Summary: "How do you go back to being strangers with someone who has seen your soul?" - Nikita Grill
XXX"The Fade?" Cassandra questioned, sheathing her sword and all the while a sensational transfixing feeling overcoming her. "You can take us to The Fade?"
"Only briefly!" Evelyn shouted while waving Cassandra down in hopes the Seeker would not get too riled up. "It only happens when I build enough energy into the Anchor. It is one of three different abilities the Anchor grants me...Please don't tell Solas."
Cassandra brought her left hand to her head, it throbbed with pain mostly due to her drinking but partially due to the idea that the Anchor was so powerful. If anyone could expand on this more it would be Solas. But he was left behind, and now Evelyn was asking for her secrecy.
"Aren't you two together now?" She asked, her mind replaying the kiss on the cheek and the following discussion on how they were beginning to explore their options together as a couple. Evelyn's brow furrowed.
"It's complicated," Evelyn informed her while putting her staff back into its bindings and around her back.
"How complicated?" Cassandra wondered.
Surely there was more to this. Something the mage wasn't telling her. She had no reason to hide anything from Solas. He was their Fade Expert and she was being unreasonably quiet...Then a flash of enlightenment came through Cassandra and for a brief moment she saw herself in Evelyn. "Only briefly, huh?" Cassandra began, changing the subject.
Across Evelyn let out a sigh of relief.
So there was something. "These abilities-Can Mahanon use them as well?" Evelyn's lips parted but then closed. There was a momentary struggle before she finally decided on an answer.
"Yes and no. It would be possible for him to unlock two of them...I would think...But the ability that I have used just now, there would be no need to gain it if I can prevent it this time around."
"Prevent what?"
The answer never came. Instead, the smell a charcoal-like smell swam through her nostrils. Cassandra blinked in astonishment as Evelyn came between her and an oncoming projectile. A burst of flames and Evelyn was thrown into her. Cassandra falling on her behind, and Evelyn on her lap.
The mage hissed in pain as a man approached them, right hand reeling back preparing another fiery burst of energy. Cassandra wasted no time to bring herself upright and hunched over Evelyn. With a quick right hand up and around Evelyn's tiny body, the Flash-fire spell became ineffective against her shield.
"Arrow of Andraste, did you really think you would go unnoticed?" The assailant questioned as he stopped casting. "Tell me, how much did you spend to discover me?" Cassandra cast her gaze back at Evelyn, but as she did her eyes widened.
The woman was now currently ripping part of her shirt off exposing left arm burnt flesh. Evelyn grit her teeth as she did so. Cassandra's left hand immediately digging into her left-side satchel to retrieve a redden flask she had stored away in case of emergency. Shaking she offered it to Evelyn who wasted no time to drop her staff and use her right hand to grab hold of such a precious offering. She opened it up before swallowing its contents whole. They threw the flask to the floor and within moments, burnt flesh managed to heal to bare.
The potion seemingly awakening her immortal gene. "What the hell? What the hell is the Inquisition harboring? How did she do that?! That's not possible! I've never seen a flask react so quickly!"
With right hand clenched, Evelyn Rose. Sure, she looked healed - good as new one might say but there was still that searing pain coursing through her. Even if it wasn't really there. It hurt and she still felt tears welling into the corner of her eyes as she managed to get back on her feet with Cassandra's help of course.
Was this the immortal life?
Was this how Solas felt every time he had previously protected her?
Every
Single
Time
Ellana could remember how she would approach him at Skyhold with bubbling nervousness because she recalled how he took a blow that was meant for her. Solas sat on his desk, bandages ever present on his ribcage but he seemed impassive as she approached. Eyes are drawn to whatever book he was currently looking over.
"Solas?" She called, and his eyes shot up at her own, there was a smile that graced his lips.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Vhenan?" Ellana blushed at the new nickname but she managed to control herself from pouncing him altogether.
Broken ribcage.
"Are you alright? Surely you shouldn't be sitting like that after what had happened?" Solas seemed riddled by her meaning, and she took a step closer, nose to nose as she reached out and gently pulled on his bindings.
That seemed to stir him out of his thoughts as he quickly got on his feet, and was pushing past her.
She assumed the proximity had alarmed him.
But she would have never guessed it was because he most likely had forgotten that he wasn't immortal towards them.
Idiot. Ellana cursed as she tuned back into the conversation at hand.
"Who exactly are you again? Cassandra wondered and once again Ellana realized, she too, had no idea who he was either. The man placed his hands on his hips and laughed.
