In A Manner of My Choosing
By Pyreite
Warning: This chapter contains citrus with implied lemonade. Coarse language and light voyeurism. Discretion is advised.
Between Friends
The spirit of Fen'Harel, in the guise of a wolf, greeted Ellana with an ecstatic woof. He curled into her side when she reached the Eluvian. He leaned against her when she gazed into its shimmering surface. Ellana gasped when she saw Solas cradling her corpse.
He wept into her hair and kissed her face over and over again.
Ellana heard him call with the desperation of a drowning man.
"Vhenan! Come back to me!"
Her wolf whined and gave her an expectant look.
"You're mad", accused Ellana. "I'm dead. If I walk through this Eluvian I'll still be dead when I reach the other side. It's not like I'll just wake up and start breathing again. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all".
She turned away for a moment. She looked down the hill of rubble to Marethari. Ellana tried to take a single step towards her. The wolf reacted with a snarl. She was indignant when a mouth full of jagged teeth latched onto her belt.
"Fenedhis lasa! You sneak! Let go of me! Marethari, wait! I've changed my mind!"
Marethari laughed when Ellana was dragged through the Eluvian arse first.
"Marethari!"
The stream of dalish curses ended when Ellana disappeared.
"Dareth shiral, da'len", said Marethari. "Until we meet again".
Solas heard the familiar glass-like tinkle. He glanced at the Eluvian standing upon a mound of rubble. Its gleaming surface rippled like water. He frowned when nothing emerged from the mirror. He sensed something amiss.
"What trickery is this?"
Solas tensed when something stroked his cheek. He felt the gentle pressure of calloused fingers upon his skin. His breath caught in his throat when a thumb caressed his lower-lip. He spied a silverite gauntlet and a leather glove in a heap on the ground. Solas would have retrieved them if someone hadn't demanded his full attention.
He studied her pale face, tired eyes, and open panting mouth. Her skin, once torn and bloody, bore a new unfamiliar pattern. It was a vallaslin unlike any Solas had ever seen. It graced her cheeks, the bridge of her nose, the planes of her temples, and the broad curve of her forehead. It was a mark of ownership, of belonging, and it should have outraged him.
It didn't.
Solas brushed aside her fringe to expose an odd shape. He traced the outline with the pad of his thumb. It had pride of place in the centre of her brow. Solas recognised the twining lines and sharp barb-like prongs. He saw a wolf's pointed ears, shaggy cheeks, long narrow snout, and large hollow eyes. The realisation made his stomach churn with anxiety.
"You bear the Mark of Fen'Harel. How did you come by this?"
Ellana rolled her eyes. She was sore, weary, and infuriated by his lack of joy at her return. She had been dragged back to the waking world from the elven equivalent of purgatory. Solas could show a little damned gratitude. Ellana slapped his hands and rolled onto her side.
The buckles of her overcoat dug into her ribs. She was glad she hadn't donned the fortune in full-plate armour Cassandra had favoured. She was a rogue. She used a bow, blades, and arrows to defend herself. Speed and dexterity were more important for an archer than a warrior wielding a sword and shield.
"Fenedhis lasa, Solas", grumbled Ellana. "I just died for the man I loved and came back to life to please him. You could pretend to be delighted to see me. Maybe I should have gone with Marethari. Now that I think about it, sacrificing an eternity of happiness with my family, was a terrible idea".
She laid her hands on the ground. She tried to shift her weight onto her splayed fingers. She groaned in frustration when Solas wrapped his arms around her waist. She smacked the wrists crossing over her belly. Solas dragged her back until she was seated between his thighs.
"Ma vhenan!"
"Let go of me!"
"Vhenan!"
"I said let go! I have to return to Dorian, Bull, and Sera! And then we have to attend the Exalted Council! Solas! What are you doing?"
Ellana growled when he kissed her tattooed cheek. The skin lacerated by the Mark of Fen'Harel had healed. The mystery tempted and tantalised him. Ellana squealed when he yanked on the buckles of her armour. She tried to catch the clever fingers unfastening the belt carrying her myriad pouches.
Ellana was indignant when he cast it aside.
"I need that!"
"Nae".
He unhooked the studs of her corset. It came away with a firm tug leaving Ellana in the long tails of her overcoat. She gasped when he dug under her soft and silky undershirt. He found the band of her breeches. He pulled on the knot holding the hose tight to her belly.
"You're mad!"
"Ar nuvenin ma".
Ellana trapped the hand seeking to disrobe her. She gaped at him in disbelief. She saw the desperation in his expression. He leaned inwards to capture her mouth in a bruising kiss. Ellana turned away.
Solas kissed her cheek again.
"Vhenan!"
"Stop growling at me!" snapped Ellana. "You had your chance! You could have bedded me, but you abandoned me instead! You broke my heart, Solas! You are not wriggling your way inside my small-clothes for a swift round of guilt-sex!"
Solas scowled.
He was offended by her assumption.
"I do not make love swiftly".
