Solas smiles at her teasing, at seeing Beleth so easily brought to joy, even after so pointless and petty a fight. He allows her caresses with a strange, weary sort of contentment, still feeling scraped-hollow and relieved.

She could never know, could never be permitted to learn, where his mind had gone, nor how close to the abyss his plans had momentarily veered. Let that knowledge pass forever from her hands; it could only cause her pain.

"Vhenan," He says quietly, full of tenderness, "I will love you still, when you are old in truth. Be as you are now, for as long as you wish. There will be no reason to hurry."