Chapter 46 – Denerim, at last.

The city grew on the horizon as the couple slowly meandered over. Lyla was in awe as it got larger, wondering how it could possibly be so large. Humans may be the enemy in some respect, but she could at least admire their craftsmanship. They could build fierce weapons, nothing like her axe but good nonetheless, and now this city. How many more were there like this? What had her people lost out on?

"Vhenan, are all cities like this?" She asked of Leliana, who walked beside her. "It's so big, even from here, as though all the clans of my people could stay and not see each other."

"One day, love, I will take you to see Val Royeoux, that's a real city. This one pales in comparison. Maker, the way the water reflects in the summer sun, c'est si beau." The bard stared into the distance with a faraway look in her eye, and Lyla couldn't help but notice how gorgeous Leliana looked in the morning light. She looked pretty no matter what but this was something special.

Revas bounded along beside her, full of energy and needing the attention that any dog needs. He nipped at the elf's hand playfully and she smirked as she looked down at him. "Just because you are named freedom doesn't mean you can do as you wish, lethallin." She rubbed behind his ear and the dog groaned in delight. "Oh, you like that, friend? You will need to behave in this shemlen city as well, do that And I can promise you more."

Deep down, Lyla admitted to herself she was absolutely terrified. She may have made friends with some humans, and even fallen for one, but she still saw them as the enemy, and this city was literally filled with them. Ashalle had taught her many things growing up, and the main lesson was to stay as far away from cities as possible.

Humans, she said, were hunters too. They would not hesitate to set their hounds on a bear that threatened them, but similarly no good hunter would miss the opportunity to shoot a rabbit frozen with fear. Lyla would have to be careful to attract as little attention as possible. Out here she was a predator, a hunter, a warrior and to some, a monster but in there, Creators, in there she was little more than prey.

Without thinking, she reached across and held Leliana's hand, it brought her some small comfort and helped her nerves some, but it barely took the edge off. Her other hand reached for the hilt of her axe, and her heartbeat began to calm a little as they walked.

The city was close now, and the road was becoming congested with the random caravans and oxen-driven carts entering the city.

As much traffic as there was, a guard still spotted them and called them over. His armour was dull and scratched in places, signs of either laziness or more likely he couldn't afford to keep better care of it. His dirty, pale face was marked with various small scars and a bushy blonde moustache that was a stark contrast to his bald head.

"Morning, ma'am, what's your business in the city? Armed rabbits make a man nervous, you know," he scowled at Lyla as he spoke, but she refused to react. She looked to her lover and was surprised to see a large smile on her face.

"Bonjour, monsieur, mama sent me to buy some artefacts for the family estate. You know how demanding mothers can be," Leliana spoke in an exaggerated Orlesian accent, no doubt some bard trick Lyla wouldn't understand. She placed her hand on the man's arm, more of a flirtatious gesture than anything else given his thick armour. "Don't mind my guard, she's only here to keep me safe, mama wouldn't let me leave without her. Not that I would want to, have you seen her? Elle est exquise! Very pleasant to look at, non?"

What? Had she heard that right? Lyla flushed as she realised what happened and the fear that swelled inside her stomach grew. She trusted Leliana, more than perhaps she should, but this human, this man, he was an unknown. And strange men scared her more than she would ever admit.

"She certainly isn't bad, Ma'am, I could stand to look for a while," the guard grinned as he looked her up and down. Her armour hid her figure well, but she was still a woman, and elven woman, and he was still a man. Elves were more beautiful than humans, this was widely known, and to a lust-filled guard Lyla would appear more attractive than anything despite her clothing.

"Well, don't look too long, monsieur, mama will be ever so mad at me if I am late. My elf here is under strict orders to ensure that doesn't happen. She is deadly as well as beautiful. I wouldn't get too close." The man took a step back and his hand instantly went to the hilt of his weapon. Revas jumped before Leliana, baring his teeth, and Lyla did the same, albeit without the teeth.

"Ma emma harel," She growled and revelled in the fear that shone in the guard's eyes. Leliana pulled her back and smiled at the guard.

"Ever so protective," She giggled, "Calm down, Lyla, this man means me no harm. He's rather charming actually." The bard leant forwards, towards the man, and Lyla began to see red. She wasn't stupid, she knew this was all a trick but it was hard for her to see. Leliana was a master of flirting it seemed, and she had drawn the guard into her web as easily as Lyla would trap a rabbit.

She closed her eyes and began to count slowly in her head, something to distract herself as Leliana worked her magic, at least until she heard Reva's growl again. Her lids flew open and she directed a glare to the guard, who had taken Leliana by the hand.

The bard didn't look overly uncomfortable but Lyla was, with a roar she barged between them. Hand on the hilt of her axe as she stared daggers at the guardsman. Revas was at her side in an instant, adding his growl to her curses and the guard drew his sword as quick as Lyla drew her weapons.

