"The particulars are irrelevant! We need you to tell us if it is possible!" Cassandra heatedly shouted.
As one would expect, she had been especially quick to anger recently. Dorian, to give him his due, took it graciously and with minimal sarcasm by his usual standards.
"The details of any plan are rather important but, to answer your so gently put question, yes it is in theory possible," he started, with his usual half-smile. His look turned thoughtful. "However, I lack the knowledge or ability to even speculate how such a thing could be achieved…"
"That matters little," Cullen interjected, calm compared to Cassandra. "We can determine how with time."
"But you have no time," Dorian interrupted in turn. "Even if you had the full weight of the Imperium behind you - which you do not - it would still not be enough to use such a weapon in your coming fight."
"We are aware," Cullen replied, looking strained.
"Then I neglect to see why it is even a consideration," Dorian added. "If you do not intend to use it to win then…"
"We will win," Leliana interjected determinedly. "Of that I have no doubt, but even then it will not end. This began and it ends with Solas and even though he claimed this would give us an open shot at him, I think we all know that that will never be the case. He will have a contingency plan, he always does, and that will save him even if it ends countless other lives."
"The best we can hope for is that we cripple his army and thus slow his progress," Cullen added, running a hand through his hair.
"And when we do," Leliana went on, smiling wickedly. "We will have the time we need; the time to gain the full support of the Imperium and then…"
"A way to end him," Cassandra added finally.
Ellana knew not exactly where they were but it must have still been within the Storm Coast. The salt in the air was definitely less pronounced so she presumed that meant they must be further inland. Too curious, she had asked about the nature of Solas's plan but he was keeping silent. Allegedly, her knowing would only lessen its effect. Walking with him by her side, she gazed down at her ebony arm - un-gloved and open to the air. In amongst the blackness and vein-like lyrium a foreign crystal was inlaid just beneath the wrist. With her other hand she reached out and touched it; revelling in the calming rumbling she heard in her mind.
"It's not hurting you, is it?" Solas asked with a look of concern.
She pulled her hand away and the sound went with it. "No, it's fine. I'm just getting used to it." She touched it again and the rumbling - rhythmic and low - came back. "I think she's sleeping."
"She will not be for long," he replied with a reassuring smile. "How does it feel, no ill effects?"
"It's a bit heavy but I'll get used to that." She looked up at him questioningly. "Do you think she can constantly hear me? Surely it's a grey area given that it is attached to a part of me that is not really…well…me."
"I imagine she does to some extent," he replied, taking her less-feeling hand from her so she could no longer pour all her focus in to it. "Although it is not your flesh, it is a part of you – feeling for you, responding to your whims. If it links with your mind well enough to act as you intend then the crystal should too."
"But won't that bother her? Hearing me constantly?" she asked, voicing a genuine concern she had.
"Does quiet conversation in a tavern bother you?"
"No…" she replied not understanding where he was going with this.
"Because you ignore it to the point that it barely enters your awareness but if someone were to scream or shout you would quickly take notice, would you not?"
"So you're saying that she'll get used to the normal noises but if I need her, if it becomes more intense…"
"She will react, just as you would want her to. More than that, it means the skill cannot be taken from you without considerable effort. Even if you are stripped of all your weapons, they cannot separate you from her without causing you pain, which in itself should be more than enough to bring her to you," he explained with a self-satisfied expression.
"If this works," she retorted.
He came to an abrupt stop. "Well then it is fortunate that we will be finding out in a matter of moments."
The area around them was wooded and absolutely unremarkable. Beyond the trees she thought she could see an outcropping of mountains but little else captured her attention. It was not until Solas let out an echoing whistle that anything even stirred. Birds rose up from the trees and the undergrowth crunched as wildlife darted away from the sound. Looking beyond what she could see nearby, shadows, too big to be anything but rocks, shifted beyond the trees.
"Solas…why are we here?" she asked with dread as a recurrent thudding sounded in the distance.
"In my travels I have seen much of this world including this place," he started as her worry only worsened. "I could think of nowhere better; near as we need it and full of worthy opponents."
The thudding grew ever nearer, crunching sounds far greater than that of twigs punctuating each sound.
Ellana turned him to her, anxiety clouding her mind. "Opponents? But why would you…?"
"Not for me, vhenan," he replied with a slight laugh.
Staring at him in utter disbelief, she saw the sunlight turn to darkness on his face as the thudding broke through the trees. She turned in horror to face the Giant lumbering towards them.
"Even with wings she will take a while to arrive," he continued, clasping his hands behind his back and walking away. "I would start calling her now."
Ellana barely had time to even process his words. The Giant let out an immense roar and immediately swung down at her. Just in time she rolled out of the way as the ground around her fractured beneath the force of the blow. She had fought Giants before but it had been a long time ago and never alone. As quickly as she could she put some distance between herself and the beast. It had been easy before, the fast ones acting as a distraction while those with strength or magic took the beast down but that would never work with her alone. However, she was not alone and that was the point. She needed power; she needed Dhaveira. She just had to survive long enough for her to meet that need.
Grasping desperately at her wrist, Ellana tried to focus as the Giant lumbered closer but even with her efforts, she could hear nothing beyond the imminent danger.
"Dhaveira!" she screamed. "Please, help me!"
Relinquishing her wrist, she leapt to the side to avoid another great sweep of the Giant's arm. She darted in to the trees hoping they might offer some cover. Her plan worked and for a wonderful moment, she thought she was safe but that was only until she heard a roar from the opposite direction. Another shadow thudded closer and without a second thought, she ran. She dodged past the first Giant just as the other came crashing through the trees. She grabbed her wrist again as she kept on running.
"Gods, help me!" she screamed.
