Chapter 5: Proposal

He waited for her, pacing beneath the willow tree. His mind was still plagued by thoughts of the Dread Wolf. Had he made a mistake by telling her? Was she returning to send word to the Inquisition about his plans? Had he been too trusting? Now that she knew why he had to act, did it change how she saw him? And what of the Dread Wolf? He was growing stronger. How had he pulled her into the Fade from her dreams? He had attacked her. Would he try to hurt her again? Was he trying to twist his will, make him suffer until he was weakened enough to be overpowered?

A chill ran down his spine. Forcing himself to take air back into his lungs, he inhaled slowly and then released his breath with restraint. He repeated the process several times, breathing in and out, centering himself; controlled. Kneeling down, he closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to slip into the Fade.

He did not need to search for the Dread Wolf. He had been waiting for him. The six red eyes gleamed at him. Shadows fused together with the Dread Wolf's body, cloaking him in ethereal darkness.

Slowly, Solas raised his chin and in a cold, clear voice promised, "If you ever hurt her again I will kill us both."

Looming over him, this creature of smoke and shadows with eyes burning like hot coals opened its jaws. The unnatural voice that sounded in his head was sharp and cracked, like ice breaking deep beneath the surface of a fathomless lake. "She is your weakness. You will fail and watch her die. Like all the rest."

Solas shook his head. "You are wrong. She is my strength."

The Dread Wolf bared his teeth in a sinister smile. "The path is set. You cannot turn back."

"I will not turn back," he said, rising to his feet. "We will meet again."

The Dread Wolf approached him, lowering his head to stare at Solas with his eyes. "Yes, we shall. Remember the taste of her blood and the sound of her screams. It will not be the last time." With that, the Dread Wolf receded, vanishing into the shadows.

A touch pulled him back to the waking world. "Solas?" A gentle voice touched his ears. "Vhenan?"

He opened his eyes to find her there before him, kneeling as he was, a small bundle in her lap. Her thumb smoothed his cheek and with the gesture all thoughts of the Dread Wolf left his mind as he returned to her beneath the willow tree. Placing his hand over hers, he smiled at her. "Ma vhenan," he said warmly.

"Is it alright that I disturbed your meditation?"

"Of course. I was merely awaiting your return."

"Good. I have something for you. I hope you like it," she passed over the small bundle of cloth tied around a spherical object.

Untying the knotted cloth, a heavy sphere rolled into his hand. He recognized the object immediately. Letting go of the cloth, he took the orb that had once belonged to him into both hands, turning it this way and that. Though it had been broken in the effort to close the Breach in the battle against Corypheus, the orb was now made whole. Glittering veins of gold had been used to reforge the pieces together. "My orb," he whispered, touching the textured surface and tracing the golden seals along the cracks.

She studied his face carefully, biting her lip, afraid she might have offended him with the gift.

"You put it back together." He looked at her in awe, finding himself impressed by her once again.

"Yes. I did. I hope that's alright. I know it's not the same as it was, but I thought you might like to have it back." She paused, watching him roll it over in his hands. "I reforged the pieces together and put an enchantment on it. One of my own design. Here, I can show you if you like." She put out her hand and he passed it back to her.

Holding it aloft, the orb slowly rose from her palm, glowing a faint pale blue where once the grooves burned with green energy. Then she lowered her hand and passed it over the small patches of grass that struggled to grow in the shade of the willow's branches. The blades of the grass grew long and the patches thickened into lush heaps. Using a levitation charm, she moved the orb around the area, leaving behind vibrant, dense patches of lush, healthy grass, blooming daisies, and bright yellow dandelions. The orb returned to her hand, settling comfortably back down in her palm.

He watched in silent awe at the wonder of her magic. "Remarkable," he said as she passed the orb back to him. "I had thought all its magical properties lost."

"Well, it was a bit like starting from scratch. I had to use a few different spells to get it just right. Well, more than a few if I'm being honest."

"I'm surprised you kept it," he said. "Why did you?"

Her smile faltered for a moment and he recalled with horrible guilt that she must have kept the pieces after he vanished. And then found a way to put them back together.

"It was what started it all: the Breach, the anchor, the Inquisition… All of it. It didn't seem right to leave it in pieces."

He marveled at the orb again, astonished by its beauty. "But the power was gone. How did you…?"

"It's my own personal web of enchantments. And don't ask how. It's a Dalish secret I shall take to my grave. But the short answer is: magic, of course. I call it 'Renewal.' It seemed fitting at the time. It was after you had gone and I… Well, I suppose I was busy putting pieces back together anyway. I thought you might like it back. As a reminder: that sometimes broken things can be made whole again and still be beautiful. Even if they aren't the same as they once were." She clutched the tips of the false hand, wringing the wooden fingers nervously. "Do you like it?"

The smile he gave her sent a wave of relief washing over her. "Yes, ma vhenan. You continue to impress me." He traced the golden veins, imagining the care and time it must have taken to weave such complex spells together. Warmth and energy pulsed within the orb, reminding him of a soft rain. Her words, while kind, did ring in a hollow part of his heart, echoing in the place where he had retreated when he left her. He had left her to pick up the pieces of her world and her heart.

"I wanted to use it to save you," he said quietly. "I wanted to use it to save my people. But I also wanted to use it to remove the anchor. To save your life. I knew when it shattered that I would never be powerful enough." A muscle in his jaw jumped at the memory as he lamented his weakness. "I should have come back. I meant to come back to you. I meant to fix what I had broken…" he clasped a hand over his mouth, choking back a sob as hot tears streamed from his eyes, filled with regret. Because he had left her behind, burdened by the anchor as its power slowly ate away at the wards he had originally made. He had hardened his heart to a cutting edge, just as he had once told her to do. Every step away from her had been agony. But he had told himself it was necessary. He had told himself it had to be done. And he had left her to whatever fate.

