AN: Hello my dears! Here is the next chapter! A lot of you were excited about big brother Dorian so I hope I delivered :)
Thanks again to all those following/reading/reviewing - you make this entirely worth it!
As an aside I do use the phase "cold day in hell" in this chapter - I understand this would be technically incorrect in Thedas but all the equivalents I could think of did not convey that same amount of temper or make the point as immediately. If anyone had an alternative that they want to offer up please let me know!
Update: 7/22 - thanks to those that reviewed and pointed out the cut off sentences (Alliel 23 I'm looking at you)! I've done my best to give this one a bit of an edit so I hope it reads more fluidly now. Thanks darlings!
Best,
~Voi
Dorian arrived with all the fury of a hurricane, the flash and burn of a wildfire. And while Solas knew he was more than capable of dealing both elements, he was not prepared for the physical retaliation. The Tevinter had never been one to throw a punch but it seemed some things did change with time. When Solas' head snapped back with the force of the unexpected blow it was only Lavellan's position behind him that prevented him from crashing to the ground.
"Dorian, don't!"
Pushing herself between them, her eyes lingered just long enough for Solas to know she worried.
Wincing as he straightened, Solas wiped the corner of his mouth where it was already beginning to bloom purple, and directed a flash of ice and healing to quell the swelling. Dorian looked unmoved by the display, indeed his dark eyes seemed almost murderous.
"You can hit me a second time if it makes you feel better." Solas said drolly, "Though I should warn you that I will heal that one too."
"Stop it you two." Lavellan's tone was firm, but three years of animosity meant her protest went nearly unheard.
"Don't condescend to me, you prick" the tevinter mage snarled, "I want to burn you in the fatty substance of your own arrogance, your ego, but I fear it would never go out and we'd be forced to watch you burn like a candle until all of Thedas came to an end."
Solas smiled coldly, "Pretty insults? I do believe this may be yet another thing Tevinter has appropriated from the ancient elves."
"You bastard." The mage snarled, and this time the staff in his hand glittered with gathered magic, snapping with equal temper and outrage. But it was the green glow of the Mark, the sudden oppressive power that she wielded, that put an end to their fight.
"That. Is. Enough."
Fury made her words short, and when they both looked at her, they found her rigid with an anger of her own, expression tight and more menacing than either one could muster.
"I am not invisible." Lavellan said forcibly, "So do not dare pretend I am. I will not have you fighting one another, not while I yet breathe, so stop this nonsense immediately."
And though her words were sharp, the magic she had used to gain their attention dissipated shortly thereafter, leaving her to stand between them, a demure figure between two towering heights.
It was only when Solas' hands came out to steady her, returning her own gesture of support that she realized she was trembling.
"Would you really have used the mark on us, darling?" Dorian asked after a time, asking not so much to get an answer but rather give everyone time to stow what might have remained of their anger.
His question only served to make her frown deepen, "Of course not. But with the two of you acting like children, it seemed that only mutual death would shake you out of it."
"Ah, well then. Nicely done, I do believe it worked." There was a flash of a smile on his lips, lighting his handsome face, "Wouldn't you agree, Solas?"
The elven man nodded as he slowly eased away, allowing her the space to find her feet. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw his gaze was shuttered to her own probing look, and knew there would be more to discuss between them later.
"Dorian-" She began, but her friend cut her off.
"Cassandra is looking for you."
His words were the sort to instill the fear of the Creators themselves. Cassandra remained a force of nature, impressive even in the midst of this peace time.
"She has a letter from the Advisors and refuses to leave until she speaks with you. Said it was important." The mage sighed, "You best not keep her waiting, hmm?"
"I-" Lavellan paused, meeting the man's gaze squarely, "You are not to hit Solas again."
"Very well." Dorian answered easily.
"Or set him on fire...or whatever other magical loophole you're thinking off. All of it must stop now before I go."
Her friend sighed.
Lavellan frowned, "Promise me, Dorian."
"Very well. On my honor as your best friend, I promise Solas will come to no harm by my hand for as long as I am in the city."
They both knew that would be as close to a promise as she would be getting. And so, with but a lingering look at the man who stood over her shoulder, she disappeared down the alleyway.
No sooner had Lavellan turned the corner when Dorian rounded on the elven man. Solas did not look remotely worried, but his eyes flashed in an equal show of temper.
"Listen to me very carefully," Dorian said, voice low and dangerous, "Because I will only say this once for your benefit."
His face twisted into such a wintery expression he seemed almost carved of ice despite the fire of his gaze.
"If you ever consider touching her again, if you so much as even think about stepping back into her life again, let me tell you now - don't."
When Solas remained silent, stubbornly so, Dorian continued, his voice dropping into a low growl.
"When you disappeared, I was the one who picked up the broken pieces, heard the garbage you fed her to make yourself feel better."
