I groaned at the sudden awakening, but the sun shone brightly through the tattered curtains so I could only assume it was late morning. Was it too much to ask to get a little peace and quiet around here? No, of course not, what was I thinking! It's the end of the world! There's no such thing as peace and quiet anymore. So with a wearisome sigh and a crack of my back, I straightened myself out and peered out my door. People lined the small snowy streets. Men, old young and women too, some children either clinging to their mothers skirts or running on ahead of the crowds, joyful smiles on their faces. The rest seemed to politely shuffle along, extending their necks in that peculiar way one does to see something better. Naturally my curiosity was pricked by this strange gathering and so again, naturally I walked on ahead to see what the fuss was about.
"It's the Herald." One woman whispered in awe and I stopped. Something in me felt let down by that. Not that I didn't see the big deal in her actions, but I'd met Trevelyan. More importantly, I'd seen the uncomfortable look she gave me and no matter how hard she tried to cover it with smiles and manners, that distrust still sat heavy in her eyes. I sighed again residing myself to return to my shack or go out into the forest but my eyes caught sight of Solas as he stood outside his small home, hand resting gently on his chin as he regarded the crowd in the same fashion as me. When his eyes drifted to me, the hand came away in a slightly awkward wave that I returned. I wasn't sure what to do next. We'd both acknowledged each other's presence did I simply walk on or do I go over and say good morning? I gave no obvious indication in either regard because he was still watching me. I decided then to make my way up to him anyway, if he wanted me to piss off then he could just say so.
"Morning!" I said brightly as I cantered up the steps.
"Afternoon, it is past morning, dhalen." He said with that same smug smile. I scoffed and tried not to be snappy, I decided that my aim of this chat would be to turn over a new leaf with Solas. After all I'm fairly certain that he saved my life, and you aren't -no- you can't be bitter and rude to someone who has saved your life... Perhaps then I should speak with Trevelyan too, she saved everyone's life after all.
"They are in awe of her, not two days after they condemned her." He said solemnly as he looked out towards the chantry. As I followed his eye line I saw Trevelyan's small form making her way through the crowds towards the grand doors of said chantry. I was also struck by their sudden change of heart. How could they unashamedly throw themselves at her feet when yesterday they were just about ready string her up, burry her and spit on her grave? I shook my head in wonder and shrugged.
"She did save them, maybe they are trying to make up for it." I said inconsequentially.
"Truly? Or are they simply fickle followers. Do you think they would regard her with such reverence of she did not bare the name of the Herald?" He asked me then, turning properly now to face me. He was quite strange looking, and yet so normal at the same time. As I mentioned before it was almost too normal. That in itself was unique and whoever was hiding behind the too plain exterior was simply drawing attention to himself but being... Too ordinary. Or perhaps that was just my imagination. But he made a good point. These humans blindly followed this religion that could've named a wheel of cheese a saint and they'd bow down to it.
"They're scared, they need something to look to for hope. She has a miraculous mark to seal the breach. You can't get much more hopeful than that. Throw in a few dashes of stone cold command from Cassandra and Leliana, witty commentary and morale lifting gags from Varric and of course mystical magical wonders from yourself then we just about have a force to be reckoned with. That's all they need to see. People not giving up yet, then they won't give up. Them not giving up will make the Herald not want to give up, hope begets hope." I said, leaning my elbows on the snow covered stone wall and watching the cheerful joyful faces of the crowds. Apprehensive so they looked, but it was something.
"You make a valid point." Was all he said before mirroring me a few feet away. It was silent between us for a moment and I was about to politely take my leave but he straightened again and slightly smirked.
"You did not include yourself in your crude analysis of this... Group."
I smiled then and shrugged, "Don't see myself sticking round for long."
"You do not wish to help? That is all you seemed to go on about in the dungeon." He said smartly and I chuckled and shook my head.
"Of course I want to help, but any minute now I can see Cullen or Trevelyan marching up to my door and telling me to leave. Either that or they'll start with the smiting again." I tried to laugh but it was hollowed by the memory of the pain of my souk being wrenched from my body. Solas must have noticed this for he took a step closer.
