A/N - Sorry for the delays guys - life and that. Plus I finally worked out where this is going and that fucked me up for a few days. My imagination jumped so far ahead in the timeline that it took a while to get back. Don't get me wrong, I've had quite a lot more already mapped out for ages but I just didn't know where it was going to end. Do now. Definitely not what I expected. On we go!
Commander Cullen sat working at his desk. He wasn't making much progress but the action alone calmed his anger. The door clicked open and shut and when he glanced up he caught a brief glimpse of Cassandra. He ignored her presence, hoping foolishly that she might leave.
"You can't just walk out like that," she said.
He took his time replying, "I think you'll find I just did."
He didn't usually stand up to Cassandra in this way; she was intimidating to say the least, but his sour mood pushed him on.
"You're not helping the situation, Cullen," she continued. "We need to be together on this, now more than ever. We are at…"
"War. Yes I know. You've said it enough times," he snapped back. "At the risk of repeating myself yet again, have you even considered how stupid that is? I don't care what you all say; facing this head on is not the answer."
"Then what is? Offer me another solution, anything at all, and I will listen. You can't keep fighting us every step of the way and offer nothing in return. When will you let go of your own feelings and start acting like the Commander that you should be," Cassandra responded, struggling to remain calm.
"I need to let go? What about you! Our men didn't need to die, it was completely preventable but you just had to push. You couldn't let her go and they all died as a result," he shouted.
"I'm not listening to this again! If you want to sulk then that's fine; go right ahead! But eventually you're going to have to wake up!" she shouted back.
Cullen took a long calming breath. Since the day they had lost Ellana this argument had been repeated so many times he couldn't keep track anymore. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't escape it. Even when they met to discuss other matters it would always return inevitably back to her.
"If we face them we will lose," he eventually said. "It doesn't matter how many allies we gather, how many men we throw at them, in the long run we will not win."
"We've faced greater foes. We've already proven we can succeed," Cassandra responded desperately.
"Because of her, Cassandra. Do you really think we could have done it without her because I don't! Solas alone is already a greater foe than we have ever faced and maybe if she was still with us we would have a chance but she is not. She is right there by his side fighting us too," he said sadly.
"But we have no choice! I will not stand aside and let them destroy everything we have worked so hard to build!" Cassandra exclaimed.
"I'm not saying we should give up but provoking them further will only end in more pointless death. We need to survive long enough to find another way. Our numbers dwindle and we cannot afford to bring them to our door once again," he continued.
"You're right, in our current state we can't stand up to them but what else can I do!" Cassandra yelled.
"We have to wait. I know it's hard to let go of what they have done but keeping on this path will only end in disaster. We need time and we won't have that if we force them in to action," he added.
"But the more time we give them the stronger they become!" she argued.
"It is a risk but what choice do we have? Nipping at their heels achieves nothing other than begging their attention. We need numbers and, at best, a solution. We should be focusing our full attention on that not chasing after whatever elves we can find," Cullen explained.
"Very well," she responded with a sigh. "For now, we will hold off and wait for an opportunity. Josephine is already in talks with noble houses of both Orlais and Tevinter. Perhaps with time we will get the help we need."
"And Vivienne?" he asked.
"What about her?" she questioned carefully.
"We need to get her as far away from us as possible," he replied coldly. "They know and keeping her here puts us all at risk."
"They are our enemies, not her. She killed a soldier in a war. She didn't do anything wrong and I see no reason to cast her out for her actions," Cassandra responded.
"It's not her actions that worry me," Cullen remarked.
"Without our protection she would be in danger. You would abandon her to that?" she asked.
"She made her bed. I would not see us lie in it along with her," he replied coldly.
Ellana awoke to find the bed empty beside her. She got up, bleary eyed, to look out the window. The sun was already raised in the sky, bathing the bustling streets in bright light. She winced, the daylight making her head pound. He had let her sleep in again. Ignoring the pain she smiled as memories of the previous night came slowly back to her. After taking a moment to enjoy her thoughts she dressed and proceeded downstairs. Out in the street she found Solas beneath the great heart tree. Her friends stood with him, talking intently.
