Hey guys, here is the next update. Hope you have enjoyed the read so far.

Here is the beginning of the second arc.

Enjoy the read.

ARC 2

The Hidden Menace

Chapter Eighteen

Return

Elvhenan

Clan Lavellan

Mahanon Lavellan walked through the camp with a frown upon his features. The man that was the First of the Clan. He was dressed in his hunting gears, his bow at his back. He had just returned from a Hunt for the Clan a few hours ago and had come across some disturbing news from Hunters of other Clans he had come across.

He made his way straight toward the Keeper's tent, and flapped it open. The warmth of the tent was familiar and welcome and the essence the older woman used for prayers was still permeating from within it. She must have been in prayers before he had arrived, he assumed.

Keeper Deshanna's back was turned toward him as she was working on something in front of her.

"You are troubled," she spoke out in Elvhen.

Mahanon grit his teeth.

"I am," he said, "News I've heard from hunters of other Clans."

Deshanna turned toward him. Her eyes were curious, still held the wisdom within them. Her hair which was always a shine of blond was staring to show the gray among the strings that were upon her head, her Vallaslin complimenting her already sharpened features as she observed him.

"What news?"

"Outsiders," Mahanon spoke out, "Foreign ships and men attacking caravels. Not natives to our home."

Deshanna let out a hum.

"I want to take some hunters with me to scout the enemy," he continued, "If they are attacking the Elvhen, we must spread the words and find them quickly."

Deshanna gave him a light nod.

"If that is your wish then do so," she said, "A threat to the People must be taken care of as soon as possible. They are attacking other Clans then the sooner they are dealt with, the better."

Mahanon nodded in solidarity with her. He gave her a light bow before turning away making for the entrance, plans already running through his mind of what he needed to do to protect his people.

To protect Elvhenan.

"She will be here in the coming days," Deshanna told him.

He froze before he could reach the entrance of the tent.

"I've received words from the Jedi," the older elf continued, "She will return here soon to gain her Vallaslin…just thought you should know."

He gave her a backward glance and soft nod before moving out of the tent and into the camp outside. Mahanon knew that Ellana will be returning soon. His mind always returns to her whenever he was alone or in his thoughts. He still remembers the wide-eyed child that looked up to him, and that was always around him whenever he came back from a hunt.

As he was walking through the camp, his eyes found a young female Elf, vallaslin upon her skin and dark hair falling upon her shoulders. Valolwyn Lavellan, he remembers her name. A newly made hunter of the clan, still green but she had sharp instincts that will serve her well in the future.

Mahanon tried to imagine Ellana at that age, but his mind couldn't truly form a complete image. He knew deep within himself; he could never imagine her like that for the true image would pale in comparison of whatever his brain could come up with. However, he shook himself from the thoughts of Ellana.

He had a new task in to accomplish.

"Fendis, Thelrian," he called out drawing the attention of the two hunters that were closest to him, "Gather the rest of the hunters. We have work to do."


The ship came out of hyperspace. The Ferelden created vessel hummed as it decelerated from the high speed that formed the Hyperspace lanes of space. From within the vessel, Ellana Lavellan was seating at the pilot chair, going over the control to bring the ship on cruising speed. While she wasn't usually the one seating at the control, Master Amell had decided to let her stretch her wings at practice for the flight.

She had never had the love of flying within herself, however, she could pilot most vessels as it was a required at the Temple, thought, in her mind, Scott will be the one who is the Daredevil pilot, for the thrill of it. She had a light smile upon her lips, thinking of her Terran friend before her eyes found the sight of her home world.

Elvhenan hung in the front of her like a bright gem in a sea of stars the two moons seemingly a short distance away from the planet itself. Considering that it was a mostly forest world similar to Odessa, the planet from space was a view of green, and blue of the many seas that covered its surface.

"I feel the ship came out hyperspace," the familiar voice of her master spoke out as she heard the door behind her hiss open.

She glanced at the woman.

"Yes," she said, "I'm bringing us to the spaceport now."

Solana gave her a light nod standing behind her as the entered into the atmosphere of the planet, and then Ellana could once again see the large expense of greenery and then the spaceport was now visible. Old memories of walking through that very same spaceport long ago, resurfaced within Ellana's mind as a soft smile made its presence on her face. Ellana guided the Mabari toward the landing spot that was given to them, gently lowering down until the landing gears kissed the ground beneath them.

"Well done," Solana spoke out, "Your piloting skills have grown."

Ellana stood up from her seat after powering it down. She glanced at her Master, a slight frown appearing upon her face.

