Chapter Two:
Fading
Serana jolted awake, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room in confusion. A throbbing pain in her forehead made her groan as she cradled her head in her hands. A young elven girl entered, kneeling before her and offering hurried apologies.
Rising from bed, Serana, despite her shaky knees, carefully lifted the elven girl, insisting, "We bow to no one, sister."
"'At once' she said. I must go tell her you've risen, my lady." The girl's voice trembled. She turned and exited the cabin briskly.
Serana sighed, taking in the warm surroundings of the small cabin, noting the well-tended fireplace. The exhaustion hit her, and she sat on the edge of the bed, attempting to soothe her discomfort by rubbing her temples. Memories of the chaotic events at the Chantry were elusive, leaving her feeling disoriented.
It all appeared hazy to her in her current state. The bedlam at the Chantry unfolded so swiftly that it disappeared from her immediate recollection. She comprehended the reason for her presence, her mission, and the peculiar touch of magic in the air before sensing her essence being drawn into another realm. Her memories halted there, and any effort to recollect beyond that point inevitably resulted in a piercing shrill that intensified the throbbing in her already painful head. The stillness within the compact cabin only amplified the ringing in her ears.
Serana felt sick to her stomach and was sure she would begin heaving at any moment when a soft knock sounded at the door. She tried standing but immediately sat back down. The force of swaying vertigo threatened to knock her down.
"Just enter," she called out, trying to mask the tremor in her voice.
Solas' face was quickly marked with concern at the sight of Serana's pale visage. He closed the door behind him and walked over to Serana intently. He knelt before her and placed the back of his hand on her forehead.
"You've a fever," he stated matter-of-factly.
With a swiftness that might have startled a healthier version of herself, Serana observed as Solas assisted her in reclining back onto the bed.
"What's wrong with me?" She whispered. She tried clearing her throat, but her strength waned as more time passed.
"I gather the amount of magic flowing through you due to the mark may be the culprit." His face was grave as he studied the mark on her hand. Upon meeting her gaze, he offered a reassuring smile.
"You will feel better soon," he said, patting her hand gently.
"Why are you helping me?" Serana inquired, a slight resurgence of strength coursing through her. Warmth enveloped her, and her symptoms appeared to be gradually receding. "Healing?" She asked him quietly.
"Of a sort," he mused, his grin quickly replaced by a slight grimace. "Serana, this mark is... ancient. If we cannot find a way to control it, it may kill you."
His eyes appeared to delve into hers, seeking some unspoken emotion.
"I know," she whispered, a lump forming in her throat. "Why is this happening?"
Seated in the chair beside her bed, Solas let out a sigh. He avoided meeting her eyes, choosing instead to focus on her hand once more.
"I have spent many years traveling through the Fade, observing memories otherwise dead to this physical realm," he began and willed himself to meet her eyes before continuing. "I have seen men seek great power only to be eviscerated from within by that very power. I've witnessed the demise of the innocent, entangled in the aftermath of disasters unleashed by souls hungering for power." He paused, looking down at her hand once more.
"Yet this power... I have not seen this kind of power outside of the Fade. It is as if the very power of the Fade is in this mark."
"Perhaps you can search the Fade for more answers," Serana offered. She looked at him, and for the first time since they met, a smile graced her lips. "You remind me of my people."
Perplexity furrowed Solas's brow as he arched an eyebrow, inquiring, "Your people?"
"Yes," she laughed. "My people. What?" She shrugged. "Just because you don a pair of pointy ears doesn't make us all the same."
Her response caught him off guard, as did the subdued chuckle that slipped from his lips. "On that point, Lavellan, you are correct."
Solas grinned before standing up and casting another appraising glance over her.
"Your fever has broken it seems," he said, sounding pleased. "I am sure there are those who wish to speak with you once you are feeling up to the task. In fact, they may not even wait for you to be," he said with a smirk.
Serana rested on her elbow as she watched him walk toward the door.
"Solas," she called out.
His hand on the door, he turned to her wearing a curious look on his face.
"Thank you." She said in a quiet voice, almost shyly.
Solas nodded, offering a faint smile, before he ducked through the door and closed it behind him.
Serana threw herself back in bed and heaved another sigh at the thought of having to meet with anyone else. She felt better, but she was not used to being around so many people. And she was sure these people would have many questions. Questions she would have no answer to, or simply not have the permission to answer.
My mission, she contemplated. I must find a way to contact the clan.
Serana thought of Solas. He was kind and different from the others. He bore no vallaslin, which was not uncommon among elves who lived in cities or amongst shemlen. Yet, he did not behave like the average city elf, not in the slightest. His eyes seem to carry a great depth of wisdom and knowledge. She was grateful for his aid, and more grateful that he did not seem to care that she was Dalish.
City elves, if Solas could even be categorized as such, typically either held the Dalish in high esteem or looked down upon them, lacking an understanding of the old ways. Other Dalish clans she had come across seemed to hold completely new ideas regarding their elven history.
She had to admit, she was intensely curious about him. Traveling the Fade? She only knew of traversing the dream realm, which some believed to be the Fade. Perhaps that's what he did. A smile played on her lips as an idea began to take shape in her mind. Tonight, she told herself. She sighed, this time in excitement.
The night air held a crisp chill, and a low-lying fog gave the illusion that one could tread upon clouds. After locating his cabin she hesitated a moment, asking herself if she should follow through. Undeterred by physical barriers, her spirit's essence slipped inside the dark room, her choice made. In the darkness, she could discern his sleeping form. He rested above the covers of his cot, an unusual choice given the cold, but she dismissed it as just another of his peculiarities. Hovering over him, she examined the contours of his lips as they released gentle breaths. Tracing the side of his face, she became captivated by the serene expression he wore in his slumber. Was he in the Fade now? What dreams occupied his mind? She hesitated to enter his dream state, feeling a reluctance for the first time in her experiences with dream travels. It bothered her, the idea that he might perceive her as an intruder in his private moments.
She held her breath, though it served no purpose in her current form. "Fenhedis lasa," she cursed to herself. Deep down, she acknowledged the true reason she chose to observe him silently as he slept. The fear of unveiling herself to him gripped her. What would he think? Certainly, he wouldn't be frightened; he was, after all, an adept mage. However, how could she account for her unique ability? She wasn't a mage, and she couldn't easily divulge her clan's secrets—her secret.
She glanced at his face once more before taking her leave. The desire to be acknowledged by one of her own weighed heavily on her heart, the time spent away from her people casting a profound sense of longing within her.
"Dareth shiral," she whispered. And she was gone.
Solas' eyes fluttered open, scanning the darkness above him, yet discerning nothing unusual. An unassuming smile graced his lips as he turned, choosing to lie on his side to gaze at the window closest to the cabin door. "Interesting," he thought. With that, he closed his eyes, delving once more into the Fade to pursue answers to the newfound questions swirling in his mind.