[semi-open] so they upped and they walked as far as they could

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina, Nari, Araceli, Korrin, Thranduil, you???
WHAT: Part I is the voyage to the Free Marches, Part II is a Dalish wedding
WHEN: Around and a little bit during moving time
WHERE: On a boat, in the woods
NOTES:With regards to the wedding, most elves would be welcome to attend, but outclan Ashara should note that Deheune et al will be present. Non-elves are... better off not pushing the issue. Except Korriceli, may the Dread Wolf never catch their scent.

I. The Voyage

Sina hated sailing the first time, and she hates it this time too. She's spending most of the trip lying on the deck curled in a ball, too pukey to eat and too miserable to care about the view, but at least this is all keeping her distracted from panicking about her upcoming nuptials. Which, by the way, she has mentioned to no one at Skyhold that isn't Beleth or Nari.
Needless to say, she has a lot on her mind, and even more on her body.

II. The Marriage

[to be added when we get closer]

Comments

[nadasharillen]

When they'd first made the journey from the forest to Skyhold, stuffed in the hold of the only merchant ship that would take what the Dalish had to trade, the two clansisters had taken to their first experience on water in polar opposition. Nahariel with delight and a spring in her step, eyes shimmering like emeralds in their naked glee, and Sina...

Well.

Nari had repeatedly promised they wouldn't have to do it again, but orders were orders, and back to the water they'd gone. Above decks this time, but the sea air did nothing to assuage Sina's nausea. If anything, it was worse. And so every so often Nari is there, so constant that it would be possible to tell the time by her comings and goings, always with a damp cloth to wipe Sina's brow and lips, a cup of water to wash the taste from her mouth, and broth and elfroot tea from the galley to keep up fluids and calm her stomach--special treatment to be sure, but no-one was immune to the piteousness of a disconsolate Sina, not even the fairly gruff cook.

This time it's water and cloth, the older elf kneeling to push a few strands of sweaty hair out of her clansister's face with a sympathetic wince before offering the cup. The wince quirks into a smile when Sina looks up.

"If you keep going like this, maybe eventually you'll throw up that shard, and then," Nari leans in conspiratorially, voice teasing, "we can finally abandon all of these terrible brutish shem'len whose company we're pretending to enjoy and run away back to the forest as soon as we touch land."

[eolasemah]

"Oh... I'd give anything," Sina says weakly, with what barely passes for a laugh. It sounds painful, to throw up the shard, but she's been doing plenty of that anyway and then it would be gone.
"We can... let's bring a few of them, though. Just to visit." Her voice is thin and she clearly has almost no energy left, but still she tries to keep a bit of a smile, just for Nari.

[nadasharillen]

"Just to visit," Nari echoed. She smoothed the blanket over Sina's shoulders, continuing to hold out the cup of water. She wasn't going away until some fluids went back into her poor da'halla. She continued to talk, hoping to take the younger elf's mind off of the churning in her belly.

"Who should we bring?"

[eolasemah]

If Sina had more of her wits about her she might not be so quick to suggest bringing visitors to their clan, but right now they're talking fantasy just to get her through the day and so that's what's going to happen.
"Araceli, Korrin. Sam?" She enumerates them on her fingers, and even gives a sleepy smile. "...but we... have to keep Sedi away."

[nadasharillen]

That brought a chuckle. "A given. We'll have to wait until she and Nymii disappear for half a moon on a long hunt. Hurry them in, hurry them out, and hope she can't smell shem'len when she comes back."

Idle fantasy, perhaps, but the three Sina had mentioned had been nothing but welcoming and kind to the point of fantasy themselves. Nari threads her legs through the railing to the knees so she can swing her feet, grinning every time the sea spray tickles their bare soles. There's more than enough room left to be a pillow, should that be desired.

[eolasemah]

Sina takes the invitation and leans on her, still smiling faintly. "I accidentally told Korrin about the bonding," she confesses, "I think she and Araceli will want to come. I'm not sure how to tell them they can't." You'll be shot through the eye before you even see an elf? Or is Korrin in the same category as the other shem? She doesn't want to take the risk.

[nadasharillen]

Sina's customary ponytail has come apart a bit in the sea wind, aided by its owner's complete absorbance in her misery. Sina's lean brings it in range of Nari's hands, which carefully let it loose, thin strong fingers combing deftly through the tangles as she replies.

"Mm. Maybe offer them something else as compromise. Ask to hold a small gathering nearer the edge of the forest sometime afterwards for close shem'len friends?" She left it unsaid, but it would allow for those friends who no longer felt comfortable with their erstwhile clan to come and celebrate as well.

[eolasemah]

"That might make sense," Sina concedes with a small, achey nod. "Or just... I don't know. Something back at the base." She bites her lower lip. "Or nothing. I don't know." An uncertain smile. "It truly isn't a big deal."

[nadasharillen]

"Maybe not to you," conceded Nari, continuing to gently put to order what had been pulled asunder by wind and lack of care, "but those who love you will always jump at the chance to show it. It's rare enough to find something to celebrate these days."

She tied the tail back in place, grinning as a few strands are immediately tugged loose.

"Sometimes accepting gifts is a gift to the giver."

[eolasemah]

"That's true." A small smile twitches onto the corner of her mouth, and Sina sighs. Though it's been difficult, Nari is always such a reassuring presence. "...I'm nervous," she confesses, after a short pause.

[nadasharillen]

Nahariel tilted her head to the side, gaze focusing in attentively ...even though it was on the back of Sina's head. The First couldn't see it this time, but she'd seen that same tilt, focus, and heard the following expectant quiet so often in the past she might as well be able to.

Go on, it said, I'm listening.

[eolasemah]

"It's just... a big change, that's all," Sina continues quietly, looking at her hands, "I almost wish I didn't know what the shem'len do and how their bondings work. It makes this seem so empty." She shakes her head quickly. "...not that Sorrel isn't nice. I like him."

[nadasharillen]

She'd seen some dalliances, and one servant's marriage at Skyhold. They'd seemed joyful. For love. She'd also heard Orlesian nobles airily trading their children like stock for power. Alliances.

But it didn't matter what she thought of shem'len bondings.

"What do the shem'len do?" Nari asked carefully, tucking the blanket a little more snugly around Sina's thin shoulders.

[eolasemah]

"They do it for love," Sina replies, "at least, some of the time. Ordinary people do. I think the richer they get, the more complicated it is." She snorts lightly. "But we aren't rich. It's nothing like that. ...I don't understand most of their customs, to be honest."

[nadasharillen]

"We're not rich," Nari agreed, "but we still have different status, eh? Do you think it would matter more--for an alliance among clans--to have two hunters marry, or two Firsts?"

The nut-brown hunter smiled slightly, leaning back to brace her hands on the deck, tilting her face towards the bright blue sky. "Nobody really minds about Sedi and Nymii because..." She snorted. "Well, because if they did, the two of them would probably leave. With the detractor's belongings. They're a clan to themselves, nearly. But moreover, they're just two of the six of us. You're our only First." And we don't have any other mages. "Trusting you to a bond is a more important matter, and it creates a closer relationship between us and the Ashara. The difference between a gift of some elfroot, and a gift of a halla," she said, reaching one slender finger to tap the center of Sina's forehead where she knew the vallaslin curved.

[eolasemah]

Two Firsts is the obvious answer, and Sina knows it. She rests her head on Nari's shoulder with a sigh, at least starting to feel better now that she's being distracted from the boat's rocking. "You're right," she concedes, after a moment, unable to resist a faint giggle when Nari pokes her forehead. "...as usual."