As soon as Calem had gathered his things and let Keeper Sathari know that he would be leaving back to his clan—which was really only partly true—Andra wasted no time in setting off. She wanted no long, drawn out goodbyes full of sorrow and endless questions on why. She didn't have time. And if anyone truly wanted answers, they could go to the Keeper. Andra had told the old women everything, but whether she would pass that on was uncertain.
"So, where are we headed?" Calem asked as he adjusted one of the straps to his backpack on his shoulder.
Andra didn't look at him as she replied, "To the Arbor Wilds."
"The answers you're looking for are there?"
"We're going to the Temple of Mythal," Andra explained. "I'm hoping that the elves that lived there haven't left yet. Or at least the Abelas is still around."
"Abelas?"
"He's one of the elves that lives in the Temple, protecting its secrets."
Calem had so many questions, but he saw the tired look in Andra's eyes and he remained silent.
For over an hour, neither said a word as they trekked on. Andra spent this welcome silence replaying everything the Keeper had said to her. About not being truly Dalish, about being whisked away into the Ashihari when she was only four. It all made so much sense to her now.
A rustling of leaves alerted Andra's trained, pointed ears and her head snapped to the side to see what it was. Calem had been mulling over his own thoughts but hadn't heard the noise and asked what was wrong when he saw her sudden movement.
Andra didn't answer him as her silver eyes scanned the forest around them, doused in the warm light of midday. She didn't have to search long as a figure stepped out of the trees, unabashed by discovery. Andra recognized them immediately and she couldn't help a smile from breaking out on her face.
"Solas!" She called in excitement, and for the moment, Calem was forgotten.
"Hello again." He stopping a few feet in front of her and leaning against his staff.
"I thought you left?"
"I did, but I didn't get far. I was worried of what your clan might do when they saw you, so I came back to make sure you were okay."
This gave Andra pause, "You worried about me?"
"Of course. I don't entirely know where we stand now but we were friends once and I still care about your well being."
Andra flushed under his words, "I thought that maybe after last night, that that was it. That I wouldn't see you again."
Solas' eyes were gentle and his expression soft as he looked upon the blonde he had grown so close to. He didn't know what to say, unable to bring himself to admit that—try as he might—he was unable to stay away.
"Thank you…" For coming back, she meant to say, but the words were caught in her throat. She didn't want to appear clingy, but she missed his company; missed his friendship. Just missed him. But a part of her was warning her not to give away her whole heart yet. They might have been close once, but he had walked away from her before. She didn't know if he would do it again.
Solas stepped closer and placed a hand on Andra's cheek, brushing her face with his thumb. "Ar lasa mala revas, Lethallan."
"Not quite," Andra answered, pulling away from his touch. "The Keeper told me some... disturbing things. I'm going back to the Temple of Mythal to look for answers."
Solas was surprised, "What answers do you hope to find at the temple?"
"The truth about my past."
There was a half grunt, half snort, from next to the duo and they both turned, startled, to see Calem staring at them with his arms crossed over his chest. It was then that Andra realized she had completely forgotten that he was traveling with her, and the proximity she shared with Solas caused her to feel a bit embarrassed. Solas didn't seem to have any qualms about their situation, but rather, he actually looked a little irritated at the interruption.
"What do you mean? Your past should be obvious to you," Calem interjected. "You might not have had your parents to tell you all the details, but at least your clan elders and your Keeper were there to take over after what those werewolves."
Andra knew none of that was true, but she still winced at his words. "Sathari told me that all of that was a lie, Calem. We talked this morning before you and I left. The Ashihari never lived in Ferelden, only passed through. We had always lived here in the Free Marches. And I wasn't born into the clan. They raised me but they aren't my true people. Family doesn't lie to family just to keep someone's feelings from getting hurt... I was told I was found in the Arbor Wilds, near the Temple of Mythal, when I was just four. No one has any idea who my parents are or what happened to them. So forgive me for wanting to know the truth." She felt anger boiling up within her. Calem had no right to patronize her. Childhood friend or not.
"What?" Calem asked, golden eyes alight with confusion.
Solas remained silent during the exchange, but there was something in his own blue eyes that itched at the back of Andra's mind. She just couldn't place a finger on what it was.
"But... surely someone would have let that slip?" Calem was staring at her in disbelief, brows furrowed.
Andra looked away as her mind retraced her memories, "They did. Looking back… the elders let it slip quite a bit. But it had always been so vague and I never realized they had been talking about me."
Calem stared hard at the ground, mulling over this new information. He didn't want to accept it. It all sounded terribly wrong in his head.
"Ahnsul ma amahn?" Solas asked with distaste.
"I might be an elf, but I'm not fluent in Elvhen," the brunet scolded. "Only a few words; some greetings and farewells. Most of the language is lost to us."
Solas suppressed a scoff, "Your Keepers know Elvhen, do they not?"
Calem's irritation grew as he remembered what Andra had said about Solas' disregard for the Dalish. "Not as much as you think. Though enough that maybe they could piece it all back together with a lot of effort. Why would it matter when most Dalish can't speak it, anyway? It's a very small part of the history we try to recover. There's more out there to search for than a dead language."
Solas' glared at the young elf before him, "All Elvhen history is a treasure. To lose even a single piece of it is a great loss."
Andra sighed in exasperation, she didn't want to have to mediate the fight she knew was coming. But then an idea came to her, causing a bright smile to spread on her face. She turned to the bald elf and captured his blue gaze, "Come with me, satha."
Solas' anger fell away at the request, "Elan av'ahna ahnsul?"
Andra continued to smile, but it was softer now, "Isavahnan falon."
A smile touched at older elf's features, "Ma nuvenin."
Andra clasped her hands together, a thrill of adrenaline rushing through her at the thought of traveling with Solas once again.
"We should get going," Calem said, wanting Andra to say farewell to this intruder. He could feel Andra slipping further and further away from him. He knew that her romantic feelings for him were gone, but he had hoped to turn the tide in his favor with this journey. A journey between the two of them.
Andra nodded her agreement. "Yes, we should." She then turned to look at her old friend, "and Solas is coming with us."
ELVHEN USED:
Ar lasa mala revas: "You are free"
Lethallan: Casual reference used for someone with whom one is familiar. Lethallin is used for males, while lethallan is used for females, but this is not always the case. Akin to "cousin" or "clansman" since "lin" is the word for blood.
Ahnsul ma amahn?: "Why are you here?"
Satha: "Please"
Elan av'ahna ahnsul?: "May I ask why?"
Isavahnan falon: "I need a companion/friend" (Literally: "I require a friend")
Ma nuvenin: "As you wish" / "As you desire"
