Author's Notes:
Wee! Chapter 16!
I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's just little fun stuff on the road to skyhold.
'italics' - thoughts
To Skyhold we go!
They have been on the road for two days now. Lavellan kept her word, guiding the people of Haven to Skyhold. Solas always beside her, telling her which path to take. In those two days, some people didn't make the trip. Some of their injured people succumbed to their wounds. She blamed herself, each death meant a child lost a parent, a lover lost a loved one, parents lost a child, but no one ever blamed her. In fact, they praised her, worshiped her, they thank her. She didn't want any of those, but as Mother Giselle said, they have to keep moving, do not dwell in the past. So, she does what she does best, keeping all the guilt, all the pain and all other emotions to herself. Drowning herself. Night time approached and everyone camped for the third night. Everyone was exhausted, a fine ram stew was needed to fill their bellies. Lavellan and her inner circle sat together in one of the camp fire, they were joined by Josephine, Leliana, and Cullen. From outside of the circle, it was a rare sight to see all the powerful people sitting together, eating, laughing and conversing; to the people of Haven it was a sight to behold.
"And then…he walked out with no breeches!" Sera laughed and everyone else joined.
"Really? In front of everyone?" Josephine asked giggling.
"Yea, it was a sight!" Sera beamed.
"I wish I had seen that!" Bull said.
"Why don't you tell us one of your fun missions Bull?" Lavellan asked.
"Yea! I agree!" Sera said.
"Alright…let me see…I got a good one. My chargers and I went giant-baiting."
"What's Giant-baiting?" Blackwall asked.
"So this old guy, Comte Vanchess, has some kind of pageant planned, but he needs a giant, which is off in some damn cave. He's got some kind of rare charm to control the giant, but no way he's going into that cave himself. So we go in, kill some spiders, find the giant, and wake it up. It attacks us, because of course it does, and we let the big bastard chase us outside, where Vanchess is waiting."
"That was actually your plan? To let a giant chase you?" Cassandra chuckled.
"Yeah, we had to stay out of reach but close enough that it wouldn't give up. It was tricky. Good news is that giants are slow. Long as my guys ahead could clear out the spider, we were fine. Bad news is that giant spiderwebs slow you down a bit more than you'd think."
"Did the Comte got his spider for the pageant?" Cullen asked.
"Ah, turned out that charm was a phony. Giant ate the poor guy alive. It's okay though, we still got paid." Bull finished, smirking.
"Ew! But funny! Rich tits always think they high and mighty." Sera laughed. Everyone else snickered.
As time goes by, Varric told them stories about his adventures with the Champion of Kirkwall. Leliana even told them stories of her adventures with the Hero of Ferelden. Overall the night was fun and relaxing for everyone.
"Alright! I have game in mind. No it's not wicked grace, or diamondback. I call it…choices! Wait…no…sticks…yes sticks." Sera held out one of her hand with sticks.
"Uhm…what do we do exactly?" Erelan asked, skeptical.
"Easy, just pull out a stick. There are four sticks that are the same size, whoever gets em, they have to share tents!"
"So…we are gambling…on…who we share tents with?" Dorian asked.
"Yes, well here's the tricky part, only those four people can share, everyone else can decide who they want to share with." Sera replied, grinning.
"I'm in, this sounds interesting." Varric said. "If we refuse to share with those people?"
"The consequences…will be…well…I'm not saying, but you will not like it." Sera smiled, devilishly.
Everyone knows Sera has ways to make things…unpleasant. They all agreed to the terms, whatever she has in her mind, no one wants to be a victim of it.
"Right, everyone ready? Oh rules, uh…one rule; no showing till everyone picked their stick, and I say so." Sera said looking around. Everyone nodded in agreement.
She walked around holding up the sticks as each takes one and hides it.
"Alright, lets show our hands!" Sera opened up her palms, everyone else followed. They looked around and to everyone's surprise, and embarrassment, Lavellan, Solas, Erelan and Cullen have the same size of sticks. Sera burst laughing.
"Andraste's ass…either Sera tricked you, or all of you have…bad luck or good luck, depends on your views." Varric said, shaking his head grinning.
"Well…this night just got more interesting." Dorian smiled.
"Try not to be loud." Bull winked at them.
Everyone bid eachother goodnight and gave the 'victims' a good luck gesture. Sera was the last one to leave, giving them the 'don't even try to get out of this' look, and they all know better not to deceive her. She's weird, but she is very clever. All four of them sat down at the campfire, too stunned to talk. Of all people, why did it have to be them. Lavellan looked over at Solas, who is calm and reading a book.
