Lavellan's Plan, Solas' Improve
Her plan is crazy, and simple, and Solas just has to have an idea.
Chapter 38
Her plan was insane. She wanted him to…to just…He'd allowed it to play out this way, having people find out on their own or through circumstance, but this? How could she expect him to just…to just…tell them? The only reason he'd ever told any of them himself was because something had affected Alhasha, but even now he wasn't sure he could do this, and he was so lost in his own thoughts now that he didn't hear Alhasha calling him until she cupped his face in her hands.
"Solas, it can't be avoided any longer." She said, gently, before kissing his forehead. "It has to be now."
"Te na vaelia dhrua ra?" He asked, defensively, feeling cornered and caged.
Do you really believe that?
"Te na dhrua'em, Ara'nas?" Alhasha asked, tenderly. He did, of course he did, he thought as he slowly nodded. "Ar isalan na dhrua'em min. You said so yourself, you believe us strong enough."
Do you trust me? - I need you to trust me now
"Ar dhrua'na. That does not make me any less nervous about this, Lath'in." Solas admitted, with a sigh and a shaky smile, and turned his attention to Lavellan. "You're sure this will work? This will protect Alhasha?"
I trust you
"It will work. Whether it protects Hawke entirely is another matter." Lavellan informed him. "It will give the two of you more options, at the very least. Now, who do you need?"
"Commander Cullen, Seeker Cassandra, Sister Leliana, Blackwall, and Morrigan; Josephine and Vivienne too, if you like." Solas replied, after a thought.
"You mean to tell me the others…" Lavellan asked, trailing off.
"Either knew or suspected long before you did." Solas replied, with a nod. "Ir abelas, Lethal'lan."
I'm sorry, respected kin
"It's just…a lot to take in…" Lavellan said, trying to gather her thoughts. "How?…Wait a minute, does Fenris know?!"
"Fenris was the first to know, actually." He replied, surprising her. "I wanted his blessing, after all."
"And the others?" Lavellan asked, with uncertainty.
"Iron Bull found out just before Haven fell, but hid under plausible deniability till what happened to me in Kirkwall." Solas explained. "Varric and Dorian found out on the trip to Arlathan, because I thought it was the only way to explain why Alhasha was where and when she was. Anders found out just before we brought him to Skyhold, because I threatened him within an inch of his sanity if he could not keep her alive. Sera found out at the Winter Palace in Halam'shiral. I thought I would need assistance with trying to find Alhasha, and Vael couldn't stop talking."
"And she hasn't said anything?" Lavellan asked, incredulously.
"She didn't want to seem like an 'elfy elf'." Solas supplied, with a slight grin. Lavellan had to chuckle a little at that.
"Alright, meet me at the el'u'vi'an. I'll go get the others. We'll get this done quickly, and then deal with Vael." Lavellan stated, and headed out the door.
"Do you really think this will work, Lath'in?" Solas asked, and was shocked when she bit the tip of his ear hard. "Ow! Lath'in, that hurts! Alright, alright, I get it. Do not doubt my nas'falon."
"Good." She replied, teasingly, and then began to kiss along his ear to soothe it.
"It's just…what I will need to do, Lath'in…" He began, not sure if there were words.
"I can't believe you haven't figured it out already, Ara'nas." She whispered. "What was it you said before? If there was anyone who could think of how to save both worlds…?"
"It would be you." He said, finishing her sentence, before standing up. "Ir abelas, ara lath'in."
"For what?" Alhasha asked, in confusion.
"Ever doubting you." He answered, just before giving in to his desire to kiss her.
In an out of the way room by the garden, where the el'u'vi'an was kept, Solas and Hawke sat in front of five people who had been called away from other things and were now staring at the two of them in confusion. Lavellan walked in with Cullen, and nodded to Solas, who was trying to put off his nerves by playing with Biscuit. She'd not told any of them why they needed to be there, in case they were overheard by one of Vael's men. They, of course, had recognized her serious Inquisitor face, and agreed without question. Josephine had protested a little, thinking she couldn't be pulled away from her work, but came regardless.
"I'm sure you all know by now that Vael is in Skyhold." Lavellan stated. "He is here for Hawke, because he thinks he can get her by destroying any reputation or friendship you have built with Solas."
"That is preposterous." Cassandra scoffs.
"Is it, Seeker?" Solas asked, impassively. "Are your opinions of the Lord Seeker still what they were after finding out about his betrayal?"
