I don't normally do shout outs but here are two that need to be done:

A special thanks to HerenyaHope. Without her a lot the ideas going into this story wouldn't have entered at all. Chapter 2 came about because of something she and I were writing together and a lot more has been influenced by her advice and help. Thank you.

And thanks to Starryskydragon'sback for reviewing.

Solas pulled himself up. Water gushed out over the slick stone. He collapsed beside Hallmar, breathing hard. It hadn't been easy pushing a block of ice carrying a dwarf through tossing water.

"Aye, this is really the last time I be following your lead down here. You be leading above ground only." Hallmar sat up beside Solas.

A chuckle escaped Solas. The movement was painful from his exhaustion. "Perhaps you're correct. Tunnels aren't my strong point."

"Perhaps?" Hallmar snorted. "I know I'm correct. You not be having any Stone sense." Hallmar pulled himself to his feet. "Now, you want to be laying there all day or finish up what we came all this way for?"

Solas sighed and pulled himself into a sitting position. He rung out the heavy, waterlogged fur around his right shoulder and arm. It did little. If anything it just made more water run under his armor.

Solas grumbled and used his staff to pull him to his feet. "Let's find that entrance, seal, and get out of here." To at a least get dry.

"Alright, at least we be agreeing on something." Hallmar grinned. Water dripped from his the braided ends of his gray sprinkled, auburn beard. His dark eyes shown in the soft light of the lyrium.

Solas cocked an eyebrow. He was certain he hadn't disagreed with the dwarf once since falling down here. He decided it was best not to point this out and instead bowed to Hallmar. "Lead the way, Child of the Stone." He gestured for Hallmar to take the lead.

"Gladly, elf." The dwarf started off and Solas fell in behind him.

The sound of boots against stone was echoed by the softer taps of Solas's staff. The lyrium shown as the only light. The twisting veins covered the floor appearing almost akin to frozen miniature rivers. Rivers which could poison him if he dared touch the veins with his bare skin. Thus, Solas focused on each step.

Hallmar led Solas through several passages. Most sloped upward but there were a few times when the two of them slid down a few feet before having to climb up the other side.

As the two of them had traveled the amount of lyrium lessened until on a few thin veins were left to provide light.

"Now, this be looking a lot better." Hallmar stopped both fists planted on his hips.

Solas stopped beside him and looked around. They had traveled several miles through the tunnels to reach this point. None of it looked familiar to him. Though, this wasn't shocking. For one, it was his first time in this particular area and, for another, he's sense of direction was flipped down here. It was no secret the thick stone and layers of earth had blocked the Fade. Thus, dwarves didn't dream. It was a matter which both unnerved and fascinated Solas. To live in a world where the Fade wasn't part of everyday life – Solas shuddered at the thought. Yet, he got a taste of it every time he entered the Deep Roads.

"This way to the entrance I be telling you about earlier." Hallmar started off once more.

After a moment, Solas followed after him. "How close?" he asked. The amount lyrium was growing smaller and smaller. It was starting to get hard to see where he was placing his feet. A soft light started to grow at the tip of Solas's staff.

"I be thinking we're almost out. With there being lyrium less now and all." Hallmar nodded and rubbed his head under his helm. "Aye, this is it." He stopped.

Water flowed on side of the passage, leading down towards the pool the two of them had fallen into. The closest lyrium was well over ten feet away. Solas turned and looked back the way they'd come. If this tunnel was closed completely it would cause a flood in the upper levels. He would have to seal the passage with enough room for the water to still run which ran the risk of the evanuris still being able to get to this lyrium.

Solas rubbed his eyes. Typical, another contingency. Well, it was better than flooding tunnels and turning dwarves against him as well as the evanuris. "I need to see if this were the lyrium ends," he stated as he turned to Hallmar.

"Aye, I not be wanting to have nearly drown for nothing."

The two of them continued up the path a ways until Solas was certain they had passed the last of the lyrium. He turned and spread out his hand. Stone ground against stone as he wove magic through it. He was careful to leave just enough space for the small stream to continue unhampered before sealing the passage.

"That should hold."

"Better be more than should, Solas," Hallmar grunted from where he had been watching. "I not be wanting to have to come back here to shoot elves for mining this place. It's not a good idea. Both shooting elves and mining this place."

"It will hold," Solas assured. "Now, shall we depart? I believe I've had quite enough of dank passages."

Hallmar chuckled. "You be just wanting to get dry."

Solas didn't bother with a retort. He just gave his friend an even look.

"Alright, I be agreeing. Let's head back to Orzammer. There are a pair of tankards with our names waiting for us there." He rubbed his hands together, licking his lips as if he could already taste the dwarven ale. "And bunch o' idiot ripe for the picking when we be showing them your gambling skills."

"Fine, fine, let's just get moving."

"Bit impatient for one of them oldest elves, aren't you, Solas?" Hallmar teased as he started off down the passage.

Solas scowled but didn't otherwise retort to this. Hallmar was trying to get under his skin and it gulled him all the more the dwarf was seceding. He would never admit it was working to the dwarf and thus, Solas refused to show anymore annoyance than a scowl.