"You know I don't really care for flying Master."

The older woman chuckled.

"I don't see why," she said, "You are skilled. You might need your own ship when you're a Knight. Most Jedi have mission solo you know."

Ellana glanced at her, feeling a light confusion.

"I could ask the Council to post me on one of the Outpost on the Frontier," she answered, the two of them falling into the familiar banter that had grown between them over the years.

Solana let out a hum.

"That's one way to gain many experiences in diplomacy I suppose," she answered.

The two stepped off the ship and into the warm air of Elvhenan. The sunlight shone down upon Ellana causing her to raise her hand lightly to shield her eyes from the sudden brightness. Letting out a small hum, the young woman turned her eyes around the port, taking in the few peoples walking around and going on their daily lives.

Danger! Destruction! Desolation!

Ellana stumbled at the sudden feelings coursing through her, causing her to gasp. From beside her, she can hear her Master's sharp intake of breath, meaning that she was also feeling the warning in the Force, the waves that were once calm as she felt, were suddenly agitated by this new presence that was causing them.

"Master did you…?" she started.

Solana nodded.

"I did," she murmured, "I wonder what could be causing it."

Ellana reached out with the Force, sensing and searching. She had come across such feelings before on assignment in the Frontier as well as in the Terminus System, given the amounts of gangs and warlords that lived within that place.

"Something on this Planet doesn't belong here," she said, opening her eyes, "It reminds me of the gangs we run into the Terminus Systems and on the Frontier."

Solana looked at her, her soft yellow eyes serious and there was concern within her gaze as well. Her Master was concerned with what was happening on the planet as well and it was literally ingrained within Jedi to investigate when such warning came from the Force.

"Master Jedi," a voice spoke out drawing both of their attention.

A dock worker was approaching toward them, probably having noticed the new arrivals. He was an elf, but wore no Vallaslin upon his features. One of the city Elves, then Ellana thought, the few that turned their back upon the culture the Dalish have being keeping alive.

"Welcome to Elvhenan," the man spoke out, a light grin upon his feature, "You staying long?"

"A few days at least," Solana answered her.

"Very well," the man spoke out, "Beautiful ship…need a tune-up?"

"Some fuel would be nice," Solana spoke out, her Omni-tool lighting up, "Here is the payment."

The elf's own Omni-tool flashed as he received the payment.

"Very well," he said, "You have a good day now."

The two Jedi left the port and were now into the city proper. Ellana was frowning lightly to herself at the strange warning from the Force. Something was wrong with her planet, her home and she knew that it wasn't her original purpose for being here on Elvhenan, however, the Jedi within her couldn't let it go.

"I'll look into it while you are getting you Vallaslin," Solana spoke out drawing her attention toward the taller woman.

"Was I projecting again?"

"A little bit," Solana answered her.

The two had reached outskirts of the city. Two elves were waiting for them to appear as one of them, a young woman approached toward her. Ellana glanced at the approaching young woman, as a tug of familiarity surged within her.

"Sehari?" she said, surprise in her tone.

The elvhen woman's eyes, which were a sky blue, light up in recognition.

"Ellana," she answered, "I see your hair hasn't changed at all since you were younger."

Ellana noticed the Vallaslin upon her friend's face. Over one of her eyes and the side of her face, was the twisting branches representing the Goddess Sylaise. Ellana stared at the Vallaslin, a gentle red in color, that matched the red lips that were twisted in a grin.

"You've gotten your Vallaslin?"

"Yes, the previous year," Sehari answered, her eyes drifting toward her companion.

"This is my Master Solana Amell," Ellana introduced, "She is one of the Jedi that took me to the Temple back then."

The two shook hands.

"Honor to meet you," Solana said with a light nod.

"Always good to meet a Jedi," Sehari answered, "Come on, we must return to our camp."

They followed her toward the transports that were waiting for them. Ellana chanced a glance around again looking for the familiar face that she was expecting to see but he wasn't there.

"Mahanon is not here?"

Sehari glanced at her.

"No," she said, "He left a day ago with some Hunters. Didn't really tell us why thought."

Ellana frowned.

Could this have something to do with what we've felt? The presence that doesn't belong?

She glanced at Solana, noticing the blond woman's expression. The same thoughts that were in her mind was probably in her Master's mind as well. Sehari however didn't seem to be too worried about it as she continued the conversation.

"Tell me Ellana, have you been on adventures?" she asked.

Ellana chuckled.

"Being a Jedi isn't really an adventure Sehari," she answered, soft laughter in her tone, "Sure they are moments worthy of some adventure novels, but other than that."