He was a coward. A liar. So adept at his trade that he had lied to himself, convincing himself that she was better off far away from him. She had been in pain as the anchor's power leached away her life and then he took her arm and again he turned his back on her. Walking away when all he wanted was to turn back to her and take her in his arms and heal her hurt.

For so long, he had assumed he knew best. He assumed he understood what others did not. But he knew nothing. She crashed into his life, unexpectedly, unpredictably, and uncontrollably changing everything forever. He loved her and he was terrified to let her get close to him, for fear that once again his mistakes would bring her further harm.

She saw the anguish in his eyes and it pained her heart to see him so. Taking his hand in hers, she brought it to her heart. "You still can. There is still time." She squeezed his hand. "The past is gone. Come back to me. Solas… Please?"

He hung his head. "Why are you so good to me? I have brought such misfortune and suffering down upon you. I do not deserve your kindness or your faith. I do not deserve you."

Her smile did not falter in its grace. "We rarely get what we deserve in this life, ma vhenan. But sometimes we find what we need." She lifted his chin so he could see she meant it. "I needed you. To fight by my side. To remind me I was not alone. To help me. Maybe you need me for those same reasons." Tenderly, she leaned in and placed delicate kisses over his tear-stained cheeks.

"Vhenan…" But whatever else he intended to say died in his throat as she tilted his chin kissed him. Weak and wanting, he let himself fall under her spell, lost in the comfort of her lips and the warmth of her touch. His arms slipped around her waist and pulled her to him, holding her tight, afraid to let go. He did need her. He had needed someone like her to stop Coyrpheus when he could not. He had needed her on those days when he felt his cause hopeless and unattainable. He needed her to remind him he was not alone. He needed her because she still saw the good in him when he could not see it himself. And above all else, he needed her because she made him better. She opened his mind to possibilities, she made this world real, and she gave him hope when he had none.

In a smooth, sweeping motion he rolled them both down to the ground. Hovering above her, he kissed her deeply. She responded by wrapping her legs around his back and pulling his body down to her. Breaking apart, he smiled down at her and she returned the smile with a minxy grin. "Solas…" she reached up to touch his cheek. "Will you bond yourself to me?"

"Yes, vhenan. I will," he promised, interlacing his fingers with hers.

The joy that lit up her face was unlike anything he had seen before. He only had a moment to marvel at it though, before he was pulled back down for another kiss.

The relief and the pure blissful happiness radiated throughout her entire body. She felt it down to her toes, pure euphoria spurring her passion. A fire kindled in her belly and her back arched to meet his body. Eyes shut, she relished in the feeling of his body over hers, craving more of him.

She was not alone in her enthusiasm. Solas's body ached for her, to truly be joined together in passion. He wanted more of her, but he wasn't sure if she was ready. He had to know, to be sure.

And then a drop of water touched the back of his neck. Then another atop his head. Solas pulled back, breaking the kiss as more raindrops fell from overhead. The clouds had gathered in thick, dark gray clusters above. The willow provided some shelter, but as the rain slowly began to pick up that would not matter much. Turning his attention away from the skies and back down to her, she was wearing a small, private smile, looking up overhead. "Do you wish to return indoors? We don't have to go any further if you wish."

Her eyes flicked to him and she shook her head. "No. I want you, here and now. I don't care about the rain. It will be like the first time," she added quietly, wondering if he recalled it as clearly as she did.

"You will tell me if you wish to stop." He remembered all too well the events of yesterday and the discomfort she felt with her arm gone. This was different than before. They both knew that.

"Yes, ma vhenan. I will tell you if I want you to stop. But for now, come back down and kiss me again." She tightened her grip around his waist, pulling him back down to her.

He obeyed, gladly. Capturing her lips once more, he kissed her; slowly at first, then with increasing urgency as the rain beat down upon them, soaking his back. The fire burning within him raged, for he had longed for her touch and the warmth of her body against his ever since her return. Releasing her hand, he let his own wander down, touching her face, her neck, down over her shirt. Her hand cupped the back of his head, deepening the kiss. A soft moan sounded from within her chest as his hand slipped beneath her shirt to touch her breast. She bit back a small whimper as his thumb drew circles over her nipple.

But he was not alone in his desperate longing. A part of her core ached for him, spurring her as she writhed beneath his body, seeking as much contact as possible. Slipping her hand down between them, she rubbed against his arousal.

A deep growl reverberated in his torso at her touch. "Vhenan-" he gasped, trying not to lose himself to the sensation.

"Do you want me to stop?" she asked, kissing his neck.

"No. Never."

She continued to touch him as his hands began to undo the buttons on her shirt. He parted the damp fabric, revealing her bare skin to the chill and the rain, raising goosebumps. The knot for her small clothes was centered between her cleavage and it took his fingers a minute to unwork the knot. He pulled back, slipping his hands over her breasts, reveling in the soft and gentle curves of her. A shiver went through her as the rain above dripped down onto her skin and she resisted the urge to cover herself as he touched and drank in his fill at the sight of her before him.

Her eyes roamed over him as well. "Take off your shirt," she bade him; she didn't even want to attempt to take off his wet clothes with only one hand.

Rolling back onto his heels, he obeyed her request, unhooking the clasps of his formal outer layer. For a brief moment she admired the outline of his body where the rain-soaked tunic clung to his skin. But then he removed that as well, leaving his skin bare to the rain. She bit her lip, admiring the sight of his physique dripping wet in the rain. Her hand slipped down to her waist, pulling at the drawstring knot.