"You don't fool me. I'm too important for this to be an accident. The Inquisition must have realized how unstoppable I am and they sent this – monster after me."
"Monster?" Ellana questioned, feeling slightly bothered by his statement. No wonder Solas kept the secret to himself all these years. People really didn't know how to handle the revelation quite yet. "Just because I'm a quick-healer?"
"Do what you want! My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere."
A sudden crash and a swish appeared. Followed by a cry of anguish from a guard that tumbled down a flight of stairs before them. Behind him stood an elf – Sera – bow drawn and readily aimed towards this gentleman.
"Just say what!"
The boisterous man turned towards her with a scowl.
"What is the meaning-"
He never finished his sentence, an arrow now lodged in his head before falling to the floor dead.
"Ugh!" She cried out tilting ahead at her handiwork before approaching Cassandra and Evelyn. "Squishy one but you heard me right?" She questioned, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Just say what? Rich tits always try for more than they deserve." She turned toward the man once more and went for her lost arrow. "Blah blah blah!" She exclaimed as she pulled the arrow back out. "Obey me, arrow in my face." She said, laughing, before putting the arrow back into her quiver. "So," She looked towards Evelyn and a wide-eyed Cassandra. "You followed the notes well enough. Glad to see your...Your kind of plain really. All that talk and you're just...A person."
Evelyn found herself laughing at the statement.
"What did I say something funny?" Sera wondered, placing her right index finger to her chin, and thinking back on what she said.
"At least I'm not 'elfy,' anymore," Evelyn replied, gaining an odd look from the woman. Cassandra besides her shook her head in slight disapproval.
"I mean," Sera began looking between the two, "Its all good either way isn't it? The important thing is you glow. You're the Herald thingy aren't you?"
"Yup that's me. I totally glow and I piss off everyone because of it."
"So my people were right then?"
"Your people?" Cassandra besides spoke up. "Elves?" Evelyn had to bite her lip from laughing. She had learned better by now, Sera was nothing like an Elf.
Even if she was.
Sera laughed.
"No. People people. Names Sera. This is cover, get around it...For the reinforcements." Sera explained before Cassandra could open her mouth. "Don't worry someone tipped me off their equipment shed."
There was a gleam in her eyes. "They've got no breeches."
XXX
"Whoa, this place is huge!" Sera exclaimed as they reached the gates back to Haven.
"That's what he said when he first came," Cassandra noted, earning a loud snorting laughter from Sera.
"Good one!" She commented and Cassandra rolled her eyes. She hadn't meant it like that.
Evelyn realized at least that Cassandra was referring to Mahanon.
"Evelyn, Cassandra!" A voice came and they turned to see Mahanon approaching a grand smile on his face.
"Speak of the devil." Cassandra murmured as he proceeded to use his left hand to shake her right. There was laughter and smile as they exchanged hellos.
Sera, however, had pulled off to the side. Right away she had noticed Mahanon's mark and tilted her head. Looking for both Evelyn and him with astonishment.
There were two Heralds!
When Mahanon turned to greet Cassandra, the Seeker refused to budge. Crossing her hands over her chest as she eyed him wearily.
"I heard you were drinking but this is an understatement! Look how grouchy you are! Could slay an entire army by herself. " Cassandra's eyes slit dangerously and Mahanon laughed. He stepped close and then dropped his voice into a mere octave. "If it is not too brash, is it okay if we talk in private?"
Cassandra went from angry to alarmed in an instant. Hands dropping to her side as she slowly nodded toward the proposal.
Evelyn simply smiled.
Mahanon was a great addition.
Cassandra would mesh well with him.
She could already see it now.
"Who would have thought, she was for the elf types," Sera whispered to Evelyn with a small nudge on her left arm. Evelyn, however, yelped at the action and sprang forward.
A sear of pain ripping through her as she did.
Sera regarded her oddly, Cassandra pushed past Mahanon calling out her name, and Mahanon stared at her with worry.
"I'm fine." She told them, right hand extended up and out as a stop like expression. "I just wasn't expecting her to do that. Kind of thrown off guard by the conversation." She lied, but Cassandra scowled knowing it was because of her arm.
"Evelyn, what happened to your shirt – it's ripped?"
"It's nothing." She quickly replied, hoping Cassandra would follow lead.
"She took a blow meant for me, and was burned rather badly because of it." Cassandra told him, and Evelyn cursed silently. The last thing she needed was everyone to be worried about her. She was fine, the wound was gone, just a little aftermath to get used to. But even that soon enough Evelyn was sure would fade to numbness.
