A/N - This chapter was a real bitch to write, hence why it took so long. So much damn dialogue! Add on top of that all the research I had to do to try and get the characters right and you've got a rough time. Fun though. Hopefully I've done the characters some semblance of justice but in the end I just had to go with my own interpretation. I realise now I probably should have re-played the game before I did this but it's a bit late for that now. Oh well. It's still a pretty long chapter, even with the prior chapter break, so get comfy and hopefully enjoy!
Bows were drawn and raised in the elves' direction. Foot soldiers brought forth their weapons, ready to strike on command.
"Hold! Do not draw your weapons!" Ellana shouted to her friends.
They stopped mid-stream and brought their empty hands in to plain view. Ellana raised her own in submission. The soldiers did not react, keeping their weapons poised until told otherwise. The bob of red hair weaved amongst them, making its way to the forefront.
"We have no quarrel with you! Let us leave in peace!" Ellana shouted uselessly as her friends' fidgeted around her.
"You know that cannot happen, Inquisitor," said a familiar voice.
The words brought hesitation to the troops. Whispers led to the hopeful lowering of some weapons but nowhere near enough.
"Leliana…" Ellana said quietly as the red haired woman came out from behind her soldiers. "Leliana, I do not want bloodshed…"
"That is not my intention, unless you force my hand. I want answers not blood," Leliana replied coolly.
"There is nothing more I can give you!" Ellana shouted. She calmed herself before continuing, "If I answer your questions will you let us go?"
Leliana moved closer, too close for Ellana's liking. She couldn't tell what her intentions were. Leliana had always been difficult to read and their current situation only made it harder. On the one hand Leliana seemed relieved to see her after so long but on the other she seemed hurt, murderously so. Ellana's friends clearly got that same impression and their hands moved once again to their weapons. She raised a hand to stop them.
"It is good to see you so well," Leliana remarked all too calmly.
"Answer my question," Ellana interrupted.
"We have received information that you are now working as an agent of Fen'Harel and your present company," Leliana paused to look at the elves with disapproval, "suggests that information is correct? Yes?"
Ellana nodded defiantly in reply. She felt small, like a child being told off by an angry mother. Leliana knew she had the upper hand and she was using it.
"That's disappointing," Leliana replied, allowing her genuine hurt to show more than she would have liked. She turned away before continuing, "Then you're a very real danger to us all and I am bound to keep you from your task."
"Please Leliana, don't do this," Ellana said as a last ditch attempt.
The red haired woman turned back to face her former friend and stared her down without a reply. Ellana looked back at her friends.
"Let them go," Ellana said quietly before turning back to face Leliana. "You want me, not them. Let them leave here unharmed and I will go with you."
Leliana laughed derisively before replying, "You don't have a choice; you're outnumbered. You're companions are just as guilty as you and they deserve to face punishment."
"I do have a choice; I can choose to fight," Ellana defiantly added, making Leliana's expression darken. "That may well result in my death but I doubt the Divine would take too kindly to that particular outcome…" Ellana continued coolly.
Leliana's mouth hung open in response.
"Let them go and I will come with you peacefully. That is your primary goal is it not? My friends are incidental to you," Ellana added.
"And what is to stop them from coming back for you? I will not lose good men to this foolishness," Leliana replied, having regained her composure.
"That is a risk you have to take. Besides, you outnumber us, remember?" Ellana retorted.
Leliana glared at her while taking a moment to consider. From what Ellana knew of her, she was certain she was carefully calculating all the possible moves she could make and their outcomes. Ellana hoped, for all their sakes, that she had predicted her old friend's mind-set correctly.
Finally reaching what seemed to be a suitable conclusion, Leliana replied, "I have no desire to see you harmed, Ellana. I called you friend once; I do remember that even if you have forgotten. Your companions will be allowed to leave unharmed but you will submit to imprisonment. You will offer no resistance and will remain until the Inquisition sees fit."
"Agreed," Ellana replied with an affirming nod.
