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The light breeze carried the smell of earth and grass as it tickled Solas' nose. His eyes drifted open, it took several seconds for him to focus properly on the giant trees surrounding him. The pain etched on Clover's face was still there, burnt in his mind. He glanced around the clearing they had camped in. He had to admit that if Clover had lived somewhere like this with his clan he could see why she was so attached.
"Guilt. Pain. Worry." Cole's wistful voice sliced through Solas' thoughts. "She is alive. But she doesn't remember. Skyhold, the inquisition... you. It twists and worms in you. Like an itch you can't scratch. Clawing at your throat. You couldn't have saved her."
"Cole, I have only just awoken from a journey within the fade, can your delving in to my feelings wait? At least until I have sorted through them myself." Solas groaned, rubbing his aching neck.
"Of course. Just remember this. You being there would not have changed the outcome." Cole placed his pale, clammy hand on Solas' shoulder in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture, he felt a small amount of tension leave Solas' busy mind.
"Thank you Cole." Solas smiled warmly at the spirit.
"The inquisitor taught me, sometimes my words are overbearing, she said. Sometimes it is enough to just be there." Cole mused.
"Yes." Solas agreed "She is good at being there for people, even if they do not pay her the same respect."
Solas flinched as the image of her disappointment flashed through his mind. He clenched his fist and swore to anything that was listening that he would get her back.
Zelphar landed on the ground of his makeshift dwelling with a thud. He groaned as he rubbed his tired weary eyes.
"This isn't going as planned." He whispered in to the seemingly empty room "You promised me! She was supposed to love me again!"
"That's if she loved you in the first place." a disembodied voice mocked him "Or perhaps another occupies that sacred place in her heart."
"Impossible. Who could she have met? We've been betrothed since birth." Zelphar hissed.
"That matters not." The voice chuckled "Many unions have been made without love. The heart is fickle, who are you to determine when it may change."
"You lied to me! You promised me you could give me the power to get her back, that's why I summoned you!" Zelphar growled in the empty space.
"I did no such thing. Your anger, your envy, it tastes so sweet, how could I not answer your calls in to the dark. I gave you what you wanted, I made no promises of what would happen after."
"Zelphar?" Clover pushed apart the entrance to his tent.
"Emma lath! You surprised me." Zelphar spluttered.
Clover glanced around the tent carefully.
"I thought you had company... I heard..." Clover looked confused as she stared at Zelphar, had he always looked this tired?
"I was just... planning our next travel. We'll be leaving soon." Zelphar rushed to explain.
"Must we leave? I am just getting used to this place..." Clover felt nervous to leave so soon.
Zelphar reached out to her but she flinched out of his touch, flashes of someone she couldn't quite remember rushed through her mind. Warm voice, wise eyes... strong shoulders... memories straining against the edges of her mind.
"Clover?" Zelphar sounded panicked, he touched her elbow causing her to meet his gaze.
"I am... sorry... I have been having bad dreams as of late." Clover whispered.
She let Zelphar pull her in to a strong embrace, he was warm, but it wasn't right. He felt wrong somehow.
"Maybe you will agree to sharing my bed for the night? I promise you can trust me. It might make you feel safer." Zelphar murmured in to her hair.
Clover nodded slowly, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant to be somewhere... else.
The cold night air whispered secrets through the trees, secrets she couldn't quite hear. She followed her steps from the night before. It wasn't long before she found the clearing once more.
"Clover..." Solas' breathed when he saw her step through a gap in the trees. "You returned, I wasn't sure if you would."
"I don't know why... How is this happening? Is it a dream?" Clover asked, the chill in her bones felt too real for it to be a dream.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean it's not real. We have... been in this situation before." Solas answered, stepping closer to her Clover.
"Last night..." Clover whispered, he was getting too close but Clover found herself wanting to feel his arms around her, to have his warmth surround her.
"Last night yes... and once before... Although it was not here." Solas motioned to his surroundings. "It was somewhere else, somewhere more familiar."
His long fingers brushed against her cheek tenderly, Clover felt herself lean in to his touch.
"Solas?" Clover whispered, as she stepped closer to him, she met his intense gaze, those eyes.
Then, like a snap, Zelphar's face appeared in her mind and she stepped back. Shaking her head, she glared at Solas.
"This isn't real. You aren't real. I am betrothed, you are trying to tempt me to do something wrong." She accused.
Solas' face hardened "Betrothed?" He hissed.
"Yes, since birth." Clover stated, folding her arms.
"Who is this elf? Do you love him?" Solas growled.
A sharp pain tugged in her chest at his anger.
"Will I remember this tomorrow?" She asked him.
Solas stared at her, a thousand thoughts whizzed through his mind before he answered.
"Regardless of whether you remember, you will see me tomorrow... and not in a dream." He declared before walking away and leaving Clover alone.
"Solas?" She called after him.
"SOLAS!" She yelled, throwing herself up from her bed, waking up so quick she had to sit down again. She grabbed her head and tried to stop the dizziness from clouding her mind.
"Who is Solas?" Zelphar asked, his face full of pain.