[canticle-of-apotheosis]

The memories looked different on the other side.

When he asked what I was like before the Anchor; when he said that I showed a Wisdom he had not seen since his most ancient memories of the Fade.

I understood now the things he could not say.

He feared I was his creation, a fragment of his own magic broken from the orb when it touched my mortal hand.

In this I took unexpected pride: his love for me was so complete he could not distinguish between us.

He called me his heart.

[vhen-harel]

Some Solavellan thoughts - mainly on the distance Solas has to keep from Lavellan. The Trespasser dream slides indicate that Solas and Lavellan met in dreams - how often over time is up to the player and how one might interpret Solas. But those slides highlight Solas keeping his distance. In VG He writes a letter because it's safer to express how he feels while maintaining that distance. In talking to Rook about Lavellan we see that distance yet again - he can't talk too personally on Lavellan, it's too dangerous for Solas. So, that distance can be viewed in a lot of different ways but one way in particular that I keep thinking on is Solas keeping that distance in order to keep himself as the monster/villain. The moment he looks into Lavellan's eyes, he'll see himself, his true self, within them. He can’t allow himself that reminder - not when he has to walk the din'anshiral.

Some say we fall in love with the people who reflect us most clearly, because love begins with being seen - and these two truly see each other and are similar in many ways. Their romance scenes have evocative silent moments of them just staring into each other's eyes. Their romance dialogue is filled with themes of seeing and being seen:

Lavellan: You’re an admirable man. Not many people know who they are the way you do. Solas: Thank you. Both for saying that and… for seeing that. Few in this world can see me. Solas: I’m so sorry for causing you pain. It was selfish of me. I look at you, and I see what you truly are. Lavellan: I know you told me because you wanted to help, but the vallaslin is part of who I am. I hope you can see past- Solas: Stop. You are perfect exactly as you are.

This really is apparent in the atonement ending to me. Doe-eyed has been a not-so charitable description used for Lavellan in that ending - but I remember being so captivated by Lavellan's eyes and always saw the symbolism of their themes of seeing and being seen continuing here. How adamant Lavellan was to keep looking at Solas, trying to hold his gaze except he's the one who continuously looks away. He still has a terrible duty to complete, and seeing himself through her eyes threatens that emotional distance he needs in order to do it. I felt that every time he met Lavellan's gaze, he couldn't look too long. He eventually turns his back to Lavellan, almost as though he can't risk another look at her.

I think it's also why he can't look Mythal in the eyes. It's a similar, yet different reflection. Where Lavellan might reflect back to him who Solas is and wants to be again, Mythal, with their ancient life together, fragmented before him, reflects back a fragmented being, in addition to "all the things that I have done" and us being left to our imagination of what all those things Solas has done over his ancient life.

And then after all that, we have Solas and Lavellan just staring at each other. And I just loved the focus on their eyes, Lavellan's eyes so big and bright - Solas' eyes, haunted and hurting but so soft upon her - each filled with such emotion. There's no monster in Lavellan's eyes and he doesn't look away.

I don't know, was just having some Solavellan thoughts over my morning cup of coffee.

[vhen-harel]

You want to know how badly Solas has it for Lavellan? Look at what happens after the Fade kiss. If Lavellan suggests they remain friends, he agrees. That should have been the end of it — the perfect exit, the graceful way to step back. But when the balcony scene comes, it isn’t Lavellan who reopens that door. It’s Solas. He’s the one who brings up the kiss, despite Lavellan suggesting they remain friends. Then, the same dialogue on the balcony plays, the same sequence unfolds. It's like Solas is trying one last time, against his better judgement to open that door, despite Lavellan handing him an escape.

It dismantles the idea that their romance depends entirely on Lavellan's pursuit. Yes, Lavellan initiates much of the physical closeness, but the emotional initiations belong to him. Again and again, his dialogue reveals him as the one who raises the stakes, who admits the depth of feeling. He is the first one to say 'I love you', to go all in on his first flirt lines, to admit how he is drawn away from the Fade, a desire to live in the physical world with Lavellan. Bringing up the kiss after agreeing to stay friends shows just how deeply it affected him, how deeply Lavellan affects him - that intimacy with Lavellan is not something he can file away, not something he can forget, no matter how much he tells himself he should.

