Dragon Age: Stepping Stones

By: TheWildFool2011

(I do not own Dragon Age series nor its characters...well can I say I owned my custom Dalish Inquisitor? Ah, never mind. Let the after story begin!)

"Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody." ~ Stephen Chbosky

We won. Corypheus is gone, and we won. That's wonderful yes?

But why does she have such a sad song? Solas. I see. I understand.

He left and she believes it's her fault. She's wrong, but she doesn't know this.

I want her hurt to stop. I want to help, I have to. It doesn't matter if I can be seen. I must help.

Cole watched seldomly as the Inquisitor finished conversing with her circle and advisors. He overheard Josephine mumbling on about how late the platters would arrive, she profusely apologized to the Inquisitor.

He eyed the elf carefully. A frown. Nobody else noticed, but he did. Her pain was loud, and it hurt Cole to listen, but he did. The brightness he had saw with in her before, had dimmed down.

"Hey, kid."

Cole nearly jumped as his thoughts and listening were interrupted. He came face to face with Varric, who held out a drink, offering. "No, thank you. It smells funny."

Varric laughed, "Fine, suit yourself kid. Anyway, how are you enjoying party?" He asked with a wide smile on his face, "That was one hell of a fight with Corypheus. And I survived...we survived. A joyest occasion, that's needs more drinks."

"It is...fine?" Cole replied as he looked back up, only to see that the Inquisitor had vanished into her quarters. He sighed, "Yes, a happy occasion. Happy..." He trailed off as he sunk deep into thought.

"Finally nice to see that fucker gone." Varric exclaimed proudly, "Hawke would be proud...I just know he would. Someone who managed to fix both Blondie and his mistake, two birds in one stone, by one little lady with the world at her back." He glanced up at Cole, to see that the boy was troubled. "Whatever is on your mind kid, just know you can tell me."

Cole nodded, "Thank you, Varric. I'm fine, it's just..." He sighed again, "Nothing."

"Alright, but you know where I'll be if you wish to talk." Varric shifted his gaze to where Cole had been attentively staring at, "You know...it's supposed to a victory to celebrate. But, little lady's eyes show a sign of defeat. It's more blatantly obvious when you look her in the eyes, than listen to her voice."

He sighed as he looked down into his tankard, "Chuckles messed up really bad this time..."

Cole watched from the corner of his eye as Varric walked off, to mingle with the others. He turned his attention back to the door that lead to Lavellan's quarters.

He wondered if his powers were still strong enough to be able to slip everyone's attention. It only took little thought for Cole, he began to weave in and out of the crowd. He only felt familiar eyes land on him. Much to his surprise they did not protest as he entered Lavellan's quarters.

Closing the door ever so lightly, he stalked up the steps. He came face to face with a closed door and pressed his ear lightly against the door. Sobbing, not all too quiet but not loud either. He closed his eyes as he listened to her, searching for the source of the hurt.

He drew a sharp breath, "Lonely, heartache, fear. I'm drowning, he left. Why did he leave? Did I throw myself into this dark pit of nothingness? Could I have done something different? Orb shatters in tiny pieces, a shadow of its former. Sad, disappointed, as he looked longingly at the orb. A brief conversation, the pain eminent. He leaves. It's my fault, all mines. And..." Cole gritted his teeth as he stood. He didn't hesitate to turn the door knob, but almost regretted doing so; as an extremely sharp ice sickle flew pass his head.

Nienna shook from head to toe. She drew her arms close to her chest, "I...I'm sorry Cole. I didn't mean to– I wasn't expecting..." Tears steadily increased as her bottom lip quiver.

Cole had closed the door behind him and walked to close a small distance between the two. He looked at the small girl as sobs wrecked her body, he frowned. He told himself mental over and over, she didn't do anything wrong; she didn't deserve such heartache.

"I'm sorry," her brow furrowed and a look of guilt settled in, "I must appear really pathetic to you right now..." She sniffles as she turned her gaze downward. Slowly, she sank to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself. "Corypheus is gone...I should be happy, right? I should..." Unable to finish her words, she bit the bottom of her lip – nearly choking on a sob.

Cole lowered himself, to her level. He removed his hat, placing it to the side and reached a hand to pat her on the head. "You are hurting. Wondering if you could have done something differently. Hammering negative words into your head; it's my fault, all my fault," he allowed himself to sit down fully, "It is not. You couldn't have known he would leave. And he was just as surprised, if not afraid, as you are. The outcome wasn't what he was expecting, yet he does not blame you – but himself. He is hammered with grief and you believe the blame to be your own. You are wrong," he almost whispered.

"B-but, I could have..." She tried to wipe the tears away, but they wouldn't stop. "If I hadn't have broken the orb, he would have never left..."

Cole flinched slightly. He didn't know why, but it bothered him to see her cry. He didn't like this for her. "No, the end would have stayed the same." Gently he moved his hand down towards her face, slowly wiping the tears away.

Her big brown eyes widened, surprised with the spirits' actions. She brought her own slender hand to touch a larger hand. "Cole...please, help me. Make me forget him please..." She buried her cheek into calloused hands.

"Clinging, longing, wanting. Don't make it go away. This guilt like a dagger to my chest, hate builds but crumbles like an old worn shack. Forget, forget, forget...don't want to," Cole muttered and wiped away more tears, "I can help, but please take back what you said. That, I won't do."

"Why?!" She shouted; digging her nails into his hand, "You can't deny me! Why are you doing this to me..." Caught by surprise, Cole pulled her into a warm embrace. "It's not fair..."

"No. I denied you, because your heart does not want to forget. Forgetting is like losing something precious. And memories of Solas are fond. I want you to take it back."

"I don't want to feel this pain anymore..."

Cole felt her shake within his embrace, "Yes, but you don't want to forget."

"I-I don't," she stuttered, "Cole...help me. Please, help..." She buried her face into his worn shirt, soaking the cloth in tears.

He breathed deeply. A smell of forest trees and elfroot came rushing through his nostrils, "I will. You've helped me, now I can help back. I want to."

"Compassion is something that listens to the pain within. Compassion wants to help, not because it has to, but because it wishes to." ~ JT