Despite the fact that they are now into winter and are stationed in the mountains, Skyhold continues to be mostly temperate due to the hot springs underneath. That leads Ellana to take a book from the library outside in order to read in the natural light. The library is so dim and cramped; it's a wonder anyone accomplishes anything inside there. Today she sits on the grass by the barn, her back against a tree as she flips pages in her book. She looks rather absorbed, but after a minute she looks up to clear her head and spots Galadriel nearby. Pleased to see her, Ellana waves.
"Aneth ara," she greets warmly. "How are you today?"
The area near the stable was never truly free of other people, but it was rarely as busy or crowded as the rest of the fortress. On the odd occasion, Galadriel had come upon familiar faces lingering or resting in this place, but that hadn't been her goal today. In fact she'd come to this corner of Skyhold because it was the easiest place to find some meager measure of solitude, some quiet to practice magic, but that endeavor was happily abandoned upon hearing Ellana's greeting.
"I am well enough," Galadriel answered as she crossed the distance to the tree beside the barn. There was some darkness that haunted her but sunlight made banishing those thoughts easier.
The day was bright and beautiful, temperate despite the cold wind off the mountains, and the fact that Ellana had a book with her was unsurprising. The dappled light beneath the trees would have been perfect for reading, or simply for relaxation, and Galadriel could only smile as she stepped into the partial shade and alongside the Dalish elf. She did not sit, not at first, if only because the plain staff in her hands made it an awkward affair.
"And you, mellon nin, how does the day treat you?" Galadriel asked and leaned slightly to peer at the book in her hands. She had learned to read the letters of these lands, but the fondness for embellishment, particularly on the covers of these books, was often too much for her. Whatever Ellana had brought to read, Galadriel couldn't decipher it by cover alone, at least not with any ease.
"I hope I have not interrupted you, is your reading terribly important?"
"Very well, ma serannas." Darkness has touched nearly everyone at Skyhold lately, because the Abomination attack was felt by all, even if they didn't directly witness it. It's made the Council desperate to respond in a way that can satisfy people without giving away their rights.
"Oh, this? It's important to me, but I can finish it any time. It's about old elven sites throughout southern Thedas. I want to familiarize myself with them, so I can explore them someday." She closes the book and sets it aside, more keen to speak with Galadriel at the moment. "Our civilization is all but lost, except for the broken down remnants left behind."
Galadriel cast a short glance at the book as Ellana set it aside. The cover looked so similar to the others in the library, had Ellana not told her of its contents, she might've never known.
"I did not realize there were elven accounts in the library. When I found only the common speech on the pages, I assumed the whole of it was penned by the hands of men," Galadriel admitted and, after a brief moment of consideration, propped her staff against the tree and moved to sit alongside the Dalish elf.
Ruins and broken remnants of older lands were not unusual things, not in any land, and Galadriel knew just how easily something could pass out of mind and be forgotten. Ultimately, all that was required to render cities, countries, even whole civilizations into myth and memory was time. It was something Galadriel lamented deeply, but it was not so deep a hurt that it could stay her curiosity.
"I have heard much about how the elves of Thedas lost everything, but I have not yet been told what was lost, nor how it came to pass. If recounting it does not bother you, I should like to know more about it all."
Ellana's eyes dart to the book, then back to Galadriel, her expression a bit embarrassed. If she could have found a book written by an elf, she would be completely absorbed in it right now.
"It is written by a human man," she says softly. "I haven't been able to find anything on the subject written by elves. Even the elven tales told by Gisharel Ralaferin weren't in a book published by him. He told the humans our stories so they would survive, and the humans published it. Many Dalish think he did wrong, but I don't. Whatever helps others understand us better is fine by me."
But the opportunity to spread elven tales to an elf from another world is one she won't take for granted. She immediately begins telling Galadriel what she knows of the ancient days.
"Our people were once the only intelligent race in Thedas, or Elvhenan as we called it. That means 'the place of our people,' and at that time we were immortal. We lived in beautiful cities, but our capital was at Arlathan. That means 'this place of love.' It was located in the Arlathan Forest, which is in the Tevinter Imperium today. After the elves came the dwarves, and we had no quarrel with them. Then came the humans, and it's said that their presence somehow caused us to lose our immortality. The humans conquered Arlathan and the whole of the empire, taking elves as their slaves. For centuries we lived that way, and as time passed, we lost more and more of our history."
Ellana pauses, allowing Galadriel to absorb all that. It's a hollow ache in her chest, to know so much is gone. Could some of it be recovered if she were to explore some of these ruins herself?
To say that Galadriel was shocked by what she heard would have been a grave understatement. Ellana had spoken well, her answer was clear and concise, but her brevity carried the unmistakable weight of great tragedy; men had taken immortality--had taken an empire from the elves here? They had even taken the name of these lands, dubbed it separately from those who came before--
Centuries? In mere centuries they had done this?
