The Blood of the Dalish

[samahl]

WHO: Cyril Ashara, Merrick Ashara, Pel, Samouel Haines Gareth, Taashath, Galadriel, Kallian Endris, Bruce Banner, Eirlys Ancarrow, Anders, James Norrington, Beleth Ashara, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Iskandar
WHAT: Summary of content
WHEN: Sometime near the start of Umbralis
WHERE: From Skyhold to along the Serpentine River.
NOTES: OOC post for this plot is here.

The Inquisition has been here before. They visited to ease the tensions between Clan Frandruil and the human village Kaladoun. As they left, peace had seemed to be reached. The Clan's Keeper, Shoshanna, has not kept up her part of the treaty. The Clan was meant to leave and give the village space, but it seems there's always a good reason to stay in place. The Clan's First, Janna, has put aside her pride to reach out to the Inquisition for help. As she has been regularly communicating with the Dalish liaison for the Inquisition, Cyril has agreed to put together a team and help the clan vacate.

While they are there they will break into two groups, one will help the Clan pack up and the other will go into the village and ease tensions there. Once the Clan is ready, all members of the Inquisition who came will reunite and help the Clan move to a new location and settle, to help them get back into the spirit of the nomadic lifestyle.

Comments

[dalishious]

"Because you don't have to do anything," Merrick insists. "You're just following tradition."

[samahl]

"Well, yes," Cyril says after a long moment. He doesn't want to insult Merrick by saying something like 'one of us has to' so he takes that silence to bite the inside of his cheek. "Some things are important enough to do that with." He doesn't think that Merrick will understand, so his voice is gentle and careful. "Some things I've been preparing to do for a long time."

[dalishious]

Cyril doesn't have to say it; the implication is there, and it makes Merrick's hackles raise despite his attempts to come at this rationally. Honestly, though, who is he kidding? He can never be rational when it comes to Cyril. Their entire relationship defies all logic.

"Don't give me that shit," he snaps. "What about Sam and Taas? If you'd been all set to marry and go back to Dalish life all this time, why even mess with them?"

[samahl]

Cyril's head tilts back a bit, almost like he's trying to pull away from Merrick but the message doesn't really make it to his feet. "Because it was wishful thinking," he snaps back. "And I've made it really clear to both of them that they shouldn't expect to own me."

That doesn't stop it from feeling like Merrick's words have jabbed him in the chest. He'll have to discuss things with them the second he returns to the camp, and explain or apologize or something.

[dalishious]

"What are you talking about, owning?" There's desperation in Merrick's voice now, and mounting frustration. Cyril has always been the clear-headed one in their relationship. Why is he being so obtuse right now?

"This is something you have to do, you say. Why are you talking like everything is set in stone? This is a choice, Cyril, and you can refuse it."

[samahl]

"I will never have a chance like this again, Merrick. This Clan... It has done monstrous things in the past, but if I was the husband of the Keeper I could help guide it to a better path, and my children might have magic, and they will contribute to the betterment of The People - mage or not. They'll have position and influence and I'll make sure they help guide the future into a better path. I can help guide this Clan away from the mistakes of Ashara or other Clans like it, and provide an example that I wouldn't be able to in any other place." As he explains this all, he looks almost desperate, like he needs Merrick to understand.

"Weighed against that my infatuation with a human and a Tal-Vashoth seems so much less important."

[dalishious]

"Infatuation my ass," Merrick mutters. He's pacing now, clearly agitated, searching for words that never come easily to him.

"Damn it, Cyril!" he says suddenly. "You'll be miserable!"

[samahl]

Cyril watches Merrick's pacing carefully while he stands still and keeps his arms crossed over his arms. "I'm fine," he lies, but he's so used to lying about that that it comes out naturally and smoothly. "I'll be all right." He sighs a bit. "And it is infatuation, because they're both beautiful and exciting, but it's not where my future lies. It never was."

[dalishious]

"So," Merrick huffs out impatiently, "When, exactly, are you going to stop lying to yourself and everyone around you? Because me and the rest of Thedas have been waiting for a long damn time for you to pull your head out of your ass."

[samahl]

"What lies do you think I'm telling?" Cyril asked after a moment. There were a lot of lies he told a lot of the time, so having Merrick try to call him out on a particular one. There were plenty in that statement alone.