Vhenan
For the next few days, Ennaly couldn't stop thinking about what Solas wanted to show her. A place not outside of Skyhold but it would still take time to reach it? Ennaly didn't mention it to anyone, not even Dorian. She wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps she didn't want to endure any teasing without knowing what would happen.
On the afternoon in question, she washed and re-braided her hair and put on one of her nicer purple woollen tunics that had embroidery of vines around the collar. The purple colour would make her eyes pop, she knew. One of her finer qualities, Solas had said once, back in Haven. Satisfied with her appearance, she took her white coat before heading back down again.
Solas was waiting with his backpack and a smile. "Follow me," he said.
"Where are we going?" Ennaly asked in puzzlement.
"You will see," was all Solas said.
She followed him. He went outside and crossed the courtyard to the battlements behind the stables, where the walls were caved in. He seemed to search for a specific spot downwards, outside of the walls, on the rocky terrain. There was nobody around on the battlefields here, but if there was something Ennaly was sure of, was that Leliana always had eyes on her location. Someone would know they were here.
"The only way to reach this place is by climbing, as the internal corridors are all long since destroyed," Solas explained.
"You know that I can't Fade-step, right?" Ennaly said hesitantly as she looked at where Solas was pointing, below where a small ridge followed the castle walls before trailing out of sight. It was clear they could only get there by magical means.
Solas observed her with an amused smile. "I can assist."
She blinked, wondering if she was about to do something very stupid. "Well then… I will follow."
"Do you allow me?" Solas asked, holding out his hand expectantly. It felt like the question was more than just asking permission to touch her. She stared back, breath held.
"Yes," she said, taking his hand. He wrapped his other hand around her waist, and with a surge of magical energy, they found themselves at the rocks outside of the battlements, her skin still tingling from passing through the Fade.
Solas let go of her and started walking. There was no path, but he seemed to know where he was going, so Ennaly followed in his footsteps. At moments, they had to use magic to pass over, under, or through obstacles.
"Are you sure this place is worth it?" Ennaly asked after climbing over another rock. The snowy mountains around them started to turn orange. "The sun is already starting to set."
"We are almost there," Solas replied, and halted. Ennaly walked up next to him and followed his gaze.
They were looking at a small waterfall that ran down the vertical mountainside. Whatever was behind it, lay hidden from view, without a visible path leading down.
"You want to cross that?" Ennaly asked sceptically.
"Our destination is behind there, yes," Solas replied. He held out his hand again, indicating his wish to Fade-step there.
"Are you absolutely certain there is something behind there to land on?"
"I am fairly certain, yes," Solas replied, seemingly entertained by her apprehension.
"Fairly certain?"
"I have been there before, Ennaly."
She sighed in desperation. "My mother always warned me against following strange men to strange places. I should have listened to her more. I'll be at your mercy, and if we die here, it'll be on you and nobody will ever find our bodies."
If she was sure of something, was that if Leliana had her followed, they would have long since lost their tracks, unable to follow without magical means. But Solas just looked at her with a mischievous smile. "I promise you it will be worth it," he said, his hand still extended.
She shook her head in disbelief at what she was about to do. "You are a wicked man, you know it, and I must be crazy," she stated as she took his hand and pressed her eyes firmly closed in terror. He again wrapped the other around her waist, and with a yelp from Ennaly, he Fade-stepped right through the waterfall.
Ennaly could feel the tingling sensation of passing through the Veil, could feel the slight moment they passed under the waterfall, and then felt hard rock beneath her feet. Instead of being soaking wet from the water, she could only feel stray drops on her cheeks, and a gentle finger wiped them away.
"You can open your eyes," Solas whispered as he stepped back. "We still live. This place is best appreciated at this time of day."
She did and gasped in surprise.
They stood on a small incline in the rock, about fifty feet deep and thirty feet wide, filled with sunbeams from the late afternoon sun. They had passed through one of three arches that were carved in the rock on the side open to skies, all delicate and reminiscent of Elven ruins. Stone balustrades were carved into the bottom of two of the arches, but the balustrade at the first arch was crumbled down with age and corrosion. Part of the view over the golden-capped mountains was obscured by the waterfall they had passed through, diffusing in a rainbow of colours in the low sunlight.
