The Grey Wardens she's known have all been fairly secretive, and she's come to accept that that's simply their way. A few of them have even cut themselves off in conversation with her, explaining that they couldn't talk about whatever they'd been about to say, with one even citing an oath of some sort. But for Hermione to not know that a large percentage of the people she'd come to know as friends carried the Blight and may well die from it....
His confession makes her blink in surprise and no small amount of horror. She doesn't know Nate very well. Outside of a mission or two, she only really knows of him in the context of how he relates to Anders' life; that is, that he's a very, very important part of it.
"Anders...."
She could say she's sorry. She could promise to help him find a cure, to work with him until her minimal understanding of the Blight becomes an expertise. But promises are a hard thing to keep in Thedas, especially for a rifter. She might be sent out to help close a rift and not ever return, or else somehow find herself back where she should be, like what she prefers to assume happened to Harry. So instead of making any false promises or dredging up too many emotions with her sympathy, Hermione instead looks at the dragon at the table, trying to get herself used to the sight of it and to the idea of working with it.
"I think it's ridiculous, spending all your time fighting Darkspawn and then simply walking into a death trap instead of figuring out a viable way to cure or at least control an infection you know you carry. Honestly, Anders, why didn't you ask for help earlier? I'm sure there are any number of researchers who would have jumped at the chance to help you, even if you didn't want the reason for it getting around."
Looking at him again, she offers in a softer voice, "Which it won't. I can't make many promises, but that's one I can make. Along with the promise that I'll do whatever I can to help you, and no one has to know where I am or what I'm doing if you really don't want them to."
no subject
His confession makes her blink in surprise and no small amount of horror. She doesn't know Nate very well. Outside of a mission or two, she only really knows of him in the context of how he relates to Anders' life; that is, that he's a very, very important part of it.
"Anders...."
She could say she's sorry. She could promise to help him find a cure, to work with him until her minimal understanding of the Blight becomes an expertise. But promises are a hard thing to keep in Thedas, especially for a rifter. She might be sent out to help close a rift and not ever return, or else somehow find herself back where she should be, like what she prefers to assume happened to Harry. So instead of making any false promises or dredging up too many emotions with her sympathy, Hermione instead looks at the dragon at the table, trying to get herself used to the sight of it and to the idea of working with it.
"I think it's ridiculous, spending all your time fighting Darkspawn and then simply walking into a death trap instead of figuring out a viable way to cure or at least control an infection you know you carry. Honestly, Anders, why didn't you ask for help earlier? I'm sure there are any number of researchers who would have jumped at the chance to help you, even if you didn't want the reason for it getting around."
Looking at him again, she offers in a softer voice, "Which it won't. I can't make many promises, but that's one I can make. Along with the promise that I'll do whatever I can to help you, and no one has to know where I am or what I'm doing if you really don't want them to."