"Allow me," Solas offered, fingers grazing down her sides and peeling away her clothes. He stopped, blood pounding in his ears, admiring the beauty of her skin covered in raindrops. A memory, secret and precious, rose forth to his mind of their first time together. It had been like this, rain soaking them both overhead, touching one another in desperate need and desire. He knelt back down before her, bowing his head to kiss her stomach, worshipping up her body, lips lingering upon sacred skin.

She threw back her head and arched when his lips captured her nipple. Digging her fingers into the grass and softened earth, she saw flashes again of their first time together; tearing the blades of grass she used to anchor herself as he touched her and kissed her like this.

He remembered too: her hair wet and splayed out in the grass, head thrown back and chest arched as his hand slipped down between her legs. It had been new then, fingers and lips learning how she liked to be touched. Now, his fingers remembered how to stoke the pleasure from her. Beneath him, her body arched to his touch as his fingers moved further down until he found her body wet and wanting.

She bit back a moan as he touched her, rocking his hand between her legs. But Solas was patient and watching her pleasure build and crest until she cried out his name pleased him more than he could say. It fueled the burn of his own desire as she clawed at the grass and threw her head back. When her legs stopped shaking and she was left breathless, he trailed delicate kisses down her neck and chest, enjoying the curves of her form.

Once she had regained her breath, she pulled him in for a long, slow kiss. She kissed along his jawline, over to his ear where she nibbled at him, then down to his neck where she sucked and kissed the sensitive skin there. "I want you. Please, Solas…" she whispered as her hand grazed down his torso to cup his arousal, thumb toying with the loop of one of the laces.

He groaned quietly, trying to keep his composure as she touched him. "Yes, vhenan," he said against her neck. He draped her arm around his neck, undoing the laces himself to release his cock from the restraining confines of his pants. Positioning himself between her legs he entered her slowly. Her nails dug into his skin and he paused, giving her body time to adjust to him before plunging further. He started slow, but as he began to find the familiar rhythm he lost himself in the sensations and memories of all the times before when they had stolen away moments such as this together. But the moment was so akin to the first time at the tower, he couldn't help but remember it so vividly as he breathed in the scent of grass, wet earth, and fresh rain. Hot, frenzied, desperately wanting, they had melded together, skin to skin, becoming one. Here and now, with the warmth of their skin fighting against the chill of the rain, he wanted nothing more than for the moment to last.

Rain dripped down his back and her fingers raked delicate scratches against his skin as the sensations began to build. As wicked as it was, she had wanted this moment, craving his touch and the feeling of him inside her once more. She had wanted him for so long, the ache so familiar, just as she had felt after waiting for their first time together.

They had stopped at a tower, little more than a ruin whilst out foraging for supper in the Emerald Graves. Wandering out a bit further than normal, they had stopped at the ruined tower for shelter from the rain as a drizzle became a downpour. Huddling beneath the few rotten beams, she had asked him if he knew anything about this place. When he did not know anything of its history, he offered to join her for a brief excursion into the Fade to find out. With the rain likely to last a while, they entered the Fade and returned to a time when the tower was tall and whole.

They entered a memory, bright and shining under a brilliant sun as an elven woman kissed her lover goodbye before he mounted his hart and left, tucking the small token she handed him into a leather pouch at his waist beside his sword. She waved goodbye to him, resting her other hand on a swollen belly. She and Solas stepped through the memories where the days rippled and changed. Ice clung to the dead branches of the trees and shrubs as a biting, frosty wind blew, whipping the warrior's cloak as he galloped home. Face alight and eager, he leapt from the mount when a shrill cry pierced through the howling wind. His face fell and he ran inside the tower, finding his beloved in a bed of blood as an older woman wrapped a babe in a blanket. For a brief moment joy overtook fear at the sight of tiny fingers wiggling from beneath the fabric. And then he saw his beloved, pale and weak and when he turned to the older woman her face told him the tragic truth. Falling to his knees, the man gripped his beloved's bloody hand and wiped her brow. Together they held their child as the blood spread across the bed. The mother held on long enough to name the child and whisper a few words before she could hold onto life no longer.

They awoke then, and Solas turned to see tears cascade from her eyes. And as she turned to look at him a thousand unsaid things passed between them. Feelings and thoughts repressed for far too long gave way, for life was too fleeting to not be lived. She rose and stumbled away from the ruin, bracing herself against a tree as the rain beat down upon the leaves overhead with unrelenting force. He touched her shoulder and she turned and stepped into his embrace, letting her tears fall upon his chest. And when she raised her head and looked into his eyes, he knew what would come next and didn't fight it. Their lips met and the gentle kiss grew more urgent in its wanting as they touched and clung to one another in desperate passion. Clothes were ripped away and not even the rain mattered as skin touched skin and bruised lips kissed hungrily. And when their bodies were joined together, they relished in the bliss and comfort of one another.

Beneath the willow tree, his name left her lips as she let out a soft moan. A final growl rumbled in his chest as he reached his peak, whispering her name in turn, and joined her in ecstasy. Her hand traced circles, dancing in the raindrops that had fallen on his skin as he recovered his breath. He made to pull away, but she shook her head and hooked her legs around him, keeping him right where he was. Cupping the back of his head, she pulled him back down for a kiss.

Once they had dressed and cleaned themselves up as best they could, they started to make their way back through the garden. Solas held his hand aloft and kept a barrier spell over their heads to shield from the rain.

"You couldn't have done that during?"

"Not for long. I'm afraid my focus was elsewhere," he replied with a coy grin.

"Well I cannot fault you for that," she grinned. And then, because she could not help herself, she asked, "Did it feel strange for you at all? Since I only had the one hand at play?"