But gorgeous as the view was, Ennaly was more interested in the room itself. The far side was completely caved in with large rocks, leaving the mountainside opening as the only entrance. Between the broken mosaic floor grew a small tree, grasses, and flowers that spread a sweet scent. One of the long walls was bathed in sunlight, any decoration that might have covered it long since faded. But the other side, the wall that never saw sunlight, hosted a somewhat faded fresco of a forest scape in greens and pinks, springtime.
Entranced, Ennaly walked around the place, her hands trailing over the stones. There it was, irrevocably surrounding her that this place once belonged to her people. Her ancestors had once trailed their hands over the same places as her, had painted this fresco, had carved these stones. The knowledge that Elves had once dwelled here, called this place home, touched her more than she expected.
She turned around to Solas, who followed her every move. "This is... I don't have words. It's truly wonderful."
"It is not much, but it is something," he said with a smile.
"It is everything," she replied, wonder-struck.
The rays of the setting sun reached deep enough inside the alcove to reach the end. Feeling the warmth on her skin, she turned and walked to the edge, next to Solas. The view was fantastic, with the mountains glittering in orange in pink in the sunset. Solas was right that this was the best time to appreciate this place. Certainly, it must have been built just for this view?
Even without casting a spell, it felt like magic hung in the air, tickling over her skin.
"The Veil is thin here," Solas said.
Ennaly closed her eyes and tuned into her surroundings. "Yes," she said softly, letting the sensation wash over her. "I can feel it." It felt that if she cast a spell here, it wouldn't take as much power to get a strong result, like she could effortlessly command magic.
She opened her eyes again and several moments passed in comfortable silence as they looked out over the mountains. The oranges turned pink now, with purple starting to appear overhead. It was a breathtaking sight.
Solas turned to Ennaly and locked her gaze. "You must know why I brought you here," he said.
Feeling a warmth settle in her stomach that had nothing to do with the sun, she smiled and averted her eyes. One of Solas' hands rested on the balustrade, with its beautiful long fingers. She remembered them caressing her skin, and turned back to face Solas. She thought she knew why he brought her here, but she wanted to hear him say it. "Must I, now?"
Solas's hand twitched and inched forward just a bit, almost touching hers. "I have not forgotten our… kiss."
Kiss. As if that was an adequate summary of that one night, weeks ago. Ennaly reached forward with her own hand and gently touched Solas' fingertip. "Good," she replied breathlessly.
Solas took a step closer. The low rays of the sun shone in his face and his eyes appeared fully violet. They were so good at taking on the colour of the surroundings. Did they reflect the purple of the sunset, or the purple of her own eyes?
Gently, his finger brushed hers, but he pulled it back, and for all his usual confidence, he faltered, searching for words. "I - I had to be sure. That what you felt... And what I felt..." Silently, Ennaly encouraged him with a smile, and slowly, he found his words again. "You deserved that," he continued. "But now I know. When you appeared to me in that dream, I did not deem it possible. But there you were, and it was really you."
"Because we were both thinking about each other?" Ennaly asked.
"Yes," Solas said, his eyes burning with raw honesty. "I must have subconsciously called you closer, because I desired your presence, and you only could have appeared because you desired the same."
"I did," she confessed. "You know I did."
A careful smile curled around his lips as he pulled his hand away from the balustrade and closed the distance between them. Ennaly tilted her head upwards in expectation, arms locked behind her back. Gods, this one inch of space between them felt like a valley between mountains, but she didn't want to be the first to act. He brought her here, this was his confession, and if he wanted more, he had to take the first move.
But he was hesitant. He held his breath, his eyes locked on her lips. She'd forgotten her location, here at the edge of the world, as her world started and ended with the man in front of her. His exhale dissipated against her lips and she expected him to lean in and kiss her.