[jiabisu]

[luinquesse]

Managed to do couple of arts for Dorianweek this year, starting with the "amatus and intimacy" prompt :3

[vhen-harel]

The Inquisitor was the first person Solas refused to kill. And that's so interesting to me because some parts of the fandom like to repeat that Solas will kill anyone who gets in the way of his goals.

Yet, if you look at everything that follows Trespasser, the Inquisitor is exactly the kind of person that interpretation says he should have killed. Across the comics, short stories, and supplementary material, the Inquisitor never stops pursuing him. They direct others to follow every lead, determined to either "stop" Solas or "save" him from himself.

And Solas knows this. He knows exactly who the Inquisitor is. He knows they will never stop looking for him because they don't. Varric's confrontation with Solas happens because he's carrying out the Inquisitor's mission given to him through Charter (who he also never kills).

Yet after Felassan, after killing Flemeth, after killing others, he never goes after the Inquisitor.

If the interpretation is that Solas believes the ends justify the means and would kill anyone who stood in the way of his goals, then the Inquisitor should have been the first person he removed from the board. Instead, he spared them - and every move against him that followed began with that choice.

Solas sealed his fate by leaving Inky on the playing field.

[unhingedjune]

All of this! Completely agree. Allow me a moment of sentimentality here. Just think about the dynamic and depth of their bond, even if neither of them wanted it.

Solas may not have intended to save anyone in the aftermath of the explosion, but he saves the Inquisitor anyway by stabilizing the Anchor, even realizing that it is now lost to his plans. Then, for several days while Inky lie unconscious, he watches them with curiosity as he heals them. How did they survive? How did they manage to alter the Anchor? What is so special about them?

They—their very existence—are a mystery that he, a millennia-old spirit of wisdom, cannot solve. And later, they will spend so many days together, fighting side by side, sharing moments and a shared history. No, he will never forget them. Each of them is a reflection of the other's path. And an alternative to the path Solas himself might have taken had he stood beside the right leader.

Solas is always watching them; it was designed that way. He never takes his eyes off them. What will they do? What choices will they make? How will they judge others? How will power, authority, title, and burden change them? Who will they become in their own eyes? Will they realize who they are becoming to others? What do they think about all of this? What are they planning? What future do they envision for themselves and for others? In the end, what will remain of them as a person?

He paints murals about their deeds. About them. For them. On the walls of a fortress that once belonged to him and that he willingly gave to them himself—with a smile and genuine curiosity. He wants to witness their growth. And regardless of what their relationship eventually becomes, they will need one another in order to survive. Even if they come to despise each other.

The Dread Wolf keeps its gaze on the one light that illuminates the way forward

Narratively, the Inquisitor is an anchor drawing the gazes of both worlds—spirits and mortals alike—a beacon of hope leading thousands forward.

And even after Trespasser, Solas is still watching them. The Inquisitor canonically spends years searching for him, searching for information, gathering knowledge about him and his past.

"My mess," Inky said about him in Veilguard

But just as the Inquisitor has to gather knowledge to understand Solas and his motives, Solas gathers information about them as well, about their agents, even when it is not strictly necessary. Everything connected to them. Can they truly stop thinking about one another?

When Solas is imprisoned, Inky receives the wolf statuette—the master key to all of Solas's regrets and motivations.

No one else could have brought it. Morrigan.

No one else.

Solas does not take revenge on them, nor does he kill them, no matter what they may have said to him before, no matter how much they may have insulted him, no matter whom they may have sent after him, and no matter how long they may have pursued him in an attempt to stop him. All he does is continue to go wherever he hears their name.

“Why did you come? Why you personally?” “As for me coming in person … the Inquisition was involved.” He returned to his seat. “Why did you come?” She shook her head helplessly. “Because you told the Inquisitor that you were going to destroy this world,” she said. “Did you expect us not to try to stop you?” He sighed. “It was a moment of weakness. I told myself that it was because you all deserved to know, to live a few years in peace before my ritual was complete. Before this world ended.” “Then perhaps we are not the only ones you lied to,” Charter said. “You do not have to do this.” Charter considered lying, but then she thought of Tessa, with her quick smile and strong hands. “There are those I care for who would not.” He smiled sadly. “I know that feeling well. I am not a god, Charter. I am prideful, hotheaded, and foolish, and I am doing what I must. When you report back to the Inquisitor…” His voice faltered. “Say that I am sorry.” The Tevinter Nights

The Inquisitor is not the entirety of the Inquisition, but one cannot truly be separated from the other. Just as Solas himself cannot be separated from the burden of the Dread Wolf and the duty of protecting his people.

