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

[lettersfromhome]

None of them had come here without a sad story, it seems. Perhaps one day they'd be able to share that, too. But today was not the day for looking backward with regrets.

"A good idea. Though we might also see about the traders in Redcliffe...it might be nice to give them books they can keep, as well."

Perhaps too lofty a goal, but they could try, could they not? As much power as the Inquisition amassed, some of it might be just as well spent on the good of the people, a morale boost if nothing else.

"After we've delivered theses," she adds, nodding to the stack of packages they're both still carrying.

[serannas]

"That's a good idea. It's nice to have things to call your own. We could ask them about their reading habits when we get down there." And they're not far now. The tents that dot the landscape are a reminder that the Inquisition is gaining traction and people are coming around to all the good it's trying to do in the wake of the explosion at the Conclave and the rise of a new enemy.

"What sort of book do you like to read, Mia?"

[lettersfromhome]

"Oh, all sorts. I was hungry for them as a child, whenever I could get a hold of one. History, culture, tales from days gone by...I used to read aloud the ones we were given as children. Rosie was so very small, then, it used to help her sleep at night."

There's a wistful look that crosses her eyes as they make their way closer to the tents, across the stone steps and the muddy ground that never seems to fully dry, given the snow that blows down from the mountainside.

[serannas]

"I didn't know there was more than just you and Cullen," she says, sounding pleasantly surprised. Despite the Dalish teaching that they should have as many children as possible to further their people, Ellana is an only child.

"Maybe you could do the same here? Read to the children if their parents don't know how."

[lettersfromhome]

"Perhaps."

It would certainly slow down the usual rush of her day, which might not be so terrible, all told. She tried to crush far too much into the span of hours they were given.

Absently she tucks a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "Assuming their parents don't mind, of course. I don't mean to overstep any boundaries."

[serannas]

"Oh, of course. It's smart of you to think of that. I know I wouldn't want to offend anyone by making assumptions. With their lives turned upside down so quickly, they may wish to keep their children close at hand."

Now that they're getting close to the refugees, she lowers her voice. "Maybe we could say, 'If you would ever wish for some time to take care of things, we can sit down with the children and read them something.' I mean, once we actually get these books."