driftfleet | Eyuzi System Mingle

You were happy enough hanging back at Vigil's Keep. Though they needed you there, as luck had it.

[Those darn silly surprise assaults.]

But too true. And a second pair of eyes would help immensely. I just hope we don't find what I'm afraid we'll find.

[His laughter comes out as a scoff at the memory.] I was a coward and you far too kind to me. I would have gone without too much complaint, if you'd asked.

[But what she says pulls concern into his expression. He'd heard some rumblings of Something Happening, but he didn't know what she specifically had seen.]

What is it you're afraid we'll find? Can't be worse than a broodmother.

[Literally the only thing that haunted his nightmares more than The Chantry was the blasted Broodmother, Void take her.]

Oh, I know. In all fairness, you were hardly the most difficult of the bunch.

[Who that was varied from day to day, and how much Oghren had to drink.]

See, that's what I worry about, because I'm not sure. A swath of people on the fleet had nightmares before coming to this planet, I being one of them. I dreamt of a forest. Some of the trees appeared as tone, others alive with red leaves. There were these creatures that hunted me from the shadows. I ran, and they gave chase. There was also this horrible noise... I can't quite describe it, though.

[So, of course she wants to look for that forest. If she finds it, then there's much concern to be had.]

Whether or not it's worse than a broodmother, we'll find out. Though I doubt it'll be much creepier, if that's any consolation.

[Well, that was certainly concerning. Prophetic dreams were hardly unheard of and it wouldn't surprise him in the slightest if they could happen here, especially with one of these singing planets.]

I understand why that would be concerning. Well, I'm reasonably certain we could handle anything that tried to chase us.

Let us hope. I mean, can't be worse than darkspawn, right?

[Probably just jinxed it now. Way to go, Riona.]

All right. Let's just try heading east first. That way, we just follow the sun back when we want to return. Are you ready to go?

[Thanks a lot, Riona.]

As I'll ever be.

[They start out and, at first, it's an easy silence, only broken by light conversation here and there. It's Anders who breaks the quiet after a little ways in and nothing but peaceful forest around them.]

So...Justice...

[It had been a few days now since the spirit had joined them, he knew Riona already knew about him, but they hadn't exactly had a chance to talk about it yet.]

[Riona wondered when they'd have this conversation. Out here in the wilderness, well away from him seemed as good a place as any.]

Now there's someone I thought I'd never see here. But I'm glad all the same. [A beat.] I need to remember to warn him about Fenris.

[For his sake as much as Fenris'. She knows spirits make him uncomfortable, to say the least, which she understood. But there would be hell to pay if he hurt Justice for any reasons besides self-defense.]

How have you taken to having him here?

[Anders expression twists a bit at the thought. There were plenty of reasons to keep Justice from Fenris and it hadn't even occured to him that Fenris could be someone to let the secret slip that Anders was desperately trying to hold on to. He might need to pay the warrior a visit some time soon as well.]

That would probably be a good idea.

[Other than that...]

I can't express how happy I am to see him again, I truly never thought I would. Seeing him now just illustrates all that was lost when he joined with me. We should have found another way.

[Hilariously, she was more worried about Fenris getting angry and ripping out one of Justice's organs. But hey, him telling him about The Secret is a thing, too.]

It's a little bittersweet, isn't it? But at least we're getting more time with him now.

[She sighs.]

Did you tell him about anything yet? About what's to come for him?

Yes, there is that. I suppose that's the better way to look at it.

[Perhaps that's how Wolfe saw his growing friendship with Fenris here in the fleet, time that had been lost to try again or, in this case, simply have more.

Justice deserved more time.

Anders shook his head.]

No. And...please don't mention it to him. You know how much he fears being anything close to a demon, Vengeance...I don't think he would take it well. Even as Vengeance he took offense to anyone implying he might be a demon.

[He thought of Ella and winced.]

There was a young mage girl who we were trying to save from templars abusing their power and Jus-Vengeance took over. She called him a demon and he...we nearly killed her. If it hadn't been for Hawke, we would have. That's not Justice, he would never have done that. [He sighed.] I won't pretend he'll be ignorant forever, someday he will figure it out, he already knows I'm keeping something from him, but if we can push that day out as far as we can, I think it would be better.

[It's not the least bit surprising that Anders wants to push it off. While Riona's not keen on going and telling him right this second either, she knows it's going to get worse the longer they put it off. But even as she goes to argue, she's certain she won't win it.]

