Chronicles of an Elven Bed-warmer
Chapter the Seventh
Visit
No, I STILL don't own Don't own Dragon Age, what's up with that?
Kallian sat quietly on the pew beside Aedan as they attended the weekly chantry service. Kallian, like nearly all city elves worshiped the Maker and Andraste. But she had always felt a bit guilty about it. She was an elf after all, she should worship...trees or...something. It all got a bit vague at that point, so she just buried the feeling and kept going to the Chantry.
At least the music was nice.
Especially this week. Some red-headed woman from someplace out in the sticks called...Loathing? Something like that anyway. She had a very good voice. The song came to an end with enthusiastic applause which stopped abruptly as the Grand Cleric acceded to the pulpit.
"Thank you, Sister Leliana, for that uplifting rendition." The Sister, Leliana as the Cleric had called her, took a bow and moved off to the side.
The Elderly Cleric began the main sermon and Kallian started tuning her out in favor of her own thoughts. It had been three days since they had received word of Elissa's visit, and Aedan had been a bit...off. Restless, rushing about the estate like a newlywed whose mother-in-law was coming to dinner. It would have been funny if she wasn't so concerned.
It took her forever to get him to go to bed and when he did he slept restlessly, tossing and turning, she tried her best to relax him with her admittedly limited knowledge of massage before reluctantly returning to her room. Every time it got a little harder not to join him but she didn't feel quite ready for that just yet. Soon, perhaps. But not right now. Maybe after his sister's visit had come and gone...
The Old woman had finally stopped talking and the audience was starting to file out. Kallian woke the dozing Aedan with a discreet elbow in the ribs.
"Hm? Oh, it's over." he stated fuzzily.
The Grand Cleric was making her way over to them. "Greetings Lord Cousland."
"Inspiring as always Grand Cleric."
"And as always, Lord Cousland, you are a terrible liar." She turned to Kallian. "Aren't you going to introduce your companion?"
"Oh, how rude of me. Your Grace, allow me to introduce my bodyguard, Kallian Inri."
The young rogue nodded a silent greeting, keeping up her stoic persona.
The Old woman gasped in recognition.
"Your Grace?" Aedan asked, concerned. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"No, no, your companion bears a striking resemblance to one of our parishioners. If I didn't know better, I'd swear they were twins." The Priest eyed Kallian suspiciously. The elf kept a blank face but started to sweat nervously. It was times like this that she wished she knew more elvish, then at least she could pretend she didn't speak Ferelden.
"You must be mistaken, Your Grace." Aedan attempted to play the innocent. "Miss Inri has only recently arrived from Highever."
The old woman stared intently at Kallian for a few minutes. "Yes, I must be getting old, eyes playing tricks on me." She gave Aedan a knowing smile. "Good day to you m'lord." She said as she left.
Kallian let loose the breath she hadn't been aware of holding.
"She knows." Interjected Aedan.
"Do we need to worry?" Questioned his concerned companion.
Aedan shot another glance at the Grand Cleric's retreating back. "I hope not."
0-0
When they returned to the estate Elle was noisily supervising a number of servants Kallian had never seen before.
"That's how good they are." The maid replied cryptically when asked. She couldn't argue with the results, the house was immaculate.
Unlike herself, Kallian reflected, looking down at her dusty clothing. "Um..." She felt covered in dirt in comparison.
"Oh, stop," chided Elle. "Come on, I've run you a bath, think you can manage it yourself this time?"
"I might need some help with the makeup." she admitted.
Elle raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't bother with that this time. Rough, tough bodyguards don't wear makeup."
"Oh," Kallian sighed, she kind of liked the makeup, it made her feel pretty.
"You don't really need it anyway." The maid reassured her.
Kallian, uncomfortable with praise decided to change the subject. "What's Lady Elissa like anyway?"
Elle paused to collect her thoughts. "Er..." It was the first time Kallian had ever seen the maid at a loss for words. "Elissa is...Elissa is...unique."
What did that mean? She thought. "That's not very helpful."
"Yeah, well, you'll understand when you meet her, which shouldn't be too far off. Now go get cleaned up!" She pushed Kallian off in the direction of the baths.
The young rogue took the hint and continued in that direction.
The nobility sure take a lot of baths she thought to herself as she stripped off before getting in the tub. There must be some kind of magic keeping the water warm, she continued to speculate. It was quite pleasant truthfully, without Elle doing...whatever it was she did last time she had been in this room. The young elf frowned, that whole incident was still a bit fuzzy. Kallian finished washing and got redressed, gave her armor a quick cleaning and checked her hair in the mirror.
Time to meet Elissa.
0-0
A carriage pulled up to the front of the Cousland estate. Aedan, Kallian, Elle, Dobson, Cartwright and the aforementioned unnamed servants stood in greeting of the vehicle's occupant. Kallian was in her 'stoic elf bodyguard' persona that she used whenever she and Aedan were out in public, but underneath her armor she was sweating bullets.
