A/N It's been a hell of a ride, my lovelies. Thank you so much for reading this story that I honestly didn't know I needed to write until I wrote it. I know the ending has come rather abruptly but it won't be the true end of this Solas and Elyssa. However, I couldn't continue to write the story the same way I had because I have grown so much as a person and a writer since Unconditional began in 2019 (it took me a long time to find the courage to actually post it once I had started writing.) On the same note, however, I couldn't continue to leave this story without some kind of proper conclusion. With that being said, I may write more chapters that will add to the story or I may make a separate work with a series of one-shots that show the moments between Solas and Elyssa that I haven't already included in this story. Also, as far as the tattoos that Elyssa has, those are my actual tattoos in the same places. One is from The Lion King (Rafiki was a wise monkey.) the other is from Mass Effect 3 (including the 'wing-like' symbol which is just the paragon symbol from the Mass Effect franchise.
This chapter's title is the song Until The End by Quietdrive. Featured in this chapter is the violin cover of You Are The Reason by Robert Mendoza, original song by Calum Scott, as well as the song that started this story Unconditionally by Katy Perry, and the cover by Fame on Fire (I used a mash-up of them both when writing.) I hope you guys enjoy and thank you for all the love and support you guys have given me.
Elvish Translations:
Laelynn - Flower of Hope
Mama (not exactly just elven but still) - Mom
Mamaela - Grandma
Da'blar - Little Flower
Baba - Dad
Babaela - Grandpa
Vhenanas - Home
The Wedding Vows - Translated by Elyssa
In the mirror the woman staring back at Elyssa was nothing like the girl she had been almost five years ago. Looking back at her was a woman with healthy alabaster skin, dark mahogany hair falling in loose waves past her shoulders, jade green eyes shining brightly with happiness. She was a far cry from the girl that wore long sleeves constantly, bleached her hair for the sake of someone else, and shut herself away from the world as much as possible. Instead of angry red and pink lines from her self-inflicted punishment on her forearms she now had words of encouragement. 'The past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it.' surrounded by light swirling leaves on her left arm reminded her that the choice was hers to move forward or dwell in the past. 'I won't let fear compromise who I am.' paired with a light blue wing-like symbol on her right arm reminded her to be true to herself no matter what. If she looked hard enough she could still the faint scars under the words on each arm but even those reminded her to keep living life trying her best to be happy with what it dealt her. And today was one of the happiest days of her life, second only to the day her Laelynn was born.
A gentle rapping on a door caused Elyssa to turn away from admiring her growth. The door to her dressing room opened, Salem entering with a small elven figure following closely behind. Elyssa smiled brightly at the little girl dressed in a poofy-skirt olive green dress and matching flats and Salem dressed in a sleek dress of the same color and heels. "Are you almost ready?" the qunari asked, her voice thick with pride and warmth. Elyssa gave herself another once over. Her hair had been done simply, the small portion that usually framed her angular face had been pulled back in delicat twist to lay atop the rest of it that she let flow in their natural waves, weaved throughout the waves were small buds of shamrock. Her dress was simple as well, an icy blue sweetheart-neck corset hugged her torso while the skirt flowed around her from waist to the floor, tying the entire thing together was a sheer white layer that gave an a slight poof to the skirt and covered her arms and chest with a soft shimmer. Dorian had tried to persuade her to ditch the traditional elven footwraps for heels to no avail. He had been happy to settle on dressing Laelynn in flats sensible enough from a four year old to walk in. She wore little makeup, just enough to lightly enhance the natural features she had learned to love over the years.
"Mama is pretty, Mamaela," Laelynn exclaimed in child-like wonder to Salem.
"Mama is pretty, Da'blar," Salem gushed at the girl.
"What about your baba?" Elyssa squatted down to pick the girl up and rest her gently on her hip, "is he pretty too?"
Laelynn furrowed her brows together in thought, reminding Elyssa so much of Solas. "You're prettier," she decided.
Salem and Elyssa laughed, "Yes, I'm ready." Salem nodded, taking Laelynn from Elyssa so she could pick up the bouquet of poppies, shamrocks, and roses that had been made for her. It had been difficult to find blue poppies that weren't artificially colored but they had managed and once paired with the white roses and green shamrocks they had proven to make a beautiful assortment that fit perfectly into the green and blue color scheme. Elyssa followed Salem out of the room to where Krem and The Iron Bull were waiting in the hall. The Iron Bull tried to wipe his eye inconspicuously while Krem blatantly choked up in front of them.
