Chronicles of an Elven Bed-warmer
Chapter the eighth
Assessment
I do not own dragon age, which is probably for the best really.
Aedan drifted awake the next morning quite contentedly. In that blissful half aware state between sleep and true wakefulness, he heard the steady gentle patter of the rain on the window. He felt entirely relaxed and stress free. The young lord opened his eyes to the vision of Kallian's head resting on his chest - and drooling on it a bit. He smiled fondly at her. No need to wake her, he would wait for her to rise on her own.
Alas! The moment was not to last. Just as he had decided to try to go back to sleep there came a loud knock on the chamber door.
"Hm?" he grunted.
"Time for breakfast, brother." Elissa greeted from the other side. She always had been a morning person.
Aedan groaned and tried to get up, only to find that he couldn't: his companion had wrapped her arms around him in her sleep. On its own, it was a rather sweet gesture but one he couldn't appreciate at this time. Pity, that.
"Brother?" His sister reminded him that she was still waiting patiently. For now.
"Kallian." He whispered urgently into her ear whilst prodding the slumbering elf.
"Mhrphle." She groused - and tightened her grip.
Cursing mentally, Aedan reluctantly pried himself out of her arms as gently as possible.
Kallian didn't wake up.
"I'm coming in, like it or not." Elissa informed him, having exhausted her limited supply of patience.
Aedan quickly piled bedclothes on top of the suddenly inconvenient elf in his bed. Just as he completed the task of rendering Kallian invisible, Elissa burst into the room.
"Good morning, brother dear." she greeted in a sing-song voice. Her smile morphed into a frown as she looked searchingly around the room, seemingly failing to find what she sought.
Surprisingly, despite his usual obliviousness, Aedan noticed. "What is it, Elissa?"
She looked disappointed for some reason. "Nothing..." She shook her head. "C'mon, your food's getting cold."
0-0
The siblings sat for several minutes in comfortable silence while partaking of their morning meal in the sitting area between Aedan and Kallian's rooms
"This is really good." The Lady observed, consuming another forkful.
Before Aedan could respond, he heard a door opening behind him. Before him, Elissa's jaw dropped and her eyes widened to epic proportions Sighing in resignation, he turned his head to confirm his suspicions.
Yep, there was Kallian, lurching, zombie-like across the room, her hair sticking out at wild angles and at least two thirds naked in her two piece. He took a moment to admire her tight physique before remembering where he was and who he was with and dropping his head into his hands in embarrassment.
Completely unaware of anything around her the scantily clad elf bumped into her door a few times before remembering how to open it and disappeared into her room.
"Go ahead." He muttered and looked up at his sister and awaited his impending doom.
"I KNEW IT!" She proclaimed victoriously, standing up out of her chair, then she grinned like a cat that had not only eaten the canary but the goldfish and the hamster as well. "Aww," she cooed. "Little Aedan's growing up." she patted him condescendingly on the head. "It's about time too, mother was starting to think you were 'that way'."
It was too much to hope that Aedan's insightful streak would last, apparently. He blinked. "What way?"
"THAT way." Elissa gave him a meaningful look.
He shook his head, bewildered. "What?"
"That you played for the other team." She spelled it out.
Or at least she thought she did. Aedan just frowned in confusion. "What 'other team'?"
Impatient and exasperated, Elissa stared at her brother in disbelief. "That you, you know... preferred... men?"
"WHAT!" Aedan spluttered. "How could you th-"
"Oh relax, we know now." She waved off his protests in favor of raising a speculative eyebrow. "Sooo, elves, huh?"
Aedan grimaced. "Don't say it like that."
"Like what?" She blinked.
"Like it's... dirty."
"Aedan," She rolled her eyes. "You're not the first nobleman with an Elven mistress. It's a pretty common fetish."
"It's not a fetish!" He snapped back. "The fact that Kallian's an elf has nothing to do with how I feel about her. I like her because she's Kallian. She just happens to be an elf. I'd feel the same whether she were a human or a dwarf or hell even a qunari."
