"James? Sí, I can barely imagine being able to travel as he does. My own story is small but I will tell it; I am a student of the Nightingale, or Leliana if you know her by that name too, one of the advisors to the Inquisition. She knew so little of me when she agreed to teach me the ways of being a bard so I wrote her the creation story of my world in a letter that she might understand who I am, where I come from. That tale means so much to my people. It has shaped us in so many ways." Nearly all of Araceli's tattoos reflect the sea and another that sits above her heart holds the moon and waves. The ache when she speaks is a good ache, or so she tells herself. "When a letter back came for me, it said I might enjoy the stories of Rivain and there is precious little recorded of Rivain worth knowing that isn't in Rivain itself so I was granted the opportunity to go there. To study, mostly. I spoke well of the Inquisition with the sailors too - sailors talk, I hope my words hit the mark.
"In Rivain I learned of mages who were in trouble after an annulment long ago in their Circle at Dairsmuid. Templars hunted them and those who had sheltered them, so I arranged to have others from Skyhold meet me to bring them here for their safety. We ended up having to rescue them from the Templars after an ambush. It wasn't how I ever imagined writing of the sea and the moon to Nightingale going." There's a lot she's left out of the story but she tells it proudly with a smile because there was so much good that came of it, people rescued and new friends made who have a new life for themselves. Next time she gets to go to Rivain though, Araceli hopes it'll be for something with less blood and death, a chance to explore a place that reminds her of home, somewhere with a culture that left such an impression on her.
It takes a little while to parse the word just right, always a hazard when Araceli needs to make sure it makes sense when in her own tongue too but she considers the idea. "Perhaps it's the thief in me or my father talking, always having to have more than one plan, as many routes as possible. You never know when a guard will turn around again or a sudden storm will blow in. One wrong move, one slip and perhaps all we have accomplished here unravels entirely - each time there is a party or a soiree? I have my heart in my mouth the whole night."
no subject
"In Rivain I learned of mages who were in trouble after an annulment long ago in their Circle at Dairsmuid. Templars hunted them and those who had sheltered them, so I arranged to have others from Skyhold meet me to bring them here for their safety. We ended up having to rescue them from the Templars after an ambush. It wasn't how I ever imagined writing of the sea and the moon to Nightingale going." There's a lot she's left out of the story but she tells it proudly with a smile because there was so much good that came of it, people rescued and new friends made who have a new life for themselves. Next time she gets to go to Rivain though, Araceli hopes it'll be for something with less blood and death, a chance to explore a place that reminds her of home, somewhere with a culture that left such an impression on her.
It takes a little while to parse the word just right, always a hazard when Araceli needs to make sure it makes sense when in her own tongue too but she considers the idea. "Perhaps it's the thief in me or my father talking, always having to have more than one plan, as many routes as possible. You never know when a guard will turn around again or a sudden storm will blow in. One wrong move, one slip and perhaps all we have accomplished here unravels entirely - each time there is a party or a soiree? I have my heart in my mouth the whole night."