CHAPTER 41
Ellana said goodbye to Fenris on a blustery Saturday morning. Although his residency didn't start for another month, the artist wanted to get a head start on finding a sublet and scouting out locations for his work. Despite her concern over the increasing chance of snowfall, he insisted on making the long voyage from Val Royeaux to Denerim on his motorcycle.
"Motorcycles have a small carbon footprint" Fenris had replied with a roguish grin before pulling her in for a hug that lingered a touch too long. Ellana didn't hesitate to breathe in the smell of his leather jacket, with the sharp awareness that the next time they were together things would be entirely different.
"You can always call." Fenris had said, pulling back a bit to wink at her. "Although I expect that when I drive back through in June things will be ok."
"I know," Ellana responded quietly, as Fenris kissed her forehead. "Thank you for coming."
Part of her was tempted to ask Fenris to stay for a bit longer. All of her friends were traveling home for the upcoming holiday. Dorian and Bull had left that morning for Tevinter. Cassandra and Gaylen were currently waiting for a flight to Navarra. Josephine was driving, rather reluctantly with Zevran, out of the city to go home to Antiva.
Once Fenris left, Ellana would be entirely alone again. Although she was quite capable, and not entirely opposed to the idea, it was difficult not to feel vulnerable when a psychopathic prison escapee was still on the loose months after attacking her. Having Fenris in her studio apartment had lessened her anxiety more than any of the elite security that continued to follow her around.
"I better go, La." Fenris said. If his voice was cracking with emotion, Ellana knew better than to acknowledge it.
She stood on the corner, hugging her leopard print faux fur coat around her shoulders watching as the vehicle, and her young beloved, shrunk into the distance. She was surprised when she took out her phone and saw a text message from Fenris half-an-hour later presumably when he stopped for gas.
xxx-xxx-1253, Fenris, 9:30 a.m.
Call me in a week. Will fly u 2 Denerim 4 solstice if bored. :)
A few tears, quickly wiped away, were shed at the heartfelt words. Despite all the uncertainty that lay ahead of her, Ellana felt lucky to know that Fenris would always be there for her.
Back in her apartment, Ellana collected what she needed for the day ahead. She would have liked to have taken the afternoon to herself to mourn and organize her winter break projects as the last day of the semester had passed without fanfare earlier that week. She had made arrangements, however, to meet with Solas Fen'Harel on campus to work through the rest of the exhibition for the upcoming spring semester.
It was time to figure out what to do about the Orb. Among other things.
Using all of her research skills, Ellana had attempted to uncover more of the artifacts' origin and capabilities. She had combed through the rare book library and consulted with several obscure microfilms. No matter what she tried, or what source she came across, all she could locate was a smattering of obscure descriptions that might allude to the device. On the subject of dreamers? She had found even less.
Ellana hoped Solas would know more that afternoon.
Climbing out of the shower, Ellana was blow-drying her hair when she heard her phone buzzing. Jumping through the bathroom doorway, she didn't catch the name on the screen as she hit the call button, managing a frantic "hello" that landed somewhere between a mew and a groan.
"Ellana? Is everything alright?" She recognized the baritone voice of Solas Fen'Harel speaking through the receiver.
"Solas?" she responded quickly, trying to pull her towel more securely around her dripping skin. "Are we still meeting to discuss the exhibition?"
"Y-yes. If you are still available. I had a bit of a proposal, however."
"I'm listening," She laughed, surprised at how much hearing from Solas renewed her spirits.
"I am skimming through the selections you flagged from the catalog, and I thought perhaps we could-that is if your schedule were free-go to the warehouse where I store them for you to see the objects in person. It's a bit of a drive."
Humming to herself, Ellana thought it would be a nice distraction from her malaise to visit one of the premier, if not the largest, collections of ancient Elvhen artifacts in all of Thedas. If such an opportunity allowed her to also clear the air with Solas, then so be it.
"I would like that," Ellana responded a bit more eagerly than she intended.
"Fenris, of course, is also welcome to join," Solas offered. Judging by his voice, Ellana knew it to be a genuine invitation. She couldn't help but like the neurologist all the more for it.