Panicked beyond all rational thought, she did not even think to notice Solas watching every movement intently from the side-lines. As she ran, huge hands beat against the ground, missing her by inches and a rock sailed past her head. She kept on going, certain a pattern was emerging. At just the right moment she halted, pirouetting on the spot and drawing her blades at the same time. The Giant kept on going with momentum too powerful to stop. She expertly dodged its legs and dived, blade ready, ripping through the back of the beast's heel in a precise strike. Momentum intact but tendon torn, the Giant collapsed forward beneath its own weight. Ellana had no time to stop. Compensating for the shaking ground she broke in to a run again, this time directly at the remaining Giant. It made to stomp on her but she avoided it with little trouble. Planning to do the same, she waited for an opening all the while evading the Giant's blows. After a particularly harsh one she took a moment to touch her wrist, hoping against hope that her own monster was coming. That slight distraction proved disastrous. She had been so focused on avoiding her current combatant that she had neglected to pay proper attention to the Giant she had left behind. Entirely unable to rise with its injuries she had thought it beyond her concern but she was wrong. Somehow the beast had managed to drag itself away from the open area and procure a rock, not a large one by Giant standards but dangerous enough. It was this rock, thrown with great force, that thundered along the ground just missing Ellana. A mixture of the force itself and surprise made her stumble and then finally tumble down on to the earth beneath her. The air around her grew heavy and tense as the Giant in front of her advanced, its shadow casting her in darkness.
But it was not just her anymore. In the darkness between her and the monster she saw Solas, eyes granting the only light. She found her feet behind him - ready to fight - only to see his eyes had stopped glowing. Now they were just wide, staring out at something behind her as the Giant in front seemed poised to end him.
"Run!" he yelled, grabbing her hand.
He hauled her to the side just as a monumental flash of white plunged down from the sky above. Crashing through the trees as though they were nothing, Dhaveira met her target with incontestable fury. She dwarfed the Giant in size and thus tore it apart in seconds with teeth and claw. She thrashed her tail, uprooting the surrounding trees with frightening ease, before incinerating the remaining combatant with her fire. Ellana looked on in complete wonder.
"It worked…" Solas gasped from her side.
Dhaveira sniffed the trees beyond and from what little Ellana could see there were hulking forms. Ivory hide spattered red with the blood of the fallen, the dragon sounded an earth-shattering roar and whatever remained scattered.
"It worked!" Solas repeated, clearly pleased with himself.
Dhaveira shrieked gleefully at the sound of his voice and bounded over to them. She stopped in front of Ellana and outstretched her head with a questioning trill. Ellana placed her palm between the beast's enormous blue eyes before leaning in to the embrace with her whole self.
"Thank you," she whispered and the dragon rumbled contentedly.
Solas, practically bouncing with self-pride, placed a hand on her arm. "I told you my plan would…" His jubilation evaporated at the sight of Ellana's expression. "…work…"
"That was your plan?!" she yelled at him. "Are you insane?! I could have died!"
He retreated with each step she advanced, manner instantly turned appeasing. "Vhenan, you were never in any real danger…"
"I was being chased by Giants, you idiot!" she shouted back as the dragon hissed and advanced behind her.
"And so you needed to be. It had to be enough to warrant her attention," he went on, fear starting to creep in to the periphery of his being. "I was there in case anything went awry…"
The dragon sounded an angry shriek. "Went awry?! That was not bad enough for you?!" Ellana added.
"Please, vhenan, you need to calm down. Your beast is reacting…" he pleaded, backing away slowly.
"And so she should be! I could have been killed! Maybe you should know how that feels?"
He stopped in his tracks, what little fear he had crushed beneath unyielding control. "Enough! I only put you in this situation because I had to. The second I saw any danger I was there - ready to end it. You know there was no chance of me ever letting anything happen to you but the fear had to be real. Anger now serves nothing beyond consoling your wounded pride!"
Ellana looked away from him and let out an angry groan. He neared her cautiously and placed a hand on each of her shoulders.
"I would never let anything happen to you. You are the mother of my child, my very heart. Without you I am nothing," he murmured softly to her.
In the briefest of gazes she returned his every word before her look turned sour once more. "Oh shut up! I'm still mad!"
She pulled away from him and he sighed. The dragon looked on at him expectantly.
"Was it foolish of me to expect any less?" he asked the beast, receiving a questioning trill in response.
Ellana tried to open the door quietly but in her eagerness, it still ended up banging against the wall. With light footsteps from years of practice she rushed in to the office without making any further noise. Behind her Solas followed, tired from the journey and her continued lack of forgiveness. Lis dropped the book she was reading and sat up behind the desk at the sight of them.
"Where is she?" Ellana asked with clear excitement.
"I checked on her a few minutes ago and she was sleeping like a little baby," Lis replied, emphasising the cuteness.
Ellana gave out a satisfied purr. "Aww, well…I shouldn't wake her."
"You were reading about the magical techniques used throughout the history of the Magisterium?" Solas asked; gazing doubtingly at the book Lis had dropped.
"Trying and failing is more like it. Everything else just sounded worse," she replied with a slight laugh. "Were you successful?"
"A dragon now occupies the Storm Coast," Solas answered before Ellana had a chance.
She was not willing to drop it just yet. "And a few fewer Giants…"
Lis's eyes widened. "Giants?"
"Yes! Giants!" Ellana replied angrily, glaring in Solas's direction.
Lis looked on in confusion but Solas had had enough for one day.
"Thank you for caring for our child," he started, bustling Lis out of the door. "But we apparently have issues to deal with so if you would excuse us…"
Ellana took over, leading Lis out with more politeness. Once her friend was gone, she turned back to Solas with another glower but a smile quickly betrayed her anger.
"Baby time!" she exclaimed excitedly, running by him. She knelt down over the crib, heart bursting at the sight of her sleeping child. "Oh my sweet little love; I would fight a thousand Giants for you."
She passed by Solas out of the room still smiling. She could feel his eyes on her as she padded about. Finally, she came to rest in front of him.
