The Magister stirred. Beneath his knees the ground felt cold and hard, an unfamiliar feeling for one normally used to opulence. Even in his dazed state he could tell that he was restrained and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't formulate a reason as to why. Slowly coming to his senses he heard mumbling voices beyond. He tried to open his eyes but they were too heavy, twitching uselessly with his attempts.
"Oh! I think he's waking up," he heard a female voice say.
She was close; he could hear her breathing. He tried to move but found himself unable. He struggled again to open his eyes as his mind raced in confusion. His heavily blurred vision slowly focused on a face. As he recognised her his memories of the previous night gradually returned.
"You…you whore!" he mumbled.
"Well hello there sleepy head," Ellana remarked with a sly smile.
"You stabbed me, you whore!" he continued, becoming more incensed as his faculties returned. He looked around the room still bleary eyed. "Where am I? What have you done to me?"
"Nothing you don't deserve," she replied, grin still fixed.
"You'll pay for this you stupid bitch! You will suffer the whole weight of the Imperium, wait and see! They will crush you like the insignificant ant you are," he exclaimed.
"Even your precious Imperium cannot save you now," a male voice said from the shadows.
The Magister struggled to see beyond Ellana with his vision still shaky. She had turned to the source of the voice and her grin widened wickedly. Following her gaze he could only see blurs of gold glimmering through the shadows.
"As far as they are concerned you have simply vanished; lost to vice like so many of your brethren," the voice continued. He was growing closer and the flecks of gold slowly formed in to a full being. "They will look for you, I have no doubt but even if they do come to understand your predicament it will be much too late."
"Where am I? What is this?" the Magister asked, looking up at Solas with his first real taste of fear.
"Where you are is inconsequential. What matters is your co-operation," Solas replied.
"Co-operation? Is that it?" the Magister questioned disbelievingly. "Whatever you want I can give you, provided you grant me my freedom of course. Money, power…"
"Negotiation is pointless," Solas interrupted. "You are no hostage, nor will your riches save you. I need information and you are going to give it to me."
The Magister laughed coldly before speaking, "Information? You kidnapped me, a Magister of the Tevinter Imperium to answer some questions! You must be desperate. Whatever information you need I am already certain I will not give you. If you think I would ever give up the secrets of my nation to an elf of all people then you are a fool!"
"I thought you might say that but no matter, you will relent…eventually," Solas replied.
Ellana smiled at his side but he didn't return her mood.
"Vhenan, leave us. I would not have you see this," Solas said, not taking his cold eyes from the Magister.
"What? No!" Ellana replied with genuine surprise. "I am as much a part of this as you are!"
"No, I will not have you here. You should not see me this way. Please, vhenan," he continued.
"No!" she retorted. She turned him to her hoping to appease. "I don't want you to hide, even in this. I want to…"
A cold, mocking laugh from the Magister interrupted her argument.
"How you imbeciles managed to pull this off is beyond me! Look at you, such concern for a vapid whore! Pathetic," the Magister remarked, erupting in to laughter again.
He was stifled instantly when Solas's hand found his throat; crushing his windpipe beneath his thumb.
"Laugh again," he threatened.
The Magister grinned taking great pains to let out a few more notes of derisive laughter. Solas's eyes glowed and the laughter turned to screams. Ellana's breathing became more rapid at the sight unfolding before her. She felt lost somewhere between fear and captivation. The screams stopped and the Magister slumped to the floor. Ellana stood wide-eyed.
"Go, vhenan! Please!" Solas begged.
Solas had regained the look of wild desperation that had disturbed her so long ago. A dark part of her wanted to hear more screams by his hand but she couldn't watch him slip away from himself again. She didn't know what else to do so she ran.