With a gesture from Leliana, the soldiers sprung in to action. Ellana turned quickly to her friends.
"You know what to do. Stay safe and don't worry about me," she said quietly before the soldiers reached her.
"Disarm," Leliana said as the soldiers stood ready.
"They leave first," Ellana replied with a gesture to her friends.
"Go," Leliana said with a sigh.
Ellana threw her weapons to the ground as her friends ran off in to the woods. Lis looked grudgingly back from the treeline before being dragged off by Shivra.
"Gods protect them," Ellana whispered as the guards shackled her wrists.
Skyhold was much the same as she had left it. It was all so pleasantly familiar even in the current circumstances. Many of her fondest memories had occurred in this place. There had been a time when this had been her home; the only place she felt truly safe but that had been a very long time ago. Even before she had left, the place had felt like a prison and now that was becoming a reality. They had travelled through the night to reach their destination. Leliana hadn't said another word to her the whole journey. The sun was slowly rising when they finally reached the foreboding gates. As she was led across the courtyard she was gawked at relentlessly. Residents and soldiers alike had no doubt heard tales of the Inquisitor's betrayal and the looks on their faces bore nothing but hatred and disgust as a result. Leliana took her arm, leading her on the familiar path to the dungeons.
Once they had entered she spoke, "I'm afraid you won't have many companions in the cells. We did have a selection of your agents from within the Inquisition but over time they all miraculously disappeared…your doing, I presume?"
Ellana didn't reply. She was distracted by the sight of Cullen at the end of the corridor. He came to meet them with a worried expression. Forgetting himself, he outstretched a hand to touch her shoulder in concern.
"Ellana! Are you all right? Unhurt?" he asked much to Leliana's annoyance.
"I am well, Cullen. No harm has come to me under the care of the Inquisition, you'll be glad to hear," Ellana replied.
"Good…good," he said, glaring at Leliana.
Her glare matched his as she remarked, "She is our prisoner, Commander."
Cullen removed his hand from Ellana's shoulder sheepishly and looked away from them both. They led Ellana to a cell away from the others.
"She came willingly?" Cullen asked as though Ellana was not present.
"Eventually… She bargained for the release of her fellow agents," Leliana replied.
"You let her soldiers go? So they're free to report back?" Cullen asked in an exasperated tone.
"I had little choice. It was that or risk harming her," Leliana replied.
Leliana only released Ellana from her grasp when they were safely inside the cell. Ellana broke away happily, putting as much distance between her and her captors as she could.
"Besides, they are only free for now," Leliana continued. "I fully intend to round them up and prevent them from causing problems."
Ellana smiled inside at her former friend's predictability.
"What?!" she shouted, feigning anger. "You gave me your word that they could leave!"
"And they did leave; entirely unharmed I might add. I never promised anything beyond that," Leliana replied, clearly amused with herself.
"You had better not harm them or so help me!" Ellana cried with some genuine feeling.
"I am surprised to hear you showing such concern for others. Friendship is not something you seem to hold with much esteem," Leliana replied bitterly. She let out an exasperated sigh. "We are not the villains here, Ellana. If you're people give themselves up then we will not harm them. But I can assure you, we will not allow our people to get hurt for the sake of yours."
Ellana turned away. She hoped Leliana would be true to her word and her friends would be unharmed but that didn't stop her from worrying.
Leliana turned to Cullen. "I need to make arrangements. Stay with her and keep your guard up," she ordered before leaving.
Ellana heard the cell door snap shut. She could feel Cullen's eyes on her.
"I'd like to rest; it's been a long day," she said hopefully.
When she turned back, Cullen was still standing staring at her.
"I'd like to rest alone if that's possible?" she asked again.
"So you can dream, or whatever you people do, and tell Solas where you are? Then what? He comes here and kills people until we let you go? Is that it?" Cullen asked angrily.
Ellana looked away, ashamed to hear it spelled out so bluntly.
