The Maker, the Gods, and Fehn Harellan

Chapter Two: The Spirit of Memories

Authors Note:

I cheated and watched the ending (SolasxInquisitor) before finishing my game. I have some gaps in my knowledge, but am filling them in as I get closer to finishing the game. I hope you enjoy chapter 2!

Entering the fade was easier than she had anticipated.

Or perhaps it was because she had a wonderfully talented teacher with a very little patience for mistakes.

"Inquisitor, I need to go to bed. Can you please follow my instructions and envision any fragment of a memory that you want to travel to?"

"I don't know what you are asking me to do." Necia replied, irritation coloring her voice as she tried to adjust to the dreamy quality of the fade. Her head and body felt light. She felt as if she could see everything in detail but that she couldn't see anything clearly at the same time. She was having trouble focusing on just about anything in the fade.

"By the Maker… Necia. If you can't focus, you will be fodder for the demons that lurk around here. Your aura is permeating this place."

The dark-haired elf whirled around in frustration, turning to face the tall Orlesian that regarded her with barely hidden annoyance.

"Vivianne. I don't know what I'm doing. That is why you're in the fade with me."

"Oh goodness, you are helpless without my guidance. Is there anything that you can remember from the memory you'd like to visit?"

Necia grunted in response, shaking her head as a strange rush of nausea swept through her.

"I don't know… Solas talked about a memory back in the ancient days in detail before."

"Focus on that." Vivianne instructed, putting a hand on Necia's shoulder to keep her rooted in the fade. "You're having trouble in the Fade because you have no idea what you are looking for. The fade is reflecting your uncertainty. Remember, we cannot stay here too long, or you or I may become an abomination."

Necia squinted, trying to remember a story that Solas had once told her in regards to his travel into the fade.

"There was a time where we spoke fluently in our true native tongue. We were free and powerful. Magic was everywhere. It was us, it was a part of us."

She took in a deep breath, feeling a cold weight settle at the pit of her stomach.

"I once watched a small town, filled with unmarked elves, chattering in their native tongue. The sun was bright and the grass was green. It was a special day. It was grand ceremony in celebration of the gods and the good that they have brought to our people."

"There you go. Don't worry, I'm right behind you."

Vivienne's soothing voice slowly brought her back to reality. The fade around her had changed.

The sun was bright and hot on her head.

The grass was green.

Necia squinted her golden eyes as a town materialized around her.

The beauty of the Exalted Plains before the ravages of war expanded before her. Tears formed in her eye as the vast expanse of land that was once scorched by violence and fire transformed into a quaint village filled with elves.

'It is so beautiful.'

A rustic dirt path formed under her feet as she recalled how Solas fondly described the naturalistic beauty of the village before its destruction. Blood lotuses and royal elfroot's flourished in the area as unique buildings started to form around her.

"Era seranna mar, ma falon, are you lost?"

A deep voice startled Necia as she whirled around.

"I-."

"No I am not ma falon, I am here for your festivities."

The male elf, which had seemed as if he was speaking to her walked through her, towards a group of elves who stood near the entrance of the village.

"You are welcome here. You are in luck, today is in celebration of Sylaise."

"Sylaise." Necia muttered under her breath. "The Hearthkeeper."

She slowly circled around the memories who talked amongst themselves, unaware that they had an audience. The younger blonde haired elf with bright green eyes laughed as she adjusted her traveling satchel on her shoulder.

"We are in luck! The festival of the Sylaise is always so much fun!"

"We even bear offerings! It is always nice to hold a pilgrimage to Sylaise's beloved town."

Necia felt a fleeting smile flit across her face as she listened to their happy chatter.

'It is really peaceful here.'

She shielded her eyes from the sun and looked down the streets as little bare-faced elven children ran up and down the street with streamers in their hands and flowers in their hair.

'Where do I start when it comes to finding someone who can help understand ancient elven text?'

A sharp pain interrupted Necia's thoughts. Wincing, she drew up her hand and was startled to see her hands mark glowing eerily.

