@thevikingwoman @honestly-wilde @talesfromthefade Thank you both so much!! Have a little angsty melancholy a la Solavellan ā¤ļø
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Catching a glimpse of moonlight reflecting opalescent, he finally found her. Halesta was sitting on the cliff at the edge of the camp, staring at the sky as though listening intently. As he approached, Solas saw she was chewing her nails with vehemence. Obviously, she was still processing the... events of theĀ day.
Coming to a stop behind her, he stood patiently.Ā It was beyond doubt that she heard his footsteps, recognizing the rhythm of his steps, measuring the length of his stride. Her consciousness was uncanny. And thereĀ was something regal about the way she made him wait for acknowledgement, a show of dominance.... He rather liked it.Ā Halesta lookedĀ up at him abruptly, in an aching, almost haunted manner.Ā
"My fuckingĀ father," She breathed, searching his face, "He was your 'source' on me?"
Solas nodded, dumb, the rise of panic in his throat nearly suffocating. He was surprised when she reached up for his hand, pulling him down to sit beside her. More surprised still when she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest. He could feel her pulse just beneath her skin, fast and a little thready. His own breath was short and shallow, fear still heavy in his lungs. Surely she was angry with him: Eanellas reported to him, was one of his closest generals. Still, she kept him waiting for the blow to land.
Sighing, she pulled away a moment, glancing into his eyes.Ā This is it, his breath caught. But she didn't say anything; merely leaned back against him with that same, hallow face. His hands shook, desperate to smooth her hair, to touch her at all. He didn't dare.Ā
"The sky's looking awfully dazed."
Hesitating, confused, "What do you mean?"Ā
"I don't know. Something about the clouds. They're wandering aimlessly, like lost souls."
"That is," Uncertain, "Poetic."
She breathed a laugh, and he thought there was a hint of sincerity to the sound. Something in his stomach fluttered at the sound.
"Maybe I'm projecting," Wistfully, returning to bitting at her fingers, "I could've gone my whole life without seeing him. Now that I have...I feel like I've lost my footing."
A long pause, but the nervous words bubbled up his throat unbidden.
"Halestaā"
"I'm not mad at you, Solas,"Ā
"But,Ā Eanellasā"
"āIs the one who betrayed me this time," Tender fondness in her voice, "Not you. You were just playing your hand. And cleverly, I might add."
"Ir abelas, Vhenas."
"Stop that," Stern, but he can hear the smile in her voice, "Just hold me or something, I'm cold."
Wrapping his arms around her, burying his face in her hair, his head ached.Ā It would have been better if she were angry with him; her tears and screaming a salve for his guilt. But thereĀ was no relief lifting the weight from his chest. If she was drifting aimlessly, he was adrift alongside her.
