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Afterlife (2.0)

Summary:

[New Version]
A wish is granted to a dying girl, taking her to the man she loves.

Believing it is a dream, Tina opens her eyes in Solas' bedroll while he travels with the Inquisitor through the Hinterlands.

She reveals pretty much everything she knows about the events of the game.

What's going to become of the story when the characters know what's ahead?

Notes:

Hey everyone, I'm back!
Is anyone still interested in this? xD
You can see that I kept the original post instead of deleting the story and reposting it, but I deleted the chapters(there weren't many of them) and I'm bringing you improved ones.
This fic will have slow updates because, while I'm working on it again, I'm still pretty busy with other stuff. But I decided to start posting again even though it's not complete yet, so you don't think I'm gone or that I gave up on this.
I know it's been a long time since I last updated, and for those of you also following my other fics, I haven't given up on them either; my life has just been hectic.
I'll try to post once a month because I can't promise once a week(even my challenge went to sleep because I ran out of free time).
Anyway, enjoy :)

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Dream

Chapter Text

Once again, the pain has me drifting between awareness and unconsciousness. I'm used to it by now, even though sometimes I can't tell where one begins and the other ends. The medication never keeps the pain away for long, and my body tries to cope with it through sleep.

It's not the first time I dream about Sola,s and I'm delighted by it happening again. It makes me happy even though I know it'll be over when I open my eyes.

My heart warms up as I feel his bare chest, snaking my arm across it and nuzzling his neck. His warmth and scent are incredible, and I never want to let go.

 

~oOo~

 

Solas is pulled away from the Fade by an unusual, if not strange, sensation. The Veil in the area is thick, so whatever is causing it must be unrelated to the Fade. He cannot explain what is happening to his body beyond the sensation on his skin. As he opens his eyes, Solas is sure that whatever it is, it is not physical.

He is alone in his tent.

Outside,  the Herald is again discussing with Varric about the Champion of Kirkwall's adventures. Solas wouldn't be surprised if they're focusing on Fenris' actions. The Herald is specially interested in the man.

While it pays to know such things, at this moment, Solas has other priorities. This anomaly intrigues him beyond measure.

There is an unclear source of warmth suspiciously similar to body heat, accompanied by the weight of something that isn't there. Were he an ignorant man, Solas could think of a ghost, but he knows that no spirit is with him at the moment. His magic also confirms that nothing familiar is at work.

Solas tries to sit up only to find himself unable to. There is no paralysis nor restraint but a persistent feeling instilling him to wait. His curiosity intensifies; there is clearly an outside force at work, and he cannot imagine what it is.

Were he younger and inexperienced, Solas would panic, but he simply decides to wait and observe.

 

~oOo~

 

Solas' skin is so soft that I can't resist kissing it. I wish he would embrace and pull me closer, but he's still asleep. I hug him tight as I nuzzle his neck and shoulder, and, with a gasp, he comes awake.

"Who are you?" Solas asks, but I hum and continue to nuzzle the crook of his neck.

His hand moves on my back, but instead of caressing me, he pulls me away. I whine and try to cling to his comfort; I'll probably wake up if he separates us, and I don't want to return to the pain.

"Hmm, Solas, just a bit longer."

He stiffens, and I take the opportunity to wrap one of my legs around his and tighten my arm around his chest.

"How do you know me?” Solas asks. “Who are you?" He tries once again to pull me away, but I hold tighter.

"Please let me stay here," I plea desperately.

His arm relaxes against my shoulders as he sighs. "Very well. If you stay, will you answer my questions?"

This dream is so realistic! I love it! To feel his chest rumbling as he speaks adds another layer of comfort. I don't ever want to wake up!

"Anything for you, Vhenan," I say with another kiss on his neck.

Solas stiffens again, and I chuckle at the laggy dream. I guess my medications are affecting the fluidity of my dreams now too.

"Who are you?" Solas asks after a deep breath.

"Tina," I answer before kissing him again. His scent is wonderful. It's herbal and fresh and reminds me of the delicious smell on a cat's neck.

"Please refrain from doing that," Solas says.

"Aw, why? You smell amazing, and your skin is so soft too." I close my eyes and nuzzle him once again.

Solas sighs. "How do you know me?"

"From Inquisition, of course."

"How did you get here?"

"Sleeping, obviously."

