Do not own Dragon Age

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7 Bloomingtide, 9:42 Dragon, Skyhold

Cullen and Solona walk into Skyhold's compound, heading for Josephine's office. They greet a few people here and there. There are two Wardens, going over fighting techniques with some of the Inquisition soldiers, they shout a greeting to their Commander.

Josephine is sitting at her desk, writing and referencing some documents.

"Do you ever stop working?" Solona inquires with a smile.

"I had actually only just sat back down. That Nathaniel is quite good at charming someone into abandoning their post." Josephine returns.

"I'll be sure to thank him on your behalf." Solona teases, knowing exactly what the rogue was doing.

"How...? Why...why would you think that he and I...?" Josephine stumbles.

"Please, I've worked with the man for ten years. I recruited him. I know how he is. Just be plain with him though. He can be casual on the outside. But inside he is looking for more." Solona suggests.

"I...I will think on it." Josephine offers with a nod.

Solona nods, and begins asking about what news the diplomat has heard.

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16 Bloomingtide, 9:42 Dragon, Frostback Basin

Solona travels with Ellana to the Frostback Basin, assisting a professor, who is investigating Inquisition history. Solona feels queasy every morning as they travel, but says nothing. She doesn't wish to slow the group down. Solona imparts her knowledge of Avvar culture, much to Ellana's delight. The Inquisitor admits that she had never encountered Avvar before joining the Inquisition and rescuing a group of soldiers from the Fallow Mire.

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Walking through the Hold of Stone-Bear, Solona gives a traditional Avvar greeting, surprising the tribes Thane, Svarah Sun-Hair. Solona merely smiles, deferring to the Inquisitor. After a brief talk, Ellana moves through the Hold, learning of its people. They meet a young Hunter laying on a bed who is slow to stand. Solona rushes forward, but stops suddenly, grabbing the wall to steady herself, a wave of dizziness coming over her.

"Solona, are you alright?" Ellana asks, concerned.

"I don't know. I just felt dizzy all of a sudden." Solona tells her. "Let me help him and then I think I'll take a rest." she adds, the faintness lifting.

Solona moves slower, feeling better. She examines the Hunter after getting his permission. The break was clean, but it was not set correctly. Solona explains that she will have to break it again, but that she can heal it quickly. He would be walking normal by the following day. The Hunter agrees, Cassandra holds the Hunter, while Bull rebreaks the bone. Solona gets to work, resetting the bone correctly. She begins to heal the injury, commenting on the Hunters strength. The young man puffs his chest up at her high praise.

Solona stays with the Hunter, while Ellana and her group continue exploring the Hold. They are looking around for an hour, when a tribesman comes running up to them, explaining that their companion has fainted.

Rushing back to the Hunters hut, they find Solona passed out on the floor, the young man she was healing is sitting down. Another man is kneeling over the Warden-Commander, checking her.

"Send for the Thane and the healer." the other man orders.

The tribesman who found them runs out, doing as told.

"Who are you?" Ellana inquires.

"The Augar for this Hold." the other man states, three wisps trying to talk to him, "I know who she is. Stop pestering me." the Auger chides the wisps.

The group is startled by one of the spirits, it moves and hovers over Solona. It reaches out and caresses her cheek.

"What is it doing?" Cassandra asks with suspicion, her hand on her sword.

"Comforting her. Every spirit within a hundred miles knows that she is here. Worry not, they will watch over her." the Auger explains.

"Perhaps we have different ideas of comfort." Cassandra adds as an aside.

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The Thane enters first, looking at the scene, she orders the Qunari to pick the woman up. Bull raises an eyebrow, but does it anyway. Svarah Sun-Hair leads them to the healers hut, who is awaiting them. Bull lays Solona on a bed, before being shooed out.

Ellana is pacing back and forth, when the medicine woman, an older woman with grey hair and a no non-sense demeanor, emerges a half hour later, calling the Inquisitor in. Solona is still sleeping, Ellana looks to the healer.

"She's with child." the healer says.

"What?" Ellana whispers, shocked.

"She's with child. About two months along." the healer repeats.

"Is she alright though? Why did she faint?" Ellana questions, still astonished.

"It happens sometimes. A few days rest." the woman says, "I would recommend that she eat a little more. She's eating for two now." the healer finishes.

"Her husband is going to be over the moon." Ellana gets out, amused.

"Most husbands are." the healer remarks, smirking.

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Solona awoke feeling a little refreshed, but snapped up fast, not recognizing the room. The medicine woman hurried over to her, chastising her to take it easy. Solona looked at the woman, who explained who she was and what had happened. The news of her condition hit the Warden-Commander like a Bronto on charge.

"Are you sure?" Solona asked softly, her hand on her belly.