'How does he stay so calm!'
'It's because he is an egghead!'
'Yet…you fell for this egghead, whether you like it or not.'
Lavellan sighed, and looked over to Erelan; she was calm too. A realization dawned on her, she never really brought her along on their missions, besides the Crestwood one. The fact she barely spoke with Erelan, since she joined them, months ago. Determined to change that, she walked over to her.
"Hey." She said awkwardly. Erelan looked up.
"Hi."
"Mind…if I sit next to you?"
"Of course not, please." Erelan gestured towards the empty spot, and she sat next to her. Awkward silence.
"So…either fate is working on this…or we have bad luck." Erelan said. Lavellan chuckled.
"Both probably."
"Wonder which one of us has it, bad luck I mean." Erelan smirked.
"Most likely me." Lavellan stretched her arms and looked up the sky. "I mean…I fell from the sky…so they say. I got this mark. Got into this…mess, but good things came out of it though." She smiled.
"Oh? What would that be?" Erelan raised an eyebrow.
"I met everyone here, got to know them little by little."
"Hmm…its more like…you are glad to meet…" Erelan leaned on Lavellan, and whispered in her ear. "Solas." Lavellan abruptly turned her head to Erelan causing them to head-butt eachother hard.
"FENEDHIS!" They both yelled in unison. Their reaction caught the attention of both Solas and Cullen, who are looking at them confused.
"Ow…for the love of…why…why would you…say that!" Lavellan hissed. Erelan rubbing her forehead laughed.
"Your reaction is much better than I imagined!" She winced at the pain. "Cause its true isn't it? Everyone sees it!"
"What? Everyone? Am I making it that obvious?"
"More like both of you are making it obvious, you and Solas." She grinned. Lavellan looked at her wide eyed. Before she could reply, Solas and Cullen stood infront of them, worried.
"Are you two alright?" Cullen asked.
"Yes, were fine. Our dear Herald might not be. Seeing she is still 'recovering'." Her grin grew wider as she looked Lavellan.
"What-" Her respond was cut short when a cool hand pressed on her forehead. She looked up and it was Solas.
"You should be more careful, lethallin." He whispered. Lavellan couldn't help but blush.
"I…sorry…yes…I'll be careful." She responded diffidently, she hears Erelan giggling. Solas finished cooling her forehead, and an idea came over her.
"Cullen, I believe I hit our dear friend's forehead too hard, that she is not thinking right." This time it was her turn to grin at Erelan.
Before Erelan could speak up, Cullen, without thinking took a handful of snow, and slapped it on her forehead, water dripping as it melted on contact. Too stunned to react, Erelan took a deep breath.
"Cullen…I…appreciate…your concern, but…I don't think…this is how it works…"
Realizing what he had done, he gasps. "Makers breath! I apologize…I didn't mean to…I mean I was just…ugh…forgive me."
Lavellan burst out laughing, holding her stomach. Solas tried to hide his laugh, by biting his lips to no avail, and let out a loud chuckle. Cullen instantly turned crimson red, rubbing his neck. Erelan glared at Lavellan and Solas.
"Ha Ha, very funny Herald." She countered.
Wiping her tears, Lavellan said "Please, call me Lavellan. You know I don't like being called that 'forced' title'."
"Hmm…Levy. I'll call you Levy for short." She smirked.
"That's fine by me. I'll call you Ery."
Cullen took out his handkerchief, and offered it to her. "Here…it's the only right thing I can do."
"Thank you…and don't worry about it. Please." She patted her face down, she was about to hand him back his handkerchief and realized it was wet. "Oh…let me clean this for you, and I'll give it back."
"No need to-" She stopped Cullen.
"I insist." She tucked his handkerchief in her pockets.
"Out of curiosity, what were you two talking about, and ended up hitting your heads." Solas asked, as he composed himself.
"Ah…we were talking about this situation, us four are in." Erelan replied.
"We don't exactly have to do what the bet is, I mean whatever the consequences are, it can't be that bad." Cullen said.
"You…clearly don't know Sera." Lavellan replied.
"Trust me when I say Commander, you do not want to get involved in her…pranks." Solas said as a matter of fact. Erelan burst out laughing, completely catching Lavellan and Cullen off guard, and Solas just glaring at her.
"I remembered walking around, I saw Solas sleeping against a tree…and…then" She tries to control her laughter. "A chicken was on top of his head! Like it was protecting its…egg!" The last word made her laugh so hard, she fell off her seat and rolled laughing.