"You look great sis," he smiled at her, "and you look like you're growing up too fast Laelybug." He took Laelynn from Salem, half-tossing her in the air making her laugh gleefully.
"You ready kiddo?" The Iron Bull asked, his voice cracking through his smile.
"Aw, you know you're still my number one man right dad?" Elyssa chuckled, fixing the pale blue tie that had gone askew. The Iron Bull smiled triumphantly while Salem just shook her head with a wide grin.
"I thought I was your number one man," Krem protested, the mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes and smile giving away the playful nature of his protest.
"You've got nothing on The Iron Bull," the large qunari man pointed to himself, his mouth turning up in a cocky smile.
"If The Iron Bull doesn't stop teasing his son so we can get lined up properly before the music starts I'm going to have something on him," Salem chuckled with a knowing look in her husband's direction.
"I don't know I might like what you've got," The Iron Bull teased, pulling Salem in for a kiss.
"Ugh PDA," Krem shivered in playful disgust.
"Mama, Mamaela and Babaela are kissy faced!" Laelynn squealed from Krem's arms.
"That they are da'lin," Elyssa agreed, unphased by their display. Laelynn clapped her hand excitedly, pleased that her grandparents had no qualms with being mushy in public. Salem and The Iron Bull broke apart laughing at the various reactions.
Nira and Marion entered the hall with Dorian and Fenris. "They're fixing to start," Nira beamed, "Are we ready?"
Elyssa nodded, taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart. They all lined up at the entrance of the hall, thick curtains blocking their view of the room beyond. Salem, Marion, and Nira lined up parallel to Dorian, Krem, and Fenris followed by Laelynn with her basket of rose and poppy petals and Elyssa with The Iron Bull standing together. Elyssa could feel her hand around The Iron Bull's arm shake in time with her pounding heart. She had waited so long and been through so much to get here, now that she was here a small part of her couldn't help but fear that it would all disappear in a cloud of smoke. From beyond the curtain, a piano started playing the instrumental version of 'You Are The Reason'. A series of deep breaths echoed around the hall as everyone waited for the violins that would signal their cue to walk in. When they finally came Elyssa found that her legs were shaking as well as her hands. The closer the moment came to finally seeing him the more terrified that she got that he wouldn't be there, that she would wake up from her dream.
"He's there kiddo," The Iron Bull whispered while they waited for everyone else to enter the room, "if he wasn't I would be hunting him down as we speak." Elyssa gave him a shaky smile, her mind set at ease enough for her to be able to move her wobbly feet. One step after the other they moved forward until it was their turn to walk through the curtains. They walked onto a balcony decorated with the same flowers Elyssa carried in her bouquet placed strategically around the railing with either blue or green ribbon tying them all together. A natural aisle was created by the lines of benches that were designed to look as if they were made out of trees. Sitting among them were their friends and family there to celebrate this day with them, including Fenris's fiance Anders and surprisingly Elyssa's mother, stepfather, and sisters. Even after making amends with the family she had been born into, Elyssa was shocked to not only see them at a celebration for her but looking happy and proud of her as well. Centered on the door at the furthest end of the aisle was a small arch made of interwoven sticks decorated with more flowers, ribbon, and shamrock. Standing beneath the arch was the one person in the world Elyssa couldn't be happier to see, the man she loved more than anything, who had helped her see the beauty and worth in herself, who had been there to support her through some of the toughest times in her life, her vhenan and vhenanas, Solas. His eyes caught sight of her, a wide smile spreading across his face. Elyssa smiled in return, her body shaking for an entirely different reason now.
It wasn't like in stories and movies where everything else around them faded from view and they were in their own bubble, it was as if all the elements of the day coming together only enhanced the fact that they were here together. That so much had happened to make this possible and the day wasn't just about them but the people that had brought them together and stood by their side over the years. By the time Elyssa and The Iron Bull reached the arch her heart pounded with abandon, surely loud enough for all the guests to hear. The Iron Bull placed her shaking hand in Solas's trembling one. Elyssa let out a breathy whisper of a laugh, of course he was just as nervous and excited as she was. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, both of their hands falling still. They had come so far since that fateful encounter over a dark drawing, Solas was so much more than her teacher now. Their journey hadn't been easier, she'd dare say it had been harder than most, but it had been worth it, their life together now and the daughter they both loved so dearly had been worth it.
