The morning light streamed through the small window, right in Talyn's eyes. She squeezed her eyes more tightly and rolled onto her stomach, sticking her arms underneath the pillow with her head in the opposite direction of the sunlight. She felt someone brush the pale strands of her hair that were in her face, and she felt a kiss on her shoulder.

"You should wake up, vhenan." Solas spoke, his voice caressing her name.

Talyn groaned and threw the pillow over her head.

Solas laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day where you didn't want to get out of bed."

"It's your fault." Talyn accused him, her voice muffled. "I didn't get any sleep last night."

Solas rubbed her back comfortingly and replied sarcastically, "you poor, unfortunate thing. It's not as if you're the one who won't sleep in her own bed."

Talyn threw the pillow off her head and lifted herself to her elbows. She twisted her neck so she could glare at Solas. "As I seem to recall, it was you who refused to let me leave."

She imitated him, "stay, vhenan. I want to sleep with you in my arms."

She rolled over and dramatically threw her arm across her eyes. "As if I could have denied that."

Without another word, Solas moved so that he was hovering over Talyn, and moved her arm off of her face. His eyes roamed her body possessively, taking in every detail. Watching him stare at her like that was enough to make her never want to leave his bed.

When his eyes met hers again, he leaned down and kissed her so slow and sweetly it made Talyn dizzy. Then his lips moved to her neck, and trailed down her bare skin.

"I know what will wake you up." His voice was husky, and full of promise.

Talyn's breath hitched, and she watched his head go lower.

An hour later, Talyn was dressed in her ebony armor and sitting on the wolf throne. She was waiting for Grand Duchess Florianne to be brought in to decide her punishment for attempting to commit treason. Empress Celine had thought that it was only fair that the Inquisition was responsible for her, since she was an agent of Corypheus.

After explaining the war that was to come to Celine, she graciously agreed to help provide supplies and soldiers for their cause. She even sent her "occult adviser", Morrigan the Apostate, to assist. Talyn hadn't seen much of her, not since they had arrived back at Skyhold, but she already knew that the two of them were going to hate each other. She had an air of arrogance about her that she hadn't earned, and Talyn didn't need her. Solas was far more a superior mage than she was. Talyn had only accepted Morrigan's help because, well, she had no choice. To refuse a gift from the Empress would have been a bad idea.

Solas was with her on the dais, standing behind the throne with his staff in his hand. On the other side of her was Cassandra. In the crowd she could see several Orlesians, their faces unreadable beneath those ridiculous masks.

The doors creaked open, and Florianne was led down the red carpet, her face smeared with dirt and her short hair darker than it's original blond. She had cuts and bruises all over her skin that weren't covered by the prison rags she was wearing. She stumbled and fell to her knees multiple times, and the guards who were escorting her had to lift her to her feet. They weren't gentle about it.

They shoved her to the ground at Talyn's feet, and Josephine read from a piece of parchment.

"Grand Duchess Florianne, accused of committing treason, espionage, murder, attempted assassination and attempted murder. Your murder. How do you wish to proceed?"

Talyn stared down at Florianne. "Florianne, it's not too late to do the right thing."

She barked out a humorless laugh. "And what would you have me do to clear my sins? Beg and grovel at your feet?"

"Tell us what Corypheus is planning, Florianne. You were one of his agents, there must be something you know."

It was a long shot, Talyn knew that. She had never liked Florianne. But she had to try at the very least.

Florianne laughed hysterically. "You want to know what The Elder One is going to do next, is that it?"

She struggled to her feet. "You're going to die, Inquisitor Talyn. You, and every single person in Thedas."

She laughed hysterically once more. Talyn shook her head in shame, and with a sigh she spoke over Florianne's cackling. "Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons, for your crimes against the people of Thedas, you will be sentenced to death."

The Orlesians cheers and clapped as Florianne was shoved out of the room by the guards. Then they also started to file out of the room.

When it was empty, except for her and Solas and a few servants that were dusting, she stood up and turned to him.

"You think I made the right call?" She asked him worriedly.

Solas nodded solemnly. "Florianne is unstable. She would only have caused more harm."

