faderift | [Open] [I can move mountains, move mountains.. ]

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[Open] [I can move mountains, move mountains.. ]

WHO: Bethany Hawke and You
WHAT: Exploring the Inquisition
WHEN: The next few days of Wintermarch
WHERE: The garden, the tavern, the courtyard, the library.
NOTES: Content warnings, OOC notes, links to other relevant posts, etc.

The first thing Bethany did after arriving at Skyhold?

A bath. A beautiful, long hot bath where she soaked with nice soap and some sort of fancy oil and just ... cleansed herself from about a week's worth of sand and dirt. After that though, well.

Bethany used to be the sort of person who would keep to the edges to not be noticed. Kept herself hidden, to keep herself from being taken to a Circle. Her family went through such risks to keep her free - keeping her head down seemed to be a small sacrifice to make.

Now, nine years - almost ten! - years a Warden and she still observed quietly from the background. Yet now, she would step forward. Move more boldly, with more confidence and a great deal more poise. She also, as she had been apt to do even in her days in Kirkwall, stopped to help people.

So there you will find her, all around Skyhold, quietly soaking up everything, or chatting happily with someone as she helps them carry firewood or food out to the hungry troops training in the yard. The first thing you will know is that smile - dimples and bright, and completely unfeigned. Who knows, maybe it's just pointing at you.

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"...You know, I've said it before, and I will say it again - the Maker does have a sense of humor." Her lips tipped up at the corners, "Cullen Rutherford, not only here but playing Wicked Grace -- oh I accept the invitation. I must see this with my own eyes."

She laughed at Korrin's statement, dimples deepening, "Well, two sure clues are - Marian jumped atop anything to kill it, and my bosum was as full as the moon twice over."

Korrin tries to stop herself from joining in on the laughter but fails. "Oh, I've heard the first one aplenty...and I think the second, after several drinks. If it helps, by then we're all pretty sure he's delved into drunken bullshittery. That or people are too buzzed to remember later. Either way, you're covered."

Bethany looked somewhere between horrified and laughter, and laughter won again, "Oh no, is he really? I'm not sure what I should be more terrified about - how bigger Marian's acts of heroism gets, or my chest." She tipped her head to the side, smiling, "Perhaps both. And good. I would hate to upset everyone with a less than perfect image of Marian, or other Hawkely assets."

That snicker escapes before Korrin can stop herself, though some of that mirth fades in favor of genuine affection. "He doesn't always tell Hawke stories, but it's obvious he misses all of you. Being away from Kirkwall is hard for him, shithole though it is--and I can say that, I've been there now." Don't ask. "Anyway, I'm about done training so if you'd like me to show you the tavern, you can rest up from your travels. Who knows, maybe he'll have beaten us there."

Bethany smiles, before the same affection is mirrored back in her face. "I've missed him too. He is, without a doubt, one of the best friends I've ever had." Which included people like Nathaniel, and Kaisa, and Alistair -- Wardens one and all. But Varric and Aveline had been there, with them through thick and thin. She would never forget that, "I would be delighted - and while Wardens aren't made of money, I've always got something from the Hawke family fund on me. I'll buy you a drink, if you would let me?"

Korrin raises her eyebrows at that, pleasantly surprised. "A drink from the illustrious Warden Hawke? I wouldn't say no. Though I hope to return the favor whenever you'll let me. It's something I do for all who keep me company, sooner or later." What goes around comes around, it's only fair. She starts them off, looking forward to getting off her feet for a while anyway.

"Maker's Breath, I hope that's not what they're calling me. Then it's even more embarrassing that I haven't made Senior Warden yet." Bethany said with a wry smile, as she traveled alongside the taller woman. "And I have yet to say no to a free drink."

She swung her staff with her, looking around Skyhold. "So, if you don't mind me asking - what is the purpose of the Mage Council?"

"You'll get a lot of different answers from different people, but as far as I see it, the Mage Council exists for mages to govern themselves and prevent Templars from stepping in to do it. We teach those who need it, make sure that mages' rights are respected and how to interact with the Inquisition and the 'new' Templar Order." Yes, Korrin uses quotation marks because she's still not entirely convinced about the Templars turning a new leaf.

"On the darker side of things, we also step in to deal with mages who step out of line; you know, using magic to bully people, blood magic, demon summoning, abominations. Most of that is theoretical at the moment...but if you've noticed any chilly receptions when you have a staff, it's because there was an abomination incident some weeks ago. That's lead to increased training, and some worries that the Templars are going to use it as an excuse to say we can't handle ourselves. Because you know they never dealt with abominations ever, not once."

