Hello! Here is another chapter, and I hope you enjoy. I apologize for any spelling mistakes.
Also, please read the notes at the bottom after this chapter. They are fairly important for the general relationship of this crack coupling. Please enjoy and have a good day!
Solona wasn't sure why Cole was so intent on dragging her halfway across Ferelden. The odd boy had heavily insisted that she accompany him to Redcliff. Or rather, he accompany her. Though for what it was Cole wanted her to go to the village for, he would not fully answer. The perplexed Solona beyond her understanding. It simply just wasn't like Cole to act so odd.
The villagers of Redcliff were still wary of the Blood Mage, for many of their plights were caused by dark magic. Solona did not mind. She understood. She would be scared of herself, too, were she a normal woman. Though the company of the Fade-Touched blonde did not help ease the peasants and chantry goers.
"Maker's Breath, Cole, why are we in Redcliff? You nearly dragged me half way across Ferelden for...what? Is this something to do with the your Templar?" Solona questioned, tone softening from it's previous irritation as her oceanic eyes fell upon the young man. Her question had caused the youth in leathers to falter in his step, head pivoting towards Solona, then to the busy road before them, then back to the mage.
"No. This is for you. It will make you happy. I hope." Cole spoke, lips forming the words slowly, as if unsure of his answer.
"Well then, can you at least tell me what it is we're doing here?" Solona asked, trying to acquire more information. She swore it was like picking a child's teeth simply to get answers.
"For you to see someone." The blonde answered, as if the answer were simple.
Solona raised a brow, "Who?"
The young man paused, as if debating he should answer, "Someone whom you already know."
The woman sighed deeply, hand raising to scratch her head, "...Thank you, Cole. That is very helpful." The mage responded, voice laced in thick sarcasm that the odd boy took no notice to.
"You are welcome." The blonde spoke softly, head slightly bobbing as his bangs danced.
The pair had remained stationary for some time, an awkwardness thickening the air-at least to Solona. Cole had constantly insisted she lead, though how could Solona lead if she did not know where she was going or whom she was seeing? She really hoped the spirit turned flesh was not going insane...
"Cole, take me to whomever this is. I have no time for games." The mage spat, slightly irritated at being sent on a wild goose chase.
"We are playing a game?" Compassion echoed, slightly shifting from foot to foot, as if nervous. If the boy ever became nervous.
"Cole." Solona hissed through gritted teeth, the odd youth becoming more rigid, sensing her agitation.
Without a word, Cole had begun to move, steps graceful yet wooden. Solona was never sure how he managed to walk with such a gait of stiffness and fluidity.
Following the young man, the mage continued to churn through her thoughts upon whoever this person was. Assuming it was a person. For all she knew, Cole was speaking of the a blade of grass she stepped on when she was younger.
Solona had followed until the pair had reached the village Chantry, the due halting in their steps. The mage had looked upon Cole in confusion, and judging upon his gaze, he had expected her to go in. The woman shook her head, brows furrowed in a lack of her ally's communication, though had complied with his action.
Walking up the stairs, Solona halted at the door. She had not set foot in a Chantry for many years. Part of her fearful of opening the door, imaging she would burst into flame via merely setting foot within the holy building. She was a Blood Mage, yes? The Maker and Andraste hated Blood Magic. Was Cole trying to kill her?
The young woman looked back towards the front of the steps, only to find the odd youth gone. Sighing, Solona had turned her attentions towards the door, a fright coming to her as Cole was right beside her, deep blue eyes looking upon her.
Cole's head cocked slightly, as if he were curious of something, pale bangs of a golden hue blocking the depths of his gaze, "Do you need to be let in, too?"
"I...What? No. No, I can open the door." Solona spoke, hands pressing against the oak, great doors groaning as they slowly opened. The mage awaiting for an intense heat, a bright, sudden burst that would incinerate her to ash. But it never came. Setting a foot over the precipice, she was alive. Maybe she wasn't as hated by the Maker as she thought she was.
"Alright, Cole. Now where?" Solona asked, the youth merely pointing to a seemingly hidden location from her eyes, "There."