The coach's door opened and a woman, accompanied by a Mabari war hound stepped out.
The first thing the elven rogue noticed about her was her size, she was huge! Not fat, everything was in proportion, just built on a slightly larger scale. She wore casual breeches and what looked like a man's hunting shirt. From the way she moved Kallian could tell she had the physique and training of a warrior but somehow remained unmistakeably feminine. She gracefully ascended the stairs and embraced Aedan in a bone-crunching hug. Lifting him into the air slightly.
"Little brother!" she put him back down and held him at arms length. "It's been too long!"
"Hello Elissa." he replied in a resigned voice. "We're the same age."
"No, I was born an hour earlier so you are my little brother." she replied in a voice that declared the matter settled. It felt like an old argument to Kallian. Elissa turned to regard those gathered to greet her. "Hello Mrs. Russel, you look well."
"Thank you milady." replied Elle in an uncharacteristic formal voice.
"Ah," she noticed Kallian. "A new addition." She regarded the much smaller elf, Kallian was struggling not to fidget under the scrutinizing gaze. "She's adorable Aedan, wherever did you find her?"
Fort Drakon, he thought but didn't say. "You know, around." he lied unconvincingly.
Elissa raised a knowing eyebrow, but continued as if she believed him. As if she would fall for that. They had grown up together after all. And Aedan was, as the Grand Cleric had said, a horrible liar.
"Well?" She demanded imperiously.
Lost in his relief, Aedan jumped. "What?"
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Had she been untrained in etiquette, Elissa would have been tapping her foot.
"Oh, right. Elissa, this is Kallian Inri, my new bodyguard, Miss Inri, this is my sister Lady Elissa Cousland." Aedan said, slightly flustered by the formality.
Kallian, unsure what the proper response was bowed her head and raised a closed fist to her chest as she had seen Aedan's guards do.
That must have been the right thing to do because Elissa nodded slightly in return and looked down at diminutive elf. "I assume you can use those?" she indicated the daggers at Kallian's waist.
"Of course milady!" she replied indignantly.
Elissa ignored the breech in etiquette and shot Kallian a predator grin. "Perhaps you would be so good as to join me for a spar later. Can't let an inferior fighter guard little Aedan, can I?"
"Hey!" 'little' Aedan protested. "Who are you calling little?"
"Well you're shorter than me." teased his sister.
"By a half inch." he grumbled back.
"An inch is as good as a mile." she shot back smugly.
Aedan couldn't think of anything to say to that so he responded in the way of younger siblings everywhere: he sulked.
Kallian could barely contain her grin, he looked so cute.
"Well, sorry to be rude but it has been a long journey and I'd like a bit of a lie down before supper." Elissa declared.
That snapped him out of his funk. "Oh, of course. Elle?"
The maid stepped forward. "This way, milady."
The group dispersed, leaving Aedan and Kallian to themselves.
He tilted his head in question.
Kallian shrugged. "She seems okay, I don't see why you were so worried."
"Mmm." He grunted.
0-0
Shianni was bored.
It didn't help that her roommates unending slumber party was starting to get on her nerves. This enforced idleness wore on her, she needed to be doing something.
At home there were all sorts of thing to keep her busy. Her uncle was a fine craftsman but at best a mediocre businessman. Soris, her brother and Cyrion's apprentice, wasn't any better, perhaps even slightly worse. She was willing to bet that they were, at that very moment, conspiring to do something stupid. Hopefully Valora could keep them from hurting themselves too badly.
She had taken to roaming the castle when her fellow victims got to be too much for her.
Today she found herself at the archery range. She stopped to look around a bit. She used to be quite good with a bow. Kallian's mother had tried to teach them all a little something. Like all elves Shianni had a natural affinity for the bow.
Well, almost all elves. Kallian had no talent with the weapon whatsoever, the only thing she had ever successfully hit with one was her own foot.
She noticed that someone had left their bow behind. After checking to see if anyone was around she picked it up and notched an arrow, pulled it back and sighted along her arm like she'd been taught, then released the arrow.
Hmm, three inches off center, she was out of practice.
"That's not bad." a voice commented from behind her. Shianni turned to regard the speaker, Ser Mhiri. The lady knight was in charge of the protection of the elven witnesses. Shianni made a face and grunted. She got along okay with the guard, they had similar no-nonsense personalities.
"I see they got to you" The elf gestured to the knight's braided hair.
"I let them do my nails too." Mhiri added guiltily. "I don't get to do girly things in the guard." she explained, a bit embarrassed.
Shianni just grinned, notching another arrow.
