Chapter 7: A Night to Remember: Part 3
Dorian glanced over towards Solas as he was finishing his third drink and alerted Eka. "Um.. He's already walking funny as it is. I really don't think he can handle that," Dorian commented. Solas still seemed to be in a good mood as he glanced up and smiled towards Eka, who returned a smile and chuckled at the situation. "He seems like he's having fun, but I have a feeling you're right," Eka replied. "He's definitely not going to be standing after that third glass hits in about forty-five minutes," added Bull with a hearty laugh.
"How about we call it a tie tonight," suggested Dorian, who at that point was more interested in watching Solas than finishing the game. With that, Eka headed over towards Solas while the other three sat down at a nearby table to chat.
Eka briefly wrapped her right hand around Solas' shoulders and asked if he was ok. "Shurr," he said rather happily, as she backed away to let him finish his game. Sera had finished her third glass before Solas but was barely showing the effects. Her speech was slower and more uncouth than usual, but her coordination and depth perception seemed to be fine. She won the fifth round in around fifteen minutes. "Woo hoo," she shouted with a gloating smile.
Solas quickly blurted out, "driiink," as he stumbled into Eka, who immediately steadied him and asserted, "Absolutely not, Lethallin. You're not killing yourself with alcohol tonight." "kay... Truuuth," He said, smiling up at Eka, who once again steadied him and then walked over to the table to give them privacy.
Sera rubbed her hands together and smiled. "You've been messing with my head all night, and I need to know what's going on with you and Quizzie." After hearing this, Solas looked at her with the biggest grin she had ever seen. "So here's my question: Do you love her? And I don't mean just wanting to rub your filthy elfy parts all over her. I mean really love her, where you would die for someone and all that sappy romancy shite." Solas glanced over to Eka and then back at Sera with a smile. "Yesss, I loove her and wo-wouuld do anythingh to keeep her safe," he very proudly slurred.
Solas shifted his weight from foot to foot in order to stay upright as he listened intently, his head swarming, as this was the moment that he had been dreading all night. Sera smiled and continued, "And now for my dare... and you better thank me for this later or I'll fill your breeches with bees by the end of the week," she giggled. Her voice was almost a whisper when she ordered, "I want you to prove it in front of everybody. Give her the most convincing kiss I've ever seen." Solas didn't even seem phased. He was already completely wasted and didn't care what anybody thought. He had been wanting to kiss her all night, and Sera had just mercifully given him the perfect excuse to do so.
Solas walked with his hands outstretched to steady himself, as if he were in a tightrope act. He nearly tripped as he navigated towards the table. Iron Bull and Leliana noticed his gait and giggled together at the sight. Eka had her back towards him when he tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned her head to face him, he wrapped his arms around her neck and dove in for a kiss. Eka let him lead. It started out slowly, then as he started to introduce tongue, Solas began to lose his balance. As he fell over, he pulled Eka completely off of her chair and down on top of him.
Bull, Leliana, and Dorian were cheering and whistling, and Varric and Cassandra had joined in from across the tavern. Encouraged by the cheering, Solas rolled on top of a stunned Eka and embraced her once again, hungrily swishing his tongue inside her mouth and entangling it with hers as if they were the only two people in the room. The kiss lasted nearly five minutes and was both sloppy and romantic. When it finally ended, Solas rolled over onto his back and held Eka's hand as he giggled incessantly on the floor for the next five minutes.
Sera had joined the group at the table and continued to smile at the two. Nobody could have imaged that Solas would put on such a show, and Sera was proud of herself for resisting the urge to follow through with one of her more colorful dare ideas. "It's always the quiet ones," commented Leliana with a grin.
Eka eventually got up and tried to pull Solas to his feet. He managed to get his legs up briefly but crumbled back to the ground again, pulling Eka down with him. He was completely incapable of walking, and a still tipsy Eka was not able to support him. She sat cross-legged on the floor and held his head in her lap while gently touching his forehead. "Ma'aaarlaaath," "I love you," Solas slurred towards Eka, who just barely understood. "Need a hand, boss," Iron Bull offered. "Please," Eka requested. With that, Bull picked Solas up and flung his upper torso over his shoulders. Eka and Dorian followed him across the courtyard.
"So do you think he'll remember any of this tomorrow," chuckled Dorian. "I think he'll remember the tavern but not much afterwards," answered Bull. "Dorian, I hope you don't mind starting a little late tomorrow since I'll likely be up several more hours," Eka stated as she gestured towards Solas. "Not a problem," answered Dorian, "but I want you to tell me what you whispered to them tomorrow."
"Stoppp," complained Solas, as Bull reached the steps towards the main entrance. Bull stopped suddenly, only to hear, "Spinnninng." Eka had been walking behind them and gently grasped one of Solas' hands. "It will be alright," she promised as they continued walking.
Bull got halfway up the stairs when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. "He did not just do what I think he did," Bull frowned. Eka and Dorian were both laughing hysterically and couldn't even respond. Solas had vomited, and it was running all the way down the length of Bull's back and into his pants.
"I'm glad you two think this is funny," chuckled Bull, who had been in this situation enough to only be slightly bothered. "I'm sorry, Bull," Eka said between chuckles. "I'll make sure to have that washed for you, and I can come to your quarters tomorrow morning if you want me to heat you a warm bath with my spells." "Nah, don't worry about it. Shit happens, and as long as everyone had fun, I'm happy," responded bull, as he approached the entrance.
"You might want to make him drink some water," Bull said as he set down a now unconscious Solas on the couch in his rotunda. "Thanks for your help, Bull. I'll be sure to do that," Eka said thankfully. "You might hear me come back up this way later," Bull added. "Varric and Cassandra were pretty bad off and will likely need to be carried home as well. I thought they hated each other, but I could swear they were holding hands as we left," he murmured as he headed back towards the bar. Dorian brought Eka a bucket and a glass of water before heading up to his quarters.
Solas stirred often and threw up a few more times over the next hour. She held him in her arms and massaged him as he sat in discomfort, complaining about the spinning room. Eka left briefly to make a strong cup of decaffeinated tea comprised of ginger, chamomile, and light elfroot. It was a blend she had made for the people in her clan when they had nausea or morning sickness. She knew he hated tea, but it was the best way she knew to help him.
When Solas sat up again, she asked him to drink the entire cup. Upon tasting it, he made a disgusted look and grimaced. Eka smiled and kissed his forehead as she whispered, "Please Lethallin. It will make the nausea go away." He looked into her eyes with loving intensity as he smiled and slowly slurred, "Ma' serannas, ma sa'lath," "Thank you, my one love" before finishing the glass and drifting back to sleep.
Eka was curled up against the back of the couch and lightly caressing him in her arms. She stayed up long enough to make sure that he had stopped stirring. Eka had never seen him look so at peace, as he was now deep in sleep and snoring quietly with a smile on his face. She wondered how much Solas would really remember in the morning as her eyelids became overwhelmingly heavy. She had stayed up as long as she could and finally let sleep take her. At some point in the night, Dorian came back to check on them. Eka had fallen asleep with her head pressed between Solas' head and the arm of the sofa. Solas' head and neck were rested on her shoulders, and her arm was draped across his chest. Dorian smiled as he lovingly covered the two sleeping elves with a blanket.