Hey guys. I'll be posting chapters up to 7 or 8 randomly today and tomorrow might even get two today one right after the other. See, I've got all of them posted up to 7 on AO3, so I have them written already. After the 7th or 8th chapter, I'll get a more regular post schedule. 3

Day 3 (9:16 Dragon)

I met Yavana. Bitch has a headdress for DAYS. Days, I tell ya. She's incredibly hot, and I mean that in the most respectful way I can. Like..hoooweeee. What a gorgeous lady. She's a bit intimidating (please don't read this Yavana), and she's a tad scary sometimes. But, she's not too bad. She's generally ok. She gave me food tonight, some kind of soup? Maybe a stew. I didn't ask what kind. I didn't know if I'd get an answer like 'crocodile soup' or something. I don't want to eat a crocodile. I'm generally not a fan. Either way. I have to go. She says she's gonna teach me stuff tomorrow.

-Ella Frank

Day 352 (9:16 Dragon)

I found the name I want. Yavana gave me a staff today, and she told me "go lightly for you if you don't, you may fall." Don't know what the fuck she means by that, but I like the phrase 'go lightly'. It's soothing. From hence forth, you shall be THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. No, but really. I'm going to go by Ella Golightly. It's cuter than my old name anyway. Ella Frank just makes me sound boring. Golightly is so...well, Hepburn. I need to channel my inner Hepburn. Let's see. It's day 352 (yes I've been keeping count. Andy can't keep me here forever. No matter what fucking timeline Andy has) so that means I have...less than a week before I leave for Antiva City.

I'm scared. At least I can admit that much. Scratch that, I'm terrified. I've only been out in the swamp for about a year. My social skills are shit right now. But, Yavanna told me to find a man named Yves. He can apparently set me up. He apparently has a darling little girl named Josephine that I'll love. Doubtful, children and I don't get along too well. But of course, that's all women can do here. Be a witch or take care of kids. Fuck me. I hate this place, and I want to go home. I miss my mom. I don't care if I have to repeat it a thousand times. I miss her.

9:41 Dragon (Haven; 6 Days after the Breach is stopped)

When Ella pictured Haven, she saw a cute little town filled with happy people. She was not greeted with that. Instead, there were morose looks cast her way even at the gate. A sort of sorrow echoed across the town, a hopelessness that couldn't be attributed to the impending night. Well! Ella would just have to fix that! So, she shouldered her pack and adjusted it appropriately, trudging in the snow towards the army training area outside of Haven. A guardsman at the gate halted her, and he asked her what she was doing there. She responded calmly, explaining a desire to help. She stupidly decided to bring her staff with her. She couldn't very well leave it in Redcliffe! So, the guard looked at her suspiciously. He told a second guardsman to watch the wall while he "escorted" Ella to the mage tent (despite her insistence that she wasn't a very good mage). That only seemed to make him walk faster.

"Darren! Where are you taking this woman?"

Ella looked over at the voice, and she raised her eyebrows at the sight. Bend me over a table, she thought briefly to herself when she saw the striking blonde haired Commander. She didn't know he was a commander, not yet, but he held himself like a man of higher rank. So she immediately stiffened. He was beautiful with eyes like orbs of honey...Just like his hair—hair that Ella wouldn't mind running her hands through…

"Uh—the mage quarters, Commander! Says she's come to help, but she's not very good at magic!" Did this guy shout 24/7?

"Very well. What's your name, mage?"

Ella wrinkled her nose. Less hot now. "Ella Golightly, ma-Commander." Almost called him man. Keep your emotions in check, Ella. He noticed the flub. But, he decided not to call her out. Thank the Maker. Instead he inclined his head.

"I am Commander Cullen, and your guardsman is Darren Hofer. If you should need anything or get yourself in trouble, you may find him." He nodded and walked back towards the training grounds. Yikes, that could have gone better.

"What a guy, huh?" Ella asked, looking up at Darren. He seemed speechless at her nonchalant delivery. He let out a disgruntled "yes" before leading her onward towards the mages. Ella was scared. The mage barracks weren't very accommodating—just a couple of tents thrown together in a general camp. Wonderful. She had lived in worse conditions however, even back on Earth. Not to mention, she did live in a swamp for a year. So.

"You'll be sleeping here. Don't summon a demon," he said, more as a tack on.

"Don't worry. I've been a mage for 25 years. I think I can handle it." She gave him a reassuring smile, and he seemed to relax a tiny bit. Darren nodded and took two steps backwards before turning away. What an odd young man.

Ella turned away as well and ducked inside the tent. There were three young women sitting in a circle, giggling. Well, at least she got the fun tent.