Over a day passed before the two of them managed to make it back to the Deep Roads proper. The passage was smooth and built up until the structure vanished into the high caverns. The likes of these passages were truly a marvel to behold.

"It be good being back on even roads." Hallmar stretched as they walked down the well light road.

Solas bowed his head in silent agreement. The soft sound of his staff echoed the sound of Hallmar's boots. A few of the travelers on the road paused and stared at Solas. Their eyes brimmed with curiosity. While elves weren't uncommon in the dwarven cities, it was rare for one to travel with only one dwarf guide. Most of the elvhen came in packs with gold to buy their way to the best lyrium deposits in all of the dwarven kingdom.

"What's this? A loner with only one dwarf for company. You exploring, friend?"

Solas stopped as a group spread out before him and Hallmar. It was another band of elvhen with their dwarven guides. By the looks of the slaves in the group, they were followers of Solas's nephews: Falon'Din and Dirthamen. Given the fact the twins shared everything, it wasn't surprising their followers moved together.

Solas didn't make a move to continue forward.

The leader of the group stepped up. "Who do show allegiance to?"

Solas scowled. "None of the evanuris," he stated in even tones. "Move aside," he kept his voice polite despite the fact his eyes were narrowed at the man before him. This wasn't a good situation to be in.

A flicker of doubt passed over the man's face. His gaze locked onto Solas's pale eyes. Even a fool knew an elder from a common elf. But fools tended to make mistakes and this one was no exception to that.

"You say you're an outcast?" the man moved a little closer to Solas. "Perhaps, I could buy information from you then. You seem to have traveled from the direction my group is heading. Pray tell, did you find anything of interest down those passages?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Solas retorted. "If you would excuse us, we have somewhere else to be." He started around the man.

"Hold it." The man clapped his hand on Solas's shoulder.

Solas turned his head so his eyes locked onto the man's. His grip tightened on his staff. Annoyance claw at his inside. It begged to be released in a sharp words. Solas forced himself to keep his expression even.

"You wouldn't have happened to see any followers of June while coming this way?" the man asked. His voice pleasant. A false smile was spread across his face.

The end of Solas's staff ground against stone. The pressure on the staff was all which was allowing Solas to keep his tongue.

"You lot!" The sound of angry bare feet came over the clamor of the dwarves trying to get through the block Falon'Din's and Dirthamen's followers had made. "You dare do such a thing as seal our master's new mine!"

Solas didn't need to turn to know it was June's group back from trying to find a new entrance into the lyrium deposit.

"So you lot were trying to steal our masters' mine." The follower of the twins shoved Solas back so he and Hallmar stood between the two groups.

"I ain't be liking this one bit," Hallmar whispered.

Solas glanced at Hallmar but didn't otherwise reply.

The mage stepped forward from June's group. "We stole nothing from your masters'," she spat. "It must be some trick of Dirthamen's that made it look like there was passage to the lyrium that way. Where is it really?"

"My Gods would never sink so low as to trick another," the follower of Dirthamen and Falon'Din stated. "You seem to have them confused with the Dread Wolf himself."

Solas knew how to get himself and Hallmar out of this in one piece. "Perhaps it is a matter of which group is more deserving," he stated. "The twins do have the advantage in numbers."

The followers of the twins smirked as if only just realizing they outnumbered the followers of June two to one.

"However, in a fight over this new mine, June's followers do have the advantage of better crafted weapons and armor." Solas tilted his head in the direct of June's followers. "It would be quite something to see which of your masters are better. Numbers of the quality craftsmanship. Perhaps only then the deposit's location will become clear."

The elves exchanged looks within their groups. "It's obvious to anyone Falon'Din to guide us and Dirthamen's knowledge at our disposal we would be victorious in claiming the mine." The leader of the twins' group stepped forward. "We have far more right to claim the mine in the twins' names than you do in your single god's. This is," – he smirked – "if June is even a God."

The mage bristled. "You dare insult our God," she growled. She pulled out her staff. "You'll step over your corpses, filth!"

The two groups advanced.

Solas pulled Hallmar out of the way. The two of them managed to slipped passed the twins' followers without being noticed. The group had fallen into argument placed with threats of killing the other.

"If they actually be starting a fight, I not be wanting to stick around for it." Hallmar eyed the groups.

"Agreed." Solas bowed his head to them.

They walked off down the passage, careful to not draw any more unwanted attention to themselves.

* ~ x ~ *

Solas stared into the dark liquid of his tankard. Over a week had passed since the encounter in the Deep Roads with the two factions. They had arrived back in Orzammar the night before and collapsed exhausted at Hallmar's daughter's home. Now, they were seated in the tavern. The ruckus of drunk dwarves pulsed through Solas's ears, but even the sound was lost on him.

The encounter was just another reminder of how far the others had fallen. How much they'd changed. He remembered his nephews when they were young. Falon'Din had been hardheaded, but fast to act to help the others. He loved spending time with Solas and trying to best Solas in combat.

Now, Falon'Din was known for his greed as well as an almost cruel nature towards his slaves. There was nothing of kind boy left in the man he had grown to be. Harsh to his slaves, even harsher to his followers for failure, he become someone more twisted than even his father, Elgar'nan, Solas's older brother. And this was saying a lot because no one could match Elgar'nan's quick, nasty temper.

