Meetings, Pretty Eyes, and Asses
~Chapter 3~
“Let's continue on.” Ella says smiling softly to herself as she turns and starts to walk.
So the small band of fighters continue on, they go up a hill and walk over some more of the frozen lake.
Ella glances around and gaps slightly. She sees an amazingly beautiful blend of icy blues and whites under her feet, all angled so deeply together you couldn’t see where one color ended and another began. The trees dotting the edges of the lake and clustering up on the tops of the cliffs were so full and vibrant even in this cold and dangerous world. Small colorful plants sat by the shoreline of the lake, growing bright and full in shades of purple and blue.
‘It really is beautiful, and the air is so clean! So unlike home...home. Will I ever return to it?’
Shaking off that question Ella looks around closely for a second.
‘Weren’t their lootable things here? I’m sure we could use every little thing we find around here.’
...Then jumps slightly in surprise when she sees something sparkle in gold out of the side of her eye.
A deep voice whispers near her ear, “What is it sis?”
Turning her head to look at Jarad, “Focus on your surroundings like you’re looking for something and think about loot.”
Jarad glances around and then looks back at ella, “I don’t-What the Hell!” He exclaims loudly.
Cassandra glances back at them with a look of disapproval, “Come on, we must move on.”
“One moment,” Yells Jarad then looks back at Ella, “You see the sparkling stuff too right? I’m not going crazy,” He says low enough only for them to hear.
“Yep...besides you’re already crazy... so you don’t need to worry that much,” She smiles wickedly up at him.
Jarad laughs slightly,”Well look at that, a pot calling the kettle black.”
She shrugs then walks over and lightly touches a pile of sparkling stuff. In her mind’s eye she sees a list of items and suddenly just knows where to find it in the pile. She grabs everything and turn to Jarad to see he is bending over a elfroot as he gathers a few leaves.
She once again glances around and sees two bodies a little ways away next to a tree, they look like a man and a woman that were trying to escape this madness.’I’m sorry that this is how you had to go, hopefully you find a better life in the next one.’ Next to them are two worn looking brown leather backpacks. One stuck on the lowest branch of the tree. Running over she grabs both of them and throws one of them at Jarad. He nods his thanks as he stuffs his newly acquired elfroot in the bag.
Along the way Ella now stops and quickly loots all the bodies they come across and Jarad picks all the elfroot that he can find and they both simply say that this will be useful later when asked by Cassandra.
Cassandra makes a disgusted sound at them but lets them do it because they are quick about it and it actually might be useful, she knows, even if it slows them down slightly. Then she realizes that Jarad is slightly limping and favoring his left leg with each step. “Halt, “ she calls and grabs a red potion bottle from her side pack, “Take this poultice. It will heal your pain.”
Jarad grabs the bottle from her, “how do I use it?”
Cassandra looks at him like he’s an idiot, “Why? Have you never used one before? That’s stranger for a qunari mage. You drink all of it in one go, don’t waste any of it.”
Jarad looks at the poultice, “Why all at once? Why not use it sparingly, so you can heal more people?” He asks.
“It doesn’t work like that,” Cassandra huffs in frustration, “you have to finish it all as soon as you open it because 5 second after it comes into contact with the air it doesn’t work anymore. Once the body of the potion is made, the main ingredients are elfroot and embrium, a little bit of prophet’s laurel is added in after the main portion is in the bottle. The bottle is then magically sealed and shaken. Something happens when the prophet’s laurel is added so that it can no longer function as a healing potion after it comes into contact with air for a few minutes.”
Ella and Jarad just look at Cassandra like she grew another head. ‘I thought that elf guy was supposed be the all knowing one….what was his name again?’
“Just drink the potion,” she growls turning away, but Ella can see the slight blush dusting her features.
Jarad pops open the poultice potion and drowns it quickly, “It actually doesn’t taste that bad,” he muses.
“Drop the bottle,” Cassandra says.
“What! But that's littering, “Ella shouts with a frown, “You’ll destroy Thedas!”
This time Cassandra looks at Ella with a dumbfounded face, “The bottle is magic, it will disintegrate as soon as it hits the floor. Watch.”
Jarad drops the empty glass bottle onto the floor and as soon as it makes contact with the icy ground beneath it disappears leaving only a second of glittering dust in it’s wake.
“Oh,” says Ella,”...that’s pretty neat. Sorry I doubted you Cassandra.”
“Nice,” says Jarad looking at where he dropped the bottle contemptibly.
“I- you can hear the sound of them fighting. We must help them.” Cassandra takes of running.
“Who’s them?” Ella asks following her, Jarad right on her heels.
