{ OPEN }

[serannas]

WHO: Ellana Ashara + OPEN (with closed starters for Sabriel, Sina, and Merrick)
WHAT: Ellana returns to Skyhold from Emprise to catch up with people and settle back into life here.
WHEN: Guardian 20th through the end of the month.
WHERE: Skyhold

{ open }
After Ellana fulfills her duties in Emprise du Lion, she's allowed the opportunity to return to Skyhold or stay and wait for more assignments. But after everything that's happened while she's been away -- especially to her friends -- she wants to see Skyhold in person again. The journey back is thankfully uneventful, and as she gets through the front gate, she already has a list of people to see. But over the coming days, she settles back into a routine around the place, namely: visiting the mounts in the stables and petting those who seem agreeable to it, taking supplies down to the refugees encamped down in the valley below, reading out in the sunshine, or practicing with her new lute, which is a birthday present to herself.

[ ooc: feel free to have your character know it's Ellana's birthday from a scout if they want to give her a present. it's on Guardian 22nd! ]


{ sabriel }
Ellana is looking forward to getting back to Skyhold and flopping back into the bed she shares with Sabriel. It's not that sleeping in a bed roll is tough, seeing how she's done it her whole life, but her bed is something new and wonderful, and she's actually missed it. Coming into Skyhold, she sees not much has changed after the event with the rift. She heads to her room, drops her bag, and flops back onto the bed, sinking her head into the pillow and sighing happily. She'll unpack later. For now, she'll rest until Sabriel turns up and the two can catch up.

{ sina }
Hearing about what happened to Sina made Ellana want to return home, but she couldn't abandon her duties to the Inquisition, and she was assured Sina was recovering. Still, after resting from her journey back, she goes to find Sina to see how she's doing. There's a quick stop to the gardens first, where she picks some flowers. Her eye catches the Dalish memorial in the corner and she kneels beside it for a moment, relieved that Sina's name doesn't have to be added to her clan's stone. Then she returns to her goal of finding Sina.

{ merrick }
First Sina, then Merrick. Sam had told her what had happened to him via crystal and she had burst into tears. But Merrick was strong and Ellana had known he could beat the poison in his system. She also knows that what Merrick likes doing with Ellana more than anything else is to sit and sing, so she travels down to the merchant stalls with coins jiggling together in her purse, hoping the lutes she once saw there haven't all been bought up yet. She's been saving up to buy herself a lute for her birthday, and now the time has come. Thankfully, there are several available in her price range, and she selects one, testing it out. It will suit her, and she pays, taking the lute and adjusting the strings until it sounds as near enough to Zevran's as she can get. She still doesn't know many songs, but it's a start. And she can play for Merrick. Since the lute has no strap (she'll have to find someone to make one) she carries it in hand as she searches for her friend.

Comments

[eolasemah]

Sina has been convalescing in a tent in the garden, laid out just for her and Nari, to be away from the hubbub of the healing tents and to keep Sina near her favorite part of Skyhold.

She is awake when Ellana arrives, but still weak. She's sitting up and reading on her cot, pillows supporting her back, covered in blankets with a hot cup of tea sitting on a small table beside her. Her hair is unbound and frames her pale face, which lights up in surprise when she sees who has come to visit her.

"Ellana," she rasps, her voice audible but lacking considerably in power.

[serannas]

When she sees Sina, Ellana has to fight the tears. She knows she can be oversensitive, but she really is trying to do better and stay calm. She draws in a deep breath even as her lashes grow wet and gives her friend a smile before kneeling beside the cot and offering the flowers.

"Not a very unique gift, I know," she starts, "But one I thought you'd like. How are you, lethallan?" Her brow furrows and she adds, "Does it hurt too much to talk? Don't force yourself on my account."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin doesn't make it back from Emprise du Lion until the tail-end of the month, thanks to dragons. However, when she returns it isn't unprepared. A passing scout alerted her to Ellana's birthday days so, and after drilling said scout about her preferences/plans, came up with something. After she's sent her armor to get repaired, the Vashoth mage will seek out her fellow council member for some gift-giving. The lute music gets her attention, of course, and she approaches with a small smile on her face. Normally, she wouldn't interrupt, but there's a reason to speak up.

"That lute must be heavy. Hopefully this will be enough to fix that..." Hence, the strap that she's holding out now.

[serannas]

Ellana is working on a simple song, but is having some trouble with the speed it's meant to be played at. She looks a little flustered when Korrin arrives, but looks up and grins when she sees the gift.

"Korrin! Oh, ma serannas-- thank you. This is just what I need." Taking the strap, she attaches it to either end and then stands to put the lute on her back. She adjusts where the strap sits on her shoulder, looking pleased.

"It's perfect! And the lute has been a pain to carry around in my hands, yes. How did you know I had one?"

[gatheringstorm]

That grin is all Korrin needs, and she returns it as Ellana adjusts the strap as need be. The coin spent is well worth it to make a friend happy. And after spending time in a land of silverite and dawnstone everywhere, coin is definitely not an issue for her.

