Chapter Two
It had been days after Corypheus had attacked Haven. Many lives were lost and many were wounded. The fledgling Inquisition was left out in the cold, its Advisors at each others throats and its elven Herald of Andraste laid writhing in agony one more from the mark and new wounds inflicted from the battle. Solas had gone to his side to help, only to be turned away with a pained growl and burning golden amber eyes. Since that night, in the small archery area beside Haven's Chantry, the two elves haven't been on good speaking terms. A couple of times Iron Bull tried to get the two to talk, even Varric tried. It never truly ended well. Both Solas and Lavellan would start to yell at each other in Elvhen. Which always left Solas with the upper hand on the Dalish hunter, since he knew more words in Elvhen than the Herald.
Solas stood beside the Veil Fire brazer, facing towards its mystic green-blue light. Occasionally, he would glance over towards the tent Lavellan laid resting, in pain. It left him little to do to help for now, so he stood close to the veil fire, wrapped in a fur blanket Cassandra passed along to him. Closing his eyes, the elven mage thought back on their arguements... then it drifted further back when Lavellan spoke to him with a friendly, welcoming smile. Elvhen greetings and song dancing along his tongue when ever he found the elven mage.
Hugging the fur tighter around his shoulders, Solas breathed out a heavy sigh, guilty slowly blooming within his being.
Three more days went by and Lavellan was able to move around more. The mark no longer bothered him, but his other wounds still stun. He spoke to the Inquisition Advisors then to Mother Giselle before making his way through the rest of the camp. He was checking to see if everyone was all right and gathered a few men to go out hunting. Commander Cullen and Cassandra both protested, saying that he still needed to rest. Lavellan shook his head and grinned.
"I still have use of my bow arm. Besides, we need to gather food if we do not wish to starve tonight. Watch over and protect the others till we return."
Lavellan slung his bow onto his shoulder and picked up the quiver of arrows. Before clasping the belt across his back, he gaze wandered to where Solas chosen to set his tent. Both surprised each other when they both caught themselves staring at each other. Lavellan turned his back and Solas averted his gaze.
"We'll return by sun down." Lavellan told the Commander before leaving with the small hunting party.
Solas glanced back up towards the Dalish hunter's position, watching his back as he disappeared into the forest with his hunting party. With a shake of his head, the elven mage walked back into his tent and sat cross-legged upon the bedroll of furs.
"Chuckles? You awake in there?" the dwarf's voice roused Solas from sleep.
He sat up slightly confused. When had I fallen asleep? he wondered, brushing the palm of a hand against his cheek. He moved towards the entrance of his tent and moved the flaps aside, he looked up slightly to Varric.
"Yes, I'm awake." he spoke, still slightly groggy.
Varric gave a nod and held out a bowl of hot beef stew. The steam danced and rolled above the bowl, the delicious smell caused Solas' mouth to water and stomach to growl.
"Thought you might be hungry," Varric said, passing the bowl over to the elven mage. "The Herald took down a large wild druffalo. From what the other hunters said, they've never seen a Dalish hunter at work before."
Solas gave a slight nod of his head, taking a few mouth fulls of the stew. Warmth washed over him as he ate more, listening to Varric talk. He looked over towards the loud bellowing group of soldiers and Lavellan in the middle. The Dalish hunter sang along with the men with a large toothy grin and fist up in the air, a few words sang in Elvhen here and there. Before long, Iron bull snatched up Lavellan from behind and toss him up onto his shoulders, catching the Herald off guard. Everyone around to see whooped and laughed. Varric chuckled and Solas gave a half shake of his head and went about finishing his supper. The chatter and laughter grew louder, pulling the elven mage's attention back towards the main camp. The qunari was now balancing on a barrel and Lavellan standing up, juggling what looked to be fruit, apples maybe. It was a funny sight to see, an elf and qunari performing tricks jesters in courts would do. Many around the camp applaud and cheered joyously to their performance. At least it was something to keep everyone's minds off of what had happened at Haven.
Varric turned his attention back to the elven mage, catching a glimpse of a sorrowful expression. "You should try talking with him again." the dwarven rogue suggested in a friendly manner.
"And say what, Child of the Stone?" Solas spoke in a guarded tone, pushing what was left in the his bowl around.
"I don't know, maybe start with 'Hello' and go from there?"
Solas frowned into the bowl, if only the others knew what was exchanged between the two in Elvhen. Then they would've understand it wasn't that easy to be done.
"Just try, alright?" Varric rubbed at the back of his own neck. "Anyways, Chuckles, I'm gonna head back to my tent and get some shut eye."
Solas bayed the dwarf farewell for the night before finishing off the stew before setting the bowl aside. He stood up and stood before the Veil Fire brazer again, Varric's words echoing in his mind. What could he possibly say to the Dalish hunter now? The elven mage closed his eyes in thought, grasping his hands behind his back. Taking slow, even breaths he concentrated in blocking out all the noise behind him. The cold nipped at him, his lithe figure quivered only slight until a thought came to him. He turned swiftly on his heel and trotted over to the large gathering around the main campfire. Lavellan was no longer on Iron Bull's shoulders, but rough housing with The Chargers lieutenant.
Solas cleared his throat and called out. "Lavellan!"
The Dalish hunter glanced over his shoulder, still in a deadlock with Krem. "What is it, Flat-Ear?"
Solas winced only slight from those words. He shook it off and stood firm. "I have something I wish to discuss with you."
The vint Lavellan was wrestling with took the chance to use this as an opportunity. Though the Dalish hunter wasn't so easily thrown off when Krem tried to lift and toss him. Lavellan shifted his weight and locked his legs around Krem's torso. He used Krem's momentum against him and flipped The Chargers lieutenant onto his back. The vint let out a huff as the breath was knocked out of him. The Chargers laughed when their lieutenant's ass was handed to him by the Herald. Lavellan twisted up onto his feet and brushed the dirt off of himself. He crossed his arms and stared directly at the elven mage.
"What do you have to discuss?" Lavellan's voice was firm and calm.
Solas gave a nod of his head and beckoned the Dalish hunter to follow him. He turned around and went back towards the Veil Fire brazer close to his tent. He felt Lavellan's presence behind him as the Dalish hunter followed him over. Solas was going to use this chance to tell the Herald about Sky Hold and the Orb, before they ended up in another arguement.
