And, this my friends, is the chapter I've been leading up to since July! Happy New Year! Enjoy!

Emprise du Lion was one of the harsher environments that Solas had the misfortune of traveling. If the bitter cold didn't cause enough misery, the vast amount of bloodthirsty Red Templars was more than enough to convince the most seasoned warrior to turn tail and run. But, the Inquisitor was not a normal warrior and with Cullen getting tips that there was a red lyrium mine somewhere in the area, they'd need to stay until it was shut down for good.

To make matters even more unbearable, Vivienne was traveling with them for the first time in months. Ellana needed her to translate the local Orleasian dialect for her. Of course, the Enchanter was possibly even more miserable than Cassandra, Ellana or Solas with the way that she harrumphed and sighed through their long treks through the snowy wasteland.

Ellana seemed to be enjoying the snow for the most part, claiming that it was better than the Western Approach and Hissing Wastes' never-ending sand. "At least this melts and with Dagna's heating runes, we don't need to worry about frost bite," Solas had heard her mumbling once or twice as she led them through various Red Templar encampments.

"Are you sure the Commander received accurate information, darling?" Vivienne asked for the fourth time this afternoon.

"Yes, Vivienne, I'm positive. Once we clear the mine and find the townspeople, we can potentially head back to Skyhold for a time."

This human was something else…Solas rolled his eyes and spoke up, "there was mention of a demon in a fortress further north."

"Ellana let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're right. I completely forgot about that. Thank you, Solas. After we clear the mine out, we'll send a message to Cullen and then clear out the demon infested fortress."

So kind hearted, it was going to get her killed one day.

The group marched onwards deeper into the heart of Emprise de Lion. Cullen had been correct that there was a mining operation, what he hadn't known about were the methods in which they were getting the red lyrium. They were using the town's people to farm it and then let it consume them. It was nauseating, but then again, that feeling could just be from the red lyrium. More than once he had felt the compulsion to reach out and touch it, but he'd resisted so far.

It had taken the rest of the day, but they had freed the town's people and found quite a few clues about Sampson's whereabouts. Ellana was over joyed at the progress made and she and Cassandra enjoyed destroying the mine. "Hopefully, we can figure out how to clean up all this red lyrium. The stuff is a plague. Then again, Leliana mentioned that a friend of hers is looking for the cure to the blight. Maybe I can offer aid. I'm going to need to send a letter." Ellana muttered to herself as the group made their way back to camp to rest for the night before they explored the northern fortress.

Solas felt like he was floating, drifting in and out of consciousness for some time before finding himself in a field of vibrant wildflowers. He felt at peace, with only the breeze from the mountains in the distance making the grass rustle. He shook his head a few times before he realized he was in the fade. He hadn't remembered falling asleep, he'd been fighting a demons and Red Templars. A red templar had gone to attack Ellana and he didn't remember much past that moment.

It took him a moment to notice that he was in a startlingly familiar setting, one from his childhood, one that he did not create. He felt a presence push at his mind and enter with ease. He smelt lilac and hard steel and then a hand press against his arm.

He spun around and faced the intruder and at first he thought he was looking at Ellana, but she didn't carry a staff and then realized who this woman was. He had thought died thousands of years ago. His Spymaster, Myna, in her full Elevhen glory, glaring daggers at him, her gold eyes sparking. "And here I thought I would hear from you sooner than this. Shows what the Dread Wolf thinks of his Advisors. I hear you are going by the name Solas once more," she sneered, as she pushed familiar blonde hair out of her face, making her vallaslin more prominent on her face. She was one of the few he never removed the slave markings from. Myna was his best undercover agent in her Mother's court. As much as he had worked with Mythal, she always had her own agenda and she would have never suspected her outcast daughter to spy on her, but she needed to appear as pious as possible, so the markings stayed.

Solas gaped for a moment. It wasn't often that he was left speechless. "I thought-" he began, but was interrupted moments later. Myna always did have a fiery temper. It was something that had drawn him to the woman in the first place.

"No, you didn't think. You have other followers in this era doing tasks for you! They've tripped over my network that I laid the groundwork for decades ago," she seethed stalking up to him and pointing a tanned finger into his face, "Audul and Lali are alive as well, and we're all asking the same question as to why the Dread Wolf hadn't even bothered to see if his most trusted were still alive? You never even checked. We had to find out by feeling your magic tear a hole in the sky!"

