I hummed as I stepped out of the apothecary's shop. The grumpy apothecary had brought up some notes he was looking for and I was already formulating a plan to retrieve them for him. Helping the people of Haven with small tasks helped my mood and momentarily cleared the doom that hung over our heads. Without meaning to, I looked up at the spot I usually found Solas.

He wasn't there.

"Someone looks disappointed," came his voice from behind me.

"You shouldn't skulk around like that. Plus, I enjoy talking to you," I countered.

"Do you now?" he replied, bemused.

I faced him and crossed my arms over my chest. "I wanted to ask, last time you said you had ventured into the Fade."

"In dreams only. Everyone peeks into the Fade when they dream, dwarves excluded–" he grimaced when he said it, but I didn't think anyone was around to hear him bring up the dwarves sordid past– "I just practiced exploring more. I grew up in an area where dreaming was the most fun thing one could do in a day."

"Practiced exploring? How does one practice that exactly?" I asked playfully.

"Did you think I just knew how to navigate the Fade one day? No. I practiced. The grace with which you move is something learned, is it not? It's from hours of practice and expertise."

"Are you saying I'm graceful?" I teased, trying to get a rise out of him.

Ever unphased, Solas answered immediately and with determination, "No. I am declaring it."

My cheeks warmed the moment the words left his mouth until the tips of my ears burned. Solas chuckled softly, bringing his knuckle to his lip again as if to hide his smile.

I brought my hands up to blow warm air on them, as if I could pretend the bright shade I was turning was due to the cold.

"Have you always travelled alone?" I asked, trying to shift the focus away from my red ears.

"Not at all. I made many lasting friendships. I met spirits of wisdom, wisps of curiosity, and many more."

"I haven't heard of those spirits."

"They don't seek out our world often. They…they can be easily corrupted. Wisdom and purpose are too easily twisted to pride and desire." The minute the words left his mouth, he pursed his lips.

If I had more tact, I might have noticed that action before I said, "Those are demon names–Pride and Desire."

Solas stepped around me to lean against the wall of the apothecary. "They can become demons when their purpose is misconstrued by those around it. If you understand the nature of the spirit, they can become fast friends."

"That's impressive. I didn't realize spirits had the faculties to become friends with us."

"They are more like people than the Chantry will give them credit for. Just because they don't have bodies doesn't mean they aren't people. Is Cassandra defined by her cheekbones and not her faith? Varric by his chest hair and not by his wit?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I get your point. You didn't need to reveal your secret obsession with Varric's chest hair."

A small smile was earned and I felt a tiny victory had been won.

"I like getting to know you," I said honestly. "You have a very…interesting way of looking at the world."

"I try," he answered curtly, as if he was waiting for an insult to follow.

"I look forward to helping you make friends here too," I said with a wink.

That brought the smile back. "Well…" his voice drifted off.

I waved over my shoulder as I trudged through the snow of the Frostback mountains. "We'll talk later. Right now I need to speak to Cullen and Leliana."

"I'm sure we will," he replied softly–I barely heard it over the crunch of snow under my boots.

With one final look back at Solas, I made my way back to the Chantry.

Our camp sat on the outskirts of the Hinterlands. The weather was better than the chilly mountain climate at Haven, but the air here still held that night time crispness. My tent loomed before me, but I avoided it easily, not quite ready to fall asleep yet.

The Inquisition was gearing up for a full day tomorrow. My task was to chase down a horse master and convince him to provide us with mounts. Leliana also wanted me to look out for signs of a Grey Warden. It wouldn't be an easy task, considering the chaos in the area, but I was looking forward to helping any way I could. Cullen was the commander–imposing and confident. Leliana the spymaster–sure and calculating. Josephine was the connection–managing contacts from all over Thedas. But it felt like my purpose was still up in the air.

Sure, I was the designated rift-closer, but in the moments where there were no rifts to close, what was I to do?

I puffed out a sigh and made my second lap around the small camp we had established. Scout Harding was amazing and had all the supplies we needed already procured for us. The others had gone to sleep–minus the watch crew. I watched as the fire died down low and considered sitting by the embers. Nervous energy coursed through my body and I sighed. I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon apparently.

As I turned the corner to make my third lap, however, I spotted someone familiar in the distance who apparently also wasn't sleeping. Solas was sitting by himself, his back to the solid trunk of a tree on the rim of our camp. I sauntered up, hands behind my back as I neared him. I was sure he heard my approach, so I didn't say anything by way of greeting. Instead, I plopped myself beside him in the dirt and said, "I thought you liked to dream? Shouldn't you be in the Fade right now?"

Solas smirked. "I should. But I volunteered to be on watch soon."

I nodded my head, as if that answer was acceptable. Silence fell between us and I gnawed at my lip before I considered my next question. Finally, I just blustered through, "I'd like to know more about you, Solas."

"Why?" he replied dryly without tearing his gaze from the late night view.

"You're risking a lot by helping. I wanted to know what motivated a man like that."

"Staying wasn't my wisest decision. But my motivations are my own."

