faderift | And as we wind on down the road

WHO: Open to all
WHAT: The Herald of Andraste is laid to rest, and the remains of the Inquisition try to put on a good face for their visitors. Some of them try, anyway.
WHEN: Harvestmere 26
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: n/a

The day after the mysterious strangers from the rift arrive, the Herald's body is delivered back to Skyhold. At first, there is doubt-- the timing is convenient, finally found the very day the funeral is to take place, and many still cling to hope that the Herald has somehow survived. Most, but not all, are appeased by news that the Inquisition's chief advisers have all confirmed the identity of the deceased. Preparations are accelerated: what was once to be a symbolic memorial now requires actual rites, and while some prepare the body others break down whatever can be spared for the pyre, constructed in the center of the main courtyard by another crew.

The funeral itself is a somber affair, as funerals generally are. The Great Hall has been cleared and swept but little else-- all attendees stand, and they are lucky it is a clear day, since the late afternoon sun streams in through the gaping holes in the roof. The service proceeds along strictly traditional Andrastian lines, stately and stiff. Mother Giselle provides the service and the sermon, focusing on duty, sacrifice, and the Maker's plan and concluded with a recitation of Transfigurations 10:1 by the whole assemblage. It is all very predictable, but sincerely delivered. Cassandra and Cullen lead the honor guard. It is a mismatched collection of visiting dignitaries, suspicious observers, pilgrims, colleagues, and companions that slowly process up to pay their silent respects as Evelyn Trevelyan lies in state. Some may notice that the body has been carefully arranged to disguise the fact that her left hand is gone. As night falls they light candles and then the pyre, and as the flames catch and lick up toward the star-washed sky, Mother Giselle sings a haunting version of the Chantry hymn The Dawn Will Come.

The wake that follows is less staid. It seems as if every table and chair in the castle has been dragged into The Herald's Rest and the courtyards and every hidden store of fine wine and food has been dug out from Josephine's secret stores to impress the more exalted visitors. This isn't just a funeral, after all, but a political occasion, an opportunity to demonstrate that the Inquisition lives on beyond the loss of its first symbolic leader, and that it can still be a force for peace and unity.

That impression is dented as the night wears on, and opinions and stories get shared more and more loudly. Someone hops up on a table to give their own little eulogy and others follow suit. Of course eventually it turns sour-- a templar gets up and starts blaming the mages for killing the Herald just like they killed the Divine, and mages at the next table shout back. He's hauled down before things can escalate, but grumbling and dirty looks are unlikely to be the last of it.

The event carries on into the wee hours, and noise echoes around the stone walls loudly enough to make it difficult for any to sleep early. One team of Inquisition scouts and soldiers comes out of the barn to complain more than once, and eventually move their bedrolls down into a basement hall, growling about how they have to be up at the crack of dawn to head out on a mission to scout some Maker-forsaken bog of all the places. (Mire, one of them corrects.)

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Ellana looks thoughtful before nodding. "At least some of them must think it for those reasons. But Dalish mages aren't brought up in the Circle, like other mages are. The Templars watch them there. Since we've never learned magic the way they think we should, we're unpredictable. They assume the worst."

She pauses to lean back on her hands, looking up at the night sky. "I knew this wouldn't be easy, coming out into the world and being around humans. But I wanted to do it anyway. Despite what just happened in there, I don't regret it. I've met good people too." She tips her head and smiles at him. "Like you."

"Figures they would," he mutters. So far, the templars haven't done all that much to endear themselves to him, and he's not at all surprised to hear that they have a fairly narrowed minded view when it comes to how to learn magic, too. He is surprised when Ellana calls him a good person, though. Enough so that he winds up dropping his head a fraction, one hand reaching up to scratch at his ear to cover the faintly sheepish look that's crept onto his face.

"Och, I'm just me."

He's not perfect, and he knows it, but it's a little flattering that she thinks he's good all the same. After a moment, he lets his hand fall to his side, the sheepish expression slipping away as it's replaced with a slightly lopsided-appearing smile.

