faderift | OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

WHO: All
WHAT: WINTER IS HERE
WHEN: Haring 15-Wintermarch 1
WHERE: The Gallows, Kirkwall
NOTES: You can use this post as an event-style mingle log, or just use it as background information for your RP elsewhere!

It's been a chilly month already, but in mid-Haring the temperature suddenly plummets. One day it's merely cold, and the next morning the Inquisition wakes to frost on the inside of the window panes and an icy draft whistling through every crack in the tower's masonry. Downstairs, the pipes that feed the bathing chambers and the kitchens creak in the walls, loud enough to be heard even out in the courtyard, where they run beneath the stones, and around midday, when the sun has failed to raise the temperature above freezing, a blocked pipe finally gives, cracking open to spill water across the central court and send it running down side passages. The whole area floods several inches deep and almost immediately begins to freeze, presenting at first a gigantic, treacherous slush puddle and, after a few hours, a sheet of sheer ice.

Melting a safe path from door to door and laying down sand or wood to keep it from becoming slick again is a simple enough undertaking, but before the entire courtyard can be thawed, someone appears with ice skates—and that’s a better idea, surely, for at least a few days. Anyone who complains about the frivolity can be assured it’s good exercise, not to mention good training for a force that may have to travel or fight on ice in the future.

Temperatures remain cold enough that even some parts of the harbor begin to freeze, first just at the calmest edges of the shoreline, and then the more protected nooks and crannies of the bay, inlets and the spaces between piers and beneath docks. It snows most days--not real storms, just a couple inches here and there--little enough for the window to blow most of it off the icy plain of the courtyard and other wide open, paved spaces, accumulating on branches and in alleyways, and creating growing drifts in corners and against walls.

After a week or so actual chunks of floating ice begin to fill the narrow channels of the harbor, threatening smaller and less-sturdy vessels, and the situation in the poorer parts of the city begins to grow dire. With the Viscount's blessing, Inquisition teams (particularly mages) are called in to help. Some are assigned to the docks, to clear ice that makes landing and unloading treacherous, others to help escort ships into harbor by melting a path ahead. Others are sent into Lowtown to clear ice and snow and to provide warmth and medical attention where needed. At least one mage is sent with each team, and while many neighborhoods are pleasantly surprised and grateful for the quick work fire glyphs make of cold hearths and frozen streets, a few are unable to overcome their distrust, and refuse the teams entry, determined to take care of their own without the help of dangerous outsiders.

In the last week of the year, a true blizzard strikes, snow falling steadily for more than a day, blanketing the city at least three feet deep. Digging out the Gallows will be a group effort, and most non-essential trips outside the base will be cancelled for a few days until travel is less difficult, while those who reside in the city or elsewhere may be encouraged to stay a night or two in the fortress so they might continue to work without traveling through the storm. But on the first day of Wintermarch the First Day feast goes on as planned, with modest but plentiful food and ale served in the Gallows' dining hall for anyone who wishes to celebrate the new year.

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His eyes widened as he stared at her, convinced he'd heard her wrong. His brain and body crashed to a halt, his focus on her now as the vines continued to travel up his body.

"What-what must happen?" He stammered. "I-I don't think I heard..." his face flaired bright red as he let his eyes flit to her lips, lingering a few seconds before looked back to her eyes. "...you correctly."

There was no way she would-would....with him?

"I know how it sounds! But that's what others have said and I don't think they were joking. These plants even try to push peoples' heads together. They'll let go if two people kiss. And then once they're off you, I can light them on fire so they can't attack anyone else." Who knows how many of these plants are still out around the Gallows, but she'll do what she can to get rid of a little of it.

If he's keen, that is. If not, she'll have to get him to someone he would like to kiss.

"Should we try it?"

He could barely hear her over his own heartbeat. He swallowed hard and his eyebrows came together a little.