"Yes. Have you noticed a tenderness to your breasts? A sensitivity to touch that wasn't there before? Queasiness, dizziness? Your hunger picked up a bit? I can go on?" the healer inquires, leading.

"All of it. I...I didn't think I could." Solona reveals to the healer.

"Why not?" the healer asks, confused.

"I'm a Grey Warden. There are...issues." Solona tells her.

"What kind of issues?" the healer queries.

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Solona is ordered to remain in the main Inquisition camp. Ellana will come back if she needs help with any issues that arise. Professor Bram is ordered to keep an eye on the Warden-Commander. No one outside the two women and the medicine woman know that Solona is pregnant. The others are told that she just ate something that didn't agree with her. The group heads back out, Solona will assist the professor in translating the ancient texts that the scouts have found. Although seeing the way that Bram to staring at Scout Harding. Maybe she can distract herself with watching this play out.

/

Rest and eating enough for ten men has perked Solona up considerably. She stays in the background while the Inquisition forces siege the Jaws of Hakkon fortress. She is assigned to triage and healing.

It is after the battle with the Dragon of Hakkon that she disappears for a day. She walks around the ruins of the fortress, a few of Hakkons followers draw their weapons, but never engage the mage. Several lingering spirits follow behind her, she speaks with them from time to time. Inside the main chamber where Ameridan last stood, Solona looks around. One of the former cultists approaches her, a woman.

"There is nothing left." the follower states, her voice downcast.

"Are you so certain?" Solona asks cryptically.

"Hakkon have been slain." the follower answers.

"Hakkon is continuing his journey. He is not gone. Not completely. But neither is he here." Solona starts, "Sometimes the roads we travel are meant to be walked alone." she finishes.

"I understand." the follower laments, before walking away.

Solona lingers for awhile longer. Listening to the wisps and spirits within the chamber. She smiles softly before departing. Returning to the Inquisition camp the following morning, as if she didn't just give everyone a fright.

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18 Justinian, 9:42 Dragon, Skyhold

It is another month before Skyhold comes into view, the group relieved to arrive back to the compound. Solona immediately splits off, going to find Cullen. No one saw either Commander for the remainder of the day. The next morning, Cullen and Solona announced the news, their friends overjoyed at the revelation. Solona names Nathaniel as her replacement on the field, who smirks and bows to his Commander.

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20 Justinian, 9:42 Dragon, Skyhold

Ellana walks into Cullen's office looking for Solona. Cullen is sitting at his desk, his head back.

"You alright?" the Inquisitor asks, startling the templar.

"Yes." Cullen replies, a small groan escapes him.

"You need rest as much as Solona does. What is she...four months now?" Ellana queries.

"Yes and I agree" Cullen gets out, another groan follows.

"Have you seen Solona? I wanted to let her know that I am ready to leave for Orzammar." Ellana informs him.

"I..." he starts, then a gasp is released, "She went down." he tries again, "To get something to eat." he finishes, his voice pained.

"What is...?" Ellana begins.

"I slept funny. Just stiff." Cullen interrupts, "I'll let her know when next I see her." he says, a strange look on his face.

Ellana nods, closing the door as she leaves.

Once Cullen is sure that the Inquisitor is gone, "Maker, Solona! We were almost caught." Cullen exclaims in a soft voice, groaning as the mage continues sucking him into her mouth.

Said woman smirks around the shaft, before moving again, determined to help the Inquisition Commander relax.

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Solona whisks the Inquisitor onto a cart, heading for Orzammar, the two draped in heavy clocks. The journey is swift, taking half a day to reach the gates. Neither woman is seen outside of Orzammar for the next four months. Ellana and Solona send letters, both to Josephine and to Cullen, keeping them apprised of the situation. Apparently, King Bhelen is being rather stubborn in his demands during the negotiations.

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2 Firstfall 9:42 Dragon, Orzammar

Solona sends for Cullen to come and meet her at Orzammar, missing him fiercely in the four months she has been away, and because King Bhelen would like some assurances from the Commander of the Inquisitions forces.

Solona leads Cullen through the Commons of the dwarven city, to the Grey Warden house. Once inside she takes him to a side room.

"Cullen, I'm about to walk through an Eluvian. It will take me to Kinloch Hold. I have no issue if you wish to come. I want to share these things with you. But I also know that the Tower is a painful place for you. And I would never wish to cause you harm, not even mental harm." Solona informs him.

Cullen sighs deeply, asking a hundred questions, each one answered by Solona openly and honestly. Cullen sighs again, before asking Solona to take him through. It is not an unpleasant experience, but he is still uncomfortable.

The Tower looks different this time, more alive. Seeing the Grey Wardens milling about helps to lessen the former templars unease. They move toward the second floor, Cullen's anxiety is relaxing little by little. Once in front of a set of doors, two Wardens and a lithe, clocked figure, greet them.

