you don't own the green pines

[chainlightning]

WHO: Merrill and open!
WHAT: An open log.
WHEN: Justinian 20th - mid-Solace
WHERE: Skyhold and the surrounding area
NOTES: Some talk of violence, injuries, death.

late justinian through early solace | healing tents
[ Justice is dead, but he nearly took many others with them -- Merrill included. She's in a bad way for a few days, especially after; her cheekbone is broke, her ribs mostly intact but her internal organs badly bruised, along with various and sundry scrapes, cuts, bite marks, bruises, and burns.

Still, she's a decent patient. She stays put in the tents, at least, though they can't quite get her to stop talking when she's feeling well enough to sit up and do so. Visitors are allowed at the discretion of the healers, but Merrill isn't going to turn anyone (or anything) away. ]

early solace | around skyhold
[ When she's allowed to leave the healing tents, it's not full-time. They don't want her going down to the Warden camp to sleep, but she's allowed to wander Skyhold as long as she's careful. As a result, Merrill mostly relaxes -- visits with friends or with potential new friends, sits in the garden, watches the birds.

She likes to go visit the griffons, when she can, though she has to be careful. They're less good about watching for injuries. ]

early-mid solace | camp shady fucker
[ When she's allowed to move more, when she's more patched up between a combination of time and magic, Merrill gets to work. Sleeping in a tent isn't new, but the events at Weisshaupt have shaken her. If they need to get out, she wants to be able to move quickly.

She starts to gather supplies. Wood, mostly, but any who know much about the Dalish may recognize what begins to take shape or the plans that Merrill checks every once in a while: an aravel. ]

wildcard
[ you know what to do ]

Comments

[chainlightning]

Yet it's so difficult to get what they say out of your head. [ She shakes herself slightly. ] Horrible.

[serannas]

That's the way they want it to be. It keeps doubt in your head and they hope it weakens you.

[chainlightning]

It's funny. We've always known that spirits and demons are close, that they're at least not of this world and therefore we have to be careful. But the one on Sundermount, that one I didn't have any problems with. The one that I was told over and over again wasn't a problem, even though I never trusted either of them? That's the one that's had the words linger, that's had me doubt.

[serannas]

Is that so surprising? They try to make you comfortable, so you let your guard down around them. So their words can wound all the deeper.

[ She gives Merrill a sympathetic smile. Being a mage is never easy. ]

But you're still here, braver and smarter than even you realize.

[chainlightning]

But I never did feel comfortable around this one.

[ That's the part that trips her up.

Well, that and Ellana's compliment. ]

Well, I- maybe?

[serannas]

And yet it was worse?

[ She's just trying to understand, really. To her, the most dangerous demons are the ones that get you to let down your guard. ]

Oh, Merrill. I'd say so.