"I overhead a scout back in Emprise du Lion say it was your birthday, so I asked some questions and learned you were interested in buying one." No intimidating on purpose, honest. Though with her looming over the poor guy, he might have been quicker to respond than otherwise. "I had to stay and help with the dragon problem, but consider it a belated gift."

[serannas]

Her face is all surprise, but then she laughs.

"I guess he was the one who took down my name and birthday when I officially joined the Inquisition." And really, it's nice to be remembered this way. Now she just needs to discover Korrin's birthday too.

"Well, I love it." Though she does move to take the lute off so she can sit once more. "And how was the dragon problem? Not a problem anymore, I hope?"

[gatheringstorm]

"I'm glad. I figured even if you already had a strap, you could still switch them out as you please." Sitting down beside her to spare both their necks, Korrin sighs contentedly. She's grateful for the chance not to move for a little while; riding on a very uncomfortable mount doesn't count towards that.

"No, the villagers are safe from high dragons now. There were actually more than we thought; another dragon no one saw previously had claimed a third ring as its lair. I didn't fight that one, but Cassandra, Jamie, Merrick and I faced one of the ice-breathers that decimated the tower camp. Merrick saved my hide at least once; that tail-swipe could have flung me clear off the battlefield, if he hadn't warned me in time."

[serannas]

Her eyebrows lift, and she blows out a breath. She hadn't been in Skyhold when Merrick was poisoned, for all the good she would have done, and now he's been off fighting dragons.

"He's bounced back quickly, hasn't he? I saw him right when I returned, and then he was off again." She shakes her head. "I know he's seen more fighting than I have, but he's still the youngest of us here. I worry. And now it sounds like I should be worrying about you too. Here I thought nothing would be able to harm you, but a dragon would do it."

[foodsofmypeople]

Kaidan hadn't been out to the Emprise - had mostly kept himself to Skyhold, working on the research he'd set himself. He was starting to feel restless though. He hadn't done nothing for the best part of almost twenty years, when he was last in the Circle, and it meant that he had far too much time on his hands.

Right now he was in the stables, whiling away the time there as he took stock of the animals there, and wondered if he could borrow one to go to Redcliffe, to do anything useful. It was a somewhat pensive Kaidan who rounded the corner, almost running into Ellana. "Oh, I'm so sorry!"

[serannas]

"Oh!" Ellana startled in response, a hand flying up towards her mouth. But then she calmed herself and let out a gentle chuckle. The middle of Skyhold's stable was hardly the best location for an ambush, and now that she saw who it was, she knew she was safe.

"Warden Kaidan," she greeted, hand lowering to her side. "It seems we were both a little too lost in our thoughts, weren't we?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin just smiles and shrugs, not completely brushing off the concern but not about to play it up either, not when she emerged intact. "Hey, I made it through. My armor got the worst of it, but most of the time my barriers held. Knight-Enchanter training is the best thing that ever happened to me, dragon-wise. It didn't matter if the damned thing drew me in, since I could still fight it close-range. And that way, I could still protect everyone."

She sobers a bit as her thoughts turn to Merrick and what happened, though. "I was surprised about him bouncing back, too. Relieved, but surprised. Not that he didn't have the best of care, of course, but I was useless on that end and couldn't stick around. Not when there were Crows to find. That he and Zevran made it through is a miracle I won't soon forget."

[serannas]

"Oh, yes. They tend to flap their wings and that drags everything in close, doesn't it?" Ellana has never faced a dragon before, but she thinks she could do it, with people like Korrin by her side.

"They were lucky," she replies softly, but she looks up with a smile, not wishing to bring down the mood. "If you ever had any doubts that elves could be as hardy as dwarves, there's your answer."

[gatheringstorm]

Likewise wanting to remain on the lighter side of things, Korrin smiles at that last part. "Indeed, I'll never underestimate elven resilience now. Others should take lessons."

That reminds her, it's been a bit since she's checked in on and gently ribbed either of them. She'll change that, though isn't in a hurry to abandon Ellana. "And yes, that's the second most annoying tactic they have. That shriek is the worst one, though; there's no real way to defend against it. I swear my ears are still ringing."

[serannas]

"Hmm, stuff cotton into your ears, perhaps?" Hey, Ellana is trying to help. But seeing how she's never faced one, she's a bit lacking in dragon fighting advice. Surely the Nevarrans among them have some tips. They pride themselves on their country's history with dragon hunting.

[gatheringstorm]

Well, Korrin's heard worse ideas. She shrugs, looking thoughtful. "That shriek sounded like it could get through anything, though that isn't to say we shouldn't try. And I really doubt those are the last high dragons we'll encounter, clustered like that or not. Maybe the quartermaster can come up with something, though I'm not getting my hopes up too high.

