I’ve got a thought that I need to explore. Was there more to Solas and Ghilan’nain? We're they lovers at one point?
There’s no direct evidence - but can I find narrative elements to make a case for fun? Sure can!
A few splinters lodged themselves in my mind as I played through the game and remembered some details from Inquisition. These thoughts have only burrowed deeper since then.
Starting with this:
That’s such a specific thing for Solas to say. It implies he knew her very well. How many late-night conversations or time spent together would it take for him to notice her sensitive nature? And not just notice it, but hold onto it so deeply that he later uses it to try and reach her before she ascends? That feels personal to me.
And his reaction to Ghilan’nain’s use of the Blight to warp creation? It feels like devastation. It’s not just moral outrage - it’s sorrow, disappointment. As though her actions were a betrayal by someone he not only respected but cared for emotionally. Maybe even loved.
The Letters
Then there are their letters - sounding like they were sent long after their relationship would have ended, when Ghilan’nain was preparing for her ascension. They read like a final attempt on Solas’s part to stop someone he once cared for, a last effort to appeal to the person she used to be.
Solas’s letter to Ghilan’nain still has that intimate and familiar tone. It's once again implying that he spent time with her, observing, understanding, talking about her work with her. He's acknowledging her brilliance but questions the morality of her choices. It makes me wonder: did Ghilan’nain ever share her creations with Solas before releasing them into the wild?
In his letter, Solas is warning her, cautioning her against the Evanuris. He’s worried - not only about the consequences of her actions but also about the possibility of having to oppose her himself, as he eventually did with Mythal. There’s even a sense of protectiveness in his words, as though he’s trying to shield her from the political manipulations of the Evanuris.
If Solas and Ghilan’nain were lovers, it would explain why her choices seem to affect him. They don’t just trouble him on a moral level - they hurt him emotionally. He appeals to the Ghilan’nain he knew in their private moments, urging her to use her talents for the good of “our people”.
And the reference of Andruil brings to mind the tale from The Masked Empire - Fen'Harel and the Tree, where Felassan recounts Fen’Harel being captured by Andruil for 'hunting the halla without her blessing'. (Solas pursuing Ghilan'nain without Andruil's permission or knowledge).
If Andruil was jealous of a relationship between Ghilan’nain and Solas forming (and possibly forming before even Andruil and Ghilan'nain become lovers), her response might have been to try to seduce Solas herself to drive a wedge between them, or to promise Ghilan’nain support and power to pull her away from him. (Check out this fan theory on this love triangle.)
And Solas inserts a jab:
"Of course, I know why. I hope you gain peace with Andruil. You would not be the first to sacrifice your morals for love."
This statement is pretty charged. Is there an undercurrent of jealousy or betrayal here? He’s accusing Ghilan’nain of compromising the very values he once believed defined her - values he would have come to know intimately if they had a relationship.
I know it's likely Solas is reflecting on himself here regarding Mythal, BUT if we keep this within the realm of Solas and Ghilan’nain, could he be admitting that he might have compromised his own values for Ghilan'nain at some point?
It’s all open to interpretation, but that ambiguity is part of what makes exploring this potential pairing so captivating.
Ghilan’nain’s Response
Ghilan’nain’s letter draws a parallel between them, pointing out that neither of them is among the original, godlike firstborn. Could this shared status as outsiders have drawn them together? There’s something seductive about the idea of two outliers finding common ground in a world ruled by the Evanuris.
Her letter also highlights the philosophical divide that separates them. Solas values restraint and ethics, while Ghilan’nain is captivated by the untapped potential of magic - even if it means crossing moral boundaries. Going against the values he thought she held.
And then, she jabs back:
“She supports me, always, in everything.”
It feels like a veiled accusation: Why didn’t you support me the way Andruil does? Perhaps she expected Solas to stand by her as she pursued her evolution, but instead, she finds herself defending her decisions against his judgment. There’s a passive-aggressive edge to her words, reminiscent of Mythal.
Yet, beneath this letter there feels a hint of regret. She shows Solas a lingering connection to her past - maybe even sorrow for the person she used to be.
“At the bottom of the letter is the stamp of a stylized halla head.”
Maybe this is her version of drawing a heart at the end of a letter. Whether intentional or not, it feels significant. Perhaps a reminder of what she once was or a soft plea to Solas: Remember this part of me.
Inquisition Evidence
When I started looking to see if others shared my thoughts on Solas and Ghilan’nain, I was pleasantly surprised to find that some definitely did - going back to 2018. One fantastic thread started by @liaragaming was a lot of fun to read. It dives into various moments in Inquisition that could be hints to a deeper relationship between the two. I encourage you to read through it.
