Days turned into weeks which turned into months and Cole was glad that he kept quiet about Solas's promise. Emily's heart was slowly healing and he felt it through his bones. Dorian had left last week to return to Tevinter where he said he was going to change everything. Everyone smiled and agreed, but only those closest to the mage really believed that he would. Under that charm, Cole knew, was true grit and determination to do what was right and good.

Bull stayed, he was a permanent fixture, he had no home to go back to anyway. He disbanded the Chargers, telling them they could stay if they wanted but they weren't obligated. A lot left in search of another mercenary group to join, but more stayed, signing on as Inquisition soldiers or spies. Cole was glad that for that, he enjoyed spending time with The Iron Bull. Cullen and Leliana both vied for him to join them, but he remained neutral, helping both of them where he could.

Sera also stayed, but moved out of the bar and into the castle, taking up Vivienne's old spot, saying that she needed more room for all of her stuff. Cole suspected that it was really because she wanted to be closer to Emily. Oddly enough, Bull moved into her old room soon after.

Cole, himself, moved into Solas's old room. He discovered that he now needed to eat and sleep and do all the things that normal humans did, but he hated being so far from Emily. He left things pretty much as they were, but moved his few meager possessions in. Emily often came down to visit him, saying that he could stay in her room if he wanted. He knew he could, but he preferred being in Solas's old room, it made him feel closer to the elf that had left them all that time ago.

Cole knew as well, that Emily liked her privacy. Now that everyone was leaving she often would feel melancholy and would fall silent for long periods of time, brooding about only she knew what. Her advisors, of course, stayed. Leliana was always collecting reports and information, Cullen always accepting recruits. Josephine was thrilled to find that her position had become more important since often high ranking people would come to her to ask Emily to settle disputes that their liege had not the time to settle or could not settle for some reason or another.

Often Emily would spend time in the main hall, listening to case after case of petty things that bored Cole as he listened. She never seemed to mind, weighing all of the options carefully and hearing all sides before finally delivering her final judgment.

It was on one such day, almost two years after Solas had left that Cole noticed a cowled figure enter and stand in line for a verdict on something. The line was short today and Cole was relieved for that small mercy. Emily had insisted that he stay by her side and listen in, often they would go over particularly difficult verdicts once the day was over and she would quiz him on her decisions. Why she insisted on this Cole didn't know, but he did it for her sake anyway.

Today he had trouble paying attention as he watched the figure creep closer to the front. He caught Bull's eyes, inclining his head slightly toward the figure as he became the second in line. Bull nodded back, his ax drawn, but resting lighting on his thigh as he watched the figure. From across the hall Cole could see that Sera had noticed the person as well, her bow was drawn and ready to arrows fly if it became necessary.

He could feel Emily tense next to him and knew that she had notice the high alert that her friends were on. While she appeared just as relaxed as normal, he could feel her drawing on her magic, forming a shield around herself and those that surrounded her as her protection. Cole fingered the dagger at his side when the figure became the next in line, his grip tightening on it.

Only once had they had someone stupid enough to try to assassination the Inquisitor during a judgment day, but that didn't mean it couldn't happen again. They had easily dispatched this rogue, noticing his furtive movements the moment he walked in the door and getting to him before he could even reach the first table. This one was different, Cole could feel ancient power radiating from him.

Emily looked at the stranger with suspicion as he stood in front of her.

"And what, good person, could I help you with?"

"A long time ago I did something awful. Over the years it has gnawed at me but I tried to forget by pushing it from my mind. I met and fell in love with a woman, but I finally I had to leave her to right the wrongs I had done. I couldn't bear looking at her who was so innocent without remembering what I had done. I felt that before I could have her complete love I had to fix it, so I left her without an explanation and have spent the last couple of years paying for my wrong-doing. Now my judges tell me I have redeemed myself and that I should go rest."

Emily stared at the figure for a while, her eyes hardening. Cole knew she thought it was a waste of time and the man was pulling her leg, but something resonated within him and he touched her arm gently before she could command him to get out.

"Let's listen to what he wants," Cole whispered to her.

She looked at him in bewilderment but nodded, surprised that Cole actually wanted to hear a case.

"That all sounds like it worked itself out," She replied. "So what would you need from me?"

"Forgiveness," The figure threw off his cloak to reveal Solas, looking weary, but determined.

Gasps echoed around the room, but Emily only had eyes for the mage that had abandoned her.

"For what?" She whispered.

Solas's eyes hardened just a bit, "For leaving you without explanation. For never telling you who I am and just what I've done. For breaking your heart. For allowing you to slip away."

Tears slipped down Emily's face as Josephine began to clear people out.

"Josie, I think I'm going to take a break for a bit," She whispered as she stood, beckoning Solas and Cole to follow her.

Josephine nodded, "Use Cole's room, I promise no one will disturb you."

The three entered the room that used to be Solas's and the mage looked around in wonder.

"Did you move in here after I left?" He asked the boy.

Cole nodded, "Yes."

"But you didn't change anything?"

"No."

Solas sat down on his bed, Emily next to him and Cole sitting at his old desk and he explained that he what he had said out there was true, but now he was back and he wanted another chance.

"If you can find it in yourself to forgive me?" Solas asked. "I love you Emily."

Emily threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply, "Promise you won't ever leave me again?"

Solas nodded, "I promise."

The two grinned at each other as Cole slipped out of the room, deciding it was time that the two had the privacy that they deserved.