Dawn and Solas heavy, a little happy at the end if you squint. I'll probably tear this apart eventually but ehhhhh.
She wakes up aching, not just the dull ache in her chest that's been a constant companion, but the more physical symptoms of her time with the blasted cult. A small reaches out and grabs her shirt. Dawn opens her eyes and tried not to hiss as the stitches are pulled as well and she gently releases the sleeping childs hands. He’s in a scrunched up little ball, all two and a half years of tiny elf, with his mother wrapped around him, her hair completing the circle of protection he had created for himself.
Carefully she extracts herself, ignoring the blood stains on the bed as she stumbled out of the sheets. Her feet meet bare stone and chocolate orbs glance back at her child. A soft smile spreads across her features and Dawn runs a hand down his face. This is a big change almost too soon after the events but he is strong. Leaning down she brushes her lips over the bald head. She hopes he is stronger than she is.
Dawn feels Abolas’s presence before she sees him. Its not threatening, he is outside the room but she does not know how long he had been there but she sighs and stands. The room is circular, pillars around the space where the bed is, where it was meant as a living space at one time is irrelevant for its hers now. Grabbing a robe of some time Josphine had sent she slips it on and starts toward the ancient elf.
“Did you need something?” Dawns words come out curter than she intended, she hisses and adjusts her side. She should not have used so much mana, but blind rage led her to rip out the throats of ten elves who dared touch her child. The only thing she thanks them for is giving him the sleeping potion that will render the event the stuff of a nightmare, scary, but something he can dismiss in the long run.
He turns, and it occurs to her he has been standing guard directly outside her door. His eyes are different from when they met at the Temple of Mythal and the voices whisper to trust him even as she stands ten feet from him. He gives her a bow that makes her about as uncomfortable as the respect in his eyes.
“Morning Wolf Mother.” He speaks and Dawn’s face and insides twist. Crossing her arms she looks away forcefully and stares at a pillar beside the door. These ruins were looking better and better with each passing day thanks to the Inquisition.
“How?” Her voice is pained, she had told no one of Solas’s true identity since she had discovered it herself. Only Malcolm truly knew why the cult had taken her son and even that was simply because he was smart enoug to connect the dots.
“The cult, they believed your son was Fen’Harel reincarnated.” Dawn gave a laugh and turned back to the bed. “Is it not true? He carries the power of the Dread Wolf inside him.” she glanced over her shoulder at him, the freckles standing out against skin too pale from blood loss.
“No, no, the truth is just as unbelievable once it passes through lips unheaded.” She slips into elvhen because it is easier with the whispering in her head. Memories slip by her mind and she turns away once again so he does not see the pain in her eyes, and the happiness. Solas’s laugh immediatly comes to mind and she covers her mouth and closes her eyes to focus on the sound.
“Mamea!” a little voice calls out in fear and Dawn opens her eyes as the toddle looks at her from his pile of blankets, his ears sagging in half-sleep. Her lips twitch in a smile and she holds out her arms, the small elf is all too eager to climb down from the bed and walk unsteadily to her, Dawn scoops him up and he giggles. She ties him in her shawl, twisting it so he can lay against her, Koju yawns and settles against her chest.
“I am here da’mi.” she says, craddling him. Abelos looks on, she cannot place the look in his eyes but she can sense the moment it clicks as his face changes in recognition.
“Do you know where the Wolf treads?” His voice is soft and Dawn is surprised at the phrase, he was coding it, for Koju.
“If he knew he would not have left us.” Dawn sighs and holds the child closer, he is already asleep in her arms.
“Are you sure he does not know?” The ancient warrior sounds skeptical and Dawn is too tired to be angry at the question after three years. But she had to pause.
“It is doubtful he does not know there is another source of his power in the world, but he would not suspect a child to have been the cause.” She sighs and walks over to the small table and chairs by the balcony. Outside the sun is starting to rise over the horizon. “If you were going to kill us, you could’ve done it last night. So why are you here.”
“Because that Solas was right.”
Dawn does not look back, so the warrior did not know after all. “That does not explain your presence outside my door.” He had wandered in behind her, remaining a respectful distance away at all times.
“You need protection, and so does the child, whatever the source of his heritage. You hold the last of the knowledge of the priests of Mythal, and he holds a piece of Fen’Harel in some form.” He was stubborn, she’d give him that.
