Chapter 18!

I really have to mention I'm not a doctor. Wow, I have no idea what I'm doing. So, well, just go with it :p Uh, please? :p

Disclaimer: not mine.

-o-

Chapter 18 - Solas, I Swear To Merlin

She had no idea that she had fallen asleep – knocked unconscious by the spell more like it – but she knew she was waking up again. She also knew her spell might have killed the man she loved, and she desperately tried to open her eyes, to move, to…anything.

She couldn't.

Magical depletion, a small voice somewhere in her head said. You almost lost your magic.

Well, if it had saved Solas, Hermione would gladly give up her magic.

She would know soon, though, if only she could move.

It felt like hours before her mind began to wake up enough for her to begin sensing things. Like the fact that she was warm. Her hand was particularly warm, because the surface her hand was on was so warm. And the surface…moved? Like someone breathing?

"I'm on the verge of threatening you again, vhenan," she heard a soft voice murmur, and she felt something warm against her forehead. "Because, Lethallan, if you have hurt yourself because of me, I will be…upset."

The ice in Hermione's veins thawed. Solas. It was Solas' voice. He was even playing with her hair.

He was alive. He was so alive that he could play with her hair and threaten her.

He was alive.

Hermione fought off the last of the fog in her mind, trying her best to get back control of her limbs.

Finally, she thought as she felt the control returning to her, and she opened her eyes. Her hand was on Solas' chest, and her head on his shoulder. He was lying on his back, and she was curled up to him on his side.

Not important, she thought as she bolted upright and turned around in a flash, kneeling next to Solas, practically hovering over him.

"Lethallan, are you-"

"Don't care. How are you feeling? Any pains?" she asked as she cast the diagnostic spell again – mostly green, thank Merlin – but she couldn't believe it. He had been so close to death that it was strange how green it was, so she cancelled it, and began looking him over.

She placed a hand over his heart. His heart was beating. It sounded strong, even. She then placed her hands on his abdomen, searching with her magic for something wrong. She found nothing.

"Hermione."

She turned to look at him, and placed a hand over his heart again. "Solas, I swear to Merlin, if you don't tell me how you feel, and rather fucking quickly at that, I will undo all the healing I did."

Solas chuckled as he put his hand over hers. "I feel fine, Lethallan. No pain. Exhausted, yes. But no pain."

Hermione felt her eyes brim with tears as relief washed over her. He was alive.

She felt Solas' hand tighten over hers. "Lethallan," he said, sounding rather worried, "what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"You're not dead," she whispered. "You're not dead."

And then, she leaned down, and kissed him.

She didn't even think. She just acted. She was so relieved, so happy, so…everything, that she couldn't do anything to stop herself. He wasn't dead, he was alive, and she...she loved him.

Solas froze at first, but then – barely a second later – he returned the kiss, entangling his hand in her hair, his arm went around her waist, and he pulled her to him.

Hermione melted in his embrace, and before she knew it, she was practically on top of him, cupping his cheek, kissing him with everything she had.

Until...someone cleared their throat, and Hermione remembered where she was. Where they were.

She - extremely reluctantly - lifted her head, and was about to look to the side, but then a voice spoke, and Hermione froze, looking into Solas' eyes.

"I was going to see if you were all right, and if Hermione had woken up, but I clearly see you are perfectly fine. I could come back later, if that would be better, yes?"

She was still looking at Solas, but hearing the amusement in Dorian's voice unfroze her, and she leaned down, touching Solas' forehead with her own as she sighed.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head again, briefly registered the amusement in Solas' eyes as well, and then she turned to look at Dorian.

"Oh, shit," she breathed as she took in the scenery. "Oh, shit."

There were at least fifteen people watching them.

Oh, Merlin, she thought as she noticed at least three women and one man with tears in their eyes. "Solas," she whispered, barely moving her lips, "what do we do?"

"Well, vhenan," he whispered softly in her ear, "at this point there's not much we can do."