Solas swallowed, feeling more ashamed of himself than he normally did. All of his most trusted agents had been alive, and he'd assumed they perished after the fall. Then again, they had been sons and daughters of the Elven Pantheon, powerful mages in their own rights. If anyone were to survive it would have been them.

"If I had known I would have contacted you right away. It's just I thought that you had died when the veil was erected in the first place."

Myna snorted derisively, "If only it had been that easy. No, we put ourselves to sleep, in a vain hope that you survived. When I woke up I found myself in a strange new world and then shortly thereafter I realize that I'm pregnant with my most trusted leader's children. I was lucky Lali and Audul had been monitoring me constantly otherwise the three of us would have died!" She hissed, forcibly lifting him off the ground and bringing his face to hers, creating the eye contact he had been hoping to avoid.

"We had all been happy for a time, until I sent Ellana to the blasted Conclave to make sure the shemlen weren't going to fuck the world up anymore, but then you do it instead." Her face was flushed with anger, her teeth clenched.

The pieces were finally starting to fit together in his head and his blood ran cold and even though he was dreaming, he felt faint.

He had always been very careful about fathering children. Solas had always known how dangerous any child of his could be. He could still remember the moment he had between Myna quite clearly. It had been the night before he had created the veil. It was a single moment of passion before the end, or so he thought. He never thought she would live to see another day, never mind actually have children.

The two of them were definitely dangerous. Ven, if he had been born in ancient times would have terrified the Pantheon. He had more power than should be possible, a mage born from the most infamous of the Pantheon and then grandson of the revered mother. Ellana was a different kind of danger, the perfect assassin and a fantastic leader.

Ellana and Ven had been giving him hints about this for months and he had been too blind to see it. It took Myna coming in and nearly beating the information into him to see the truth. The twins were his, it was why Ven looked so familiar, he reminded Solas of himself in his younger years, Ven had his wild streak. It was why Ellana reminded him so much of Myna and Mythal. She wasn't a distant descendant, she was a direct relation. He had brought a death sentence on Ellana through his mark, his own child was dying.

"Then I find out that your mark is on my daughter's hand and that she's more than likely going to die from it when my son collapsed in the middle of camp screaming in agony as his sister nearly perished." she screamed, her voice raising, shaking him to the point it was hard to focus on her. "You bastard. What. Did. You. Do."

"I was trying to fix my mistake."

She released him. Solas brushed himself off and in the split second he took his eyes off of her she raised her hand and slapped him. The sound echoed in empty space. Solas swore he was going to feel this when he woke up, even if it was just a dream. Myna scoffed, arms crossed, ready to shout at him. "You were going to bring down the veil? Revive the Pantheon? Destroy another world?" Her voice cracked, "Are you mad? You'd kill hundreds of thousands of people, again, for what?"

"To bring us back to our glory! Revive our world! This isn't just for me, but for the People!"

"Times have changed! Our Empire has fallen! Help us pick the People up the correct way! Help Ellana make the world see the People as a force to reckoned with once more. Help me and my People stop Briala from making a bloody fool of herself? Why is destroying the world always your go to plan? Fen'harel, stop being a lone wolf and work with the pack you abandoned!"

Solas flinched at being addressed by his age-old name, his badge of pride. The scene around him changed to a battlefield of Arlthan, hundreds of bodies lay before them. The fresh smell of burning flesh and blood filled his senses. He tried not to gag, remembering this battle all too well. This was shortly before the erection of the veil. They had won the battle against Falon'din's warriors, but at what cost? Both he and Myna were wearing armor from an age long past, the eyes of the wolf on their backs, reminiscing at the sight of the carnage. "The People have fallen so far, Myna."

"We've fallen further and picked ourselves up over the ashes of our enemies before," she turned to look at him, gold eyes nearly glowing, defiance written in her features, "We are the last of the Elven People, never again shall we submit. Will you stand with your People again, Fen'harel? Or will you be the villain that Dalish paint you to be?"

He rocked on his heels, hands behind his back. She had the power here. Myna had been awake longer, her power more restored. He had handpicked her for her mind magic and torture techniques. They'd loved each other once. For him it felt like months ago, for her decades. But, could he stop his plans for her? He'd never done that in the past, but his mental magic had always been stronger than hers.

"How did you even enter my mind?"

She grinned and circled him like prey, "head injuries will do that to you. Ven mentioned something about an accident with a demon in some fortress. I took my chance."