"What are we talking about?" she said as she neared them.
The group looked up with a start and hush descended. Ellana was certain they had been talking about her.
"Well?" she tried again.
Her friends all turned to Solas expectantly. His eyes were fixed on Ellana and in them she could see sadness brimming. Her breathing quickened with concern.
"The Magister, he's… It's happening tonight, vhenan," Solas finally said.
"I'm sorry, Ellana," Lis added.
It took everything in her not to react. She wanted to appear strong, as she should be, but Solas saw through her like a pane of glass. He gave Lis a look and she nodded.
"We probably have work to do so we should get going," she said, nodding to the others.
Miris looked concerned but she reluctantly took Lis's cue.
"We'll see you soon, okay?" Shivra remarked, tapping Ellana reassuringly on the shoulder before she too followed Lis.
Ellana smiled them off weakly. Once they had left she kept her eyes turned to the floor. She was afraid that if she did or said anything then she would crumble. She wanted more than anything to be stronger than this but no matter how much she willed it, it wasn't so. Solas said nothing either. She couldn't tell if he just couldn't find the words or if he knew that she needed his silence. Either way she was glad. Time wasn't helping, her dread building inside her. She could feel her hand begin to shake. Solas came forward and took it, pulling her lightly in to his chest. She expected to fall apart with the sudden contact but she didn't. The sound of his heartbeat thrumming in her ear soothed her. With each beat she could feel the dread lifting until it was little more than a whisper in the back of her mind.
The day had passed much too quickly for Ellana's liking. With the news of the Magister's imminent arrival there had been a whirlwind of activity. First she was taken to a dress fitting and then on to relentless practice. Solas had offered to remain with her but she opted to send him on his way. Although his presence brought her strength, she knew he wouldn't be able to hide his worry and her own was more than enough. On top of that she was sure there were other preparations needing his attention and she wasn't willing to let him abandon them for her sake. In what little time they did manage to spend together he focused on going over what she had to do. It may have seemed insensitive but comfort was the last thing she wanted and he knew that. She needed calm. She needed the details. Focusing on that made it easier. If she could see it as simply a plan needing proper execution then the emotions would become irrelevant.
They had been dancing for what felt like hours so Ellana left the dance hall in desperate need of a break. She sat down on a step with a deep sigh. Trying to distract herself she looked for shapes in the clouds but she could see nothing beyond wisps.
"You all right?" came the sound of Lis's voice.
"Yeah, I just needed a break," Ellana replied as Lis took a seat next to her.
They sat in silence looking up at the sky together. From inside they heard a crash which made them jump. Yelled swearing from Shivra followed and the two giggled.
"What are we going to do with her?" Ellana said, still giggling.
"Maybe it would be best if she wasn't in the hall with us tonight?" Lis asked, turning suddenly serious. "She won't like it but you know what she's like. First guy that looks at her will get a punch in the face."
"You're probably right. I guess I'll have to talk to her about it," Ellana conceded, disappointed that the conversation had returned to their task. "To be honest, we could probably use someone on the outside."
"Won't Solas be out here?" Lis asked.
"That's what I mean. Better to have someone I trust keeping an eye on him," Ellana responded sadly.
"Where is he now? Shouldn't he be here with you?" Lis asked in an annoyed tone.
"He wanted to be but I told him not to. You know, you really shouldn't be so hard on him. He's terrified I might get hurt and trying his absolute best to hide it. It's not his fault I can see through his efforts," Ellana retorted, getting irritated.
"If he's so damn worried then why do we have to do this? When you put yourself up for this I seriously thought he would never go through with it. I mean, it's too much and it's you! What could possibly be so important? " Lis asked. "I wouldn't normally ask but I feel like I need to know. I need to understand why it has to be like this."
