The village of Sahrnia was located northeast of the Emprise Du Lion. According to Mistress Poulin, the village's current ruler, Sahrnia fell into economic decline due to the ongoing War of the Lions. Not only did it cause its mining trade to shut down completely, but she was afraid it'd allowed for a large Red Templar party to occupy the surrounding hills, leaving the town completely isolated.
Along with the fear of villagers being taken by the Red Templars, the Inquisition also met a chevalier and champion of Empress Celene, Michale de Chevin. He'd explained that he'd tracked a demon, Imshael, to the nearby Suldine Keep, but with the town under threat and the keep full of Red Templars, he decided to stay here to protect the villages instead of attacking the keep alone. He hints at prisoners being held captive.
Once enough information was gathered, Cullen suggested they separate into two groups. Solas will lead one to investigate the Sahrnia Quarry while he and the rest of the party head north, to Suldine's Keep.
"Make sure you keep an eye on Solas," Cullen said to Dorian and Iron Bull. "He is emotional. He isn't thinking clearly. He'll be a liability in battle."
Iron Bull rode beside Solas while Varric, Sera, and Dorian rode up front. Despite the fur cloak keeping him warm from the frosty weather, it did little to provide warmth from Solas' chilling mood. Cullen was right. Underneath the mage's cool exterior was some form of dark magic that was barely contained. Bull didn't think he wanted to be around to witness Solas' wrath when all that power was unleashed.
All-day, Solas said nothing. Not when they stopped to rest their horses, not when they took an hour to break their fast. The mage was quiet. Too quiet. And to Bull's spy-trained eye, it could only mean one thing: Solas was plotting.
"Whatever you're planning," Iron Bull said. "I want in."
Though he kept his face directly in front of him, Solas clenched his jaw tightly, signaling that he'd heard.
"My guess - you're going rogue. A one-man mission. But in this territory, you're going to need more manpower. Especially with all these Red Templars running around," Iron Bull stated. "The Chargers and I are ready whenever you are."
Solas shook his head. "No, that's too many. We won't be able to move without being detected."
"What's your plan?"
"I'm heading south. After Suldine's Keep."
Iron Bull released a soft whistle. "Everyone will be angry they weren't included."
"Yes - and I have wasted too much time already. I leave at midnight, with or without you."
The Quarry was quiet and surprisingly left unguarded when they arrived. A series of underground tunnels led them to the front entrance of the colossal pit, where red lyrium perturbed from its walls, emanating a noticeable heat.
"I hate these things," Varric said with disgust.
The red crystals reminded Dorian of the world he'd seen at Rediff, and the consequence of what would happen should they not find IIyana in time.
"Whatever you do, do to touch them," Varric said dryly. "It can infect you and … well, drive you insane."
"How do you know so much about red lyrium?" Sera asked.
Varric chuckled sadly. "Well, the next time you're in Kirkwall, you can ask my brother. Or whatever is left of his mind. Anyway, let's get out of here before I — do something that will alert our enemy."
They entered through a large opening that took them through another series of underground tunnels, emerging from the darkness to an open space where a group of villagers were held. A man, locked in a caged wagon with five other people saw them and cried out, reaching for them. "Help us! Please!"
"Please, they're going to kill us," a woman pleaded. "Let us out. Let us out before it's too late!"
"Shut the fuck up!" An angry voice yelled. It came from a dark tunnel to their right. Whoever the voice belonged to, he wasn't happy that his afternoon nap was interrupted.
The prisoners cried out, again.
"I said, BE QUIET! Or I'll kill you like they did that knife-ear whore."
From behind, Varric felt a crackling of energy while the hairs on Sera's neck stood on end. The air surrounding the group becomes dry, almost suffocating. Thinking they've wandered into some sort of trap, Dorian turns to find the source of the magic and freezes. Solas was seething with rage. Magic hissed between his fingers, crackling and sizzling. He appeared dark, almost possessed.
"Solas," Dorian whispers nervously.
As the prisoners' pleas became louder, the thicker the air became. Each cry was followed by a string of curses until heavy footsteps scraped against the hard ground, followed by something heavy being dragged along the walls. Magic surged along the ground, crackling against the walls, the closer the red templar came.
"Solas!" Dorian hissed, trying time to get through to his friend. He has never lost his composure, but the magnitude of Solas rage was terrifying.
Varric looked from Solas to the approaching shadow. "This doesn't look good," He says, pulling his crossbow in front of him.
Iron Bull cursed and stepped in front of Sera, his hands reaching for his mallet.
"I'll teach you a lot some goddamn manners," the red templar roared. "When I say be quiet, you be quiet. Who are you waiting for? The Inquisitor? The bitch is dead!"
As if all the air was sucked out of the Quarry, magic surged in the air, ringing in their ears. Seconds later, Solas snapped. His magic crashed into the air. The physical force of his rage knocked his companions back. Dorian opened his mouth to protest, a warning upon his lips. Only, it came too late. The Templar emerged from the darkness as a flurry of white slammed him back into the tunnel. His terrified screams could be heard as he fought for his life. There was a sickening sound of bones snapping, followed by a gurgling noise.
