faderift | The Rocky Road to Skyhold

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The Rocky Road to Skyhold

WHO: Siuona and Nahariel Dahlasanor, [your face here]
WHAT: Just two Dalish traveling on an unfamiliar road to an unfamiliar place. (They're lost.)
WHEN: Around the time other small contingents are leaving for Skyhold
WHERE: Road from Redcliffe to Skyhold, theoretically, but who even knows?
NOTES:
↠The two are likely to be skittish around non-elves, but don't let that stop you!
↠They have one of those godawful sketch-maps that are somehow supposed to help you find things!

Only a couple of hours down the road, and Nahariel was getting worried. Siuona hadn't spoken all that much since her incident with the bears getting her up a tree. Not that Sina was given to chatter, but the hunter hadn't gotten much of a reply about anything from the food at the inn, to how long the trek was likely to be, to whether or not she thought the little flowers in the grass along the side of the path were pretty.

She sighed, stretched her arms across her chest, and tried again.

"Does your chest hurt?"

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"A little," Sina replied, and gave a tired smile. Focusing on her breathing and keeping it even had made her more taciturn than usual; the last thing she wanted was to get out of breath and slow Nari down even further. She had insisted on traveling separately from any of the larger groups, since she couldn't stand the thought of being a burden to anyone, let alone total strangers.

"It's nice the weather's fair," she remarked, "though I imagine it will only get colder."

Nahariel opened her mouth, and then shut it again. "I... didn't think to buy us anything for the high-mountain temperatures in Redcliffe. Ir abelas, da'halla."

Not that the harried Inquisition recruit she'd spoken to for directions had mentioned it. Just that they should 'head east and south' along the path he'd marked on the map, and that they'd left trail markers to aid in the climb once they reached the Frostbacks.

I suppose it's more likely that someone catch their death of Mage, Templar, or Demon than they take cold. Still.

"If you think it would be best, there seems to be a small town to the south of us--perhaps another hour. A tiny bit out of our way, and I overheard there was some conflict there, but they might have some heavy cloaks they'd be willing to trade for?" she looked back over her shoulder to gauge her friend's reaction.

Edited 2015-10-20 05:35 (UTC)

"We'll manage," Sina replied, smiling again with a twinge of mischief-- she couldn't stand Nari worrying about her like this. "The motion will keep us warm, and we'll have our blankets when we've stopped." As if on cue, she faltered, and stopped walking to take a deep breath, then another. After she'd collected herself, she paused, seeming to contemplate something.

"South?" she repeated, and turned fully around. "...are those not the Frostbacks behind us?" She gestured to the looming mountains visible just over the trees of the Hinterlands. She turned forward again, squinted, and was faced with more rocky outcroppings in front of her, although she couldn't tell if there were mountains. "....have we been going east?"

Nahariel opened her mouth, and then shut it again. Again. Looked at the sun, looked at the shadows, looked at the map, and... looked like an idiot. She grit her teeth, and dragged a hand through her hair.

"...Yes. We have."

The small nagging voice in the back of her mind gleefully made note that this was, in fact, her second failure in as many sentences.

"The map--" was useless "--seemed fairly clear. When I got it. In a hurry. From someone who was also in a hurry." She sighed, and then grimaced sympathetically as Sina took another long deep breath.

"Let's... sit down for a moment and look."

With a reassuring smile, Sina conceded and went to the side of the road to seat herself on a rock. She reached for the map, hoping to take a look.
"With all the cliffs and trees here, it's hard to tell," she said, hoping to deflect some of the blame that Nari was undoubtedly already heaping on herself. She smoothed out the map and looked it over. And... kept looking. Her pleasant expression had become a vacant stare after about ten seconds, in the span of which she had realized she could make out almost nothing.

"...well this looks like a lake," she tried, pointing at a blotch of ink in the leftward region of the map. "Is... Skyhold near a lake?"

The faint sound of galloping hooves could be heard in the distance as the two travelers wander about aimlessly. Sauveterre had hoped to take a breather from the skyhold in favor of exploring the outdoors. He has yet to travel through this region freely until now and the crisp cool air felt heavenly to him.

