Wrote this FOR MYSELF before the game came out (and forgot about it) and let me tell you how on point I was. So, short romantic prompt turning into a short trippy Fade adventure? Yes, yes, just as planned…


There are many different ways to reach your dream. One beaten track, many before you took; a cunning roundabout road with no maps and guides to lead you through; a couple of secret passages – one will take your whispered secret, one is guarded by a greedy gargoyle.

Her claws are the sharpest stone, teeth drip with poison, eyes tainted with misfortune.

- What do you have for me today? - She asks, benevolence of boredom sweetening her voice, - a gift, a tale or, perhaps, another of your riddles?

The stone rolls and rumbles, long forgotten stories languish under her high rock. Some of his tales are there too, but the stories of today, fresh in his memory, honey and spice – them, Solas is not willing to bury.

And instead, he answers her so.

- You solved all my riddles, Oedipus, heard all my tales and there is nothing I can give you, but this. What is it?

They both know enough answers between two of them, but only one is right and Solas holds it tightly, tongue kept behind his teeth.

- You have your heart to give me, - says the greed of gargoyle;

- You have your eyes, - speaks her grief.

And her mind is silent, for if she is to give him the right answer, it would become wrong.

- No, Oedipus, no, my heart beats in another's hands and my eyes see only what you wish to look away from, but I can give you a promise,- he smiles thinly,- that I will come tomorrow to continue the game. Today, mistaken Oedipus, let me through or your life and throne will be mine to claim.

It is hard to make promises, - Oedipus acknowledges wearily, - when your riddle is solved and your mouth is devoured with the rest of your body.

She is too old for this game, too cursed, but she will wait for Solas on the border of Fade again – on her throne of the dead king.

But his promise was empty, his tale was tall and no one will get strangled to be fooled again. For the fallen Oedipus he, with the body of man and a heart of a wolf, only had lies. Tomorrow, Solas will take another route.