"This again for the last time, Cole is blonde why do people keep forgetting him!?"
"I don't know mam," Meredith reports.
"I certainly can't forget him, no matter how hard I try…" Dryly, I remark as I glance to the side hearing the brief clink of bottles, making me glance at the amused Cole, playing around, clicking bottles, and even playing with the broken glasses like they were puzzle pieces.
"Cole…I told you to put gloves on…" Tiredly, I sigh at the boy, knelt down playing with glass.
"I did, I went to the kitchen to ask, but the mice were hungry…" He whispers confusing me.
"Cole…you could get hurt," Gently, I approach the curled up boy in the corner playing with glass as tenderly, I kneel down making sure he's alright as shyly, his wisp blues meet my calm turquoise.
"Why don't you want to speak with Solas?" Cole questions.
"Cole," I frown at the sensitive topic but he continues.
"But…Dorian was right why didn't you listen to him? Why don't you think you deserve this happiness? Why stop your joy? You deserve it…" Cole mumbles as I sigh at the poor boy, feeling my heart clench from his kind but false words.
"I don't Cole…" I respond.
"You don't know if you'll die young…Solas could help you, he knows knowledge very old…" Cole whispers making me blink puzzled.
"Cole it's complicated…" I sigh exhausted.
"Why do you let that bad man control you? I hate him…" Cole hisses surprising me from the sheer hatred in his tone, scaring me a bit.
"Bad man?" I blink wary.
"I hate him," Stunned, I blink at the dark underline tone of the scowling Cole head down, his hands shaking in rage? As he continues playing with glass as I sigh, shaking my head at the boy.
"Why don't you go talk to Solas I'm sure he can…" Cole recommends.
"O…okay," Calmly, I help Cole up, head down as he is about to leave however…
"You deserve more joy than any one of us," Cole mutters seriously as I smile slightly at the boy, gently tousling his blonde locks, making me chuckle as he clings to his leather hat.
"Cole…" I sigh but it's too late as he leaves. I notice my scowling Brother's frown soften and Meredith blink puzzled, shrugging it off, as they forget him…but not me. Why not me?
Frowning, we make our way through Crestwood, in search of Stroud, the warden we plan to meet well I've already met but still…frowning, I watch as Eve enters one of the residents homes, reading a letter as bored the others begin to talk while I simply watch.
"I'm hurting you Dorian words widening, wounding you said I could ask I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Cole apologises.
"I know you did the things you ask are just…very personal," Dorian turns away grimacing.
"But it hurts I want to help but its tangled with love, I can't tangle it loose without teasing it, you hold him so tightly you let it keep hurting cause you think hurting is who you are, why would you do that?" Cole frowns.
"Someone tell him to stop!" Dorian begs as surprisingly, I feel Doran's hand on me making me flinch as he glances at me.
"Cole…" Eve turns to him.
"Mum…why did you go away? Why did you give me this gift, I hate you!" Cole blurts out making Solas and I raise a brow briefly.
"Stop!" Eve staggers back surprising us.
"Cole enough…" Gently, I intervene, placing my hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his muttering as he turns to me, his blues returning back to reality, looking guilty but most of all confused.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Cole bows his head, regret evident in his tone as I feel a pang of pain in my heart at the poor soul.
"Cole…" Solas tries to help.
"Demon! He should be…" Vivienne spits out in disdain.
"Finish that sentence and so help me whatever is out there woman I will deck you!" Protectively, I stand in front of Cole, snarling at the startled, Vivienne sneering down at me until huffing and storming forward, calling me a savage making me scoff.
"Fennic isn't a savage, Fennic is Fennic," Innocently, Cole whispers as we continue on, the tension still resonating in the air.
"You are quiet, Solas," Cole notes oblivious to the tension.
"Unless I have something to say, yes," Solas confirms.
"No, inside. I don't hear your hurt as much. Your song is softer, subtler, not silent but still," Cole exclaims making me blink puzzled by his words.
"How small the pain of one man seems when weighed against the endless depths of memory, of feeling, of existence. That ocean carries everyone. And those of us who learn to see its currents move through life with their fewer ripples," Solas responds calmly.
"There is pain though, still within you," Cole points out as briefly, I raise a brow at the silent Solas turning away.
