In A Manner of My Choosing

By Pyreite

Warning: This chapter contains coarse language. Discretion is advised.

Complications

"So, she'll be all right then?"

Sera bit her lip when Solas stared at Ellana. The flabbergasted look on his face made her laugh. She had never ever seen His Elfyness look so bewildered. His eyes were wide, his mouth agape, and his black brows and risen high into the bald pate of his forehead.

His astonishment made Sera giggle.

"Yes. She will be fine", confirmed Solas.

"Thank the Maker", praised Sera. "He heard my prayers after all".

"You prayed for Ellana?" asked the Iron Bull.

"I know, amatus", said Dorian. "I'm surprised she's religious too".

Sera rolled her eyes. "Oh, hardy-har-har".

Her laughter died when Ellana tried to withdraw her hand. Solas's gauntleted fingers locked around her wrist. Sera gawked when Ellana jostled his arm. Solas refused to release her. An abrupt command made him shake his head.

"Let go of me!"

"I cannot do that".

Ellana gaped at her lover. His grey eyes glinted like shards of ice. His expression was stern. His feet, shod in gilded-steel greaves, were planted firmly on the ground. He was ready for a fight.

"I must insist that you stay with me, vhenan".

Ellana tensed when she heard the sound of steel sliding from a scabbard. The twang of a bowstring told her that Sera had taken an arrow from her quiver. The thud of a mage's staff and the crackle of lightning could only be Dorian readying a spell. The Iron Bull drew a gargantuan silverite great-sword over his burly shoulder. Ellana's friends came to her defence.

"The fun and games are over", declared Bull. "Step away from her, Solas".

"I will not. It is imperative that Ellana remains with me".

"She has to come with us!" cried Sera. "She has to attend the Exalted Council!"

Dorian frowned. He didn't like this unexpected turn of events. They had been comrades once, even friends, or so he'd thought. He had hoped their reunion would give Ellana the closure she needed. The revelation of Solas being an ancient elven rebel and god had complicated matters.

Dorian recognised the danger.

"Amatus. It would be unwise to engage him. If Solas is responsible for what happened to the Viddasala and her henchmen. We don't stand a chance. That kind of magic is beyond anything I can counter".

Solas held firm when Ellana struggled.

"You should listen to him".

"Or what?" challenged the Iron Bull. "You'll turn us into garden statues?"

"If I must", affirmed Solas. "Although I would prefer to avoid a confrontation".

"Fat chance of that", grumbled Bull. "This is your last warning, Solas. Step away from my Boss, or I'll lop your head off".

"Amatus!" hissed Dorian. "Now is not the time to flex your muscles!"

"I'm not scared of that bald bastard".

Sera bit her lip. She gave Solas an imploring look. She wasn't fond of him, but she didn't want to fight him either. She'd seen how skilled he was with ice and fire spells. If he could turn living people to stone than he was out of their league.

"Don't do this", she pleaded. "You're one of us. You're part of the Inquisition".

"I was", corrected Solas. "Once".

"Solas!" called Sera. "Please! Just let Inky go!"

The Dread Wolf's eyes shone a frigid grey-blue.

His voice was icy and his demand absolute.

"Leave".

Ellana glanced at the Iron Bull. She saw the determination in his grey face. His pale eye gleamed under a heavy black eyebrow. His mouth was a thin grim line. The proud jut of his chin and the stubborn set of his jaw showed his defiance.

"Kadan", he instructed. "Take Sera and go".

Dorian couldn't believe what he'd heard.

"What?"

"Things are about to get messy", advised Bull. "I want you and Sera to be safe".

"I'm not going anywhere!"

"Dorian!" barked Bull. "Now is not a good time to argue!"

"Vishante kaffas! I am not leaving you!"

Bull's lip curled. He didn't like his lover's obstinacy. Sometimes Dorian was too clingy. The man needed a swift kick in the arse. Bull knew he'd never act on the impulse without his Kadan's express permission.

