Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age
Hello, readers and reviewers. Thank you so much for your patience. As I've said before, I'm in collage and now taking two writing classes. It. Is. Hard.
But I plan to pick this back up again if not now then soon. I do have the plot planned out, its just finding the time to leisurely write is difficult.
Thank you all so much for the support. Also, this is a really long chapter. Please read, review, and enjoy.
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Chapter 29:
Solas stayed and watched her in the garden, he himself lounging in one corner, lying back on a bench, a book in one hand, the other behind his head. His eyes continuously lifted up to watch some unguarded moment of Kana with her students. She sat on the steps of the gazebo and they sat around her, sunlight filtering through the clouds and into the garden. He had to admit, she had done a marvelous job bringing the flora back to life. There was a sudden bit a noise from the children before her and Solas looked up from his book, as he did every time he finished a page. Kana was demonstrating a type of fire magic and the light burned in her cupped hands, casting on all the bright faces pressing in close to see. Grinning, Solas turned back to his book.
Kana watched Solas in the garden, lounging in one distant corner, reading. He was unguarded, reclining, learning, studying. She'd often watched him do this before, in the Rotunda, either from the doorway or the library above. There were two categories to his reading habits, the serious studying he oft did in his armchair, and the lazy reading that would happen only occasionally, with him sprawled out on the sofa against the wall. She loved to watch him, the focus of his gaze on the words or on his paintings. She wondered if he still had his old sketch book. Knowing him it was probably full, put aside for another. Kana turned her attention back to her students.
She wore a new pair of leggings and footwraps, her leg was once again carefully bandaged underneath them, thanks to her vehnan. None of the children had noticed her change in attire.
"Alright, who can tell me…" Her lesson went on nicely, the magelings building their repertoire. Nothing in the garden was incinerated by accident. She'd assigned each child a partner to hold a filled bucket while the other practiced. She surveyed them closely but her eyes drifted back to her beloved. He looked up too and their gazes met. Kana smiled and Solas did too, seeming to communicate without words but there was still trouble in that connection, things to consider.
Then Solas' eyes shifted towards the door to the Great Hall and Kana followed. An elvhen man came striding through the garden, heading directly for Solas. He stood, greeting the scout, his expression turned to seriousness, to business. Gone was the soft, affectionate man she knew, hidden once again by Fen'Harel. The two men spoke quietly and were too far away for Kana to hear anything. Gestures and a piece of paper were exchanged. Kana watched as Solas nodded and moved to follow the man. But he hesitated, his eyes coming back to her's. She smiled and nodded herself. There was business that needed to be attended to. Kana had her students to look after. Each had their own responsibilities but it was still bittersweet to watch Solas' back disappear through the garden door. He'd left his book on the bench. It was either because he wanted her to return it or had actually forgotten his material. She wasn't sure which.
The scout led Solas from the garden to what once had been the Ambassador's office. There were still little traces of Lady Montilyet. It was there they stopped and it was there that the report was given.
"It's true. Numerous uprisings have been sighted and reported across Thedas, all using the name of Fen'Harel for their vengeance whether they are with us or not." Solas pressed a hand to his forehead. This was not what he wanted. Why couldn't anything work like it was supposed to? He had wanted to doubt Dorian but, after Kana returned to her students; he'd sent word for any such reports to be delivered right to him. It hadn't taken long. The situation was in fact, dire.
"Is that all?" He asked, returning his hand to his side, the scout shook his head.
"No. Our own people are hearing rumors about the rebellions as well. Some are saying that it would be better to go and fight alongside them. They are becoming restless with our inaction." This was not what he wanted. He didn't want to rush from one war right into another. He should have been able to have more time to prepare…but it seemed his ideals were over ruled. He himself was gathering forces yes, but not for revenge, for rejuvenation. This was not to be borne.
"Dismissed." Solas whispered and the man left, closing the door behind him. Things were getting out of hand. This was not how things were supposed to go….but this is what he had predicted. Solas could feel it already, the hatred spurning up from the dregs of society. The humans would hate him, the people would hate him…and eventually so would Kana. If she ever found out...
