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WHO: Bethany Darton nee Hawke, Fenris, Jim Kirk, Inessa Serra, Velenna, Hermione Granger, and whomever else wants to go exploring
WHAT: Book nerds!
WHEN: Last week of Justinian
WHERE: The Kirkwall Library
NOTES: You cannot handle this much nerd.

Bethany was waiting for her little group in front of the Viscount's Palace, and if they happen to get there early they can see her pensive expression as she looks off to the crater where the Chantry once stood. She was, after all, a Fereldan dog who called Kirkwall her home, so every wound here is personal.

Yet as soon as the others appear, her cheer returns, as she excitedly leads them to the Library of Kirkwall, in the lower levels of the Palace. Scholars wander between the tall shelves, but Bethany has an old brass key, and she leads them further down, down, down into the cellars of the library, where crates of books await them. Some are moldy, some are old and falling apart, and some of them are just useless ... but keep looking, you don't know what you might find ...be

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"Well they certainly won't be offer the complete history of slavery, I can tell you that much." Bethany said wryly, as she put one book atop the pile of others she was carefully preserving. "Have you found anything you'd like to try to read?"

"Exactly. Danarius seemed to have a certain... distinct taste in literature, unfortunately." Sure, there seem to be some other works there too, but there's a bias toward Tevinter-written texts. He's mostly worked to sound out the titles at this point, only pulling something that sounds like it may be of interest, attempting to read a page here and there. It's a slow process, but at least he's made some progress.

He glances around, pondering. There's so much more to choose from here, he almost doesn't quite know where to start. "Do you have any suggestions? I could use something that's not from Tevinter for once."

Bethany pressed her lips together thoughtfully, before she went back to another stack of books and pulled out a simple version of the stories of Andraste. She dusted it off, made sure it was still in good condition to read, then handed it over to Fenris.

"Try this. I think you'll like it."

He takes the book curiously, looking it over. The depiction on the cover is at least obvious enough, at least, and that gives him enough hint to parse out at least one of the words. He recalls it more from sight from previous reading lessons than anything.

“‘Something’ of Andraste?” He furrows his brow to make out that other word, working out the sounds she’d been teaching him. “Leg Ends.” No, no, that’s nonsensical, he takes a moment, thinking about it. “Ah. Legends. Right. This ought to do very well. Let’s see what she’s really made of.” He knows bits and pieces, especially from Sebastian’s preaching, but it would be worth getting the story in a more direct way. Certainly more interesting than any elven lore would be.

She beams brightly at him, before gesturing him to a seat. "Go on, get cracking. I'll be right here to help you sound out any words that sound ... well. Odd. Besides, listening to you read will help pass the time pleasantly."

Fenris had such a Great Voice after all.

"All right... I appreciate you taking the time for this, by the way."

It's also about time he returned to his practice, since he'd not gotten to do much while traveling around some months ago. He'd made good progress before that with Bethany's help, so... maybe getting back into it will work out.

He settles down and opens the book, flipping through it curiously, before returning to the opening page. "Ah. All right... 'The Legends of Andraste. Part 1. Her Early Days.' Ah, good, it seems we'll get the full story of her background..." And he starts, slowly going through the first lines of the text, and where Andraste came from.

"Fenris, we have saved each other's lives dozens of times by now. This is the very least I can do."

She smiles at him gently, as she carefully goes through her stacks for Hermione, and then carries them over to be organized appropriately. She smiled to herself as she listened to Fenris read, her shoulders relaxing a little. These had always been her favorite stories, as a child.

Fenris glances up for a moment. "And for once, the only risk we're taking is the possibility of paper cuts. I guess we should consider it a welcome change."

He manages a wry smile for once. It's not often that they've necessarily had time for this sort of thing, after all. Usually they're on the run from something or to something that they need to deal with.

He returns to the book again, continuing to take his time going through Andraste's beginnings. There's a lot he didn't know about her, he's noticing. He takes his time, slow or struggling with the occasional unfamiliar word. But so far, so good, overall.

"We should all take our blessings where we can find them, Fenris. Maker knows we have only the luxury of paper cuts." She teased in turn, and look at that, she got a wry smile out of him. not bad at all.

She herself went back to organizing - pausing now and again to help him with the more difficult words.

"You're right. For now, we should." He nods in agreement. For once, they have the time to even almost-relax, although he knows all too well there's not really much time for that, ultimately. There's still the looming threat in the background. But things won't ever be completely settled, will they? There's always some new threat to contend with.

Fenris accepts the help whenever needed, finding some words difficult to get the handle of. He's sure to point out any of these inconsistencies whenever they arise. It's a challenge, for sure, but he's trying his best to work on it.

