Hey everyone! I got a new computer and things are working again! I guess using a five year old computer would catch up with me eventually. Enjoy the chapter!
Solas was still trying to piece together the image of Ven Lavellan that Ellana had shared with the Inner Circle and the actual elf in front of him. He had thought that Ven was an above average mage, but he hadn't expected the powerful magic that Solas felt coming off the elf in waves. This was the kind of power that Solas had thought that the world had lost with the construction of the veil. How someone like Ven was able to exist baffled Solas to no end, and the fact that his sister had no magical talent at all just confused him even more.
When Ellana had mentioned that he was a powerful mage Solas never imaged Ven's level of magic. It just created more questions about the twins.
Where did they come from and just who were their parents?
The blasted First had winked at him on his way out of the room with his sister. He swept Ellana in a one-armed hug and had her lead him up the stairs, demanding that he meet Dorian. No doubt that everyone in Skyhold was going to hear the interactions between the Lavellan twins and the Tevinter mage.
Solas retreated to the rotunda to paint. It would distract him and help him think more clearly. And, if he happened to hear some of the twins' conversations with Dorian that was just an added bonus.
Though, by the time he sat down to paint, there was no noise coming from the library besides the squawking of crows. That meant that the twins more than likely took Dorian to the tavern or the Altus wasn't in the library to begin with and Ellana dragged her brother off to the tavern to meet the mage.
So, this left Solas to his thoughts, a dangerous pass time.
At first Solas had thought that maybe they were just the decedents of Ancient elves, but now, he was wondering if they were direct decedents from the Evanuris. The mere thought made his shudder. Ven could be a danger to himself and others if his power wasn't trained properly, which could only be done by another of his power level, which left only Solas as a teacher. If that was the case, which members of the pantheon they were related to would be important to figure out, since each line had specific gifts attached to their lines. He'd just need to keep an eye on Ven. Though, Solas wasn't even sure where he was staying at this point. There were rooms all over Skyhold that he could be in and if Cassandra had her way he would be as far away from Solas a possible.
If the twins were from an ancient lineage, this changes even more of his future plans for Thedas. The two together could cause real issues for his eventual deconstruction of the veil. This could also mean that there were others like them out there, more elves like him, but born during a time of mortality. That could also mean that there are other pockets of Ancient elves living in Thedas, having children and attempting to survive without knowing that the Dread Wolf had returned to them.
He really needed to find a spy that could infiltrate clan Lavellan properly. All of them had been sent away so far. They had never even made it up the mountain. All of them had been made before the summit. Solas kept asking them how it was possible, but they would only shrug and apologize.
He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He could almost feel a headache coming on just thinking about how much he had to do besides helping the Inquisition.
Solas jumped when he heard the door to the rotunda room slam open. He winced and turned around to see Ven leaning in the archway, completely at ease. His robes fit tightly around him, and slightly armored, coming across more like assassin's garb than that of a mage. It reminded Solas of a more ancient style of dress. Ven's staff was nowhere in sight, leaving Solas to wonder if he was just that confident in his skills or if his sister had told him to leave it in his room.
Ven within two long strides was standing in front of Solas. "So, this is the rotunda… Ellana was right, you do have a talent for painting frescos," he said in Elven with a calm smile, "I'm Ven. I never got to properly introduce myself."
He held out a hand to Solas, who took it cautiously, pushing a bit of his magic out in the same manner Ven had earlier to see if he would react at all.
He didn't.
He wasn't sure what this mage was playing at. Ven had to sense some kind of power coming from Solas, he was too powerful not to. "I'm Solas, the resident fade expert for the Inquisition, but Ellana has more than likely already told you that."
Ven grinned. "So my sister says. I also hear that you're a dreamer like me. Sorry for the quick meeting we had after Haven fell...I was rather desperate to have my baby sister saved. Funny thing is, after I thought about it, you don't quite feel like many of the dreamers that I've met in the fade."
Solas tensed. How many dreamers had this young man met? Solas had been of the opinion that there weren't that many dreamers left in Thedas. The veil made sure of that. "Well, then maybe you just haven't met the right ones," Solas replied tersely. It seemed that the child was attempting to get information out of him?
"Yes, I suppose the ones born in this millennia tend to not be as well versed in the craft. Ellana told me about the way that you recreated Haven for her. She almost didn't realize you had invaded her dreams until right before she woke up. It's an impressive feat for someone as used to it as her," Ven commented airily, a rather mischievous grin on his face.
Solas felt his insides turn cold. He knew? He took a single calming breath, Ven knew he was an ancient, but did he know his true identity?
If he did, as much as he would hate to do it, Ven would need to die and it would have to be soon. It would, of course, be as painless as possible, but someone as powerful as Ven could not be allowed to spread Solas' identity out to the world.
"Am I the first ancient elf you've encountered?"
