The Cost of Pride

by megatoxic

Fallen finds herself in Thedas and is completely unprepared. Sure, she knows the story and she's played the game, but this is no game. This is life and death. Can The Dread Wolf help her or will he be her biggest enemy?

12. Speak of the Devil

The Cost of Pride

Megatoxic

*Disclaimer: I do not own any Bioware/DA characters or themes, but the noteworthy Halfling that was dropped into Thedas did come from my imagination.*

[Possible trigger in this chapter via sexual harassment.]

Chapter 12: Speak of the Devil

I stood there for a moment debating on my next course of action before common sense prevailed and got me moving. I discarded the cloak and my concealment spell and then I went to work setting the wards to protect us in the fade. I could understand her distress at the situation, but I still intended to have a conversation with her about not setting the wards. Once the wards were set and my cloak back in the bottom of the dresser, I turned to look at her. Her brow was furrowed and she looked stressed even in her sleep.

I pulled off my long tunic and my jawbone necklace. Once my foot wraps were gone, I was left in only my leggings. I could have taken her bed since she had occupied mine, but I really had not been lying to the dwarf when I told him that physical contact made it easier to find someone in the fade. I grabbed the folded blanket at the foot of my bed and I threw it over both of us as I climbed in next to her. She was so warm and as I settled in next to her she moved closer to me with my pillow.

A few of her wild curls had fallen into her when she moved so I brushed them back behind her ear. As my fingertips crested the round curve of her ear they paused there. They were pretty much the only difference between her and any elf in this age appearance-wise. Anyone who met her could easily guess at her heritage and yet she acted as if she had not lived with the stigma of it her whole life. She shifted underneath my palm and mumbled in her sleep, but I did manage to catch one word… "Solas." Now I was intrigued as to what she was up to in the fade even more. I closed my eyes and slipped in quickly to find her.

*

It really was stupid of me to enter the fade without setting the wards, but the shock of seeing that Solas had hid my stuff from me had spurred me into being irrational. I suppose that I shouldn't have been so surprised knowing who he was, but I still found it to be a hard pill to swallow. So that was how I found myself in the fade right outside of the gates of Haven. It looked the same as reality except that it was deserted. There was not a soul to be seen and I was pleased with the change to have some alone time.

I made my way down and past our usual training spot to the edge of the lake. It really was very beautiful even though I had never been fond of snow, ice, or the cold in general. I hugged my arms around myself and said his name outloud, "Solas." What was I going to do about him? My life at that point was pretty much tied to his, and he was absolutely a dangerous person to be linked to. He had every intention of destroying the world that I was beginning to love, and above all the world that I was now a part of. That meant he would destroy me as well.

I don't know how long I stood there simply being before a voice broke through my isolation and lonliness, "That was reckless Fallen. I half expected you to be surrounded by demons by now." I turned to face him and cut right to the heart of the situation, "Why hide my belongings?" His clear blue eyes gave me a calculated look as if he was weighing my worth. "They are from a place that I have never seen or heard of which has led me to believe that you are as well," he replied. "The materials they are made of were enough to convince me that you have traveled far," he looked down at the ground and back up at me, "if the others had discovered them it would have put you in more danager."

I took in his usual humble apostate appearance and came at him from an honest angle, "Sometimes danger comes from the most unsuspecting of places." He stepped forward and lightly rubbed my arms which I still had tightly wrapped around myself, "I will not hurt you. I understand if you cannot or will not share about your past. I have grown fond of you during our time together da'len." In that moment, I wanted to believe him so I simply allowed myself to do so as dumb as I knew that to be.

Stepping forward, I settled into his now open arms. I felt comfort and relief surge through me as his arms closed around me tight. Every inch of my knew that this was foolish, but I needed this so bad that I ignored all logic. My tears had soon wet the front of his tunic and his hand was running soothingly through my hair. "The future is always intimidating. It has been a long time since I have considered sharing mine with someone," his husky voice spoke out above me. I lifted my chin to look at him, "You're only as alone as you allow yourself to be Solas." He smiled softly and kissed my forehead which made my heart beat faster. "Those are wise words indeed," he said. I needed to direct us away from such an intimate topic so I distracted him in the best way I knew how, "Tell me a story?" He asked me, "What do you know of Arlathan?"