"You are forgiven," she said, taking a step in closer so they were touching. She gazed up at him. "Father of my child, my very heart…"
Before she could even finish the sentence he was kissing her. Unable to contain herself, she let out the slightest of moans as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rose up on her tiptoes. He shut the door to the nursery before enveloping her in his arms. Her lips against his, she unintentionally forced him back against the door but he easily adapted, lifting her free of the floor and away from their sleeping child. With one final deep kiss of her lips, he lowered her down on to the bed and she started removing her clothing at a speed that highlighted just how eager she was. He smirked at the sight. Noting his amusement, she placed a hand on the soft skin of his neck.
"You won't be laughing once I'm done with you," she purred.
With her other hand she drew him down on to the bed and slid on top, all the while kissing his lips with fervour. She whined as his hands found the most sensitive parts of her.
"Vhenan," he whispered in her ear before similarly losing himself to her touch.
Neither one felt anything but the other; that was until a wail broke the heady quiet. Attuned to the sound of her child's cries, as any mother is, Ellana's head snapped up instantly. Solas kept on kissing her neck but with a touch to the cheek, he relented.
"It's like she knows," Ellana uttered as she stared longingly in to his eyes.
He smiled a reluctant smile before luring her in for one final kiss.
"I will see to her," he insisted, rolling her gently off him and rising.
Ellana sat up in the bed. "She probably needs feeding."
"Then I will bring her dutifully to you, my love," he called out from the nursery. His voice quieted, no longer needing projection beyond the room he was occupying. "Fear not my precious little girl; you are not alone."
The crying stopped before he had even emerged from the room.
"She always quiets with you," Ellana stated with a hint of envy.
Solas sat down on the bed beside her, his daughter gazing up at him in adoration.
"She lived inside of you, vhenan, and I am the rarer sight," he lamented.
As if sensing his hurt, Emmaera placed one of her tiny hands on his face and an emotion-filled gasp escaped his open mouth.
"No, I think she just loves her daddy more than anything in this world," Ellana replied with utter conviction.
Ellana awoke with a start. The bed beside her was cold, vacant and once she had recovered as much as was possible she left it to seek the open air. She stopped at the sight of Solas seated outside with journal in hand, writing as he always was. He had claimed that the book was merely a means to record his thoughts but she doubted that was true. Through his actions he had made it clear that she would never be allowed a glimpse of these alleged thoughts and that alone was enough to make her nervous. He glanced back, flinching at the sight of her and slamming it shut as he always tellingly did.
He smiled warmly to her, trying to veil his actions far too late. "Sleep hard to come by?" he asked, outstretching a hand in greeting. "I cannot claim I was anything but disappointed when you dozed off…"
Ignoring his hand she took it a step further and mounted him with a knee on either side. She pressed her lips to his, breathing heavy. He started to lose himself again. One hand found her hair while the other fell limp at his side but, to her surprise, he pulled away.
"Vhenan, wait," he uttered, fixing her with a concerned stare. "You are having second thoughts…" Ellana scoffed at the misread suggestion and tried to resume their activities but he was having none of it. "Vhenan, talk to me."
Focusing on something beneath her, she finally spoke, "I don't get to have second thoughts, not now…"
Solas forced her to meet his gaze. Her eyes darkened the longer she stared in to his as the reality that he was right hit her hard. The time was drawing near and with it looming she doubted, worse than that she remembered and that was something she had been avoiding for much too long.
"I have no choice," she finally answered, shirking away from his touch. "Even if I opted to do nothing then what would that achieve? I could go running back to them, sorrowful and resolved to join them in their cause…"
"You would never do that," he interjected, part statement part undeniable question.
Ellana allowed herself a few notes of cynical laughter. "No, I wouldn't. If I walked through their door holding our child what do you think they would do with her?"
His brow furrowed as his expression slowly fell. "They would take her from you; use her to get to me…"
"What is the life of one child when weighed against that of every one in existence?" she interrupted sadly. "That is how they would justify it and they're right. I would agree if things were different, if it was not my child and that thought terrifies me." She glanced up at him as her eyes and voice filled with resolve. "But she is mine and I will not allow them to darken her door. Never, not while I still breathe, even if it means I must fight them. So no, Solas, I am not having second thoughts." With a hand she compelled him to her, close enough they were nearly touching. "I am just terrified."
Her breath hitched as she finally brought her lips to meet his and reluctantly he allowed it. There was more he could offer but he knew that no words could change the way she felt. Finally throwing the book he held to the side, he met her affections fully; intent on giving her the distraction she craved. The pages fell open on the chair but before he could close it, Ellana caught a glimpse as she had hoped. It was just one word, the only one written in the language she could understand amongst the elvhen scrawls – 'Anders'.
Over the past few days Ellana had pondered what she had read but she still had no answer. At many points she was so frustrated that she got frightfully close to just asking Solas. The word was familiar, so much so that she was almost certain it was a name but from where she could not remember. The more she thought, the more it made sense – a name would be the only the word not in elvhen. Even still, that knowledge did little to help her remember where she had heard it.
Whilst Ellana pondered, the tension surrounding the camps had only grown. A mixture of both excitement and fear, she found it most unpleasant to walk through. It reminded her of what was to come. With this in mind, she descended the tower already dreading the feeling. It was foolish really, as the dread alone was enough to bring it on far earlier than was necessary. Each floor she passed flashed by her unnoticed until a sense of familiarity caught her attention. Shivra and Varden standing on the balcony of the second floor, she was certain, but her progress downwards prevented her from confirming her suspicions. From what little she had seen they had looked to be embracing one another and not in a distinctly friendly way. Once she reached the ground she paced about, uncertain what to do with this information but before long the decision was made for her. Still a floor above Shivra practically skipped down the stairs. She stopped suddenly at the sight of Ellana and ducked back but it was already too late.
"Shivra? Is that you hiding there?" Ellana asked in a sing-song voice. Silence followed and Ellana started making her way up the staircase. "I can see you…"
Finally the slightly reddened elf stepped out from behind the bannister with a disgruntled look. "Hey, Ellana, I was just…um…visiting…"
"Oh really?" she replied, scepticism ringing out.
"Yeah! Just like I've done loads of times before!" Shivra added, pushing past her angrily.
