Chapter Text
Rook’s resolve had held steadfast for so long—until this very moment. As she stood there, her eyes narrowed with an intensity that could have burned a hole through stone; her gaze was firmly fixed on the back of Solas’s head. The weight of unspoken words hung on the edge of her lips, a silent testament to the struggle within her.
Sensing the shift in her emotions, Emmrich turned, calling her name with a voice that echoed with urgency, a stark warning not to succumb to the storm brewing inside her. “Rook, don’t!” he urged, desperation lacing his tone, reminding her to hold her ground, to resist the tide threatening to pull her under.
Yet, the effort was in vain. The fortress of her emotional defences crumbled around her, and the pent-up pain and anguish she had been shouldering for weeks crashed over her like a tidal wave. The grief and torment she had buried deep inside suddenly erupted like a volcano, spilling over the edges of her tightly held composure. This time, she refused to bury those feelings—no, not now, not in this moment. The rawness clawed at her heart, daring her to confront the truth of her burdens, and there was no turning back.
“The veil’s not coming down on my watch.”
Emmrich’s breath caught in the back of his throat as he heard those words sneer from his beloved’s lips, each syllable dripping with disdain. It was like a dagger to his heart, the painful reminder of the doubts that had surfaced between them. The conversation they had shared the night before flickered away in his mind like a forgotten dream, leaving him with an unsettling emptiness. He had believed he had been persuasive enough, using every ounce of his charm and sincerity, to convince her to let certain issues lie undisturbed. Just for the sake of getting through this battle. The hopeful glimmer in her eyes during their earlier discussion had felt promising, but now it seemed like a cruel illusion, shattered by the harshness of her tone.
“Do you think this is only about you?” The elf spat back.
As the exchange between Solas and Rook intensified, their despairs began to manifest in physical ways. Solas, his arm outstretched to hold Rook against her will, could feel his muscles tense, the strain evident in his outstretched limb. His frown deepened, causing lines to etch across his forehead and the corners of his mouth to turn downward as she hovered above the ground.
“What about the loss I suffered because of you?” Rook, consumed by rage, could feel her heart pounding against her chest, the rapid beats echoing in her ears. The blood rushed to her face, turning her cheeks a shade of fiery red. Her fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms, as her body trembled with the intensity of her anger.
“Believe me, Rook, that was never my intention.” Solas’ voice, once calm and controlled, now held a hint of frustration and regret.
Rook’s voice, laced with bitterness and accusation, carried the weight of her pain and betrayal. “Yet, you knew, didn’t you? You knew I was pregnant, and you still didn’t stop.” Her voice grew louder, filled with the raw molten lava that coursed through her veins.
“The loss is slight compared to how significant the gain would have been.” As he continued, the energy around Rook and her companions seemed to shift, crackling with a hue to veil fire green, and the older necromancer knew it was her doing.
Each breath Rook took felt labored, as if the weight of her loss was physically constricting their chests. Rook’s breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly, as tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at Solas’s words.
“Bigger than anything your little mind could even imagine. You think a life made of you has value to this world? Holds importance greater than what I had planned?” With that, Solas’s arm was finally free. He conjured a delicate image of a baby between them, and with a gentle flick of his fingers, the vision of the infant withered away.
Rook woke with a sudden start, stunned from her slumber.
Taking a deep breath, she filled her lungs with the cool night air, feeling it wrap around her and pull her back to reality. She had found herself asleep in the chair by the window of Emmrich’s library, the night breeze softly caressing her face as the window stood open. The refreshing chill grounded her as she surfaced from the fog of sleep. This wasn’t the first time she had encountered that dream, nor would it be the last. The memories of the final battle with Solas flooded her mind, echoing with the haunting image he had conjured of her and Emmrich’s child.
Shaking her head gently, she rubbed her temples, hoping to soothe the headache within.
“Darling,” came a concerned voice, dripping with warmth and tenderness. Emmrich moved closer, descending from the stairs with a graceful urgency. He knelt beside the plush, inviting chair that enveloped her. Taking her delicate hand in his, he pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles, his hazel eyes searching her face, looking for answers to the turmoil that clouded her expression. “You dreamed again...”
With a subtle tremble in her voice, Rook nodded, brushing away the unshed tears that shimmered in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Composing herself, she took a deep breath and assured him, “I will be fine,” though she turned her gaze away, unwilling to meet the intense worry etched across his features.
