Inessa nods, taking into account his announced limitations in terms of the tale. As he speaks, she listens intently and even Garahel, appetite sated for the time being, is peering at Elros with that usual mabari intelligence. Her demeanor quickly shifts from curiosity to grave sympathy at mention of his mother, and Garahel lets out a soft whine as well. When it seems he has finished, or at least paused, she lets out a sigh.
"That is much to put on a young child's shoulders. As one who effectively lost my parents at a young age, though not to such traumatic circumstances, I sympathize. To lose them so young...it changes you.
If it helps you see Thedas elves in a better light, the divisions I speak of have never led to war. The Dalish and city elves may not see eye to eye on many things, but we are not at odds to the point of violence. Sometimes, city elves leave to go live with a Dalish clan, or sometimes a Dalish will grow weary of wandering and leave their clan to settle. At times there has even been assistance between each other, from Dalish who do not simply dismiss us as flat-ears. Our cultures are very different, and I am willing to admit I do not approve of the idea of being seen as a monolith. Elven culture ceased to exist as a unified construct likely since the end of Arlathan, let alone the end of the Dales. We cannot go back to once was, only move forward."
She then pauses and tilts her head, curious about what his wording implies. "You...chose mortality? You can choose? I did not know such a thing was possible, even for those of your world."
no subject
"That is much to put on a young child's shoulders. As one who effectively lost my parents at a young age, though not to such traumatic circumstances, I sympathize. To lose them so young...it changes you.
If it helps you see Thedas elves in a better light, the divisions I speak of have never led to war. The Dalish and city elves may not see eye to eye on many things, but we are not at odds to the point of violence. Sometimes, city elves leave to go live with a Dalish clan, or sometimes a Dalish will grow weary of wandering and leave their clan to settle. At times there has even been assistance between each other, from Dalish who do not simply dismiss us as flat-ears. Our cultures are very different, and I am willing to admit I do not approve of the idea of being seen as a monolith. Elven culture ceased to exist as a unified construct likely since the end of Arlathan, let alone the end of the Dales. We cannot go back to once was, only move forward."
She then pauses and tilts her head, curious about what his wording implies. "You...chose mortality? You can choose? I did not know such a thing was possible, even for those of your world."