Hi guys! A shorter chapter this week, it felt like the best place to cut that. Hope some angst and solavellan fluff will make up for that *wink*

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy! Let me know your thoughts!

Additional translations in the end notes.

Mahariel and Cassandra were walking, several steps forward Varric and Solas. The men could hear the genuine laughter of the Herald and – more astonishing – Cassandra's one. Three months ago, the seeker was ready to give her to Val Royeaux where she would have been beheaded. Weird how things had changed. Even if they disagree on many points, there was a strong respect between the women. And even friendship.

Varric and Solas were walking silently for a while. The elf was looking at Mahariel. As always. Well, it was actually logical, he had to watch carefully the mark. Someone had to. He fought poorly the small smile which appeared when he heard her laughter.

Varric was looking at Solas looking at Mahariel. The elf had this little smile and this sparkle in his eyes whenever they were on her – and when he wasn't thinking someone was watching him. The dwarf shook his head as an old man amused by a kid in love acting lamely. Actually, maybe by two kids in love acting lamely. He, at least, suspected strongly as much. Solas' feelings had been made clear enough by Haven. He was still curious of what he babbled in his half-consciousness that day. He did say he had to remember these words for later…

And later it was.

"So Chuckes. If I recall, Ir abelas means I'm sorry." His elven accent was awful. Solas' features were suspicious. He frowned slightly but nodded.

"Indeed, Son of the Stone. Why this sudden interest?" Does he even realize he calls me that only when he is on the defensive?

"Well, I'm more interested in the last word to be fair. Vh..Venan? Something like that?"

"Vhenan? And where did you hear this one?" He asked with composure without looking at him.

"You said it, Chuckles! Well you were a bit dizzy, the seeker just knocked you out. You said Ir abelas vhenan. And after…Well it is a bit messy I recall Asha…Or Arasha? Ara, vhen something…" He shrugged "Don't make out the rest."

He was mangling every word but Solas understood enough to grow blank. Fenedhis what did I say? If you are to knock me out, at least do it properly! Whatever the second sentence truly was…It is better if I do not know I guess. He remained silent, a formal face, still not looking at him.

"If you don't want to tell me, I can still ask Grey."

"I doubt she will be able to put some sense in such broken sentence" He paused and finally admitted. "I would rather you not to. These were not said in my finest hour and not meant to be heard." Varric nodded. An honest answer. Not the one he wanted, but still.

"Fine, Chuckles. I'm not trying to upset you, by the way. It's just weird to see how the wisest of us can be so lame when it comes to simple things." It is all but simple. Varric didn't comment the elusive sad smile. He decided, however, to change the topic.

"So, how did you find this mystery of a place we are headed to?"

"I looked." Varric sighed.

"Right. Well, I'll go talk with our dear Herald. No doubt Cassandra will come walk with you as soon as I show up!"

When the night fell, the companions decided to draw camp up. For once, they didn't organize watches. They were in the middle of nowhere. The mages' wards would suffice. They quickly went to their cots after dinner, tired of the endless walk of the last days. We do a lot of walking, don't we? Hawke's voice had popped in Varric's head. First amused, he recalled the last events and sighed on the inside. I'd like to know who this "Corypheus" is. With a name like that, he's bound to go "mwa-ha-ha" at some point. I just know it. Damn right…She was not going to like his latest letter.

Mahariel, seeing the woods near the camp, decided to go for a walk. She was all but eager to fall asleep. She knew these damn demons were awaiting her in the Fade, dooming her nights to be restless. Forests had always comforted her somehow. The opportunities had been too rare to be within since she left the Dalish. This was where she could feel home. At night, the serenity, the silence, the loneliness…It put her mind at ease. She walked quietly for a time, taking deep breathes.

After a couple of steps, she winced because of her painful ankle. She had ignored the pain all day long. She didn't want the other to see it. She would not slow them. She finally climbed a tree – an old habit of hers she would have thought forgotten. She sat on a branch, her back against the trunk, one leg swinging freely. Despite her best efforts, her eyes grew heavier.

