ATTENTION LOYAL READERS OF AWESOME!
So guess who finally played Trespasser? Gues who has yet to scrape her heart off of the ground. My fellow Solasmancers feel free to join the prayer circle. So, despite the new info we've leanred from the DLC pretty much punching a bigger wall in my story than the hole in Wall Maria, I still plan on carrying on with this fic, so don't worry. The plot will pretty much remain the same, though I want to tweak small details to match with Trespasser. You guys of course won't be able to tell since you'll only be reading the final product, but I felt I should let you know that this will continue to be my own interpretation of events, with nods to our new soul-crushing canon. I also might go back and edit old chapters, whether to take into account Trespasser stuff or just if I felt like something needed fixing. If I do update a chapter I will let you guys know in the Author's Note of the newest chapter.
SHOUTOUTS GO OUT TO: Eltungawng, cbred13, SunshineAndDaisies, CMippy, KitKat758, DanielleBurkex3, chriw, Ninjakitty122, blackkitsue, digitalgamer7, Daeris1225, and all of you wonderful supportive penguins out there!
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Solas sighed in frustration, and closed the tome with more force than what was needed. He'd been pouring through all his books, trying to find some snippet of knowledge that could help him track down where Mordolwen would strike next. When Mercy warned him about Mordolwen's pursuit of the Dream Catchers, he had very little information, but the threat was serious enough to alert the Inquisition. The devices were used primarily by the priests of Dirthamen, and their locations were kept very much a secret, even from Solas. He himself was not even sure whether or not those elvhen of the past ever managed to craft the Dream Weaver before the fall of Elvhenan. He tried to seek out any ruins connected to Dirthamen, where perhaps Mordolwen could be collecting her Dream Catchers, but the ones he found were either in utter ruin, or lost to even his memory. He vainly hoped some of his tomes might have mention of a sight or even the Dream Catchers themselves, but it was a futile effort, given modern lore of the elves were but scraps of scraps.
He set the book on his desk and leaned back into his chair with a heavy sigh. He longed to know how this Mordolwen knew of the Dream Catchers, and what she planned to do with them. Without a Dream Weaver, she could do little more than store spirits and dreams conjured in the Fade, but the idea of her tampering with innocent spirits and the balance of the Veil was something Solas would not stand for. If there really was a Dream Weaver though, the only one who would know for sure was Dirthamen himself, but he...
Solas pinched his brow, feeling the seeds of a headache growing.
"Padron me?"
Solas turned his neck to see a guard enter the rotunda. "What is it?" he asked.
"Your presence has been requested in the gardens."
"By whom?"
"Guard-Captain Rutherford."
Solas raised a brow. Captain Rutherford, Cullen's wife? Interesting. "Did the Captain say what she needed from me?"
"Just your presence in the gardens."
"Very well. Thank you."
The guard bowed and exited the room, the clinking of his boots echoing on the rotunda walls. Solas rose from his seat, glancing at the pile of books on his desk, before setting out for the gardens. He did not know what to expect when he finally met Captain Rutherford. As he walked down the hall, he was growing more and more curious about this enigma that was Captain Rutherford, formerly Captain Trevelyan.
He entered the gardens, and began to scan the grounds. He did not know what she looked like, so he searched for someone who seemed like they would fit the role. A chorus of laughter caught his attention. Sitting at the table beneath the stone gazebo was Josephine, Dagna, and a redheaded woman who was banging her fist on the table as she laughed.
"Josie that's crazy!" Solas could hear the woman cackle from halfway across the garden.
'Is that Captain Rutherford?' Solas wondered. He approached the group of women, hoping to find out.
Josephine perked up when she saw the elf. "Oh, Solas, what are you doing here-?"
"I invited him," the ginger woman said. "I felt like it was about time, don't you think?" She turned in her seat and looked up at Solas, holding out her hand. "Captain Franne-Louise Rutherford," she said with a toothy grin.
"A pleasure, Captain," Solas replied as he took her hand. He was surprised by her iron grip, and when she shook his hand it moved his whole arm.
Captain Rutherford was handsome woman, with an elegant jaw and straight nose covered in freckles. Her eyes were a light green colour that complimented her round ginger hair that reached below her jaw. Most notable was her pronounced belly, hidden under the fabric of a simple green dress.
Solas expected her to let go of his hand, but instead she held it as she looked him up and down, green eyes narrowed in concentration. She let go of his hand so that she could use the table to push herself to her feet. "Stay," she said to Solas as she began to circle around him.