Durandal, his horse, raced effortlessly along the hills and eventually started to run along the river bend with wild adandon. The white mare and her rider could be seen in the far distance just aimlessly wandering about. Sauveterre eventually pulls upon the horse's reins once the sihoulette of two curious figures catch his eye. The horse let's out a loud neigh as it slowed to an even march.

The Templar could barely make out their faces from this distance but they didn't appear to be brigands. That's good since he's not above slaying any cutthroat that dares to wander this close to Skyhold. He pulls on Durandal's reins again and the horse speeds up a bit.

After a number of days of unsure travel, they'd at least made it to the foothills of the Frostbacks. No Inquisition markers to be seen, however.

We must still be too far south. Or north. Creators have mercy.

And then the sound of swift hoofbeats caught the hunter's attention. Horses weren't common enough that the sound was to be ignored, and only a few types of people had them. All of them shem'len No sound of a cart, so not a merchant, which left... mostly people she was not keen on running into: nobles, brigands who'd robbed nobles, and Templars.

Nahariel got to her feet quickly, scanning the horizon until she found the swiftly moving figure.

"Someone's coming. Fast."

Her eyes narrowed against the sun, and then widened quickly as the light reflected brilliantly off of what had to be highly polished armor. Not a noble then. Brigand less likely as well.

"Templar. It's a Templar."

And Nahariel started gauging distance to the tree line.

Edited 2015-10-20 17:54 (UTC)

The thinning air was doing Siuona no favors. The higher up they'd gone, the more breaks she was having to take, and at the moment she was seated, worn out, huddled in a blanket and steeling herself for more walking. She lifted her head wearily at the sound of hoofbeats, and began to shakily rise in response to Nari's anxious tone.

Sina didn't know much of shem society, but Keeper Thalia had been clear on one thing: stay away from Templars. The Dalish had no concept of apostates, as there was no reason to send a magic-wielding child anywhere but to another clan who needed them. But here among the humans, she knew mages were kept on a tight leash, walled up in towers or, worse, stripped of their very souls-- and these Templars were their captors.

She hurried off the path as best she could, a hand over her mouth to keep the air warm so she wouldn't breathe in the chill and cough. Her gait was weak, almost a hobble, and it took all her strength to remain upright.

The distance between him and the wanderers isn't but so much now that Durandal is at full gallop. The white mare is known to be rather swift and capable of crossing long distances with relative ease. There's no possible way that the pair could outrun this Templar but little did they know that they have no need to run. Out of all of Templars they could cross in this desolate land filled with forests and cliffs, they're about to meet the most unusual but friendliest Templar.

Sauveterre slows the horse to a mere trot once he's close enough to get a better look at them. 'Elves.' He thinks once he catches a glimpse of their faces. The older one certainly looks female but he couldn't get a good look at the other. The two of them seemed absolutely petrified of him and perhaps for good reason. He watches them curiously for a moment before choosing to get off his horse.

"Is all well?" He calls out to them in a surprising clear voice. "Halt! I mean you no malice."

No malice, hm?

Words were cheap any easy. He could say anything he want, and still turn his wrath on Sina when he learned she was an "apostate". Nahariel shifted her stance, positioning herself between the rider and her First. She made no outward show of hostility, not even letting her fingers stray to the hilts of her daggers, but the hunch of her shoulders betrayed her tension.

Unless...

It had been some time since they'd left the Templar and Mage sorties of the Hinterlands behind. What need was there for anyone to be travelling in the Frostbacks save those rallying to Skyhold?

"Are you... from the Inquisition?" she asked, her tone not unlike that of a hungry child sensing the possibility of bread.

Edited 2015-10-20 20:54 (UTC)

Sina dropped to her knees behind Nari and doubled over into a coughing fit, one hand against her sternum and lightly glowing as she tried to angle herself away from the Templar. She glanced over her shoulder at the man on his horse, and the blessed sight of Nahariel standing between them. Interrupted by another cough, she opted to let them suss things out, not that she'd have been able to contribute much anyway.

The elf's question catches him slightly off guard since he allowed his gaze to stray to the other elf behind her. That haggard cough worries him. The air here is a tad thin thanks to the elevated altitude. It wouldn't surprise Sauveterre if the other one is having trouble breathing because of that truth alone. Especially since neither if the elves seem native to this region. There's no settlements or villages this close to Skyhold that he knows about.