She didn't expect him to lean back and shake his head, a new emotion overtaking the tenderness in his eyes. Fear?
He didn't need to be afraid with her. Didn't he know that by now? Before he could turn away, she grabbed his arm. "Solas..." she breathed, not quite a plea, and more a way of saying that it was alright.
He paused, but kept his face averted. "Losing you would..."
Perhaps all he had needed was that last bit of encouragement. He turned back to her, his hands reaching for her waist, and before she could do the same, he kissed her with a surprising urgency.
It was sweet, soft-but-rough, and it was everything.
But it wasn't close enough for him. Still surrendered to the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. Yes, she thought breathlessly as she could feel his body heat radiating through their clothes. Feeling that any distance was too much, she wrapped her arms around his back.
Their kiss in the Dales had been a plea for connection, a stolen moment against better judgment, but that connection had been established now, two souls that had found each other despite the chaos of the world. He kissed her with full surrender and it was all Ennaly wanted.
And wasn't this the perfect place? A moment of serenity in the last rays of sunset, in a forgotten ruin that only they knew still existed, a connection in the past and present.
With the last rays of the sun still caressing their skin, they parted, but remained in each other's arms.
"Ar lath ma, vhenan," Solas whispered to her.
Ennaly found herself without breath to reply. Unable to voice her feelings, she reached out a hand. Solas' breath hitched as her fingers touched his skin and not wanting to make him uncomfortable, she paused. But when he kissed her fingers, she gently followed his jawline and flattened her hand against his cheek.
His smile made her feel understood, as if there was some internal part of herself that she couldn't see, but he did and he valued it, the way she was. She couldn't claim she understood him similarly, but she understood parts of him. The look of sorrow he so often carried was fully absent in his current gaze, and all she wanted, was to be there for him when it returned.
Feeling fully at peace, she rested her head against Solas' head and wrapped her arms around him. He held her against him, one hand at her waist, the other tenderly at her neck. Neither of them wanted to let go. They stood locked in their embrace and watched the last rays of sunlight fading behind the purple-cloaked mountains, Ennaly listening to Solas' rhythmic heartbeat.
A chill broke her from her reverie. Feeling her shiver, Solas wrapped his arms closer around her. The temperature dropped rapidly in the absence of the sun and the sudden uptake of icy mountain wind, this close to the edge of the incline.
"Shouldn't we go back?" she whispered. "It's almost dark, how do we find our footing?"
"We don't have to go back," Solas replied softly, leaning back and gesturing to his pack. "I brought something to eat and blankets for warmth. There is one more thing I wanted to show you, but I cannot show that when we are awake."
Ennaly smiled. They parted and Solas lit a torch of Veilfire that was still attached to the crumbling wall. Chatting happily, they spread the blanket, drank wine, and ate nuts, dried fruits and cheese. When they were done eating, they curled up against each other. Amazed that she could touch him now without his recoil, Ennaly pushed aside his jawbone amulet and ran her hand over Solas' tunic. It was soft, comfortable, but certainly not fancy.
"You were wearing something different in that last dream," she said.
"Well… It was the Fade. I could wear what I wanted," he replied. "You were also wearing other clothing."
She wished she hadn't. "I was dreaming about a festival before. My mother made most of that. The embroidery, the carved beads… She is very crafty."
"She must be very skilled indeed. I could see it was expertly made."
"In the next dream, make me wear something pretty."
He smiled. "Tell me more about the festival. I want to know."
She told him, about how they danced in reverence of those that had died in the last year, and asked for blessings and a mild winter to come. Then, caressed by starlight, they fell asleep, Ennaly in the crook of Solas' arm with her head on his chest.
They opened their eyes in the same place they had closed them, but it took Ennaly a while to understand. They were in something that resembled an herb garden. Strange plants grew in neat beds and spread a spicy and fresh scent, like that of Royal Elfroot. Three arches, all with intact balustrades, framed the view of mountains coloured with the fresh greens and pinks of blossoming trees, matching the now-vibrant fresco on the wall.
