#the elfiest elf to ever elf

[incorrectringsofpower]

Arondir: i'm gonna grow so many flowers and strawberries, and be the guardian to so many honeybees. just watch me

[attheexactlyrighttimeandplace]

For Ismael fans,

I love when people praise him, it's a like a symphony to my ear ❤️

[ell-vellan]

❄️🌤️ for the wip asks :3

Thank youuu for letting me share <3

WIP asks

Share a snippet from a WIP of your choosing.

Now, finally, they stood in front of a large circular pool of still water beneath a huge mirror of equally rippling reflections that somehow gave Bull the most massive case of the creeps, guarded by an eerie elf who was like no elf he'd met before.  This was what Corypheus wanted so badly. This was what they’d come all this way to steal out from under him. And seeing the Well of Sorrows now – just a low pool of water at their feet – Bull believed it earned its name, somehow. Bull had stayed out of it, the whole thing. Their whole discussion about the Well with its creepy pale guardian elf, the arguments between him and Morrigan and Solas. This was El’s domain, her people’s culture, and he could tell just from the glances he’d gotten of her face that she was overwhelmed. Reverent, curious, amped up, but entirely focused. She didn’t need his input here, and it’s not like he had anything useful to say. So he kept his thoughts to himself. Instead, he observed. He saw the way El received the revelations from Abelas; saw the way she flinched when Abelas called the Dalish “shadows wearing vallaslin.” Saw the way she rallied, arguing that they had respected the sacred grounds and done his rituals, that Corypheus was here to steal whatever the Well offered, and that she had come to stop him. “I believe you,” Abelas said, without emotion. Like it didn’t truly matter why she came, or how Abelas felt about it.  Iron Bull stared at the Inquisitor’s back. Her armor gleamed eerily in the flickering light of the temple’s torches and shifting sunlight through the canopy of broken roofs. Solas stood beside her, tension in every muscle of his body. They’d been two of a kind here, buddy-buddy the whole trek through the jungle and the temple, talking in hushed whispers like they were afraid the temple’s sentinels could hear. El hadn't glanced Bull's way, too focused on taking in every single detail of Mythal's temple. Bull watched it all go down with the curious detachment of a guy with no real skin in the game. But El did, and she was the one he was concerned about.  The scantily-clad witch glared at them. She was the odd one out, the one who’d told them about this place, but not enough, definitely not all that she knew. Bull didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her, and he was pretty sure he could throw her a long way. Whatever she had come for, it wasn’t proving as easy as she’d thought it would be, that much was for sure. She was the human arguing with the elves, in the middle of the elfiest place Bull had ever set foot. And that was saying something. The oddest one of all, that long-limbed, pale elf in golden armor who wore vallaslin and yet was nothing like any elf Bull had ever met. Unlike any other elf alive. He was taller, for one. And he had this air about him that made the back of Bull’s neck prickle. There was a power to him that was ancient; all Bull's instincts clamored that this guy felt like no foe he’d ever faced, that appearances were dangerously deceiving. Abelas carried himself with quiet arrogance that he’d only seen in a very few. Bull’d learned through experience that people with this kind of confidence, this lack of fear, meant they either didn’t give a fuck whether they lived or died, or knew you were nothing, and both options were bad news. The put him on alert, a deep instinctual fear that he’d met a rare foe who might actually be better than him. Bull very much did not want to fight Abelas. Not even four-on-one, with three experienced mages and a spirit-boy who could disappear and reappear and was really, really good with knives.

Share a favorite piece of dialogue from your WIP.

“It's not like I haven't seen the guy naked before.”

El startled. “You told me you met them when they saved your life.”

“I did. I had stepped on the toes of somebody important in Antiva, I guess – maybe I killed his friend or banged his sister, I never did learn which – and the Crows had a contract out on me. And look, I'm good, but the Crows don't fucking stop, and even I have to sleep sometimes. Anyway I was on my way outta town, not that it matters much, the Crows are everywhere, but I figured maybe they'd calm down. Nope. Anyway, just so happens around that time Zevran was working through the Crows on his own, knocking ‘em out one by one, and our goals aligned in a pretty lucky way for me. Long story short, they saved my life, I thanked them, we got to talking and…”

Bull was waiting deliberately, gauging her reaction, but she was calmer than he’d expected. Aghast, maybe, but not exactly surprised, and not really jealous, either.

“And you thanked him further by… sleeping with him. Because of of course you did.”

“Both of them, actually.” Bull smiled crookedly and took her hand when her eyes went wide, squeezing in reassurance. Or maybe to keep her from running like the skittish thing she was. 

“You slept with both of them at the same time?”

“Aw, kadan,” He grinned at her with affection. “Didn't know I could still shock you with stuff like that.”

[thanosisadilf]

arondir is the elfiest elf to ever elf.

[bunabi]

I think another problem in DAI was not only the lack of content and focus for qunari and dwarf inquisitors, but also how the only times it finally does focus on their backstories it does the whole “but you’re not QUNari” or “not really a dwarf dwarf” kinda stuff

Exactly. ☝

Adding to that, the whole ‘I’m not like OTHER ___’ has become such a common characterization. I’d love to get an Avvar companion who’s very close to their culture, for example. Gives room for meeting their not-estranged family, visiting their home, getting unique insight & dialogue, etc.

At the very least, gimme one human who’s ‘not like OTHER humans’ because they’re actually a goddamn darkspawn in disguise.

