Chapter 10
Valla lay awake beside the dying embers of the campfire, staring at the stars that hung over the Frostback Mountains. Though it was well into the night sleep managed to elude her. Valla looked at Solas sleeping beside her and wondered what could be going through his mind. He spoke little after their confrontation with Marren, answering her questions about the blood mage's plan as vaguely as possible. Though she had been stunned by her own misfired spell during the fight, Valla could tell he had been taken off guard by Marren's magic. A barrier with enough strength to withstand the magic of someone as powerful as Solas was unthinkable. His abilities would be hard to fathom if Valla hadn't witnessed them firsthand. So much had his power grown compared to when they first met that Solas no longer felt the need to carry a staff, making it only more disturbing that Marren was able to counter him so easily.
Valla continued staring into the night sky, putting the pieces together. The enemy had presented himself. Though she caught a glimpse of his inherent madness, Marren seemed confident in his abilities to bring the spirit of Anaris back into the world. She wished she could write off his plan as the ramblings of a madman, but something in the calmness in which he spoke made her think otherwise. Ramblings or not he had threatened their daughter, and that was something Valla could not forgive. Even she was surprised by how quickly rage took over when Marren suggested Asha could be the key to unleashing Anaris. She prided in her ability to stay calm in any situation, but in that moment maternal instinct overruled reason. Unlike her magical abilities, Valla knew this was a force she could not control.
She worried for Solas. Marren's words to him were still fresh in her mind, "Victory was in your grasp, the world was yours to change what what did you do? You walked away. And for what? For her?" Valla knew she was the reason Solas spared the world. He had given the elven people a chance to learn from their history. He chose a world where they could finally be together and he was being punished for it. Punished by madmen who deemed the world worthless.
Valla felt sleep encroaching on her thoughts and welcomed the reprieve. Her dreams soon led her into the Fade where a curious idea came to her. She needed to find Solas. She was accustomed to searching for him in the Fade, though it had become unnecessary since his return to Skyhold. It didn't take long to find Solas in the dreaming world, where she found herself in the midst of one of his memories.
In the middle of a dense forest two elves were locked in battle. One was a woman with flowing golden hair and fierce eyes. She was heavily armed, wielding two long knives with a large bow and quiver strapped to her back. Valla recognized her as Andruil, the Dalish goddess of the hunt. Her manner of fighting was beastlike as she closed in on the sinister man who attacked her. He was tall, cruel looking, with ebony hair and pale skin, wielding a curved dagger. Valla didn't recognize him. It was only when she noticed Solas bound with ropes against a tree did she realize what she was witnessing. It was the tale of Fen'Harel and the Tree, the story Keeper Deshanna had told. It meant the man Andruil was fighting was the dark god Anaris. There was some truth to the legend after all, Valla thought to herself.
Andruil lunged wildly, thrusting both daggers at Anaris and leaving her flank exposed. He crouched low, dodging her attack and waited until her reach was overextended before plunging his own blade into her side. Andruil cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Anaris turned his back to her and pointed his bloodstained dagger at Solas, his voice a low rumble. "Your life is mine, wolf."
Still bound to the tree, Solas stared unblinkingly back at him, seemingly unconcerned by his own predicament, "Hardly." he sounded bored, "You would not have noticed the flaw in her armor without my help."
"And you foolishly revealed it to me." Anaris sneered, "You would have been better off in the woman's custody than mine. I will see that you pay for your crimes against my brethren with your life."
Solas began laughing, "And would you tell your brethren you needed the aid of your prisoner in order to obtain me? I'm sure they would find that just as amusing as I do."
"They will find it more amusing that you aided in your own demise!" Anaris fired back, growing irritated.
"Your victory is hollow." Solas smirked, "You owe your success to me. Set me free, and you may yet earn the chance to capture me yourself."
