Inquisitor Solas AU
.... also referred as the ‘Non-Traitor Solas’ AU
(I would call it 'Good Solas' AU but thought that he's not even bad or evil. Just really grey. Greyer than a Warden, lol This is also known as 'Solas-as-Mahanon's-self-proclaimed-older-brother' AU.)
Prologue
1. Mahanon was released from Clan Lavellan when his magical abilities were triggered when they crossed paths with Solas. (*referencing one of the early banters of Solas and Elf!Inquisitor at the prologue of the game) Solas agreed and welcomingly allows the former Lavellan to travel with him, taking responsibility for triggering an dormant capability. (*I don't really know if this is possibly in the Dragon Age universe, as I've only played the 3rd Installment, but it is a Headcanon) Mahanon then, henceforth, started going by Esaldir Faerondalan to symbolize his separation from his birth clan.
2. Similarly to the game, the Conclave exploded, Esaldir and Solas were separated during the initial waves of earth shattering destruction. Solas ended up finding the Orb Corypheus and the Divine, thus receiving the mark instead. Similarly to the game, they made a run for it, ended up in the fade, the Divine gets left behind to save Solas before he fell out of the fade and into unconsciousness.
3. Solas comes to. He meets up with Esaldir, as they are now both taken as prisoners, being the only ones found alive at the rubbles carnage leftovers from the explosion. (*In this AU, the only thing preventing the mark from killing Solas is of its Elven origin. In other words, if a human, dwarf, or Qunari ended up bearing it, it would be killing them slowly)
4. Solas lost his memory of his encounter with the Divine and Corypheus, just like in canon. Esaldir doesn't know because he wasn't there.
5. Cassandra and Leliana questions them. Well, Solas. They already finished questioning Esaldir. Esaldir explained that they were only at the Conclave to observe how the Peace talks would go. Solas wanted to see how this might affect treatments of mages moving forward. He didn't want them enforced to Cirlces, especially considering his wanderlust.
6. Solas agreed to help close the Rift easily enough. He conceded to the fact that this was a problem for everyone, no matter what race. Even as he didn't approve of the humans treatment of him and Esaldir. However. he added that he would only help out if Esaldir was released. Of course, the younger elf argued. It was a moot, as they were still both suspects as far as Cassandra was concerned. Solas would've argued further, but Esaldir started getting splitting headaches and Solas sensed that his magic barriers preventing him from possession as a mage were weakening considering the Breach. So he rushed with Cassandra across the valley.
7. Solas would have wanted Esaldir to stay behind, but the Esaldir wouldn't have it. Plus, Solas didn't trust what would be done to him if he was left behind in a camp of humans blaming them for the divine's death.
8. When encountering the first Rift Cassandra wanted Solas to test the mark on, they fought alongside Varric and Cullen. Esaldir stumbled, and a demon was about to overcome him when Solas rushed towards him only to trip over in the process. Cullen cut it down, and with his position, the mark was triggered into closing the rift.
9. Solas gets along amiably enough wit Varric (but then again, who doesn't amirite?) and it helped that the dwarf wasn't even in the Seeker's good side either. Even intentionally pushes her buttons. Although he feels rather sus about Cullen for some reasons. He would attest it to his protectiveness due tp the fact that Esaldir had been a bit starry-eyed after the rescue.
10. After that, they return to the forward camp, they confronted Chancellor Roderick. He and Solas almost had a verbal smackdown, but Esaldir mediated. They charge with the soldiers to get to the breach, Solas triggers a vision that was obscure, and they fought a Pride Demon before closing the Rift directly below the Breach. (*Just like in the game)
[I might make little oneshots of this later idk. I also have a lot of pending WiPs currently]