#solavellanweek

Hello Vhenans!

Join us September 21 - September 27 for a week of Solavellan creativity!

Guidelines | FAQs

This year’s prompts are inspired by the colours of Gilbert Baker’s original Pride flag. Every day pairs a colour with its meaning and you can use the colour, the meaning, or both in whatever way inspires you.

While the theme is Pride-inspired, your work doesn't need to be specifically about Pride or queer identity. All versions and interpretations of Solavellan are welcome! The prompts are open-ended so everyone can take part in a way that fits their Solas, Lavellan, and relationship.

With the world feeling especially heavy for our queer community this year, we just wanted this year’s theme to be an expression of love and support.

May the Dread Wolf take you.

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A letter, discovered in the pocket of Dorian Pavus after he learned of the departure of his dear friend, Inquisitor Lavellan, from Thedas. He has no memory of how the letter found its way there.

Dorian,

I know this would have been better served over a glass of your best brandy, talking into the night as we so often did. But as I watch the others speak in hushed tones, I feel I must leave you with something now rather than later. Forgive my cowardice in not saying this to your face - you’d only argue me down. And the truth is, I am so very tired, and I need every measure of strength for what’s to come.

When I listened as they spoke of binding Solas to the Veil, my heart ached. I know too well the torment that binding to the Veil brings, and I would not wish that fate on him. Yet, regrettably, I also know there can be no other way - lest the world collapse into chaos.

And though in my deepest heart I long to see my people restored, and the spirits I’ve come to love free, when I think of you, of Cassandra, of all those who became my family, fear seizes me. I lost my clan once through my own decisions - I can't bear to repeat that history. All I want now is to see you alive, safe.

I hope you understand why I can't force this fate on Solas, and why I fought for another way. If binding him is the only path to a world where those I love survive - including him - then all that remains to me is to fight for one thing: his choice. Eight years ago, in the Crossroads I made a vow - I keep to that vow still.

So I place my trust in our plan. I trust Morrigan. And if Varric could trust Rook, then I must as well. Varric never stopped believing, and he wouldn't want this to end in blood. He held onto hope - however fragile - that he might save a friend at least once. In holding to that same hope, I honour him too.

But the reason I write to you now is because I believe I know how this ends. He once told me, in another world, and I didn't realize then how true his words were. So this is what you must know: the choice I make to go with him is one I make with a sound mind, a clear heart, and open eyes.

I know his heart, Dorian - I believe in him. Call me foolish, as you’ve so often done; I’ve cursed my own heart enough times myself. But the truth I can't deny is that I still love him. And if there is a path where he lives, where Thedas might heal from the pain and grief it was born into, and where my own heart might find healing too - well, can you truly blame a foolish woman for taking that chance?

I walk the din’anshiral, and while you may not fully understand what that means, I have felt my story here drawing to its end for some time - though never certain in what form it would come. So while Cassandra and Josephine do not know what I’ve chosen, they each carry letters I’ve written, and my affairs are in capable hands. I have also kept a journal these past years, so that when the time comes, you will all know my heart. Josephine will see that each of you - every one who stood beside me and became my clan - has a chance to read it.

The din’anshiral has taken much from me, but it has also given me clarity. For all the pain Solas has caused, for every betrayal, I understand why. He has carried grief for longer than any soul should, and I can't leave him to endure that solitude again. And if you look for something to hold onto in all this, remember that he is the reason we met, the reason our bonds were forged. Without him, there would have been no us. For that, I will always be grateful.

In time, when you have forgiven me my choice, Morrigan will share with you what she knows of Solas. But only at your request, and only when you are ready. And do not be surprised if you see Cole from time to time - I have asked him to watch over you.

Please do not mistake this for surrender, my dear friend. We both still have work ahead of us - just in different worlds. Live long enough to reform Minrathous. Live well enough to survive insufferable people and complain about them endlessly.

So keep the sending crystal where you keep the good brandy. If it hums, pour two glasses and speak as you always did with me. I might just be listening.

Always yours, in this world and the next,

They say that when the wolf awoke, A woman from among the folk, She charmed his heart and showed him this world's goodness.

When it came for him to atone, She gave him grace, became his home, Broke the tyranny of forever: bellanaris.

I decided to take "Free Day" literally. Ha.

But I really liked the idea of ending the story on a theme of home together and freedom at last for both of them. Solas's immortality became a curse on his perspectives and goals, while Lavellan was able to anchor him in the "now." Both were stuck in god-like roles they didn't want, based on the expectations of others, until they literally stepped out of the narrative and into the Fade for some hard-earned rest, together. There, they can be nothing more than themselves for each other.