They had been reduced to slaves?
All too quickly the somber faces, the sadness and idle hope in the expressions of the elves here, were put into context. The weary warnings, the longing for a lost home, the delight she saw in them as she called them kin, all of it made far too much sense and Galadriel was struck silent.
It was not often that she found herself wanting of words, but long moments passed as she considered what she'd been told, what she'd seen of these elves, and she found nothing to say. She had been emphatic in her greetings, utterly assured that these elves would be counted among her people, that they were no farther in relation than the elves who refused to travel to Aman, and that opinion had not changed. When she had first seen the Dalish, she had taken comfort in the fact that, even diminished, mortal, and wandering, her people remained themselves. It cheered her, that they had not degenerated to the darkness, had not simply become another shade of mortal man, lost to time and the marring of the world. Now?
She found that there was far less comfort to take.
But, perhaps that wasn't entirely correct.
Galadriel glanced at the book and her brow dipped in thought. If the ruins were all that remained, it was no wonder she had been unable to find elven accounts among the books and scrolls the Inquisition kept. No such accounts existed. Yet, even without such things, Ellana found an opportunity for learning, for discovery, and it was hard to grieve in the face of such hope.
"And so you search for what remains?" Galadriel asked and looked back at Ellana.
When she sees the look on Galadriel's face, Ellana wishes she would have broken this to her in a gentler way. But how could she soften the blow? It's as bad as it sounds. Maybe now Galadriel realizes why the elves here look on her the way that they do. She is tall, elegant, and refined, and wisdom radiates from her very being. She is what elves used to be, or so the stories say. Wise, powerful, incredible people that were beaten down into the dirt until they became shadows of their former selves. They are still a strong, proud people, but what more did they used to be?
Ellana knows that they'll never regain it all. Times are too different now, and walking through a ruin isn't going to reveal a gigantic library of old elven texts that describes the day to day lives of her ancestors. She does want her people to more forward and not cling to these broken remnants indefinitely, but she also doesn't want to dismiss their past entirely. If she finds one thing, one little thing in a ruin that can expand the story of her people, she would consider it a successful trip. And if she finds nothing? Well, then at least she got to see a piece of their history.
"Yes, or, well, I eventually want to search for it. After my duty to the Inquisition is done." Or if the Inquisition suddenly decides it's worth exploring elven ruins.
The thought of seeking out the ancient places, of lingering and looking for remains was...to Galadriel, deeply unappealing. But, then again, any ruins that lingered in Arda were reminiscent of times she lived through--would she feel otherwise if she had not? If they were reduced to ruin before her time?
The longer she considered her answer the more clear the feeling became.
"A worthy desire," Galadriel remarked, thoughtfully. Longing was not the same as discovery; Ellana's desires held only a distant, second hand sorrow, one that was easily eclipsed by wonder. Galadriel wished upon her all the wonders of this world.
"Should I remain when all is done, I should like to see these places as well. It has been far too long since I last explored the unknown."
It doesn't cross Ellana's mind that Galadriel wouldn't feel the same about seeing the ruins of her world. At least it doesn't cross her mind at first. But she's young and mortal, and so it makes perfect sense to her that seeing the broken down remnants of the past would cause a stirring of feelings. It would bring forth an image in her mind of the ruin when it was newly built, guessing at what it would look like and the elves that walked there.
But Galadriel's tone of voice leaves Ellana curious, and she suddenly realizes that to someone as old as Galadriel, that she must have seen the ruins of her world when they were new. And that would bring a different reaction on seeing them again so long after the first viewing. Galadriel could probably remember when they were new.
"Would you? Oh, I would love to take you. They may not be easy to find, and perhaps old magic lingers there that might make it dangerous, but if you're willing, I would be pleased to have you with me."
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For Galadriel
"Aneth ara," she greets warmly. "How are you today?"
no subject
"I am well enough," Galadriel answered as she crossed the distance to the tree beside the barn. There was some darkness that haunted her but sunlight made banishing those thoughts easier.
The day was bright and beautiful, temperate despite the cold wind off the mountains, and the fact that Ellana had a book with her was unsurprising. The dappled light beneath the trees would have been perfect for reading, or simply for relaxation, and Galadriel could only smile as she stepped into the partial shade and alongside the Dalish elf. She did not sit, not at first, if only because the plain staff in her hands made it an awkward affair.
"And you, mellon nin, how does the day treat you?" Galadriel asked and leaned slightly to peer at the book in her hands. She had learned to read the letters of these lands, but the fondness for embellishment, particularly on the covers of these books, was often too much for her. Whatever Ellana had brought to read, Galadriel couldn't decipher it by cover alone, at least not with any ease.