[sulky-valkyrie]

‘Whose blood is that?’ from the Hidden Injury prompts? my guilty rarepair is Fenris/Solas, but if you're not into that then Fenris with anyone! thank you <3

okay, so this idea is starting to run away from me, but I have TECHNICALLY filled it and will probably be doing another chapter/sequel that's a bit naughtier for @dadrunkwriting ~~~

A furious white-haired elf was something ever Varric expected to see barrelling toward him again.  "What the void are -"

"Where's Hawke?"

"Gone, Broody."  He shook his head.  "I wrote Rivaini and Daisy, but -"

A gauntlet pushed him back in his chair.  "I will rephrase.  Where did you lose them?"

"Adamant.  Western Orlais, but -"

Fenris spun around and stalked out.  The dwarf rubbed his face and sighed.  This was not going to go well.  And someone needed to tell Sparker to take a long vacation.

"What a prig."  Sera appeared next to him.  "And those tattoos, he must think he's even elfier than Solas."

Varric winced.  "Not exactly.  Can you go find Sparkler and drag him on a treasure hunt or something?  Keep him out of sight?"

The girl frowned.  "Not gonna let some pricked up puff of a man walk in here and-"

"Did you read my book?"

She snorted.  "’Course not."

The dwarf sighed.  "Of course not.  Look, Broody used to belong to a magister; belong as in slave?  I just want to soften the surprise so no one ends up with extrails as opposed to entrails." 

"Extrails."   She giggled.  "Nice one.  Alright, I'll get our pet peacock to go strut off somewhere."

He nodded his thanks and hurried out, right into the elfiest elf of them all.  Solas cocked his head at him curiously.  "It's not often I find you in the Herald's Rest."

"Technically, you still haven't.”  He looked around.  “I don't suppose you saw a pissed elf run past you?"

"Pissed as in intoxicated?"

"Pissed as in looked like he wanted to kill something."

"Ah, then yes."  Solas pursed his lips, looking faintly irritated.  "What is he?"

"Oh come on, are you telling me you've read everything but my books?"  Varris grumbled as he pushed past him.

Solas followed him.  "I skimmed it; does that mean he's your ex-slave?"

"Shit, Chuckles, never let him hear you say that."  The dwarf paused.  "Which way did he go?"

"Toward the cells."

Oh no.  "Is Erimond still down there?"

"I believe the Inquisitor planned to pass judgment tomorrow."

He sped up.  "Broody might have just taken care of that himself."

"I saw no weapon, how much can he do that quickly?"

"Wow, really?  Are you sure you even skimmed The Tale of the Champion?"  Varric scoffed.  "The man is basically half lyrium."

As expected, Fenris was inside Erimond's cell, and his hand was inside the mage's ribcage.  What wasn't expected was that he had an audience.  Isabela and Merril both looked like shit, and- 

"Blondie, are you insane?"

Anders shrugged and tugged the hood closer as his eyes flashed blue.  "Hawke needs us." 

Erimond made a pained gurgling noise and dropped to the ground as Fenris released his spine or his heart or whatever he'd been threatening to rip out.  "He knows nothing."

"Kill him anyway."  Isabela's voice was rough, and her arm tightened around Merrill's shoulders. 

"It is not our place."  Anders' voice had two tones in it, a sure sign that Big Blue and Angry was considering coming out to play.  "We need to go."

"Go where?"  Varric asked.  "Don't get me wrong, staying here is a terrible idea, but -"

Merrill looked at him, and the force of that glare made him step back a pace.  Back in Kirkwall, with all her fumbling and bumbling, it had been hard to remember just how powerful she was.  "We're getting Emjee back."

"She -"

"They."  There was Big Blue and Angry.

Solas nodded apologetically, then continued.  "They were physically in the Fade, no normal mortal can just -"

Merrill walked up to him.  Stalked, more likely.  Her fingers were still entwined in the pirate's.  "Then I suppose you'll have to help us."

The other elf blinked at her in confusion, then concern.  "Whatever do you mean?"

"The spirits speak of you."  She cocked her head to the side, scrutinizing him, and Varric wasn't sure if he'd ever seen the elf so discomfited.  "You're coming to fix this.  It doesn't balance any scales to leave them to die alone, does it?"  She swung that gaze back to Varric.  "And you'll be explaining to the Inquisitor that Fe - Solas here needs to take a leave of absence."

Varric frowned.  "The world is ending, Daisy, this isn't -"

"And I trust you to save it while we save Hawke."  With that, Merrill walked out, Isabela in tow.  Anders followed after them.  Fenris spat on Erimond's crumpled form before phasing back through the bars of his cell.

"What is - what did you just do?"  Solas asked, surprised and intrigued.

Fenris arched eyebrow then glanced at Varric.  "Not a fan of yours?"

The dwarf snorted.  "Definitely not my books, not sure about my person."

He shook his head and held up a hand, then let it glow blue.  "This is a curse that I have made into a blessing."  As it dimmed, he touched Varric's shoulder and squeezed gently.  "We will bring them back, or die."

The dwarf patted the gauntlet.  “The first one.  I just write tragedies, don’t want to live through another one.”

"You are determined," Solas observed.

The other elf looked at him.  "Hawke is important."

"Who's blood is that on you?"

Fenris glanced at the splatter then waved a hand back toward Erimond's cell.  "His.  Probably.  Don't worry, I left him alive for your Inquisition."

[incorrectringsofpower]

[attheexactlyrighttimeandplace]

[fatesown]

@theharellan​ // sc.

      “Right, so do you think you’re MORE elfy than the elfy-elves or LESS elfy than the elfy-elves?” He always seemed to put himself ABOVE the elfy ones, not a place she usually liked folk to be---what gave ANYONE the right to put themself above someone else? But then he was also just about as ELFY as any elf she’d ever met.

