faderift | [Closed] The Wrong Road

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[Closed] The Wrong Road

WHO: Kallian, Adelaide, Hermione, Ruby, Eirlys and Merrick with special guest appearances by Anders and Norrington
WHAT: Gathering supplies. What could possibly go wrong?
WHEN: Backdated to the beginning of Cloudreach
WHERE: The Hinterlands
NOTES: Warnings for demons, violence, injury and mages being outed, will be updated as needed.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to the Hinterlands in search of supplies and rare herbs. Royal elfroot, in particular, is something that would be more than welcome, although extra supplies of regular elfroot, and blood lotus wouldn't go amiss. The air is warmer than it has been, carrying with it the promise of spring and renewal, and the journey there is easy, allowing for pleasant time spent enjoying a break from winter. The Hinterlands still aren't without their dangers - rebels and outlaws, packs of mabari and thin and hungry bears just waking from hibernation. You never know what you might find...

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Kallian isn't even looking where she's going as she flees. Branches and shrubs and rocks scrape and catch at her as she runs, adding her blood to what's already staining her clothes. Pure adrenaline keeps her moving--right up until she trips over a root and twists her ankle.

She bites back a cry and crawls over to a nook between a rock and a fallen log, curling into a ball. Her face feels hot, from running and the tears she can't seem to stop.

The shock on the faces is still etched in her mind. The blood from the injuries. The anguish between a secret and a death. And now... maybe her death if the wrong people hear of this. She's on the run now, and only the fact that she physically can't run any further right now means she has stopped.

Her whole body shakes as she buries her face in her knees and sobs.

He hears something crashing through the woods near where he's gathering herbs and grabs his staff, turning, bracing for an attack, when the motion seems to cease. Did it see him? Was it out there waiting?

Another noise comes, and by the time he hears it a second time he's identified the sound - a sob. Someone ran and is crying.

Anders walks in the direction it came from slowly, trying to make sure he wasn't taken as a threat by someone who was already upset.

"Hello? I mean you no harm."

Her ears twitch at a familiar voice and she looks up, but doesn't dare move otherwise.

"...Detlef?" Her voice is soft and a little distorted by tears.

Kallian. He doesn't bother correcting her; it doesn't matter. What matters is she's out here and upset.

"Kallian. What's happened?" He comes toward the sound of her voice, finally catching sight of her and kneeling along with her. "You're away from the others."

He'd split off earlier for clear reasons; he's not the most welcome company for many, and it's enough that he and another Warden had been permitted to travel nearby to help gather things. But her? She'd been at the heart of the group.

At first, she just shakes her head, unable to speak through a fresh flood of tears. After a few hiccoughing sobs, she tries to explain.

"There was a rift. So many demons! They were fighting and I was scared, and Jamie--" She swipes a bloodstain on her clothes. "Jamie got hurt, I think I hit a demon and I healed him and-- They saw, they all saw..."

She dissolves into more tears.

And they knew she was a mage. Anders wraps his arms around her, letting her cry for several minutes before even thinking about talking. She's lost her safety net, now.

"It's all right," he finally whispers. "It's all right. They can't lock you away because the Circles are broken, and you've mages who care about you very much. If some can't handle who you are in truth, they aren't worth your time or worry. You are free, and you have me entirely with you, Kallian, and Adelaide, and Bethany, and Nathaniel, and so many others. And I don't think Jamie will be bothered by your magic, on top of that. You're free, and you're not alone in this."

There's a short beat as he looks at the state she's in, the blood and flushed cheeks. "Are you hurt? I can attend to it; there's no need to tire yourself further. I have you."

"It still breaks Chantry law. Templars could still kill me or make me Tranquil. The life of one elven girl won't mean anything to them. I can't-- I have to run..."

Still, despite that, his arms are comforting. Safe and warm. Slowly, she calms down, at least, enough to get more of a grip on her situation. Kallian blinks when he asks her if she's hurt, and she tries to take inventory of herself.

