[Open] Marvel At Perfection

[judgemewhole]

WHO: James Norrington and You, Norrington and Merrill
WHAT: One Knight Commander, hanging about
WHEN: Through Harvestmere until he leaves on his trip.
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Warnings for templar stuff, as always

The life of a templar was never a dull one, even for one who spent all his younger years in Ostwick. Now with the Inquisition, James had found such duties doubled. He was training new recruits on how to fight demons in the courtyard. He was teaching the Rifters about the Templar Order and the Chantry, out in the garden. He was sitting in his office with the holes in the walls, filling in requisition forms and handling complaints.

Still, some evenings he still managed to get away to spend some time with his people -- and they would either head to the tavern, or now that the weather had cooled, make a small campfire and sit around together, passing a bottle of wine and stories - old and new. Anyone was welcome to join them, and James himself would always hand over a fresh goblet to a newcomer.

Comments

[dontmiss]

Sitting in the garden rolling his eyes at the Rifters from behind this Knight Commander's back was not the most mature or the most efficient use of Tim's time, but he still hadn't been assigned regular duties and he was at loose ends. It was therapeutic to make fun of Templars. He was sure of it.

He was also ready to step behind the tree he was leaning on if Norrington happened to notice him.

[judgemewhole]

Some of the Rifters snorted, which Norrington thought was odd, considering that he was talking about the part of the Chant that had to do with what happened to the Golden City. He frowned, and turned abruptly around, to see if there was some child making faces behind his back.

[dontmiss]

Tim can be pretty childish, but his expression shifts as Norrington turns around. All the knight commander will see is a serious-faced young man in a new-looking Inquisition uniform leaning against the wall, apparently as focused on the lecture as any of the Rifters.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington frowned briefly, but simply lifted his shoulders into a shrug as he shifted his gaze back to the other Rifters.

"...and as I was saying, the Templar role has changed much in the time that the Accord was first struck. We are warriors of the Maker, first and foremost, and in that end we stand in our faith to blessed Andraste, to do right by the people of Thedas."

He sighed, before his lips twisted, "We are human, however, and mistakes are often made in human error."

Garden

[ancarrow]

Eirlys is used to the garden being a quiet place, somewhere she can retreat to after a long day and decompress away from the usual bustle of Skyhold, but today it seems she's out of luck. Norrington is always a welcome sight, though, and while she tries not to intrude or interrupt his teaching, she listens from a distance as she tends to the herbs and flowers, sometimes nodding in agreement but other times not looking at all comfortable, her views on both the Templars and especially the Chantry having altered significantly during her months with the Inquisition.

Re: Garden

[judgemewhole]

Norrington spots her as she is moving to her gardening plot, and he nods at her in greeting, but continues with the lesson itself. He knows his Chant by rote, but where it changes is where he explains his interpretations, and how many people interpret the meaning of all the different chants.

After the lesson, he waits until she looks over at him, and he tips his upper body down in a bow of greeting and a quiet smile.

[ancarrow]

It doesn't feel quite right to her, being bowed to by a human - and a Knight Commander no less - even though it's the very sort of treatment she'd passionately argue that all elves should receive. She's aware of the irony there, and tries to push it to one side as she rises from the flowerbed she's tending, brushing the soil from her palms.

"I don't think I've seen you out here before, Ser. You are a welcome sight indeed."

[judgemewhole]

"Thank you, my lady. You are welcome sight as well." He smiled softly, as he folded his hands behind him, looking around with thoughtful interest. "So what are you growing here? Healing herbs?"

[ancarrow]

She returns his smile, still not able to get used to the way in which he addresses her but secretly rather enjoying it. "Aye, most of it is herbs for potions and poultices, but I've a little patch over here where I've started growing flowers."

[judgemewhole]

"Oh? What are the flowers for? Or are they merely here to brighten up the place?" He grinned, something he rarely did, but then she was a rare woman. He leaned himself against the wall, comfortable around her to lose some of his formal stiffness.

[lettersfromhome]

The garden has become a comfortable retreat in those fleeting moments where she has spare time. There are walls, but open air, and the scent of flowers and herbs all around despite the chill of autumn. In the mountains it tended to mean little. In Skyhold? Even less so.

But she is here, comfortably settled and reading a book of what looks suspiciously like Antivan poetry, though she does glance up now and then to watch Norrington's lessons progress.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington notes the presence of Lady Mia, out of the corner of his eye. He dipped his head into a bow, before continuing to explain the way that the Templars had first come to work with the Chantry, and what the Accords had meant. He also explained how this turned into the break that was occurring today.

[lettersfromhome]

It's a lot of bloody, violent history to cover, but he does an admirable job of it. There are of course biases to be had. He's a templar. The mages might tell the story very differently indeed...

But they are but mortals, and they all do the best they can. Norrington seems a good man, at least. And Mia continues to observe quietly now and then when she looks up from her books.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington finally finishes, answers a few questions here and there, and clarifies the difference between what really happened and conjecture. He chuckles softly as someone jokes about history being written by the winners, or at least the people who paid the bills, before he started off across the gardens.

He did pause, though, and bow to the lady before him. "My lady Rutherford."

