Chapter 13

Now Above

Walking through the door, the stone shines dark in the Fade. The silence here stirs within ones being. Power sparks in the reflections of the glistening stone as sorrow weeps down the very same stone.
"Lavellan", Morrigan's voice firm echoes in the silence. "If there were ever a time to still your heart." Morrigan showing worry, for the elf. Muin puts her hand on Morrigan's arm to stop her from what she might say next. The friends walk slowly, uneasy in the unknown around them, as they approach a set of steps. The stone holds old elven carvings and begins to twist into the shape of a place lost long ago. It's cold and dark. Echoes mark the openness of this haunted place. The feeling in the room keeps tense as Muin holds firm to Coles arm. Looking on he stands fixed in the moment. Morrigan is beginning to get visions, she knows something. "Lavellan, you must meet them alone, but we will be close enough to hear your call." Muin breaks the heavy moment with a calm, allowing ease to enter the space. Lavellan is radiating with feelings that are pulling, pushing, tearing, and crying within her. Her blood, shaking in her veins with expectation, as she walks up the steps slowly. She can feel the pull, calm and inviting. Each lights up a bright glimmering, with the forgiving placement of her foot.

Reaching the top, the image has come into its full form. A place worthy of a god set before her eyes. It glistens dark, but the splendor is clear. The beauty nothing like the fade back at Adamant. Pieces whole, but somehow still not complete. She feels light here, like she should lift upwards. Her feet touch the surface firmly, but the sensation is more like a glide than a firm placement. Settling herself, focusing on what is real, on what is solid. The stone – she whispers finding herself again, her heart now back in rhythm with her breath. Spirits begin to stir, focus returns as she walks toward the visions. At first a vision, a conversation between two, whispers of an old war; scared, shadowed in red light, a trace from a time before. Walking up closer, spirits are crying over a loss, but the image is hard to make out. The area is starting to radiate in awoken light. Arches frame the scene before her and light gleams from the cracks, in the old darkened elven stone. The timid elf continues to walk up closer to a form set in the middle of the room. The statue of a wolf, howling upwards.

As if they were never there, the traces of spirits all disappear as the silence falls hard. Walking to the statue, invited by a light shining from behind. Beginning to feel aware, something she knows warms her. Uncertain, she walks behind the statue, a slight passage holding the light towers high out of sight. The ground has become like the forest, grassy and warm. Walking down the passage, stone comes into light. The passage opens to a room that towers in height. Its beauty overcomes her for a moment. Crystal spires rising past the ability of sight. The song is beautiful, almost pulling her out of her own skin, as the light shines down illuminating her form. Unfocused by the towers, Lavellan finds herself caught off guard. Something is with her now. Looking over, a statue … no, a person stands shaded in an unlit passageway. Fading off, leaving whispers of a song behind. Lavellan pulls her sight from the spires and runs to follow. The passageway begins to warm with a slight light, just as the others. This one opens to a ruin she knows all too well. Nodding her head a bit, reminding herself that this place forms differently than below. The two halla tower over the old bath, the water draws her in, filling with desperate emotions, her breath stilled. She feels the sensation, the tingling on her skin wrapping around her, drawing her in.
"You hunt well, Lethallan." The voice calmly states.
Her heart stops, frozen. This moment held heavy, her chest fills, bursting for a moment. She is oddly calm, dispassionate. Her skin warms and mind unwinds; regaining focus, a breath.
"Solas?" Her voice barely making it past her lips.
Stepping out of the darkness and meeting her in the same spot he had left her many months before, she now stands face-to-face with the mage. Half of her wanting to just grab him and embrace him, the other wanting to pull every answer from his mind. She stands unsure of this moment. She thought she was facing a fight, is she still? He stands guarded.
"What are you … she starts to say, but knowing better she finishes her sentence … why here?"
"This is the answer you are seeking, is it not?" He states with a calm manner, both hands lay at his side as if to say, I surrender – the truth.
"You are who can help? What they … all of them have led me to?" Overcome with emotion, the pieces of herself she thought so guarded, every one of them… knew. Morrigan, Muin, and Cole had been preparing her for this moment all along; all of them directing her in differing positions. Compassion for healing the hurt of two souls lost from each other. Muin for the future of the elven people. Morrigan for the distrust in godly matters, always the voice to create doubt, focus, and direction. Her thoughts broken, knowing he is even reading them, had she ever been alone?
"Why did you leave? Why are you here? Who are you?" The questions she can no longer contain spilling out of her mouth, uncontrolled.