“You’ll see”
They ran with a burst of speed over the hill’s ridge and straight into a battle between demons, humans, a really short man, and a bald egg-shape headed elf.
Quickly they were drawn into the battle and Ella disappeared into the fray in a burst of darkness while Jarad backed her up swiftly with magical blasts of fire, and Cassandra drew the gaze of the demons to her so she could act as the focus of their powerful fury.
Ella glanced around after each death blow she dealt and barely saw a shade come up behind the bald elf.
“Oi! Baldy, duck.” She yelled, then used his shoulder as leverage and vaulted over him and plunged her dagger deep into the throat of the shade behind him. The shade twitched for a moment before disappearing. Ella turned her head and gave the elf a light smirk, her green eyes flashing brightly as she took in his form.
“Hey,” she greets almost casually, then is off again as she runs over by Jarad to cover his blind side.
The elf just blinks once at her in confusion before continuing to cast ice at the demons. Then he casts a barrier over the group, sets a few glyphs on the floor before him and attacks again.
The battle rages on for a bit more before Cassandra cuts down the last demon in a vicious swipe of her blade to its neck, and Ella and Jarad wonder closer to the rift.
The bald elf- ‘Why can’t I remember his name?’- Grabs her right right hand and thrusts it toward the green crack in the world. -’rift’-
“Quickly,” He shouts, “Before more come through!”
Ella can feel a cool sensation winding up her arm and through her hand then-
Pain, a wrenching stab of pain shoots through her body, chattering her teeth, and making her gasp.
Then it is gone...and so is the green rift.
“Ow…” Ella mumbles snatching her hand back and rubbing it, “What did you do?”
“I did nothing. The credit is yours.”
Jarad speaks up, “You mean this?” He raises his hand slightly, looking the elf straight in the eyes.
“Whatever cause the breach also put those marks in your hands,” the elf says.
Ella and Jarad share a look, then both shrug simultaneously. “If it helps close these things…”
“Cassandra,” He turns to look at her, “Your prisoners are both mages, but I doubt even a pair of them could have amassed enough power to have caused the breach.”
Cassandra gives him a long look before briefly nodding,”Could they seal the breach?”
“Possibly.”
The small person-’dwarf’- spoke up, “Good to know, and here I thought we’d be ass deep in demons forever.”
“Whose ass?” Asks Ella with a upwards turn of her lips, “If it's yours most of us would only be knee deep, and I for one like those chances a lot better.” Ella shoots a look at Jarad, “Or ankle deep for this hunk of flesh and bone here.”
Jarad rests his elbow on Ella’s head, “I’ll be sure to let you on my shoulders to save ya. Besides this is all muscle”
“Bite me, Jarad, and get your heavy ass hand off my head.”
“Whose ass?” He smirks down at her.
Ella glares up at him, but he could see the brilliant laughter in his eyes.”Mine obviously, it IS the best one currently present.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“Obviously.”
The dwarf laughs loudly as he slings his crossbow onto his back, “Varric Tethras, Rogue, Storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tag along.” He winks at Cassandra.
Ella smiles at him, “Nice ta meet ya Varric. My names Ella.”
Jarad nods at him, “Call me Jarad.”
The elf chuckles, “You may regret that stance in time.” He states as he leans lazily onto his staff.
“I’m sure we’ll become great friends in the valley, chuckles.”
Cassandra steps up,”Absolutely not! While your help was appreciated Varric, you are no longer-”
“Your people aren’t in control anymore Seeker. You need me, besides Bianca here will be great company in the Valley.” Cassandra makes a disgusted noise.
“You’ve named your crossbow Bianca,” Jarad asks looking at the finley made crossbow with approval.
“What else would I call her?” Varric smiles slyly.
“What’s the story behind that one?”
“The only one that I will never tell.”
Jarad smirks at Varric, “I’ll get it out of you, all I need is a lot of strong drink.”
Ella rolls her eyes, “That would be my job because I can hold my drink better than you, Jarad. Remember what happened last time?”
The qunari's already grey face pales, "You promised never to speak of that again."
The bald elf smiles lightly, but Ella can see the amusement blaring out in his eyes, “My name is Solas, if their are to be introductions. I am pleased to see that you both still live” ‘His eyes are blue, no grey, no...is that purple?’
Varric smiles widely and gestures with his hands, “He means, I kept those marks from killing you while you slept.”
Jarad looks at Solas and nods his head slightly, “Thanks.”
Ella shakes her head slightly and smiles brightly at him, “Thank You! Though you seem to know quite a bit about all of this, do you have any tips?” She looks into his eyes. ‘Such pretty eyes…’
“You have pretty eyes, “ She blurts out before slapping a hand over her mouth and blushing slightly in embarrassment,”I ah… Shut up Jarad.”
