A/N: Time to give Elle a bit of a kick! BIG thank you to my reviewers, you keep me going (really). If you like this story, tell your friends...i love feedback, both good and constructive.
Of course, huge love to Tarante11a for her amazing eye for tone and consistency! Also, I'd like to thank the people at thesaurus.com because I think I use that site every 5 minutes.
Chapter 4: Flight
Elle sat at the large desk in the castle study, trying to work some much-needed improvements to the streets in the Highever alienage into the budget. She was enjoying the quiet of the morning. The rain had stopped sometime in the night, though the sky remained a drab grey. Fergus had taken their two noble guests hunting, along with a small company of guards, and they weren't expected back until later that day.
The solitude provided a welcome reprieve for Elle's battered emotions. Her sleep had been restive, affected in no small part by the overwhelming array of feelings caused by events of the previous day. Even now, she had a hard time erasing her final image of Teagan from the night before, looking into her eyes as he kissed her hand. She found this fact profoundly confusing, considering how angry and frustrated he had made her feel only a few hours prior to dinner. Irritation, pique, sadness, guilt, these were things she could understand. They were familiar and comfortable, like a well-worn pair of boots, and she could put them on every day and be at home. But this slightly warm sensation, this tiny bit of lightness in her center that felt suspiciously like floating, this was unwelcome because it was new and just didn't fit with everything else.
Elle shook her head in annoyance and returned her attention to the books in front of her. Realizing that she could not truly concentrate on the finances this morning, she shoved the chair backward and stalked out of the study toward the kennels. Leo always made her feel better, probably because he was unconditionally loyal and expected nothing from her in return. Sometimes she wished all of the people in her life were as refreshingly simple.
She was almost to the kennels when she heard a commotion coming from somewhere distant inside the castle. She sighed and changed course, intending to go investigate, when a guard rushed around the corner. He narrowly avoided colliding with her as he drew up short.
"My lady," he gasped, out of breath from running. "You must come! Quickly!" With that, the guard hastily turned and sped toward the kitchen.
Elle felt a stab of fear and raced after him, yelling as she went. "What is it? What is going on?" A vivid memory of another night, two years past, raced into the forefront of her mind, and she ran faster. "Why are we going to the kitchens? Please, man, you must speak!"
The guard answered over his shoulder. "My lady, it's the Teyrn! He's been wounded, they just arrived and took him there! Please come!"
Terror gripped her then and she sprinted the final yards to the kitchen. She burst in to find Eamon barking orders to her kitchen staff, who were frantically warming water and finding clean linens. Teagan had removed his armor and rolled up his sleeves, revealing forearms covered in blood. Elle gasped to see Fergus lying on one of the counters, unconscious and pale, with what could only be described as a hole in his side. His armor had been stripped away and it was obvious where the blood on Teagan's hands had come from.
Elle ran to his side, screaming curses at men and their penchant for doing stupid things in order to impress each other.
"Has anyone sent for a healer?!" She glanced around for the nearest elven servant, her gaze alighting on one of the young stable boys who happened to be unoccupied. She gestured to get his attention. "Please, I know your hahren has some ability with healing herbs and poultices! Can you please find her? Explain what has happened and please ask her to come!" The boy tore away with a silent nod and left through the exit in the larder.
Tears were streaming down Elle's face as she turned back to Fergus. "I swear to the Maker, Fergus, if you die, I will pay every mage in the tower to shove me into the Fade so I can hunt you down myself! You cannot leave me alone here!" She grabbed his shoulders and was about to shake him when she felt strong hands grip her arms.
"My lady, please, come away." Teagan's voice was low and serious. "They need to clean and dress that before we can take him to his room."
Elle shook him off and whipped around, poking him in the chest with her index finger as she snarled at him. "You! This is your fault! You and your brother and your stupid hunting fetish. Don't presume to tell me what to do in my home!" She turned back to Fergus, staring down at his still form. When she looked up at Teagan again, the anger and tears had turned into firm resolve.
"Never mind. I know what I need to do. Arl Eamon, please move him to his room when you can. Emma, instead of wringing your hands in the corner, please make up a pack with a week's worth of traveling rations for myself and Leo and bring it to the stables " The cook nodded and set about the task, obviously relieved to be busy.
Elle pushed past them, purposefully ignoring Teagan, then turned back to explain. "I am going to the Circle of Magi. He needs a mage. While I am gone, the hahren of the alienage will be attending him. Let her do what she must to keep him alive. She will have full access to the kitchen, the gardens, whatever she needs." She looked around for another servant, finding a scullery maid cowering near the ovens.