"Not at all. I certainly enjoyed your every touch," he said in a low voice, despite the fact that they were still very much alone in the garden. "Was it uncomfortable at all for you? Should I have done anything differently? I was uncertain if you wanted me to touch your arm or the prosthesis."

She shrugged, uncertain herself about how she felt about it. "No, I wasn't uncomfortable. The opposite, actually. It went far better than I thought it would. I don't know that I would get much from you touching the prosthesis, but you're welcome to, I suppose. And the arm… Well, it is usually a bit sore. I suppose a gentle touch or a kiss would be alright. But… there were times when I wanted to pull you closer. Would it have been alright to touch you with the wooden arm? Or would you rather I didn't?"

"You can always touch me however you wish, ma vhenan."

"Pity it doesn't feel anything then. I would have liked grabbing your ass."

He chuckled. "You are always welcome to, vhenan. So long as I can return the favor. I must admit the position did have its limitations," he added, letting his hand travel down over her ass and giving it a squeeze.

"Hey! You're one to talk, keeping your trousers on the whole time. Afraid of a little rain?"

"Not in the slightest, as you well know. It was not the first time, if you recall."

She blinked in surprise, ducking her head quickly to hide a private smile. "Yes, actually. I couldn't help but be reminded of… the first time."

"You as well? It seems I was not alone then. Yes, it was… reminiscent of that time."

"I know. I've got the mud under my fingernails to prove it." She shook her head as a thought occurred to her. "What was it we told the others to explain the mud all over our clothes? Something about slipping and falling into a ravine?"

"I believe your excuse was that you went to pick elfroot and then lost your balance, crashed into me, and knocked us both into a ravine."

She laughed. "Oh, right. Sera thought it was the funniest thing."

"Yes. She did tease us both quite a bit after that."

"Solas?"

"Yes?" he turned to look at her, curious.

She tucked her hair behind her ear where it dripped water onto her shoulder. "There's something I've wanted to ask about… the first time."

"What is it?"

"Well, why was that the first time for us? It always seemed like we would enjoy a bit of banter, steal away a kiss or two, but nothing more. You kept me at arm's length, but that night, it seemed like something shifted."

He remembered it all too well, still seeing her face perfectly in his mind's eye. She awoke from the memory in the Fade with fresh tears in her eyes. All he wanted to do when he saw that was kiss her tears away. "When I saw the tears in your eyes, I wanted nothing more than to comfort you. Something about it struck me. I suppose… I had never seen you cry until that point."

"Oh," she said, feeling slightly awkward about that.

"May I ask, why that memory distressed you so much?"

She bit her lip. "It's how my mother died. When I was ten, she had finally been blessed with a successful pregnancy again. I was the only child they thought they would ever have. She struggled to get pregnant for a long time, but when it came time to deliver…" She closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. "She didn't make it. Nor did the child. She bled out like the woman in the memory. There was nothing anyone could do.

"I'm sorry," he said, squeezing her hand.

"I don't like to talk about it. Because there are days when I really miss her. I suppose I took advantage of your offer of comfort."

He shook his head. "No. You did not. I wanted to be with you as well. What we had between us was always real. But I was afraid to act on it."

"I'm glad that you did," she said, looking down at their clasped hands with a smile.

"As am I. Though at the moment, I feel the need for a hot bath. Shall I call for one for you as well?"

"Oh yes, that sounds wonderful. The tips of my ears have gone numb."

"Well, we cannot have that now, can we?" he said, pulling her closer to him for warmth. "And then after that, I'd like to show you something."

She wondered what that something was all through her bath. It felt somewhat strange to her to be a guest in Solas's castle. It was different from Skyhold and so was the situation. Despite their familiarity with one another, she was still a guest and he was the leader here. The staff obeyed him and his orders were carried out with all due haste. But things were different. Here, an attendant filled her bath water and asked if she needed assistance bathing. A peculiar request, though she wondered if that was due to the prosthetic arm. Perhaps Solas had asked them to be more attentive to her in case there was a need he had not anticipated.

She thought back to the first night of their arrival. When he had cut her food for her. Such a simple gesture, yet a remarkably revealing one. Not knowing what his feelings towards her would be upon her arrival, it had touched her deeply that he would be so thoughtful. And to do it himself, when he could have easily had a server do it instead was rather sweet.

Then last night he had offered to help soothe her aches and pains. At first she had resisted the notion. For so long now, it had been her burden, her pain alone to bear. But perhaps not anymore.

A part of her was still in a state of giddy disbelief and blissful joy over the fact that he had agreed to bond with her. Maybe all hope was not lost.

When a knock came at her door, she opened it to find Solas standing there, dressed in a Finely tailored vest over a loose cotton shirt. He had rolled back the sleeves in a more casual manner, revealing his forearms. Having known Solas and his sense of modest dress, this hint of skin was a welcome delight to Lavellan, who admired the comfortable look a great deal, reminding her of moments when he would paint the rotunda in Skyhold.

He looked her over as well and a small smile curved at his lip. "Shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" she asked, taking his arm anyway.

"Not a chance. I would not want to ruin the surprise."

"So mysterious," she commented with a grin. The scent of lemongrass and sage wafted off his skin. There was something in his manner as well that was different from before. "You seem… happy," she observed.

"I am happy," he replied, lifting her fingers to his lips for a brief kiss.