The mosaic floor was whole again and supported a small bench topped with plush pillows, a perfect spot for some quiet time. Instead of rubble at the far side of the alcove, there was an arched wooden door with decorative filigree.
Everything seemed slightly out of focus, unless she concentrated on it very well. Even so, there was something about the atmosphere, the waterfall that shimmered in the mountainside across the valley, that made it seem otherworldly. Like the fabric of the sleeves of Solas' dream tunic, everything shimmered and reflected ambient light.
Ennaly turned around to look at Solas, expectant wonder on her face. He was wearing a simple white shirt of rich material with golden buttons, belted at the waist with a plaited leather belt, over fine white breeches. He carried himself differently again, proud and tall like a king, yet completely comfortable, without stress or tension in his muscles. Or was it simply the effect of the clothes?
That is when she noticed what she herself was wearing. It was just a simple white shift, like that night in the Dales when he pinned her against a tree, with her hair in a similar plait down her back.
"I said something pretty," she said, her tone unimpressed.
Solas stepped closer, a tender yet slightly apologetic smile on his face. "That is what I did. It was the first thing that came to mind." The corners of his lips twitched to something wicked.
"I thought you were imaginative," Ennaly accused. The symbolism wasn't fully lost on her, however. "You know this is not what I had in mind. Make me match you."
"As you wish," he said, lifting his arms, and with a movement of his wrist, her outfit shifted.
She was now wearing a simple white dress, draped at her shoulders and belted with golden medallions at her waist. Her hair was intricately braided on top with loose curls over her back.
"Better," she commented as she twirled around. The fabric lightly sparkled like it was covered by fireflies.
She realized again where she was and stopped to face Solas excitedly.
"Are we really…?" she asked, looking around.
"Yes," Solas replied with a smile.
"Can we really…?" she asked, looking at the door that wasn't there in present times.
"Yes," Solas replied again, walking in the direction, gesturing for her to go first. She looked at him, her heart racing with what she was about to do. Eagerly, she opened the door and found a corridor with stairs going upwards, lit by torchless flames dancing above them. Everything was veiled in effortless grandeur. At first, Ennaly walked slowly, too impressed by what she was witnessing, then quicker, eager to see more. A door at the end of the stairs brought them to a large courtyard.
Ennaly couldn't believe her eyes. Tall spires loomed above them, not harsh and angular like the Human towers, but graceful, shining in magic. In the centre of the courtyard was a large fountain with clear water rushing down the three marble tiers. Everywhere around them were flowers in pink, purple and white. A few large trees loomed tall, casting a pleasant shade over different seating arrangements. Everything seemed in harmony with each other, like everything was placed where it should be.
"Is this really Skyhold?" Ennaly asked in wonder, looking back at Solas.
"Tarasyl'an Te'las. Skyhold how it used to be, a long, long time ago," he replied, slowly following her. "It has been rebuilt many times since. But I do have to warn you, these are old memories. They might be unwilling to unveil certain secrets."
"Is that why everything seems so… misted over?"
"It is."
Ennaly danced her way to the centre of the courtyard, next to the fountain. Solas followed at a normal pace, his eyes locked on her. She halted for a moment, then danced back again.
"This is the single best thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you," she said sincerely.
There was sorrow behind Solas' smile as he placed his hands on her waist.
"Don't be sad," she said as she gently caressed his cheek.
"I am not sad," he replied.
"You are always a little bit sad," she stated. "That's okay. But you don't have to be, not with me." She smiled at him and kissed him, touched by the tenderness in his gaze. As she parted, the large spires loomed behind him and a new sense of amazement washed over her.
She could hardly believe where she was, what she was doing, and that Solas was there, with her, and that he loved her. Smiling, she grabbed his hand. "Come, I'm sure you didn't bring me here to stand in the courtyard. I want to see!"
They explored the towers and halls. As Solas mentioned, some places would not show their interior, and some of the paintings and frescos were too blurred to make out the context. They walked through libraries filled with blank books, halls with magical instruments and devices, their use long forgotten in time, empty dining halls with the remnants of a dinner, and what seemed to be offices.
