CH 20: To Know Him is To Love Him …

- To Know Him is To Love Him by Amy Winehouse

"They're back!"

Someone on the battlements shouted. It was late evening. Most of the people at hearing that dropped what they were doing and ran towards the entrance of Skyhold, ready to welcome back the army.

There were soldiers who had come into the hold cheering joyously, while others, mainly the Inquisitor, Solas, Varric, Bull, and the advisors; Cullen and Lelianna, and Hawke, came back seemingly shaken up. They held grim expressions and their eyes seemed sunken, like they didn't sleep. As if they were kept awake by nightmares.

Ghilan was in her quarters washing up. She had just finished training with Fenris and practicing her magic with Merrill. Without anyone to give them any assignments to do, it had been a few rough days. The three of them worked on answering their reports from their organization, but other than that the days had been dull and boring.

They should've been back by now.

Ghilan had tried to keep her mind preoccupied with other things. Such as this bath she was now taking. However, the countdown in her head just kept on ticking.

She rubbed her eyes and let out a frustrated groan. She let herself slid deeper into the bath's hot soapy water, only leaving a patch of her head sticking out and her bent knees peaking out from the water. She held her breath for a good measure and as she resurfaced, she ran her hands from her eyes throughout her hair. She exhaled slowly as she did so, eyes closed until her hands passed her hair and landed on her shoulders.

Her ear caught a faint creek and she whipped her head to the wall that partially separated the bathing area from the rest of the room.

"Hello?" Ghilan called out firmly.

She heard the dragging of feet, she was ready to jump out, naked and all, to yell or attack whatever just barged in and did not answer her.

Suspense drew out for a short time until she saw who had entered. Surprise, then relief, and then joy came to her. However, they quickly were turned to worry as she saw his downcast face and sunken eyes. He terrible, like didn't sleep.

"S – Solas? What are you doing? Are you alright?"

Solas' head lifted, though his eyes held sadness to them.

"Solas?"

With no response he reached the bath and knelt on the floor beside it, as Ghilan tried to cover herself with the dispersing bubbles.

Without warning he reached for her face with both hands and kissed her.

It was hard, fast, needy, and she squeaked in surprise.

Just as quick as it came it was over.

Solas pulled back leaving Ghilan blushing, wide eyed, lips still parted. Her mind was slowly catching up to what had just happened.

"Ghilan, you're here and alive." Solas creaked out and as if reassuring himself he kissed her again more gently.

Ghilan was beyond red now, and the heat of her bath wasn't helping.

"Solas!?" What is going on? What happened? Of course I am here and alive. What's this all about?" Ghilan's red face was starting to turn to concern.

She was no longer caring for modesty. She was more concerned about what happened to Solas.

"Ghilan, just please – let me join you." He requested of her with a pained expression on his face, already taking his clothes off. Ghilan blushed madly as she quickly put her hands up as he was about to strip from his leggings and undergarments.

"What!? Solas, please stop! Just tell me what happened." She urged nervously.

If it was any other day he would've laughed at how she held her hands up, blocking her view of him.

But it wasn't.

He had witnessed something horrid and, he knew it wasn't real, but he couldn't shake it from his mind. At least not alone.

As he continued stripping he just retorted with, "I will, but please …"

There was nothing hungry in his gaze. All she saw was pain and pleading.

"Alright."

"Ma sarranes ma Ghilan."

He made to get behind her, but she stopped him and urged him to sit in front of her. He sat with his back facing her, cross-legged in the water. There wasn't much room, so Ghilan had to shift so there was room for him to sit comfortably in the bath. She brought her hands up and started massaging his neck, shoulders, and back.

He groaned at the sensation and she felt him relax slightly.

"Solas what happened?"

"We – we got pulled into the Fade. Physically. It was incredible." He breathed out.

"How'd that happen?'

"The Inquisitor -mm-," he let out another moan, "the inquisitor, she had opened a rift, saving us from a deadly fall from a collapsing bridge, and we were drawn in." He took a breath. "There was a nightmare demon."

At those words, Ghilan's hands stilled. She now had an idea why he looked the way he did. She waited for him to continue, but he wasn't so she resumed to massaging him.

"The demon, it showed us our greatest fears. Nightmares that haunt us. Mine was – is," He reached behind his neck to still her hands. He shifted himself so he was facing her, "my greatest fear Ghilan is dying … alone. The demon showed me the one person who I might spend eternity with. Then it had showed me a twisted version of where you perish. Killed. The one person who can truly know and understand me. The one person who has become most important to me. And I am left alone."

"Solas." Ghilan started slack jawed.

"Ghilan please." Solas shifted himself so his whole body faced her. "I can't pretend that I have forgotten our kiss any longer. Something in it had woken me up. You have woken me up Ghilan. It would kill me to lose you." He braced himself on his hands that supported himself on the edge of the bath, allowing him to move closer to her, hovering over her. He brought his lips to hers, head tilted as he whispered, "Ar lath ma."

He kissed her gently and passionately. Ghilan was too stunned to do anything but kiss him back.

He pulled away gently and looked at her, gauging her reaction for any reason to stop as he shifted closer between her legs and brought his hands to cup her bottom and seat her on his lap. He looked into her mismatched eyes and saw that they were dilated, as he was sure his was now also. Still he saw now sign of rejection in her eyes. She bit her lip in anticipation. She felt him as he seated her on his lap. They were almost chest to chest, his head bent down slightly to look in her eyes. She was ready and eager. Sense felt like it had left her mind. All she could think of was one thing.

"I think … I love you too." She breathed out as Solas began to go in for another kiss.

**AN: I'm sorry for the short chapter. I am planning on having the rest of the chapters typed out and uploaded during this week. I will try my very best. I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting.

Lol, Tbh, I had a very smutty scene planned out after this part, filled with moans and groans. But as I was re-reading my rough copy, I started to think that it would be best to leave it off at this sweet moment and let your guys' imagination take off from there.

Though, I will say this, being the mischievous wolf that he is, Ghilan was in for a long night. ;) **