Halam'shivanas:The sweet sacrifice of duty

A small comfort

Solas walked alone in the fade, searching for memories. This time it was not memories of lost ancient civilisations he looked for.

The thing he looked for had happened not long ago. He felt the fade change around him; slowly the spirits took their forms and started their play. Solas knew he found what he had been looking for when thespirits took form of his former comrades. They were engaged in battle, the golden sand was flying all around them. At first everything seemed to mirror the event perfectly until he realised that something big was missing, the inquisitor. He knew she had been in this battle; the qunari and dwarf had spared no details in the tale. She was supposed to be here, supposed to fightand shine in the golden sunlight.

The ground shook as heavy wings whipped up the sand. A loud roar rang in the air; Solas felt the sound hit against his body. But he spared the dragon no thoughts; he looked around trying to find the missing person. He only found a shadow moving where she should have been. It annoyed him; why would not a spirit just take her form so he could see her again and hear her voice. Was he not allowed even that small comfort?

His heart felt lighter when he saw her slowly take form on the battlefield. The sand was flying around her and her hair had come lose. The red metal plates on her armour glistered in the sun. Some bloodstains wereshining on the white leather. She looked just as radiant as the sun. Hermovements were graceful but had power in them; it had always amazed him howskilled she was with the staff.

Solas barley stopped his instinct to run to her, reach out his hand and scream her name when he saw the dragon sending her flying with a swipe of the tail. The dwarf and qunari hurried to cover her as she tried to get up on her legs again. Blood was dropping from her nose but a smug and confident smile was on her lips.

He saw how her lips moved to form words that he could not hear.

With a silent roar on her lips she ran towards the dragon together with her comrades. It was over in a flash, a skilful aimed lightning attack and arrow had made the dragon lower its head enough for the qunari to sink his axe in it. The group sat down in the sand next to the dead body and they all let out a laugh of relief.

The image of them and the desert started to fade as the spirits slowly left. Solas thanked them in silence for giving him a chance to see her again. Memories was all he had left now.