Do not own Dragon Age
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24 Firstfall 9:41 Dragon, Western Approach
Solona hears voices, talking quietly, but there none the less. She attempts to open her eyes, but the task seems monumental. She groans, and one of the voices is at her side a second later.
"Solona? Can you hear me?" it calls out, trying to reach her.
"Hmm. Cullen?" Solona asks, unsure.
"Yes. I'm here." Cullen reassures, seeing her eyes open.
Solona smiles softly up at him, and tries to sit up. "Oh, my head is pounding." she says quietly.
"I can image. I'll get something for it. Can you sit up?" Cullen inquires gently.
Solona moves slowly, Cullen helping her. She is eventually sitting on the cot, Cullen next to her.
"I was worried for you. I..." he starts, softly.
"Commander Cullen, I have a report for you." a man yells into the tent.
Solona closes her eyes, her face saying that the noise was jarring. Cullen excuses himself, leaving the tent as he is talking to the soldier. Leliana comes in a minute later, a tray in one hand, Solona's pack in the other. Solona smiles, Leliana gets everything set up for tea, but Solona asks for her pack. She hands Leliana a packet, asking for this tea instead. The spymaster nods, then passes the tea over to Solona. A light smell of honey permeates throughout the tent. Leliana also hands her an herb, that Solona recognizes as a treatment for headaches. Eating the plant and washing it down with her tea, it begins to help, easing her headache a little.
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Leliana sits in a chair close to the cot, putting the cup down on a nearby table, she turns her gaze to Solona.
"I think you are reckless, and selfless. Absolutely crazy, and thoughtful. Stupid, and very brave." Leliana says slowly, a slight upturn to her lips.
"Thank you. For not chiding me too bad." Solona returns, grateful.
"I could send a missive to Antiva. Perhaps Alim could be persuaded to return to Ferelden, talk some sense into you." Leliana teases, smirking.
"No, thank you. I don't need that mess." Solona retorts, begrudgingly.
The tent flap opens, Cullen stepping inside, "Why are there four woman outside with a basin and buckets?" he asks, confounded.
"Because you are going to step out again, while we ladies get the Warden a bath and a change of clothes." Leliana states, with no room for argument.
Cullen opens his mouth, then thinks better of it, "Let me grab some of my work. I can get the soldiers set up, while you ladies are busy." he says smiling at Solona.
"I don't want to take you from your work area." she tells Cullen as he is gathering some papers, then looks at Leliana, "And I can..." she begins.
"No. We will help you, just in case you have any dizziness. Plus it's the least I can do for you. So you will let me pamper you and enjoy it." Leliana interrupts, ordering with a crooked smile.
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One of the ladies takes Solona's robes and under garments to wash, the other three leave after the bath is set up, although they were charmed by the mage who thanked them profusely. One of the ladies returns with a tray of food and a fresh pot of hot water for tea. She giggles as Solona mouths a 'help me' to her, in reference to Leliana's 'assistance'. Leliana is on the other side of a partition, while Solona is washing her hair.
"I should have some clean robes in my pack." Solona calls out.
"Oh, I like this one. Where did you get it?" Leliana asks enamored.
"What color is it?" Solona returns.
"The light green one." Leliana answers, "I don't recognize this design." she adds.
"Light green one?", Solona queries, then the realization dawns on her, "Zevran. He gave that to me a few weeks before I came to Haven. I haven't worn it yet, but it should be clean. I thought it a bit risque, for mage robes. But it's from Antiva, so it may be normal for them." she explains.
"Well you are wearing it today." Leliana orders again.
Solona just chuckles, she's not getting out of this.
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Leliana helps her dress, the robes are form fitting. They mold to Solona's body, accentuating her natural assets. The whole set is a moss green color, with darker green stitching and underlays. The fabric is loose at the hips, with three different layers. The first is a undergarment that covers just the small clothes, the same light green as the main body. The second is a very short skirt that stretches, in the same darker green as the stitching. The third is the front and back panels, the lighter moss green. The panels are open on the sides, allowing for freedom of movement, but you can see the wearers legs all the way to bottom of the short skirt, the tops of the panels are sewn into the bodice at the top of the hips. Giving the whole ensemble a very sexy look. The bodice just adds to it, with wide straps going over the shoulders, the cut across the top of the bosom is straight, but with the brown leather corset that goes over the robes, it lifts the breasts and amplifies the heavy globes it supports.
Leliana gets her make-up all done, before stepping back to look at Solona proper, as the Warden-Commander stands, "You look beautiful. Like a forest spirit, lost in the desert." she observes, awe-struck.
"Thank you, but you didn't have to go to all this trouble." Solona says humbly.
"Seeing what you look like now. Yes, I did. And if this is the result, I'd do it again. Oh, Vivienne will be so jealous when she sees you." Leliana states, gleefully.
"Vivienne?" Solona asks, befuddled.
"She's the Grand Enchanter for the Circles, and is helping the Inquisition. She can be a tad stuck up." Leliana informs, taking Solona's arm.
"So she's the leader of nothing?" Solona inquires amused, Leliana escorting her out of the tent.
Leliana chuckles, as the bright light from the sun hits the two women walking out from the tent. Cullen is standing fast, his papers falling from his hands, as he stares at Solona. A female soldier runs after the reports, trying to save them. Cullen is not alone in his astonished stare, many of the men and a few of the women, stop to look at the beautiful woman walking with the spymaster.