Ellana was taken aback. It was unlike Lis to ask about the details. She had always seemed content to follow orders and work towards the larger goal without knowing much beyond what she needed. She had never seemed particularly interested in the bigger picture which certainly made things easier for Ellana. Lis's questioning left her torn. Ellana was certain she could explain the situation without divulging too much but that could lead to questions. If it did she could lie but she didn't want to go down that route again with Lis. Omitting the truth was one thing but she couldn't stomach outright lying to her friend again.
"Somnaborium. The Vessels of Dreams," Ellana eventually said.
"The what?" Lis asked with a perplexed look.
"A long time ago there were these Tevinter mages; 'Dreamers' they called them. These mages took something from the elves, something powerful. We are hoping that somewhere one might still exist so we can take it back," Ellana explained.
"So this Magister, he has one of these things?" Lis asked, still trying to understand.
"It seems unlikely but that's not why we need him. The Imperium is closed to our kind. Even with our agents on the ground it is near impossible for them to gather any useful information. This Magister not only knows Tevinter but he has studied the Dreamers. We take him and we should have all we need. We'll know if Tevinter is worth our time," Ellana continued.
"So you're putting yourself at risk for information? Seriously? That is not important enough," Lis remarked, sounding angered again.
"But it is. I know it's difficult to understand but we have to know. This is what we need to move forward," Ellana responded.
Lis still looked dissatisfied but Ellana felt there was little more she could say. She couldn't really blame Lis for her confusion. She was only receiving half of the story after all.
"Besides, do you really think Solas would let me do this if it wasn't important?" Ellana continued.
"I guess not but I still don't get it," Lis replied. She paused thoughtfully. "Is he right to be worried? Do you think you will get hurt?"
"I don't know. It all depends on whether I can pull it off. If not then I guess I'll be all alone with a known elf murderer," Ellana mused. "Not exactly the safest of positions."
"Not alone. No one is getting left behind this time, not while I'm there. I may be in the next room but I won't let anything happen to you," Lis replied defiantly.
Ellana was touched but she doubted that Lis was right. If things went wrong then she could be dead in a matter of seconds. She was alone in this. Nevertheless the thought of such danger wasn't the cause of her dread. Above all else she feared failing her people.
"We should probably go back in; they'll be waiting for us," Ellana said, getting to her feet.
She needed distraction again.
The reflection in the mirror was not pleasing to say the least. Ellana couldn't believe that she would have to go out in public like this, let alone dance. If she stood completely still it covered a fair amount but the second she moved skin flashed through. It was more a two piece than a dress; the top only connected to the skirt by a few strings of silver beading across her midriff. The only saving grace was the colour. It was a pale blue that even she had to agree did bring out her eyes. The withered woman from the dance hall stood expectantly at her side but she ignored her. She turned to her friends, all too aware that the movement had revealed much through the slits in her skirt.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"Well… You look like you'd be at home in a brothel, I guess," Shivra remarked.
Lis and Miris both wore similar outfits to Ellana but Shivra remained in normal clothing. Ellana had spoken with her earlier about remaining outside the dance hall. Lis had been right; she hadn't been thrilled by the idea. She argued at first, not wanting to leave her friends but eventually she saw Ellana's point of view. She agreed it probably wasn't the best place for her.
"Not that that's a bad thing! It's what we're going for after all!" Shivra continued following a nudge from Lis.
"Don't listen to her. You look damn good," Miris remarked with a sly smile.
Lis reached out a hand to touch the fabric of Ellana's skirt looking surprisingly crestfallen.
"It looks more expensive than mine," she said, looking down at her pink outfit with disappointment.
"And so it should be," the withered woman piped up. "She must be the best if he is going to want her. Give me a turn so I can check the fit."
Ellana did as she was told. Behind her friends the door opened as she spun. Solas came through, stopping suddenly when he saw her. Between the obstruction of the others their gaze met and his momentary awe ebbed away. Her friends parted when they saw him. He came to rest before her, expression now pained.