Jarad laughs crazily holding his stomach, and Varric laughs lightly. Cassandra simply raises an eyebrow and gives Ella a look a incredulity. Solas’ eyes slightly widen and a very light blush overtakes the tips of his ears.
“Ah, Thank You.” He says after a moment before glancing away and clearing his throat.
Ella laughs awkwardly as she scratches the back of her head, “We should...We should get a move on.” She turns and starts heading away.
“Agreed, “Jarad starts, “...We wouldn’t want you getting lost in ‘pretty eyes’ now would we, sister.” He smirks looking over at her.
Ella shoots a look at him and smacks him lightly on the arm, “Shut up,” She mumbles.
Then they all starts walking to continue on the mountain path...but realize the way is blocked by a barricades of wooden boxes and a wheel.
Ella shoots a look to Jarad, who shrugs his massive shoulders as if to say I don’t understand it either.
“Why put up a barricade on the path? It’s not going to stop the demons who can float right over it…”Ella says walking to the barricade and poking the wheel.
“It is for...you know I don’t really understand it either,” Cassandra says shaking her head, “But we have to get over it.”
Cassandra throws her sword and shield over the barricade before swinging her legs over while bracing her weight on her hands and elbows. She lands on the other side with a slight click as her worn black scaled leather boots hit the cold scrambled bits of stone stone beneath her.
“O-Over it,” Jarad asks with a sputter, “You do realize I’m a giant qunari right? Me and throwing myself over something don’t really mix well.”
“Neither do short legs. Give me a hand over Shiny?” Varric asks.
“Shiny?” Jarad says slightly in surprise even as he grabs Varric by his arms and hefts him over the Barricade.
“Yeah it's your new nickname. I give almost everyone I know one.”
“Ohh, What's mine?” Ella looks enthusiastically at Varric. ‘I always wanted to be given a nickname by Varric I wonder what it will be!’
“Bright, cause of your award winning personality of course.”
Ella makes a slight face at that, “Can’t I have something more...badass?”
“I thought you had a great ass?” Jarad says with a teasing smile.
“I do...but that's not the point…”
“Whatever you say. I still don’t know how I’m getting over this barricade.”
“What, you can’t be nimble and quick, maybe jump over a candle stick?” Ella asks Jarad once Varric in safely on the other side.
“My name’s Jarad not Jack, princess.”
“Don’t call me that!” Ella stares Jarad straight in the eye with a serious expression.
“...As you wish.” But his eyes say sorry, I shouldn’t have called you that.
Ella gives Jarad one last long, searching look before nodding and looking away, “Come on guys. We have a world to try to save.”
“Don’t try, do.” Jarad says with a mysterious and strong voice.
Ella just rolls her eyes and raises one delicate eyebrow at Jarad, “No one wants your references...or is that a quote?” She wonders putting her hand to her chin in thought.
“I think it's both,” Jarad smiles crookedly at Ella, knowing he was forgiven for his earlier comment.
“Whatever, its still not wanted nor needed, so stick a cock in it.”
Everyone in the group stops and either laughs loudly(Varric), raises an eyebrow(Solas), or looks disgusted(Cassandra).
Jarad just shrugs, “Maybe another time. You know, when we aren't saving the world.”
“Which won’t happen if we don’t move.” Cassandra interjects loudly from the other side of the barricade, not wanting to hear anymore.
‘Yes, Yes we have to go...not like anything really happens even if we just stay here...or would it? Does this actually have a conception of time...probably. So get moving? Sure.’
‘...I need to stop talking to myself in my head.’
Ella grabs onto the side of the wooden barricade and easily swings her legs over it and onto the other side. She flashed Jarad a small smirk, “Come on big guy.”
Jarad just rolls his eyes and looks contemptuously at the evil barricade.
Solas decides to follow everyone over the barricade and tosses his staff over it then vaults himself over in a similar manner to Ella, and she can’t help but stare at his ass when he bends over to quickly grab his staff of the ground before straightening. Solas glances over at her and she quickly looks away a small blush on her face.’That is one fine ass...mine is still better though.’
Jarad sends Ella a smirk before glancing back at his current problem. The bright light of brilliance seems to enter his eyes after a moment.
He brings his hands up the the front of the barricade at pushes with all his strength. His muscles bulge out slightly and he grunts a bit but the wood starts to crack and splinter under his powerful movements. With one last shove the middle chunk of the barricade pops out like a jagged puzzle piece.
Jarad smirks and moves to go through his newly mad passage…
RIP
...and his pants now sport a newly made passage…
Right on his left butt cheek.
Ella promptly breaks down into a fit of loud laughter.
‘And THIS is why there are so many torn trousers in Thedas!’