"Inquisitor!" A servant ran up to her, and in between ragged breaths he said, "Varric is back. He said to meet him on the wall."

Talyn and Solas shared a look, and then the two of them quickly left the main hall.

They went up to the wall, exactly where the servant told them to go. The clouds were covering the sun today, threatening to unleash snow on Skyhold. And there, she saw Varric with his hairy chest and his crossbow, and two people who towered over him. One of them was a human with dark brown hair and blood red paint that went across his face. A giant sword similar to Iron Bull's was draped across his back, and bracelet made with black leather threaded through bones was tied to his wrist.

A matching bracelet was one the other one standing with Varric, an elf. All Talyn saw was his snow white hair until he turned around. That was when she stared a little too intensely.

His tanned skin was marred by bright lines the same color as his hair. She saw them run up his arms into his armor, and up his throat to his chin. They were different than Talyn's own tattoos. His were just straight lines that ended at his chin. Hers were more artistic, as if someone had taken the time to make each swirl that framed her face, down to the ones that wrapped around each individual finger, and they were the same sky blue as her eyes, not white. But there was no mistaking what they were. Lyrium tattoos.

He had a hard look in his black eyes, a look that Talyn found herself relating to. His eyes narrowed when he saw Solas' staff, and a silent snarl lifted his upper lip. The human grabbed his arm, as if to remind him to behave. The elf then saw Talyn, and he stared at her, his eyes tracing the markings similar to his own.

"Firefly, glad you made it." Varric grinned up at her. He didn't look any worse for wear, although his clothes had dirt caked to them. Wherever he had been, it had been raining. There was a cut on his cheek, but that was it. Talyn was glad her friend wasn't seriously harmed on his journey.

"And Baldy too, that's just great."

"Who are you?" She asked the elf in front of her.

"I'm Hawke, and this is Fenris." The human stepped forward.

"And you are the Inquisitor of the Inquisition." Fenris' gravelly voice rumbled in his chest.

"Fenris. Varric told me about you." She said, completely ignoring Hawke.

"Firefly, Hawke and Fenris are the ones I told you about."

Varric was the one who brought Talyn back to the situation at hand. She finally turned her attention to Hawke. Hawke assessed her as well, but for a different reason. She couldn't be sure, but the human in front of her almost looked… jealous.

"So, it is true? You've fought Corypheus before?" Solas inquired.

"Fought and killed." Hawke answered. "The Wardens had him chained up. He somehow used his connection to the darkspawn to influence them."

"Corypheus got into their heads and turned them against one another." Fenris explained.

Talyn frowned. "Leiliana's spies have confirmed that the Wardens have disappeared. Could it be Corypheus?"

"It is possible they could have fallen under his control again." Hawke confirmed.

Talyn sighed. "So Corypheus has the Venatori, the Red Templars, and now possibly the Wardens? Fantastic."

"I've got a friend in the Wardens. He was investigating something unrelated for me." Hawke started to pace. "His name is Stroud. The last time we spoke he talked about corruption in the Warden ranks. Since then, nothing."

"Corypheus would certainly qualify as corruption within the ranks." Varric said. "Did your friend disappear with them?"

Fenris said, "no. He told us he was hiding in an old smugglers cave near Crestwood."

"You should sit this one out, Firefly." Varric suggested.

Talyn frowned. "Why?"

"Stroud isn't trusting of strangers. Varric and I will find him and bring him back here." Hawke explained.

Fenris' turned his permanent glare to Hawke. It seemed that he didn't know he would be staying behind.

"You should stay. We've just returned from Orlais, Skyhold needs it's Inquisitor." Solas spoke quietly in her ear.

Talyn hesitated. She was the Inquisitor, she should be going on this mission herself. But Solas did have a point. She let out a frustrated sigh.

"Alright, fine. I'll stay, but you better come back in one piece."

"We will, and we'll have Stroud with us." Varric reassured her.

So, Talyn stayed behind. She watched Varric and Hawke leave through the gate with a restlessness in her heart. She knew that it was right for her to stay, but at the same time, she wished that she had went with them. Fenris had also stayed behind, although Talyn didn't know why. He didn't seem happy about it, since he stared after them the same way she did.