His mind was clear but his path was foggy. Every time he tried to fix something, something else would happen to throw it all in chaos. And now Dorian had asked Kana to come and try to stop it, laying responsibility and danger at her feet again like a fashionably robe, ready to be placed back on her slight shoulders. Tevinter wouldn't be stopped though. The Magisters would burn down the alienages once more and then there would be war. A war that the elvhen might not win. None of this was supposed to happen yet. He should have had more time, should have kept silent longer. But he'd had to have saved the Exalted Council. Kana. Ferelden, Orlais, they wouldn't have survived the loss of their monarchs, they would have blamed the Inquisition, and fallen to the Qun. If people were to die because of his actions, it would be in peace, comfort. He was not ready to rage a war against Tevinter but unless the fighting could be stopped her would have no choice. And Kana was his only option. He was going to be using her again. But there was still a lot of work ahead. He had a week to make up his mind.
…
Dorian clicked the communication crystal closed then popped it open with his thumb. He'd been sitting in his study, staring at a chessboard, repeating the action for at least an hour. The newly appointed magister felt guilty, more than guilty but he was doing what he knew he had to. It was night now, at least a few hours after he'd finally contacted the Inquisitor.
"Kana, where are you?" the question had been simple, short, and yet she'd answered with such an ambiguous answer. She could have said what country; she could have said north or south. He knew Kana well enough to know that she would have…unless she didn't want them to know where she was. Leliana had stood behind Dorian as he held the active crystal in his palm and the man had to silence her more than once in order to keep her presence unknown, the crystal powerful enough to pick up the smallest of sounds.
He'd told Kana that Leliana had nothing to do with him contacting her, that it was in desperation, fear for her people, that he'd reached out. The danger was real, the elves were revolting in some pockets of Thedas and they could no longer wait for her to contact them. Kana had missed her set deadline. There was something wrong and Dorian could feel it.
The magister felt like they were all on the edge of a knife, balancing precariously. He was, Kana was, elves, humans, Thedas, everyone. The events at the Exalted Council had plunged the world deeper into dire straits. And Dorian wasn't sure what side he was on. He wanted to reform his country, to loosen the treatment of slaves and put stricter regulations on blood magic. That was his fight but there were others larger than his own. The mage-templar war had finally been settled, the Order and Circle restored with the Collage well on its way to becoming a rival establishment. But this wasn't about magic anymore. There were more normal people than mages in the world. If a war between the elves and humans broke out across Thedas, Dorian didn't know what he would do, what he could do. If anything…he hoped Solas knew what he was doing. Restoring the People, bringing down the Veil, it would take years for something like that to happen. Wouldn't it? What did he expect the other people of Thedas to do? The elves were rebelling now, trying to gain power but nothing would come of it, only more death and ridicule and hatred. Dalish, city, slaves, they would all be targeted simply for having pointed ears. If Solas was truly as smart as he always cast himself to be, it would be years before anything tangible would happen. The changes would be gradual, so small that no one would notice until everything added up and the elves had their land, their country, their standing back. It all depended on the now though. Would Solas be so cold as to sacrifice the elves rebelling now? Would Kana?
Leliana had confided in him her new lack of trust for the Inquisitor and her loyalties. Dorian was sure that Kana would try to limit conflict and death as much as she could but he could feel the edge of that knife too. Asking her to betray her people, to put them down into slavery or worse once more would be too much. It would be something she would not do. They would have to endure years of more mistreatment at the hands of humans in order to try and attempt to gain some power politically. The ball at the Winter Palace was two years past. Dorian wasn't sure how things were going with Marquis Briala but not much had been heard about the elves from Orlais, not since the Exalted Council. It seemed that everyone everywhere was trying to reign in their pointed eared citizens. The pieces were falling down and no one could see where they would fall.
She had to come. Dorian had to talk to her, face to face, to find out what she planned to do, what Solas planned to do. The elvhen mage was one of his only friends. No matter her position, he would not betray her so readily, not until he knew he had no choice. If anyone could quiet things down with the elves, with Tevinter, it just might be her. Just maybe.