She smiled warmly at him, before she went back to working on piling the books where they needed to be. One book, going in a pile, as she listened to the story, noted that Fenris flowed more easily now, and she did not have to make
any corrections.

After the practice they’ve been doing, he’s starting to notice familiar-looking words, starting to realize why repeating things over and over is beneficial for this. Almost like practicing with a sword in a way. Just drill over and over until things start to feel more natural. While reading doesn’t quite feel natural to him just yet, and he still has to think words over pretty often, he’s definitely been making progress.

“...I had no idea she had such a background,” he remarks when done with the chapter. “And I suppose… that wasn’t as difficult as I’d have thought.” It’s all flowing a bit better than even the last time.

She nodded her head along with the rhythm of the words, looking up at him with a faint smile of approval. She nodded her head, "I knew you'd get the flow of it. You're so much smarter than you give yourself credit for."

He's very unused to such compliments, reddening a little, unsure whether or not to just snap not to do that or... well... thank her. He finally opts for the latter after a moment. It really shows how far he's come, anyway.

"It means a lot to hear that, from you. My thanks, Bethany. For everything." She's done a lot for him, and he sometimes wonders whether he's showing his appreciation enough.

Bethany beamed before she waved her hand at the compliment. "Oh just stop. You're the one who is doing all the hard work here - I just nudged the words along. I should be thanking you, for preparing me to teach in the future."

"I'm glad to hear that. Truly, I am. You'll do well if you carry on to teach others." He can't imagine it's very easy, trying to teach someone from the basics... yet she's managed it, and been extremely patient and helpful throughout it all.

"Anders is thinking of starting a school. I have been thinking of asking him I can teach there." She sighed softly, "... Once we finish the creature. Once we are all - relatively safe again."

She learned a long time ago, there was no such thing as completely safe in their world.

"A school for what? How to blow up innocents in a single afternoon?" The usual harsh edge comes out all too readily there as he speaks of Anders. But, at the same time, he knows Bethany means well. He tenses up a little, stiffening as he forces himself to let some of that knee-jerk anger go. "No, I apologize, I don't mean to put down your own obviously good intentions. I hope that a day does come when we're finally safe again..."

They've fought a lot of awful things together, but this seems above and beyond their past experiences.

"... Well no, I am going to teach them to use magic as I have learned to use magic. Responsibly, and for the betterment of all." Bethany stated simply, looking up at Fenris, her expression sobering. "You know better than anyone that magic should be carefully taught - not to abuse, but to help, whatever what we can."

Fenris nods. If there's anyone who could be trusted to instill the right attitude about magic, it's Bethany. "Then I hope they all pay close attention to you and your techniques.... not to mention your overall attitude. They could stand to learn from your approach." Sure, he may have his issues with magic, but he's seen it put to good uses, too, and fought alongside mages plenty. "Better than anyone," he agrees solemnly. "Which is why I'm glad that this is being entrusted to you."

"Well I hope so ... but time shall tell." She gives him a wry smile, before she looks more serious herself. "My father was a great mage - and role model of what a mage should be. I want to follow in his footsteps as closely as I can ... but you know, he made mistakes too. I hope to learn from those, and if I make my own, learn from them as well."

Mages couldn't be perfect all the time, because they were people. That was the one lesson she hoped she had given Fenris, all the time they had known one another.

"Mistakes are meant to be learned from," Fenris agrees. "He sounds like a remarkable person... a shame I didn't have the chance to meet him." He actually sounds like another of those mages who he'd have tolerated, and very likely, respected, as much as he'd come to respect Bethany. Now he understands where she gets it from. It's been... difficult, and he still has his knee-jerk reactions about magic sometimes, but it's better than it once was, thanks to her.

"I wish you had been able to ... I wish you all had. So much about Marian, Carver and I was within our father - I mean, you met my mother. She was part of us but not so much as our father. It wasn't just the magic either."

She sighed softly, "Father always saw the larger picture - he didn't let himself get caught up in minutiae."

"That explains why you both turned out as you do... his upbringing must have been very influential." And why Bethany, despite being an apostate, didn't go out of control with her powers. She's strong because her father was strong, in a way not all mages ever are.

He pauses a moment, and adds in a lower voice, "You're fortunate you had that chance... to know him."

Edited 2017-09-19 04:09 (UTC)

"It was. From the very beginning I knew that my magic was both a gift and a responsibility. I was the one who directed it, so whatever I did with it -- would be a reflection of me. Thus, I wanted to to reflect the best." She thinks about it. "Marian wanted it to reflect her as well - but she was so angry when she was younger ... and her magic reflects that sometimes as well."

She looks over at Fenris, her brown eyes softening as she tightened her arm. "You best watch out - or I'll adopt you into the Warden family and then you'll have Nate as a Warden father."