By the time Emma stepped out into the freezing world that was Haven the sun had completely disappeared below the horizon. She was unsure how much time had passed. Only thing she could measure it by was two and half pints from the time she started. Or was it more? Less? That stuff was stronger than expected.
She turned towards the direction out of her little lodge. The snowy ground spun and pitched beneath her feet. Her hand reached out for the side of the tavern to steady herself, though it took her several tries to find the correct one. Stupid phantom taverns.
With a huff she turned the other direction and stumbled towards the familiar warmth that was in that direction. When she got to the door she held her chin high. Then giggled as an idea came to her.
She knocked three times in quick succession, "Solas." knock, knock, knock, "Solas." knock, knock… he opened the door and she still reached out to knock once more, "Solas." Then she snorted before breaking into giggles.
Solas stood rigid his face blank but the hand holding the door tightening, "One would have been adequate."
She cleared her throat schooling her face back to seriousness, "Right well, don't get the wrong idea. I just came to tell me…" She broke into more giggles at her mistake before getting back on track, "Tell you that I'm not your servant to be ordered about. You want me over ask nice. Now..."
She started to push past him but the room spun and she lost her balance. Instead of hitting the floor she hit the solid warmth of Solas' chest. The arm not holding the door open came up to wrap around her, keeping her steady against him. Her eyes went up to look at his face.
She let one of her hands come up to trace the line of his jaw. "Why's this so nice? The ultimate jaw. Jaws. The king of jaws." She started doing the shark attack song from the movie Jaws before breaking into giggles again.
He sighed and shut the door, "You are drunk."
She frowned and pushed away from him almost falling on her ass before catching her balance with a hand on his wall, "You're face is drunk."
"I was unaware a face had that capability." As she made her way into his room towards his bed he followed her, "Inform me if you will need a bucket."
"Pfft. I'm not gonna ralf."
"Ralf?"
"Vomit." She fell face first onto his bed her legs hanging over the side as she buried her face into the sheets. She let out a humm of appreciation, "How do your sheets smell so good? Is there an app for that?" Then she broke into giggles again.
There was a sigh and she felt her legs being pulled up, her body shifted so she could lie full on the bed. As he did so he spoke, "I am unsure what an 'app' is."
"Don't worry 'bout it."
"Very well. This was not how I had hoped this would happen but it must be done." She could hear him moving about the room shifting things, "Undress. Waist up."
Her eyes widened and she shot into a sitting position too fast. Her vision protested by sending the room into a swirling mess as her stomach rolled. "Ugh…" She held a hand to her head for a moment before she came back to his statement, "If I thought you'd be that type I would have never come. Even if's tempting."
Solas paused brows furrowed. He looked at her as he balanced a bowl and brush in one hand the other arm had a journal tucked underneath. "Pardon?"
"Drunk doesn't mean I came here for… you know… not that I wou- I mean…"
Comprehension dawned and the tips of his ears turned pink. "That is…" He cleared his throat. "You misunderstand. I am placing a protection rune on you. I need an area on your skin with room. The back seemed the best option. Take of your top and roll onto your stomach. I would not take advantage of you." He turned from her, "Tell me when you are ready."
"Oh." Why do you sound so disappointed silly woman? Not like you wanted him to ravish you… not at all. She sighed and went to work removing her upper clothing. When she was bare she eased down on the bed shifting to find a comfortable spot with her eyes facing the wall, her head resting on her arms. "Ok. Done."
When nothing happened for a while she shifted slightly but kept her eyes to the wall, "Solas?"
"I am here." She heard him move and felt the bed dip as he set next to her on the edge of the mattress. "This may tickle."
"I'm not-," A soft brush caressed her back and she shivered with the feel of it, "ticklish. Are you painting it on?"
"In a way. The ink is my own mixture. It will stay for a month. You will hopefully have no need for it after that." The brush stopped for a moment before resuming.
"What's it do?"
"Allows me to know if you are in danger." Before she could ask more he spoke again, "My bed has a smell?"
"Yes." She was too blessedly drunk to think better of it. Her brain fogged. Luckily she'd likely forget all this come morning so she continued, "Parchment. Elfroot. Ink."
She felt the rumble of his chuckle in her core and it sent her heartbeat racing as he continued, "Interesting. And what else does that clever nose of yours smell?"
"You."
The brush stopped on her back for half a beat before continuing. He cleared his throat, "Me?"
"Your scent. Your skin." She took a deep sigh, "Like… an ancient forest meadow. A sanctuary untouched. A safe haven. Woodsy and sun-kissed, comforting." She let out another sigh shutting her eyes, "If I forget everything else I'll remember the scent of your skin for the rest of my life."
He shifted so she felt the bed move, then once more added more paint to the brush resuming the rune, "I had thought you would not come tonight. Much less tell me all this."
She laughed, "I wasn't going to come. But my head's… not cooperating." With one hand she absently picked at the sheets, "As for the telling, I always seem to say more then I intend to, or should, with you."
"You have not said nearly enough in truth. But I am a patient man."
"I've not said nearly enough about your scent or about things in general?"
"About you." Another stop of the brush, "I would know you, Emma."
Heat rushed to her face and she fumbled for a new topic, "Tell me about… stuff…"
He chuckled, "Stuff?"
"Hmmm," She smiled, "Tell me the translation for what you said before, the elvhen."
"No." The response held a light playful tone.
She pushed, "Oh come on not like I'm gonna remember anything about this. Can't you just teach me a little Elvhen or…" She paused frowning, "Or would it be wrong because I'm not…" Her words trailed off.
"Elven?"
"Yes."
"No. If I taught you it would mean I could not do things like this," She felt his heat grow nearer. When he next spoke his lips were so close that the words tickled her ear, "Silal or ma tu elvar. Isalan hima sa i'na. Ar nuvena jutuan ma ir rosas'da'din, ma tel'aman melin."
His words were like a caress to her senses. They trailed through her veins making her feel as though she was on fire. Which was ridiculous. As far as she knew he was probably just talking about the weather or something equally mundane to tease her. Still…
"Solas…" When she spoke her voice was breathy, "I should leave. Is the thing finished?"
"Yes. Why?" He pulled from her but his voice remained teasing, "Do I make unpleasant company, Emma?"
There was her name in that purring voice again. "Stupid man."
Before she could think better of it she was sitting up and twisting. She could feel the cool air against her breasts just before she pressed herself to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. Let herself be taken over by the feel of him pressed against her. Let his heat warm her frightened soul.
His hands found her back. The paints magical properties must include drying instantly since he seemed to have no fear of smudging. He simply held her to him without a word for several minutes. It allowed her peace for her inner turmoil.
Then too soon he was carefully pushing her away. He kept his eyes away from her as he lifted the blanket up for her to cover herself with. She felt cold even as she wrapped his blanket around herself.
She sucked in her lower lip chewing it thoughtfully for a moment before her eyes went up to meet his which were now looking at her intently. The words were out before she could stop them, "Why do you not want me?"
He took a deep shuddering breath and brought his hand up to her face, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone, "I want you. I have envisioned every scenario imaginable of having you. This was not one of them. Get rest. Forget."
Solas' words sunk into her. It seeped warmth through her body. A heat that was chased by a hefty need. Before she could give him any reaction she felt the now familiar tingle of his magic against her cheek, seeping into her veins. The world began to fall away. Her mind going blank as though someone had flipped a switch. With a yawn she felt herself falling forward, warm arms wrapping around her as her head rested on solid heat. From the back of her mind she thought she heard words.
"Ir abelas."
Then the waking world slipped from her completely.