"What now?" She asked herself out loud, wincing as she tried to drown out the sharp pain. "Why is it hurting now? There is no rift present."

"Andaran atish'an."

A wispy voice breathed on the back of her ear.

Necia instinctively raised her hands up in defense as she whirled around, her glowing mark shining in front of her like a beacon.

The voice hissed slightly as a vaguely human like figure materialized out of thin air.

"Please put away the mark."

Necia blinked, lowering her arms slowly as the elves from her memory walked through her to walk to towards the festival.

"What are you?" Necia whispered softly.

"Necia. That is a spirit. Stay away from it, as it may be malevolent."

Vivienne's voice echoed in her head, but Necia waved it away, fascinated by the spirit that slowly solidified into a young elven man.

She had only seen one spirit before. The spirit of wisdom, Solas's friend, had a similar glowing aura like the being that stood before her.

"I am the spirit of memories strange one." The man replied, his body glowing a faint green shade as he brushed the long strands of hair from his face. "You are walking through my domain."

"Ah… a friend of mine has told me of spirits like you. I have heard that you will speak and converse with those who visit the fade."

"If I have a fondness towards the traveler, I do not mind retelling lost stories of the past." The spirit replied with an impish smile. "But my knowledge is my own, and I do not share it as easily as you may like."

"If you keep memories, would you have memories of ancient elven texts?" Necia asked eagerly, stepping towards the spirit.

"I have only approached you due to a strange aura that seems to be emanating from your being. It feels very familiar, yet I cannot understand it. Perhaps if you shared your knowledge on this strange aura with me, I will share what I know in regards to ancient elven texts." The spirit replied, looking at her with avid curiosity.

"I do not have natural magical powers." Necia replied, "But this mark… it gives me power."

The spirit stepped towards her hand and winced as the mark started to pulsate as he came closer.

"The mark. It is painful. But it is magic. I have only seen magic like that once before. I cannot see who gave this to you. This is strange."

The spirit circled her, hesitantly reaching for her hand.

"May I see?"

Necia nodded as the spirit gingerly lifted her wrist to look at her mark.

Warmth emanated from the spirit and soothed the deep ache of the mark that reverberated on her hand with a strange energy.

"Something is blocking me from accessing this passage in time. This mark is distorting the fade. This seems like a key to both lock and unlock something that is beyond my knowledge."

"But don't you have access to all memories throughout time?"

The spirit laughed, his voice sounding like soft rolling thunder before a storm.

"Spirits were created as well. We do not have access to memories that pre-exist our existence. Your mark is ancient magic. It is painful, yet it draws me like a moth to a flame. Tell me one thing about this mark as payment for the knowledge you seek."

"I've gained this mark by touching a figure that was in the fade with me. I traveled without dreaming. I believe she is Andraste, as I am also seen as her herald."

"A Dalish elf is considered to be the herald of Andraste. Yes, I know who you are Inquisitor." The spirit mused. "Do you remember this figures face?"

"No. But she looked as if she was wearing Chantry robes." Necia replied.

"Ah, information that I could not see… that is most informative." The spirit replied with a smile.

"All I told you was that she wore Chantry robes… does that really suffice?"

"Even the vagueness of your description allows me to subtly see the figure that has touched you. I cannot see, but it might be that a stronger power is at work here. With this, I have more knowledge then I have started with."

"Ah, that odd." Necia replied, quirking her eyes as she puzzled over the spirit. "You remind me of someone who I know…with your profound wisdom and strangeness."

The spirit laughed at her remark.

"I am assuming you are talking about Solas. He is a friend of mine who is just as tightly intertwined with the romance and allure of the past."

"Yes. That is the guy." Necia replied dully.

"I can pass knowledge to you, but I suggest you visit your Ancient elf friend, Abelas, for a deeper understanding of the texts you have found." The spirit replied. "Even I have no memories of these ancient scrolls. If you have time, please visit me and relay to me your findings."

