Gentle nudging against my hand, I roll over. I mutter something as I cover my head with the blankets. "No…" I groan as the nudging against my hand now turned into pawing. "Thor…" I groan again. "Why don't you go bother Sten?" I try to bury myself within the covers but that wasn't enough to get the Mabari to leave me alone. For as the covers are pulled over my head, the weight upon the bed moves to the floor beside me. Slowly, but surly the blankets are being pulled away. I try to grab for them but the beast on the other end wouldn't let me have it. I roll out of bed, my feet upon the floor as I brace myself. "You can't have them!" I shout but not quite realizing I was still within the Castle of Redcliffe. "No, Thor! My blankets!" The sounds of movement outside of my door brings my full attention just as the door swings open. A very tired, very worn out Cullen stands within my doorway. His gaze shifts between the Mabari and I as he slowly starts to take in the sight.
"Are you alright?" I blink and the dog blinks. We stare at each other for a second and I let him have the blankets. "Uh… sure we're fine." I offer not quite realizing it was still dark out. "Did you just wake up?" He grunts, the sound I take as an answer to my question. "This is why I told Alistair I should have the room across from yours." I watch him stand up a little straighter and I realize he was in nothing but a pair of brown trousers. "What?" I shake the amusing thought from my mind as the words he had spoken reaches me. "Why? Do you both think I can't take care of myself?" I shoot him an angry glare but he shakes his head. "You know, this is way too early to be dealing with this." Before I know what I am doing I am upon my bed, crossing the distance between us and standing before him. He was still much taller than I was, even without his boots on. "I can take of myself, you know. It's just… Thor woke me up and I don't know why he did." A small whine is heard from behind me but I groan, my hands rubbing my eyes. "Why did you wake me up?" I turn around and he is pacing before the door leading to the outside. It wasn't really much of a door though not with the balcony right outside of it. Concern hits me suddenly, though it wasn't my own.
Cullen gently moves me aside and walks over to the door. As if he knew what to look for, he throws it open. "My, my I was wondering if you would keep up on your word." That damn elf! I am already plotting a spell within my head but Cullen shoots me that look, the look he normally has. "Zev, I told you not to spy on her. I just said to watch her." Apart of me was already hating them both for this pact they had. "Well, I can't do just one of them. I have to do both, yes?" I shiver and realized that was why Thor kept trying to get me up. "Have you always been out there?" He gracefully steps out from the shadows and passes Cullen without a thought. "No, I do have some respect for those who are already claimed by another." Huh? The confused look upon my face must have said everything because he laughs. "Well, I see that you are both are just as blind as Leliana had said." I find myself growing quite upset with his little stunt but Cullen closes the door. "I am not blind," I start to correct him. "Yes you are." I was about to push this further but I can hear a sigh leave Cullen. "Just go Zevran, she'll be fine with Thor." Of course I was. I didn't see why I had to have two body guards when I had one that was perfectly capable of… "And I'll stay here with her." What? I blink. Utterly lost for words he looks between the three of us and it is Zevran who bows to him. "Very well, just be careful with her. She is quite frail." I am not frail. I want nothing more than to smack them both. "Excuse me, but I'm standing right here and this is my room." Suddenly the very urge to stand up for myself kicks in. "I am fine with Thor and no one else. So how about you both just leave." My hands find my hips but I swear the two men standing before me had no idea what to make of this. What helped, however, was the soft growl coming from behind them. Cullen slowly turns around, his eyes landing upon Thor, whose hackles were up. "I think you should listen to my beastly friend and get out, now."
