faderift | OPEN: this will be a better year

OPEN: this will be a better year

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

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The way Ellana lights up then seems to deflate is not missed by him, and for a moment Sam grows concerned by the change. Was that a touche subject? Though before he can comment on it, Ellana is once again smiling. It's fake, he knows that, but in time it eventually seems to reach her ears again.

For a moment Sam only stares as he raises a brow, seeing if the mood would change again, but when it doesn't seem like it will he gives a sigh. "He commands a large army. I'm not surprised he's able to tolerate so many people having eyes on him." The Commander was certainly handsome, but he hadn't spent much time with the other man to really know him to give a good call. "Are you saying you're infatuated with him?"

"Me? Oh, no. He's very nice, but I don't really know him that well. He's nice to look at, though." He takes care to ensure that elves aren't being treated unkindly in the Inquisition, and she respects him for that.

"I think he must be under so much pressure right now. Sometimes I leave fresh flowers on his desk, to brighten up his office. Because otherwise he's just surrounded by paperwork."

'He was nice to look at'. That has Sam giving a small snort as he tries not to laugh right out loud. The comment is so much like what Cyril would say that it's amusing. "I can only imagine what kind of pressure he's under, but I'm glad he took up the mantle. We're better for him leading our troops."

She left flowers in his office? "Flower from the garden?"

"Well, yes. That's where they're growing," she says with a chuckle. "I don't take any medicinal ones; don't worry."

"And Sina hasn't come after you for doing that?" he asks with his own chuckle. He's teasing of course, but the other Dalish elf was rather protective of the garden to say the least.

"Sina has the talent of a First," Ellana explains patiently. "She can make plants grow. Pel can too. All Keeper's apprentices can. And so I know I'm not depriving the garden of anything that she can't easily regrow. I don't leave the Commander flowers every few days, either. Just when I think of it."

It's a simply gesture, meant to be calming. The scent of flowers amidst all the parchment and ink is a change, but something only faintly noticeable.

"They can make plants grow?" Sam asks in mild bewilderment. He has to stop and think about that for a moment considering he had seen Sina use her magic a bit earlier. It hadn't occurred to him that, that was what she was doing with the roots; he had thought she was simply moving them. That certainly was different kind of magic.

"Well I'm sure the Commander enjoys them. All the soldiers must be jealous he's getting flowers from a cute girl."

"They can," she confirms. It's something she was never taught how to do, and even though there has been talk here of the mages learning specializations, she doesn't think she should learn the Keeper one. Not without her Keeper's blessing, at least.

"Do you think the soldiers here are the type to want a bouquet of flowers? I can't imagine they'd care."

"It's more of the thought that counts. Just receiving something and knowing you're being thought about? I don't think anyone would be against that. Besides, who you get it from affects a lot of it." Well at least for him small things were very welcomed. He couldn't speak for anyone else around here.

"Hmm, you have a point. In that case, I hope everyone can receive something like that at least once in their lives." She knows the feeling from the mystery presents she used to receive, before Merrick closed her out. Feeling special and worthy of a gift can really lift the spirits. Just as knowing the presents have stopped can lower them.

"So, what presents does Sam like to receive?" she continues in a teasing tone. "I can't see you as a flower person, though you would accept them anyway, and be thankful for them. But it's not what you'd prefer, is it?"

No, he wasn't really a flower person, though some of the things made from flowers were nice, and smelled rather good. "I-" His mouth opens for a moment then closes, frowning slightly as he thought on the question. What did me like to get?

It's been a long while since he's gotten a present or any sort of gift, save for some extra sweets, or a new set of robes while he was in the Circle. "I'm... actually not all that sure. I've been used to not getting gifts. Practical things? Anything of consideration or thought is good."

"Well I didn't mean to stump you," she says with a short laugh. "But I'm the same way. Anything that's just for me is good." Who doesn't like to feel special, or like they're held just a little bit higher than others?

And maybe she was asking so she could tell Krem what he said. Oh, well. At least this leaves room for plenty of possibilities.

"Maybe giving you precious metals so you could craft something would be a good gift." Her head tilts in thought. "Do you ever design anything just for yourself? I mean, not a weapon or armor. Something crafted out of metal just because you wanted to see if you could make it."

"It's a nice thought, but I'm afraid those would get put to the side until I've worked longer at the forge." Maybe later when he knew more then it would be worth having the metal.

His head also tilts a bit, contemplating what Ellana was asking him. "Since I've joined the Inquisition? No. I did a few times when I was younger, first starting out. It was really simple, just a ring. I managed to keep it throughout the time I was Circle, and then I guess I lost it sometime before we came to Skyhold."

"Oh, that's a shame," she replies. "Though maybe you could recreate it here. It wouldn't replace it, but it'd show how you've improved over the years." Who knows? Maybe he could give it to Krem as a gift. Then again, Ellana doesn't know the significance of humans gifting rings.

"I'm a lot more practiced in making metal circles so it would probably be easier now," he agrees. It was a shame he had somehow lost that first piece of work, but it wasn't terribly important. "I think all the weapons and armor that I've helped make shows how much I've improved, but that is a thought; recreating it." Probably for himself, but with all the training and lessons he had gotten used to not wearing any jewelry.

"I certainly admire the staff blade you crafted for me. It's worked out well." She really only needed an afternoon of practice to get used to the added weight and how it balanced. And she ran an obstacle course with Katniss that day, meeting her for the first time and seeing how well they worked together.

"If you do recreate the ring, I'd love to see it once it's finished."

"Well I'm glad to hear that it's working out for you and that you like it. It definitely was a bit of a challenge with the design." A blade that branched up to wrap around the bottom of the staff. It had taken a bit of time, but the end product seemed worth while.

"Don't know if there would be much to show off if I did. Small details on small things aren't something I know."

"I tell everyone who asks that you made it," she states proudly. Ellana has to give credit where it's due, and Sam's earned it.

"Ah, well, it would be entirely up to you then. I just like seeing your work." But he seems a modest sort when it comes to what he crafts, so she'll leave it at that so he doesn't feel pressured. "I should be going. There are a few others I wanted to speak with tonight. It was good to catch up with you." And learn about him and Krem!

"Well if I get a surge of people wanting staff blades I'll know who to look at," he teases, though there is a bit of a blush forming on his cheeks at Ellana's praise.

"Well... you should probably come by during the week. There is something I'll be working on with Maxwell. We'll see how that project goes." Pride and modesty were interesting with him. He was proud of being able to do the craft, but he was still in training for the most part. It was the same with everything he did.

"I'll see you around. It was good talking."

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OPEN: this will be a better year

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