Dragon Age Inquisition: Nelora's Tale

Good Times

~Special thanks to Blue Eyes on Quotev for the idea of this chapter~

Nelora stood in the training clearing, a wooden staff in hand. The sun was high over head, and beating down on the clearing, though a slight chill was still in the air. It was another day after going out after some venatori mages, and red templars. Nelora and her friends were recuperating and resting up for when they leave tomorrow. Dorian had boasted the day before about being the better mage of the group, and even said he could beat Nelora easily. She had let it go the first time, but he had done it again today, and she responded by challenging him to a spar. A wooden staff spar, with no magic.

Ears forward, and eyes narrowed, in nothing but a small green cloth covering her top, and a lightweight leather skirt, she faced Dorian. Her eyes flashed with pale blue flecks. The tevinter mage was bare chested, and held the staff off to the side. He blinked and shifted slightly, unsettled by the look in her eyes. A challenge was in them sure, but something lurked beneath the innocent challenge.

"You might as well admit to defeat now, little elf. This sparring match will be won by the superior mage." Dorina crowed, pushing the unsettaling thought away. Nelora snorted, and brought her staff in front of her, and moved into a defensive position.

"Talk is nothing unless it is backed up with the exact strength. Why not prove to everyone just how strong you really are." Nelora said, her ice blue eyes locked on his darker ones. The other mage smirked, and ran forward, slamming his wooden staff into hers. She blocked the blow easily, and twisted back aiming for his legs. Dorian dodged the attack, and pressed forward raining blows that Nelora easily dodged, their speed increasing with every attack.

After a few more moments of Nelora going easy on Dorian and letting him hit, she turned the tables easily, and started pushing him onto the defensive. Her movements were graceful, and as fast as lightning. Blue eyes shining with amusement, and mouth turned up in a smile. She wasn't even trying! Dorian blinked, and dodged the blows, each one getting closer and closer to actually hitting him. He swallowed hard, and continued on.

With each movement Nelora made, a blue faded outline followed. Dorian narrowed his eyes as he dodged another of Nelora's blows. Blackwall had said something about the blue form that had went up around Nelora when she was attacked by the high dragon. Was this the same thing?

"What's this? Is the tevinter mage getting worried?" Nelora teased, as a few of their companions wandered over to watch,

"Never." Dorian growled, and suddenly jumped back and used his staff to try and hook Nelora's leg out from underneath her. She lunged backward, and grabbed the staff, pulling Dorian forward. He yelped as Nelora grabbed the arm that was still holding onto the staff, and moved it up to pin it to his back. She wrapped a leg around one of his and pulled back, both of them falling forward. Nelora landed on top of him, and pinning him down in the dusty dirt.

"You were saying something superior mage?" She asked in an amused tone. Dorian glared up at her and sighed.

"Alright fine, I may have bragged a bit. You Dalish are quick... and deadly." He grumbled and Nelora let him go, standing back up. He wandered off without another word, the others congratulating Nelora briefly before heading back to their normal areas. She smiled to herself, feeling refreshed after the little fight, and rolled her shoulders, before doing some stretches. A voice caught Nelora's attention, and she briefly paused in her stretching, her ears angling backwards to hear the voice clearer.

"I want a full report of the new recruits training tomorrow." Cullen's voice rang out as he walked out of Skyhold's main hall. Nelora still felt guilty about what had happened between her and Cullen a few days ago, and had kept herself busy by going out to attack the Venatori, and the Red Templars. Nelora looked over to see him walking with one of the 'senior' soldiers. One of the survivors of Haven. Cullen handed him a roll of paper, and sent him on his way. Cullen must have felt her watching him, because he looked over at her. Nelora quickly looked down and continued doing her stretched. The sound of footsteps on the ground got louder, and he walked over, his face amused. "Dorina got quite the thrashing I hear." He said watching Nelora as she finished stretching, and stood up.