Today is my birthday so here's an extra chapter this week as my gift to you.
I was headed to the Apothecary to drop off the notes Adan was looking for and I see Solas sitting on the wall meditating. He opened his eyes at my footsteps and jumps down from the wall (quite gracefully I might add) waiting for me to approach.
"The chosen of Andraste, blessed hero to save us all," He says straight-faced.
I can't exactly tell if he's joking or serious.
"I've no interest in being a hero," I state honestly, "All I want is to find a way to seal the breach."
"Pragmatic, but ultimately irrelevant," He says softly smiling, looking at me in surprise.
He turns to face the over the wall.
"I've journeyed deep into the fade in ancient ruins and battlefields to see the dreams of lost civilizations," He says sincerely, "I've watched as hosts of spirits clash to reenact the bloody past in ancient wars both famous and forgotten."
"Every great war has its heroes," He states calmly, "I'm just curious, what kind you'll be."
"What do you mean ruins and battlefields?" I ask curiously.
Solas smiles approvingly at my question.
"Any building strong enough to stand the rigors of time has a history. Every battlefield is steeped in death. Both attract spirits. They press against the veil, weakening the barrier between the worlds. When I dream in such places, I go deep into the fade. I can find memories no other living being has ever seen," He explains.
"You take a nap in the middle of ancient ruins?" I ask incredulously disbelief crossing my face, "Isn't that dangerous?"
Solas grins a bit wickedly, "I do set wards and if you leave food out for the spiders they are content to live and let live."
"I've never heard of anyone going so far into the fade," I say a bit breathlessly, "It must be extraordinary."
"Thank you," he replies smirk crossing his face; "it's not a common field, for obvious reasons. Not so flashy as throwing fire or lightning, The thrill of finding the remnants of a thousand year old dream? I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Fascinating, what an interesting person.
"I will stay then, at least until the breach it closed," Solas suddenly states, breaking me from my thoughts.
"Was that in doubt?" I ask confused.
"I am an apostate mage surrounded by chantry forces, and unlike you I don't have a Divine mark protecting me," He states practically.
"Cassandra has been accommodating but you understand my caution," he continues.
"You came here to help, Solas. I won't let them use that against you," I say firmly looking at him.
"How would you stop them?" he asks half-jokingly.
I look at Solas with a quiet contemplation.
"However, I had to," I vow before I even think about.
Solas looks at me in astonishment, and then the look is gone replaced by his mask, "Thank you," he says quietly.
"For now let us hope the mages or the Templars have the power to seal the breach," he says as he climbs back up on the wall settling to mediate again.
I drop off the notes the apothecary. Adan is almost dancing happy and tells me to return in the morning for a new potion.
Author's note: Edited for Grammar errors:)