"That's really very sweet Aedan. I'll try not to hurt her too badly." With that she got up and left the room, leaving a rather concerned Aedan.
0-0
Later that day most of the inhabitants of the estate somehow managed to find some reason to be in position to watch Elissa and Kallian's spar. There was a sense of anticipation in the air as the two combatants entered the courtyard. The Elfin bodyguard was in her new armor and Elissa wore her regular tournament splint-mail. Kallian did some warm-up exercises while Elissa limbered up her sword arm.
"Are you ready?" Inquired the Lady Cousland.
The elf nodded her head stoically and after a quick glance at Aedan, who just happened to be passing by and definitely wasn't there to make sure Kallian didn't get hurt too badly, she walked to the center of the courtyard where Elissa was waiting.
The fighters took their stances. Kallian struck first with a quick jab that Elissa easily blocked with her shield. The elf, with an almost inhuman quickness went for a follow-up with her other dagger but missed completely as the Lady stepped back out of range. They continued like that for awhile, the elf trying increasingly desperate and acrobatic moves to hit the larger woman and Elissa blocking or dodging.
Kallian was starting to get frustrated, Why won't she fight me?
Literally seconds after that thought Elissa struck, Only the young elf's quick reflexes kept her from taking a nasty blow to the head. The tall redhead followed up with a shield bash that sent the small elf rolling back across the courtyard, Kallian used the momentum of the blow to roll back up to her feet, just in time to dodge a slash from Elissa.
It's like she can read my moves. Marveled the overwhelmed elf. She just may have bitten off more than she could chew.
There was no more time for thought as the Lady Cousland pressed her attack sent her smaller opponent ducking and weaving frantically. Finally, after a particularly vicious thrust Kallian saw an opening.
She spun around the sword tip towards her opponents unprotected side, ducked under a backhanded blow and prepared to strike when she was interrupted by a shield to the face. Caught completely flat-footed and unable to roll with the impact to lessen the force of the blow the elf dropped like a sack of potatoes to the ground. Kallian tried to get back up but couldn't, as the ground went all wobbly.
Why are there three of her? She thought before losing consciousness.
0-0
"...completely uncalled for!"
Kallian regained consciousness to the sound of the siblings arguing.
"Quit being such a baby, she's perfectly fine." Replied the unsympathetic Elissa. "Besides if she can't take a hit she has no business as your bodyguard."
"Um... Hello?" A groggy Kallian interjected. She tentatively prodded her nose. It didn't feel broken, but her hand still came back bloody
Aedan rushed over and Elissa rolled her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"My head hurts pretty bad, but um...do I know you?"
Aedan stared at her in abject horror. The elf tried to keep the innocent expression on her face but couldn't hold it any longer and dissolved into giggles.
The Lord Cousland felt equal amounts of irritation and relief. His face fell into a woe-is-me pout and she giggled at him some more. It made him look about twelve years old. Kallian took a surreptitious glance over his shoulder to see if Elissa was looking, she wasn't so she gave him a quick reassuring kiss.
"I'm fine."
Aedan gave her a skeptical look and helped her to her feet.
"Well?" he asked over his shoulder to Elissa who had pointedly ignoring the bloody skear on his face.
"She did quite well for an amateur."
Kallian felt like sticking her tongue out at the condescending noble but decided that such an action would be out of character for her stoic persona. Instead she gave a curt nod. Aedan looked like he wanted to say something but remained silent.
0-0
Shianni wasn't sure if she should believe her eyes. The Queen of Ferelden Anora "Ice Queen" Therrin, appeared to be playing dress up and bonding with a bunch of penniless elves.
"No, try the white sleeveless Tasha, it contrasts with your skin and shows off your physique better." The tan elf nodded silently and went back into the dressing room. All of the girls were chattering excitedly whilst dressed in some manner of court finery. "Ah, Shianni, how good of you to join us."