"Maker, sounds like something we could have used years ago. In fact it sounds like what the College of Enchanters used to be." Bethany said, almost wistfully. The path never taken, it seemed, could have ended up here in an entirely different way.

Yet she didn't regret becoming a Warden. Not even now.

"Oh, not all templars are bad. I'll agree, their Order was corrupt -- but after what I saw in Kirkwall?" She sighed, heavily. "All I can think is - so many things would have gone differently - if they had just reached out to one another. Meredith had a large part to play -- but Orsino was just as guilty, encouraging blood magic in an insane ploy to gain more power to wrestle it away from Meredith."

She nodded her head firmly, "I'm used to it, honestly. Being a Grey Warden helped -- but a mage is a mage is a mage." Her smile twisted wryly, "And abominations never make anyone happy." She bit her lip, thinking of Marian, "Hmmm ... I know they have, but I know that they aren't all bad. They're ... human, just like us. There are good Templars, and bad ones. Just like there are good mages, and bad mages. Once you start seeing things as all good and all bad, you miss out on the truly extraordinary individuals. Something I know the Templar Order could learn, and I suppose, us mages too."

Mention of the College of Enchanters gets a nod from Korrin, even as she only vaguely knows what that was about. And Bethany definitely receives her share of sympathetic looks, both for the Kirkwall fiasco and her Grey Warden status not quite overriding her mage one.

"Even the 'good' ones seem all too ready to assume authority even when they're given none or it's supposedly curtailed. In a Templar meeting -which we were not privy to, by the way, even though our sessions are open- more than one seemed eager enough to challenge the mage council purely for the fact that we exist and won't put mages through Harrowings. The loudest voice of reason? Wasn't even a Templar, but Warden Alistair. I had to thank him for that; whatever can be said of his past training, at least he wants to give us the benefit of the doubt." Korrin smiles faintly, glad that he'd become a Warden before common sense and compassion could be leeched out of him.

"Varric told me about the Meredith statue. Is it true that children make bets with each other to see who will actually get close enough to touch her? Or was he just having me on?" Granted, it sounds like something she would have done as a child.

"Well, that's what they were trained to do. I'm not saying they're right to do it -- because clearly, they are not ... but every time we put up a wall they'll put up one too." She paused for a moment, before her eyes warmed, "Well, that makes absolute sense. Alistair is one of the most pragmatic and kind people I know."

She would never say that compassion and common sense were leeched out of Templars though. Not after what Knight Carver had done for their father, so long ago. Judging a book by its cover wasn't something she could do anymore.

She laughed, but nodded her head soberlly, "They do. I only came through Kirkwall once or twice afterwards - it wasn't safe even as I was a Warden, but in the aftermath you'd see the bold ones charging up the stairs of the
Gallows. In Kirkwall you can pretty much get anyone to do anything for a copper."

Korrin will judge enough for both of them, at least until such time as these new Templars have proven themselves with actions. Pretty words mean nothing to her, not with those to back them up. Even as they speak, she keeps any passing Templars as far away from them as possible. Fortunately, they seem willing enough to return the favor.

"Still, what a gruesome reminder of all that's happened there. Hopefully Christine's research into red lyrium will produce a way to safely remove it and Kirkwall won't have to keep that toxic crap on display. It's in the Hinterlands now, too. Have you been west? Do you know if it's worse there?"

She notices the Templars keep their space, and her lips twitch in faint amusement. Ah, how the times have changed, and the tides have turned. She kept her smile to a minimum then, before her expression sobered.

"I hope she's being careful. Every single time I have seen red lyrium, it's ruined people's lives." Her expression sobered, "In Emprise du Lion, it is the worst. Further west there are less signs of it, thank the Maker. Just ... whatever they managed to mine, from whereever they are getting it."

Thinking back to her recent scouting mission, Korrin nods and forces back the forming lump in her throat. "I've been to Emprise du Lion, a few weeks ago. It's hard to remember what the place was one like before those awful red spikes dominated everything. And what those Red Templars are doing to the villagers...Andraste's blood, the Inquisition can't get there fast enough. This is the part I hate, waiting while numbers and resources are gathered. We're going as fast as we can and it's still not enough."

No matter what they do, people will still die. She sighs, thinking back to Christine. "Varric told her all the precautions he had been taking, and she's following his example. If there's more we can do, I don't know it."

