Chapter Text
The battle rang out around them. Fire and smoke stained the horizon, but the only thing he cared about was her. Ellana, his heart, lay in his arms beyond the help of his healing magic. If he hadn’t left, if he had ran faster, maybe he could have saved her.
She took a shaking breath as she looked up at him in puzzlement. “Solas?”
“Yes, vhenan, I’m here.” He tried to keep his own breath from quaking.
“You’re here.” A small smile calmed the terror in her eyes. “I knew you’d come back to me.”
“I never should have let you go, Elle. I promise that I’ll always find you. I will always love you.” His arms pulled her closer to his body, enveloping her in his love for her final moments.
“I love you, Solas. We’ll be together again.” Her breath hitched in pain.
He gently kissed her forehead while he stroked her hair. “Of course we will, emma’lath. In another world and we’ll be so happy.”
Her hand reached up and caressed his face, gently smiling, “I’ll be waiting for you, ma sa’lath.”
The eyes that had once shone with such passion, started to dull as they gazed into his. Asking, ‘why?’ The rhythm of her breathing started to slow and her hand fell from his cheek. Then, there was nothing. Glazed eyes. Silent chest. Gone.
“No. No. No. No.” He whispered clutching her to him and forcefully placing kisses around her face as if somehow his touch could revive her. He had not let himself fall apart so often in all his years, first after Crestwood, then after the final battle, and now…..now she was the one who would not to come back.
On the side of the battlefield Fen’Harel openly wept, for his heart had been ripped away from him.
A sharp pain caused him to cry out. Looking down, he saw a small triangle of metal through his chest. How? Behind him he heard, “This is the end, Dread Wolf.” Andruil finally had her revenge.
Blood gushed out from his chest, mingling with Ellana’s on his body. He faltered bending forward his head resting on her lifeless shoulder. If he were to die, at least it would be with her in his arms, both of them knowing that their love was eternal.
The world felt colder, quieter. A sense of calm washed over him. He would see her again. Somewhere. Sometime. “I will find you again, and I will never let you go, vhenan”. He whispered to her.
As everything began slipped away, he could heard her laugh tinkling like a bell in the distance. He smiled as he was taken by the Void, knowing that she would be expecting him.
.................................................
Elle danced around the other baristas at the little coffee shop. While working at a café was certainly not her life goal, she was enjoying it.
Her eyes surveyed the low key crowed seated amongst small tables and couches. They looked cozy and happy, and that made Ellana feel satisfied. At least she had brought some amount of peace to a person’s day.
Suddenly, something caught her eye; a man stood in the window looking at her. He was tall for an elf. Bald, but handsome. She was blushing! Elle quickly averted her eyes and returned to work. How embarrassing! Gawking at a random stranger like that. Dorian would have teased her all day if he had seen.
The bell rang on the door, pleasantly tinkling. “Welcome to Skyhold, I’m Elle. What can I get for you?”
“Good morning, Elle.” A man’s voice answered. “I’ll need a moment.”
She finally looked up; it was him. The man from the window. He was even more handsome up close. He seemed worldly, and intelligent. She fought to keep her jaw from dropping.
“Al…alright, just let me know if you have any questions.” She was a stammering fool.
“What is your favorite thing here?” his steel blue eyes met hers, making her breath stutter. Those eyes were so familiar.
“I enjoy the spiced mocha. It’s chocolate and caffeinated, but has a bit of kick at the end. Unexpected.” Work questions were like a script, nothing to stammer over here. Thank the Creators.
“I’ll have one of those and just a spiced hot chocolate.” He thoughtfully ordered.
“No espresso in one and yes in the other? I can do that for you. Do you want a drink carrier?” She asked from behind the giant espresso machine.
“No, I’d like them both in mugs for here.” He followed her as she worked along the bar.
“Someone meeting you?” Envy flashed through her, irrational envy. She didn’t even know his name and he could be meeting anyone. What was her problem!?
“Hopefully.” He grinned at her almost predatorily. Weird. Very weird.
She finished the two drinks and set them on the table. His hand brushed against hers as the both reached to adjust one of the mugs. Heat ran over her entire body. Intense grey-ish eyes pierced into her. Elle blushed and pulled away.
“I was hoping that you would be the one who joined me. Do you happen to be able to take a break?”
That was why he asked her what her favorite drink was! He was very smooth.
“I….well…I supposed I can ask. Give me one second.” She dashed to the back where Dorian was sitting avoiding the front.
“Dorian, my dear?” She said sweetly.
“Hm?” he looked up slightly interested.
“Can I take my break now?”
“Sure. What’s with the sweetness act?”
“A guy came in, asked me what my favorite drink was, ordered it, and then asked me to join him. So, break. Now. Please?!” Words tumbled excitedly from her lips.
“Seriously? Yes, and show me.” The two popped back out of the back doors together. Dorian saw the man at the bar and nodded approvingly. “Well done, Elle. Take as long as you need.”
She hung her apron behind the counter. “I’m officially on break.”
He took both of the mugs and gracefully moved to a two person table in a secluded corner of the room.
Two hours later she was walking him toward the door. He had a meeting he needed to go to. “So, later tonight?” he held her hand in his.
“Yes. Tonight.” She held back a giggle as he lifted her hand to his lips.
“I’ll be thinking of nothing else.” The doorbell chimed again as he walked out.
Elle floated back to the bar, humming a happy tune as she put her apron back on.
“So?” Dorian popped out of the back.
“He’s a researcher at the university. He is older. He’s new in town. And we are going out for dinner tonight.” She did a little dance of excitement.
Dorian bumped her with his hip as he walked past. “I will be living vicariously through you in this fairy tale.”
She had never been so relaxed with a man, none the less a stranger. Something about him was perfect, like they were meant to know each other. Elle had never been one to believe in love at first sight, but maybe she had been wrong. This felt so right. He felt so right.
One thing was sure.
She couldn’t wait till tonight.