Ellana could not really argue that point but she knew there was more to it. "So then tell me, why the secrecy? If it's all so normal then why hide?"
Shivra let out an angry noise. "Maybe I just didn't want to speak to you?! Did you ever think of that, you insufferable hag?!"
"You're doing Varden!" Ellana exclaimed triumphantly. Shivra practically tackled her to the floor but Ellana struggled against her. "I've finally caught you so admit it!"
"It's not like that!" Shivra roared with rage, succeeding in pinning Ellana against the wall. "He's been there for me before but then it…" She trailed off looking ashamed.
"You can tell me, Shiv." Ellana could see that her friend was in turmoil and the desire to joke was all but gone. "Trust me, I understand better than most…"
Shivra finally met her eyes after a long silence. "Years ago, I was a wreck…even more so than I am now and he was there for me but it got too much and I ruined it…" She looked away. "But even after that he just kept being there…even if it was just as a friend. I've never had that. If you push hard enough they always leave, always, but he didn't …"
"So when was it…?"
Back on the defensive, Shivra interrupted her, "When was what?! Look, Ellana, you can't…!"
"When was it that you stopped pushing and realised you were worthy of happiness?" Ellana interjected slyly.
Shivra's eyes narrowed. "I knew that fucker was going to tell you! I should have known you would just bat your eyelashes and he'd sing! Dread Wolf, my arse! Last time I trust him with anything!"
"Actually he didn't; I overheard," Ellana replied matter-of-factly. Warmth crept in to her chest. "No matter how hard I tried to get it out of him he insisted on keeping your secret so as far as trustworthiness, I'd say he's alright."
"Sorry," Shivra muttered somewhat sheepishly. Finally she released Ellana from her vice-like grip. "It's actually because of him that it even happened. I guess what he said…kind of talked me in to it…"
"He has been known to do that," Ellana replied with a chuckle. With the heady emotion dissipated, the two started to make their way down the stairs. Ellana had so many questions she could not think where to start. "So… Varden? Why?" Her eyebrow raised almost against her will.
"Oh fuck off, you can hardly talk," her friend countered, skipping ahead a distance.
On the walk through the camps Ellana tried to resist asking too much of her friend. While undeniably fun to prod, at the end of the day it was not really her business. Varden had been the last person she would have guessed but now that she thought about it, it actually made a lot of sense. The two no doubt played well off of one another and Ellana was left hoping she might get to see it. Hating the thought of it, she had never been on a double date but now the idea was surprisingly appealing.
The revelation had made for a nice distraction and she barely even felt the tension in the air as they went. At least until she reached the camp where her friends resided. Lori was the first one who met them, happy to break away from her preparations. Shivra seemed to have finally accepted her presence and that certainly made things much easier for Ellana.
"Aww, no baby?" Lori asked with disappointment.
"Nope, she's with her dad," Ellana replied, smiling slightly at the thought. "How goes your preparing?"
Lori's nose crinkled with annoyance. "Slowly. Lis keeps checking everything over and over and insisting we spar constantly. She's gone manic."
Ellana laughed. "Sounds like Lis."
Miris appeared in the trees, likely hiding from the subject of their discussion, and Shivra ran over to her.
"Yeah, she always goes a bit nuts when she's scared," Lori continued pensively.
Ellana looked back down at her in consideration. "You're not afraid, are you?"
"A suitable amount I suppose; it is a war after all…" She shrugged her shoulders dismissively. "But whatever happens, happens; you know?"
"So be it? That sort of thing?" Ellana asked; surprised by her friend's apparent disinterest in the looming situation that could very easily kill her.
Lori bowed her head and her hair hung down to cover her face. "I have a purpose and I would like to fulfil that purpose but there is only so much I can do. There are parts beyond my control and…I don't know; I just figure what's the use in worrying about them if you can't change them?"
"I suppose you are right, although I like to think there is a lot more we can change than we think," Ellana added. Lori gazed up at her, green eyes blank. "Is Lis in her tent?"
"Yeah," the red haired girl replied, turning back to her task. "I think she realised she was getting annoying…"
After pressing a hand appreciatively to her friend's arm, Ellana made off in the direction of Lis's tent. She could hear quiet humming from within interjected by the odd mumbled statement. Lis looked up as Ellana came through the doorway with unusually wide pupils, a clear sign that she was definitely starting to panic.
"Hey! Is everything alright?" she started in a wavering voice that grew progressively louder. "Are you alright? Where's Emmaera?"
Taken aback by all the questions, Ellana barely knew where to start. "Okay…that hurt my head…" Lis turned away looking frustrated at herself. "Everything is fine, Lis, completely fine," Ellana continued, trying her best to be reassuring.
"I know…I know…" Lis replied, head in her hands. "I'm dealing with it."
"Are you? Kind of seems likes you're not…" Lis looked up with a glower but Ellana still sat down beside her, unfazed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I don't think that will help. I'll manage, in my own way." Lis got up and started back in her cycle of arranging but this time with less intensity. "What brings you here? Shouldn't you be preparing too?"
Ellana leaned back casually. "Nope, my part is small in the grand scheme of things. Anyway, I needed to talk to you so here I am…"
"Talk to me about what?" Lis asked, stopping all activities.
Ellana sat up again with a significantly softened gaze. "There is something I need to ask of you and I'm pretty sure you're not going to like it but you are the only one I trust."
Lis sat down in preparation. "Gods help me, what now?"
"I…I need to ask you to stay behind," Ellana stuttered, amazed she even managed to get it out.
Lis suddenly rose to her feet. "Stay behind? Why?!"
"For Emmaera. If I could, I would stay with her but I have to go; the plan rests on me. I need someone I can trust to stay and look after her until I can come back. She is everything to me and you're the only person I can think of who I would be willing to leave with that responsibility."
"But then I couldn't fight alongside you. What if you don't come back? I couldn't just…"
Despite herself Ellana could feel the emotion building inside of her. "But you must! Please, Lis! I know I am asking a lot but there is no one else! I trust no one like I do you! Please! I cannot go knowing she might not be safe!"
