Chapter 2: Acclimation
It's been two months. Two months since Naim arrived to clan Lavellan. No. Viera. Viera, meaning path of Dreams. Ironic because for the first few weeks of Naim being in the realm of Thedas he was sure he was going to wake up, Amaris in bed next to him reading fanfiction on her phone. No, he was still in the Free Marches, he was still a Dalish Elf, and he was definitely not dreaming.
"Viera!" Ellana barged through the aravel that she and Viera shared with a smile and something hidden behind her back. Ellana and Viera hit it off after Keeper Deshanna assigned her to him, once Viera attempted to strike up a conversation with the question on how Ellana designed her bows he was an instant like to the hunter.
Viera scowled at Ellana for barging in at the unholy hour, scratching the bindings on his chest he raised a brow at the excited elf before him.
"What is it Ellana? I was having such a wonderful dream." Viera drawled. Ellana just smirked, she knew how her friend was during the early mornings. His disheveled ginger hair was askew all over the place and freckles prominent as his skin flushed from the cool morning air. Ellana chuckled as he stretched with his arms above his head and stood up grumpily finding his tunic to throw it on.
"Well…" Ellana continued. "I have a surprise for you!" Viera glanced to the side his hazel eyes looking at his closest friend since he arrived here.
"And what would that be lethallan?" Viera turned to give Ellana a bright smile. Ellana blushed slightly as she fumbled with the object behind her.
"Well you've been training the way of the bow and dagger with me for a while using the training sets the young ones use for practice. So I thought you could use something with a little bit more quality." Ellana presented a crafted bow before him and Viera looked at her in shock.
"Ellana! W-wait! This is too much, I can't possibly-" Viera was interrupted by Ellana shoving the bow in his hands.
"Nonsense Vi, I've taken you under my wing and you have become one of my closest friends, even if we have only known eachother for 60 moons. I wanted to make this for you Vi. Besides now we can test it out! We need to see how great of a teacher I am."
Viera chuckled and placed the bow down before giving Ellana a quick hug.
"Thanks ha'haren." He teased, Viera then picked up the bow and slung it over his shoulder. "Come on, lets get morning meal then, I'm starving!" He laughed at Ellana's flushed face and grin as he jogged out the aravel.
Viera would never think in a million years that he would be this fit. Of course being in a new lithe body helped immensely, but when Ellana started training him once she learned that he didn't know how to fight, he caught on quickly. Viera was quick to learn with the bow and daggers. Partly he took solace with his daggers by integrating his old jiu jitsu lessons back home. To say the least Ellana was rather surprised the day they sparred and he was able to take her down rather quickly. The bow however was Ellana's expertise and everytime there was a contest between the two Ellana always beat him to a pulp in ranged combat.
As the two finished their morning meal and walked off into the forest for practice Ellana made idle conversation.
"Did you hear that there's going to be a meeting about the mage-templar war with the divine in a year's time?" Ellana stated. Viera who was popping berries in her mouth choked on one at the declaration, coughing violently.
"A-a year?" Ellana looked at him in slight amusement and curiosity as Viera tried to compose himself.
"Yes, a year it will begin on Harvestmere Dragon 9:41." As they kept walking Viera was in deep thought.
We came here a year earlier before Inquisition started...Oh Amaris I hope your alright wherever you are. Viera pondered. If he made it to the conclave maybe he would have a chance to find his girlfriend, knowing her she too would also try to change things for the better in Thedas.
"Hey Dreamer, you in there?" Ellana's voice pierced through his thoughts as he looked at the elf in front of him. He blinked and shook his head giving her a small grin.
"Yeah! Sorry I was-"
"Wandering, I know falon." Viera laughed at Ellana's accusation as he looked around their normal clearing, the leaves a beautiful array of colors, Firstfall had come and gone and Haring was at its end. The clan would soon be moving farther south until Summerday reached, which Viera learned was the equivalent to the Summer Equinox and the Fourth of July packed into one holiday. Ellana went through her series of stretches, sighing in content as she cracked her muscles and turned to Viera hands on her hips with a wide grin.