"I-I've never-" he cleared his throat and let out a quick exhale that came out more like a whimper than I wanted. "I wouldn't want to make you-with me-if you don't want to. I've never- with anyone-before. Never really let that type of situation happen. I-"

He was coming to pieces and cursing himself the whole time. She was beautiful, obviously. As well as being kind, and smart and all together quite lovely. If she was willing to offer this kind of assistance, he would do his best to make it up to her.

But, there may be someone she had feelings for? He wouldn't want to cause trouble for them. His mind raced trying to think of an alternative but the vines kept getting tighter. All he could do was look pleadingly at her and hope that she'd either kissed him or kill him so he could be pit out of his misery somehow.

Ellana's eyes widen in utter surprise. Six thousand years and he's never even kissed anyone. Does that mean he's also never-- No, focus! He's being attacked by annoying little plants. Now is not the time to ponder something like that.

(But she will. Later.)

Even if she had someone, she would still help Haldir now. She would never want to be with someone who became jealous or angry over her helping someone in need.

Pressing a hand to her forehead, she realizes she'll be his first kiss ever, unless he doesn't want it to count. The situation being what it is, she could hardly blame him for that, but she plans to make it a good one so here's hoping he doesn't think it's awful.

"I want to," she confesses, though that could easily be taken as her merely wishing to help. That's part of the reason, yes, but it doesn't hurt that he's immeasurably handsome. Stepping up to him, she's still shorter than usual, but less so in her skates. She doesn't even think about her weak ankles on the cobblestones when there's an elf to save here.

"It's okay. It'll work." A hand is placed on his shoulder, but then she moves it to his cheek to help guide him into the kiss. For all the gossip swirling around about the mistletoe, she doesn't know how deep the kiss has to be to convince it to let go, so she wants it to be thorough. Slowly, she leans in and angles her head so their noses don't collide, then presses her lips to his, eyelids drifting shut.

He watched as her eyes fluttered shut so her lashes kissed the tops of her cheeks. He closed his eyes as well.

The kiss was sweet. Tender. Her lips were soft. Unimaginably soft. He'd never felt anything as soft as her lips in all his years. Her mouth ghosted over his lips, pulling softly, opening him to her little by little. He had no idea if this was at all enjoyable for her, but he could not for the life of him understand why he hadn't kissed anyone before. Why he had not kissed her before. He gave a small sign, and then tried to deepen the kiss.

He felt the vines pull away from him, and his hands were his to move again. His left hand buried itself in her hair, while his right grabbed her around the small of her back, pulling her whole body flush to his. This was anything but sweet, now. It was scalding. He felt weak and powerful all at once. He wanted more of her. Needed more.

He then realized she had in no way given him any indication she wanted anything other than to help him get out of his rather precarious situation. With more willpower than he knew he had, he pulled back from her, terrified he'd taken too many liberties with her kindness.

Oh, this is better than she could have pictured. He's a great kisser and it's his very first one? He doesn't even need to practice! But she plans to keep it short and sweet. Haldir seems like a quiet, reserved person and the last thing she wants to do is overwhelm him or scare him away. It must be hard enough to be a rifter in a land different from your own. Ellana won't add to it.

But then he's freed and she is nearly pulled off her feet as her body crashes into him. She lets out a yelp of utter surprise, because she did not see this coming, but she's also not going to stop if he's clearly giving her the signal that he doesn't want to either. Her hand slides to grip his jaw firmly, ready for more of his addictive kisses, but then he pulls back and she's left a little dazed.

Blinking a few times to clear her head, she then breaks into a huge grin.

"I uh, I guess you liked that, huh?"

Galadriel has avoided the Courtyard whenever possible, with the ice spread across the whole of it she had even less call to wander through, but as she skirts the edge of the courtyard this day she spies something very unexpected. The Captain of her guard was...locked in an embrace with her dear friend Ellana. As Galadriel approaches, to her surprise, he wraps his arms around her and draws her against him, his mouth slanted across hers in a most fervent kiss.