"Could we have the room?" Ellana asked.
The withered woman made to argue, no doubt wanting to make even more adjustments but Ellana's friends ushered her out. The door clicked shut behind them.
"Vhenan you look…" he tapered off, unable to find the words. "You look positively ethereal. So much so that it…"
She kissed him, interrupting his worries. She didn't need to hear them as his tone already spoke volumes. She leaned in to him, hands tracing his shoulders. His fingers brushed against the naked skin of her back making a shiver run irresistibly down her spine. She pulled away knowing they were getting in to dangerous territory. Although it would have been a welcome distraction for them both now was not the time.
"Is everything prepared?" she asked, hoping to conceal her rejection.
"As much as it can be," he replied, looking slightly confused by the sudden change in mood. "Everyone in the…establishment…has been fully briefed. Our escape is ready."
"What about the residents?" she questioned.
"All non-essential parties have already been removed. Only the dance hall workers and our own agents remain," he responded.
"Will that be enough to make it seem genuine?" she asked in a worried tone.
"It should be. The city posts guards to protect the humans; they don't care about the elves. Their patrols focus on the hall, where the humans are, so as long as there are enough of us in that area then there should be no problem," he mused.
"But what if tonight they go further afield?" she worried.
"That is unlikely," he replied, with a doubting look. He touched her shoulder reassuringly. "Even if it were to happen, we could just trigger the distraction early. You don't have to worry about this, vhenan. It is my concern, not yours."
"Is fire truly the answer? Isn't that a bit too dangerous?" she continued, not feeling at all reassured.
"Out of everything we have tried it worked the most efficiently," he replied, taking great pains to keep any annoyance out of his tone. This was not the first time he had given her this explanation. "One whiff of fire and the guards evacuate themselves and any humans, leaving the elves to deal with what they view as their own problem. That gives us the perfect opportunity to get the last of the residents out with no one the wiser."
"I suppose," she said, looking down at the ground sadly.
"What about you," he asked, lifting her chin so she looked at him. "Do you feel ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied with a dejected smile.
"Do you want to go over it one last time?" he asked already knowing the answer.
"They'll take me in. His guards will still be there. I…" she paused, not knowing what word to use, "…convince him to lose the guards. Once he's alone I use the blade with the sleeping draught to take him out and finally I signal. Job done."
"Precisely," he said with a nod. "Although...you'll need this."
He handed her a small object wrapped in some fabric. She unravelled it to reveal a small blade before wrapping it back up again.
"An arm or a leg will do. As long as it gets in to the bloodstream it will work. Hopefully you can find somewhere safe to keep it," he said, looking sceptically at her outfit.
She smiled weakly as she tucked it away within her top. When it was secure she looked back up at him. His expression had darkened and she could tell he was struggling. He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.
"Don't," she said abruptly. "Don't ask me not to do this." She reached up around the back of his neck. "Please just be here, at least for now." She stood on her tiptoes to meet his height and placed her forehead against his. "I need you."
When the inevitable knock came at the door neither one moved from the other.
"Ellana, it's time," Lis said, cracking the door open.
"Damn," Ellana whispered as she lowered herself back down to her own height.
"We have to go," Lis prompted from the open doorway.
"I know, I know," Ellana replied, turning around to check herself in the mirror one last time.
Solas stayed where he was looking even more desolate as she bustled around the room nervously. She headed towards the door but stopped short of reaching Lis.
"Wait…" she said, turning back.
She strode back over to him, turned him around and kissed him deeply.
"That's better," she said smirking up at him before she left without another word.
