- Chapter Eight -

Dreaming

The shifting walls of the tent closed in on her. She couldn't breathe.

Scrambling out of the blankets, Brianna pushed through the tent flap and into the chill of the night. The camp slumbered as shouts and the clash of steel rang through the forest. Brianna took off at a run, swerving between the trees in the direction of the clamor. Free of pain, she hurtled through the molten darkness, but could not seem to reach the sound of fighting. Just when she thought she might run forever, she burst through the treeline. Therinfal Redoubt loomed before her, black, and coughing columns of smoke.

Brianna sprinted through the gate into the chantry. She felt nothing, save for the blind panic that choked her. Shadows of men and the twisted, crimson templars struggled and fought around her in a never-ending battle. Movement drew her eye, and she saw a broad-shouldered figure steadily climbing the nearby scaffolding. At the top, featureless figures grappled above the melee.

"Barris! Barris, wait!"

When he didn't slow his climb, Brianna pushed toward the shadows fighting around her, gasping as her hand fell through them. The way was unhindered, and yet her feet would not obey her mind. Eyes wide with terror, she shrieked for him to stop as he mounted the scaffolding, his face a blur of dark skin, brown eyes, and grim determination.

"Stop!" she screamed. "Barris, please!" Her legs unlocked and with a cry of relief she stumbled forward. But as she reached for the ladder, a firm hand grabbed her other arm, yanking her backwards. Livid, she whirled with a savage cry, fists flying.

"Brianna!"

Solas's voice echoed through the chamber, rising above the din and singing through her consciousness. She stumbled into him, the shock on her face identical to his own. His surprise rattled her, and she didn't resist when he crushed her against him.

A gust of wind pulsed around them, rippling through the room and blowing the shadows away like dust. Barris's ethereal form twisted through the air, dissipating before it hit the ground. Warmth seeped into her skin as Solas pressed closer, his lips against her hair. When she blinked, they were standing in the forest, Therinfal far behind them.

Solas removed his hands from around her waist and took a step back. Bright sunlight spilled through the branches as birds chased each other through the treetops. The woods were vibrant and alive, vastly different from the twisted forest she remembered.

"What was-?"

"Merely a memory of what took place yesterday. I am sorry you had to endure that. Such an experience is not a pleasant one." The tension in his shoulders eased as he considered her.

"I don't know about you, but I need to sit down."

He tilted his head, and she settled herself on the soft grass, leaning against an ancient, moss-covered log. Noticing the open curiosity on his face, she asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He sat next to her and stretched out his long legs. "Why are you here?"

She took in his relaxed posture with a cocked brow. "I just woke up here and had this feeling like I really needed to be… there. I don't think I realized I was dreaming until you showed up."

"I searched the Fade for you the night after you arrived in Haven," he confessed. "Since you are not from Thedas originally, I assumed that traversing the Fade would be difficult, despite your claims to familiarity with it. However, I could not sense your presence. I went to Minaeve's house to look for you, but your cot was empty. On the road to Therinfal, I tried again, but with no success. It was as if you did not exist."

As he spoke, the realization surprised her. "You were worried."

"Yes," he admitted. "I knew the circumstances of your arrival had unsettled you, but I could not determine if you simply had not yet manifested in the Fade."

"Or if I left."

Solas regarded her silently for a moment before tilting his head back against the log. "The first time, it crossed my mind," he said finally, folding his hands over his stomach.

Brianna watched the shadows move across where his lashes rested against his cheeks. Dammit. "Sooo… Why am I here now? What changed?"

Opening one eye, he tossed a significant glance at her left hand.

Brow furrowed, Brianna lifted her hand, turning it slowly.

"Perhaps you can be the one to provide the explanation. You failed to mention you have abilities."

"But I don't!"

Solas's eyes remained closed as a smirk curled his lips.

"Hey! I'm normal. I don't know what the heck this is!" Her nose stung. "It killed Barris."

"It was a regrettable accident. You are not to blame."

"I'm going to have to answer a lot of questions back at Haven," she muttered.