Keeping his distance from the woman he almost lost himself to, he beings to address her in complete control, stilling his heart. These questions you deserve the answers to, Lethallan. Please know, I had every intent to tell you. However, I had to consider that if you knew, then you would have no choice but to be a part of what was to come. I could not force that on you. As you can see, how could it be? I have a duty. I cannot abandon them, for my own wants." He begins.
"Force me? Solas I can make my own decisions." Lavellan makes her plea.
"Yes, but with so many distractions, the unknown magic in your hand; Corypheus, the people. You had so much weight on you, how could I have trusted that you would not regret whatever decision you made?" Solas argues humbly.
"I suppose you could not have known." Lavellan drops her guard, showing her understanding.
"I have longed walked this world. I once roamed the halls of kingdoms long-lost to the manipulations of the humankind. I once stood as a Pantheon for our people, the burden you have come to know, I have carried. I made choices – as you have – trying to shape the world for our people, while protecting what we had, from the grasp of those who wanted to destroy the magic we hold. Our own people, Lethallan, turned against us." His passion starting to weigh heavy in his voice. "The spirits were in danger, dying, I had to protect them. I tried to reach the people. Chased away as the dalish who could not turn their sights from the lore that they had become to believe. The more they held to it Lethallan, the more real it became. Even as I fought for their freedom, the same fight you suffer through now. Pushing themselves further and further away, scattered. They were in fear. Without their gods, the imagery they held higher than themselves. All they saw was revenge, refusing the spirits. They turned away and everything we tried to protect fell, once again."
"Fen'Harel take the dalish," looking up at him with full eyes. "They caused our people to fear you, twisting the story." (He must have had great respect for you, touched by rebellion and you didn't even flinch. If ever a time to still your heart, does she know? When the times comes for your choice, refuse vengeance… Voices echo in her memory. Abelas knew as well? Connected to them all along.
"Yes, they call me, Dread Wolf. Refusing to see reason, they hid behind the same fear that kept them from their own freedom." Solas now standing with his hands clasped behind his back. Glad to see understanding. "When I awoke to see everything I had caused." His voice drops into his heart.
"Did you think I would run, Solas?" Lavellan reminds him of the friendship they had.
"I did not know, in times of passion we, we sometimes act on choices that we should think on. You yourself said that you were not sure if the magic from the orb had changed you. How would you be making a clear decision, a free thought?" Solas argues mildly. "But now you come of your own ambition, your own choice. You could have stopped, you could have ended this, but you fought more. You made a choice to free a world, one that you do not even fully understand. Your wisdom overshadows those who came before you. Your choices, not made of selfish ambition or lust for revenge, you are a pure free spirit, Lethallan and you allow the spirits to hold importance in this world."
"Solas, I have come to know the spirits, just as I have come to learn of the people. There is good and it overcomes." Lavellan stands firm, in her own position, no longer a shadow of someone else.
"Yes, and you could have dismissed it. You could have taken power for your own intent. But, you never hardened your heart." Solas says looking down as if to shadow shame.
"Well, I am here now, Solas." Lavellan falling easily into the moment.
"That you are and now you know… part of the truth." His voice breaks through her thoughts. "I have deeply betrayed you. But, I cannot be free Lethallan. I made a choice that has caused ruin and nearly took everything away. The people are not free and cannot be without our magic. It was my fault that Corypheus had the orb. I could not keep it from his grasp. When I awoke to see what I had caused, how could I look away? How could I just tend to my selfish desires when so many suffered because of me? How could I then, make you a part of it?" Holding for a moment he asks her the question that weighs heavy over everyone. "What do you plan to do now?" He searches her over to learn of her purpose.
The decision that she has prepared for, now right in front of her. A fate hanging in the midst.