"Sleeping?" he asks, and I hum affirmatively. "What are you?"

I chuckle. "What sort of question is that?"

"A reasonable one."

I hug him tighter as I nuzzle him more. "I'm human, obviously."

"That you are not."

I rub myself against him even more, ignoring his request. It's my dream; I'll enjoy it however I want. "Hmm, Solas, I'm human, really. Check the ears."

"The shape of someone's ear does not mean much. Kossiths' ears are pointed, and that does not make them elven."

"Hmm, whatever. I'm human."

"Chuckles, who are you talking to in the- what? How? Who?" Hm? Varric here?

"Oh, come on, Varric, shoo,” I say, still face-deep in Solas' neck. “Leave me alone with him."

"Chuckles?"

"Leave us, Varric,” Solas says. “I will explain later."

There is a rustle of heavy fabric, and I imagine Varric is gone.

"Hmm, good," I say as I nuzzle Solas' neck again.

"Why do you do that?" he asks.

"Because you're amazing."

"Why did you call me Vhenan?"

"Because you're my heart. I love you." I hold him tight.

"Where have we met?"

"I told you. Inquisition."

"And Varric?"

"Before Inquisition. What's with the weird questions? Can't we just enjoy the moment?"

"As enjoyable as this is,” he says, “I would rather know who I am lying with."

"I told you, I'm Tina. You should know that. This dream is weird."

There is a moment of silence, and I use it to enjoy his presence.

"You believe this to be a dream?" Solas eventually asks.

I chuckle. "What else would it be, Vhenan?"

"You are awake, Tina."

I nuzzle him and hum while holding him tight. "No, you're still here instead of my pillow, so I'm sleeping."

"This is not a dream, Tina. We are not in the Fade."

"Of course not; the Fade doesn't exist."

"What did you say?" He sounds almost offended by my comment.

"Hmm, Solas, so many questions. You’ve never questioned me before."

"Before?"

"In the other dreams."

"You dream of me often?"

"Mhm. Lovely dreams." I nuzzle him again.

"And where do you dream if you say the Fade does not exist?"

"In my head? I don't know."

"Would you look at me?"

I take a deep breath, inhaling his scent, and pull up to look at him. Solas seems surprised, but he is just as handsome as always. I can't help a smile.

"You are so beautiful, Vhenan," I say, but his frown confuses me. "What is it?"

"I have never seen you before."

That feels like a punch to the stomach, just as it is filled with ice. I can't bear another rejection, not in dreams too. It isn't fair.

"No... not here too... please, Solas." The tears are hot on my face, streaming freely. He is shocked. "Twice in the game is enough, don't leave me in my dream too, please. I love you, don't leave me." I hug him again and sob against his chest. "Please..."

"Tina..." I hear his voice from behind the curtain of pain. "Tina..."

"Don't leave me, Solas."

"I am here," he says while soothingly moving his hand on my back. I hold him tight before relaxing. "What do you mean I left you twice in the game? What game is that?"

"Inquisition, Solas. I told you."

"The Inquisition from which you know me is a game?" I hum in agreement. "What sort of game?"

"RPG." It's lovely to hear his heartbeat, and I nuzzle his chest now.

"What is arpgee?" he asks.

"Role-playing game." This moment feels like inception; it's so weird.

"How does it work?"

"Hmm. I play as a character in a story and discover things, talk to other characters, kill enemies, craft stuff."

"How did you meet me in this game?"

"I played as Herald, and you were my companion and love interest. God... you're so soft and warm." I can't take my face off his chest.

"What do you mean you 'played as Herald'?" he asks. At least he isn't pushing me away while he has questions.

"Exactly that," I say. "In the game, I was the Herald."

"Is it a play? A reenactment?"

"No, it's a game. Videogame. I played it on my computer."

"What is a video game?" Inception, indeed. Weird dream.

"Er... it's hard to explain. It's a collection of graphics, text and audio controlled by a bunch of code."

"What is a computer?"

"A machine."

Solas stays silent for a couple of minutes, and I change my position, returning to how I was before and immediately nuzzle his neck. My favourite place ever.

"I have never heard of those things," Solas finally says.

"Well, Thedas doesn't have them.”

“Where are you from?” he asks.

“Earth.”

"Is it a nation?"

I chuckle. "It's a planet, Vhenan."