoos was already painful enough to recall.
"Do you know him?"
Ellana wished she'd asked something else instead. A Dalish without vallaslin?
"Marian's friend." Isabela's eyes sparkled. "I wish I'd done something with him but he had a girlfriend when I first met him." She pushed her glass to her lips trying to determine, if Ellana looked interested enough to know more about him. "I'm sure this place must have some good muscle. How do you like them? Tall, short, with extraordinary qualifications?"
"Excuse me?"
"How do you like them? You seem to be the I-like-my-own-people kind of girl but I needed to ask. What about Qunari? You know they have many hidden talents… down there, right?"
"Oh… I— well—" She didn't really want to talk about such a delicate matter with her. It wasn't even the right place to do it. "Can we talk about something else?"
"Maker's balls!" Her mouth was too close to her ear that it sent chills down her spine. "Are you a… virgin?"
Ellana tried to shush her but Isabella was already smiling weirdly at her.
"I was focused on my studies…"
"Studies? Haven't you lived your life a little? Done something crazy enough to remember and laugh about it?"
"I don't think so…"
"Well, guess what?"
Her voice made Ellana question the rest of their night out.
"I'll regret that…" She reassured herself but Isabela didn't seem to notice the hints of slight disapproval.
"We are drinking the whole Aqua Magus!"
That didn't sound good.
"Ellana! Are you alright?"
"Yessss! Whyyy?"
"How much did you give her, Isabela?"
Marian's voice echoed in Ellana's head like a bell. The music, though, was making her body synch with the rest of the people.
"Relax. It's only half a bottle!"
"You gave Aqua Magus to a freshman!?"
"She has to live a little! Look at her all happy and dancy!"
"Ellana?" Marian reached out to her. "Do you want to go to the bathroom? Do you need some air?"
"Just let her have some fun! Fancy another drink, El? I know you do!"
"Nooo! I want to dancee!" Ellana looked at them shaking her head in bliss. Some hair escaped on her shoulders from the neat ponytail tickling her neck. She found it very amusing.
"Bathroom it is."
Marian stood up and forced Ellana to follow her through the crowd. She knew she was okay but her body and mouth acted on their accord. She could feel people bumping onto her as they danced and she tried not to lose Marian out of her sight.
Unfortunately, it happened.
She found herself in the middle of the room surrounded by strangers drinking and dancing. The lights were dim and she could find neither Marian nor the bathroom. She allowed herself to be carried away by the music until she saw a door at the distance. She thought it was the bathroom and clumsily moved through, forgetting about her manners.
She was wrong, again.
It wasn't the bathroom but the door to the back alley. The cold air made her head feel lighter and she closed the door to rest her body on it for a while. Everything was hazy and she tried to try hard not to let the dizziness carry her away. She felt happy. Or at least that was the drink making all the thinking.
Ellana liked it. Never had she let herself so loose. It was like she could do everything she hadn't done so far.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted, though. Someone was trying to open the door but she was blocking it. She moved clumsily forwards, her stomach twisting, and a person appeared, allowing the sea of voices to break out momentarily. She could see that he was examining her. A he because of the clothes, she thought.
Black pants and a white shirt.
He asked her something but she murmured something else looking at the cigarette on his hand. He tried again but Ellana was already lost in her own colourful thoughts. She saw him walking away and for a reason her head had picked she followed him biting her lower lip.
Ellana murmured something to him and when the stranger turned around she pinned him on the wall next to her. Her lips pressed onto the stranger's fiercely. He was caught by surprise, trying carefully to push her back, but she didn't seem to care.
This sudden freedom forced her fingers to explore the stranger's face, feeling its softness and demanding from him to give back.
A few seconds passed with her lips still on his. He wasn't moving, though.
Wh—
She drew back squeezing the soft fabric of his shirt in annoyance. She hadn't succeeded to make the kiss deeper. Her face and ears were burning and she finally released his shirt when she saw pointy ears in the darkness. Everything else was a blur.
She imagined herself going inside and telling Marian that she'd kissed a stranger. Then they would laugh about it and have another drink.
However, she found herself pinned on the wall next to her. She felt dizzy. The stranger's lips felt warm and heavy on hers. His hands found her waist and she tried to breathe. She allowed him to touch her tongue and as they swirled together she felt parts of her body responding to it.
Her fingers tried to reach his neck but she didn't manage to do it when she realized.
Shit!
She broke the kiss and headed inside without looking back as a moment of clarity occurred to her. Her cheeks where burning and her heart was racing. The fresh air was replaced by stuffiness and the smell of alcohol. She moved through the crowd in a hurry thinking what had just happened.
"Ellana! Where were you?" Marian shouted when she saw her. She wanted to scold her but her face made her shush.
"Can we leave?"
Thirty minutes later Marian was carrying an exhausted Ellana inside her empty Dorm.