Around their hands blue and green ribbons were tied by Salem and The Iron Bull, in front of them Mother Gisele indicated for them to say their vows. "Sylaise enaste var aravel. Lama, ara las mir lath. Bellanaris," Solas spoke with warmth and certainty, his blue eyes glistening with pride and happiness.
Elyssa blinked back the tears threatening to spill, taking a deep breath so she could say her vows just as clearly and full of emotion as Solas did. "Sylaise favor our journey. I am yours and I will give my love, eternally," the words flowed from her, no hesitation or fear for she had never been more certain of anything in her life. It was when the ceremony was concluded and they were able to seal their promises of love with a kiss that their surroundings faded away and it was just the two of them. Elyssa was willing to lose herself in the bliss that was being with Solas, until a familiar voice shouted from the crowd of people, "Mama and Baba are kissy faced!" With a laugh Solas and Elyssa turned to face their loved ones, squatting down to hug Laelynn when Salem released the girl to run to her parents. Later at the reception, after Nira had sung beautiful songs for both of them, Elyssa got on the raised platform they were using as a stage.
"While Aunt Nira has the most amazing voice," Elyssa spoke into the microphone, "I feel this is a song that I need to sing for the man who's not only the father to my child and now my husband, but someone who has helped me become someone I can love and give love in return, that true love is unconditional." She took a steady breath the band behind her playing on the piano and guitar the music she had given them. She steadied her breathing as Nira had once taught her to do before performing, waiting for her cue to begin with the lyrics. "Oh, no, did I get too close? Oh, did I almost see what's really on the inside? All your insecurities, all the dirty laundry, never made me blink one time," she closed her eyes, channeling all the moments she and Solas had together, good and bad, into the song, "unconditional. Unconditionally. I will love you unconditionally. There is no fear now. Let go and just be free. I will love you unconditionally."
Her eyes opened in surprise as she felt a warm familiar hand on hers over the microphone. Solas stood next to her beaming from ear to ear and just below them on the dance floor Nira winked from where she stood with Solas's uncle. "So come, now, just as you are to me. Don't need apologies. Know that you are worthy," Elyssa let Solas take over the song, enjoying the way he gazed at her as he did so. "I'll take your bad days with your good, walk through the storm. I would do it all because I love you."
Elyssa grinned cheekily at Solas, leaning into the microphone. "I love youuu!" She sang channelling the love she and Solas shared as they stood on stage singing to each other. Solas grabbed the hand that hung loosely at her side, the hand that now bore a small silver ring that matched his. "Unconditional. Unconditionally. I will love you unconditionally. There is no fear now. Let go and just be free. I will love you unconditionally," they sang together, his tenor voice and her soprano swirling together in harmony. Together they turned to face the crowd of people dancing to their song. "Open up your heart and just let it begin," Solas sang first. "Open up your heart and let it begin," Elyssa alternated with him, realizing he must have been practicing with Nira since Elyssa had told her she planned on performing this song at the bonding. "Open up your heart and let it begin," he sang once more. "Open up your heaaart!" Elyssa finished the verse with the same climax the music had risen to. They took a few moments to let the music fall to a soft note with just the guitar playing. "Acceptance is the key to be, to be truly free. Will you do the same for me? Do it all for me? I will love you" They alternated lines again with Elyssa singing the last one before they came together to sing the final chorus. "Unconditional. Unconditionally. I will love you unconditionally. There is no fear now. Let go and just be free 'cause I will love you unconditionally." They turned to face each other ending the song beaming with love and affection at each other. "I will love you," Solas sang deeply, softly while his free hand came to rest on her cheek gently. "Unconditionally," Elyssa harmonized softly as he was finishing his line, mirroring Solas's movement, "I will love you." With one last smile at each other, Solas and Elyssa finished the song that perfectly summed up their feelings for one another. "I will love you unconditionally."