At the Lighthouse, he surrounds himself with things from the Inquisition, with books, and even with smut stories about them, still considering himself a part of the Inquisition. He paints murals about them in a private room filled with precious memories, hidden from everyone except himself. He cultivates their memory.

Solas is an ancient being who has lived for millennia, seen and endured things few can imagine. He is sensitive and analytical at the same time. He hung their portrait (in the concept art, it was even meant to be a personal portrait of the Inquisitor) in the meditation room. He takes off his clothes while looking at them. He gets dressed while looking at them. Inky are always before his eyes.

“She is a good woman.” “One of several I grew fond of despite myself.” “They were useful.”

Of course. Of course.

No, he will not kill them without destroying himself in the process.

[1ncult]

replaying DAI so solavellan has been raiding my every thought :’) [recreation of “the kiss” by francesco hayez]

[daheroweek]

Inquisitor Appreciation Week

In August we will get back to the last Dragon Age hero, that as not their fully own event (shoutout once more to @rookappreciationweek!) And this last hero is of course our Inquisitor from Dragon Age Inquisition.

Just like with the Warden, Warden Commander, and Hawke, we will celebrate the Inquisitors of Thedas. Like always, this is an event for fanwork featuring your Inquisitor. That means this is a call for fanart, fanfiction, aethetics, stimboards, gifs... Whatever you want!

We have Rules of course, but I feel most of you already know the rules for this: no stealing, no AI, works posted will have to be new. And so on.

Day 01 (August 23): Spy | Protector | Soldier

Day 02 (August 24): Piety | Prophecy | Refuge

Day 03 (August 25): Judge | Watcher | Leader

Day 04 (August 26): Journey | Siege | Masquerade

Day 05 (August 27): Castle | Mountains | Sky

Day 06 (August 28): Secrets | Compassion | Pride

Day 07 (August 29): FREE DAY

[taschaka-blog]

Ghilan'nain. Mother of halla. Creator of animals and monsters.

Beloved of Andruil.

According to the frescoes of Solas, she, along with Andruil and Elgarnan, was an active proponent of the use of Blight. She was also one of the participants in the conspiracy against Mithol.

Her connection with Dirthamen is interesting. In his temple, we can see frescoes dedicated to Ghilan'nain. For example, an image of a winged stag. I painted exactly that deer. . Also in Redcliffe, you can see an image of a bear protectively embracing a girl with antlers and long hair. The girl is also embracing the bear. Fire comes from the bear's mouth. In Dragon Age, you can repeatedly see how humans borrow elven imagery, songs, and ornaments and transform them into their own culture. And this painting clearly has elven roots. Was Dirthamen in love with Ghilan'nain? It seems Ghilan'nain was always Andruil's handmaiden. And of course, Ghilan'nain became Andruil's lover.

Solas also has mixed feelings about Ghilan'nain. Despite her experiences with the plague, he tries to whitewash her. Solas tells her that she commits evil for love, and that Ghilan'nain is not like that. Solas clearly has some positive feelings toward Ghilan'nain. Knowledge and Wisdom Clearly they treated this with great reverence Ghilan'nain . After all, Ghilan'nain She was a scientist and inventer.

I also like to think that Ghilan'nain wasn't just one of the people, but that she was born into the world.

And she was clearly very ambitious.

I wanted to make it in time for Evanuris Week ( @evanurisweek ) . But it looks like I'll only finish part of the series.

[vhen-harel]

It's interesting how differently individuals can interpret the same character dynamic in stories.

For example, when Character A is shown to protect Character B from harm, some people read that as being specifically about Character B. In that interpretation, Character B is uniquely important - someone beloved, special, and worthy of protection above others. Character A acts that way because of who Character B is.

Others interpret it differently. They see Character A's actions as an expression of that character's own nature rather than a reflection of Character B's status. Character B isn't being protected because they're uniquely special; they're being protected because Character A would do the same for any friend, ally, or innocent person in danger. The instinct to protect isn't selective - it's who they are.