She stayed until she fell asleep, checking her in case she needed anything. She sat on her couch thinking that she'd kill Isabela for giving her one of the strongest things they had at the bar.
She had come to care for her. She was a Dalish, all alone in a city full of stupid people. Somehow Ellana reminded her of herself when she'd come here to work and later attend University. She was all alone. Her father was long dead, her mother murdered by a psychopath Mage, her brother killed during an outlaw ambush while on duty…
Ellana opened her eyes when the smell of coffee flooded her nostrils. It was terrible at first and made her stomach feel strange.
She attempted to stand up but a nasty headache spread on her forehead. She wanted to sleep more. Forever if possible.
"Good morning."
"What? Where?"
"Do you remember what happened yesterday?"
"I— Aqua Magus… Isabela—"
She tried hard to remember how much she'd drunk.
"Exactly. Isabela and Aqua Magus is a bad combination. I'm sorry on her behalf. If you—"
"Marian?" Her voice wasn't angry, not even a little remorseful. "It was the best night." Her smile confused her.
"Best night? Are you sure?"
"Yes." Her head still hurt, her eyes and throat felt sore and her feet needed some more rest. But, she had fun. Fun she was never able to have at her camp. Not like that.
"That's…good. But I have to ask, what happened? You seemed quite stressed."
"Stressed?" She sank deep into thinking. The should be a reason she had a good time. "I was—" She tried hard to remember and Marian waited to hear what she had got herself into. "I can't quite remember…"
"I see. So, whatever bad thing you did will stay there."
Marian chuckled lightly.
"Bad?"
"You drank half a bottle of Aqua Magus with Isabela. Bad is the best thing that could happen, Ellana."
"Creators!" She tried to stand up still wearing her clothes. "I can't remember!"
"Don't worry. The worst thing that could happen in there was you throwing up all over the place. Does it ring a bell?"
It didn't. But her stomach still remembered the amount of liquor she had devoured and forced her to run into the bathroom.
"Ellana?" Marian's voice was worried but when she heard her throwing up it was for the best. "Do you want me to order lunch?"
She came back looking like a mess and sat on the couch next to Marian.
"Thank you for staying."
"It's nothing. You never leave a friend drinking Aqua Magus with Isabela alone."
A friend? That echoed nicely into Ellana's head.
"Ma serannas."
Marian could only image what that meant. Ellana leaned slowly on her shoulder and fell asleep while listening to the sound of her clock. She needed that and Marian didn't really mind. It felt nice for a change to know that she had acquired a new friend.
"No need for that."
The weekend after their night at the bar was quiet. Ellana had woken up after some hours, finding a note from Marian to call her if she needed anything. She was still feeling her head heavy and decided that a cold shower could fix everything.
Something had totally disarrayed her magic. If she could, she would've gone out and practise her spells. However, she was aware that casting spells in the city without a reason was forbidden. She really missed the freedom of the forest.
After her shower, she walked to her kitchen and found her teapot. She had some Elfroot tea her mother had given her before leaving. She poured water from the tap and with a gentle move she placed the teapot on her palm.
Little flames sprang from it, circling the teapot. It didn't burn her. It felt like a summer breeze that flooded her with warmth. At least making tea using magic wasn't illegal.
The smell was familiar and relaxing and when she had her first sip her mind cleared a little. It was when everything came back to her. Following Marian to the bathroom. The door. The dark alley and him… The stranger she had kissed! Not only that. The stranger that had kissed her back.
She recalled the excitement and her heart raced, again. She quickly put the tea aside and searched for her phone, then found the right contact and waited for her to answer.
"Hey! Did you finally wake up?"
"Marian… I remembered what happened."
"Really? Was it that bad?"
"I kissed a stranger."
"You did what?"
"It's not funny, Marian!"
"But," Some chuckles escaped her mouth. "it is! Do you remember the face? Was it a man?"
"I think it was a man." A sudden knot moved down to her stomach. "Creators! I don't remember what he looked like!"
"I see." Her voice still playful. "A name perhaps?"
"No. Nothing!"
"Do you think he knows what you look like?"
"I don't think so. It was probably dark…"
"That's good. You don't want a stranger asking around for you."
"You think?" Ellana's voice was serious, then softened as she recalled the sensation.
"So… how was it?"
She didn't answer until a few seconds had passed.
"It was… my first kiss…"
"Oh Ellana…" Her voice finally turned from playful to compassionate. "I'm going to kill Isabela!"
"No! I mean… it wasn't that bad. If you don't consider the fact that he was a total stranger at the back of a bar… and I was drunk."
"Yeah… it doesn't sound that good."
"But…" she made a little pause. "It was kind of nice."
Ma serannas: Thank you
This is an updated version of Chapter 1 with minor changes and corrections