      She knew where she’d put him---right at the tippy top of the elfy pyramid, the elfiest elf to ever elf (and piss-off annoying about it too)---she just wanted to know what he thought.

[ranawaytothedas]

The Stuff of Dreams

Rating - Mature just for safety 

Main Pairings: F!Lavellan/Solas & F!Lavellan/Cullen (mentioned mostly)

Word Count:  6984

AO3 Link - HERE

Summery:  A collection of encounters in the Fade between Tamaris Lavellan and Solas during the two years he was missing after the defeat of Corypheus.

Part 1 of 3

A/N: Welcome to the first part of the Pre-Fic-Fic that hopefully will set up the larger...still untitled fic that will replace Trespasser. This does fudge with timelines and cannon a bit. I did my best to proof and edit it but it’s unbeta read so please take that into account. Hope you enjoy, the full story is under the cut. 

_______________________

For the majority of her life Tamaris had a very conflicted relationship with sleep and dreams. Being what the Magisters called a Somnari or a Dreamer in the common tongue, she had control over her dreams. It was a blessing and a curse. She saw so much that filled her wonder and awe, but was also plagued by horrific and graphic nightmares since her earliest memories. Her dreams felt real, as real as any event that had happened to her while waking, and she remembered every moment. Many dreamers never lived past childhood, fewer yet into adulthood like she had. In her whole life she had only met one other, Solas.

Solas was complicated subject for Tamaris. She had a lot of anger towards him over the past year and a half since he disappeared. Many nights she had cursed his named and wished to see him one more time only to wrap her hands around his neck. Though, most nights, she just missed him. As much as she tried to hide it, most of all from herself, Tamaris still loved Solas deeply. It was a love like nothing she had ever felt. He had a pull over her and she over him. When they met for the first time something in him pulled at something in her. Their relationships lasted a little less than a year, it had actually been one of the best kept secrets of the Inquisition, but he did not leave her without a constant reminder of what they had sacrificed for the sake of “the mission”. 

A little over a month after Corypheus fell and Solas left, Tamaris learned she was pregnant. At the time she had yet to enter into another relationship so she knew precisely who the father was. Solas.

 At first, Tamaris was petrified when she realized the position she found herself in. Pregnant, alone to raise a child without the father, for she doubted that Solas would return. As anyone in her position would have, Tamaris fell into a deep depression. 

She locked herself away in her room, far away from all those who cared for her. Everyone was concerned, but Mathras insisted on the best course being to give her space. For the most part, they obliged. Except Dorian. It was not in his nature stand by and do nothing. He would leave food outside her door each morning and evening, with a note telling her that she was missed and very loved. Anything he could think of to try and raise her spirits.  In the end it was Dorian who made the choice to get The Iron Bull to break down her bedroom door after no one had seen her for a week. He barged in and declared “Enough, I am not standing by any long. Mathras be damned…” He pulled her from her bed and promptly made her bathe while he ordered Bull to go find some food. Dorian did leave her side for several days after. Not that he feared she would hurt herself, but because he knew she needed someone to comfort her. 

It took several weeks but Tamaris seemed herself, well as close as she could be. Everyone around her was doing their best to lift her spirits. Tamaris learned to fake happiness fairly quickly, while she remained quite heartbroken. The pain ran deep and perhaps clouded her judgment. A month after she learned she was pregnant, Tamaris ended up allowing her brother to convince her that Cullen would be a perfect match for her. So while pregnant with another man’s child, she entered into an often rocky relationship with one of her brother’s closest friends. 

Cullen wasn’t a bad man, by any means, but he wasn’t Solas. He had a handsomeness that was undeniable, charming with a surprisingly witty sense of humor and he was undoubtedly, a very caring man. Who didn’t deserve to be in love with a woman that still loved another man. The guilt she felt for continuing a relationship out of the fear of being alone weighed heavy on Tamaris. When her daughter, Shivana, had been born it only complicated the situation because Cullen happily accepted the role of father. In fact it was one of the most painful things to see at times, because it was a role he thrived in. Tamaris had been worried that Cullen wouldn’t want to be with her, once the baby had been born. Those worries disappeared quickly when Cullen seemed to look past the blatantly obvious fact that he was not the biological father, and claimed the little girl as his own. In the moment it had made her blissfully happy.

Yet, almost a year later, she wished he had just turned his back on them then. 

Tamaris had hoped that with time her feelings for Solas would fade. They would be replaced by the feelings she so strongly desired to have for Cullen. The feelings never fully came to fruition. Solas was always there. The older Shivana got, the more she favored him. Her hair had come in thick, dark auburn curls, which could have only come from him. Her eyes stayed the same stormy blue as his, though for months Dorian had been convinced they were turning Violet. Tamaris suspected he was only humoring her. There was less obvious things as well. Subtle things that only she would have ever noticed. The curve of her coy smile, the way she held her hands she was being scolded, her soft chuckles when she had done something amusing or mischievious. All Solas. 

As she wondered the fade each night, part of her was doing it in search of him. Hoping she would stumble upon him in some old memories and be able to ask him all the questions she needed to be able to move on. 

