The morning sun glistened off of the gently rolling waves of the harbor. Aurora stood on a pier, facing Kirkwall with fingers pinched against her brow. Of course she would be late, Aurora should've expected it honestly. Her hand fell back down to her side as she cast a sidelong glance to the boat behind her, lifting and raising on the surface of the water, an impatient looking man standing on the front of the bow. Aurora offered him a small smile and an apologetic wave, which he scoffed at and turned away moving to check the cargo for the third time that morning. Donovan sat on the railing of the ship, and watched as the sailor left before he returned Aurora's smile himself. Nearby, a few other mages milled about.
Bandages sat on her cheek and brow, and many more hiding underneath her clothes. A reminder of the battle that had only happened days prior. While smoke no longer rose from the city, it was clear that she was still hurting. Aurora felt a little guilt at leaving the city in what felt like its time of need, but she felt that she was needed elsewhere, somewhere where she could be of more use. The actions of Meredith and Orsino would have far reaching consequences, and could not be contained by the City of Chains.
The status quo amongst the mages and templars had changed, and even now, so soon after the battle, her contacts were beginning to relay whispers of an uprising. The loss of Kirkwall's chantry and the Grand Cleric would no doubt cause some parties to seek retribution.
Aurora did not know what she could do to stem the tide, nor even how to begin, but she knew she had to do something. She felt responsible for it, because she had allowed Pike to progress so far in his plot, and be allowed to destroy the fragile balance between mage and templar. She had to do something to make up for it, somehow. Someway.
As it turned out, the next person to approach the dock was not the expected party. Rather, it was Nostariel, decked out in full Warden blues, as she had been almost constantly since the battle. Healing the injured was part of it, but so too was attempting to use whatever authority her position gave her to quell the growing sense of unrest. Though Sophia had support, she could still use the help, and Nostariel was only too glad to do that.
For the moment, though, she had another purpose in mind, and that one wasn’t nearly so complicated. Spotting Aurora, she raised a hand and waved before she came within polite speaking distance. “Oh good; I’m so glad I caught you before the boat left!” She smiled broadly, untying something from her belt, what looked like a pouch about the size of her hand. “I can’t blame you for leaving at a time like this, of course, but I thought you might want a little piece of Kirkwall to take with you when you go.”
Taking Aurora’s hand, she turned it so the palm faced upwards and dropped the satchel into it, her smile dimmed but still genuine. “For when you find someplace new to put down roots.” In the pouch were flower seeds of several kinds, most of them extracted from the clinic’s garden, and the few that remained from the one in the Alienage. “Because you will find somewhere. I know it.” This conflict wouldn’t last forever, and maybe at the end of it, there would be somewhere for Aurora to land, softly, solidly.
Aurora closed the satchel back, the smile on her face threatening to stay permanent. "Maybe..." Aurora said, before shaking her head, "Hopefully," she corrected. She took another look at the satchel before returning her gaze back to Nostariel. Her smile widened as she took a step forward and wrapped Nostariel in a big hug. "One day," she agreed, "And you will come and see them," she said into her ear. The Warden chuckled, nodding softly.
“Of course."
It had taken Sparrow far longer to prepare than she'd thought. As irresponsible as it was, she thought it would be best to silently slink away—no tearful goodbyes, no awful hugs and no whispery promises that they would meet again even when she knew they deserved better. This was what she was good at, after all. Walking away and only leaving fading ripples in stagnant waters. Though, she'd hardly call this place stagnant with all that happened.
Kirkwall stood like a beacon in the night, already licking its wounds with the help of those who stayed behind. She clamped her eyes shut, mouth quirking into a smile. She had no doubt that Sophia and Lucien would have it all in running order by the end of the week. Who better to run the City of Chains than her? It wasn't a job she envied. Vicountess Sophia. Rolling the title in her mouth felt peculiar, but somehow fitting. If anything she was proud to have known her.
The last of her things had already been packed away, but here she was. Idling in the place she once called home, shoving things into the only reliable satchel she owned. Erasing any trace of her having ever been here. She pushed the chairs in and freed the small kitchen of clutter, pausing only to run her fingers across the table that sat in the middle of the room. All imperfect knots and memories of age-old conversations. She remembered the uphill clawing. The good times, too. She was sure that there were those, somewhere.
She plucked at the fabric of her shirt and smoothed her fingers across the bandages that bound the upper portion of her chest. If it weren't for Nostariel, she was sure she'd be long dead by now. And now, it was time to leave. Aurora would be wondering just where the hell she was. Sparrow slipped a small piece of parchment out from her sleeve and smoothed it out across the table. There was no guarantee that he would even return to ever see it. Small as it was, it didn't matter. It was a small promise, even if she couldn't keep it.
In ugly, scrawling handwriting. Insufficient for a proper letter. Perhaps, even unintelligible, if he had not known her well enough. There was an old saying in Qunlat, and one she'd only partially written in the letter, but she'd long left those old bones behind. She was not one to wheeze out long confessions. Sparrow took another deep breath and slung the satchel over her shoulder, taking one last look around the hovel before stepping through the door and shutting it behind her. It did not take her long to reach the pier. Whether or not she'd been running the entire time would remain a secret. She squinted into the horizon, and held up a hand to her forehead, shielding herself from the sunlight. Honestly, the farther she got from Kirkwall, the easier it would be to breathe.
Of course, Sparrow noticed Aurora first. Bright haired lass. She broke into another brisk jog and stopped short of the wooden pier when she noticed Nostariel standing at her side. As much as her heart wanted it, she hadn't expected anyone to actually show up. She'd managed to keep as buttoned-up about their sea-side adventure, and their plan to leave, as much as she could. Either was, she was pleased. Her mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. “You're a sight to see,” any other eyebrow-waggling remark died on her lips. Her smile simpered and the corners of her eyes crinkled, “I'm glad you came to see us off.”