*

"Oh, why do we have to keep training?" Ellana moaned to me over breakfast four days later. We were at The Singing Maiden which was always relatively empty in the morning. She was wearing her hair in a tight bun on top of her head and a maroon set of rogue leathers that matched her coloring perfectly. I had opted for wearing my hair down and a simple black tunic with dark leather pants and a matching vest. I had taken to wearing my hair down the last couple of days because I had noticed that a certain someone seemed to like it that way.

"Come now Ell, I was thinking that you were rather fond of a certain Commander in charge of your routine," I teased lightly. A slight pink spread over her cheeks as she shot back at me, "Really? Well last I heard Solas was still overseeing your training. Is he doing that from the same bed now?" my own cheeks flashed red in response and as we both looked at one another we broke into a fit of laughter. I took a drink of my water and when I put my mug down I noticed that said Commander had entered the tavern. He looked around lost for a second before his eyes landed on our table and he began making his way to our location.

"Speak of the devil," I said softly. "Who?" Ellana asked. When she turned the direction I was looking her eyes widened slightly. I giggled and winked at her, "Yep, there's absolutely nothing there right?" She looked as if she was about to retort when suddenly Cullen was at our table. "Good morning Herald," he turned and nodded in my direction, "lady Fallen." I shook my head at him, "I'm no lady Commander. Fallen will do just fine." He replied quickly, "Of course."Ellana appeared especially nervous all of the sudden, "Is everything alright Cul… Commander?"

The blond man smiled at her warmly, "Of course. I simply came to take you to the war room the others are waiting so that we can plan our next move." Ellana scarfed down the rest of her eggs and got to her feet, "Alright, let's go then!" Cullen waved her towards the door and told me goodbye politely. Ellana left with the handsome ex-templar and I was left alone at the table.

I finished my own eggs and pushed my chair back. I waved in farewell to Flissa and made my way out of Haven and towards the lake. Ever since my lake encounter with Solas in the fade, I had been spending more time there. It was so serene and if I could ignore the green glow from the breach above reflecting off the lake, I could imagine I was somewhere else entirely.

[possible trigger]

I had just passed the gates and was making my way past the soldiers when I heard a whistle directed my way. Apparently, men did that here in Thedas as well. My cheeks burned a little in embarrassment, but I kept moving and didn't even look in the direction of the soldiers. "Oi, you mage wench! What's the matter? My ears not pointed enough for you?" I glanced over to see it was a big burly soldier that had addressed me. He looked hairy, sweaty, and like hygiene was not very high on his list of priorities. I was almost to the edge of the line of soldiers training, and I desperately wanted to turn and run back into Haven.

The man seemed excited that he now had my attention, "What's the matter pet? Not much to say to that? Well, I can promise you that I may not have knife-ears, but I got something else that more than makes up for that!" Several of the men nearby snickered at that, but a female in the ranks spoke up, "That's enough Jon." Jon ignored her and took a step in my direction, "What do you say pretty little thing? Me and a few of the guys could show you a good time and we could even pay you for it."

Anger flared through my sense at an alarming pace, "If you touch me pig, I will light you on fire from the inside out." He laughed darkly, "You better not bitch. I know a templar or two who could keep you under control for me as long as they got a turn." I instantly felt like I might vomit at the thought and summoned a fireball into my right palm. "Is there a problem here?" a familiar voice asked from behind me. I turned to see Kalen with a blond elven woman standing next to him. She was also wearing the scout armor of Leliana's people that I always saw Kalen in.

[end]

I relinquished my fireball and stepped close to him and the woman. Jon seemed to mellow out at their appearance, but he wasn't completely over himself. "Oh nothing at all. We was just trying to figure out the lasses fascination with pointy ears. We didn't want her thinking that she's took good for us," he said disgustingly. "But she is shem," Kalen said sincerely. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from them swiftly.

The blond woman stayed close by my side as we moved back into the gates and I noticed that even though her physical appearance was casual she was actually on high alert. Her eyes were taking in everything and I was positive she could spring into attack mode in a moment's notice if she had too. She had to be another agent of Solas'. The two led me up towards the Chantry and we stopped a few feet from the requisition tent.