Oddly enough, she had shared this with Sera. Whom was often uneasy talking about the Fade and magic, but much to Tamaris’s suprise. Her friend had a fair point to make. “Don’t go lookin’ for him… find what he may be lookin’ for. Which I would bet  is gonna be my little bumble bee… so go where our Shivana  is and I bet before too long he will show up, because there ain’t a soul in Thedas that don’t know the Herald of Andraste squirted out little elfy baby...because there is no way she can pass for Cullen’s, didn’t you try when his sister came? Wrapped her up, put a hat on her so they couldn’t see her ears…and they still figured it out ya know, not that it matters...she may look like ol’ Elven Glory but she is soft and squishy on the inside like your Cully Wully...  pfft don’t look at me like that… Shivana is one elfy elf baby. Perhaps the elfiest of them all…” Sera had continued to ramble on eventually leading to the conclusion that there was no way Solas couldn’t know about Shivana and had likely found her at least once already. 

So, Tamaris did as Sera suggested. Each night she found her daughter in the Fade in the safe little bubble Tamaris had created for her. It was one of the camps she had grown up in, the clan would stop there every few years. It was warm, lush and green. You could hear the soft sounds of a creek in the distance and there was the smell of wild flowers filling the air. She had left out the Aravels, mostly because she didn’t think Solas would approve of their daughter being raised Dalish. Even if it was just in the Fade. Instead she left it open, so Shivana could run and play with a freedom she couldn’t have at Skyhold. 

Each night she sat, watching her daughter be amused by two little whisps that had started to call this quiet corner of the Fade home. They were kind beings, with no malicious intent. Tamaris had made sure of that. They just loved to be around joy and Shivana was filled with that. They would play and dance, make flowers bloom and birds sing sweet songs for her. It was a lovely and heartwarming thing for Tamaris to see. It made her less worried that her daughter would be plagued with nightmares she had been. Though her gifts hadn’t shown themselves, Tamaris was all but certain that Shivana was a mage and a dreamer like both her parents. So the fact that as young as she was, she was attracting kindly spirits spoke to her daughter’s true nature. Or so that was what Tamaris had told herself. 

Then one night, when Tamaris joined her daughter in her little oasis, there were no whisps to be found. Instead, Shivana was sitting in the center of the clearing looking up a large white wolf that stood before her. Tamaris’s protective instincts willed her to go to Shivana, pull her away and run. Yet, as she neared and saw the soft smile on the little girl’s face as her hand reached out and tangled in the beast’s fur. A joyful laugh escaped her daughter’s lips, not unlike she would give Tamaris, Cullen, Mathras, Dorian or Sera. The people she knew as family. She knows it…. Tamaris concluded. So, she stopped and watched from a distance, just barely concealed by some trees. 

The wolf circled around Shivana as the child clapped her hands happily as if she was waiting for something exciting to happen. She turned onto all fours as she began to crawl after the Wolf as it started to walk away. I sofy grunt of protest escaped the little girl’s lips as she scowled, her father’s scowl. The Wolf stopped and turned around, as it did it’s shape began to transform into one that Tamaris knew all too well. 

Instantly she knew why Shivana knew the wolf and wasn’t afraid. Because the wolf was the little girl’s father. Her hand shook as she brought it to her mouth trying to muffle her gasp as she watched him bend down to pick up their daughter. Seeing him again, with their daughter caused a wave of sadness to wash over Tamaris as it shouldn’t have been this way. He should have been there when she was born, he should have been able to hold her for real. Then, the anger and pain started to seep in. Her hand fell away from her mouth as she stepped out of the trees and into sight. “Solas…” His name rolled off her tongue yet like it had a thousand time before, but there was pain behind it, longing. 

Her voice caught him off guard, he wasn’t expecting me, Tamaris noted as she saw a shocked look painted across his face. His mouth hung slightly agape as he struggled to find the will to call her what he truly wanted. It was Shivana’s joyfully laugh that steadied him as he turned his gaze down to his smiling child. “Look, Mamae found us.” He pointed over to Tamaris who was trying to hold it together. Her eyes were fixed on Solas as he placed a tender kiss on Shivana’s plump, freckle covered cheek as he mumbled. “Clever Mamae…” His gaze shifted back to Tamaris and she bit her bottom lip to keep herself from saying what she wanted as well. She forced a small smile for her daughter as her eyes stayed fixed on his. 

A few swift steps and Tamaris closed the gap between her and Solas as she reached out for her daughter. “Come on da’ean.” Tamaris muttered softly as the little girl, not yet one, leaned over for her mother. Solas’s gaze narrowed, his brow furrowed as Tamaris took Shivana from him. Once the child was settled in her arms Tamaris turned back to Solas. Her gemstone eyes danced with outrage, her free hand outstretched, a long finger jutted out at him.  “You have no right to do this to her.” Tamaris declared sternly, her voice wavering slightly as held back for fear one day, even though it was all in the Fade, Shivana would remember. “It is not fair, you are not apart of her life, you should have no place in her dreams…” 

“Not because I do not long to be…” his voice was filled with regret as he his hand reached out to take Shivana’s. He smirked at her. “I wish it could be different.” He was trying to sound happy, cheerful even, but Tamaris could hear the twinge of sadness in his words. Tamaris was doing her best to hold back because she felt for Solas as she saw the mournful look in his eyes as he smiled at the child. “But she deserves a chance for more, so much more…” He muttered more to himself in an attempt to convince himself that it was best if he stayed away. 

Tamaris couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “She deserves the chance to know her father.” The weight behind her words shook him from looking at Shivana for just a moment. Their eyes met once more and Tamaris’s bottom lip quivered slightly as she still struggled to maintain her composure. “More than that, she deserves goodnight kisses, bedtime stories, someone to protect her..” Those were all things Cullen had been doing since the day Shivana had been born, but it should have been him.  