Having seen enough of the interior, Ennaly wanted to see the view from the highest tower and look out over the palace and its full surroundings. The river that flowed in the valley below had a different course, but overall, the mountains didn't have an all too different look from those of current-day Skyhold.
"I wonder who this place used to belong to," Ennaly mused after she had observed all the sights she wanted to see. "Do you know who it was?"
"Someone more powerful than we are right now, no doubt," Solas replied while gazing over the surrounding mountains. "Someone who was certain they knew everything."
"Imagine though, if this was where you lived. Don't you ever pretend, when you visit these places, like you're the king, or master, of this place? Is that why you dress like this?"
"This place never had a master," Solas said, a little wistfully.
"Well, king then, or queen. If you're not enjoying this to the full extent, I will. Come, my king." She smiled bashfully and descended the stairs again. They came to a halt near the fountain and Ennaly stepped onto the plinth to feel the water running over her hands. While the temperature in the courtyard was the perfect comfortable temperature, the water was cool and refreshing, as if chilled by magic.
She turned around and looked at Solas. He looked at home here, she thought, surrounded by the flowers and unmistakable Elven architecture. Elated by everything that had happened this evening, Ennaly thought she could manifest whatever she wanted. Twirling her hand, she conjured two flower crowns, all white flowers to match their white outfits.
"A king and queen need crowns," she stated coyly.
Solas shook his head as if he disapproved, but the indulgent smile on his lips said otherwise.
"Sush," Ennaly whispered at his disapproval and pressed two fingers against his lips. They were at the same height with her standing on the plinth and Solas on the grass. "This is a dream after all, and this is how I like my dreams."
He kissed her fingers. "This is certainly the best dream I had in a very long while."
"It could be even better," Ennaly replied as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him.
This might have been a dream, but it was hard to distinguish this dream-Solas from the real one. The greatest difference was that this Solas was more at ease, like this was his domain. There was a playful passion in their kiss, as if it was easier to give in to their desires in this dreamworld, like there was less inhibition here.
They parted to smile at each other reassuringly. To be here, together, completely comfortable and without reserve or disturbances was more than she could have imagined. As their kiss recommended, Solas trailed his hand up and down her spine, before he let it trail down to her bottom. Her breath hitching in her throat, Ennaly pressed her hips against him. She wanted him more, more than just these kisses. She wanted to feel his skin against her, close together, much closer than they currently were.
Blindly, still locked in their kiss, she found her way to the topmost button of this shirt. She could feel Solas' grin through the kiss before she leaned back and could see it on his face.
"Are you okay with this?" she asked breathlessly, hands still at his buttons. She didn't want to initiate something he didn't want to do.
"I am, if you are," he replied. Concerned, he cupped her cheek. "I know you have had some... bad experiences."
But Ennaly was strangely detached from those memories, like they belonged to a different person. The thought that all those things happened to her, once, was almost absurd. "Just don't hit me and I'll be fine," she said as she wanted to continue their kiss.
But her words instilled anger in Solas and he didn't return the kiss. Ennaly leaned back. "Solas, I trust you," she said. "You won't hurt me, and well... I remember how effective a well-timed mind blast is."
Solas only begrudgingly let his anger fade away. "I would never harm you, vhenan."
Vhenan. Oh, to hear him say that.
"I know," she said with a wide smile. "And you? Anything boundaries I need to know about?"
He pulled her against him and kissed her, his hands descending down to her bottom again. "This is the Fade. I have no boundaries here, only preferences."
With strength, Ennaly pulled away from the kiss. "And those are?"
He flashed her a wicked smile. "You can find out."
How had it been months before she ever saw this side of him? Continuing the kiss with a raw passion, Ennaly fumbled around to unclasp his belt and tossed it aside, before returning to his buttons. She had already run her hands over his bare chest, but that had been such a dreamlike night that she only remembered shards.
But she did remember he had sensitive ears. Slowly, she moved her kisses from his mouth to his jaw, before she let her lips brush against his ears. "I know what was on your mind when you made me wear nothing more than my shift," she whispered.
