"You know, if you keep this up I think you're going to have to start fending off marriage proposals from Corporal Vale."
Mortar and pestle in hand and in the process of grinding yet more elfroot, Eldan pauses and then looks up from his task. Lounging opposite his workbench is the Herald, tired-looking, but nonetheless smiling.
"I'm afraid I may be something of a disappointment in that regard. Herbs aren't the best subject for pillow talk."
"Oh? So, what's your favourite variety of elfroot?" Eldan actually starts to think about before he catches the Herald winking and stops. Wait a second…
The Herald laughs with delight. "Sorry. Anyhow, don't let this go to your head, but Vale practically fell over himself to thank me for sending you here. You must have been doing great work all this time, so I wanted to thank you, uh…" she trails off, and then frowns. "Did I… really forget to ask your name last time we met? I apologise, I meet so many people these days that it slips my mind sometimes. My etiquette instructors would think me unforgiveable."
"It's quite all right. I am Eldan, First of clan Lavellan. And you are the Herald."
She wrinkles her nose. "Yeah," she sighs. "I am," her hands drop to her hips. "But my name is Ashlynn Trevelyan. Lady Ashlynn, if we're to be formal, but please don't be. It gets annoying."
"Very well. Ashlynn."
She smiles, and while the expression is still tired, there's warmth there. "I don't see your friend around. Did she leave?"
Eldan shakes his head. "Revea stops by every so often. She has been hunting a lot recently; it does her some good to get away from the crowds."
"I'm glad that you have someone to keep you company at least. It must be difficult being the only Dalish here."
"There's the occasional odd look, but most of the refugees are just pleased to be receiving help, whoever is offering it."
"Good," Ashlynn spends a long moment looking out at the Crossroads. They have been transformed from a battlefield into a ramshackle camp into what is now almost a sanctuary. The pitched tents seem to grow more permanent each day, fewer injured need seeing to, and the Inquisition's efforts become stronger and stronger. "Just a shame that it takes lives being turned upside down to overlook old prejudices. My father would drop dead from shock if he knew I counted elves, dwarves and a qunari as comrades in arms."
Eldan is consistently surprised at Ashlynn's demeanour, even in their very brief acquaintance so far. She's entirely unlike what he has come to expect from humans, and particularly unlike what he had suspected someone referred to as the Herald of Andraste would resemble. Brusque, sanctimonious, arrogant. This woman is none of those things.
"My father hated humans," he says and immediately regrets.
"Can't say I blame him," she remarks cheerily. "We're pretty terrible as a rule."
Eldan, stunned, can't keep himself from laughing. Ashlynn favours him with another wink.
"There's a crisis going on," her tone is more sober now. "Anybody who turns away help is officially on my idiot list. The Maker would want us to pull together, cooperate. There's too much at stake to do otherwise."
"I stand by the sentiment, if not its source."
Ash gives him an appraising look, and then comprehension dawns. "Right. Maker. Sorry, I'm so used to being around Andrastians that I forget your people have your own gods. Remind me to ask you about them when I have the time. Or Solas, perhaps; I think you'd like him-"
"Herald!"
An armoured woman with scars and hair even shorter than Ashlynn's approaches them. An Inquisition crest is emblazoned on her breastplate, a longsword is sheathed at her hip and a shield slung across her back. The new arrival's only acknowledgement of Eldan is a slight nod.
Ashlynn holds up her hand to Eldan and turns to face the other woman. "What's the word, Cassandra?"
"A rift has opened outside of Redcliffe. We will need to seal it to reach the rebel mages."
Ashlynn groans. "I'd like, just once, for this to be simple. All right, let's move quickly. Fetch… Vivienne and Bull, and we'll get this done," an apologetic smile. "Sorry to cut this short, I'm in high demand these days. Maybe I should start charging for autographs."
"I hardly think that would be appropriate," the other woman – Cassandra objects.
"Pah, I'll go through Josephine, you can't stop me."
Cassandra makes a noise of disgust. Ashlynn catches Eldan's eye and grins. He tries to suppress the urge to burst into laughter.
It's an uncanny resemblance.