[lettersfromhome]

"Knight-Commander."

She lowers the book with a perfectly tempered smile, nodding one out of politeness. "Quite the attentive court you were holding," she remarks after a moment with an arched brow, glancing back in the direction he'd come briefly before letting her gaze stray back. "I commend you. History has a tendency to turn monotonous in the wrong hands."

Garden

[justice_is_blond]

He comes here to check on herbs and make notes on them, not to hear someone talking about the Templar Order and Chantry. After a few very uncomfortable moments of fear making his ears and mind fill with white noise, Anders manages to get his breathing even enough to finally recognize the speaker. Norrington. So it's not another Rylock or Rolan breathing down his neck, it's just one Templar who isn't entirely misguided trying to praise an organization that's outdated and dangerous.

Despite the stress he can feel building in the back of his shoulders and neck, Anders continues to work until he hears Norrington wrap up. Only then does he head over.

"I can't help but feel you could use more from someone with the opposite bias as you in that pretty speech."

Re: Garden

[judgemewhole]

James finished gathering up his books, glancing over his shoulder at Anders. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head a little. "Oh, why am I not surprised that you have a problem with me even uttering an opinion about what I think the purpose of the Templar Order should be."

He tucked up the books under his arm, "Besides, haven't the mages who want freedom made their opinions fairly clear to everyone? Korrin's in thick as thieves with most of them."

[justice_is_blond]

He rolls his own eyes, voice calm.

"Has anyone ever told you breathing instead of jumping to extremes is a good thing to do? I've never told you to stop talking. Don't insult both of us. I think opinions and discussion happen to be very useful, as long as all sides get heard and considered. And no. I don't know that we have."

Norrington isn't a friend... but Anders doesn't entirely distrust him despite the Templarness. It makes talking with him easier. As does the lack of Justice. Anders can feel what he does about how many atrocities he'd seen and dealt with from Templars without having it have to be addressed in every conversation.

"After all, can you tell me how any of the mages who believe we should all be seen as people see the future looking for mages? Especially in regard to the Templar Order?"

[judgemewhole]

James let out a sigh, but he managed to get his irritation under control to look at the other man, "Jumping to extremes is something one learns to do when one has to fight to keep oneself and on one's livelihood ... in one piece. You, of all people, should appreciate that."

He tipped his chin a little, before he looked at the other man keenly, "I do not know. Can you tell me what the future looks like for Templars, when the good ones are painted with the bad?"

He started to walk, "We are both looking to build a future for our people, Anders. I don't mind people sharing their opinions - but in their own forum. There's too much bad blood between our groups, Anders, for any kind of open discussion."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders studied the man for a moment before sighing and joining in step.

"Open discussion is what our groups never had. It was the Templar way, and only the Templar way. I think it's rather important, honestly, for talking to happen. Especially as I could share an idea, a picture of where the future could go for Templars. The good ones."

He reached down to mess with one of his belt pouches, checking on Purrelden. Still sleeping, apparently. At least he doesn't have to juggle her while talking.

"You heard about the classes I held for mages recently?"

Courtyard

[bouclier]

The end of the first week of Harvestmere Norrington might notice that he has a regular observer of his training sessions. More often than not she's dressed in finely crafted clothes which are subtle, nothing that would be considered high fashion in Orlais but at the same time obviously of Orlesian make. Dressed well, but understated, the only thing that really stands out is her hair, and the yellow enamel feather brooch always pinned somewhere on her person. After a week or so of regular observation she approaches Norrington at the end of his lesson, carrying herself like someone of obviously noble blood.

"You have an interesting technique, Ser," she comments, a small smile on her face.

Re: Courtyard

[judgemewhole]

Norrington stepped back from one soldier, sweat making his dark hair stick up a little more than usual, his scruffy face narrowing slightly as her words ... struck some sort of memory. He did, however, take the moment to clean his blade and then slide it back into its sheath, before he bowed to the woman.

"It was taught to me Tantervale - we tend to be more fluid there, my Lady." He shifted to put his shield on his back. "Were you looking to train on how to kill demons?"

[bouclier]

"Ah, Tantervale, of course. Most of the Templars I have worked with have been Orlesian," she replies, politely inclining her head in response to his bow. His question makes her smile widen a little, and she leans back, balancing on her heels.

"I'm admiring, mostly. I have had training in how to fight demons, though if you have any pointers and new insight, as a templar working with the Inquisition I would be attentive."

[judgemewhole]

"Yes, Orlesian Templars like more flair, but it is very regimented. They do good work, though. I have never known finer men with blades." James commented, as he nodded at her.

"I would be pleased to - but I would have to know how much you have learned. What demons have you been trained to kill?"

[bouclier]

"Smaller ones, mostly?" She replies, after a moment. It's only been a few years since she graduated the Academie, but the past several years she's been cooling her heels in the royal palace as a guard. She's yet to even encounter a demon.

"Chevalier have an exhaustive training program as I am sure you are aware. We are permitted to learn aspects of templar training, though I have heard of large demons. Most techniques I know are how to subdue something no larger than a rage demon. Much of our training focused on how to battle mages, rather than demons."