"He would have loved to come," she admitted "Although he left for Denerim this morning"
"Oh well," Solas responded ebulliently. "Next time, of course. Would half-an-hour be enough time?"
"I can make that work," Ellana said in her best impression of aloofness. Although she suspected that Solas and her might revive their "conversation", as she had called it a few months ago, after Fenris departed, Ellana did not anticipate it to be the same day.
"Soon, then," Solas said abruptly before clicking off the phone.
Trying to calm her nerves, Ellana opened her closet, tossing half-a-dozen outfits down on her bed before arriving on a pair of high waisted wool pants and a soft v-neck sweater with quarter length sleeves (both black). After slipping on thick socks and gold clogs (her most water-resistant footwear) she was ready right as her phone buzzed with another message from Solas alerting her to the fact that he was parked outside.
Throwing on her coat, and grabbing her purse, Ellana did a last-minute check for her keys and wallet and practically skipped down the stairs as she put on a pair of cat eyed sunglasses. Pausing at the door to wave goodbye to her neighbor Thom, she jumped into the passenger side of Solas' car noting that the heated seats were already turned on in anticipation of her arrival.
"That was kind of you to have the heaters on," She greeted Solas, buckling her seatbelt. Despite her self-restraint, she couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, well," Solas noted putting the car into gear and turning onto the road, "Iron Bull mentioned to me that you and Dorian rarely wear weather appropriate clothing. At every opportunity, actually."
"He does not!" Ellana gasped.
Solas nodded with a mischievous grin. Ellana noted that he was wearing an emerald green sweater and a pair of gray pressed trousers. The radio was playing a talk show of Orlesian news. Listening to the presenters, she could make out a fierce debate about the Crown's effect on the recent downturn of holiday retail sales.
She listened for a time to the dry voices, curling up in the seat to study Solas' profile as he drove.
"I'm surprised you are still in town for Solstice," Solas said after some time. Ellana couldn't tell if he was probing to see if she'd be joining Fenris later in the week.
"I've spent the holiday alone for a long time. Things between my clan and I aren't particularly warm. I was supposed to be their First, after all, and I left to live in Tevinter. The worst country, even over Orlais, where the elves were regularly used for blood sacrifice."
"I can imagine how that might foster some hard feelings," Solas admitted, fidgeting with the radio before turning it off entirely. Ellana thought she caught him glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
"How far is the Warehouse?"
"An hour outside of the city. I should have offered earlier."
Looking out the window at the old city boulevard and the blue walls, Ellana realized that they were passing by the harbor, turning onto the highway to the south. She had never been out in this direction before, enjoying the view as the car drove over a high bridge. Very few other cars were out that day.
"Solas," Ellana burst out with a sudden exhale. "I wanted to clarify that Fenris and I aren't a couple."
Despite the advice of many of her friends, Ellana had never agreed with the idea of playing hard to get. If a relationship was really worth it games were unnecessary. Although such a philosophy had impacted her dating prospects over the years, Ellana did not have much patience for men that preferred their women demure.
"Thank you, Ellana." Solas graciously responded. "I appreciate you taking the time to explain."
"I wasn't sure how to correct Vivienne's assumption at dinner, although I am sure she picked up on the ambiguity between us." Ellana continued, the words tumbling out. "I won't lie and say that when I called him after things soured between us, that I didn't have the hope that Fenris and I might work through things."
Ellana was surprised when she felt Solas take her hand in his and tenderly squeeze it once before releasing it back to her. It was a bold gesture that made her heart flutter.
"I'm glad that you had Fenris to call. I wasn't forthright with you during our, as you termed it, 'conversation' I understand why you would need the support."
It was hard not for Ellana not to compare the two men. Mostly, given that she had spent so much time with Fenris over the prior weeks. Although this visit of his was remarkably agreeable, the couple had often argued over, well, everything. Partially, given Fenris' past trauma, and partially given her stubbornness. They had never managed to live together fulltime, for instance.
Solas was patient and a good listener. Steady.
"Besides," Solas teased, "You strike me as someone who doesn't ask for help often. If ever."
Ellana listened to the cadence of Solas' voice searching for any sign that might betray his current feelings towards her.