He led her down the hall and up several flights of stairs and for a moment she assumed he was taking her to the office, but then he turned down a hall and went up an different set of stairs and then made several more turns where she got horribly lost until he opened a door and led her into a room with a large, ornate, and comfortable-looking bed. A few other pieces of fine furniture lined the walls, including a writing desk with several half-finished notes and sketches atop the surface. Beside it stood a large bookcase with an appetizing selection of intriguing books, tomes, and scrolls. Large tapered curtains of velvet hung about the room. Three murals covered portions of the walls, one of which was still unfinished and several jars of paint rested on a dropcloth on the floor.

"Is that… me?" she asked, though it wasn't necessary. The figure draped in white and gold armor was unmistakable. Face upturned to the sky, determined. She held the orb aloft in her hand, sealing the Breach. The hand itself was painted in a vibrant green. A large crack split through her arm when something had been hurled at the wall with considerable force. Although, when she got closer she thought it looked more like knuckle imprints in the plaster.

He stepped behind her, staring up at the cracks and the indent he had made when he smashed his fist into the wall in anger and self-loathing. He could still feel the crunch of the plaster beneath his knuckles, hand screaming, bloody and painful as bone split skin. But he had needed the pain. To keep him there, to prevent him from turning around, from turning back. He had crumpled to the floor, broken, like the bits of plaster biting into his knees.

Noting the dark look on his face, she decided it would be best not to ask about the damage to the mural. "I don't recall being quite so clean and put together when I sealed the Breach. On either occasion. I was a bit bloodied, if I recall. Though I must commend your skill as an artist. You somehow managed to give me quite the figure despite the armor," she teased.

"I observed you many times in several different sets of armor. Many of them still offered a rather splendid view of your-"

"Assets?" she offered with a coy grin.

"I was going to say 'figure', but yes, that works as well."

She chuckled. "Strange, you did not choose to put me in the Antaam-Saar armor then. I seem to recall it kept you quite distracted out in the desert."

Thinking about her in that armor, despite his disdain for the Qunari, was a pleasant image. And quite truthfully it had been difficult to resist staring at her in that outfit. Or ripping it off of her. Twelve times. In the Forbidden Oasis alone. Over the course of three days. "To be honest, I couldn't recall what you looked like in that armor, I was so busy trying to get you out of it."

Her cheeks tinged a pale pink at his bold words.

"I thought you would prefer the Dalish armor. It is your heritage."

"Yes, well, you certainly made me look beautiful."

"You are beautiful," he whispered in her ear, placing a kiss on her neck. "Come. I did not bring you here to show you the mural."

"No? It isn't the worst excuse you could have concocted to get me into your bedroom." She slipped her hand around his waist and kissed him. To her surprise he chuckled and then pulled back from her kiss.

"That isn't quite the reason I brought you here either. Although it offers many intriguing possibilities," he whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear. He stepped back and with a gesture waved aside a curtain to reveal an eluvian.

"An eluvian? In your bedroom? Is that safe? What if the Qunari tried to come through?"

"You are forgetting that I control the eluvians now. And only I can access this one." The tall, golden mirror rippled when Solas touched the surface. He held out his hand to her, wearing a grin.

Biting her lip, she accepted his hand and followed him through the eluvian.

They stepped out onto a rocky ledge surrounded by starry sky on all sides. Clutching his hand tighter in fear, she stared wide-eyed at the endless night sky stretching out all around them. Dozens of eluvians hovered in the air overhead. Summoning one with a gesture, they rotated like moons around a planet, before the one Solas selected came to rest before them on the opposite ledge. Squeezing her hand and giving her a reassuring smile, he led her forward and touched the surface of it.

They passed to the other side. She gasped when she saw the tree rising up out of the earth, towering above, twisted and ancient, with bark white as bone, wreathed in flickering leaves of blue-green flames. Beneath the tree a large reflecting pool glittered in the light of the flames. "What is this place?"

"This is Bellanaris Adahl. Otherwise known as 'The Tree of Eternity' by my people. It was once revered, for it was believed that this tree was the first that grew from the ground. And when the first flame fell, it sparked the beginning of all life upon our world. Some believe the first spirits came from this pool and these branches. It is a sacred place." The sheer wonder and awe in her eyes brought a smile to his face.

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen," she said, struck by its beauty.

He touched the back of her hand with his thumb. "As you are to me, ma vhenan. That is why I have brought you here. Come," he said, leading her over between the tree and the reflecting pool, where they knelt in front of one another. "Vhenan," he said, gazing into her eyes. "You are the most breath-taking, inspiring, courageous person I have ever met. I never anticipated meeting someone like you, someone who stands against would-be gods and vanquishes them. You are someone who cares so deeply for all that you will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. You have shown me time and again that your indomitable will can save the world. It is my hope that you can do it again. Because I think that with you by my side, we can change this world for the better."

Tears welled in her eyes and her loving smile encouraged him to continue.

"I know that I cannot offer you a life of peace and happiness. I do not know if I will ever be able to give you children or stability as others might. The path ahead of me is terrifying and dangerous. I tore apart the natural order of this world and now I must restore it. This is not a journey I wish on anyone, especially the woman that I love with all my heart. But we have fought and survived much together. Once again I put my faith in you, vhenan. Now, I have a question I wish to ask you, for although I agreed to bond myself to you, I wish to offer you the same opportunity because your choice matters to me. I know what it feels like to want something other than what honor and duty require of a person. And I suspect there is still much you wish to know. Which is why I suspect you still have questions about me and my plans. I cannot tell you all for your own safety, but I promise, here in this sacred place, to tell you what truth I can."

"Will you tell me about the Veil? Why does it need to come down? Will it be like the Breach?"

