faderift | (no subject)

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(no subject)

WHO: Felix and Adelaide. Then Felix and OPEN.
WHAT: Felix isn't feeling well and collapses. Adelaide tends to him. After, he's up for visitors but is still very weak.
WHEN: Current.
WHERE: The main hall. Then, Felix's private room.
NOTES: Description of illness?

[For Adelaide]

Felix was probably pushing himself too hard, if he was honest. It was becoming more and more clear every day that his time was running out. He didn't have much left and he wanted to try to get as much done as possible before. He had been up all night drafting letters home urging those he had ties with to support the Inquisition.

Then early in the morning he had gone to visit his father. The elder Alexius had fussed more than anything, but Felix still made the effort to try to see his father as much as he could, while he could. Then came arranging the letters to be sent north.

He was exhausted just doing those few things, though the lack of sleep hadn't been helping. He felt the headache coming on. There was a pounding in his head. It was rhythmic. A song. His ears were ringing with it and his head felt like it was swimming.

He made his way up the stairs to the main hall of Skyhold. He was planning to use this path to get to his room while picking up something to drink along the way, but when he bent to pick up the cup he felt his head swarm. His vision blacked.

He heard the gasps and exclamations from those in the hall as his body fell to the ground, but he wasn't aware of much else outside of that.

[OPEN]

Later he's in his room, resting. His body feels clammy. He's sweating but his skin feels so cold. There's very little color left in his cheeks which seem hallow and thin.

Still, he knows rumors are spreading about his health and he's willing to see visitors if anyone wants to see him.

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"Oh," she says, looking down at her hands. "I think the same can be said for most, if they're good people." The world will be worse once Felix is gone; she feels that for certain.

Her eyelids close and she draws in a deep breath. Coming to Skyhold, she knew she'd have to face some humans who would hate her just for being an elf, but she had hopes that plenty wouldn't mind. And she's been proven right. Felix is just one of those who has shown her respect and kindness, and she doesn't want to imagine this place without him.

"I, um... would you like another story? Or you could tell me one, if you're feeling up to it."

He doesn't think he has the strength to speak that much. His chest hurts and breathing is difficult. He would like to tell her a story about his family, his mother perhaps, but he can't do it.

"Tell me a story," he said after a moment of thinking it over. "Your voice is beautiful."

He doesn't have to keep complimenting her, because she would stay here and entertain him no matter what, but his words sink into her so she can savor them. After a moment, she nods and begins to speak.

"I'll tell you of Elgar'nan and Mythal -- our father god and mother goddess. Elgar'nan's father was the sun, who was jealous that all creatures of the world loved his son better, and so he reached down and burned them to ash. Elgar'nan defeated his father in battle, plunging the world into darkness. His mother, the earth, begged him to release his father so the world would have light again, but in his pride and need for vengeance, he refused, and the earth wept. And so Mythal rose out of the sea created by the earth's tears, and laid her hand upon Elgar'nan's brow, and her touch calmed him. He realized the world needed the sun, so he released his father on the promise he would return to earth each night. Together, Elgar'nan and Mythal rebuild all the sun had destroyed, and Mythal gathered together the pale light that surrounded the sun's bed in the earth and hung it up in the sky to become the moon."

Felix listened to this tale earnestly. The sound of Ellana's voice washed over him, comforting him.

"I think I like the way that Mythal works," he says after a moment of thought. "She sounds like a goddess worth worshiping."

"Yes, she is the one I revere most." Briefly, she passes her fingertips across her cheek. "I've chosen to honor her with my vallaslin. It represents her. She is the goddess of love, family, and justice given to those truly wronged. I hold dear the same things she does."

Felix lets his eyes focus a bit on her blood writing. "I have to say I'd feel devoted to her as well, if I were an elf." He pauses a moment, uncertain if that is offensive to say.

"Did your vallaslin hurt? I know other types of tattoos do, but I think yours might be a different process?"

While Ellana can see why others would choose the other gods, it pleases her to hear Felix say he'd choose Mythal too. "It did hurt, but we're not allowed to show it, otherwise we're not ready to have it done." She smiles softly and lowers her voice, as if not wanting to be overheard.

"We're not supposed to discuss our vallaslin with humans. You won't tattle on me, will you?"

"Oh, Of course not," he says. "I apologize. I didn't meant to cross a line. I've said before, I want you to keep what you have. Tevinter has taken too much away from the elves as it is."

"It's all right, really. There are some things that I could never share, because they're too precious to my people, but others... I feel maybe humans would understand us better if we were more open about who we are. Then the wild stories wouldn't take hold in people's minds. Apparently there's a prominent one saying we sacrifice human babies." Ellana sighs, shaking her head.

Felix made a face. "The same rumors are said of Tevinter."

"At least we know better, don't we?" She thinks she can learn a lot about Tevinter from Felix. Surely there has to be good parts of it too. It produced a person like him, and a person like Krem. And Dorian's not bad either, though she only knows him from his observing the mage council meetings and making a flippant remark every now and again.

"At least in my case there are parts that are better," he says thoughtfully. "I wish it was a place I could say was well all around. Hopefully one day."

"That's what I keep thinking of. One day. One day maybe my people will look towards the future too, instead of just the past. Maybe we'll have permanent homes and won't have to keep running. Maybe Tevinter will be different. Better. Maybe things will be better for mages in the south." Ellana blows out a breath. This is a very heavy topic all of a sudden.

"I think it all starts now. We have to stop Corypheus first, and then rebuild everything. And hopefully it can be better than before." It's only after saying all this that she realizes that Felix won't be around to see any of it, and that starts up a pang in her chest.

Felix knows that he won't but he takes that 'we' to mean that organization, not really the two of them. He imagines he isn't going to make it to the end of the month.

"I know you'll do a good job, Ellana. The Inquisition is a good place to start." He says it with completely confidence in his voice.

"Thank you," she says, sounding a little emotional, but trying her best to not let it show. "For believing in me. I came here to be a part of this group that was helping to stop all these terrible things and keep people safe. We going to make a difference; I know it."

She looks down at her hands, still upset that he won't be there. Again, she thinks how unfair it is.

"I've probably talked your ear off today. Would you like to rest now?"

"I probably should," Felix says a little sadly. He doesn't want her to go, but it's likely a good idea.

"Thank you so much for coming to check on me." Then, after a moment. "I'm sorry we didn't get to make the pillow fortress. Perhaps if I feel a bit better later we can?" He really doesn't think that's going to happen though.

"You're welcome." She wants to reach out and take his hand, but thinks it might be overstepping boundaries. The thought makes her hold back, and she rises from the bed instead.

"Please, don't apologize. Taking care of yourself is more important. When you feel better, we can."

That "when" is entirely too optimistic, even for her. But she'd rather tell him that he will be better, than leave it to ifs and maybes.

"Sleep well, Felix."

He accepts that, because he knows better than to argue over something like that.

"Good night, Ellana," he says. He hopes that they do get the chance to make that fortress, but he wasn't sure it would ever happen.

Giving him a smile, Ellana heads over to the door and gives him a wave before slipping out to allow him his rest. She wants to be able to experience that blanket fortress with him, but doesn't want him to feel badly for not being able to.

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