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Chapter 2
Dusk began to limit the light in the room from the veranda. Solana shivered slightly as she wandered outside.
"Mi dulce, Eres tan hermosa bajo sol desapareciendo."
"Fereldan please," squeaked Solana, as she held her hand to her chest in the attempt to calm her racing heart.
"I almost jumped out of skin, how long have you been standing there? And how did you get here?" Solana looked down at the drop of the veranda, and to the side.
"I possess a few skills," Zevran mused as he looked at the window positioned directly above the balcony.
"Yes, I daresay you do." Solana looked up with Zevran and shook her head.
"Are the two of you going to climb up there?" Leliana exclaimed.
Solana jumped and took in a sharp breath. "Maker! Don't the two of you know how to enter a room?"
Solana stepped into the apartment, and walked over to the looking glass to brush her hair and to smooth her robe. Leliana followed her, chuckling as she took the brush out of Solana's hand. She gave Leliana a rueful look and surrendered the brush to her.
Zevran followed both women into the room, examining it closely as well as the other rooms. Appearing satisfied, he moved over to Solana and Leliana and the looking glass.
"Bella, I know that this is difficult for you," Zevran paused to kiss Solana's palm.
"But I think you should know that there are grumbles from some of the nobles,"
Leliana paused brushing Solana's hair as Solana looked sharply at Zevran.
"Whatever are they grumbling about?" Solana asked pointedly. "And who is doing the grumbling,"
Zevran smiled slightly and tilted his head to the right side.
"Let us just say there are those that think Anora is an injured party. I will see what else I can find out before I say who might be descontento"
"Elissa has summoned you to her chambers, along with the rest of the ladies of court, for a gathering before the reception," Leliana told both of them. "This might be a good time to observe some nobles in more intimate environment."
"I have been summoned? Leliana, I don't know how to act or what to do...or how to hold my hands," Solana looked at her scared knuckles.
"Oh Amell, you are the Hero of Ferelden, she may be your superior, but you are loved by the people." Leliana declared.
"Why didn't I get this summons?" asked Solana. "Does she think you're my servant?"
"It would seem so," Leliana smiled.
"Well, I'll make sure she knows you are no servant, and will not be treated as such," Solana's eyes flashed.
"No, no, Bella, this is afortunado. There is much power in not being noticed. Leliana will be better able to watch if they think she is a servant," Zevran kissed her forehead. "I am going to find out what I can, and will see you at the reception,"
Zevran turned to go, but then he turned around and looked hard at Solana.
"Bella Mia, do not only pay attention to what people say, but also what they do not say."
Leliana and Solana watched Zevran head out to the veranda. "I don't want to know how he gets in and out," laughed Solana.
"Come on, Amell. You and I should go to her apartments and get to know Elissa a little better,"
Leliana grabbed Solana's hand and pulled her to the door.
"Fine but if she orders you to pour wine I'm going bolt her,"
"Oh! Alistair"Leliana said in surprise.
"Lel, go ahead and tell her that I will be there shortly," Solana inclined her head towards Elissa's apartments.
"Amell, are you sure?"
Solana smirked at Leliana. "This is Alistair! He is not the enemy, in fact he is my King, I will, of course, do everything I can to assist him," Alistair flinched as Solana called him the King.
"But, Amell."
"It'll be fine. I'll be there in a few minutes," Solana pushed Leliana out the door and with a final look and a nod to her she closed the door. Turning around she looked at Alistair, with the blandest smile she could manage, and her heart pounding in her ears, she asked. "What can I do for you, your Majesty?"
Alistair paced the room and rounded on Solana. "Do not call me that! You know I never wantedthis, and I will have you call me by my name!"
"Yes, Alistair...I- I am sorry, it will not happen again," Solana said quietly.
Alistair stopped and looked at Solana, and then looked down at the floor and shook his head slightly.
"Please sit," Alistair pointed at the chair to the right of Solana.
She took the seat and all at once Alistair was on his knees in front of her begging for her forgiveness. Solana took his hand in hers, and Alistair pulled her close. Solana took a sharp breath as Alistair leaned in to kiss her. He lifted up her robes and spread her legs apart running his hands over the top of her stockings to her center. He rubbed her sodden small clothes until Solana felt her head get fuzzy. She opened her legs wider and Alistair pulled her tight against his pelvis and began to nip at her neck. Her moans gave urgent rise to his desire, and he let out a shaky breath and pulled her tighter. Solana let her head fall back and ran her hands through his hair. But there was something in the back of her mind, something that she was forgetting. "Alistair stop," she whispered.
Alistair shuddered and lifted her off the edge of the chair running his hands along her bottom.
"Alistair stop!" Solana cried "We have to stop, we agreed that this can't happen any longer,"
Solana held Alistair's forehead to hers, and struggled not to sob. Alistair held the back of her head tightly, and screwed his eyes closed. Taking several deep breaths he pulled his head away just enough so he could look into her eyes.
"I didn't want it to be like this" he breathed.
"I will always love you, I..." Alistair looked down to compose himself. Looking up, he stared intently into her eyes. "I just wanted you to know that."
