[closed-ish] we live and dream in an ancient hallowed land

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina with Nari, and with Korrin and Araceli (let me know if you want a specific starter)
WHAT: the aftermath of this thread
WHEN: the following night and a few days after
WHERE: the Dahlasanor tent, the tavern, wherever others want
NOTES:The third prompt is open to all!

Directly after her argument with Pel, Sina made a beeline for the tent she shared with Nahariel and all but dove inside, immediately flattening herself against her bedroll and burying her face in her modest pillow. Small, angry crying sounds emanated. (Nari)

The following day, Sina went to the tavern of her own volition for the first time. Not to drink, of course; perhaps it was because it was the last place anyone would look for her. She sat by a window with a cup of tea, her knees drawn up to her chest, melancholy emanating from her very being. (Korrin + Araceli)

Over the next few days, she could be found ghosting around Skyhold, avoiding most people, particularly Clan Ashara. When not out and about, she threw herself into her gardening with a tenacity unusual even to her. (errbody else)

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin, intending to meet up with Araceli after training, pauses on the way to her usual table as she catches sight of Sina. She had joined them before, true, but it's still strange to see her at the Herald's Rest, even more so on her own...and in a mood. That melancholy hardly goes unnoticed, and she pauses by the bar to request a drink for herself and another cup of tea before settling down in the chair opposite the slight elf.

"What's wrong, Sina?" She might as well get right to the point, as whatever this is has Sina visibly distressed, and she can't ignore that.

[amygdalae]

Working with Sina was a pretty common occurrence by now, and after all this time Bruce had gotten familiar with her usual mannerisms. Which was why in the last few days he had noticed that there was something just a bit... off with her.

He wasn't one to really pry into other's affairs, so rather than going around to try and probe into whatever it was that was bothering her instead on this day when she came around Bruce was already there with some tea that he left sitting on a nearby bench.

"Hey," he starts, once she's close enough to hear him. "How about we rest a little first before we start working? I've got some tea."

[eolasemah]

Sina looks back at Korrin, blinking her reddened eyes with a tired, not-quite-there smile. "...nothing," she decides, and ducks her head lightly. "Something stupid. I'm being stupid."

[eolasemah]

Sina had been single-mindedly absorbed in their work, but the word from Bruce brought her out of it with a start. She stared at him a moment, then noticed the tea. She seemed to consider, then rose to her feet and made her way over to the bench.

"That's lovely, thank you," she said, gratefully but still sounding rather worn down.

[serannas]

Ellana has no idea what's transpired, and so she goes to the usual meeting place for Sina's lessons, not yet knowing that she's being avoided. When Sina doesn't show, she's worried, thinking maybe her shard is hurting her more than usual. She searches around, but can't seem to find her friend, nor anyone who has seen her. But if something was really wrong, surely word would pass to her through one of the other Dalish in Skyhold, since Ellana is usually the last to be told anything. So she waits.

The next day, she searches again, starting with the garden. But Sina isn't there. Now Ellana is really worried. However, when she comes across the young First sneaking around like she's trying to avoid being seen, her first reaction is relief. She's well enough to be up and moving. Quickly jogging towards her, Ellana stops off to Sina's side.

"Sina?" she asks gently. "Is something the matter? You didn't turn up for our lesson yesterday."

[gatheringstorm]

Her voice is unusually gentle when she responds.

"I really doubt that." Leaning in, Korrin rests her larger hand atop Sina's, giving it a light squeeze. "And whatever it is, it's not nothing or you wouldn't be here. Did someone hurt you?"

[arlathvhen]

Beleth would like to think that she's good at reading people--particularly other Dalish. She would like to think that she would notice if she had upset Sina. So when Sina starts avoiding her, she was fairly concerned. With other people, she might try to form some elaborate plan to try to figure out what had gone wrong, but with one of the People, surely Beleth could just approach her.

So that's exactly what Beleth does, in the garden. She waits until Sina is preoccupied with the gardening for her to approach from behind, moving as quietly as she can, until she speaks.

"Do you need any help...?"

[nadasharillen]

Nahariel looked up sharply from the rough sketch she'd been doing as her clansister fairly flew through the flap and launched herself into her pillow.

"Sina? Are you--" concern etched the hunter's face as she realized the younger elf was crying in small violent jags, and she discarded the half-finished sketch immediately, scooting over to kneel next to the prone mage. Nari reached out to lay a hand on her back, hoping the warmth and light pressure would be a comfort. She rubbed her thumb back and forth in a gentle, soothing motion, and her mind churned; yes, Sina got misty eyed over bunnies, and a few sniffles were nearly routine--both parts of why Nari loved her so dearly. But she hadn't been this upset since... almost ever. Since she'd been a child, and one of the halla had broken it's leg so badly they'd had to end its suffering. What in the Creators name had happened?