Bethany's expression became serious at that, before she looked up at the other woman, "... considering everything that is happening ... I can think of other places where the Inquisition is needed, but right now? Emprise du Lion seems to be the smartest place." She shook her head a little, "It's never enough -- but we can try, can't we?"

She nodded her head, "If Varric told her, then she should be all right if she is smart enough to follow his advice. I can't argue with finding out what red lyrium can do, and how to stop it."

"If we even can; who knows how much of that stuff is beneath the surface, where we can't see it?" Korrin shudders, as the topic of red lyrium is one of the few things to genuinely unnerve her. "I'm glad you understand about making that place a priority. I know the Wardens have their own problems, and those deserve focus, too. Hopefully we can get to those when that region is stabilized."

The thought of it that was deep, deep in the ground, and only getting deeper? Just made her own skin crawled. She shivered slightly, before she sighed softly, "Just a little drove Meredith mad. Just imagine how much in Emprise du Lion could do to the region - to all of Orlais."

She looked over at Korrin, her expression sober. "We do have our problems -- but we would never say no to helping innocent people. Wardens are more than just the Blight, after all. First Emprise, then all of Thedas."

The thought of that red lyrium corrupting on a massive scale...well. Korrin isn't sure whether Skyhold is at capacity or close to it, but it definitely makes her want to urge evacuation nonetheless. Remaining in that area is going to do no one any good.

"So no pressure, huh? You'd think after the Fifth Blight, the Grey Wardens would get something resembling a break. It's too bad Corypheus disagrees." She holds the tavern door open for Bethany before heading in herself.

Bethany herself wondered if it might be safer to just have all the villagers relocate -- but that would be something to discuss with the advisors. She couldn't imagine Varric saying anything less than - 'Get all these people the hell out of here.' but quick.

"Oh no, no pressure at all." Is her deadpan reply, as she nods her thanks to Korrin, and stepping into the tavern. She's pleasantly surprised -- this place is clean, for the most part. "And Corypheus ... well. I thought he was on a permanent break. Apparently there's no rest for the wicked - either the Wardens or their undead magister foes."

The Herald's Rest is clean, well-lit, and Maryden is playing a new tune on her lute. It's the perfect place to get away from it all, hot spring aside, and Korrin smiles appreciatively. She doesn't stop until reaching the bar, ordering some honey mead.

"You were there when he 'died', right? What did it take to bring that asshole down, even temporarily?"

Bethany doesn't know the tune, but the bard gets a smile. Bethany had never been musically inclined herself, but she always loved a good story through song. Taking the stool next to her, she herself ordered a honey mead as well, her face curving into a slight 'face'.

"Yes, I was." She paused, then sighed, "It took ... everything we had. I won't lie, it was a brutal battle, from start to finish."

"Even without his forces, I don't doubt it. Nor do I doubt Varric's sword that Corypheus was no longer drawing breath. But something gave him the ability to come back. Were there any hints of it where he was imprisoned?"

Korrin doubt there's much to go on, if anything, but still, she has to ask if only to clear her own head. When there aren't enemies to fight, she gets too tangled up in her own thoughts. The addition of the honey mead is a welcome distraction, though, and she takes an appreciative sip.

"No, he was dead. He ... blew away, right before our eyes." Bethany inhaled slowly, before she frowned. A thoughtful look on her face, as she took in a drink of the mead. "Well, he did have very direct link to the other Wardens there, and Maker knows he had direct control of the Carta agents."

She takes another sip, her lips pressing in a thin line. "I just don't know how that could translate into supposed immortality."

"A direct link...sounds like blood magic." Korrin shudders, never anything other than highly unnerved at the thought of such magic practices. But if Corypheus is truly as ancient as they say, he'd be from a time where such was commonplace.

"I've no idea either, so I'll stop pestering you about it. You'll probably get more than your fair share of that from everyone else, just because you were there and you're a Hawke."

"Oh, it most certainly was." Bethany said with a dark look, "The kind that I hoped never to see again. That thing is a monster, through and through."

She quirked up a grin at that, before answering innocently, "Honestly, you're doing better than most. You haven't once asked me if my sister is the most beautiful, most daring, most awe inspiring heroine of the age and what does she like in a mate?" Not a hint of jealousy there - just pure amusement.

"And she is. Although I think what she wants in a mate is not to have one. She is, by the way, absolutely stunning. That's just in the Hawke genes though. Carver and I are equally pretty." She tossed her hair a little, before bursting out laughing.

[Open] [I can move mountains, move mountains.. ]

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