Anaris became furious. So focused he was on the insult he failed to notice Andruil, bloodied but alive, rise and draw her bow. "Arrogant dog!" Anaris snarled at Solas, his face contorting with rage. "I owe you nothing!" He raised his dagger to strike, pausing as the sound of an arrow let loose from its bow echoed through the woods. His mouth went slack as the dagger slipped from his hands, falling to reveal a golden arrow protruding from his back. Andruil stood behind him with her bow raised, hunched and breathing heavily, glaring at Anaris with disdain before once again collapsing to the ground.
Solas watched them both for a moment to ensure they were both unconscious. He flexed his wrists and a small flame sparked to life in his hands, burning away the ropes that bound him. Solas looked down on the fallen gods, clearly repulsed by their behavior. He knelt down beside Anaris and pulled the golden arrow from his back.
"May you learn." Solas said coldly, and walked away into the woods.
The scene faded and another took its place. Valla found herself looking at the entrance to a cave in the middle of a barren land. In the cave's opening stood Anaris, watching as a hooded man approached him.
"Were you followed?" Anaris asked the man.
"If I was, I would not be here." the voice of Solas answered. Two thin hands lowered the hood to reveal his face. He looked ragged, his pale complexion tinged with gray and dark circles hung under his eyes. He was clearly exhausted, but Valla could tell by his haunted expression that something else was wrong. She could see the maelstrom of emotion in his eyes. Sadness, shock, disbelief, and the most prevalent – anger. Solas had seen, or done, something terrible. Valla had a good idea of what it was.
Anaris seemed uninterested in his current state, "I am surprised you wanted to arrange this meeting." he said lightly, "I thought you would still be in mourning for the loss of your friend."
"Time does not allow me such luxuries." Though Solas tried his best to hide it, Valla could hear the grief behind his words.
"Even I must admit Mythal was an admirable woman." Anaris said, "Though her ideas that we could all live in peace were idealistic at best, she did not deserve to die in such a way – betrayed by her own kind."
Valla tried to make sense of what she was seeing. If Mythal had already been killed by the Evanuris, it meant Solas had already banished them as punishment. He was simply using them as bait. It meant she was seeing the memory of how Solas lured the Forgotten Ones to the same fate.
"Clearly you see as well as I that the Evanuris have gone too far." Anaris continued, "Their lust for power knows no bounds if they were willing to kill the best of themselves."
"Their corruption is not lost on me." Solas said curtly, "It is the reason I am here. The Evanuris desire a meeting with you and your brethren. They wish to find a way to stop the bloodshed between the two sides."
Valla knew no such meeting would take place. Solas was merely setting the trap. The ease in which he could lie was unsettling.
Anaris let out a rumbling laugh, "So the Evanuris send the Dread Wolf to extend the tidings of peace? Did you grow tired of freeing their slaves and decide to play messenger instead?"
"The only thing I grow tired of is needless violence." Solas replied. Though Valla knew he spoke the truth, it felt hollow.
"A truce with the Evanuris." Anaris mulled over the idea, "I would prefer to see their reign over this world end entirely."
"Only to fuel your own ambition." Solas scowled, "Your reign would be no better."
Anaris met his gaze with the same amount of contempt, "May I remind you the only reason I tolerate your presence is because you share in my lack of fondness for those self-proclaimed gods! The only reason my brethren and I have overlooked your transgressions against us is because of your usefulness. Your vague loyalties are the only reason you're still alive. Remember that."
"Duly noted." Solas said dryly, "Now what say you to the meeting?"
Anaris silently weighed his options before speaking, "The Evanuris must be desperate if they are suing for peace, they must be weak." Solas watched his reaction carefully, waiting to see if he would take the bait.
Anaris lit up with malice. "Very well. I shall gather my brethren and we will hear what they have to say. We will take advantage of their weakness."
It was all Solas needed to hear and he turned to take his leave, "I look forward to bringing an end to this conflict." No one could have realized just what he meant.
"You are fortunate they still trust you." Anaris called out as he left.