The spirit lifted his hand, glowing a faint blue aura as he touched her forehead with his index finger.

"Necia." Vivienna called, worry coloring her voice. "I can't seem to find you in the fade… where are you?"

The sound of elven voices, laughter, and the faint smell of meats, bread, and sweets permeated Necia's senses as the spirits cool touch washed over her like an ice-cold waterfall. Vivienne had warned her not to let a spirit in, lest she become an abomination. She wasn't sure if this is what she had done inadvertently. Her thoughts froze in her hand, as if a mage had cast winters grasp on her thoughts.

It was dark and empty, the noises of the festival fading away as a strange deafening silence overwhelmed her.

Strange voices filled the void.

The voices were sorrowful, joyful, hateful, and loving. She could not understand them at first as strange letters started to flash in her head.

Slowly, but surely, she started to understand the voices that spoke around her. The texts started to make sense as the void suddenly filled with noise.

She gasped as the connection was suddenly cut off. It was as if a switch was turned on.

"We have finished our transaction Inquisitor."

The spirit started to disappear.

"Please come visit your memories again. You seem like an interesting person."

"Spirit of memories!" Necia called as she tried to reorient herself in the fade. The memories around her started to stutter as the fade twisted around her.

"Calm down Inquisitor. The new knowledge you have acquired is twisting the fade around you. Demons will be here shortly if you cannot manage to focus."

The familiar voice was not Vivienne's voice. A throbbing headache was starting to form in Necia's temple.

'It can't be…'

The dark-haired elf whirled around, her memory starting to stabilize, allowing the ancient elves to continue celebrating their festivities.

"Solas."

In all honesty, Necia envisioned their reunion quite differently. She thought that she would feel triumphant with her achievements and her library of new-found knowledge on the fade during their separation.

But it was far from her expectations.

Seeing Solas made her happy. Her heart beat a little fast and her cheeks felt a little warm from the pleasant surprise, but the feeling was fleeting. Seeing something that you cannot have, no matter how your heart ached for it, grounded her and cut into her like a sharp knife.

"Ah, ma verhan, it is curious that you have ventured so far into the fade. I did not think you'd remember this story."

"Vivienne… this isn't a dream right? You didn't knock me out so that you can get some rest instead of guiding me into the fade…right…?"

"Well I never…! Inquisitor, you have very little faith in me."

Vivienne appeared from behind Necia, her eyes sharp as knives as she stared at the figure standing in front of the Inquisitor. Even in the fade the Orlesian mage held an air of dignity and confidence.

"It seems we have an uninvited guest Necia. This is not a dream. We are in the fade, and are accessing memories and echoes of things past. "

"Hello Madame de Fer, it is nice to see you again." Solas said with a wan smile, knowing full well that she disapproved of his sudden appearance.

"My…my. The mysterious apostate elf returns. Tell me Solas, how is life treating you knowing full well that you left us with no explanation?"

Vivianne's tone was ice cold, her eyes narrowing as she straightened her back and put herself between Solas and Necia.

"I am taking it that everyone missed my presence? I do make a great and lasting impression with all those that I meet." Solas replied sarcastically, earning him a snort from Necia.

"Lasting impressions? Yes, you have. But… great? I must question that part of your comment. Where were you when we were rebuilding the destruction left behind by Corypheus?"

"You hurt me to the quick Vivienne. It seems as if the inquisition did a wonderful job in rebuilding all that was lost during the war without me."

"Ahem."

Vivienne and Solas both turned to Necia, breaking the rather tense banter between the two mages.

"I have some questions for Solas, and I am sure he has some questions for me. I know you hate him Vivienne…"

The Orlesian mage let out a small huff.

"Hating him is an understatement. I despise him… I do not respect him… I-."

"That is enough from you Vivienne, I believe the inquisitor wants to talk to me. Alone." Solas interrupted Vivienne's small burst of hot anger with a wave of his hand.

"Listen… you little elf man-."