"But that…!" She went to object, but stopped as she realized he was right. "Then you…Solas, what did you do? How many ways could you possibly have betrayed us? Just what proof does Vael have of these supposed transgressions?"
"I suppose that depends on what you see as betrayal, Seeker." Solas replied, as if he were talking about the weather. "After all, I am known as the 'great betrayer', the reason why Elvhenan fell and the supposed elvhen pantheon are locked away."
"You can't possibly be serious." Cassandra denied instantly.
"What proof do you need, Seeker?" Solas asked, arrogantly, as his eyes flashed the molten silver. "Did you really think 'I saw it in the Fade' covers everything that I know? That I can 'sense' the elvhen artifacts that strengthen the Veil? Who do you think put them there? Fen'harel was a name given to me by my enemies, and so I made them fear me for it, even as I brought hope to my people; but not all is all as the stories say. When Alhasha was taken by that rift in Redcliffe, she was dropped in ancient Arlathan. She warned me what would happen here, but by then I loved her already, and I could not risk her timeline for the hopeful promise of a better future for those I did not yet know. I erected the Veil anyway, because it was the only way to save my people even as it damned them, because it was the only way I would get to see her again. I took her memories and forgot them, and wandered the Fade in uth'then'era, angry without fully knowing why. But if that were the worst of it, Vael would not be here as he is, and I would likely have procrastinated in telling you all this as I am now."
"Just what proof does he have on you that you are who you say you are?" Leliana asked, reminding him that he had not answered that one yet.
"I'm sure you've noticed the fresco's in the rotunda." Solas replied, with a sigh. "When Alhasha was trying to…work around my stubborn nature, she came upon my studio. I had started a painting of her. It became a way of conversation for us without actually speaking or seeing each other, and became a painting of the two of us dancing in a ballroom. When it was completed, I spelled it away to a time when what it showed me be could be true, because I did not believe it ever could be. Somehow, Vael has managed to find it, and it now sits in the War Room. It has apparently been authenticated as being from the time of Arlathan. What other proof he has, I do not know, but even that is not what will damn me in your eyes."
"Ara'nas, they will need to know. If the Inquisitor's plan is to work, you need to tell them." Hawke said, quietly.
He squeezed her hand a little more tightly for the reassurance, before continuing on. "Though Corypheus is directly responsible for the death of the Divine, and the destruction of the Conclave, it was my people that slowly lead the Venatori to it in the first place. The Foci he used contained a great deal of my power, and I knew it would kill him when he activated it. Only, he didn't die, and the backlash of power destroyed the Conclave. At the time, I viewed the loss of so much life as collateral damage. I was still without a large portion of my memories, and did not realize I could have very well killed my nas'falon had it succeeded. You are all in this mess because of me, because of what I tried to do while I could not remember Alhasha."
The shouts of outrage came all at once, and Hawke stayed by his side even so. Cassandra and Leliana were understandably upset, the Divine had meant much to them. The others were outraged he could be so cavalier about so many deaths at all, looking as though he only regretted it because he could have lost Hawke before he'd remembered her. He probably shouldn't have said that, but they'd needed to know, to get this out of their systems before Vael was dealt with. Something was going to have to change soon, Lavellan knew, if they were going to get the ball rolling on this.
"That is enough!" Solas shouted, the power in his voice alone booming enough to shock them into silence, before he himself had to take a second to calm down before continuing. "I did not tell you this so that you could take out your anger. I told you this, so that you could put it aside for now, not be surprised by whatever he tells you, and help me keep Alhasha safe! That is my main concern now. When Vael has been dealt with, I will submit to any sentence The Inquisitor deems fit."
"You would really do that?" Lavellan asked, in surprise. "I know you said it before, but I wasn't sure if you meant it or not."
"Yes, Lethal'lan." Solas insisted. "Now, can we please…for Alhasha…I can not force any of you to help us, but I would ask…please…"
He hated feeling this emotionally exposed, would rather just kill Vael himself, but Lavellan had insisted this plan was for the best. Alhasha had reminded him that he'd agreed that they were strong enough, that they could weather this, but even so he'd had different ideas about just how to do that. With her eyes pleading at him the way they had, he'd found that he could not deny her. Doubting her had come with a price he was no longer willing to pay. Whatever the cost of this, Solas knew that Alhasha did not doubt him, something which was both freeing and humbling in its way; a trust he had not known in Ages.