The dance hall was a lot busier than Ellana had expected which made her all the more nervous. She knew that the more people there were the less likely they were to notice something amiss but she still worried nonetheless. Even with the added noise, more people meant more eyes and ears to catch them out. So far Ellana had been kept largely contained in one of the back rooms. The withered woman feared that if Ellana was allowed out on the floor then another patron may take a shine to her. In no position to refuse, Ellana could be kept from her task at precisely the wrong time. She needed to remain ready. Luckily, Lis and Miris hadn't entirely abandoned her. Every so often one of them would come back to keep her company when they could. Lis was still with her from her last update.
"Bloody lechers the lot of them," Lis mused. "Although, I have been offered a small fortune for my services. Seriously, we're talking early retirement type money. It's funny what people will do if you keep saying no."
"You considered it didn't you?" Ellana added with a giggle.
"A little bit," Lis replied, joining the giggles. "It would be wonderful. I could have a nice little cottage in the woods. Maybe get in to gardening…"
"Gardening?!" Ellana asked incredulously.
"Yeah… That's what people do isn't it? I'd need something to do with my time," Lis responded.
"Of course but gardening? Surely there's something more interesting you could be doing with your imaginary whore money?" Ellana remarked, laughing once more.
"I guess… Stop ruining my fantasy!" Lis retorted, nudging Ellana in the ribs playfully.
Miris appeared in the doorway. She smiled briefly at the sound of their laughter but once Ellana met her gaze she frowned.
"He's here isn't he?" Ellana asked, already knowing the answer.
Miris nodded. Ellana got up from her chair with a sigh.
"Well it is about time, it's been nearly an hour hasn't it?" she remarked, trying to seem nonchalant. "What's he like?"
"Surprisingly short for a human, acting like he owns the place, the usual," Miris responded. She took Ellana by the shoulder. "You can definitely take him," she said with a reassuring smile.
The withered woman entered the room as Ellana replied with her own weak smile.
"There's been a change of plans," the aged elf said, sounding disgruntled. "He won't accept just you, he wants options."
"Options? But that's not what we had planned! It has to be me!" Ellana replied in a worried tone.
"I know that. This is what we're working with so roll with the punches," the woman retorted clearly getting annoyed. "I've assembled some of my…lesser…girls to go in a line up with you. If you play it right, he should select you and we won't have a problem."
"He wants to line us up like cattle?" Ellana asked with disgust.
"That's the world we live in," the withered woman replied as she took Ellana by the arm and led her from the room.
"Good luck!" her friends called after her as she disappeared from sight.
The Magister certainly was shorter than she had expected. Perhaps because of the danger he presented she had imagined a much more intimidating form. He was just a man; a short, balding, Tevinter stereotype of a man. She could smell his cologne from the other side of the room as he started his walk down the line of gathered elven dancers. Two guards followed alongside him, enjoying the sights with just as much enthusiasm. Each elf they passed simpered sweetly but with each attempted seduction the Magister's cruel features contorted into a frown. Ellana took note of his reaction and smiled knowingly. He didn't want another dutiful servant – ready and willing. That had probably lost its appeal a long time ago. He wanted someone to tear down; truly hurt. She threw her shoulders back and held her head high. When he reached her she made no attempt at seduction. She fixed him with a cold glare, hoping to portray an air of superiority. He looked briefly taken aback before hunger took over. Her skin crawled as he looked her up and down but she didn't flinch.
"This one will do nicely," he said, his facial hair somewhat hiding his horrendous grin. "Bring her to perform for us shortly."
He left the room in discussions with the withered woman but Ellana didn't pay attention to them. Success was satisfying but she was too focused on her next task to really enjoy it. She let out a long sigh as the withered woman returned to the room. The other dancers filed out.
"Are you ready?" she asked, taking Ellana by the arm.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied.
In an alleyway at the side of the dance hall Shivra and Solas waited. Other agents were nearby but they kept a suitable distance. A congregation of suspicious elves would only attract the attention and that was the last thing they needed. Solas paced back and forth periodically turning his attention towards one of the dance hall windows. Shivra leaned against a wall watching him with annoyance.
"Are you going to pace the whole damn night? That definitely won't get annoying," she remarked sarcastically.