“That is what I am trying to do, vhenan.” His slip didn’t go unnoticed by either of them and Shivana looked confused. She had never seen her mother so shaken as Tamaris was by hearing that name again. Shivana’s plump little hand reached out to touch her mother’s cheek as a single tear fell from her deep violet eyes. The guilt over the slip was written all over Solas’s face as he reached out placed a gentle hand on her arm. “I tried to keep my distance, even here.” His words were chosen carefully, they always were, and his tone was soft and there was more sadness behind his words than Tamaris had expected. “But, I had to see her… she is my daughter…” His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke. 

“You could have just returned, really Solas. It’s that simple.” Tamaris hated that her tone was more desperate than she had intended, but seeing him reminded her how strongly she still felt towards him. “Just come home, ma’lath.” Their eyes met for only a brief moment as Solas turned away. His hand slipping from her arm. The loss of his touch made her heart ache.

Tamaris knew him well enough, or so she believed, to tell he was obviously conflicted. His hand went to his brow as his eyes squeezed shut. Solas paused for several moments before opening his eyes once more to look back at Tamaris and their daughter. “It is not that easy, I wish it could be…” 

“Why can it not be, Solas? Why?” Her tone shifted into a pleading anger, Shivana started to squirm in her mother’s arms. Slightly alarmed by the tension and shifting emotions. Without thinking Tamaris set the babe down on the grass before turning back to Solas. “What is so horrible that you would sacrifice being in your daughter’s life… that you sacrificed us for?” Shivana started to crawl away towards some nearby flowers, Solas’s eyes followed her. This upset Tamaris who just wanted him to answer her questions. “Solas!” She snapped sharply and Solas glanced back at her. 

“It is a complex situation...:” He started obviously wanting to avoid the subject but Tamaris was not going to allow that to happen. He owed her answers. Reaching out she gripped his arms and held him in front of her. “Please let us leave it at that..” Solas asked softly. 

Those who knew her well, knew that when she had her mind set on something there was little that would stop her. That moment was no different. Her lips turned into a disapproving scowl as her eyes narrowed in on his. “Tell me!” Her voice shook. The nights she spent looking for him, desperate for answers. The days she spent locked in her rooms sobbing, only coaxed out by Cullen’s promise to let her order the recruits around on drills and be as mean as she wanted. For a moment she wished Cullen was there to pull her away again. Her mind was awash with so many questions all she could manage to choke out was, “You owe me answers!” Her hands released his arms as she pushed him back slightly, though he didn’t move at all. 

Solas hung his head, only briefly glancing over at Shivana before he looked up and nodded. “That I do…” He offered his hand to her, Tamaris hesitated. “I promise, I will tell you everything…” He added. Tamaris nodded as she placed her hand in his. “Just not here.” In an instant they were somewhere else. 

_________

It was a mountain top, a clearing with only a fire pit with a roaring fire and log near it. Solas gestured towards the log, waiting for Tamaris to go first but she didn’t move. Solas sighed. “Shivana will be fine, I promise.” Her violet eyes narrowed in on him silently questioning. “Her name was easier than you would have thought to find out, Leilana is not nearly as good as she believes herself to be.” He noted smugly and Tamaris chuckled. For a brief moment she forgot the pain. “Come… sit.” 

Once they were seated on the log, gazing into the fire Tamaris turned to him, her hand resting on his thigh. “I have to tell you this Solas, because I am sure you know about Cullen and I.” Solas nodded, he had known for quite some time about her relationship. “Please just know, no matter what you have heard. I still love you, I do not know why. I wish I knew. Cullen is a good man, too good for me in truth...he deserves so much better...” She was anxious, which made Solas smirk as he placed his hand over her’s. “I do care for him you know, but it’s not the same.” Tamaris mumbled as she looked down at Solas’s hand resting over her’s. She missed his touch, even now she longed for him to really hold her hand. 

“He is not too good for you, Vhenan… you are too good for him..” He stated softly as his stormy eyes lifted and gazed upon Tamaris’s face, it had softened some from before. The pain and rage behind her eyes replaced with profound sadness. He would have rather seen rage, for the sadness only made him feel guiltier. Solas squeezed her hand gently, “I never expected you to lock yourself away.” Tamaris shrugged and looked into the fire. “But, if I am being honest, when I heard… there was a moment..” 

“You were jealous…” Her head snapped back and she watched Solas nod, not wanting to willing admit the truth. There was a satisfied smirk across Tamaris’s lips. The fact he was jealous of Cullen gave her hope. “So did you hear of my pregnancy or Cullen first?” She asked softly. 

“Your relationship with the Commander came to my attention first, the pregnancy shortly after.” Solas was holding back the jealousy he still felt over the matter, but Tamaris could hear the bitterness in his words. “I assumed, I am sure like many did… that he was your child’s father but then the reports said you had an elven child… not elf-blooded… I knew the truth of the matter. That she was my child. Though, I heard all sorts of rumors including one rather amusing that implied that Iron Bull was the child’s father..” 

Tamaris let out a low, highly amused chuckle. “It was likely started by Bull himself.” Tamaris joked. “He did claim for a few days, in jest, that he was Shivana’s father.” Solas smirked as he shook his head. “I mean, it was funny at first… everyone was just trying to make me feel better about the situation.” 