9:26 Dragon

Josephine cried when I left. It broke my heart to see that. She was growing into a beautiful young woman, and I wouldn't get to see the end result. She was going to make the Montilyets greater than her father ever could. I love her father, but she's gonna blow him out of the water. I know it.

God. Ten years. I can't believe I've been gone ten years. I wrote to Yavana. She demands I send her letters occasionally. I do, and she replies every time. The letters aren't ever long or anything. They're usually just a little fortune. "Be wary of the road ahead." or "Everything is not as it seems." Weird stupid, isms. But I respect Yavana. She's a good woman, if a bit manipulative. I believe the world made her that way though. She has a motherly feel to her. Maybe I'm being crazy. She rarely spoke of her mother, Flemeth. I wonder if she misses her mom too. Maybe she does. Then again, maybe she doesn't. Who am I to presume?

Either way, I've got to get to bed. I'm staying at an inn outside of Antiva City, and I'm not sure it's a very wholesome establishment. Either way, I can't waste money. I miss Yves. I miss Josephine. I miss the children at the orphanage. I miss my mom. I want to go home, but I can't. At least, I can't for a while. I have to wait.

Love and peace,

Ella Golightly.

9:41 Dragon (Present Day; Evening)

She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bedroll. The Fade was an odd dream realm, something she never really enjoyed (per say) but had gotten used to. She shaped the Fade around her, simple enough when she used her imagination. Tonight, she magicked up a pretty Victorian-esque room complete with one of those fun little stiff-back couches. Andy showed up a few moments later.

Andy was...strange. Every night it was different. She teased her hair tonight as high as it could go, so she looked 80s, but she kept her make up rather 90s (moody lip and dark liner). Pair that face with a Led Zeppelin shirt, and you've got Andy. She was a wild cat. She flopped onto the couch next to Ella and slung an arm over her shoulder.

"Heya kiddo. Why so glum?" Andy flicked Ella's ear, and the little elf frowned at the mid 80s monstrosity.

"Hey, Andy. I'm not glum. I'm mad. When do I get to go home? You still haven't told me. It's always, 'Well, kiddo, you've got a few more things to do before I send you shooting back across the stars!' You say it every fucking time."

Andy wilted a bit at that. "You sound like you did on Day 1. I thought you changed. I thought you liked it here."

Ella paused and noticed the sincerity in Andy's eyes. Ella felt bad immediately. Andy wasn't trying to be mean. She never was, and Ella just went ahead and ruined everything. She sat up and hugged Andy. The blonde was a good friend after 25 years. Andy hugged back, squeezing a bit tighter than was comfortable, but Ella didn't mind. She persevered for Andy.

"Hey, I do like it here. I just miss everyone back at the ranch," Ella said sweetly, comforting Andy (a surprisingly recurrent situation) and whispering comforts to her. Andy seemed to calm down after that.

The night was spent mostly in silence after that. Knowing someone for 25 years brings about a comfortable aura that can't really be described. Andy was Ella's friend, and despite Andy's efforts, Andy considered Ella a friend too. Somewhere around midnight, Andy sat up though. She looked around and frowned.

"What is he doing here?"

Ella had a ball of yarn in her hand, something to pass the time. She looked at Andy oddly but said nothing. Usually Andy explained weird things she felt. She was oddly silent this time. After a few moments, Ella felt someone slide into her dream space without her permission.

If you've never experience someone violating every inch of your person, the sensation can be described as thousands of cockroaches skittering down your arms and legs repeatedly. It's like that scene from the Mummy when Jonathan had that scarab on him. Or rather under his skin. It's the most revolting and violating feeling one could ever experience.

Ella screeched and stood up, screaming at her self to wake up, and eventually, she did. She woke in the real world—Thedas—and stood up immediately, rushing from the tent in an attempt to get some fresh air. She fell into the snow, shivering and shaking from her dream. No one had ever entered her dream space without her permission save for Andy. But Andy never felt that way. Andy never…

"Criminy Christmas."

"Mistress Golightly? Are you all right?"

Ella looked up at the voice, seeing a semi-friendly face. Darren. He stood a few feet away, careful not to approach too close. She was dangerous to Darren. She was a mage. Magic is meant to serve man, not rule over him. Sweet Andraste, she was dangerous. She was a mage. Magic is meant to serve man, not rule over him. Magic is meant to serve man. Magic is meant to-

"I'm fine, Darren. Bad dream." She interrupted his repetitive and dangerous thoughts with a small but shaky smile. She stood, albeit slowly, and dusted the snow from her dressing gown. Darren flushed at the sight, averting his eyes. Ella looked down and noticed the...transparency of the gown. She flushed and rushed inside her tent to gather up a robe at least. When she came back outside, Darren had at least regained some composure.