The others had stopped shouting, but most were talking amongst themselves as they tried to decide what to do. They did not have time for this, but he was forced to admit this was partially his fault. Had he but told them sooner, this would not be happening now. It was Blackwall that approached him first, eyeing him with curiosity, as if wondering where the boogeyman was hiding. After a moment, however, the man simply stuck his hand out to him.
"If it wasn't for you talking to me, reminding me I wasn't alone, I probably would have left." Blackwall stated. "My mistakes came with a death toll, and yet you insisted I not waste the second chance, that I could speak with you if it was ever needed. I offer you the same courtesy."
"…Thank you, Blackwall." Solas said, surprised but appreciative, as he shook the man's hand.
"And you, you knew this whole time, didn't you?" Blackwall said, looking to Alhasha, with a bit of a chuckle.
"Most of it." Alhasha admitted, with a slight blush. "Some of it I didn't find out till much later."
"You knew, this whole time, and yet you said nothing?!" Cassandra asked, not knowing whether to be hurt or angry.
"I keep secrets, Cassandra. It's what I've always done." Alhasha said, with downcast eyes. "Though I did not know her, I mourned Justinia just as I mourned Elthina. Both were killed by the actions of men I care for, that acted without full knowledge of self. Is that so shocking?"
"Seeker, though your anger is understandable, it is misplaced." Solas stated, making her focus on him. "I am the one responsible, no matter how indirectly, and it is me who should be the focus of your anger now."
She sighed, shaking her head. "That you could keep this from us…I will help you for Hawke, but I do not know what to think, about you or her."
"Actually, if I didn't already have helping out my agents, Hawke, I would seriously think about offering you a permanent position." Leliana stated, after a thought. "A good agent, who will keep even the most volatile of secrets, is hard to find."
"You are okay with this?!" Cassandra asked, turning to Leliana. "He's the reason we started the Inquisition!"
"I have made my peace with Justinia's death." Leliana stated, with finality. "We can only move forward from here."
"Cullen?…Morrigan?…Vivienne?" Alhasha called out to them in meek nervousness, something he never wanted to see from her again. "You three haven't said anything."
"It does certainly explain how you would know my mother." Morrigan remarked, with some amusement.
"My dear, if there were ever better players of The Game than the two of you, I have not met them." Vivienne stated, sounding strangely like she admired them.
"I can't process this right now." Cullen said, sternly. "Focus on Vael. I'll reserve my opinion for when I've had more time to think on it."
"Alright. Now that everyone's up to speed, here's what I need you to do." Lavellan stated, taking over, detailing the plan for them.
Anders is shaking, he's so angry. For the past several minutes, Vael has been walking around Skyhold like he owns it. The nobles are practically eating out of his hand. It was disgusting how they pandered to him. It didn't help that every so often, that rat bastard would look over to him with a knowing smirk.
Thanks to Cole, no one else was surprised by Vael's visit to Skyhold. He thanked the Maker that Hawke hadn't walked in here yet, and he couldn't even begin to wonder what Solas was going to do when he saw Vael here. He was surprised to note that the 'King' of Starkhaven only brought a few guards with him, wondering if maybe he thought himself above the need for them. However, he also noticed they were strategically placed, and wondered if that was done with the intention of keeping everyone here in or the others out. A noise at the main entrance draws his attention, as well as everyone else in the room.
The Inquisitor Lavellan walks into the room with a confidant air. Behind her, he sees Cassandra and Morrigan, Cullen and Vivienne; each on either side of Hawke and Solas, as if guarding them. Behind them is Leliana and Blackwall, both with stern expressions, as if they knew where this was headed. Considering the grim looks they all wore, they probably did. When Vael stepped up to speak with Inquisitor Lavellan, to Anders' surprise, Josephine was already next to him.
"Inquisitor, may I introduce to you Sebastian Vael, King of Starkhaven." Josephine greeted diplomatically. "King Vael, this is Inquisitor Lavellan."
"I'm afraid I've not had the pleasure." Vael replied, with a polite bow.
"Shall we then? I believe you requested a meeting with me." Lavellan stated, continuing the diplomatic air.
"Just how many templars did you bring with you, Vael?" Cullen asked, looking to Vael's men; who had started shifting a bit uncomfortably when they noticed his glaring.
"A precautionary measure, I assure you." Vael remarked, as they all began making their way to the War Room.
"I find myself not assured, Vael." Lavellan remarked, with a telling smirk. "But if you view them as essential to your safety as King, then by all means, assure yourself."