Lis broke away from her, thought written across her expression. "Okay…" she muttered, still turned away. "I'll do it."
Ellana ran over to her and captured her in a tight embrace.
"Thank you!"
Lis returned it weakly. "But you better come back, you hear?"
A half-smile formed across both of their lips.
Ellana had been dreading this day for weeks. Even with the birth of her daughter as a pleasant interlude, it had played ever on her mind. What she had not counted on was how hard actually leaving was going to be. Ellana had only been apart from her child for brief periods and now she was expected to leave entirely. On top of everything was the thought that in reality, she might never come back. She wished that they had more time to spend with one another. Regardless of the outcome, Ellana had accepted that there was no positive eventuality waiting for her on the battlefield; the only hope she had was that she would get to see her baby daughter again.
During the journey she had spoken little with anyone. She tried her best to maintain a brave face but it was hard. Even her friends, unattached to the mourning she alone seemed to feel, were notably sombre. The soldiers that travelled with them likely shared her friend's lack of concern for anything beyond their own people but Ellana did wonder if they knew the full extent of what they were about to face. Then again, Solas's presence certainly helped. The people now still saw him as something of a god and with that came a belief in the impossible. She touched the crystal set in her arm regularly throughout the journey, comforted by the sound of Dhaveira's shrieks. At least it sounded like she was enjoying her new home.
They arrived with time to spare. In the distant hills movement could be seen but otherwise the land was devoid of life. They had arrived first and that gave Solas time to tinker with everything as he was wont to do. Ellana just stood, seemingly watching the Inquisition scouts darting in the distance but actually vacant within herself. Luckily for her, even her friends kept their distance. They could have offered her comfort but she was in no state to cope with any form of simple conversation. Even offering them luck was impossible for her; too much of an unpleasant reminder of what would happen if luck did not find them or even if it did.
"Dawn approaches," Solas remarked as he came to stand by her side at last.
Ellana could tell that he had no idea what else to say to her. "It does," she replied still staring out to the landscape. "Not long now."
She could have asked a myriad of questions about their readiness but she could not find the strength or the inclination. Fortuitously Solas seemed to share in her mood. They stood together in silence.
"Solas, I'm… This was never what I wanted. I wanted time, I wanted…" Ellana started weakly, finally facing him.
His eyes turned sad as he kept them fixed to the distance. "I am sorry, vhenan. Our time has run out."
Ellana stopped short and followed his gaze out to the rise in the landscape. The light crept forwards from behind them, sun barely over the horizon but even still she could see the great blackness cresting the rise. It came down the slope first as drips of dark against the grasses, small deployments making their way forward first. That changed all too quickly as the drips merged with those that came after; the rise painted all but black by the sheer number of soldiers. Seeing them was one thing but the noise was what truly brought fear in to her heart – the thudding of so many feet, the galloping of horses and the roars of troops ready to spill blood. She could feel herself cower beneath the wake of it all; eyes glistening, heart heavy. She wanted to look back at her own people, pathetic in number by comparison but she resisted the urge; she was too weak to offer them the strength they were going to need.
"Solas…I…" she started, barely able to form coherent thought let alone speak.
"You are afraid," he interrupted, appearing not to mirror her fear. "Understandable, given what we face."
From what she could see the shadow on the rise was forming up, becoming organised. She could see banners flying both of the Inquisition and of Orlais. A sigh of relief escaped her knowing that at least Tevinter would not face them on this day. Amongst it all, single figures walked and in her mind they were Cassandra, Leliana and Cullen stalking the distance.
"But know this, however many we may face they will be useless without order and that we can take from them," Solas continued with a slight suggestion that he may be trying to convince himself too. "Chaos, vhenan. Create chaos whilst maintaining our order and they will run or fall."
She watched the legion before them but through it all, she still remembered her purpose. She touched a hand to her wrist nervously.
"I know the plan, Solas, all too well," she replied dismissively.
"I know you do. Let us hope the dragon hears it too," Solas remarked with his first hint of visible doubt.
She met his gaze, eyes overtaken by resolve. "She will."
Solas touched a hand to her cheek. "Then go, sow me chaos and I shall bring you victory."
Their eyes lingered on one another before she strode off in to the open alone. She turned to her friends as she passed.
"We win or we go down together," Ellana remarked, touching a hand to each of their shoulders as she passed.
"Together," they mirrored back as she walked away.
With each step out in to the open it grew more difficult as her apprehension weighted her down. There had been a time when this was the last thing she wanted but there could be no turning back now. Behind her she heard Solas, loud and clear as he addressed their loyal but no doubt fear-ridden army.
"Brothers and sisters, for too long the humans have derided our people and supressed our very way of life. Now we take back what is ours and still they seek to crush us beneath their power. That time is over. I will not lie to you; blood will be spilt…"
His voice trailed away as she kept walking until she could no longer make out his words over her own scurrying thoughts. She heard the roar from the elves that followed him but nothing more than sounds in the periphery of her awareness beyond that. As she walked, Ellana outstretched her hand to flow through the grasses and wildflowers that covered the ground. Closing her hand around some stalks, she pulled them free to rest amongst her fingers.
At long last she stopped in the centre of the battlefield and cast the foliage loose to dance in the wind. She touched her wrist and allowed her fear to overwhelm. Images flashed through her mind – their army crushed, her love lost, herself lost and the triumphant army breaking down the doors to her daughter. Fully focused, she outstretched her arms and cried out to the heavens.
"Dhaveira! Lend me your strength! Come to me! Help me, please!"
"What is this?! Some kind of trick?!" Cassandra shouted out to the others.
Cullen did not break his eyes away from Ellana. He had not heard the words themselves but he had heard the shout. No matter what thought ran through his mind he could not find a possible explanation. His gaze flitted back to Solas, distinct in his golden armour. He stood confidently with hands clasped tightly behind his back, a sight that made Cullen's lip curl.