“I know” Solas replied softly. “It is all my doing, all the pain, sadness and hurt.” His tone was so mournful it pulled at Tamaris. She scooted closer to Solas and rested her head on his shoulder. His arm slipped around her waist without either of them giving much thought to the actions. This is how they had spent many evenings by the fire during their time on mission together. Tamaris laced her fingers between his as released in the feel of his sweater under her cheek. Solas smiled softly for a moment, his thumb brushing the back of her hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. “Ir ablass, Vhenan…” He muttered against her soft skin. His eyes closed as he lowered their hands back to his lap as he spoke. “If I knew about everything before I left…” 

“We can not dwell on the ‘what if’, Solas.” Tamaris mumbled as buried her face against the soft knitted fabric of the tunic he always wore. “All we can do now, is find a way forward…” 

“What if there is no way forward?” The weight to his words were like a great hammer hitting Tamaris in the chest. Her breath caught in her throat as she wondered was that really a true statement. It couldn’t be, there had to be some hope. It’s all that had kept her going in the early days, still the hope of having her family whole one day kept her going. Solas sighed heavily and Tamaris shook her head. “There is so much you do not know, that if you knew…” he tried to explain but Tamaris wouldn’t hear it.

“Solas, there is nothing that you could tell me that would change my feelings.” Her declaration cut him off. The fact that fear still held him back upset her. “When have I shown you that I am anything but a rational, understanding woman…” 

Solas let out an amused but stifled chuckle. “I can think of several moments, but still… this is not you and Vivane arguing over the merits of the Circle.” He hesitated as he gazed down at Tamaris. He let out a long sigh before urging Tamaris to sit up. “Before I tell you anything, promise you will let me finish before you get upset and storm off…” 

As she sat up Tamaris nodded her head slowly as she watched Solas’s expression hardened for a moment as he willed himself to finally speak the words he had tried to say so many times before. He steadied himself with another deep breath as he began. “I remember you telling me that both your Grandmothers were Keepers of their respective clans… am I right?” Tamaris nodded, as did Solas before continuing. “So you heard many tales of all the Evanuris no doubt?”

“Yes, Solas, we have talked about this all before.” Tamaris pointed out a little confused. This had been a start to many of their conversations during their relationship. Tamaris began to wonder just how many times he had tried to tell her whatever deep secret he had held onto for so long. “Solas, I swear we have had this conversation before.” 

“I know, and we nearly have but there is a point to this…” Solas was getting a little flustered that Tamaris had interrupted him. He took a moment to focus his thoughts and continued, “So you have at least heard some of the tales of Fen’Harel…” 

“What little there is about him, other than he is the Trickster, the Liar… the great betrayer… he is the Dread Wolf… I know the Dalish keep wolf statues outside our camps. Mathras was afraid of it, I thought it was silly to be afraid of statue. I used to go sit by it and read because it was the only time he let me be on my own.” They both chuckled softly lightening the tense moment. Solas actually smiled a genuine smile for a passing moment. Tamaris sighed, “It was one of my many hiding places. Everyone said I was an odd child for it, the clan elders said it was because I was a dreamer. They blamed anything odd I did as a child on that.” Solas was watching her expressions carefully. The fact she didn’t seem afraid or upset while speaking of Fen’Harel gave him a glimmer of hope. She smiled before giving a little shrug, “Really,  the only story I ever remember hearing was one my father told the other hunters when he was drunk, he only ever told the tale when he was drunk..” Tamaris shook her head as she tried to recall the tale. “It was something about Andrul catching Fen’Harel hunting her Halla, then some fight with a Forgotten One… What was his name…”

“Anaris..” Solas interjected sharply.

“Yes… that’s right.” Tamaris said with a smile. “My mother would get so upset when he would tell it. My father made is all sound so torrid. He would shoo Mathras and I off if he ever caught us listening..” It was a happy memory from her childhood, one of her favorite in fact. “I do not think I have heard anyone else tell it. Just my father.”

Solas’s jaw clenched like he was recalling an unpleasant event as Tamaris stumbled through recounting the bits of the one tale of Fen’Harel she knew. “The truth of tale is far more sinister than some torrid story to tell drunk hunters, I can assure you of that.” 

Tamaris looked confused as she tried to understand what Solas ment. It had happened before, he would say something that just didn’t line up. “Oh, so you saw the real thing here… in some memory?” She asked rather confused about what any of this had to do with why he could not return. “Solas, this makes no sense… What does Fen’Harel… and stories my father used to tell drunk have anything to do with why you can not return to me, to Shivana?” 

“Everything…” Solas said flatly before taking Tamaris’s hands. He hesitated as he looked at her hands, his eyes focused in on the Anchor for a brief moment. Slowly, his eyes lifted. He let out a heavy sigh, resounding himself to finally tell her the truth, “I am Fen’Harel, I was Solas first, they gave me the name of Fen’Harel to mark me, because I would not bow, thinking it would make me hate myself but I took and made it something more.” Tamaris’s eyes grew wide, she didn’t question the statement at all. It was almost like all things that had been odd about the man she loved suddenly fell into place. She pulled her hands away from in shock, her brain still trying to process the information that she had just been given, but Solas took it as fear. He began trying to explain almost in a frantic manner. “I wanted to free my people from the tyranny of those who sought to enslave them, because they had gone too far.” Tamaris was even more confused but tried her best to listen. “They killed Mythal, for power… not out of spite or anger… but for power the worst kind of power. By her own children no less, while Elgar'nan stood and watched. Letting them because he was the worst of them.” His voice was filled with centuries of pent up anger. “No one did anything. No one was punished…” 

“So you took matters into your own hands?” Tamaris asked weakly. 

Solas nodded. “At first, I had planned to kill them all.”

“I do not believe that… you were never one to view death as an answer.” The Solas Tamaris knew lectured Mathras more than once about losing his temper and needing to step back and view the situation without attachment or emotions. Thinking back on those conversations and others like them, Tamaris wondered if he was trying to stop them from making the same mistakes he had. 