An instant twitch passed through him as he took a hurried, ragged breath. "Do you blame me?" he murmured. "That night has been in my mind more than I care to admit."
Her stomach aflutter, she moved her hands under his chest and over his shoulders, shrugging the shirt away. "Which part?" she asked coyly.
He stirred under her touch. "I remember most parts being rather... fascinating." The last word was a whisper in her ear and an instant spark shot through her body. Gods, she wanted him, and she gasped as he sank his lips onto her neck. His touch sent magic tingling through her entire body, awakening every nerve. Remembering the sensation, she fought back against him. She wouldn't give in this easily.
Fingers trailed to her waist and unclasped the medallion belt. It clattered against the stone plinth of the fountain, but neither gave it any heed. With great effort, Ennaly pushed him away. "Well then..." she murmured. "Where's the fancy bedroom? Whatever king or noble lived here must have had a fancy bedroom and they're not around to object to us using it."
Solas leaned back with an expression like he found himself pleasantly, yet wickedly surprised by the circumstances. "I know where it is," he said after a pause and a mischievous smile grew on his lips. "But we are not in a rush."
He grasped the fabric of the gown and eager for his touch, Ennaly lifted her arms. Solas slowly pulled it over her head and tossed it aside. There was nothing underneath but her bare skin, but Ennaly felt no nervousness at being exposed. She was only partly aware of her insecurities about the burn mark on her left hip, a scar of her own doing, but Solas made her feel like she was whole, unblemished.
"You are so beautiful," he said, and she believed him. Shaking his head in disbelief, he picked her up and sat her down on the edge of the fountain. "And you're here, with me."
"And I'm not going anywhere," she smiled in reply, and pulled him closer in a kiss. And it was much better to have him pressed against her without any cloth between their skin.
But Solas was much more interested in her naked body, and the kiss was short-lived. One hand still at her back, he leaned away just enough to look at her. The desire in his eyes made her desire burn brighter. Ennaly couldn't tell if the Vallaslin circling her breast grabbed his attention, or if it was simply her bare skin, but she stopped wondering when he trailed the purple lines and magic followed his every touch.
"This is unfair," she murmured, stifling a moan. "I am completely undressed, yet you are still wearing half of your clothing."
Solas leaned close to her ear again. "I told you. We are not in a rush," he whispered as he let his hands glide to her inner thighs.
Magic or not, his touch induced a moan she couldn't stifle. She gasped for breath as she gripped the edge of the fountain, remembering somewhere deep down that magic and emotions didn't mix well.
"Is this safe, here?" she managed to say. "Shouldn't we worry? This is the Fade, shouldn't we –"
Solas paused his caressing and chuckled. The sound, so close to her ear, sent ripples of pleasure down her spine. "Vhenan, this is my domain. If you are with me, nothing can harm you."
Ennaly didn't fully process what he meant. Domain? Did he mean the Fade? She didn't ask for clarification, but frankly, she didn't care anymore when he resumed his touch. The confidence in his tone was enough reassurance.
She'd never expected to be here, sitting on the edge of a fountain in the courtyard of Skyhold's Elven ancestor, naked with Solas standing between her legs and teasing her, tracing the lines of her Vallaslin and the curves of her body. She couldn't believe that he called her Vhenan, or that he told her that he loved her.
"Solas," she muttered, fighting against the ever-building tension in her body. "Stop."
Any touch or magic that lingered over her skin, paused. "Am I hurting you, vhenan?" Solas asked, cupping her cheek with concern.
"No," she said with a smile. "But I don't want you to push me yet," she chastised, clutching her arms tight around his back. "I want you, first. I want you closer to me."
He shook his head, and nipped at her ear in reprimand. "Here I thought I was hurting you."
Ennaly playfully pushed him away to create enough distance to unlace his breeches. She might have run her hands over his chest and shoulders before, but she had never quite seen him.
"You have an awfully good physique for someone who likes to meditate and paint," she stated. "Body of a God, really."