"Vivienne!" Necia yelled.

"Well then. Inquisitor, I shall take my leave. Since you have not been taught how to properly leave the fade, I will wait for you. Please let me know when you are ready to leave."

Vivienne bowed stiffly, looking at Necia rather disapprovingly as she disappeared from the memory.

A brief silence filled the memory that both Necia and Solas stood in. The memory continued to transgress. Sounds of laughter and ancient elven words flowed around them, enveloping both Necia and Solas in a hazy cloud of contentment.

The look on Solas's face reminded her of when he first regarded her with curious eyes in her dreams of Haven before its fall. She remembered their first kiss.

"Ma verhan. You surprise me, yet again."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me." Necia replied with a sigh.

"Why and how did you enter the fade? You are no mage."

The elf started to pace back and forth, his mage robes flapping from his vigorous and restless movements.

"The archor gives me some semblance of magic. I can use it to enter the fade."

The mage elf nodded, stroking his chin with narrowed eyes.

"How curious… and why, may I ask, did you choose this memory out of many?"

Necia blinked and started to nervously chew her lips.

"I… well… I wanted to know more about the orb of destruction and how it came to be."

Solas stopped pacing back and forth.

"Why are you curious?"

Something in his question gave Necia chills down her back. His voice sounded ominous and cold.

"It distressed you. Wasn't that the reason why you left? Something in your past must have had some connection to this orb."

"Necia… no… Inquisitor." He replied, his voice strangely calm and unfeeling as he turned to her. A strange fire burned in his blue eyes, making her fear him.

"Do not pursue this. It will hurt you and disappoint you."

"Oh really?" Necia answered, her lips hardening into a fine line as she drew closer to Solas, her eyes burning with anger.

"What is with all this secrecy? Is there something you don't want me to know?"

Solas laughed, his laughter void of any humor.

"There is so little that you do know ma verhan. You will not be able to comprehend it. It will hurt you; eat you away… to know that you have associated yourself with me."

Necia shook her head.

"It's my turn to ask questions Solas."

"What did you ask of the spirit of memories?" Solas prodded, ignoring her statement. "Tell me, so I can beg you to stop doing such foolish-."

"I just want to know how to read and understand our native ancient tongue Solas." Necia interrupted him with a loud sigh. A strange pressure was building up in her chest.

"You are telling me half of the story. You have mentioned you wanted to know more about the orb, which is why you are here. What have you found in relation to this orb that requires you to know and understand the native language of our people?"

"Tell me why you left." Necia countered, knowing that she would not be able to make him stay and answer her questions if she put all her cards on the table. "You at least owe me that much."

"Because I must go on this journey alone." He replied vaguely.

"Don't expect me to answer your questions if you don't answer mine." Necia replied with a cold smile.

She then realized how close they were. In her anger, she had moved closer.

Their faces were close enough for her to feel Solas's breath on her face.

Solas's cold anger seemed to die and soften as he also realized their closeness.

"I am looking for something lost and forgotten. I do not know if it exists, as many things of our past have been destroyed. The burden that I carry is heavy and is meant for one person alone to carry."

Solas hesitantly raised a hand and touched the space on Necia's face where the vallisalin used to be. A gentle smile graced his face as he smoothed back a small strand of hair that loosened itself from the braid that wrapped around Necia's head. He then let his fingers trail down her loose hair that ended right above her shoulders. Slowly, he backed away.

"I knew better than to involve you in my own selfish desires, but I did not want to lose you. We must forget what has been between us. Please, I beg you not to pursue your sudden interest in the orb. You will know, in due time."

"That is not good enough." Necia whispered. His touch seared into her heart, nearly breaking open the padlocks that she had placed there to prevent herself from breaking apart. "I need to know. No. I will not stand idly by, not understanding."

"So please, tell me why you are trying to learn our ancient language? Did you find a text that I was not aware of?"

"No." Necia lied.

"You are lying." Solas answered his face stony in disapproval.