It was hours before Solas appeared in the office. He wouldn't look at Ellana as he entered. The air around him felt undeniably heavy making her hold her breath in anticipation. He said nothing. He closed the door behind him roughly as she jumped down from the desk where she had been perched. A silence passed between them while he fixed his gaze to the floor. She could tell he didn't want to talk about it and she was glad. She didn't want to talk either. She strode over, forcing him against the door with her kiss. One of his hands went to her chin to resist but she caught it in her own. She entwined her fingers with his , kissing him more deeply. In the moment his racing mind slowed to a stop and he relented. What had happened before no longer mattered, not beneath her. He grabbed her hair as he kissed her, turning her against the wall. He tore at her clothing and she at his. She whined eagerly, wrapping her legs around him. In that moment he saw nothing else but her grey eyes, shining brilliantly beneath him. In that moment nothing mattered but her.
"Vhenan, wake up! This is getting ridiculous!"
Ellana awoke being shaken rather more roughly than she would have liked. She scrunched up her eyes at the unwelcome light and let out an angry noise.
"No..." she whined, turning back over and covering her head.
"The sun is up and you should be too!" Solas mocked.
"No! Can't we just have a day in bed? Please! We've more than earned it!" she begged.
"We've been away for days, Ellana. There's work to be done, meetings to be had, agents to organise. I can't have a day off no matter how much I may want to," he replied, stroking her arm pacifyingly. "You can do as you will but there is no way you're lounging in my bed for the whole day. I've got too much to do!"
"Too tempting for you?" she asked with a sly smile. He did not look amused. "Fine! You're no fun," she whined, throwing the sheets off dramatically. "But I'm having a bath before I go, you're not going to deny me that!"
He sighed.
"If it will get you out of bed then be my guest," he remarked.
He got up, kissing her lightly before he left. Ellana curled the covers back around her. With the Magister dealt with she no longer had a distraction and her fears were resurfacing all too quickly. She didn't know how much longer she would be able to keep them hidden.
Ellana sat in the forest with Lis by her side. Amongst the trees Shivra and Miris chased one another. They insisted it was training and Miris certainly needed some improvement when it came to sneaking but Ellana wasn't convinced. They were having far too much fun, descending in to giggles every few minutes. Ellana couldn't help but think of Areina. She would have loved this.
"So the Magister has given up no secrets so far then?" Lis asked, breaking Ellana away from her thoughts and back to their conversation.
"No, not so far. He must be tougher than he seems. I'm not sure I could hold out for that long," Ellana mused.
"I'm glad he's hurting him; about time the bastard got a taste of his own medicine," Lis added. "But still, it can't be easy. I mean, it's very 'Dread Wolf' but does it worry you, knowing what Solas is doing?"
"No, I know who he is inside. I know he wouldn't be doing it unless he felt he had to. What concerns me is the toll it's taking on him. He already has so much and with this on top of it all… I'm not sure how much more he can take," Ellana replied sadly. "There are times I catch him unaware and it's like he's lost. He's been visiting the Fade even more regularly and I know it sounds stupid but sometimes I worry he just won't come back."
"So ask him why? Try and understand; maybe that will alleviate your fears?" Lis offered.
"I'd rather not nag him," Ellana replied. She paused, wrestling with the truth. "Honestly, I'm afraid what he might say. He visits the Fade to find answers and I'm not sure I want to know the question."
"You're worried it's about you?" Lis questioned.
Ellana looked away. Lis had voiced her own suspicion and she didn't want to face it. The sound of quick footsteps crackling the fallen leaves gave her the perfect interruption. They came from the wrong direction to be their friends so it piqued both of their curiosity. They got up off the ground expectantly as an elf emerged from the underbrush. Ellana vaguely recognised him from around their home but not enough to put a name to the face. The elf stopped a short distance from them to catch his breath before speaking.
"Lady Ellana, you are needed at the forward camp urgently," he said through breaths. "Fen'Harel requests your presence personally."
"At the forward camp? Why? Is there trouble?" Ellana asked, perplexed.
"They didn't say why, just to fetch you. They said nothing about any danger," he replied uselessly.
"Very well…" Ellana conceded with a sigh leaving Lis in the forest. "Lead on."
The elf led Ellana out in to the forest beyond the Eluvian. A camp, the largest of theirs in the world beyond the mirrors, stretched out within the trees. A small crowd was gathered at its farthest reach. Solas and Varden stood opposite an accosted looking elf. He didn't look like one of their own and agents stood on either side of him, not restraining but close. As Ellana neared she could see a strained look on Solas's face.