"One hopes those in power will remember who helped, and who did not." He said and I could tell then immediately that he shared my fears. I met his eyes and smiled gently, hoping it would convey some sort of solidarity.
"Then I won't let them forget." I said. He hesitated before nodding slightly. I quickly added then, "We look out for each other. If Cullen happens to start ranting about rites of tranquility then I'll floor a Chantry mother just like you did for me." The chuckle that escaped his lips then floated over me like a soft and balmy breeze.
"I did not floor a Chantry mother." He defended but he was still smiling.
I laughed, "That's not what Leliana told me."
Something in his look changed then, "Oh? And what did Sister Leliana tell you?"
"That you flew in like a knight in shining armour and rescued me from the foul clutches of the evil Chantry mother." I said feindishly. His gentle smile returned then.
"Perhaps you and master Tethras should start a serial together. You have a flare for far-fetched story telling, Dhalen."
I laughed in jovial agreement before silence descended again. Why I insisted on standing conversing and creating awkward silences was beyond me. But I was a curious person by nature. And I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this elf than met the eye, much more, and I intended to find out what that was.
"You didn't like me much at first." I stated and I noticed him bristle in surprise.
"I have crossed paths with your people on several occasions." He said, his face turning back out to the crowd and his voice more clipped.
"Crossed paths?" I prodded.
He cast me a sideways look, his brow ever more furrowed.
"When I came across Dalish plans I sought to tell them the stories I had learned in the fade, teach them to better themselves. But they shunned me and called me flat ear. Proud and ignorant to the ways of the world." He said bitterly. I felt the sting of offense at his words, but I didn't want to start another all out argument with him. I didn't want to, but I am famously incapable of biting my tongue.
"Perhaps if you weren't so condescending then they might have listened." I said, and the words tasted like venom. He turned round to face me then, shock clear on his face, but then it slackened again into... Disappointment.
"As I said: Proud. You take suggestion for improvement as insult and truer versions of history as falsehoods." He then fell into elvhen, "The Dalish could never truly be as The People once were."
I took a step back, partly from the harshness and bitterness in his words. Partly because I knew I shouldn't have understood what he just said. How he had the power to make me so vexed, I do not know, all I know is that I felt lesser for his words and that was not common for me. But instead of losing my temper as I might usually, I simply sighed and tired sigh.
"And how would you know any better? We're trying, at least give us that."
He faltered then in his scornful glare and shook his head. "Yes, you are. Forgive me, it is not my place."
I furrowed my brow then at the very sudden change in his demeanour. "Is that it?" I asked incredulously.
"I'm sorry?"
"I mean I thought you were better at arguing than that. Doesn't your name mean pride? There's the pride in simply rolling over like that?"
He stared at me now in complete awe, like I had two head or six legs or just sprouted horns. "You're quite strange." He said softly.
"For a Dalish?" I poked.
He folded his arms then and smirked, "Yes. And no."
I took a step towards him, feeling something like my temper rise but I couldn't help the smile that itched on my face. "You can't possibly judge an entire race on just a handful." I argued.
"I have come across enough of your people to make a sound judgement." He retorted.
"Not all of them, you're still generalising." I said quickly.
He bristled then, "Do I? Tell me have you ever been ran out by an angry mob for simply being there."
"Three times actually. Only by shemlens."
"Then you generalise humans as much as I generalise your people."
"I do not! Why I think some humans are perfectly charming."
He smirked more then and he shook his head, "You are strange, dhalen, and not just for a Dalish." And there was almost endearment in his voice.
I chuckled then and leaned against his stone wall. "As are you. I find you entirely too ordinary to be normal. Like it's a disguise. What are you hiding Solas?" I said playfully but his back snapped straight and his face went immediately guarded and I was shocked by how suddenly he tensed.
"So you are hiding something..." I said, not hiding my suspicion.
His shoulders slumped again and he shook his head, "We all have our secrets Lavellan."
He was very sombre now and I decided it was best to leave him be, besides, I saw the Herald heading our way and I assumed she had a lot of fade questions for him.
"If you say so. See you around, hahren." I said casually, punching his shoulder before hopping back down the steps and back to my shack.
