faderift | { OPEN } Shine with all the untold

WHO: Ellana + OPEN + various closed starters
WHAT: playing catch up
WHEN: covering the month of Solace until she leaves for Rivain
WHERE: Skyhold

Closed starters in comments, but here's an open option:

{ halla at ya }
Back in the clan, Ellana was close to their halla keeper, Sulahni. She could always tell when Ellana was upset, and told her she needed her help to feed the halla. And since Ellana is a soft-hearted soul who often ties herself into knots over things, she spent a great deal of time with the halla, feeding them out of her hand, helping Sulahni apply salves to their wounds, and just sitting beside them as they gazed at her with understanding eyes. She knows she doesn't have the gift of understanding them like halla keepers do, but she's dedicated to taking care of them here. They've had a long journey and she wants to help them settle.

She hasn't chosen names for them, because they don't belong to her. Halla are free and she doesn't own them. But she would love to have one as a dedicated mount, and she had assumed eventually one would stand out as the one who would allow her to ride it. Imagine her surprise when early on, one took a shine to her, nudging her shoulder for treats and following her around to the edge of their allotted space down in the valley, before she gently had to convince him not to go with her. Everyday she can be found with the halla, either feeding them from her hand or petting them, with one trailing her steps and sometimes setting his chin on her shoulder.

"Would you carry me if I asked you to, brother halla? Would you allow me to give you a name so I can call for you?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Felix smiles a bit. "I'd love to do research with you," he teases just a bit. There is a bit of uncomfortable history at a Tevinter looking into elven history, but if she was there it would be more focused on her and her needs. That had to be better. He'd maybe even be able to help uncover some of what his people had forced her people to lose.

"Though we'd need to stay focused while we're there." Ellana leans into him a little more, batting her eyelashes at him. "Sometimes there are puzzles or traps, and though you're very distracting, I can't let you steal all my attention." If he could just stop being so handsome for five seconds, then maybe she could get things done!

"You know, we found dead Tevinters in that ruin we visited," she adds, though it's not from cleverly reading his mind and his thoughts, but from the conversation she's started leading that way. "At first I wondered if they fell prey to old elven traps, but that wasn't it. It was a slave turning on his master, wanting his freedom while they were far from home and alone." And for both practical reasons and as a snub to that master, she took his staff. He isn't going to need it anymore.

"Ruins can always surprise you, whether there's old magic clinging to them, or something like people arguing and that being their final resting place because of it."

Felix is a little surprised to hear that a slave would do that. Still, even though it meant the death of his countrymen all he can think is good for him. The thought of finding some old magic though, of restoring something that was lost, was almost too tempting.

"That would make the occasional distract worth the risk."

"What do I do that distracts you, hmm? I'll have to make sure not to do it and get us in trouble." Of course, even the most careful person can be caught off guard while exploring ruins. Everything is a mystery and no one can be sure what will come next.

"I meant that your beauty can be a little distracting," he replies, grinning a bit. It's an awkward bit of flirting but he's trying to put them both at ease. Given how grim things had been lately, a bit of levity could be appreciated.

"I'm sure I'll be able to focus when needed."

"You always say the sweetest things," she replies, grinning back at him. "And you distract me even when we're apart. I think of you all the time. I know you must be able to focus more than I can, because I'll catch myself staring off at nothing when thinking of you." It makes her shake her head but giggle at the same time.

"Have I ever mentioned this before? It sounds so silly, but it's true. I can't stop being a romantic, but who wouldn't get distracted dreaming of you, hmm?" She gives his arm a squeeze, hoping her earnest confession isn't falling back into the gushing she tends to do about him. But when a person is a romantic who has found her prince, it's hard to stop.

"You know, sooner or later we'll have to get something wrong, have a fight, or something. It's only natural. It's taking it's time happening though, isn't it?"

Felix feels his cheeks heat up at her words. He doesn't blush often - it would be impossible to blush easily and be close to Dorian - but something about hearing this beautiful woman say she daydreams about him manages to do it.

His smile turns a little goofy as he listens to her but then he tries to lessen it as she asks her questions. "We could find something silly to argue about if you'd like? Just to get it out of the way."

"There's an idea. Hmm." She pauses to think of something silly, but it proves difficult, because there's nothing about him -- not even something silly -- that really bothers her enough to complain about. Maybe she could complain about something unrelated to him and he could disagree?

"Dogs are better than cats?" she tries. She's owned neither in her life, but being here at Skyhold she's seen plenty of both, and the dogs are overall more friendly and willing to approach. Plus Sam can become one. That works in its favor.

He laughs a bit. "Oh no, the Fereldans have gotten to you," he teases a bit. While he mostly tries to overcome his upbringing as a rich elite in Tevinter, there was some opinions that are harder to crush then others.

"Maybe they have!" she admits, giggling in response. "But we're supposed to be arguing here. We can't get off track now. Come on."

"Oh yes," he says. Then he clears his throat as he thinks. "Cats are infinitely better than dogs. For one, they do not drool."

Ellana gasps and places a hand to her chest dramatically. "How dare you! They can't help it. At least they don't scratch, like cats do." There; beat that!

"But they do bark loudly and annoy the neighbors," Felix countered. As he spoke he was smiling, clearly amused by her dramatics.

"Well only to alert their owners to danger," she reasons, reaching up to poke at the edge of his lips. "Now, we're supposed to be arguing and look at this smile."

"I can't help it," he says. He laughs softly at the poke. "You're too adorable."

She can't help but laugh in return. This argument just isn't going to happen if he keeps complimenting her. Felix is so kind, and good, and caring. Her life is better for having him in it.

"And you're too wonderful. I love you."

"And I love you," he says and his chest feels with this odd warmth at having the ability to say that so openly and mean it.

"I'm sure the time will come for a real argument, and we'll have to weather that storm and see where it takes us." A slight pause in which he takes her hand and holds it gently. "I'm sure we'll do fine."

It means a great deal to Ellana to be able to say these words to someone again. A heart -- once broken -- isn't easily mended, and there are always scars left behind. But this feels right and she doesn't want to hold back, especially when Felix is on borrowed time.

"I believe that too. Come on. Let's head back up to the camp."

Felix nods and takes her hand to head back to camp. Even if they had tried and failed at something he still feels a lightness in his heart, something that he has to cherish since he got the taint. Cherishing her, though, seems to be easy to do.

{ OPEN } Shine with all the untold

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