Tell me a story long and true

[lettersfromhome]

WHO: Mia Rutherford and OPEN
WHAT: So much to do, so little time. Bustling around Skyhold.
WHEN: Wintermarch. Feel free to fudge the dates as needed.
WHERE: All over the bloody keep.
NOTES: n/a

The weeks press on. The world looks to the Inquisition to see what happens next, the mages and templars struggle to prove their independence and their willingness to work towards the greater good, and a calm finally seems to have settled over the keep in the wake of the abomination attack. Personal trials seem almost trivial in comparison.

Almost. She's still noticeably avoiding Pel, and stiffly departing if the woman ever comes around.

But there's more to be dealt with than one sour encounter. She drops in on Cullen from time to time now, a little less concerned with keeping her distance than she is with how well he's dealing with the lyrium-induced headaches. She visits Katniss soon after hearing about the unfortunate scuffle with one of the soldiers, though part of her is pleased that she's holding her own. There are care packages to be made up and delivered to various families and individuals within Skyhold -- herbs for the healers from the travelers and scouts, and sometimes cookies for the children -- and all in all life is as busy as it should be.

Better than sitting at home in South Reach and fretting, with no one to tend to. Though what must it say about her that she only feels at ease when she's seeing to someone else's needs? Likely nothing she wants to hear, admittedly.

Comments

Post-battle

[the_effect_she_has]

It was fairly notable that Katniss had a split lip and the side of her face was nicely bruised, and even more notable the tales that were told. They got wilder in the telling, so that when Katniss brought fresh meat for the refugees, the children all clambered around her to ask if she had really gotten attacked by a bear-ridden Avaar fighting for the hand of Commander Cullen.

Fifteen minutes later from setting that straight (and per her promise to Pel and Cullen, setting everyone on the right path of fighting is not good), she was carrying the skins back to Skyhold when she found Mia coming out of a tent. She crooked a smile, before going to walk next to the woman, "And a good day to you, Mia."

Yes, she might have looked like she lost a fight with a sledgehammer, but she was surprisingly ...chipper.

[lettersfromhome]

Proud as she might be of the woman for standing up for herself, she's a mess. There's a cluck of her tongue as she turns, looking over the damage with a shake of her head. "So you say," she replies, arching an eyebrow at the girl before tucking the basket of herbs primly under her arm. "Thought if you're looking to get that treated, I'm headed in the opposite direction just now."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Absolutely not. I've got a healing potion already, but that requires eight hours of sleep I'm not ready for just yet." Katniss glanced over at her, and sighed. "So you're disappointed in me as well?"

Katniss really should just go through all of her friends to get the 'You should know better!' discussions out of the way.

[lettersfromhome]

"Did I say that?"

Mia shakes her head, the corner of her mouth curling upwards.

"I'm not here to judge you, dear. I'm not even entirely sure what happened. People talk, of course, but I've had my fill of the rumor mill. I can tell you that much."

[the_effect_she_has]

"You know what I've found interesting about the rumor mill?" Katniss said, tipping her dark head a little to the side, "It is perhaps the greatest work of fiction I have ever heard -- and I happen to be a great fan of Master Tethras."

She paused, then added more soberly, "But it can't happen again. Not like that. The Inquisition doesn't need to be fighting with itself. Justified or not. I've got to learn to keep my temper."

[lettersfromhome]

"True. But you didn't need me to tell you that, did you?" Mia's eyes had darkened somewhat in regard to the rumor mill. Still rather bitter about that, but spilled milk and all that. She pushes it aside, curiosity getting the better of her.

"So. What did happen?"

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth, before she sighed. Best to get the truth out there, she supposed. "Sergeant Retty, formerly of the 4th Platoon, now out in the Western Approach came up to me in the tavern - first accused me of getting a cushy job with the Scouts because I am seeing Cullen."