"I could say the same about you, you know. You came here to help, and set things right. Not everyone's willing to do that. I'm glad you did, though. I'd not have gotten the chance to meet you, otherwise. And if the other humans around here don't like that, that's their loss."

"Well, I'm just me too," she replies, lips quirking up at his sheepish expression. Not just anyone would volunteer to join the Inquisition, it's true, but she's only one of many who have, and she's proud to be among that number. Now if some of them would just behave a bit better, that would be wonderful.

"It must be terrible to be so far from home, but what you and the other rifters need right now are friends and support. I'm happy to provide that. The fact that you came to my defense just shows that you're worth knowing." Ellana chuckles lightly. "And anyone who doesn't want to know you is missing out too!"

"Think I'm more used to it then most, to tell you the truth. It's actually been...three years since I've seen Scotland, now."

A wistful expression crosses his face as he says it. Despite his claims of being more used to it, there's still times where he misses his home. Now that he's here, chances are he'll not see it again, unless for some reason the Doctor turns up in the TARDIS. Somehow, though, he doesn't think it'll be as easy as all that. Still, the thought of the Doctor gets him to smile a little, something that grows a bit as Ellana goes on - and then he winds up chuckling, too.

"I've a friend that would say that I'm entirely too rash for my own good, you know. But if you're sure you don't mind being friends with someone who'll jump into things head on then I'd be grateful for the support. Can't promise you'll not wind up tangled up in something with me around, though. That seems to happen more often than not in places I go."

"Three years?" And now he's stuck here, though he doesn't need her pointing that out.

"I would be happy to follow along and possibly pull you out of trouble, Jamie." If anything, he would keep life interesting for her! Though that would be bountiful here in the Inquisition. So much of Thedas is embroiled in conflict and chaos, but she's willing to face it head on.

"As near as I can figure, yes."

He does appreciate her not pointing out the obvious, however. Other people might not have been as kind, and he's starting to consider himself lucky that he's found a few people here, like Ellana, that are. For a moment it seems he's going to smile again, but then she mentions the word 'trouble', and he can't quite help the not-quite indignant sounding "Hey!" that escapes him. Despite that one word, he's not actually upset, not even close. He's been teased more than once about it in the past, and any protests he's making now are ones he's doing just for the sake of protesting.

"Now, did I say anything about trouble? That would be the Doctor, not me. If he was here he'd be in trouble right up to his neck." He doesn't really expect Ellana to believe him - Zoe never does - but just in case, he does let his lips twist into a rather wry smile. "Alright, so maybe I'd wind up getting into it too, but only because he needs someone to keep an eye on him."

Ellana can't help but giggle at his reaction to the "trouble" comment. It's usually those who cause the most mischief who deny it the most.

"So you believe you won't find trouble here because the Doctor isn't here too? Tell me about the Doctor; he sounds like a character."

"Oh, aye, he's something, alright."

It's said quite dryly, but there's a fondness in his expression that belies the words - something that he follows up on as he continues, the dryness slipping away and replaced with a warmth he doesn't bother to try and hide.

"He's the most clever man I know, for starters. Now, I might tease him a wee bit about not being able to steer the TARDIS - that's our ship - but I'd trust him with my life. And we've been to places that...aye, well, let's just say that I couldn't even have imagined them three years ago, let alone realized that one day I'd wind up there. I never would've seen them if I'd not met him."

No matter where he's wound up, it's been an adventure, and he wouldn't change that for the world, even the part where he's wound up here, and he flicks his eyes back over to Ellana, giving her a wry smile.

"Suppose it's a bit daft, but it'll not be the same without him around. Even if I do wind up getting into trouble here and there in the meantime. Listen, do you want to take a walk? I can tell you a bit more, but I could do with stretching my legs a bit."

The way he speaks of it makes Ellana want to hear about all the places he's been. It sounds like quite the experience; something that's changed him forever. That's what she wants for herself. She wants to see new places, learn new things, and have it all become a part of who she is.

Nodding, she moves to stand.

"I'd like that. This way?" She gestures in a direction so they can start off.

And as we wind on down the road

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