She longed for a moment of peace and quiet. Ever since Ellie had regained consciousness, her life had been a frenzy of activity, people pulling her in every direction. She had begun to fully comprehend the impending danger she was in. No. The impending danger the world was in.
To think that she played a key part in the solution made her feel almost helpless, not ready to take on the role of hero. To be informed people were starting to believe she was sent by the Maker and acted as Andraste's hand made her nauseous.
The first chance Ellie saw to slip away into her modest private quarters was seized at once. The wood-framed structure was quaint and simply furnished, animal hides being the main source of décor. With Haven being newly established, she wasn't exactly expecting to stay in a palace. Part of her was surprised they let her stay at all.
She heard the door open and close quietly behind her and Elizabeth directed her gaze to the same elven girl she had awoken to earlier that day. Ellie couldn't help but feel sorry for the timid young girl; it was obvious she'd been a servant her whole life. If not worse. She nearly shuddered at the thought. Slavery was something she had zero tolerance for and jumped at every opportunity to put an end to any miserable slaver's life.
This morning, after some gentle coaxing, she discovered the servants name was Malia. When the elf had realized the Herald was in the room, she startled, "Your worship! Forgive me, I didn't know you came back."
"It's quite alright, Malia. And please, call me Ellie," the rogue requested softly.
"Of course, Lady Ellie," came the prompt reply as Ellie held back correcting the formal title kept before her name.
"Malia, if you have a moment, would be able to get me some water for a bath? Or show where I can fetch the water?"
The elf nodded and hastily scurried out of the room to get bath water for the Herald, clearly opting to ready the bath herself instead of letting the Herald. Ellie couldn't help but sigh. It had been many moons since someone waited on her. And while she flatly rejected her nobility and everything that came with it years ago, her body ached to soak in hot water. Despite essentially resting for three days, she was still exhausted, sore and felt grimy. Luckily, the mark on her hand no longer throbbed. It still felt… Odd. A dull sensation pulsing from it that she couldn't quite explain. But so long as it didn't hinder her from holding her weapons, she could live with it.
Malia returned quicker than expected with a bucket of visibly hot water, behind her were a number of other servants carrying their own buckets to fill the copper basin. Ellie thanked them sincerely and waited until they all departed to start shedding the clothes she found herself in this morning and slip into the soothing water. She was acutely aware that while she was in her comatose state, someone attempted to sponge bathe her. It would explain why she was no longer wearing the light armour she remembered wearing when she fought her way to the temple to stabilize the breach. While she was thankful for whoever took care of her hygiene when she couldn't, it was no substitute for a real bath and feeling thoroughly clean.
She washed herself in relaxed, languid movements as she reflected on the sharp turn the course of her life had taken. The events of the last few days were a hazy blur. Of course, she was out cold for three days of it and she still couldn't for the life of her remember what exactly happened at the Conclave or what events led to the rift opening in the sky, scarring her hand in the process. She did remember waking up after allegedly falling out of the breach, pain coursing through her body which stemmed from her glowing palm.
What came next was all too predictable. She was imprisoned, blamed for the death of hundreds and creating an opening for creatures of the Fade to seep into their realm. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Luckily, she was cleared of that blame. At least by the people who had originally sought to keep her locked up for the rest of her days.
What the Seeker and the rest of them didn't know was they weren't the only people who lost someone in the explosion. Of course the murder of the Most Holy was tragic, especially to the Divine's left and right hands. But after seeing Cassandra's anger towards her, she'd rather die before she divulged that her own brother was one of the casualties. Even after she cleared the air with Cassandra, that piece of information would stay quiet for the time being. And she wouldn't allow herself to be consumed with grief, not when she had to be the very definition of strong and was thrust into the company of people she felt inclined to trust. But she knew better than to do that so soon. Or ever. Ellie prayed her brother was at the Maker's side. That was all she could afford right now.
Going from being a shamed prisoner to being proclaimed the Herald of Andraste was a plot twist she didn't see coming. It was difficult to wrap her head around her new title, what it implied for her. While she had been associated with groups and other people in the past, she preferred to work alone. She was by no means accustomed to having people value her opinion or rely on her abilities the way they did now. She had to admit though that her recently acquired colleagues seemed competent and pleasant enough to work with, albeit not always seeing eye to eye with one another.
The Seeker was the first one she had been acquainted with. When she got past the fact that Cassandra was the one who had given the order to have her locked up, Ellie could see the genuine passion she had for the cause and her true intentions to remedy the state of the world. She understood her shock and loss, and she could forgive Cassandra for taking it out on her if it meant the Inquisition would work. Ellie desperately wanted to believe it would. She saw it as their only hope now.