You'd have been a great help, by the way. That thing was vulnerable to fire, and between two mages, I'm sure we could have worn it down a lot faster pummeling it with fire together."

[serannas]

Ellana perks up at that, liking the idea, even though it's too late to be a part of it.

"I remember we spoke once about how we liked the storm tree, but I think everyone knows me for my fire spells. That's all right. It's what I know best of all." And the best magic is the kind you don't have to think very hard about. It flows out of you as easily as mana flows in.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin would definitely agree with that sentiment, which is why she relies on lightning spells as much as she does. It's what she knows best, and can manipulate the easiest. She notes how Ellana perks up and grins. "Next time I'm alerted there are ice dragons in the area, I can pass on news if you'd like. Then we can prepare to kick ass together."

That talk reminds her of something else they discussed, and she raises an eyebrow. "Are you still interested in rift magic as a possible path? How is that coming along?"

[paperwing]

Sabriel knew Ellana would be back soon, but not exactly when, so her entrance is unannounced - and somewhat precarious, books from the library in the nook of her elbow, one open along her forearm, and a faintly steaming cup of tea in the other, more cold than hot. She shuffles in backwards, still reading, expertly placing the cup of tea on the dresser without look and then, finally, she notices her roommate with a marked note of surprise.

It was fortunate she had not been here a half hour earlier, or else her birthday present would have been unwrapped and in view, and not stashed discreetly at the back of the wardrobe behind her armour. If Ellana was back, that meant the rest of her Warden kin had also returned - or those who had ventured to Emprise du Lion and Valeska's Watch, at least. Which meant Scipio was also back, but, she halts that train of thought. She will see him at the tavern later, surely, as they promised - Ellana was here now, with news, and company. Not that was against asking after Scipio - later.

Sabriel recovers from her earlier surprise to rearrange her face into an easy smile. "Missed sleeping in a bed already, I see."

[foodsofmypeople]

He smiled at Ellana once he saw who it was, calming down as he realised he wasn't being attacked. "There is a lot of that going about," he said, nodding at her. "I didn't hurt you did I?" He was rather taller than she was, after all.

[serannas]

"Please do. I'd like to get out there and kick some ass." She is still green when it comes to combat, but she hopes to improve. When she joined the Inquisition, she wasn't exactly sure what role she could play, and defaulted to common soldier because it seemed what someone who was undecided should do. Now she's on the mage council and there's more she can contribute, but that doesn't mean she'll stop fighting to protect others.

"Oh, that," she says to Korrin's question, releasing a sigh that makes her shoulders sag. "I'm a bit stuck on that actually. Maybe discussing it will help? The thing is, I'm undecided if I should go down that path or not. After what happened to Sina, I'm wary about the power of these rifts, but at the same time, if we don't study them and learn to control them, they could control us. Do you know what I mean?"

[serannas]

Ellana is lightly dozing, but the door opening rouses her and she rubs at her eye, forcing herself back to alertness. Sabriel is impressive with that stack of books and drink, and she merely watches her until Sabriel notices she's there. Then she laughs and swings her legs off the bed to stand.

"Like you wouldn't believe," she answers, coming over to give her friend a hug. She feels they've easily come to that point, sharing quarters as they do. "It's hard to give up once you try it."

[serannas]

"Not at all," she assured him, moving back a step to calm the hart who hadn't expected two people to nearly crash into each other, and was looking a little skittish as a result. Ellana made soft shushing noises and petted the creature's nose until she calmed, before she spoke again to Kaidan.

"Harts aren't exactly like halla. They're bigger, and their horns stick straight out instead of flowing back like hair caught in a breeze. But they still remind me of halla a little. More than horses, at any rate. Back home, I used to help our halla keeper feed them sometimes. They're good listeners. I don't think the harts are as understanding."

[gatheringstorm]

Frowning in thought, Korrin nods. "I think so. What we don't know could very much harm us, as the world keeps demonstrating. Maybe learning more about this rift magic could lead towards finding out a way to help Sina and others less severely affected. Maybe. It's all connected to the Fade, so it's...possible? But it's also a new, untested kind of magic. From what I've seen of Your Trainer, it definitely takes a toll if you're not careful. Please don't forget your own name, Ellana."

[eolasemah]

Sina returns the smile, weakly extending a hand to take the flowers. She holds them to her nose and closes her eyes, sighing in the pleasing scent. "Serannas," she says, "they are perfect." Resting her head back on the pillow, she angles it to look at Ellana. "I'm awake," she answers, a bit wryly, in response to how she is. "How was Emprise de Lion?"

[serannas]

"I definitely don't want that," she says, fighting a frown. "There's so much I want to do and see, and I don't want to forget it all, not to mention forget how much I want it all." She pities Your Trainer and wonders who she was before she started studying the rifts. Is she the type of person who would hate who she is now, or would she be pleased to have unlocked the power of the rifts at the expense of everything else?

"There's time to think it over. I doubt all these rifts are going anywhere soon."