driftfleet | mingle all the way

[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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