CLOSED - So I made a wish on a million of the stars, registered your name on a few

[mythalenaste]

WHO: Merrick and Pel
WHAT: Catching up, spending time with the Most Important Person.
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Will update with any warnings.

He's been back for a while, but she only just finished the presents she'd been working on for him while he was gone. She's proud of this one. So when they're in her room and the candles are lit, she proudly hands him a bundle--cloth wrapped around something soft.

Inside, there is a set of knitted gear for cold weather. A hood attached to a scarf, and a pair of mitts. All of it is knitted from the same yarn, something marbled of a brown wool and a crimson fiber with a discernible shimmer.

"Someone was dyeing silk roving and I happened along. Some of it didn't take quite as evenly as the rest, so he practically gave it to me."

Comments

[dalishious]

It's takes Merrick a second to register what he just heard. Then he's pulling back just a fraction so he can look at her.

"You are?" He frowns. "Why didn't you tell me over the sending crystals?"

[mythalenaste]

"Because I wanted to tell you in person. And I thought Cyril would tell you; he was our chaperone."

[dalishious]

"Chaperone?"

Merrick just stares at Pel now, eyebrow raised. Really?

[mythalenaste]

"It was James' idea. He wants to be sure everyone knows I'm safe with him."

[dalishious]

Merrick's eyes narrow a bit. His fingers dig deeper into Pel's thick mass of hair, threaded through her braid.

"Who's James?"

[mythalenaste]

Pel catches that hand with hers, trying to unwind it from her hair lest he become upset. It's only when his hand is clasped between her own that she replies.

"A human."

[dalishious]

It's a bit of a shock-- Not because Merrick has anything against humans, but because of Pel's responsibility to the clan. Wasn't she to become Keeper? And it just seems so uncharacteristic for her.

His mind buzzes as he looks at her, deep into her eyes, examining them.

"Are you sure about this, Pel?"

[mythalenaste]

"That's what this early part is for, Merrick. To find out if we're sure. Or if we're compatible at all. But I like him, yes."

[dalishious]

There's a part of Merrick that feels threatened by this, the same way he'd felt about Salem-- Fear that he'd lose Pel, that she was going far away. The same way he'd felt when she was to be joined with Gavin. He'd been younger then, but the anxiety remains, the childlike fear of being abandoned.

It shows on his face, easily readable to Pel.

[mythalenaste]

"Hey."

She touches his arm and tries to catch his gaze with hers.

"You're more important to me than he'll ever be. Ever."

[dalishious]

He meets her eyes, then nods, the anxiety abated for now. It'll come back later when he's alone and stuck in his own head, but right now, he can be happy for his sister.

The corner of his lips lifts then, and he gives her his characteristic half-smile.

"So what's this guy like, anyway?"

[mythalenaste]

Now she smiles like she can't help it.

"Incredibly kind. He loves history and values the faith I have in the Creators. He has sound moral judgment. He can be a bit severe, but no more so than I am. And not toward me."

[dalishious]

"Who is he severe toward?" Merrick asks, brows furrowed.

[mythalenaste]

"Other templars. The Chantry, if you'd believe it. Racists and arseholes. I wish you could have seen how fast a few Orlesian shems ran from him after they called me a rabbit. One of them fainted."

Yes, she buried templar under all that.

[dalishious]

Oh, he caught that. Merrick lets her finish, then fixes her with an even gaze.

"A templar," he says carefully.

[mythalenaste]

She meets his gaze with a frozen smile. But it's harder to fake it with Merrick. It's harder to pretend this is a good idea, objectively, courting a Templar.

A few heartbeats pass.

"He's very kind, Merrick." And that's apparently all someone needs to be for her, she is so starved for kindness.