No matter her curiosity, she didn't want to make Sina try to talk through the storm of tears. Instead, she lay down beside her prostrate First like she had when they were younger, hand still moving in small circles on the other elf's back, and simply waited for a lull. When Sina was ready to look, she'd find her clansister there, green eyes dark with love and concern, doing her best impression of something steady to cling to.

[eolasemah]

It took Sina some time, but when she finally finished crying long enough to acknowledge Nari, she still couldn't articulate why she was in such a state. Instead she wrapped her spindly arms around her friend, burying her face in the crook of the hunter's shoulder and holding her as tightly as though she feared Nari would float away. "Vhenan," she whimpered, suddenly more glad than she'd ever been that her clanmate had come with her.

[amygdalae]

It's easy enough to hear the weariness in her voice, but Bruce doesn't point that out, knowing that it won't exactly help anybody. Instead he just waits until she's settled down onto the bench before he pours out a cup of tea and passes it over carefully.

"Just give it a moment to cool before you drink it." It was still pretty hot, and with how tired she looked Bruce didn't want the elf to accidentally scald herself.

[nadasharillen]

Nari returned the hug with equal strength, stroking Sina's hair as the dampness of her clansister's misery slowly made its way through the thin fabric of her undershirt.

After a long moment, the sound of the younger elf's hiccuping whimpers was joined by the hunter's rasp of an alto, softly singing an old lullaby. Though her voice was rough, she hoped the low vibrations through her chest and the reminder of home would be comforting enough.

[eolasemah]

The reminder of home, between Nari and the lullaby, was both a balm and the problem itself. Sina eventually calmed, becoming so docile and her breathing so level that she almost appeared to be sleeping, until she pulled away to look at Nari's face. She wiped the tears from her own and lay her head down, clutching her clan-sister's hand to her heart, the usual odd and erratic thrumming from the shard disguising her heartbeat.

"It is easy to forget how alone we are," she said at last, her voice weak. "...the old ways are dying." An errant tear spilled from one hazel eye.

[foxsays]

Coming from upstairs via the doors leading to the battlements, Araceli spots Korrin instantly but she has to pause when she sees Sina too, straining to listen as she leans over the railing. Sina's upset, and she catches that stupid comment as she comes clattering down the stairs, dropping into an empty seat with much more noise than she ever usually makes.

"What happened, what did I miss?" She asks in a rush, glancing between the Vashoth and elf at the table, frowning at Sina's red eyes. "Do I have to go slap someone?"

[nadasharillen]

Even despite the odd hum and crackle of magic that now made its home in her First's thin chest, Nahariel imagined she could feel the slight press and release of Sina's heart. If not there, at least in her hand where she grasped Nari's own with an almost desperate strength.

Nari thinned her lips, and released her embrace for just long enough to wipe away the single tear that tracked down her clan-sister's cheek.

"Did someone say something to you?" she asked carefully, "About the People?"

Tea in the Library?

[fleurdesel]

Even for Sina, this is quiet. Other than the obligatory social niceties that their joint tea offered, she's spoken little and Adelaide finds herself concerned. After a particularly loud sip (it isn't loud at all, the relative quiet makes it deafening), she sets her cup in it's saucer with a decisive clink.

"What is it?"

[eolasemah]

Sina hesitated, then shook her head. "...Pel is courting a Templar," she said softly, "and seems to... find no issue in this. A Templar, Nari." Her hand squeezed the hunter's, anxiously. "I can't--... I can't imagine what would drive a First against her people so intently that she feels this is wise. Or appropriate." Despite the judgment in her words, she was visibly shaken. "I thought-- that she cared for us."

[nadasharillen]

Courting a Templar.

For a moment, Nahariel's entire body tensed. Her hand froze in place, mid-hair-stroke, and her eyes widened in a kind of horrified shock. Vivid memories of all Keeper Thalia's cautionary tales ran through her mind like rabbits before a forest fire. Pel--did she remember Pel? She hadn't met Pel. But a First! She was a mage! It was like a halla doe courting a wolf! If they were to ever disagree on magic, the danger to her was immense! And the danger to her Clan! To all the Clans!

You share with lovers, you share your dreams, you share your life. Your past. Your history. Perhaps how clans are organized, where they were, how the mages cycle, how they are moved--would she dare bring him home? To the Arlathvhen, even? Nahariel had no doubt that would not be permitted. Then... was Pel intent on abandoning the People?