"Good, you've finally arrived," he said when he saw her.
"What's going on here?" she questioned, still utterly confused.
"Our scouts found this individual," Solas gestured towards the unfamiliar elf, "approaching our camp. He won't say who he is or why he is here; he just keeps asking for you."
"For me? Why?" Ellana asked looking quizzically at the elf before her.
"I have absolutely no idea. He insists he will only speak to you," Solas answered sounding frustrated.
"You're Ellana Lavellan? Finally! You do look like the picture!" the elf remarked sounding unsurprisingly fearful.
"The picture?" she asked still lost.
The elf reached tentatively in to his clothing. The guards moved to react but a gesture from Solas stopped them. The elf produced some papers from an inside pocket. He rifled through them until he found the one he needed and handed it to her. She opened it up to reveal a somewhat crude drawing of her. In the corner her name and a description were scrawled in oddly familiar handwriting.
"I was sent to deliver this letter to you," the elf continued nervously. "To your hands only; those were my orders!"
He held out an envelope which she looked at suspiciously.
"Wait, you were sent to deliver a letter to Ellana? From where?" Solas asked, holding out a hand to stop her accepting the elf's offering.
"Tevinter. My master sent me. It should all be explained in the letter," he replied, outstretching the paper insistently.
"It's a letter, Solas," Ellana said, taking it from the elf's hand. "Calm down."
Her curiosity was overwhelming as she opened up the envelope and unfolded the letter. The paper was thick and the ink finely coloured. A pleasant scent emanated from it as she scanned the pages looking for an author. Solas glared at the letter with suspicion. Ellana gasped as she came to the looping signature.
"It's from Dorian!" she exclaimed, unable to conceal her joy.
"What?! Dorian?! How did he even find us?!" Solas raved.
Ellana ignored him. Flicking quickly back to the first page she started reading.
"Dearest Ellana, I hope this letter finds you well, if it even finds you at all. I do apologise for the cloak and dagger method; I did not know where to send a raven and I doubted your people would accept a regular courier. I had to be certain this letter would reach you personally and I did not know of another way. First things first, the individual who delivered this letter is my first and last elven slave as a Magister. Do not despise me for using him for without his aid this letter would not have reached you. Tell him I free him from his bondage both to me and to my homeland."
Ellana looked up at the elf in front of her.
"You're free," she said, smiling broadly.
The elf looked perplexed.
"He says he doesn't want you to be a slave anymore. You've done what he asked and now you're free to live whatever life you choose," Ellana continued.
"What?" he breathed. "That can't be…"
Ellana held out the letter and pointed to the lines in question. The elf read intently and then let out a surprising squeal.
"But that's… What do I do now?! I…" he struggled.
"You can do whatever you want," Ellana replied savouring the feeling that radiated through her.
"No! He can't just go," Solas exclaimed. "We need to know what he knows; how he found us!"
"We're not exactly hiding, Solas," Ellana responded gesturing to the myriad of people and structures around them. "You said yourself that the Inquisition likely knows of this place so is it such a far cry that Dorian also knows? It wouldn't take much for him to find out. Let him go and live his life, gods know he's earned it."
"Fine, have it your way," Solas reluctantly replied.
With a casual gesture from him Varden took the former slave off to the side. To Ellana's surprise he spoke reassuringly to the nervous man. She smiled with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the letter. The elves around them took their cue and gradually dispersed.
"What does it say?" Solas asked, craning over her shoulder to catch a glimpse.
"Can't you just let me read?" Ellana replied angrily. "If you really have to know then I'll give you a summary once I'm done but for now will you just stop!"
"With that out of the way I can speak freely. My friend, I could not leave things the way we did. Words cannot express how sorry I am for all that happened. I hope you have managed to find some semblance of peace in spite of everything. It took time but I understand now why you said what you did. All is forgiven. You may well have saved my life and I would return the favour. The Inquisition mounts support against you; both with Orlais and Tevinter. They make progress with the Orlesians but Tevinter is uncertain. The bad blood of our pasts has not yet passed it seems. I tell you this not as a betrayal to my own but for the same reason that you told me what you did: I would not see you die, not yet. We may not agree but I still value you as my friend. I cannot give up on you yet.