"...the blood is mostly Jamie's," she says hoarsely, "The demons didn't hurt me, but... I got a little cut up running... I twisted my ankle and fell..." Now that she has to think about them, she realizes how much her injuries sting and throb.

"You fought a demon and you healed someone injured. They will not touch you. You will not have to run, because they will have to come through me and Justice to get close. Vivienne will never win, the Templars will never win; you will stay free."

There is cold certainty in his voice, and part of it comes from Justice. She will know freedom for the rest of her life. A glow springs to life in Anders' hands as he turns some attention to her ankle and other injuries and begins to work.

"No fair law was broken. No law that should hold any power was broken. You need run no further."

"Do you promise?" Her voice is soft and small, but earnest.

"What do I do now? If I go back, I can't hide anymore. I can't lie. Too many people know now. I... I don't think I'll be safe alone anymore..."

She grits her teeth a little as he heals her. Healing magic stings a little before it feels soothing.

"But... please. Don't do anything stupid over me. Please. I thought I was going to lose you once already. I can't go through that again."

"I promise." He can't promise not to do something stupid, but he can promise to stand up for her.

"We go back, you join the rest of the healers in shifts. We can get you a tent in the Warden camp near mine if you'll feel safer there, and you can walk with me to and from shifts if you'd like. We can train you in open, now. You'll have friends with you as often as you want and need. And I'll have no need to do something stupid because you've hurt no one. You've only helped."

Anders meets her eyes, expression serious. "You are a mage, not a criminal. And I will ever stand at your side."

"Thank you..." She swipes absently at her nose, sniffling back the remnants of her tears.

"Can... Can I stay with you? Or Bethany, maybe? At... at night, I mean. I don't know if I can sleep alone now..."

He finishes up with her ankle before reaching up to brush a tear away with a thumb.

"Bethany doesn't have a roommate. You can ask if she'd like one. I... I've a roommate, and sometimes company. My tent would not be a good place. But if need be, you can stay a night or a couple. We can move things around and try to fit a third cot in."

He also gets up very early and goes to sleep late, and never sleeps well. Their tent is not restful.

"I... I don't need a cot. Really. Just a blanket or two and a little corner, and I'm fine, honest. You won't hardly even know I'm there--I'm usually very good at being inconspicuous."

She blushes a little.
"Most nights, I just sleep under one of the supply tables in the healing tents. Sam doesn't think it's good for me, but it's not so bad. I just... I just don't want to be by myself..."

"Kalli..." He hadn't known that. How had he missed it? "We'll set you up in the corner and speak with Bethany, all right? You deserve better than simply a blanket or two or being under a supply table."

Truth be told, it'll probably be him climbing into that blanket in the corner before she can. How could he sleep in a cot and leave her to that? "You should have said something. But now we'll take care of this."

"No... No, don't fuss, really. I don't mind. I don't take up much space, I'm close in case a patient needs me... It's been a good system so far. Cozy, even. Just... it doesn't feel safe anymore..."

"Kalli," he says again. "You will be safe, and we will find you accommodations that are comfortable in the Warden camp. You do not need to hide, or cower, or any of that."

Anders leans in and kisses her forehead. "There are people who care about you and want better for you. We'll find you a place."

"...for a little while, I suppose," she concedes quietly.

She bites her lip.
"You're going to take me back now, aren't you? I... don't know how I'm going to face them..."

"You can face them." Gently he reaches over and dries another tear. "Anyone who does not understand that you hid what you were due to fear doesn't deserve your acquaintance. Anyone who is upset that you are a mage does not deserve your time. You are still you. No one here has told you every detail of their lives; can they blame you for not telling them every detail of yours?"

The top of her head gets another kiss. "You are strong and beautiful, Kalli, and we will go back together. And if anyone, anyone at all, has a problem with you hiding your magic, tell me. I will defend you."

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[Closed] The Wrong Road

On the Run

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