[He curls his arm so that he can continue to pet her head. He also slides over a bit to give her plenty of space. Enough that she could change back if she wanted to.]
[ The space helps, because she was worrying about how to change back and not crush him under herself. All 105lbs. of her. But she does wait another minute because petting her head? It's like the best thing ever. Maybe he could stroke her hair once she's back to an elf? Let's see.
In a puff of dark smoke and lines of energy, she shifts back. Luckily this isn't a dangerous smoke that could hurt him, but merely a byproduct of the shift. It dissipates within a second anyway, and here's Ellana, back to herself. ]
Yes. [ She almost wasn't. How can she even begin to tell him what happened? She doesn't want to upset him or leave him worrying for her, but she doesn't want to withhold the truth either. ] Is the Calling gone for you?
[At least he was raised around mages so he isn't surprised by the smoke. He only waves it away from his face and then shifts to make sure she's comfortable. He smiles fondly at her.]
[ She smiles brightly back at him before giving him a quick kiss. ]
I hope you don't mind. With Sabriel leaving, I realized I've never spend even one night my whole life sleeping alone with no one in earshot. I couldn't fall asleep because of it.
[ Ellana places a hand over her eyes, feeling tears form. When she had faced the Nightmare, she was terrified, which was exactly what it wanted. But then she thought of Felix and all her Warden friends who were suffering because of this demon, and she was determined to play a role in bringing it down. She's glad she could at least be a part of it, even though she was injured before the final blow. ]
Good. That's good to hear. We did lose a few... It-- it didn't go as expected. Has word spread? About what we faced?
Those with shards meant to pull the Nightmare demon causing the Calling out into this world so we could destroy it, only it backfired and we were all pulled into the Fade, physically.
[ She knows how impossible it sounds, but so many impossible things are becoming true. ]
It must make such a difference to do things for yourself.
[ There's a vaguely uncomfortable feeling hearing about those slaves. She wonders where they are now that the Alexius family isn't returning to Tevinter. Dorian is probably taking care of it. ]
Just don't get too caught up in things that you forget the essentials.
[ Her pause is pretty telling. She just doesn't know what to do here. Should she try to keep him from worrying over her by brushing it off? But that doesn't feel right. It feels dishonest, and she would never lie to him. ]
I'm-- I'm all right now. But, um, something did happen. I got hurt. I'm fine now! There were healers right there to help me. But... [ "But I thought I was dying," "But I worried who would break the news to you," "But I was so scared and it hurt so much," are all things running through her head right now. ]
At the time, it was bad, but I promise you, I'm better now. I'll have to take it easy for awhile. I'll come back to Skyhold as soon as I can travel.
[He had been so sure that he would be the one to die first, he
hadn't even thought about her dying first. This entire experience had been
an eye opener for him.]
Are you still being looked after? Healers are nearby?
[ She lets out something between a laugh and a sob, her emotions completely mixed up at the moment. ]
Of course; you're right. The reason I wanted to be a part of it in the first place is because I wanted to free the Wardens from the demon's control. I was worried about all of you and how it was hurting you.
[ She sniffles and sighs. ]
I'll have to train harder in combat so I'm not so vulnerable again.
She spoke to Felix while she was away, helping the Rivaini mages who had been recaptured by the Templars. But nothing is quite the same as seeing him face to face and feeling his lips on hers.
As is customary for her whenever she returns to Skyhold, Ellana stops at the Warden camp before even going inside to drop off her bag. But this time she wants to have her bag of clothes and such with her, because she's brought presents!
On seeing Felix, she gently sets down her burden and hurries forward to hug him.
"Miss me? I'll bet you did, because I missed you! I have so much to tell you about my trip! And I bought you some things! I can't wait to see you open them." In fact, she probably would have shoved the presents into his arms first, had she not been so eager to place herself there.
Felix's entire expression brightened up when he saw Ellana. His arms opened and he easily held her close to him.
He chuckles a bit at her enthusiasm. It's weird how she can make his heart feel so light and happy. "I did miss you," he says. He always did when she was away - and worried terribly though he tried not to show that as much. "And if you have gifts, I'll happily open them."
"Good!" she answers, absolutely giddy and not afraid to show it. She goes for her bag, pulling out the first gift, which is wrapped in plain, brown paper. "I got you a few things to help you in your future pursuits with the Wardens," she explains, handing the parcel over. He'll find it's as light as a feather, and when he opens it, he'll find a set of bookmarks.
"If you'll be doing research, you'll need to keep your place in a lot of books, right?"
He is visibly impressed by the craftsmanship in the bookmarks. More than that, they are something practical but easy to carry so he'll be able to hold onto them for hopefully a long time, no matter where the Wardens travel.
"These are lovely," he says. "Thank you." Then, after a moment, "And much better than folding down the edges of pages and giving Dorian a heart attack."
Everything in Rivain seems to have been crafted by someone who absolutely loves their work. It shines through in the patterns, the detailing, and the quality of the materials used. There is so much to admire about Rivain, and this is just one of them. Ellana breathes out in relief, glad he likes them. Of course she knows that he's easy to please and would probably -- on some level -- like anything she gives him, but she wants him to really like these and get plenty of use out of them.
