Daughter of Tethras
Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age
A/N:
Chapter 35 (Friends to go the Distance)
Bianca walked quietly up the tavern stairs to where Cole was, listening to Sera's frustrated tone. She met the elf halfway down and started to say something, but Sera met her with a cold sneer that warned Bianca to leave her be for now. "I guess I'll see what that was all about when I talk to Cole…"
Cole was waiting at the top of the stairs, and spoke before she could get a word out. "She still doesn't like when I say things that creep her out, but I think she's warming up to me."
"She looked pretty upset just then." She smirked and Cole slouched. He sauntered back to his corner, seemingly defeated. It hurt to see him depressed, and she knew Sera was probably just blowing off steam yet again, and it had more to do with her than it did him. "Cole, I'm sure it personal. It's not you."
"I don't understand. If not me, then what is it?"
"You go deep. Do you remember when I asked you a long time ago not to try and 'fix' what was going on with me? What was going on with my father?" Cole sat on the corner post of the railing and nodded.
"Yes, and I didn't. I try not to pry because you asked me not to, and because Varric isn't comfortable with me going into his mind either."
"We have our reasons, Cole. You go deep into the minds and hearts of people." She sat beside him and hooked her feet around the bars of the railing. "You see how people feel about things, and for some people, when you talk about their feelings in a certain way…you trigger things. Memories that they push down because they don't want to remember, memories they may not want other people knowing about. Do you understand?"
"Like you, and how you don't want people to know what the Carta did to you?" She flinched and shut her eyes, breathing in slow. Cole frowned and bowed his head. "Sorry."
"Yes. Still, knowing that, you can think of ways to make people feel better. By being their friend, by being with them, saying things that help them to move on."
"Do I help?"
"Yes. You and Sera both." Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Sera standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her back was turned to the steps and her arms were crossed, but she could sense the girl was listening. A smile grew on her face and she looked up at Cole. "The two of you are my closest friends here, along with Cassandra, and spending time with you has really helped me. Being with my father has really helped too."
"Varric is happy. Happier than he has been for a very long time." Cole swept his feet through the air, and swayed back. "He knows his daughter loves him and he loves her very much, he's proud of the person she's becoming and can't wait to be there as she grows."
She grinned with delight and let escape a happy chuckle. "I'm glad. I know he hurts when he sees Marcus and Amelia, or when he sees my mother, so things like that you don't have to talk about. Sometimes it's easy to know these things when you care about somebody."
"Sometimes I feel something from someone, and I have to share it. I feel like if I don't let it out, no one will help that person." Cole looked up to the sky and an intense sorrow came over him. "Like the sad man that feels like he can only be alone."
Bianca furrowed her brow and leaned back, unable to think of who that could be. "And what does that lonely man feel, Cole?"
"He…" Cole hesitated and turned his head towards her, gazing in her eyes. "There are two candles he bears. In his heart he has two flames." She hummed, growing more curious the deeper she thought. Mentally, she wasn't able to picture who this was, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Two flames burn hot in a heart hung by guilt. One flame he feels he has snuffed out, and the other flame has opened his eyes. He is unworthy to hold either, and he knows it."
"I see, but Cole, you know that person may find his solace somewhere, some day. You just have to trust that things might work out one day."
"I know. It's hard to let go sometimes, but I will try." Silence fell over them like a shroud, leaving Bianca with her thoughts. Cole's words were cryptic, and the way he looked at her, it seemed he was speaking about someone she knew. The only one she could think of was Lantos, but the thought that he'd be the person was slightly unnerving.
After a while Cole hopped off the railing and moved towards his usual corner of the room. "You know Bianca, Varric would probably force open the fade if he lost you again."
She pushed off the rail and chuckled. "I don't have my doubts." Her dad was protective, and he had clear reason to be. "That reminds me, the reason I came up here. I wanted to talk to you."
"About?"
"Well…" She turned her head, calling down to Sera. "You too Sera. I wanted talk to both of you." She crossed her arms and smirked when she heard Sera begin muttering.
"Do I have to come up there where Cole is?"
"Oh come off it Sera, you know as well as I do you like him. You're just sore because he can see how you feel about stuff."
"Ugh." The sound of feet stomping against wood gave her an urge to laugh, but she swallowed it down lest she incur more anger from Sera.
Sera stepped before them, tense and angrier than she'd seen for quite some time. The girl's glare burned with great fire, and for a moment Bianca could have sworn she heard the elf's teeth grinding behind clenched lips.
"Sera, what's worng?"
"What's wrong?" Sera grabbed her hair and raised her voice. "What's wrong? You know what's wrong." Bianca glanced at Cole, who merely looked away. "You're leaving, that's what's wrong. You're leaving, and I'm not going to have anyone to do anything with besides this guy that can sense everything I feel."
"Sera, I-"
"And don't say I'm being overdramatic." Sera turned her back to her and crossed her arms. Her angry huff seemed to bounce off the walls, shaking the very room.
"Morrigan was right," Bianca whispered to herself. While she didn't doubt the woman, this was the first time she was seeing just how her friends felt about the planned journey-aside from Cassandra. She walked over and started to place a hand on Sera's shoulder.