The mage had looked upon the blonde, the smell of incense wafting through her senses, air warm and welcoming with gently burning candles as her head teetered towards the odd boy's outstretched arm.
With a soft sigh, the woman hesitantly moved in the general direction of the blonde's indication, unsure where she was entirely going, steps slow lest she miss whomever she was here for. It was beyond a pillar did the mage notice a small room, away from the congregation and sporting the privacy those in ailment would need.
Cautiously did Solona step over the tile boundary into the small room, candles and medicinal herbs burning, casting a faint, almost mythical sureality around the room, the Bride of the Maker towering over the smoking fumes. Light from the windows had splashed into the room, staining the floor and the foot of one of the few beds now occupied.
Looking more closely, the Blood Mage had noticed the bed was held full by a woman of great age, hair white and thin in an unkempt bun, skin wrinkled and ready to seemingly crack with age spots upon her cheek, face gaunt, haunted and skeletal, lips chapped and small as a weak tongue that seemed far too small for her mouth tried to moisten them. The old woman lying within the bed was small, body frail. It almost looked as if she was not there were the covers any thicker.
Solona's brows furrowed, unsure who this ill woman was whose shallow breathing barely heaved the comforters up and down as she drew breath after raspy breath, "Cole, who is-"
"She is dying." The young man spoke, now just behind the dark haired woman. Her eyes only narrowed upon Cole in response, his mind then clicking that he may have said something wrong, or something she was not looking for, "Oh, sorry. I guess you knew that already."
"Yes, because she looked so well...Cole, I don't want to be here. It's uncomfortable and disrespectful." Solona murmured, oceanic eyes looking upon the frail woman upon her deathbed. They had no right to be here during her final moments.
With a sigh, Solona turned upon her heels, legs moving to leave, "Come on, Cole. We're leaving."
"B-But she needs you!" The young man sputtered, the almost urgent tone in his voice causing the Blood Mage to halt and slowly turn around, "You know her! You know her and she knows you, but you are walking away! She needs you, Solona. She didn't walk away when you needed her. I thought this would make you happy, but it's not." Cole's lips pierced together into a frown.
The woman's nostrils flared, temper rising, "Cole, why would I be happy about seeing a damned dying woman? Were you even thinking when you came up with this?" She snarled, the sudden hurt upon his face making Solona realize the harshness of her words, guilt growing.
The blonde's lip trembled slightly, gaze casting towards the cobblestone floor, pale hands gripping the rim of his hat to try and hide, "N..No. I guess I wasn't. I just thought...I wanted to make you happy."
Solona frowned upon seeing the young man try to hide in his hat. It was an action Cole had developed ever since he became real-realer-more self aware. Fear, guilt, and shame were the only emotions that ever made him try to hide. But know Solona knew to add one one emotion to make the young man want to disappear and never be seen again: sadness. Or perhaps even failure. She wasn't entirely sure.
"I never should have said that. I'm sorry, Cole. I'm sorry I hurt you. I know I may seem ungrateful, but I'm not. I'm just being me again-a selfish bitch to both you and Nana. You're right. It's not fair to her or you." Solona frowned deeply, creases forming within her brow.
"You...You remember? You remember her, Solona?" The young man questioned, Cole's pale fingers still wrapped around the rim, wet blue orbs quivering through golden falls.
"Not the way she looks now, if that is Nana. But...it...it would make sense why you brought me here." The mage sighed, gaze falling downwards before rising to meet Cole's, "How should I help her?"
Cole paused, grip loosening upon his hat, "I thought you would know. But I know that sometimes, words are the wrong shape, not enough, not right. Sometimes they make the edges sharp, and it makes things harder-makes it harder to say goodbye. Sometimes, simple things help the most. Sometimes simple things are...all you can do."
Solona frowned slightly, though tore her gaze from the blonde and focused upon the woman lying upon her deathbed. Slowly the mage approached, unsure what to do and standing there awkwardly before kneeling down towards the old woman's level. Solona's blue eyes studied the older mage's profile, running over every wrinkle within her aged face, eyes weary and dull, dry lips lightly parted as raspy breath slipped passed, brows white and thin, face shadowed with the passing of time.
