Hi everyone! Before we get into the chapter I would like to point out a few things. First off I want to thank The Iron Bull for helping me improve my work and giving me insight on a few points in my earlier chapters. For the life of me I could not figure out how to edit my earlier chapters so from chapter four and on you will see my improvements. Second I would like to point out that because of this insight The Iron Bull gave me ,you will not be seeing big long paragraphs anymore and I have been separating them better for you so you won't get lost in the story. Third I want to thank everyone who takes time out of their busy day to read my work. I appreciate it and enjoy the feedback. Last but not least there is one elven translation in this chapter you will need to know. Thank you again guys and gals. Always remember to just be yourself. :)
Ina'lan'ehn- Beautiful.
Wind whistled through the trees along the dirt path. Birds chirping a delightful tune to the summer sun. The sound of twenty hooves coming up the winding path scared off the grazing nugs who scattered into the bushes. Elora was glad to be out of Skyhold for once. She cared for her friends but she knew she had a duty to fulfill. She can't be lounging about in her throne all day. She looked back to see her friends were still following. Lavellen knew she was in good company.
Bull with his brute strength, Solas with his vast knowledge and skill with magic, Sera with her bow and arrows, and Cole with his kind heart. Elora knew she was in good hands. As Sera once put it, "No baddies will be touching us, they will have an arrow to the face first." Elora grinned at the thought. Sera does have an odd way of putting things. Cute even.
"A little warm in the ears Boss. You elves are always so easy to tell if you're blushing or lying. It's what the Ben-Hassrath taught us when we were interrogating elves. The tips of the ears will turn red when lying or blushing. I know you ain't lying Boss, so what you getting all red eared for?"
Elora didn't realize that Bull was riding next to her. "It's nothing. It's just a little warm out here. It is summer after all." Bull raised his eyebrow knowing that was a lie. "It's okay Boss, I understand we all get those thoughts. I know I do especially when I look at redheads." Bull gave off a seductive grin, "You should tell your friend Leliana to come by and visit me at the tavern if you know what I mean. I know you two are close"
Elora threw her head back in laughter, "I don't know Bull. What if you do something she doesn't like in bed? She might kill you for it. Literally."
Bull was laughing so hard at Lavellen's remark he had tears in his eyes. Accidently squeezing the horse's side in his fit of laughter, the horse took off full speed down the path. Bull not ready for the sudden jerk in movement fell off the horse and got a mouthful of dirt. "I'm okay."
Sera chuckled, "Looks like big guy marked us a spot to make camp, yeah." Bull stood up and brushed himself off. "The bigger they are the harder they fall, isn't that right big guy?" Bull walked away in embarrassment, trying to catch his horse.
Elora's eyes scanned the clearing. "We should be at the bandit's camp tomorrow morning. We just need to head a little further south from here." Elora couldn't help but remember the first time she was in the Hinterlands was to meet Mother Giselle. The Inquisition has grown a considerable size since then. Being Inquisitor can wear Lavellen down knowing all of Thedas rests on her shoulders.
What would happen to this world if I fell in battle? Elora shook her head. NO! Coryephus must be stopped no matter what.
"Inquisitor, may I speak with you in private?" Elora turned to face Solas who seemed to enjoy the evening air. A peaceful but yet intuitive look on his face. Lavellen nodded. "Give me a moment to let the others know where I'm headed, Solas." Solas walked towards the forested area in the clearing awaiting Elora's arrival.
"Bull and Sera could you two please set up the tents? Cole can you keep watch, I must go speak with Solas. Thank you." Elora turned on her heel and headed towards the direction Solas went. Entering the forested clearing she could make out Solas sitting on a fallen tree that looked as if it were melded into the ground. A small pool of water in front of him mirrored his reflection. This place felt calming to Elora.
"Come Inquisitor, sit with me." Elora treaded over to the bald elf and took a seat upon the fallen tree. Her reflection shimmering in the pool of water. "What's this about Solas?" An awkward silence fell upon the two elves. Elora twiddled her thumbs waiting for Solas to speak. "Tell me Inquisitor, What troubles you? I saw the way you looked during our journey here. You seemed deep in thought."