"I have a strong feeling I'm going to beat you in sparring today my friend." Ellana stated boldly. Viera snorted and placed his new bow and set of daggers down beside a boulder.
"As if El, you're getting too old to beat me ha'haren." He teased. Viera tested his stance and faced the hunter with a grin. Ellana's ears were flushed red at the teasing and her eyes were narrowed. She crouched down on the ground, her own unique fighting style coming into play.
"I'll show you who's old da'len." Ellana growled irritably. Viera simply laughed enjoying their usual banter.
"Bring it on Fen'len!"
She pounced.
Oxford Ashton cursed the Maker for whatever fate brought him to this day. He was injured, ambushed by a group of stubborn bandits, who killed his men took his weapons and supplies and left him for dead. A dagger was embedded in his side, slowing the bleeding but making moving and breathing all the more painful. The bandits were long gone by now, gone back to their encampment to drink and be merry at their brutal plunder.
Andraste watch over me, what a way to die He thought. As he succumbed to darkness accepting his fate he did not hear the heavy footfalls that neared his prone form or the low growl of anger that reverberated through the quiet forest.
Oxford gasped as he sat up, instantly regretting the choice. He hissed in pain as he laid back down noticing how now he was not bleeding out on the forest floor, but in some sort of cave. He blinked rubbing his eyes and opening them again looking around. The cave seemed, homey, if a cave could be such a thing. Furs of all sorts hung from the walls and a comfortable fire crackled near him. As he breathed in a savory smell filled his nostrils and his stomach instantly rumbled in hunger. Taking more observation on his surroundings he noted a couple of mounted torches embedded on the cave walls illuminating the cave throughout. On one side his eyes widened, a giant gleaming axe hung on a weapons rack near him, much too big for a human man to carry.
Shaking his head and looking down at himself he recognized the smell of elfroot on the bandaged part of his side. He was laying on a bundle of furs and only in his trousers. Oxford released a sharp breath of air as he once again tried to sit up.
"I wouldn't advise that." Oxford jumped as a deep feminine voice reached his ears. Turning his head quickly to the source his eyes widen at the sight before him. A tall, hulking female Qunari was standing in front of him a bowl of what seemed to be various herbs in her hand. Her skin was grey like most Qunari however in the firelight he could see a tint of lavender within the grey tones. Her dark brown eyes were filled with concern, and her brown hair was wet telling him that she was out on the rainy coast recently and her horns pointed out and curled inwards similar to a rams. Oxford continued to stare as she stared at him, eventually she sighed and placed the bowl down on a makeshift wooden table near the entrance of the cave.
"Your wound was deep." She continued. "I was lucky enough to find you in time or you would've been dead and your carcass eaten by bears." He flinched at her harsh tone but still watched her wary of her movements. She walked over to him and crouched down extending her hand.
"Where are my manners, I am Aban-Ataashi, but you may call me Aban if you wish." Aban stated. Oxford felt his throat go dry, he was in the lair of the Sea Dragon of the Storm Coast in the past two months reports and rumors have been spreading about a savage beast who killed any bandit who plundered and murder innocents along the shore and outer forests. The last thing the oppressors heard before their death was a rumbling growl and deafening roar before the steel tail beheaded them or cleaved them in half. Aban noticed his fearful look and chuckled.
"Ah, I'm sure you've heard of me then." She retracted her hand and walked back over to the bowl she left near the entrance as she continued talking. "I assure you many of the rumors you've heard about me are hardly true." She sat down on a large boulder in front of the fire pit and iron cauldron, adding the herbs she picked into the stew. "I hardly eat a man's soul and use his power to crush his own allies." She stirred the concoction chuckling to herself. "And I certainly don't sneak into towns and steal young men's wives for pleasure." She gave Oxford a kind smile as he still stared at her.
"W-why?" He asked, voice raspy from misuse as he coughed. Aban quickly got up and received a skin of water for him.
"Drink." She said sternly and the man obeyed, grateful for the soothing liquid. Once satisfied she stood up and he asked again.
"Why? Why save me?" Aban hummed to herself before answering, gathering two wooden bowls and filling them with the steaming stew. She sat down in front of him crossed legged and helped him sit up. Aban handed him a bowl of stew and then began to answer.