Sehari laughed.

"I see being a Jedi had only grown that humbleness you always had," she said shaking her head.

Ellana smiled.

"Well, I always felt different than everyone back then," she said, "I just never understood why…not until I met Master Solana and Master T'Perro."

Ellana couldn't help but feel a light sadness at the thought of the Asari Jedi Master. She had gone missing, presumed dead in a mission in the Terminus System ten years ago now. With Solana as her Master, the blonde woman had shared many stories of her own Padawan days with Master Lexi who had taken a very unusual way of teaching, something she had done as well.

"Well, for what it's worth," Sehari told her after a while, "Welcome home."

Ellana smiled.

The Lavellan camp was situated in a different area now. While still inside the large forest that covered most of the Planet, the Dalish have completely mastered living within the woods as they had become hunters, living off the lands and even taming creatures that lived within the forest itself.

Ellana can feel a light apprehension within her heart as she walked into the camp again as most of the members were looking at their direction as they walked forward into the place that she had called home as a child. The faces were different of course, but she can feel some familiarity within some of the older ones. They probably were among them when she left with the Jedi as a child.

Now she had come back, to gain her Vallaslin, which will mark her as one of the Dalish, one of her people.

"Ellana Lavellan," a voice called out.

A deeply familiar woman walked forward. Keeper Deshanna was dressed in her elven robes, still carrying the familiar wooden staff. Her sharp eyes, full of wisdom and knowledge known only to the Keepers of the Clan. The woman had a light smile upon her lips as she approached.

A smile which Ellana returned fully.

She approached toward as the woman took her into a gentle hug, one Ellana fully returned. Half-forgotten familiar scents wafted into her nose as she held Deshanna close to her, scents that had always remind her of home when she was at the Temple when she dreamed of them. They always made her feel homesick sometimes but she had her friends Sara and Scott to help her get through it.

But even thought, despite herself, she couldn't help the lump that grew in her throat as she hugged the Keeper, nor the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She can feel Deshanna's hands holding her close before they disengage the hug thought, she still has her arms upon her shoulders.

"Let me look at you child," Deshanna said, her eyes taking her in fully now, "You have grown up well under the care of the Jedi as I had hoped."

Ellana nodded, "Yes, I have learned many things under their teachings."

"Yes," Deshanna spoke out meeting her gaze, "I can see wisdom in your eyes now, a strength that is yet to fully waken."

Ellana felt a bit of confusion within her at the words but it didn't seem Deshanna was going to explain any of it. Not that it was unusual for the Keeper to be cryptic whenever she speaks. Her attention was turned now toward her Master.

"Solana Amell," Deshanna spoke out, "It is great to see you again."

"And you as well Keeper Deshanna," Solana spoke with a nod of greeting, "As promised by the Jedi, I brought Ellana back as you had requested."

"And I thank you for that," Deshanna answered with a smile and a nod, "You know of our ways child, and preparation will be made for you to gain your Vallaslin."

Ellana smiled, giving a light nod.

"I will go through the Preparations Keeper," she said softly.

"Sehari, take her to my tent."

"Of course, Keeper," Sehari spoke out, taking Ellana's arm with her own and guiding her away.

Solana watched Ellana's back for a few moments of silence, before turning her gaze toward the Keeper beside her. The woman was older than she remembered the last time she had been here. The feeling that she had been feeling in the Force was more distinguished now, almost like a darkness in the air that couldn't be ignored. It would seem that whatever it was, was connected to the Elves, thought for what she can't be truly certain.

"Keeper Deshanna," she spoke out, drawing the woman's attention, "When we arrived on the planet, Ellana and I sensed something wrong. Something I feel is connected to your people…something that does not belong on this planet."

Keeper Deshanna seems surprised at what she was saying. She wasn't expecting anyone to bring it up at all.

"Rumors among the Clans," Keeper Deshanna spoke out, "Rumors of outsiders attacking other caravels and clans. I sent out my First as well as a group of trained hunters to find out exactly what was going on…"

Solana frowned to herself.

"Since Ellana is going to be staying here at camp," she said, "I will be more than happy to help in this crisis."

Deshanna looked at her again, "I wouldn't want to trouble you Solana…"

Solana smiled lightly at her.

"It is no trouble Keeper," she said, "As a Jedi, it wouldn't be right for me to not interfere when there is trouble, especially if this is a trouble that threaten your people."


A return home stained...

Next Time: Rite of Passage

Jacques0 out.

R&R