open | There’s tumbling stone

[arcaneadvisor]

WHO: Morrigan; open
WHAT: Morrigan and Kieran finally arrive in and explore Kirkwall (and Sundermount)
WHEN: Various points in Justinian
WHERE: Kirkwall/Sundermount
NOTES: Let me know if you want a closed starter

A long journey to Kirkwall from Skyhold at the best of times, one made longer for Morrigan's chosen route with Kieran away from the bulk of the Inquisition. An adventure, she had promised him when they had packed up their things again, only you and I, that I promise. On that she had delivered and so she arrives later than much of the rest of the Inquisition because there are times when she's missed this.

Missed it being her and Kieran alone in the world when there wasn't her place in the court, when she hadn't attached herself to Skyhold for over a year now. Time to go through the wilds and take ship elsewhere and wander through towns and villages her son has never seen before. When they do arrive, one of his satchels is filled to bursting with the treasures he has picked up along the way.

Kieran does not like the Gallows, she learns quickly when she makes her way there to settle them both and so he's very rarely far from her side. When she picks up where she left off with her research and another project of her own not meant for the eyes of all the Inquisition, Kieran is busy with his studies. If she plants some of what she had sent from Skyhold ahead of her or from her personal reserves in the gardens, Kieran is helping or playing. If she is exploring the markets and streets then he's close to her side with his eyes alighting on every new thing he might find, the riot of noise and colour and bustle so different to Orlais, the only other place this size he's known.

It's only to Sundermount that she leaves him behind with someone trusted. Sundermount is the shadow of her mouth that looms over her shoulder and over him, the last recorded sighting and for that...for that she cannot bring her son as she slips away from Kirkwall at first light to make the trek up the paths to explore for some clue, any clue of Flemeth's intentions.

Comments

[elegiaque]

The face she pulls answers all of those questions, and eloquently;

"Not for much longer. My grandfather has been making inquiries; I will be in Hightown before the month is out with a household of my own." Still in Kirkwall, making it a far from ideal situation, but miles preferrable to staying in the Gallows any longer than that. She's not even unpacked her things, stubbornly waiting it out.

[arcaneadvisor]

Morrigan wonders if she hears those words, a household of my own for exactly what they are; she will have a thing of her own that is hers, power again not only in her words or her name but in her very presence here. To some Morrigan can say it but Gwenaëlle is clever, there would be a way for her to turn it all back upon her now even in her own head, it's too soon but perhaps in time when the home is hers, all her things, all her little touches, her fingerprints everywhere.

"To think so many of us would prefer a place with holes in the roof and rats nesting in the foundations." To think I might prefer a hut in a swamp.

"They say it isn't a prison now but a lot of people don't want to be there, the walls push them in and keep them there," Kieran says quietly as if someone else might hear, he's heard bits and pieces about that, how everywhere has ears apparently. "Words and promises in place of swords and armour."

[elegiaque]

Gwenaëlle squeezes Kieran's shoulder briefly, leaves her hand there in a casual display of affection as she says, "No one will be keeping you there against your will," because even she knows there's little to be said for the rest of them, in truth. Many will be unhappy to remain in the Gallows for reasons more complex than her own plain resentment of obligation; many of them will not have the luxury that she does of absenting themselves to a more tolerable abode.

Some will find alternatives - some, doubtless, are already in the same process as she is of doing so. Some, but not all of those who feel that unease.

[arcaneadvisor]

Please ignore him blushing, he's as pale as his mother and he looks not unlike a sunburned beet. "Did you see all the Wardens?" Even a boy knows that no one wanted the Wardens living in Skyhold with them so where are they all going to live now? He only knows Alistair properly, maybe a face or two in passing with his mother but other Wardens are...they feel wrong. And strange. Even Alistair does too but Alistair is fun and funny and they have adventures and stories together so that makes up for it all.

"There are advantages to being able to be something not entirely myself, and I have never lived in a city such as this. As Celene's advisor," Morrigan pauses, wonders how to phrase whatever that whole life truly was, "well, twas something unlike this. Orlais and Kirkwall are different creatures. Sundermount, however, has long been a place I have wished to visit. I have my chance now. At great length." She doesn't sound as ecstatic as one would expect but Gwenaëlle knows her and will be able to guess at what she means here.