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Gone. Just like that, he was gone. He had warned her that he would not stay after they defeated Corypheus, but she didn't think he'd just vanish immediately after without so much as a goodbye. She looked down at the pieces of the orb that he had held moments ago, it was not the only thing that would be leaving here broken.
Velanna tried to enjoy the celebration Josephine had put together at Skyhold, but despite her best efforts she could not hide her sorrow behind a forced smile and all of her companions could see it. It was Dorian who finally convinced her that she shouldn't feel guilty about leaving the festivities if she wanted to be alone.
"And if you'd rather not be alone, I happen to know a dashing mage that finds your company to be delightful," Dorian stated.
"Oh? Well by all means do introduce me to this mage you speak of," she replied with a wink.
In the dramatic fashion so typical of the Tevinter mage, Dorian placed his hand over his heart and proclaimed, "Ah, Inquisitor, you wound me so!"
"I thank you for the offer of your company, but right now I think I'd like to be alone. Besides, I'd hate to deprive our guests of your presence", she said with a small smile.
Now the she was alone in her quarters, Velanna cleared off her desk and placed the pieces of the broken orb out for her to view. What was so important about the ancient artifact? The look in his eyes when he held the remnants in his hands was so full of sorrow. She felt guilty and asked if there was some way to repair it; she hadn't meant to break it.
"That will not replace what has been lost." There was so much sadness in his voice, she couldn't help but feel bitter. He seemed more heartbroken over this broken artifact than leaving her. It was for this reason she was determined to figure out why the orb was so special. She needed to understand, she needed answers.
Tonight, she would let herself mourn the loss of him. Tomorrow, she would start a new mission: repair the orb.
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The next morning she gathered all the pieces of the shattered foci into her satchel and headed to the Undercroft.
"Dagna, I have an impossible project for you!"
The dwarf's eyes lit up with wonder and excitement, "What would you have me do, Inquisitor?"
Velanna showed her the remains of the ancient foci, "Can you repair it?"
"What is it supposed to be exactly?"
"Solas said it was an ancient elvhen artifact. It's supposed to be a foci that the elvhen gods used to harness magical power."
Dagna looked absolutely gleeful, "Fascinating! I get to work right away, oh this is so exciting."
"Thank you Dagna, Dorian and I will try to learn more about the foci in the meantime," Velanna couldn't help but chuckle at how happy she had just made the arcanist.
She found Dorian in his usual spot in the library, book in hand. He looked up upon hearing her call his name. "Someone seems to be in better spirits today."
"I need your help, Dorian." The mage smiled and raised an inquisitive eyebrow, so she continued, "Dagna is going to try to repair the orb and I want you to help me find as much information about the thing as possible."
"While I'm flattered you've come to me for my exquisite wealth of knowledge, I'm not certain how much help I could possibly be. The orb is elvhen, is it not?"
"You are of Tevinter, the people that invaded and destroyed Arlathan, are you not?" He winced at the reminder of his ancestors' past actions even though she spoke without malice. "Surely, there are still texts the Imperium saved regarding ancient magic."
"Hmm, I suppose I could call in a few favors and get a hold of some texts that may be of use if it means I no longer have to look at that sad face you've been wearing. It really isn't your best look."
She playfully punched his shoulder and let out a laugh, "Ass!"
In truth, seeing his dear friend smile again was more than enough reason to help. He swore if he ever saw Solas again, he'd beat him senseless for causing her so much pain.
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They had their first breakthrough several weeks later. One of the books Dorian had acquired spoke of similar magic that had once been used in the Tevinter Imperium of old.
"Velanna, I think I've found something! This book mentions similar orbs that were once used in Tevinter a long time ago. They called them 'Somnoborium', which translates to- "
"Vessels of Dreams?", she interrupted. Dorian looked at her impressed and proud. Over the many months they traveled together he had tried teaching her Tevene, which she had apparently picked up better than he had expected.
"That's quite right. Your Tevene is improving, I should hardly be surprised though. You did have a remarkable instructor after all."
She rolled her eyes, "A remarkable and modest instructor. Let's go tell Dagna what you've found, maybe there's something in that book that will help her put the damn thing back together."
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A week later they were interrupted from their ongoing research by an ecstatic dwarf running towards them.
"Inquisitor! I've done it, the orb is intact!"
Velanna's face lit up with excitement and hope, "You've really put it back together? I must see it!"
She and Dorian followed Dagna back to the Undercroft. Sure enough the orb was resting on the arcanist's workstation in one piece.
"Does it work?"
"Not yet, it doesn't hold any magic. However, it should be capable of it.", the dwarf answered.
"Alright, how do we fill it then?", Velanna asked eagerly.
Dagna replied, "Well, the mark on your hand, it was caused by the orb. It should, in theory, respond to the anchors magic then. Perhaps you can charge it using the mark?"
Velanna immediately lifted her marked hand toward the foci and released the vibrant green magic she'd grown accustomed to. The orb seemed to respond very slightly to the magic, but when she stopped the orb appeared unchanged. Despite several more attempts, the result was the same. Her magic wasn't quite enough to have an effect on it.
Feeling drained and defeated, she retired to her quarters. Without the hope of breakthrough or possibility her thoughts returned to the empty feeling in her chest that she'd been avoiding for weeks.
While the Inquisitor restlessly slept, Dagna continued to work alongside Dorian. The both of them still too determined to be successful to stop. The following morning Velanna entered the main hall and was met by them, seeing the bags under their eyes she registered that they had been working through the night.
Dagna, still surprisingly chipper despite the lack of sleep, grabbed Velanna by the hand and started to lead her to the Undercroft. "We think we've come up with a solution. A way to focus and strengthen the anchors magic!"
She tried to show some excitement at what she was hearing, but she had little hope after the previous day's failure. "Alright, show me. We'll give it a try."
The dwarf brought her to the workstation where the foci still sat. In front of it, however, was a chunk of glowing blue lyrium resting a top a slender metal stand.
"Aim your magic at the lyrium crystal. This should help channel it more directly into the orb and should make the magic stronger", Dagna explained.
Velanna positioned herself in front of the crystal. After a moment she looked over her shoulder before raising her hand, "Perhaps the two of you should stand back a bit, just to be safe."
Once she felt they were far enough away, she began pooling up as much magic as she could gather and released the energy from the mark into the lyrium. At first it felt like before, like nothing was happening. Then she felt a tug, the orb was responding. Suddenly her vision was being overwhelmed by blindingly bright light. The magic began engulfing her, it was a strong force that knocked the breath out of her. Her name was being called, but the voices faded away as she lost consciousness.