In A Manner of My Choosing
By Pyreite
Warning: This chapter contains coarse language. Discretion is advised.
Spies and Messages
Ellana walked the streets of Val Royeaux in the company of her friends. She ignored the open gaping of the townspeople. Lords and Ladies watched her from behind their gilded masks. Merchants, soldiers, and servants kept their distance. None dared approach her whilst she was under the Iron Bull's watchful eye.
Everything changed when they reached the quarter of the city occupied by Inquisition forces. Ellana recognised the symbol emblazoned on their banners. The open unblinking eye with lashes like rays of sunlight had been her coat-of-arms for years now. The wind blew and the banners fluttered. Ellana saw the same symbol etched into armour of the men and women serving the Inquisition.
Soldiers, scouts, merchants, servants, and spies alike shared a large bonfire. Seats and tables were hastily vacated as a hundred people leapt to their feet. They had heard the news as several crows took wing. Ellana saw the incredulity on faces young and old as she glanced from person to person. She spied Thom with his bushy beard and fresh-faced Loranil from Hawen's clan.
She was more likely to trust a shemlen like Rainier than one of her own kind.
Solas was predicable.
He favoured elves over humans.
Ellana gave Loranil a hard look when he baulked. He was pale and shaking when she moved towards him. He was staring at the vallaslin upon her face. The emerald lines in the shape of a wolf's head proclaimed her as a devotee of one god. Loranil, a dalish scout, and a herder of Halla, wore the vallaslin of the gentle Ghilan'nain.
Ellana saw the fear in his eyes. She lifted her hand to touch him. Loranil flinched and begged for mercy. The rush of garbled elvish confused the shemlen scouts and soldiers around them. The language of the Elvhen was as foreign to them as the native tongue of Orlais was to Ellana.
"Venavis!"
Loranil's mouth snapped shut at Ellana's command. He trembled when she raised her hand. A swift word in elvish made his eyes widen. Ellana beckoned him with a flick of her fingers. Loranil hesitated until he was the recipient of several suspicious looks.
"What are you frightened of, boy?" asked a gruff shemlen soldier. "It's the Lady Inquisitor calling you not some darkspawn brood-mother".
"Easy, Edoran", interceded Thom. "Leave the lad alone".
"I'll leave him alone when he starts following orders".
"I'm not the Inquisitor anymore", declared Ellana. "I know that Leliana sent the ravens".
"No piece of paper will be changing my mind", replied Edoran. "You'll always be the Lady Inquisitor to me. I hail from the Hinterlands. I know what you did for my kin. Keeping 'em fed and clothed through the winter saved a lot of lives".
Ellana was uncomfortable with the way he looked at her. His blue eyes seared her inside and out. Edoran saw a ray of sunlight in the darkness. A piece of the Maker's will given flesh and blood and bone. Ellana had similar encounters with other shemlen and city-born elves too.
They believed she, a simple Dalish elf, really was the Herald of Andraste.
"I did what was right", avowed Ellana. "And I'd do it again".
"I know you would. And I'm thankful for it. You've a good heart, Lady Inquisitor. Something our lad here has forgotten. If you'll be wanting words with him than he should be obliging after all you did for his Dalish clan too".
Edoran, a former blacksmith, was tall, blonde, and broad-shouldered. He towered over the shorter and thinner Loranil. A single nod from Ellana was enough. Edoran pressed a mailed hand between Loranil's shoulder-blades. A gentle push made the elf stumble.
"Edoran!"
"Don't you be barking at me, Rainier. Lady Ellana wants to talk to him. Elf or not the boy's got bigger ears than you and I. He wasn't using them to listen, so I helped him along. He's got no reason to be fearing her so why is he acting like a scared pup?"
Thom appealed to Ellana when Loranil shied like a Halla.
"I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like it. Leave the lad be. He's done nothing wrong".
Sera snorted.
"He's afraid of her, Beardy. He wasn't when he first met her and she had the mark of Mythal. A few new green lines to replace the old and now he's shaking like a leaf. I smell a rat even if you don't. Be quiet and let Inky sort him out".
Ellana's eyes narrowed. She had never suspected that members of her own people would have spied for Solas. Her lover, it seemed, had found some measure of acceptance among the younger Dalish. Now she understood why Loranil had been so eager to join the Inquisition. He was another set of eyes and ears, another spy, among hundreds of elven volunteers.