Defeated, I slumped my shoulders a bit. "Oh, I just thought…perhaps we were becoming friends?"

That got him to look at me. His head tilted to the side slightly before he pressed a hand over his face. "Forgive me. There's so much fear in the air. What would you know of me?"

I couldn't help the grin that formed on my face. "You mentioned travelling. Do you like to travel?"

"Yes. I grew up in a small village to the north. I realized rather quickly that you cannot explore all of the Fade when you stay in one tiny corner of this world. So to see more of the Fade, I travel."

"With your spirit friends?" I offered.

"Sometimes."

"And sometimes you're alone?"

"Being alone is not as horrible as you make it out to be," he said with a short laugh.

I glanced down at my mud covered boots. "To me it is."

Rather abruptly, Solas said, "You possess a curiosity I have not seen in other Dalish before. It is…refreshing."

It was my turn to laugh. "I get in trouble for it quite often. But I'm glad someone sees it as a perk."

"It is a wondrous thing: curiosity. I would implore you not to lose it."

"Okay, Solas. I'll keep sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. For you," I replied with a cheeky grin.

The corner of his mouth tipped up in a half smile as he met my gaze. We held it there for a few moments before he turned away suddenly. He rose up to his feet and stated blandly, "I believe it is my turn to stand watch."

I lifted my hand to close the Veil tear again. With every rift I had closed, my body felt drained of life. It didn't hurt, but it felt like exhausting your muscles beyond their capabilities.

When the shimmering green rip before me exploded, my vision darkened.

"Lavellan!" Cassandra shouted, her voice warbling in my ears.

I thought I would hit the ground, but someone wrapped their arm around my middle, keeping me upright by pinning my back to their front.

Solas spoke quietly, as if to not disturb me. "You did good, Lavellan."

"Save your praises for when I'm fully conscious," I muttered, my vision darkening again. I thought I would throw up but I bit down on the urge.

"Here." Solas made sure I was steady on my feet before he came around to my front and knelt down.

"What are you doing," I slurred, speech beyond me.

"Get on my back. We have to get you back to camp so you can rest."

I didn't want to be carried back into camp like a child, but I didn't have the speech capabilities to say as much. Instead, my decision was made for me when my knees buckled. I slumped over onto Solas's back and he did the rest. He scooped me up easily and said, "Put your arms around my neck."

I did as told, too tired to argue anymore. His hands hooked under my thighs and shifted my body higher up his back so I could grab onto his neck.

"We are near our camp. Varric and I will scout ahead to clear the way," Cassandra declared, already moving further up the path.

Varric cast one look at me before he followed Cassandra and they disappeared over the hill.

I dug my chin into the space between Solas's neck and shoulder. "It's embarrassing to faint like this."

"The Hinterlands are vast and you closed many rifts today. Do not be ashamed. Your body will grow more accustomed to it soon."

There was silence for several minutes; only the sounds of nature around us to interrupt. Through I felt exhausted physically, my brain still whirled with thoughts and doubts.

"Entertain me," I murmured into Solas's neck.

He sucked in a breath and coughed before saying, "How would you like me to entertain you? Is carrying you not enough? Now I must be your jester, too?"

"Tell me something from your journeys," I demanded, my eyes closing of their own volition.

"What would you like to hear?"

"Pick something," I huffed.

"How about the time I met a spirit who had once been a king. He ruled over every land I had explored. When I asked him what he was, he said he had forgotten. He told me that there was no word anymore for what he had been–it had been lost to the ravages of time."

The warmth I was leeching from Solas was making the tension in my muscles relax just a bit. With my armor and belongings, I should have been heavy, but Solas didn't complain.

"No, tell me something bigger, grander," I pleaded.

"Grander than a king?" he chuckled, shifting me higher up his back.

"Fine, how about something spooky?"

He seemed to think about that for a moment before saying, "Have you been to the Fallow Mire?"

"No."

"It is a land of lasting nighttime where lightning strikes and scars the land every few minutes. The worst part, however, is the dead that roam."

"Spirits?"

"No, the undead. They hobble around the land and attack any soul that steps in the water surrounding the Fallow Mire."

"That's not spooky," I challenged, though I was definitely scratching the Fallow Mire off of my list of places to visit.

I was struggling to stay awake now. My eyes burned with the effort of keeping my eyelids open.

"Can you see memories in the Fade? Not just spirits?" I murmured.

Without missing a beat, Solas had an answer, "Yes, I once saw a qunari woman forced to bake bread daily. And daily she broke the rules by sprinkling sugar into her loaves. It wasn't much, but it was her own victory of sorts and made her happy."

"You've been everywhere–seen everything," I whispered, sleep pulling urgently at my body. "You have a story for everything."

"I do. But you should sleep now. You're already struggling to stay awake now," Solas commented.

"Hush," I chastised. "Let me ask my questions."

"There will be plenty of time for questions another time, Lethallen."

My feet hung loosely at either side of Solas, rhythmically bouncing with each step he took. I tried to prod more questions out of him, but Solas kept his lips sealed tight and, eventually, I was asleep.