Lavellan tried to not laugh, but it was hard, in time she laughed as hard. Cullen chuckled, but turned around and laughed as well. Solas crossed his arms, and sighed in defeat. That prank wasn't the only one either, she filled his bedroll with lizards in more than one occasion.
"Unless you don't want to wake up in something that would haunt you, I suggest to go through with the bet." Solas said.
Everyone stopped laughing, wiping tears from their eyes, clearing their throats. Erelan got up, and brushed herself.
"It's getting late, we should…rest for the night." Lavellan said, blushing at the thought of sharing a tent with Solas.
'Damn it, if this is how fate is, it is not the time!'
'You know you're enjoying this.'
'Stop it.'
'Sharing a tent with the one man you love! Oh la la!'
'Shut up!'
Erelan linked her arms with Lavellan, and pulled her towards the tent. Solas and Cullen following behind.
"So…how should…we position ourselves?" Erelan whispered.
"Position?!"
"Not like that! I mean…like…side by side?"
"Oh…I was thinking you and I on one side and them on the other side." Lavellan replied, imagining it.
"I like that idea." They stopped infront of the tent and Erelan turned around. "Stop right there! Us ladies need to change into our nightly clothes." She said. Cullen and Solas looked at eachother and nodded in agreement, standing outside waiting.
As they started to undress and in their smalls. Lavellan sneaked up on Erelan and grabbed her breasts, and talked loudly for the men to hear outside the tent.
"Ery! Have your breasts gotten bigger?!" She teased.
"FOR THE LOVE OF-! LEVY!" Erelan jumped away from her, and glared. "Really?!"
Lavellan laughed. Erelan growled and tackled her, both women still in their smalls. Erelan took the opportunity and fondled her breasts. Lavellan yelped at the touch.
"Hmm…Levy your breasts are so soft! It feels nice on my hand!" Erelan teased, making sure her voice is loud enough for the men to hear.
"Ery! Stop! Please! I yield! I'm sorry!"
"But we are having so much!" Teased Erelan.
Lavellan squirmed under Erelan, trying to escape, but fails. Outside they hear Solas coughing, and talking.
"If…you two don't mind, we would like to rest soon, before day breaks."
Erelan rolled her eyes, and grunts. "Fine, hold on!" She got off Lavellan and helped her up as they quickly changed. "Come in!" She called out.
Both men walked in, Cullen was bright red, avoiding eye contact. Solas, try as he might, his red ears betrayed his blush. A small smile formed on Erelan's lips.
'My my, the dread wolf blushes.'
They set their bedrolls, Lavellan and Erelan sleeping together on one side, Solas and Cullen on the other. Slowly sleep settles in on them.
The cold night air, seeped through the tent, making it cold. Lavellan curled up in her own bedroll, brows furrowing, teeth chattering and body shivering. A warm sensation came over her, and she felt like she is floating. Thinking, that it is probably Erelan, hugging her, she shifted closer to the warmth and slept peacefully through the night. Erelan slept peacefully, soft fur around her, and a warmth sensation surrounding her, as she shifts closer.
The sun has risen, and everyone in the camp are awake and getting ready for the hike of the day. Except, four certain people are missing. Cassandra, Josephine, Leliana and Sera checked on them. Sera slowly, quietly opened their tent, a wide grin formed on her face. She turned around, holding the tent open a little and let the others peak inside. Each of them grinning at the sight. Solas and Lavellan both arms around eachother, one of her leg wrapped around his hips. His left arm as her pillow, while the other wrapped around her, holding her butt. Cullen's arms wrapped around Erelan, embracing her, as she laid on top, her head on his chest, arms around him, their legs wrapping eachother. It was a sight to be seen, Sera pulled the party and they all took turns looking through. Each of them snickering, and grinning at eachother. Everyone knew, these four people have feelings for eachother, but too stubborn to act on it. They all silently walked away, whispering to eachother. Today was going to be a good day.
Solas is the first to wake up. He looked around and saw his sister and Cullen wrapped around eachother. He smirked. A slight movement made him look down next to him and saw Lavellan stirring on him. She is drooling on his arm and chest. He chuckled softly. For the first time since he awoke, he slept soundly, no dreams. He slowly moved strands of hair from her face, she was beautiful. He closed his eyes, and savored this peaceful moment, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Lavellan slowly opened her eyes, she shifted her legs and hit something, a soft groan can be heard. Her body went stiff, her eyes wide open as she realized she is no longer in her bedroll. She tilted her head up, and saw Solas staring at her. She gasps in surprise, blushing madly. She was about to get up when Solas, held her down and put a finger on her lips, hushing her. He pointed his finger behind her, she turned around and saw Cullen and Erelan, wrapped together. She put a hand on her mouth, in surprise.