"Indeed, I am." The Templar speaks as he slowly takes off the helmet. He could imagine that he seems something akin to a beast with this thing on. The look of fright within the elves' eyes certainly cater to that thought well enough. Therefore, he removed it so they can at least see who it is that's conversing with them.

"Knight-Commander Alayre Sauveterre at your service. I was merely taking a moment to explore the region when I happened upon you." His grey gaze strays towards the sickly elf with a hint a worry.

"Come! If you mean to take her to Skyhold, then let her ride upon Durandal. She cannot make this journey by foot. We'll walk, she'll ride."

Edited 2015-10-20 21:25 (UTC)

Distrust warred with hope on Nari's face at the man's confirmation that he belonged to the organization they sought, and moved a few more degrees toward hope when he removed his helmet--a show of trust. If he meant them ill, surely he wouldn't grant himself that disadvantage. Sina's muffled coughing decided her.

"Yes. Please. Thank you."

She turned quickly to gather the equipment they'd been carrying, and reached out a hand towards Sina to aid her up.

"Is it far, Skyhold? We've been walking for days, and the cough is getting worse. It..." she paused for a moment. How much to say? Perhaps he knows of the shards. They cannot be something to hurt Sina over, I heard the Herald bore such a thing in her hand, and she was well-loved. Would you hide a gut wound? From an enemy, perhaps, but... For all that the Knight-Commander was a Templar, he didn't seem like the others that they'd seen fighting, or the stories that the Keeper had told as warning. Plus, if he was of the Inquisition, they would be allies in the coming days, and mistrust among allies was a chink in armor; all too easily exploited.

"We don't bring sickness to your camp. She took a shard in her chest, from the Rifts after the Herald died, and it's doing this to her. It's said on the road that the Inquisition can help."

When she stopped speaking, she looked almost defiant, as if daring the man to take back his offer of aid.

Sina stood, but wavered exhaustedly on her feet. She gave a few absent nods to Nari's words, choosing to save her breath rather than speak. Her eyes shifted periodically from the ground to scan uneasily over the man's form, from his armor to his decidedly human face. She was barely in a position to turn down help.

After a moment, she coughed and hoarsely replied, "just point us the way, we can go on foot." Although slow and weak and unlikely to make it much farther before sundown, the thought of accepting a ride from a stranger-- and on a horse, no less!-- made her nervous.

Sauveterre glances in between the pair with more worry within his gaze. The younger one is terribly ill but unwilling to trust him. The girl foolishly thinks she can merely walk to Skyhold despite the trek being treacherous by itself without the addition of fiends.

However, the older one seem ready for disappointment as she told the whole story of her comrade's plight. Did she take him for cruel? There's no way that he'll take back his offer. This is why he steps forward to reassuring place a hand upon Nari's shoulder.

"Do not fret. We have many skilled healers hailing from White Spire who can assist." He says with a stern gaze. "They can heal her and care for you both. It's a just a matter of getting you two there safely." It's then that he turns his gaze towards the stubborn elf.

"Durandal is a kind mare. She won't mind having a guest upon her back." He calmly gestures her to come."We must be on our way before that cough worsens."

The hunter flinched backwards as he reached out for her shoulder, then tried to cover it awkwardly by continuing the movement into a full turn towards Sina.

"A... moment," she directed back over her shoulder towards the Knight-Commander, before moving to whisper urgently to her First.

"I know. I don't like it either. But it's getting into the late afternoon, we aren't well equipped, you're having trouble even with walking now, and it's not going to get better once we get into the mountains proper. The footing will be less sure, the air will get thinner--" What if it gets worse? What if you fall? I can't carry you all the way there, and if I tried, it would be slow, and I've never heard a cough like this before. There's never been something I couldn't fight. Nari's eyes darkened to a deep moss green with the intensity of her thoughts.

"We've seen and done a lot of strange things since we left the Clan, and I don't think this will be the last of them," she continued, still quietly, "Skyhold will probably be full of people like him... if we're going to go there, we should go purposefully, not falter. Like Andruil taught, right? The Vir Assan; fly straight and never waiver." She managed a lopsided smile, and reached to squeeze Sina's shoulder. "I'll be right beside you. And, while we walk, you can think of the look on Isen's face when he hears you rode triumphantly into Skyhold on the back of a Templar's horse."

