Chapter Text
The next time Velanne woke up, it was still dark. Though if it was due to the snow blocking out the light or it being dark, she wasn’t sure. She was able to use the mark though to somewhat illuminate the area around her. It seemed like she was still in the mine shaft at least and there was only one way to go.
As she stood, Vel gasped in pain. Her whole body ached, her unmarked arm and chest most of all. She remembered Corypheus breaking a couple of her ribs and the fall didn’t help much. Looking down at her arm, she groaned.
Yup. Broken. The bone had even broken through the skin. Thankfully it wasn’t bleeding anymore because she wasn’t sure if she had enough mana to even stop that. So instead, Velanne put Stitches lessons to good use and used the bottom of her robe to create a makeshift sling. The mage was tempted to push the bone back in but remembered the one time she had tried, Stitches yelled at her for hours afterward.
Luckily her ribs and arm seemed to be the worst of it. All her other injuries were small enough that she could ignore them. Her staff though was missing, likely buried under the snow or burned to ash by now. So instead, Vel made her way through the tunnels, trying to ignore the whispers that were growing louder. She picked up her pace when she finally saw a light ahead.
“About fucking time,” she hissed. Velanne nearly screamed in frustration when she saw the demons blocking her exit. The mark seemed to respond to her frustration, pulsating in a way it hadn’t before. As the demons turned on her, she thrust her hand into the air, releasing the new power. A swirling green vortex appeared in the air, sucking up the demons without a need for her to engage. Vel sighed in relief, continuing through to the exit.
What greeted her outside was a blanket of white, the cold air blasting into her face. It soothed her nerves, bringing Velanne some peace from the feeling. She had always loved the jobs in colder areas. The feeling of the freezing air biting at her always helped clear her mind like nothing before. Any relief she might have initially felt at the feeling though faded as she walked through the blizzard.
Soon enough, she was shivering, pulling her cloak closer to her body in an attempt to conserve some heat. As she walked, she could hear the whispers growing louder, telling her to just use the flames, that the flames could keep her warm. Velanne stood firm though, even when she started losing the feeling in her fingers. Nothing good ever came of using them. Someone got hurt every time she used them. She considered reciting the Chant to try to distract her from the whispers but the words felt too clumsy and wrong on her lips. So instead she focused on moving.
There were some signs she saw of life. A broken down cart and an abandoned campfire, but they were all long forgotten. Still, though, that meant they had passed through at some point so she was on the right track. The storm was harsh though, the winds howling as they nearly knocked the elf off her feet a few times. The snow also didn’t help, eventually getting so deep that it felt like she was wading through waist-deep waters. At some point though, the storm finally started to calm down.
By the time she saw another campfire, Velanne had lost the feeling in her feet and hands. She didn’t even feel the heat when she picked up the still-burning embers.
They’re still burning, she thought. Am I finally catching up?
With her heart a bit lighter, Velanne continued at a hurried pace. Her broken ribs dug into her lungs, making it harder to breathe as she pushed herself forward. She coughed, the warmth of her blood startling her. If she was coughing up blood now then that meant that a rib punctured a lung. Shit.
She couldn’t stop now though. She had to reach the others. But it was getting harder to keep moving. Her eyelids kept drifting closed.
When Velanne’s foot hit the ground and she slipped on a patch of ice, she couldn’t muster the strength to get back up. She was too tired… And sleep sounded so nice…
Hours later, after they set up camp for the night, Cullen was trying very hard not to pace. They hadn’t seen any sign of Velanne, not since that final avalanche fell. He kept replaying the moment the avalanche barreled down on her and she disappeared under the snow. Seeing her standing proud one moment and just gone the next made the itch in his skin worsen. He ignored the soft singing though.
“We need to send a search party!”
“We don’t have the resources, Bull.”
“The blizzard died down,” The Iron Bull pointed out. “We haven’t seen any sign of that fucker. We need to find Velly now!”
“Their soldiers are still likely crawling all over the valley,” Cassandra told him. “We have too many injured to risk sending anyone to search.”
“Then I’ll go with Tank,” he snapped. Cullen decided to step in as the argument continued to go in circles. Grabbing a lit torch, he walked over.
“Bull, are you ready now?” Cassandra’s mouth fell open as the Qunari grinned.
“Yup! Just gotta whistle for the boy.”
Cullen nodded. “Then do it, we’ll head out now.” As the three of them walked out of the camp back the way they came, the commander was surprised to see that Solas joined them. None of them talked much to each other, they just occasionally called out Velanne’s name as the mabari ran around.
After about an hour of searching, Tank suddenly bolted off into the distance, barking urgently. All three men stumbled through the snow banks as they followed the trail the dog left. Cullen was the first of them to reach him when he finally stopped. Tank was whining as he pawed at a collapsed shape. He recognized the cloak immediately as Velanne’s.