Solas looked to Josephine and Dagna for some sort of clarification. The dwarf woman was giggling around a pastry in her hand, and a sheepish Josephine gestured for him to just go along with it. Solas felt like a piece of equipment being inspected as the human woman eyed him, mumbling to herself. When she was done she stood in front of him, hands on her hips.
She nodded. "Yup, I can see it."
Solas raised a brow. "Beg your pardon?"
"Why Nim chose you," the Captain explained. "You have 'library lark' written all over you, and Nimmy's always been a don't-judge-a-book, pun intended, kinda gal, so she'd be fine with the egghead."
"F-Franne?!" Josephine sputtered.
"Jojo look at it, I just want to make bacon and toast right now." Franne turned back to Solas. "No offense by the way, you make bald look good."
Solas managed to hide ire. "None taken, Captain," he said calmly.
The ginger scoffed. "Franne's fine. Now come on, we got tea!" Franne said as she dragged Solas to sit beside her.
Solas looked at the tea pot in the middle of the table and grimaced. "No, thank you, tea doesn't agree with me."
Franne laughed. "Frost-Tits was right, you do make a face at it!"
Solas's eyes widened. "What did you call her?"
"Relax, Nimmy doesn't mind."
"Franne is fond of...colourful expressions," Josephine tried to explain.
Franne shrugged. "Makes everyone feel equal when you take formality out of it."
"I think it's nice," said Dagna.
"Thanks, Dag. So…" Franne smirked at Solas. "You're the fucker who won Nim's heart, and other things."
"Must you use such language?" Josephine asked.
"What? I say what I mean and I don't lie or sugar coat anything," Franne said back. "If more people just spoke their minds and weren't afraid about appearances or being themselves, we'd have a lot less arseholes around."
"I agree," Solas replied. He was unsure coming in what to expect from Skyhold's Guard-Captain, but Franne was far from what he imagined. Solas had to assume that she was good at her job if she was able to speak to, and about, her superiors in such a manner, though Solas imagined that Nimwen, as forgiving as she could be, also had a part in it. Still, Franne did not seem a mean spirited person, rather just a brutally honest one. He was amused by the woman, and despite her bluntness and word choice, she seemed a decent, and at the very least entertaining, woman. It also made him ever more curious how she ended up the wife of the Commander.
"So was this meeting just for introduction's sake, or is there anything else you need from me, Franne?" Solas asked as he eyed a tart.
"Take it," Franne said, seeing where his gaze was. "As for the other thing, I just wanted to meet you. I've always wondered about Nim's mystery man. Not what I expected, but you're not ugly so that's good. Course I knew you couldn't be ugly, Lori's too pretty to have an ugly dad."
"I'm glad you found me not ugly," Solas said with an amused smile.
"You're welcome." Franne stroked her stomach with her hand.
"How much longer until the baby comes?" Dagna asked.
"I'm bound to pop sooner or later," Franne replied. "Though I'm hoping for later. I like to think if I have more time I'll figure out a way to give birth without pain."
"You'll be waiting a while then," Josephine replied, sipping her tea.
"What about you, Jo? You and beardy gonna have kids?" Franne asked.
The Ambassador blinked. "G-goodness that's a ways off. We haven't even gotten married yet."
"Because that's all it takes," Franne smirked, gesturing to her stomach.
"I think you would make an excellent mother," Solas said to the Antivan.
Josephine blushed. "Thank you, Solas."
Franne suddenly gasped. "Andraste's tits." she beamed as she stood up. She waddled away from the table with her arms stretched. "Peach Pit!"
"Look at this, Franne the Man in a dress," Peaches laughed as she was hugged. "You got fat, Franne."
"And you're still a bitch," Franne replied. "One with a baby," she said as she eyed the small being in Peaches' arms.
"Ooh lemme see, lemme see!" Dagna squealed as she stood up.
"Sit down, they're coming over," Franne told the dwarf. Franne reclaimed her seat beside Solas and Peaches took the one next to Josephine.
"Oh she's so cute!" Dagna cooed.
"Thank you," Peaches replied as she adjusted her hold on the child.
Solas took a closer look. The baby Qunari looked to be about one year old. She had her mother's silver-grey skin, and was pudgy in the face like most babies. She had thin wisps of black hair and calf's eyes that stared at the women surrounding her with curious confusion.
"What's her name?" asked Franne.
"Rosha," Peaches replied.
The baby let out a small yawn, and the women all cooed.
"She just woke up from her nap," said Peaches.
"She looks just like you," Franne stated. "I feel bad for her," she teased the Qunari.