He shook his head. "Not if I can strengthen the weaknesses in it and then remove it all at once. The Veil itself is like a net in the sea. It holds back spirits and elements of the Fade like the net holds back fish. But sometimes spirits, like smaller fish, can slip through. When they are forced through or take a host they are turned into demons. That is why the Breach hurt so many. It was a gaping hole that pulled them into this world and forced them to become something against their nature. It was the same with the rifts. These weaknesses still persist and require a great deal of power to mend. I will need to use the eluvians and travel to the places where these weaknesses are and mend them. Some will require power that is beyond me and for that I will need to look for items like the foci to strengthen the Veil again. As it exists now, the Veil allows magic to pass through like water. Without the Veil, magic will pour back into the world. Those that have never experienced it may find themselves with power they never knew before. Others will grow stronger. Tevinter poses a grave threat in that regard. But it also means new possibilities will arise. When the Veil was created many people and spirits were held back in the Fade. The Elvhen may return. As may much more for the elves. And it will change everything in this world."

She squeezed his hand. "Tell me what you have planned then. I wish to know what is to come and how I can help."

And he told her. The explanations were simple and clear, though actually accomplishing them would prove to be a challenge unlike any she had ever faced. She asked him of the false gods and he explained his plans to stop them. It would not be easy and the thought of what might happen should they fail worried her more than Corypheus's threat. When she asked him what would happen to the Dalish, he told her honestly that he did not know, although he suspected that restoring the Fade would change the world they knew and bring to light many aspects of history long forgotten. She asked more questions and he gave answers and when she could not think of anything else to ask, she knew her answer to his question. When he asked, she was ready.

"Vhenan, will you bond yourself with me?"

"Yes, ma vhenan. All that I have to give, I give to you," she promised. Then she leaned forward and kissed him. His hands cradled her face as he returned the kiss, soft and sweet beneath the flickering lights around them.

"You cannot know how happy you make me, vhenan," he breathed, pulling back to look into her brilliant eyes.

"I feel the same, Solas. You are my heart. Var lath vir suledin."

"Var lath vir suledin," he repeated, bringing his lips to hers once more.

His words filled her heart with joyous relief. All was not lost. She held him tightly, feeling as if she might cry from all the emotions rising within her.

Pulling a small item from his pocket, he held it out in his palm to show her. It was a necklace of silver and from it a pendant hung, glowing like veilfire made stone. "I've wanted to give you this for some time. I made it from the heart of a stone that fell from the Fade through the Breach. I enchanted it with a spell of my own design. To protect my heart. Ma vhenan," he said, holding it out to her.

Touching the intricate metalwork design around the stone, she stared at the necklace in awe. "You made this for me?"

"Yes. You are my heart. You are the one that I love most. I would do anything to protect you. Will you accept it?"

"Yes! Will you put it on me?"

"Of course," he said, unclasping the necklace. She leaned forward and he placed it around her neck. Delicately, he tilted her chin and kissed her. She returned the kiss with enthusiasm, wrapping her arm around his neck and gripping his shoulder to keep his body close.

The eagerness of her kiss fueled an underlying urgency in his core as he kissed her back.

Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her back through the eluvians, sealing them behind, until they were once again in his bedroom.

She giggled as he placed her on the bed, still giddy with happiness.

"I adore that smile," he said, reaching down to touch the corner of it as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. He adored all of her. And he wanted her to know that her happiness mattered to him.

"And I adore yours," she returned. "It warms my heart to see you happy, Solas. Come, kiss me. Let us share in our happiness together."

Happy to oblige, he descended to kiss her again. The sweet scent of orange blossom lingered upon her skin from the oils of her bath and he inhaled the perfume as he trailed kisses all down her neck. Her fingers smoothed over his head. A light moan sounded in her chest as he sucked on her collarbone. Deft, eager fingers began to undo the buttons of her tunic. As soon as her chest was exposed he descended upon her, kissing and touching and licking her skin. He wanted her. He wanted her more than anything else in that moment. He did not stop undressing her when he reached the end of the buttons. Her boots went and then her pants and small clothes. After he pulled away the last of the fabric, he knelt before her, draping her legs over his shoulders. His fingertips grazed along her legs as he trailed delicate kisses along her inner thigh. Then, when he reached the apex of her thighs he did more than kiss her. Tongue and lips moved in devilish patterns, drawing forth a moan and several other involuntary reactions from her.

Her breath hitched and her hands, including the wooden one, clenched the covers of the bed tightly. Her legs began to shake and she begged him for more as the wave rapidly built up and finally crashed over her. She cried out, unable to stifle herself this time, before collapsing back onto the bed, desperately trying to catch her breath. Savoring the taste of her on his tongue, he let her have a few moments to recover, kissing her inner thigh and watching her with a satisfied grin.

But that grin, that devilishly coy grin of his drove her second wind. She might be down a hand, but she was not going to let him believe he was the only one here capable of providing sexual gratification here. And so she grinned back at him, springing up off the bed. Solas rose at the same time to meet her, noting the wicked look in her eye with a sense of anticipation. She locked his lips in a kiss and pushed him back. He staggered back, bumping into his desk. Her lips kissed and sucked along his neck and a low groan came from his throat as her hips ground against him. She set to work on the buttons of his vest as his hands shrugged off her tunic. Once that was gone he unfastened the front of her brassiere and tossed it aside. Grabbing her ass, he pulled her to him, bowing his head to suck her neck. One hand snaked up her body and went to her breast, massaging and teasing her in all manner of delightful ways.

Despite how much she enjoyed his ministrations, she pushed him back and removed his clothing from her way, tossing his shirt aside. Hooking her wooden arm around his back, she pulled their bodies together and kissed him deeply, still tasting herself on his tongue. Skin to skin, the pleasure of his body against hers and the heat of him enticed her further. Her hand slipped down between their bodies, untying his pants to stroke him. The groan he let out spurred her further, wanting him to feel as good as he made her feel. Kissing and licking her way down his body, she released him from his pants and took him in her mouth.