"Sorry," she breathed. "I wasn't expecting company this evening." He stared at her for a moment...then began to laugh quietly, his face lighting up at the rather hilarious comment.

"Worry not, Mistress Golightly. I came unexpectedly."

"Call me Ella."

"Ella." They stood in silence for sometime, staring at the other before he offered his arm. Ella took it gratefully. Darren had showed himself to be a good man. Besides she needed something to get her mind off of her dream and the dream invader. He led her into the Chantry, somewhere down to the kitchens where he gathered what he could. Dried leaves, water, a pot. She watched him move about the kitchen, only just now noticing his lack of a uniform.

"What are you doing up, Darren? You're not on guard duty. I can at least gather that."

He started a fire and filled the pot with water, heating it up to where it would boil before answering. "I couldn't sleep."

The answer was so calm and sure that it took Ella off guard. "Couldn't sleep? Someone barge into your dream as well?" Darren shook his head and laughed. He gathered up cups next. Ella knew what he was doing. Tea. What a sweetheart. He poured the water and was about to pour in the leaves before Ella stopped him.

"Watch. Our little secret." She gathered up cloth and put the leaves inside. Gathering the fabric to make a little tea bag, she tied it up with a ribbon from her nightgown. She dunked the tea bag in and looked up at Darren who was smiling.

"See, I like the leaves in my tea," Darren mumbled.

"Well who said you had to do it my way?" … He was going to like this woman.

9:31 Dragon

How in the fuck does anyone live in this shit stick hole? Denerim guards stuck me in an alienage! AN ALIENAGE! Just because I was a "knife-ear"! Fuck them! I hate that term. I've decided. Man, what is it with people and judging others based on race? You'd think people would get tired of it eventually, but apparently, that's not the case. I've got a job. Miraculously. I swear, Andy gets these jobs for me. I don't know how (ask her idiot).

There are so many kids in this orphanage. Way more than in the one in Antiva City and Rialto. It's distressing. I talked with the elders hahren, and they said most of the elves there were orphaned because of the humans. Humans killed, raped, and tortured elves. How fucked up is that? They're telling me about the Dalish. I asked about everything, and most of them don't really know. Some do! There was one woman, an older woman, who used to be Dalish, and she told me everything about the Evanuris. She has a vallaslin which is like a tattoo for your face but so much more? I can't do it justice. It's very pretty (I like Mythal's best). But essentially, she told me about the gods. She told me especially to be wary of Fen'Harel. I know. I know. It's a ridiculous name, diary. Dread Wolf? Ooh, so spooky. Whatever. I'm not afraid of long gone elf gods. I'm more afraid of the alienage guards who eye me a little to closely. I still write to Yavana. She answers me when she can. She seems nervous, like she knows something bad is going to happen.

I don't believe her though. The Blight just ended. Some blonde guy named Alistair and his girlfriend Elissa are King and Queen now. Hopefully, they're decent. They better fucking reform this alienage. Doubtful. Either way. Good night! Dread Wolf take you! Or whatever.

Love and peace,

Ella Golightly

9:38 Dragon

Yavana hasn't answered my last three letters. I'm worried for her.

9:41 Dragon (Present Day; Morning)

After her brief encounter with Darren, Ella went back to bed, thankfully unvisited by Andy or the Uninvited Visitor. She was alone in her dream space for the rest of the night. But that wasn't very long. One of the young women in her tent shook her away, telling her something about getting ready. There was apparently a thing happening. Ella stood and shrugged on a dress. Nothing too fancy. She figured she would be working. She slipped on a pair of slippers and walked outside into the brisk morning air. Her little mage roommate was walking towards the Chantry, so Ella followed. The Roommate probably knew where to go. Hopefully.

That little bitch led her right into the metaphorical lion's mouth. A carriage was parked right outside the Chantry. And who stepped out you may ask? Josephine fucking Montilyet. Ella let out a noise (something akin to a yelp and a grunt of surprise) before trying to duck behind a tent. God dammit, Andy! Ella hated that damn...whatever she was! Peeking out from behind her tent and stared at the beautiful Antivan. Oh, Josephine! What a beautiful young lady! Disregard the fact that Ella looked younger than her. While Ella ooh'd and ahh'd silently at her little Josephine, the Antivan in question decided to glance behind her. Happenstance be damned. This was providence. Josephine's eyes met Ella's, and both sets widened.

"Maker's breath, Ella Golightly, is that you?"

Well, shit.

Thank you for reading! If you see anything wrong with my math or whatever, let me know. I write these things at like...3 am.