She met with her advisors as soon as they returned to Skyhold, resolutely refusing to meet Cullen's eyes as they discussed what had happened. He, in turn, wondered what he'd done to offend the beauty before him. Neither of them voiced what they were feeling, however, keeping to the business at hand.
"How long until the veterans arrive?" Rosalina asked, referring the Templars that were coming ahead of the rest of the group.
One minute she was looking at Josephine, the next Cole was in front of her, crouched on the war table, studying the compass that he had picked up.
"They're almost here. Templars don't like to be late," He said, only half paying attention to those around him.
"Maker –" Cullen bit off the rest of his curse as he and Cassandra pulled their swords and started to circle the boy.
"Wait," Rosalina demanded, looking at Cole quizzically.
"I came here to help," He responded to her unanswered question. "I would have told you before, but you were busy."
"That's fine Cole," She responded, keeping her hands out in signal to restrain Cassandra and Cullen, while keeping the rest of her attention on the boy – Spirit? – before her. "You just startled us, appearing out of thin air."
"I wasn't air. I was here. You didn't see me. Most people don't until I let them," Cole said, hopping down from the table.
"Call the guards, this creature is not what he appears to be," Cassandra said, angrily.
"A moment please, Cassandra, I would like to hear why he came," Leliana came to Cole's rescue.
"You help people," Cole replied, looking at Rosalina. "You make them safe when they would have died. I want to do that. I can help."
Rosalina smiled brightly at him. She didn't know why he had chosen her, but he had saved her – there was no way she was going to refuse him. Part of her knew it was because she already cared for the boy, the other part insisted she would have taken him anyway.
"Cole saved my life in Therinfall. I couldn't have defeated Envy without him," Rosalina said in a tone that broke no argument.
"But what does he want now?" Cassandra asked, still refusing to accept that she had allowed Cole in.
"I think he really is trying to help," Rosalina answered, still watching Cole with a smile.
"I won't be in the way. Tiny, no trouble, no notice taken unless you want them to," Cole said gratefully.
"You're not honestly suggesting giving him run of the camp?" Cullen said, irritated.
"Not freely perhaps, but it seems a waste to –" Josephine started as Cole disappeared. "Hold on."
"Where did he go?" Cassandra demanded.
Rosalina could feel the tensions rising again as Cassandra and Cullen looked around in bewilderment for the boy.
"It's a good trick," She joked, trying to lighten the tension in the room. "You get used to it."
She left the war room on that remark, hoping that she would find Solas in his usual spot. Of everyone here he would have the best chance of understanding Cole and would probably be most welcoming of the boy. Rosalina shook her head, not a boy, but a spirit. That would take some getting used to; she couldn't help thinking of him as human. She hadn't even left the chantry before Cullen called for her.
"Herald, you're not really going to let that demon stay are you?" He demanded, worry creasing his brow.
She longed to reach up and smooth that spot with her hand, instead she settled for a quick smile at him.
"I don't think he's a demon, Commander," She replied steadily. "He's just a boy who wants to help and has an unusual set of skills."
She could tell by the set of his jaw that he was unhappy and about to argue with her.
"I understand you're concerned, Commander, but I believe he means well and until you are put in charge, I want him to stay and it seems that Josephine agrees with me," She folded her arms, waiting for the rebuttal that never came.
He bowed stiffly instead, "As my lady says."
She watched him go, feeling a bit worried and more than a bit sick.
"I'm sorry, I caused you pain," Cole appeared beside her.
"No Cole," She said, as she started for her cabin. "He caused me pain. You were just the tool he used to inflict it."
Cole wrapped an arm around her, "I am sorry."
She shook her head, smiling at him, "Don't you worry about it. I am sure there are others who need your help more than me."
Cole tilted his head to the side as they walked, listening to the people around him.
"There are some, but their pain isn't as strong as yours right now," He answered. "Twisting, hurting, heart. Maker, does he hate me?"
She shot him a look, "I'm fine, Cole."
He nodded, "I will leave you alone then. Solas… is he the elf?"
Rosalina smiled gratefully, "Yes. He's the elf. The bald one."
"And you want me to see him?"
She nodded.
He smiled, "Then I will go."
Rosalina smiled sadly as she watched him go, wondering how much trouble this was going to cause her. She shook her head sternly, it didn't matter if it cost her everything, she would not abandon the spirit just because people didn't understand him, she was raised better than that. She sighed heavily even so, wondering if keeping Cole would cost her Cullen. She sat down on her bed, thinking a nice bath and some sleep would help, even if the bath houses were a little below her standards. Grabbing her clean pair of clothes she headed toward the door, only to find Cullen standing there, fist poised to knock.
"Oh, hello," She said, quietly. "I wasn't expecting company."
From the tone in her voice one could interpret that she meant she wasn't expecting him. He rubbed his neck in embarrassment.
"I can come back at a later time, I didn't realize you were leaving."
Rosalina shot him a quick smile, "It's alright, I was just going to bathe, but that can wait if you need me for something."
"I just, I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. While I may not approve of Cole, my reaction was uncalled for. I should not judge one spirit because of the behavior of others in the past."
"In the past?"
He shook his head, grinning ruefully, "It was a long time ago, and I would prefer not to talk about it."
Rosalina nodded, "Of course."
She stepped back into the room and opened the door.
"Would you like tea? I'm not an expert brewer, but it's drinkable."
He smiled that smile that caused her to catch her breath and nodded, "I would like that."
She grinned back, before shutting the door behind him.
