Arana looked up, leaning her head back against Solas's shoulder and quietly studying his features as his head lay resting against the tree. A smile curved her lips as she silently traced her fingers over the shape of his ears. They were long and subtly uneven with a few freckles. Truth be told, she thought he had very handsome ears.

Her thoughts were interrupted as his chest rose with a deep breath. Silver eyes opened slowly and peered down at her as a red tint touched his cheeks.

"Like that, do you?" Arana laughed.

"I do not." Solas responded, failing to suppress a faint smile tugging the corner of his mouth as his arms hugged her tighter.

"The blushing says otherwise, Solas."

"I am doing no such thing." He protested through a light chuckle as he laid his cheek against her head.

"Lies." Arana grinned, letting out another laugh as she leaned into his cheek.

Solas abruptly turned his head, voice lowering as his lips brushed gently against Arana's ear. "Then perhaps we should see how you like it, Vhenan.."

[Next Part]

"Why here?" Arana looked around curiously, her eyes greeted by the familiar town as she reached the top of the stairs.

With a gesture of his hand, Solas replied. "Haven is familiar. It will always be important to you."

The elf quirked a brow as she followed close behind him. "We talked about that already."

Without another word, the two made their way past the smaller buildings towards the Chantry and the all too recognisable cell. Blue eyes scanned the area in which she had first awakened- her first clear memory after having gone to investigate the Conclave.

"I sat beside you while you slept, studying the Anchor."

Arana's thoughts broke and turned her focus to the much taller elf at her side, a smile just beginning to form on her lips. "I'm glad there was someone watching over me."

There was a short silence between them before Solas finally spoke again.

"You were a mystery.." He turned and met her gaze, an expression of what could only be thought of as determination on his face. "You still are- I ran every test I could imagine, searched the Fade, yet found nothing."

Solas took a quiet breath before allowing himself to continue speaking. "Cassandra suspected duplicity. She threatened to have me executed as an apostate if I didn't produce results."

'That did sound like Cassandra alright,' Arana thought to herself, failing to hold back a chuckle.

"Cassandra's like that with everyone. There've been a few moments where I thought she was going to do the same to me."

"Yes.." Solas spoke through a brief laugh as the two turned to leave the cell; venturing up the stairs, through the main hall, and out the large chantry doors.

Solas's faint smile faded as he finally began to speak again, replaced by a frown that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"You were never going to wake up.." He began. "How could you..? A mortal sent physically through the Fade?"

The mage stopped, turning again to look at the woman beside him. "I was frustrated.. frightened. The spirits I might have consulted had been driven away by the Breach." A vague, saddened light reached his eyes. "Although I wished to help, I had no faith in Cassandra… nor she in me. I was ready to flee." He admitted.

The smaller mage crossed her arms and quirked a brow. "With the Breach threatening the entire world? Where would you have gone?" She couldn't help a smile creeping onto her features, her voice wavering with a half-chuckle.

"Someplace far away where I might research a way to repair the Breach before its effects reached me." He found himself returning her smile. "I never said it was a good plan."

Solas took a few steps forward, reaching a hand out towards the tear in the sky above them. "I told myself: one more attempt to seal the rifts… I tried and failed.. No ordinary magic would affect them." He lowered his hand as he stared upwards. "I watched the rifts expand and grow.. resigned myself to flee- and then…"

For only a second, she saw it. The memory of his hand at her wrist, reaching out towards a rift hovering threateningly above them. The sight was gone as soon as it had appeared. No more than a quick flash before her eyes. Solas's words rang in her ears as he faced her.

"It seems you hold the key to our salvation.." Grey eyes studied her face in silent awe. "You had sealed it with a gesture… and right then, I felt the whole world change.."

"Felt the whole world change?" Arana tilted her head, her smile growing into a curious grin.

"A figure of speech."

"I'm aware of the metaphor." She took a few steps closer, never breaking their shared gaze. "I'm more interested in 'felt.'"

The two now stood only a pace from one another, the view of the frozen lake before them fading into the background.

"You change… everything.." He breathed, still taking in the sight of her bright blue hues.

"Sweet talker.." Arana finally averted her gaze for only a few breaths, looking up again to find that he had done the same. Without a second thought, she stepped forward and reached out- pulling him in as she pressed her lips to his.

When they parted, he held a look of both shock and curiosity in his gaze. Her heart sped as her mind began to race and panic.

She shouldn't have done that. She should not have done that.

Arana began to turn on her heel but, before she could flee, she felt hands grip her waist and pull her in close. His lips crashed against hers, parting eagerly. All her thoughts suddenly quieted as her eyes closed and her arms reached out; one hand cupping his cheek, the other gripping the side of his shirt as she was leaned back.

Time seemed to stand still as they drank each other in; but the moment ended all too soon as he pulled away, grey hues shining silver in the light as he planted one more hungry, longing kiss on her lips.

Releasing her waist, he stepped back.

"We shouldn't.." Solas breathed, trying to regain his self control. It was more him telling himself than her. "It isn't right.. Not even here."

Curious eyes searched his face as she too regained her breath. "What do you mean, 'even here?'"

"Where did you think we were?" Solas tilted his head.

Taking a moment to look around, it finally clicked. The town shouldn't be here.

"We're.. This.. isn't real." Her voice trailed off as everything sank in.

"That's a matter of debate…" He smiled down at her. "Probably best discussed after you wake up."

As his voice lowered to just above a whisper, Arana found herself jolting awake in bed with the sound of his voice still hanging in her ears. She brought her fingers up to her mouth. She could still feel his kiss on her lips..

[Next Part]