For once in my life, I actually stood up for myself. Despite the fact I would more than likely regret it in the morning. Mainly dealing with a very moody Cullen, who would dodge my questions for the next few days. Though with Thor on my side the two men turn back to me. "I do believe the lady and her loyal hound, seem to speak our words for us, yes?" Cullen sighed looking to Zevran, who just seemed as eager as usual to get out of dodge. I on the other hand was waiting, for something. "I'll leave but I hope you understand something," he turned to Thor who sat back on his haunches, his tail wagging happily in the process. "That no harm shall come to her. Do you understand me?" As if Thor did understand him, there came a very happy bark in Cullen's direction. "Well, I guess that will have to do." Zevran moved past me but not before he brushed against me… he was too close for comfort with that one. "Goodnight, Solona." He winked and disappeared down the hall. All that was left in the room was Cullen, Thor and I. "If you need anything… I'm right down the hall and Alistair is right across from you." I roll my eyes but I know he was trying. "If there is one thing about you Cullen, is that you really need to stop letting your Templar part of you come out." I mutter but he seems to understand what I said. He relaxes for a bit but he moves to leave. "Goodnight, Amell." He says to me before I manage to give him some reply in return. With my door now shut, I rest against it. Quite pleased with myself and my ability to take charge, sadly. Thor seemed content as we both curled up in the large bed and fall asleep.
If there was one thing I had learned about having a Mabari is that they are the most comfortable creatures to sleep next to. I had never slept so well, well within a bed but still. He barely moved the entire night, quite amazing for a large animal.
The next morning, I wake up to the urgent licking from Thor in the process of my blankets being tugged off of me. "Ugh… please just a little while longer…" I groan but I hear a laugh followed after my groan. "Well, if that's the case then I guess I should just let you sleep, yes?" My eyes open as I fly up into a sitting position. Zevran, of all our companions is sitting across from me in one of the chairs in the room. The smug look within his gaze tells me he has been there for awhile now. Why Thor hadn't done anything… but it hits me when I hear the gentle gnawing sound coming from my side of the bed upon the floor. "You didn't… ugh you lazy beast! You fell pray to his charms!" I curse in Thor's direction but he doesn't seem to care. The bone within his front paws and mouth seemed to be the only thing in the world to him at this point. "How long have you been there?" I ask of Zevran but he shrugs, a smirk played across his lips. "Long enough to hear you mumble in your sleep." A groan escapes me as I scramble out of bed. "And why are you here, again?" I offer him a playful grin but he moves to his feet, not before Thor gave him a small warning growl. "I came to wake you but found that you are quite pleasant to watch while you sleep." Yes well that was a little creepy. "Though I shall tell Cullen you are awake but I doubt there will be anything left from breakfast." Once again I was probably going to get stuck eating on the road. Why doesn't anyone just try to wake me up anymore? Or just program Thor to do it? Though when I look to my war dog, he gives me a lazy grin and I sigh. "Do you really need to be here?" I ask him but he raises his hands in a small gesture. "I shall leave but not before I comment on how utterly gorgeous you are when you have drool hanging from the side of your lips." Scoundrel! Before I knew it, I was chasing him out of my room in a panic. He laughs down the hall as I close the door behind him. "Drool… ha." I scoff as I start to find my robes to change into.
"You are utterly useless," I mutter to Thor as we take the steps down to the main hall of the Castle. "I mean all he has to do is offer you food and there you go, you're like putty in his hands." The whimper from him didn't help but I rest my hand upon his head, and that seemed to change both our moods. "It's not that I don't mind, just you know… keep your cravings to a minimum. I mean if the Darkspawn offer you a giant Ox bone, I don't want to have to worry about you leaving me as food for them." This time a small disgruntled growl or whine, I couldn't tell the difference, came from him as we enter the hall. "Okay, maybe not the Darkspawn but still… I would like to know that you've got my back." He seemed please with my small apology to his demeanor but I was greeted by our group. They were all waiting for me it seemed. "About time, you've awoken." Morrigan mutters as she moves to the side. "I'm sorry, no one told me when I had to get up." I reply with a small retort. "So where are we heading now?" Cullen looks up from the small map sprawled out between him and Alistair. Along with Sten and Leliana at each of their sides. "Looks like the Brecilian Forest. Once we're done there, we'll head to Denerim. We should restock as much as possible there." So that leaves the Dwarves for last. "I've never seen a forest before." I try to smile to lighten the mood but somehow I was making things uneasy between both men. Alistair looks to me but he offers me a small smile while Cullen looked so… blank. "Teagan managed to get us a few oxen for Bodahn's cart. And the old dwarf managed to restock while we were here, so we should be good." It seemed to me, they had everything done but why I was still standing around. With a shrug I move back to the direction of the kitchen only to find a bundle of food sitting quietly upon one of the counter tops. My name was written across the top of it, upon a small white parchment. "Mmm…" my stomach seemed to agree with me as I unwrap it.