Elora stared down at her reflection tracing her vallaslin with her fingers. Solas noticed this and didn't hesitate to ask another question. "Your vallaslin, it holds a significance to you of some kind, does it not? Most elves would have been happy to have it removed with the spell I know. When I asked to remove it from your face you told me no. Why is it important Inquisitor? I'm curious to know."
Elora sighed knowing she wouldn't be able to talk her way out of this conversation. "I'm not like other elves. I got this vallaslin when I turned 18 and I chose to have it drawn in to this shape for a reason. For a personal reason. I don't want to talk about it." Elora's blue vallaslin encircled her left eye coming up to meet her forehead in the shape of two blooming flowers. The stems coming down to meet her left cheek. Solas turned and faced Lavellen. "You don't have to tell me Inquisitor. I believe I already know the answer. When I said earlier you looked deep in thought you were tracing your vallaslin while on your horse almost running into the Qunari."
Elora clenched her fist wanting to punch something. Why can't he just drop the fucking subject already? "How would you know the answer to my personal matters Solas? No one and I mean no one could ever understand my past and why I SCREWED UP!" Solas patiently waited for Elora to calm down. How could Solas possibly know my past, my secrets? They are mine to keep, know no one else's. Lavellen stood up and turned her small body away from Solas. She shivered from the cool evening wind. Elora couldn't hold back any longer and tears were rapidly flowing.
Solas reached out to his friend and wrapped her in a sympathetic hug. "I know because I walk the Fade and heard the name slip from the spirits lips. I may not know your past but what I see and hear in the Fade is true. You share the same trait. So very simple but yet very unique. I do not yet know why your hand flared up yesterday but I have a vague idea. You put a fake smile on in front of friends but deep inside you are dying slowly from what I have interpreted."
Elora wiped away her tears knowing what Solas said was all true but yet very depressing. Solas let Elora free from his arms. "Some people say I don't have a heart. When it comes to my friends, I do like to show them I care even if it's a small gesture like a hug. Now I'm going to head back to camp and see if they need any help." Solas turned to walk away but was interrupted by Lavellen.
Gathering up all the courage she could find Lavellen had to know the answer. "Solas." The bald, pale elf stopped in his tracks. "Yes Inquisitor?" Elora's breath was shaky, body trembling, and palms sweaty. Lavellen was afraid to ask but she must know if Solas was actually telling the truth or just trying to comfort her or was he doing both? It was unlike the mage to show sympathy. "You said you heard spirits in the Fade say a name. What name did the spirits say exactly?"
Without looking back at Elora, Solas answered his friend. "I believe they called her Ina'lan'ehn Ilena." Elora could not believe her ears. She wanted to tell herself Solas was lying and trying to make a fool of her. Anger pulsed through Elora as well as regret. "NO! THAT CANT BE TRUE! YOUR'RE LYING SOLAS! WHY…. HOW…WH..." Unable to make sense of it all Elora ran past Solas and into camp and straight into the first tent she saw. The tent was empty and Elora fell to her knees and burst into tears. A voice sounded from outside.
"Inquisitor, ya okay in there? Why the hurry?" Sera. "Are you crying? What the heck did baldy do this time? Just give the word and I'll put some bees in his bedroll." Elora wanted to be alone and never again step foot outside. "Go away Sera. It's not you, I just don't want you to see me like this. I need to be alone." Sera still didn't move away from the tent. "So is that a yes then? I can put bees in baldy's bedroll?" New footsteps sounded outside the tent they were light so it couldn't have been Bull. "Sera leave her alone for now. She needs time to herself to process some new information."