Then a deathly silence.
The group ran after Solas and froze. There was blood everywhere. The templar lay dead on the ground, blood spilling from his neck where it'd been ripped open. Sera was the first to break the silence "What the fuck just happened?"
A series of warnings rang on the opposite end, followed by more screams.
"We need to hurry before he gets himself killed," Dorian started frantically.
As they came to the clearing, Bull had to shield his eyes from the blast that tore through the sky, ripping it open as a meteor firestorm fell from the heavens.
"Take cover!" he warned. Hooking Sera and Varric in his arms, he sprinted for cover as Dorain rushed through a tunnel, following in Solas' footsteps. The firestorm crashes into the pit, sending rocks and sand and debris their way. "You both alright?" Bull asked once the air cleared.
"Shit, the egg is pissed," Sera stated, in between coughs.
Meanwhile, Dorian gave chase. The tunnels were confusing but he was able to track Solas by following the sounds of death and destruction. He passed a pile of dead red templars, turned right, then left, nearly colliding with some villagers as they scrambled by. He came to an opening and stopped dead in his tracks.
Covered in blood, Solas stood in the middle of the desolated pit, surrounded by a group of templars. "Where is the Inquisitor?" He said acidly.
The man was insane, Dorina thought. He casts a barrier around Solas as the templars rush forward. Channeling his magic, Dorian resurrected the dead to fight alongside them. He sees Varric and Sera scaling the walls while Iron Bull rushes through the middle to his left.
"Where the hell is she?" Solas snarled, holding the leader of the red templars by his throat and threw him unto the ground. The templar scrambled back, trying to get away. Solas stalked forward and slammed his fist into the man's cheek, his fist breaking through skin, muscle, and bones
"Tell me where the fuck she is!" Solas roared, as he landed blow after blow.
Iron Bull, Varric, Sera, and Dorian watched in silent horror as the man they've all come to know as calm and collected turned into a dangerous, bloodthirsty killer before their eyes. When he could no longer stomach it, Dorian placed a hand on Solas' shoulder. "You can stop now. He's quite dead."
Varric whistled loudly as he held up a sheet of paper. "Looks like something Cullen can use! There may be more in the other mines."
Iron Bull shrugged and gave the signal that he will watch Solas while the others investigate the mines for additional letters. While the group investigated the Quarry, Solas sat in silence, back pressed against a wall, head resting in his hands. His fingers were caked with blood, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. He'd single-handedly destroyed what little lead they could have found with his rage.
Solas ignored Bull's attempts at making friendly conversation. Solas tried even harder when he heard Bull say, "You don't have to grieve alone. She wouldn't want you to. Hass ebala-varaad nehraa , Kadan ."
Cassandra made it back to the cave by mid-afternoon. Though worried about the weather, she was grateful for the continued snowfall, and her tracks concealed as soon as she made them. She'd spent the latter part of the afternoon hunting and collecting wild berries, with dry pieces of wood tucked safely in her arms. Anything to take her mind off of the last two days.
She half-heartedly believed they would catch up to IIyana and be able to save her. But that was before it started snowing. Long before Eri had taken to chill, now, her only focus was on food and sleep. They were going to need both as they retraced their steps to join their companions.
As she neared the cave's entrance, Cassandra spotted Eri leaning against a huge boulder and quicked her steps.
"Do you need help?" she asked, dropping the supplies in her rush to assist him.
"No," Eri said weakly. "I can manage." His hand pressed against the wound on his side. She moved his hand aside to find it hot and achingly red. Cassandra bit back her despair, for they both knew infection was inevitable.
"Let's get you back inside," she suggested. As she reached for him, he leaned on her and draped his hand around her shoulder.
"You're a gem, Cassandra Allegra Portia Calogera Filomena Pentaghast," Eri smirked, despite the pain shooting up his right side.
"I hate that name."
Eri laughed a dry heave that sounded nothing like the charming rouge from a few days ago. "If we make it back to Skyhold, you're going to have to tell me which unfortunate cousin, or such or such, you were named after."
" When," Cassandra stressed. "When we get back to Skyhold, I'll tell you and IIyana how I came by that name."
Eri was silent for a moment then his golden eyes found hers. "We will find her, won't we?"
Cassandra gave him a warm and reassuring smile. "You should have seen her after Haven. IIyana trekked through miles of snow to reunite with the Inquisition. She did all that with an open wound to her shoulder." She grunted as he slid on the ice, his weight nearly pulling them down." If she can survive Haven, she will survive this."
Eri winced in pain. "Do you really think she was chosen by Andraste?"
Cassandra stopped and waited as Eri righted himself. His eyes were glazed and she was afraid he might faint.