"How is it you two know each other, exactly?" Solas inquired.
"Yes, I too am curious," Josephine added.
"Before I joined the Inquisition I tried my luck at being a mercenary. Peaches joined the group shortly before I left it. We did some jobs together."
"She's crazy, but she knows how to use a sword," Peaches said to Solas.
"Hey, crazy people make the best fighters, because nobody wants to fight a crazy person," Franne retorted with a wink.
"I suppose that is one way to put it," Solas said.
The women sat and made small talk, with Solas sitting in silence, occasionally speaking up when somebody talked to him; usually this was Franne. He tried many times to excuse himself, feeling a bit out of place, but the ginger haired woman insisted, and given her husband's current opinion of him, Solas felt it wise not to give her any reason to speak ill of him. It was an odd experience, to say the least. He wondered if Nimwen ever joined in these little meetings; knowing her, it would not be unlikely. It brought Solas comfort to know that Nimwen was surrounded by friends that could let her take a break from the Inquisition, to enjoy the simplicity of tea and sweets and the company of other women.
Solas's thoughts drifted back to the times when Nimwen would join him in his study. They would have a stack of books or scrolls between them and speculate about magical theory or history, or share their opinions of a novel. Some days she would come when he was painting. She was no artist, but she liked helping him mix paints, or hand him brushes when they were out of reach. Mostly she sat in his chair and just watched him as he painted. Any other time he would have been irritated by eyes watching him work, but hers was a comforting presence.
"Solas!"
The elf blinked and was brought out of his thoughts.
Green eyes looked at him curiously. "Some deep thinking going on?" Franne asked.
"Forgive me, I was distracted, yes," the mage replied.
"Well, just wanted you to know that you are being summoned over there."
Solas followed Franne's finger, then raised his brow upon what-or who-he saw. "I must be excusing myself, ladies." He stood from his seat and bowed. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon."
"Nice meeting you," Franne grinned. "Make sure you stay good, or I'll have to fuck you up."
"Franne!"
"Jojo you know I always say fuck."
"Not in front of the baby."
"Like she's gonna remember."
The rest of the conversation was lost as Solas walked away from the table of women. He crossed the garden until he stood face to face with the one who had been waving him over.
"Been awhile, hasn't it, Chuckles?"
"Indeed it has, Master Tethras."
Varric uncrossed his arms and straightened up from the wall he was leaning on. "So, you settled in alright?"
"I've managed," Solas replied. "How have you been?"
"Oh, it's been fine. Wrote a few new books, been working on the reconstruction in Kirkwall, got made Viscount, bought the rest of that beat farm in Rivain-"
"You were made Viscount?" Solas interrupted, eyebrow raised.
"Surprise. As it turns out, you fund enough reconstruction efforts in a City-State, the nobles give you the worst job they can think of."
"I am still surprised that such a position would fall to you."
"You and me both, Chuckles," Varric said with a bitter smirk. "I think the nobility figured after Dumar and Perin,"What's the worse that could happen if we put the dwarf in charge?" They voted me in because I got the harbour and buisnesses up and running again. They want shit fixed, and I can do that," the dwarf chuckled.
"If this is the case, why are you in Skyhold and not in Kirkwall?"
"They're still sorting out all the necessary paperwork and noble bullshit, so I have two more months of freedom left. Good thing to. I would have hated to miss Sage's birthday."
Solas felt his heart pang. "What is it you wanted, Varric?"
"What? Can't two old friends catch up for lost time?"
"Is that all this is?"
"Course not," Varric chuckled. "So, this whole deal the Inquisitor has arranged," Varric began. "It seems you owe me a favour."
"And I take it you have something planned for me to?" asked Solas, suspicious.
Varric smirked. "Follow me," he said as he began to walk.
Solas followed behind the dwarf as he passed through the gardens. They entered the Main Hall before leaving the keep and walked the courtyard until they stood across from the stairs that led to the kitchens.
"What are we doing here?" Solas asked.
"Just wait," Varric said with a smirk. He looked up at the kitchen entrance. "Alright, watch."
Solas looked up at the door, which was opening. His eyes widened when he saw who was walking out. "Cole?"
The boy hadn't changed a bit. He was still all lanky limbs and messy yellow hair under his wide-brimmed hat. He was holding a wooden crate in his arms as he began to descend the stairs, accompanied by somebody Solas didn't recognize. He looked to Varric for an explanation, but the dwarf's response was that Solas should just keep watching. Solas did just that.
