Chapter Text
Nina stood in Haven and looked up just in time to see the explosion and Breach occur. She knew it was going to happen soon, although the date wasn’t exact. However, she had waited nearly four years for this to happen, and she would have bidded her time for as long as she needed. She knew Solas would be there and she really needed a Somniari to help with her little problem.
She knew she wouldn’t have been able to stop the Conclave or the Breach. Knew she wouldn’t have been able to find Solas beforehand. And she knew no one would believe her even if she spoke to anyone. Which she didn’t.
For the last four years, she had learned the common tongue and any others she could, as well as read and write a few of them. She hadn’t spoken to anyone since shortly after she arrived in Thedas, however. Everyone believed she was struck dumb due to trauma. So she just listened and learned, waited and traveled.
As soon as 9:41 Dragon approached, she made her way to Haven and waited.
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As the panic ensued around her and soldiers gathered up arms, she continued to draw in her sketchbook. Nina always had it with her, it never leaving her side and always in her bag when she wasn’t using it. She had sold her drawings and paintings over the years to afford her travels. Now she had a new book to start fresh. The easiest way to get her point across was to draw, since she couldn’t or - more accurately - wouldn’t speak to anyone. She also knew Solas couldn’t turn down good artwork or a puzzle. She just hoped it would be enough to get him to help her.
She tried to think of the cinematics of the game. Things that would be easy to pull from and put to paper, but it had been four years since she played the game and the images weren’t coming easily. Also she didn’t know who would end up being the “Herald of Andraste”, so she decided to put off the major scenes for another time. Nina just started drawing the Breach as it appeared in the sky: looming, threatening, spitting demons around every turn.
Nina figured she should be panicking along with everyone else, at least to keep up appearances, but they generally left her alone and never graced her with too many looks on a regular day. Today was no different. Tucked in a little alcove just outside of Haven’s walls she watched as the soldiers ran towards the Temple of Sacred Ashes – what was left of it anyway – and the person who would ultimately be the saviour of Thedas. ‘ God, I hope they aren’t an asshole,’ she thought.
A few hours later she saw Cassandra and Solas, along with two other soldiers, coming into Haven with the Herald, taking him off to the dungeons under the Chantry. ‘Well, at least I know it’s a him. Human, tall, dark hair. Hmm…. I can work with that.’
Nina knew she wouldn’t be able to talk to Solas, let alone probably see him the first three days of this whole adventure, but if she had anything that was a virtue left it was patience. All told it took a week before the beginning of the inner circle and the advisors got settled throughout Haven. The Breach was stabilized, the Inquisition reborn, and the ravens went flying.
Nina was worried at first that she would be under the scrutiny of Leliana. However, since she arrived before the Conclave and was in town for the explosion, she didn’t get interrogated like many of the others. That was the main reason anyway. She purposefully stayed far enough away from Cullen to keep him from recognizing her – if he even remembered. Josephine was all but happy to keep her own distance and was far too busy for the likes of her.
Haven was bigger than in game – which only made sense – but she could still find Solas’ cabin easily enough. Instead of initializing conversation, she opted to let his curiosity draw him to her. For nearly the entire week she sat on the rocks near the stairs, with her back towards his door, and drew colorful pieces that took on a more elven inspiration. Simple, dark lines swirling to create shapes of halla and wolves mainly. She never had the opportunity to draw this style much in the past, since it didn’t sell well, but she needed to make a statement. She didn’t know how long it would take, but she waited day in and day out drawing, sketching, painting. Sometimes she skipped meals, so absorbed in what she was working on.
“It takes great dedication and creativity to see the beauty in this chaos,” Solas said as he walked up behind her.
If she could have smiled, she would have. ‘ Hook, line, and sinker,’ she thought.
Nina still continued to draw pretending to be distracted, until he came closer and closer still, until he was looking over her shoulder. ‘Well, if I’m going to say something, now would be the time.’
“Ma serannas.”
It took a moment for her to get it out. It had been a very, very long time since she’d spoken outside of the Fade. The words felt heavy on her under used tongue and came out barely a whisper.
“I am surprised by your use of Elvhen.”
She turned her head to watch him as he studied several more of the drawings she had laid on the ground, held under stones to keep them from flying away. When he got to the one she wanted him to see he paused, almost reaching for it before asking, “May I?”
She quickly turned her head so he could not look into her eyes. “Yes,” she replied in her whispered tone.
“What do you call this piece?”
“Dreaming Tranquil.”
“While it is an interesting concept, that is an impossibility due to their disconnection from the Fade.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Tranquil cannot dream much in the same way a Child of the Stone cannot. They, however, can think only in logic and survival, but they do not think in a way of emotions, art, or dreams in the way you and I would.” She could hear the sneer on his face without even seeing him.
She turned fully to him and looked at him directly for the first time during the conversation. Her face was as emotionless as ever while she stared at him.
“I only drew myself,” she said as she pulled her bangs out of the way to show her lyrium brand to him.
His eyes grew wide and his mouth gaped slightly. “You are Tranquil?”
Nina dropped her gaze from Solas and contemplated how she would answer. What could she say that wouldn’t give away her origin or too much of her knowledge, but keep him curious? Solas thought everyone in this time was Tranquil. Disconnected from the Fade and from the magic that was so prevalent before the Veil. To have an actual Tranquil be more than what was assumed was enough to have him curious, but was it enough to have him look into ways of reversing it?
She did have advantages over Solas. One she knew what was going to happen over the course of the next few years. Although, she couldn’t use that knowledge to her benefit… yet. And secondly she didn’t have to school her features to pass a lie across or to tell half-truths. While Solas was very good at holding back while never truly lying, her expressionless face could hide anything she wanted. Until he found her in the fade that is.
She looked at him again, “Yes, I am Tranquil, in a sense at least.”
“How is that possible?”
“I would prefer not to discuss this here. My voice disturbs most…. and myself.”
“Ah, yes. Is that why you have chosen to stay silent since you have been here?”
She just stared at him and nodded. ‘Agh. Didn’t I just say I didn’t want to talk?’
“Alright, would you like to come into my cabin and discuss this or did you have someplace else in mind?”
“The Fade.”
“Truly?” She could see the gears turning in his head as he thought about the concept of a Tranquil in the fade.
“Yes, if you can find me, we can speak there.”
“Will you not be here in Haven as you sleep? Simply conjure the form of the town in your mind and it will be easy enough for me to locate you.”
“It is complicated, but even as someone so in depth in fade knowledge as yourself, it will take some time to find my sleeping mind.”
“Very well. I will find you tonight…. if you are truly there.”
If she could have given him a flatter look than her already dull eyes were, she would have done so. He might not believe she was capable of dreaming, but he could clearly see evidence that she was more than able to have some form of emotions. She let her artwork do the talking for her, and that was the intent.
She nodded and continued working on the piece in front of her as Solas walked away. She could feel his eyes on her back throughout the rest of the day and knew he was definitely curious enough to find her now.
