"At least the journey won't be quite as long this time," Solas said with a tight voice. "We're practically on the Inquisition's doorstep already."
And his words rang true. The Inquisition, which still sat in Skyhold—within the Frostback Mountains—was only a bit northeast of the Arbor Wilds. Instead of a month traveling on the road, it would only take them about fifteen days. That is, given they didn't make any precarious detours or travel too leisurely. However, Andra did make a mental note that maybe a couple of horses would be better next time. Not that she minded walking, but the time between journeys could be cut in half were they not on foot. That said, a part of her was grateful for the extra time since Solas was with her.
Andra sensed her companion's hesitation. Half a year had passed since either of them had seen their friends, but there had never been any closure. The pranks and gibes that Solas had received were the last things anyone had offered him. At this, she felt her guilt increase tenfold.
"We don't have to stay long…" Andra began slowly, "I just… I don't want you to lose the friends you've made."
The whole of their journey was traveled in silence, mostly. Solas was no doubt trying to devise a way out of returning to Skyhold without hurting Andra in the process but he never voiced any protest.
There was little difference in the sight of the towering structure built atop the Frostback Mountains. It still loomed with authority and the Inquisition banner still fluttered proudly in the icy breeze. The most notable difference was, with the threat of Corypheus gone, Leliana and Cassandra were no longer around. Leliana now being Divine, and Cassandra off on a quest to rebuild the Seekers. Though, having known these absences already, Andra had made sure to prepared a couple letters to her two friends while she and Solas were on the road and would take them to Josephine later to be sent out.
Walking through the large, open gate of Skyhold, Andra felt washed in nostalgia. She had made so many memories here—good and bad. Everyone was still as busy as ever. There were still merchant kiosks off to the right, near the stables, which Andra also took note of the animal inside. A nugalope. She always found it amusing that the Inquisitor—one of the most intimidating and influential individuals in all of Theadas—had chosen to keep the strange creature as their steed of choice. There was also still the sparring ring, just a few paces from the gate entrance, where two people were currently practicing hand-to-hand as several onlookers watched with interest. To the left, Andra was thankful to see that the medical tents and wounded bodies had been replaced by a couple trees which shaded benches beneath them.
As she and her companion made their way up the first stone staircase in front of them, she reminisced with herself seeing all the familiar structures and faces of the people she had shared a cause with. But it was the only available tavern to their left, just as they reached the top of the steps, that had caught the young blonde's interest.
Walking into the Herald's Rest, Andra's nose was immediately greeted with the strong stench of alcohol and warm bodies, as well as hearing the loud laughter of a patron to her side. She smiled at the merriment, a smile which grew when she saw the conspicuous horns of a Qunari tilting back and forth as they talked with their men.
"I'm going to go let Josephine know we're here," Solas said, looking uncomfortable.
Andra turned her head away from the gaiety and looked at her companion, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'd rather make myself scarce until you've cleared the air. Find me later in my old room."
"Sule tael tasalal," Andra said lightheartedly as a joke but also because she was afraid of him disappearing. Solas only chuckled, saying nothing, then departed from the small tavern and Andra lost sight of him once he was out of the door.
"Bull!" Andra called out as she made her way over to the Qunari. She saw the horns swivel, and a scarred face beamed at her.
"Tilly!" He abruptly stood from his seat and met the blonde elf halfway with only a couple long strides, his chair falling and clattering to the floor behind him as he scooped up Andra in a tight hug. "I knew you couldn't stay away!"
Andra laughed when Iron Bull finally set her back down, taking deep breaths to refill her starved lungs from the crushing embrace. "Well, I'm not back for good."
Bull motioned for her to join him and his Chargers at their little table, ordering another round of drinks to celebrate their friend's return. He shrugged once he sat down, "All that matters is I was right! As I've said from the start, your clan isn't a good fit for you. But I gotta admit, I almost didn't recognize you. What happened to your tattoos?"
"What do you mean it 'isn't a good fit for me'?" Andra asked, completely ignoring the topic of her Vallaslin.
"You aren't the Dalish-y type," Krem cut in, lifting his glass in a small cheers to the blonde elf.
Andra smiled knowingly, they didn't know how right they were. "How are things going here with the Inquisition?"
Bull chuckled, a hearty sound that came from deep in his chest, "It's not as gloomy and life threatening anymore, but there's still a hell of a mess to clean up."
"It's nice when you don't have an undead god biting you in the ass, though," Krem added.
"Or having to worry about crossfire between the Mages and Templars," Another Charger, Dalish, added.
"I'll drink to that!" Bull then downed the rest of his pint just as Grim, another of his men, came back with more. He only grunted as he handed everyone their fresh drinks.
"If you're not back for pleasure," Bull went on, "then business?"
Andra shook her head, "I wanted to clear the air." She dug for the right words. It all seemed silly now, with her actually being at Skyhold, and the months that had passed since she'd last seen her friends. "I said some cruel things about Solas before I left… and I know for sure that I need to talk to Sera most, but I just wanted to let everyone know that we worked things out. We're not fighting anymore."
"You came back to the Inquisition for that?" Bull raised an eyebrow in amazement, shaking his head.
"Well it's just… I know he made friends here. With you guys even, though he probably wouldn't admit it. I don't want him to feel alienated from the few good people in his life over a moment of anger."