"'Another world' you said-" Dorian snarled, " Well let me tell you that you are not some special snowflake. And in this world she is my best friend, the only one in the world truly, and it will be a cold day in hell before I allow you to even get the chance to hurt her the way you did before. I'll see you dead first."
The silence in that moment was charged, electrified with the potential for an explosion. The two of them had always had a strained relationship, but there was a open hostility now that spoke of how deeply they were both invested in the singular woman who was both friend and lover.
"And what about what Lavellan wants?" Solas asked quietly.
"I think it's a little late for you to care about what she wants." Dorian snapped.
The elven man went entirely still, "You may not like the idea, but that kiss you just saw was initiated by her."
"And I bet you loved that didn't you?" Dorian rebuffed, "After all the pain she suffered at your hands, have you no shame?"
The Tevinter laughed, but it was a nasty, angry thing, "Or is it that you think yourself still in love?"
"What I feel is none of your business." Solas snapped.
"Your arrogance." Dorian growled, "She's told you nothing has she? And like a fool you've not bothered to look deeper. You profess to love her above all others, but I wonder did you ever wonder at the things she didn't tell you."
A memory of an earlier conversation floated to the surface. Lavellan's reluctance to talk about the boys, their birth. The only secret she had kept, the single detail she had not shared with him.
Solas narrowed his eyes, "You're speaking of the twins."
"You cannot love what you do not know. You want to call her 'vhenan' and profess to love her? Be my guest. But you know nothing about the woman she has become - if I have my way you will never have a chance to find out. "
When Solas fell to silence, Dorian sighed in disgust.
"If you truly care about her, have the decency to leave her alone. But if you want to be a real bastard about it, to stay by her side, then take the time to learn what happened in your absence. Maybe then you'll understand why you're better off gone."
That night, it was Dorian rather than Solas who came to call upon her. Having just sent Theron back to his own clan, she was still smiling from his animated conversation when she opened the door and found her best friend waiting for her.
"I had wondered when you might appear."
Ducking into the small space, he was greeted with the excited chirping of the twins, and even Cole had cause to be excited when Dorian gifted him a particularly lovely Ferelden-style hat. It was fur trimmed and terribly unsuited to the current heat, but Cole loved it almost instantly, pausing only long enough to make sure that no animal had been harmed in the creation of said hat before putting it upon his head.
Looking at her children as they played, Lavellan's lips twisted into a smile, "I knew there was a reason you were their favorite."
Dorian laughed, "What can I say? I am a delight to the senses, even children know that."
"Did you get me anything?" She teased.
"You mean besides my glittering self?" Dorian's brows rose.
She laughed, "You're entirely correct. Forgive me, anything else would be too much."
Following dinner Lavellan and Dorian spent their time chatting, watching the boys play between them as they went over the events of the day.
"Cassandra nearly refused my stepping down." Lavellan explained with a smile, "I don't think I've ever heard that grunt of disgust so many times in a single afternoon."
Dorian grinned, sipping his warm beverage, "Try traveling with her...the woman may claim to distance herself from nobility, but she has the riding manner of a princess."
His words drew a long lingering smile, one that lasted until Lavellan looked at the almost untangled knot of her necklace on her lap.
"The advisors were supportive." She mused, "So I think Cass may have to accept that she will be my replacement when the time comes."
"And when is that exactly my dear?" Dorian asked, watching as the shadows danced upon their faces.
"Sooner rather than later. In the next few weeks if I can manage it." Lavellan wiggled a silken silver string, tugged at it just so, and watched as the last knot came undone, leaving nothing but individual threads on her lap.
"Oh." She went silent then, eyes locked on all that remained, "I guess I worked faster than I thought."
There was something in her manner that made Dorian want to speak, to prompt her and explain herself. But before he could get a word in Numinehn appeared at her side, eyes bright as he saw the neat little strings.
"You finished?!" He sounded thrilled, excited, "May I have them now, mamae?"
Lavellan looked at her son blankly for a long moment, long enough that he began to frown in concern.
"Mamae?" His uneasy reiteration of her name was met with a sudden jolt. And with a small oath of apology, she scooped up the strings and pressed it into his pudgy fist.
"I am sorry my love," she said, pressing a kiss to his brow, "I was thinking about something and got entirely too distracted. Yes of course you can have them."
Dorian waited until she had put the children in bed before he spoke up about her lapse, concern filling the very corners of his voice.
"Lavellan, what in the name of the Maker is going on?"
She settled beside him and cocked her head, "Hmm?"
"That moment earlier...and then before in the square. I feel like I've returned to that horrid alternate reality we stumbled upon when we were fighting Alexius."
"Perhaps this is you being angry with me?" She suggested, "It has been a while since we've stood on opposite sides of opinion."
Dorian sighed, smiled despite his earlier outburst.
"I am hardly angry darling. I think it would be more appropriate to say I am surprised. Wouldn't you?"
Lavellan looked at him guiltily as she continued.
