Warning, mentions of rape, scars, and beatings.
~Chapter Two~
Gliding the Wheatstone across my blade, I let the clear ringing sound echo through the campsite, my eyes focusing determinedly on the silver of the blade. Glancing up, I notice Fenris is still practicing with his sword, the blade whips through the air, leaving an arc in it's wake, while he slices at invisible foes, movements are smooth, nimble as his lithe frame seems to dance, as if the blade is just an extension to his arms.
Cole is off in the woods, hunting for tonight's dinner since we're out of dried meat, since leaving the Inquisition, he has learned how to survive alone, should something happen to me, and how to hunt without feeling sorrowful about killing animals. I turn back to my dagger, dragging the Wheatstone across the blade again when Fenris calls out, causing me to slightly jump, looking up in question. "This has bothered me for a week now." So, sense we've met? "Those scars on your back, what... what are they from? Why do you have them?" He questions, causing me to bite my lip.
"I...When I was younger, I strayed from the clan's camping place." I pause as I think over each word carefully. "A group of noble soldiers found me, they thought Dalish as wide savages, locked me in a cage. I was their Slave..." I see Fenris stiffen. "When I couldn't do something, they raped me. When I wouldn't do something... the used a branch of leather to whip me... that's when my magic came in. One day they were whipping me, the next... they were charred marks on the ground. I got scared. I ran, came across some of clan Lavellan's hunters, they brought me home." I look down, coughing to cover up to lump forming in my throat.
"I...I am sorry." Fenris says.
"It's alright. I was young, and I hardly remember anymore." The lie slips out, so easily from the practice of saying it over and over again.
"I... see..." I have a feeling that he saw right through the lie, but he doesn't press anymore, instead he turns back to his practice, and I turn back to sharpening my blade.
The next day, after packing up the camp, we decide to move forward with our traveling BEFORE we're found, or caught unawares. After nearly a half day of traveling, we end up in a small, secluded village, with the woods framing the edge of one side of the town, the ocean framing the other, and vast orchards and vineyards frame the third side. An exchange of glances is all it takes before the three of us enter from the road we're on, the cobblestone streets have oil street lamps on either side of the walk, there are stalls open with fresh baked goods, fresh fruits, wines, and regular foods filling the gaps between buildings. A few taverns and inns are open with loads of people walking in an out, elvhan dot the street with dwarves, Qunari, and even humans.
All of the races are friendly, interacting with each other, helping with the stalls, some are hanging ribbons across the roads, others are helping set the long table on either side of the village square, there is a stage in between the tables, which instruments are placed upon, and people are smiling happily, music already pouring from open windows of the Taverns and Inns. "What's going on here?" I ask rhetorically, one of the passing traders, who looks to be selling flower crowns, and necklaces, pauses.
"Why, it's Herald's eve! The Herald of Andraste's day of birth!" I freeze at his words, he grins his gap toothed grin, his big potbelly sticks out, and he chuckles. "Here, three each. Only free today!" He drapes the necklaces over each of our necks, dropping three flower crowns on our heads, walking off as I glance over at Fenris, who crosses his arm with a scowl, and Cole, who smiles at me.
"These are forget me nots, and lilies. These are your favorites!" Cole gushes as I frown.
"So, they are..." I trail off. "We should look for a vacancy in the Inns." I lead into the nearest Inn, which is ironically named, The Herald's berth, and step up to the busty blonde woman behind the counter.
"What can I get ya, Love?" She inquires with looking up, I take a moment to look her over. Her hair is blonde, curled up into a beehive shape, her eyes are a steel wool color, her lips are paint red, lined with a darker red, almost black, and she's in a light blue, off the shoulder dress with a brown frock front. She's writing in a notepad with a tiny pieces of coal, her eyes seem to narrow in focus, and I sigh, before crossing my arms as I clear my throat. Her head snaps up, eyes trailing over Cole, then Fenris, before landing on me, which she smiles crudely at, trailing her gaze slowly up me body.
She takes in my black boots, black leather pants, the daggers in the belt, my staff on my back, my scar covered, dark arms, my maroon corset top, my ruby lips, my petite nose, my violet eyes, my white braid over my shoulder, and she eyes my coin purse on my belt, trying to decide how much she can scam me of. With a frown, she rolls her weight to one hip, and crosses her arms over her chest, mocking my stance as if to challenge me. "I'm sorry, Hun. We don't service to whores."
"These are my traveling companions, not my clients." I state. "We'd like three rooms please."
"Sorry, we only have two rooms available, and both of the got a single bed." She answers, with a sickening grin, she glances at Fenris. "Handsome is welcome to stay though, free of charge."
"I'd rather drink vomit." Fenris growls under his breath, I swear his voice gets deeper each time we talk.
"We'll go elsewhere." I answer.
"Happy Herald's Eve!" She calls as we leave the Inn, walking across to the next one, which is call the Companions Inn, and walk up to the man behind the bar. He's tall with muscles that would've terrified me at one point, he has graying brown hair, a bit of a scruff, and sharp green eyes, his ears are slightly pointed, granting me information that he's half elf.
"One second, deary." He murmurs without look at me, his companion is a red haired boy, no taller than my hip, dressed in dirty rags, and a smile on his face. "You can stay here, as long as you help in the kitchens, alright?" He inquires, the boy nods excitedly. "You work for room and board, I'll pay ya for you to by food."
"Thanks mister!" The boy runs off as the man turns to us, eyes roaming over each of us, he freezes on me, reaching over the bar, he grabs my arm, yanking me forward.