"Come here, girl. I need you to run to the stables and tell them to saddle my horse, then go to the kennels and find Leo. Just tell him to come to me and let him inside the castle, he will understand you." The frightened girl nodded and Elle followed her out the door.
Elle was halfway to her room when Teagan caught up with her. "I'm going with you," he said firmly.
She gave an angry sigh. "Absolutely not! I travel faster on my own. I will have my mabari with me for protection. And if you think I'm some damsel in distress who needs protection on the road, you are sorely mistaken, Bann Teagan."
Teagan grabbed her forearm to stop her and spun her around to face him. His tone was forceful and Elle could see a hint of anger in his eyes. "I do not think that, my lady. You certainly do enjoy your assumptions, don't you? I am going with you, not because you need protection, but because I happen to agree with you. Had I not encouraged the hunt this morning, Fergus would not be lying in your kitchens with a hole in his side right now."
Elle stared it him, mute with shock. She desperately wanted to take this journey alone, but she could tell by the determined look on Teagan's face that there would be no keeping him from following her. His answer simultaneously shamed and angered her. She was ashamed of her poor assumptions, which she seemed to be making a lot of lately. And she was angry at him, not because he had the gall to actually yell at her, but because he wasn't afraid of her. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she shook his hand off her arm.
"I need to change and prepare for traveling, my lord." Elle turned toward her rooms, defeated. "If you are coming, perhaps you should do the same."
She didn't look back when he answered. "I will meet you in the stables, my lady."
Leo found his way to her door a few minutes after she entered her room, letting out a soft whine to inform Elle of his presence. She opened the door to let him in, and grinned through her tears as he looked up at her expectantly.
"I'm sorry, boy, I don't have a treat for you right now." Leo chuffed in response, then quietly sat down at the foot of her bed. The dog was uncannily perceptive, and Elle could see that he understood she was sad, if not the reason. She squatted down to look him in the eye.
"Fergus is hurt. We're going on a trip to the Circle of Magi's tower to get help for him. You remember it, right?" Leo pinned his ears back and gave a low growl.
"I know, I didn't like it much either, but we need to go back. Wynne is there, and I know she can help." At the mention of the mage's name, Leo barked enthusiastically, clearly pleased at the prospect of seeing an old friend, especially one who would sneak him treats behind Elle's back. Elle smiled and patted him on the head. "It won't be an easy journey, and I need you to be strong. For both of us."
Elle stood up and wiped the tears out of her eyes as Leo laid his head on his paws, feigning sleep. She spent the next half hour packing her things and mentally mapping the fastest route to the Circle Tower. Fear clawed at her insides, but she tried her best to ignore it as she strapped on her armor. It would do Fergus no good if she were to melt into a puddle of terror now, but her desire for practicality did nothing to change the frenetic pace of her preparations. As she stuffed the last item in her pack, she gestured to Leo and barreled out the door, running to Fergus's room.
When she arrived, Arl Eamon was pacing in front of the door. "Ah, my dear, I was waiting for you. He is sleeping." His face was grim. "Your elven hahren just arrived and is tending to him now."
"I need to speak to her," Elle said as she moved to enter the room. Leo took up a place next to the door, as if on guard.
"My lady, before you do, I need to remind you of Highever's responsibilities to the Landsmeet." Elle gave a frustrated sigh at the Arl's words. Her brother was in danger of dying and Eamon wanted to discuss politics! "If Fergus cannot attend, which it seems is to be the case, you must go in his stead. Of course I cannot order you, but remind you that it begins in three weeks. I will stay here for as long as I can, but if you have not returned, I will leave Fergus in the care of your household and the Hahren. I cannot afford to miss any of the Landsmeet."
Elle nodded, trying to keep the irritation she felt from showing on her face. "I understand, Arl Eamon, and I am grateful for your help. It is just over 3 days to the Tower, riding hard. If all goes well, we should be back to Highever in a week. If we are not, please go on to Denerim, and we will join you as soon as possible. I..." Her voice faltered as she glanced at the door. "I hate to leave Fergus here, though."
"I understand, child, but I believe Fergus would tell you the same."
Elle gave a sad smile. "Oh, Arl Eamon, I'm sure he would be quite happy to send me in his place to the Landsmeet, though probably not under circumstances such as these." She opened the door gently and slipped through, looking back to the Arl. "Thank you, again."
