When Country Meets Thedas

Seriously?

Reagan walked from the barn towards the house and suddenly stopped, looking around.

"This is the Fade," she said softly to herself as she realized this was no simple dream. Unsure how she'd recognized the difference, she just knew it wasn't the same and glanced around.

Studying the area, she glanced down at herself and saw that she was wearing leathers and a green tunic instead of a pair of jeans, her cowboy boots, and a tee-shirt. Now she saw the differences between a dream and the Fade. Is it always clothes? She questioned herself, trying to remember the last time she was here.

Looking at the soft green of the sparse grass in her yard, the cactus plants around the corner of her house and froze, thinking about what Solas had told her. One can never tell for certain what is alive and what is scenery.

Glancing around herself now nervously, she heard a soft deep chuckle behind her and turned around quickly. She saw him with his arms behind him watching her curiously. Is it really him? The longer she stared at him silently, the more she was unsure and saw his eyebrow rise at her.

"What did we have for breakfast?" she asked him cautiously.

Solas chuckled and nodded his head pleased with her caution.

"We had porridge with raspberries. You and I put a bit of honey on ours," he replied with a large smile.

Reagan let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and gave him a slightly embarrassed smile before rubbing her face.

Solas walked towards her still smiling with her caution.

"It is wise of you to be cautious, especially here," he said.

Her eyes followed his movements as he finally stopped in front of her and looked around.

"Is this your home?" he asked.

"Yes," she said swallowing nervously looking at him. She still hadn't forgotten her dream with him in her kitchen and felt her face heat up. "Why are you here? Checking up on me?" she said her tone teasing, trying to make herself relax.

"Could it not be because I simply enjoy your company?" he asked now looking at her.

Reagan laughed and glanced around uncomfortably.

"So you were bored then?" she teased him.

His laughter was full and happy sounding. His eyes sparkled with humor as they gazed at her.

"Must it be boredom that draws me to you?" he replied with a lopsided smile that made her stomach flip.

"So if not boredom, then what, curiosity?" she replied, slipping easily into the wordplay.

His eyes held mischief, and the sight of it made her pulse speed up.

"Most definitely there is a curiosity," he replied taking a step towards her.

Reagan's mouth went dry and her gaze was suddenly drawn to a small movement at the corner of her barn.

Solas turned quickly to where her gaze was drawn, shielding her from the spirit he felt lurking in the space. Fenedhis! He should have known better, he admonished himself as a spirit of desire came within view.

Reagan looked over Solas' shoulder and saw a pale-skinned woman with long, tapered ears and thin black eyebrows over eyes the color of onyx. She had horns on her head just as black as her eyes that stretched outward and curled at the ends, and in the center of her head between the horns was a purple flamed crown. She wore golden tassels over her nipples attached by chains to a choker type of necklace and the lower half of her was a scantily worn, golden cloth, barely covering her privates. She sauntered towards them on long pale legs, completely barefooted.