"You must think me a complete fool," he continued, growing angrier with each word. "Did you think I wouldn't remember? Those times may have been so insignificant for you but they weren't for me."
"I'm sorry, Cullen," Ellana said as she moved closer to him. "I didn't mean… You're not a fool, nor would I ever think that. You may think I don't care but I do, more than you know! I wish...I wish things didn't have to be this way!"
"But they do, Ellana," he replied, placing his hands on her shoulders once again, "because of your choices. You threw all of this, and us, away when you chose him."
"It was never about him!" Ellana replied angrily. "Do you really think me so shallow? I did this for my people!"
Cullen broke away from her but despite the distance he never took his eyes away from hers.
"For you Ellana, it was always about him," Cullen added sadly before turning away.
A long silence had passed between Ellana and Cullen. He wouldn't look at her anymore, choosing instead to keep his attention focused on the doorway. Ellana couldn't stand his disdain any longer.
"Cullen, I'm sorry," she said quietly. "Not just for what is happening now but for everything."
"Don't!" he shouted, closing the distance between them. "Please, don't. You can say it all you want but sorry doesn't change anything. It's over, Ellana. You made your choice a long time ago."
The sound of nearby voices broke Cullen away from her.
"Well, what else am I supposed to do?!" Ellana exclaimed, ignoring the sounds from beyond the cell. "I just want to know that things will be okay; that you'll be okay!"
"Live your life, Ellana and I'll do the same," he said before the voices were upon them.
Leliana entered the cell first, closely followed by Josephine and Cassandra. Ellana was already upset and seeing her friends again brought tears dangerously close to welling.
"Did we interrupt?" Leliana asked as she looked between the two of them.
"No, we're done," Cullen replied firmly.
The look he gave Ellana filled her with painful regret.
"It really is you," Cassandra said as she stepped forward. "So it's true? It's all true…"
Ellana didn't say anything; she couldn't; Cassandra's pained expression said it all.
"But why? How could you just abandon everyone?" Cassandra continued.
"It was the right thing to do," Ellana replied as firmly as she could.
"The right thing to do?!" Cassandra shouted. "Destroying the world is not right! You gave up everything to save the world from Corypheas but now…"
"That was different! He was a maniac who would have enslaved us all! He wanted nothing more than power. I want a better world," Ellana replied.
"A better world for your people," Leliana added. "Never mind that it's at the expense of everyone else. Are you so blinded that you can't even see the parallels?"
"I am not blind," Ellana retorted, glaring at Leliana. "When I said 'it was the right thing to do' I was referring to leaving. Now more than ever, I am certain that was the right choice."
Looks of hurt swept the room.
"So you don't deny that what you seek to do is madness?" Leliana asked, having recovered the quickest.
"It is necessary," Ellana replied firmly. "We are left with no other real option. This world is broken. Those in power lord it over those they see as their lesser. We need to level the playing field."
"You're not going to level it; you mean to destroy it entirely. That is not the answer!" Cassandra cried.
"Not destroy, restore. It will be returned to how it was; how it was always supposed to be. Is it right? Maybe not. It's definitely not ideal but it's all we have," Ellana continued.
"You have lost your mind!" Cassandra shouted.
Ellana stared defiantly at her but was unwilling to argue the point further. She knew they would never understand no matter how loudly she shouted.
"This isn't you, Ellana," Josephine added sadly, tears welling in her eyes.
Josephine hadn't moved from the doorway. She kept her gaze focused on the floor. The sight of her in such sorrow tore at Ellana's heart. No one could deny that Josephine was a formidable woman but Ellana had always felt she had a childlike innocence about her. Seeing her hurt and knowing she was to blame was not a pleasant experience. Ellana shook off the feeling; there were much greater concerns at hand.
"What you may think of me doesn't matter; you should be far more concerned with our current situation," Ellana said as calmly as she could.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Cassandra asked angrily.