The girl followed Cole down the stairs, a burlap sack hugged in her arms. She was a human girl, a servant if her clothes were an indication. She was a homely young woman, with small eyes and a face brown with freckles and dirt. She wore a white kerchief around her head, with frizzy brown hair puffing up under it. Cole and the girl had yet to notice Varric and Solas, even as they neared enough for the elf to hear their conversation.
"Y-you can set it there," the girl said, pointing to a small stack of crates.
"Okay," Cole replied as he set the crate on the pile. "Would you like me to carry that?" the young man asked, pointing to the sack.
"What, oh n-no, no it's fine. You shouldn't have even carried that crate, my job, my job," the girl stammered. Hers was a small, nasally voice, as fidgety as she was.
Cole cocked his head to the side. "You don't want me to help?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
"Because I like to help."
"Me too, I-I mean thanks. For the help. I mean. Thanks." The girl bowed her head, her hands fumbling around the sack in her arms. "Y-you always know when I need help."
"I watch you to see when work gets hard."
The girl's brow rose. "What?"
Solas could see Cole stiffen.
"Wait hold on that was wrong," Cole muttered. "I meant...I pay attention. To you. In case you have to lift heavy things. You like helping them, but you can't if you're tired from lifting things."
"Oh." The servant shifted on her feet. She bowed her head, but Solas could see the sheepish smile on her face. "Th-thank you. You-you're always so nice." The girl straightened her back, hugging the burlap sack closer to her chest. "Well, I-I have to get this to the mages. I was going to f-feed the cats later though, did you-I mean if you don't want to-"
"I can help," Cole offered.
"O-okay." The girl leaned in, as if to hug him, but then looked down at her hands, still holding the burlap sack. She frowned. Then, it what Solas could only assume was some sort of awkward, substitute hug, she nudged Cole's shoulder with hers. Without another word, she turned on her heel and swiftly strode away, as if in a hurry.
Though he couldn't see his eyes, Solas could tell Cole was watching as the servant walked away. The young man then looked down at his shoulder, poking where she had nudged it.
"Get the picture now?" Varric asked Solas.
Solas had an inkling of an idea, but wasn't sure if he believed it. "What are you insinuating, Varric?"
"Come on, you'd have to be blind to not see that he likes her."
Solas scoffed. "You can't be serious."
"I am. The kid's more human now. If he can eat, sleep, and shit now, is it that hard to believe he could develop feelings for someone?"
The reminder of what happened to Cole made Solas frown. It was one of the few times Solas had been legitimately angry with Nimwen. "What makes you thinks he has interest in her other than helping?"
"I know these things, Chuckles. I think Coles likes her and I want you to-"
"Solas?"
The dwarf and elf looked up and saw Cole in front of them.
"I saw you when you first arrived, but you were busy. Then I was busy. But now I can talk to you."
"Hello Cole," Solas said.
"I missed you," said Cole.
The elf smiled. "As did I." He was caught off guard when Cole suddenly hugged him. Solas grunted when it felt like there were two pythons crushing his torso.
"I know you're happy to see him, Kid, but Solas needs to breathe," Varric chuckled.
Seeming to realize how hold on Solas, Cole immediately let go. "Sorry," the rogue apologized. "I was excited because I missed you. I said that already."
"How have you been, Cole?" Solas asked. "How has human life treated you?" One of the things that worried Solas the most when he first left Skyhold, was Cole. The young man had still been adjusting to his newfound humanity when the elf left, and seeing the spirit struggling with this new nature pained and saddened him.
"It is better now," said Cole. "At first it was hard, but now it's not so strange. Varric helped me. Others too."
"I'd never leave the Kid hanging," Varric told Solas.
"You're wondering if I can still hear them, the thoughts," Cole said.
"Can you?" Solas asked.
"No, it's quiet. I can still sense things; can guess what people might be feeling. Varric says that most people can read moods, I just do it better."
"Does this bother you?"
Cole shook his head. "I can't hear the pains, or make people forget, but I still help. I can remember things, learn how people think. I unknot new knots, ones I didn't understand before." Cole smiled. "It's alright. I don't hurt anymore. I realized the hurt was just feeling."
Solas looked at, really looked at him. There was this spark, this life in them, which Solas had never seen before. The shadows under his eyes were gone, and his skin now had more colour than before. His face had filled in some, and was no longer as gaunt. What took Solas most aback though, was how the smile on Cole's face was not the small subtle one he remembered. It was a grin, one that reached his eyes. Standing before him was still the same Cole that he knew three years ago, minor details aside, but the young man in front of him radiated a liveliness Solas did not think possible. It was like someone had wiped the dust off a lamp, letting the light within shine to its fullest.