Ven snorted, sounding a lot like his sister in that moment. The markings of Mythal, a blood red on his tan cheeks, stood out in the rotunda's dim lighting. "Hardly. Our clan is full of them. It would also be difficult to not run into my own mother."
Solas blinked, shocked. They were that closely related to the ancients? They were the first generation to be born with the veil in place. He had thought they were maybe two or three generation in by now, but maybe their clan and formed late? It was hard to tell since he was missing so much information about their clan.
And that was why they looked so much like those before the fall. "Is there a reason that Ellana isn't telling me this? Did she know about my lineage this entire time and not tell me?" Solas asked, his pride wounded that Ellana wouldn't come to him about this and instead send her brother.
"My sister is busy and far too kind. From what she told me, she figured you were one of the ancients, but since you never mentioned it when she hinted at it, so she never pushed," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand, "I also wanted to meet the mage that saved her life. Ellana speaks highly of you. It isn't often she makes friends outside of the clan."
Solas bit back a rather scathing retort of Dalish lifestyle before replying, "I wasn't going to just let her die. Since I've saved her, she has repaid me by saving my life countless times in battle."
Ven grinned, "I'm aware. Ellana is nothing if honorable. She wouldn't leave a debt owed to you unpaid."
Solas gave a brief nod in response, "Is there any other reason that you sought me out?"
Ven gave in a familiar long-suffering look. It seemed to be a family trait, the only difference being that Ven added a little bit of an exaggerated flick of his wrist. When he turned his head back towards Solas his face was serious. "Ruin all my fun, but yes. I wanted to go over some finer points of this exorcism Ellana said I'd do. I figured an ancient fade expert like yourself might notice if something was wrong."
Solas nodded putting his paints down. It would seem it would be a long time before he'd be getting any rest.
Ven pulled out a few pieces of rolled parchment from a pocket in his robes and spread them out on the table. The young mage was careful of Solas' work, barely moving anything and waiting for Solas to join him.
He looked over the notes quickly. They were written in Elven, something that Solas hadn't quite been expecting. Then again, Ellana had mentioned more than once that Ven went to other clans to get magical expertise. It would also be safe and out of shem hands if it was written in a language that they didn't understand.
Ven's theory was strong, and the basic principles of the exorcism seemed like they would work, but the only difficult part was that this wasn't just any spirit. This was a corrupted spirit of justice.
"There's a good chance that you won't have enough power to remove the spirit without either killing yourself or the host. Vengeance is a powerful spirit and it is attached to a powerful spirit healer. It is going to be incredibly difficult to even attempt this, nevertheless do it properly on the first try," Solas warned and Ven bit his lip.
"I was worried about that. I've seen Anders once or twice since getting here and the man is a mess. The spirit is wreaking havoc on his mind and body. I don't know how much longer the he is going to manage to hold on. If I need to add power to this ritual I'm going to need more research, which means I'm going to need more contacts. Do you know anyone that would be willing to talk magic with me?" Ven asked, grey eyes hopeful, but Solas shook his head.
"I can converse some spirits over this matter, but I don't have any physical contacts for you to speak to," Solas answered and Ven rubbed a temple.
"I suppose I could ask Ellana and Dorian to help. I know that Dorian has contacts in Tevinter and Ellana has contacts all over Thedas…maybe I could convince some Dalish Keepers to share some knowledge with me. I'll have to see which clans owe mine a favor," Ven muttered mostly to himself, but loud enough that Solas could hear every word clearly. At least Ven wasn't so full of himself that he was above seeking help.
"You're willing to ask a Tevinter Altus for help?"
"Hey, Ellana made a promise to this Hawke woman and I intend to help her keep it. Dorian seems like a nice enough human. I have no issues with him until he starts using blood magic on me," Ven replied with a shrug.
He grabbed his papers, folded them back up and slid them into his robes. "I'll let you get back to your painting. Have a good evening, Solas," Ven said before making his way out of the room and back up to the library.
The mage was going to cause more problems than he was going to solve, this Solas was completely sure of that.
So, do you guys like Ven? He's going to be very different from Ellana in the strangest of ways and a reoccurring character. Speaking of Strange Things...Stranger Things season two was amazing (I finished it today). I digress, next week's chapter is going to be super fun. There's finally going to be a bit or romance in this story. Go figure, it only took 16 chapter to get here. At least, I pretty sure that's the next chapter...that's what I get for writing a lot of it out of order.
Anyway, romance is coming up, though it might not be happening in the way you've all been thinking it would. ;)
Thank you for everyone that reviewed and commented this week. It really made my week!
I'm also writing another fanfiction for NaNoWriMo, which is going to be put up sometime in early December as a Christmas gift to readers that have been begging me for a fic for nearly 2 years. I'm worried I'm not going to be able to manage 50,000 words in a month, I've only every managed 33,000 words. I've been doing pretty well so far, about 8,000+ words in three day, solid start. If I keep this pace up I might have about 90,000 words or more by the end of the month.
Have a lovely weekend,
Animerocker