faderift | and if I only could make a deal with God

WHO: Mia Rutherford, Cullen Rutherford, and YOU
WHAT: Councils and meetings are well and good, but someone's got to see to the damage done and the people who need reassurances.
WHEN: Haring 12, 13, 14
WHERE: Closed thread in Cullen's office. Then, all over Skyhold. Mostly wherever an extra set of hands are needed.
NOTES: Possible discussion of traumatic events.

And she'd thought Darkspawn were terrifying. They had been, certainly, every bit as deadly and in numbers that could shake even the bravest of men. The images of Honnleath falling to the horde would never leave her mind, as long as she lived.

But that creature that had gone tearing through the castle...

Of course in its wake people wanted to turn it into a point of argument. The mages were quick enough to engage the more political side of the issue to protect their people. Not unwise, when blame would shift so quickly their way. But politics weren't her concern, certainly not those of the mages and templars. There were instead many in the hold who might need help picking back up after the nightmarish encounter with the monster.

Simple things could go a long way. Bandages and herbs for the injured. Mending torn clothes. Warm food and blankets as a comfort to those for whom the effects could not so easily be mended. They were not grand gestures, they would shape nothing in the grander course of things, but someone had to look out for the little people. She'd gladly take on that role.

----

Then, of course, her mind would turn to her brother. He'd faced abominations numerous times in his life, and being here meant she finally had the chance to look him in the eye, to see if he needed anything, and make certain he was holding together. That business tended to be harder to take care of through letters alone.

So her last stop of the day was the Commander's office, where she knocked sharp and brief before waiting exactly ten seconds. Then, answer or not, she was coming in.

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One such little person was grateful to receive an extra blanket once she'd awakened. Still in shock from what she'd witnessed in the garden, and how badly her shard had reacted to it, Sina was spending a lot of time huddling in the tent she shared with Nari. When Mia made her generous delivery, Sina thanked her as profusely as she could without tiring herself out.

"Hush. Calm yourself." The blanket was pressed into her hands with a tired smile. "I know it's frightening, but we're going to help where we can. You're not hurt, are you?"

Even a few moments spared might help. The elf looked as though she were still recovering from the shock of it all.

Though surprised at being silenced, Sina understood the sentiment behind it. "I will get better," she decided, in answer to the question. The shard in her chest had stopped crackling and spitting after the abomination had left, but her body was still recovering from when it did.

She'd only meant to keep her from exhausting herself with all those thanks. The girl needed to save her strength, though it seemed she was already prepared to do so. How well she remembered that answer.

Are you alright? I will be.

"I'm certain that's true," Mia replied in firm but gentle tones. "Do you have anyone here to look after?"

By now Sina was no stranger to the effect the shard had on her health, and she was smart enough not to push it. In response to Mia's question, she nodded. "Nari," she answered breathily, patting the empty bedroll next to her own, "...and the garden. And I help with patients, when I can." She had little time to slow down.

"It will help. Having something to focus on, something to do."

Which might explain why she'd been on her feet from the start, almost without a moment's rest. There was no time to sit around and be horrified when there were a thousand practical ways to distract oneself.

Her eyes flickered briefly to the bedroll. "Your friend, Nari. Is she alright? Does she need anything?"

Sina nodded to Mia's question, then followed her gaze at the second. "She's on a mission right now," she said, "I hope she's all right, but won't know for certain unless I hear otherwise." There was always worry when Nari went away, but Sina had learned to keep it in check. Thus far, she always came back.

"Well at the very least, she stayed clear of all of this. You'll have quite the story to tell when she returns," Mia replied, voice straining for a little lightness. But she knew too well that feeling, someone you cared for being far away, being unable to help them or even know if they were alright.

Wasn't that half the reason she was here, now?

"She was there, the night it happened," Sina replied, "...she brought me here. I'm thankful she wasn't hurt." She noticed the strain in Mia's voice, and smiled sympathetically. "You're here to look after someone," she guessed.

That nearly caught her off-guard, but she recovered with a quick smile soon after. "I'm here to look after a lot of someones," she replied evenly. "With everyone in such a hurry to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, someone ought to, mm?"

Sina smiled knowingly and nodded. "We can always use the help around the healing tents," she said, ignoring the fact that she herself was currently in need of the healers.

"I'll do what I can. I'm no healer myself, but I don't doubt an extra pair of hands might be useful. I've some herbs from the requisition officer, in fact..."

She trailed off after a moment, brow furrowing faintly. "Are you certain you're alright, dear?"

"Certainly," Sina replied, smiling, but her expression became more opaque at Mia's question. She looked down and sighed. "Yes," she said softly, "I will manage until we can find a way to remove the shard." This was what she told herself daily, anyway.

"Is there anything that can be done to make it easier for you?"

She'd heard about these shards, fragments from the Rift. So far it seemed less damning than catching the Blight. She'd watched those poor souls fall apart, corrupted from the inside--

She broke off that line of thought swiftly, reaching out a hand to rest on the young woman's shoulder. The worry there was evident enough.

Sina thought about it and shrugged helplessly. "Adelaide and I are able to keep it at bay with magic, sometimes," she said, and trailed off. Otherwise, there was nothing. Nothing short of finding an expert, anyway.

Adelaide. Of course. "She's a good woman," Mia murmured, before lightly squeezing the elf's shoulder. "I am sorry. Truly. Whatever might be done to make things a little easier for you, you have only but to ask."

There wouldn't be much, but little things could add up. Small comforts for those suffering might make it easier before...well. Before a cure was found, or wasn't.

"She is," Sina agreed, her smile becoming a close-lipped one (not that her front teeth didn't always stick out a little) when Mia persisted. "Thank you," she said once again, her gaze dropping uncomfortably. She would be as self-sufficient as she could, for as long as she could, and she didn't know what to do when so many fussed over her.

It couldn't be helped. Her instinct was to look after those around her, and someone suffering in her vicinity wouldn't be ignored. What good was she doing here if she did so?

Her hand falling away, Mia gave a gentle nod. "Of course. I should be getting back to it. We've many to see to. But please, take care."

Sina smiled and nodded back. "You too," she replied, lifting her hand in an amiable wave. "And please, if you need anything from the garden, I'm happy to help."

and if I only could make a deal with God

The Healing Tents [can just be a handwave unless you feel like responding!]

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