Once they part, Galadriel is but a short distance from them and her expression is something between delight and polite shock. She debates leaving them be and vanishing into the shades of the courtyard but before she can, Haldir spies her over Ellana's head and she is forced to speak.

"I was not aware that the two of you had met; how delightful that you have."

He couldn't speak. He couldn't breath. She had seen him... kissing someone who she had on several occasions called a friend. He was mortified. What could he say to her? He was fairly sure that if she had any anger about his actions, she wouldn't have hesitated to let him know he had erred in her favorite means of communication.

Instead, she stood smiling at them. He had no idea what that meant. But he felt like having Ellana between them was still a wise course of action just in case he needed to climb up the building and run over the rooftops as quickly as he could.

He thought about how to explain to her what had happened, although he wasn't even sure himself, but he feared Ellana's desires were not at all in line with his...very apparent and humiliating obvious desires, which caused him to try to ever so slyly shift the placement of his cloak.

"Lady. I found myself in an...interesting situation with one of the plants and Ellana came to my rescue." His face was surely beet red, and he cleared his throat, unable to actually look Galadriel in the eye.

"Oh! We were-- this is-- um, hello, by the way." Ellana carefully turns towards her friend, since now would not be a great time to break an ankle in these skates. A second ago, she was getting the kiss of her life, and now Galadriel's here, smiling at them. That's good, right? She doesn't seem mad that her guard was being kissed. Maybe she knows about the mistletoe situation already?

"Right. The mistletoe. It attacks people unless you kiss. Then it lets go." Her hand moves up to tug nervously at her hair. Surely a lady so refined as Galadriel has an opinion about the very public display she just witnessed. Should Ellana try and change the subject? Would that help?

"We actually met before. On the rooftops."

"Ah, so this is the second--?" Galadriel's gaze shifts gradually from Ellana, twirling her lovely hair to Haldir with his face red and his composure ruffled. He had tucked himself firmly behind the Dalish elf, keeping her between them, and Galadriel found that unreasonably amusing. Her smile is the brightest and most earnest it has been yet in Kirkwall.

"Well, if it wards off attack, I must insist that you carry on. I should not like to see either of you suffer for lack of kissing."

She cast a sly look at Haldir but, despite his clear nervousness, said nothing to his mind. Ellana, however, she spoke directly to.

Be kind to him, my friend, he is easily overwhelmed with affection and kinder of heart than he believes.

She wanted them to...con-continue? She... wanted him to continue kissing Ellana. He was so unbelievably overwhelmed at everything this situation had become. Ellana had turned away, but he had kept one of his hands on her upper arm, which he now squeezed a little out of nervousness.

He stared pleadingly over Galadriel's direction, but he still couldn't quite bring himself to make eye contact with her. He had a feeling they would need to discuss things at length another time.

But, he desperately needed to discuss the recent turn of events with Ellana. In detail. With no one else present.

Galadriel's comment makes Ellana's mouth drop open. She had no idea her friend was so... so cheeky! And she also really has no idea where to go from here, because it really had been meant to just get the mistletoe off him, but she's not going to deny that it was an incredible kiss, and she already likes Haldir quite a bit. Whatever happens, she's certainly not going to be unkind. Ellana knows better than most what it feels like to love too much.

But as she's trying to think up what to say back to Galadriel (and hoping the woman can't hear the rush of thoughts since Ellana isn't projecting them out to her), the glowing elven woman simply gives her a knowing look and walks off, somehow making a trek across the ice look effortless.

"Bye," she calls after, still confused about what just happened. She doesn't turn around; not yet. Ellana needs a minute.

...he is easily overwhelmed by affection, Galadriel had said. Ellana will have to be careful, or she might scare him off.

He was still in shock, both by the turn of events, and by his Lady's comments. But, the thing that concerned him most was her silence afterward. He let his hand fall away from her arm softly, and tried to remain calm.

