Chapter 3: Dragons, Horses, and Harts, Oh My!
Aban-Ataashi sat at the mouth of her cave skinning a very dead deepstalker for its hide and meat to dry and store. She breathed in the salty air around her and sighed in slight contentment. The conclave would be taking place in two months time, Oxford had come visited now and again to keep her updated on events throughout Ferelden. After his near death event he took up a bodyguard job, jumping straight back into the danger. Aban would always tease the middle-aged man he was getting too old to lift his sword up. She meant it as a double entendre, needless to say he blushed through his dark stubble and reprimanded her like his own child at the vulgarness. She gripped her knife and scowled at the thought of the deaths that would come from the meeting in Haven.
Aban had fought inner battles with herself to interfere with the upcoming events, but found if she put anything even slightly offtrack it could change the whole course of the world and the information she has from playing Inquisition would be null and void. Besides what would people do if she said there would be a terrorist attack at one of the world's most important event? She'd be killed. Aban also kept quiet because she hoped, prayed to whatever higher being that was out there that Naim, her Kadan, had the same idea. If so they could meet at the temple just as the orb is dropped by the wanna-be god. That's if everything goes to plan.
As the qunari started cutting pieces of meat from the animal she heard a begging whine and turned her head at the source.
"Asaaranda, don't give me that look." Aban scolded. Asaaranda, Thunderstorm in qunlat, was a young dragonling that had set up shop with Aban. As of now the young reptile was looking at her eagerly, eyeing the meat in Aban's hand. Sighing, Aban cut a few more strips and threw them to the maturing dragon. She chuckled to herself and shook her head as Asaaranda tore into the small meal, bringing her back to the time when she found the magnificent beauty.
"What in Maker's name is that!" Oxford had just returned from a long mission and had decided to visit his friend. However he wasn't expecting seeing the young qunari woman chopping wood for the next few months with a dragonling napping at her feet.
"It's a dragonling." She started grunting as she chopped a full log in half with ease.
"I bloody damn know what it is, but why is it here?" Oxford warily had his hand on his sword ready to draw if the young dragon even blinked at him. Aban sighed as she turned to face her old friend arms crossed, she eyed Oxford, his black hair slicked back into a small bun, his grey hairs more prominent indicating his age. His stance was wide prepared to launch into battle at any moment. One would not think he would be blind in one eye because of his alert composure. Aban leaned on the cutting post as she replied to him.
"She was injured and dying when I found her, I couldn't just leave her there to die, she wasn't hurting anyone."
Oxford opened and closed his mouth multiple times sputtering. "So you just adopted a dragonling, not only that, a female dragonling who could very well grow into a High Dragon!" His shout startled the sleeping beast who woke up with a start and started growling at the source of disturbance.
"Asaaranda! Katoh! He is a friend." The dragon simply narrowed her eyes at the man and huffed before sitting up and staring at Aban with a tilted head. Oxford's eyes seemed to bulge out of his head at the size of the dragon, sitting down like a Mabari her head reached barley under her breasts. Aban reached a hand down and scratched the underside of Asaaranda's chin. Oxford had to admit, the dragonling was a sight to behold. Dark obsidian scales seemed to gleam in the sunlight on this particular sunny day on the coast. As the dragon's eyes began to close in pleasure from Aban's affections Oxford caught a glance at the violet eyes that seemed to pierce his soul when dragon threatened him earlier.
"Andraste's left tit, I can't believe it." He breathed. Aban simply laughed at his comment and began speaking once more.
"I know the dangers of dragon's Oxford, don't you worry about that, but Asaaranda is special, I can feel it...it's hard to explain really." As she said this Asaaranda huffed two times and Aban's eyes widen as she quickly jumped out of the way. The young dragon sneezed and Oxford could hear the crackle of energy gathering in her throat as she expelled lightning. Aban sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck.
"Well at times she can be unexpected." She said. As Oxford eyed Asaaranda who was now eyeing the scorch mark on the ground and yipping excitedly at her 'accomplishment' he guffawed, falling into a heavy laughter as Aban looked at him with an incredulous look on her face.
"Aban, you never cease to surprise me."
Aban jumped as the sharp crack of thunder startled her out of her thoughts. Cool rain droplets started to fall from the heavens.. She gathered the strips of meat and went inside her cave placing them by the fire to be prepared to smoke and dried. She turned back seeing Asaaranda leisurely lying on a rock formation outside enjoying the rain and energy of lighting all around her. Aban sighed as she looked around her home, she had a pack ready for her travel to Haven, ironically Oxford was to be her 'bodyguard' on the journey, agreeing to join her when she said she wanted to see the events taking place at the conclave. She just laughed at his insistence on protecting her and simply reminded him, because of her size and strength she would most likely end up looking more like the bodyguard to him.
The human turned Vashoth qunari turned her head as she saw Asaaranda walk in the cave and maneuver around her stuff. She would soon be too big to even fit in the cave, she had grown rapidly in the last two months and Aban was afraid how much would change once she left. Asaaranda nudge her snout against Aban's horn silently asking what was wrong. Aban simply smiled and placed both of her hands on the side of the dragon's head.
"Asaa, I will be leaving soon, for a very long time, I am not sure when I will come back." Assaranda seemed to perk at this, maybe she was coming to? Her mother always took her on journeys throughout the rain land. Aban saw the look in her eyes and gave a watery sigh, how had she become so attached to this magnificent beast within the past 4 months? "Asaa I must go, you need to stay here, to be safe." Aban couldn't possibly bring her companion with her to the Conclave if would cause to many questions. "My friend, you must stay here and protect this place from undesirables, do you understand?"
