faderift | Well it's time to celebrate your birthday, it happens every year

WHO: Anders, Nathaniel, and invitees!
WHAT: Fancy birthday party in Camp Shady
WHEN: Harvestmere 27, evening
WHERE: Camp Shady
NOTES: Will update.

Since many Wardens moved into the Kestrel House, there is plenty of space in the camp for a big top tent. Finding enough candlesticks, tables, and chairs required a lot of time and a number of bribes to pull off. The tables are nicely draped with fabric lent by one of Anders' patients, and each is decorated with flowers. The tent is alight and smells like good food--more donations from grateful patients.

One of the Wardens is known for her fiddling, and she plays lively dances and crooning ballads. In the center table is an ice sculpture of a cat chasing a butterfly (you guessed it--donated by a mage patient). It glitters spectacularly in the candlelight.

On the menu is a slow-roasted pig, spiced hot cider, spectacular salads, jams, cakes, delectably seasoned vegetables, a lamb-flank, and your choice of wine. There is even a hard-won bottle of Antivan brandy Nathaniel had to win several card games to achieve.

Relax, enjoy, greet the birthday boy, and mingle. The nights will be cold soon, but under this tent, life glows.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You know Alistair was a Templar, right?" It doesn't count and he knows it. He's just being contrary because contrary is basically his middle name. Especially since Bethany's being contrary on the topic of Merrill too.

"It's difficult with her. You've not got years and years of Circle training drilling into your head that every single..." Anders trails off and glances around, making sure his voice is lower. "The stance is that they're all power-hungry or terrified and they don't stop. Meeting the single solitary exception is complicated. And what if that changes? If she finds what's worth it to her to... go further?"

"Yes, and a dreamy one at that." She gave a wistful sigh, before she gave him a little smirk. "Is this Templar dreamy too?"

Her face did slip away from the smile, to a more rueful expression, "I have a family history of it - somewhat. It makes it a little easier for me to ... I don't know. I suppose not fear them because I know what drives them. Merrill especially. And after her clan? I ... I really do not think she will be willing to risk such a thing again, Anders."

"Templar and dreamy are words that will never again be in the same sentence if it's coming from my lips." Dreamy. Sometimes he forgets the age difference between himself and Bethany, and then she reminds him...

"I don't know if the question is so much as to whether she'd risk it, but what her price is. What's so valuable to her that she cannot abide the thought of losing it? She'll not ever do it for the sake of power. I've enough faith in her to say that much. But it's the other area where things get tricky." He pauses and looks directly at Bethany. "If you knew how, and your twin was in danger and only you could save him at that price..."

Trailing off, he shrugs. "It's hard to even say myself what I'd do if Nate was the one about to die."

"Hah!" He should never forget that she grew up with Marian and Carver, either. She had siblings, and a teasing older sister who taught her her sense of humor.

Yet that smile fades into Bethany's serious expression, and her age shines through once more. Eleven hard years as a Grey Warden. "It depends on whether or not it would it would destroy me. My brother ... would prefer to save me than save himself. I can only imagine what Nate would do to save you from yourself."

"I know what Nate would prefer." His voice is quiet. "I know that Carver loves you as well, and yes. But in the heat of the moment, when you've maybe a few seconds to choose and you know there's no life without them?"

It may have kept him up a time or two, watching while Nate slept, tense with awareness of how often things went wrong in his life. He loves Nate. To lose that... Anders wouldn't want to live any longer.

"If it's a choice between him living or neither of us living, it's not that hard a call."

"No, it's not." Because she remembers how Carver rushed in front of their mother, and how without thinking, she shot that fireball at the ogre as it picked up Carver, making it drop him ... and turn on her. Thank the Maker Marian had been there to save both her foolish siblings that day.

"You choose the people you love, no matter the cost." Her lips twist, "Do you remember those tales that they used to tell us in the Wardens? About sacrificing yourself 'for the greater good' and not thinking about the individuals?" She shook her head a little, "What a load of hogwash. Who else would you think of in that moment, if not the people you loved?"

He nods. "That's the only reason someone would go down there. It wouldn't be for themselves. It would be for the sake of all those around them that they'd hurt otherwise. No one wants to go to their Calling."

Some of the Grey Wardens were noble sorts. Blackwall seemed to be pretty focused on ideals while he'd been around, Stroud seemed to hold himself to a higher cause. But most were simply people who got caught in bad circumstances.

"I'm not, I'm no longer saying that I think she's... malicious or malevolent. I'm simply aware of how if something important did come up, she's in a position where a great deal of destruction could happen and she's already taken a few steps down that path." He'd been further down that path when he'd been possessed and he knows it. But he's back from that brink now.

"No, they do not." She sighed softly, leaning her chin on his shoulder as she looked out about the crowds gathered for Anders. A corner of her mouth lifted up at the corners. "She's not evil, but you're right. She would do anything to save the people she loves. We just ... we have to be careful with her. We have to let her know there are other ways."

She gripped his arm a little, "And we have to remember that, ourselves. Give a little, and you give it all."

He gave her a tight smile, trying to relax. They'd gotten onto a difficult subject and it was entirely his fault.

"I'm... working on the other ways thing." As much as he was fairly certain the Chantry idea originated with Justice, he hadn't tried to fight against it. He'd been a willing participant and it was rather important he keep that in mind. And while he can't say he's doing better with that as he hasn't his resolve to do better tested, he believes he'll do better next time. "Great power, great risks, and all that."

"Greater responsibilities, as well." She stated with a little serious smile, before she looked out at the party once more, "You know ... I'm glad I'm here. Not sure how I feel about the journey, but here and now? I'm glad I am here with all of you."

Following her gaze, Anders exhaled before slowly nodding.

"I mean, it certainly beats hiding in a cave alone." There were a lot of moments he was glad he was here. Then there were the times he felt guilty and like he was dragging everyone down. What almost made it worst was that he never knew when it would swing one way or the other, when he'd be content, and when he'd spiral downward.

"I'm glad you're here, Bethany."

"Oh, anything is better than living in a cave. Or even living alone." She pressed her lips into a smile, before she gave him a tight hug on one arm.

"Me too, Anders. Me too."

Well it's time to celebrate your birthday, it happens every year

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject