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?

16. Red Friend

The Cost of Pride

Megatoxic

*Disclaimer: Bioware owns Dragon Age. Fallen and I are just here for amusement.*

-In game dialogue-

Chapter 16: Red Friend

Alpha was tucked back into my makeshift sling and she was content enough to nap. The elf in the stables had looked relieved to give her back to me no doubt due to silly superstitions about a certain elven god in my vicinity. We had been going around to different taverns, but everyone we had encountered so far had claimed that their rooms were full and sent us on our tired way.

"Is it always like this here?" Ellana asked annoyed at our results. Cassandra's lips were pressed in a thin tight line and Solas looked equally irrate. Varric explained, "No Dales. They're giving us a hard time because of what happened in the market today. They are scared. Not to mention there are two elves, a dwarf, and a woman who's half-blooded if you look close enough. That would be a turn off for most of their patrons."

Cassandra didn't say anything in response, but I could tell that she agreed with Varric. "Well, there has to be somewhere for us to go," Ellana said pitifully. A merchant near us whistled to get our attention. The merchant was a human woman who had on a mask and looked decently well off based on her clothing. "You wanted us?" Ellana asked in a tone that suggested she was a bit put off at being whistled at like an animal.

"You're with the Inquisition are you not?" the merchant asked in her thick Orlesian accent. "We are," Ellana confirmed. "My name is Belle," the merchant continued, "and this whole affair is becoming exhausting. Nobody is doing anything. The templars have abandoned us and the Chantry is useless. Let me join you." Ellana looked at Cassandra and shrugged indifferently.

"If you go to Haven there will be a place for you," Cassandra told her. "Thank you," Belle said smugly, "You will not be disappointed with my connections. By the way, I have heard a rumor that no one will rent you rooms. I offer to you my first example of my connections and resources. Travel exactly one floor up. There is a tavern called Diana's Delights and tell the owner Stefan that Belle the Barter is calling. He will take care of you."

Ellana looked relieved at the news, "Thank you lady Belle." Belle smiled, "Of course Herald. We all must do our part to close this monstrosity in the sky." With our directions and a new found hope that we might have a bed to rest in before the sun went down, we headed back to the second level of the city.

There had been a clue from Red Jenny up there earlier and I had hoped not to have to come back. The second level consisted of a rougher crowd. It was quite obvious that these individuals were up here so that the nobles and tourists would not have to look at them. There were hardly any noble covered faces and definitely more laborers and impoverished. Other than Ellana and Solas, I had seen no pointed ears in the market district, but up here they appeared to be more common.

As we searched for our destination Cassandra explained, "This is more of the middle and lower class of the city. Those who actually work and keep the economy flowing. If we go up another level we would discover the alienage and skidrow." Ellana physically shivered at her words and pleaded with the group, "Please, let's not go up there."

I agreed with her wholeheartedly. I didn't want to see the tragedies that area might hold. "Just because we look the other way does not mean something does not exist," Solas stated. Ellana rounded on him heatedly, "Oh, so you wish to see our people like that do you?" Solas stiffened and replied cooly, "We do not have the same people Herald. I would think that your friend Mihris made the abundantly clear not too long ago."

"Solas, that's not fair and you know it. Ell stood up for us," I reminded him. "Maybe so," he acknowledged grudgingly, "but do not think for one second da'len that the Dalish would accept you, me, or any of the elves in this city into their clans." There was a small crowd now watching us and I shift from one foot to the other nervously, "This is really not the place you two."

The two elves looked around at the onlookers and seemed to slightly agree to drop it. Our party didn't have to move much further when Cassandra stopped us with a hand movement and pointed to a building close to our spot with a brightly colored sign. The building was a deep burgandy color with gilded window frames which was odd for this area. There were sounds of music and laughter coming from within. The sign had the usual Thedosian lettering that I couldn't read, but it pictured two women kissing passionately. "Diana's Delights," Varric read helpfully, "this looks like my kind of establishment."

