Chapter 25: This Isn't Goodbye
Valla managed to convince Cullen to release the captured elves under Solas' command. With the Eye destroyed they posed little threat, and even Cullen admitted apprehending Solas would be like grasping at straws. He knew with the power Solas possessed, there would be little he could do to contain him. With Dorian free, the Inquisition had been allowed to return to the city under his political protection. No one in the Inquisition had seen Solas since that day on the battlements, all except for Valla. She remained at the castle to spend some well deserved time away from her duties.
Valla poured over the scrolls and documents Solas and his men accumulated during their search for the Eye. She was surprised with how much they managed to recover. Much of the writing was in ancient elven, making it difficult for Valla to decipher. She furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to make sense of the cryptic writing. Solas watched her, looking rather amused with her struggle.
"You really should work on your linguistic skills, ma'arlath." he teased.
Valla shot him a dirty look, "Between fighting darkspawn and hunting you halfway across Thedas, when have I had the time to study dead languages?"
Solas smiled at her, "You have a rather miraculous way of making things work out to your favor. I'm sure you can make the time."
Valla grumbled under her breath and continued reading.
His smile faded as he started to think of the future, "You may take these documents with you to Skyhold if you wish. I will have little need for them soon."
Valla looked up at him tentatively. They both knew he couldn't stay in Tevinter much longer. She had secretly hoped he might return to Skyhold with her, though she doubted the rest of the Inquisition would be quite as forgiving of his actions. Valla knew the longer she stayed with him, the harder it would be for her to leave. She wasn't ready to consider what the future had in store for them.
"Where will you go?" Valla asked, looking crestfallen.
"I haven't decided, quite honestly." Solas replied, "I have always been a wanderer, but for the first time in millenia I have no agenda. I suppose I will continue to find a way to bring the truth to our people. As the events that transpired here become known to the rest of the world, perhaps more of our kind will be willing to learn the truth about their gods and their heritage."
"The elves you recruited are starting to return to their clans." Valla said, "I'm sure they will spread the word as well." The thought of Solas wandering the wilds alone again while she was bound to the Inquisition troubled her. Valla unwittingly let out a small sigh of resignation. So soon after her victory she could already feel their worlds pulling them apart again.
Solas sensed her melancholy and took her by the hand. "I have a gift for you." he said.
He led her into the castle courtyard where horse drawn cart sat idly by the gate. In the cart was a large object covered by a sheet. Solas nodded at Valla to unveil what was inside. Pulling back the sheet, she revealed a long, narrow mirror made of shimmering blue glass.
"An eluvian?" Valla was taken aback.
"Yes," Solas said, "You forget I still have control over a vast majority of them. Take this back to Skyhold with you, I will have one with me as well. This way no matter how far apart we are, we will have something more substantial than our dreams to bring us together."
Valla was speechless. She had gotten so used to being apart from him that finding a way to be together almost seemed unreal. She stared into the cart, struggling to think of what to say.
"Isn't it strange?" Valla asked as if she was posing the question more to herself, "How far the events of our lives have carried us? It is strange to think of how far we have come."
Solas smiled at the thought, tenderly placing a hand on her cheek. "When we first met you were a prisoner, a Dalish elf who had been caught in the crossfire of forces most could barely dream to understand. I have watched you transcend all of those things to become so much more. You possess a wisdom and determination that I deeply admire. You have given me hope for this world."
"Still a sweet talker." Valla said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out his jawbone necklace, holding out to him. "I suppose now that the world isn't coming to an end you will want this back."
Solas shook his head and closed her fingers around it. "I think I've had it long enough," he said, "Its yours."
Valla looked reluctantly at the cart, knowing she couldn't keep her companions waiting much longer. "I still wish you could return with us."
"I know, vhenan." Solas said, "I do not expect I will be so easily forgiven by those I once called friends. Perhaps in time the tension I have created will fade, but for now this is how it has to be. Don't think of this as a goodbye, but a new beginning." He tilted her chin upwards to kiss her one last time. "Though the road rises to part us, my heart will be with you."
Valla rode into the harbor where Dorian's ships were being prepared for the Inquisition's departure. She was greeted by Cullen and Dorian who looked rather confused by the cart she was riding in. The cart was loaded with the documents Solas had given her with the eluvian safely tucked underneath.
"Commander, have some of our men load these things onto the ship." Valla said as she jumped down from the cart, "And please tell them to be careful, some of the contents are more...delicate than others."
"What in Maker's creation..." Cullen muttered before remembering himself, "I uh...yes! Of course, Inquisitor." he had learned long ago it was sometimes better not to ask too many questions.
Valla laughed at his bewildered expression as Dorian peered into the cart.
"Doing some light reading, I take it?" he said, shuffling through the stacks of parchment. He lifted up the cloth concealing the eluvian and raised an eyebrow, "And doing some traveling as well! Now what pray tell, are you planning to do with this?"
"Dorian!" Valla hissed, snatching his hand away, "Will you keep your voice down?"
"Oh, please!" Dorian laughed, "How do you expect to sneak an eluvian into Skyhold without anyone noticing?" He glanced at the jawbone necklace she was wearing and grinned, "Everyone and their mother is going to know what that mirror is for, my dear."
"Regardless, you don't need to announce it to the entire world!"
"Solas might have managed to charm you into forgiving him, but I'm still going to hit him if I ever see him again."
"I can assure you charm had nothing to do with it." Valla glowered.
Dorian laughed even harder, "Oh my friend, I am going to miss you! Are you sure you don't want to stay and help me bring reason to this backwards country I call home? If you can keep Solas from ending the world, dealing with the Magesterium should be a walk in the park."
"I don't think Divine Victoria would be pleased if I made that decision." Valla grinned.
"Ah, yes. I still can't believe our grumpy Seeker is Divine now. How strange the hand of fate is."
"How strange indeed." Valla agreed.
Dorian shook his head at the irony, "So, what becomes of the Inquisition now? Will you return home and play honor-guard for Cassandra?"
"I'm sure as soon as I walk into Skyhold another world-ending crisis will present itself." Valla sighed.
"That, my friend, is something I do not doubt." Dorian said.
Cullen returned from his task, still looking slightly bewildered, "The ships are loaded and ready to depart. Your um...belongings have been loaded as well."
"Thank you, Cullen." Valla smiled.
"Well my friend, I will say my goodbyes." Dorian said to Valla, "Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of me. I'm sure soon enough I will return to your corner of the world. If the situation in Tevinter becomes any more unbearable I might just flee to Skyhold out of sheer frustration."
"I wish you luck, Dorian." Valla said. She looked at him curiously for a moment then threw her arms around him, "You know we couldn't have done any of this without you."
Dorian grimaced and awkwardly gave her a pat on the back, "Great...we're hugging. Just grand. I don't really do hugging...but you're welcome."
Cullen stifled a laugh and started making his way to the ships, "We'll leave when you're ready, Inquisitor."
"Yes, yes, off you go!" Dorian waved his hands at them, "This is getting far too sentimental for my taste. And Valla, please try to bring my ships back in one piece."
She nodded and followed Cullen to the ships. With their task finally complete the time had come to return to Skyhold. Valla wondered what the future had in store for her and Solas. The Inquisition had been successful in its goal and Valla knew she had helped usher in a new era for the elven people. She knew the events that transpired in Tevinter would soon be known all across Thedas, and Valla wondered if the truth behind her people's mythology would finally come to light. She wondered if her people would begin to see Fen'Harel not as a symbol of misfortune, but as a liberator whose actions brought irrevocable change to their world. The knowledge that Fen'Harel truly walks among the people, and the consequences that knowledge would bring, were yet to be seen.