"Thank you Kalen, and…" I paused and Kalen supplied helpfully, "Ila." I directed at the woman, "And Ila, thank you as well." She gave me a small nod and began walking down the path and away from us. "Go inside and find your friend," Kalen told me firmly. I supposed that he was still upset with me for turning him down as his demeanor seemed a little off. I turned away from him and was a little surprised when his hand grabbed my forearm suddenly, "Be careful around them. Men like that do not forget being humiliated." I nodded at him curtly and withdrew my arm before making my way into the Chantry.

*

Waiting patiently had never been my forte so I paced back and forth outside the war room door as I wanted for Ellana to emerge. Mother Giselle was in the hall as well and kept glancing my way repeatedly. Eventually, she approached me, "Are you unwell child?" I ceased my pacing and turned to her, "No. I am fine Mother." Her warm brown eyes crinkled at their corners when she smiled at me, "You and the Herald are close, yes?" I couldn't help but smile back at her, "She has grown to be a very dear friend of mine Mother." Her robes and hat were rather much to me, but she seemed to glow from within them as if her kindness could seep out of her and into the world around her. "It is good for her to have faithful and honest friends in her position," she told me kindly.

I shifted nervously and glanced down. Ellana had been so kind to me since I first found myself here, and I was entirely unable to be open and honest with her. I was relieved when I heard the war room door open behind us and we both turned to see the Herald and her advisors exiting. They all looked tired, but Ellana's face lit up when she spotted me. "Fallen, lethallan we get to leave again soon!"

I smiled at her encouragingly, "And where do we head next?" She looked at Mother Giselle, "We will go to Val Royeaux to address the clerics and along the way we can stop by Dennett's and get some mounts! The Commander has his men working on their watch towers."

"Hopefully, the Commander can have a conversation with his men about appropriate behavior and its importance," a very cool voice said from behind us. Solas walked to me side and when I looked up at his face it was pointed in Cullen's direction, and he looked like he was very much trying to control his inner wolf. The other advisors were looking at him with shock and Mother Giselle had her mouth agape. "Solas," I said softly, "I am fine." He shook his head 'no' slightly, "This will be addressed ma da'len." My face burned at his possessive endearment and all the eyes on us.

"Just what exactly do you mean by that apostate?" Cullen asked angrily. His own face was red as well and the former templar appeared to be trying to control his inner mage hunter. "I am talking about a solider named Jon under your command who sexually harassed Fallen today while the others looked on as if nothing was wrong. In fact, two of Leliana's people had to step in and escort her to the Chantry doors safely," he retorted viciously. Ellana and Cullen both responded quickly, "Is this true?"

Everyone was looking at me and I felt so humiliated by the whole situation. I felt my eyes water a bit and I simply nodded at their question. Ellana's look turned thunderous, "Banal! I will not stand for this Commander. Your men will not be allowed to do such to any woman under our sworn protection." Leliana moved forward silently, "I concur. You had best handle this Cullen." The Commander met my gaze, "I am sorry Fallen. I do not allow this type of behavior. My men will be addressed and Jon will be dismissed. I give you my word." Solas threatened, "You had better."

"Thank you Commander," I directed at him. "Would you like to come with me to the tavern?" Ellana asked me hopefully. "No thanks Ell, I think I just want to go home," I told her honestly. She looked at me measuring my demeanor and response, "Okay, I'm sure Varric will go with me, but please seek me out if you'd like to talk or what not. We leave in two days' time for our next adventure." Solas and I both acknowledged this and everyone dispersed their separate ways.

Solas walked me to our lodging. "I have made stew again," he stated as he magically and physically locked our door and windows. I smiled at the delicious smell, "I appreciate it Solas, and what you did back there. You didn't have to." He stirred his stew and looked at me seriously, "I most certainly did."

"Well, at any rate, I will have to remember that Kalen can't keep a secret," I joked. He raised his eyebrows skeptically, "Fallen, at least twenty people saw that exchange today. I would have found out eventually as would everyone else. You can trust Kalen and Ila. They are good people." He turned back to the stew as I set about getting our bowls and spoons from the cabinet. My suspicions about the blond elven woman could be confirmed it seemed as I hadn't even mentioned her. I brought the bowls over to him and as he ladled the delicious stew into them I told him, "It is nice to have people I can trust."

Translations

Da'len: little child; little one

Arlathan: the major city of Elvhenan

Shem: short for 'shemlen'

Lethallan: someone with whom one is familiar

Ma da'len: my little one

Banal: never

Resource

http/dragonage./wiki/Elven_language