His mindscape shook for a moment as he recalled what happened. It was blurry and disjointed. He had pushed Ellana out of the way of the demon's attack before everything faded out.

At least he wasn't dead.

Solas cradled his head in his hands a groaned.

"I suspect that you have some questions for me, Solas? I've done quite a bit of shouting and not much explicating…" she confessed, a slight blush painting her pale cheeks.

He let out a weary sigh. There had been something that was bothering him, something he had planned on asking Ven more than once, but never quite got the chance to do in private.

"Do you approve of Ellana's choice in chosen partners?"

Myna froze her posture almost disbelieving at his first question. "Ah, you've realized who he is descended from?"

Solas gave her his driest look and she rolled her eyes. Myna had to know the risks of having Ellana near a monster like Fenris. "You know very well that he has to be. No one else would be able to wear those marks without dying."

"He's very devoted to her. You haven't seen them together like I have. They care for on another and that is more than enough for me. Many people bond for less than that," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. It was something she used to do back in court when she didn't like something she had been told by one of the servants.

"He's not a mage, Myna," Solas reminded, a warning tone in his voice. He wanted Ellana to be happy, sure, but the preservation of the People's magic was important.

"Neither is she, but her brother is, I am, you are, Fenris' sister was a mage and there is always Fenris' potential father to take into account. He was more than likely a mage as well. Magic runs strong in both their blood."

Solas hadn't known about Fenris sister and then warrior had made no mention of her in any of the conversations he had around Skyhold.

"You never answered my first question," Myna reminded, her hands folded behind her back, her hair blowing in the conjured breeze. Solas was reminded why he had originally pursued her, she was a classic Arlathan beauty, one that didn't quite know how her looks affected those around her.

Solas bit his lip. He had come so far, he couldn't just stop. This world wasn't what it should have been. "I'm not sure I can abandon my plan. I need time."

Myna came close to him once more and Solas expected another strike, but instead she cupped his face in her hand and forced him to look her in the eyes has she spoke. "Think on it, Fen'harel," she told him with a shrug before her mouth was inches from his. An old desire began to build in his chest, but instead of initiated something with him she backed away slightly, "If you hurt Ven or Ellana any further than you already have, there will be no place you can escape my wrath. I'm watching you."

And with a gust of wind she was gone. The Keeper of Clan Lavellan was a force to be reckoned with, no wonder the humans were afraid to climb the mountain they lived on and why none of his scouts had returned. She'd left him much to think about.

Solas wasn't sure how much time had passed since he'd been injured, but when he began to wake he realized he was in a soft bed, the sheet were comfortably wrapped around him and there was a fire going close by. He could hear the scratching of a quill and Ellana's voice muttering ancient curses, that she'd no doubt learned from her mother. Ellana, the young woman, who he had just found out, was his daughter. His head throbbed in a dull steady beat, but as he tested his limbs for movement, besides being sore, everything was still attached to his body.

He shifted on the bed and opened his eyes, everything was extremely blurry at first but cleared quickly to see exposed beams and brickwork. He was in Ellana's room, no doubt in her bed. The quill had stopped moving, a chair had been pushed back, and frantic steps made their way towards him. He attempted to sit himself up, but his arms felt weak.

Two gentle hands helped him up, the familiar smell of roses filled his nose. Ellana's face came into view seconds later, one that now that he was aware of it reminded him of his mother, and Solas saw tears gathering at the corner of her grey eyes, his eyes. "It's good to see you awake. I know you enjoy the fade, but spending nearly a week sleeping is bit much, even for you."

A week? Solas was honestly surprised he wasn't dead. Ellana brought a glass of water to his lips. He hadn't even realized how thirsty he was until the first swallow, but she pulled the glass away before the fourth. "You know in ancient times, I'd spend years sleeping. A week is nothing," he rasped, voice trembling slightly from its lack of use in the last week.

A quiet laugh escaped her lips at his weak attempt at humor, "Yes, but sleep is one thing, unconsciousness is another one entirely. We're back at Skyhold if you couldn't tell. I got us home in record time to make sure that we had all our healers looking at you. Ven even came in to help. From what I understand, he cleared your mind enough for someone to enter, our mother if I'm not mistaken."

They really shared everything with one another. "I had a rather enlightening conversation with her."

She glanced in his direction as she opened some drawers next to the bed and pulled out a small potion. "And what did my mother tell you?"