Personally, I find the second interpretation more interesting. It says something deeper about the character doing the protecting. Their actions stem from a consistent moral/values core that would compel them to act regardless of the person involved.

[unhingedjune]

People I'd like to get to know better

Thank you for tagging me @vhen-harel Last Song: Florence + The Machine -- Big God

Currently Watching: Project Hail Mary

Current eternal Obsession: Solavellan

Currently Reading: The last fiction book I read was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke a few months ago. Right now, I'm reading studies on caregiver burden and the psychological adaptation of family members of individuals with chronic depressive disorders.

Currently Working On: I'm trying to learn how to tweak Reshade presets and take beautiful (at least to me) screenshots in DAI. I can't say I'm particularly successful so far… I'm also trying to finish my fic, though I can't say that's going much better either :D

Currently Wearing: black nightgown

Last Internet Search: "realistic eye drawing tutorial"

Favorite Flower: I don't really have a single favorite flower, but there are a few I'm especially fond of. One of them is the skeleton/ghost flower (Diphylleia grayi). My Lavellan's appearance and lore (resilience and growth through vulnerability and transformation) were partly inspired by this flower.

I'm also very fond of lily of the valley, snowdrop, bellflower, blue bicolor hydrangea (Beau Dali), and anemone.

Tagging (sorry if I'm bothering you): @opheliagreen @dirthelan @taschaka-blog and anyone who sees this and wants to join

[vhen-harel]

@unhingedjune had a great addition to the Anchor post going around. But specifically this:

"And my Solavellan heart can't help adding that the same is true of Lavellan. No one but them could have endured the effects of his destructive magic, his personality, his love, and the consequences that bond had on their life for so long."

It kind of struck me, Solas and his personality and it being grating to so many others but not to a romanced Lavellan. It reminded me of a quote I remember David Duchovny saying awhile back about Mulder and Scully that I had found a long time ago on reddit.

Lavellan is like Solas' human (mortal) credential.

[unhingedjune]

🥹 love it so much!

[vhen-harel]

Some Trespasser Anchor Thoughts

I saw these hilarious posts which inspired me to share my own headcanon around this.

So I don't think removing the Anchor was possible before Trespasser because I don't think Solas knew how to. There's no evidence that he did.

In the *On Rifts and Rituals codex (which he writes sometime in the years after Trespasser), Solas is still mystified by the Anchor and studying it: "It may also yield the final elements that have eluded me." Everything about the Anchor bonding to the Inquisitor shouldn't have been possible in the first place. Corypheus couldn't remove it - "The Anchor is permanent. You have spoiled it with your stumbling" and neither could Solas at that time. Because I think Inky changed the Anchor. That spoiling line certainly makes it sound like it.

So I think the two years between DAI and Trespasser were spent searching for a way to separate the Anchor from Inky without killing them (amongst other activities of his). I don't believe Solas wanted the Inquisitor dead. If he did, they would be dead. I imagine him returning to the Lighthouse, consulting spirits, researching, doing experiments and trying to understand how to unweave the Anchor from their body.

Eventually he discovers a way to separate it, all while the Qunari situation is gaining speed. That's how I line up the timing of Trespasser.

As for why he removes the Anchor and leaves them there... yeah. Lol.

Solas is a strategist so he's going to look for solutions that accomplish several objectives at once. By the time he knows how to remove the Anchor without killing Inky, the Qunari threat has escalated, he needs the Inquisition involved, he needs to reach Inky, AND he still wants to tell Inky who he really is. Once Solas sees several paths converging, he's very good at positioning himself to benefit from all of them. The downside is that when he's focused on the larger pattern, he can lose sight of the more personal human cost - and he's a weird spirit alien man who isn't always good at the human side of things. He's also very good at compartmentalizing, which allows him to approach the Inquisitor as a problem that needs solving.

However, through a romance/friend lens, seeing that person he cares for/loves standing in front of him in pain is an entirely different matter. Suddenly he can't be as distant or clinical.

For me, every moment spent with a romanced Lavellan makes it harder for him to leave. Staying carries its own risks as well. If he returns Inky to the others himself, he's suddenly back among the people he spent two years avoiding. There would be questions, arguments, appeals to stay even, and before long he'd be pulled back into relationships and entanglements.