Summary:

Relana and Solas are sent to a long lost memory within the fade, a consequence of theirs that threatens to change everything. Written for day two of Solavellan Week 2025, using the prompt: Ancient Arlathan

The cave loomed ahead, luring them deeper into its shadows. The walls were low and damp, leaving little room for the party to push their way through the thick cobwebs that had gathered overtime. Relana had lost track of how long they had spent inside the cave, but she could no longer hear the raging storm nor the crashing waves. As she peered back, she noticed how she could no longer see Cassandra standing guard at the entrance.

"Are we sure this is a good idea, Inkpot?" Varric asked before sputtering, he frantically wiped his face with the back of his hand, seeming to fight against invisible strings.

"No, but if there is a powerful relic in here, especially one that's Elven, it would be good if we got to it before Corypheus." She said, summoning another small blue flame to light the way, allowing Solas to save some of his mana for whatever awaited them. He gave a small smile in appreciation before letting his veilfire fizzle out.

"What we do know is that Corypheus already has an Elven artefact that's capable of devastation, we should make sure we do not allow him to gain another," Solas added from Relana's side.

"Of course you'd take her side, Chuckles," Varric grumbled from the front of the group. "At least someone is thrilled to be strolling through wet caves all afternoon."

"I am more thrilled to be away from the storm," Solas clarified and began to pat down the fur pelt attached to his armour, which had grown matted from the wind and rain.

"At least you don't have to worry about, well, all this," Relana said as she gestured to her hair; windswept and looking much worse than the fur on his armour. Long black strands had been forced loose from the ponytail she kept it in, and instead had been wrapped around her head and face.

Solas chuckled and tried to pull back the hair, smoothing down the unruly strands the best he could. "I shall braid it for you before we head back out into the storm," he promised as he neatly tucked what he could of the mess behind her ears.

"Not to interrupt you two back there, but I think we found what we're looking for," Varric called from further down the cave, having wandered ahead to where light spilled out from the deep cracks in the ceiling. Relana and Solas rushed to rejoin him and noticed how the thin passageway opened up into a spacious room carefully carved out from the cold stone.

You may have noticed that this year’s prompts were chosen to fit a theme rather than being selected via community poll. Since this choice may have raised a few questions, let’s take a moment to talk about how we arrived here.

2026 has been a hard year for everyone! Personally, nationally, globally—we think it’s fair to say that most of us are struggling in some way. That includes us mods, and for a little while we weren’t even sure we’d be able to make this year’s event happen.

But life eased up enough to allow us time to put things together. We’ve welcomed a 3rd mod to the team who has been a massive help & allowed us to expand to having an official Tumblr. And we chose to simplify with a prompt theme, rather than host a poll that might set the schedule back months.

So how did we arrive at this prompt theme? With the world feeling especially heavy for our queer community this year, we just wanted this year’s theme to be an expression of love & support. To celebrate the diversity in the Solavellan community & in the Solavellan relationship itself.

This year’s prompts are inspired by the colors of Gilbert Baker’s original Pride flag & the symbolism he assigned to it. Every day pairs a color with its meaning, and you can use the color, the meaning, or both in whatever way inspires you. We can’t wait to see how creative you get with them!

And of course, there’s an obvious tie between Solas & “pride” which we knew was too perfect to pass up. No matter what ending you choose, he embodies the concept of pride in some way, and that embodiment has served as a font of inspiration for over a decade. So we think it’s a pretty fitting theme!

While the theme is Pride-inspired, your work does not need to be specifically about Pride or queer identity. All versions & interpretations of Solavellan are welcome! The prompts are open-ended so everyone can take part in a way that fits their version of Solas, Lavellan, and their relationship.

We’re proud to be part of such a unique fandom. We’re proud of our queer brethren around the world. We’re proud of our collective creativity & hope in dark times. And we’re proud to be Solavellans alongside you all.

Rest up, vhenans. Sept. 21st will be here before you know it!

They say it was the moon that night. Lavellan, too, was shining bright, Seeking you, her stubborn love relentless. Too precious, she, to share your pain. You dared not hope her love remained. From the battlefield, she promised, "Bellanaris."

Catching up a bit, here is "The Heavy Crown / The Inexorable Throne"

Lavellan caught you unaware, With eyes of sky and blazing hair, A stubborn wisdom that you dare not cherish. A mortal elf held back the sky. She bears your power, not knowing why. One kiss, she leaves you helpless bellanaris. They sat her on Andraste's throne, And you, through her, might just atone; Unwilling heroes echo through the ages. Discard her Dalish history, To humans, like their deity. It's your fault she too bears this bellanaris!

You tell it all, your past laid bare, From god to mortal rift to tear. The truth bites like a wolf. The Anchor flashes. You took her hand but left your heart. Did you truly think you could live apart? A lonesome wolf, he cries out, "Bellanaris?"