"Even if you do capture my friends, it is only a matter of time until someone finds out we're here. You need to let me go before that happens or it will not end well," Ellana replied.
"Is that a threat?!" Cassandra shouted.
"It is a reality. Let me go now or people will die. I don't think any of us want that," Ellana continued.
Cassandra was about to continue her berating when a sound from outside the cell interrupted. Leliana went out to meet the visitor, leaving the others in awkward silence. Ellana took the opportunity to survey her former friends. Cassandra still looked irate despite the distraction but Ellana expected little else. Cassandra had always been a very emotional woman despite her position. Cullen met Ellana's stare. She had expected him to look as angry as Cassandra but he just looked disappointed. He shook his head and turned away. His disappointment hurt more than any anger ever could. Cassandra sighed in frustration and Ellana feared the continuation of her tirade but before she could start Leliana returned in to view.
As she opened the barred doorway she spoke, "Our men have captured two of her soldiers. The other two are still at large but it's only a matter of time."
Before the others could respond, Ellana interrupted, "Are they hurt? Did your men attack them?"
"No, that wasn't necessary. Your people gave themselves up willingly. They will be brought here shortly," Leliana replied.
"Here? Can I see them?" Ellana asked hopefully.
Ellana had always trusted Leliana during her time with the Inquisition and she had never given any reason to question her. But now they were enemies and she knew exactly how Leliana treated her foes. Ellana doubted every word that came out of her mouth.
"What?! Of course not!" Leliana scoffed.
"You expect me to take you at your word? I need to see them!" Ellana added angrily.
"You do not have the right to make any demands here! Besides, you're one to talk about honesty!" Leliana shouted back, her cool attitude dissolving in to rage.
"Shut up, Leliana! You have no idea what you're talking about!" Ellana replied. "Is this what the Inquisition is now; imprisonment and lies? What are you going to do next? Torture us?"
Before she could react, Leliana closed the distance between them and slapped her square in the face.
"How dare you!" Leliana shouted.
"Enough!" Cassandra bellowed as she pulled Leliana back. "Take her out of here!" she shouted to the others.
Cullen led Leliana out the doorway without much resistance. Josephine followed behind, likely to comfort her friend. Only Cassandra remained and she did not look pleased.
"That was entirely uncalled for, provoking her like that. Enough of the games, Ellana," Cassandra said, sounding like a scolding mother.
It took a moment for Ellana to surrender her own fury before she relented, "I'm sorry. I know this isn't a game. It's painful for us all, including Leliana, and I know I shouldn't make things worse than they already are."
"But you're angry and I can understand why," Cassandra said in a surprisingly reasonable manner. "In spite of what we have to do, we do all still care and that… It hurts."
Ellana looked at the floor. She would have much preferred Cassandra had screamed at her. This was much harder to deal with.
"Why didn't you come to me? You could have told me all that time ago," Cassandra continued.
The hurt in Cassandra's voice made Ellana gulp before she sheepishly replied, "You wouldn't have understood. I didn't know what I wanted back then. I just had to get out of here. I knew how disappointed you would all be and I just couldn't face it. If I'd known what would happen…"
"So it wasn't your intention to join up with the elves? When they said you were with him, I thought the worst. I thought that was what you had wanted all along," Cassandra asked with some hope in her eyes.
"I had no idea what I wanted. It wasn't until later…and then I saw more and I…" Ellana trailed off. She knew her friend needed answers and she owed it to her to at least try and make her understand. She took a moment to compose herself before she continued, "I thought I knew what it was like to be an elf. In our travels together we saw more that made me question my own experience; made me see how narrow my own perception really was. But that wasn't enough; I was still more ignorant than I would like to admit. At first, I joined with a group of Solas's agents entirely by accident. It was never intentional and curiosity kept me there."
Cassandra looked visibly shocked by this revelation. Ellana paused as her friend wrestled with the desire to question but she ultimately remained silent.