"Why aren't you going with them?" She asked him.

"I was injured on our way here. Bandits." Fenris rolled his eyes. "Hawke doesn't want me to push myself."

Talyn snorted. "Such a typical man."

Fenris' dark eyes danced with amusement. "It sounds like you know the type."

"Oh, absolutely. Mine yelled at me for saving the people of Haven."

"Hawke was furious with me when I went into a slavers camp by myself."

Talyn sighed. "They will always worry about us, unfortunately."

Talyn felt so elated complaining about Solas like they were a normal couple. For one brief moment, she wasn't the Herald of Andraste and the Inquisitor, but a completely normal woman with an overprotective lover. It felt nice to feel like that for a brief moment.

"They have no need to. Our… condition makes us strong."

And then reality set back in. "Yes, it does."

They started to walk.

"Do your hands catch on fire?" She asked him.

He frowned in confusion. "Fire?"

"Like Fade light."

He shook his head. "Your hands catch on fire. From the lyrium."

Talyn nodded. "Yes. It usually happens when my emotions are high, and in battle. Sometimes it affects my weapons. Or they'll glow."

Fenris' face grew dark. "In Tevinter, my former master branded me as an experiment. He wanted a pet that would terrify his enemies and allies alike. It made me stronger, and faster. I can hear a drop of water a mile away. But no, my markings don't create fire, or glow."

Talyn stared at the ground. "I don't remember how I got mine. I don't remember anything before I woke up with this." She held up her left hand. "I'm completely clueless as to why I have these. Or why they make me able to do the things I can do."

"That was what it was like for me, when my former master put these in my skin. The pain was excruciating enough to erase my memories."

They ended up in the garden. They brushed the snow off of a stone bench and sat down.

Talyn felt pity for Fenris. "That's so… sad, Fenris. I'm sorry you had to suffer such a fate."

To be in such agonizing pain that your memories flee you… that was a pain that Talyn had yet to endure.

"Don't pity me." Fenris snapped at her. "You and I aren't the kind that need sympathy."

She looked up at the grey sky. "You're right, we aren't."

There was an awkward silence. It lasted for awhile before Fenris broke it. "Hawke made me remember my past. Maybe your lover will do the same."

Talyn smiled. "He would give me the world if I asked for it."

"For what it's worth, whoever gave you your marks seems to be more skilled than my former master."

Talyn was confused. "What do you mean?"

Fenris shrugged. "Mine are crude, hastily done. Whatever mage did yours took their time."

She stood to her feet. "Thank you, Fenris. Make yourself at home here, Skyhold is open to you."

Talyn left Fenris for the library. She wanted to see if there was anything on magical amnesia. The hooting of the birds above them and the turning of pages were the only sounds within the circular room. Fenris had left her much to ponder.

From what Varric had told her about Fenris, his former master had been a Tevinter Magister, a powerful mage. How could it be possible that whatever mage branded Talyn was more powerful than that? Why did her markings look different than his? He too had lost his memories, but he said Hawke had triggered them. Talyn thought back to when Solas was telling her about the vandalized mural, the way her head hurt and those voices shouted in her head. Maybe he was the key to all of this.

She was trying to find a way to answer all of her questions, but there was nothing on the shelves that was remotely useful. Whatever books she did manage to find had nothing on what the magical causes could be for losing your memory, other than blood magic. But Talyn thought that was a little obvious in her case, since the lyrium had been able to fuse with her all the way down to her blood.

She was so engrossed in what she was doing, that she didn't notice when someone sat across the table from her. Not until there was a cough.

She jumped and looked up to see Dorian twisting an end of his mustache between his fingers, a smirk on his face.

"Doing a little light reading, are we?" He said, nudging one of the books in front of her with a foot he had propped up on the table.

Talyn shut the book. "And to what do I owe the pleasure, Dorian?"

She hadn't seen much of Dorian. She had to admit that she was happy to see him.

"A little bird told me that you and Mr. Know-It-All have been going at it like jack rabbits." Dorian told her, that smirk still on his face.

Talyn's face turned beet red. "That is absolutely none of your business, Dorian."