Sera stuck her tongue out at Solas. "What the heck did you do to Elora baldy?" Elora perked up a little, tears still streaming down her face. Elora. That's the first time Sera has called me by my first name. I like it and it sounds right coming from her. Solas answered Sera. "I did nothing but tell her something she needed to hear." Solas walked away and Sera followed. Elora could still hear Sera pestering Solas. "Something smells fishy and I don't like it one bit." Bull walked by the tent letting Lavellen know Sera would be back later since Sera and Lavellen are sharing a tent and Cole, Solas, and himself is sharing the other tent.
Just great. Now what am I going to have to tell Sera when she starts asking me questions about what just happened? I guess I'll have to think of something. Elora laid out her fur bedroll and took her weapons and armor out from her tan, leather bag. I guess I'll just shine my weapons until I get tired. A feeling of being watched irked Elora. She turned around to find Cole standing silently behind her.
"The one name he spoke. Shivers down my spine. Thoughts of the past and a nickname on my happy lips. Beautiful. Everything I see is beautiful." Cole's words lingered over Elora like a thundering raincloud. "Stop, no you're lying Solas. Make it all go away. I want it out of my head. You won't let me help but someone else can."
Elora was confused by Cole's last words. "Who the hell can help me Cole? I don't want anybody's help." Cole faced the front flaps of the tent and before walking out he whispered another puzzle to Elora. "Tomorrow you will hold the answer." With that Cole was gone before Lavellen got a chance to speak again.
A shadow of a small figure loomed outside the tent before entering inside. Sera gave Elora a concerned look. Trying to avoid Sera's upcoming questions, Elora walked over to her bedroll and laid down on her side facing the tent's wall away from Sera. "So the thingy with baldy, what happened there?" Elora remained silent like a stubborn child. "Come on mate. We're friends. Better to get it off yer chest then have a sword sticking it to ya. Bandits always have that sort of thing. At least I think they do, I mean what else could they stick you with?" Sera laughed, "Oh wait I know…. or maybe you don't wanna know seeing you're all gloomy faced."
Sera was shuffling about getting her bedroll ready for the night. Elora decided she couldn't ignore her all night and she had a point. Elora was her friend maybe Sera's only friend. "Sera, have you ever messed up in your life and I'm talking like really messed up to the point of no return?" Sera walked over to Lavellen and sat down on the floor beside her. Still facing the tents wall Elora snuck a peek over at Sera who looked deep in thought.
"I don't think so Elora. What do you mean?" Elora sat up and brought her knees to her chest sitting in the fetal position. Elora knew from what Cole said on the battlements a few nights ago at Skyhold that Sera was to be special in a way to Lavellen but she couldn't figure out in what sort of way. "Sera, I messed up a few months before the Conclave and Solas told me something that as haunted me since I lived in my Clan. At first it was heartwarming to cross my ears and now it haunts my every memory, my every dream, my very soul and I will always blame myself. Beaut…Be…B…" Elora was now weeping in front of Sera. Something she would have never wanted to happen. Only a few others have seen her cry. Solas being one of those people as of tonight.
Sera scooted closer to Elora and put her arm around her shoulder. Elora's eyes widened at the touch on her skin. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and a chill ran down her spine and butterflies formed in her stomach. What! No, it can't be. I haven't felt this since my days in the Clan. Could it be my imagination?
"Let it out Inky, I don't know what youre talking about but I'm here for you. So is my arrows." Elora lifted her face away from her knees. "What did you just call me?" Sera's face went from sympathetic to worried. "I called you Inky because that's what I think when I look at your valla- whats-it. Do you not like it?"
Elora managed a smile towards Sera, "Actually Sera I love it." Elora was blushing from head to toe, not wanting Sera to notice she quickly turned away and cleared her throat, "Um, it's getting late we should head to bed so we can be ready for tomorrow." Sera agreed and laid down in her bedroll a few feet away from Elora. "Hey Inky."
