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A slow trickling breeze brushes between the individual curls of Shielan’s hair. The air here felt so soothing to simply breath in, the scent of flower petals flutter through the sky and honey brushing against the hairs of their nostrils. Walking through these fields of tall grass, they could almost let the tingling blades of greens carry them away.
It was too easy to get lost here in Fade, spirits made everything so whimsical, not one whithering darkened shade of green amongst the blades of grass. Not one rainy smoky cloud up in sky. The rays of sunlight reaching down to kiss the their nose, not one bit of a searing sensation on the cheeks as the two elves walked the field.
“Such sights in the Fade are a rare blessing.” Solas flicks up a lock of Shielan’s hair, letting it shimmer gold in the sun. “Spirits imitate what mortals feel, their curiosity compels them to take whatever intrigues them and relive it for themselves.”
“This is a incredible sight to behold.” Their mouth is slack-jawed open, admiring the beauty of the field they’re standing in. “It is a pity that such a sight is hidden away from so many.”
“It is unfortunately.” The Dreamer’s hand clutches tighter to his staff. “Much of magic has been lost to this world. People are frightened of what such talents might bring.”
“We should touch more people about the beauty of magic.” Shielan turns back towards Solas, practically a glee in their step when pivoting on the tip of the toes. “This is place that more people should be allowed to see.”
“If possible.”
“You don’t see it that way?” They tilt their head at the meager statement.
“It will be a tiring endeavor. Travels to such corners of the Fade for ones born without magic isn’t impossible, merely more difficult. It is still sensation severed from them, one that is never known to most.” Solas’s steps were slow when he walks past Shielan, hesitant with his words and even more so in his sorrows. “Would a blind man’s life be more fulfilling if they knew of joys of oil colored painting? Or the melody of the organ during an Orlesian opera to one without hearing.”
One hand lands on the Dreamer’s should, as Shielan lifts a brow as a cheshire cat’s smile forms on the same side. “Solas, there’s no easy way to put this, but no one’s life is more fulfilled after sitting through an Orlesian opera.”
He lets out a entirely improper chuckle, then stifling himself by coughing into his fist. “I suppose that’s an accurate statement.”
“And you’ve said it yourself, this place isn’t out of reach to anyone if the connection is there.” Hands resting on their hips, feeling triumphant when speaking. “The award is worthy of the journey.”
“You, yourself are curious enough to seek out this piece beyond the physical realm.” Raising a brow at the tall standing elf. “An admirable quality. Yet it is not a trait that can be seen in everyone.”
“Perhaps we should continue finding what else lays hidden in this corner of the Fade. There’s always more than is worth showing.” With their height, Shielan reaches out and pitches one of the tree branches. Tugging at it and yanking it away from the tree.
With an imprint from their mind, the leaves revert themselves into cherry blossoms. Cloaking them in the falling petals as the branch reaches out into the distance, a bridge building itself out of the limb expanding into a trunk.
Leading into what appears to be the foot of a canyon and the base of a waterfall.
The mastery in manipulating the Fade was enough to make even a Dreamer blush. For a moment, he stand in place, slack-jawed as Shielan had done earlier.
“Should we continue on?” A hand invites him to continue the journey.
“I am intrigued enough to see into this land further.” Solas reaches out and accepts Shielan’s, walking side by side with them as they cross the gap between here and the new unexplored lands that his vhenan has created.
When the two elves reached the base of the waterfall, Solas allows his toes to dip into the waters. Letting himself take in the sights of this land unknown time, bits of rose golden mosaics littered the lands and pillars entangled in golden leaf litters the land. It seems obvious enough that these ruins are inspired by Arlathan, yet it inspired no sadness in him, no pain of the loss he bore witness to. Just a simple humming smile as he sat and looked on, it was almost euphoric and most curious to him.
“Tell me. Where does one find the inspiration to craft such a place in the fade?” The Dreamer asks. He sits, letting his toes be massaged by seemingly mild temperature water at the basin.
“I am a traveler.” Shielan’s reply is simple and unassuming, their own powers would have been as difficult to explain as a Dreamer’s power to people without magic. “You’ve said it, yourself. In order to find new fascinating places in the Fade, you need to experience the world.”
"It is true that in order to encounter unique places in the Fade, you need interesting waking experiences to find them. The Veil pulls from our mortal memories after all.” His hand reaches out to grab at everything around. “But for such landscapes to be explore, it is something that has been lost for ages now.”
“More closer to hidden. No one can truly forget history, the marks can never be truly erased. Even if they’re gone spirits still remember.” Shielan’s finger points to the floating Castle.
One that seemed to be illuminated by light stones and banners spinning out of the spire like it was a Val Royeaux market. They hand reaches out as if to grab into the canyon, but the endeavor was a fruitless one.
Sighing. “Some parts of the Fade still allude me. This one definitely does. I’ve seen so much, yet some parts are still difficult for me to put an image onto.”
“Perhaps, it is something that will come easier to one who has seen Arlathan.” Solas reaches out for the same Castle. As a spirit pulse simmers and hums, the two elves are pulled closer to the structure.
For a moment, their vision feels like lenses smeared with grease until it became clearer to them again as they can walk the halls. To the Dreamer, it felt like the ballroom to one of Mythal’s galas. The gold danced petals of the mosaics, flicker a pulse of blue lyrium glow when his finger pressed on top of them.