Solas's breath caught in his throat and he threw his head back as she began to pleasure him. A deep growl resonated inside his chest. His fingers bit into the edge of the desk as tried to keep himself upright. Her tongue teased him just as much as her hand and the overwhelming sensation was making his legs go numb. He bit back a moan and tried to regain his senses. It was feeling too good. Though a part of him didn't want her to stop, he had plans for her yet.

"Vhenan," he gasped. "You must stop."

And she did, though her tongue gave a slow last lick that sent electricity sparking through his core. Her lips hovered only an inch away from the tip of his cock as she glanced up at him from underneath dark lashes. "Are you sure that you want me to stop?"

In that moment he wasn't certain he did. Then, summoning the last of his willpower he nodded and lifted her chin. She rose, still wearing that minxy half-grin of hers. He pulled her tight against his body, lips crashing together. One hand kneaded her ass and the other threaded through her hair, cupping the back of her head. "I want to do more to you before the night is over, vhenan," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh don't worry, Solas. I plan on taking you for several rounds tonight," she breathed in his ear.

"Are you so insatiable, vhenan? I had you crying out from the bed just moments ago." And then, as if to remind her, he slipped two fingers between her legs, touching her just so.

"Mmm," she moaned. "Maybe I'm just trying to make up for lost time. Or better yet," she said, taking a grip on his cock and stroking him again. "Maybe I just want to punish you for making me wait so long."

A resonating growl echoed in his chest at her touch. "Vhenan…" If this was punishment, he would gladly accept it. This teasing, wanting, wicked torture of craving her was the perfect balance of unbearable anticipation. He needed her. Pulling her to him he spun them both so that she was against the desk. "Turn around and I won't make you wait a moment longer," he said against her neck.

"Now who's impatient?" she grinned, reclaiming her grasp on his cock again.

"Do you delight in making me want you so?" He lifted her up onto the desk, running his hands over her legs. He could hardly stand it, he wanted her so badly. "Spread your legs for me. Please, vhenan, let me be joined with you," he begged.

Taking his hand in her own she brought it to her sex, letting him feel how wet she was between her legs. "Do you feel that, Solas? My body wants you. It craves you. As your body craves mine. But you must promise me something before I give you what we both crave. Promise me you will never send me from your side. Promise you will never leave me again. Promise me this, Solas."

"I swear never to be parted from you, vhenan. You have my word." He never intended to be parted from her again. He could barely think straight; the touch of her wet heat was so tantalizing. His member throbbed at the thought.

"Good," she said, nibbling at his ear. But instead of spreading her legs for him she pushed him back until his legs hit the bed and he fell back. She straddled him for a kiss, slipping her tongue between his lips and kissing him hard. When she pulled back, she slipped off the bed, tugging at his pants. He helped her remove them and then she straddled him again, kissing and touching down his chest. And then she grasped his cock in her hand and lowered herself onto him. A brief pause to allow her body to adjust to his size and then she sank down and he groaned. Experimentally, she tried to put her weight on the prosthetic, but it slipped against the fabric. Solas's hands were already there to catch her though. Adjusting slightly, she was able to put her weight on the real arm as she began to move her hips and ride him.

Solas gripped her thighs and tossed his head back, eyes shut in ecstasy.

Staying with her rhythm, she unbuckled the strap to her prosthesis and twisted it off, tossing it behind her to the floor. Relieved from the friction of the leather straps against her skin, she sighed and leaned back over, gripping his shoulder to ride him harder.

Solas's hips bucked beneath her. His back arched and his toes curled as the sensations grew and built until finally he reached his peak and gave a final moan.

She stopped, giving him time to catch his breath. Bending down, she covered his neck and shoulder with kisses. She even paused to nibble at his ear, which always earned her a smile. Touching her cheek, he brought her over for a kiss, soft and slow.

"So…" she said, tracing around his ear with the tip of her finger. "When you have recovered, which position would you like next?"

He swept the hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear, leaning in to whisper, tickling her neck with his breath. "Whichever will have you crying out my name."

She grinned and kissed him. "Excellent. So many to choose from then."

For the rest of the night they made love, rekindling the romance and connection that they had once shared. When they were both thoroughly exhausted and utterly spent, Solas asked her to stay with him for the rest of the night. Given the nightmares she had experienced the previous night, she hesitated for a moment, then agreed, wrapping herself in the comfort of his arms.

The next morning the two went down for breakfast together. On the way, Lavellan fretted over her hair, trying to comb it with her fingers. "Why don't you have a brush in your room? What is your staff going to think? Or worse-my uncle!"

"Relax, vhenan, your hair looks fine," he informed her with a note of chagrin. "And I should think the answer to your question would be rather obvious."

"Ah, right. Sorry."

"Besides, you should be more worried about whether or not there will be any food left at this point so late in the morning."

"Well we would have gotten out of bed earlier if we hadn't done other things instead," she reminded him in a low voice.

"Which is why I worked up an appetite. After last night I need to recover my strength. You were quite… insatiable," he teased in a low voice only she could hear.

She shushed him as they neared the dining room.

"Ah, you're here. Good. There's hardly any ham left. And we're low on boiled eggs too, but I've already asked an attendant to fetch some more," Alarion said, with a vague gesture. His plate had half a slice of ham, two scones, a small bowl of fruit, and a serving of pickled olives on toast.

"Glad to see you're doing well, Keeper. Are you storing it all away for winter?" his niece asked with a grin.

