faderift | OPEN: this will be a better year

OPEN: this will be a better year

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

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"Sam!" She had heard that those from their expeditions were once again in Skyhold and had spent the better part of the day seeking them out- to find Sam here and warm and safe eases her mind in no small way. Adelaide weaves through the crowd to him, resting a hand upon his shoulder to catch his attention before attempting to offer a proper embrace.

The voice immediately catches his attention, and Sam quickly turns to see where it had come from. It isn't until a hand grabs his shoulder that he turns to face the proper direction, and at seeing Adelaide a large smile spreads over his face. Even if she had not wanted it, Sam was already leaning down and wrapping his arms around her, giving her a tight but gentle hug.

She was okay.

The breath he lets out is a bit shaky, and when he pulls back Sam has to rub at the corners of his eyes. He had been holding up alright for a while, but LeBlanc always had a way of unraveling him, even if he just heard her voice. "It's good to see you."

"It is good to see you as well, MouMou." Soft so no one else might hear and give Sam grief for the endearment. She'd worried terribly while he was away. Knowing someone is capable is one thing- knowing them capable and having to trust those they travel with to mind them as well as they minded themselves? Now that he is back she might be able to better rest.

He is here, he is safe, he is well.

"What is wrong?" She leans back and rests her hands on Sam's shoulders, peering up into his face. There is a sorrow to him she doesn't care for.

MouMou. The endearment has Sam letting out a small bark of a laugh. It's been a while since he's heard it, and while he still doesn't quite get it, it has been growing on him little by little. At least it was fine coming from Adelaide. If any of the others found out and started using it. Oof.

The sound of worry in LeBlanc's voice sombers him up some, reaching up with one hand to pat one of hers on his shoulders. "I'm just relieved. It's been a long month with a lot of ups and downs."

"It has at that- and a longer year still. I am surprised at the size of this celebration but I think it is one well earned." She drops her grip from his shoulders to squeeze his hands gently before turning her attention to the far corner where Roul and the other apprentices are eating quietly. "We've all missed you and worried for you. Roul will be pleased to know you've returned safely."

"He'll just be glad because he doesn't have to play the 'giant' anymore for the boys." He's teasing of course. Though there are other mages around his age, Roul had taken a liking to him pretty quickly, more than likely because of their similar temperaments. That and the man enjoyed that Sam often asked him for help.

"I've missed you all, too. Is everything... everyone alright?" He's not going to say it, but hopefully Adelaide will pick up that he's talking about that time - dealing with the abomination - last month.

"We are all well. There was an incident but-" She shrugs, looking past to the courtyard for a moment, mind rife with Lauren, with the fire and fear. "It is not conversation suited to a celebration like this. Tomorrow."

She may have burned and may have been bitterly frustrated; but she is healed and she is trying so terribly hard not to think of work or the weight she's taken on herself this past month. "Tomorrow I will tell you everything. Tonight you are home and you have been missed."

He feels a bit silly about having brought up the incident, but he had to at least ask. Tomorrow. He's had to put it in the back of his mind for a month, he can do it for one more day. "Yeah, I'm home."

Home; Skyhold had certainly become that for him and many others. It always made him feel a bit warm whenever he heard someone say that to him. "It's good to be back." Which was completely true, though if he was completely honest with himself there were somethings in Emprise du Lion that he did miss. It's a good thing the chill in the air already has his cheeks red. "So tell me about the good stuff that has happened."

"Another Spirit Healer has arrived. Detlef- he has been staying with us until he can find a safe place of his own to rest. I do not know what circle he came from but he is skilled and passionate about Mage freedom. Given time I assume we'll hear more of him in the Council but-" She stops, shakes her head at herself and squeezes Sam's hands. "The garden is recovering, the Council is better organized, and I've finally gotten the smell of the mire out of my cloak."

Detlef? "Another Spirit Healer? You mean someone else who is training, or do you mean someone like yourself who already has a spirit?" Either way it sounds like there are more and more of them all the time. "It's good to hear that the Council is doing better, but I suppose that is something else I will hear about tomorrow as well."