One thing in particular it mentions is a codex that also caught my attention when I began researching connections between Solas and Ghilan’nain.
Pride - capital P.
Ghilan’nain was killing countless beasts for Andruil, but if Pride is Solas, then he stops her - at least to save some of the beasts - and she listens to him. At one point, he held influence over her.
If they were lovers, Solas would have done everything in his power to urge her to resist total submission to the Evanuris, seeing their demands as acts of tyranny and control. But, by convincing her to defy them, even in a small way, he might have unknowingly set in motion tensions between Andruil and Ghilan’nain - tensions that could have ultimately unraveled the bond between Solas and Ghilan’nain as well. Tensions that could have led Andruil to discover that Solas and Ghilan'nain were bumping bits.
What I love about this is how it serves as yet another example of Solas overstepping his bounds with the Evanuris, challenging their authority.
But there are other juicy teases in this thread worth highlighting.
“I know that mistake, to carve the angles of her face from memory.”
Thought experiment: What if that line might actually refer to Ghilan’nain - and a betrayal from her?
In that same thread, @mrs-gauche points to an ancient elven codex in Inquisition, that talks about a crime of high treason.
When I read the codex, it feels like it’s referencing Solas taking shape as the Dread Wolf. Ghilan’nain urged him on - encouraged him, maybe even helped him. As a creator of monsters, what if they combined their powers to enable him to shapeshift? If Solas once held enough influence with her that she listened to him, it’s possible he also confided in her about his mistrust of the Evanuris, possibly even early ideas for rebellion against them. Perhaps this “shape” was even her idea, a contribution to his cause. However it happened, it’s clear Elgar’nan was furious that Solas dared to wield a power reserved for the gods.
Now, the phrase “the sinner belongs to Dirthamen” is more complex, especially when considering how language evolves and meaning can be lost over time. It could imply that the sinner (Solas) was an ally or had ties to Dirthamen - perhaps someone Dirthamen valued or sought to defend. This would align with Dirthamen’s association with knowledge and secrets, suggesting that the sinner’s actions might have carried hidden truths that others misunderstood.
Alternatively, it might signify a rite of judgment, where Dirthamen acted as an arbiter, evaluating the sinner’s deeds before passing him to Mythal or Elgar’nan for final judgment.
If Solas is the sinner, Ghilan’nain urging him to take this form may have brought punishment down on her as well. Or, in a bid to save herself, perhaps she betrayed him - revealing this new power to Andruil, or even exposing his early plans of rebellion - who in turn delivered it to Elgar’nan.
And Mythal? If Solas looked to her for protection and she refused? Was this supposed protector of the people acting out of jealousy? A personal rift? Or was she taking her role as an Evanuris so seriously that she believed no one - not even Solas - was above the law?
Yeah ok, I'm likely reading too much into it, but I'm having fun.
And as I posted yesterday, I’m currently fixated with this Solas dialogue:
“I have joined my share of causes. But when I offered lessons learned in the Fade, I was derided by my enemies… and sometimes by my allies. Liar. Fool. Madman. There are endless ways to say someone isn’t worth listening to. Over time, it grinds away at you.”
How many betrayals did Solas endure from those closest to him?
Final Thoughts
Thematically, the idea of them being lovers could work.
We’re told:
“She was very beautiful - with hair of snowy white - and as graceful as a gazelle.”
Let’s not forget that Solas is an artist (I’m never letting go of the fact that he paints, composes music, and plays multiple instruments - he is sensualllll). It’s logical that he’d be drawn to creativity and what he perceives as beauty - Wisdom alone would naturally be drawn to her creativity.
And as a creator, Ghilan’nain is also an artist, she brought life into existence. Solas might have been captivated by her ability to shape and redefine the world. Her creativity and artistry could have inspired him, while his wisdom and philosophical insights might have deeply resonated with her. Such collaboration could easily have blossomed into something more intimate.
This is why I’m dying to know more about Solas’s life during this time. We don’t even know half of what he was part of or what he endured. Could you imagine his absolute horror at seeing Ghilan’nain’s shape twisted by the Blight, her descent into madness, and the cruelty she unleashed - all while knowing he couldn’t stop it?
It might all be a stretch, but it’s such deliciously tragic food for thought. Not only did Solas lose Mythal, but Ghilan’nain too.
And when he says to a romanced Inquisitor, “It’s been so long since I could trust someone,” well, no shit.