"As charming as ever, Ambassador. Pass the currant jam when you're done," he said with a nod at the small jar in her hand. "Now," he said, dabbing at his lip with a napkin. "How go the negotiations? You two seem in finer spirits than yesterday. Is there anything I can assist with?"

She couldn't help but smile at Solas, who returned her smile with an amused expression of his own, as if he was surprised things had worked out like this. "Actually, negotiations have gone rather well. Solas has agreed to the bonding ceremony."

Alarion's fork froze an inch from his face and his head pivoted rapidly between the two of them. "Really? You are certain?" he asked Solas.

"Yes. We have agreed to be bonded together. I am willing to perform the Dalish rituals, so long as some additions are made and the rest of the peace terms are agreeable. I also have some conditions of my own."

Alarion hastily pulled his satchel around and began to sift around for his notes. "Certainly, certainly. Where is my quill? Yes, perfect. And the ink. Excellent. Ready when you are."

Solas turned to his betrothed and smiled. "The first request that I have is that once the ceremony has been performed, the Ambassador shall reside with me here in my castle, Mercy's Rest. She is of course welcome to liaise with the Dalish, the Inquisition, or any other entity, but I would prefer to have her by my side. If she agrees."

Though it was something she had known was a possibility, it felt strange to consider she would have to leave Skyhold, which would mean taking a more passive approach to operations within the Inquisition. Still, she did want to be at his side. "I agree."

"Excellent. Excellent. Anything else?"

"Yes. I wish to speak to the Council directly before the bonding ceremony. I understand there are questions and a lack of credibility that I face going forward with these negotiations. I would prefer to meet with the Council myself to put any worries to rest."

"Very well. Though I wish you luck there," the Peace Keeper muttered under his breath.

"And lastly, I wish to remove the vallaslin from any who would wish to be free of the marks."

"You will not find many willing to do that, I fear. It is a right of passage to receive the vallaslin. To be able to bond, one must first have the vallaslin. Removing the vallaslin will be seen by many as the Dalish turning their back on their own and their traditions."

"It is more important than you realize. Though I hope to explain that fully to the Council when we meet," he said, turning to meet her gaze with a knowing look. She nodded her agreement.

"What of the alliance itself? Shall we dive into the particulars?"

"Yes. In exchange for the cessation to halt my efforts, I will grant the Dalish clans my protection."

"As Ambassador, I must say that it is unlikely that all the clans will cease their attacks. Groups will split away from the clans and reform new clans. These splintered clans may even unite against the other Dalish clans and you," she informed him.

"Yes. You are likely correct. It is a natural consequence of the alliance."

"Then I suggest a signature from all Keepers of the clans on the official documents. Splinter clans shall be held accountable as separate entities."

"And what of the Inquisition?" Solas asked in measured composure.

She turned to look at him, surprised. "What of the Inquisition?"

"Will the Inquisition continue to disrupt my efforts?"

She studied him carefully. "Of course not. But the Inquisition is not involved in these negotiations."

"No? I was under the impression the Inquisitor was going to bond herself to me. Wouldn't that have an impact on the Inquisition?"

"Not necessarily. The Inquisition aims to help you and your cause."

"Is that what your spies were up to? Helping me and my cause?"

She shrugged. "Spies wouldn't have been necessary if you had responded to my letters. You have no one to blame but yourself."

He chuckled despite himself. "I suppose that is true. Shockingly, I took the Inquisition's attempts to thwart my plans at face value."

"We didn't know what you were planning. And given the fact that your plans don't always seem to go the way you planned, I thought it would be best to keep a close eye on things. Since you neglected to respond to my polite requests for information, I had to obtain it in other ways. And for the record, last time I meddled in your plans, I saved the world from Corypheus. Which you still have yet to thank me for."

"Ah, yes. Thank you for saving the world, Inquisitor."

"You're welcome. Happy to lend a hand." The other two stiffened in their chairs and a shadow fell across Solas's face.

"Vhenan, I-" Solas began, but she interrupted him.

"It was a joke. I did not mean anything by it. Amputee humor is a bit dark, but it helps."

"All the same. I am sorry for the loss of your arm. If I could have saved it, I would have," Solas said quietly.

"I know," she said, touching the tips of the wooden fingers.

Alarion cleared his throat, breaking the awkward tension in the room. "Right. Back to negotiations then. Now, for the bonding ceremony itself. The Arlathvhen is taking place in less than a month. The Arlathvhen is a meeting of all the clans that occurs once every ten years. It would be the ideal time to perform the ceremony to cement the alliance symbolically for all to see."

The Ambassador sighed and grumbled something. "I don't suppose it would've been possible to have a private ceremony?" she asked hopefully, but her hopes were quickly dashed by a stern look from her uncle.

"The bonding is symbolic. We will be uniting a god and a god-killer. This event will be recorded in our history, Ambassador. The ceremony will be a grand affair, I assure you. All the clans will be watching you two to see who Fen'Harel really is, be he trickster or the ally you proclaim. You have secured their curiosity. Now you must prove that their faith is not misplaced in you, Ambassador." Alarion glanced between the two of them, a note of uncertainty in his expression. "Do not forget, a piece of paper is not a shield, lethallan. It serves as no protection unless the promises are upheld and actions reaffirm those promises."

"Yes. I know. Send word for the arrangements to be made."

Solas resisted the urge to groan. Particularly when Alarion referred to him as a god. Convincing the Dalish that he was not the Fen'Harel they had worshiped and feared would prove to be a challenge he might not be able to overcome. But what was worse was the sense that the more real the bonding became, the more nervous it made his beloved. He resisted the urge to reach across the table and grab her hand.

They talked and refined their agreements for some time after that until both parties were satisfied. The Peace Keeper ratified the documents and before they had much time to process the changes, they were already underway.