She was back in front of this trebuchet. But she was not alone anymore face to Corypheus. As he spoke, his dragon was spitting red lyrium all over the people. The cries were everywhere. She was unable to move. On her knees, begging the monster to stop. Powerless. The dragon turned towards Varric, Cassandra and Solas. They were fighting desperately demons and red templars. They were surrounded. Varric fell. She shouted. She tried to stand. Corypheus grabbed her throat and forced her to watch "this is your fault Herald." Spat he. A terror turned to Solas. Its claws sank into his chest. His eyes widened. He looked at her, gleam of life disappearing slowly.

"Mahariel…Do…Something."

Her heart broke, shout and breath caught in her throat. She struggled harder, frantically. Corypheus sent her away in the snow. One of her rib broke. Her tears and sobs were pleading for her friends' life. She crawled towards Solas' corpse. She had to do something. There had to be something she could do! He could not…No. No! His skin was grey, his blood on her hands as she held the lifeless body. She leaned over him, praying, begging uselessly. A cruel laughter resounded behind her.

"Oh, do not worry Herald. He is not dead."

The elf suddenly opened his eyes. Red. Reddened veins appeared on his face. "NO" was the only word she could pronounce, leaning backward with a jump, tears-strained cheeks.

"Solas…?" She tried helpless. A wolfish smirk popped on his face. He stroked her jaw with a tenderness that did not feel right. But he was not dead. Her hand laid in top of his…And he suddenly pushed her in the snow fiercely. Her face hit a crystal of Red Lyrium. Solas stood on his feet, looking at her with loathe.

"You let me die, harellan."

A traitor. It was what she was.

Solas decided to go in the woods to clear his head. The night was peaceful, and it was easier to venture in the Fade in a lonely place. Not to accuse anyone of snoring back at the camp.

It didn't take long before he spotted Mahariel on her branch. He first wanted to turn around to let her be. It was the best thing to do.

Then he heard the sobs, the babblings, the cries. He frowned, immediately filled with concern. He reached the tree quickly. He could feel the eerie presences. The demons were still here.

He stepped under her, looking for a way to wake her without startling her. Sadly, his footsteps were not as light as usual in his rush. The loud crack of a broken root made her jump out of rest. She lost her balance. The apostate was standing at the right place in a stride. First astonished when she ended up in his arms, she blinked and blushed strongly after few seconds. She wiped the tears she felt under her eyes. He scanned her features, seeing the bloodshed eyes, the wet cheeks. He opened and closed his mouth once or twice before finding his voice effectively. He cleared his throat.

"Herald, please excuse my intrusion. I thought you were asleep…In your bed, that is." He added, considering he just woke her up.

Her arms were around his neck. Once more, bridal style. This was becoming a weird habit. He kept her close few more endless moments. He realized he was losing himself – again – in her eyes. He finally put her gently back on her feet. She swallowed a bit and quickly cleaned her face from the remaining tears. She was thankful he didn't point them out. She recovered both composure and voice.

"No harm done, Solas. When I saw the woods, I couldn't resist the prospect of a night walk. I gather I'm not the only one?"

"Indeed. Few places outside the Fade are as serene as a forest at night. A good place to think and clear one's mind." A genuine concern appeared in her eyes.

"Is there something bothering you, lethallin?" He raised a brow.

"I could ask you the same." She averted her gaze, biting her bottom lip.

"And I would not answer. Point taken." Solas looked at her, unsure a moment. But he knew her. He knew better than to offer her his help to clear her mind or to show his concern. Instead he asked.

"The night is clear today. Would you like to take few steps, lethallan?"

She nodded without a word, still shaken by the vivid nightmare. She took the arm he offered her. He felt she was clinging to it more closely than she had to. He wanted to know what she saw, feeling the faint shudder in her limbs. But she would not answer. She never did. He still did not know what happened in Redcliffe. His only hope here was to take her mind away from it.

"This is not wise to climb trees considering your leg."

"Thank you for your concern but my leg is perfectly fine." He raised an eyebrow and look deep into her eyes. This was not a guess of his, he knew it was not fine. How did he…Fenedhis.

"Ma harel, lethallan." She sighed.