I do not expect a reply; this letter may never find you and I understand the problems our correspondence could create but I still hope. We may be on different sides and it may be naïve of me but I hope our friendship can endure.
Sincerely, Dorian"
Tears swelled in Ellana's eyes as she re-read the last portion of the letter. She hadn't been able to stop since they returned to the tower. She'd already summarised the contents for Solas. He looked at her now with the same sceptical expression he had worn since their return. She didn't know what to say. She had thought she would never hear from Dorian again and the sudden shock had overwhelmed her with emotion. She had not wanted to lose him but she would not have blamed him for letting her go after all she had done. Even still, he hadn't given up on her and that meant the world.
"I have to reply," she finally said.
"Ellana, no. He's working with our enemies. You cannot trust him. This could all be a ruse to get information from you," Solas replied.
Ellana wasn't surprised by Solas's reaction in the slightest. He had never expressed any particular dislike for Dorian beyond his heritage but Ellana doubted that he ever had any real trust for the man. He'd always appeared to have some trouble understanding their relationship. Friends beyond the Fade were not something he seemed to find much value in. Ellana wondered if there was an element of jealousy behind his words. She was the only person he truly shared himself with and she already had enough people vying for her attentions. On top of that Dorian knew her so well; in some ways, better than he did.
"He would never do that. Besides, I don't intend to fill my letter with our secrets. That would be stupid," Ellana responded carefully. "I just want to talk to him…"
"To what end? No good can come of this," Solas continued with annoyance.
"To no end! I just want to talk! I've given up so much already! I don't want to give this up too, can't you understand that?! I need something to remain intact, at least for as long as I can keep it so," she cried, losing control of her emotions.
He looked taken aback by her outburst. After he recovered he came over to her, touching her arm gently.
"I'm sorry, vhenan," he said, taking her in his arms. "I had no idea how important this was to you. I… I should not have presumed. If this is what you want then I won't stand in your way."
She looked down at the letter with eyes brimming. She'd crushed down her feelings about all she had lost for so long that it felt unnatural to let them out. He stroked her cheek as a tear fell. The sound of the door opening made them jump. Ellana turned quickly away to wipe the wetness from her eyes. She turned back to see Solas glaring at the vaguely amused form of Varden.
"I apologise, I should have knocked," he remarked evenly.
"What happened with the slave? Did he decide what he was going to do?" Ellana asked with genuine interest.
"He's going to remain with us for the time being," he said. He turned his attention to Solas. "I'll vouch for him if that is agreeable with you? The time immediately after is always the most difficult. He will need a safe place to work out what he wants from his new life."
"Of course. I'm sure you'll be keeping a close enough eye on him to abate any concerns I may have," Solas replied, his glare turning to a gentle smile.
"Indeed," Varden replied with just a hint of gratitude.
Ellana was surprised. She knew Varden to be infinitely neutral, bordering on emotionless at times. He cared for his own but never showed much concern beyond that. Even in this case he had kept his emotions well-hidden but she could still tell how invested he was. To see him caring so much for a complete stranger perplexed her.
"Unfortunately that was not the only reason I came here," he continued solemnly. "We've received word from our agents at the cave ruins." Solas looked noticeably concerned but Varden pressed on, "All arrived safely but the Inquisition remains camped there. They cannot get access without engaging them."
"Why would they still be there? What could possibly be gained from wasting their soldiers' time in that place?" Solas asked angrily.
"Perhaps they are hoping we will return; a valid hope given the circumstances," Varden mused. "As foolish as it may be, they still present a problem that needs remedied."
Solas looked carefully over at Ellana, not wanting to upset her further.
"If they stand in the way of what we need then we'll have to push through them," she said firmly, all too aware of his concern.
"My thoughts exactly," Varden added with a smile.
"My team and I could…" Ellana started.
"No. You are going nowhere near the Inquisition," Solas interrupted. The glare she gave made him rethink his approach. "You can't do everything, vhenan. You've done more than enough for now. Let our agents handle this while you recover."
