I didn't know about the storm until I felt the whole world shake. I was wandering the fade on my own, one of the first times I attempted to do so without Solas guiding me. Our group has stopped somewhere in the Emerald Graves under a grand tree and I wanted to see what memories might linger here. What of my people might remain in a place so tied to them and their history.

I'm sitting atop a wolf statue watching children play hide and seek around it, their smiles wide and laughter free, when the entire area seems to brighten for a moment. The da'len don't notice and continue their game while I push myself to my feet. A loud crash fills the air and I slip, falling backward and waking up in my tent with Solas's name on my lips.

The roar of rain is loud all around my tent and I'm thankful we put up the tarps in case of a storm. The tree we bedded under is also on a hill, so we should stay dry. That's not my worry, however. Light flashes again and I clap my hands over my ears as the thunder fills the air, vibrating my very bones. Tears born of petrifying fear fill my eyes as I curl up into a ball in the darkness waiting for the next wave. It comes mere seconds later and I'm not sure if I cry out or not, but the next time I look up, Solas stands just outside with one hand holding aside a tent flap and the other holding veilfire.

He murmurs my name, or at least his voice sounds like a murmur compared to the rush of rain outside. Concern bends his brows as he looks over my face, no doubt reading the terror there. I yelp as another crack of lightning rips through the air and I don't think as I snag his sweater and tug him into my small tent. I secure the fastenings again and it's only then that I realize I'm trembling.

"W-what w-were you thinking? Out t-there in all t-this?" My speech is staggered as the shaking spreads to the rest of my body. Solas serving as a distraction is the only reason I can speak at all. We settle onto our knees across from one another with his little fire still alight in his palm.

"I felt a disturbance in the fade coming from this direction. I thought you may have seen something that upset you." Worry coats his every word and part of me is soothed by that alone.

"N-no, it's not like t-that. I—" My grip tightens on his damp sweater as a particularly long roll of thunder rings out overhead and I try to squash the panic rising in my chest. Instinct is telling me to run, to tear through the brush and trees to get as far away from this place as possible.

Solas lifts a hand and eases one of mine from his shirt, head cocking as he examines my trembling. "You're afraid." My hand clenches into a fist to hide the shaking, but I nod. No point in denying it when it's practically written across my entire body. "I see. Come here." He opens his arms and my brows furrow, so he reaches out to gently guide me so his body is wrapped around me. My back is pressed to his chest, his legs bent around mine, his arm tucked tight against my stomach to keep me close, and his head lowered next to mine so he can speak directly into my ear. His other hand is kept hovering above our laps with the veilfire flickering softly, the light dancing with the shadows over the canvas tent.

"There. Is this better?" His voice drowns out the next clap of thunder and even though I flinch, I don't want to run as much. I nod, knowing he can feel the movement because of our closeness. My shivering calms with his warmth cocooning me and the security of his arm around my waist. Even if my hands continue to shake. "There is something poetic about having a forest-dweller afraid of storms. Have you not battled through many during your time with your clan?" A whisper of humor lingers in his voice and I know he's trying to distract me.

"It's not just the storm." I breathe, happy to hear my voice a touch steadier. Thunder rumbles and my hands grab on tight to his arm around me in a silent plea not to let go. "There was a terrible one when I was younger. My clan was moving from place to place in our aravel and there wasn't a place to stop on the mountain road, so we had to push on. It was pouring, the wind was pushing us to and fro, lightning was splitting the sky open, and thunder filled the air like some great beast's roar. Not to mention night was on its way." I take a sharp breath as the tent shakes and cling tighter to Solas. He loosens his grip a moment to grab my discarded blanket and drapes it over our legs before returning his arm to its place around me.