"Does it hurt?" Mahanon asked, and she frowned.
Obviously.
"What got all your panties in a bundle? There's nothing there at all! Yours practically babying her! Gross!" Mahanon glanced at Sera with a look of disgust.
"You must be the new recruit."
"Sera, S-E-R-A, Sera. If you call me anything but that there's going to be problems." She told him extending her left hand out to him, and Mahanon took it with a smirk.
"Well then, Sera. The name is Mahanon. Herald of Andraste. Pleasure is mine." Sera pulled away before he could place a kiss on her hand.
"Eww gross! Don't swing that way I'm afraid - it's the ladies that make me feel all gooey on the side ."
"Interesting."
"Ah."
"Sera – please."
"What? Just being honest anyway. Don't want him to get his itty bitty his hopes up. Anyways does this place have a bar? Please tell me that it has a bar. I've been dying to get my tongue wet after dealing with that bullshit before."
"It's over that way." Evelyn pointed and Sera went on her way with a sprinting giggle of excitement.
"You did say she was an oddity," Cassandra said as they watched her go. "I didn't think you meant it as an understatement."
"She's not that bad once you get used to her antics." Evelyn said then Mahanon rose a brow before Cassandra gave an, 'Ugh,' at the notion. "Really she's not!"
"I for one think she's a great addition."
"You like anything that's a woman, Mahanon." Cassandra snapped, and he laughed.
"Nonsense, while it is a definite plus, I do like this girl. Someone to keep all the grouches in line. By the way, Vivienne is amazing!" Cassandra snorted. Mahanon ignored. "I'm glad you brought her along." Evelyn shrugged.
Vivienne was a great fighter but still, there was one thing that always did bother her about the woman.
"Just don't let her corrupt you with all her mage controlling talk."
"Corruption? But she has a point. Mages can be dangerous if let run free." Evelyn sighed. "No offense to you or anything but the Circles was created for a reason and could benefit us immensely in the future."
"Oh no, I am the wrong person to talk about this with. Cassandra please. Have at him." Evelyn told her, as she went to walk forward. Cassandra caught her by the arm, there was an apology with the hiss that followed.
"Evelyn where are you going? The others are waiting...They need to know what happened..."
"Take Mahanon, he needs to catch up with whats going on. Besides its a good chance for you two to well –hm– bond."
"Bond?" They both questioned in the union. "At the War Table?" Evelyn smiled and nodded. "War, strategy, letting off steam. It's a great way to get to know each other."
"Have Solas and you practiced that before?" Mahanon teased, but Evelyn turned red all too quickly. "Evelyn really?!"
"No,No,No!" She denied shaking her head furiously.
Not with this one anyways. "The idea of it got me that's all! Yes, the idea..."
"If you're going, you should at least meet the new recruits I picked up along the way. Blackwall and The Iron Bull."
"What kind of names...?" Cassandra wondered. Evelyn almost jumped for joy.
Iron Bull was here too! She was expecting Blackwall but Iron Bull was a certainly a plus!
"Ones a Grey Warden and the other is a Qunari, a Ben-Hassrath."
"A Grey Warden will assist us immensely. A Qunari, on the other hand, is a risky choice though, are you sure about this?" Cassandra questioned putting in her two cents.
"Nonsense. Iron Bull while its true that he is a spy. His people are concerned about the Breach from what he told me I don't think he's lying so this information will benefit us greatly. Besides he loves the ladies just as much as I. I think he'll fit in just fine." Mahanon replied. Cassandra glanced at Evelyn for a second approval but the woman had already gone.
"W-what? Where did she go?"
"Maybe to jump Solas." When Cassandra glared he laughed and took her by the hand. "Most likely to meet the others though. She'll like The Iron Bull. He's got a thing for redheads."
XXX
Ellana was nervous. She knew, but the person she was approaching her was a great friend. Someone who did more than she could ever ask for. Then again, she was also ashamed to approach him.
Dorian.
He asked you to do it. Evelyn's voice whispered deep within the thresholds of her mind. You spared him from the wolf that day.
Ellana felt her right fist tighten as the tears welled up.
Even so.
As she approached Iron Bull, he turned and rose a brow. Krem welcomed her as the second Herald and before she would even do any greetings back. Ellana bowed to him.
"I'm sorry!" She told him as some tears rolled down her face, "I'm sorry Bull and thank you, thank you for everything!"Ellana stood back upright. They both had blank faces. She couldn't help but laugh as she wiped the tears away. "I look forward to standing aside you in battle."