"I hope I have not interrupted you, is your reading terribly important?"
no subject
"Oh, this? It's important to me, but I can finish it any time. It's about old elven sites throughout southern Thedas. I want to familiarize myself with them, so I can explore them someday." She closes the book and sets it aside, more keen to speak with Galadriel at the moment. "Our civilization is all but lost, except for the broken down remnants left behind."
no subject
"I did not realize there were elven accounts in the library. When I found only the common speech on the pages, I assumed the whole of it was penned by the hands of men," Galadriel admitted and, after a brief moment of consideration, propped her staff against the tree and moved to sit alongside the Dalish elf.
Ruins and broken remnants of older lands were not unusual things, not in any land, and Galadriel knew just how easily something could pass out of mind and be forgotten. Ultimately, all that was required to render cities, countries, even whole civilizations into myth and memory was time. It was something Galadriel lamented deeply, but it was not so deep a hurt that it could stay her curiosity.
"I have heard much about how the elves of Thedas lost everything, but I have not yet been told what was lost, nor how it came to pass. If recounting it does not bother you, I should like to know more about it all."
no subject
"It is written by a human man," she says softly. "I haven't been able to find anything on the subject written by elves. Even the elven tales told by Gisharel Ralaferin weren't in a book published by him. He told the humans our stories so they would survive, and the humans published it. Many Dalish think he did wrong, but I don't. Whatever helps others understand us better is fine by me."
But the opportunity to spread elven tales to an elf from another world is one she won't take for granted. She immediately begins telling Galadriel what she knows of the ancient days.
"Our people were once the only intelligent race in Thedas, or Elvhenan as we called it. That means 'the place of our people,' and at that time we were immortal. We lived in beautiful cities, but our capital was at Arlathan. That means 'this place of love.' It was located in the Arlathan Forest, which is in the Tevinter Imperium today. After the elves came the dwarves, and we had no quarrel with them. Then came the humans, and it's said that their presence somehow caused us to lose our immortality. The humans conquered Arlathan and the whole of the empire, taking elves as their slaves. For centuries we lived that way, and as time passed, we lost more and more of our history."
Ellana pauses, allowing Galadriel to absorb all that. It's a hollow ache in her chest, to know so much is gone. Could some of it be recovered if she were to explore some of these ruins herself?
no subject
Centuries? In mere centuries they had done this?
They had been reduced to slaves?
All too quickly the somber faces, the sadness and idle hope in the expressions of the elves here, were put into context. The weary warnings, the longing for a lost home, the delight she saw in them as she called them kin, all of it made far too much sense and Galadriel was struck silent.
It was not often that she found herself wanting of words, but long moments passed as she considered what she'd been told, what she'd seen of these elves, and she found nothing to say. She had been emphatic in her greetings, utterly assured that these elves would be counted among her people, that they were no farther in relation than the elves who refused to travel to Aman, and that opinion had not changed. When she had first seen the Dalish, she had taken comfort in the fact that, even diminished, mortal, and wandering, her people remained themselves. It cheered her, that they had not degenerated to the darkness, had not simply become another shade of mortal man, lost to time and the marring of the world. Now?
She found that there was far less comfort to take.
But, perhaps that wasn't entirely correct.
Galadriel glanced at the book and her brow dipped in thought. If the ruins were all that remained, it was no wonder she had been unable to find elven accounts among the books and scrolls the Inquisition kept. No such accounts existed. Yet, even without such things, Ellana found an opportunity for learning, for discovery, and it was hard to grieve in the face of such hope.
"And so you search for what remains?" Galadriel asked and looked back at Ellana.
no subject
Ellana knows that they'll never regain it all. Times are too different now, and walking through a ruin isn't going to reveal a gigantic library of old elven texts that describes the day to day lives of her ancestors. She does want her people to more forward and not cling to these broken remnants indefinitely, but she also doesn't want to dismiss their past entirely. If she finds one thing, one little thing in a ruin that can expand the story of her people, she would consider it a successful trip. And if she finds nothing? Well, then at least she got to see a piece of their history.
"Yes, or, well, I eventually want to search for it. After my duty to the Inquisition is done." Or if the Inquisition suddenly decides it's worth exploring elven ruins.
no subject
The longer she considered her answer the more clear the feeling became.
"A worthy desire," Galadriel remarked, thoughtfully. Longing was not the same as discovery; Ellana's desires held only a distant, second hand sorrow, one that was easily eclipsed by wonder. Galadriel wished upon her all the wonders of this world.
"Should I remain when all is done, I should like to see these places as well. It has been far too long since I last explored the unknown."
no subject
But Galadriel's tone of voice leaves Ellana curious, and she suddenly realizes that to someone as old as Galadriel, that she must have seen the ruins of her world when they were new. And that would bring a different reaction on seeing them again so long after the first viewing. Galadriel could probably remember when they were new.
"Would you? Oh, I would love to take you. They may not be easy to find, and perhaps old magic lingers there that might make it dangerous, but if you're willing, I would be pleased to have you with me."