"My time with them showed me more," Ellana continued. "I always knew this world was broken in places and not just for the elves but I didn't fully appreciate the injustices my people face on a daily basis. I was lucky growing up and throughout the rest of my life. I knew so little of my own peoples' suffering. I can't go back to who I was now."
"It is broken; I will not argue against that. There is so much injustice but that is why we must fight it! We can't just give up and start anew. That's not the right way!" Cassandra added desperately.
"There is no other choice. This world is lost, Cassandra. We can't fix this," Ellana replied sadly.
A commotion from outside the cell interrupted before Cassandra could reply. The sound of chains echoed through the outer chamber.
"Look, bitch, you don't need to push! I'm going as fast as I can!"
The echoing voice sounded a lot like Shivra and without thinking, Ellana ran past Cassandra. The cell door rattled as she reached it which made her friends turn her way.
"Ellana, what are you doing?!" Cassandra shouted angrily as she grabbed her by the shoulders.
Ellana ignored her as she was too thrilled by the sight of both Shivra and Miris alive and well. Shivra even threw her a cheeky salute as they were led away by guards on either side. Ellana allowed herself to be man-handled away from the door.
"You really thought we'd hurt them?" Cassandra thought aloud.
"Thank you. I didn't know what to expect. They're your enemy and you don't know them. Anything could have happened," Ellana said with genuine feeling. "They're my family now and I don't think I could bear if they got hurt because of me."
Cassandra said nothing but she couldn't hide the hurt and jealousy in her expression.
"I wish things could be different, Cassandra, I really do," Ellana said sadly. "You mean so much to me, even now. But in the end, it won't really matter I suppose…"
"It matters, Ellana. It won't end, I can't let it and nor should you. This world still has value and you know it," Cassandra said.
Ellana looked away. Cassandra was right, her life now was all she had ever wanted and she wished, more than anything, that she could find a way to save it.
"We can make this world a better place, Ellana. We can fight for it."
"We?" Ellana asked.
"We could help you; the Inquisition could help you," Cassandra replied.
"You…you would do that?" Ellana asked in disbelief. "This isn't you're fight; you have nothing to gain…"
"I may be human, Ellana but I am not blind," Cassandra replied, looking slightly annoyed by Ellana's low estimations of her. "I cannot deny the suffering of the elves and the world would be a better place without such suffering. It is a worthy cause even if it is not my own. We could work together; convince Solas to change his path as we always intended and fight as one to give your people a better life."
Ellana was touched by the gesture but a moment's thought was all it took to make her question the idea.
"Thank you but I fear you are one of the few," Ellana remarked sadly. "How many do you really think would follow that cause? You'd be asking humans to fight and perhaps die for a race that many of those same people see as lesser. Few would be willing to take on that burden. If more people thought to care about us then we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."
"You're wrong! Andraste herself fought with the elves, along with many humans," Cassandra added desperately.
"That was not the same, Cassandra," Ellana replied gently. "Andraste's army fought their own war and it was mere coincidence that Shartan and his elves were already fighting the same enemy. We would be asking humans to war against themselves not a common enemy."
Cassandra was shaking her head but Ellana didn't let her argue.
"Even if we could somehow convince enough people and win the elves a future they deserve it would never last. If history has taught us anything it's that nothing ever lasts for the elves, not in this world. Someone always rises up to take what is ours. It would only be a matter of time before there was another 'Exalted March on the Dales' and history would repeat itself. My people can never prosper in this world; your kind will never allow it."
"You don't know that! How can you just give up all hope?!" Cassandra shouted.
"It's over, Cassandra. I'm sorry but you need to think about where we are now and stop clinging to the hope that you can change my mind. It's done and you need to focus on what happens now," Ellana mused. "You need to let us go, Cassandra. I've given you your answers…"
"You've given me nothing!" Cassandra shouted so loudly that it made Ellana jump. "I will not allow you to go through with this; not while I still breathe! Even if that means I have to keep you imprisoned, I won't allow it!"
