At once Solas moved back from Theria. The two of them turned to the door. The floor felt as if it fell out from under Theria at the sight of who was standing in the entrance to the rotunda.

Varric stood beside a Dalith elf. The dwarf had a look about him that Theria didn't much like. His look told her that the fact she and Solas were together would be all over Skyhold by dawn. But it was the elf which made her feel sick on the inside.

Out of everyone in Thedas, why did he have to be the one to appear now? Her older brother stood in the door, his violet eyes wide and mouth open. But the shocked expression was melting away faster than her heart had been racing moments before. His eyes narrowed, flashing with rage as he glared at Solas.

Theria moved before he brother could, placing herself between them. "Creators," she growled, "what are you doing here, Fae?!" Even the use of his childhood nickname didn't make Eridian look away from Solas.

"You!" he growled, tones low and harsh. He started forward, almost shaking with rage.

Theria moved to keep her brother away from her love. She wasn't going to let Eridian wreck this.

"Wha—" the word was cut off as Eridian tripped over his own feet. Thud – Theria winced at the sound of her brother landing hard on the ground. Some of his tools slid out of his bag and over his head.

If he hadn't been about to attack Solas, Theria would have laughed and teased him about being his normally klutzy self. But such words were logged in her throat and the joking nature she normally had around her brother, lost in her anger that he had meant Solas harm.

Theria stormed over to him and yanked him up by his bag. "Excuse us, ma lath," she told Solas with a bow her head. "I need to explain something to my brother." With those words, she dragged Eridian from them.

"Theria!" Eridian wiggled from her grip when they were just outside of the rotunda. "What in Mythal's name are you doing with a flat ear?" he demanded, glaring down at her.

"We are all elvhen!" she retorted. "And Solas isn't like anyone I've ever met before."

"He's a flat ear!" Eridian shouted.

Anger flared in her. "You don't even know him, Fae!" her voice rose to match his. A part of her knew she shouldn't be shouting, but another part of her was just too pissed at her brother to care. "I love him."

Her brother gaped at her. "You can't," the words were a whispered breath. "Theria, he's not like us. He's not Dalish."

"So what?" she demanded. "He knows more about the past than Keeper Deshanna does. If those like you weren't so closed minded we could learn more about our lost history from other elvhen! Whether they are city elf or just live outside of either group!"

The sound of their shouts had drawn a few people from other rooms in the hold. Josephine and Vivienne were the first two appear while Leliana soon appeared behind Josephine.

Theria took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "What are you even doing here, Fae?" she asked at least, trying to stir the conversation away from the touchy waters of her relationship with Solas.

His jaw tightened and eyes narrowed, flashing in the fire light. This above all else told Theria that he didn't approve the change in topic. "I came to make certain you were all right," he stated, though his voice was tight and strained with his heated anger. This meant she wasn't going to wiggle out of his anger at finding her making out with Solas.

"I told you I am fine in my last letter." Theria folded her arms across her chest. "You didn't need to trek halfway across Thedas to make certain I was all right."

Eridian gave an amused snort at this. "Apparently I did." His violet eyes flickered towards the door leading back into the rotunda.

"I'm not a child, Fae," she snarled the words. "I've not needed protection in years." Why else would the keeper have sent her to the conclave? She wanted to shout that at him as well, but knew that would be pushing it. Besides he could turn that back on her by saying he had come at the keeper's word.

Eridian's eyes narrowed. "Theria," he started.

"Don't 'Theria' me," she growled and jabbed her finger into his chest. "I've been just fine for months and now you just decide to come in and start telling me what I need to do. How I should live. And feel!"

"Theria." He caught her hand. His rough fingers covered her softer ones. "I am staying." His eyes were softer now. "Even if you don't want me to. I am your brother!"

Whatever she was going to say was lost the moment she looked into his eyes. The anger had vanished. Only concern remained. His brow furled with the emotion until it creased his vallaslin he'd chosen to honor June.

"Just no judging Solas. You don't even know him," she told her brother. "Understood, Fae?"

"But," Eridian started to protest.

"Understood?" She stressed the word, her eyes narrowing as she glared up at her brother.

Eridian sighed and bowed his head. Strands of his black fell out from the braid around his face. "It doesn't seem I have a choice," he gave a halfhearted smile. "I'll try not to judge him too harshly. But, why in Mythal's name didn't you tell me you were seeing someone?" he demanded.

"I did, I my last letter. But I'm guessing you missed it." She smiled at him and then hugged him. "However you entered, it is good to see you again, Fae."

"Well, at least one thing went right tonight."

She released him and gestured for him to follow her. "Let's see if there is a place for you to stay while you're hear." She led the way over to where Josephine still stood. "I'm sorry about making a scene, Ambassador," Theria said in polite tones to Josephine.

"It's quite all right," the ambassador said with one of her soft smiles. "I'm just glad all of our guests have already retired for the evening."

