"The Dalish and the Halla" Orana/Merrill 5.1/?
anonymous
October 29 2012, 14:07:08 UTC
A!A here. I still haven't finished this chapter but I wanted to post something rather than just leaving it till I was done. Hoping to get the rest done really soon, at least before NaNo begins. Hope you enjoy.
~
Predictably, Orana doesn't see Merrill around the estate very much after her argument with Master Hawke. She carries on with her duties and Master Hawke doesn't treat her any differently. He has noticed the halla brooch and remarked on it. She's surprised that she's allowed to keep it even after telling Master Hawke it was a gift from Merrill. He simply seems glad that she's found a friend of sorts.
It's weeks before she sees Merrill again, and despite her apprehension, Orana finds herself missing the other elf. Things are tense at the estate, events that she knows nothing of and she can only pick up bits and pieces about the Qunari and blood mages. She's seen the Qunari around when she's accompanying Mistress Hawke, despite for the most part they stay around the docks. Mages however are confined to the Gallows, though they are nothing like the mages she remembers of Tevinter. The mages here remind her of herself when she first arrived, terrified and utterly alone.
When she returns from the market, a bouquet of white lilies are in a vase on one of the tables while Mistress Hawke fusses with them. "Oh, those are lovely, Mistress," she says. Mistress Hawke nods. "Aren't they? I don't know who they're from, it seems I have a secret admirer." "Really? Does Master Hawke know?" "Not as far as I know. But he'll worry, like he always does. I can't blame him, not really but he seems to think I should be happy to be cooped up here all the time." "You need out Mistress, I know how much you enjoy your walks." "Indeed." Mistress Hawke notices the bags she's carrying and approaches her. "Here, let me help you with that. It's another hour before I need to leave and visit Gamlen."
As always Orana is about to protest about the lady of the house doing anything so menial as helping her carry some bags. As always, her protestations are cut off and Mistress Hawke carries half the bags and helps to put them away before she leaves.
This is the last time Orana sees her.
~
It's nightfall when Gamlen comes to the estate looking for Mistress Hawke. Orana doesn't like him. He makes comments and constantly smells of drink. "You there! Elf. Where's Leandra? Is she here?" he says upon seeing her. Orana squeaks and jumps. She wasn't expecting him to be there in the hall, she didn't even hear him come in. "Quickly girl. Answer me! Where's Leandra?" Orana shakes her head, her breath shaky and catching in her throat. She wants to hide, to get out of his way and let Master Hawke deal with him. Master Hawke however isn't here. She opens her mouth to answer him, to tell him Mistress Leandra isn't there, but no words come out. She simply stands there, becoming more flustered and scared which only serves to frustrate Gamlen more.
She's saved when the doors open and Master Hawke and Master Anders return. They're covered in blood, both looking tired and Gamlen forgets about her completely, striding over to them. Gamlen and Master Hawke exchange words before Master Hawke turns and runs out of the door. Master Anders is after him in seconds. Orana waits till they're gone and flumps to the floor.
It's another week before she sees Master Hawke again.
~
Leandra is dead.
Master Anders returns some hours later. Orana cannot sleep, too worried about Mistress Leandra now that too much time has passed for her simply to be taking a walk. He gathers Bodahn, Sandal and herself and informs them of what's happened. A mage has killed Leandra, Master Hawke is not in a good way, understandably. Orana thinks of her father and wants to cry. She holds back until Master Anders has left and she is back in her own room. Once there, she curls up on her bed, hugs her pillow and sobs into it.
Mistress Leandra is gone. Master Hawke is gone and Orana can't help but wonder if he's coming back.
Hope you enjoy.
~
Predictably, Orana doesn't see Merrill around the estate very much after her argument with Master Hawke. She carries on with her duties and Master Hawke doesn't treat her any differently. He has noticed the halla brooch and remarked on it. She's surprised that she's allowed to keep it even after telling Master Hawke it was a gift from Merrill. He simply seems glad that she's found a friend of sorts.
It's weeks before she sees Merrill again, and despite her apprehension, Orana finds herself missing the other elf. Things are tense at the estate, events that she knows nothing of and she can only pick up bits and pieces about the Qunari and blood mages. She's seen the Qunari around when she's accompanying Mistress Hawke, despite for the most part they stay around the docks. Mages however are confined to the Gallows, though they are nothing like the mages she remembers of Tevinter. The mages here remind her of herself when she first arrived, terrified and utterly alone.
When she returns from the market, a bouquet of white lilies are in a vase on one of the tables while Mistress Hawke fusses with them.
"Oh, those are lovely, Mistress," she says.
Mistress Hawke nods. "Aren't they? I don't know who they're from, it seems I have a secret admirer."
"Really? Does Master Hawke know?"
"Not as far as I know. But he'll worry, like he always does. I can't blame him, not really but he seems to think I should be happy to be cooped up here all the time."
"You need out Mistress, I know how much you enjoy your walks."
"Indeed." Mistress Hawke notices the bags she's carrying and approaches her. "Here, let me help you with that. It's another hour before I need to leave and visit Gamlen."
As always Orana is about to protest about the lady of the house doing anything so menial as helping her carry some bags. As always, her protestations are cut off and Mistress Hawke carries half the bags and helps to put them away before she leaves.
This is the last time Orana sees her.
~
It's nightfall when Gamlen comes to the estate looking for Mistress Hawke. Orana doesn't like him. He makes comments and constantly smells of drink.
"You there! Elf. Where's Leandra? Is she here?" he says upon seeing her.
Orana squeaks and jumps. She wasn't expecting him to be there in the hall, she didn't even hear him come in.
"Quickly girl. Answer me! Where's Leandra?"
Orana shakes her head, her breath shaky and catching in her throat. She wants to hide, to get out of his way and let Master Hawke deal with him. Master Hawke however isn't here.
She opens her mouth to answer him, to tell him Mistress Leandra isn't there, but no words come out. She simply stands there, becoming more flustered and scared which only serves to frustrate Gamlen more.
She's saved when the doors open and Master Hawke and Master Anders return. They're covered in blood, both looking tired and Gamlen forgets about her completely, striding over to them. Gamlen and Master Hawke exchange words before Master Hawke turns and runs out of the door. Master Anders is after him in seconds. Orana waits till they're gone and flumps to the floor.
It's another week before she sees Master Hawke again.
~
Leandra is dead.
Master Anders returns some hours later. Orana cannot sleep, too worried about Mistress Leandra now that too much time has passed for her simply to be taking a walk. He gathers Bodahn, Sandal and herself and informs them of what's happened. A mage has killed Leandra, Master Hawke is not in a good way, understandably. Orana thinks of her father and wants to cry. She holds back until Master Anders has left and she is back in her own room. Once there, she curls up on her bed, hugs her pillow and sobs into it.
Mistress Leandra is gone. Master Hawke is gone and Orana can't help but wonder if he's coming back.
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