Second Letter to Solas

So, after completing DA:I, I visited Cole one last time.

“I’m sorry, Cole, but with your gift, I fear that you will see the path I now must walk in solitude forever. This fate is mine alone. Indeed, I would not wish it on an enemy, much less someone that I once cared for. Though you reach out in compassion, I must now insist that you forget. I-I'm...Wha-What were we talking about? I'm ready to help people when you are.”

Once

Once, the only certainty I knew was your hand on the small of my back, the quickening of my pulse as lips brushed belly and breast, your soft, regular breathing as you dreamt beside me: I was yours.

Once, I believed we would walk all the paths of this world and the other together and I was unafraid because you were mine.

Then I heard you say in another’s voice: once and since, have known nothing.

-A crumpled, ink-smudged missive found in a locked box thought to belong to Inquisitor Lavellan

In Another Life, a letter to Solas inspired by Dragon Age: Inquisition

So, I finished DA:I. I specifically chose to play as a Dalish elf because I wanted to explore the Solas romance written by Patrick Weekes. Unfortunately, despite Gareth David-Lloyd's note-perfect performance, I found his character so insufferable, and, unable to romance Dorian (voiced by the delightfully mercurial Ramon Tikaram), I romanced Cullen, instead. (Though, given dialogue by the masterful Brianne Battye and an arresting, yet nuanced, performance by Greg Ellis, one could hardly call it a hardship.)

Nevertheless, after witnessing the ending, I decided as abrasive, confounding, and, well, downright creepy as Solas could be, my masochistic Inquisitor would go the distance. (You'd think with all the memories he had seen in the Fade, he'd pick up on what not to say...) The proverbial scales fell from my eyes in his final romantic cut-scene. Solas' facial expressions were so movingly rendered, every misgiving I had faded to insignificance.

In Another Life

In another life, I would have prayed to Dirthamen, Keeper of Secrets, to reveal where my Heart had hidden, to Andruil to grant me swiftness that I might soon be at his side, and, should dark Falon’Din meet him first, to turn him away and guide his steps back to me. But if there ever were gods, they do not listen, as I did not listen.

You sought to free me, but did you not understand that removing my vallaslin only bound me to you, as surely as any geas? My clansmen see my face, now a mirror of your own, and turn away. I have not even the comfort of dreams, though I sleep in the hollow your body made in our bed.

You told me to harden my heart to a cutting edge. How can I, when I still burn unquenchable as veilfire? Mythal did not speak of this price, this sorrow.

Come to me soon, Vhenan. I would tear open the heavens again if I knew I would find you on the other side.

-A letter found in the secret compartment of the desk of Inquisitor Lavellan

Addendum: It seems I have Jonathan Epp to thank for animating Solas.