With a soft yet purposeful tenderness, he cupped her face, gently turning her toward him so that their eyes locked. “How many times do I need to say it? You don’t have to hide from me—especially not this.” His thumb caressed her cheek softly, an unspoken promise of support and understanding, and she instinctively leaned into the warmth of his touch, his affection wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.
“I’m so sorry—”
“Ah, no. Don’t you dare,” He interrupted her, his tone firm yet laced with love. “Dearest, it wasn’t your fault.” He watched her intently, as if he could erase her guilt with the sheer force of his gaze.
“But then, why does it feel this way?” She asked, her voice breaking as tears spilled freely from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks. Emmrich moved swiftly, instinctively pulling her into his arms, cradling her as though she were the most precious thing in the world. He embraced her, letting her find comfort against his chest until her crying slowly stopped and her breathing became calmer.
“Come to bed, my dear.” He finally said, his voice a soothing whisper. He stood, still holding her hand firmly, guiding her with gentle resolve as they made their way toward their bedroom.
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Nestled safely in the comfort of their bed, Emmrich held her tightly. His arm wrapped around her as she laid her head on his chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat was comforting. As she wept, her tears soaked through his shirt, but he didn’t care. He wanted her to stay in his embrace for as long as she needed. Soon enough, her breathing fell into sync with his as she began to calm down. He kissed her mane of black hair. His grip around her never wavered, and with his other hand, he held one of hers. Their fingers were intertwined, and his thumb idly traced small circles on her hand.
“Ivy.” Since moving to his home in the necropolis, Emmrich had started using her real name instead of Rook, a change that felt more personal and genuine. “Do you think you can find happiness here? With me?” His voice was soft, laced with understanding and concern, reflecting his deep wish for her to feel at home and cherished in this new chapter of their lives.
Rook pulled back from his chest, using her shirt to wipe away her tears before looking up at him with a fierce gaze. The flickering candle on the bedside table cast a warm glow over his features.
“As long as I am with you, it doesn’t matter where we are or where we live. We could be in a dusty, dirty alley in dock town, and it would still feel like home to me,” she said softly, pressing her hand to his face and tenderly stroking his brow. “I love you, Emmrich. I want to spend the rest of my days by your side.”
He felt a pang of concern as he replied, “I just don’t want you to have any regrets.” He could sense the shift in her expression, and it made his heart ache.
“Please don’t start,” she said, her voice sharper than she had meant it to be. The moment the words left her lips, she caught the flicker of hurt in his eyes. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she shifted her position, sitting up and crossing her legs beside him as he leaned against the antique wooden headboard. Frustration washed over her as she rubbed her face, striving for clarity amidst the swirling chaos.
“Emmrich, you know how deeply I love you. There’s truly nowhere else I’d rather be,” she said, her tone softening as she looked into his eyes, hoping to reassure him. Hesitantly, he placed a warm hand on her knee, the weight of his affection both comforting and heavy.
“You understand how often I dream about this, don’t you?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wish things were different. I wish they were here with us.” Her words carried a longing that hung heavy in the air as she paused, tilting her head back to gaze at the ceiling. “I never gave much thought to having a family. But whether it’s just us, or perhaps with a child…” Her words trailed off as she grappled with the complexity of her feelings, finding it hard to articulate her thoughts.
“It is your first night here, and I worry-”
Raising a hand, she gently silenced him, her voice firm yet tender. “You are my family. That’s all that truly matters to me—being with you and cherishing our time together.” A weary sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head, the weight of their situation pressing down on her.
It was true; prior to their discovery after her return from the Fade prison, the idea of having children had never crossed her mind. She was lost in thought, realizing that she didn’t have clarity on what she truly wanted. But amidst the uncertainty, one thing was clear: as long as she and the senior necromancer shared love and happiness, that was all she could ever wish for.
“Okay,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling between them. “It’s just you and me now, no matter what happens.” Drawing her closer, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss that spoke of longing and promise. When they finally broke apart, his gaze held hers with undeniable sincerity. “You mean the world to me, my love. As I stand here, I can’t help but wonder how many years I have left. All I know is that I want to spend every moment of those years with you safely in my arms. I’ve never felt such a profound connection with anyone before.”
He took a deep breath, his heart heavy with the fear of losing her. “I was so worried that when everything was said and done, you would turn away from me and continue with your life, leaving me behind. But the fact that you accepted my offer to move here, into my home, fills me with a happiness I never thought possible.”
He gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin, and pressed his forehead against hers, savoring the intimacy of the moment. “I promise to love you until my very last breath, my darling girl,” he vowed, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with a depth of feeling that left no doubt about the truth of his words.