He would try again, try and contact her tomorrow. Leliana, while listening in on the conversation earlier, felt that he was there with her, or someone else had been at least. Dorian needed to talk to her alone, get her away from Solas or her companions. He needed to talk some sense into her, before she lost herself to someone Dorian wasn't sure could be trusted.
…
Later, after having dinner with her, Solas bid Kana goodnight although he himself had things still yet to do. He wanted some advise, someone other than his love to inquire. Solas headed back to Arlathan, to the Marshall's office. Adris for once was at his desk doing proper paper work and he lifted an eyebrow at the appearance of his visitor.
"I know why you're here. You want me to have some sort of plan or you already have some sort of plan only you're not sure about using it. I may only be the leader of your army but I can still recognize the face of desperation and uncertainty."
Solas paused in the doorway, making a note not to underestimate the man ever gain. Adris continued.
"Honestly, Solas…I don't know if we can. We have a good number of people under our banner but we need to stay in the dark longer, gather more intelligence before launching any conflict, if needed. Our hands are tied here. There is nothing we can do."
Solas sighed, sitting down in the chair before Adris' desk. He pressed a hand to his forehead. Once again, there seemed to be no way out.
"There is one thing. Kana…" Adris raised an eyebrow at the mention of her name and Solas gave him a glare before continuing.
"…has a contact within Tevinter. Magister Dorian Pavus. He has asked her to talk to the Magisterium. They are planning to purge the Alienages." Adris huffed out his disbelief, setting down his pen and running a hand through his amber hair. There seemed only one way to go about this. Kana would have to go but the Marshall could tell that Solas didn't want her to. Adris couldn't blame his apprehension.
"You know you can't go with her. If she goes, she goes alone. That's what is worrying you, isn't it, sending her into the seat of elvhen slavery and magic abuse?" Solas let his eyes connect to Adris'. He kept silent before gazing off in a different direction. The two men sat in quiet with Solas deep in conversation with someone other than the Marshall before him. Mythal was once again hinting at something Solas couldn't see, something he didn't know. He sighed again, fearing the work ahead.
"I can't go to Minrathous…but I can go to the other places and hopefully convince the People against open war." But Fen'Harel doubted himself. He knew all too well what could happen when someone was only out for blood.
…
Mhiris noticed a change, a slightly levity to Kana's working hands. Whatever her and the Dread One had discussed, or not discussed, had certainly improved her mood. However, there was still the underlying sadness and longing that her friend kept close to her skin. The healer caught her looking off towards the main tower more than once.
"Kana." Mhiris called, bringing the woman back to the present. They were mixing potions to be sent with other supplies. Skyhold was once again the heart of an organization and, unlike the Inquisition, Kana was enjoying the fact that she could work freely, applying herself to where they needed a person most, no matter who she was or what she had done before.
Mhiris brought her attention back to their kettles, making sure that Kana was monitoring her's regularly. They were making large batches with a large number of ingredients for each one. Supplies were precious and one bad batch could be a setback.
Kana went back to stirring, her mind still not in the right place. It had been two days since Dorian had contacted her and she couldn't take her mind off of it. She and Solas had not discussed it in their few encounters since. It seemed he was avoiding her again, at least within his mind. They'd eaten together in the Great Hall the night previous but few words were said aloud; the brush of a hand, the pressing of ankles under the table. Theirs was a complicated love but Kana was glad to have as much of it as she could. She had no clan, no family, and no country. Solas was one of the only things that she cherished wholeheartedly and Kana refused to give that up. Even after he'd taken her Vallaslin, even after he'd disappeared, even after the Exalted Council. She'd known him enough, seen enough, to know that he wasn't without his reasons. She'd kept her faith and she was going to show him that he could do the same.
Suddenly, her pot began to simmer and it was only with quick thinking and quick hands that Kana was able to save the batch. Mhiris, clearly not one for patience, rolled her eyes.
"I don't care to know what thoughts take your mind but you are no use to me if they're not here."
Kana apologized and rubbed her hand.
"High towers, just like on the inside, the outside. I'm almost to the top, never asked them to come down. Just a little higher and I can see over. Be careful not to burn yourself."