Aban looked into Assaranda's intelligent eyes, she whined as she bobbed her head up and down then bumping her head against her bosom, Aban wrapped her arms around the dragon's neck giving Assaranda a loving embrace. Other than Oxford, Assaranda was her only other friend since she arrived here on Thedas and Aban took that in stride. Aban let silent tears fall onto the scales of Assaranda, unbeknownst to the both of them that their unusual life in Thedas would never be the same.
When Oxford met Aban on the main road with two horses in tow, he knew something was wrong. The qunari had a solemn look on her face, somehow looking even more intimidating when she's upset. Giant Battle-Axe settled on her back, thick leather armor, that she assembled herself with the various hides she's collected whilst on the coast, what topped it off was a bear hide slung on her left shoulder, the head of the bear seeming to swallow it, its hallowed eyes boring into the side of Aban's skull. Oxford grunted in greeting as he handed the reigns to Aban, he knew her well enough that eventually she would talk about it, she just needed to sort her thoughts first.
As the two mounted the horses and started a steady pace towards Haven, Aban couldn't help but look at the place that she had called home for nearly two years, she had protected traders and travelers from bandits and most recently the Blades of Hessarian who just implemented their psychotic leader. Now she was leaving her charge, sure Asaa would protect her home but she couldn't protect the entire shoreline. Aban vented a sigh through her nose if all things go well and she makes it into part of the inquisitions inner circle, coming back here would be a mess. The Venatori for sure would be swarming the Coast as well as the Blades once they realize that the Sea Dragon has disappeared all of a sudden. Aban gripped the reigns of her horse with determination, she would be back, her place here on the rainy and rocky terrain would be an asset to the inquisition.
"I'm gonna miss the place." She finally broke the terse silence. She was glad Oxford understood her as she was. The older man was like a gruff gullible uncle to her. The said man grunted in understanding as they walked along the main road.
"I'm sure Asaa will be fine Aban." He replied. Aban blinked as she glanced at Oxford with a strange look.
"I didn't say anything about Assa." Oxford chuckled as maneuvered his horse around numerous boulders fallen from landslides throughout the path.
"No, you didn't but I see it in your eyes Aban, you look like a Ferelden man who just lost his mabari pup. Lighten up, Asaa is an intelligent beast she'll know you'll be back, you promised her."
Aban cheered up hearing Oxford's words. She straightened her back and smiled gently at the man.
"Yeah, you're right Ox." Oxford grunted at the nickname, that he disliked, but acknowledged her. "Now come on! It's been awhile since I've traveled I wanna see everything. Hya!" She flicked the reigns of her mount and the horse picked up speed leaving Oxford behind sputtering and coughing dirt sent from the startled horse's pick up in speed.
"Now hold on a minute, slow down Aban! Aban!" Oxford chased after the now playful and laughing qunari grumbling to himself.
It was going to be a long journey.
Viera stared at the two moons atop of his makeshift cot. He had left the clan earlier today, Keeper Deshanna the only one to see him off. He released an audible sigh at the recalled memory. Ellana was nowhere to be seen, Deshanna said she was out hunter, meaning in reality that Ellana was avoiding him. Viera grumbled to himself as she turned burying his head into his arm. Ellana didn't even want to say goodbye to him, what friend she was. As Viera drifted in and out of consciousness he was roused suddenly by movement within the trees.
Quickly grabbing his two daggers he stilled himself, crouching in a ready position. His hazel eyes darted back and forth between the foliage. Hearing nature shift behind him, Viera quickly threw a dagger at the source.
"Fendhis!"
Wait, I recognize that voice...oh no, don't tell me. Viera thought.
"Ellana?"
The said elf stepped out of the trees sheepishly, a small cut on her cheek where the dagger glided past adorned her face and she was rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"Ah, hello falon, fancy seeing you out here!" Ellana blushed in embarrassment as she looked at Viera who had his arms crossed and a blank look on his face.
"You followed me." He said blankly.
"A-ah, yes." Ellana nervously replied. Viera breathed a harsh breath through his nose and proceeded to pinch the bridge of it grumbling to himself. He raised his head to look at Ellana, a question on his lips.
"Wait, how did you even catch up to me? I was on a mount!" Viera was answered by a steady breigh from a horse coming up from behind Ellana whose face turned even more red if possible. The Lavallen hunter wrung her hands together, a sign of nervous ticks and tension Viera had come to learn from his friend.
"I didn't want you to be alone at the conclave, I couldn't stand there and act like everything would be back to normal once you left." Ellena stated as she clenched her fists in determination. She continued. "So you're stuck with me no matter what Viera, we stick together, that's what families do."
Viera blinked and rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but alas his friend was still there determined as ever to argue if he denied her demand. Viera sighed to what seemed to be the 5th time in 10 minutes and responded to Ellana.
"You're always so stubborn falon. I can't believe the clan hasn't come after you yet either. You're going to be in a world of trouble with the Keeper once she finds out what you did." Viera sat back down near the fire and gestured Ellana to join him. "Ellana, you're lucky I love you, so we stick together, yeah?"
Ellana's smiled could've blinded Viera if physically possible with how bright it was. In the blink of an eye Viera was tackled with a hug by his friend with numerous thank yous coming out of her mouth.
"Trust me Viera, It will be the adventure of a lifetime! Just you wait!"
You have no idea Ellana Viera thought as he contemplated the future events coming into place, now there was a sudden change to his plans. Instead of reaching the conclave and hoping to find his venhan, he now had to make sure that Ellana would not be caught in the devastating explosion that rocked Thedas to its very core. Viera released a shaky breath as he watched Ellana excitedly express her enthusiasm.
'This is going to be much harder than I thought.'