Chapter 49
Ellana woke up in the back of what looked to be in an ambulance. As her vision cleared, she made out the angular profile of Solas Fen'harel. She realized the two were cramped onto a stretcher, her head resting in the crook of his elbow. Seeing she was awake, Solas greeted her with a grin.
"Good morning," Solas whispered in a husky exhale. It sounded to Ellana as if his throat was bruised. "This was rather forward of me," he stopped nodding to their sleeping arrangement, "but we were sequestered here by the Inquisition, and I was exhausted."
"I don't mind," Ellana dreamily breathed, placing her palm on Solas' chest. Ellana noticed that he was wearing a set of cotton teal scrubs, a shadow of stubble uncharacteristically lining his jaw, "What time is it?"
"It's nearly three a.m.."
Scanning the inside of the ambulance, Ellana tried to decipher the uses for the medical containers and equipment lining the wall. Touching her face, she did not find any cuts or bruises. Her body ached, but none of the pain was dire. Glancing down, she saw that she was still fully dressed in her coat, thankful she had made the unexpectedly prescient decision to wear practical shoes and leggings.
She couldn't imagine battling in skimpy shoes and pantyhose.
"What happened?" Ellana asked, attempting to sit up. A huff of air escaped her lips when Solas reached up and gently pulled her down again.
"Don't rush to stand." He advised. "You'll faint."
Out of the open back of the ambulance, Ellana stared out to a chaotic landscape of flashing lights and accumulating snow. Agents in jackets bearing the Grey Warden insignia scurried about shouting orders in Orlesian. Some pushed stretchers with patients wrapped in black wool blankets into medic vehicles. Down the street, she saw what looked to be a fire truck, along with yellow tape bearing the message mise en garde wrapped around a number of apartment buildings.
"Andruil and I fought," Solas exclaimed faintly. "She escaped. The good news, as far as I can confirm, is that there were no fatalities. A miracle, to be sure, all things considered."
"What is the bad news?" Ellana responded dryly. The last few months had made her optimism falter. There was always something dire in Val Royeaux.
"Well, perhaps not terrible, but after some debate, Leliana recommended that you be placed in a safe house until the end of winter interim-"
"Oh, so she can make me one of her pawns? I hate that-"
"Ellana," Solas sighed, "Let me finish, please. I wanted to invite you to stay at my apartment. It has formidable security in place, and it may very well be your safest option."
Ellana calmed as Solas spoke. She knew that his invitation to stay at his apartment, pending Inquisition intervention, was in earnest and didn't want to test his patience further by being unnecessarily stubborn.
"Isn't that, to use your words, 'rather forward'?" She teased, curling up against Solas' warm body again. "After all, we never made it to dinner."
Solas chuckled shyly, his chest rumbling against Ellana's cheek. She pressed into him, inhaling his scent mixed with smoke. His heart was beating, a steady rhythm so unlike the disarray surrounding them.
"I happen to be an excellent cook, if that informs your decision," His voice lowering, "and I have a rather large stockpile of wine."
"That is something to consider." Ellana hesitated. She knew Solas well enough to know that he wasn't asking with any unseemly expectations. She was curious to see where Solas lived. Three and a half weeks, however, was a long time. She was, however, overwhelmed with how fast things were continually moving.
"Also, I want to reassure you that I also have a roomy guest room," He inserted abruptly. "I wouldn't-"
The conversation was interrupted by Leliana hopping up the back of the truck, standing over the two of them. Despite the cold, the spymistress was still dressed in her velvet tracksuit. The hood brought up around her unreadable face. Separating herself from Solas, Ellana sat up on the stretcher, propping herself up on her elbows. Although Solas and Ellana could barely consider themselves alone, Leliana's appearance felt intrusive. Especially as she wasted no time to issue demands.
"Solas, it's not good. Any of this. The executive order is convening, and you'll need to be there." Halting, Leliana crossed her arms, "I'm assuming you caught Dr. Lavellan up on your plan?"
"I was about to agree when you showed up," Ellana shot back, annoyed at being spoken about as if she had no agency. "It's nice to see you too, Leliana."
"Well, that's one thing out of the way. I can have Blackwall drop her off."
"I will drive Dr. Lavellan." Solas sternly cut in, swinging his feet over the side of the stretcher. "I will join you in a few hours."
Ellana noticed he had on his gray coat and was holding her purse. He must have gone back and grabbed them after the fight was over.