"Don't be a fool, Cassandra! You need to let us all go now before it's too late!" Ellana cried in desperation. "You said yourself – we're enemies now! You can't keep me locked up here forever! Solas will know soon enough and what do you think he will do when you won't let me go?! I don't want that and neither should you! People shouldn't have to die because you're being stubborn!"
"If he tries then he'll face the might of the Inquisition!" Cassandra bellowed.
She could see now that her friend was too irate and much too proud to let go. Arguing more would achieve nothing but she hoped a more gentle approach might make her see the reality of their situation.
"Please, Cassandra. If you let us go now then you won't hear from us again. If we end up fighting in the future then so be it but please, no one has to die today; not for this."
"If you are certain this is the path you are taking then this is the path I must choose. You are a danger to us all and will remain our prisoner," Cassandra replied firmly.
Ellana closed her eyes in exasperation. She wanted to argue that she was far more of a danger being held captive but she didn't have the strength any more. Cassandra would be a lost cause now; much too stubborn to be convinced. If it came down to it then perhaps Solas might be able to make her see sense. Ellana was certain he would at least try.
Cassandra had tried to keep the argument going but Ellana gave her nothing in return. Faced with little more than silence, the Seeker left in frustration. Finally alone, Ellana lay on the moth-eaten bed for a time. Cullen entered the cell shortly after, no doubt to ensure Ellana didn't find an opportunity to sleep, but she ignored him and he seemed happy to do the same. There was no sign or sound of her now captive friends so she presumed they must be being housed elsewhere. She wondered if they had also been questioned but she didn't worry; she trusted them to keep silent. It had been so long since they had left the caves so she was more concerned about the state of her other teammates. While it was possible that they had somehow made a clean escape it seemed unlikely. The Inquisition would be much too thorough. With so much time having passed they must have managed to send out a message. Everyone back home would know of her imprisonment soon enough. She wished she could sleep. Her former friends' interrogations had been exhausting and she hated the waiting. Their notion that she would somehow communicate with Solas was a rather absurd one, in her opinion. He would have to also be sleeping in the middle of the day which, while not unheard of given his proclivity for the fade, was unlikely. Further, he would have to be actively looking for her which would be an unbelievable coincidence. The thought annoyed her but explaining the concept would certainly be wasted breath so she kept her thoughts to herself. Her mind drifted to Solas and how he would react when he found out about her current predicament. He was going to insist on dealing with it himself, she was certain of that. She hoped that it wouldn't end in violence. Despite all she knew of his skills, she still feared for him and she feared for her former friends. If blood was spilled on either side it would mean the end of everything they once had.
The sound of a door slamming open in the outer walkway distracted Ellana from her train of thought. Voices echoed through the newly opened door with the loudest catching Ellana's attention.
"Where is she? You said she was here, so tell me where she is! Vishante kaffas, do I need to spell it out for you?!"
Ellana sat up abruptly. With all that had happened she hadn't thought to ask after the rest of the Inner Circle. She presumed Cassandra would have told them about her betrayal and that had worn heavily on her mind but she didn't think to see any of them here. Cullen had already made his way to the door and proceeded out to meet the commotion. Ellana got up from the bed not sure if she was ready for another reunion.
"Cullen, finally! Where is everyone? All I could find was lacklustre recruits! Useless!"
Ellana could hear a vague mumble from Cullen down the hall.
"She is here! Well lead the way!"
Cullen entered first and the welcome form of Dorian followed with suitable flourish. He didn't stop with Cullen, coming right over and taking hold of Ellana.
"My dear girl, what have they done to you? You look surprisingly well given the circumstances. Although I must say I'm not loving the black," he said, touching her hair. "The silver was much more eye-catching."
"Dorian…" was all Ellana could manage to say as tears welled in her eyes.
"Did you miss me?" he said with a cocky smile.
"She is our prisoner, Dorian," Cullen said in an annoyed tone.
"Oh yes, of course. Perish the thought that I would treat an old friend with courtesy. How silly of me," Dorian replied with a raised eyebrow.