And with that said, Alistair stood up and pulled Solana up so that she could rearrange her robes. Turned on his heel and walked out the door without a backward glance. Solana hugged herself and looked around the room, taking several breaths to get her heart to slow down.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Solana took a quick look at herself in the mirror. Smoothing back her hair, it occurred to her how the past year had marked her. For fighting purposes she kept her dark brown hair short, and was therefore unable to manage the styles that many of the noble women affected. Solana's skin had been darkened by the sun. And while this was not all that unusual for Ferelden women, as a mage she had rarely seen the sun and her skin has always been pale. With her dark hair, translucent skin and very blue eyes Solana would have been considered unusual, even exotic. But the sun had burned her face, leaving freckles on her nose . She had scars on her small hands, and the constant lack of food had worn down her once soft feminine shape to hard angles and lines. Solana cursed her vanity and stalked out of the room determined to get her meeting with Elissa over with.
Elissa is striking. Tall with auburn hair and the blue eyes of her father, her skin is clear and white with just the slightest blush at her cheeks. Her cheekbones are high, but are not so thin as to look angular. The soft curve of her face informs the rest of her shape, graceful and soft. As a woman brought up as nobility, she had been trained to look the part. She can sit for hours at time with her back straight and her head held high. When she stands her height makes her noticed, and one cannot help to notice her willowy neck gracefully curving to her shoulders. Elissa always maintains a half smile, as if she is aware of something you are not. And her eyes are well spaced and intelligent.
Solana takes all of this in as Elissa greets her with a smile that does not reach her eyes. Elissa stands a full head taller than her, and she feels small and dark when Elissa gestures to Solana to take the seat next to her.
"The Hero of Ferelden, companion to King Alistair, and circle mage Solana, I present you to my ladies. May we have a long and sisterly friendship." Elissa spoke the last part looking down, ingratiatingly, at Solana. Solana felt like a bug. She didn't know what to do or say to the newly crowned Queen. There was something in her eyes that Solana could not place, was it disgust or pity? She wasn't sure.
"I apologize for being late, Your Majesty; I was...detained," Solana said, sounding braver then she felt.
"Oh, there is no need to apologize, it has been a long day and will continue into the evening...I would not begrudge you a rest. In fact, it has been a trying and exhausting year for you. You must be looking forward to a rest." Elissa remarked pleasantly. "I look forward to hearing of your travels. You and my husband traveled together all that time?"
"Yes, we are both Grey Wardens, and the only Wardens left in Ferelden. It-it made sense to travel together because of the Blight and all." Solana said uncertainly. "And we had other companions, Leliana here traveled with us for some time."
"Ah yes, Leliana, you are from Orlais?" asked Elissa.
"I consider myself a Ferelden, my mother was from here, but yes I grew up in Orlais." Leliana turned her brilliant smile to Elissa. " I would be happy to tell you stories about our travels, I love to speak of Orlesian fashion. I can talk to your dressmaker about the latest styles,"
"Thank you Leliana that would be wonderful. And I understand that you also sing and perform,"
"Indeed I do, I love to sing songs and tell stories," Leliana smiled, and looked excited to perform for the Queen.
Solana silently thanked Leliana.
"And what did you do during the blight Your Majesty," Leliana asked innocently.
Elissa looked a little surprised at the question. "Why, I spent most of the time with relatives," Elissa smiled with just a slight twist of her lips.
"Well it is fortunate that you were able to get to your relatives after the attack on you home," Leliana cooed.
"Yes. it was a stroke of luck," Elissa spoke with a small hint of sadness. She shook her head and then when she looked up the there was mask in place.
"So I imagine now that the Blight is over you will be going to back to the circle?" she inquired.
"If that is what is required of me" Solana clarified.
"You are a circle mage, is this not where you belong?"
"I'm a Grey Warden your Majesty, I will go where they tell me to go, and perform whatever duties they require of me."
"But surely your duties are done? The Blight is over". queried Elissa.
"The Archdemon is dead it's true, but the darkspawn are not gone. In fact they are scattered about the country side and need to be dealt with. I may even be required to travel Weisshaupt."
"The Grey Wardens would not require this of the King!" Elissa asked sharply.
"They could your Majesty."
"He is a sovereign,"
"He is a Grey Warden your Majesty, it takes precedence of everything else he is," explained Solana. "One cannot stop being a Grey Warden. With the political situation the way that is, I'm certain that if we were summoned, they would be content with just me. However if they summon the King, he must go, and if I have ever been certain of anything it's that the King will do his duty,"
Elissa look thoughtful for a moment, and then her small smile reappeared.
"It would seem that the King and I have much to discuss."
"Your Majesty, with your leave Leliana and I will need to make some preparations before the reception..."
"Of course, and I thank you for your visit, We shall visit again soon." Elissa stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
Making their way back to their apartments, Leliana began to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"That Woman is such a noble," smirked Leliana.
"Leliana that woman is frightening. She made me feel so small, and I think she was lying about what she did during the Blight,"
"Oh she was lying, and did you see how she reacted when you told her that Alistair could be compelled to go to Weisshaupt? For a moment I thought she might bite through a rope," Leliana chuckled.
"Lil, she'll eat Alistair alive! He won't know how to handle her...she will twist him and change him, she might even want him to come to harm, Oh, Lil if she is lying about where she was during the Blight, what else could she be hiding?"
"Calm down, Amell," soothed Leliana. "She's just a noble, and a vain one at that."
"But Lil, this is Alistair we are talking about, she could really hurt him, destroy him, and I would be responsible,"
"Alright, I will make friends with her, get close to her. I will see what I can find out," smiled Leliana.
"Now we have a party dress to get you into."