Then she was running off before he could say anything. She couldn't hear him talk. Not yet! It pained her too much so Ellana would turn to the man she knew she could talk with.
Blackwall.
A man living in lies, just like her.
Yet still hiding them.
Tom Rainier.
She stopped outside the blacksmith hut, the people working there turned to greet her and she offered a waving smile.
"Excuse me, M-Milady." A voice came and she turned to see Blackwall, blushing a bit. "My name is Blackwall. A Grey Warden. A pleasure." He told her, holding his arm out to her, and she shook it with ease.
"Evelyn. I'm a Trevelyan but an unwanted one, I suppose. With all the magic and what not." She told him, laughing.
"I don't see why that would be the case. Magic is a beautiful thing. It makes you unique." Ellana smiled.
"Flatterer." Blackwall blushed scarlet.
"Yes well, I've heard rumors of abandoned Warden camps all over these parts. If we have time, I'd like to take a look. See if there's anything we can salvage."
"Of course, how could I deny helping a handsome man as yourself?" Ellana teased and Blackwall simply smiled.
"Now whose flattering who?"
"Touche."
They laughed, Solas would have her head for this.
"So is there something large and heavy you need moving?" Ellana brushed a red strand of hair behind her right ear.
"Manual labor in exchange for compliments? Useful." Blackwall shifted side by side, nervously.
"Well, I aim to please." He let his hands drop away to his sides. "I have to say, my lady, you're, unlike any woman I've ever met."
Ellana coughed, maybe she had gone a bit too far with her flirting. Blackwall was practically beaming at her.
"Why are you traveling alone, shouldn't you be with the other Grey Wardens?" She asked, shifting the conversation knowing anything with Grey Warden in it, made Blackwall uneasy.
"It's what I've always done. Recruitment requires one man. Besides I've always been a loner. Works better for everyone that way."
"Right. Let's continue this another time."
"As you wish, I'll be here when you need me."
XXX
"What am I doing?" Ellana questioned once she was back in her room or was it Mahanon's room. She didn't know. Flirting with Tom? Was she out of her mind? "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"She swore as she paced about.
At least most of her teammates were back. But now Iron Bull must think her insane! Fenedhis.
Get a grip! There's only one person I need to be focused on and that person is-
There was a knock on the door. Ellana sucked in her breath if it was Iron Bull she would have ought right died. She turned the handle, opened the door to see Solas instead. Fenedhis lasa!
At least he was dressed in his usual sleek attire, apparently, he had multiple copies or just used magic. Probably the latter, once he was in the clear to do so.
"Evelyn good. They told me you were here." As he strode in and turned towards her, arms crossing over his chest. "We need to talk."
"And we're not talking now?" She questioned, as she slowly closed the door shut behind her. She wondered if she should lock it.
"About us." She would decide against it.
"I would prefer you not make it a habit to, well, show off our relationship to the others."
"So no more kissing?" She questioned and now he shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I didn't say that."
"Just not in public." She added again.
"Please." Ellana sighed.
"Fine, it's not like I haven't heard it before. You've always been like this."
"Must you." He drawled.
He really didn't like being compared to the Solas in her world.
"Yes, I must." She reminded with a sour look. "It's why I am here."
There was a silence between them then and Ellana felt a trail of sweat down her face. They always brought out the worst in each other. "I will keep things under wraps. It was not my intention to distract you."
"Then what was your intention? To kill me? Wouldn't that be easier? You would not need to worry about the so-called impending doom that shall be brought by my so-called hands." Another bead of sweat dripped down her face, as she felt her eyes closed and she gave a sigh of defeat.
"You would have to be there, to see it, to understand it."
"I would love to see such a world personally. It's everything that I sought for." She found herself snapping her eyes open and staring down at him with a sharp eagle-eyed gaze. "Spirits running free and magic no longer constrained by this worlds boundaries. Every time I think about it, I don't see the repercussions."
"You're walking a tightrope Solas." She warned.
"If you'd just hear me out. The orb will fix both our issues. If I get the orb-"
"You will not get the orb. If we retrieve it that is. I will be the one who holds it close." His eyes seemed to snap into his own pointed look.
"The orb is mine." He reminded. Eyes now a stormy gray. Ellana felt her mana spark and churn at the sight. He was coming. She knew her hand had become blade. Lightning tendrils ever present as she prepared to face off with the re-emerging Wolf.
His grin as wide and dangerous as ever.
"Not while I'm here...Fen'Harel."