It took nearly an hour of sitting in that barrel before I felt a knock on the side.
"We're coming up to the port, I don't recognise the guards here so keep quiet until you hear me shout: Tally Ho."
"Tally Ho?" I scoffed at the preposterous signal. Not that he could hear me, but still I was grateful to him and it dawned on me then that I would never get the opportunity to thank him. The guard said his name was Gord. Gord the Bargemen, hopefully after all this I'd be able to give him a proper thank you and an apology. I know how sailors are about their boats and unwanted boarders.
"Makers tits, I think they're Tevinters." I heard Gord and I could hear the nervousness in his voice. "Think I know why you needed smuggling, girl, and I can't rightly say I won't be wary of sending you off to the wolves. What with the knife ear- ahem, what with being an elf and all."
I rolled my eyes at his remark and fidgeted as I could feel a cramp bubbling up in my foot. Worst possible time. This was really starting to get uncomfortable, if not for the fact that I was curled up like a snail shell then it was all the damned fish staring at me from all angles. I sighed, regretting it immediately due to the smell but thankfully I would be out soon. Hopefully. I soon felt the creaking and swaying of the wooden boat stop and heard distant voices.
"Delivery of fish, serahs." Gord called out and I heard mumbling and then a sharp call out to unload the barrels. It was at this point that my heart was truly in my mouth. I don't know what they'd do if they somehow found me hiding, or what they'd do to Gord, that thought was more nerve wrecking. I heard each barrel being dragged across the wooden planks and then lifted ashore, one, two three... Finally the whole world toppled sideways as I felt the barrel drag, subsiding my wretch as all the fish fell into my face. I was lifted then and carried for a small stretch before being set back down with a harsh thud. All I could do was wait now. I could still hear the Tevinters chatting as they shifted each barrel but after the tenth one their voice grew distant.
"Tally Ho then, Serahs!" Gord shouted, his voice cracking with emphasis. The coast must've been clear, still I was careful, slowly peaking my head out over the bundle of fish until I finally got fresh air. It was bloody marvellous. As I looked around, true enough I was relatively in the clear, the two Tevinter guards sat a few yards away right on the port chatting and playing cards, they wouldn't notice me, not now that it was night and darkness had fallen. It was a clear night but the moonlight created easy shadows to hide in, I wouldn't have to sneak around for long, as soon as I hit the village I could just blend in.
With an affirmative nod at my plan I stealthily climbed out of the barrel, cringing and every flop and slap of a fish hitting the ground. Luckily it wasn't loud enough for them to hear. When I fully emerged from my fishy prison, I was struck by a how damp I now was and how cold the night was. Bloody stupid fish, sliming all over me, I'd catch my death like this. Finding an inn with a fire would be my next priority.
Finally, with a lot of tiptoeing and sneaking up the hill, I made it to the village. It was still fairly busy, as traders were just closing up shop now that night had fallen and the tavern was easy enough found. It was rowdy enough but that made it easier to blend in. I prayed to mythal that the blasted fish smell hadn't lingered too pungently. A strangers loud, "Phaw, what's that smell?" Dashed any hope of that, unfortunately.
I hastily bought a room for the night and ordered a bath. It was too late to go around asking questions about Tevinter magisters, and I'm sure The Herald and co had a lot of other pressing matters to deal with in Orlais, hopefully that would buy me more time.
As far as usurped villages went however, Red Cliff seemed quite at piece. At a first glance. Looking closer I saw the shifting eyes of the Patrons as they checked corners and shadows. For what? Possibly evil Tevinters ready to pounce on them. I couldn't blame them really, Tevinter was the enemy of the south and you didn't get much more south than Ferelden. This occupation must have went against every instinctual bone in their body, I was surprised they stood for it, really. To have a bunch of rebel mages invite a Tevinter Magister to rule them was hardly what you'd call courteous either. Why did they need the Magister? So many questions I had no answers to, not that I cared much when I sank into my warm bath. It was quite lovely, whatever soap the land lady gave me was beautiful, like pine and lemons. I felt gorgeously tired afterwards too, and for a while I somewhat forgot that the world was ending; that I was sent here to spy in order to secure an alliance to decide the fate of Thedas. No, in that moment I was just an elf settling down in a comforting tavern. Listening to the bustling laughter below and allowing my head to sink wonderfully into the pillow.
In my dream that night I had flashes of things and places I didn't recognise. They rushed by me in almost a blur, as if I was running through a life that went by in a second. The noise of every moment lived buzzing around me, laughter, cries, shouting, whispers I could barely catch glimpses. My mother's voice stood out, others did too and I assumed they were from the alienage because I could recognise them yet I did not. Suddenly it all stopped, there was silence as I lay on my back on a soft bed, the night sky and tall twisting trees above me. I felt so utterly peaceful that if I closed my eyes I would fall asleep immediately. But I didn't want to lose sight of that beautiful night sky. I'd never seen so many stars before, all I could do was gape in awe.
"Are you ready, Nevalla?" Said a low soft voice, the melodic tones of it instantly recognisable. I turned to my right and there she sat, my beautiful mother. Ashen blonde hair aglow in the moonlight, crystalline eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She smiled softly though, reassuringly and I nodded. I didn't know what for but I was ready. I took her hand and squeezed, giving her my own reassuring smile.
"You'll be here when I wake up won't you?" I whispered. She nodded immediately, one tear slipping over the brim of her eyes. She leaned in closer then and squeezed my hand harder.
"I will never leave you, dhalen. Not for one second. Remember that Valla, I will never leave you." She said, her eyes not leaving mine and I knew she spoke the truth, there was a determination in her tone that told me she would take on the world if it meant that I would be safe.
"I know." I whispered and she kissed my hand.
"Go to sleep now, little bird." She said softly. Her other hand stroking my hair and suddenly a tiredness washed over me as I felt my soul reseeding into the beyond. As the world grew black and the chirping of crickets and night birds finally subsided, I fell asleep with only the dulcet tones of my mother singing me her lullaby as I finally slipped into the endless dream.
*Complete steal off The Hobbit, I know...