Dorian leaned forward, intense curiosity on his tanned face. "Oh, come on Talyn. Can you at least tell me how big his little staff is? I've been so curious." He winked at her.

Talyn stood to her feet. "Okay, this conversation is officially over."

She walked away, but Dorian followed her. "Seriously, if you can get past his egotistical attitude, there is something just so sexy about that elf. I'm jealous you grabbed him before I could."

"Excuse me, aren't you with Bull?" Talyn blurted out, saying anything she could to change the subject.

"It is a tragedy, loving that thick-headed man. He can be so stubborn." Dorian sighed.

"How is he?" Talyn asked him, averting her eyes.

"He's doing alright. Spends all his time in the tavern with his Chargers, but that's nothing new."

"He hates me, doesn't he?" Just asking the question sent pain through Talyn.

Dorian took a minute to form his answer. "I think he hates himself, and you're just conveniently easy to blame."

"I miss him. There's so much I wish I could tell him."

Iron Bull would have been the first to know about Solas. She wanted to talk to him about Fenris and his lyrium tattoos, and her strange dreams. She wanted to sit by the fire and laugh with him again. Her heart ached for her best friend.

Dorian patted her shoulder. "He misses you too, Talyn."

Talyn shook off her sadness before it could show on her face.

Dorian changed the subject with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "So, be honest with me. Is he any good? 'Cause he must be good from the reports I've been getting from the servants about your volume-"

Talyn snorted. "Okay, I'll see you later."

Dorian was trying to contain his laughter. "But wait, Talyn, I really want to know!"

"Fuck off, you perv!" She shouted good-naturedly over her shoulder, which got her a few angry glares and a chorus of "shhh!"'s from the others.

She went about the rest of her day as normal. She checked on the council, went around the grounds to make sure everything was going well. She ran into Fenris again, who was speaking with Cullen. Ever since the Winter Palace, Cullen had been awkward around her. Almost shy, like the way he had been with those other women at the party. It made her awkward in return. He had called her the most beautiful woman at the ball. And she was with Solas now.

So, they greeted each other, and Talyn walked as fast from the situation as she possibly could. Fenris seemed to be in good hands.

That night, she was laying in Solas' bed with her head on his chest. The blankets had been tossed to the floor, and there was a thin sheet of sweat over both of their naked bodies. The light from the Fade light torch cast a colorful shadow across the nearly empty room, and made the stone in his staff shine. She was playing with the jawbone that was always hanging around Solas' neck.

"Why do you wear this?" She asked him.

He looked down at the necklace and tightened his arm around her. "It was a gift."

"From who?"

"A woman from long ago."

Talyn couldn't help the spasm of jealousy that she felt. Solas must have sensed it, because he chuckled.

"You don't need to worry about her." He reassured her.

"Why did she give you a jaw bone?"

"She was angry with me. She tore it off of a bear she had killed and threw it at me."

Talyn raised an eyebrow and looked up at him. "So your wearing an animal bone around your neck because an angry woman threw it at you?"

"I'm wearing it because it was one of the most important moments of my life, and it reminds me of what I have lost."

Talyn sat up and leaned on one of her arms. She drew invisible circles on his skin with her free hand, and she kept her eyes on them.

"Why don't you talk about your past?"

Solas was watching her, she could feel his eyes on her through the curtain of her hair. He brushed her hair over her shoulder, so he could see her face, and put his fingers under her chin, turning her head to look at him. His face was filled with gentle concern.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because since I first saw you, when you showed me how to close that first rift, I've felt this connection to you. Like I've known you my whole life." She looked down again. "Ar lath ma, Solas. I feel like I've always loved you. But I don't know anything about you."

"You know everything you need to." He said.

"I don't know about what you've done in the past though, Solas! I don't know even know if you have any family, or friends, you won't even tell me the name of the woman who gave you that jaw bone." She sighed.

He sat up as well, his liquid silver eyes full of certainty that Talyn didn't have. He grabbed hold of her hand and brought it to his lips.

"You are my alas'en, Talyn. You are all I have, and all I want. Isn't that enough?"

Talyn rested her hand against his cheek. "Please, Solas. I know you don't like to talk about it, but can you tell me something?"