"Solas, you fought with us. You helped. Those are not the actions of someone who deserves seclusion. You made a choice to help." Lavellan eases her gestures and slowly walks closer to Solas, showing no sign of fear. She places her hand delicate on his begging cheek. "You don't have to do this alone." With more love than he has ever known, she whispers the sweetest words he has ever heard, "I forgive you." Placing her forehead gently against his, she means him to feel her and know that she intends him to know the voice of the many who still hold hope in the return of their freedoms.

In that moment the room filled, full, bursting brightly. His body glowing in a blue haze. The darkness that held the form around them was lifting and the beauty of old elven magic envelops the room. The song bursting through. A soul worth holding. Softly he turns his face towards her lips, his arms wrap around her waist. His body embracing hers, holding her tightly against his form. His gaze focused effusively on her, full, filled with passion. Becoming lost in the moment, he let's go and places his lips fully on hers. Now shining with the same glowing aura, she softly releases Solas, as she becomes enveloped in a whirling spirit, which seems to soak into her. Her breath creeps from her lips, in a golden smoke. The elf holds her chest tight, as it fills with an essence that surges through her. The others come running in, drawn by the magical force released, and all stand in awe as Solas and Lavellan fall to their knees. Solas is still holding to her as she falls partially into his arms. Morrigan looks on in shock. Muin calmly smiles. Cole, holding Muin's hand, is glowing brightly in his smile. Cassandra draws her sword.

Lavellan looks up at Solas, Solas looking back in shock, "I didn't..." He begins, but stops to see if she is, still … she. Helping her to her feet. He looks on in worry, confused himself, not expecting her to accept him. Lavellan pushes up into a stand, looking herself over.
"What do you feel?" Solas reaches for insight.
"I feel… I feel… complete." Lavellan says, looking herself over not knowing what just happened.
"So it has begun." Muin states tenderly.
"They get to begin, if he chooses to forget the parts that made him dark. She forgave so he could be free." Coles begins to unravel the moment. "Purity, beating down in her blood old and new. She chooses her purpose. He doesn't have to be alone." Cole whispers the words like a heartbeat.
"Dread Wolf? But, I sense Mythal, where is…" Morrigan states in confusion. Focusing her thoughts, she can now hear the story from the whispers left.