0-0
"Um...could you pass the peas?" Kallian asked the elf next to her. Because of Elissa's visit she couldn't eat with Aedan like she normally would so she was having her dinner down in the servant's quarters with a bunch of people she had never seen before. They all bore a striking resemblance to Elle. Apparently everyone who worked here was related to the maid in some way. The man next to her handed her a dish, she scraped some of the small legumes onto her plate, letting the conversation of the room roll right over her. She was interrupted by a small androgynous child tugging at her elbow.
"Are you Lord Aedan's girlfriend?" Kallian choked on her food in surprise.
"Poppy, don't be rude." chastised an old woman Kallian thought was Elle's mother. "A young lady doesn't discus such things at the table."
"Okay grandma." replied the contrite child.
Kallian sighed in relief, she wasn't sure of the answer herself.
0-0
Meanwhile Aedan was upstairs eating dinner with his sister.
"So how are things in Highever?"
"Quite well, everyone is excited about the wedding."
"Oh yes, I had almost forgotten, how is Broody McAngstypants anyway? I thought you two were joined at the hip these days."
"Nathan is attending to some matters with his father."
"You mean," He paused dramatically. "Lord Rendon Howe?" With that his sister's Mabari, Dane, who had been up to that moment been sitting quietly, released a long mournful howl. The stray cat, who had been stalking the aforementioned mabari, and coincidentally hoping to mooch some food hissed loudly and hid under some furniture.
Aedan sent his sister a smug grin.
Elissa glared back. "That's not funny. The man was cursed by a witch."
By his smile it was clear that Aedan disagreed.
Elissa scowled back at him before breaking into a dangerous smile and quickly changing the subject.
"Your little friend is certainly interesting." she stopped to take a bite of her food. She waited until her brother had started taking a drink. "Who would have though such a tiny thing could fight her way through the Arl's guards." Elissa's patience was rewarded by her brother choking and spraying wine all over himself. Revenge was sweet.
"What?" he managed to choke out between coughs.
"Didn't I mention I stopped to see my old school friend Anora on my way here? It seems your little bed-warmer is quite the accomplished murder machine." Her eyes lit with excitement. "I can't wait to fight her."
0-0
Later that evening as Aedan was preparing for bed he heard a gentle knock at his door.
"Yes?"
"Are you decent?"
It was Kallian. "It depends who you ask." he quipped.
"I mean are you dressed?"
"Afraid you'll see something you like?"
"Um...kinda." she answered uneasily.
Aedan relented. "I'm fully clothed."
Kallian cautiously opened the door and stuck her head in. Seeing that all was as he said she walked in shyly. Aedan's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. The blonde elf was wearing a rather revealing two-piece.
"Um...the other one's in the wash." she lied, waiting for his reaction.
Aedan slowly looked her up and down. Kallian blushed and looked at her feet, maybe this wasn't as good an idea as she thought.
"Um..." Aedan concluded.
"I-I could get a robe..." she offered haltingly.
"NO! Er.. I mean, it's fine, don't trouble yourself." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Kallian grinned and assumed a more confident posture. He likes what he sees she thought in delight.
Aedan took off his shirt in what had become a nightly ritual and lay face down on his bed. As Kallian started to kneed the muscles on his back the young lord started to speak.
"Elissa knows who you are."
She stopped her ministrations and got off of him.
"Aww geez, is this going to be a problem?"
"I don't think so, she was more excited than anything else. She really wants to fight you."
The rogue gave a derisive snort, no pampered princess noble could worry her.
"She competes in tournaments you know. They call her 'Crusher Cousland'"
"She's that Elissa Cousland?"
"Um, how many others are there?"
"Sorry, didn't make the connection until now." Kallian broke into a manic grin. "I get to fight 'Crusher' Cousland!" she bent over and kissed Aedan enthusiastically on the lips. "Wow! This is so awesome!"
Aedan sighed, why didn't he ever meet any normal girls?
It took Kallian a few minutes to calm down and stop dancing around the room.
"Kallian," Aedan started. "Lay down on the bed for a minute, I want to try something."
She did as he asked and gave him an inquiring look.
"Turn over on your stomach."
She did and was a bit surprised when he straddled her hips. "W-what are you doing?" She twisted her upper body around to look at him.
"Just returning the favor."
"O-okay." Still somewhat apprehensive she lay back down. "AAA! Too hard!"
"Oh, sorry, is this better?" Her contented sigh told him it was. After a while the elf started...purring? At least that's what it sounded like to him.
"Kallian?"
"Mmm?"
"Would you like to sleep in here tonight?" he asked tentatively. "We wouldn't have to do anything..."
She yawned and turned back to him. "Okay."
Aedan got off of her and pulled back the blankets then lay down next to the elf. Kallian rolled onto her side and Aedan put her arm around her arranging them into a 'spooning' position. The Elf felt safe and warm in his arms and fell asleep almost instantly. Aedan just looked at her peaceful face until succumbing himself.
Bit of a filler chapter this time.
Anywhoo next time: a big fight!