Then there was Dirthamen. The sweet, quiet Dirthamen. When he had been a child there was a wonder in him at learning anything new and a wisdom in the way he spoke. He had always shown insight far beyond his years. Back during the war, Dirthamen had withdrawn from everyone but Falon'Din. His eyes changed from yellow to a dark purple for reasons Solas had tried to get the boy to tell of. Yet, Dirthamen hadn't uttered more than a few words. In fact, he hadn't spoken much at all since that time to anyone but Falon'Din.

Since their rise to "Godhood" Dirthamen had vanished from the public scene entirely. Solas remembered he had always been shy, but he wondered if the sweet, quiet boy he had known became just as cruel as his brother and his father.

"That be too gloomy a face for enjoying a good ale," Hallmar's voice shattered Solas's thought. "You be needing to be drinking that to wash that worry away." The dwarf took a large gulp of his drink and smacked his lips in satisfaction. "That be hitting the spot!"

Solas smiled, some of his worries about the changes in the others forgotten in the wake of Hallmar's company. He chuckled. "The last time you tried to drowned my 'gloom' with ale, we both ended up on the street for the night."

"Aye, my lady was quite the gale. She not being putting up none of that nonsense." Hallmar's face fell a little as he looked at the dirges of his drink.

Solas frowned. It hadn't been his intention to drag up bad memories for Hallmar. Solas opened his mouth ready to console his friend when Hallmar snapped his fingers. He looked up with a broad grin and shining eyes.

"That be it!"

"Pardon?" Solas was caught off guard by the dwarf's sudden change in mood.

"That being what you be needing to not be all doom and gloom all the time." Hallmar grinned. "You be needing yourself a good woman."

Solas gaped. "Where did this come from?" Doom and gloom?

"You be not having a woman, ever. Yeah, you get tumbled now and again but that not being the same thing as having a good woman."

Solas straightened. "We're not having this conversation."

"Aye, we be having it. You not being having a choice." Hallmar took a new tankard the bartend gave him. "You and me, when we being getting to the surface, we be finding you that good woman. I not be meaning your brother's woman or that creepy glowy girl that follows you around up there."

"Wisdom is a spirit. It isn't a woman," Solas corrected. "And there is nothing between myself and Mythal!"

Hallmar snorted. "Right, I not be believing that." He took a long gulp of his ale. "Seriously, Solas," – he leaned across the table – "when be the last time you had a good tumble with a good woman?"

Solas felt his ears burn at the dwarf's question. It was getting hard to maintain a little dignity the more Hallmar spoke. "That isn't a topic for discussion." Solas leaned back in his seat and drank some of the ale. It was more in the vain hope the ale would make his embracement less apparent.

"It being a topic for discussion, elf. Someone got to be hitting sense into you now and again. None of your kind be having the guts to do it to their former, mighty King Solas."

A scowl pulled at Solas's lips. It was a blatant reminder that Fen'Harel was seen as a God among the People now, thus he was seen as a "God." He had done everything in his power to spread the word he was just like all the other elvhen in the world. It had done little to quill belief and the fear which came with it.

"We are not discussing it and it is not happening," Solas shot down the idea. He couldn't even picture himself on the surface with Hallmar doing what the dwarf was suggesting. "Besides, you've never been to the surface."

"Aye, this be true. And it be a topic I be wanting to discuss."

Solas narrowed his eyes. As long as it didn't have to do with picking up women, he was open to just about any other topic. "What does this lead you into, my friend?" Solas asked, keeping his tone even and free of the hope Hallmar was dropping the subject of women.

"I be realizing something as of late." Hallmar lifted his drink and looked at the dark liquid. "I be getting tired of political shit that be flying around us traveling merchants. It be draining. So, I got to be thinking after your last visit."

Solas cocked an eyebrow when Hallmar paused.

"I be thinking the next time you coming down here I be going to the surface with you."

"You do realize my life isn't devoid of politics, right?"

Hallmar snorted. "Aye, I be knowing that, but at least up there I be your friend not being the one head-butting the elf Gods. That be all on you."

"Immortal, mage kings," Solas corrected.

"That's the same thing," Hallmar snorted. "I be coming even if you not be wanting me to come."

Solas chuckled at this. "Your company is more than welcome, my friend." As long as they didn't actually go out looking for a "good woman."

"Aye!" Hallmar lifted his drink in a toast.

Solas joined him. Their tankards clanked together. In the end it would be a good thing to have Hallmar on the surface. The dwarf had a way of making even the grimmest of situations feel as if it wasn't as dark a place to be.

(Author's Note: So who is the trickster? Solas or Hallmar? I hope you guys enjoyed seeing more of Solas and Hallmar. And, yep, that dwarf isn't going anywhere. He's staying in the story to the bitter end! I'm actually really happy to be writing him again. He had a major role in the story with HerenyaHope and I adore writing him. He seems like the best friend for Solas, being almost his exact opposite. I hope you guys like his character as much as I enjoy writing him.)