"We shouldn't disturb them don't you think?" Solas whispered.
Lavellan still blushing madly, just nodded in agreement. She noticed he was shirtless, and only had his breeches on. Her face turned red like a tomato.
'How the hell did this happen?!'
'Did you just walk over to him and invaded his bedroll?'
'No…something warm touched you last night…wasn't it Erelan?'
'Or...Solas carried you from your bed to his?'
'HA! Right, as if that…wait maybe?'
'You were shivering and teeth chattering last night.'
'Was I that loud…? Shit!'
'Hey, your dream came true!'
'Shut up!'
"We should get ready. I believe everyone is outside now, preparing for the trip." Solas said.
"Yes, of course." She replied, voice hoarse from just waking up.
They both quietly got up, and Solas first dressed himself, and walked out of the tent. Lavellan dressed herself quickly before either Cullen or Erelan wakes up. She grabbed her things and walked out of the tent.
Moments after they both left, Cullen woke up rubbing his eyes. Feeling a weight on him, he looked down and saw Erelan sleeping on top of him. It was a sight to savor. She looked ethereal, sleeping. He moved a single strand of hair from her face. She stirred at his slight touch, and his body stiffed. From their position her abdomen is touching, something between his legs. He groaned and hoped she wouldn't notice. Erelan opened her eyes, and looked up, her eyes meeting his eyes, as they stare at eachother. It took a moment for her mind to realize what position she and Cullen are in. Both their eyes went wide, shocked, and she scrambled away from him. She sat upright, and bowed her head in apology.
"I am so sorry! I- I- I don't know what happened." She stuttered.
Cullen sat up and rubbed his neck, his face red. "No…I apologize, I…don't know what happened either."
Slowly, she looked up, and her face turned crimson red. Cullen was shirtless, his toned body exposed. She couldn't help but stare in awe, she was probably drooling, as she felt her lips watering.
"Uh…we should…uhm get ready." Cullen interrupted her gaze.
"Yes, of course." She replied, looking away from him.
Cullen dressed first, and made his way out of the tent. After he left, she changed her clothes, and packed up her things.
'Oh…creators…what just happened.'
'You laid with the hottest Shem ever.'
'Ugh! Shut up!'
'Shirtless too.'
'FENEDHIS LASA!'
She grabbed her bag and walked out of the tent. Cullen already commanding his soldiers to start dismantling the tents, and help people pack up. She saw Lavellan and the others and joined them. Lavellan was bright red, and everyone was grinning from ear to ear. Today is totally going to be not a good day.
Erelan, Cullen, Solas, and Lavellan all had an earful about what transpired in their tent. Sera, Bull and Varric mostly interrogating them with questions, teased them nonstop. Sera making kissing noises, while everyone else giggled. Lavellan rolled her eyes, and kicked her horse into a sprint, leaving behind everyone. Erelan galloped after her, Solas and Cullen behind.
'Stupid! Stupid stupid! What makes you think no one would notice?!'
'Calm down…if you think about it, he also embraced you.'
'…right…but why would he when…I doubt he has feelings for me.'
'Pfftttt…probably don't! or maybe.'
'Or not! Wait why am I arguing about this?!'
Erelan called out to Lavellan, catching up to her.
"Levy! Wait!" Lavellan slowed her horse. "Don't mind them. You know how they are."
Lavellan sighed heavily. "I know…but it's embarrassing."
"Oh? Which one, the fact you have feelings for him, or the fact you got caught cuddling?"
"Both? I think? I mean…am not embarrassed I like him…love? I don't know anymore."
"I think…its great to fall in love." Erelan smiled at her.
"Not at this time. We have a war coming…a major war. I mean we are fighting a God." Lavellan muttered.
"His not a God, he thinks he is. The way I see it, love is the light that shines bright when there is darkness."
"Pfft…you sound like Solas now."
Erelan chucked. "Are you going to fall in love with me now?" She teased.
"Shut up…You know what I mean."
"Go Fall in love Levy, who knows…maybe the feeling is mutual." Erelan winked.
She turned around and trotted towards Solas and Cullen, who are slowly following from behind. She stopped infront of Solas.
