And as we wind on down the road

[faderifting]

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.)

Comments

[ancarrow]

[It all sounded very romantic to Eirlys, just being able to decide to lay down and sleep rather than face the often long and degrading process of death. Far too romantic to be true, unless the elven gods had abandoned them the same as the Maker.

She's not sure that Evelyn Trevelyan would have necessarily appreciated the sentiment. But then, she supposed that funerals were far more for the comfort of the living than the spiritual wellbeing of the departed, when it came down to it.]

It's your Chant, then. [Or the nearest equivalent. Eirlys nods understanding.] I hope it helped. I'm glad no one tried to challenge you on it.

[With the amount of humans on edge here, she worried there'd be some who'd see it as trying to make some statement rather than just part of the ritual of grieving.]

[arlathvhen]

...I wouldn't say it's the Chant.

[ Not that Beleth knows anything about the Chant. ]

But I'm glad as well. I thought I was being quiet--Perhaps the humans here aren't quite as ready to leap at people as I had thought. Nevertheless--I thought it would be prudent to offer the blessings of our people.

[ She hesitated, then made her decision, turning to Eirlys, smiling. ]

You know, if you ever wanted to learn more about elven culture, I'd be glad to teach you what I can. I'm no First, but--Well, our First is here. Maybe she could help.

[ancarrow]

I'd like that. [Many of the elves in the alienage had resigned themselves to knowing next to nothing about their past. Eirlys had counted herself among them, treasuring the tiny gleams that they'd managed to keep but knowing not to dwell on what was gone, and to focus on her work healing and lifting up the downtrodden elves around her. But all that had changed when she'd arrived at Skyhold.] I never imagined meeting actual Dalish elves. Perhaps that's why I was sent here, to carry our history back to Gwaren with me.

[arlathvhen]

We usually keep to ourselves.

[ Not for any good reason, either. Even now, as a part of the Inquisition, they occasionally got into trouble with the humans. Beleth wouldn't mind keeping separated from most of the humans here. But that'd be pretty impractical. ]

But I'd be happy to share with you whatever you'd like to learn--especially if you want to bring it to others. I'm sure our First would be happy to help, as well.

[ She knows that many clans believe in jealously guarding their knowledge, like a dragon with jewels and coin. But that would do no good when the time of Arlathan came, and all the elves united together. It was the job of the Dalish to share that knowledge then, so why would they not want to get a head start? ]

...Perhaps we should offer it to all the elves interested. Do you think other city elves would be interested?