Theria winced inwardly. She hadn't even thought about how her shouting at her brother would affect the Inquisition. It was hard to keep all of it in mind, especially the fact that what she did and said mattered.

"Josephine, this is my brother, Eridian. Eridian, this is Josephine Montilyet, Lady Vivienne of the Circle of Magi, and Leliana," she introduced all three of the women to her brother.

"Sh—"

Theria elbowed him hard in the rib to stop him from insulting the women. Especially given the fact that Leliana was always polite about the fact Theria was Dalish and Josephine had gone out of her way to stop dangerous rumors from spreading. And she knew Vivienne wouldn't take too kindly to insults. She would rather her brother not end up frozen.

"Be nice," she hissed in his ear.

He glanced at her out of her corner of his eye. "Andaran atish'an," Eridian reluctantly greeted them and gave a polite bow of his head, though it was rather stiff."It's, umm, nice to meet all of you."

"And you." Josephine also gave a polite bow of her head to Eridian.

"Josephine, are there any spare rooms my brother can stay in while he's here?" Theria asked.

"Yes, there are a few rooms for visiting nobles we've repaired. One's currently free."

"Good, which?" Theria asked.

"I would be more than happy to show him the way," Josephine told her.

"Thank you, Ambassador." Theria bowed her head. She turned to her brother. "Go with Josephine. If you say something that is rude to her or anyone here, I swear you'll be wishing it was Elgar'nan's wrath you were facing and not mine."

Eridian paled. "R-right."

Theria watched them go. She needed to speak with Solas and smooth things over with him. Just leaving matters the way they were tonight might just wreck what little she'd gained relationship wise with him.

When she returned to the rotunda it was to find that Varric had left. Solas sat alone at the table mixing paint as if nothing had interrupted him. His expression was just as calm as always. Even when he looked up from the work as she neared.

"Ir abelas," she started. "If I had known Eridian was coming I would've given you about a week's warning."

A soft smile pulled at the corns of his thin lips. "It's quite all right, vhenan." He leaned back in his seat and wiped the flour and from his hands. "I would have been more shocked if he hadn't reacted at all."

Theria managed a weak smile. As usual she wasn't certain if his words meant he was okay with what had happened or upset over. His tone rarely changed, even when talking certain aspects of the Fade. She could count the number of times she'd seen him physically reflect what he was feeling on one hand. And one of them had been in the Fade, so she wasn't certain that counted.

"You're worried," he stated.

"Not really," Theria confessed. "Well, not about him actually managing to hurt you. Eridian's not really good at fighting." Or even with the bow he carried. He was more likely too shot himself in the foot than he was to actually get further than stringing the arrow.

Solas tilted his head a little. "That's not what I was saying you were worried about," his tone was even.

At this Theria laughed. They'd been together for only a few days now and he was already better at reading her than anyone outside of Eridian. "You're right, it's not. Eridian isn't really the most open minded of people. He holds a lot against elves outside of the clans," she confessed. "I always assumed it had something to do with our father, but he's never really explained anything from then."

Solas didn't speak, for which Theria was grateful. She wanted to get all of this out so that he knew what to expect the next time he saw Eridian.

"Eridian just needs time to get to know you," she continued. "He'll come around and hopefully stop seeing that there is a difference between all of the People just by where we live." She grinned at this.

"I doubt a few weeks will sway his mind," Solas told her.

She sighed. Solas was right, but still she wanted her brother to see that the only thing really separating the Dalish from the rest of the People was the vallaslin they wore. None of the city elves she'd meet here had seemed too different from the people she had grown up with outside of the obvious differences of culture. Some of them even worshiped the elven gods.

"Still," she whispered more to herself than to Solas, "I wish our people could unit again like during Andraste's war." It was a bitter confession and part of her never wanted to see that pass because it would mean war between them and the humans. Yet, still, it would be nice to have a place for all of the People. A home.

If she had been paying more attention she would have caught the odd look in Solas's eyes. And the way he looked at her in that moment, but she wasn't. Her mind was locked on distant thoughts of ancient battles and a place where all the People could gather, coming together where they truly belonged.

Elven phrases used:
Vallaslin – blood writing (Dalish tattoos honoring the gods)

(Author's Note: Yes, Eridian is a complete klutz. I actually toyed with the idea of him not being one but the idea of his tripping and running into walls all the time was just too good to pass up. Besides it off sets his "I will defend my sister at all costs" mentality.

Also the reason Eridian has violet eyes will be explained in the series I am working on and, yes, Final Hour is one of four books and this is a side story. As a hint, three of Eridian's and Theria's family play a major role in Final Hour.

Last note: The nickname Theria has for her brother was actually what I was calling him before I had a name decided for him. I liked the idea behind is so much I kept it as a name that only Theria uses for him.)