Solas Fanfiction – Searching for Solas.
(Based on my own Inquisitor; a Dalish Mage.)
Arissa slammed her fist down onto the War Table, glaring at the advisors, before spinning on her heels and storming out. The doors swung shut behind her, leaving Leliana, Josephine and Cullen standing in stunned silence. Cullen was the first to break it.
'Well,' he sighed, 'That went superbly, I thought.' The two women looked at him incredulously. 'Seriously?'
Leliana raised an eyebrow. 'Solas has been gone for six months, we're no closer to finding him than we were after defeating Corypheus, and Arissa is close to jumping off her balcony? Yes, a superb outcome, Cullen.' Despite the somber atmosphere, Josephine hid a smile behind her hand, grateful that, for once, she wasn't on the receiving end of Leliana's sharp tongue.
Cullen shrugged. 'Just trying to lighten the mood.' He frowned. 'What about Morrigan? She's easily one of the most powerful mages in Orlais and Fereldan…maybe she could try to track him? If Solas was a Circle Mage we could have just used his phylactery…damn.' He looked to the women. 'Leliana, you travelled with Morrigan, perhaps you know where she might be, or know how to contact her? Josephine, surely we can ask around in the Orlesian court?' Cullen sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. 'I'll go and check on Arissa.' He, too, left through the great doors, leaving Josephine and Leliana to peruse the War Table.
'We've already sent word to the reformed Mages, to Alistair, and no one has heard from or seen Morrigan since the Battle of Skyhold,' Josephine recounted. 'Unless she is once again hiding in the Game, or in the Wilds with Kieran, it is as if she has simply disappeared.'
Leliana smiled as a new idea came upon her. 'Alistair has not heard from Morrigan, no? But he would absolutely refuse to lose his son again. I'll send word to the Hero of Ferelden, to Aurelie. Perhaps she'll be more willing to give up Morrigan – no doubt she finds Kieran's existence a difficulty.' Her eyes softened with memory. 'Convincing Alistair that night…such bravery I had only thought came from Andraste.' Leliana shook her head, clearing her mind, before turning back to Josephine. 'You try Alistair again,' she commanded, 'And I'll send a raven to Aurelie.'
Having been waylaid with various reports on his way, it took some time before Cullen was able to make his way to Arissa's quarters. He hesitated before knocking on the Inquisitor's door. He could hear noise from inside; the sound of magic, accompanied by intermittent swearing and…giggling? He knocked twice, cautiously, and the sounds immediately ceased. The door opened, revealing Sera in what Cullen could only describe as the most disgusting pair of pyjama's he had ever seen – and Cullen had two sisters. 'Who is it?!' Sera said, in a sing-song voice, then stopped abruptly as she recognised Cullen. 'Ew! No boys allowed!' she said, then stopped as a gentler voice came from within. 'Who is it, Sera?' Cullen motioned behind Sera, who grudgingly stepped back to allow him up the stairs. What he saw made his Templar self twitch. The walls and ceilings were covered in ice, of which electricity sparked off all over. Remnants of green fog hung about like clouds and on the balcony, a discarded staff lay on the floor, electricity still crackling amongst the tip. Squinting, Cullen could just about make out a curled up figure leaning against the stone, shadowed except for the occasional spark drifting across a face.
Cullen looked back at Sera, who quickly motioned him outside. 'She looks so sad,' Cullen said quietly, and for once, Sera nodded without a smile on her face. 'Still don't understand what she saw in Solas,' she agreed, 'But she's barely smiled since he left. Today was a bad day, I think.' Cullen nodded. He smiled at Sera. 'She's lucky to have you as a friend, you know.' Sera looked smug. 'Even if she is a bit too elfy, she's still alright. And, you know, she needs someone. Someone who's gonna make her laugh a little bit.' Cullen nodded, then paused as he heard a muffled sob. Sera sighed. 'I know you guys had a little….thingy, so maybe she'll want to talk to you. Just be nice, yeah? Otherwise I'll stick arrows up your arse.' Cullen stepped back a little, startled at the ferocity in Sera's eyes.
'I swear on my honour as a member of the Inquisition,' Cullen swore gently, 'I will be as nice as I can be.' Satisfied, Sera headed out, no doubt to sneak some food from the kitchen. Meanwhile, Cullen reentered Arissa's chamber, heading to the ladder and climbing up. As he reached the balcony, Arissa tensed, reaching for her quilt and covering herself. She relaxed as she saw it was Cullen, and only as she turned her head did Cullen realise her face was shining with tears, the remnants of which, unchecked, were dripping onto her bedspread.
'Hey,' he said gently, clambering over to sit next to her. Arissa said nothing, merely leant into his shoulder. She began to cry and Cullen put his arms around her, pulling her close. Arissa sobbed into his shoulder and Cullen said nothing, did nothing, except hold her. He wasn't the right man, Cullen knew and understood that, but right now Arissa needed to feel someone strong holding her. As great as Sera probably was at cheering her up, Cullen knew from experience that everyone needed someone else to be strong once in a while.
Cullen didn't know how long they sat like that, him holding her, her collapsed in his arms. Eventually, however, she clasped her arms around his neck, and somehow Cullen instantly understood. Gently, carefully, he secured Arissa onto his back, before slowly descending the ladder. Once they reached the bottom, Cullen slowly turned, transferring Arissa, who had gone limp with sorrow, into his arms, and depositing her gently on the bed. As he did so, Sera reappeared from the shadows. Clearly, she had been waiting.
'I'd been trying to get her down from there for almost an hour. Her plus that staff? Equals bad stuff, you know?' Sera said quietly. Arissa seemed to have cried herself to sleep, and even in her dreams her mouth was curved, a tiny furrow appearing between her eyebrows. Suddenly, she smiled, relaxing as she sighed. 'Solas,' she whispered, and was still. Cullen turned to Sera curiously. Sera merely nodded. 'Dorian said that mages visit the Fade in their dreams easier than most. Maybe she's reliving her memories of Solas, or trying to find him or something.'
Cullen draped the quilt over the sleeping elf, before turning back to Sera. 'Look after her tonight,' he whispered. 'Let me know how she is in the morning.'