"I resent that," she said, a grin spreading across her face in spite of her efforts not to flirt.
"Although I will admit to jealousy on occasion, I enjoyed seeing you and Fenris together. It is clear that he cares about you deeply. I respect him. I also appreciated learning more about your life outside of Val Royeaux, even if I am still skeptical that you joyfully lived on a commune with no indoor plumbing."
"Jealousy?" She teased, a tad more hopeful than was becoming. Solas' compassionate response had surprised her. Although she did not intend to rush into a new relationship, Ellana saw a flash of what it would be like to be with Solas. A man she was learning was kind underneath his reserved exterior.
Solas self-consciously laughed, rubbing his head with a spare hand as the car came to a stop at a traffic light. The area they were driving through was suburban sprawl, a landscape of identical houses sprinkled with strip malls.
"Would you like a coffee?" Solas offered, spotting one of the drive-through patisseries that Orleasians publicly sneered at but secretly loved in droves.
"Are you changing the subject?"
"Yes, very purposefully," Solas said, not waiting for her to decisively answer before turning into the lane. "What is your order?"
"Iced chai tea, extra shot of espresso," Ellana muttered, pulling out a bill from her purse only to have Solas wave it away.
"Thank you," she said when he handed the cup to her. Despite her persistence, he wouldn't let her pay. "You didn't have to do that."
"Let someone fuss over you for once." Solas had cooly responded. Ellana would usually have protested at such a pronouncement, but the affection in his voice made her preen, her hands smoothing her hair.
The two sat for some time in silence sipping on their drinks in peace. Ellana texting with Dorian when Solas interrupted her thoughts again.
"Ellana, I have to tell you, now that things are more open between us. I volunteered the idea of the exhibition to Vivienne as part of my consulting work. To keep an eye on you in the event that the Evanurius discovered your book. Although, I hope you know how much I enjoy the project now."
"I should have assumed as much," Ellana responded. "Does Vivienne know? That might explain whatever caused her to seat everyone at the same table."
"Vivienne and Leilana are occasional lovers," Solas admitted. Ellana noted he could barely repress a smile at her shrill gasp at the revelation.
"What? You're joking. I thought Vivienne was married to a Duke?"
"She is," Solas shrugged. "Although, he is years older than her. Very feeble these days. Leliana snuck in a few years ago when he started to struggle with dementia. I suspect they talk about us, as we gossip about them now."
"Solas," Ellana said searchingly.
"Yes?"
"I'm glad that we can be honest with one another. This conversation feels different, lighter, perhaps."
"I agree," Solas continued earnestly, taking her hand in his own again, this time, holding it longer as his eyes remained fixed on the road. Ellana was surprised at how much of a jolt she felt at the chaste touch.
"Does Leliana know about-"
"Yes. Although I did not volunteer that information to her willingly. Underneath her ruthlessness is a caring heart. It's possible that Vivienne and her had a falling out, as they are wont to do, which might explain last weekend."
"Are we being followed now?"
"Undoubtedly. I believe I recognized several unmarked cars. Only, I understand the intention is not to surveil our activity but to keep you safe. Leliana has assigned her best agents to protect you. As much as some of her interests are misguided, I appreciate, rather selfishly, how seriously she has taken that task."
Ellana wasn't sure what to say, instead staring down at Solas' hand still touching hers, resting on the armrest between them. She let it remain there for a time as she gazed out the window at the snowy farms, the occasional scarecrow peeking out amongst the barren fields.
"Almost there," Solas said, gently extracting his hand from hers to pull into a dirt road, with a do not enter sign. Continuing up the path, he stopped at a rusty looking call box, punching in a long series of numbers and then progressing through a mechanical gate.
Ellana realized that the dumpy-looking fence on the outside was a front for a sophisticated security system. Passing through a thick forest of grizzled trees, they arrived at a large rectangular building made out of concrete and glass. Judging from the exterior, the amount of art that was stored inside was unfathomable.
"Are you ready?' Solas asked as he parked the car. Grabbing his coat from the back seat, he rushed around the outside to open Ellana's door before she could manage to do so herself. She felt a spark of static electricity as she took his offered hand.
What was she getting into?