Bull was laughing, "You're a mystery, Tilly."
"Not a lot of people care like you do, though," Krem cut in, "It's nice that you came to fix things."
"I don't know if anyone really even cares about anymore, but it's important to me to make it right."
Bull huffed, "Oh no, people still care. Sera especially, like you said. That one has been lively since you left, and she was pissed when she came back from a mission one day only to find that Solas was gone. She couldn't even track him down with the help of those Red Jenny friends of hers." The burly Qunari then laid his hand on Andra's shoulder, "You made a lot of friends here too, we all care about you. It's been a while, but we still check in." Then he laughed, like he was enjoying some small joke Andra wasn't privy to, "With Leliana. She's been keeping tabs on you and we get the Inquisitor to write to her every so often to make sure you're okay. Like a weekly newsletter!"
Andra raised her eyebrows and laughed as well, "I'm surprised I came here at all then." She took a swig of her drink, sucking back a sharp breath at the hoppy, bitter taste.
"So did you come here with that pain in the ass?" Bull gibed.
She nodded, swallowing back another gulp.
Bull patted her on the back, "You better go talk to Sera then. If she gets wind of him being back here…" he tsk'd, nonchalant about the weight of his words, "Guess we're in for a fun night!"
.
Over the rest of the day, Andra had managed to tell the remainder of her friends that she and Solas were no longer fighting and that they had worked everything out on their own. Except Sera. Andra had been all over Skyhold, from the gardens to the dungeons, but saw no sign of the elven girl anywhere. Even Cole, who the Inquisitor helped to remain a spirit, had been easier to find than the Red Jenny. So she sulked into the Keep, giving up for now. No one knew where Sera even was, nor had seen her at all. Andra mused that the mischievous elf was out helping 'the little people'.
Striding a short way down the massive Hall just within the Keep's entrance, turning right, Andra said a brief hello to Varric who was pouring over parchments and documents at his table. He replied in kind but was distracted so she moved on, entering a large round room with paintings of the Inquisition's feats, and a still unfinished portion as well, on the walls. A single table sat in the center, and Solas within its partnering chair.
"I almost expected the room to be empty," Andra laughed, but a pang of relief also escaped her.
"And where would I go?" Solas asked, his voice smooth.
"Off on some mysterious quest, perhaps?"
Solas laughed, a throaty sound, which seemed to chime with a knowing. She had clearly said something that brought up a memory for Solas, or several, but it was impossible to know for certain.
He stood and crossed the small space of the room to stand in front of her. His blue eyes seemed much more alive and behind them Andra sensed he wanted to say something. She went to open her mouth, to ask him what was on his mind, but a strange sound stopped her dead in her tracks.
In the blink of an eye, she was now staring at a startled Solas—covered in the remnants of a pie.
"I heard the last one missed yer head!" A cry rang out against the cold stone of the towering room. Andra and Solas both looked up to see the brief flash of Sera before she turned and ran off.
Andra felt tense as she looked back at her friend, but the eagerness that had dwelt within his expression was now replaced by rage. His eyes burned hot like icy flames and his mouth was set in a thin line as his brow creased deeply.
In a blur, Andra watched as Solas turned and his glowing hand shot forth a spell she didn't recognize, which blew a hole in the wall. Luckily, the hole was close to the support of another, keeping the large portion of Skyhold from collapsing on itself and causing irreversible damage.
Several people came rushing into the round room, worry and fear on their faces, which turned to anger and irritation when they noticed there was no threat; just Solas.
"What in the name of Andraste are you doing?!" Varric cried.
"You've destroyed this room!" Another cried.
"Quit you're squabbling," Solas said with venom in his voice, "It's not like I can't fix it." And he did. Using his magic, as he so often had on his many adventures with the Inquisitor, he pieced the wall back together. Barely any harder than the countless bridges he had had to fix so the Inquisition could continue going forward. Some of the rock and been disintegrated, however, so there was a small hole of night that still filtered into the room. Once finished, Solas advised that someone get the architect to fill in the rest. The bald elf then stormed out of the room, wiping his head and flicking pie onto the floor.
Andra called after but he didn't stop, nor even turned to look at her.
"Can you keep an eye on him?" Andra asked Varric, "I need to have a talk with Sera. If he leaves Skyhold, I want to know immediately."
The dwarf sighed and shrugged, "Sure thing. I'll just drop everything I was doing to be your babysitter."
Andra shrunk, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean—"
"It's fine, Flowers. Go find that pesky elf."
Andra smiled and said a quick thank you before running off. The first place to look was Sera's room in the Herald's Rest.
ELVHEN USED:
Juosanan vun'aan sule vegaras: "I will count the days until you return."
Vallaslin: Blood writing. Dalish receive these markings around 18, sometimes younger. When of age, the elf prepares by meditating on the Gods and the Dalish, then by purifying the body and skin. When the time comes, the Keeper applies the blood writing—in complete silence. Cries of pain are taken as a sign of weakness. If the elf cannot tolerate the pain, they are deemed unready to take on the responsibilities of an adult and the Keeper may make the decision to stop the ritual.
OTHER WORDS/PHRASES USED:
Tilly: A girl who is deceptive and wild, all with an innocent smile across her face.