It amazed Blackwall that Hawke and Solas stood calm and collected in the face of this. Even as powerful and as strong as she was, Hawke panicked at the sight of this Vael. At the Winter Palace, Blackwall had not been able to help, too caught up in hiding from his own demons, but he was here now, and would help in any way he could. What surprised him most was that Solas wasn't giving in to his desire to slaughter the man in front of him, only the hard edge to his gaze giving him away. Blackwall wondered what could make him refrain from doing anything, when Leliana nudged him subtlety and gestured slightly with her hands.
When he looked to where she'd gestured, he saw Solas had intertwined his fingers with Hawke's own. It was the barest of touches, almost unseen by anyone else, but it was enough. So that's why neither were reacting the way he would have expected, Blackwall mused. The comfort they took from and gave to each other was enough to at least postpone the inevitable. When they were finally in the War Room, Vael seemed annoyed that the Inquisitor was not alone, as if they would leave her alone with what they knew. Vael had a few of his 'guards' in the room, so he could not claim he was without allies.
"Hawke, I'm sorry it's come to this, but you leave me no choice." Vael began.
"Do not think you can talk to her with such familiarity." Solas stated, angrily, cutting him off. "We know why you are here."
"I suppose you would, Fen'harel." Vael spat, but his words did not have the desired effect. The room remained unmoved. "You knew? I knew you knew of Hawke's crimes, that you willingly harbored her from being put on trial, but this? Do you know what he's done?!"
"Please, do you think he could have gone without us finding out forever?" Leliana asked, arching an eyebrow at the man, coolly. Never mind that they had only been informed a few minutes ago, that woman played it so well even Blackwall was thinking she might have known ahead of time. "You have been shouting about Fen'harel for some time now. If we had not already been informed, your ravings would have alerted us to the possibility, at the very least."
"Solas, look…" Hawke whispered, pointing to the painting. "I never thought I'd see it again."
"Indeed, Sulahn'ean, it is a comfort to see this again." Solas stated, suddenly brimming with a regal air Blackwall did not remember him having a few minutes ago. "We should thank you, Vael, for returning this to us. How did you come by it, if I may ask?"
Vael looked livid, but calmly replied. "I found it when searching Arlathan."
"Then you have our thanks for returning it to us." Solas remarked, as he walked towards the painting with his arm around Hawke's waist. "Count yourself lucky that our thanks is all you have, and go. Unless, you have something else to say?"
"You are responsible for the death of the Divine. She is responsible for the death of Grand Cleric Elthina. Did you really think I would just walk away?" Vael growled. "Even if I can not get them to hand you over, I will not walk out of here empty handed. I will have her arrested and tried, and I will have you killed."
"King or not, you do not have that authority here." Cassandra declared, her sword already drawn and pointing at the man.
"Seeker, I would advice you to remember your place." Vael growled.
"I know where my place is, and it is between you and them." Cassandra stated, firmly, never wavering. She might be angry at them, but she had given her word. "Even if they were not who they were, your actions have been deplorable. You are not worthy of the Crown of Starkhaven."
"The Chantry does not support you." Vael reminded her, as if attempting to sway her.
"The Chantry has never supported us. You'll have to do better than that." Cassandra retorted with a scoff.
"Do you know what he said to me, how he plans on restoring his world, the damage that will cause?" Vael shouted now.
"All said under the duress of torture, no doubt." Cullen remarked, angrily. "A man will say anything if you press him hard enough."
"He will rip apart the Veil, and destroy our world to restore his own." Vael insisted, getting more angry with each attempt to sway them.
"I have been convinced that that is no longer the best course of action." Solas stated. Vael scoffed in disbelief, and the others looked on thoughtfully. "My crimes are my own, and I will submit myself to the Inquisitor's judgement, as it is because of my actions the Inquisition was created."
"That doesn't excuse Hawke her actions. She allowed Grand Cleric Elthina to die, and so she will be tried for High Treason against Starkhaven. If you die, so much the better." Vael stated, not backing down. His men readied their weapons.
"There isn't a person in here that doesn't know why you really want the girl." Vivienne revealed. "Did you think she wouldn't tell anyone?"
"I suggest you back down, Vael, while you can still leave here with your dignity." Lavellan warned. "The only reason I even agreed to this meeting was so that you would know that Fen'harel and Sulahn'ean have the support of the Inquisition, and that any actions you take against them from now on will be considered an act of war on behalf of Starkhaven. Are you really willing to go that far?"