The sight of such magic brings a nostalgic smile to Solas’s lips for the home he once had.
“Why have you brought me here?” The smile hasn’t disappeared from his lips, but he has lived a long and tired enough life to know trickery when it is done to him.
“Merely to show you the beauties of such a realm, you cherish.” Shielan places a comforting hand over the Dreamer’s shoulders, a gentle watchful grin as they walked. “You seemed a bit lost earlier. I’m sorry for the deception.”
Solas chuckles for his vhenan’s act. “It has been has been some time that I’ve been surprised by anyone in the Fade. Yet it is you who has surprised me yet again.”
“Forgive me for pulling you along as I did.” They had a cheeky grin, continuing to watch Solas.
“Your apology isn’t needed. You have my trust, and I never suspected malicious intent.” Solas lets out a light chuckle, then raises a brow. “But what was the reason that we’re here?”
“I wasn’t lying when I told you that this place was out of my reach, it is for me to see this castle too.” Shielan smiles as they began walking to the other wings. “But also to show that there’s still much joy that exists in our world. Much of it is remembered by spirits fondly.”
“You make it sound so simple with how much this has been lost.” Solas’s head tilts downwards, his grip unwilling to let loose the little bits of his history he is now given.
“No one ever said it’s simple, just that nothing is hopeless if you don’t let it be.” Shielan helps his hands free from the blanker of grief, Solas wrapped himself in. “Don’t let the cracks reflected with the mirrors be all you see of this world. There is always so much to appreciate from here.”
His eyes hesitate for a moment, unwilling to meet those of his lover’s. The fluttering over the hands fade away, raising them up to meet at eye level. Solas pushes a kiss onto Shielan’s lips, hoping the moment will not fade away for either of the elves.
Hope for the moment to last as long the world will continue to be as dream-like as they both imagine it to be.
“You are right.” Holding tighter on the hands. “Perhaps I should stray away from being grim and fatalistic for one moment.” Solas tugs them closer the dance floor.
“Oh?” A smirk perks up on side of their cheeks.
“We are in a ballroom, after all. It would be a waste, not to use it.”
“Then lead the way.” Shielan chuckles, letting themselves be mesmerized by the Dreamer’s movement.
The whispers of spirits began slipping from his ears daybreak calls for him. Solas scrunches his eyes for a few moment before finally pulling his eyelids apart. He rolls on his bedroll for a few more moments, slowly letting go of want to keep his dreams going and start his day with Shielan.
Almost ready to steal a few more moments for himself until realizing that his vhenan was not the bed roll that was accompanying him. The Dreamer chuckles at the realization, putting on his tunic, he leaves their tent to search for them.
The Emerald Graves is a serene forest, were it not for the civil war with both sides trading blows in the area, he would have loved to spend some time letting the blades of grass tickle the feet for a few more moments. Under trees here would have been a perfect spot for an afternoon retreat but it is lucky that Shielan was close by.
“Sleep well?” Shielan is the first one to speak, they stood over the waterfall with their bow in hand. Flexing the string back and forth in a smooth circular motion.
Solas lets go of a low, almost inaudible snort as if to conceal blushing. “Better than most nights, yes.”
“That’s good to hear.” Shielan whispers as if the hide their relief.
“I’m surprised to see you awake so early. Already training with your bow, no less.” The Dreamer inches closer to Shielan, wanting to press a good morning kiss on their cheeks.
He stops himself, not wanting to be a source of distraction as they carry on with their morning routine.
“I wanted time for myself to better hone my skills.” They relax their shoulders for a quick moment, to press their own morning kiss onto Solas’s cheek. “And I wouldn’t dare to tear you away from your precious sleep.”
“I appreciate the gesture.” He replies, grin as the warm lips part from him.
Shielan pulls back out one arrow from their quiver, taking aim at a nearby tree. Steadying the finger on their arrow and relaxing their hold on the grip, Shielan focuses their mind and conjuring a spell of ice onto their fingers. Letting their breath out and into the arrow, they send it flying across the grassy plains.
The two elves had wide eyed amazement, watching the arrow split into shards of ice when it impacts the trunk of a faraway tree.
“Impressive shot.” Solas folds his hands behind himself, a playful smirk paints over his lips. “Perhaps I should learn a lesson or two.”
“Perhaps.” Shielan lowers the bow to rest on its limbs. Tilting their head with a grin, “you seem to be doing quite will with a staff already.”
“Should I allow my proficiency end with the staff?” Solas puts out the question. Knowing the answer, he gives Shielan a smirk. “You have said that their is much to love of this world. Why should I not experience all of it?”
Shielan giggles at their earlier point being pushed back onto themselves. “That is very good point, maybe we should share our skills more often.”
Lifting themselves back up, they throw their body onto the soft grass of that still spans the Dales. Giggle when their back meets the ground, letting the sun bathe their skin, “another thing you should remember, never let the simpler moments of joy elude you either. That is how the darkness truly winds. When the simple joys of existing, stop being that.”
A low snort passes through a Solas, taking a seat next to his vhenan, letting himself have a moment of joy before another conflict comes their way. “You’ve made a wise point.”