It was terrible. Nana looked so different than what Solona remembered. Her portly stomach was now non existent, and she seemed so much of a shadow of her former self that Solona wouldn't have even cared if the woman were to pass mere minutes prior. But upon thinking-and dwelling-the old mage before her-the stranger-became an old friend. An old friend that helped her through a terrible time, and kept her promise: to never let go. Now, Solona knew what she had to do.
Licking her own lips, Solona reached up her hand upon the bed, intertwining her her youthful fingers-no longer those of a child, but of a woman-with older finger-more frail and skeletal. The hand of the shadow was cold, and Solona felt her heart skip in fear that the woman had passed at that moment.
Solona's mouth opened, but no words came out, the ball within her throat too large, "...Nana?"
The comforters rose with breath, aged eyes weary with time looking upon the girl. The Blood Mage felt her spirits soar, mouth once more opening to speak, words broken and edgy, tongue forgetting how to form words that were too painful, "N...Nana! Nana-I...I..."
Solona wanted to speak thus: "Nana! It's me! Solona! Do you remember me? Do you remember me, Nana?"
She wanted to speak, shout: "Nana! Look at me! Are you proud of me? Look at what I'm fighting for, Nana! Haven't I come so far? Are you proud? Guess what? I'm Herald of Andraste!"
Wanted to speak, cry: "Nana, no! I just found you again! You can't leave yet! The Maker hasn't called you home yet, He can't! We need more time! I need more time! It isn't fair!"
To speak, praise: "Guess what, Nana? You don't have to worry about me anymore! You don't have to watch over me and worry like you did when I was younger. I met a wonderful young man. His name is Cole! I so want you to meet him! You would like him, Nana, he's such a sweet boy! He brought me to you. He brought me to you, Nana, can you believe it? He is Maker sent!"
But what only came out, was thus: "I love you."
Solona's lip trembled, throat clenched so tight she could hardly speak, hand grip strong, "I...I love you, Nana...I love you." Her frown deepened, the old mage looking upon the younger woman, a faint smile gracing her aged face, words barely above a whisper, breath weak, "I...Thank you...Stran...ger..."
The Blood Mage wiped an eye with her free hand, the quilts stilling, weak pulses in the elder's hand going silent. Solona stared at the frail body, awaiting a sign of life. Yet she knew better. Her friend was gone.
"I'm sorry she's gone." Cole spoke, slowly approaching. Solona briefly looked up before beckoning her hand back and rising her feet. Both looked upon the body, silence reigning.
"So am I." The woman replied, leaning upon the bed to kiss the aged brow, slowly righting herself, "I just wish we had more time, but the Maker called her home. She's home, now."
The blonde frowned slightly, hands slowly taking his worn hat off his head, rims now falling over the mage's head, "I think you will need it more than me. I'm sorry. I didn't know she wouldn't recognize you. I thought seeing her again would make you happy."
Solona felt odd with the hat upon her head, though smiled weakly. He was trying to give her comfort when words failed. He was trying to share something so important to him-share it with her. The woman lightly reached out, grasping his hand, tenderly holding, "It's alright, Cole. I never knew her name. She forgot mine. It is fitting, I think."
Hand in hand, the pair took their leave of the room, minds twisting and turning, footfalls echoing against the cobblestone floor.
"I appreciate everything you've done, Cole. I'm sorry for what I said to you, and I can't take it back. I should never yell at you like that, there's no excuse. You would never yell at me with such cruel words. But know I see what you were trying to do. I can never repay you for what you gave me today. Nana would have died, all alone and with no one to help her. We were friends once, and even then we were strangers. But in being strangers, we became friends again. If only for a little. I have no idea how to repay you for that." Solona spoke, voice soft, gripping his hand harder.
"You don't have to do anything for me. I don't mind." Cole answered, the woman merely shaking her head as they exited the Chantry, the dominating sunlight harsh upon their eyes, winds cool yet gentle.
"Do you want to track down your Templar? I bet he's still stationed in Redcliff." The dark haired woman suggested, Cole shaking his head, "No."
