CHAPTER 36
Solas arrived home a little before midnight. He had taken the long way back to his apartment to think over the disarming events of the last afternoon.
Pulling up to Ellana's apartment building, he was unsurprised when a silver-haired elf rushed up to the car, with a wave. He wasn't sure what sort of reaction he would receive from Ellana's live-in partner, but it certainly was not an appreciative handshake. A gruff handshake, but cordial nonetheless.
Solas had not lingered, except to relay to Fenris and Ellana instructions for her to rest for the next day, and not to use any magic. He wasn't sure what to make of Fenris confirming that he could sense Ellana's mana levels were low to the art historian as he helped her out of the seat. As far as Solas could tell, the man was not a mage, nor had she said anything so specific on their brief phone call.
"Thank you, Solas," Ellana had whispered to him with an affectionate squeeze on the arm. The words uplifted his spirits. Watching Fenris escort her back to the apartment, an arm carefully wrapped around her waist, had darkened his mood in return. The way the pair moved was so in sync, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Ellana almost kissing him in the car had been startling. He knew that such an action was more likely brought about by the exertion of the day, and the complexity of the situation they found themselves in. It had been a struggle for him to refuse her. Solas would admit to feeling tempted to pull the car to a secluded spot along the road and reciprocate, if Ellana was still interested. He suspected she was.
Keeping secrets, he thought to himself as he pulled onto the street his building was on, cuts one off from others. Telling Ellana some of his had unloosened burdens that he had carried alone. It was unfair, to expect, however, that any confession would result in an instantaneous connection between the two of them.
Pulling his car into the underground garage, he took the elevator up to one to the tall floors where his condo, more a townhouse, overlooked a sullen sea.
He was about to turn up the stairs to his bedroom to take a long and contemplative shower when he heard the sound of fingernails tapping on the marble of his kitchen island. There was only one person who could have managed to sneak into his home without detection: Leliana.
"You didn't think our conversation in the supply closet was over, did you?" The Nightingale said by way of a greeting. She was standing with both her arms pushing up against the counter, a large glass of red wine in front of her. The only colors in the whole kitchen were the ruby red of the liquid, and the purple velvet tracksuit the spymistress wore as a uniform.
Picking up the bottle, Solas was disappointed to find one of the most expensive and rare vintages from his cellar opened. Revenge, he supposed for the tab he had run up on the Inquisition's dime.
"Admittedly, I was surprised when you let El-" Solas stopped himself. "Excuse me, Dr. Lavellan. I was surprised when you let her go home."
Leliana smiled a bit at his use of scholar's first name. Whatever her current game was, Solas suspected she wanted the two of them to be a couple. She had a strange way of showing it.
He walked to one of the pristine white cupboards, taking out a tiny glass that would hold a thimbleful of liquid. Opening the wine fridge he pulled out a sauterne. It was a bit whimsical for him to drink such a sweet beverage without a meal, but he was in a mood.
"Oh please, you already know why I let her go."
Uncorking the bottle, Solas poured a small glass of syrupy liquid, wastefully gulping down the whole amount, before pouring another.
"You want the orb to find Ellana." He grimly announced.
Correct."