Two days later, "This was a mistake," I whimpered as I gingerly lowered myself to my cot.
Every muscle ached, every inch of me felt bruised. New recruits had flooded in following our successful attempt to close the Breach, and Cullen had directed them, myself included, to jog the entire rim of Haven. Twice. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Another green recruit had vomited after the first lap. Minaeve was biting her lip to keep from laughing. Bethany was rolling her eyes at me as she brewed some tea to help numb the pain. She tossed a small bunch of elfroot at me.
"Chew on it," she ordered.
I eyed it suspiciously, but bit off a few leaves and chewed. It wasn't a huge difference, but I could feel my muscles relax a bit.
"Remind me why I submitted myself to this torture?" I groaned as I sipped some of Bethany's tea. It was disgusting.
"Because you're magic has plateaued," Bethany stated, matter of factly.
"Because you wanted to be close to the Commander?" Minaeve questioned mischievously.
I gave her a dirty look which caused her to smirk. I threw my pillow at her, smacking her in the face.
"Give it some time, you're body will adjust," Bethany encouraged as she changed into her nightclothes and brushed her hair.
"Do you think I'm being foolish?" I asked quietly, "Is my magic just stuck like this from being Tranquil?"
Minaeve and Bethany looked at me sadly.
"No one has ever been made right after being made Tranquil before," Minaeve stated, "We have no idea what the effects are or the permanence of them. Only time will tell."
I nodded, but felt my heart drop.
...
I startled awake as someone was shaking my shoulder. I looked blearily into Bethany's ocean-blue eyes.
"Get dressed, we're supposed to go check on your sister," she directed.
I dressed quickly and followed Bethany down the path to the cabins near the gates of Haven. She strode inside, nodding to Asaala leaning against the cabin wall as she did so, and perched on the stool next to Ellana. Magic bloomed from her palms as they hovered above Ellana's body.
"Her vitals are stable and the wound is healed, she should awaken any -"
Ellana released a groan as she began to stir. She blinked her eyes a few times, glancing around the room before they fixed on me. Her gaze turned cold.
"What is she doing in here?" she bristled.
She wouldn't even acknowledge that I was her sister.
"She is my second and assists me when I am tending to my patients," Bethany stated, coolly.
"Tell her to leave," Ellana barked.
"If you have a problem with her, I have a problem with you and you can tend to your own wounds," Bethany threatened.
Ellana's eyes darkened, but she said no more.
"What is your problem?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
Ellana scoffed, "You're face is barren like that of a shemlen, save for that disgusting brand on your forehead. You let them do that to you? You let them mark you as their property? You're a disgrace to our clan."
I laughed, rage boiling, "My face is barren of vallaslin because my family, my clan, you, forced me to leave all I had ever known. They chose you over me to be First to the Keeper. We were both born with magic, but you being more gifted at the time were able to stay. I wandered, alone, no more than ten years old; starving, freezing, terrified. Until, I was caught using magic in a town trying to keep warm. A couple of human children intervened long enough for the templars to save me from being stoned to death by the townspeople. I was given a home, food and protection. They provided education and training. I was made Tranquil not by force, but to save me. The 'shemlens' as you call them, took me in and accepted me as one of their own; much like the people here did for me despite my being a Tranquil. I have been more welcomed, valued and appreciated by these people than my own family, Ellana. Who of us is the disgrace?"
I stared angrily at her until she looked away.
In my peripheral, Bethany stared at me - mouth slightly agape - but I ignored her. I was boiling inside as I continued to glare at my sister, my resentment growing. Her face softened a touch, shame mingling with the anger.
"I am sorry," she offered, not meeting my eyes.
"I'm not," I retorted coldly.
Her eyes flicked to mine then, "You're my family too."
"Doesn't matter," I shrugged, "The Maker had this path planned out for me."
Her groomed brows knit, perplexed, "You believe in the Maker?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Not the Elven Gods?"
"Not for a second."
She shook her head, but said nothing.