Ellana looked down, thinking intently. She desperately wanted to help. The thought of others facing the Inquisition and potentially coming to harm tore at her but he was right. She needed time, more than he knew.
"All right, do whatever you need to," she relented.
Solas nodded appreciatively, failing to hide the surprise that flickered across his face. He had expected an argument.
"Send word immediately to engage. Keep me informed of any developments and when they succeed have the key brought directly to me," Solas ordered.
Varden nodded and left the room with a brief look of satisfaction. Solas turned his gaze to Ellana, his brow furrowed. His suspicion did not escape her notice.
"That was really nice what Varden did for that elf," Ellana mused, unable to hide the slight tremor in her voice. "I didn't know he had it in him."
"Really? It's hardly surprising given his history," Solas replied, still wearing a doubting look.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Varden is a former slave, didn't you know that?" he replied, finally distracted. "Worked for a Magister well in to his adulthood. He doesn't actually talk about it much but I just presumed you knew."
"No! How did he get away from it? Was he released?" she asked feeling annoyed by her own ignorance.
"Of course not." Solas said with a wry laugh. "That is hardly common. He killed his master and ran. The fact that he was able to escape and keep himself hidden is one of the reasons I respect him so much. No easy task."
"He killed his master? How? Why? I mean, I can think of a hundred reasons but why would you work for someone for years and then suddenly up and kill them?" she questioned.
"His master's son murdered his daughter," Solas lamented.
"Oh…" Ellana replied.
Ellana stood on the hilltop. She had been staring at the Eluvian for nearly an hour wracked with indecision. Around her the world was dark and relatively silent. The only source of light was the moon shining down on her. She reached out a hand to the mirror's surface and it rippled beneath her touch. Leaving now was the right thing to do; the best solution to a bad situation. She wanted so badly to pass through the mirror but she couldn't. She brushed the tears from her eyes and made her way back down the hill.
Ellana had been pacing around the upper level of the tower for a while. She was gripped with indecision again. She wanted to tell Solas the truth but she feared what would happen when she did. She just wanted more time before their world had to change. Ellana stopped short of the office door. She could hear raised voices and she didn't want to interrupt. She didn't intend to listen but the sound of Solas's angry voice was too much to resist.
"Risk?! Don't play me for a fool! This isn't about loss or gain; you're hesitating! You know exactly what is necessary and yet you do nothing!" shouted a female voice that Ellana didn't recognise.
"Liahra, control yourself. What you may think of me doesn't matter; my answer remains the same," Solas replied sounding thoroughly irritated but still controlled.
"It's her isn't it?! Ever since she came here you've changed! You were never one to shy away from a challenge but now look at you! She is making you weak!" Liahra bellowed just as loudly.
"Speak of her again and you will regret it," Solas threatened. "This conversation is over."
"While you cower away our people suffer. I hope you remember them before it is too late," Liahra stated, finally regaining some control.
Ellana couldn't move in time and the door swung open in front of her. Liahra stopped for a beat before looking down at her coldly.
"What a coincidence," she sneered. "You'll excuse me if I don't introduce myself."
She walked away without another word. Solas sat within eye line of the door, head in his hand. He got up to meet Ellana as she entered.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that," he said looking strained. "Don't take her words to heart; she…she didn't know what she was saying."
"Solas, what was she talking about? What are you hesitating over?" Ellana asked.
"It's nothing," he replied. He paused to consider eventually opting not to keep her in the dark. "It's Tevinter. We have people already stationed there and Liahra is concerned that if we wait any longer they will be in danger. She may be right but we're not ready. We have to know what we're dealing with before we make any rash moves. A mistake now could mean the end of us."
"So you're just waiting on the Magister's information? Once we have that you'll proceed?" she asked feeling sceptical.
"Of course. Once we have that we will know what we need to do. We can minimise the risks and approach from the right angle," he continued.
Slowly she nodded. She walked over to the window looking out to try and distract herself. He watched her with a furrowed brow.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she replied not looking at him.
He shook his head in frustration, clearly not satisfied but Ellana had already decided that now was not the time.