A few biscuits and cheese later, I wander around the Castle while the others finished up whatever preparations were needed. Without much help I located what I assumed was the Arl's old study. He had books, upon books stacked along the walls. My mouth hung open and even though I felt a biscuit being stolen from one of my pockets by Thor, I didn't seem to mind. "Look at all of these…" even if I had the time I knew I'd never be able to finish them. A smile crept across my lips but I move around the desk quietly taking in the smell of books, the gentle leather under my finger tips and the dim lightning hitting each one. It reminded me of the Circle in a way. Almost calming when I thought about it. I found a book about Dane and the Werewolf, figuring I still had some time to at least start the book before we had to leave. With no where else to really sit, I curl up in the Arl's chair. I rest my feet upon the top of his desk and Thor sleeping calmly at my side. My eyes skim over each page slowly until a cough comes from the doorway. My gaze leaves the words of the story to find those of Leliana's. "You love books, don't you?" She was smiling, though I never noticed how it never truly reached her eyes until now. "Yes… well they were my friends when I was in the Circle." That was a small lie but it did seem right. "Well, we're getting ready to leave." I nod, my feet dropping to the floor startling Thor in the process. He jumps, knocking his head against the desk. She turns to leave but before I move, I notice something shiny upon the floor. The candle light just barely reflecting off of it. "What's this…" I reach down, picking it up. It was a small amulet of some sort, with the symbol of Andraste upon the back of it. "How odd." But I didn't have the time to think about it, so I slipped it into a pocket and put the book back without a thought.
A few hours into the journey and I was running my fingers over and over again across the smooth parts of the amulet. I hung back from the rest of the group, keeping my distance as Thor walked beside me. I was going to guess and say that I was probably the slowest one out of all my companions. I never really did anything like this. The most exercise I ever had was going up and down the stairs within the Tower. Or even getting flung around the library by some misfired spells. I on the other hand didn't mind so much, I guess. It gave me sometime, I suppose. Leliana had her lute out as we walked, her strumming followed by soft humming sounds was quite pleasing to the ear. She had a wonderful voice, despite the fact Thor had a habit of trying to join in with her. He gave me the usual look up, checking to see if I didn't need to be pounced on. Probably worried about my mood than anything else. I stop playing with the amulet and move to put it back within the pockets of my robes and rest my hand upon the top of his head. It was becoming a habit, really. I know he didn't mind, because I didn't. The simple gesture was comforting, for the both of us.
He is looking up at me, I give him a small smile when the group ahead of us comes to a stop. "We'll make camp here, tonight." Cullen calls to us but I sigh. "It can't be that late, already." Thor whines but I know what he means. I wanted this all to be over with but that was talking too much. "Let's go see if we can help, yes?" I smile to him but he lets out a groan in the process. Helping normally meant we'd have to stand off to the side, no questions asked as someone helped us out. Or in my case I wondered as to why I could never do anything myself. So out of frustration I take my tent, bedroll and Thor's bones away from Bodahn quickly, before anyone could notice. I have had some practice with setting up a tent, but I managed… after nearly dying a few times from a runaway pole. Or a giant flap of the cloth coming down upon me. But I watched Wynne as she set her own up. Quickly I followed the same path she did and I managed to get it right for once. I let out a sigh of relief when I roll out my bedroll and rest my head upon it. Thor crawls in with me but we hear our companions start dinner, muttering to each other quietly. It was almost soothing to hear them but I fall asleep. Once more probably missing dinner in the process.
