A/N: And here's chapter 3! Frankly, this one physically hurt me to write… Hopefully, it hurts you guys just as much! ;)

WARNING: THERE BE SPOILERS

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.

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Title: A Sky Full of Compassion

Rating: T

Pairing: Solas/F!Lavellan

Summary: "When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you." – Khalil Gibran

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"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." – Margaret Mead


X=X= CHAPTER 3: AND THE WHOLE WORLD CHANGED =X=X

Indeed, the Herald, no, the Inquisitor was an interesting woman.

Her charisma, even without speaking, was immense. She had taken to the role of being Herald like an experienced mother watching over children. She inspired hope in those around her. She was always so willing to learn, and would often seek him out in order to do so. She would make an excellent leader for the Inquisition.

She was also intelligent. It was evident in the way she was able to discern where an enemy's weak point was, the way she held her bow with experience. It was in the way she was able to tell what spell an enemy mage was about to use, in the way she easily hid her own magic from the Templars and Sister Nightingale's knowledge, an impressive feat. It was in the way that out of all of them, her knowledge paralleled his own, almost putting them on equal footing. It was in the way they would debate for many long hours while on the road, going back and forth at such a speed that even the Tevinter magister and the Circle Enchanter found it difficult to keep up. The fact that she did so without even speaking was commendable.

However, Solas knew that there was something dark to her – it was in the way she watched their companions, sitting slightly away from everyone else, in the way that she would listen to his words, soaking up everything he said with a knowing glint in her eye. It was in the way she was cautious around everyone, with the exception of himself. It was like she was hiding a secret, a secret so large that she was afraid of others finding out. Except him.

A secret so deeply ingrained in her that she hid it from view from all. He himself could only brush the surface of whatever it was, and even then, he could not glean much. Varric's nickname for her rang true. A real 'Mystery'.

In order to learn more about her, as well as to tell her a bit more about himself, Solas brought her into the Fade, sharing his dream of Haven before it was attacked. His curiosity was peaked when he realized that she was well aware that they were in the Fade, despite not being there for very long.

Once again, she had surprised him.

They had just left the Chantry building, him explaining to her his feelings during that very first attack, many, many months before.

"You were never going to wake up. How could you, a mortal, sent physically through the Fade?" he questioned. He turned to her, spreading his arms wide in emphasis.

"I was frustrated. Frightened," he confessed. "The spirits I might have consulted had been driven away by the Breach. Although I wished to help, I had no faith in Cassandra… Or she in me. I was ready to flee."

The Inquisitor tilted her head, white bangs falling into her eyes as she looked at him. She pointed to the sky with a single finger, making a circle, then gestured to him. 'The Breach threatened the whole world. Where did you plan to go?'

"Someplace far away where I might research a way to repair the Breach before its effects reached me." At this, she raised an eyebrow, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Solas shrugged, giving a wry grin.

"I never said it was a good plan."

He turned to face the glowing green scar in the sky, its light even brighter in memory, holding out a hand.

"I told myself: 'One more attempt to seal the Rifts'." Letting it drop to his side, Solas then frowned. "I tried, and failed. No ordinary magic would affect them.

"I watched the Rifts expand and grow, resigned myself to flee, and then…" Taking a deep breath, he turned back to her, folding his hands behind his back and giving her an appraising look.

"'It seems you hold the key to our salvation,'" he quoted, "You had sealed it with a gesture… And right then, I felt the whole world change."

He meant it as an expression, a term to describe how his hopes were lifted at her ability. He had meant to describe how, at the closing of that first Rift, his confidence returned, that the People wouldn't be subjected to slavery for that much longer. However, it seemed that she hadn't taken the expression in the way he intended.

Instead, she slowly blinked, a hand moving to rest on her hip. The movement immediately drew his attention to one of her sharp eyebrows raising as she stared at him, her blue eyes considering. He could feel them, piercing, burning, staring right through him. There was a twitch to her lips, as if she was struggling to keep from smiling.

Without gesturing, she asked her question with a simple shift of her posture: 'Felt the whole world change?'

"A figure of speech," he replied, his own lips twitching. How perceptive of her. She continued to surprise him. Indeed, her deeds and persuasion, her confidence and pride drew her to him, though he knew not why. She was a mystery that he very much wished to solve.

She cautiously moved closer, a hand reaching up to brush his arm. Her eyes flickered up to look at him from under her eyelashes as she tilted her head. Solas felt his throat run dry.

"You change… everything," he said hesitantly. Unconsciously, his body moved closer to hers. Her eyes fluttered, shyly flickering away, a tiny, seemingly self-conscious smile coming to her lips. Her hand reach up, tucking her white hair behind a pointed ear, as if she was deeply embarrassed.

He lightly coughed, looking away. What was this feeling?

It was a steady burn in his chest, an itching at his arms, a tingle that went up his spine. Her constant questions, her wide eyed curiosity drew him in. It was like the dreams he found himself in, entrancing and mesmerising with the knowledge that they contained. Yet, it was surprisingly different. She had a stronger pull. She was a walking, 'talking', real mystery, unlike anything he had ever seen.

He was captivated.

There was a tug on his arm. As he turned to look at her, lips parting in a half-formed question, a hand touched his face. The words died out before he even spoke as he found himself taken hostage, her sky blue eyes locking with his, freezing him in place.

Pressure on his cheek made his eyes shut. He couldn't stop himself from leaning in, his hands finding their way to her waist and pulling her closer. The press of her lips brushed his cheek, making their way to his chin, then to the underside of his jaw. It was a flutter, a soft breeze against him, but never once did it reach his lips. In fact, it was as if she wasn't even there to begin with, a figment of his imagination. Just a wisp, a memory long forgotten, solid, yet he feared that if he pulled her even closer, she would dissipate. He sighed, opening his eyes to look at her.

She was so close, her hands reaching around his neck and her body pressed against his in order to kiss his face. She was staring at him, and Solas could feel the connection, like charged lightning begging to be unleashed.

He wanted to kiss her.

However…

"We shouldn't," he found himself saying, breathing heavily despite himself. "This isn't right. Not even here."

And as he stared at her, he saw her eyes. Sorrow and understanding filled them, despite the threatening of tears that formed in her gaze. It made his chest ache in an unexplainable agony, one that he could only compare with when he first awoke from Uthenera. But even so, they shouldn't. He was Fen'Harel, He Who Walked Alone, the Dread Wolf, and she…

"It is probably best if you… Wake up."

… And she wasn't real, no matter how much he wished she was.