“It’s kind of you to still think so much of me, but it was my first instinct.” Solas sighed as he looked down at his hands thinking of how much he had changed. Lifting his head he refocused his attention on Tamaris. “I was younger then, headstrong, full of rage.” His tone was so matter of fact, like he wasn’t even speaking of himself. “I came to my senses though, after some missteps and failed attempts. Killing the first of our people is not an easy feat.” 

“But, I thought that they were immortal, how could they even kill Mythal?” Tamaris felt odd that in this moment the only things that stumbled out of her mouth were more questions, that would only lead to more questions.

Solas let out offhanded huff at her question, he often forgot for all her wisdom she had still been raised Dalish. With most of their ancestors history lost to them. “Our people had a natural, intrinsic connection to the Fade. The connection gave us immortality of a kind before the Veil was lifted. Though we were still mortal, could be killed in battle, murdered, illness was very uncommon but not unheard of. Death, just was not common place.” He explained as he watched Tamaris as she sat in shock. He could see her struggling to grasp everything she was being told.”There is more,” He continued and Tamaris threw her hands up in disbelief. How could there even be more? Her mind was already barely keeping up.

A long sigh escaped his soft lips as Solas turned away from the flustered Tamaris. He brought a hand to the bridge of his nose and pitched it trying to think of how best to tell her, he had already told her so much and he could see she was starting to get overwhelmed. Without looking up he began, his hand slowly lowering from his face as he spoke.  “I created the Veil to trap the ‘Gods’ to stop them from destroying the world with their lust for power… it was my last resort to save my people. I did not know that it would cost our people everything…” By the time he had finished speaking Solas watched as Tamaris’s eyes become glossed over with horror and sadness. He reached out and too her hands once more trying to get her to look at him as he spoke, trying to make her see. “I have to fix this mistake, I need to restore our people. Give us back everything we lost.” 

No sooner did he speak the truth did Tamaris have the stark realization that Solas likely had a major part in the Breech. Instantly she stood up, her body stiff her arms crossed defensively in front of her chest. Her eyes darted down to the Anchor on her left hand. Her mouth twisted into angry snarl. “You did it for yourself… you were behind it all…” Her voice was filled with confusion and rage. “The Temple of Sacred Ashes… Corypheus.. The Anchor…” She stammered her heart racing as her eyes shot up at him looking at him for answers. 

He quickly stood and reached out to try and calm her but Tamaris snatched her hand away. “I had not intention for any of that to happen, for you or your brother to get involved… any one for that matter.” Solas’s tone was desperate, pleading as he tried to get her to listen but Tamaris was just shaking her head as tears now streamed down her cheeks. “Corypheus was supposed to die in the blast, I was going to claim the anchor for myself…” 

“But I was there and destroyed your plans, took the Anchor you wanted… so what you decided to seduce me? To what? Get it back? Use me?” The pain in her voice could be felt it was so strong. She doubled over as she let out a guttural scream of anguish. “It was all lies… everything…” Tamaris’s head was spinning as balled losing herself to her own anguish. 

Seeing her reaction was almost too much for Solas to bare, he had known she would be hurt, but he never expected the normally composed woman to crumble before him. He never wanted to hurt her, of all people. I must fix this.. He told himself as he reached out and gripped her arms. “No!” Solas declared emphatically as he pulled her up and made her look at him. Tamaris turned her head away in defiance , yet Solas continued anyway. “I had no intentions of entering into any relationship or anything of the sort. Not with you or anyone else. I wanted to stop the breech and try to free you of this burden.” All his guards were down, something Tamaris had only seen when they had been locked in another kind of embrace. 

His hands gripped her shoulders tighter than he intended but she wasn’t sobbing quite so hard. She is at least listening. He told himself. He rubbed her shoulders as he continued. “Then, you came to me. Curious and kind. Willing to listen, and learn.” A brief smile flashed across his lips as he recalled just why he had fallen so deeply for her. “You were a dreamer, something I thought had died out in this world. I had wandered this world of yours for a year before I found the Inquisition and not once had I found someone who understood what was at stake.” His eyes watched as Tamaris’s expression softened urging him to continue,  

“I had given up all hope of finding anything in this tranquil world that would give me a reason to save it, then you come in and take me by surprise. So bright, full of a life I had not seen in ages, and the most beautiful creature I had laid my eyes on in a thousand years…” Tamaris was still sobbing only softer as Solas spoke, her face still turned away. His hands ran down her shoulders and over her arms before he lifted one hand to turn her face towards his. “Everything you and I had was real, when I said the you made me feel like the whole world changed… I was not lying.. It did change.”  His hand reached up and caressed her cheek. “Ar lath ma, Vhenan.” His words shook Tamaris, she had longed to hear those words from his lips for over a year. Not like this though, Tamaris told herself. Yet she leaned into his touch as he spoke again, “ I have never lied to you, Vhenan, I swear it.” He brushed away the tears that stained Tamaris’s pale cheeks as she tried to muster the will to push him away. 

Her hands moved to his chest, her bottom lip quivered as she choked out. “You did though.” Tamaris pushed him back weakly. Solas reached out and tried to grasp her hand but Tamaris clutched her hand to her chest as her eyes narrowed in on him. She was hurt but she still cared for Solas. Her emotions were tearing her apart, leaving only sadness to come through as she spoke. “You lied by not telling me who you really were before I fell in love with you, before we had a child together!” It wasn’t the fact that he was Fen’Harel, a figure she viewed as a god for most of her life that that upset her. It was that he thought she wouldn’t have understood, or listened to him.  “Do you not think I should have known my who my child’s father was? Really was?” Her expression softened as her heart willed her to take a step forward as she waited for his answer. 

