Hey guys,

Sorry this had taken me so long to finish but I'm currently doing a lot for uni at the moment. For now I can't make promises on updates being in any semblance of a time frame, but I will try to write more when I get the chance and post when it's ready.

Thanks for your patience.

Enjoy the chapter.

The next morning Cynthia was debating whether or not she should continue looking for more information about the mirror that had brought her to Thedas.

She sat in the healing tent, grinding elfroot with a pestle and mortar, as she weighed her options. On the one hand it was how she had gotten to Thedas in the first place, so theoretically it should be able to take her home and it was the only lead that she had. But on the other hand Varric had seemed so distraught when he had seen the sketch of the mirror that it made her wonder just how dangerous the contraption was.

By the time she had made up her mind to talk it over with Solas the elfroot had been ground into such a thin paste that it was almost unusable. Quickly she added more of the root to thicken the mixture to avoid being scolded by her scowling mentor. Cynthia managed to get away from the healing tent after finishing making some potions for their reserve, she quickly grabbed something from her room and headed towards the rotunda.

When she walked into the circular room the smell of fresh paint wafted over her and she realised that a large mural had been plastered high up the wall. She was surprised at the sudden appearance of the mural as it wasn't too long ago that she had last spoken to Solas. Wonder washed over her as she drew closer, it was almost geometric in its use of crisp lines and sharp shapes, the use of autumn shades gave the impression of warmth or maybe something ending. The obvious focus was the central line forming at the top beneath clouds of eyes and then striking down to the bottom. After a moment she decided to take a step back to try and appreciate the larger picture when her back bumped into a solid object. Turning she realised that of course she had backed right into Solas, who had been observing her observe his work, she laughed at herself before quickly apologising.

"It is quite alright. What do you think?" He chuckled gesturing towards the mural she had just been appraising.

"It's the destruction of the conclave, right?" She paused for confirmation before she continued "The column of light in the centre, flanked by mountains, these small triangles of light are rifts. It's beautiful." The style of his work was interesting to look at and once she allowed herself to understand it she felt the horror within the beauty. Though she had arrived after the conclave she had gained a lot of information about it, its purpose and the hope that it had represented.

"It was the beginning, what brought the Inquisition together, I felt that it should be documented." He studied her for a moment before noticing the book and sheaves of paper in her hands. "But I doubt that you came to discuss my mural, what is on your mind?"

Not wasting any time, she took her drawings over to his desk and unrolled the parchments, the ones she had brought with her had all been of the mirrors, the one that had been in the cave and the one that had been in the ruin and then she opened the book to the page she had read the night before. Cynthia turned to look at Solas to see that the elf had grown very still and seemed to be eyeing her in a peculiar way.

"You have certainly been busy, how did you come by this…book." The way he eyed the book was with a certain kind of distain that she had only seen on his face when he was sipping tea.

"It was in my room, well the library that became my room anyway." She shrugged.

"By your seeing me I assume you gaged that these artefacts are not of Tevinter origin." He turned completely away from the book in favour of looking through the sketches that he picked up from his desk and looked through as they spoke.

"Actually it was Varric that told me they were elvish." She admitted rather sheepishly, knowing how ridicules the book had seemed while she had been reading it and then taking it at face value when she found the passage on the mirror.

"I see, what is your interest in these artefacts?" His eyebrow quirked in a kind of Teal'c fashion, the motion familiar yet still very foreign to her seeing it on Solas.

"You must have guessed, they're how I came here and could be my way home." Cynthia said incredulously, it seemed strange that he had not seen through her intentions, why would she be looking into ancient artefacts unless they could lead her home?

"I had an inkling. In fact, I must admit that I have been walking your dream paths more than I had let on, to see if I could find how you came here and indeed if it was a viable way to return you." The elf admitted as he placed the parchments back onto his desk, completely ignoring the open book in favour of returning his full attention to Cynthia.

"Okay, for the moment I will let go the fact you have been snooping around my head in secret, did you find anything more than I have?" Irritation ran down her spine at the discovery of his invasions of her privacy but she smothered it in hopes that this might lead her to a way home.

"Unfortunately, much of this kind of knowledge has been lost to my people and roaming the fragments of your memories in dreams is difficult. I had been planning to go to the ruin that you emerged from to glean a stronger connection to the Fade but I do not want to leave before Sirav returns, in case she has need of me. This is her Inquisition after all." He seemed forlorn at the mention of how much knowledge his people had lost but it was quickly shrouded in a light humour, as if to disguise the weakness his voice had betrayed.

"Then I'll go too. I mean it would be easier, to help identify the ruin and make sure we are going the right way, right?" Maybe once they got to the ruin Solas could figure out a way to get her home, the thought brought a hopeful edge to her voice.

"Cynthia, you are a stranger to Thedas and despite your adventures you have been remarkably sheltered. You also have yet to gain proper control of your magic." Solas chided her, as if she was a child. She wasn't sure how much older than her he was but she had learned that the elves had lost their immortality in Thedas, and judging from his face he couldn't be too much older than Dorian. Ergo there was no need for him to talk down to her.

"Solas, I can't allow you to risk your life look for a way to get me home, not unless I'm risking my own too." She defended herself the best she could but she was pretty sure she had to level up her charisma skill.

"It's very well saying grand words in the comfort of Skyhold but when we are in the wilds, will you be as brave?" His tone changed when he said this, it was gentler, like he simply wanted her to see sense and sense was obviously his point of view.

"I… I don't know." She faltered.

"We will await Sirav's return and gage her opinion on the matter." He told her, effectively ending the conversation. He turned away, presumably returning to whatever he had been doing before she entered, and Cynthia took that as her cue to leave. After gathering her belongings she walked from the rotunda, now unsure that the breakthrough about the mirrors had been as worthwhile as she had first imagined.

Deciding that she had had enough of social interactions for the day she swiped a little food from the main hall and returned to her room.