And I see my hands can make, The world that is in your mind
Since the authors for the @arlathanxchange have been revealed, I can share the piece I wrote for @bogunicorn. Thank you for offering me the chance to write about Solas/Cassandra. I hope you like it.
My kuods go to the organisers of this exchange, I had lots of fun participating. And for making this hella cool banner. Look how awesome it is!
My thanks also go to @darethshirl and @sinsbymanka who beta-ed this. You’re the best.
Without further ado, here’s a snippet from my piece. You can read more on my AO3. Kudos and comments are always appreciated!
"Why are you worried about me?"
Solas popped the cork of one of the vials containing the healing potions. His answer lingered stubbornly between his parted lips.
"Well?" she persisted with half a breath.
Solas closed his eyes and avoided her searching gaze. The vials trembled in his hands, but before she could voice her concern about the contents, he spoke again, his eyes still closed. "Why should I not be, when you risk your life every day to defend the Inquisitor and the rest of our group?" His voice trembled in unison with his hands and a knot grew in Cassandra's throat at this sincere display of emotion. "When I know you'll take the fall to defend them, even if it means you will endure blow after blow without complaining even once?"
For months, Cassandra's feelings for Solas have grown at an alarming rate. A gentle infatuation had turned into a burning love. A love she had never dared confess to Solas. For even though he gladly returned her kisses, she could not be sure if their connection was just a fleeting adventure or something more.
She dared not hope, not even then, when his hands begged to be held and comforted. She had to be sure before she allowed the words growing in her heart to unfold.
"But I have done that for so many years," she began, testing the waters. “I have learned to live with it."
"I understand." He nodded, daring to look at her again, the grey of his eyes suffused with an emotion she had dreamed of seeing on his face. "And you do it with so much grace I can not help but feel impressed and fascinated by your strength. But still, it is unfair you have to bear these blows every day."
With a nod, Solas offered her the vials to drink from. She took the medicine without complaint and braced herself for the awful, bitter taste to take her breath away. But instead of bitterness a sweet, honey-like aroma enveloped the inside of her cheeks.
He had sweetened it just for her. Even though she had never complained, he understood her struggles without her saying a word.
"Un— unfair?" She stumbled over the word and tried to keep her head into the conversation. "But it is my duty to do so. That is why I have trained for so many years."
"That is why you still train daily, until your fingers crack from the exertion." As if to punctuate his words, he took the vials from her hand, his fingertips lingering on the blisters and corns covering her skin. "And yet, my heart aches with every cut and scrape I have to heal."
Casaandra snorted. "It should not, or you would go into shock every few minutes."
With a laboured grunt he rose from the bed and approached the table again where he lingered, as if fearing the direction of their conversation. "I have told my heart many times to stop being so utterly foolish but it will not listen."
Seeing Solas, seeing a man fretting over such worries, gave her more pleasure than she had imagined. Yet, she needed to understand why, to be certain it was not her overly romantic imagination playing tricks on her. "I wonder why?"
"Because it's concerned for your fate and safety," he whispered with his head bowed, like a defeated man bowing to the truth. "Because the thought of losing you would..."
"I know." He laughed, a laugh covered in so much bitterness it stunned her. "I am foolish to fear for your safety, and I apologise for doubting your ability to care for yourself."
"I am glad you do. Fear for my safety, that is."