"It was merely an act of kindness. I couldn't let an innocent man bleed out on the forest floor." Aban said as she sipped on her food. Oxford stared at her, curious at her blunt answer.
"Not to be rude but, I am hardly innocent. I'm a mercenary for hire; I kill for coin." Oxford said bitterly. The Qunari merely raised an eyebrow.
"So? That is your job you are hired and paid to do it like any other man or woman in the workforce, the same can be said for assassins and military alike, they are paid to protect and or kill." She placed her almost empty bowl in her lap. "Bandits on the other hand kill and plunder out of desperation and greed. They are pitiful and mere scum beneath my foot. They do not care for the innocent whether it be women or children." She spat, eyes darkening and looking down at the floor as if recalling a memory. She took a deep inhale and released her breath slowly. Oxford kept staring.
"You have wisdom in your words." Oxford said, he was slowly but surely warming up to his savior. Aban merely waved her hand in dismissal as she smiled.
"Wisdom or experience, they are one in the same. Eat, you need the energy and rest to recover." Aban stood up and shrugged off her armor, then sitting down on another pile of furs before beginning to polish her armor in content silence. They sat there for a while, Oxford drinking his stew and Aban shining and re-shining her armor.
"Oxford. My name is Oxford." Aban looked up from her work and smiled and chuckled softly.
"Well Met Oxford."
Over the next couple weeks of his recovery, Oxford learned about his Qunari savior more and more. She was quite funny unintentional or not, the first time she cracked a joke, a pun really he literally busted his stitches, she was rather cranky after that event and tried, yet failed to hold back her jokes. At times Oxford wanted to ask if she was Andrastian or another religion following a god or this 'Jesus' she curses when it's one of her bad days. After the first week of being cooped up in the cave Aban helped Oxford outside to let him get some fresh air and sunlight. He was rather surprised to find the natural defences of the tall rocks covering the entrance to Aban's humble abode.
One day about two weeks after his stay with Aban he got to see her in action. She was terrifying, a small group of low life bandits thought it would be a good idea to ambush them along the coast. Obviously they didn't get the memo that the Sea Dragon owned this part of the land. In an instant Aban unsheathed her giant battle axe and went to work, a furious battle roar left her lips as he watched in awe as the Qunari quickly dispatched the threats. As she back to face him, Oxford sucked in a shuddering breath at her eyes, they were no longer the warm pools of chocolate that he saw when she was filled with mirth and kindness. They were solid, dark and calculating. Oxford thanked the Maker and prayed that he would hope to never be on the other end of that gaze.
When he was healed and it was time for him to leave, Aban made absolutely sure he had all the essentials. She gave him a sword and shield, clothing and armor and plenty of dried meats and herbs she combined herself. But as the middle-aged man walked away from the entrance of the cave he looked back at Aban who was seeing him off. He cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed over the sound of crashing waves.
"I'll come back and visit!" He heard her boisterous laugh over the sound of nature as she yelled back her voice much louder than his.
"You better! Who's gonna eat my stew like it's been sent by the Maker himself?" Oxford grinned at his new companion and friend as he returned the laugh, clenching his right fist and banging it over his chest in a respectful salute. In the distance he saw the Sea Dragon smile and shake her head in mock exasperation and returned it. He waved one last time and walked down the coast with no fear, for he knew now that his ally, his friend watched over this land and did everything she could to protect it.
"Ellana, are we there yet?"
"No."
"How about now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No! Fendhis! Would you be quiet!" Viera laughed as he saw Ellana's ears flush in anger and irritation.
"Ir Abelas, Falon. I couldn't help myself." Clan Lavellan were in the process of once again moving back to the Free Marches it was Summer Day, meaning it was another 4 months in Thedas that have past for Viera and that meant in another 4 the conclave would be gathering. Viera sighed to himself as he walked next to Ellana, both on watch protecting the moving clan. Clan Lavellan had accepted Viera with open arms after the first month of him spending time with the clan and trying to repay his thanks in anyway he could. He stilled had memory loss from the fateful day he landed in this realm, nevertheless the clan didn't care. However some were more appreciative than others.