"Ma harel lasa", said Ellana. "Ma halani Fen'Harel".
Loranil refused to meet her gaze. He bowed his head in shame. He sniffed and his eyes glistened with moisture though he was too proud to cry. His upbringing like Ellana's was typically Dalish. Their people did not bend unless they were broken.
The apology, whispered in elvish, did not appease Ellana.
"Dirthara ma, Lethallin. Ma halam. Ar nuvenin ma ghilas".
Loranil groaned in relief. He was surprised by the show of mercy. He found his courage, lifted his head, and saw something that made him tense like a drawn bowstring. A wolf, black-furred and red-eyed, curled around Ellana's legs. Loranil's eyes widened in wonder when the beast permitted Ellana to lay her hand upon the crown of its head.
She petted him as a shemlen petted a mabari.
"Ar lasa mala revas", declared Ellana. "Ghilas, Loranil. Dirthera mir vhenan. Ir serannas fen'enansal. Ir tel'din'an sa'vunin".
Loranil looked beyond her into the busy streets of Val Royeaux.
"Ir ghilas?" he asked uncertainly.
Ellana nodded.
"Ir mirthadra, Fen'Asha".
Sera whistled when Loranil bolted like a skittish horse. He didn't need to be told twice. He ran through an open iron-wrought gate without a backwards glance. Sera was impressed Ellana had shown such restraint. She'd found a spy amidst the Inquisition forces and had allowed him to escape unharmed.
"You let him go".
"I did", confirmed Ellana. "He has a message to deliver for me".
Sera grinned. "I bet he does. Cheeky little shit. I can't believe he named you the She-Wolf. Every twerp that knows a lick of elvish will be calling you that from now on".
"So they will", agreed Ellana. "It holds a measure of truth".
Fen'Harel licked her fingers.
You are clever and cruel, vhenan. The messenger may have his life for now, but that will change once he returns to my brother. Solas will know you discovered his spy and chose to be merciful. He will be forced to exact punishment for Loranil's clumsiness. His newest followers will learn, soon enough, that they are just as expendable.
Ellana ignored the unabashed gaping of the shemlen soldiers like Edoran. She scrutinised them, brows furrowing, when she spied the elves in their midst. Some wore vallaslin and were fellow Dalish. Others were the barefaced refugees from Alienages in shemlen towns and cities. None of them, just like Loranil, could meet her eye.
Leave them to their shame, vhenan.
Ellana sighed, head shaking, as she slung an arm across Fen'Harel's broad back. He was right. She had sentenced Loranil to death. Solas would kill him as easily as he had Felassan. Ellana was too heartsick to care when Thom called her name.
She let Fen'Harel lead her through the crowd and back into the city.
"Ellana! Wait!"
Thom bristled when the Iron Bull caught his wrist in a thick calloused grey hand. A hard squeeze and he hissed in pain. Bull glared at the man who had once called himself Blackwall. He did not release him until Sera stepped between them. She tried to push them apart.
"Bull! Now is not the time to play bodyguard! Beardy! Back off before you get yourself killed!"
"Why did Ellana send Loranil away?" asked Thom. "Please! I just want to know what's going on here! First we hear the Exalted Council is over! Then we're told Ellana abdicated her position as Inquisitor! None of this makes any bloody sense!"
Sera groaned in frustration when Bull barked.
"Parsharra! She doesn't owe you an explanation!"
"You can't just expect us to accept the Exalted Council's decree!" insisted Rainier. "Ellana is the Herald of Andraste not some backwater swamp-witch with delusions of grandeur!"
"Bull!" cried Sera. "Maker's balls! Don't start a bloody brawl!"
Bull scowled. He was starting to get angry. He glowered at the throngs of nervous soldiers, most were human, though he saw a handful of elves. Some cowered whilst others defiantly returned his scrutiny. Bull suspected some were Fen'Harel's spies, while others served the Qunari.
His people were adept at hiding in plain sight.
"Josephine!" bellowed Bull. "Handle this shit!"
Sera gaped when her grey-skinned friend released Thom. A hard shove sent the warden flying into Edoran. The soldier skidded in the dirt as he caught the warden around the middle. Thom wasn't light or easy to hold onto with the added weight of his armour. Edoran cursed till he was blue in the face when a flustered Lady Montilyet was brought before them.
