driftfleet | mingle all the way

[Leliana returns the hug just as fiercely. She must be quite a sight, wearing her chainmail armor and cowl. It was different from the clothes she had worn on their journey together. Everything about her was much different.]

Is it any wonder? This place must have its own histories, secrets and things we don't know yet.

[But that can wait.]

Maker willing, we should have been brought together sooner. I feel as if I've missed so much while you've been here and I in Thedas.

[And there was so much Riona didn't know about either, so much she wished to tell her.]

[Riona nods, acknowledging her words but not replying. Not yet. Yes, Leliana is older and a bit different and wearing a very interesting outfit. But at the moment, she only cares that she's here. The crew on her ship and the other friends she's made here have been wonderful. But Leliana knows her, knows what she's been through in a way few others could.

Finally she lets go and steps back, taking a good look at her friend and letting her presence sink in.]

What matters is that you're here now. And we have a lot to talk about. But first things first: tea?

[Ah, but this is what she had missed about Riona's presence in the intervening years. The way she made her feel completely at ease was something she had craved after Justinia had passed. Justinia had much of the same effect on her. Both had shown her where she belonged, where the Maker needed her most. She was grateful for that.]

Tea would be perfect. There is so much to catch up on!

[She imagined Riona had questions for her, as she did for the Warden herself.]

[This is going to be a hell of a conversation, that much is clear. Parts of it fill Riona with trepidation; up until now, she has avoided asking about how things have turned out in Thedas from the other Thedosians in the fleet. And even if she had, those were their worlds. She could have at least comforted herself with the hope that her world would be different. But not with Leliana. What she will hear from her is how things will be.

Yet, if that's the price she pays for having her here, then she'll pay it.]

Agreed. This way. I'll have to give you a proper tour of the ship later.

[She gestures for her friend to follow her to the kitchen. It's not far from where they met up. She'll point out things to Leliana as they go, though most of the ship lies out of the way of their path.

Once they reach the kitchen, Riona waves at the galley, indicating for Leliana to take a seat.]

I'll get the tea started. Do you still take it the same way?

Yes, the same as always.

[She sits, resting her forearms on the table as she watches Riona make their tea. It was nice to have something so familiar as the company of an old friend.]

Have things been hard settling in? You seem so at home here, it's nice.

[Though she imagines there is always that lingering sadness when it comes to her situation with Alistair.]

[As Riona begins preparing the tea, she mulls over Leliana's question.]

It is a little bumpy the first few weeks. At least for me, it was. I have been here three months now, so I have settled in well. My crew has been good to me and helped as needed.

What of your ship? Any thoughts so far?

Honestly? It feels as if I'm still finding my feet. My crew seem to be good people.

[But it's too early to tell. She still keeps to herself and to the shadows. It was better that way.]

In Skyhold I had an entire Rookery to myself. Here it feels as if there is constant activity and it is jarring in comparison.

[She knew that Riona would have questions of the future but she also knew she was not the type to want every single detail unless it was important to her. She would try to keep as much of it to herself as possible but to some degree it couldn't be avoided.]

What do you know of the state of Thedas from others? Hawke and the Inquisitor, if they've told you.

Most people here I've found are of a decent lot. I'm sure we have our share of bad apples, but as long as you apply the usual amount of caution you should be fine.

[As she goes about getting the water and setting it to boil, she carefully considers Leliana's question. Honestly, she hadn't heard much, and a lot of that was her own doing. But she couldn't avoid it forever; it was time to face it.]

Little, and that is on purpose. I know Hawke was sent to Weisshaupt, which is odd for a non-Warden to do that. I think. [Let's face it, though she's a renowned Warden, Riona comparatively knows little about the Wardens and how they operate. She didn't exactly have a typical introduction into them.] Something serious, I assume. And Fenris mentioned that things are becoming volatile in Kirkwall, though he didn't specify.

[The next bit she hesitates about, as this hits closer to home.] Alistair... found out that he eventually will go in search of Maric. Apparently, there's a chance he may be alive somewhere.

That is good, that you have found peace in this crew. I hope to find the same with my own.

[And she bows her head a little pensively, trying to think of where to even begin.]

Kirkwall became a battleground for a time, though I do not know how much Fenris knows of it from his point of things. A mage destroyed the chantry there and it incited anger among the templars and soon enough a rebellion among all Circle mages. The Inquisitor has been trying to set things right since, to do what Divine Justinia - you knew of her as Mother Dorothea - had tried and failed to do.

[Here is where Leliana grasps her hands tightly, as if in prayer though also to hold in the bitterness that still lurked beneath the surface. Justinia had tried so hard to bring peace to the mages and templars. It had cost her her life. Just saying her name aloud was like a knife in her chest. Bowing her head, she rests her forehead against her clasped hands, closing her eyes as if she could close off the vulnerability she was feeling. She would talk more of Alistair but she knows Riona will want to hear of Justinia first, after that small bombshell.]

I am not aware of Alistair leaving Ferelden to search for anyone.

Edited 2016-04-11 23:20 (UTC)

[The tea pot full of water is set down with a loud clang as Leliana breaks the news to her about Kirkwall. Riona stiffens, unable to believe what she's hearing. She's known terrible mages - they both had seen Kinloch Hold fallen to maleficar - but even they... she cannot imagine them somehow destroying a Chantry, full of innocent people.

And no, the bit about Justinia is not lost. And that does not bode well, especially considering Leliana's posture.]

Perhaps Alistair did not set out in search in our Thedas.

[Addressing the simpler issue here first before she goes onto the big one.

