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

[sunshinethroughgrey]

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.

Comments

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"I'll bet he does. Kirkwall is in Varric's blood, and he knows it backwards and forwards." She smiled, a little wistful, "It wasn't always the nicest place to live -- but we were together there. That made it more like home than anythng else."

She dimpled again at that, her brown eyes lost in memory as she started to walk back towards Skyhold, "Maker, yes. Wicked Grace games until the early morning - Carver and I trying to get Isabela to tell us all her dirty secrets and Marian stopping her. Aveline trying to explain to Fenris and Merrill why they couldn't just go traipsing around Hightown gardens because no one bothered to lock their gates. Anders and Varric telling horrible templar jokes... "

She paused, and sighed, "It all seems so long ago."

[serannas]

The descriptions can never match what it was actually like to be a part of it all, but Ellana still has a picture in her head, even though she doesn't know what many of those people look like. Sitting around sharing drinks and stories, playing games, telling jokes; it all sounds wonderful. It sounds like something they could have here at the Herald's Rest. There is still some tension between people here, but the longer they work together, the more that's starting to fade.

Ellana looks over and worries her bottom lip at Bethany's sigh. "I'm sorry if I made you speak of something that causes you pain now."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

In Bethany's mind's eye, she can see it all. Coming back from the Bone Pit, Varric telling the wild story of Marian climbing atop the dragon and Marian rolling her eyes and grinning into her cup of mead. Anders poking at Varric for making it up, Fenris and Aveline trying not to laugh and failing, while Merrill giggled and Isabella added all kinds of sexual embellishments. Carver grinning at Isabela while she flushed bright red but couldn't stop listening, watching all if it.

That finally connected to this place, a gentle snowflake of a hint. Skyhold wasn't home, but it welcomed it. It made you feel safe, as if you belonged.

She blinked at Ellana's statement, before she smiled softly, "It doesn't cause me pain. Does it make me wistful? Always. But you hold onto the good memories, especially through the bad times. I don't regret a single thing about the life I live now, or lived then. I'd change nothing, outside of my mother dying."

[serannas]

"That's a good way to look at things. Regrets would make life hard, I'd imagine." Not that she doesn't have any regrets herself, but her experiences have made her a stronger person.

"At least you can reunite with some of them here."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Regrets tend to drag at the soul -- I learned that from my mother." She could still see Leandra, staring into that fireplace and mourning what could have been with her husband.

"See, a silver lining to everything." She smiled quietly, looking up at Skyhold.

[serannas]

That sounds like a story that Ellana shouldn't pry into, so she doesn't. Instead she smiles and nods her head towards the kitchens.

"Ready for tea?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Absolutely."

Bethany grinned, as she follows after the other woman. Glad to avoid the subject of her mother, and all her thwarted hopes.

[serannas]

[ ooc: seems like a good stopping point. wanna handwave the tea chatting? ]

[the_effect_she_has]

(OOC: I like it! :))