"She told me about your father," he replied, as he watched her hand stiffen slightly.

"And what did she tell you about him. She'd been talking to Ven about it right before he attempted to heal you head."

Ah, so she hadn't had the time to talk to her twin quite yet, but there was unmistakable mischief in her eyes. Solas sighed, "I feel like you know the answers I'm about to give you, da'len. The better question is, how long have you known the identity of your father?" He motioned for the water once more.

She rolled her eyes fondly, and gently handed Solas the glass. He carefully brought it to his mouth. "I figured you were Fen'harel almost immediately. My brother and mother got in contact with me warning me that the Dread Wolf was active once more and then they saw the mark on my hand. My mother never mentioned anything about you being our father, but she used to tell stories about his various misadventures. When I saw the wolf jawbone I began to wonder. Mother has the other half in a chest back with the clan. I finally decided that you were our father when you were next to Ven for the first time. It was hard not to notice that without hair, Ven looks almost identical to you. It would also explain why my mother called Ven and I "the dread twins" growing up." Solas nearly choked.

"She really called you that?"

"Not to our faces, of course, but to close friends it was a really funny joke. At least I get it now."

"So, you didn't know I was your father right away?"

"No, I didn't. Did I suspect you of being the Dread Wolf? Yes. That much was obvious to me. There are only so many Ancient Elves that can use magic like you do. Did I suspect that you were my father until very recently? No. Ven knew. He's known for weeks. Mother told him back in the clan," she replied, fingers clenching in her lap.

"Are you ashamed of who your father is?" He dreaded her answer. He hated himself more than anything, but to hear it from his own child would…it would destroy him.

She shook her head, "No. I know the People's true history. I know you did what you had to do. Do I approve of how you did it? No. Do I approve of you attempting to tear down the veil? Absolutely not. Do I want to have to kill my own father to save Thedas? No, but I will."

Her hand reached for his neck.

Solas woke up with start, a blanket tumbled off his shoulders and pooled around his waist. His eye darted around a darkened room searching for an attacker. As his eyes adjusted he realized that he had fallen asleep in the rotunda. The fade had not been kind to him the past few days. He had confronted Ellana, but she had been called away before she could answer the last question and it had been haunting him.

He heard movement from his desk and jumped back when Ellana materialized, sitting on the desk, clad in a dressing robe, her hair down and mused as if she had just woken up from sleep. "Ven mentioned that you were having a rather vocal nightmare. Figured I would make sure you weren't being devoured by demons or your own conscious, whatever comes first."

Solas gripped the blanket, formulating a response through his sleep-addled thoughts, but she put a hand up to stop him from talking.

"Solas, I hope you know that I don't hate you and neither does Ven, though he'll never admit it. I just hope that you realize that if you attempt to do what I think you're going to do when you get the orb back, I'm going to have to come after you, so will mother and Ven."

He swallowed. "Ellana-"

"Your greatest fear is dying alone, yet here you have children and a woman, who despite everything, has stayed faithful to you for millennia and you want to throw it all away. You haven't lived in the world long enough to understand it or cherish what it has to offer," she told him, giving his shoulder a squeeze, making him feel far younger than he should. He was the adult here, damn it.

"There's so much you don't know. Why accept me?"

She gave him a sad smile. "Every child wants to know their father," she replied before giving his forehead a brief kiss, "now go to bed. I don't need a cranky fade expert when dealing with Morrigan tomorrow."

Solas groaned and almost wished Ellana had killed him because that woman was going to drive him to murder. He heard a brief chuckle before the door to the rotunda lightly closed and Solas was left alone once more.

Ellana changed everything by just existing. Could he really go through with tearing down the veil and endangering the lives of his children?

Bam.

How many of you saw that one coming? I don't even know why this idea popped in my head in my lost recent DA:I playthrough. I was like, "what if the Inquisitor was related to him?" I think I was also reading a lot of fics with the Elven Inquisitor being male and Solas treating him like a son and then things just spiraled out of control for there.

There were a few close guesses to what I was planning, and originally, they were supposed to be his grandkids (you would have gotten it right!), but there were too many moving parts and plot issues with that, so I nixed that idea in August and changed around some characters. I'm nearly positive that I promised that Solas was going to have a romance with a Lavellan in an early chapter author's note when there was some concern over it.

I feel like I delivered. XD

Thank you for all the reviews this past week! I'd love to hear your reactions to this twist.

Have a lovely weekend,

Animerocker