Solas reached out and tried to take her hand again but Tamaris shook her head and pulled her hand away. She wanted her answers. Her jaw clenched as she waited. Solas let out a long sigh, “Vhenan, I tried.” There was a hint of defeat in his voice as he admitted this.  “So many times I tried to tell you but I was so afraid of losing you.” Tamaris was caught off guard when he stepped forward and took her hand before she had a chance to pull away. He looked deep into her eyes. “That day, in Crestwood. I swear I was going to tell you everything…”

“What stopped you?” Her tone was softer than just moments before but there was still the bite of anger to her words. 

“You…” Solas uttered softly. “Looking at me like you are now. I thought it would be kinder to end things than put you through this…” 

“Then why did you come to my room weeks later? Why did you lay with me again then leave like you did?” Tamaris asked the sadness building her voice again as Solas took her other hand. 

He shrugged and shook his head. “Because I am a weak man… I missed you, longed to have just one more night as things were…” It had been such a night, it was also the night that Shivana was likely conceived. This was a fact they were both more than aware of. “I will never regret that weakness though,” 

“Shivana…” Tamaris said softly. Solas nodded and gave her a weak smile. “Why did you leave? If you would have said come with me, I would have. I still would.” 

“I know, Vhenan.” He began, his hand reaching up and pushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. “You do not know what it would mean, this is not the life for our child.” 

“You want to restore our people? Give us back what we have lost? Yes?” Tamaris questioned as she started to try and piece together a plan for them to be able to move forward together as a family. Solas nodded solemnly. “For our daughter?” She leaned in as she spoke softly. Her hand still in his. 

His eyes grew heavy with sorrow, “I want her to have all she deserves, all that is her birthright.” 

“Then let us do this together, as it should have been.” Tamaris said still unsure it was a path she was ready to head down herself. Solas shook his head. “You will need the Anchor…” 

“I will more than likely kill you…” Solas stated softly. He knew the truth, that there was no one but him who could have born the mark and lived, even if she did not help him she would still likely die do the effects. Solas had his theories why Tamaris was able to wield it wish such little damage for so long. He feared, however, that they were on borrowed time. He had been searching for any solution to the unique problem the Anchor presented, but what he had found was unthinkable to do to the woman he loved. He had made a promise to find another way. 

 It’s going to kill me if I help you or not, right?” Tamaris asked softly and Solas nodded mornfully. “Then let me die knowing my daughter is going to have a chance at the life she should have had…” Tamaris suggestion had the tinge of self destruction that caused Solas to scowl at her. “If I must die..” 

“No.” Solas said shaking his head. “We will find another way, if you join me I am not having you follow me to your death. Our daughter needs her mother, I will fix this… I will fix us...” His hand cupped her face as she gazed up at him. As upset as she still was, Tamaris leaned forward and pressed her lips against his catching Solas off guard. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling the carefully knotted bun loose as his other hand slipped around her waist, pulling her against him. He broke the kiss for a moment. “I promise you, no more secrets… everything I know, you will know.” Tamaris nodded as she slipped her arms around his neck, her hands running up the back of his neck, up his smooth head pulling him back into the kiss.

Tamaris had longed to kiss him for what seemed like a lifetime, all the hurt and anger aside she still wanted him more than anything else. Pulling back Tamaris smiled softly. “I want us to be together again… for real… where are you? I will take Shivana…” Her eagerness to reunite, so easily tossing any thought of Cullen aside made Solas smirk for a moment silently acknowledging that I won. Though he knew, she would have always returned. Cullen or no Cullen. 

His smile faded as he shook his head. “Not yet, vhenan…” His voice was filled with sadness. “I wish I could come to you in this moment and take my family back, but first I need to settle a few matters and make sure everything will be in place for you and Shivana when it is time.” Tamaris rested her head against his shoulder as she gazed up at him. “So, you need to just take care of our girl, stay with her when you are in the Fade. I will come to you.” Tamaris nodded though she wondered how she was going to be able to go about her life knowing that she had a future with Solas, a real one. 

“But what about Cullen…” Tamaris asked softly. 

Solas shrugged. “It could be some time before things are in order and we may have a use for the information he has access too.” Tamaris wasn’t fond of the idea of using Cullen but she nodded her head nonetheless. Solas leaned in and placed a tender peck on her cheek. “Shall we go back to Shivana?” Tamaris smiled nervously and nodded as she took his hand once more wondering what exactly she had gotten herself into. 

[dalishious]

saphyremelodies replied to your post “Hey, quick question - I'm about to start a new inquisition playthrough...”

It's just harder to get a lavellan with sera because the approval doesn't go up as much as the other races. Elf is the least with human and dwarf as average and adaar as accelerated. If you romance as lavellan, make her as non-elfy as possible.

While yes it is a little more difficult, I disagree with the “make her as non-elfy as possible” part. I’m romancing her (yet again) currently, and my Lavellan is elfiest elf to ever elf, who loves being an elf. You definitely do not have to sacrifice your character’s pride in their culture to successfully romance her. Also, don’t believe the “She’ll break up with you if you don’t denounce your gods” BS. 

Yes you’ll earn some disapproval here and there, but it’s very easily won back. Just go out of your way to help out the little guy, and shit on nobles. (Also, a good way to get some early on approval from her is to get out of the Hinterlands ASAP, get her in your party, then return. A lot of the Hinterlands side quests earns her approval.)

And if anyone wants any more tips on romancing Sera, please feel free to ask because there isn’t an LI I haven’t romanced more than her, lol.

[incorrectringsofpower]

[attheexactlyrighttimeandplace]

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