"Says you", taunted Ellana. "It's not like I've had the privilege of the experience".
His grey eyes glinted at her challenge. "I will show you otherwise".
Ellana glared at him. "Not today you Mmmph!" She moaned when he kissed her long and slow and sweet. The man, she realised, really knew how to use his tongue. Her resistance melted away until she was ready and raring to help him out of his clothes and armour.
Sera bolted through the Eluvian. She was tired of waiting. It had been over an hour since Ellana had gone off on her own. Sera hated that weird tinkly sound and the slimy feeling against her skin. She could stomach the Eluvian's weird elfy magic for Ellana.
"Finally!"
Sera burst into a courtyard full of Qunari frozen in stone.
"Oi! Ya, pair of tits!" she cried. "Come look at this!"
Dorian and the Iron Bull were hot on her heels.
"Well I guess we know what happened to the Viddasala's henchmen".
Bull grimaced. "Magic".
"Undoubtedly", confirmed Dorian. "But it's more powerful than anything I've ever seen before. They're petrified. This isn't any ordinary magic, Bull. It's old and dangerous".
Sera rolled her eyes. "We can see that for ourselves. Genius".
Bull glowered. "Hey. Be nice".
Sera stuck her tongue out. She blew him a wet raspberry.
"Oh, and that's so very mature", complained Dorian.
"Bite me".
"No thank you".
Sera wove her way through the sea of Qunari statues. She ignored Bull's command to stay put. "Shut up and come on!" urged Sera. "We've got to find Inky before she gets herself killed!" She bolted up the stairs that led into the meadow beyond.
Sera took two steps forward. She tripped on the edge of a cracked flagstone. She went down in a tangle of limbs and curses. She stubbed her toes, grazed her knees, and came up swearing blue-murder. Sera froze when she saw two heaving and sweaty elven bodies.
She blushed to the tips of her pointed ears.
"We think she's dead or worse. And where do I find her? Canoodling with Mr. Elfyness himself. I can't believe she's shagging that bald bastard after everything he did. This is the worst betrayal ever".
Sera swore when she heard Bull and Dorian bounding up the stone stairway.
"Oh, shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"Sera! I told you to be careful!" rumbled the Iron Bull.
"You shouldn't run off on your own!" seconded Dorian. "You could have gotten yourself into a world of trouble! And then we'd have to rescue you!"
Sera whirled and frantically flapped her hands at them.
"Shut it you, tits!"
"Sera!" growled Bull.
"What are you squawking about?" barked Dorian.
"Just turn around!"
"No", said Bull with firm finality.
Dorian jagged a thumb at his lover. "What he said".
Sera almost tore her hair out. "Then shut up!"
"Why should we?" demanded Bull.
Dorian heard Ellana's throaty moans. He did a double-take when he saw her writhing body. She wasn't alone in her throes of ecstasy. She had company of the male kind. And a series of new, intricate, and interesting tattoos that went all the way down to her toes.
Dorian grinned. "Well now. So that's where Ellana ran off too. We were worried for nothing. I think she's in very good hands don't you?"
The Iron Bull chuckled. "I suppose we can interrogate Solas later. Oh! Look! He does have impressive reach! I still think Ellana is way more flexible".
"You would".
Bull laughed. "Of course I would". He waggled his eyebrows. He was amused when Dorian blushed. His Kadan was entirely too easily flustered.
"Stop watching them!" griped Sera.
Dorian shrugged.
Bull snorted.
"Hey, Sera".
"Yeah?"
"You still got Varric's cards?"
"Of course!"
Dorian smirked. "Good. I could do with a game of Wicked Grace to pass the time".
Sera giggled. "Yeah. It's not everyday our illustrious leader gets her brains shagged out of her head".
"Illustrious. Now that's a big word", teased Bull. "Are you getting all cultured and hoity-toity on me?"
Sera's nose wrinkled in disdain. "Shut it, you".
"Hurry up and deal us in".
"Yeah, yeah".
"Children. Please. Do try to be civil", quipped Dorian.
"You keep that Vintish good-manner's crap to yourself".
Dorian laid a hand over his heart. "You wound me, amatus".
Sera groaned. "Oi! You stop making those lovey-dovey eyes at him! We're playing normal Wicked Grace not Sexy-Naked Wicked Grace! Just 'cause Ellana has her snuggle-bunny and you have yours doesn't make it fair on me! My Widdle is back in Skyhold!"
Elvish Translations: Courtesy of the Dragon Age Wiki – Elven Language
Vhenan – Heart.
Solas – Pride.
Fenedhis lasa – An elven curse, likely translated into 'grant or give me wolf crap' or similar.
Dareth shiral – Safe journey – A Dalish farewell.
Da'len – Little one.
Ma vhenan – My heart.
Nae – No.
Ar nuvenin ma – I desire you.
Fen'Harel – The Dread Wolf – The elven god of Rebellion, Betrayal, and Trickery.
Eluvian – Seeing glass – Used as a method of transport between places, realms, and worlds by the ancient elves.