A lite conversation and Solona is entering a room, bidding Cullen to wait. Solona returns a few minutes later, a small elven baby in her arms. Cullen can not help himself to smile at the image.

"If you need anything else, please, send word here?" Solona directs to the clocked figure.

"Yes, mother hen. And he will be loved as my own." the figure takes the small bundle from Solona.

"Ilaro. His name is Ilaro. It means little fox in an old Avvar dialect." Solona introduces, taking one last look at the sleeping infant.

"It is a good name." the clocked figure remarks.

"Ma serranas, ma fal'on." Solona says in gratitude.

"Ma nuveren, ma fal'on." the figure returns, before turning to Cullen, "You are a lucky man. Your wife is a true gift in this age. May you both walk in peace." he finishes.

"Ma nuveren." Cullen replies, seeing the males face for the first time.

"Your accent is atrocious, but the sentiment is appreciated." the figure tells him cheekily, before walking away.

Solona returns to the room for a couple of minutes, then waves Cullen inside.

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27 Firstfall 9:42 Dragon. Skyhold

Three weeks later, Cullen, Ellana and Solona return to Skyhold. There is a sadness about Ellana for several weeks, lifting from her little by little everyday. The Inquisitor tends to gravitate to Solona, who one day gifts Ellana a child toy of a stuffed fox. Somehow, the toy alleviates the melancholy surrounding the Inquisition leader.

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First Day 9:43 Dragon, Skyhold

Cullen passes Dorian, the mage nods, then transforms into a bird, flying up and away from the compound. Solona begins walking towards her husband, but stops when a dull pain comes from her lower body. This has been going on for a couple hours now. Solona has been able to ignore it, but now it is coming more frequently.

"What's wrong?" Cullen asks, fearful.

"Can you help me to the healer? I'm getting some pains down there." Solona explains.

Cullen holds her arm as they descend the stairs, and walk over to the Infirmary. Solona puts her right arm over her protruding belly, another pain going up her body. They are three steps away from the door, when a gush of liquid rushes out from between Solona's legs.

"Oh! I'm in labor." Solona states, scared and excited.

"I've got you, my love." Cullen tells her, just as scared and excited.

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Cullen is beside himself. Pacing back and forth outside the Infirmary. It has been five hours so far, he is going mad with worry. Iron Bull walks up and throws a sword at him.

"Come on, lets practice." the Qunari demands.

"Are you mad? My wife is in there and I am worried out of my head." Cullen retorts.

"Exactly. You can't help her through this. And worrying is just making you fucking crazy. So come on. Let's fight and distract ourselves." Bull offers.

The two men spar for a good hour, Cullen is grateful afterwards. It did help his anxiety lesson.

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Cullen is frantic as he hears his wife's screams carry through the door of the Infirmary. Cassandra and Iron Bull have to hold him back from going inside. They hear one more powerful scream, before there is a long silence. In a heartbeat, they all hear the tiny sound of a baby cry. Cullen drops down to his knees, relief and utter happiness overtakes him. It takes another half hour before the door is opened. Cullen runs inside, desperate to see.

Sitting on a bed, a little bundle in her arms is Solona, she is looking down at the precious creature. Solona looks up at him, tears of love and joy running down her face.

"Come and meet your daughter." Solona beckons.

Cullen moves, sitting on the bed next to Solona. He looks at the face of his daughter and is overcome. A feeling of absolute pure love washes through him.

"She's beautiful, just like her mother." Cullen says, leaning in to kiss Solona. "I am so honored by you." he adds after the kiss.

"What should we name her?" Solona inquires, before looking back down at the baby.

"Let's take a few days to think about it." Cullen replies, content to just sit there with them.

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It takes a week before the little family introduces everyone to the newborn in Josephine's office. Iron Bull is the surprising one, who coos at the baby first, everyone chuckling at the giant.

"I am pleased to introduce you all to Iliana, our ray of light." Solona informs them.

"It's perfect. She is so very beautiful. Congratulations, both of you." Cassandra comments happily.

"I didn't know you could make smaller people. How do you make smaller people?" Cole questions seriously.

Everyone chuckles at the question.

"Varric, your his big brother now. I think this job falls to you." Cullen teases with a smirk.

"Shit! Alright, but not right now." Varric agrees, dejected.

"What's going on?" Nathaniel queries, walking into the office.

Solona is wide eyed, shocked.

"I...didn't feel you. I...didn't...Is any other Wardens here?" Solona queries, her mind working.

"Yes. Oghren is in the Tavern. Faren is down by the stables. What is it?" Nathaniel returns, seeing her look.

"I don't feel any of you. Is it gone? Am I...Am I no longer Tainted?" Solona wonders, hopeful.

"We can test it. After you recover." Nathaniel orders gently.

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