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The moon hung high in the night and Skyhold had finally stilled.
The library tower’s silence was louder than the cacophony of the day, and Solas took refuge in the stillness.
Though it’s one of the quietest places in the keep, during the day it was filled with the sounds of shuffling feet, crying crows and echoing conversations.
Grabbing some charcoal, Solas strode to a blank wall and began to sketch the next mural, leaving open spaces for what may come next, what she will do next.
The feigned whispers from the day still rang in his ears. Leliana and her scouts were quiet enough, but the mages were not.
Dorian especially. “Have a thing for strapping young templars, I see…”
The charcoal snapped.
Solas knit his brow, and brushed away the crumbled pieces of coal from his hand.
He had gotten too close to everyone in the inquisition.
Lately he found himself looking forward to listening to everyone bicker and laugh in the dining hall, he’s smiled at chess games with Blackwall and Bull, and he’s even read one of Varric’s books. The ease of casual companionship came easier than he thought here, especially with Elera.
Solas stares at his coal-stained fingers, remembering the way her hand fit in his when they closed that first rift in Haven.
There was a subtle tension building between him and the Inquisitor, even though he’s tried to keep her at arm’s length.
Solas realized things have escalated from flirtatious conversation to something more when he caught himself stealing glances while she trained with Dorian. Wide arcs of shimmering gold magic would fly from her staff, illuminating her brilliant green eyes.
But then, Cullen was always watching too.
The Commanders affections for Elera have always been obvious. He’s been watching her like a lovesick pup ever since he plucked her out of the snow in Haven. Solas has noticed the banter Elera has with Cullen, but he never believed it was anything serious. Would she truly want the heavy handed, awkward affections of a human templar?
Solas snaped his attention back to himself.
This is all foolish and the Inquisitors interests are none of his concern.
He casually waved a hand snuffing all lights but the spirit fire that hangs from a scaffolding.
A little time in the Fade will realign my mind- he thought to himself.
Solas walked to the sofa on the other side of the room and laid down. He focused on feeling his breath, grounding himself in the blue flicker of the spirit flames light.
Then he slipped into the fade.
For a while he simply existed in the fade, letting the old familiar magic wash over him. He kept his eyes closed and listened to songs lost to time. Brief glimpses of the past float past him, of the many faces that walked through Skyhold.
Solas became briefly aware of another presence.
Opening his eyes, he saw Cole in the distance…with an armful of daggers? Cole whispered, “They fight, but they don’t really want to hurt. They just want release.” Solas gave a small smile and a brief nod to Cole before the spirit took a few steps and left the fade to continue his business.
Solas continued to rest, basking in the fade as the world shifted and changed around him. He stood up and watched, like a silent sentinel for the ever-shifting reality around him.
Then suddenly the ground grew solid beneath him.
He was back in his rotunda, standing by his desk. It is mid-day, but the tower is empty and still. As Solas looked around at the murals he heard footsteps.
“Solas”
Elera Lavellen always said his name like that, a warm greeting, like it’s been hanging on her lips all day.
He turned and returned the greeting with a soft smile, “Inquisitor?”
She’s dressed as she was earlier today, in her leathers and a tunic, ready for a day of meetings and training.
Her eyes were bright enough to dim the harshness of the vallaslin she proudly bares, his chest tightened with guilt.
“I’m interested in what you told me of yourself and your studies. If you have time, I’d like to hear more.”
Solas blinked. Eyes widening, he searches her face and finds her usual open, easy expression.
Ah. She doesn’t realize she’s asleep- he thought to himself.
Visiting him here, even as a mage, should not have been so easy for her.
Something in him shifted when he realized she sought him out in her dream.
With a barely contained grin he replied softly, “You continue to surprise me. All right, let us talk… preferably somewhere more interesting than this.”
With half a thought Solas beckons the Fade to shift.
In a blink the world changes into the glistening snow and lively bustle of Haven.
The snow crunches under toe as Solas walks ahead, unable to hide his self-satisfied smile. It’s been a while since he could play like this, and he imagined the gasp she might make once she realized where they are.
Besides him she questioned, “Why here?”
“Haven is familiar. It will always be important to you,” Solas’ voice nonchalant in spite of the warmth growing in his chest. He continues towards the cells below the chantry and Elera slowly followed.
In a stumbling cadence as if talking through a puzzle Elera says, “But…we talked about that already.”
Stopping at the door Solas turns to peered into Elera’s eyes looking for realization, the moment she realizes she’s in the fade…but she only gazes back into his.
What was meant to be a playful glance bloomed into something deeper. Her shimmering green stare held him in place.
Blinking to pry himself away, Solas opened the door and entered the cells.
They stood in the center where Elera first woke marked and bound. “I sat beside you while you slept, studying the Anchor.”
“How long can it take to look at a mark on my hand?” she tilted her head.
Huffing in amusement Solas said, “A magical mark of unknown origin, tied to a unique breach in the Veil? Longer than you might think.”
“I ran every test I could imagine, searched the Fade, yet found nothing,” he reminisced “Cassandra suspected duplicity. She threatened to have me executed as an apostate if I didn’t produce results.”
Elera replied with a smirk,” Cassandra’s like that with everyone.”