"What in the Creator's name are ya doin' here, Herald?" He murmurs, causing me to gasp. "I ain't gonna turn ya in, but you need to do something to change your looks!" He hisses, I can hear Fenris growling quietly behind me, while Cole's hand brushes his daggers.
"Right... any ideas?" I demand.
"Haircut. Dress. Everyone knows you don't wear 'em." He answers automatically.
"Can you provide rooms for my companions and I?" I ask, he glances at Fenris and Cole, then back at me, letting go of my arms.
"I got one room, three beds, two single, and a double, for you... 30 silver." He says.
"I've got ten." I answer.
"I'll take it." He hands me a key. "Top floor, last door on the right." I go to turn away when he grabs my arm again, I look at him. "My daughter is alive because of you... I owe you this, I'll have her bring you a few dresses and shears, enjoy your stay." He says, I reach in my purse, pulling out fifteen silvers, and drop them on the counter.
"Half our agreed price. Thank you for this." I say, he nods as I pull away, leading my companions up to the room, and after entering, I drop my stuff onto the double bed, Fenris claims the single closest to the door, across the room from my bed, and Cole closest to the window across from my bed, the room has a large satin curtain on a ring line, which can separate the bed, and the floor is a hard rosewood. There are three chairs at a table against the wall on my side of the room, a fireplace is between Cole and Fenris's beds, three high back, red velvet chairs are in front of the hearth, and three dresser line the wall by the hard wood door, a red rug lays out across, nearly, the expanse of the room. My bed is a four post, with green bedding, a bookshelf headboard, two body pillows line the sides, and four regular pillows line across the top, two décor pillows sit outside of those.
Fenris's bed is identical to Cole's, each has blue bedding, two regular pillows, each is against a wall, and each has a headboard at the top of them, a footboard at the bottom of them. Both have shelves hanging above them, housing a single oil lamp, a set of drawers beneath them, and a bedside table beside them. It's obvious that this room was designed for a long staying family, but it was given to use do to the layout, price, and close quarters, along with placement, which I notice from the door that leads to outside, right next to a window. I unlock the door, opening it to discover a ladder, causing me to nod, closing the door without locking it - easy getaway location.
A knock at the door brings me from my reverie, crossing the room in a few quick strides, I open the door to reveal a young woman, not much younger than me, with long brown hair, ruby lips, soft green eyes, pale olive skin, she's in an emerald gown, her hair is in a twist, and she holds in her arms a pile of nice gowns, with shears laying on top. "Oh! It's really you!" I pull her in quickly, closing the door as I turn to her. "I don't know if you remember me, or not, but I was in the Templar encampment in the Hinterlands. They locked me in a cage, claiming that I was an apostate."
"Valerie?" I ask, she nods happily.
"Yes!" She smiles brightly.
"I'm glad to see you made it home." I say, she seems to remember why she's here.
"Oh! These are for you!" She drapes the gowns across my bed, holding out the shears for me, and I take them.
"Thank you." I murmur.
"Of course. Happy birthday, Herald!" She silently slips out of the room, closing the door as I walk across the room, catching Fenris and Cole watching me, I stop before the mirror in the corner of the room. Letting my locks loose, I run my hand through my hair, then grab it just under my shoulder blades, ripping the shears through my locks as I bite my lip. Watching my hair fall to the floor, I sigh as I drop the shears on the top of the dresser, gripping my lock at the back of my head, and I twist them into a braid, then twirl the braid into a bun. Turning to the other two, I hold out my hands, as if to ask an opinion, but Fenris gawks, his jaw loose, and Cole looks like he's going to scream, or cry, or maybe both.
"That hurt you!" Cole cries out.
"It's just hair, Cole." I answer.
"But, you loved your long hair!" He protests.
"I was getting recognized." I respond, he frowns as he nods, then I reach up, pulling the rung closed before I cross over to the bed, plucking up a soft gown, it has different hues of purple, from Eggplant to Lilac. The dress has bell sleeves with a gold roped belt around the middle, it's an off the shoulder one, and even has a scoop neck with a golden trim across the top. Shimmying out of my leggings, I slide my corset top off, pulling the dress on over my head, enjoying the satiny feel as the material hugs my form, the gown is tight around my top, but slightly loose around the skirt, my books have been exchanged for white flats, but my gloves are still on, to hide my mark.
I grimace as I look in the mirror, before changing into a different gown, this one is black, sleeveless with a sweetheart cut, there is a slit up the side of my skirt to midthigh, my flats are exchanged for my boots, and I look in the mirror with a frown. I change once more, this time into a two piece gown, the top is a vivid green, no sleeves, it is twisting with vines, the fabric making up the shirt looks like leafs, and there are red rose buds dotting the vines. The skirt sits low on my hips, showing the middle of my belly off, it matches the top's design with a slit up the side, ending midthigh as well, and my boots are traded for black flats. Letting my hair loose once more, it falls in waves down my back, pulling back the curtain, I tie my purse to the vine like belt at my hips, and look up at a surprised Cole, and staring Fenris. "Let's go enjoy the festivities." I state as I place the key in my other bag on my belt, this one houses a smaller dagger, some lyrium potions, and a concoction that is like a smoke bomb.
Reviews are better than being accused of being a whore, and paler than celebrating your birthday with Cole and Fenris, but we can try! Small shout to my first reviewer afeleon276! If anyone can guess who we're meeting in the next few chapters, I will give them virtual cookies!