"And I never said that there was not," Briskly, Solas confesses turning away, briefly brushing my hand against his as he goes on ahead, exiting the house as Eve turns to me in disdain, passing me the letter as my eyes still remain glued to hers.
"This bastard…" Eve curses startling me considering her formal and innocent language, I also forgot to mention the rift we had to deal with and the happy couple we had bumped into when attempting to drain the lake, yeah a silly affair honestly. We should be with shroud not here. Even meeting the mayor, though by the time we did return he had left, giving us access to his desk, and discovering…well.
But still when the old Crestwood was revealed….it was horrendous, undead all over and now turns out they had been flooded on purpose, according to the documents Eve found and they had planned to drown those infected by blight due to infecting those innocent to the blight back then…a dark method but desperate times calls for desperate measures, even if it killed many other innocent people, to think the mayor is responsible, he had blamed the darkspawn and such…it's…a conflicting matter, to think Eve would have found those numerous reports and evidence to the claim and case of the mayor being instrumental in the massacre of old Crestwood…
"They seemed so happy together but why hide their love?" Frowning, Cole turns to me referring to the lovesick couple from before.
"Status, wealth, riches who knows…" I trail off, noting Vivienne ignoring him, acting as though Cole doesn't exist.
"Love can be a complicated thing," Solas shrugs.
"People can be stupid," I huff.
"Now, now," Dorian smirks.
"I'm just being honest. If you like someone tell them, kiss 'em I don't know just be honest unless it affects the mission," I shrug.
"Hmm…now if you only you could follow that advice," Lowly, I hear Dorian whisper cheekily only to snicker from my harsh glare.
"This is his confession," Eve mutters, still reading the numerous documents she picked up, seeing them as evidence for the upcoming trail or judgement no doubt…
Determined, we head over to the location in meeting Stroud, this time due to tensions rising, we have Bull with us instead of the prick, I'm sorry, I mean Vivienne. Every now and again, I raise a brow when noting every now and again Bull giving Dorian a look, reminding me of the look he gave Cassandra, even Leliana once, heck I think he gave me that look, reminds me of the look he gave that redhead, Krem had a thing for back at the pub, oh boy, be careful Dorian, still though it would be interesting, a Qunari and a Vint, my two most greatest enemies, well not them but still…that would be…fascinating to see two species on the brink of war, falling in love with one another, heh, sounds like something from a fairy-tale…
"I am sorry your friend died Solas," Cole apologises as I notice him grimace briefly at the reminder.
"Thank you Cole," Solas exclaims.
"Fennic told me there were spirits of wisdom, she's friends with one I never thought I'd get to meet one," Cole confesses.
"There are few. Spirits form as a reflection of this world and its passions. We will never lack for spirits of rage or hunger or desire. The world gives them plenty to mirror. The gentler spirits are far more rare. We can ill afford the loss of even one spirit of wisdom or faith…or compassion," Sombrely, Solas explains, briefly glancing at me, smiling lightly making me frown when he sees my slight interest in his words.
"I will try not to die," Cole promises.
"Do that please," Solas bows his head as we continue on our way…
"Bright and brilliant. He wanders the ways, walking unwaking, searching for wisdom," Cole blurts out making us blink by his words.
"I do not need you to do that Cole," Solas tells him.
"Your friend wanted you to be happy even though she knew you wouldn't be," Cole sighs.
"Could you…If you would remember her, could you do it as I would?" Solas requests making me grimace in pain, gently wrapping my fingertips around his hand, giving him a brief squeeze as he returns it, looking sorrowfully at me as I smile weakly in return.
"He comes to me as if the fade were just another wooded path to walk without a care, in search of wisdom. We share the ancient mysteries, the feelings lost, forgotten dreams, unseen for ages, now behold in wonder. In his own way he knew wisdom as no man nor spirit had before. But throughout my travels, he always looked so sad, so lonely but then…when I saw him just as I was freed, I was glad to see him not alone, he finally founds the wisdom he searched for, he found hope for his people…." Briefly, Cole turns to glance at me, making me raise a brow slightly creeped out.
"Thank you," Solas bows his head grateful as my brow furrows even more perplexed but sigh too tired to care as we continue on.
"You don't need to envy me, Solas. You can find happiness in your own way, you already some a shred of it" Cole assures Solas as I raise a brow at his words.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Cole. I am not a spirit, and sometimes it is hard to remember such simple truths," Solas responds calmly.