"Solas? The longer we delay," Leliana insisted again. "Blackwall-"
"I'll remind you that Agent Blackwall sustained a head injury and shouldn't be driving. This is non-negotiable. Nor is it reasonable to assume otherwise."
Ellana had never seen Solas angry before. His usual relaxed cadence was cold. Underneath each carefully measured word lurked a snarl.
"If you are not at headquarters by the afternoon, I will personally come and retrieve you," Leliana warned, her speech cracking. In the dim light, Ellana could make out tears streaming down her face.
"Leliana," Solas cajoled, the anger giving way to compassion. "I only asked for a few hours. We'll figure this out. None of this is your fault."
"If we had acted sooner-"
Solas stood, walking over to the woman, placing his hand on her shoulder. For a fleeting moment, Ellana was reminded of him comforting the spirit.
"We have defeated the Evanurius before, my friend. We will again."
"I'm sorry," Leliana said, turning to Ellana. "I didn't mean to be short with you earlier. It is a lot to bear in situations like this."
"How do you plan to explain what happened," Ellana asked in her scholar's voice, turning to look between Solas and Leliana. "The green light? The clouds and roaming demons?"
"Gas leak." Leliana shrugged. "Accounts for mass hallucinations and the poison gas."
"Ah, I wouldn't think it to be that simple."
"Solas will catch you up after the executive order meets. I assume you know that you shouldn't leave his apartment unless making prior arrangements. For your safety."
Ellana nodded. She didn't like the prospect of her independence curbed, but didn't see that she had a choice otherwise.
"I'll be off then," The spymistress said, jumping out into the cold night, vanishing in a matter of seconds, as if she were a raven taking flight.
"Let's go to your apartment and retrieve your things," Solas announced gruffly when he had collected himself, his shoulders stiff and rigid as he hopped out of the back of the ambulance, waiting for her to follow. For every wide step Solas took, Ellana had to take three. She struggled to keep up with him as they navigated their way back to her apartment.
Where the streets were clear, broken glass and metal bits scared the ground. A fire hydrant had been used earlier to snuff out flames, ice freezing over an area of cobblestone street.
Occasionally Gray Warden agents stopped what they were doing to salute and respectfully nod in Solas' direction. The neurologist would return the gesture, a wizened smile flickering on his lips.
"They all know you," Ellana observed.
"I was an active consultant." He responded. His face was pinched and withdrawn.
By the time they reached her door, Ellana was relieved to be driving elsewhere. The door frame was empty of glass, the entire entryway littered with broken glass that smashed underneath her boots as she walked up the stairs. Solas followed, his step slow and thoughtful.
"I can't believe you recovered my purse," Ellana excitedly muttered, fingering the tight strap around her shoulder, fishing out her keys, and cracking open the door. The empty wine glasses on her desk, welcoming her home, were a reminder of the evening that should have been.
"Where is your luggage?" Solas said, ignoring the comment, looking around at the apartment.
"The top shield of the front closet," Ellana replied. She turned her attention to her dresser. She was surprised when she could hear Solas opening the door and straining to take out a sizeable wheeled suitcase and setting it down at the center of her mottled blue rug.
"Do you need me to grab anything else?" Solas dutifully asked.
"Sit," Ellana said, pointing to the couch again, "I'll be quick. Do you want water? Or I think I have juice?"
"No, thank you," Solas murmured, his expression was more withdrawn than angry. Still, Ellana was concerned at the shift in his demeanor. She felt tired and in need of rest, but she could wait to let go once she was in an entirely secure place. In contrast, Solas looked as if he was carrying multiple burdens, and his face was ashen and drawn.
She resolved to pack as efficiently as possible. A few moments of silence followed as Ellana went to her closet first, pulling out a handful of black clothing and throwing them on the bed. She didn't expect she needed anything but casual outfits, still as a precaution. She slipped in a few blouses and skirts. Heading to her dresser, she pulled out a cascade of soft clothes and placed them in the suitcase in orderly piles.
Glancing over at Solas, Ellana saw that he was asleep, slumped into the corner of her yellow couch.
She took the opportunity to open her underwear drawer, taking out a few risque items, only to quickly put them back. Her hands moved over to some of her nicer, but more every day, options.
After going to her bathroom and zipping up a nylon bag of toiletries, she knelt over to wake Solas up. Her two hands gently reached up to shake him. The eyes that looked back to her were startling, elsewhere and distant, lacking their usual vibrance.
"Are you alright?" Ellana asked quietly.
"I will be," Solas responded, his voice ill-tempered, before continuing with his usual patience. "It has been a long night. Let me help you with your suitcase."