"No, I do not."

"Let me rephrase this: this is not wise to climb trees considering your ankle."

"Touché." She whispered reluctantly. She frowned slightly and suddenly spun to face him "Wait a sec…This is why you were making us take breaks and - Fen'harel ar halani!" she swore. This is exactly what I'm trying to do, vhenan he thought, amused by the coincidence of her curse.

"You were walking slower than usual. You little harellan..." She continued with feigned anger. "the whole point – "

"was not slowing us. And you are not, I am."

He looked at her, chin high, confident smirk. She shook her head with a smile of disbelief. She rolled her eyes, even if she was unable to pretend to be angry at him. This man was unbelievable. She was thankful, even if it troubled her to admit it. She took his arm again to resume their steps.

"Ma serannas." Whispered she after few seconds.

"De da'rahn." Answered he in an evenly low voice.

They walked a moment in silence. He noticed with satisfaction she was no longer shuddering. None of them knew if they were hoping or fearing the point where it would be only the two of them. Probably a bit a column A and a bit of column B. This. Them, felt right, safe…home. Every inch of their body was telling them to jump. But their mind – for their respective reasons – were struggling to convince them what a terrible idea it was.

A couple of days later, Cassandra announced that Varric and her were going to wait for the main convoy. Mahariel laughed to her rolling eyes at the idea of being stuck with the dwarf for several hours. She knew the Seeker actually appreciated Varric. It was easy to see. She just hated that she did. The herald nodded and returned to packing. There was still a one-week journey ahead of them.

She realized that Cassandra's decision was the backfire of her my ankle is fine act. She should have anticipated it…Retrospectively inevitable. Well, on her behalf, Solas was well aware of the status of her ankle and he didn't point it out either. She intercepted the wink from Varric to Solas. She frowned a bit. This was not the first suspicious deed of the dwarf. What does he know I ignore? She found herself thinking. Solas disregarded the dwarf. Of course, he did. And yet, she was horrified to find herself disappointed by his disregard.

Solas and Mahariel began their walk, losing quickly sight of Cassandra and Varric. Observing he was still on a slow pace, she commented.

"Let's cut the act. We can walk quicker. My ankle is fine." He kept his eyes away and answered quietly.

"I'd rather not to." She looked at him with concern. You egocentric idiot, why would you assume this is about you?

"Why that? Are you wounded?" He waved her concern away.

"You would be bathing in your own blood that you would still declare yourself fine. Meanwhile, you will not be the one who will have to carry you if the bone break."

When thinking about her reaction to this sentence later, she would be absolutely unable to explain why she suddenly took offense. Still, she replied, upset.

"Are you saying I am fat?!" His head spun towards her, eyes wide-opened with stupefaction.

"What? No." This is ridiculous, how could anyone think that?! She is fitly thin! "It is not what I meant. No one with eyes could think that." He snorted a bit bitterly as he thought Not a single man think that, does she not notice the hungry eyes permanently on her?

She opened her mouth and closed it right back, trying to understand his bitter tone. Do I detect a note of jealousy?

He did not interpret well her silence, thinking her still offended. He suddenly stopped his steps with a smirk. His arm reached her hand. He made her spun back into his arms. He lifted her without a break. Mahariel gasped, absolutely dazzled.

And back to bridal style carrying. She stared at him. His moments of playfulness were rare and she had barely experience this side of him – impulsive, fearless, charmer.

"I would not mind carrying you for days, lethallan. But if I recall, you do dislike being taking care of, do you not?"

This was definitely open for debate right now. She was hypnotized by his voice. Smooth, sensual, low as if he was sharing a secret. She could not find any witty words to answer – she could not even find her voice, so leave alone words…Satisfied of his effect, he finally put her feet back on the ground. He resumed his walk casually as she remained startled few more seconds. When she finally whispered, he didn't know if it was meant for him to hear. Either way, he did, and his heart skipped some beats.

"Ar dirthara…" I may learn…

Fen'harel ar halani – Dread Wolf help me

Asha – woman

Arasha – my happiness

De da'rahn – you are welcome

Ma harel - you are lying