Compassion spoke quietly over Kana's shoulder and she almost careered right into her work at the surprise. She took his words in slowly, wondering if that was how things really were or if that was how Solas felt too.
"More and more and more. I don't deserve her. He would like to see you, in Josephine's office."
Mhiris watched as a smile graced her friends face and she rolled her eyes again at the troublesome spirit.
"Then you can say and help me stir these pots."
Cole nodded, eyes, as usual, hidden behind his stringy hair. Kana untied the knot in her apron and folded it over an arm before heading for the stairs to the courtyard then into the Great Hall.
It seemed that as each day passed, Skyhold continued to fill, much as it had during the days of the Inquisition. There were many families, a normal school had begun, housed in one of the old towers, to teach reading, writing, history, the true history. Even Kana's mage school was gaining more and more pupils. Soon the garden might not be enough room. It seemed that this could be the beginning and Kana was going to put her all into it.
She paused outside the office. There was clearly a heated debate going on inside.
"But we haven't many more to send, all out agents in the area have either begun their infiltration and our ambassadors have reported nothing back. But each day the resistance grows. The humans are fortifying their cities, preparing for another war. Dalish clans who have ignored our help have been disappearing. There isn't much more we can do without showing our hands."
The pit in Kana's stomach dropped. She'd been carrying Dorian's message around like a rock for the past two days and each hour it weighed in more.
There was silence from behind the door. Solas did not answer and Kana thought it okay to knock then. Both heads turned when they looked her way and the scout nodded his departure. Solas' face was concerned and he couldn't hide it quickly enough…either that or he didn't try at all. Both still concerned Kana.
He stood behind the desk, leaning over it while papers were strewn everywhere. There were many a day that she and Josephine sat in this very office talking. She stood quietly, ready when he was ready.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning for the outlying rebellions, to gain their allegiance, some semblance of control."
He stood then, looking up, but looking past her, towards the door. Kana walked forward, knowing that this would not be a simple trip of a few days. It could be weeks before he could come back. Solas looked back down at the desk, feeling undeserving of her.
"Most don't know the extent of my forces, only that elves are rising up, they should be the easiest the pacify. Others will not be so simple, the ones who have committed crimes. The humans will not let their actions go unpunished."
Kana moved around the desk, wrapping a gentle hand around his upper arm. He finally looked down at her.
"I will try to help however I can. I don't want another Exalted March on our People. Something must be done. I must go."
"Well then, you must go."
She smiled deeply, knowing that he needed to hear words of support, comfort. But Solas knew what he was really doing. What he was about to do. He was using her again.
"You should just ask her. She will go."
"I cannot ask her to do anything for me, Mythal, not even blink."
Solas lifted a hand upward before opening his closed palm. Inside his curled fingers was a smooth red stone.
"Here." Kana took it obligingly, not knowing what it was but thinking that it was beautiful.
"It's a keystone. For the Eluvians, so you don't have to keep asking someone to allow you to visit the capital."
But the hidden message was true enough, one that nearly broke Kana's heart. He was letting her go, giving her the freedom to do as she wished because he would never bar her from her own choices. Not even when it may cost her in the long run. Kana squeezed her palm and brought it up to kiss her fingers.
"Thank you." She said, maneuvering herself between his arms so that they could close around her.
"I will miss you." It was not a lie and it didn't matter whose mouth the sentence actually came out of for it was a truth that they both universally acknowledged.
"We both have our roles to play." Kana said light heartedly, meaning it more towards his role as leader of the elvhen people but also for what she had to do as well. There was the understanding between them, another unspoken thing, like their love still felt to be. And there was something else. Another two sets of sentences that neither dare utter.
Please come back to me…
Please let me come back…
Solas stooped to kiss her forehead, still not selfish enough to take anything more than that at the moment, and left Kana standing in Josephine's old office, clutching what felt to be a physical piece of her heart.
...
If you read back, you'll note that I've got a lot of stuff set up to happen so just bear with me. Thanks everyone! Please Review!
Say what you think, if you hate it, love it, any tips and pointers, I am a humble servant (only so far though).