Bull stormed away, grumbling to himself, as Josephine received a multitude of expectant stares.
"Greetings, everyone", she said carefully. "It is true that Lady Ellana has abdicated her place as the Inquisitor".
"Blasphemy!" cried an overzealous believer. "She's the Herald of Andraste! The Exalted Council can't just dismiss her! Lady Ellana has the Maker's ear! To turn on her is to malign his will and doom us all!"
Josephine grimaced when half-a-dozen voices exclaimed in support of the speaker. She was grateful when Sera drowned out their protests with a well-timed screech.
"Shut it you, gobshite! The Exalted Council didn't dump Inky's arse on the street! She chose to stop being the Inquisitor! She walked away from it all 'cause she's tired of playing mother-hen to you lot! You're always asking for this and that and expecting her to jump ten feet in the air to do it! She's already got the weight of the world on her shoulders! She doesn't need your misery too! Give her a damned break and fight your own battles for a friggin' change!"
The soldier who'd bellowed his opinion shut his mouth.
His supporters gave each other anxious looks and held their tongues.
An uneasy hush settled over the crowd.
Josephine''s smile was tight.
"Thank you, Sera".
"I'm just telling them how it is".
"I appreciate your candour, but it would be best if I took over from here. Our people have questions of their own. I can put their concerns at ease and clear up misunderstandings. Perhaps you should see to Lady Ellana's comfort. I am certain she would enjoy your company".
Sera gestured to the throngs of unsettled people. All had dedicated their lives to the Inquisition. Some were templars, retired mercenaries, a few were merchants, and some were ordinary townsfolk. Sera saw as many street-rats among them as farmers, farriers, and bakers. The little people were just as worried as the big-wigs about their future security.
Not all of them had lands and homes to return too.
"You do that and I'll go find somewhere to get roaring drunk. After the day I've had, a flagon of ale to drown in, is about the only thing I want".
Sera groaned in annoyance when she saw Dorian.
"What are you still doing here?"
Dorian frowned. He didn't like her waspishness. He restrained himself from biting back with a scathing reply. He saw the weariness in Sera's face. There were bags under her eyes and her mouth was turned down unhappily.
"My amatus is like a bull on a rampage. When he's in that kind of mood it's better to stay out of his way. Don't bother looking for Ellana. Bull herded her towards the tavern. He's determined to get her washed, fed, and settled down for the night".
Sera snorted. "He's acting like he's her Dad".
Dorian nodded. "Yes. He tends to do that with his Chargers".
Sera grinned. "What are you doing to do then?"
Dorian smiled. "Why I'm going to get roaring drunk with you. If you don't mind a little company".
Sera snickered. She strode towards him arms swinging. She curtseyed before him and slipped her arm through his. Dorian laughed at her show of feigned nobleness. Sera was about as polite as a foul-mouthed sailor.
"Shall we go?"
Sera giggled. "Yeah". She threw a first into the air and yelled at the top of her lungs. "To the tavern where we can get pissed off our faces! Let's drink the bar dry!"
Dorian smirked and led her away like the gentleman he was. "Yes. Let's drown our sorrows".
Elvish, Qunlat, and Tevene Translations: Courtesy of the Dragon Age Wiki
Vhenan – Heart.
Fen'Harel – The Dread Wolf – The elven god of Rebellion, Betrayal, and Trickery.
Fenedhis – An elven curse, likely translated to 'wolf crap' or similar.
Garas – Come.
Shemlen – Quick children – Elven term for humans.
Ma harel lasa – You deceived me.
Ma halani Fen'Harel – You helped Fen'Harel.
Dirthara ma, Lethallin. Ma halam. Ar nuvenin ma ghilas – May you learn, Clansman. You are finished here. I want you to leave.
Ar lasa mala revas – I give you your freedom.
Ghilas, Loranil. Dirthera mir vhenan. Ir serannas fen'enansal. Ir tel'di'nan sa'vunin – Go, Loranil. Tell my heart. I am grateful for the wolf's gift. I did not die today.
Ir ghilas? - I can go?
Ir mirthadra, Fen'Asha – I am honoured, She-Wolf.
Fen'Asha – Wolf-woman or She-Wolf.
Parsharra – Enough.
Amatus – A term of endearment used for one's spouse or lover. Likely means 'Beloved'.