"Oh, really?" She wonders what Dorian thinks of what she and Merrill have been doing to the books in the library that have said unkind things and falsehoods about elves. Their editing is only helping, in her opinion. "Then I've spared him the heart attack and you the yelling he would probably do. But hold on; I have one more present. It's a little heavier, and I have to unwrap some pieces first." Ellana goes digging back in her bag, trying to get it all unwrapped and together without taking it out and ruining the surprise. Once she has the pieces set up, she stands and presents him with an ink stand complete with two bottles of ink.
"For all your note taking and research," she explains.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 04:59 am (UTC)That's better.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:03 am (UTC)And you are as well, thank the Maker.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:04 am (UTC)In a puff of dark smoke and lines of energy, she shifts back. Luckily this isn't a dangerous smoke that could hurt him, but merely a byproduct of the shift. It dissipates within a second anyway, and here's Ellana, back to herself. ]
Hello.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:15 am (UTC)Hello. Warm?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:17 am (UTC)It is for all of us. [Which had been it's own relief, but hadn't gotten rid of the worry he felt for everyone who had left.]
Is everyone all right? Did we lose many?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:17 am (UTC)[ She smiles brightly back at him before giving him a quick kiss. ]
I hope you don't mind. With Sabriel leaving, I realized I've never spend even one night my whole life sleeping alone with no one in earshot. I couldn't fall asleep because of it.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:21 am (UTC)Good. That's good to hear. We did lose a few... It-- it didn't go as expected. Has word spread? About what we faced?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:38 am (UTC)I don't mind at all. I'd rather you be here than lonely.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:40 am (UTC)What happened?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:42 am (UTC)[ He has arms that were just made to go around her. ]
How do you like your tent? You must have grown up with your own room and everything, didn't you?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:43 am (UTC)[ She knows how impossible it sounds, but so many impossible things are becoming true. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:47 am (UTC)[ There's a vaguely uncomfortable feeling hearing about those slaves. She wonders where they are now that the Alexius family isn't returning to Tevinter. Dorian is probably taking care of it. ]
Just don't get too caught up in things that you forget the essentials.
[ Like eating, sleeping... bathing. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 05:57 am (UTC)[That news is... shocking. And horrifying. And a lot of other things he isn't sure how to describe.]
I...
Are you all right? Did anything happen while you were there?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 06:05 am (UTC)I'm-- I'm all right now. But, um, something did happen. I got hurt. I'm fine now! There were healers right there to help me. But... [ "But I thought I was dying," "But I worried who would break the news to you," "But I was so scared and it hurt so much," are all things running through her head right now. ]
At the time, it was bad, but I promise you, I'm better now. I'll have to take it easy for awhile. I'll come back to Skyhold as soon as I can travel.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 06:09 am (UTC)Ellana....
[He had been so sure that he would be the one to die first, he hadn't even thought about her dying first. This entire experience had been an eye opener for him.]
Are you still being looked after? Healers are nearby?
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 06:14 am (UTC)Yes, I'm in a tent, but they come to check up on me.
[ There's a brief pause and she feels her nose burn with the start of tears building up. ]
I'm sorry. I never meant to make you worry over me.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 06:21 am (UTC)I'm just happy you're alive.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-05-30 06:25 pm (UTC)Of course; you're right. The reason I wanted to be a part of it in the first place is because I wanted to free the Wardens from the demon's control. I was worried about all of you and how it was hurting you.
[ She sniffles and sighs. ]
I'll have to train harder in combat so I'm not so vulnerable again.
early august, when she returns from rivain (omg i inbox you so much)
Date: 2016-08-18 04:23 pm (UTC)As is customary for her whenever she returns to Skyhold, Ellana stops at the Warden camp before even going inside to drop off her bag. But this time she wants to have her bag of clothes and such with her, because she's brought presents!
On seeing Felix, she gently sets down her burden and hurries forward to hug him.
"Miss me? I'll bet you did, because I missed you! I have so much to tell you about my trip! And I bought you some things! I can't wait to see you open them." In fact, she probably would have shoved the presents into his arms first, had she not been so eager to place herself there.
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-26 01:24 am (UTC)He chuckles a bit at her enthusiasm. It's weird how she can make his heart feel so light and happy. "I did miss you," he says. He always did when she was away - and worried terribly though he tried not to show that as much. "And if you have gifts, I'll happily open them."
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-26 02:00 am (UTC)"If you'll be doing research, you'll need to keep your place in a lot of books, right?"
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-28 03:10 am (UTC)"These are lovely," he says. "Thank you." Then, after a moment, "And much better than folding down the edges of pages and giving Dorian a heart attack."
(no subject)
Date: 2016-08-28 03:35 am (UTC)"Oh, really?" She wonders what Dorian thinks of what she and Merrill have been doing to the books in the library that have said unkind things and falsehoods about elves. Their editing is only helping, in her opinion. "Then I've spared him the heart attack and you the yelling he would probably do. But hold on; I have one more present. It's a little heavier, and I have to unwrap some pieces first." Ellana goes digging back in her bag, trying to get it all unwrapped and together without taking it out and ruining the surprise. Once she has the pieces set up, she stands and presents him with an ink stand complete with two bottles of ink.
"For all your note taking and research," she explains.