"From my assessment, you're completely healed," Bethany chimed in when we said nothing else, her voice a little higher than normal, "But I would advise taking it slow. Seeker Cassandra wanted to know the moment you were awake."
Bethany stood, glancing between the two of us.
"Meira, would you like me -," Bethany began.
"Let's go," I growled, turning my back on my sister.
I felt her stare the whole way out of the cabin.
...
There had been a big commotion when word spread through the village that Ellana was awake. The people had begun calling her the 'Herald of Andraste' in the days between her closing the Breach and waking. Her Mark was now a blessing from Andraste, instead of a sign of her deviousness; Divine Justinia calling to her for help cleared her of all guilt in the eyes of the Inquisition; her stumbling out of the Fade and the woman seen behind her clear signs of her being sent by Andraste herself. The people clamored to see her when she exited her cabin, escorted by Cassandra to the Chantry to meet with the other heads of the Inquisition. Though Cullen had the forethought to place some of the soldiers outside Ellana's cabin for her protection, he had not planned on them saluting to Ellana, further solidifying the people's trust in her. I had to keep myself from laughing each time someone called her the 'Herald', as I'm sure that was grating on her Dalish nerves. A part of me felt for her as I'd caught a glimpse of her face through the crowd: scared. She hid it well, looking haughty instead of afraid, but sharing the same face meant I knew her tells. Then the words she had said came back and all sympathy evaporated.
"You're muttering to yourself," Bethany murmured.
I was sitting in our cabin, tearing clean cotton with my teeth to get it ready to boil. I was stewing in agitation as I thought about Ellana's words.
"Sorry, she just set me off," I ground out, scowling.
Bethany smirked, "I would never have guessed."
"The first time we've seen each other in nearly twenty years and she rips into me for not having vallaslin on my face? For my brand that I had no control over? I was forced from my home, my family, my clan and all she cares about is my keeping of the old ways? Their self-righteousness sickens me. I am glad I grew up away from it, away from them."
"You don't wonder about it...at all?" I knew Bethany was letting me speak my mind, her thoughts of letting someone speak uninterrupted and without judgment sometimes being just as cathartic as any medicinal healing.
"No. If I had, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't care for people outside of the Dalish. I wouldn't be part of something larger than myself. My race."
"I am sorry, Meira."
"Don't be, I'm not."
"I meant about everything that's happened to you."
"Despite what you may think, I am starting feel that it will all be worth it; and if someone had to endure it, I'd rather it be me than anyone else. I'll gladly accept torture or even death if it means sparing those I care about from it. Don't tell any one that though, I don't want people thinking I'm sentimental," I joked, half-heartedly.
"I won't, but just so you know, you sound like my sister. Know also that I understand being in the shadow of a sibling and the resentment that can bring. While I understand, know that it leads to nothing good. If you can, try to work things out with Ellana."
"How is your sister?" I asked, changing the subject.
"I'm not sure. Though I have no doubts that she is fine, I've heard no word from her since I left Kirkwall with Cullen."
With Cullen? "Oh, are you - are you two?" I tried to ignore the panic rising.
"Maker, no," Bethany blushed, "Cullen is like a brother to me. After Cassandra asked him to join the Inquisition, he asked me if I was interested in leaving the Circle behind to be a healer."
"I see."
"To be honest," Bethany started, looking at me, and then shook her head, "Never mind."
"What?"
"It's not my place."
"What, Bethany?" I pressed.
"To be honest, I don't think he's ever moved on from you."
My heart soared at that.
"To be honest with you, I haven't moved on from him either," I stated before a wry smile formed on my face, "Of course, I have spent the last few years as a Tranquil - suitors weren't exactly falling at my feet. A monotone voice, a Chantry brand on my forehead - while I may have pulled them off beautifully - may not be consider the most charming ways to woo a male; human or otherwise."
Bethany laughed heartily at that before saying, "I'm glad, not for the Tranquil part, but the no suitors. I think both you and Cullen could use some happiness."
I returned her smile, "Maker willing."
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