Solas ignored her, too lost in his own fears to even hear her. She let out an angry sigh.
"Seriously, will you just stop?!" she said much louder this time. "She'll be fine so calm the fuck down."
Finally hearing her, he stopped but it wasn't enough to quiet his mind.
"If anything happens to her I'll…"
"Yeah, I know," Shivra interrupted. "You'll kill him and probably everyone even vaguely related to the guy. Trust me; I'll be right there with you." She shook her head as he started pacing again. "I don't get you. If you're so worried about her then go in yourself. Fuck the plan. I don't know why it needs to be so damn complicated anyway. Go in, kill the guards, grab the guy and you're done. Pretty sure you can handle it."
"And what happens then?" he asked, stopping in his stride.
"What do you mean? Job done, it's over," Shivra replied.
"This place is teeming with city guardsmen; even the hall itself is not free of them. You honestly think the blatant murder of two humans would go entirely unnoticed?" Solas added impatiently.
"Well, no…but that's hardly a problem," she replied defiantly. "So you kill them too. Big fucking deal, what's the loss of a few more humans?"
"So I kill his bodyguards and the city guards but what happens when they inevitably call in more of them? I kill them as well I presume? And then what? I keep killing until no one is left?" he responded angrily. He was growing increasingly tired of her stupidity and his patience was thinning. "But someone will of course escape or at the very least notice the unending pile of corpses. They will tell others and then the world will know of us. So not only am I killing countless people but I am also dooming our entire cause. You may not have any qualms about murdering scores of humans but…"
"All right! I get it!" Shivra exclaimed, raising her hands in contrition. "You don't have to be such a dick about it. I was just trying to help!"
"Well I don't need your help. What I need is for Ellana to come out of this unhurt or I will never forgive myself," he responded, resuming his pacing.
Shivra grabbed him roughly by the shoulders.
"For fucks sake, she'll be fine!" she exclaimed, shaking him slightly. "She can handle some fucking Magister and his cronies! She's just as much of a badass as you are! So stop being so pathetic and have some damn faith in your woman!"
Solas was about to reply when a light from the dance hall window distracted him. Where there had been nothing but misted glass there was now a lit red lantern hanging.
"That's the signal; she's in," he gasped, nerves rising again. "She's with him now. We need to move."
Shivra looked confused but when she turned to follow his gaze realisation dawned in her expression. Solas left her where she stood to rally the other agents.
"You two, ensure the distraction is fully prepared and wait for the signal. You three, prepare the others for evacuation. You and you, with me," he ordered to each in turn.
The elves nodded in response with some leaving to attend to their duties. Shivra came to his side.
"So it's game on!" she said with a nervous laugh. "Um…Solas, when this is done could you maybe not tell Ellana I said she was a badass? Wouldn't want it to go to her head or anything…"
Even with his nerves he couldn't help but laugh for a few blissful seconds.
Ellana waited nervously behind a sheer curtain. She took deep breaths as quietly as she could. She needed to calm herself but she was very aware that any sign of weakness could ruin everything. She had already seen the room during her preparations so taking stock of her surroundings was not a concern. It was the largest and best decorated private room as he would naturally demand but what he didn't know was that it was an essential part of the plan. It had to be this room but luckily he was as much of a slave to habit as most people. Ellana closed her eyes as she tried to lose herself in thought. Fear kept creeping in and she ran a hand nervously across her bare stomach. She focused herself, imagining she was anywhere else but here. She imagined home, she imagined Solas. Her mind filled with thoughts of their most intimate moments and he felt so close she could touch him. The memory of his scent filled her nostrils and she felt a shiver run down her spine. Calm washed over her.