"What could she possibly be doing?" Cassandra went on more quietly as Leliana came to join the two.
"If it were Solas I would expect the worst but her?" Leliana added.
Back watching Ellana, Cullen started to feel for her. It had been some minutes since she had first shouted and whatever she was waiting for still had not arrived. Even at this distance, he could see her shifting nervously amongst the wildflowers.
"We should sound the attack, we cannot be seen to afford any weakness," Leliana went on, actually sounding regretful beneath the facade.
Cullen paid her no mind. Somewhere in the distance he thought he heard a faint rumbling sound. He raised up a hand in an attempt to hush the others but as he did, Ellana turned back towards her people.
"What is it, Cullen?" Cassandra asked, oblivious.
Ellana had not moved but kept on staring off in to the distance. He changed his focus back to Solas, eyes now closed and noticeably smiling to himself. Cullen dreaded what that meant as the rumbling grew louder. Distant but still visible beneath his intent stare, Ellana upturned her eyes to the mountains behind the elves. Inexplicably the white crest seemed to continue to ascend; forever reforming the line it held to block the sky. It was not until it occluded even the sun that he accepted the rising form was not the mountain.
"Maker preserve us," Cullen gasped, as shadow descended over them.
The others had not yet understood but there could be no question once a world-rending roar tore across the land. The dragon's full horrifying form became all the more clear as it dived down and light illuminated everything once again. Cullen's eyes darted back to Ellana as he uncontrollably took a step back. She was no longer waiting that much was certain. As the beast descended with wings casting a colossal shadow below, she turned back to face Cullen's men smiling hideously. In his horror he had all but forgotten them and almost instantly, he wished it had stayed that way. He looked around and saw nothing but faces of terror and he could not blame a one of them.
"It is over…" Cullen breathed but no one seemed to hear him.
The beast crashed down beside Ellana with a stream of flames and another roar. In an almost loving gesture, she touched a hand to its immense cheek. The dragon reared up on its hind legs and outstretched its wings, blotting out the sun for the humans alone. It roared, shaking the earth beneath them and undeniable heat emanated from its gaping jaws. Ellana turned to it as it lowered and with the light from its burning fire Cullen was certain he could read her lips.
"Kill them," she said.
The sight of Ellana standing alongside her monster had been an inspiring one even for Solas. She had already turned back before the dragon reared a second time and was running by the time it took flight but he would not allow himself to feel relief until she was back by his side. Arrows and spells from the few mages the Inquisition had followed the dragon's ascent but those that met their target did little. It would take far more than that to bring down Dhaveira. As he had intended the mere sight of her had done wonders for morale amongst the elves. It had been vital to keep her out of sight, both from their own people and the Inquisition. If their people had grown accustomed to the sight of her then she would no longer be a source of wonder and if the Inquisition caught so much as a glimpse, they would have lost the element of surprise. Surprise was necessary; without it, there was only fear but they needed panic, all consuming panic. As soon as the beast took flight the soldiers beyond gave in to their terror and the fire she brought down only worsened the effect. Some simply ran, those were the cowards, but the brave ran with purpose. Just as he had expected, those that did not immediately abandon hope moved straight in to attack mode but no longer towards the dragon. Any smart man would think she was the more difficult of the two potential targets, impossible in fact for the majority who lacked ranged weaponry. Better to deal with her source - the far smaller group of elves. Mirroring his prediction, the soldiers advanced hastily down the rise towards them all the while scattering to avoid the dragon's rage as much as they could. Some of the soldiers cleverly moved in to position to try and surround them but Solas had planned for that. It would be a struggle to survive even the advance but those that made it would be in for a terrible surprise.
"Ready the archers," Solas ordered, barely turning to the general at his side. "Warriors, with me!"
The archers moved first, advancing to the point where the arrows still remained in the ground from the fateful day the Inquisition had signed over their lives. They formed up leaving the gap just as the arrows marked. Around him the warriors moved in to formation, some at his sides and the majority at his back. They moved as one to stand with the archers with Solas front and centre occupying the gap alone.
As fast as she was, Ellana reached them far ahead of the charging soldiers. She came to an abrupt stop directly in front of Solas and he allowed himself the feeling of relief.
"You have your chaos," she remarked, glancing over her shoulder before fixing her eyes back to his. "Now bring me victory."
She made to move on behind him but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"Ar lath ma vhenan," he said, other hand stroking her hair.
She smiled her beautiful smile and grasping a hand behind his head, she pulled him in to meet her lips. He kept his eyes closed once it had ended to revel in the feeling for as long as possible before it evaporated along with anything other than focus. She took his hand and led him back to stand a distance from the archers just as they started loosing arrows at the incoming soldiers.
"Assume positions!" Solas loudly ordered.
The front four lines of soldiers on either side of him filed in to position, filling the gap between the archers. Those that remained at the flanks shifted forward instantaneously allowing those that had been lost to be immediately replaced by the reserves at the back. As it was happening Solas closed his eyes again, only opening them once the foreboding glow had built. Lights erupted from the air to dance around Ellana and him. Doing the bidding of his gesture they floated forth in front and sunk in the earth where the arrows lay. He repeated the action twice more around them and although it was not visible, he knew that magic now surrounded them on all sides - waiting. The troops beyond were growing near and he could feel the exhilaration of battle building in his chest. Ellana had already started her pacing, back and forth in front of him. She was a truly remarkable woman; so full of life but so ready to give that up if it meant protecting what she cared for. So often consumed by fear but at the same time fearless; it was one of the things he loved about her, as wrong as it was. Right when his mind started to wander the first man, exhausted from avoiding death at the hands of the dragon and the archers but resolved to strike them down, came to the line and met unceremoniously with the surprise.