You know he's going to be upset that we hid it from him. And yes, he's going to pick up on the fact that something's bothering us. He'll know something's not being said. I barely skirted out of telling him when I first saw him. Someday, he's going to want to know what will happen to him in his future. Or someone will slip and say something.

[This secret will come out. That she knows. How it'll be revealed is the question.]

I wish he doesn't have to find out. If he weren't a spirit, I'd say we could get away with it. But we won't forever.

I know. I guess I just...I don't know, I'm trying to come up with the best way to say 'hey, you know the worst thing you can come up with? It happens! Also, it's my fault, sorry about that.'

[He sighed and ran a hand over his jaw.]

There won't be a good time to tell him, now or later.

It was a choice you both made. But no, there's no good time or way of breaking it to him. [It's an awful situation all around with no easy or right answer.] I could tell him, if it's easier.

[Anders shook his head.]

It might be easier, but it would be cowardly. I should speak with him first. Though...I'll likely need your help with whatever might happen after, I doubt he will take it well.

[He sighed but turned an earnest look to her.]

Either way, I should thank you for being willing to help in any way. This is more our mess than anyone else's and I wish I didn't rely on your support so much in regards to it. You deserve better than that.

[The forest looms before them, though it's nothing like the one she saw in her dreams. It's green and alive, vibrant and full of the usual noises of forest life. But Riona's not concerned with it yet.]

No, he won't. We'll both need to be ready.

[It's gonna suuuuuck.]

You were both under my command, and I wasn't there to help you both when you needed it the most. It's the least I can do.

[He scoffs lightly and picks carefully through the thicker undergrowth to not trip on any roots...he might also be keeping an eye out for any plants that might seem useful.]

Commander, I suspect that you will blame yourself and I will simply blame the Chantry and/or Templars for the rest of our days. Truly, if the blame falls anywhere, it'll be on the 'superiors' who filled your role in your absence, they're the ones who allowed it.

[He could never blame her, of all people. She'd helped him far more than anyone else had to date.]

You were nothing short of bleeding hero for me, if I'm to be honest. I'd have been quite literally dead without you and then none of it would have happened anyway.

[No friendship with the other wardens. No Adalwolfe Hawke. No mage rebellion.]

I suppose you have a point there. [About who to blame. While she still feels like she should have overseen things better, at the end of the day, it was the Orlesian Wardens who had come over to "help" that were responsible for what happened.] Bloody Orlesians. I know nationality isn't supposed to matter within the Wardens, but I should have known to not trust them.

[She offers him a smile. She'll never regret saving his life that night, even if that meant damning him to the taint. At least it gave him more time.]

...I don't know if it helps at all, but I eventually threw out that Warden. The one who took over for me, and who allowed all that to happen.

[In her defense, he was still trying to come up with an Orlesian that he'd held any affection for.]

Good. I hated that man. Did you know he said Ser Pounce made me too soft! Made me give my poor boy away. I should have known something rotten was on the horizon right then.

So I heard. One of many, many things I heard when I finally got to be able to talk to the others about what happened.

[Boy that had been a fun conversation.]

Which resulted in me having a chit-chat with him. And with the seneschal. Who I also almost threw out, frankly. [She was on a roll that night.]

[The surge of affection he felt for her could have thawed ice right in that moment. His Commander and Queen.]

I truly wish I'd seen it, I'm imagining you riding in like the dashing hero only to practically raise the whole thing to the ground in the end. You're terrifying when you're angry, it's something I admire about you.

What an image! More like stomping in like an angry grump and shouting the place down. But thank you. [She winks.] I'm glad someone appreciates my temper.

It's hard not to have admiration for a force of nature.

[Hope you were ready for more earnest charm, Riona.]

[Oh you smooth talker, Anders.]

Oh hush you. You're going to make me blush!

It's an attractive color on you, I promise.

[He grinned but then looked around at the seemingly peaceful forest. Other than some scurrying of wildlife, there wasn't much else that seemed to be going on.]

Does any of this seem familiar?

[This forest seems far too peaceful. Too green, too... normal. Which, it's a good thing, but not what she's looking for.]

No, not at all. The one I saw had red leaves and dead trees. It looked surreal, and it had this ambiance that unnerved me. This place seems normal enough.

Eyuzi System Mingle

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