And ultimately, he's not a monster (fanfic preferences are one thing but I'm going on game context, text and dialogue). Whatever magic he applied, we see no blood in Trespasser. The arm is still engulfed in bright green magic, almost like a cocoon wrapped around it. Solas could have killed the Inquisitor there, but he didn't. Their death would've caused **unnecessary chaos, and he genuinely wanted the people of Thedas to experience relative calm before Veilfall. Narratively, it makes more sense to me that he'd ensure their survival until the others could reach them, opening the eluvians after he passed through his so the group could get to Inky.

I mean, it's still cruel - but that's the fun part to reconcile in a Solavellan world - I love how messy it is. 😂

This is the image after Solas removes the anchor. The magic around the arm is brighter and more expansive and the arm can still be seen.

I'd love to know how others reconcile this.

* I don't subscribe to the idea that Solas literally has the Inquisitor's arm. In Trespasser, Inky still has their arm when Solas leaves, and the grammar of the codex points to a remnant of the Anchor being studied alongside a sketch of the arm. I believe the Anchor was a physical magical glyph of sorts that had woven itself into the Inquisitor and could only be wielded by them. Otherwise, Corypheus could've just cut off Inky's arm and used it himself.

** Low approval Solas to Inky: "Ultimately, none but I could have borne the mark and lived. Your death would cause more senseless chaos, more bloodshed. It is unnecessary."

[unhingedjune]

The Anchor was needed so Inky could continue closing the remaining rifts across Thedas. I'm glad someone else brought this up. The codices in Trespasser mention this, and I believe it's brought up in WoT Vol. 2 as well, though I could be misremembering.

Neither Solas nor anyone else needed more casualties among spirits and civilians, more fear and hatred directed at spirits, or more deaths that would weaken the Veil before he had finished preparing for his ritual. From a strategic standpoint, keeping the Anchor around makes perfect sense.

It's also worth remembering that the Inquisitor spent an entire year just closing rifts in Ferelden and Orlais, followed by another two years dealing with the rest of Thedas. That's an enormous amount of territory and exhausting work. Inky barely had any rest throughout the entire existence of the Inquisition. I think that's an important point that helps explain why the Anchor's condition had deteriorated by the time of the Exalted Council, in addition to the effects of what was essentially a "radioactive" power of ancient elven magic.

I also think it's possible that when Solas lured the Inquisitor to him, he didn't actually know the exact state of their arm at that point. He could certainly assume things had gotten worse, especially without the help he had provided during the first year of the Inquisition. Either way, he still needed the Anchor, and I have little doubt he had already researched ways to remove it without harming or killing Inky.

I agree with you. I don't believe he physically took Inky's arm.

Considering how deeply attachments affect him, and how difficult it was for him to walk away the first time, it makes sense to me that he didn't stay. This is firmly in headcanon territory, but the comics mention that Solas used eluvians to keep an eye on people. Spirits beyond the Veil are also constantly watching Inky, as the Augur mentions. So if Solas needed information or was concerned about the Inquisitor's condition, I think there were ways for him to obtain it.

"Ultimately, none but I could have borne the mark and lived" One of the things I love about this part of the story is that Inky, who managed to survive for so long and ultimately change the Anchor itself, remains a mystery to Solas. He says as much himself during Inquisition.

And my Solavellan heart can't help adding that the same is true of Lavellan. No one but them could have endured the effects of his destructive magic, his personality, his love, and the consequences that bond had on their life for so long

[captainskells]

Banal nadas. Ar lath ma, vhenan. Vir shiral malasa, bellanaris.

There is no fate, but the love we share, my heart. We make this journey together, always.

[jiabisu]

[unhingedjune]

A Spirit in Love

I received a wonderful birthday gift from @vhen-harel — a beautiful Solavellan poem!🥹

I'm deeply touched and truly grateful for all the love and inspiration that went into every line. Thank you for your beautiful words and for such a special gift that spoke straight to my Solavellan heart!

[vhen-harel]

She won't deny her desire for him. It shows plainly in her eyes, in how her body calls to him.

Saethre Lavellan x Solas | Lingerie mod here.