"We were forced to move onto the side of the road and hope the storm passed. As we were moving, lightning struck between two aravel and blew the one I was in off the path. The halla spooked and ran while I was sent careening down the mountain until it flipped. I was knocked unconscious and when I awoke, everything was dark. I was still inside the aravel, I could feel the familiar wood and flutter of fabric, but there was no way out. It had collapsed in on itself and trapped me inside." I keep my focus on Solas's steady breathing behind me and the way the veilfire dances in his hand. "The storm raged while I cried and wailed for help, but none came. It was morning when I was finally found and the storm long passed, but I was still petrified."

"And earlier you woke up here in a small space, everything dark, and a storm outside." Solas reasons and I hum the affirmative. "Ah, I understand." Sympathy fills his voice and I curse myself for turning my face towards his just a little as another flash of lightning spears through the night.

"You must think me a child. You don't need to stay and look after me." Despite the fact that I am clinging to him like a child clings to a parent's leg. "The Inquisitor afraid of storms. Ridiculous." I've said a variation of the same thing many times over the years. Silly for a grown woman to be afraid of something like that, a fully realized mage, a warrior, someone who has been to the fade and back, yet the fear persists.

"I do not think you childish. Fear is wisdom in the face of a threat. Granted, your fear is rather potent for something that usually isn't life-threatening, but you have explained a reason for that." His fingers begin drawing small circles over my ribs, the feeling light but wonderfully distracting. I only now remember that the only thing I have on is a loose shirt that normally falls to about mid-thigh. But I'm comfortable with Solas. Safe.

Solas goes on, his breath brushing past the small hairs beside my ear. "This does not make you less in my eyes. In fact, I am impressed. How many times must you have faced this fear without succumbing to it?"

The next time the thunder claps, I don't flinch. "Thank you." I hadn't realized how worried I'd been about what he might think. He's so worldly, I assumed he'd look down on me for having a child's fear.

"As for staying and looking after you, it is no hardship to hold you close." His voice deepens and a shiver slides down my back for a completely different reason than the storm.

"I like it," I whisper and I swear his breathing stops. "When you hold me, I mean." We'd shared only a few too brief hugs since meeting, but this...this is different. Fully encompassed by him, I feel safe and cared for.

"I am happy to oblige whenever you wish. Simply ask." The offer is earnest. I can hear it in his voice even if I can't see it in his eyes. "As for suffering through storms alone, I would rather you came to me. No matter the time of day or where we may be during our travels."

"You won't tell anyone that I'm afraid?"

"I will not. Although it is not something to be ashamed of."

Tears prick my eyes and I reach out without thinking. The veilfire vanishes as my fingers interlock with his and my other hand raises frame his face, guiding him a bit closer so I can press a kiss to his cheek. "You are very dear to me. You know that, don't you?" It's as close as I can get to expressing the feeling spreading through my body with every beat of my heart. There are others that are closer, three words more accurate than any others, but it's too soon. I'm inexperienced in these matters.

"And you to me. You are...you are precious." His forehead rests against mine and his lips brush mine with his last word. We stay like that for a moment and I swear time freezes for a little while, just for us.

"Solas...?" Half a question, half a plea, but he groans softly before his grip on me tightens and he presses his lips to mine. Electricity bounces around my body and my lips part to sigh out of instinct. Solas takes advantage instantly, deepening the kiss as his hand winds its way around the back of my neck into my hair. My hands ball up his sweater as I twist towards him and I barely notice as my back hits the bottom of the tent. He's leaning over me now and I feel the heat from his body as he settles one leg between mine inches away from where I want him.

I squeak when his other hand slides onto my bare waist, my shirt having ridden up during the exchange. He swears, too quick and quiet for me to hear, then pulls away just enough so our lips aren't touching. "What am I doing?" He murmurs.

"Kissing me." I respond, a bit dubious myself.

"I came to comfort you. Not for this." His tone of voice is disapproving and I can imagine him shaking his head. "The storm has passed. I will leave you to rest."

"Solas—" I call, but he's already ducked out into the now softly falling rain, leaving me to wonder whether I dreamt the whole thing.

Aravel-landships(what the dalish travel in on land)

Word Count-1,780