"You're one stubborn little shit".

"Of course I am", concluded Dorian. "It's why you love me".

"Yup", affirmed Bull. "Can't fault you there".

Sera stared at the Eluvian beyond Solas. The arc of the mirror rose high above his head. Its surface rippled like water. Sera took a voluntary step backward when a massive black paw emerged from the mirror. She took another step when a glistening nose on the end of a long and narrow black snout soon followed.

"Maker's balls!"

Ellana ceased to writhe in Solas's grasp. Her skin tingled as the lines of her vallaslin flared like the flames of a bonfire. Wisps of emerald mist coalesced around the fingers of her left-hand. The vallaslin of Fen'Harel, upon her bare skin, shone with an eldritch light. Ellana sighed when she and Solas were plunged into shadow.

"Ma vhenan!" cried her lover. "What have you done?"

Ellana gritted her teeth and glanced over her shoulder. She saw Solas's ashen face. He was startled by the shaggy spectre looming over them. The gargantuan beast was covered in fur blacker than a raven's wing. Ellana was reminded of a spider when she saw its baleful glaring red eyes.

"I wondered if you'd follow me".

Black lips peeled back from a maw full of jagged teeth. The wolf rounded on Solas. A vicious snap of its jaws made the apostate flinch. Solas unwound his fingers from Ellana's wrist. He tensed when a pair of huge black ears flatted against the crown of a gigantic lupine head.

The wolf made its displeasure known with a guttural rumble that shook the earth.

"You were sealed into my orb", gasped Solas. "Even with its destruction, the containment spell, should have kept you imprisoned".

A second gigantic paw, tipped with razor-sharp claws, slid from the Eluvian.

Solas hastily stepped aside to avoid being trodden on.

He gaped when the beast lowered its shaggy black head. A moist nose slid between the open halves of Ellana's overcoat. The leather rustled as the wolf gave her armoured belly an affectionate nuzzle. Ellana embraced its broad black snout. She laid her cheek against its soft silky fur.

Solas was incredulous.

"You awakened the spirit of Fen'Harel".

"No", said Ellana. "He was already awake and waiting for me on the other side. He dragged me back from death to life. He is the reason I returned to you, Solas. Without his interference I would have gone with Marethari and rejoined my family in the Setheneran".

"Boss!" bellowed the Iron Bull. "You better stop cuddling that demon and start talking!"

"He has a point!" seconded Sera. "What do you mean you died?"

"Venhedis!" cursed Dorian. "Will you please explain what's going on here!"

Ellana rolled her eyes. "Long story short. The Anchor killed me and I died. My spirit was trapped in the elven equivalent of purgatory. My elgar'falon here is the only reason I'm still alive".

The Iron Bull scowled. "Vashedan!"

Sera grimaced. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Dorian swore in his native tongue. "Festis bei umo canavarum!"

Elvish, Qunlat, and Tevene Translations: Courtesy of the Dragon Age Wiki

Vhenan – Heart.

Vallaslin – Blood writing. A special dye used to tattoo the patterns, sigils, and so forth of various member so the elven pantheon onto the face. Used by the Dalish elves.

Fen'Harel – The Dread Wolf – The elven god of Rebellion, Betrayal, and Trickery.

Arlathan – This place of love – The capital city of ancient Elvhenan.

Solas – Pride.

Elgar'falon – Spirit-friend.

Setheneran – The Land of Waking Dreams – aka the Fade .

Kadan – Where the heart lies – Used by Qunari for someone they care about.

Viddasala – One who converts purpose – A high ranked member of the Ben Hassrath.

Vashedan – Shit.

Amatus – A term of endearment used for one's spouse or lover. Likely means 'Beloved'.

Vishante Kaffas – You shit on my tongue.

Venhedis – Tevene swear word.

Festis bei umo canavarum – You will be the death of me.