Chapter 2

Solas sat in the evening twilight, stars just becoming visible around him. The team had been in the Western approach for what had felt like weeks, perhaps it had just been days. A varghest scurried around just a safe enough distance away that he didn't feel the need to alert the others nor pull his staff out be on the alert. He watched as it looked for prey, something to eat in this massive desolation. Those were the only words to describe it.

"Massive desolation..." he said quietly to himself in a peaceful.

"Copper for your thoughts?" Alweyna sat down beside him a cup of tea in hand. It was oddly cold for a night in the desert.

"Nothing really. I was just pondering one of the many elusive mysteries of how desolate this place is yet so full of life"

"Solas you're positively confusing sometimes." She smiled and shook her head. "I'm afraid I'm not much of a mystic for a mage...but I do make a wonderful dried elf root and rashvine tea. The rashvine I picked yesterday. The elf root isn't fresh I'm afraid." She offered the cup towards him.

"You know I detest tea." He said turning up his nose. "But I do suppose I could try some" he softened and took the cup.

"It promotes vitality and health. It's worth it" she smiles. "It'll keep you young" she smiled.

Solas thought to himself 'if only she knew...'

"I'm afraid our companions turned in for the night. We must not be much company" Alweyna said taking another long sip.

"No I'm afraid bull smuggled some sort of grog and they broke it out while you were looking for herbs" Solas chuckled. "Have you given much thought to your specialization field?"

"Yes. Knight enchanter." She said confidently.

"You want to be a Templar? Surely you'd prefer something that takes more intellect."

"Solas you sound like a bit of a magic snob." She said defensively. "It's a perfectly good use of magic"

"Oh yes, and become a lyrium addict while we are at it. Perhaps our dear commander could tell you something about that."

"Cullen is not an addict. He hasn't taken lyrium since his Templar days." Alweyna said rising striking her cup to the ground. "Goodnight Solas."

Solas didn't really disagree with her path, though it wouldn't be his choice. He wanted to test her to see her strength and commitment to the path. What he really wanted to do was to enter her tent and kiss her passionately. He knew that he never could.

"Look at that beast Sera." Bull said beating his chest with his fist. "The neon spots...the hate in its eyes...oh this is gonna be fun!"

"You think if I jumped on her back she'd take me for a ride?" Sera asked daggers at the ready.

"Such children." Solas shook his head staff at the ready.

"On my Mark team." Alweyna ignored. "Show her no mercy bull. Go!"

"You got it boss!" He said as he thundered towards the beast hammer in hand striking at her to throw her off balance. Sera daggers at the ready lunged quickly into the shadows lurking around her invisibly. The rifts opened overhead draining the dragon of her powers as Alweyna launched her ice atfacks.

"One more charge and she's down." She yelled over the crowd, head turned to face Solas she yelled "send a veil strike!"

At that moment in her blind spot, the dragon had managed to knock her down.

"Alweyna!" Solas yelled as she fell to the ground. He couldn't break his focus as the finished off the dragon, but Alweyna was obviously hurt, possibly fatally. "Nobody touch her." Solas said as the group gathered over her, dragon carcass in the background. "We must get her to Haven immediately."