"Talk to her, stop hiding, and just confess already." She glared at him. Solas nodded and rode towards Lavellan. Erelan and Cullen stayed behind, watching.
Cullen cleared his throat. "You…think it'll work out? For them, I mean."
"Because she is known as the Herald, and he is an apostate?" She replied, watching her brother riding beside Lavellan.
"That isn't what…I mean…"
"Its fine Cullen, no matter what everyone says, in my eyes I see two apostates, falling in love with eachother, but duty separating them. I think that is stupid, duty should not stop you for finding what little happiness this world gives." Cullen stayed quiet, as they both look them.
'And what little time they both have with eachother…'
Solas and Lavellan looked on as they both sat on their horses, side by side. Silence. Lavellan, broke the silence between them.
"Solas…I…"
"I know…" He replied softly.
"You…know?" She asked, bewildered. "Did Ery tell you?"
"No…no one. I…figured it out myself." Lavellan's eyes went wide.
'Fenedhis!'
'Here you thought you hid your feelings so well.'
'Apparently not.'
She turned her face away from him, trying to hide her now, red face. Solas smiles, he reached out and cupped her chin and slowly turned her around. She stared at him, her face clearly more red than the color itself. He pulled her toward him, and slowly and softly their lips met. The kiss sent shivers down her spine. They pulled away, the kiss maybe brief, but it blew all the doubts and fear she had held for so long away. She stared at Solas, and saw in his eyes love but also doubts. Her heart sank a bit, she furrowed her eyebrows as she looks at him.
"What's…wrong?" She asked.
"I'm sorry…I…shouldn't have done that." He replied, looking away.
"Do you…not want this?" She bit her lip, holding back tears from falling.
"No…I…it's been a long time. I do want this…but I just need some time. There are…some considerations." He thought she wouldn't understand but her reply, proved him wrong.
"No rush. Take all the time you need." She smiled at him. Her smile was contagious that he himself genuinely smiled.
Solas and Lavellan rode back, hand in hand towards Cullen and Erelan.
"Hmm…I take it both of you are…together?" Erelan asked, grinning.
"No, we are…working on it." Solas replied.
"Ah…slowly then." Erelan confirmed.
"Yes." Solas agreed.
"If you say so, but we should head back, people will think we have abandoned them." Erelan said, turning around. Cullen followed beside her. Solas and Lavellan followed behind.
As they neared the others, Solas gave her hand a squeezed and let her go. The warmth his hand brought, quickly disappeared, and she missed it. The scene infront of them was not what they anticipated. Sera, Varric, Bull and his chargers along with children throwing snowballs at eachother. Everyone else looking on, laughing and cheering them on. Sera was the first to see them, and threw the snowball in her hands at Lavellan, and hits her face.
"SERA!" She yelled out.
"That's what you get! Leaving us behind!" Sera called out, laughing.
Lavellan jumped off her horse, and started gathering snow, and molded it in a ball. Sera stopped laughing.
"Oh frig!" She ran away. Lavellan chasing after her, ready to throw the ball.
"We should…really get going…" Cullen said.
"Do not worry Commander. We are only a day away from our destination." Solas assured him.
"Wouldn't it be better if-" A snow ball hit Cullen's face. Solas laughed. Cullen wiped his face, and looked at the culprit. Erelan. She grinned at him, one hand behind her. He knew she is going to strike again. "You will regret throwing that." He said, jumping off his horse.
"Oh really?" She mocked.
Cullen formed a snowball in his hand. He stood up, right as he turned another snowball hit his face. He glared at Erelan, and she ran away, Cullen chasing her. Solas looked on, watching his sister having fun. A snowball hit his face, caught him off guard. He wiped his face, and looked at the culprit. Lavellan. He shook his head, and jumped off his horse. Unlike the others, he used magic to form a lot of snowballs. Lavellan, ran away hiding behind Bull, using him as shield. Solas, magically maneuvered the snowball and hit Lavellan on her face. Everyone laughed and a massive snowball fight broke out.
As night falls, everyone settled in their camp. They were now just a few feet away from Skyhold. A massive bonfire lit up the camp site, and everyone gathered for drinks, food, and company. Erelan pulled Lavellan for a dance around the fire, each time they pass people, they dragged them, until everyone surrounded the fire and dance the night away. It was mid afternoon when they finally arrived in Skyhold. It was breath taking.
Author's notes:
Hope you enjoyed that reading.
The next chapters will now pretty much revolved our four lovers!
Skyhold is the place where "Magic" happens!
Until next time!
(currently working on the next chapter)