She closed the door and turned to Aliana, the leader of the elves in the Highever alienage. She was an older woman, with tinges of grey in her hair and a careworn look that marked her time serving as guide and leader of her people. Elle touched her shoulder softly. "How is he?"
"He is stable for now, my lady, though his wound is very serious. I have managed to stop the bleeding using what little knowledge I have, but he has lost a grave amount of blood. I also have no way to know if the wound will turn septic."
Elle nodded, jaw clenched to hold back tears. She had already done enough crying. "Please, Aliana, I beg you to do anything you can to keep him alive. I am riding to the Circle of Magi to ask for help. I know a week is a long time, but you have free run of the castle while I am gone. Take anything you need from the kitchens, gardens, anywhere. I will have my chamberlain prepare a room for you, and the staff already knows you are to be given anything you require to keep him alive. Arl Eamon will remain here for a time, but he may have to leave before I return."
Aliana nodded. "Thank you my lady. I will do all I can for him."
Elle took her brother's hand and squeezed it gently. "Remember what I said, Fergus. If you die, I'll find you in the Fade. Just, hold on, please?" She swiped at a tear that was threatening to fall, then tried to smile. "I'm going to get Wynne. I know she can help. Stay alive, brother."
Elle dropped his hand and stood up in a fluid motion, giving a last nod to Aliana before striding out the door. Leo joined her and they hurried toward the stables, making a brief stop at the armory along the way. Elle expected to find Starfang and Veshialle on the floor where she had carelessly left them the day before, but they had been carefully cleaned and placed on their racks. When she realized Teagan must have done the job, her feelings of remorse and embarrassment were accompanied by a small sense of wonder that after the way she'd treated him, he was willing to perform any sort of favor for her at all.
Leo's whine brought her back to reality. She grabbed the weapons and locked the armory. She was nearly to the stables when Horace came running up to her, panting heavily and nearly purple with anger. "My lady! You cannot expect me to prepare a proper guest room for that...that...elf! First of all, I don't have any spare sheets, as they are all soaked in blood at the moment. Second of all, she is an elf! There is no way th – eek!" Horace's eyes grew wide and he choked off his words as Elle's mailed fist grabbed his collar and twisted.
"I do not have the time or patience for this, Horace," she growled. "That elf is the leader of her people and is keeping your teyrn alive. You will treat her with respect, or Maker help me, when I return I will find a new chamberlain and appoint you to deal with the political fallout that will invariably arise should you offend her in any way!"
She dropped him and he gasped, a look of undisguised hatred flashing over his features before being replaced by a mask of bland servitude. "Yes, my lady." He bowed and scurried toward the stairs as she and Leo continued onward, thinking she probably could have handled Horace more diplomatically. Elle pushed the thought out of her mind, telling herself she would deal with it later. They arrived at the stables, where she found her horse standing next to an unfamiliar chestnut gelding, fully tacked and fitted with the sack of rations Emma had made up.
"Hey, 'Ris, you ready to go?" Elle gave her horse a carrot she'd taken from a large barrel in the corner and fastened her pack to the saddle as the horse chewed happily. She was a large jet-black mare, a gift from her father on her eighteenth birthday. Elle hadn't expected to find anything left in Highever when they returned after the blight, but most of the Cousland's horses and livery were still in the stables, being tended by the remnants of Howe's home guard. Despite her fresh grief at the time, her discovery that Charisma still lived and was in reasonably good health remained a bright spot in her memories of the past year. She was strong and fast, and Elle knew she could endure a forced ride to Lake Calenhad. She wondered if Teagan's horse could do the same.
Elle was leading both horses into the courtyard when Teagan rushed out the door, pack in hand. A fresh wave of annoyance ran through Elle, and she looked at him flatly as she tossed him the reins of his horse. "I move quickly, Bann Teagan. I know Leo can keep up. Pray you can as well, because if I lose you, I will leave you behind if I have to." She cringed inside, feeling the harshness of the words as they came out of her mouth, wishing she could unsay them. Annoyance or not, he didn't deserve her poor treatment. She swung her leg up, mounting Charisma in a smooth movement, keeping her attention on Teagan's face to watch for a reaction.
To her surprise, he chuckled as he mounted. "Oh, I have no doubt of that, my lady." His expression turned serious, and when he met her eyes she saw something unidentifiable in his gaze. "Rest assured," he continued, "I have no intention of losing you."
He spurred his horse and cantered out of the gates, leaving Elle staring after him in shock as realization crashed against her like a wave.