[Open] Hope is that Beautiful Place, between How Things Were

[sunshinethroughgrey]

WHO: Bethany Hawke and You
WHAT: Trying to convalesce - badly. So just like a Hawke, really.
WHEN: Covering the 22nd of Justinian through the first week of Solace, around her absence from the 24th through the 27th of Justinian for Thorns of the Rose..
WHERE: Library, Warden Camp, Skyhold Courtyard
NOTES: Warnings for graphic violence and cheerful optimism.

It should be noted that Bethany Hawke is a horrible patient.

In fact, it should be noted that all Hawkes are terrible patients. None of them liked to stay in bed if they didn't want to, all of them were more than happy to keep pushing through the pain and illness until they were absolutely exhausted. Bethany herself traveled nearly a week out with the Blight in her veins before she succumbed to the illness.

So imagine just how stubborn she was going to be for a silly gaping chest wound along with cracked ribs.

During the first few days after they had defeated Vengeance were quiet - she couldn't make it out of bed after all. After that -- well. If no one was watching her - she'd make herself all the way to the library to do her research, or out in the Courtyard to knit and read, or tell stories to the children with one hand against her side.

To the healers horror, and aggravation, she even managed to escape their kind attentions long enough to disappear for three days to Fereldan, of all places. She was put back into a cot under dire threats, but she was out again the next day, hobbling across the courtyard to see the mabari puppies and take her own Gamlen out for his walks.

It's not until the first week of Solace, however, that the healers throw up their hands and let her go back to the Warden Camp. She's quieter, for whatever reason, but anyone who seeks her out will find her sunshine smiles and sewing something carefully.

Yet the rare few will find her alone in the woods, her hands to her face, tears sliding down her cheeks that first week of Solace. Tears that will be dashed away if she's caught, and hidden.

Comments

[sunshinethroughgrey]

She sniffed again, before she exhaled slowly. "Do you think I'm crying about what happened to Nathaniel? Because you think I blame you? Don't be a tit, Anders. I know precisely who is to blame for that, and it certainly is not you."

[justice_is_blond]

"I thought... I... I mean, no, I didn't think that was the heart of it. I didn't think I'd helped matters, though. Because I didn't help matters. I think you're hurting over a few things and I wasn't sure if I was welcome or not." Anders glances away. "It seemed safer to ask than assume."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Get over here and hug me, you ridiculous man." Is Bethany's firm response, even as her eyes tear up again. "I'm crying because I nearly lost you, and Nathaniel, and I've been scared to come and talk to you after we ... we lost Herc."

She chokes a little, "I've lost so much family, Anders."

[justice_is_blond]

Family. It's been said to him before, that he's got the chance to choose his family now and he doesn't have to be lacking in any anymore, but to be called it... Anders doesn't hesitate. He moves to her side and hugs her tight.

"I... I'm here. For as long as you want me, and for as long as you want to call me family, Bethany." His father had gotten rid of him as soon as possible. Sometimes family didn't want you. But Bethany did, and he appreciated it more than he had words for.