"Vivienne…. I need to leave." Necia yelled. She started to back away, feeling the memory distort around her.

"Necia!"

Solas yelled out her name in frustration as Vivienne appeared behind the inquisitor.

"You do not know what you are involving yourself in!"

"Get me out of here Vivienne." Necia said quietly, ignoring Solas's outcry.

"Close your eyes Necia, and focus on exiting the fade and returning to your body. Goodness, I am exhausted. Did you know that it's already noon back in the real world? I didn't get an ounce of sleep, thanks to you Inquisitor."

"Damn that stubborn and unnaturally inquisitive little vixen!" Solas yelled in frustration as he jolted himself awake. Two rams that were grazing on the elfroot that grew around his perch let out a startled cry before they quickly trotted away.

"What is she doing there?" He yelled out to the afternoon sun.

Of course, there was no answer.

"I must enter the fade and search for more recent memories… perhaps I can see what she was looking at." Solas muttered to himself as he got up to stretch and replenish his body with food and water.

Despite his initial anger, he had to admit that it felt great to see Necia again. She was a bit older, but she had managed to gracefully age into her looks. In fact, she seemed to be even more pleasing to the eye than she had been before.

She also surprised him. He knew she was different… a true scholar and a seeker of truth and answers. It really should not have surprised him to see that she had learned how to travel through the fade. However, he was afraid that she would learn of his true identity once she became more adept and maneuvering around time and space.

'She is a loose end. I typically would kill loose ends, but this one… is a bit more complicated.'

He sighed as he wolfed down his simple portion of bread and cheese. He did not realize how hungry he had become while spending many hours in the fade.

'At least I don't feel so alone.' He thought to himself. 'But it does not mean that I should be celebrating the fact that the inquisitor has managed to learn how to travel through time so well. I really should not have told her stories from ancient elven times.'

'I should speak to the spirit of memories to see what he has told her. Perhaps I can figure out what she is up to before she implements it.'

Solas rubbed his head in frustration.

For the first time in years, Solas felt a little weary of entering the fade.

"That was dangerous Vivienne!"

A loud abrasive voice shattered the peaceful morning air, which jolted Necia out of her sleep.

"It was a favor. I believe in the Inquisitor. Besides, she had my help."

"I do not often agree with Cullen, but this was foolish. What if she became an abomination? Our Templars were sleeping! You should have at least warned us-."

Cassandra and Cullen's voice echoed through Skyhold, eliciting a groan of disapproval from the tired elf.

"What is this racket?" Necia demanded as she hurried down the stairs. She thrust her arms into her coat and hurried to button it up, covering her simple linen nightgown.

"Inquisitor! Thank the Maker you are okay!" Cassandra said with a sigh before she turned back to Vivienne with disapproving eyes.

"I'm surprised. You typically are all rules and no flexibility. Why did you go against your vows and beliefs now?"

Vivienne looked relatively calm. The only feature that gave away her anger was her eyes.

"The Inquisitor asked me as a friend, and I obliged. I do owe her much."

The handsome blonde haired Templar pounded his fist on the wooden desk across from Vivienne.

"She could've become an abomination. We didn't even have the right safety regulations enacted to prevent an abomination from spawning."

"You are right. I am sorry." Vivienne replied shortly, looking away from Cullen's angry eyes.

"It was my fault. I didn't want to make it such a big deal. I failed to keep the safety of everyone else in mind. I am sorry that I was selfish. Please do not yell at Vivienne."

"Well… please don't do such reckless things again." Cullen muttered, unable to stay angry. "It would be a terrible waste to lose you, on top of everything else we have lost to this war."

"We have a long way to go before everything is back in order. Please be mindful about your safety. Please don't make me regret letting Cole give you those scrolls."

Cassandra sighed, running her calloused hands through her short black hair.

"I am sorry for losing my temper at you, Vivienne. I understand that we all owe the Inquisitor a lot. It is only natural that you would want to help her when she asks."