Light bathed them as blue flames erupted from the ground. The arrows that had marked the location were burned to ash in an instant and with them, the first man across. Those that could not stop in time ceased to exist in every sense of the word, nothing but ash on the wind. Now the trap had been triggered, everything else flowed in to action. The elven archers kept up the hail of arrows, increasing the kill zone exponentially and the warriors dealt with the few that happened to be in the gap between the fires. Some, the fleetingly brave, took this opportunity to run. Ellana waited beside Solas for the next phase and watched the proceedings with intensity. Her friends fought amongst the elves in the fray at the front. Few made it to the gap so now was not the time to worry. She wanted to be up there with them but she had her own part to play.
"There we are," Solas remarked from her side. His voice was uncharacteristically flat, as it always was once he had primed himself.
She followed his gaze out beyond the fighting and saw it too - soldiers organising themselves, adapting to the new circumstances. They had two options: they could advance to the point where the fire wall ended and flank the elves but that would mean surviving the arrows or they could attack from the front through the very obvious gap. To most people it would seem that this was a trap but in the heat of battle, faced with far fewer soldiers than you have one would take what appears to be the fastest route. Luckily for the elves, few had witnessed Solas in all his terror and those that had, had been the first to run. Cassandra was the exception. She had survived at the front and there she remained readying her men for the charge, intent on reaching Solas alone.
"They have a choice…they still have a choice," Ellana uttered quietly. Around her the air was building, fracturing angrily beneath the Dread Wolf's will. "Run, you fools!"
But they did not heed her words and Ellana knew that even with all their bravery, they would regret not taking their chances with the dragon instead. The Inquisition soldiers kept the falling arrows at bay with raised shields but they could not deny the gleaming tendrils that snaked through their ranks. Glittering terribly in the daylight, those they touched combusted instantly with resounding screams. Cassandra denied any that came near her and they burst out of existence. While Solas's powers far surpassed hers, the effort of maintaining the fire wall was enough to slightly weaken him. Nevertheless he was still more than capable of sending an explosive firestorm rippling through the back end of their ranks. By forcing the humans in to such close formation, the elves had created a bottleneck – making his spells all the more devastating and reducing the effectiveness of the human's numbers. Reducing the effects of his barrage around her, Cassandra charged amongst her remaining men and hit the front line of the elves. Their proximity now limited what Solas could do without endangering the lives of his own people but he was still kept busy. More soldiers, slower on the charge and thus aware of the barrier of fire, formed up to join their comrades. He dealt with them, distance his stalwart ally, thus significantly reducing the numbers that ever made it to the elves.
"Ignore the elves! Get to their leader!" Ellana could hear Cassandra roaring through the chaos.
Elves inevitably fell in their pursuit. They were quickly replaced by the side lines but that still allowed the Inquisition movement and slowly but surely the very few made it through the elven line. A ready and waiting Ellana was the only one who occupied this space - Solas's safe-zone where he could cast without fear of harming his own people. Ellana with blue-hued skin was shielded. She flitted skilfully around him ending those that threatened before they could even get close. This allowed him to maintain complete focus on annihilating those in the distance, never once allowing a lull that could overwhelm the elves in front.
At least until Cassandra made it through. Roaring with rage, she tore through the elves and charged forward, intent on making it to Solas. Ellana caught her before she could; a dagger with all her momentum behind it struck the Seeker's armour and pushed her off balance. She turned back to Ellana with fury burning in her eyes.
"Stand aside!" she roared.
"I will not!" Ellana shouted desperately.
With another roar Cassandra charged at her, blade meetings hers with strength she could never match. Even still Ellana was more than capable, hurling out a strike and dodge that threw Cassandra's blow off to the side. Others made it through the elven line on Cassandra's steam. Ellana only had moments to deal with them before the Seeker recovered, sweeping out more and more strikes. All the while Ellana dodged her and took whatever opportunity she could to deal with anyone that was not Cassandra. Once the last man fell, the completely incensed Seeker only worsened her onslaught. Ellana kept herself out of harm's way, regularly seeing openings that she refused to take.
"Please, Cassandra!" she begged uselessly.
Noticing her obvious hesitation, Solas paused in his assault but it no longer mattered. Many of the Inquisition men, seeing the futility of their struggle, had already started to retreat and the elves kept those that remained busy. He dealt with the occasional man that made it through but they became fewer and further between as more and more men retreated. Cassandra did not appear to care that she was being abandoned; she kept striking out at Ellana regardless.
"I will not show you mercy!" Cassandra roared, as though willing herself. "I will kill you and then I will end him!"
Solas could watch no longer. He sent out fire towards the Seeker and she was so focused on Ellana that she seemed oblivious. She noticed just in time. Before the magic could reach her it was purged from reality. Ellana took her opportunity and tackled her to the floor.
"Stop!" she yelled, as Cassandra's armour crashed in to the ground. "Your people have routed; take your life with them!"
"No, my people remain," the Seeker sneered.
As she turned back, a cry rung out among the elves and both of the side lines turned out.
"Solas, they are behind the line!" Ellana yelled, pinning Cassandra to the floor.
She could see them now through her people; a group on either side – one headed by Cullen, the other by Leliana.
"Wait for it," Solas replied steadily.
In her fearful distraction, Cassandra had broken free. She punched Ellana square in the face and rolled her off. With Ellana still recovering on the ground, she rose to her feet just as the second and third fire walls ignited. The soldiers that had triggered them died instantly just like before and this time there were no gaps. Excluding the one weak point, incontestable death surrounded the elves on all sides.
"No…" Cassandra uttered, the fury in her eyes replaced by a complete lack of hope.
From what little was visible through the fire, Ellana saw the troops moving beyond as she regained her footing. Others were being brought forward from the back ranks; movements Ellana recognised all too well started.
"They have archers!" she called out.
Arrows raining down on their tightly packed troops would be a disaster and with all the barriers ignited, Solas was severely weakened. Target the soldiers themselves or stop the arrows - he only had the power remaining to do one and both he and Ellana knew it. With an almost maniacal laugh sounding out; it seemed Cassandra knew as well.
"Save them or die!" she shouted, eyes focused only on him and already charging.