...to lose a First. Perhaps it was different for Clan Ashara, but with the Clan she knew it would be devastating. The possibility of Sina's loss to the shard was a very real, absolutely terrifying prospect. Were other Clans so well off that they could afford one of their own to go skipping off with a shem? To willfully contribute to their further dilution and disappearance? Pel's children, were she to have them, would be... human. Nari shivered.

And this... this if he is genuine in his intentions. What if he was courting her simply to gain traction for the Templar in the Clans? To control the mages they currently did not! This woman was made of oil-soaked cloth and playing with fire.

Even in the low light that remained in the tent, Sina could see her clan-sister's face blanch, pupils constricting. Her words came out quiet, mostly breath.

"I-- she-- is she mad?"

[eolasemah]

Sina saw Nari's expression and she nodded, exhaling quickly, knowing that her clan-sister understood the depth of the issue.

"I don't know," she said in a small voice, "she continues to research elven ruins and artifacts. I believe she still cares for me. But what would possess her to..." she trailed off, her brow knit with weary pain. She lay her head down and curled her arms against her, a vain attempt to stave off some the ache emanating from her chest; whether it was from the shard or from her heart, she didn't know.

"I told her," she continued softly, "what if he becomes angry with her, what if he turns against her? Of all the outclan possibilities, he will have the most power to damage her."

[nadasharillen]

The hunter put her own worries aside for the moment, schooling her expression into a more open, comforting one. She tucked one of the tendrils of hair that had fallen across Sina's forehead back behind her ear.

"Still cares for you? Did you fight with her about it?"

[chainlightning]

It's back in the gardens, of course, that Merrill finds her again. It looks better than when she had first arrived, the evidence of the abomination attack now harder to find -- stems supported here, blank spots there. She isn't there to interrupt, footfalls soft as she strokes her fingers against stone, looking at the garden.

[eolasemah]

Sina nodded, the sides of her mouth pulling down as tears threatened to come again. She put her hand over her face instead. "I told her she's turning her back on our people, courting a.... well he's not even just a shem. It's not about him being a shem, though that would be bad enough." She lowered her hand enough to look at Nari, her eyes pained. "...she called me a brat," she added as an afterthought, allowing a flash of anger to show. "...I don't think it's childish to question someone's decisions." There was hurt and incredulity in her tone-- she knew she was among the youngest of the Dalish present, but didn't see why it had to affect her standing as a First.

[nadasharillen]

Nari's lips thinned, hearing the pain in her clansister's voice. Sina's youth and fragility had long been a thorn in her side, even within their own Clan. Despite her position as First--which she'd worked and studied very hard to be worthy of--some of the clan elders had continued to speak to her as if she were a child, Ghilla'nain's vallaslin still wet on her face. To have it thrown in her face by another First, especially when said First was in the midst of acting selfishly, must have stung harshly.

"I don't think so either," Nari replied, pressing a quick kiss between stylized halla horns that branched across her friend's forehead. "That was wrong of her, and said in haste. Some way to strike back that she knew would hurt you." She reached to tuck that ever-wayward tendril of hair back behind Sina's ear again. "I imagine it hurts to hear that a friend thinks ill of you for being happy. Even if that happiness is... ill-advised, to say the least." She sighed. "Especially if it's ill-advised."

Propping her head up on one hand, she managed a genuine smile, crooked as always. "It'll be okay, da'halla. She's a First. She'll come around."

At least Nari hoped she would.

[eolasemah]

Sina closed her eyes when Nari kissed her forehead, the gesture comforting and grounding as always. She was not a child, but that didn't mean it wasn't, at times, nice to be doted on. Nari and Isen were the only people in her life who had ever done so.

"I know I hurt her," she said weakly, "but I... I don't know how else to react. I can't simply wave my hand and tell her it's fine. Because it's not."

[eolasemah]

Sina smiles faintly at the warming presence of Korrin's hand, but the smile is more sad than it is happy. She looks up just in time to see Araceli approaching, and gives a small shake of her head. "No.. no," she insists, "I'm... it's..." She takes a deep breath, sighs it out, and rests her face in her free hand. "...a Dalish thing."

[eolasemah]

Sina gave a start when Beleth spoke behind her, and turned quickly to see the other woman standing over her. She blinked a few times, then shook her head.

"I'm... thank you, I'm fine," she said, forcing a small smile, her eyes darting over Beleth's form as if looking for any sign of aggression.