DA:I | Simply Solavellan: A Timeline ✔️

A Simple Dalish Elf

[Soundtrack: Evening Breeze by Adrian Von Ziegler]

I finished tying the deer's front hooves together as my clan member, Nefferti, finished tying the back hooves. I stuck the long branch between the legs, then we lifted the deer from the ground to make our way back to camp with it.

"I hope Keeper Deshana is happy with this catch," said Nefferti.

"She will be," I answered confidently.

"I just feel like the Keeper has been hard to please lately."

"She's just going through a hard time with the human relations. After all, we're the only Dalish clan that openly trades with humans these days."

"And for good reason."

It was no secret that many of Clan Lavellan didn't agree with Keeper Deshana's way of open trade. Most of our people kept to themselves and were afraid to even approach a human, let alone trade with them.

As a hunter, it was my job to provide food and hides to our clan. Anything left over was put up for trade. Keeper Deshanna made it clear that we were to treat others the way we wanted to be treated -- with respect and kindness.

We still had the occasional trader call us "knife ear" or poke fun at our tattoos. We were viewed as filthy barbarians to many.

Upon returning to camp, we left the deer by the fire for skinning later. We got a few praises from some of the other hunters in the clan. The size of the deer's antlers was impressive alone, but the tough build of the body promised plenty of meat and a large pelt.

As I walked to my tent to place my bow and arrows inside so I could rest, I heard footsteps approaching me. I turned to see Keeper Deshanna with her hands behind her back. She looked like she was waiting for an audience with me.

"Keeper, is there something  you need?"

She nodded.

"Please come in."

I opened the tent flap for her and let her inside. I sat down on my bed of fur pelts.

She sat down across from my bed, cross-legged, her hands resting on her knees. Her brown and gold-trimmed robe had long slits up the sides, allowing her knees to poke through comfortably. There was grey hair starting to form beneath the pitch-black strands. Her hair was up in a tight bun on top of her head.

"Annessa, I have a job for you."

Her face was stern as usual, but something lingered beneath the surface. She seemed worried.

"But Keeper, I just got back from two jobs," I complained. "I gathered all that spindleweed for two hours this morning, and then I brought back the deer with Nefferti --"

She raised a hand to silence me.

I clammed up.

"This is a... different job. I need someone I can trust wholeheartedly to take care of this for me. I need my best hunter." She placed her hands in her lap. "You've become a respected provider and protector of this clan. You possessed a talent ever since you were young."

I lowered my head, the silvery strands of my hair hiding my reddening face.

"As you know, the ongoing mage rebellion has threatened our way of life for the last few months. They've killed many of our animals, burned much of the forests, and the fighting has gotten dangerously close to our camp. Many of these rebel mages are driven by fear, anger, and madness. If they were to get too close to us, they could easily overrun us and raid our camp. They would leave no survivors."