Chapter Text
We won.
I feel kind of numb. But warm at the same time. It’s weird. Feels like I’ve been wrapped in warm but impossibly light blankets.
We were here. All of us that had been there yesterday were here now.
And we won.
We did. It’s done.
The warm and soft cocoon breaks and I can feel everything at once. The sore lethargy of a hard fight. The bubbling brightness of victory.
Fuck yeah we won!
We beat the gods. Defeated Solas. Or reasoned with him or something. He wasn’t here though and the Veil is normal.
I think.
Emmrich’s explanation was kind of long. And boring.
We’re in some old mansion now. Or villa, I guess. That’s what Neve and Rook called it. Must be Tevene for mansion. It’s broken up. Part of a building fell on the roof at some point and there’s visible dust in the air. That’s not the only thing in the air now though. There’s energy. Excitement.
It’s happy and bright. Lace looks untroubled for maybe the first time that I’ve ever seen. Bellara is moving her hands so much they’re almost a blur as she tells a long story to one of the Veil Jumpers. The one that always seems a little mad. Irelin, I think.
The death mag— Mourn Watch people are standing together. Looking pleased in that strangely snooty way they always seem to have. They stand straighter than straight all the time. But somehow they seem to be standing even taller right now. The Grey Wardens look tired. Battle weary. They look lighter than they have in awhile though. Like the weight of something massive has been lifted.
Maybe it has.
And not just for them.
The air feels like it’s buzzing. There’s so much talking it’s mostly fading into the background but it’s not just that. It’s like it’s filled with bubbles. Like that fizzy wine Isabela pronounced was for children has filled the room.
It feels…weird. But I guess I’m used to that now.
Everything has been weird for awhile. Hunting dragons. Fighting Elven gods. And those weren’t even the weird parts. Those were the parts I expected.
No. The weirdest part has to be this. Lords of Fortune toasting with Tevinter mages and Antivan Crows. Music that doesn’t go together at all being played all at once.
We’d planned to win. There hadn’t been another option. It was win or die.
And we fucking won.
“Taash!!” Lace’s surprising strength wraps around my hand and tugs me forward. She’s grinning. It’s night now but she can light up any room. Her joy is like the sun and I grin back.
“What?”
“Dance with me!”
She’s pulling me into an area with less people. I wonder if she means it how it looks.
I hope she does.
Our dancing is nothing special. It’s not even good. It’s just moving. My muscles are sore but I don’t stop and neither does she.
We still have bodies and we’re using them.
Her movements flow like water and the smell of her sweat and some kind of tea follows her as she goes. She’s taken off her armor and the light but rough Ferelden fabric she wears brushes across my skin when she moves close.
Feels nice. But her skin will feel nicer.
Hopefully she doesn’t want to stay too long.
“Taash!” That grin. Brighter than the sun. “We should go to Ferelden!”
“Okay.”
Her cheeks have been flushed all night. Exertion from fighting and dancing. But it becomes more obvious as I nod. “Really?”
“Yeah. Why not?”
She met my mother. And it was different than this. I know that. She had to meet Tama. Rook and Neve met her too.
This isn’t that. Me meeting Lace’s ma is something else.
This is because we’re Taamlok. It’s…important.
I’ll probably be nervous about it later. Right now I’m just…weirdly light. I like that Lace wants to take me to Ferelden.
I don’t know how Lace’s ma will like me. Maybe she won’t. But if Lace wants to take me then I’ll go.
I’ll go wherever she wants.
Lace jumps up and wraps her arms around my neck. I reach down to catch her under her strongly muscled thighs. She’s too short to hold on to me otherwise. Easier this way.
Nicer too.
She kisses me. Her lips are chapped but warm. The tea she had earlier mixes with the usual sweetness of her mouth. It’s good.
Really good.
“Wanna leave?”
She giggles and her cheeks are warm enough to cook on but she nods. “Yeah. Let’s check in with the others and then go back to the Lighthouse. It’s time to celebrate.”