There was amusement in his voice, and that made everything better, for some reason.

She turned her head and looked at him. "You might be right about that, love," she said, placed a soft kiss on his lips, lay down, curled up to him, and closed her eyes.

"I think that means come back later, Dorian," Solas said in an amused voice before he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her hair.

"I see," Dorian said, and Hermione could hear the mirth in his voice. "Later, then."

Dorian chuckled, and Hermione opened her eyes for the sole reason to give the mirthful Tevinter a stern look. "Go away, Dorian."

"As you wish, My Lady," he said, and after sending a very cheeky smile in Hermione's direction, the mirthful Tevinter walked away.

There were still a whole lot of spectators, though.

Hermione ignored them, and closed her eyes again, and fell asleep with Solas' warm arms around her.

-o-

Hermione slowly came to her senses again at some point - she never knew how much time had passed when exhausted from using too much magic - realising someone was carrying her. Solas, from the feel of the tunic, and the familiar smell – he smelled like summer and autumn, she had no better way of describing it.

She was instantly annoyed. "You should be resting," she murmured. "Not strolling around carrying me."

She heard him chuckle. "I'm not exactly strolling, Lethallan. I am merely carrying you to your tent."

She managed to open her eyes, and found him looking at her with soft eyes. "How long did I sleep this time?"

"Eleven hours after you healed me, then another ten hours, or so."

"So I have slept twenty-one hours in the medic tent."

He chuckled. "Indeed. Although, so did I, more or less."

"Well, that's something, at least," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, studying his expression. "Still though, you nearly died. And by 'nearly died' I mean; you should have been dead. I have no idea how you managed to stay alive for so long."

He looked healthy, though. Happy, even. There was this light in his eyes she had never seen before.

"I couldn't just leave you behind, now could I?"

The softness in his voice left her rather breathless. "No, you couldn't," she said quietly. "No, love, you couldn't."

His arms tightened around her, and he placed a soft kiss on her temple just as they reached the tent.

-o-

"Merlin's nickers," Hermione said as she woke up. Again. "How long did I sleep this time?" She opened her eyes and found an amused Solas sitting on the edge of the bed, and she raised an eyebrow. "And when did I even fall asleep? I swear this is becoming an ordeal."

Solas chuckled. "Six hours, vhenan. How are you feeling?"

Hermione considered this for a moment. She felt fine. Refreshed. Strong. "Healed," she simply said. "My magic is restored, and I feel fine."

Solas let out a small sigh. "Are you certain?"

She nodded. "Completely. How do you feel?"

"Fine. Like I never was injured in the first place."

Hermione gave him a dark look as she sat up and climbed out of the bed. "About that," she said as he headed for the bathroom. "We are going to have words about that. I'll be back in ten minutes."

-o-

Ten minutes later, she had showered, brushed her teeth, everything one needed to feel like a human being again, and then she headed back to the bedroom, pleased to see Solas still sitting on the bed.

"Now," she said, giving him a dark look, "that was an incredibly stupid thing to do."

He met her eyes without hesitation. "Hermione. Do you honestly believe I was about to leave you to die?" He cocked his head, gazing at her for a moment. "What would you have done if the roles were reversed?"

Hermione sighed. "The same. But that's different."

"Why?" Solas asked as he got up from the bed and stood in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Why is that different?"

"Because…" she rolled her eyes. "Because I say so."

He chuckled. "If you say so, vhenan, it must be true."

She gave him an amused smile. "See? You get it."

He smiled back as he cupped her cheek, looking almost hesitant for a moment. Hermione didn't hesitate, however. She had been so close to losing him. Too close. And considering how the end was still just as nigh as ever, it could happen again. There was no time for hesitation.

And so, she kissed him. And the Dread Wolf kissed her back. With passion.

Until...someone cleared their throat.

"I swear," she murmured against Solas' lips, "if that's Dorian again, I will hex him."