There came shouting, my eyes open slowly not knowing where the shouting is coming from but Thor is upon his feet. His nose sticking out the flap of my tent. He was growling softly, quietly as if he wasn't trying to wake me up in the process. "You can't make demands of her, Cullen!" That voice, that voice was Alistair's but I never heard him shout before. "She is a Mage, Alistair. The only reason why I agreed was because I didn't know if she was a Maleficar." Cullen… what was he talking about? What was going on? I can hear the movement from the tents nearby. I wasn't the only one waking up to this. "She isn't a Maleficar. She isn't an Apostate. She is a Mage, a Grey Warden. That means she has her own voice in all of this." Thor hears my movement but he doesn't relax. "Why are you sticking up for her all of a sudden, Alistair?" There came a small grunting sound, as if someone had been pushed. "Why are you acting like she is the worse thing to ever happen to us, Cullen?" Another shuffling sound but I move now. They were talking about me, I had a right to at least find out what in the Maker's name was going on. I push the giant war dog aside and get out of the tent. The sight before me spoke more than words. Alistair was close to Cullen, both men ignoring me in the process until Cullen lifted his fist. He hit Alistair, sending the other man stumbling backwards. "What the hell was that for?" Alistair shoots back, but he doesn't give Cullen enough time to explain himself. He rushing him, his hands gripping his waist as he clashes into him. Causing them both to topple over upon the ground. They were rolling around, each one of them swinging at each other in the process. I don't quite know what to make of this but Thor starts to bark. The others it seems were ignoring this outburst. Did this happen often, I wondered? Do I just sleep like a rock? Thor whimpers when they start to continue to roll around in the dirt and the grass. I was getting tired of this. "You have no respect for her!" Alistair shouts, his fists colliding with Cullen's face. "Why should you care!" Cullen argues back. But really, I was getting tired of this.
I was moving, I moved away from Thor but a small whimper hits me. Telling me to be careful. I don't care, I want this to end. I cough, I shout and I yell both their names but they didn't seem to hear me. Finally I figured I'll do this the easy way. I summon up a small mind blast spell and shoot it towards them. They were separated, luckily Alistair was on the bottom of that match because Cullen is being flung only a few feet away from us. "Now, since the two of you have no regard for others. Will you please tell me what in Andraste's name is going on?" I look between the two of them. Each one had what appeared to be growing bruises across their faces, blood upon their lips and noses in the process. "It's nothing…" Cullen starts but I was getting utterly frustrated with this, leaving me out of everything. "It is not nothing." I shoot back at him. "Alistair, what is going on?" He looks away from me but I knew it was mainly because Cullen was there. Ever since Alistair divulged what his real story to both Cullen and I, there had been problems between the two of them. "I… well… I was getting tired of you always being left in the dark." I relax a bit, that much I gathered. "Did it ever occur to you that I don't mind the dark?" I offer but he shrugs, "It isn't right." He looks back to me. He was worried about this, actually more so then when Zevran came into the picture but there was a hint of something else there.
I move to him, I offer him a hand up but I don't bother with Cullen. He was already upon his feet. "What is really going on?" I ask Alistair but I knew he would dodge the question. "What do you think is going on?" I can hear a laugh behind me, the usual laugh from Zevran when he knew something we all didn't. It was starting to become bothersome. "You can't tell, can you?" I turn around but he was sitting within his tent, with his flap open watching the three of us. "They are both in love with you it seems." I stare at him, blinking. "Err… what?" The shuffling from Alistair, then the nervous hints from the both of them was overwhelming. "But we barely know each other?" Ugh… this was getting so confusing! "Is this true?" I look to Alistair, he shrugs but it was the blush in his cheeks that tell me otherwise. "You… like me?" I didn't know what to say. I was never really in this position, well other than Anders but I never really thought about that anymore. "I… yes, well yes I do like you." He stammers but before I can open my mouth to say anything a rush of wind hits us. Only I am being shoved aside as Cullen rams into Alistair. Sending them both flying to the ground. "You have… no… right!" Cullen shouts from the ground as they roll around again. This time I was far from frustrated. I was just pissed off.