The ache brought on by standing was beginning to take a toll. Sina hesitated, but nodded to Nari, the ghost of a smile crossing her face at the mention of Isen before it dissolved into another cough. She steadied herself on her friend's shoulder while she covered her mouth, then looked past her, nervously, at the Templar.
"Fly straight and never waver," she murmured, and took a couple of shuffling steps toward him. Her hand remained clasped protectively over her sternum, a faint green glow emanating between her fingers from beneath her scarf and tunic.

By the way the elven huntress recoiled from his grasp, it was enough to remind him of the poor relations that humans have with elf-kind. He felt guilty for overstepping his boundaries like that. He's a brother of the Order, a Templar, Knight-Commander. Alayre is not given the priveledge to forget himself or his manners. Not now and not ever. Until he last draw breath, he must remain chivalrous and honorable. This is what it means to be of the Order. He must be selfless and stern but most of all, he must defend those who need it.

"My apologies but the hour is upon us. We must make haste." Sauveterre mutters as he glances up towards the cloudy skies. A storm probably lurks in the distance considering the sudden cluster of clouds that begun to gather.

He gestures for the younger elf to climb onto Durandal's saddle and holds the reins to his horse securely. Of course he caught a glimpse of that green glow but spoke nothing of it. The Templar turned his attention towards the other elf. "Are you two sisters? If not, then the Maker certainly made you both in a similar image." He says with a warm smile that fades ever so slightly.

Edited 2015-10-21 03:17 (UTC)

Following his glance to the clouds that gathered on the horizon, Nahariel thinned her lips and nodded, clasping her hands to aid Siuona in mounting the mare.

"Clansisters, yes," she replied, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. Similar? She had always thought of them as day and night; Sina pale and fragile with immense doe eyes, she dark and hard with a gaze that pierced rather than warmed. I suppose we're both thin and we're both elves. Not that she was in a place to judge. Most humans looked the same to her as well.

Sina cast the Templar an uncertain and perhaps slightly judgmental glance at his comment, but kept her thoughts to herself. She touched the mare's shoulder, leaned around to peer into her visible eye, then gave her a reassuring pat and allowed Nari to assist her in mounting. This was precarious; she'd never ridden a beast this tall before, but she could feel that Durandal was indifferent to her presence, if not actively gentle.
She gripped at the saddle's horn with one hand as she stifled another cough with the other, then rested it to her chest again, forcing herself to stay upright. She tried not to think about what she was doing or why-- the important thing was that they arrive at Skyhold in one piece.

A thoughtful hum escapes Sauveterre. "Ah, so that's why you two seem so sisterly." Now that certainly makes sense. The two elves seem loosely related despite their obvious differences. Sauveterre doesn't really know what to say to these poor elves. He desperately wants to ease the tension between them but they're too wound up for smalltalk.

He turns his gaze towards the sickly elf and smiles. "Feeling a tad awkward up there? Oh, don't fret. We shall be at Skyhold soon." Sauveterre says as he gently tugs on Durandal's reins. The horse trots slowly with her new rider upon her back. She seems to know the child is unwell and refuses to take up her usual sprint.

"Come! We shall make haste."

((This seems like a good place to either call it or hop ahead to Skyhold arrival, depending on everyone's opinion. :3 If we fade to black here, everyone can do a last post about their behavior for the rest of the journey, otherwise: we'll figure it out.))

Edited 2015-10-22 08:45 (UTC)

(ooc: I don't mind calling it here. The two can finally join Skyhold proper now. :) Alayre would've bid his farewells shortly and return to the outskirts for patrol)

((And Nari is left guilty that he helped them all the way there and she didn't even tell him her name. :) She'll come up with something.))

(ooc: thankfully, Alayre is so easy to find around Skyhold. lol)

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The Rocky Road to Skyhold

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/thread hop!

(We're scootching forward in time a bit!)

Re: (We're scootching forward in time a bit!)

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Fast Forward time? [OOC]

Re: Fast Forward time? [OOC]

Re: Fast Forward time? [OOC]

Re: Fast Forward time? [OOC]