"I would expect nothing less from the Herald, and Cassandra particularly."

"So you think my hand is the reason I can be in the Fade now? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this."

"Nothing about you is simple, Brianna," he said. "Out of curiosity, are you able to activate the wall of force on command? Have you experimented with it at all?"

"What, are you crazy?! I almost died in there! This has never happened before, so no, I haven't experimented with it. I'm not sure I like the idea of suddenly tossing people into the air without warning. Experiment with it, my ass…"

There was a long pause. Then, as his eyes fluttered open, Solas said, "Was that an invitation?"

Brianna flushed hot and scrambled away, sputtering.

Solas aimed a languorous grin her way.

"Oh my god. You know that's not what I meant! My ass is not up for discussion, thank you!"

Completely unfazed, Solas clasped his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. "You're comfortable here."

Brianna blinked and looked around. "Um, yes?" She lowered herself to the ground once more. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion."

"On the contrary, I welcome the company. My most frequent companions are spirits and wisps. And though it is true that mages also have access to the Fade in dreams, it has been some time since I have crossed paths with any of them. But a human with no apparent connection to magic having a presence here? That is extraordinary."

"That's why I'm kind of confused that I'm here, but I'm glad to be company, if you want. Spending time with spirits sounds nice, too. You'll have to introduce me to some of your spirit friends sometime."

"It would be a pleasure. I'm sure they would be just as interested to meet you."

"Tell me about Wisdom."

Solas stared up into the treetops. "Our friendship began when I was much younger, in the days when the Evanuris were not… inaccessible. I had not yet created the Veil, and elves and spirits mingled freely. We formed an easy friendship, and I often sought her advice, usually in matters related to my troubled kin."

"So she knows. About who you are."

"Do you find that surprising?"

"Maybe…? I had always wondered. Did she suggest you make the Veil?"

"No, the idea was mine."

"The fault is mine. I should pay the price."

A heavy sigh escaped her as the familiar words whispered through her mind.

Solas lifted his head. "Is something the matter?"

"What did she think of you giving your orb to Corypheus? Because that was a monstrously bad idea, to be honest. What made you think that would even work? He's a bad guy!"

Solas shifted against the log. "The choice was mine to make. You have no idea what was lost in the creation of the Veil. I had to act. I was out of time."

"There must've been another way."

"If so, I would very much like to know what it was. At the time, I could think of no other options. Perhaps my decisions were made in haste, but I cannot change it now."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step on your toes or anything."

He shook his head. "If I am honest, Wisdom has advised against most of the choices I have made recently. Apparently, I make rash decisions quite frequently."

"I dunno, she sounds pretty smart to me. And wise." Solas gave her a long-suffering look, but Brianna pretended not to notice.

"Her nature compels her to come to the aid of others. I am one grateful beneficiary of that purpose, even though I may not always adhere to her advice."

Come to the aid of others… The words filtered through her mind as consciousness pulled at her. "Solas, wait… You have to warn Wisdom. She's going to be in danger."

Solas propped himself on one elbow, brow tightening. "What do you mean?"

"Once we get to Skyhold, you hear her calling out in your dreams, that she's in trouble. Some mages summon her to protect them, but it turns her into a pride demon. You have to warn her!" The pull was stronger now and she could tell Solas sensed it as well. "Just tell her to stay away from the Exalted Plains. I don't want anything to happen to her."

There was a fullness in Solas's eyes that she couldn't describe, and some of the confusion on his face faded as his gaze warmed with a grateful smile.

"Hey," she said, meeting his gaze. "You finally smiled at me." She fought the persistent tug. Even distracted by fear for his friend, there was something different about him here. There was… more. More expression on his face, more life in his eyes. It saddened her to think that the harshness of humanity had driven him to bury who he was beneath the guise of a harmless elven apostate. With startling clarity, she realized that the only thing she wanted was to show him that not all humans were the same. When his eyes softened, she did not resist the pull that swept her back to her tent and under her blankets. Her eyes drifted open and she smiled, remembering sunbeams dancing across high cheekbones and a freckled nose.