Without thinking straight, I pick up a rock and throw it. I missed but I didn't care. I pick up another rock, this time I try a little harder to actually hit one of them. I missed but this did not stop me. I close the distance, throwing anything I can get my hands upon to stop them. By the time I ran out of something I am before them. "Stop it!" I shout. "Just stop it!" I was getting angry with them but I don't know if it was because of them or just my own frustration. "STOP IT!" I finally, raise my voice loudly. They stop, their movement paused in mid punches as they look to me. "I get it! I really get it, but you know what? I am not going to pick between the two of you. You both are just… so… UGH!" I walk away, my hands were clenched up at my sides as I walk back to my tent. "If you would keep an eye upon them, Zev, I would owe you one." I mutter as I crawl back into my tent. Though apart of me regretted that offer, it seemed he didn't mind. I struggle with the war to go back to sleep or shout some more at the both of them, but Thor snuggles up next to me. I wrap my arms around his neck and fall asleep.
The rest of the trip to the Forest was nothing like I expected. Sure I thought, you know maybe they would calm down but no. They have yet to calm down. Alistair kept his distance from Cullen but Cullen doesn't bother with either one of us. I play with the amulet, my fingers running across each little groove, not bothering with the fact they were both actually ignoring me. "Now, where did you find that?" Zevran asks of me as we start to set up camp not too far from one of the Dalish clans within the forest. "I stumbled across it when I was in the Arl's study." I let him look at it as he turns it over in his hands. "It is old, yes?" He hands it back to me but I sigh, feeling lonely as ever since the Tower. "Yes, I suppose it is." Not worrying much, I stand up from where I was seated. "I think, I may go for a walk." He looks to me, a worried glance in his eyes but I shrug. "Don't worry, I'll be back in one piece. Promise!" I wave to him as I whistle for Thor in the process. He doesn't seem to mind seeing me up and about. He runs towards me, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. "Shall we?" I offer him and he places his nose to the ground. I follow after him, watching him weave a path through the trees. But it wasn't until after a few minutes we stumble across Alistair.
He was cleaning his armor, his weapons but he doesn't seem to mind me watching him. He doesn't look up, his gaze steadied upon the weapons and armor near him. After a few awkward minutes I sigh, finding a place to sit somewhere near him. I play with the amulet a little within the silence as Thor sits down next to me. His head resting in my lap. "Where did you find that?" I hear his voice but I shrug. "I found it in the Arl's study. I thought maybe someone dropped it… why?" I look up but his gaze was upon the amulet within my fingers. "It looks remarkably like the one my mother had." His mother? He had never spoken of his mother. "Would you like it?" I ask. Knowing I really had no real use for it. "May I?" I smile, relaxing a little to see him at least a little more like himself. "I don't mind." I hand him the amulet, he looks it over and lets out a small sigh. "This was her's… how did he? Why did he…" He mutters his words but I take it in. He was on the verge of tears. "The Arl?" Alistair looks up, but he shakes away whatever emotion he had. "Yes, well the Arl raised me when she died. Until Isolde made him give me over to the Chantry. All I had of my mother's was her amulet but this… this is it. I swear I thought I broke it." I move closer to him. My hand resting upon his own as a small smile is upon my lips. "Maybe you meant more to him than you thought…" I offer him but he doesn't seem to notice. "Maybe…" He replies after awhile but I pat his hand. "But now you have it again and that's a good." He relaxes a bit under my touch but I drop my hand. "If… if you have to become King, I can't be with you. You know this right?" I look to him. I had been thinking about this since that night.
"I know," he mutters but I sigh, feeling like the horrible person at the moment. "But Alistair, I will always be there for you. If you ever need anything, I will be there. No questions asked." I move to my feet, but he doesn't stop me. "But no more fighting, I swear if either one of you don't make up I am going to put you both under a persuasive spell. You got that?" He is laughing, but I know he was still tormented by this. I pat his shoulder as I move back in the direction I came from. "Tell him how you feel, at least maybe he'll open up…" I didn't quite hear him at first. "What?" I turn around but he doesn't look up. "Cullen… that night in the Castle the three of us got a little drunk. He said something's about you, that I didn't think anything of it until that night you caught us fighting." What did he say, I want to ask but I didn't press it. "Just tell him the truth, maybe then he'll explain everything to you." The truth? I was confused, utterly confused. "Err… okay I'll try." I smile a little but when I move to leave he sighs. "Cullen, is confusing but eventually you'll understand him better than most." Alistair, in his most astonishing of moments of clarity. I didn't think I'd see the day.