"Er, yes Your Majesty." She hesitated trying to think of a polite way to ask her question. Unable to think of anything she took the direct approach. " Um, what's going on?"
"We're trying on pretty dresses!" interrupted Mel enthusiastically. "It's super fun!"
Melody's dress made the redhead's eyes start to water. It was by far the pinkest, sparkliest, frilliest, most princess-y princess dress ever conceived of by mortal man.
"...Wow." Shianni commented eventually.
"I know, right!" the girl gave a breathy little sigh. "It's just so perfect!" she punctuated the sentence with a delighted squeal before bouncing off after Tasha. Shianni swore the girl only had two settings, 'eleven' and 'off'.
Anora said something that she didn't quite catch. "Pardon me but I couldn't hear you over that dress."
The Queen chuckled softly. "It kind of works though doesn't it?"
"I can't see anyone else wearing it if that's what you mean." she realized she was being a bit over familiar. "Er, your Majesty."
"I told you 'Anora' was fine when it was just us girls."
"Yes you did you highness."
Anora sighed theatrically at the elf's formality. "I said, 'Would you like to try something on?'"
"Oh no, I couldn't..."
"You know you want to."
"I really shouldn't..." she wavered.
"Go ahead, I insist."
Shianni noted to herself that the queen was getting awfully familiar with the elves before grinning slyly.
"Well, if you insist..."
0-0
Kallian was in the bath, sulking. She had never lost a fight before, trying to take her mind off of it she tried to concentrate on the hot water. These nobles sure know how to live, she thought, which immediately made her think of Elissa and start to glower.
"Stupid stuck-up noble-" followed by an elven swear word that was less than complementary.
"Well, that didn't sound nice." commented the tall noblewoman as she entered the bathing area.
"Oh, pardon me milady, I'll just-"she started to get up to leave but Elissa stopped her.
"No, stay, I wanted to talk to you anyway."
Kallian sat back down and gulped nervously.
"You did quite well." Elissa commented.
Kallian gave a surly grunt in response.
"Really, especially for someone with no formal training."
The elf supposed she should answer, it was a compliment, kind of. "Thanks" she said halfheartedly.
"Anyway, I thought we should have a talk, just us girls."
Kallian became immediately suspicious. "Okay..." she said warily.
The young Lady Cousland discarded her robe and slid into the water elegantly. "What exactly is your relationship with my brother?"
"I'm his bodyguard." was her matter-of-fact response.
"Do bodyguards normally spend their nights half-naked in their master's chambers?"
Kallian was taken aback but didn't let it show on her face, How does she know about that? "Someone could attack him in his sleep."
"Really, that's your answer?"
"Yes." the elf replied tersely. Unlike her employer she was an excellent liar.
"Hmm." Elissa relented, returning her attention to bathing herself. Kallian wondered if it was okay to leave. She noticed the Lady looking at her in a appraising way, it made her a bit uncomfortable.
"Milady?"
The noble turned her back to the elf and offered her a washcloth over her shoulder. "Oh, just thinking, would you be a dear and scrub my back?"
The elf tentatively took the offered implement and set to work.
"So, what's going on between you and my brother?"
"You asked that already milady, perhaps you should ask him that."
The corners of Elissa's mouth turned up a bit. "Discretion is an admirable quality in a mistress, don't you think?"
Mistress? Kallian thought, Is that what I am? She tried to decide if that was better or worse than 'girlfriend'.
Betraying none of her confusion she answered "If milady says so, it's not my place to speculate on such things."
Frowning slightly the noble gestured for the elf to cease her ministrations.
Kallian got out of the water and bowed to Elissa. "Will there be anything else milady?"
Lady Cousland dismissed her with a wave, the elf left leaving her alone. She grinned slyly to herself. "Well played Miss Tabris."
Sorry for taking so long had to work on my final paper for my Roman History class, plus, you know, Mass Effect 3 (What was with that ending?)
Oh and my beta has informed me that for some reason she actually want to pass her classes next year and subsequently is unable to work on future chapters so, if anybody wants to volunteer...