Ellana smiled wickedly, "You think they're daring enough to board two elves, half of one, and a stubby man?" Varric scoffed and said incredulously, "I'm standing right here your Inquisitorialness." Cassandra rolled her dark eyes and looked very done for tbe day. "Can we please focus on the task at hand," she said in a tired, but stern voice.

Ellana led us into the interesting building with Cassandra close behind her heels. This was the first establishment I had been able to enter since arriving at the captial and my eyes darted around hungrily taking everything in. There were great wooden tables in front of a large fire place and a stariway that was just visible in the back that looked as if it led up to the available rooms

There were several questionably dressed women that seemed to be waiting on the patrons at the tables and a dark haired human man was standing behind the only available bar. "You tell Ember I said to get down here immediately before she loses her wages for the week," the man was saying gruffly to a woman who looked like she worked there by her attire.

"Hey are you Stefan?" Ellana asked the man. He shooed the bar maid away who look relieved at the interruption and then turned his full attention to our leader. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes sweet thing," he said in a disgustingly sweet tone. "Are you looking for work?" he asked. Cassandra looked ready to snap, but in a flash of roguish speed Ellana had a dagger stabbed into the bar right between two of the man's grimy fingers.

"Something tells me that if I had to risk working for you or starving to death shem then I'd choose the latter," she said threateningly low. Her words managed to carry though in the silence around us. The taverns dozen or so patrons had stilled to watch the scene. "As is, I'm extremely pissed that my options are limited to you. Belle the Barter has come calling for you Stefan. My companions and I need rooms for the next two nights," she finished by pulling her dagger out of the bar dramatically.

Stefan seemed to have found his voice, "Screw that bitch Belle! This is not what I meant when I made that agreement with her. If I let your sort stay here then word will get out!" I had reached my own level of available patience at his disgusting words. "Aparently you have no problem allowing our sort to work here though," I said viciously while indicating the scantily clad elven women amoung the crowd. "Fine then. Come along Herald. We simply must tell Belle to collect," I said to Ellana while taking a gamble at the man's relationship with our newest agent. "Now, now," stefan scrambled desperately with a much paler face, "let's not be so hasty. I'm sure that I have a couple of rooms available." I smiled at him in what I hoped came off in an entirely threatening way, "Make that three Stefan as you're boarding the Herald of Andraste herself."

The poor man looked like he might pass out at the title and when his eyes landed on Ellana again she flashed him her glowing hand. "Of... of course," he stuttered and before you could say 'Andraste's holy knickers' we were being led up the stairwell to a hallway of rooms. The elderly elven woman who showed us to our rooms looked pleased as pie to help us, "Rooms six, seven, and nine are yours. They only lock from the inside so do remeber that when it comes to your belongings. I will bring you all some cake with your dinner for handling that asshole." I couldn't help but giggle at her words as her gray head disappeared down our hallway.

*

I was pleased that the elven servant had appreciated our handling of the owner Stefan. No doubt he was not the kindest human to work for. "Good to know we're so compelling together," I joked at Fallen and she smiled in return. Her hair was coming undone with her curls gracing the sides of her face and neck. I had never met a half-blood, but I found her to be stunning. She was like the best of both races combined.

"Let's switch it up a bit," I suggested lightly. "What do you mean?" Cassandra asked with her typical no nonsense tone. "Well, Fallen and I can share a room. You can have one to yourself, and the men can share the other one," I explained easily. Cassandra appeared pleased with the suggestion of her own room, but I briefly saw a flash of concern on Solas' bare face. "You do know how to set your own wards now do you not lethallan or am I mistaken?" I asked innocently.

"Yes, I can handle myself," Fallen confirmed hastily. I caught her worried glance in the other elf's direction. There was definitely more going on there than they both let on and I was hoping I might get that from her soon. The tension between the two was frustrating to watch from the outside to say the least.

"Great! C'mon," I grabbed her arm and tugged her into room six behind me. "See you all in a few for dinner," I directed at the others in the hall before shutting the door. The room was small, but cozy for a shem loding. There was a bed we would have to share and a little vanity off to the side.