"Someone with a spirit- I have not asked which just yet but it is good to know that we've more in our number. I've invited him to join us in our lessons whenever they should resume. Now that you and Christine are back? He can meet you. I've spoken of you both, of the progress you are making." And it is such fine progress they've both made. She's terribly proud.

Sam blushes at that, that she's been talking about him - and Christine - to someone and the way she sounds when mentioning their progress. "It is nothing compared to what you're able to do. Still, it will be nice to meet this man you're talking about. Perhaps we can do lessons soon, though maybe in a few days? I for one would enjoy taking a couple days to just rest before I fall back into routine. And I think Christine wanted to get started on some research on the red lyrium and red templars we ran into on our mission."

"You are coming along so well, Sam. I am certain that soon we will be able to begin fade meditations properly, so you might better understand the murmuring of spirits." She doesn't wish to rush their training- it is so fragile a thread they draw through the veil, something of will and spun glass. All it takes is one miscalculation for it to shatter and a student to become possessed.

But Sam is a diligent student and knows the shape and sound of a Spirit's voice. She has less to fear, here. "A few days to recover is more than reasonable. Let me know when you are ready to resume, yes?"

Edited (I CAN SPEL I SWEAR) 2016-01-02 15:40 (UTC)

"Fade meditations," he says with a bit of an exhale. They were already at that point were they? It was something he was both excited about, but also dreading. So much could go wrong during such things.

"I just need a few days then I'll be good to start up lessons again. It's more then enough time for me to get my head straight after being away for a while. Still teaching them at dawn?"

"You will do well, Sam. I know you will." He is skilled, he is patient. He can and will find a spirit that speaks to him and can work with him. They are some time from finding that spirit- but soon. Very soon.

"Of course. Dawn in the garden- no matter Christine's muttering it is when the garden is it's most calm." And when they've the most peace.

And when most of them are still half asleep. That and remembering Christine's muttered complaints - she had done it at Emprise as well - brings a small lopsided grin to his face.

"I still don't know how you manage it. Dawn to late night, with something filling every moment during the times you're awake."

"Practice." She huffs a soft laugh. "I have been doing this, more or less, as long as I have been a mage- before then, in fact. LeBlancs are to be well read and well mannered and perfect at that they do; so we were taught and trained, more or less, as soon as we were able to learn. Shifting that mentality to academic research and teaching has been far more rewarding."

A beat.

"Do I work you too hard, Sam? Perhaps I should allow you and Christine another half hour before lessons; so you might be more awake?"

A blink.

Followed by some laughter. "Can't say I'm a morning person, but it's pretty routine for me as well. I was more commenting on you being too hard on yourself." Course he's one to talk, filling his day with various lessons and jobs of sorts. Ones he'll have to get back into once he took some time to recuperate.

"When we've less to do, then I will rest." But that will be a long day coming, the wry twist of her lips makes it quite obvious she's aware of this- and of Sam's own tendency to fill his days to the brim. "We both will."

There's a raise of a brow at that, but seeing the look on Adelaide's face has him smiling nonetheless. Giving an amused huff and rubbing the back of his head, Sam shakes his head guiltily. Probably why he was purposely taking a few days to not do anything, since he'd be right back in the swing of things.

"Always something to do, right?"

"Always." Even when recovering from the abomination, she'd found work she could do while sitting, while resting. There is too much at stake, too much that needs to be done for her to simply take a few days. Attempting to sit and be idle without work would drive her mad. "Let me know if you mean to join us tonight after the celebration in the room, or if you've found other accommodations?"

Sam smiles at the offer but shakes his head to it. "As always it's appreciated, but tonight... think I'll try making a call after the celebration starts to settle down. And I should probably check to see if my bed in the armory is still there."

"Our door is always open to you, Sam." Especially after so long apart. She gives his hands one last squeeze before stepping away. "Have fun, yes? That is what tonight is for."

"Thanks. I will." I'll try. "Have some fun yourself." He smiles warmly, glad to be home again.

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OPEN: this will be a better year

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