"You dirty knife-eared bitch!" Vael shouted angrily, losing all sense of civility as he made to attack her; right before Cullen threw his whole body into punching that man in the face with a right hook, knocking the man out cold.
"I suggest you take your king home." Lavellan said, looking to Vael's men. "He is not of sound mind, and should not have made the trip. I would suggest looking for a new King, but that is not my place to say."
"That was quite the right hook, Commander." Solas noted, with a slight bit of humour, once Vael's men had carted him out of the room. Even his hadn't knocked Vael out like that when he'd hit him.
"Maker, that felt good." Cullen admitted, before looking to him. "I can see why you did that back at the Winter Palace. Magic can do a lot, but there's nothing quite like punching someone in the face like that."
"Indeed." Solas replied, unable to hold in his grin any longer.
"Alright, Solas, now that that's done, we'll need to have that conversation." Lavellan stated, reminding him. "You're all more than welcome to stay. If you want to get out your questions and arguments, now is the time."
"I believe I'll leave this one to you." Blackwall replied. "I'm sure the others are wondering what went on in here."
Cassandra elected to stay, no surprise there. Cullen wanted to ask more questions, and so he too decided to stay. Leliana did not seem to need it, and so she left. Morrigan and Vivienne decided to stay, both for different reasons. Josephine opted to stay, though she was more interested in taking notes that Solas had no doubt would end up in the hands of the dwarf later.
Varric wasn't sure what to think when Blackwall and Leliana walked out. Everyone had watched Vael get carted out by his own men, though it was doubtful he would leave that way. He could only guess what Lavellan had wanted with Cassandra and the others. That they guarded Hawke and Solas seemed to answer at least some of that. He and Iron Bull had made bets with some of the others on the outcome of the meeting, but it hadn't helped get rid of the nerves the way that usually did.
"What happened in there?" Varric asked, more nervous than he'd like to admit. "Who punched Vael in the face?"
"That would be our esteemed Commander." Blackwall remarked, with a chuckle. "Seems Vael thought it a good idea to insult our Inquisitor."
"What about Flint and Chuckles? What did they tell you?" Varric asked, looking from one to the other.
"Probably the same thing they told you. Cassandra's pissed by the way." Blackwall replied. "I get why you didn't say anything. That's some secret, that's for sure."
"What do you think they will end up doing now?" Leliana wondered.
"Now that our dear Inquisitor knows?" Dorian asked, looking thoughtful. "Probably exactly what I told him not to do. Run."
"I doubt it." Iron Bull said, still looking towards the door. "I get that his nature is to deflect and hide, but I don't think he will this time."
"Why is that, Tiny?" Varric asked, intrigued.
"It matters now, more so than it ever has." Iron Bull insisted, knowingly. "He'll stay, because it's Hawke that will be affected if he doesn't."
"He'd better." Dorian replied, and they settled down into waiting again.
Not long after that, Cassandra and the others walked out. She didn't look near as angry as he'd expected her to be, but her thin lipped expression told him she was still unhappy. Vivienne and Leliana talked amongst themselves, and Morrigan simply looked thoughtful as they all waited for Hawke and the others. The woman in question was out a moment later, but she was alone. She looked nervous, the way she had at the Winter Palace, when she made her way to them.
"He wanted to talk with them alone." She stated, answering the question Varric had wanted to ask. "I don't know what about though, but he seems extremely nervous about it, and I'm babbling again, aren't I?"
"Just a little." Varric replied, with a slight grin.
"I can't help it, Varric, I'm worried." Flint admitted, her eyes darting back to the door. "I've always told him he should tell everyone the truth about who he was and everything, but even so…He's never been as exposed as he is now. What if it was a mistake? What if my advice ends up killing him? I thought having all of Thedas angry at me was bad. That will be nothing compared to what he'll have to face now."
"It is no more than he deserves." Cassandra snapped, but then looked guilty when she saw the glare Varric was giving her and the saddened look on Flint's face as she stared at the door to the War Room. "Even so, I can understand your worry for him."
The door opens, but something isn't right. He doesn't make his way to her, and his arms are…bound? His wrists have been clapped in irons, and Cullen is leading him away. The nobles are talking amongst themselves loudly, all of them wondering what the mysterious mage Solas did to get taken to the cells. She's across the room before anyone can think to stop her.
"What are you doing?" Hawke demanded, angrily glaring at Cullen. "Why are you arresting Solas?"
