shut up and dance with me ;;

[chainlightning]

WHO: Merrill & OPEN
WHAT: Open log
WHEN: 29 Guardian - 18 Drakonis; can do earlier but then ignore the dragon bits c:
WHERE: Emprise du Lion, the way back to Skyhold, and Skyhold itself
NOTES: probably adorable

[ Victory, for Merrill, has always meant that the people they were meant to help and defend were safe, whether they were refugees or mages or her group of friends. As long as no one has been too seriously hurt, all of them have tasted sweet. This latest, though, is particularly good: the three dragons that had caused so much harm and scared so many in the Emprise have been defeated, and Merrill was able to help in the takedown of one.

She'd had ideas, good ideas. She'd been listened to. Magic and blades and mabari teeth had all flashed and sang and the dragon had fallen, and where Merrill isn't exactly known to make a ruckus, it makes her happy enough that she can be found celebrating -- at the tavern, because it had been insisted upon, but there's also some delighted humming and skipping through camp. This continues as Merrill starts on her journey back to Skyhold, ready for an adventure of a different sort; she's more than happy to chat with others on the road, or help if they need help.

In Skyhold itself, she can be seen with a little mongrel pup following at her heels. She is, if anything, a bit more subdued in the fortress; when she manages to navigate the twisting halls, she tends to be found in the library, trying to find anything and anything related to her people and to magic. It's a slow process, not in the least helped by her abysmal sense of direction or her willingness to be distracted by her dog, the weather, particularly nice stone work, and anyone who looks interesting. ]

Comments

[serannas]

"I know the perfect spot, if you don't mind picking your way over stone blocks?" she says. "Do you know that spot of the battlements that run behind the barn and stables? A piece of it is still broken, but I've climbed down and up the other side, and you can get down to an area behind the kitchens' roof there. No one can see you from there."

[chainlightning]

"I don't mind at all!" It's said immediately, which is probably good, because there's a not insignificant pause as Merrill tries to remember if she knows which section of ruined wall Ellana is talking about. "I- believe so? I'm really not very good at navigating around here."

[serannas]

"I can show you. We just need some ink and quills before we go to make our 'improvements' with." She looks around them to see what's available. Usually some tables have them set out for note taking.

"Why don't I grab those things and you pick a few more books?"

[chainlightning]

"Absolutely!" Merrill grins and more or less shoots up from where she's sitting, startling Barkley out of his doze. He yips once, confused, before headbutting her ankles in indignation.

It just makes her laugh. "Hush now, we're going to do some editing with- um. I never did get your name, did I?"

[serannas]

She exhales a soft laugh too, before her mouth makes a surprised O-shape. "Oh, I'm Ellana Ashara. Aneth ara."

[chainlightning]

"Merrill. And this is Barkley." Who, ever the charmer, barks again and wags his tail, toddling forward to sniff at Ellana's ankles.

[serannas]

"Oh, all right. I know a bit about you from Varric's book." She smiles and lets Barkley sniff her hand.

"Very barky, Barkley. But, shh. We're doing something sneaky, and we can't draw attention to ourselves, all right?"

[chainlightning]

Well, at least she isn't yelling at her due to what she read in Varric's book, so Merrill just smiles back as Barkley tilts his head.

"He'll try, at least. If nothing else, he and I wander around lost a great deal, so we're not likely to draw that much attention."

[serannas]

She isn't yelling because she doubts it will be anything Merrill hasn't already heard before. Ellana doesn't approve of blood magic at all. She thinks even if a person has good intentions that those can become easily twisted. But she has no knowledge of Merrill killing anyone to fuel her magic. And Ellana is the representative to Dalish mages on the Mage Council. She would be a pretty poor one if she refuses to represent Merrill, if she wants it.

"Really? I feel like I know Skyhold pretty well by now. Meet me at the bottom of the stairs and we'll go out together?"

[chainlightning]

Luckily, she has no knowledge of it because it's never happened. Merrill steadfastly refuses to fuel her magic with the blood of an innocent, and would only use someone else's blood if they insisted. Besides that, Kirkwall was five years ago; she's grown more careful since then.

"I've got a terrible sense of direction. Well, at least in places Dalish don't usually go." In other words, anywhere that isn't... basically the middle of nowhere. "But yes, that sounds good!" Books are quickly gathered and Barkley is encouraged away from the sunbeam he's found illuminating dust bunnies, and away Merrill goes.

[serannas]

Ellana isn't far behind, smuggling out two quills and an inkwell and trying for nonchalance as she descends the stairs to the rotunda, meeting Merrill and her dog with a smile. Then it's simply a matter of walking over to the secret spot. Going through the Commander's office would be fastest, but she doesn't know if he's inside right now. What an inconvenient place for an office! So they'll take the long way round.

On the way, Ellana says, "I don't know if you're aware of the Mage Council here?"

[chainlightning]

Barkley is happy to be an escort, either trotting along at their heels or darting forward to menace any birds that don't move fast enough. It helps the whole thing look more normal: just two young women out for a walk with a dog, nevermind the reading material.

At the mention of the mage council there's a slight hum, Merrill turning to look at Ellana before deciding that she may be better off paying attention to where she's walking. "I've heard of it, sort of. Mostly just that it exists."