Elora rolled over in her bedroll to see Sera smiling back at her. "Yes Sera?" Something twinkled in Sera's eye giving Lavellen more butterflies in her stomach. "Goodnight and stay alive for us will ya." Elora nodded giving Sera a warm smile. There is something different about Sera that I can't see in the others but what could it be exactly? What answer am I going to find tomorrow that Cole referenced? Turning off her brain Elora closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
"Are you ready to head out yet Boss?" Bull was impatiently waiting for everyone to leave camp to go after the bandits. "Yeah, just give me a second I'm buckling the straps on my boot." Mythal guide my blades today and protect us all. Elora stepped out of her tent in full armor, her daggers strapped to her back. "All right everyone let's move out!" Bull flexed his huge muscles. "Horns up!" Sera placed her arrows in her quiver. "Let's go show them stinking bandits how Red Jenny plays!" Solas grabbed his wooden staff and whispered an inaudible elven prayer. Cole stepped forward. "They hurt people and so we must help."
All five companions took off south through the Hinterlands keeping alert in case the bandits were close by. "Looking good in your armor Inky it brings out your arse. Elora was startled by Sera's observation. "Wh...What?" Good thing Elora had her helmet on otherwise Sera would see her ears flash bright red. "Just making small talk Inky. Getting bored with nothing to shoot."
"Boss look up ahead!" Bull pointed out a small old looking fortress. A small body of water surround the fortress. Elora could make out three men guarding the front entrance and two guarding the entrance to the bridge. "Looks like the only way in is across that bridge there." Lavellen saw that the men were well armed and had no particular banner raised in the fortress so she knew these were the bandits. Elora started to give orders to her group trying to decide the plan of action. "Cole, you and me will go into stealth and dispatch the two guards at the bridge. Once that is done we will take the two up front and Sera will kill the third from a distance. Shoot the one in the middle we will take the ones on each end. Bull after Sera shoots an arrow, come across the bridge and use you strength to get the door open. Sera follow Bull after you dispatch your target. Solas, just keep everyone protected and fight with all youre might. Everyone got it?"
The companions nodded in agreement ready to make their move. "For the Inquisition!" Elora and Cole quickly dealt with the first two guards. Lavellen slit the next man's throat easily, hearing an arrow whistle by and impale the guard behind her. Bull, Sera, and Solas ran up the bridge with ease. Bull slammed his axe into the door splintering the wood.
Lavellen heard yelling from above the door. Archers. "SERA! SOLAS! PROTECT BULL!" Solas cast a barrier around Bull just in time. An arrow bouncing off the magic. Solas shot magic towards the archers while Sera laughed every time an archer missed her. "Let me show you how it's done." Sera shot an arrow and it landed right between the eyes of another bandit.
The sound of the door shattering into pieces told Elora that Bull was through the main door. "Let's kick some ass Boss!" Each companion was fighting to the death. Elora's built up emotions made it easier for her to slice through the bandits. Fuck life. Fuck my stupid heart. Fuck my past. Fuck EVERYTHING!
All the bandits were dealt with until a deep voice sounded through the halls of the fortress. "You think you can come into my home and kill my friends. It's time for the Inquisition to die!"
A huge two handed warrior stepped out from the shadows wielding a gigantic steel warhammer. The armored man started swinging violently at everyone and everything. "You will pay Inquisition! I will save you for last Inquisitor so you can watch your friends die in agony. You killed my friends and I will kill yours. Let's start off with this annoying little archer."
Sera backed up, readying an arrow. She let it fly through the air but it didn't make a scratch on the warrior. The man laughed, "You think your tiny little arrows are going to stop me. I think not." As Sera was backing away from the bandit leader she tripped and fell over a dead body. "Goodbye little archer."
Horror swept across Elora's face as the scene unfolded before. The bandit leader raised his warhammer high above his head to strike the killing blow. Sera looked into Elora's eyes pleading for help. Her eyes screamed she wasn't ready to die.
"ILENA NO!"
Elora moved her legs as fast as she could hoping to make it in time to prevent the inevitable. Elora pushed her legs farther. You can't die on me! You promised you were never going to die on me! Lavellen swooped in and hovered over Sera grabbing her shoulders and looking deep into Sera's eyes. "If you die then we die together Ilena!" Elora shut her eyes tightly bracing for the impact of the blow.
