Nat meets Solas... (Patreon)

So, I was chatting with some Wayhaven people lately, and we were talking about how Dragon Age isn't going to be at EA Play and is probably still a very long time away.

Obviously, we all said we want DA4 to be the best it can be, so we'd prefer they take longer and make it fantastic without the awful crunch that game company's can put their employees under...but maybe just a crumb of info, Bioware...please...we're begging you...lol!

But I thought it might be a good time to share a scenario I wrote for one of my Patreons, who is always amazingly lovely and allowed me to share this!

I was hoping it might help boost us a little during the wait! So here's a scenario I wrote of Nat meeting Solas.

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The eluvian swirls with vivid energy which tickles against Solas’ skin as he steps through it. On the other side is not a place he was expecting.

It’s a living room, but filled with rich furniture, warm woods…and a tall woman staring at him over the top of a patterned china teacup.

“Hello,” he says, confused at his location but not wishing to aggravate the stranger.

She places her cup down on the side table next to her plush armchair and smiles. “Hello.”

He takes the final step through the mirror, and it solidifies to silver glass behind him. “This was not where I expected to be.”

She laughs softly, a deep, melodic sound that suits the opulent environment. “I guessed as much. I didn’t realise the mirror was a gateway. Though I have had dealings with those who use reflections that way.”

“It is not the reflection which we travel through,” he begins, then tightens his lips closed before looking to her with a soft smile. “How did you acquire it?”

She folds her hands into her lap. “We get many things in our line of work.”

“And may I ask what line of work that is?” he ventures.

A hint of a smile traces over her long lips. “You can ask.”

He chuckles. “May I enter?” It seems a pointless question when he’s already in the room, but he spreads a hand out in question before stepping forward.

“Please do,” she says, nodding at the long leather sofa opposite her.

Solas proceeds, running his long fingers against the soft material and wondering at the craftsmanship. It’s unlike anything he’s seen before.

He takes a seat and lounges back, crossing his legs and watching as she mirrors the motion.

“I suppose I should ask what you’re doing here.” Her voice is gentle, almost verging on curious, but she manages to keep her questioning look behind a smile. Mostly.

“I felt one of the eluvians activate and was keen to see where it would lead.” Solas glances at the woman’s cup and saucer. “I did not mean to interrupt your tea.”

“Would you like some?” she offers.

He wrinkles his nose and holds up a hand. “I’m fine, thank you.”

A silence falls between them. Solas subtly inspects the woman’s tall stature as she reclines quite casually in the chair, even with his intrusive presence, and a confident inquisitiveness draws her slightly closer to him.

As he makes judgement of her, he allows her to do the same to him.

Satisfied they mean no harm to the other, they both relax into their seats.

“You live here alone?” Solas asks, glancing about the large room which obviously is part of an even larger abode.

“I have back-up if I need it,” she replies.

He nods, impressed. “You spoke of the eluvian being part of your work. You often trade in magical items?”

“We don’t trade,” she retorts with a firm frown. “It was put into our safe keeping.”

“By whom?”

She arches a brow. “By someone I very much doubt would appreciate me giving away their details.”

He lounges further back against the comfort of the sofa with a growing smile. “You have no need to be evasive.”

“You’re a stranger.”

He gives a half shrug and a nod of understanding. “The eluvians should be under my control. I do not care to find one…so unattended.”

“You claim to own these objects?” she asks.

“Not the object itself, but what lies within,” he replies in as coy a response as she has seen to give. “It’s a necessary thing.”

She arches forward in her chair. “For what purpose?”

He dips his head. “For reclaiming a lost people.”

“Your people?” Her gaze flickers to the points of his ears as she asks the question.

“I hope they will be,” he replies, a strength to the words that has kept him focused all these years, but a tiny crack hitches in his voice.

She is quick enough to spot it. “You doubt your resolve?”

His brows squeeze together as tight as his chest does.

She lets out a breathy laugh and falls back against her chair. “Someone makes you doubt your resolve.”

He flicks his gaze up to study hers.

She nods. “Oh yes. Definitely a someone.”

“How can you be so certain?” he asks, spreading an arm out along the back of the seat. He wishes he had the strength to hide his heart. He thought time would be enough. It was not.

She flicks a hand up. “I’m the same. Though they don’t make me doubt my resolve, they only strengthen it.” She quickly takes the measure of him before she sips at her tea. “Make sure you’re willing to give up the heart of the person who makes you feel this way. If they make you doubt what you’re doing, then maybe it’s not the path you should be on.”

An uneasiness flitters like moths inside of him, so he dampens the light the love in his heart feeds them. His doubts quieten once again.

“As much as I appreciate the conversation,” he begins, standing from his place and moving a little slower as she tenses, “I should be on my way.”

“It was good to meet you…” She waits.

He places a hand to his armoured chest. “Solas.”

“Natalie,” she returns.

“If we should meet again, I would welcome it, Natalie.”

He sweeps around the sofa and arcs his hands up to spark the eluvian into life.

As he steps through, he hears the parting words “Good luck”, and the portal closes behind him.

--

This isn't the Monthly Bonus Content #2, that'll be up next Thursday, and I'm very excited for that as it's something really different I've been wanting to share for quite a while! This scenario was just something fun I wanted to share, and am grateful for my $50 patron for wanting to share it too!

Hope you're all doing well, and staying cool and hydrated if you're suffering with heat! <3