"Don't touch me. I don't want to be touched."
"Sera, I want you to come with us." Sera's shoulders rose and her body froze in place. Cole raised his head up and Bianca looked over her shoulder to him. "Both of you." Her voice started to shake, causing her a deal of embarrassment as she grew flustered in a fevered attempt to quell the nervous emotion. "Look. You two are my best friends, and I've never had friends close enough to call that…"
Sera's head turned sideways and bowed. "You mean it?" There was a streak that ran like a river down the side of Sera's face, shimmering in the light of the tavern. "I thought you just cared about being with your dad, and didn't care about any of us."
She exhaled and walked to the front of her friend. "No." Her forehead creased and she put her hands on Sera's shoulders while looking into her eyes. "It's not like that at all, Sera. We're just a little concerned about getting past the barrier, but I couldn't leave you guys behind."
Cole walked over, peering out from underneath the dipped hat on his head. "You would miss us. We would miss you too. You're concerned about something, though." She pulled her hands away with a sigh and nodded.
"I am. About a lot. I wish I could ask everyone to come with me, but I know some aren't going to be able to go. Vivienne, for instance, mages are unable to get across that barrier…or at least, magic can't get through."
Sera's face scrunched and her nose wiggled a bit. "What concerns you about us?" The girl narrowed her eyes and pointed to the tip of her ear protruding from beneath her hair. "Is it my ears? I've heard talk about this new land not having elves. What? Are you afraid I'll be spit on in this new land because I'm an elf? Please, I can hide these things if I have to!"
"It's not wholly that." She paced to the right and wrung her hands together. "I just-everyone has ties to something here. I mean, my dad's going to leave Kirkwall behind for this journey. He was going to try and help the reconstruction efforts somehow, but he's decided that he wants to take this trip…"
"Okay."
"Thane isn't going back there, of course. He's coming with us." She stepped in front of the railing and grasped it gently with her hands. Sera and Cole walked up behind her, both peering down at the floor below. Bianca listened to the bard, taking the moment to breathe and listen to the music.
Cole whispered something and Bianca felt him nudge Sera. The girl leaned over the railing on her right and folded her arms on top of it. "You're worried about Red Jenny," Sera muttered, "You don't want to force me away from the group?"
She closed her eyes and started rubbing her neck, sighing heavily. "I'm not used to having people I can count on, people I can trust or call my friends." Her eyes filled with moisture and she turned around. "I'm not used to people making changes in their lives, in their schedule, or even worrying about me."
Asking Sera to leave Red Jenny behind was the hardest thing for her to do, and she didn't want to do it without considering that her new best friend may not want to break that connection.
Bianca put her hand to her chest and spoke with a shuttering breath. "I'm used to worrying about myself, shouldering everything on my own because nobody else will." Sera and Cole exchanged glances and flashed sorrowful smiles towards her. "I'm terrified to go to this new land. I don't know what to expect, and I know I'm probably going to be the only person on that boat my own age, with my own interests, and I don't want that to be the case…but I'm not going to ask you to leave Red Jenny behind if you don't want to. I'm not going to make you do that."
"If I do, it's my choice, Bianca. You know that."
"I don't want you to resent me for it."
"Why would I?" Sera hugged her, catching her off guard. The girl's voice grew quiet and Sera gently rubbed her back. "You're my closest friend too, Bianca. I don't want to lose you. As important as Red Jenny is to me, they'll survive-I know they'll be just fine regardless of where I am or what I'm doing, I have more important things to take care of."
"Really?"
"Really." Sera laughed and wiped away one of her own tears. "If you want me to go with you to this new place, I will. If I have to cut off the tips of my ears to go, I would." Cole's eyes grew wide and Bianca threw her hand over her mouth gasping into it.
"Don't go into extremes, Sera. Whatever you do."
"Just saying. I'd be happy to go and be there for support, and if that means leaving Red Jenny behind, so be it. I will; and for I won't regret it."
"I want to come too," Cole said abruptly. Bianca smiled and Sera dropped her hands to her hips. "Do you think I can get through that barrier, Bianca?"
"Good question." She hadn't thought about it. It was possible the barrier wouldn't let him through because he was a spirit taking over a body, but he was becoming more human and might be allowed through. "Solas seemed to know a bit about the barrier, so I could ask, but I don't know if he'll have the answer either."
"I hope I'd be able to cross it."
"I hope so too."
Sera looked between the two of them and rolled her eyes. "Yeah." She snorted and looked away while crossing her arms. "So do I." Cole grinned and Bianca stifled a laugh. "So someone better find out if Cole can get across safely as well."
Hey tell me what you think, I'm glad you're enjoying the tale thus far. So, do you think Sera and Cole might make good traveling companions, and will the guardian let them by? Also, who do you think the guardian of that barrier might be? He is someone you know, though his identity won't directly be revealed. Also, there are three "Big Bad" that remain, will they put up a fight? Count on it. Also, any thoughts on that last bit of cryptic statement from Cole?