It made Solas laugh out loud, and before she could truly appreciate him, he picked her up. "Well, we do an awful lot of walking, riding, and fighting," he said amusedly. "Which has its merits, since I can easily carry you now. You wanted to go to the fancy bedroom, so let us set course."
Her legs wrapped around his waist, she kissed him. "You said we weren't in a rush," she laughed.
"Things change," he replied matter-of-factly, and made his way towards one of the spires' entrance.
You change everything, ran through Ennaly's mind as he carried her to the first landing and pushed her to a wall to kiss. Further up the spire, Solas led her to a balcony that overlooked the mountains, and spun her around in a few sensual dance moves. At the top of the final set of stairs, he picked her up again, to continue on to the room he had in mind.
Had Ennaly's mind not been otherwise occupied, she might have noticed that from the moment they kissed near the fountain, the castle around her came into sharper view. The mist cleared up and faded frescos turned vibrant again, depicting scenes of Elvhen being freed from their Vallaslin, of wolves, and Elvhen dressed in armour, raising weapons, and the one leading sporting familiar features.
Solas opened the door to a room at the top of the tower and dropped Ennaly on the bed inside. The covers were soft on her skin and the pillows plush. A fresh scent spread from vases filled with the herbs from the gardens below, standing on beautifully carved and decorated wooden dressers, next to beautiful instruments of gold and crystal. It was late in the afternoon, or it would have, had this been the real world. The sun shone in the room through facetted windows, scattering colours on the walls.
Solas stood at the foot of the bed, beautifully backlit in the low rays of the sun.
"Come here," Ennaly said as she propped herself on her elbows. "I want you."
He shot her a smile filled with desire before he joined her on the bed and kissed her. Her own desire flared up and Ennaly pushed against Solas' shoulder to make him drop on his back. Breath heavy in anticipation, she climbed on top of him, and paused. Her body yearned for him, and had wanted him from that night in the Dales. To know that this was the moment she could finally fulfil that desire...
Her breath held, she lowered herself on top of him. She couldn't suppress a moan and closed her eyes, allowing herself get used to the feel of him inside her, while resting her hands on his chest.
A tender hand cupped her cheek. "Are you alright?" Solas asked, breath heavy like her.
Ennaly opened her eyes and laughed softly, a little light-headed at how completely at ease she felt. "Never better," she breathed, leaning into his hand. The sunrays shone from behind her, outlining her figure, onto Solas' face, and his eyes burned almost golden in the glow.
Slowly, she started to explore a rhythm that felt good to them both, slow at first, to get used to each other. Gently, Solas trailed his hand down from her cheek over her neck to her collarbone, and down to a breast, caressing and teasing in their wake.
Feeling a gentle ripple of magic tingling on her skin, she leaned down to kiss him. "I love you too," she murmured and brushed her lips against his ear. The reactive shudder in his body made her smile. To know that she could provoke such a response even without magic, encouraged her.
It encouraged Solas, as well. Gently, he pushed her upwards far enough to face her, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "So, vhenan, you like to play pretend and deem yourself queen of this castle?"
She grinned broadly and offered him a playful look.
Leaning forward, he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I shall show you what I would do to mine," he added, almost a growl of hunger in his voice as he rolled them over so that he was on top.
Ennaly gasped, surprised by the shift of power, but willing to release. Solas had always liked having things under his control, and it was no surprise that he preferred that in bed, too. She was happy to let him, the pressure of his body on hers making her feel safe, protected.
He pinned her hands next to her head and let his gaze shift over her body with appreciative hunger. Ennaly's left hand pulsed green light, shining on Solas' body as he hovered above her. His chameleon eyes turned emerald in the glow, the colour of the Fade rifts. It suited him so well, Ennaly thought, more so than the purple or gold from the setting sun. With her hands locked in place, Solas leaned forward to kiss her exposed neck, and by doing so, he took her breath away.
And while their bodies intertwined, Ennaly was blissfully unaware that she was not the only one here who could lay claim to Skyhold's largest bedroom, though at a different time.