[serannas]

"It's a way for mages to look out for each other, really. The mages here don't have to look to it as an authority, but if they'd like, we act as a voice to bring mage concerns to the Inquisition. I'm a Councilor. I represent the Dalish mages. The ones who want me to, at least. I thought I should let you know."

Ellana doesn't want to put pressure on Merrill. After all, the council only has authority if others recognize it. The Inquisition has allowed it, and that's good enough for them.

Looking after Barkley, Ellana giggles. "He's sweet. How long have you had him?" She doesn't remember Merrill having a dog in Varric's story. Just Hawke did.

[chainlightning]

There's a thoughtful hum, Merrill carefully picking around a few loose stones. Anders had specifically advised her against telling the Council about her blood magic, though he hardly needed to; she had never truly planned on it. Now, though, his words echo through her head.

"I'm not sure that most of my concerns are specifically about mages. Or are anything the Council would agree upon." There's a sideways glance and crooked smile toward Ellana, brief but telling -- she knows exactly what Varric's book says, after all. "But I will remember, if something comes up."

Barkley, though, is a much less complex topic. "Only a few months -- very few. He's Inquisition born, aren't you?" Not that the dog has any real idea what that means, but he does turn to look at them, wagging his tail at the sound of Merrill's voice.

[serannas]

"Oh, I heard about a litter or two being born here, but I didn't look into it," she replies. "He must be a great companion." Dogs are sweet and loyal, she knows, and the favored animal of Fereldans. Beyond that, she knows very little. She's never had a dog of her own.

Soon enough they're climbing the stairs to the battlements and turning the corner to where the stones are in disrepair.

"They're sturdy," she says, moving forward to show her. "I'll go first. You just climb down this way--" Ellana carefully moves down, the stones almost like large steps. "And then back up." The stones on the far side can easily be climbed by bracing a foot on them and pushing up.

[chainlightning]

He is what Merrill has been so often to others -- a breath of fresh air, light in the dark; at least, he is to her. Merrill smiles down at the pup, nodding her agreement. "He's always finding a new place for us to poke around in, or making a new friend."

Now, however, Barkley may need a bit of help. His legs are still very short, and where the steps down are fine, getting up them looks like it may be a bit of a struggle. "Would it be all right if I passed him up to you? And then the books, just in case." For balance reasons, mostly; let's not topple right off Skyhold.

[serannas]

"Of course," Ellana answers, taking a knee on the stone and holding out her arms. In a soothing tone she says, "Come on, Barkley. You're safe with me." It's the way she used to speak to the halla back home, though often there were times when the halla were more comforting to her than she was to them. Their quiet demeanor and knowing eyes had always been soothing when she was troubled.

[chainlightning]

It's an almost familiar tone -- comforting to Merrill as well as Barkley. The pup squirms and wiggles, trying to get himself up the stones himself before Merrill manages to set the books down and give him a boost. Once he's up, there's an excited bark and a ball of fluff launching himself at Ellana's face to lick her.

[serannas]

Ellana lets out a squeal in response, though it soon turns into a laugh as she sits back on her heels and tries to get an arm around Barkley to hold him and still get the books with her other hand.

"It'll have to be one at a time. Someone's too excited!" All right, Ellana has suddenly become a dog lover. He's so sweet!

[chainlightning]

Luckily, Barkley is still rather small. Unluckily, that does nothing to curb his enthusiasm, nor does it shorten his rather long, fluffy tail. Merrill laughs, shifting up onto her toes to get a better look at the excited pup and her newest friend.

"He likes you! Careful, he sometimes chews on hair." Or anything, really, but she supposes children will be children.

[serannas]

"Oh, I don't mind!" Ellana has long hair that is rather healthy and pretty, but she doesn't worry too much about tangles or the like. She would be a little upset if she suddenly had to chop it all off and couldn't do the braids or buns that she likes to do, but in the end, it's just hair. It'll grow back. And if Barkley manages to break off a piece in his chewing, it would grow back too.

"Come on, Barkley. There's a secret spot just down over here. You want to see it, don't you?"

[chainlightning]

There's also, of course, the difference between hair maliciously cut and hair that has been chewed on by a cute puppy. Luckily for them all, Barkley is the latter, and wagging his tail before dropping any hair he has managed to find to whine curiously at Ellana.

Merrill, meanwhile, has carefully stacked a few books up on the stone before clambering up herself -- that works just as well as Ellana holding them, and perhaps better, with her distracting the dog.

[serannas]

Since Merrill has taken care of things, Ellana carries Barkley to the spot behind the kitchen roof and steps down. Several loose masonry stones act as steps, and there are more scattered about to sit on. She sets the puppy down and turns back to see if she can help Merrill.

"Here we are. A nice, secluded spot where we can fix these books without being seen."

[chainlightning]

Since Ellana now has Barkley and the actual editing supplies, Merrill does her best to get all the books down by herself. One teeters on the top of the stack, but luckily nothing falls.

"Oh, it is a lovely spot!" She may end up coming here later just for fun, if she can... remember how to get there. "And there's some sticks blown from the wind for Barkley to chew on!"

[serannas]

"I'm glad you like it! Sometimes I just need a place to sit alone. Only now I have a room with a roommate that's not often in, so I can go there." Merrill is welcome to the spot, if she wants it. With Barkley too, of course.

Ellana sets the inkwell down between them and takes a seat.

"All right. Where should we begin?"




[ ooc: wanna wrap up and handwave the actual editing part? ]