She was half buried in the snow, her lips blue from the cold. There were also some splatters of blood from her injured arm and around her mouth. His heart dropped to his stomach, worried they had been too late. Cullen nearly cried out loud when he saw her body shiver. He ripped off his mantle and wrapped it around her. Solas also gave Cullen his own cloak for some extra warmth.
“Good job Tank,” Culled praised the mabari. He quickly bundled the small mass into his arms and they began their trek back to camp. Tank stayed at his heels the entire walk back, whining occasionally.
Solas also stayed close, using a spell to emanate warmth without actually producing a flame. Iron Bull took up the rear, keeping his weapon out and eyes scanning for any signs that they were being followed. The way back was silent other than Velanne’s labored breathing and the sound of the wind.
A few times, Cullen thought he heard Velanne speak but everytime he looked down, her eyes were firmly shut. The words she muttered were too low for him to fully make out. He sighed with relief when camp finally came into view.
Dorian was waiting for them with Krem and the strange boy from the gate. Though his hat covered his hair, Cullen could tell he was saying something. It wasn’t until they got closer that he could hear the words.
“-skin blue, bundled in furs that hide most of her, but she is alive. She will be alright now, she is safe.”
Krem nodded to the boy- was his name Cole?- before rushing over with Dorian. “How is she?”
“Half frozen and some broken bones,” Bull told them. “Tank found her half buried in the snow.”
Bull continued to talk to them as Cullen hurried to the medical tent. The Charger’s healer- Stitches- was the one who handled Vel’s treatment. After he’d been assured she could be fine, that she only need rest, the Commander went to go find the other Advisors.
“She was so still, so cold, so small in my arms. Can’t see her disappear again, will make sure she will be okay.”
Turning around, he saw no one. With a sigh, Cullen continued on his way.
Hours later, after Velanne managed to tell the others what had happened to her, she tried to fall back asleep. Unfortunately for her, that was when the advisors (and Cassandra) started arguing. It wasn’t that bad at first, she could almost sleep through it, but then they started to get louder until they were just shouting at each other in circles.
“What would you have me tell them? This isn’t what we asked them to do!”
“We cannot simply ignore this! We must find a way!”
“And who put you in charge?! We need a consensus or we have nothing!”
“Please, we must use reason! Without the infrastructure of the Inquisition, we’re hobbled!” Josephine tried to calm down Cullen and Cassandra, the two loudest of the voices.
“That can’t come from nowhere!”
Leliana jumped to Josephine’s defense, “She didn’t say it could!”
“Enough! This is getting us nowhere!”
“Well,” Cullen snapped, “we can agree on that much!”
Not able to take it anymore, Velanne forced herself up onto her elbows. Tank whined at her movement, shifting so he could move his head off her lap. Next to her, Mother Giselle tried to get her to lay back down.
“You need to rest.”
Velanne huffed, sitting up and gently removing her hand. She jerked her head towards the others though it was still sore. “They’ve been at it for hours.”
“They have that luxury,” Mother Giselle told her, “thanks to you. The enemy could not follow, and with time to doubt, we turn to blame. Infighting may threaten as much as this Corypheus.”
“The only thing yelling gets us is a headache,” she growled out. “ Another headache.”
“They know.” Mother Giselle squeezed her good hand. “But our situation, you situation, is complicated. Our leaders struggle because of what we survivors witnessed. We saw our defender stand… and fall. And now, we have seen her return.”
She took both of Velanne’s hands as she continued. “The more the enemy is beyond us, the more miraculous your actions appear. And the more our trials seem ordained. That is hard to accept, no? What ‘we’ have been called to endure? What ‘we’, perhaps, must come to believe?”
Velanne bit her lip before speaking. “Mother Giselle, I lost my faith decades ago. I know the others believe that Andraste sent me but I just don’t know. I don’t know what happened at the Conclave or the Fade. Corypheus is a real, physical threat- that much I do know. And we can’t fight him with beliefs.”
Without waiting for a response, Velanne stood and walked a bit off. She knew she shouldn’t be up and about, that was why they left Tank with her to rest, but she just needed some space to think. Ever the loyal good boy he was, Tank followed her and pressed his head into her hands. Scratching him was a welcomed distraction and Vel found herself smiling for the first time in a while.
“Shadows fall, and hope has fled, steel your heart, the dawn will come.” Velanne froze, hearing the familiar song. Mother Gilesse was singing it (beautifully so), initially alone but soon everyone joined in. She was surprised when Cullen of all people joined in as one of the first ones. Vel never pegged him as a singer.