Leliana and Josephine she had less of a developed opinion about yet. Although, she had already mentally fortified herself to keep her guard up around the spymaster. Because Ellie's profession employed a high level of secrecy, sabotage and detective work, she respected others who had the same skills. But the absolute last thing the Herald wanted was to have someone digging around her past. Ellie was a fiercely private person and she would not take too kindly to anyone sticking their nose in her affairs.
And then there was the Commander. Ellie didn't hide the smile that crept across her lips at the thought. As soon as she saw him, she instantly guessed he was a Templar. Maybe not officially anymore, as he so kindly hinted in the War Room. But his posture, the way he carried himself and how he had the face of a man who had endured far too much in his years were all telltale clues to his ties to the Order.
There was no denying he was attractive. But Ellie had dealt almost solely with men for the better part of her life. She was used to occasionally working with men who were not good looking and men who were very good looking. The rogue had learned how to be focused and collected in the midst of a pretty face. And Commander Cullen did have a dangerously handsome face. His sculpted jawline, peppered with light stubble. Golden blonde hair that was cropped in a way that kept the curls out of his face. Earnest, albeit broken, amber eyes and that white ribbon scar that ran through the right side of his top lip. She could see how any girl with properly working vision would swoon over the military Commander, though she had a suspicion he rarely, if ever had acted on it. She was well aware of the Templars rules of fraternization and devotion. He also didn't seem to be the type of Templar she'd heard horror stories about regarding their elicit behaviour.
Regardless, she'd be damned if she let him be a distraction. Or worse, get attached.
Never again, she vowed to herself, Not after… She refused to give into the memories that were starting to surface.
Swiftly, Ellie submerged herself entirely underwater, attempting to drown any old anxieties of her past. When she came up for air, she ensured any soap or shampoo was rinsed off and got out of the copper tub, wrapping a soft towel around her body. Ellie glanced over to the table by the bathtub as she dried herself off. Noticing the hair brush, oil that would make the length of her hair soft as silk, and she even spotted some cosmetic items as well. She silently thanked the Maker that the majority of her new colleagues were women. She previously may have usually been around all male company, but she always made the effort to be feminine when she could. Who says you can't kick some ass and still look good while doing it?
Satisfied with the moisture being wiped off her skin, she dabbed a couple drops of the minty smelling oil in her long hair and worked the brush through til her mane was free of any tangles or knots. Ellie inspected the makeup that was left for her. Various shades of eyeshadow, eyeliner and blush were found that she immediately started picking through. There was lipstick at her disposal, but unless she truly wanted to impress someone, she didn't bother with the stuff.
And we don't need to start impressing the pants off the handsome Commander. Yet…
Smoky eyes, dewy cheeks and muted lips were Ellie's calling, her go-to for her makeup choices. It hadn't failed her yet. The fine, blonde hair was already starting to dry in waves. Peering over her shoulder to an armoire she had spied earlier. She curiously made to open it to see what clothing had been left for her.
Much to her surprise, the threads seemed a little more suited to her than the clothing she had loaned from Maker knows who up until this point. She held up a long-sleeved Samite tunic before noticing the undergarments meant for her. As she dressed, she was a little unnerved as to just how well these delicate clothing items fit the ample curves of her breasts and hips. She didn't even want to know who took her measurements without her knowledge. Shaking her head of the idea, she finished dressing. The sienna leather pants had laces going up the sides for her to adjust them to her liking. She was grateful for the feature. Her combat skills depended on her agility and ability to move freely so the more her outfits resembled a second skin, the better for her. She slid on a matching leather jacket over the tunic as well as leather boots that were a few shades darker than the rest of the leather she donned.
She couldn't argue that the clothing she was given fit like a glove, and was thus infinitely more comfortable than what she wore previously that day. Though it would be to Malia's dismay, Ellie did her best to clean up after herself. She strived to be self-sufficient, she needed to be to stay alive before she had wound up here.
There was a lot to do before her party and herself left for the Hinterlands in a couple days. If Ellie had her way, they wouldn't waste time getting there. But the Seeker insisted she take a couple days to regain her strength. Ellie hated feeling useless and was determined to find something to accomplish between now and then.
Exhaling, she knew exactly where she was going to start, or more specifically who she would start with. The residents were still gawking at her every time she walked by, whispering in hushed voice that they thought she couldn't hear. Bracing herself, she made for the door that exited into Haven and led herself into the town.