"It is important that this be done properly." Cullen tried to explain, but Hawke refused to budge.
"My foot's going to become properly lodged up the crack of your ass if you don't explain to me just what the fuck you think you're doing, Cullen Stanton Rutherford." Hawke growled, in warning.
"Lath'in, please, do not interfere. I asked for this." Solas insisted, pleading with her to understand, but she couldn't.
"You asked for this?" She asked, appalled and worried all at once. "Why would you ask to be arrested?!"
"I can not be sentenced if I am not arrested, Alhasha." Solas stated, quietly.
"It will be alright, Hawke. I will see to it that he is not mistreated." Cullen promised, clearly trying to calm her down.
"Plan to stand guard over him yourself, do you?" She countered, fixing him with her glare. She didn't believe he'd be safe for one minute.
"If that is what it takes, Hawke, yes." Cullen replied, and he began guiding Solas away. "You will be able to see him as soon as I get him settled. I'll send someone up to let you know."
Hawke stood frozen as Cullen took Solas away. She couldn't seem to make herself move, watching them until they were out of sight. Her mind raced with possible escape plans, each one thrown out the window, because she knew he could escape if he really wanted. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that he would volunteer for this, and knew that he wouldn't let her try to break him out. It wasn't until Cassandra started speaking that she realized anyone was even next to her.
"Why is Cullen taking him to the cells?" She asked, in confusion.
"Apparently, he asked to be arrested." Hawke replied, surprised at the amount of venom in her words. The woman actually flinched at them. "It's not like this place could actually hold him if he chose to escape, and yet he asked for this, said he couldn't be sentenced if he wasn't arrested."
"His way to atone." Blackwall said, in realization. "Before you all had me brought back, he said something about that. He said it was never you he had to worry about knowing, that you were his way back. He's convinced he deserves death for his actions, but living with the things he's done is his atonement. Facing them? That's something else entirely."
"You're sure this is a good idea?" Cullen asked, as they walked to the cells. "Hawke didn't seem too pleased."
"You sound nervous, Commander." Solas noted, with some amusement.
"Yes, well you're not the one who's ass crack was threatened with proper boot placement." Cullen remarked, dryly. "Forgive me if I'm a little more nervous than you seem to be."
"To be fair, that woman has attacked me outright in a fit of rage, so I can understand your concern." Solas replied, trying to keep the humour out of his voice. "In hindsight, maybe I should not have asked her to leave before discussing this with you and the Inquisitor."
"Maybe for her peace of mind, but isn't this the exact reaction we need her to have?" Cullen replied, sounding doubtful. Solas stood off to the side as Cullen unlocked the cell for him, before stepping inside. Once Cullen had unlocked the irons, Solas stepped back further, and the door was closed. "Solas…You said Fen'harel was a name given to you…How did that even happen?"
"The way these things usually do…A war." Solas stated, unbothered by the question. He sat down on the bed as he settled in to answer more thoroughly. "Like Alhasha, I am fenin. It was easy to use such a form in battle, to defend and bring hope, as well as attack and strike fear. Our enemies began to call me Fen'harel. They didn't know what to do when I took to using it as my title."
"What about…" Cullen began, not knowing how to put it in words, but Solas guessed his intent.
"If you are going to ask me if the Maker truly exists, I do not know." Solas stated, not unkindly. "Though we were the first of our people, there were others before us, a different people. The stories say these people spoke with a being without form. Even the spirits we see have a form, if not one that we can touch, so perhaps it is possible that it was your Maker spoke to them. As Immortals, we may not die, but we can be killed; so maybe one day I will have a more accurate answer for you about whether or not the Maker exists at all. If I could tell you for certain, would it solidify your faith, or shatter it?"
"I don't know." Cullen admitted, and then sighed. "I didn't put much stock in the elvhen pantheon being real though, and now this, so…"
"Just because they exist does not make them gods, though I am sure they would still think so." Solas explained, slipping into his teacher's tone. "Alhasha had the right of it before she knew. We were simply mages who didn't know when to stop. We were entrusted with the care and the safety of our people, and we lost sight of that duty."
"How has Hawke made sense of all this?" Cullen asked, now morbidly curious.
"You want to know if she has managed to hang on to her faith in the Maker when she has literally walked among supposed elvhen gods in a city that no longer stands." Solas remarked, much to Cullen's embarrassment. "She spouts curses about Andraste's ass, and prays to the Maker for my safety. What do you think?"