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

[samahl]

Cyril nods at that. "That's right," he admits after a moment. "The Dalish are a dying people. We need children to continue to cause of bringing back the elvhen people."

[amygdalae]

Bruce slowly nods as Cyril explains. That--certainly made sense. It was easy to see the logic behind that. He could certainly emphasize with that reasoning.

He gives himself a few seconds to process this anything before responding. "So its a duty." A mission, a requirement, a... necessity? Perhaps? "And I guess every Dalish is required to do that?"

[samahl]

"If they are in good standing with their Clan," Cyril pointed out after a moment. "And it depends on the Clan, but in general, yes. There's a pressure to continue the blood line."

He sighs a bit. "Saying no is almost like turning my back on continuing the People, but I can find other ways to do that without giving up on who I am."

[amygdalae]

Hearing all of this was in a way, an eye opener on its own. What Bruce knew of the Dalish was the bare minimum - Gavin never really talked about it, and Bruce had never asked. So actually knowing more was something very new for him. It was not hard to see why those things were how Cyril spoke of them, but at the same time he could see where Cyril himself was coming from. When you had to make a decision between something like that--it was never going to be easy.

"There are definitely other ways to preserve the ways of your people," he returns with another nod. "...of course, I'm not the best person to really say something like that, but I'm glad that..." What were the best words here... "...that you could make your own decision that makes you happy."

[samahl]

Cyril nodded a bit. "I'm not sure happiness is really the correct end goal. It's a nice side effect but... I think the reason I'm going to turn her down has much more to do with being honest and truthful. I need to make my own path and, like you said, find a different way to preserve the people."

[amygdalae]

Being honest and truthful, huh... Bruce could see that too, now that it's been said. And it is good to see that he could strive towards that kind of ideal. Better others than himself, at the end of the day.

"I'm sure whatever way that you find, it'll still be something that can help." He does his best to send a hopeful smile towards Cyril at this point. "And you're not alone, either." He has the people in the Inquisition to help him with that, should he need that aid.

[samahl]

"I'm not," Cyril agrees, and the fact that it's true seems to settle comfortably on him. He grins at Bruce.

"Right now, for example, I have you." He's teasing Bruce a bit because Bruce seems so set on always ignoring his flirting, but it's still fun to try.

[amygdalae]

Bruce returns Cyril's grin with a small smile of his own, though he does pause to blink at what he says next, a mild look of confusion crossing his features.

"For the moment, I suppose," he returns, blinking one more time as he glances towards the fire. "We do have each other's company right now." And in a way, that's good too.

[samahl]

"The moment is what matters right now," Cyril points out. "When you are involved with something like the Inquisition, there's no guarantee of tomorrow." Maybe that was one of the reasons he wanted to allow himself to be happy too.

[amygdalae]

It's strange how something like what Cyril just said is actually an idea that people don't tend to have. For Bruce himself he's been living with that kind of understanding for so long, that each day might be his very last. Not because he might die, but because its impossible to imagine the next day and how that would be like. It's foolish to think of a tomorrow for somebody like him.

"I suppose so." He smiles as he says that, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. But he tries nonetheless because it is a good thing that Cyril did find his answer. That's the important thing here. "And I'm sure you'll be able to cherish all the moments that'll come to you yet."

[samahl]

"I hope so." He reaches out then and pats Bruce's arm lightly. It's a gentle and quick motion, as Bruce has always given him the impression of not liking a lot of touch. "I should try to get some sleep." Then, after a moment he adds, "Thank you, Bruce. For listening and being here."

[amygdalae]

The touch is definitely unexpected, and it surprises him for a few moments before he gets over it. It's just a simple gesture, nothing more. He can deal with that.

He nods to Cyril's words and smiles again. "I'm just glad I could help," he returns. "Sleep well."