All around them the story plays out, as traces of spirits show the history lost in stories. Solas, a young elf holding pride, in all his people were. Leading wars to gain freedom for their people. He was there, when Andraste fell, unknowing that she had already gave up the spirit of Mythal to her child. A gift that she kept from him, betraying him and sending him back, alone once more. For ages he slept, awoken when she needed him, left alone when she finished with his aid; feeling the weight of blood on his head. He was just a companion, a wolf to protect. Let out of his cage when she chose. Again, the call pulled at him and as he awoke, there stood one with great power. Alone, he could not face him, with no one there to aid him the heavens broke open and the world met with war against the demons he kept away. Only this time, he left before betrayal came and he took what should have been given to him long ago. Something refused by the friend who called herself, Flemeth. He'll have to do it alone. Images of Flemeth releasing Mythal into Solas fade away. Morrigan holds her head in her hand, speechless for a moment, her thought pushes forth. "Flemeth is gone? You, you now carry Mythal?" Morrigan feels a sense of relief and disbelief.
"She meant it to go to you, her daughter, as she had done for many years. Her wish for vengeance has long ruled over the lands, betraying any who stood in her way, hoping you would carry that sentiment on." Solas looks to answer the witches concerns.
"So, I am bound now, to you? What about…?" Morrigan trying to gain understanding in a moment that floods her with emotion, she holds her tongue. Unsure if she should reveal her thought.
"You have served us in far greater terms than your mother, Morrigan. You protected our people's secrets at any cost. You have proven yourself, for far too long, to be without your freedom. I do not seek to bind you, but I do hope that you will continue to aid us in bringing peace to the people." Solas gives a slight bow never breaking eye contact with the witch, letting her know they will be watching regardless; though not with malice. "Flemeth may well remain, she has tasted immortality and still seeks her vengeance. By refusing to give up Mythal, she has kept the others locked away. Refusing to return Mythal to her place, among our people driven by her purpose. If she does have a plan, I do fear what may come. Urthemiel was one of the tainted ones after all."
"So the gods are, held in the beyond?" Cassandra asks seeking a knowledge lost to them all for so long.
"The spirits were placed safely in the beyond, to keep them from the corruption. There are whispers that remain, known as the forgotten ones, passed along into those who walk the world below. Some corrupted by the blight, others seeking refuge in the bodies of those willing to protect them. They cannot enter this place, lost, as they either carry on to help the people below or had become corrupted by those who called to them." Solas explains to the Divine, knowing her words hold great weight over the people.
"So you didn't trick them all? Locking them all away?" Morrigan distracted and fascinated connecting the whispers of those who served with the words now coming from Mythal.
"It was not trickery for those who are safe, but the others, the forgotten ones may hold a different sentiment. It was a mistake to leave them; however, at the time, a choice had to be made. Mythal had fallen and waiting any longer could have led to corruption of them all. Do we risk corrupting everything, or do we save what we can?" Solas expresses the conflict that they all know the implications of.
"But, isn't Mythal a goddess?" A question to be asked by a society, still enveloped by the Chantry tales.
Solas smiles at the Divine, knowing her thirst for understanding. "Spirits do not bare gender, the vessels that carry them do."
"What spirit does she then carry?" Cassandra finally able to speak the question left to her misunderstanding.
"She carries what she has had all along, a pure spirit now aided by a spirit trapped long in one indentured to another." He looks to Lavellan with an overwhelming sense of love.
"The spirit you held for so long stands… by your own side – rebellion." Muin smiles, knowing that her friend is the right choice to lead what may come.
Morrigan looks to Muin, "You knew, you knew the whispers as well?" Morrigan reveals that she did indeed mean to lead Lavellan to the Dread Wolf's calling, but she never thought it would be to rule beside him.
"I did indeed know her calling, we are all connected through the song, as you are now to us, Keeper of the Well. The power held in love, is strong enough to forgive. She could have betrayed him, but now she will protect us." Muin smiles, knowing that good is to come for their people.
"It was not his plan. He meant to carry it himself, but she forgave him, she allowed him to be free." Cole shines brightly. "He came to know betrayal, something he feared would come, so he left to keep her from that choice; he didn't know, he thought it better this way." Cole reveals the age-old pain the elf carried, from the times betrayed by those he gave aid.
"I never intended you to…" Solas begins. Realizing the beauty remains in her spirit. How could he have expected them to not be drawn to her?
"I'd never abandon you, wolf, you'd been such a good friend, Tel'abelas." Lavellan smiles reading his thoughts.
"You still surprise me, ma sa'lath."

She held up to every ritual, every test. She did not need to prove herself, she did what needed done in pureness. Without the history of old, to misguide her ambition. A vessel worthy to help win the rebellion below. With that, a chance is coming for their people, a time they have waited thousands of years for, no longer in the hands of personal vendetta. Soft voices of the spirits that stir sing the song that carried them through waiting for this day.

Melava inan enansal
ir su araval tu elvaral
u na emma abelas
in elgar sa vir mana
in tu setheneran din emma na
lath sulevin
lath araval ena
arla ven tu vir mahvir
melana 'nehn
enasal ir sa lethalin

Taking her hand and guiding her to an area that looks to be Skyhold. It's changed somehow, boasting the magic of Tarasyl'an Te'las. The veil broken, she can see everything as one. The two lovers arriving to their kingdom. He remains holding her hand looking on her beauty. Still lost in the realization that she never gave up on him. The two embrace, an impassioned kiss. A kiss sealing the fate of all. A kiss sealing her fate, forever. Undressing her, he finally forgets the pieces making him dark, letting go into the arms of the woman he came to love, more than any other. The woman who did not abandon him. A deep kiss, his fingers grabbing on the soft, round parts of her flesh – pulling her closer to him.

Muin, grabs Coles hand and leads him away toward the eluvian.
"I helped." Cole says, while walking off hand-in-hand with Muin, as they lead the others out of the eluvian and leave the lovers to enjoy each other; before the next day dawns.