Cullen, still visibly irritated by Dorian's apparent disinterest, went to reply but was cut off immediately.
"Would you be so kind as to leave us alone for a time? I fear we have much to discuss and little time to do it," Dorian said.
Cullen's expression suggested that this was the last thing he wanted to do but he relented and opened the door to leave.
"She is our prisoner, Dorian. Do not remove her shackles, do you hear?" Cullen said before leaving.
"Yes, yes. Dangerous prisoner and all that," Dorian replied sarcastically.
"I'll be down the hall when you're finished," Cullen added as he left.
Dorian sighed and turned back to Ellana.
"Finally! I thought he'd never leave!" he said.
"Dorian…" Ellana repeated uselessly.
"It's so good to see you, my friend," he whispered. He took her in a much needed embrace and she felt tears sliding down her face. "What have you gotten yourself in to now?"
"The usual!" she cried, trying to wipe away any evidence of tears from her cheeks.
Noticing the difficulty she was having due to her shackles he took her gently by the wrist.
"Here, let's get these off you," he said quietly.
She laughed. "No, I wouldn't want you to get in trouble on my account."
"I can handle Cullen. Besides, it's not like you're going to strike me down and run. You've not had a complete personality change have you?" he asked, laughing.
"Not so far but they make it sound like I have," Ellana remarked sadly.
"They're just upset," he said as he removed her shackles. "To be fair, you did just up and leave without a word. It wasn't exactly thrilling, I must say."
Once she was free she stretched for a moment before grabbing him in her own embrace.
"I missed you so much!" she said.
"I did tell you you would!" he replied jokingly.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you I was leaving," Ellana said quietly, not lessening her grip.
"Yes, you should have but I guess I can learn to forgive," he replied. "I'm sorry too. I never should have left. You clearly needed me and I…"
"No! Don't say that," Ellana exclaimed, pulling away so she could look at him. "There was nothing you could have said or done that would have changed what happened."
He shook his head; his expression suggesting he didn't believe her. He sat down on the bed and gestured for her to join him.
"So you found him?" he asked once she had sat down. "When they told me you had gone… I certainly wasn't expecting that."
"Neither was I," she replied with a laugh. "It just, sort of, happened…"
"Judging by how good you look I presume he's treating you well for a change?" he asked; clearly still bitter over his friend's past hurt.
"He is," Ellana replied with gentle smile. "We have our issues but who doesn't?"
"Tell me about it," Dorian added with a laugh. "Still sticking with the elven god thing?"
"Of course!" she said with a chuckle.
"You know, I still find it hard to imagine," he remarked.
Ellana looked at him with a doubting eyebrow raised.
"Yes, I know; I was there . I saw everything in those Eluvians but I still can't imagine it," he mused. "I guess he'll always be that apostate hobo to me."
Ellana nudged him good-humouredly in the ribs for his rudeness as she laughed. "He's not really changed much to be honest. Except the clothes; you'll be thrilled to hear they've evolved."
"Really?" Dorian asked disbelievingly.
"It's all armour now; annoying, fiddly armour," she remarked.
"I know that struggle all too well," he said with a knowing look.
"Are you still seeing Bull?" Ellana asked carefully.
"As much as we can. Nothing would make him happier than to follow me around all day like an enamoured puppy but it's just not possible," he mused with just a hint of melancholy.
"I'm pretty sure that would make you pretty happy too," Ellana added.
"You may be right…" he said sadly.
A silence passed between them. Ellana didn't know what to say. She knew so little about her friend's life now that she couldn't exactly offer any advice. The thought saddened her. Talking with Dorian had been a wonderful distraction but thinking about how much she had lost brought everything crashing back down. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to brush it off.
"Ellana, I…I need to ask you," Dorian started.
Ellana looked up at him, put off slightly by his serious tone.
"You said finding Solas 'just happened'; wasn't intentional and the others said you were working for him. Do you actually believe in what he's doing?"