His words made Solas take pause. He stopped to look at Anaris over his shoulder. His expression was unreadable, though Valla caught a brief flicker of emotion in his eyes. Whatever thought had gone through his mind, Solas kept his silence and continued walking.
"Trust is a fragile thing. It is far too easily broken." a voice commented sadly behind her.
As the memory diminished into the Fade, Valla turned to see the real Solas watching her with a bemused smile. She jumped at the sight of him, thinking she had been alone.
"By the Void you startled me!" Valla stammered, feeling rather foolish, "I'm so sorry, Solas. I didn't think-"
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Solas said kindly, clasping his hands behind his back, "I am always impressed to see you dream with such focus. You are the first person to witness these events in over a thousand years, after all."
It was meant as a compliment, but Valla was still focused on what she had seen. "There is a reason your memories are focused on Anaris."
His smile faded. Though discussing such matters had always been easier for him in the Fade, Solas still found himself reluctant. He barely recognized himself in the man from his memories. Looking back on his actions, even Solas was stunned by his own audacity. The way he manipulated Anaris would give anyone pause, and he could see the questions lingering in Valla's gaze, "I took no issue saying what I needed in order to lure the Forgotten Ones to their demise." Solas said, "I knew Anaris would seize the opportunity to catch the Evanuris at their weakest."
"Everything you told him was a lie." Valla said pointedly.
"I was caught in the middle of a war where each side would see the world destroyed rather than surrender." Solas countered, "You already know what lengths the Evanuris went to in order to stay in power, and I can assure you the Forgotten Ones were no better. I lied to bring an end to their conflict."
"I already know your reasons," Valla's voice was solemn. "It's just saddening to see what you had to resort to."
"Sometimes terrible choices are all that remain." Solas replied sadly, "With the death of Mythal, I was only more determined to see both sides eliminated. However I did not expect it would be the Forgotten Ones once again posing a threat to the world."
Valla thought of Marren's outlandish claim, "Do you think it is possible? Could blood magic really be used to bring them back?"
"Normally I would dismiss anyone's claim that they could bring the Forgotten Ones back into this world." Solas pondered, "But the conviction in which Marren spoke and the power he wielded against us..." his voice grew troubled, "...it is worrying."
"At least our worries are one and the same." Valla said. They were the same concerns that had kept her awake.
"I suspect the cult's choice to bring back Anaris was deliberate." Solas continued, "If they seek to punish Fen'Harel, Anaris would have the most reason to want vengeance against me." he laughed bitterly, "As you can see, I have wronged him more than most."
Either of the memories Valla witnessed would be enough to warrant revenge. But Solas had banished him to the Void. If he were to be set free...
"You would be the first person he would look for." Valla said grimly.
"Presumably." Solas replied.
Valla thought of the means Marren claimed he could use to carry out his plan, "He threatened us, Solas." her voice began to shake, "He threatened you, and me, and Asha."
"Making it imperative that we find a way to stop this cult from carrying out their plot." Solas said reassuringly, "I won't allow those I love to come to harm." Though his tone was calm, Valla's concern had also become his greatest fear. Solas felt guilt growing in the back of his mind. He had unknowingly put her in danger again. Not only did the consequences of his past threaten Valla but their daughter as well. This time the stakes were higher.
In the midst of his worries Valla smiled peevishly, "Tell me," she asked, "In the fight between Anaris and Andruil, would you have truly been forced to serve in her bed for a year and a day had you not tricked them both? Was the story my Keeper told true on that account?"
Solas' eyes flew open in disbelief, "Of all the things to happen in my life, that is what you wish to know about?"
Valla shrugged, "It's just a curiosity."
"Fenedhis lasa..." Solas sighed and shook his head.
Laughing, Valla placed her hands on his shoulders and their lips met. Reminiscent of a time they could only be together in their dreams, it was another moment the waking world could never take from them. Her smile widened as she looked into the deep blue of his eyes, "He already has."