"They are not gone so long as you remember them," Cole informs him.
"I know," Solas mutters.
"But you could let them go," Cole suggests softly.
"I know that as well." Solas responds.
"You didn't do it to be right. You did it to save them," Cole assures him as Eve turns to me and I shrug, having no clue.
"Solas, what is Cole talking about?" Eve questions.
"A mistake. One of many made by a much younger elf who was certain he knew everything," Solas turns away pained.
"You weren't wrong, though," Cole assures him.
"Thank you, Cole," Solas thanks him.
"Right…that wasn't weird now let's just do this," I grumble clapping my hands and then leading the way as Hawke instructed.
"I think I know what you're problem is Dorian," Bull begins as Eve turns to me worried, pleading for me to stop them, not wanting to endure such embarrassment knowing Bull however I remain stoic, better to have this conversation then that weird conversation prior.
"I have only the one?" Dorian plays along.
"You wish," I scoff, snarky as Dorian feigns a hurt expression, hand on his chest making me roll my eyes at the fool.
"You see a man who is burnt out who left his people, an entire life behind and for what?" Bull proposes.
"You're not suggesting we're similar?" Dorian furrows his brow.
"How's that mirror treating you? Pretty picture isn't it?" Bull smirks smugly.
"I may vomit," Dorian turns his face away towards a familiar looking bush as quickly, I grasp his shoulder.
"Don't go into the nestles trust me not a good memory!" I intervene, pushing Dorian away from the nestles.
"Wait! I'll flex for you, make it easier," Dorian winks as I join Dorian in the notion of being revolted at the sight.
"FEEENNNIC!" Eve whines fearful, clinging to me much to my annoyance as I shove the moaning girl to the side, huffing annoyed by her clinginess.
"Better than talking about his daddy issues…" I huff, ignoring the slight disgust at the two flirting, well Bull flirting while Dorian is repulsed…that's what he keeps telling himself.
"You took your time," Hawke smirks waving us over into the cave.
"Sorry it wouldn't have taken so long if we didn't have chatter boxes at the back," I huff as we enter the cave following Hawke inside…
Smirking, I watch as Eve looks around hearing the ring of metal as Eve speaks back frowning at the sword aimed at her.
"Jeez Stroud that isn't the best way to greet an old friend now is it?" Smirking, Hawke approaches.
"The inquisitor at that," I remind him smirking as he withdraws his blade.
"I've had worse," Smugly, Eve shrugs.
"My name is Stroud and I am at your service Inquisitor…" Stroud introduces himself.
"Thanks for the aid, it's an honour to meet a grey warden. I know the wardens are struggling from what I saw prior, most likely due to Corypheus I presume," Eve remarks to the wardens we fought earlier as Hake assures us they are on bad orders while she tells us of them most likely being after Stroud.
"I fear it is so. When my friend Hawke and her friends slew Corypheus Weisshaupt was happy to put the matter to rest but an archdemon can survive wounds that are fatal and I feared, Corypheus might possess the same people. My investigation uncovered clues but not proof, every warden in Orlais began to hear the calling," Stroud reports.
"I recall that being a bad thing. But I don't recall you telling me about this…" Hawke frowns scowling at Stroud withholding this info.
"It was a grey warden matter. I was bound by an oath of secrecy," Shroud argues.
"And the calling is?" Eve frowns.
"The calling tells a warden that the blight will soon claim them. Starts with dreams, then comes whispers in the head. The warden says their farewells and goes to the Deep Roads to meet his death in combat," Shroud informs them.
"And all of them are hearing that right now? They think they're dying?" Eve summarises.
"Yes, likely because of Corypheus. If the wardens fall who will stand against the next blight? It is our greatest fear," Shroud sighs sadly shaking his head.
"This means there desperate, so of course they follow the creepy rock guy…" Sighing, I blank out as Eve questions and they get investigated
"We are the only ones who can slay archdemon. Without us, the next blight will consume the world. Warden Commander Clarel spoke of a blood mage ritual to prevent future blights before we all perished. When I protested the plan as madness my own comrades turned on me. Grey wardens are gathering here in the Western Approach. It is an ancient Tevinter ritual tower, meet me there and we will find answers," Shroud declares as we all nod, finding our next destination and we head off to the Western Approach…