She nodded in response. She didn't want to have to justify herself once again.
"You're certain? It's not just him and...you know...how you feel?" he asked carefully.
"What do you mean?" she asked, not liking what he was implying. "You think I'm just doing this for him?"
He sheepishly continued, "It wouldn't be the first time someone's judgement had been impaired by love…"
"No! It's nothing to do with that!" Ellana exclaimed more loudly than she had intended.
"It can't have nothing to do with it. You can't honestly tell me that if it was someone entirely different pitching this idea that you would have jumped on board so willingly?" he asked.
Ellana had never looked at it that way before and she found herself irritated by the idea.
"Well I... I don't know! I can't know! But that doesn't mean I don't believe in it!" she exclaimed. Taking a moment to consider, she continued, "If it was someone else then maybe I wouldn't have seen all I have or even given it a chance. Maybe I would be on the other side but that doesn't change how things are now. I made this decision because of my own experiences and he is an intrinsic part of that experience. Without him, maybe things would be different but not for the right reasons."
Ellana looked hopefully at Dorian. She needed someone to see that she was still the same person and if anyone was going to accept her, it was him. He nodded, trying to hide his melancholy.
"Then I suppose you've made your choice. I may not agree with it but I have to respect your decision," he replied.
She smiled. She wanted to hug him again but it felt like the wrong time.
"Promise me one thing?" he asked, looking directly in to her eyes.
"What?" she asked suspiciously.
"Promise me you won't give up on us entirely," he said as he took her hand. "Promise me you'll look for any alternative; any glimmer of hope. And if you ever find anything, we'll make it work together."
"For you, it's a promise," she replied with a sad smile.
He tapped her hand in satisfaction and a silence passed between them. He sighed and lay back on the bed.
"I could really do with a drink," he mused.
"Tell me about it," Ellana replied, lying back on the bed beside him.
The sun had begun to set beyond the cell window. With the more thorny topics out of the way, Ellana and Dorian's conversation had progressed along a much easier path. Each filled in the other on what had been happening in their lives since they had parted. Ellana had a hard time avoiding difficult details but luckily Dorian was more than happy to keep the discussion focused mostly on himself. They had managed to go on without any interruptions which certainly made for a more pleasant atmosphere but it was starting to worry Ellana the more she thought about it. When an interruption finally came, Ellana wished she had made the effort to question the relative silence.
It began with a distant sound through the window; difficult to identify over Dorian's chatter. As it got closer it started to sound like a screeching animal. Closer still and it could be screaming. It faded out again as its source entered the keep; thick stone walls obstructing the sound. Ellana shushed Dorian as she heard it start up again, growing closer still. It was definitely screaming; she was certain. She got up from the bed to go to the door. Dorian mirrored her concern which only worried her more. Cullen was at the door before she reached it. He was ashen faced and would not look at her.
"Sit back down," he said with a slight tremble in his voice. Noticing her freed hands, he glared at Dorian.
Ellana's eyes widened and her brow furrowed at his expression but she didn't move. Fear rose in her chest as the sound loudened. The door at the end of the walkway finally bashed open and the sound hit her with its full enormity. A woman crying interspersed with unintelligible screams echoed through the hall. Ellana grabbed at the bars in desperation; trying to see the source of the screams.
"No! Don't take her away!" was all Ellana could make out.
Footsteps drew nearer and the screams became deafening. Reaching through the bars Ellana pushed Cullen aside at just the right moment. Across the chasm she could only see glimpses of blonde hair between the guards but she knew immediately that it was Lis. The blonde elf struggled against her captors as she wailed. Cullen had already recovered, trying to hold Ellana still through the bars. Dorian was beside her as well but he did nothing to help either party. Ignoring Cullen's efforts, Ellana screamed Lis's name at the top of her lungs. The wailing suddenly stopped.
"Ellana?! Ellana! They killed her! She's dead! They killed Ari!" Lis screamed.