His poor impulse control had once again landed him in hot water. It was supposed to be fleeting, a simple thing. But, he got caught up in the moment, and obviously went too far. Galadriel had meant well, but he doubted she would appriciate her comments. Self doubt and guilt nawed at him as he stared. He moved his hand to reach out, but thought better of it, and instead took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I-I went to far. I know your intention was different than what my lady perceived. Galadriel only seeks to chide me. She has... lots of opinions on my personal life at times. If you wish me to leave I can. I did not mean to...take advantage. I do not wish to cause you discomfort."

"You don't have to do that," she's quick to assure him, carefully turning back around to face him. "I think -- depending on the person -- you probably should have asked first, but luckily it was me and I didn't mind it." Ellana continues nervously playing with her hair, but a shy smile appears. "I liked it. It was a good kiss."

It's a bit of praise coupled with an admittance that not everybody likes boldness. He's just lucky that she's able to handle it. Another person might have given him a slap for it.

"Did you still want to visit the quartermaster?"

He was simultaneously elated and crushed by her words. Elated that she said she enjoyed it, but crushed at her amendment to it. Did she think he would kiss just anyone? It was probably a fleeting act for her, born out of desperation and nothing more. He let his heart run away with him like a fool, and his disapointment was his consiquence. His heart squeezed, and he felt some of the emotional walls shift back into place.

"I am glad you enjoyed it. I...think it was obvious I did as well. Thank you for helping me." He gave her a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I should get some warmer gear, but I have taken up much of your time. I wouldn't wish to keep you from your revelry, but I always enjoy your company."

He gave her a way out if she wanted to leave. If she did he would probably get his suplies and then go somewhere to ease the twinge in his heart.

It isn't her intent to make him feel crushed at her words, but she doesn't regret them either. She hardly thinks herself world-weary quite yet, but she'll impart what knowledge of the world she knows on someone who isn't familiar with it in an effort to teach him. There are others who would have protested his deepening the kiss, so hopefully he'll take away from this that permission is always necessary.

"I don't have anything pressing to do, but if I did, I'd probably cancel it anyway. Don't think I'm done helping you just yet. Come on; let's get inside before my nose freezes."

He perks up a bit after she says she will stay. He smiles a bit broader, and this time shines a little more genuinely.

"I am ever appriciative of your help. I will have to think of a way to repay your kindness."

He extends his arm out to her in a gentlemanly fashion, eyes asking, not demanding. The lesson has been learned, and he wouldn't forget it.

"Lead on, lady. I will follow where you lead."

"Oh, I wouldn't ask anything in return," she says, resting her hand at the crook of his elbow. "Of course, if you insist, then I'll have to come up with something." She gives him a playful smirk before nodding ahead. "It's just through here."

This time when she opens the door, there are no plants descending on them, and instead there's a slightly frazzled looking young man with sandy hair looking up from the work on his desk.

"Yes?" he asks expectantly, while Ellana is grateful to see a bench close by where she can sit and get off the blades of her skates.

"I have a rifter here in need of some warm winter clothes. Could you help?"

The man looks Haldir up and down before releasing a sigh and standing up.

"I swear, all you rifters are way too tall. But I might have something. Wait there." he heads to the back of the room where he unlocks a door and heads in to rummage around the shelves. He emerges a minute later with an armload of clothes. "It's difficult to determine your size when you're in armor, but hopefully there's something here. Did you want to try any on to see?"

Ellana tries not to look very interested in that, and instead she tries to look at it practically. "It'd be a shame to leave with the clothes to find out later that they're too small, right?"

Haldir bristled a bit at the man's rudeness, and let out a huff. He didn't wish to cause a fuss, so he just sighed as he went to remove his cloak. He did not wish to lay it on anything, so he cheekily wrapped it around Ellana's shoulders. He had to admit, she looked good in the colors of Lorien. With a satisfied smirk, he moved back to the counter.