"It is Dorian," Solas murmured back, and Hermione sighed.

Turning her head, she looked at the mirthful Tevinter mage. "You have five seconds to explain why you are here."

"You are still perfectly fine then, yes? I'll just…go then, shall I?"

"Well, that's one option," Hermione quipped, "or I could help you leave. I'm rather good at that."

Dorian grinned. "We are leaving tomorrow morning, if you are well enough?"

"I will see you tomorrow morning then, Dorian," she said, flicked a finger to push him out the door, slammed the door shut, locked the door and placed a silence charm on the room for good measure.

Before she could say anything, Solas was kissing her again, and every coherent thought ceased to exist. Everything was just…sensations, and she lost herself completely in it.

His soft lips on hers.

His soft hands on her skin.

Her hands on his warm skin.

Their clothes fell to the floor, piece by piece, and Hermione moaned softly when there were no clothing left to remove, and they stood there, flush against each other, skin against skin.

"My heart," Solas whispered as he picked her up and carried her to the bed. "Ma'arlath."

'My love.'

"I thought I lost you," Hermione whispered back as Solas placed her gently on the bed, and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her. "I thought I lost you."

"You didn't vhenan. I'm here."

The world went soft as Solas kissed her, and all she knew was his warmth, his soft skin, his hands and lips, driving her out of her mind.

"Please, love," she whispered, "I need you."

Solas sighed softly when she pulled him closer, urging him on top of her, but then he stilled, gazing at her for a moment. "La ar nuvenin ne, ma vhenan."

'And I need you, my heart.'

And then, with a soft thrust, he was inside her, and when he began moving, Hermione was lost to the world.

-o-

She woke up the next morning - naked - with The Dread Wolf - equally naked - wrapped around her.

She felt him kiss her shoulder. "Good morning."

Hermione sighed happily. "It is, isn't it? A good morning?"

Solas chuckled. "Indeed it is, Lethallan."

"I seriously need to shower." Solas chuckled, but promptly stopped when she continued. "Do you want to join me?"

The practically feral growl he let out made Hermione's whole body stir. "Yes, da'fen," he said, and she felt his teeth grace her neck, resulting in a most lovely shiver down her spine, "yes, I would like to join you."

-o-

They showered. A bit. For the most part, Hermione spent her time with her back against the cold tiles on the wall, and her legs wrapped around The Dread Wolf's waist. And after that, they showered again. A bit.

Hermione hadn't felt this good in ages, she realised as she wrapped a towel around her body, intending to go to the bedroom to find some clothes. The Dread Wolf – wearing nothing but a towel around his waist - trailed after her, which meant that finding Blackwall, Evelyn, and Dorian in the hallway, was just...extremely awkward.

"Oh," Hermione said, blushing, "hey."

"Oh? Hey? That's all you have to say?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, looking at Dorian. "What, do you want me to explain to you why we are coming out of the bathroom clad in towels only? Well, it's because it's the new hype. It's called fashion. Get with it."

Hermione realised Dorian wasn't looking at her anymore, his eyes were fixed on something behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder.

Oh, she thought. I can't blame him.

Solas was standing with the white towel hanging low on his hips, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, and his arms crossed over his chest. There was a small smirk on his face, and his eyes were slightly narrowed, causing his eyebrows to be all sexy. Sweet baby Jesus, Hermione thought and looked at Dorian again. And then Evelyn. Evelyn was staring at Solas as well, and Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can we help you with anything? If not, could you let us past?"

"Do you share?" Dorian finally said as he looked at Hermione again.

"Absolutely not," she replied, and walked past him with Solas trailing after her. "And Dorian, if you so much as think about moving any towels, it won't be bird feathers in my hair next time."

They entered the room, and Hermione had barely managed to close the door before Solas' lips were on hers. "You, Hermione," he murmured against her lips, "are a magnificent woman."

Hermione giggled, but her giggle was muffled as Solas pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly.