The three of you have dinner there at the inn. You entertain the girl with stories of your adventures in the Denerim orphanage, but her fascination rests solidly with Solas and his magic. She peppers him with questions, and he actually answers most of them. Perhaps you’re not the only one with a weakness for children. After ensuring she has a full belly, you slip her a few extra coins from the Inquisition’s purse. Sending…
First Blood You go the night without rest once again. It’ll catch up with you eventually, but there’s nothing you can really do about it. You’re already feeling foolish about your little moment of weakness with Solas, and the worst he could do with the knowledge you gave him is blackmail. Oh, certainly, he could kill you with it, but he’d have to work very hard at it. It almost wouldn’t be worth the bother.…
The Mask Slips Solas, mercifully, lets you recover from your humiliation with grace. He doesn’t poke or prod at you, simply lets you gather your things in peace and head out the door. The mask on your face soothes you as surely as his touch had, although that thought threatens to fluster you in a different manner. You should apologize for your behavior, but that would require drawing attention to it. Instead, you prefer just…
A Subject for Debate Val Royeaux gets shittier and shittier the closer you get to the walls of the alienage. You don’t particularly like coming to this side of town. The Chevaliers patrol more heavily here, and you’ve never been fond of alienages. Not that you actually go into it… No, you stay on the outskirts. And rather than going to any sort of legitimate business, Solas watches as you drop off very different lists…
Masks It’s only when Solas begins to shift in bed that you realize the sun is up. You set down the list you were making, rub exhaustion out of your eyes. You need tea… strong tea. You write yourself a tiny memo to buy a bag of your favorite strong blend while in you’re in Val Royeaux… never know how long it’ll be ‘til your next trip out of Skyhold. The memo goes onto the…
The Big City You feel elated despite your nerves the second your feet hit Val Royeaux’s streets. It’s not a very long walk to the University… perhaps ten minutes at a decent walking pace, but you feel as though you could spin in place. Val Royeaux! The sights! The smells! You’re home! There’s a definite spring in your step as you walk side by side with Solas along the boulevard. Your face feels uncomfortably bare,…
Misery Loves Company The rest of your journey down the Imperial Highway is mercifully uneventful. Garrick sets a brisk pace, and all six of you are alert as you travel along the Highway. Kelsie seems to have recovered slightly thanks to a night’s sleep; Garrick had given her only a single shift of watch despite the need for extra security. She’s still not as talkative as she once was, but she’s smiling more. You find…
Blood and Chocolate If no one notices how fast you react, it’s only because everyone else reacts just as fast, with the exception of Kelsie. Your hand flies to a throwing dagger as you spin to face the direction the arrow came. More arrows come, swiftly. Elaine catches one in her shield, you hear the wooden thunk. None come close enough to you for you to have to dive out of the way. Small blessing;…
Alone, Together Despite the fact you’d originally been planning on heading back relatively quickly, you and Solas spend quite a bit of time together in that tree. At some point, you kick off your shoes, letting your toes relax in the cool autumn air. The two of you finish your caramel apples slowly over the course of the next half-hour or so, and Solas tells you more about the strange artifact you’d found in the…
Pain, Without Love Your aura is inside of you now, but… how long has Solas been following you? How did he even find you? Why is he on Ashi’lana? So many questions! You stare up at him dumbly, hand still holding your throwing dagger, at a total loss for words. He looks pissed off, and the combination of that and the fact you’re looking up at him as he reigns in Ashi’lana… Maker. You would…