#solennaeris

Aha ha <3

for @dadrunkwriting Rated T: Mentions of Blood, Character Death, Angst, ~500 words

To Rest Alone | By Exalted_ Dawn

“You know… I somehow always knew you would be the death of me…”

What was the saying…? To cast your eyes to the heavens…?

Hot, precious lifeblood spilled freely from her breast, seeping into the fibers of her robes until they were stained a deep black. Every rain drop to touch her soon ran red into the earth below. She took another wheezing gasp– something like a laugh– causing the knife to shift again, spilling a fresh wave of heat across her chest. 

For once, she did not mind the pain. Talenna already knew that there was no reason to. She had felt it as soon as he’d struck her. 

On folded knees, Solas sunk to the ground beside her. The red of her blood was reflected in his horror-filled eyes. What an odd expression for him to make– he had been the one to drive in the knife. Where did he get off seeming surprised?

“Do not make that face…” she chided. He had made this choice the day he’d left them. As if either would let him walk into death alone, the fool. Of course, she had hoped for this day to come many years later, after she had grown old and this day was little more than an echo of a memory. But it was pointless asking things of the world, especially now of all times. The absolute last thing she wanted was to go with regrets. “Now… Now you will have one of us waiting… no matter the path you choose…” 

It was enough that she had walked it for as long as she had. That she had loved, and chosen to keep loving, in spite of it all. She refused to let these years be a waste. Him, too-

Solas pulled her into him, all of him trembling. His hands. His arms. His very breath. She could feel it wash against her brow in staggered waves. Not at all the comforting rhythm she remembered or wished for, but still she let herself listen to it, her eyes slipping shut, just briefly. 

His voice broke as a cry from his lips. “Vhenan.”

“Sathan…” she sighed. “Come home, Solas. Stop… stop running from us.” Already, it was too late. She had caught him– beaten the both of them to the end. Now she had all the time in the world to wait for them to catch up. There was no need for him to race them now. So… So please- 

“Please.” Her eyes opened, pleading to Solas’. To the crying grey sky beyond. “Do not leave him to walk this world alone.”

She could wait. She could be patient. 

But he had waited long enough. 

No more. 

Rest. 

Rest.

Rest…

***

Saeris stood on the ridge above them. He stood and saw, but did not believe. 

Beneath him, Talenna lay dead in the arms of a man. 

A lover. 

A stranger.

His heart.

Someone, for the first time in years, he could not claim to know.