Velanne wanted to join in, it was hard to fight the sudden feeling of comradere, but when she tried to, her voice wouldn’t respond. She could feel her throat close up around the words. Her skin started crawling again as everyone started to gather around and kneeling down. The elf tried to slip away only to be stopped by a gentle hand on her back.
“An army needs more than an enemy,” Mother Giselle told her. “It needs a cause. I know not the reasons you lost your faith, but these people still have it- they found it in you.”
After a couple of seconds everyone thankfully disbursed and Mother Giselle tried to get her to lay back down. Before she could, Solas cleared his throat. They both turned to see the bald elf holding out his hand to Velanne. “I would like a word, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure,” she said as she took his hand. He led her through the tents until there were no more. Vel couldn’t help but feel disappointed when he let go of her hand to light the standing lantern.
“A wise woman, worth heeding,” Solas praised and beckoned her over. “Her kind understands the moments that unify a cause. Or fracture it.” He paused, looking out at the snow covered mountains. “The orb Corypheus carried, the power he used against you… It is ours, it is Elven. Corypheus used the orb to open the Breach, unlocking it must have caused the explosion that destroyed the Conclave. We must find out how he survived and for their reaction, when the learn the orb is of our people.”
“I know you’re just dying to talk about it, so go ahead and tell me,” Velanne teased. “I’m curious.”
Solas chuckled, “Such things were foci, said to channel the power from the gods. Some were dedicated to specific members of our pantheon. All that remain are references in ruins and faint visions of memory in the Fade.”
“Not going to lie, that sounds pretty neat,” she said. “But I don’t see how throwing around blame will matter if we can’t get out of this wilderness.”
Solas’s eyes seemed to gain a sparkle as he spoke. “That is the immediate problem… and it offers a solution that may secure your place in their hearts. You saved them at Haven, perhaps you can again.” He turned back towards the mountains where Haven once was. “By attacking the Inquisition, Corypheus has changed it. Changed you .”
“I can’t deny that,” Velanne admitted. “Before he attacked, all I wanted to do was close the Breach so I could return to the Chargers. But now? After all the shit I’ve seen? I don’t think I could just walk away even if some part of me wanted to. As much as I still hate it.”
“Then let me offer you some advice.” He placed a hand on the small of her back, using his staff to gesture towards another part of the mountain range. “Scout to the north, be their guide. There is a place that waits for a force to hold it. There is a place where the Inquisition can build… grow…”
“That way's north right?”
Solas chuckled. “Yes. That way is north.”
“Cool cool.” Velanne waited for the mage to let her go or move away, but he didn’t. In face, she swore he pulled her closer. “Er, Solas?”
“Do not do something that foolish again.”
Vel squinted up at him. “Excuse you?”
“You got lucky this time,” he corrected. “Next time luck may not be on your side. I… do not wish to think about what will happen if that time comes.”
“It wasn’t foolish,” she protested. “It got everyone out. Even if it was just luck, I’d say my life for everyone else was worth it.”
“Don’t say such things,” he snapped.
The woman huffed, trying to pull away. “What is with you anyway? You never get this worked up about anything.”
“Velanne, you almost died. You would have if we hadn’t found you. I…” He looked away, a mix of emotions on his face. When finally turned back to her, Vel squirmed a bit at how intense his expression was. “Seeing you so close to death, I felt the whole world change.”
“‘Felt the whole world change’?” Solas didn’t answer her. Instead, he stuck his staff into a deeper part of the snow and used his now free hand to tilt her chin towards him. Velanne tried to question him but was silenced when he pressed his lips to hers.
It took her a second to react, not expecting the kiss. But once it did finally register, she wrapped her arms around Solas’s neck. Velanne squeaked a bit when he deepened it, pulling her closer. She didn’t exactly mind though.
After what was probably a couple of minutes, Tank moved between them with a huruff. Solas finally let Velanne step back but still kept her at arm's length.
“You change everything,” he whispered.
Velanne chuckled, still a bit light headed from the kiss. “Sweet talker.” He smiled a bit before it fell.
“This could lead to trouble down the line,” Solas told her. “It may not be the best idea.”
“Because I’m the Herald of Andraste,” she teased. He looked away for a few seconds.
“Among other things.”
“Solas, I like a little risk,” she wiggled her eyebrows. “I am chalkfull of bad ideas.”
Solas snorted. “That you are.” He brought a hand up to brush some hair out of her face and Velanne hummed at the touch. “I will need some time to think but… I would not mind, as long as you allow it.”
Velanne rolled her eyes. “Solas, we just spent the last few minutes making out, I am more than willing.”
She grinned, seeing the tips of his ears turn pink in the fire light. “It was impulsive, I will admit.”
“Yet you’re the one who started with tongue.”
“I did no such thing!”