"Enough," Leliana ordered and in an instant Revas was back to his usual playful self. The bard pulled Lyla away, again, and was in front of her quicker than a flash. "Monsieur, I am dreadfully sorry. Mama doesn't allow men near me, no matter how fond of them I am." She turned to Lyla, and pouted her lips, "You really are over protective. You never let me have any fun, mama wouldn't need to know."

Another guard had noticed them, nudging his companion, they both made their way over towards the couple. "Mistress," Lyla pulled Leliana back, "we need to leave." With a gentle nod of her head, she pointed at the guardsmen. Leliana's eyes widened but as she turned back to their guard, she was all smiles again.

"Monsieur, it has been lovely to meet you, perhaps we can arrange a meeting later? I'll be in the market square at midnight, adieu." Before the man could protest, she had taken Lyla by the arm and pulled her back into the crowd, and into the city.

A giggle fit overtook them as they ran through the hustle and bustle of the masses. It was utterly ridiculous really, she had managed to not only shout at a shemlen, but Leliana had shown her off, of all the things she had expected this was not one of them.

"Ma vhenan, you are completely crazy," She pulled the human closer, holding onto her arm as they slipped into a back alley. Trusting in her lover's sense of direction, the elf closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of her woman, and tried her best to ignore the smells and sounds of this city.

"Crazy for you perhaps," Leliana smirked, entwining their fingers and slowing them to a gentle amble.

Lyla laughed and opened her eyes to look at her lover, but her eyes caught on the walls and building surrounding them.

It was all too close, how could the humans live in such a small place, houses either side of them and barely a metre for them to walk through. It was worse than the tightest forest she had ever walked through for the simple fact that it was all stone, cold, emotionless stone. In the woods, she could feel the trees, smell the dirt and flowers, and more importantly she felt safe. Here, she was exposed and vulnerable.

She could hear voices all around, her hearing was a blessing in the forest where she could hear the smallest twig snap, here it was a curse. A lover's quarrel turning violent a few streets over, a Templar questioning a little child behind them, the large crowd of people swarming towards one of the main squares, all of it clear as day in her mind. She could hear their footsteps, their breathing and their laughter. Their crying, their shouting and everything in between.

The smells of the city were something she had never experienced, never imagined, and, Creators, she never wanted to smell it again. Open drains at the edge of the small walkway stunk in the warm air, warmer than in the country at any rate. There was a tannery just up ahead and the stench of boiling leather was almost enough to bring Lyla's breakfast back up. She had smelt it before. Her clan did it on a much smaller scale, and far from the camp, the smell would linger for weeks afterwards and Lyla was glad she wouldn't be here this long.

It was nearly as bad as any Archdemon nightmare, and suddenly it was all too much.

She could feel the walls closing in, the humans getting closer. She shut her eyes tight and held onto Leliana tighter. Something, anything to ground herself against the red mist that seemed to want to fall over her eyes, or worse the debilitating fear that she sometimes felt amongst shemlen. Once her friends had seen her go weak and silent from it, in that tavern in Lothering, and she had refused to let it happen again but this was too far.

"love, are you ok?" Leliana's voice was muffled as panic covered her world. Her head hurt, the world was too close. What she would give to be back in a forest instead of this madness. "Lyla, talk to me?" But she couldn't respond. Breathe, she told herself, and she did, deep breathes in and out hoping to calm but it failed.

"Too many people," She muttered under her breath, "too close, too much. Help me, I need to leave." She was hysterical now, words falling out of her mouth before she could even think to catch them. "Ma vhenan, ma revas, ir isala revas."

"À la claire fontaine m'en allant promener

J'ai trouvé l'eau si belle que je m'y suis baigné."

Leliana's soft voice began to ring in her ears, drowning out the horror of the shemlen city. Lyla began to relax into Leliana's arm, breathing deeply and let the song wash over her.

"Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

Jamais je ne t'oublierai

Sous les feuilles d'un chêne,

Je me suis fait sécher

Sur la plus haute branche,

Un rossignol chantait"

She had no idea what the words meant but the tone was delightful, she could sense the love. She opened her eyes to look back at her lover but Leliana was looking ahead, concern on her face, finding them a path to the meeting place.

"Chante, rossignol, chante,

Toi qui as le cœur gai

Tu as le cœur à rire,

Moi je l'ai à pleurer

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime

Jamais je ne t'oublierai"

A door opened before them and Lyla realised they had arrived. She had been so lost in the song and her lover's face that she hadn't noticed. The stress she had felt before seemed silly now and she realised that with Leliana beside her, she could do anything without fear.

Author's note

Ok, that french song at the end there is a song called "À la claire fontaine" A french children's song dating from 1600's. I thought it was gorgeous and fitted the story perfectly, to find a translation you can just google it.

Translations

Elvish

Vhenan – Heart

Lethallin/lethallan – close friend

Shemlen – quick children, slur for humans.

Ma emma harel – You should fear me.

Ma vhenan, ma revas, ir isala revas. – My heart, my freedom, I need my freedom.