With the tea on the stove, Riona walks over to Leliana and sits next to her, frown in place.]

Dor - Justinia was not able to make them come to a truce?

[A guess. That's all she can do about this. So much is still unknown to her.]

[Leliana looks up at the sound of the teapot, her hands still clasped tightly.]

No, she was not. Perhaps if I had been there she might not have been a casualty of what happened. I could have done something.

[She gives a bit of a sad smile, shaking her head.]

I know better than to continue dwelling on such thoughts, though. What's done is done and the Maker always has his plans for us, no? Even if we cannot always understand what they are.

[His plan clearly involved making her suffer more and more loss. It was good that she still had one loved one who had not died or betrayed her. She had that in the Hero of Ferelden.]

I am sorry to bring such sad news to you, my dear friend. I cannot imagine the burden of not knowing the things to come and hearing of them. I wouldn't want to, I think.

Edited 2016-04-12 00:13 (UTC)

[A Chantry destroyed, and a Divine dead. It's a lot to swallow, but Riona sets aside her own swirling thoughts for Leliana's sake.]

Oh, Leli... I am so sorry. Maker preserve us.

[She bumps her head against Leliana's: a gesture of comfort, and letting her know she's here for her.]

Such thoughts are not good to dwell obsessively on, no, but they are also not good thoughts to keep pent up. If you want to tell me what happened, I'll listen. Sad news or not.

[The whole concept of this future coming to be, of knowing it will happen and she cannot change its course... it's beyond terrifying. But if she faced an Archdemon and insurmountable odds and survived, she can get through this.]

[She returns the affectionate gesture taking one of Riona's hands into her own and giving it a gentle squeeze. She hadn't realized how much it would mean, to talk to someone who truly understood what Justinia had meant to her. Cassandra grieved along side her, but it was not the same. Justinia had saved her in so many ways, not unlike Riona had.]

It is... so much to tell. That was only the start of things. And I do not know yet how it will end. When I left Thedas and found myself here, we were making preparations to finish the culprit of all the chaos that had been wrought since Justinia's death.

[Her voice shook slightly when she spoke again and again said her mentor's name, making her bite down a bit on the corner of her lip. She kept so much of it inside of herself, so that only the Maker could hear her cries of pain. It was different, being able to show that side of herself to someone she loved almost as much as she had loved Justinia.]

I had worried after you, for a time. With what was happening - the creature who had brought all of this down upon us had been trying to use the Calling to bring Wardens to heel. You had left Alistair's side to try and find an answer to stop it, to keep other Wardens safe so that more would not be lost.

[She falls quiet for a moment, the words sinking in for her as much as they might for Riona.]

I am so glad that you are not lost to me too.

You left on the edge of a precipice. That must be frustrating.

[A part of her yearned to know what would happen when she came to Amaranthine, and what would come of it. But that pales in comparison to what Leliana must be going through, with so much at stake.

The grip she has in Leliana's hand tightens sharply when she mentions the Calling being used. That, combined with the knowledge - the very thought more like - of her leaving Alistair's side...

Well, it's not surprising she's looking a little pale.]

...Andraste's sake. It must have been a darkspawn doing this, no? How could one have such power? I do not think even an Archdemon can do such. What happened to the Wardens? What's... become of me?

[She is not dead, that is something. And she's glad for Leliana's sake, as well as Alistair's. But what she is learning... while she isn't terribly surprised, this will likely still keep her up tonight.]

The Wardens are fine, as far as I can tell. Inquisitor Trevelyn recruited them into our ranks, despite the risk that the Calling poses to their will. Corypheus is doing something to them that mimics the Calling and using it to control them, which is... dangerous, to say the least.

[It was nice that the conversation had shifted, even if she had spoken purposefully of Justinia. She could focus on this and less on herself.]

You, I have not seen but we correspond in letters. Before that.... you were happy with him, as far as I can tell.

[It must be painful, the constant reminder that Alistair isn't truly the one who loves her. Sure, they can learn to be friends, but it wasn't the same. Not even close to the same.]

Speaking of - he told me something interesting.

[She gives Riona a knowing smile, eyes twinkling mischievously.]

He claimed I was the Hero of Ferelden's lover, not him. An interesting twist on things, no?

Thank the Maker, the Wardens still stand. As long as some survive, we can recover.

[That's all she really needed to hear, at least on that specific front.]

I do not doubt I was happy, but I still can't believe I've left him, even if for a good cause. Was I affected by this Corypheus and his manipulation of the Calling?

[Somehow she suspects she would have known if she had. Leliana was good at hiding her secrets, but she feels like there would have been at least some tell if things had gone badly for her.

When her friend mentions Amell, Riona chuckles.]

He told me such as well. Solona Amell, I think her name is. I only hope she's worthy of you.

I cannot say for sure but I am sure it troubled you - that it might be a matter of time that the dreams started or the lure of the Deep Roads.

[But enough about awful stuff. Back to gossip!! She wants to hear more about this Amell.]

I had never imagined it, honestly - not that I would be opposed to it. Chantry Sisters aren't exactly allowed to marry.

[Though wow would she ever if she met the right person.]

Perhaps I will meet her someday. Wouldn't that be interesting?

[Undoubtedly. Especially considering she cannot bear children, which is... pretty important, given her position as queen.

But yes, she's more than happy to focus on something else. There is nothing she can do about the future, here and now.]

She must be quite the woman. There's always a chance she'll come here. Though, given what I have gone through with Alistair, it would be a little painful for her, I think, seeing you and knowing you're not her Leliana.

mingle all the way

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