Prompt: I'm not lost, I just don't know where I am.
Laughter rang through Skyhold as the various members of the Inquisition examined their cards and eyed each other across the table.
"I once spent two months in the robes of a Chantry lay brother," Iron Bull said.
"Bullshit!" Sera crowed.
"You know," the large qunari said in a conversational tone, "I'm not entirely sure I approve of the name of this game."
"You're right," Dorian smirked. "Let's call it Bullcrap instead."
Laughter erupted around the table, even from Vivienne who normally liked to hold herself above their little jokes.
"Don't dodge the call, Bull," Elanor Trevelyan said, grinning as she took a gulp of her ale. "Truth or bullshit?"
The mercenary let out a chuckle. "Truth! It really happened. Let me tell you, the looks I used to get from the templars."
Sera groaned and everyone helped pushed the mound of cards toward her. "I'm never going to get through these!"
Varric cleared his throat from the far end of the table. "I would once more like to protest my exclusion from the game."
"Noted," Elanor said with a grin, "but until you become a worse liar, Varric, tough cookies."
He was still grumbling when she turned back to the game. There were more cards in the middle and Solas was glancing through his hand. He set them face down on the table.
"I spent one month in a Circle completely unnoticed by the templars," he said in his quiet, thoughtful voice.
For a moment, no one spoke.
"Bullshit!" Elanor said, narrowing her eyes at him. "You told me you weren't Circle trained."
Solas gave her a slow smile. "That is true, but so was what I said. I did indeed reside in a Circle. I pretended to be a servant and so was beneath the templar's notice."
Elanor laughed. "You sly rabbit! You're better at this than I thought."
Silence fell across the table. Elanor blanched, glancing at her mug of ale. Cullen was staring at her like he'd never seen her before. Vivienne looked faintly embarrassed.
"Solas—" She stuttered.
"I'm out," Sera said in a cold voice, dropping her cards and shoving away from the table. "Let's go, Solas. Leave the shems to their stupid game."
Solas also stood slowly, looking back at Elanor with an unreadable expression on his face. Then he too turned and left.
She tried to stand, but Bull put a giant hand on her shoulder so she couldn't move. "I think you'd get in arrow in the head if you tried to follow them right now," he said in a rumbling voice. "That was a stupid thing to say."
Elanor pushed the heels of her hands into her eyes, feeling hot and sick with shame. "Maker, I can't believe I said that... I'm never drinking again."
"Too much ale can loosen the tongue," Dorian said in a somber voice, "but it will not create words that aren't already in the back of your mind."
"I don't entirely see why everyone is so upset," Vivienne said into the awkward pause. "It wasn't as if she said 'knife-ear'."
"Hold your tongue if you have nothing pleasant to say, Enchanter," Cullen snapped in a rare display of anger. He stood, not meeting Elanor's eyes. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
"I think I'll join him," Varric said, looking uncomfortable.
Elanor wrenched herself free of Bull's grasp and fled the room, not caring if Sera shot her. She had to apologize. Wandering throughout the Skyhold, she didn't see Solas in any of the usual places.
Finally, in desperation, she exited the massive keep, wondering if he would have followed Sera outside to where the practice dummies were set up. She spotted him almost immediately, sitting under the tree in one of his meditative poses.
"Solas," she said, hurrying up, her words fumbling in her haste to get them out. "I'm so, so sorry. I don't know—I shouldn't have..." She paused, took a deep breath and dropped to her knees to look him in the eye. "It was very wrong of me to use that word, and I very sincerely apologize." Elanor bit her lip. "I'll understand if you want to leave, but if there's any way I can... make up for..." She winced. "Sorry. I know there's nothing I can do..."
To her surprise, Solas smiled. "The fact that you apologized is far more than most humans would have done."
Elanor flushed and miserably brought her knees up to her chin. "Every time I congratulate myself for pulling together a team of the most diverse individuals, I go and utterly prove myself unworthy of my position." She closed her eyes. "The worst part is, I can never take that back. You'll always remember that I called you that word."
"Yes," Solas agreed. She flinched. "But," he continued, "I will also remember how you came after me to apologize and make it right. And, that, my lady, is how society changes. One person at a time who admits to a wrong and does her best to be better the next time."
Elanor nodded, still feeling ashamed, but a little bit better that Solas didn't seem to hate her. He'd been the only one of her magic-wielding companions who seemed to understand instinctively how the mark on her hand worked. She needed him... and he was becoming something of a friend and teacher, like her old swordmaster from back home.
"I should find Sera and apologize to her too," Elanor said, standing and dusting off her leggings.
"Hmm, perhaps you should let me pass on your apologies first," Solas said with a wry smile, also rising to his feet. "She's not inclined to speak to any humans for the rest of the day."
"Solas," she said as he started to walk away. He paused to look back at her. "I really am sorry."
He inclined his head. "I know," he said with a sad smile. "So am I."