He then went into the practiced motions of unbuckling his armor. Once that was off, he shrugged the leather overtunic off and then pulled his shirt up and over his head. The air bit into him a bit, but after a small shiver he knew he could bare it for the time being. He picked through the pile of clothes, touching the different fabrics. There was a pale green sweater made of soft wool that immidiately caught his attention.

"Do you have any suggestions?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder at Ellana.

Is she going to pass up the opportunity to snuggle into his cloak? No, no she is not. Once he turns away she even pulls the fabric to her nose to catch the faint scent of his hair. But then she settles in to watch him choose between the clothes, and she sets her elbows on her knees so she can rest her chin in her hands. It's in this very attentive position that she's caught as Haldir turns around unexpectedly. Here she is, simply admiring his back muscles and the size of his biceps like she used to do with human men back at Skyhold with Cyril, and now she's been discovered ogling.

"Oh!" Ellana quickly drops her arms, the dreamy look leaving her face. "Um, yes. Sweaters are good." She pauses to clear her throat. "And maybe a scarf? And heavy socks. They're... good."

Know what else is good? That body of his. Is the front as impressive as the back? Will he show her the front too? Will her heart stop racing any time soon? Not likely.

Ellana's deadication to the task at hand is rather remarkable. Her focus hasn't wavered from him since he started rummaging through his options. He is impressed, and can understand now howshe can be so successful exploring the ruins she loves so much.

He sets asside the green sweater, only to pull out a long thin strip of knit fabric, and then turns to her, eyebrows furrowed in a question.

"How does one wear this? I am unfamiliar with it." He stretches it our to her.

"Really? I'll show you." She gets up and closes the distance between them, taking the scarf and gently winding it around his neck. She does it slowly and loosely, since he's never wore anything like it before.

"There," she says, adjusting the fabric a little. "When the cold hits your face, you can pull the scarf up like this." And she demonstrates, tugging the fabric over his mouth and nose for just a moment before releasing it. "It keeps your neck warm, but your face too. I have one on, see?" She undoes the top buttom of her coat, to show off a scarf that's a little different that the one he wears. It's the kind the Dalish favor (even though she's not really Dalish anymore): A square of fabric folded on the diagonal and tied at the nape of the neck to make a triangle hanging down in the front.

He shivers a little whenever her fingers graze his neck. She is near him again, and all he could think about was how good she felt against him. He swallows hard and pushes that thought from his mind as best as he could.

"If I am to have one, I would prefer one like yours. They seem more practical, and less prone to tangling in trees." He keeps eye contact with her a few seconds, and a blush creeps up his chest, neck, and wiggles his way into his face.

"I admit I'm not very good at pick8ng clothes for myself. I have been in uniform for a very long time. Help me choose something?"

"You can have one of mine. I have plenty." Ellana takes note of the flush and is grateful that -- for once -- she's not the one turning red at something. Seeing has she has such pale skin, her blush is far too hard for her to control, but something about her making him blush gives her quite the boost of confidence.

"Well, let's try this?" She picks up the green sweater he was eyeing earlier and hands it to him. "Try that and I'll sort through the rest for a full outfit." He needs pants, socks, and perhaps a coat, though she has to admit his cloak is very warm and may be sufficient on its own. Then he'll need a couple more sets of clothes if the quartermaster is feeling generous.

"I would... like very much to have something of yours. Thank you."

He throws the green sweater on. It's color reminds him of the leaves of the your sapling trees of Lorien. He pulls down the sweater, very greatful for it's warmth. It fits him well enough. It is long enough to cover his arms and it sits a little past his hips. He does notice it has stretched a little tighter around his chest and upper arms, but it doesn't look likey to tear. To test it he stretches in it a little, before bending over into a small summersault.

"I can move freely in it. Does it pass?" He's never really thought much of his own appearance. But now he very much wanted her to approve of it.

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