Ellana was moving too and if it was his life at stake, she would not hesitate. Cassandra did not notice her as she ran, daggers poised to spill the blood of her friend. However, Ellana was not the only one on the move. With few troops remaining on the rise to douse in flame, Dhaveira had felt her fear re-directed to the troops at their flanks. She swooped down right over them, so close that the force of the air beating off her wings almost knocked them all off their feet. Both Ellana and Cassandra stumbled to a stop. The glow that had been building in Solas's eyes disappeared as he watched the beast's path through the sky along with the two warring women.
"No!" Cassandra yelled, as Dhaveira turned.
Flying furiously, the dragon was poised to destroy all that caused the one she trusted fear. In order to avoid the elves she would have to choose a side and judging by her path, she was choosing Cullen's. Her jaws opened, flames slowly building inside.
"No…" Ellana uttered just as the flames spewed forth, consuming all.
In her last glimpse of him, Cullen knelt beneath his shield but she never saw if he rose up afterwards. Leaving nothing but fire behind her, the dragon was coming back to deal with the others and they knew it. Solas smiled as they ran.
"It's over, Cassandra," he said, foolishly hoping to dissuade her from her path. "Your people are either dead or running…"
The Seeker turned to him with fire burning hot in her eyes.
"I will stop you!" she screamed already charging.
Solas took that as a decision. With the dragon dealing with the few enemies that remained the fire walls were no longer needed, he had more than enough power to work with. She eliminated the fire he threw but he had expected as much. Unfortunately for her, she could not recover quickly enough to deal with the lightening. Unfortunately for him, it was not Cassandra that it hit. Ellana had thrown herself in front and even with the barrier, it was a direct hit and blood trickled from her mouth. She still managed to grab Cassandra, blade at her throat.
"Run or die; those are your choices," she stated coldly. "I will kill you right here or you can walk back through my people and live to fight another day. This was never the way, Cassandra."
Something in Ellana's voice got through to the Seeker. She looked at her questioningly and loosened her grip on her blade.
"Drop it," Ellana ordered. "Drop your weapon and I will let you go."
Cassandra did as she was bid and her sword clattered to the ground. Ellana lessened her grip and Cassandra pulled free. Solas took a step forward but stopped as soon as Ellana's eyes met his. The dragon roared out above and flames spewed across the sky.
"Let her through!" Ellana commanded her troops.
Cassandra stopped a few paces away from the parted elves and turned back. "I will stop you," she stated to them both before running off in to the open.
"Are you hurt?" Solas asked in a panicked tone as he examined Ellana intently.
She stared at him, blood staining his face, for a beat too long. "I am fine, Solas," she replied dismissively.
She was in pain but she had dealt with far worse. What remained of the Inquisition army was running; they had been victorious but for Ellana it was a hollow victory. Around them their soldiers saw to the wounded and the dead. From the very back of their ranks, Dalish healers including Mirwen had come forward to set to work. Dhaveira no longer flew above them, stark against the ground she had blackened.
"What do you think you were doing?! I could have killed you!" Solas suddenly yelled.
"You definitely would have killed her," Ellana replied blankly.
His face contorted with rage. "So that is it? She intended to kill me and you, vhenan," he started, his tone utterly derisive even when saying her honorific. "You practically tore Vivienne's head from her neck for far less."
Ellana's expression remained blank. "That I did, out of anger; unbridled rage that I used to distract me from my true pain and it worked, at least until it was done. It was not until the light left her eyes and my rage faded that I realised how wrong I was. She did not need to die and nor did Cassandra."
Solas would not let go. "She would have killed us both!"
"Then why are we still alive?" she asked. He gazed uselessly at her, open-mouthed. Nearby a man, so badly burned he barely even resembled a man, was screaming horribly. "We endure, just as we always do and strive to be better than we were. Something good has to come from all the death, Solas; it has to... A better world is nothing without people to make it so. If not for our daughter then for what?"
Ellana left his side and walked to the burned man. Judging by his size and placement, he must have been human so the healers had paid him no mind. Ellana knelt down beside him and unsheathed her blade.
"I am sorry," she said before plunging the blade in to the base of his skull and silencing his screams. "Dareth shiral."
The dragon had come to her side and lowered her head, whining. Ellana placed a hand on the burnt flesh in front of her and slowly started to sing an old Dalish song, a prayer for the dead. As the words drifted through the air, many gazed at her as though she were mad but Mirwen, Miris and Lori, fluent in the words, joined her to kneel and sing at her side. The Dalish followed suit and slowly near every elf, whether they knew the words or not, sang the death rite. Some sang only for their own fallen and some for them all but in the end it mattered little. The only one who remained silent was Solas, watching alone.
Cassandra trudged through the wilderness in despair. They had lost so much but still a small glimmer of hope remained within her.
"This was never the way, Cassandra."
Ellana's words still rang out in her mind, repeating endlessly as she walked.
"By the Maker, you're alive!"
The shout pulled Cassandra from her thoughts just as Leliana embraced her with such force that she stumbled.
"Maker be praised but how is that possible?! I saw you in the fray, right there beside him!" Leliana continued, staring at her friend as if she were a ghost. "How did you ever…?"
"She saved me…" Cassandra replied weakly. "Ellana saved my life."
Leliana looked on her with disbelief but Cassandra gave her no chance to question as she grabbed her in to another crushing hug.
"I am sorry…for everything," she said, meaning every word.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. We survived and that is all that matters," Leliana replied.
Before anymore could be said a sound drifted across from the valley. Leliana heard it first, turning away from her to listen properly.
"Is that singing?" she asked but Cassandra offered no answer.
She unbound herself from Leliana and made her way out through the trees. It was not until she reached the edge of the rise that she understood. Still on the distant battlefield, the elves sang. She could not understand the words but she could feel the sentiment pulsing through her as the dragon sent wisps of flaming light to dance from below. Cassandra watched it unfold, seeing Solas alone at the back and the hope built inside of her.
A/N - My Beta wanted me to call this chapter "POW POW! DRAGON, BITCH!" Just thought you might like to know that...