“Yes, “he muttered before a chuckle flitted from him unexpectedly.
Elera’s face softened.
He paused then walked back outside before anything else sliped from his control.
When she followed, Solas continued, “You were never going to wake up. How could you, a mortal sent physically through the Fade? I was frustrated, frightened. The spirits I might have consulted had been driven away by the Breach. Although I wished to help, I had no faith in Cassandra… or she in me. I was ready to flee.”
“The Breach threatened the whole world. Where did you plan to go?” she questioned.
“Someplace far away where I might research a way to repair the Breach before its effects reached me,” his voice lowered as he admits, “I never said it was a good plan.”
The Breach, a swirling storm of magic piercing the sky, hung next to a mountain peak. Its steady thrum thundering in the distance. Solas gazed at it.
“I told myself, one more attempt to seal the rifts. I tried and failed.” he raised his hand up in a grand, but empty gesture, “No ordinary magic would affect them. I watched the rifts expand and grow, resigned myself to flee, and then- “
Solas- No, reality was interrupted.
Suddenly Elera and Solas were there, standing in memory manifested. He holds her marked hand firmly up to a tear in the veil. Green crackling energy dances across her palm and kisses his fingertips as the tear whirls shut.
The vision vanished in a blink, and they are back in Haven.
Solas looked to Elera, “It seems you hold the key to our salvation. You had sealed it with a gesture… and right then, I felt the whole world change.”
Those last words fell softer than Solas had intended. He attempted to hide the admission, with a casual expression but his eyes simmered with an earnest affection that betrayed him.
Elera takes in a short, sharp breath, then a smile spreads slowly across her face, “Felt the whole world change?”
“A figure of speech,” he replied coyly.
She stepped closer, eyes locked on his “I’m aware of the metaphor. I’m more interested in ‘felt.’”
“You change… everything,” the weight of his what was said hung between them.
“Sweet talker,” Elera says softly as she cast her eyes down.
Solas turned his head to look out over Haven, searching for a way to get out of this moment-
Then he felt the warmth of Elera’s hand on his cheek.
She quickly pulled his face to hers. Before he could think, her lips caressed his. As a breath shuddered through him Solas realized this was inevitable.
He kissed her back softly, as if the faintest movement of his lips would dispel the moment.
Just as he began to sink into her touch Elera pulled away.
Solas shook his head in fond disbelief, before grabbing her waist and pulling her flush against him.
He didn’t kiss softly this time.
He crushed his lips greedily against hers. Elera anchored herself to him, one hand on his back and the other sliding to his neck. As her thumb ran along the ridge of his jaw, Solas pulled away.
Still holding her hips Solas pulled back.
He knew he should stop, but she looked up at him in a daze. Elera’s swollen lips were still parted, and he could feel her breath mingling with his.
He shook his head again before surrendering and kissing her once more.
Her hand went back to his jaw, firmer as if to keep him, but he still pulled away.
Solas steps back, “We shouldn’t. It isn’t right. Not even here.”
She furrows her brows, “What do you mean, “even here”?”
“Where did you think we were?” He smiled, a playful lilt in his voice.
Elera looks around slowly with clearer eyes, really seeing now. She whispers, “This isn’t real.”
He teased, “That’s a matter of debate, probably best discussed after you…”
He leaned in and whispered, “…wake up”
Her mouth formed a perfect circle as her eyes widened in shock.
The last thing he heard was her delighted gasp, it was better than he had imagined.
Solas woke, on the sofa with his heart pounding in his chest.
The spirit fire cast a blue glow in the rotunda. It appeared to be early morning, thankfully too early for anyone else to stir.
Solas let out a long steadying breath, pressing a hand to his eyes.
His lips tingled.
Runing the hand from his eyes he clasps them firmly across his lips. Trying to suppress the lingering caress of their kiss.
The candles ignited one by one as Solas makes a subtle gesture. He stands and begins to walk to his desk when he hears the door.
Elera Lavellen enters barefoot, panting, and still dressed in her nightclothes.
Solas gives her an appraising look, “Sleep well?”
She flushes, “When I asked to talk to you, I didn’t think we’d be doing it in the Fade…I’ve never done anything like that before. On a number of levels.”
A soft, real laugh slipd from Solas, “Since you went to the trouble of finding me in your sleep, it was worth the effort of doing something interesting.”
He paused, considering his next words, “I apologize. The kiss was impulsive and ill considered, and I should not have encouraged it.”
Her eyes narrowed, “You say that, but you’re the one who started with tongue.”
“I did no such thing,” Solas gasped feigning innocence.
She teased, “Oh, does it not count if it’s only Fade-tongue?”
“It has been a long time,” his voice was hesitant and sincere, “and things have always been easier for me in the Fade. I am not certain this is the best idea. It could lead to trouble.”
Her eyes met his, and shook something deep within him, “I’m willing to take that chance, if you are.”
Solas stumbled over his words, unable to deny her. “I… may be, yes. If I could take a little time to think. There are… considerations.”
“Take all the time you need,” she smiled.
“Thank you, “he let out a breath in relief, “I am not often thrown by things that happen in dreams. But I am reasonably certain we are awake now, and if you wish to discuss anything, I would enjoy talking.