"Maybe she's right. If people are in danger then maybe we should be moving on Tevinter," she said desperately trying to divert him.
"No, not until we are ready. There is danger in all our actions; I won't jeopardise everything we have for nothing," he replied, unable to hide his annoyance.
"But then…" she went on, just happy that he was no longer paying attention to her anymore.
"We have other concerns, Ellana. More pressing ones," he continued.
"We do?" she asked with no idea what he meant. She couldn't help but worry that he was on to her.
"We have a chance for your revenge, vhenan, but we must act fast," he replied, smiling.
"What?! Vivienne has finally left Skyhold?" she asked in shock.
"Yes! Finally! Rumour has it she was no longer welcome which is surprising to say the least," he responded with a wide grin.
Ellana let out a joyous laugh, her fears evaporating for the briefest of moments. She had waited for this day but with everything she had started to forget. Forgiveness wouldn't come so easily, she knew that much.
"But it gets better, guess what she is doing with her new found freedom?" Solas continued, thrilled to see her smiling again.
"I have no idea," she replied with a confused expression.
"She's holding a grand ball of course. What else would one do when in severe danger? Run away? Go in to hiding? Absurd!" he joked.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ellana said with a laugh. "And in a country where everyone wears masks? This is just too perfect."
"If I didn't know her better I would think it was a trap but she would never deign to treat us with such concern," he remarked with a wry laugh. "So we're going to the ball then?"
"We?" she questioned.
"You can't possibly think I would let you do this alone? She's confident for a reason, vhenan. You will need a suitable threat to combat her own," he replied kissing her lightly on the forehead.
"Thank you, you don't know what this means to me," she said leaning in to his chest.
He took her in his arms taking a moment to bask in her scent. Ellana was hiding something and he knew it but he wasn't willing to let this moment go. He wanted to see her happy.
"We're going to have to practice our dancing. I'm sure you'll agree that we can't let the humans shame us," he remarked with a grin.
"That's what you're thinking about? You're ridiculous!" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"We have a rare opportunity, I would not see it wasted," he explained sounding somewhat hurt.
"Fine, we'll show them how it's done," Ellana relented. "I must admit, the thought of spending my free time pressed up against you does have a certain appeal…"
He kissed her, chuckling against her lips.
The breeze was comforting. Ellana could feel the grass lightly dancing against her skin as she lay. She could hear water trickling uncaringly past her and smell the forest around her. Her eyes were closed but she could tell from the waning warmth that the sun was setting. She didn't want to move yet. Her mind was surprisingly clear, a rare thing these days, and she didn't want to waste it. She sighed, sinking further in to the grasses beneath her. Birds sang above her, heralding in the night. The quiet footsteps of Halla cracked twigs in the trees beyond.
"You're a difficult woman to pin down," said a voice.
Ellana sat up with a start. She hadn't heard anyone approach. To her relief it was just Mirwen.
"You scared the life out of me. How did you sneak up on me like that?" Ellana asked irritably brushing grass from her clothing.
"I may be of an age, my child, but I still have some skills," the Keeper replied with a sly smile. "In need of some respite are you? Peace beyond the disarray? You have been busy after all."
"I just needed some time to myself; time to think about…everything," Ellana mused.
"You have a great deal on your mind, I'm sure. I hear vengeance will soon be yours? That is good," Mirwen replied. She paused to sit down by Ellana's side. "You still haven't told him have you?"
Ellana shook her head, tears brimming.
"How can I? He will be crushed. I thought about running. I thought it would be better, make things easier for him but I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave him," she said, barely holding back the tide that threatened to consume her. "This is going to change everything."
"I know but time will not wait for you, my child," Mirwen replied, taking her hand gently. "He will know soon enough."
"But I don't want this to end!" Ellana cried. "I just wish we could stay this way at least for a little while longer."
"It doesn't have to end. He'll come around, maybe even find some joy in it. This should be a happy occasion after all," Mirwen reassured.
"He won't. He can't take much more and this…this is going to destroy him. Who would want something knowing they are only going to lose it? " Ellana replied sadly.
Mirwen smiled knowingly, "He wanted you did he not?"