"It's complicated," she answered when Eri repeated his question. She placed one foot in front of the other, hoping her words could distract him long enough before he passed out. "I was in the Fade with IIyana when we learned what the anchor really was. And I admit, I felt defeated that she wasn't sent by Andraste herself."
"But you believe in her?" He wheezed.
"How can I not?" Cassandra admits while taking deep, heavy breaths. They are so close to the cave, just a couple more feet. "I have seen her stand against our enemy and fall. And I have seen her return to us, time and time again. The more our enemy is behind us, the more miraculous IIyana's actions appear. I honestly don't know if she'd been touched by fate or sent to help us."
"I am glad she has friends like you, Sassy," Eri states before he fell to his knees.
"Eri!"
Distracted, Cassandra didn't hear the disturbance to her right, nor did she sense the danger behind her until it was too late. By the time they managed to scramble back to their feet, they were surrounded by red templars.
The rotunda smelled exactly as IIyana remembered, a mixture of parchment paper, ink, and books. She sighed happily, crossing the room to stand by the massive wooden desk Solas had claimed for his own. Of course, tomes were stacked across the surface, holding papers and reports in their place, exactly as it should be.
A breeze rustled past her, stirring the papers awake, flickering the lighted candles that filled the room.
Suddenly, an odd feeling came over her, a slight shock of disbelief that left her feeling overwhelmed with sadness. She wrapped her arms around herself and turned. Somehow, she knew that Soals would be there.
And he was. He stared at her from a face that was starked white as his lips formed her name. His eyes were searing as if he were flooded with uncontainable despair that it brought tears to her eyes.
"Solas …" she smiles tearfully.
His throat worked violently. "I - IIyana …"
Unable to bear it any longer, she walked across the rotunda, nearly running by the time she threw herself into his arms. His mouth crushed upon hers, painfully, as if his very life depended on it. She kissed him back, with all the love and passion she felt.
"Yana … You're alive …" He said, struggling to regain his breath. A fierce tremble went through him. He clutched onto her so tightly that it hurt, even here, her ribs hurt from the pressure. His hands slid over her body in a frantic search while his breath shuddered. "I was afraid." He held her as if he feared she should be ripped away from his arms. "I couldn't find you"
"I'm here now. I'm right here. With you. And that's all that matters."
"I had hoped … but I… I -."
She brushed her palm over his cheek, whipping his tears with her thumb and she smiled. "Have you been sleeping?"
"No," he rasped. "Not when you're still out there."
She wondered how to take the shattered look in his eyes. "Solas," she soothed. "I love you."
"I love you," he told her, brushing his lips over her cheeks and face. "I love you so much. The last time we were together, I was angry when I should have - " He clenched his trembling jaw, trying to control the hot flow of tears. It only made them worse. Unable to control his emotions, Solas gave up and buried his face in her hair. "Fenedhis," he muttered.
She had never seen him so undone, so broken, had never imagined it was possible. Stroking his head, she whispered love words against his skin, anything to give him comfort.
"I would have given my life to have one more day with you," he said hoarsely. "I would have done anything, anything if it meant I would see you again."
"Oh, Solas …." she whispered achingly.
Solas swept her up in his arms, holding her to him, absorbing every fiber of her being into his soul. His heart hammered furiously. "Tell me where you are and I'll come to get you."
But instead of answering, she gave him a sad smile. One filled with sorrow. "Solas," IIyana finally says. "I don't think ... I'll be home for Satinalia."
He stares at her intently. He saw the truth in her gaze and he shook his head in denial. "No. No. Don't say this."
"I want to thank you for loving me …" her voice broke, " and I want you to know that loving you was …"
His hold on her tightened. "Don't do this, Yana."
" … was the most beautiful thing ...I ..I" she said hoarsely. "You've touched me in ways I never knew and I -"
"NO!" Solas growls. He gripped her arm painfully and crushed her against his chest. "You are not going to do this. Not today. Do you hear me?" He demanded, furiously. "If you have something to say Yana, you say it to my face. But not like this."
She looked at his beautifully handsome face and her resolve broke. Tears filled her eyes and her shoulders shook as grief so deep wrecked her body.
He brought his face closer to hers. "You stay alive. Do you understand? No matter how tired, or hurt, you are, you'll stay alive. Say it, IIyana."
She clutched his shirt tightly, afraid of what would happen if she'd let go. "I can't," she stammers. "I'm so scared."
"Look at me," Solas cups her face in his hand. "I know you're scared, but I need you to be strong and brave. I need you to survive. Do you hear me?" He brushed her lips with his, giving her all the strength she needed to endure until he found her. "I promise you - I will find you. Now say it - I'll stay alive."
IIyana wasn't sure if it was the terror in his eyes, the desperation that lined his lips, or the complete hopelessness she heard in his voice. But she nods in agreement. With tears streaming down her face, she gives them both the lie they desperately needed to hear.
"I'll stay alive."
Author's Note:
Iron Bull's phrase to Solas:
Hass ebala-varaad nehraa: For those I watch, of which I am one.