“So you want a job?” Dawn snorted, sitting down and being careful not to jostle Koju as he nuzzled closer to her warmth in the morning air. “I can take care of myself and my son thank you.” But they both know she cannot, not like this, even as sharp as her teeth were.
“I already have one, the large beast man made me ‘Head of Security’. I will ensure the safety of the hopes in the elves, and for now, they lie with you two.” He said, she could feel the Imperious nod he gave before disappearing, Dawn had no doubt he would not be far though.
She sat there for another hour, watching the world move on.
“Together we are safe. Apart we are strong.” she said in a shaky voice, looking down at the mini-version of Solas in her arms. It was almost hilarious the warrior had not immediately made the connection, but he had yet to get a good look at her child either. Finally making the decision to get moving with her day the elf stood tall and went over to the recently delivered wardrobe and picked out something fairly simple.
A tunic with no arms with the classic elvhen style, a corset to keep her insides from falling out, and some partial leggings to keep her knees warm. Since Koju was born it had been nigh impossible for her to keep warm. The healers said part of her body had never recovered, and that conception of another child would be difficult if it was even possible.
Frankly Dawn was fine with her da’mi, one was enough. He was a gift she had not expected, whether Mythal’s intentions had been to force Solas to deal with a Morrigan himself or a blessing because she knew the truth of what would pass better than even the rift mage. Laying Koju on the bed she made quick work of redressing her various injuries. At least her face was no longer angry shades of purple and green and returned mostly to normal.
Most of the day was tedium, Keepers and firsts arguing. Dawn being forced to prove again and again she had the knowledge of the well. She was sorely tempted to reveal the truth the vallaslin to them right there and be done with the lot of them. But they needed her, as much as they did not see it yet a chunck of information lost to the People for centuries was now whispering in her head. They just needed to wake up and see it.
When it became too much the rift mage found solace in Koju, he played quietly at her feet and in her lap. Eventually napping in her grand chair as she wished her ‘guests’ a good night and they filed out one by one. Swearing and grumbling, they had gained progress today, however slight. At least thats what she told herself as she collapsed in a chair.
The sound of scuffling feet made her look up, at first she assumed it was Abelos come to escort her somewhere. Instead as she stood up the Wolf Mother was met with a surprise.
Solas stepped from the shadows and the rift mage was frozen, there was no way he could’ve known where she was. This place was only known to the Keepers and the Inquisition at present, unless. The purple and rather swollen eye said he had definitely been by Skyhold. His approach was swift, gently he cradled her face, tilting it up as he kissed her.
She wanted to cry but she could barely move, muscle memory took over and her arms went around his neck to pull him closer. He tried to do the same and Dawn cursed when he accidently hit one of the stab wounds. He was quick to retract himself looking her over with a face wracked with guilt.
“Solas” his name was a prayer, even though she knew it was not even his name. She wanted to be angry, to be stay angry, but she saw the look in his eyes and tears flowed from her eyes unbidden. Clinging to him she buried her face in his neck. “You asshole.” she said half-heartedly, “Ma’arlath ma’vhenan, I have missed you.” It felt like her heart was breaking all over again as his arms went around her, gentler this time, wary of injuries he could not see.
“I never stopped thinking of you.” His voice was heavy as he tried to hide himself in her hair.
“Mamea.” A small voice cooed sleepily, the bundle of blankets sat up and she felt Solas freeze in her arms. Slowly he looked up, and Dawn slid from his embrace to go to Koju, who was holding his arms up with his cheeks puffed up, clearly wanting to be picked up. He saw the last of the tears running down her face and as she picked him up small hands patted her cheeks.
“Mamea are you sad?” He asked with helpless concern in his voice. Dawn gave a laugh. Solas had not moved from the the spot she had left him, his eyes were wide and slowly she walked back to him.
“Koju, meet your daddy.” Dawn said, and Koju puffed out his cheeks some more. For a moment he looked at Dawn rubbing his eyes, then he looked over at the still frozen Solas, then back to Dawn again.
“Papa!” he shouted and held out his arms to Solas, who despite being an elvhen god, seemed to be dumbstruck by the small being in front of him. Dawn smiled and held out her, their, son to him. He appeared hesitant, but slowly his face softened and he smiled.
“Hello Koju.” He said, emotion straining his voice as he gently took his son from his mother’s arms.