"No?"
"That won't help. I can't forgive him nor forget."
"Then accept that you did everything you could, and accept the past. I accept the fact that I had a son as a mere child. I accept the fact that I have a terrible taste in men. It's okay to remember the past, but it you keep rejecting the past it just makes you bitter. You can't forgive the Templar, and that's okay. But that anger you have? Never let it consume you." Solona paused, as if in thought, "Don't change for the bad. Change for the good. Never change for anyone but yourself."
The blonde blinked, looking down upon her, "I will. I will try."
"Good." The mage smiled, the pair walking towards the village only to have Cole's voice break the silence.
"Solona? What are belly buttons for?" The rouge questioned, Solona looking upon him, blinking.
"That came out of nowhere. But I don't know what they're for. I think I know what they're from. Why? Been contemplating your navel?"
Cole paused slightly, "Yes. No."
The woman rolled her eyes, "Yes, no, maybe so?"
"Yes?"
"I shall take that as a no."
"But I said yes!"
"And half the time when you answer yes, you mean no, mister. What's with you and your navel?" Solona questioned, Cole once more pausing, as if to think.
"Do you have a navel, Solona?"
The mage sighed, "...Yes, Cole, I have a belly button. Everything has a belly button."
"Do horses have a belly button?"
"Yes...yes, I think so."
"Does grass have a belly button?"
"You! Shushy-Shushy! No, grass does not have a navel! Why are you asking me all these questions?" Solona blurted, Cole blinking, as it were obvious.
"To make you happy. You're sad."
"Don't worry about me, Cole. I'm fine." The young woman replied, smiling slightly, "You know, when we get back to Skyhold, your helping me bake something."
Normally, Solona would consider getting kissed again and again and again a welcoming action. But at this point, she was drowsy, and trying to sleep on her bed. She tried everything to get Cole to stop. Even if the extents of her actions were merely turning to face away from the odd boy, the mage now lying on her side. It still did not stop the blonde's lips from gently caressing her hair and skin, warm breath upon her pale flesh. Solona was at least glad they were simple in affection. She would have killed herself overwise, gretzky and irritated.
Long ago she had theorized Cole was like a puppy. And this was only proving her theory. He was still trying to comfort her, despite she saying otherwise. It simply could have been Cole showing his affections that he did not how to say in words, tongue tied and clumsy.
Solona prayed her theory wouldn't be too far correct. She didn't want to deal with an overly clingy boy that seemed to simply need her just to survive. But the more she thought about it, the more it simply made sense. That first attraction is overwhelming. Solona just hoped Cole wasn't human enough to go into such an insane frenzy of lust.
The mage inwardly groaned, taking the pillow and setting it over her head, causing Cole to stop his rather unwanted affections.
"Goodnight, Cole." Solona's muffled voice reached the blonde's ears, the odd man retreating and putting respectable space between them.
"Goodnight, Solona." Cole replied, voice soft and thoughts whirling. The young man noticed the nug at the foot of the bed, and upon seeing his friend unable to jump up, aided the small mammal up upon the bed.
I have been thinking on the nature of their relationship, and while fairly innocent at this point, I think later chapters will feature physical consummation of the relationship. This leads to a little problem, since at max, this story will be rated Teen.
Any sex scenes that will be written, will be written in Cole's point of view due to the vagueness of his speech and thought process. Basically, the sex scenes will be written in a style of "saying it without saying it".
Since this story is obviously not going to be rated Mature(though it does have some questionable material), I would like your help to prepare for future reads.
Should I:
A) Keep the sex scenes within Stories in the Ink, due to their vagueness and lack of "graphic/explicit" details.
B) Put whatever sex scenes are written in an individual story with a Mature rating.
If you feel like stating your opinion, please feel free to go ahead. If you feel offended by me putting Cole in a sexual position with my OC, by all means, let me know that, too. If you are too lazy to give a full review, just leave a review or PM saying "A" or "B".
Or "C" for "I object to Cole being in any kind of relationship because he is a child!" and/or "Your OC sucks!"
Thank you for any input you give, and thank you all for everything you have done to support this story!
Love you guys!