She sucked in a breath, fighting the spark of anger at the very thought of it, "John and I - he's one of Harding's scouts, let her know there was no such thing as a cushy Scout job. Then she stated some very ... untrue things about your brother and ladies of a certain profession, of which I apparently am, and this time Jim helped me straighten her out."

And at this point, Katniss sighed, "Then she punched me. In the face. With a gauntlet. And ... called me a half-blooded whore. And ... I lost my temper. By a lot."

[lettersfromhome]

Mia lets out a sigh, shaking her head. "I know we must take any who are willing to fight, but...Maker, surely there should be some sort of standard."

One hand flutters dismissively. "What's done is done. Understandable, if not wise. But few would take such insult without rising to the bait. I can't say I wouldn't have been tempted. Quite the contrary, I've been sorely tempted somewhat recently."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Desperate times, desperate measures ... but I have a feeling these people are on their way out. Things are changing, and we have to change with them." She lifted one hand, to touch her mouth, before she sighed softly.

"It's easy for me to be tempted -- but I can't do that to Cullen. I can't do that to Prim, either. I owe it to them - to myself - to control my temper, so I can do what I came here to do." Protect the helpless. Save lives. Bring the world back to peace. Her gaze shifted over, "You? Tempted? Someone must have really pushed you."

[lettersfromhome]

"Very much so. I don't think I've been that angry in quite some time."

She waves her hand again. "But the point is that striking out in violence does absolutely nothing to further the situation. Even under pressure we must think of what is best for everyone. No small feat, and I don't mean to sound as though it is."

One hand reaches to squeeze Katniss's arm lightly. "It's hard to think clearly when the ones we love are at risk. Believe me, I know."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Well, I feel sorry for that person. You angry is a terrible sight to be."

She glanced over at her, her grey eyes quiet, and there was that flicker of shame, "It is not ..."

Covering Mia's hand with her own, her mouth quirked a little, "Not really sure Cullen wants me defending his honor. He's a big boy, he can defend his own."

[lettersfromhome]

"Yes, he can. But it wasn't really his honor that this was concerning, was it?"

Not that it made the quarrel any less legitimate, nor her anger any less valid. Mia's brow knit tightly together as she regarding the younger woman, her dark eyes resting on her quite solemnly now.

"You've a very difficult path. A human with elven heritage. And doubtlessly there'll be many who question your right to belong anywhere. Every achievement you make will have that shadow cast over it. There will always be those who disparage you for daring to seek a purpose, a path, even a life with those you love. Pay them no heed. Do only what is in your heart, what you know to be right. Not because it will earn their love or respect, but because it is right."

[the_effect_she_has]

"No, it was not."

She stopped, listening to Mia but looking off at the distance as she processed those words. After a moment, she looked back at her, her grey eyes solemn in turn.

"I know that is the right way for me, for my life. To do the right thing, to follow my heart and not my fears, or even my anger. I'm not doing it for their respect. I'm not doing it for the glory. I'm doing it to be the person Pel always thought I was. That I want to be."

She turned to face Mia, "But that's all I have to give your brother, Mia. I don't have lands. I don't have a dowry. I've got my honor, my skills, and a bucketload of stubborn determination. Is that going to be enough?"

[lettersfromhome]

Her expression darkens once at the mention of Pel, but she says nothing. Being the better person here, regardless of her feelings towards the elf. Now is not the time to revisit that sore subject.

"That's up to the two of you to decide, dear. No one else."

[the_effect_she_has]

Now that was an odd sort of frown, but Mia's expression clears so quickly that Katniss can only think it's because she thought these thoughts. She looked at Mia for a long moment, before she smiled quietly.

"Thank you, Mia."

She leaned in, and gave the other woman a light hug and a peck on the cheek.

[lettersfromhome]

She let out a slightly startled noise, but smiled despite herself. "For what?" she questioned, both brows arching high. "I've only told you the truth. Though I suppose being grateful someone else isn't interfering should be cause for thanks enough."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Because that's all you've ever told me. And that even if you don't say it outloud? I know you're rooting for me." Katniss smiled back, shouldering her leathers again.