faderift | [Open] Carve Your Name On Hearts

WHO: Bethany Hawke-Darton and You
WHAT: Bethany does what Bethany does - charity, kindness, teaching, research and a whole lot of knitting.
WHEN: The month of
WHERE: Kirkwall Proper, the Gallows
NOTES: I warn you of sap. That is all

Charity For The Wardens - Hightown

There is an advantage to being famous (and being related to the famous), and that is that is a great deal easier to talk to the merchants. Being married to Aleron, beyond being a wonder on it's own, let her speak to the nobility -- but sometimes the nobility only had two silvers to rub together on a good day. Merchants, though, knew that she was close with Varric and were more willing to talk to her than just any other nobleman's wife about her charity.

Which of course, was the Grey Wardens.

You can find her talking to a group of merchants, telling probably for the hundredth time, the story of how Marian Hawke took on the ogre, and adding in, "You see how necessary it is to have the Grey Wardens! Imagine a creature like that, tearing through Kirkwall? It could do the damage of half the Qunari forces in half the time ..."

Charity For The Wardens - and a few other people

Bethany has been gifted with a very rich and along with that, a very doting set of in-laws. Her dear 'Maman' and sister Ravonild had a tendency to ... compete in that area, and that meant that Bethany was usually drowning in every colored silk gown and every piece of large jewelry they could find. She kept one or two dresses, made sure anything that was family in origin got put into their safe -- and the rest she carted off to sell. Usually to the Hightown merchants, because they could get her a better price, but she did go to Lowtown as well.

The money was divided with a heavy sum towards the Wardens, but she always kept some gold and silver on the side to give to the poor. Large donations in small coins, because a piece of gold could get you stabbed in Darktown. You could probably see her right outside Anders's clinic, making sure families got some coin, some food, and of course knitted blankets.

Knitting Hours

Bethany usually kept at least one to two hours of her day open to sit in front of Sina's Forest, as she had taken to calling it. She would have her balls of yarn, her knitting needles, and a table set up for charity to the poor -- but now she included items for sale - shawls knitted from fine Orlesian silk yarn, finely stitched cloaks, and the like. All going towards the Warden, as a helpfully painted sign pointed out. As it was colder, she usually bundled up in her own new cloak, but she would put it down immediately to help anyone who came up to her. Sometimes you might see children, gathered up around her seat as she pulled out a book and read to them, having them sound out the words with her.

Library Hours

Yet she couldn't spend her entire day doing good works - there was research to be done, so most afternoons found her in the Gallows Library, either knitting in her lap as she turned pages, or she was so engrossed that she leaned her dark head against her hand, absentmindedly chewing on the end of her quill.

In those moments of intellectual fugue, it is altogether too easy to sneak up on her, if you would like.

Insert Random Scenario

(Just want to talk to Bethy? Hang out with her at the Hanged Man? Let me know!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And at a time like this, people seem to need heroes, more than ever." He doesn't exactly like when they recognize him, but he's more or less come to understand why they do it. They're looking for someone to look up to. With so much darkness out there, who can blame them?

"I don't know if we'll have what it takes. These people all have a way of inspiring others that's unlike most of us. But... we may have no choice. At least for now." It would be great if they could have the Champion of Kirkwall there among them to really motivate the Inquisition, but alas, it probably isn't going to happen.

"Yes ... yes they do." And she's not entirely certain she's worthy of being called a hero, when it comes down to it. She doesn't want to throw her life away. She doesn't want to die in a blaze of glory, like Alistair or Kaisa. She did what she did as a Warden because it was the role chosen for her.

But she never thought of herself as anything close to her sister, or her heroics.

She looked over at Fenris, before she squeezed his arm gently. "I think you're right. It will be ... a terrible burden but I can't help but feel ... well. It's time we paid our dues, Fenris."

Fenris doesn't even know what he wants, but he's pretty sure it isn't to be heroic for its own sake, either. He can't exactly see himself settling down into a quiet, obscure life, either. He's been through too much, and there are too many dark forces - and people- out there who he wants to get rid of. Nothing in life has ever been his choice. At least... not until more recently.

"It very well may be. There's too much happening out there, too many enemies to face and fight to back away from any of this..."

She sighed softly, as her stitches became faster and more balanced. The more upset she is, the better the knit is. After all, if she cannot control the world, she can control her needles perfectly. She looks down at the yarn, her brown eyes narrowed slightly.

"... then we have to do the rest. Fill the gaps, as it were."

There's not much choice in the matter, at all. But, he supposes, there is some extent of choice. He could walk away at any time. If he wanted, he could just pick up and go, and never have to deal with any of this. But... he knows he couldn't do that. Not now.

"And we will. In some ways... I would say we've already started, just by being here." They're back here in Kirkwall of all things, and among the Inquisition on top of that.

Bethany would always argue - that was what made Marian such a great hero. So they would both be greater heroes than they coud imagine, by the simple fact that they have to stay when none would dare.

"I would have to agree with that - wholeheartedly."

"It's a start... the only question is, what do we do next? I suppose that's the whole point of being with the Inquisition, though..."

He may still be looking for a direction overall, but this at least does give him something. A purpose. A direction. Something to belong to, something he didn't have when he'd been trying to go at it alone again for a little while.

[Open] Carve Your Name On Hearts

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