But it never came. Elora looked up and realized the bandit leader was frozen and unable to move, warhammer still held high. She heard Solas yell a command at Bull, "Strike him now Bull!" Blood splattered on Elora's face.
Lavellen turned her gaze towards Sera. Their eyes locked on to each other. Elora still held Sera in her arms. Sera was turning bright red. She is light as a feather but yet so beautiful. How did I not notice before? Sera had many mixed emotions written on her face. She was in awe but also grateful the Inquisitor was going to sacrifice herself for a friend. She was also confused.
"What did you call me Inky? Who's Ilena?" Elora let go of Sera. Did I really say that in the midst of the battle? Fuck! "It's nothing Sera I was just worried about you" Bull was wiping the blood off his blade, the leader dead at his feet.
"Cutting it a little close there Boss. It's all good though we got the bastards." Elora gave Bull a thumbs up and started to walk away from Sera who was still sitting on the ground trying to make sense of everything. Suddenly a flash of green light illuminated the fortress.
"Ahhh!" Elora fell to her knees once more. "My hand! Solas my hand! Ma…Make it stop!" Solas rushed over to the elf.
"Inquisitor I need you to relax. Let me look your hand over." Solas took Elora's hand in his. "Let me see if I can stop it with some magic." Solas charged his hand with magic and touched Elora's hand. Her hand was growing brighter. Solas looked puzzled. "I don't understand, that should have worked. Tell me Inquisitor, where were you moments ago?"
Elora squeezed her hand trying to hold back the pain. "I was talking to Sera and then I gave Bull a thumbs up."
Solas gave Elora a pleasant smile. "As I suspected. Remember when I told you last night I had an idea of why your hand was flaring up. Well now I have a resolution." He turned towards Sera and beckoned her over. "Sera will you please come over here and touch the Inquisitor's hand please?"
Sera didn't understand what Solas was trying to prove but if it was to help Elora she was all for it. Sera cautiously walked up to Lavellen. She knelt down beside the pained woman and touched and placed Lavellen's hand in hers.
The glowing light died out and the pain subsided from Elora's hand. "What just happened Solas? Sera made it stop in the courtyard at Skyhold as well." Solas smiled proudly, happy to know his idea was correct. Solas paced slowly back and forth with his hands crossed behind his back.
"Sera stopped your pain because she is your guide. Sometimes spirits in the Fade help guide the living through certain objects or actions. The anchor you wield on your hand attracts spirits. That is how Cole found you after all. Your anchor glows brightly to them and a particular spirit is trying to convey a message of some kind to you through Sera. Sera is also the one who will help mend your pain but I cannot say in what way for sure. I believe from the conversation we had last night that you already know the name of the spirit I speak of. The spirit would like for you to share a story you only know of to another individual. The individual you choose to share the story with is up to you. Leliana and Cole already know but they found out through different means. You must say it with your heart Inquisitor."
Solas walked away leaving Elora and Sera astonished by what they just heard. Elora faced Sera. "Sera, I don't know what to say." Sera who was still clenching Elora's hand squeezed her hand with a kindness Elora has never felt before. It soothed Elora's nerves. "Inky you don't have to say a thing. Knowing I'm this so called guide for you makes me feel good. I like feeling good. Good is better than bad. I may not understand elfy things but I heard what baldy said. I'm a guide of some kind and I will make your pain go away in a way. It's better than being nothing like shite on the bottom of a boot."
Elora blushed deeply. Sera stood up to walk away. "I'm gonna head back to camp. See ya there Inky." She turned and walked away. Elora couldn't help but think to herself. Damn. I never realized it but Sera has a really good looking ass. Elora blushed some more. The hell am I thinking. I can't behave like this in front of my friends besides she's just my friend. At least I have friends. She couldn't help but think if it wasn't for her friends she wouldn't be alive right now. She smiled knowing they always have her back.
For once in her life Elora actually felt happy and couldn't be any happier when she glanced upon Sera.