"Last I heard Solas was missing and you were on your way to visit your clan for 'personal reasons'"
"I know", Lavellan sighed, "I ended up...well, it is a bit of a story."
"We have time." Dorian said patiently, "Unless you would rather not?"
"It's not that," She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, "It was just a lot...I can hardly believe it myself."
And then she began to speak, to recount the series of events that had transpired since her departure from the keep. It started easily enough, she spoke fluidly, and although the story was one of turbulence, she cut through it in a timely manner, with precision.
It was only when she reached that moment Solas appeared that Dorian noted the way she hesitated, slowed to the point of almost ceasing her explanation altogether.
"What is it, darling?"
He asked when she fell silent for a particularly lengthy amount of time.
"You and I have never had secrets from one another." She said slowly, "And I am trying to find the best way to explain this next part though it is a difficult one."
"Is it about Solas' secrets?" Dorian guessed.
There was a flash upon her lips, a glimmer of gratefulness that spoke of their friendship and his ability to know her so well.
"You need not tell them to me, love." Dorian said, "I have no interest in that man other than how he might affect you."
She sighed, "That's just it. It is this rather large secret that does impact me, even more than that, it impacts the twins."
Dorian went still, "Oh?"
Her hands twisted in her lap, "I need you to make me another promise, Dorian. A serious one that you must keep, until the world itself ends if need be."
There was a beat of silence, as dark honey colored eyes met her own bright ones in the dim firelight.
"I promise, my dear. As your friend, your best friend, what you tell me next will never pass my lips." And then, because he could, he cast a spell, one that was all too common in Tevinter and yet so rare elsewhere.
Watching the glitter of his magic fade from the air, Lavellan blinked, "What spell was that?"
"A minor binding." Dorian smiled, "It will keep my secrets, and by extension, your secrets entirely inaccessible by those that might otherwise attempt to draw them out."
"Will it harm you in any way?" She worried.
"Not at all." He reassured, "Now tell your secrets."
And so she did, and in the process changed his perception of their world forever. Indeed, it was he who was left speechless at the end of it, stunned beyond words for perhaps the first time in his life.
Yet even his discovery could not change the way he sought to protect her. If anything, the words just fueled his temper, his displeasure on her behalf.
"You mean to tell me that he was...is a god, and he ran away at the first sign of trouble?"
Lavellan protested, "It is not like that. And he is not a god, so much as a really powerful mage."
"A powerful mage who apparently has yet to learn that running away from problems is not the way to solve them." Dorian replied snarkily, "That does not take courage, darling. Did he ever explain to you why he had to leave?"
"No. Not in as many words, though he did explain his origins, the difficulties of such things."
Dorian watched as her expression crumbled.
"I suspect I love him still." She confessed, "A friend mentioned it the other day and I think I've known it to be true for much longer than that."
Her friend looked at her, his expression a mirror for all the pain they had carried together.
"Have you forgotten the years you were left alone? " He wondered aloud, "No- nevermind. You know better than anyone how you suffered. I'm not going to dredge that up just to make my point."
His hands landed on her shoulders, "I love you like a sister, call you my best friend because that is what you are. So please treat yourself like it too. I don't want to see you get hurt again."
Her eyes filled, "I... "
The tears fell for the first time that evening, large drops that slid from the corners and burned trails down her cheeks.
"You have a large heart, dearest. But has he ever asked you about what happened in his absence?"
Dorian sighed, hand coming up to gently wipe away the tears that clung to the fringe of her eyelashes.
"His own secrets do not mean that he gets a free pass. Did he ever ask what happened to you, about the years when he was away?"
Her lips lifted in a watery smile, "He did actually. In the beginning. I..." She sighed, "I gave him the facts, little else."
"Then why did he look so confused when I mentioned the birth of the twins?" He pressed.
Lavellan flushed, "I refused to tell him when he first asked, we were very much at odds then."
Dorian sighed, "Well apparently that has changed, hmm?"
She nodded slowly.
"Then my dear, it may be worth explaining everything."
"What if I'm not brave enough to relive that memory?" She asked quietly.
Dorian's arms came around her then, hugging her into his chest, the feeling familiar and reassuring. It had been this man who had remained by her side over the years, who had seen her through the darkest part of her life and stood beside her. He had refused invitations from the noble houses in Tevinter, had turned down a particularly lucrative marriage proposal from an Antivan nobleman and even helped rear her children. He was her best friend, and she valued his opinion above all others. Even Theron, with whom she had found an instant and undeniable connection, would be hard pressed to measure up.
"My dear you are plenty brave. But I wonder if your hesitation is not so much rooted in lack of courage as it is a sign that you do not trust him with the truth."
Dorian drew back, met her gaze with a steady smile of his own.
"Whether you choose to call yourself Inquisitor or not is entirely up to you. But it was your strength that saw us through that gauntlet, Lavellan. You have the heart of a high dragon. The question whether you think Solas is worthy of that heart."