"Ellana." Ah Viera thought. Speak of the devil. "You two should be in the back, you are very skilled Ellana, but she is still learning." Viera scowled at the man's voice and purposeful remark at him. Viera turned his head to look at the tall elf walking beside Ellana. Similar to others within the clan Evunial Lavellan had bronze skin contrasting with the green Vallaslin dedicate to Mythal across his face. His slick black hair was tied back in a ponytail and he walked with a regal air, using the mage staff in his hand as a walking stick. Evunial was the Clan's First however he talked to others as if he was the Keeper himself.
"We are fully capable of holding the front with efficiency lethallin" Ellana replied calmly and continued. "And Viera here can handle himself quite well, he is very skilled with small blades and is catching up to me with the bow." Ellana held her head high and flashed Viera a quick smile indicating her support. Viera returned the smile with a small one of his own and to support Ellana's statement he proceeded to unsheathe his dagger and maneuvered it between his fingers with skill glancing at the pompous mage next to them with a raised eyebrow. Evunial frowned at the display and released a harsh breath through his nose.
"Some parlor trick won't impress me lethallan." Evunial said bitterly. This time it was Ellana growled.
"I would greatly appreciate it, if you would speak to Viera with his proper terms like the rest of the clan does or refrain to not speaking to him at all." Ellana snarled. Evunial simply raised an eyebrow and scoffed before slowing his pace to walk near the back on the traveling party. Ellana jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at Viera who held a calm smile.
"Don't let him get to you El, he's a dickweed." Viera said with conviction and seriousness. Ellana snorted at Viera's strange terms, he had a habit to say strange things when irritated or frustrated. Ellana questioned it at times but he simply replied that he made the words up on the spot.
"How can I when he's so...so Fendhis!" She gripped her white locks in exasperation.
"Annoying? Know-it-all? Asshole?" Viera supplied. Ellana laughed at the choice of words.
"Yes." She replied. After that they lapsed into a comfortable silence that is until Viera asked the dreaded question.
"Hey, Ellana?"
"Yes, Falon?"
"Are we there yet?"
Viera ran off with a laugh and a very irate Hunter of Clan Lavellan at his heels.
Viera knew this day would come, they day Ellana would be sent to the conclave to spy on the meetings and see the outcome between the mages and templars. At the moment the entire clan was together, sitting in a large circle with Keeper Deshanna in the middle. It was silent this was a serious matter, the sheer discussion of this would change the clan.
"As you all know." The Keeper began. "There are talks of the Mage-Templar War will soon be over because of this pivotal meeting at the conclave." The Keeper paced around, mage staff in hand as she looked at each and every one member of the clan. "This is not only important for us as a Dalish clan, but for the world from Antiva to Ferelden." She took a deep breath, releasing a wavering sigh.
"Because of the importance of this gather I have decided to send on of our own, Ellana to spy on the meeting and report her findings back to us." Once this was announced the clan began to murmur among themselves, why not send their First? Evunial as if sensing the unsaid questions around him stood up and spoke.
"Keeper if, I may speak?" Keeper Deshanna raised a brow at her First and waved a hand gesturing him to continue. "Why send one of our clan's best hunter? Ellana has been with us since birth, while others have joined us later than others." He shot a pointed look at Viera who simply stared back at him with a blank look.
"Your point Evunial?" Deshanna replied.
"Why not send Viera, she has been with us for sometime, in the coming two months, a year. We have given her shelter, food, and good company. It is only right to be repaid for our kindness, even with her oddities." Evunial stated calmly pointing out the said outsider.
"Viera has given his skills and insight to this clan. Our new hunters now fight with his dagger style, an effective and deadly art. He has helped protect this clan when unruly shems had the smart idea to attack one of our own." Deshanna replied with a slight edge to her tone.
"No offense Keeper but you will find some in the clan are not agreeing on your decision on sending Ellana." Evunial had his hands behind his back, standing tall and not backing down. Viera on the other hand couldn't help but slightly agree with the pompous ass. He knew if Ellana went to the Conclave she could very well be killed by the explosion caused by the orb. Not only that, but this could be his only chance to find his Venhan, Amaris, and find out what happened to her. Biting his lip and steeling himself, Viera made a decision.