It is a short jaunt, just to get Solona a chance to stretch herself out, before they return to Cullen's tent. By that time, the basin is gone, and a table has been set up. Also another cot is placed across from the other. The tent flap is left open, Cullen stands again, when the two ladies return.
"You lo..ok very pre..tty." Cullen stammers out, blushing hard.
"Thank you, Cullen." Solona says quietly, her face turning red.
"I have some work to return too. I will be back at dinner. Cullen can fill you in on anything else." Leliana tells Solona before excusing herself.
Solona grabs her pack, rearranging some things, checking some others. When she is finished, she moves over to Cullen's desk, pulling a chair from the around the table.
"I'm a little bored, do you need help?" Solona offers, sincerely.
"No. I don't even really need to do this now. I was bored also." Cullen says, smiling softly.
"Do you want a rematch?" Solona asks gently, referring to another chess game.
Cullen nods happily. He grabs the game and sets it up on the table. Solona prepares tea, and gets plates made with various food to snack on. They play three matches, eating and talking. By the time the third match is over they are tied at two wins each.
"How is Alim doing? I heard he had married." Cullen inquires.
"He's doing wonderful. He travels a lot, but he and Zevran always return to their wife and children." Solona replies.
"Don't you mean wives?" Cullen questions.
"No, they are both married to the same woman. I can only assume that it is not uncommon with the Dalish, as no one in their clan has decried the notion. I have no issue with this, if all three are happy, then that is what matters to me." Solona explains.
"I...It's odd for me, but as you say, if they are happy, then I am happy for them." Cullen says, "Do they have children? How does that work?" he adds.
"There are five, two are certainly Alim's. The other three are Zevran's, through and through." Solona informs, smiling mischievously, "As for working out. All three seem to be happy in the arrangement. Alim and Zevran visit once a year for a couple months, both having other obligations. Lanaya and I write and I visit when I'm near Ostagar." she tells him.
Cullen chuckles, shaking his head.
"What of you? I remember you told me you had siblings. How do they fair?" Solona wonders.
"I have three siblings, my older sister, Mia, is the mother hen. She's usually good at tracking me down." Cullen offers.
"Tracking you down? Cullen, please don't tell me you forget to write to her." Solona chastises gently.
"I admit, I'm not good at keeping her informed of my whereabouts. I will write her when we return to Skyhold, promise." Cullen confesses, looking sheepish.
"And what of your other siblings?" Solona queries.
"I have a younger brother and sister, all three are in South Reach. They moved there during the Blight. Our parents, didn't make it." Cullen says, mournfully at the end.
"I'm sorry, Cullen." Solona offers, taking his hand.
Cullen nods, giving a gentle squeeze to the delicate hand in his.
Cullen turns the conversation, explaining that they will be leaving tomorrow, Solona has been ordered by Leliana to come back to Skyhold with the Inquisition forces. The Warden-Commander is to take a rest and relax, let others take care of her for a change. Solona is entertained by the notion, but relents. A day or two wouldn't hurt. Cullen has picked out a mount for her to ride that she will probably love, but it's a surprise for on the morrow.
Leliana joins them for dinner, the three talking for some time. Leliana goes to leave, Solona stands and goes to grab her pack, when Leliana tells the mage that she is staying with Cullen tonight. That is what the extra cot is for. The spymaster teases that she can have a bigger one brought in if the two wish to share, causing both the mage and the templar to flush hard. Leliana tucks out, laughing as she does so.
The two drift off that night looking at each other, whispers passing back and forth. Solona and Cullen eventually move the cots closer together, holding each others hand as sleep embraces them, they long to do the same.
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25 Firstfall, 9:41 Dragon, Western Approach
Solona watches as the tent is packed and loaded onto a cart, Leliana standing next to her. Connor found her that morning, along with Commander Stroud. After talking about it for a bit, Connor will stay behind and run administrative duties for Stroud, before joining the Grey Wardens officially in another two years time. Lysette, the templar recruit will stay as well, she and Connor have developed into something more. Plus she will be teaching the Wardens, Templar abilities, at Solona's insistence, to help counter both blood magic, but also darkspawn emissaries.
Solona borrows one of Leliana's ravens and sends a message south. If it works out right, the first shipment of the flowers will arrive in about a month. Solona has already given Stroud the instructions on the brewing of the tea.
The army is given a small scare when the Abysmal High Dragon swoops over the camp, circling around, before landing not far from the camp. Solona orders everyone to stay back, and walks out towards it. The entire army watches in disbelief, as the Warden-Commander nuzzles the dragon, touching her forehead to the great beast. Solona steps back and the creature flies off, she watches it leave, before returning back to the camp. No one knows what to say.
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Leliana rides ahead and tells Solona to have fun, smirking and wiggling her eyebrows. Solona dismisses her teasing, and is caught by surprise as Cullen comes toward them with a brown colored hart. Solona walks towards the great animal, smiling brightly. The hart and Solona bond swiftly, to Cullen's delight.
Cullen trots next to Solona, the two talking and laughing. When the caravan stops for breaks, Cullen will offer his hand, to help Solona down from her ride. The two walk around chatting and smiling. Solona stays in Cullen's tent again that night, the cots side by side. The gap between the years, of not seeing each other, is being swept away, little by little.
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