Music started from beyond the curtain and she emerged no longer burdened by fear. She danced with ease, her mind keeping her in their tower together. Lights bathed the small stage on which she danced but the rest of the room was cloaked in darkness. She couldn't see her true audience; not the Magister, not his guards or the withered woman playing her music. From her perch she could pretend without challenge. Even the admiring noises did nothing to deter her from her fantasy but beyond it all she knew it wouldn't be enough. She had to convince him to want her alone and she couldn't do that at a distance. The darkness beckoned. She stepped down off the stage with her hips still moving rhythmically. Painfully slowly she closed the distance between her and her charge. The nearer she got the more the smell of his cologne overwhelmed. It pushed Solas's earthy scent from her mind, pulling her back to reality. When she reached him she turned away to try and hide some of her disgust. He didn't seem to notice, too engrossed in her snaking form. She closed her eyes again as she danced and retreated back in to memory. She only needed a few more minutes, if she could get through that then it would be over. She'd saved the best memories for this moment and with them she felt more than capable. She turned to face the small man, inching closer with each movement. She touched him and he did nothing to stop her. He touched her too and she couldn't hide away anymore. Revulsion tingled through her and she struggled to keep it under control.
"He's going to die. He's going to kill him," she repeated over and over in her mind as she twisted against the Magister.
The thought brought her surprising satisfaction. She felt strong again. She looked him easily in the eye, her satisfaction reading as something else entirely.
"Leave us, all of you," he said, licking his lips disgustingly.
"He's definitely going to kill you," Ellana thought with a sly smile as the guards and the withered woman got up.
Ellana felt her nerves rise in her chest as they all left. She needed to be certain they were well away before she made her move. A mistake now could mean disaster. The guards would likely not stray far but they would be distracted if all went to plan.
"So what is your price my dear?" the small man asked beneath her.
"Four Sovereigns," she replied, running a hand along his neck as seductively as she could manage.
"That's awfully steep for a…" he started.
"I'm worth every bit I assure you," she interrupted, her other hand travelling inside her top.
"Very well," he replied with a leering grin. "For that price I presume you won't mind the travel to my quarters."
She stopped, taken aback.
"No, I'm not leaving the Alienage," she said becoming somewhat panicked.
"You will. If it's about more money then we can negotiate on the way," he continued, pushing her aside to rise.
He tried to call out innocently to his guards but one of Ellana's gloved hands stifled him just in time. His eyes widened beneath her as she pinned him down with her legs. He grabbed at her, scratching her neck but she quickly subdued his movement. With her other hand she rummaged for the blade. In a moment of panic he bit down on her hand but it wasn't enough to stop her. She plunged the blade in to his upper arm and he let out a muffled scream of pain. Within moments he went limp beneath her and she let out a long sigh.
Ellana snuck over to the door and listened intently. Over the loud music outside she couldn't hear much but to her relief there was no sign of anyone. Fumbling with the door she removed a small piece of decoration to reveal a deadbolt beneath. Holding her breath, she latched it across as quietly as she could. She padded over to the far wall and knocked four times. Rumblings of activity emanated through the wall. She could hear dragging and whispered voices. A clicking sound came from the wall and she stood clear. A wooden panel opened inwards and floods of outside air rushed in. Solas was the first through.
"Vhenan, are you hurt?" he whispered as he hugged her.
"It's okay, I'm fine," she replied, choking on her own words.
Two other elves had entered through the panel. They set to work moving the Magister beyond the couple's notice.
"You're bleeding," Solas said, touching the now red mark on her neck.
"He managed to scratch me, it's nothing," she replied.
Solas still looked worried but he released her from his grasp. Ellana watched as the two elves dragged the Magister out towards the street.
"Wait, won't someone see them?" she asked in a panic.
"No, it's all taken care of," Solas replied, gesturing to the elves to continue.
She looked quizzically at him but he wouldn't meet her gaze. He looked everywhere but at her. Hurt rose painfully in her chest.
"You can't even look at me can you?" she said sadly. "You're ashamed…"
"I am ashamed but not of you, never of you," he said firmly. He touched her cheek and their eyes met. "I wanted to protect you but yet here I am putting you in danger; making you in to something you were never supposed to be."