"Evunial is right Keeper." Viera stood up and said.
"Viera!" Ellana hissed behind him. Viera continued, bowing at the waist slightly in respect.
"I thank you Keeper Deshanna and Clan Lavellan for taking me in and caring for me throughout the year. I have helped you with the little things, but I feel I could do more." Viera straightened himself and looked at the Keeper straight in the eyes. "I will go to the Conclave and spy on the meeting as my thanks to you and the clan." Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Evunial smirk a slightly menacing look enhanced by the firelight.
Smug Bastard, if I had my car I would rub that face of yours on a tire. Viera thought. After a tense silence, Deshanna sighed, a tired and weary breath and began speaking once more.
"Very well, Viera, I cannot rebuke your wishes, as I said to you when you first arrived here, you are free to go whenever you wished."
"Keeper-" Ellana stood up quickly behind Viera to protest but Deshanna raised a hand stopping her.
"It is final, Viera you will leave tomorrow at first light, it will take a month to reach Ferelden at a leisurely pace. Once there you will spend another month in Haven until the conclave begins, be sure to send word." Deshanna smiled sadly as she walked up to stand in front of the young elf. "As a gift from me to you da'len I give you the halla you have taken a liken to from your time here."
"Keeper Deshanna, I can't possibly-" Deshanna interrupted Viera by poking him in the chest.
"Hush child, you may feel like you have been a burden to this clan but you have given us so much. You have made us laugh with your strange stories and phrases, taught the hunters to be more efficient with their fighting style, and have given Ellana a dear friend. One she will be devastated to lose." Viera frowned at the last fact, crossing his arms and sighing he nodded at Deshanna with a small smile.
"Very well Keeper, I will accept your gift and gratitude." The older woman simply smiled and turn, walking off to tend to her other duties. Viera huffed through his nose, running a hand through his ginger hair and turned around, coming face to face with a very angry Ellana.
"What was that?" Ellana said with gritted teeth, her longer than normal canines evidently prominent with her expression. Viera chuckled nervously his deep voice reverberating throughout the silence of the forest.
"Uh, a negotiation?" He shrugged hands up as if trying to shield himself from the hunter's anger. Ellana narrowed her eyes, the striking green seeming to be brighter as her anger rose.
"A negotiation? You mean a bargin! Evunial was-"
"Using me I know, who better could be a scapegoat if one gets caught at the conclave? An elf with no clan means no ties back to you, and that means safety, falon."
Ellana growled in irritation gripping her stark white hair as she hissed through her teeth.
"I do not need safety, I am one of the best hunters in this clan I could handle myself, in and out back here before you know it." Viera pointed at her, his own anger from sheer frustration on the matter leaking through.
"And what?" He shot back. "You were just going to leave me here? Other than you, the Keeper, and the pompous First, no one gives a damn about me. Keeper Deshanna spoke to you about the spying matter before this meeting tonight. I know because while I was coming back from a hunt I overheard you and the Keeper speaking of it when you thought you were alone. So when were you going to tell me about it, fen'len?"
Ellana recoiled back as if struck at the anger and disdain in Viera's voice, aimed at her. She took a deep shuddering breath and replied.
"I didn't want to worry you, about the matter." She replied. Viera clenched his fists and glared at Ellana, he didn't want to argue, he hated confrontation yet his friend was making it so hard.
"You didn't want me to worry." Viera repeated. "Ellana, you are my friend, probably the only one I can consider friend in this clan, even for who I am." He patted his flat and compressed chest, hinting at the matter. "Because of that I hold you dear to my heart, I worry for you too. Here you have a family, your family I don't want you to lose that, while me on the other hand, I'm just an outsider not even worth their time." Viera sighed and gave Ellana a tight hug, she recuperated it tightening her arms around him as if he was going to disappear any moment. As they broke the embrace, Ellana placed her hands on Viera's shoulders and looked at him with determination in her eyes.
"You may not feel like family to them, but your family to me, falon." Viera sucked in a sharp breath then released a watery chuckle, eyes glistening with unshed tears as he tried to hold himself together and replied with endearment.
"And me to you Ellana."