"No. I am sorry for breaking rules and regulations. I allowed the Inquisitor to be in harm's way." Vivienne bowed her proud head. "It shall not happen again."

"Let's not talk about this again. Next time I go into the fade, I'll ask both Vivienne and Dorien to accompany me, with Cullen and some Templars at bay." Necia said quickly, gently laying a hand on the Orlesian mage's arm.

"Where is Dorien by the way? Shouldn't he be back from his mission by now? Sera and Iron Bull went with him…"

"He should be on his way. Lelianna has received word on their safe return." Cullen replied, noting the panicked note in Necia's voice.

Necia shook her head, shaking the webs of sleep from her head.

"Going into the fade is a lot more tiring than I thought… and my mark… it aches."

"I should take a look at that." Vivienne replied primly, recovering from her hour of humbleness just seconds before. "It would be terrible if the mark starts to spread again. We don't have Solas here to tend to it this time."

"Ah-." Cassandra squeaked out, nervously looking at the Inquisitor to gauge her reaction. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Necia looked rather uninterested and unprovoked by the mention of that name.

"Well. I actually need to look for the ancient elves… Abelas to be exact. It might not be a happy welcome, but I have some questions for him."

"Necia! My dear friend!"

A flamboyant yet handsome young man with an impeccable moustache made his way into the large doors in the main hall. He enveloped the small elf in a warm hug.

"I heard that Vivienne broke some rules! I'd have never expected to hear that she ate her own words… my my, what I would have given to see that!"

"Dorien, she was helping me… since you weren't here."

"I am sure she felt sorry for you. You were all work and no play… I am surprised you're out of bed and walking around at this hour! What are you wearing? It looks horrendous, we must fix that."

The talkative Tevintar noble grasped the Inquisitor's small knobby elbow firmly and dragged her towards her room.

"Oh Dorien, you are quite selfish, hogging the Inquisitor all to yourself like that! Nobles are so selfish!"

Two thin arms wrapped their way around Necia's neck and squeezed tightly in a friendly embrace.

"You two have a lot of energy for two people coming back from a fight with the apostate." Necia wheezed, struggling to breath between Sera and Doriens tug-of-war.

"Iron Bull did most of the work." Sera replied airily. "It was an easy job! We recovered some of the villager's valuables…"

"Heard you got Cassandra and Cullen angry… simultaneously. Is it scary to have both a Templar and Seeker mad at you at the same time?" Dorien asked with a snicker.

"You know… they're being serious. They care for me, and I understand their concern." Necia replied, stealthily slipping out of both their grasps.

"I heard you are looking for the ancient elves. I thought I could ask if we can tag along! After all, Cassandra, Vivienne, and Varric had you last time when you went to chase down the rogue Templars!"

"Hmmm… I thought you hated elves Sera."

"Yuck. They are yucky, but when it comes down to it, I do miss the exciting adventure we used to have!" Sera replied. She combed her gloved hands through her sloppily cut short blonde hair. "I also like looking at you, since you're single and all. Pity you like men."

"Pity she isn't a man. I would love to date a man version of her." Dorien said jokingly, earning him a slap on the back of his head from Necia.

"Well, it is nice to know that I am popular." Necia said sullenly. "I really need a drink. Let me guess, Iron Bull is drinking at the tavern?"

"As always." Sera and Dorien replied in unison.

Both Sera and Dorien watch Necia walk away, their smiled dropping into worried frowns.

"Is she still chasing after that egg-headed elf?" Dorien asked Sera, his eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. "She has been unnaturally interested in rifts and elven artifacts lately."

"Probably. Where's his elven glory now?" Sera said rather sullenly as she picked lint from her armor in boredom. "If I ever see that stick-in-the-arse elf man again, I will have to give him a firm boot in the rear end."

To be continued….

Necia sets out to look for Abelas and ventures back into the fade, in hopes of speaking to Solas again. Instead of meeting Solas, she finds herself meeting a different being named Ar'Neamhni.