faderift | [OPEN]

WHO: Nerva Lecuyer and literally anyone who wants in on the fun
WHAT: A Templar escorting two Tranquil arrives at Skyhold
WHEN: From nowish and open to people as they come back from the Mire
WHERE: The courtyard
NOTES: lots of hatred

It was incredibly cold, and getting colder, but the deep fur cloak around her shoulders insulated her armour and kept most of the wind off, so it was bearable. Her charges, however - two Tranquil that she had rescued as she fled from the Templars - were difficult. They would not mind the cold even if it was killing them, so she had to be extra vigilant in checking them over for frostbite every night that they made camp. When they finally made it to Skyhold, her soul was as exhausted as her body, and she only made a very cursory introduction before pleading for a place to lay her head, and for protection for the Tranquil. Once she had both, she slept for a long time.

The next morning was bright and clear, and the air felt warmer in the castle despite the early winter that stormed in the mountains around them. She was at a loss, for a few minutes, as to what she should be doing - the entire Inquistion unfamiliar and disconcerting. So few templars, and so many mages, coming and going freely, with no regulation or safety structures in place...

She would take her concerns directly to the leaders of the Inquisition, once she better understood the situation. Until then, it was time to get her bearings.

Training in the courtyard made things easier - let her take her mind off of everything and focus only on shield and blade. She had to pause, however, as she found that her two charges were watching her, waiting for orders.

"The Inquisition is our Order now," she told them solemnly. "You do not report to me, but I am at your disposal if you are in need of any assistance." She knew that assistance would never be requested, but she would offer it again, when she saw them.

Later, she would spend a long time in the Chantry, trying to find some kind of guidance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Simon thinned his lips at his sister, silently begging her not to say anything both crazy and telling in front of the templar. He didn't know what they saw being pulled apart exactly, but the tapestry sounded a lot like it could be the veil and that was not what they needed to be talking about right now...

"I'm not the only one who looks out for her," he protested, though it was feeble. River was far better at making allies than he was (and he wasn't the one talking in riddles), but even then Simon only knew of a couple of folk in Skyhold he'd trust his sister to be alone with. So far, a templar was not someone he'd count among them...Nerva did not mean harm now, but that could change all too easily.

All the same, openly telling her 'no' might make things even worse just by being suspicious. His hands fidgeted together, thumbs pressing into his palms before he held out an open hand to take his sister back, the pads of his fingers marked a dark green from his work.

"...I only ask, when you are watching her, to come and get me should anything happen."

Luckily Nerva's attention was firmly on Simon, so she didn't seem to notice what River was saying - relegating it back behind her as another mumbled weird thing. Perhaps she would register it later, but she still wouldn't understand it then.

"No?" She asked, arching an eyebrow at the protest. "Is there someone else I should bring my concerns to?" There was a little bit of a reproach, there, as if he was attempting to shirk his responsibility.

But then he seemed to accepted it, so she let out a breath through her nose and nodded. "Of course." She looked over at River and squeezed her hand. "But that won't be necessary, because you are going to learn to be more careful, aren't you?"

"People will get hurt if I fall," she murmurs, gaze straying to one of the battlements with a contemplative look. That had been the lesson here she'd been trying to impart, hadn't it?

As if she didn't know already.

But Nerva meant well, and her hand was warm and gentle, despite the purpose it was meant to be put to. River seemed reluctant to slip away, though moving out of habit towards Simon when he motioned for her. She spent a moment worrying her lower lip, and then:

"...the boots are in the stable. The cats like the laces."

That wasn't what Simon had meant at all, but thank the Maker she realized it before Simon could build himself into taking offense. So often he'd been chided for taking on all of the responsibility he could possibly shoulder and then some, trying to show he was learning to share the weight was his first impulse...and now apparently that was wrong too. Simon's lips were paper thin as he quietly told himself that Nerva wanted to help, that she wasn't a threat to River yet...

And then she didn't actually let River go, prompting her sweetly and what his sister answered with had his blood running cold.

Thankfully River slipped away of her own accord and the mage remembered how to breathe again. He pressed a hand around her shoulders, drawing her into a hug, managing to take his eyes off the templar for a brief moment.

"...that's all right," he told her. "I'll get them back. And maybe something better than laces for you to play with the cats with.

"Thank you, again," he added, looking up once more.

She let go when River pulled away - immediately, and without thought, slipping into a pose of a soldier at attention. It was simply natural.

She offered a stiff bow, raising a hand to her chest.

"No thanks are needed." She looked at River, didn't quite offer a smile (but wanted to) and then turned to excuse herself and leave the two of them to their business.

River, for her part, looked slightly wistful as Nerva pulled away and took her leave of them. "You don't like her," she murmured at last, glancing at her brother out of the corner of her eye. It wasn't approval of the fact, that was damn sure.

Nerva might be dangerous, but she was also the sort of dangerous that might be needed. Simon would never admit to that fact, but he didn't have to.

He'd kept her safe, all this time. She'd do the same if it came down to it.

Simon blinked and turned his head sharply at River in surprise, not sure where the accusation had come from even if it was mostly accurate. First he'd been scolded up and down by this templar woman, and now his own sister was taking a turn at disapproving of him. What had he done? Where exactly did he go wrong?

The frustration was pushed aside with a heavy breath. It wouldn't help, and it would only hinder if River picked up on it...as much as Simon feigned ignorance around others, he knew what his sister was capable of. That was why he was so leery of her making friends with templars.

"I'm sure she means well," Simon said. "Which is what worries me. Just...please, chouchoute, be careful."

Her idea of keeping River safe may be very different from Simon's, after all.

[OPEN]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject