Kid!Inquisitor Ft. Solas: What If the Inquisitor was a child, a toddler to be exact? Here’s a short take on how the roles of everyone would shift tremendously due to the Inquisitor’s age (focusing more so on a child’s needs). Children are completely dependent and need emotional and physical reassurance; Having a child cry because their guardian isn’t there is heartbreaking to witness and nothing can replace that bond in that precise moment.
Something I thought about with my experience with children and then later wrote at 1-2am. Please excuse any mistakes.
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Solas stood at his desk relishing a new book he’d specially ordered at the Inquisition’s expenses. His finger trailed down the page as his eyes followed. He heard a sniffle and looked to see the Inquisitor, tears streaming down his face as he walked towards the elven man.
Solas’ mouth fell slightly agape, he looked helplessly right and left and finally up at the balcony towards unseen voices.
Hands held tight and tugged onto his tunic. Solas looked down to see the boy still crying, “Daddy!” he whimpered for someone who would never come. Completely taken aback but acting on impulse Solas picked up the small child and just held him in his arms close to his chest. The same word, “Daddy.” was repeated over and over again with small sobs.
Solas felt his heart drop.
It was his fault; the explosion at the conclave, the anchor attaching to a child. Most horrifically, this child, a lone survivor, was parentless and it was entirely Solas’ fault.
He was not accustomed to calming a child, he tried anything that came to mind. Awkwardly his hand would rub circles on the boy’s back and he would whisper, “It’s ok.” Over and over again. Was it though? Was it really ok? Would it ever be ok? How could Andraste’s Chosen, the Inquisitor, be a two year old boy?
Hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Solas was getting the knack for this.
The Inquisitor, whom Solas realised didn’t comprehend adult social etiquette and now saw himself the ridiculousness of it, now referred to him as Nicholas. Every day Nicholas was swept away by overworked adults. What could they do, expect a two year old to map out a safe route through the Hinterlands? Chose the next ruler of Orlais?
However, Nicholas was unfortunately never left to just be Nicholas. The matter of the anchor made sure of that. Everyone’s job became harder; Cassandra was left to do all things the Inquisitor should be doing. Josephine was running the political show. Cullen worked the soldiers and Inquisitor’s army and allies. Leliana worked in the shadows tying loose ends and silencing the opposition. The worst thing was, was that they were all at each other’s throats.
Solas was unique, he offered much of his knowledge, time and even physical self when needed to the cause of the Inquisition. Out of everyone he had the most time to spare. Which ended with him looking after the Inquisitor most days.
It was odd at first, still can be, to have a little person following you around so closely, asking questions and wanted to be entertained. This always lead to more time being spent outside of the Rotunda. Children are not accustomed to staying in a single area at length.
The hardest to get used to was the emotional bond the boy had with him; the irrational closeness and personal-space-invading. Solas never dreamt of the clinginess of another being wanting to sleep in the same room as him to the point of all-out wailing of tantrum proportions.
Actions are easy to be adjusted and accept into everyday life, words are often too easily able to catch you off guard and shift your reality. Solas remembered it so clearly, that day in the Rotunda where the long day had come to rest. Nicholas had walked over to Solas a picture scribbled on paper in hand, raising his arms for Solas to pick him up and said, “Daddy.”
