Chapter 1: A glimpse into Luthien Lavellan's mind, as she seeks shelter from the burden of being "The Inquisitor", in her favourite part of the castle. Solas later joins her to keep her a welcomed company.
Luthien descended the stone stairs to the lower level of the castle, her steps echoing into the empty tower. She entered a vast room where ancient, massive statues stood in a pair of opposing rows, a veil of sacred silence surrounding them. How many times had she traced those cold figures sculpted in the stone? Curious, wondering about their story.
All the rumors from the outside bustling life in Skyhold were muffled in there. She was alone, trying to shake off the burden of the recent events at the Adamant Fortress. Closing her eyes, she embraced the rare moment of the peace that being in her favourite and mysterious part of the castle gave her. She reached a heavy door which slowly opened at her touch, creaking on its rusty hinges, before closing behind her with a loud noise.
And everything was silent again.
A short corridor, with tall wooden bookcases standing on each side, lead to a small circular room. It was a library: old, dusty, filled with spiderwebs and ancient books. But it was a sanctuary to her. Luthien moved toward the armchair behind the massive wooden desk which stood proudly at the center of the room, and finally sat down, letting off a sigh. She wondered who ever once stood between those bookcases, eager for knowledge and learning, collecting those leather bound volumes.
Her eyes fell on the enormous book opened on the desk. It was as fascinating as the first time she saw it. She bended over it, gently turning the yellowed crumbly pages. Her eyes sparkled, as those of a mother who tenderly gazes at her child, fascinated by the elaborate drawings she couldn't fully understand.
Hardly anyone would have looked for her down there. It was the place where she hid when she needed time alone to think. Resting back on the armchair, she gave another sigh. And her mind started to race. How many decision had she had to make, since it all begin? It was not long ago that she was exploring forests with fellow elves from her clan, freezing giant spiders and laughing at campfire stories. It seemed as if it was another life.
Things had changed and she had lost that carelessness by which she had conducted her life until that moment. She felt as if the world was being carried on her shoulders. In Luthien's hands laid the fate of many and lives of many more were at stake. Everything was destined to succeed or fail, because of her.
Now she was addressed as "Inquisitor", "Your Worship" or... "Vhenan".
Luthien found herself smiling while echoing that familiar voice in her head. That calming, reassuring voice, of the one who stood by her side from the very beginning. Gloomy thoughts started fading from her mind.
"I sat beside you while you slept, studying the Anchor," she recalled him saying, thinking back to their first kiss. With great surprise to herself, she had been bold enough to make the first move. To kiss him. From that moment, the mere thought of him spread warmth throughout her heart, a consoling and sweet feeling through her soul, a shiver down her throat.
Solas was the one who kept her going. Solas was her reassuring presence, the one who surprised her everyday, a gentle soul, a brilliant mind, a resolute character.
As she intently stared at the sealing, her hands resting on the stomach, she heard the door squeaking and immediately and sat up straight, alert. Never before had someone gone to look for her down there. She peeked through the short corridor to see who was coming in. She couldn't hear the sound of the steps but recognized at once the bald head and the pointed ears lightly moving toward her and she relaxed again.
Solas stepped forward, his hands clenched behind his back, a slight smile on his face. She smiled back at him.
"Hey, what are you doing down here?" Luthien asked, resting her elbows on the desk.
"What are you doing down here?" he asked back as he reached her, standing on the other side of the desk, pressing his hands on the wooden surface. The jaw bone necklace around his neck moved slightly forth and back, as he arched his back a little.
"Just ... Enjoying a little peace of mind. This is my spot," she answered, calmy.
"I thought your spot was Sera's," he replied with an eloquent smirk.
"That's my second spot!" she laughed back, "you know, the flowers, the colours, the mess... That's for when I am happy."
"So I may deduce that you being here means something else then happy... How are you then?" he asked with a soothing voice, while half sitting on the desk, one foot on the floor, the other dangling.
"I'm just... Pensive," Luthien said as she rose from the armchair, slowly pacing around the wooden desk, "I like coming here sometimes and being by myself. It helps clearing the mind."
"I am an intruder then. I should be gone and leave you to it," Solas replied with a mischievous smirk, but he did not move, despite his words. He sat there, staring intensely at her with those deep grey-blue eyes.
Luthien moved around the desk, getting close, staring back at him.
"You tend to leave my side far too often, lethallin..." she caressed his pale cheek with the back of her hand, as she pronounced those words.
Their noses inches apart.
"Always leaving when I long for you the most..." she whispered, in a semi-serious tone.
"Do I, vhenan?" Solas gave her a mocking look of surprise, then took her hand and gently kissed it, before grabbing her waist and pulling her tight up against him.
"Then I should make up for it..." he whispered into her mouth, a sweet smile on his face, before pressing his lips on hers.
They kissed tenderly and slowly. Luthien closed her eyes. A shiver went down her spine. She could taste the familiar and reassuring scent of his soft lips.
And they were gone. Lost in a fleeting moment of infinite love, two souls as one.
Luthien's mind was clear enough now, Solas's arms around her, her body pressed against his, their lips burning together...
And everything else around them was forgotten. Even if just for a while.