With the help of Thor, I managed to find the camp quite easily again and everything was already set up. Everyone had already gone to bed and with the night sky overhead, I was a little grateful for being the only one up for now. I settle down before the fire, my hands hovering over it as Thor rests beside me. A yawn leaves him but I laugh a little, we were both quite worn out, it seemed. The warmth of the fir was welcoming until I heard the rustling behind me. Not bothering to turn around, I already knew who it was. "So you finally came back?" Cullen moves out of his tent, all the while settling a few feet away from me. "Yes, well I found Alistair, if you even care." I shoot back at him but he winces. "Yes, about that… I'm sorry you had to see that." Of course he was. "You shouldn't be. I would have eventually seen it." I glare at him, but he doesn't budge. "Solona… I… well…" He stumbled over his words but I find myself growing frustrated with him. "Cullen, I am tired. I think I might just go to sleep."
I move to my feet but he was upon his own quick enough. "Solona… what Zevran said… it's true." I watch him carefully. His eyes dodge my own but I hesitate before I unclench my fists at my sides. "If it is then you shouldn't be treating me like I'm something that can easily break." He watches me but I have never felt this sensation before. From either him or Alistair. "I know I shouldn't but I am afraid… no I am terrified to lose you. And after that incident upon the Tower, I just… I just can't bring myself to lose you again." My eyes study him but he doesn't flinch. At least he wasn't lying to me. "I'm sorry, I just didn't know how to explain this to you." Of course he didn't. Why men had to be so utterly confusing, beat the hell out of me. "It's alright, Cullen." I try to forgive him but the sensation was so warm, so fuzzy within my stomach. "Just don't keep me in the dark anymore, okay?" I offer him a smile but he doesn't return it. "I'll try." At least that was the best I was going to get.
I move to my tent and pull the flap up. "Tomorrow Zevran, Alistair, you and I are going to see the Dalish." I nod but I do not mind so much. At least I would get to see more of the forest.
A/N: Okay so this turned out to be a tad longer than I really intended it to be. Which isn't so bad but I am working on the first part of the woods. So this shouldn't be too much longer. Like I said before, I'm sort of playing along in the game with what is going on in my story. And enjoy it! I mean this, I mean really you all are so wonderful with your reviews it means so much to me! And since I love you all so much, I'll just do the shout-outs now instead of later! sandradee27: alistair and his flirting, which always makes for the best. and yes zevran! you cannot have a triangle without zevran in the picture somewhere! i enjoy him immensley since he's always going on about sex while everyone else but leliana is just like... no no no we will not talk about this here. it is very amusing! i am glad you enjoy it! much love of course! ;* mapachita: haha, yeah eventually he'll try something on her since we all know he will. and hahaha, sometimes i know how you feel but that is kind of how he is in my head. thank you! :* julie nyu: you know, you really just read my mind. i was thinking about that last night when i was doing one of the many playthroughs, and i may end up having someone such as maybe tamlen join them or even gorim with oghren. or something else. i just was thinking about that. so perhaps they may show up, that would mean i'd have to figure things out when i do a playthrough. but thank you! much love of course for your review! :* pagelupin: lmfao, oh man. that just cracks me up everytime i read it. but yes, i get the same feeling. musing-scribe: thank you! you know, when i first started to write this i didn't think too much on it. but i am starting to realize that they are starting to come something of how i saw them in the game. each one of them, really. but thank you! i really enjoy this pairing and it should be fun to see how it turns out in the end! much love! :*
Mmm I am working on the next one as we speak but it may not be out until tomorrow sometime. Which I know is like today to people... I just lost myself. ANYWAYS I am glad all of you enjoy it so far and I will continue on with this until the very end! :*
And I do not own Dragon Age, it belongs to Bioware. *-*