He sighed, and dropped back down onto the bed, pulling Talyn with him. She rested her head on his shoulder and waited patiently.

"I grew up in a small village to the north. I had no family and no home, just my magic. I used to sleep in a cave near the village, and that was where I taught myself how to use magic. I had no one, so I started conversing with spirits. That was where my interest in the Fade grew. One day someone had picked my pocket, and I used my magic to stop him. Another mage saw this, and she was impressed with me. So, she took me in."

"What was her name?" Talyn asked.

"Flemeth. She taught me everything she knew."

"What happened to your parents?"

"They died when I was young. I don't remember them."

Talyn was quiet, contemplating this information. Her heart ached for the lonely, scared boy Solas had to have been. He had been all alone in the world, having to fend for himself and hide from the Templars who would have taken him to a Circle.

"Are you satisfied?" He asked her.

"No. Tell me one more thing about you."

"So demanding," he teased. He ran his hand up and down her arm slowly as he spoke again, this time in a more serious, melancholy voice. "I was in a war. Two, officially."

Talyn snapped her head up at that, sympathy coating her voice. "How bad were they?"

The pain on Solas' face and in his words was enough to end the conversation. "I don't like to talk about it."

Talyn laid her head on his shoulder again and kissed the curve of his neck. "I'm sorry I made you bring it up."

He didn't respond to her. They laid there for awhile, long enough for Solas' breathing to slow and even out.

But Talyn wasn't ready to sleep yet. She bit her lip while she watched him sleep, contemplating whether or not she should continue to pester him with her questions.

"I can hear the gears in your mind turning, vhenan." Solas' voice was thick with amusement and sleep. "Ask your question."

"How does it work, Fade Walking?"

He sighed. "I thought I already explained it to you."

"Well, yes, I know that you can delve into the past of ancient places that you sleep in. But you can manipulate dreams as well, right?"

"Yes, I can."

"Could you… maybe Fade Walk into my memories?"

He opened his eyes at that question. He turned to look at her. "I've already tried."

Talyn blinked. "Really?"

He smiled lovingly at her. "I've been watching your dreams since the day you woke up. I can't break past whatever it is that has your memory locked away."

Talyn blushed. If that was true, then he saw her nightmares about the red head. She hadn't had a nightmare about her since they've been back from Orlais. In fact, any dreams that she did remember had made her happy instead of terrified, especially when Solas entered them.

"You've been changing my dreams so I don't have that nightmare." She stated.

"Yes." He answered honestly.

Talyn rolled over so she wasn't facing him and hid her face in the pillow, her face was throbbing with embarrassment. She reached down on the floor and pulled the blankets over her so they were covering her from head to toe.

"Talyn, what's wrong?" Solas had went under the blanket as well. He slid an arm over her waist and pulled her close so her back was touching his chest.

"It's just embarrassing." She mumbled.

How many humiliating things has Solas seen without her knowledge? Aside from her running stupidly into that woman's arms every time, feeling so happy and in love with her before she stabs Talyn in the back and burns the world around them. Not to mention she had already told Solas about her, and he had acted like he hadn't known.

"Talyn, your ridiculous." Solas sighed.

Talyn didn't respond. She just closed her eyes and settled into her position to sleep. She was definitely done talking now.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed. It's a dream manifested from your subconscious." He started to stroke her side comfortingly. "I love to watch your dreams. I've never met a more vivid dreamer than you." He moved her hair from her neck and kissed her.

"You're so happy and free." He kissed her shoulder.

She ignored him.

His hand ran down her side and stopped at her hip as he planted another kiss on her body. "I like seeing that side of you."

She was entirely focused on the hand on her hip, and the kisses on her neck and shoulder.

"I don't enjoy seeing you afraid, or in pain. So yes, I change your dreams when you have that nightmare. But we all have them. It's nothing to be ashamed about."

Still, nothing went past her lips.

"Forgive me?" His voice was soft and pleading. "Please?"

Solas never said please. It made her smile. She reached for the hand on her hip and intertwined their fingers.

"Show me the Fade through your eyes. Maybe I'll forgive you then."