A yipping sound caught my attention as the front of Fallen's makeshift swing wiggeled. "I haven't forgotten about you," she cooed at the creature within and pulled out that damned mutt. "Oh creators, I forgot about that beast!" I exclaimed loudly. "Too late now," Fallen mocked me.

*

In the dead of night, we arrived at the meeting point for this 'Red Jenny.' Everyone was on edge, but thankful that we had managed to squeeze some rest in before hand. I had to reassure Fallen repeatedly before we left that we would be fine without our staves. She was nervous about it, but I was pleased to know that my assurance seemed to calm her. She trusted my judgement. It bothered me more than I will ever admit outloud that she was sharing someone else's room and bed. I had become so accustomed to her presence that I found myself quite jealous of the Herald.

My attention was brought back to the task at hand by the elven woman herself as she spoke in a hushed tone, "This is the place. I don't really see what's so special about it, but I suppose we shall see." Cassandra was a little ahead of our group and as she started to round the next corner she held up a hand to halt us.

My ears twitched as I picked up the conversation around said corner. "Let's hurry up and get this over with," a man's irritated voice said. "I can't make them meet us faster you know," another voice countered just as irate. "Hush you fools," a cold, but feminine voice joined in, "if you carry on so then the slaver will not take us seriously. He's come all the way from Tevienter to forge this connection with the boss."

At the word slaver from the woman's tongue, I was done and ready to finish them. I glanced at the Herald and I could tell that her own pointed ears had come in handy as well and for once we were silently in agreement with one another. Varric was looking between the two of us and asked roughly, "You two hearing enabled wanna help us lost people out?" I worked to control my emotions and voice as I responded in a whisper, "They are meeting slavers from Tevienter."

The three limited hearing companions looked equally disgusted and angry. "I will not stand for this. Tonight, they all die," the Herald stated making her intent clear and I readied myself for battle. We took the three out fairly quickly as we were well accustomed to working together and their deaths were cleaner than they deserved. Fallen was by my side looking on as Varric and the Herald picked the bodies clean for more clues or supplies.

"That was too easy," she said brushing dirt off her new battlemage coat. "Yep and I can't find anything on them that would be helpful or give more information about our red friend," the Herald said. "Perhaps we should push a little further?" Fallen asked as she pointed to a large door across the way. "I don't see the harm in it," Cassandra supported.

When the door opened, I think we were all surprised to see the Orlesian masked man that awaited. We were even more startled when he immediately threw fireballs our way. I felt the brush of Fallen's sweet magic as she threw barriers around us all instantaneously and flawlessly. "Herald of Andraste! How much did you expend to discover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immensely," he exclaimed in a pompous tone.

My magic flared in the Dalish woman's hand as she addressed the man in confusion, "I don't know who you are, but I know the disgusting things you're trying to orchestrate here." The dolt placed his hands on hips before responding, "You don't fool me! I'm too important for this to be an accident! My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere!" He was attempting to puff his chest out and the look would have been comical in another situation.

Suddenly, the sound of a man crying out in pain made us all turn to see a blond elven woman with an arrow cocked right at the man, "Just say 'what!'" The man appeared even more outraged at her appearance, "What is this?" He had barely gotten it out when the woman let her arrow fly and it went threw the man's neck causing him to fall dead at the Herald's feet.

"Squishy one, but you heard me right? 'Just say what,' rich tits always try for more than they deserve," the new elf said smartly. She must have come from a city as her fave was bare, but most notiable about her was her short platinum hair that looked like she cut it herself without access to a mirror to assess her work.

I was trying to decipher what I could about her appearance alone when I heard her say, "And you're an elf..." A pair of red eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You do know you're one too right?" The woman laughed maniacally and then seemed to calm down almost immediately, "Well as long as you're not too elfy." The Herald moved closer to my side and elbowed me in the ribs, "Oh no, I leave all that to ma falon Solas here." The new archer eyed me and my ears warrily and Varric and Fallen both burst into laughter. I rolled my eyes at their suddenly childish behavior.

Translations

Da'len: little child; little one

Shem: short for 'shemlen'

Ma Falon: My Friend

Resource

http/dragonage./wiki/Elven_language