LET NO SOUL HUNGER FOR JUSTICE: SONG FOR THE SOUL

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Anders, Bethany, Nathaniel, Leliana, Kallian, Sina, Beleth
WHAT: The First Ritual
WHEN: 1st of Bloomingtide (May 1st)
WHERE: half an hour outside Skyhold
NOTES: plotting thread.

The clearing is not all that far from Skyhold- only half an hour's ride. They don't anticipate anything going wrong in this particular ritual but familiarity with the location and a fear that something might go wrong in the future is more than enough to give it a solid once over before they begin. On it's own the ritual is absurd- but there'd been notes enough to make it seem, if not entirely credible, worth a shot. After all it will work or it will not.

Won't it?

Comments

[arlathvhen]

[ Beleth is accustomed to Leliana managing to not only materialize shadows where there were none, but then materializing herself out of them. Thus, she's only mildly alarmed when Leliana appears. She gives her mentor a smile that betrays a little nervousness, but her tone is determined. ]

I'm curious, mostly. Magic through song. I've heard of it, but it's an art that's been all but lost. I wonder at the implications, if it works. Or even if it doesn't work.

[fightingale]

It seems the stuff of legends, doesn't it?

( But then there they are, fighting a war against someone who tore open the sky. 'Legendary' seems to be a shifting scale. )

Something that merits further study, without doubt. ( She pauses, though, because Beleth is nervous. It is not the time for a lesson in schooling her on her reactions and on signposting her emotions. They have too much to focus on, and she endeavours to support her scouts as well as teach them and lead them. It is not something she does perfectly, but if she is to be a spymaster, she will be a kinder one than Marjolaine, as much as she is capable. )

It was good of you to volunteer.

[arlathvhen]

It would certainly be neat, if it turns out that people could use magic like this. Maybe without even being a mage...? I think--It'd certainly make being a bard a more interesting experience.

[ Neat, she says. But she smiles at Leliana nevertheless, looking a little less nervous than before. Leliana seemed to have a handle on everything around her, and if she wasn't worried, Beleth was doubtful she ought to be. ]

Of course. Anders--Um. In Antiva. There was this flesh golem, and I stayed behind with others to help fight it. The thing spat acid, and it hit my hands, and I, um. I kind of freaked out. But Anders had gone ahead, and when he heard me screaming, he came back to heal my hands. He almost died--he could have. But, hardly knowing me, he came back.

For that kind of debt, I can play a song.

[ She did that for Alistair, too! She liked that song better, though. ]

[fightingale]

That is how it is meant to be when you work as part of a team. Do not think of it as debts owed or paid - you protect one another because it should come as naturally as your hands defending your face or your ribs.

( She frowns very slightly. ) When I was a bard, you worked with other bards but you did not ever trust them, not truly. I hope that... when you and Araceli work together, it is a dynamic of trust and solidarity. Not waiting for the knife to turn against you. Working with all members of the Inquisition, ideally, but with you both as my students... I do not wish to breed malice between you.

( A shade off topic, and her gaze shifts back to Beleth. ) I am glad he healed your hands.

( Her feelings on the man are mixed and dubious at best, but even so. He did seem to genuinely care about healing people. )

[arlathvhen]

[ She stares down at her hands, as if they needed examined under the scrutiny of Anders' healing. She knows that Leliana is right, and Beleth had been as quick to leap to the defense of her teammates, as well. But people saving her, it...felt different. It's hard to think of herself as worthy of risking life and limb for. But Leliana doesn't need her issues, so she just nods. ]

So am I. But I understand, Sister Nightingale. I want to work alongside Araceli, as well, and I believe she feels the same. I think that it would be far more preferential than trying to fight against here.

[ Pause. ]

Partly because she'd win.

[fightingale]

Good.

( Although she is curious about what might be going unsaid, about opinions Beleth might hold that conflict or are a little more complex when matched up with Leliana's own.

Leliana exhales a breath that might almost sound like a laugh. )

In some fights, yes. In others you would find yourself with the advantage.

[arlathvhen]

Really?

[ Beleth looks genuinely surprised by the appraisal, turning to look curiously at Leliana. ]

The only advantage I have on her is that I am a resident of this world. But as far as natural knowledge goes? Up until I came to Skyhold, I'd been isolated enough that she could easily make up the difference if she set her mind to learning.

[fightingale]

If you are determined to be defeated, by all means.

( The gesture she means with her hands could be a please, after you sort of thing if given to someone else at a doorway. The tone is not unkind, and yet the point of one of her eyebrows ticks upward. )

Defeat is always a possibility. It is your responsibility to do all that you can to counter it, not accept it and grant it a place at your table.

[arlathvhen]

I'm being realistic.

[ But she murmurs it quietly, almost sullenly, feeling like a scolded child. She's not trying to be defeatist, she's not even upset with Araceli about it. She's just accepting the facts of the situation at hand. Araceli is the better bard, and Beleth won't do herself any favors pretending that things are any different.

That's what she tells herself, at least. ]

I'm not giving up, and I'm going to try to keep improving. I know I can do better. I just know--Araceli is already better.