"Don't say that. I am who I chose to be," she replied, touching a hand to his chest.
He shook his head, his expression filled with regret. He made to argue but didn't get far.
"Hurry up!" Shivra called from outside, putting in a little effort to keep her voice low.
With their moment interrupted, Solas took Ellana by the arm and led her outside. Just beyond their exit a horse and cart sat on one side obscuring the view from down the alley. Next to the cart lay an open crate in to which the elves were trying to stuff the unconscious Magister. The sight would have been exceedingly amusing if it wasn't for the current mood. Shivra grinned as she handed Ellana a bundle.
"You should probably change," she remarked. "You're not going to get out of the city looking like that."
She did as she was told. The alleyway tapered off in to a dead end at the other side where she took the bundle. Behind a stack of boxes she changed in to the plain clothing Shivra had given her. When she returned to the others the elves had succeeded in their task and were now loading the crate on to the cart with some difficulty. Amongst the other nondescript items that littered its surface the crate looked natural. He truly had thought of everything.
"Signal the distraction as soon as we are free of the gates," Solas ordered one of the agents as Ellana reached his side. He turned to her with a hint of a smile. "We have to go."
"We? What about the others? Shouldn't we stay and make sure everyone gets out?" she asked.
"We can't," he replied, shaking his head. "I have to go with them. If he were to wake then they will need me; they can't handle him on their own." He climbed up in to the cart. "And you, if his guards were to see you helping the others…you'd do more harm than good, vhenan."
Ellana shook her head defiantly.
"We have to go. Everything is set. The people here will be fine, I promise you. You have to trust me that this is for the best," he continued, outreaching a hand to her hopefully.
Ellana trusted him entirely but she still found it hard to let go. Even though she knew she may be more of a hindrance than a help she still found relinquishing control difficult. The fact that Solas would also be absent didn't help. She had become so used to the idea of him as a sort of safety net; an instant answer to any challenge. Thinking about it now made her question herself. She knew she should trust the others to deliver but it was not as easy as it should be.
"You've done your part," Shivra said, touching Ellana's shoulder and making her jump. "Now it's our turn."
Finally Ellana nodded. She grabbed her resistant friend in to an embrace.
"You better not fuck this up, you hear?" Ellana exclaimed, as she released Shivra. "Good luck and look after the others."
Ellana took Solas's hand and her friend waved her off dismissively. As they rode away in to the city she could hear Shivra calling out behind them.
"Fuck luck, we've got fire!"
For the city guard it had been a night like any other before the fire started. Guards patrolled to ensure the patrons were kept safe and those taking a break took in the delights for themselves. The flames started in a nearby house and, given the wooden nature of the majority of the buildings, it spread fast. Luckily the guard was well practiced given the spate of recent fires that no one thought to question. They quickly evacuated all the humans without any real incident. The only snag was a couple of Tevinter patrons insisting one of their party was missing but, given the lack of any evidence to the contrary, they were easily overridden. Everyone that mattered was, by all accounts, safe. However, as time wore on events took a turn. In past instances the elves had swiftly dealt with the fire themselves but this time it continued to spread. Measures were taken to prevent any spread to other districts but beyond that no one thought to offer any assistance. It wasn't until the fire fizzled out that the guards decided to check on what remained.
A contingency of the Denerim City Guard entered the Alienage the next morning to a ruin. Rain hit the embers that still burned amongst the ashes and white clouds billowed forth. Buildings were entirely destroyed or blackened beyond recognition. Unheeded the breeze carried ash through the ruined streets making the guards cover their eyes. In places small fires still smouldered. Beyond the crackling there was nothing but silence. The guards fanned out to check the wreckage, finding nothing. Not a soul walked the streets and neither were there any sign of bodies. They reformed in the centre all wearing expressions of confusion.
"Where the fuck are all the elves?" asked one man, speaking the minds of all the others.