If there was something good Solona could say for the Circle, it had honed her conflict resolution skills like nothing else. All the gossiping and in-fighting that she'd never particularly cared to get involved with led to lots of bruised egos, which led to lots of Solona smoothing things over so they could stop yelling in her corner of the library.

So when Alistair had his little outburst towards Elissa about how she should've tried harder to save Isolde, Solona couldn't help but be a little relieved. Socializing with Antivan assassins and Orlesian bards and golems was not her thing; smoothing over an argument was.

"Hi," she said, standing until Elissa gestured to the spot next to her on the ground.

"I'm not the one you should be talking to right now," Elissa said, gazing off into the fire. "Alistair's the one in mourning."

"I just wanted to spend some time with you," Solona replied, "You did save me, after all."

Elissa half-smirked. "You know, this'd work on Alistair. It's not quite as effective on a noblewoman." She paused for a second of contemplation. "I guess it would work on most nobility. The Couslands aren't vain enough to need our egos stroked." At Solona's surprised lack of response, Elissa smiled tightly. "I'm very familiar with what you're trying to do, Solona."

Solona blushed. "I just… Are you okay?"

There was a moment of silence as Elissa stared off. "I am. I understand why he's upset. When you lose family - even family you didn't like very much - it's hard not to obsess over what you could have done differently. How you could have saved them. And I'm sure it's easier to deal with the guilt when you can put it on someone else."

"It must be," Solona said quietly. "We've never discussed your family…"

"I don't want to," Elissa said. "After I kill Howe. Once I avenge them. Then…" She paused. "I'd like to talk about them."

"I'd like that," Solona replied, and she genuinely meant it.

After a moment of companionable silence, Elissa quietly said, "I'm sorry I killed that man in the Circle without you. If I'd known…"

It took Solona a moment to realize what Elissa was talking about, but once she did, she shook her head. "It's all right. Honestly, I don't think I could have taken on Uldred." Her face darkened for a moment. "I should have convinced Irving to question Jowan, find out how he learned blood magic… Or found Cullen sooner. If I hadn't waited so long to look for him –"

"You'd be dead," Elissa said, and Solona fell silent. "You did more than anyone else could. None of it is your fault."

"Isn't it?" Solona asked, looking to Elissa as though the senior warden could give her some sort of absolution. "The demon tortured him with me. She used me to hurt him. If I hadn't… He told me it was inappropriate, and I know it's because he was looking out for me because he's a templar, but I didn't care, I -"

"Solona," Elissa said firmly. The mage fell silent. "It took four of us to do what you did alone in that tower. You did everything you could to save that man. What happened to him is horrible, but it's not your fault. If you hadn't been there, it would've found something else to use against him."

"It is my fault," she said, and she hated herself for the tears in her voice, "He told me it was. The things he said to me –"

"The things he said after being tortured for Maker knows how long and watching all the other Templars give in to the demons?" Elissa asked. It was clear she wasn't going to coddle Solona. "If he doesn't regret how he treated you already, I promise it will happen. And even if it doesn't, that's not your fault. It's the fault of the templar who can't realize a mage did everything in her power to rescue him from a demon. If he can't appreciate that, he doesn't deserve to have you castigate yourself over him."

Solona fell silent, not bothering to wipe the tears off her face.

"We're Wardens," Elissa continued quietly. "Our decisions save lives. Or they end them. You can remember those you couldn't save, but you can't carry them forever. The weight will crush you, Solona. "

Slowly, Solona nodded. It was good advice for Isolde, good advice for the other mages she couldn't save, but she didn't think she could ever apply it to Cullen.

The two sat in silence, listening to the soft chatter from their other companions.

Dog barked in the background, and Sten growled in response. Solona half-giggled.

Elissa took that as a sign, and looked over with a half-grin. "So. Are you going to convince Alistair I'm not Maferath now?"

Solona snorted. "I suppose I can try. Although I happen to agree with you, that this went as well as it could have."

"Flirt with him and all will be forgiven," Elissa said, waving her hand dismissively. At Solona's blush, she raised both eyebrows. "You two do realize the entire camp has noticed, correct?"

"Noticed what?" Solona asked, voice squeaking.

"The two of you dancing around one another," Elissa said, looking genuinely amused. "We've a pool running for when you two will finally do something about it. "

"Elissa Cousland," Solona said, sounding scandalized, "You do not!"

Elissa actually laughed. "Go talk to Alistair."

Solona rose, feeling surprisingly better than she had in weeks.

"Elissa…" she said, smiling. "Thank you."

"No, thank you," Elissa replied. "I've five sovereigns riding on this."