"I'm glad you're happy Cole," Solas said, and he meant it. That was all he'd ever wanted for the former spirit. He'd been so worried that becoming human would ruin the unique being that Cole was, turn him into something he was not. But it appeared he'd been wrong.
"Thank you," Cole replied.
"So, Kid," Varric cut. "Who was that girl?"
"Hortense," Cole explained. "But she wants to be called Horty, because she thinks her name is ugly. Which is not true. There are no ugly names, just ugly things."
"So you and she are looking friendly."
"She doesn't like to ask for help, but likes the help. I help her with heavy things and she lets me help her feed the cats. Cats like me now," Cole smiled at Solas.
"She seems nice," Varric said.
"She is. She likes being useful, but doesn't like the attention. She helps the surgeon when the patients need food or water, because they are too sick to remember her. She likes cats because they can't talk."
"Huh, looks like you two have something in common then," Varric said, casting Solas a suggestive smirk.
Solas crossed his arms, but the dwarf ignored his stare and turned back to Cole.
"So do you have any...feelings about her?" Varric inquired.
Cole tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"When you're talking to her, or if you happen to think about her, do you ever feel something that you don't feel with other people?"
"Varric this is ridiculous," said Solas.
"Actually," Cole said, looking uncomfortable. He shuffled on his feet. "You said I should come to you when things are confusing," Cole said to Varric.
"That's right, so lay it on me, Kid."
"I…" Cole struggled to find the words. "I like when I can help Horty, more than others. It, I feel warm around her. It's like when I was with Rhys, or the Inquisitor, or Lorien, but it's different?" Cole twiddled his fingers. "She, she doesn't like herself very much, and I want to make that change. I get feelings in my chest, and I don't know why."
"I'm pretty sure you have feelings for her," said Varric. "Romantic feelings."
Cole's eyes widened, as if he hadn't even considered that as a possibility. "I…" His pale eyes looked to Solas. "How do you know?"
Solas was taken aback. "Love is…" He wracked his mind to find the right words. "Love is caring for someone, but differently than you would care for your friends or your kin. It's feeling both completely content and utterly on edge whenever they are near. You want to make them happy, whether from your words or from your actions. You feel guilt at the thought of troubling the person with your mistakes, your troubles, and yet you want to keep them close. You realize this person holds more sway over you then you would care to admit. The littlest action from them can make you feel elated, or even distraught. The idea of the hold they have on you, it's both a terrifying notion as well as a wonderful feeling."
"Damn, Chuckles, you sure you shouldn't be the writer?" Varric chuckled.
"Yes, I understand-I think," Cole said. "Warmth, blossoming in my chest, don't know when it happened but now it's all I feel. But fear, don't want to harm her, but she needs help too. Lonely, like me, let's be lonely together. Prettier when she smiles, the smell of mint cool as the touch of her hands. Horty doesn't smell like mint, but I think it's the same...but it's less than you and the Inquisitor. No, not less. New, I think."
"It takes time, Kid," Varric said. "We don't expect you to be head over heels just yet. Gotta start somewhere."
"B-but what do I do?" Cole asked. "I-I remember helping people when there love was troubled, but I never understood what the actions meant. I still don't."
"That's what we're here for," Varric assured the other rogue. "We'll show you the ropes and you have yourself a date with her in no time."
Cole looked up at Solas. "You'll help?"
Solas glanced at Varric, who gave him a knowing smirk. The elf sighed. "Of course, Cole," he said. Even if this wasn't a part of his deal with Varric, Solas would have been willing to assist Cole. He'd grown to care for Cole during their time at in the Inquisition, and any effort to assist his continual transition into human life was something Solas would count himself a part of.
"Great, so there we have it. You help me help Cole, he gets the girl, you get two of us marked off your list, everyone wins."
"The Inquisitor said I must have you do something for me, to atone, but I'm not mad; I understand why you did it, but she said I still should do it. This can work," Cole nodded.
"Very well, this seems fair," Solas agreed.
Varric grinned. "Alright. Come on Kid. First step: how to talk to girls."
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: COLE IS GETTING A GIRL 8D
At least we hope he is. Also just fyi, Sage is Varric's nickname for Lori, and was thought of by the lovely Flamewing80. The idea behind it is that sage is a soft, gentle plant, and is also meant to be ironic since sage is supposed to be calming and Lori is anything but calm XD
Welp, thanks for reading and tune in for the next chapter!