The tavern seemed to attract larger amounts of customers in the early afternoon. Smoke permeated the air as well as rowdy laughter and conversation.
Ramia was nervous, Athras was a day late and her mother and Lailani had guaranteed that the elf was a punctual man. Fingers rapped on the table and her knee bounced aggressively as her anxiety to the situation grew. What worried her the most was she didn't even know what man looked like, a blurry visage her only memory of the man she had met earlier in her childhood.
'You'll know him when you see him' her mother told her more or less. Laisa of course did not share her worries and was more preoccupied with her dislike for the noise and unpleasant smells of the tavern.
"How much longer ma'lin? I don't like it here…" Ramia couldn't blame here, every now and then the two of them would receive strange looks. She was glad she left her staff in their shared room. The last thing they needed to risk was being thrown out.
"Ah! Here you are." A tall elven man sat across from the two girls. He pulled away his hood to reveal a tattooed face, the lines on his cheeks stretching to accommodate his grin. His hair was short and shabby, swept back to show greying on the sides. He smiled at Ramia expectantly, arm pressing against the table as he leaned forward as if waiting for some sort of reaction.
Ramia's eyes narrowed on the man as they trailed up and down at him, sizing him up.
"We're not looking for company. Go away." The man chuckled deeply.
"But I have been asked to meet with you personally!"
"Unless you have proof sir I-" Before she could finish her sentence he pulled out a folded piece of paper, in took only a moment for Ramia to notice the wax seal before she was snatching the letter from his hand. Ramia recognised the seal and handwriting, her mother hand written this letter herself. There was no mistaking who this was.
"Athras!"
Athras gave a humorous bow. "The one and only. Ow!" He clutched at his shin, Ramia having kicked him under the table.
"You're late!"
"Mythal's mercy! What's your foot made of?!" Laisa giggled quietly by Ramia's side while the elder folded her arms waiting for an explanation.
"I haven't enough fingers on my hands to count how many people I've had to fight getting here. What if we were attacked right in this tavern?!" Athras released his leg, clearing his throat and mustering up another 'charming' smile.
"But you weren't."
"You are being way too nonchalant for my liking." The smile on his face fell before he looked around the tavern to make sure they were not being heard, leaning closer.
"I had to take care of some things before meeting with you." He raised his hand to stop Ramia from speaking before he continued. "Such as the progress your mother has made, and to secure our root towards Tevinter."
"Tevinter? Why would mother go there?"
"There is a place there, Arlathan forest. That is our destination, I shall say no more…not here." Ramia nodded in understanding before returning to their room to retrieve her belongings so they could be on their way.
It felt good to finally get out of the inn, Athras took a long stretch, inhaling deeply through his nose before turning around, his attention on Laisa.
"So you're the one everyone's been making a fuss over." Hands on his hips and head cocked to the side, Athras gave the small girl as friendly a smile as he could while also sizing up the child. Laisa clung to her sister, face buried into her leg and shying away from Athras gaze. "Fen'harel's little cub."
"Don't call her that."
"My apologies. What's her name?" Ramia looked down at her sister, placing her hand against her cheek, to settle and comfort her.
"Laisa." Athras repeated the name, extended a hand out and ruffling the girls hair. This earned him an annoyed pout as the girl righted her hair of the mess he made of it. "Very quiet isn't she?"
"Maybe she just doesn't like you." Ramia smirked. "Children can be quite good judges of character most of the time."
"Ha ha ha…"
They continued through the town, picking up supplies and arming themselves better for the journey ahead. Armed and well stocked, all three of them were now making their way past the town gates and back on the road. Suddenly it had occurred to Ramia just how far Tevinter was and that it would take an extortionate amount of time to get there.
"Athras, you said Arlathan Forest was to the north? In Tevinter?" Athras' eyes were focused in the trees around them, like he was looking for something specific but he waved his hand at Ramia to show he was listening and for her to elaborate on her question. "How will we get there?"
"Ah! This way!" Athras disappeared into the forest at a fast pace.
"Athras! Dammit..." Ramia picked up Laisa breaking into a jog to catch up with him. "Are you listening?"
"Yes, you want to know how will get there in a short space of time. The Inquisitor chose me for a reason you know." Ramia struggled to keep up, the woods in these parts having large thick roots that rose from the earth, making it a hassle to track through when you had your hands full.
"And why is that?"
"Because I managed to get my hands on this." The narrowing of her eyes changed to grow large at the sight before her.
An Eluvian.
Athras stood before it, turning and grinning at the state of shock Ramia was in, she slowly approached the large mirror and reaching out to touch. Marvelling as it rippled and shone into a bright light.
"I know Elvhenan more or less spanned all of Thedas but…" Athras gave a genuine smile at how in awe she was at the giant mirror, directing her attention to the barely surviving stone walls littering the area.
"Look around you, this place clearly held some importance. Long ago it would seem. You can find remnants of the empire all over. If one knows where to look…"
"Wait!" Athras pauses midway into the mirror. "Doesn't Solas have control of the eluvians now? Won't we find his men inside the crossroads?" Athras places a hand on Ramia's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Don't worry, this eluvian will take us straight to Arlathan Forest, stay close, follow my lead and I'll have us there in no time." He pats her shoulder reassuringly pulling the girls with him into the mirror. "I promised your mother I'd protect you both with my life. You have my word." Ramia returns his smile, holding Laisa closer to her. Together they all step through.
Large pillars, buildings and parts of the earth itself surrounded everything around them. They floated all around them, decorated by trees, vines and cascading waterfalls. It was beautiful, Ramia hadn't realise she was holding in her breath until the sound of Laisa's excited squealing filled the air around them, pulling her out of her almost trance-like state.
Laisa jumped up and down, running from one end of the floating space they accompanied to the next. She giggled and laughed, so happily content at everything around her.
"It looks like when I dream ma'lin! Look look!" Athras chuckled striding over to Laisa, bending on one knee and pulling the girl close to sit on his raised knee.
"It's wonderful is it not?" Athras turned to look at Ramia. "Imagine what this place was like in its prime." Ramia joined them a wistful smile.
"Yeah…"
Athras lifted a finger to his mouth for Laisa to silence her excitement, taking his staff from his back and using his magic to align floating rocks to create a path to a higher platform.
"Let us press on."
Elvhen used:
Ma'lin: Sister- lit 'of my blood'