“Naturally.” Nostariel’s reply was easy, automatic. And why wouldn’t it be? They were her friends; she’d never simply let them leave. Aurora, she knew, had made a series of other goodbyes already, but she hadn’t had the chance to meet either of them until now, so she came bearing more wishes still. “Ash passes on his regards, too, of course.” Unfortunately, his work with the Guard, now more essential than ever, prevented him from also being here, but at least she could convey the sentiment.
“And you know we’ll all miss you.” She briefly enveloped Sparrow in a hug, too, before pulling back and resting her hands on the half-elf’s shoulders. “Something tells me, though, that this isn’t forever, so I won’t say goodbye, to either of you.” She smiled, the expression gentle and warm. “So I guess I’ll just say take care for now, until we meet again.”
“That'd be too final, wouldn't it?” Sparrow adjusted the weight across her shoulder and offered Nostariel a wink. She would have liked to see the others, even if she hadn't said so. Even if she hadn't seen them on their own, either. Easier that way. Easy. She laughed and swiped an errant hair from Nostariel's forehead: all grins. “Don't miss us too much, or we'll have to run back. Until we meet again.”
Aurora returned the smile, hers just as bright and warm. "Of course," she said with a nod. With that, she cast a glance behind her, the impatient man looking even more irritated, motioning to them that they should hurry. Aurora simply nodded and turned back to Nostariel. Now that it was nearly upon them, she felt... Melancholy. She almost wished she didn't have to leave, but she knew better. They had other purposes, places they could be of more use in aside from Kirkwall. Still, she was glad with the thought and hope of meeting her friends once again, one day.
"Lets go, I doubt the captain will wait for much longer, and after all we paid him, it would be a shame to get left behind now," she said with a small smile. The we in that statement belonging mostly to Rilien, who'd helped buy their passage when she came to him with her farewells. "I'll miss you all..." she said, taking a gentle hold of Sparrow's arm and ushered their way to the ship.
Once aboard, the captain wasted no time in pulling up the gang plank and setting sail out from the mouth of the harbor. Aurora stood on the bow of the ship, waving to Nostariel until she was nothing more than a speck in the horizon.
"Well... We're off. I guess," She told Sparrow, her arm falling and dangling by her side.
Sparrow wrapped an arm around her traveling companion's shoulder and steered her away from their old home: away from Kirkwall. It would do them no good to dwell on everything they missed. She wouldn't spend her time sulking—after all, she'd learned a long time ago that it amounted to nothing. Looking forward. Now, that was the key. She pointed towards the horizon and puffed out an exaggerated breath, murky eyes already wet, “We are. And it's just the beginning.”[/font]
Bandages sat on her cheek and brow, and many more hiding underneath her clothes. A reminder of the battle that had only happened days prior. While smoke no longer rose from the city, it was clear that she was still hurting. Aurora felt a little guilt at leaving the city in what felt like its time of need, but she felt that she was needed elsewhere, somewhere where she could be of more use. The actions of Meredith and Orsino would have far reaching consequences, and could not be contained by the City of Chains.
The status quo amongst the mages and templars had changed, and even now, so soon after the battle, her contacts were beginning to relay whispers of an uprising. The loss of Kirkwall's chantry and the Grand Cleric would no doubt cause some parties to seek retribution.
Aurora did not know what she could do to stem the tide, nor even how to begin, but she knew she had to do something. She felt responsible for it, because she had allowed Pike to progress so far in his plot, and be allowed to destroy the fragile balance between mage and templar. She had to do something to make up for it, somehow. Someway.
As it turned out, the next person to approach the dock was not the expected party. Rather, it was Nostariel, decked out in full Warden blues, as she had been almost constantly since the battle. Healing the injured was part of it, but so too was attempting to use whatever authority her position gave her to quell the growing sense of unrest. Though Sophia had support, she could still use the help, and Nostariel was only too glad to do that.
For the moment, though, she had another purpose in mind, and that one wasn’t nearly so complicated. Spotting Aurora, she raised a hand and waved before she came within polite speaking distance. “Oh good; I’m so glad I caught you before the boat left!” She smiled broadly, untying something from her belt, what looked like a pouch about the size of her hand. “I can’t blame you for leaving at a time like this, of course, but I thought you might want a little piece of Kirkwall to take with you when you go.”
Taking Aurora’s hand, she turned it so the palm faced upwards and dropped the satchel into it, her smile dimmed but still genuine. “For when you find someplace new to put down roots.” In the pouch were flower seeds of several kinds, most of them extracted from the clinic’s garden, and the few that remained from the one in the Alienage. “Because you will find somewhere. I know it.” This conflict wouldn’t last forever, and maybe at the end of it, there would be somewhere for Aurora to land, softly, solidly.
Aurora closed the satchel back, the smile on her face threatening to stay permanent. "Maybe..." Aurora said, before shaking her head, "Hopefully," she corrected. She took another look at the satchel before returning her gaze back to Nostariel. Her smile widened as she took a step forward and wrapped Nostariel in a big hug. "One day," she agreed, "And you will come and see them," she said into her ear. The Warden chuckled, nodding softly.
“Of course."
It had taken Sparrow far longer to prepare than she'd thought. As irresponsible as it was, she thought it would be best to silently slink away—no tearful goodbyes, no awful hugs and no whispery promises that they would meet again even when she knew they deserved better. This was what she was good at, after all. Walking away and only leaving fading ripples in stagnant waters. Though, she'd hardly call this place stagnant with all that happened.
Kirkwall stood like a beacon in the night, already licking its wounds with the help of those who stayed behind. She clamped her eyes shut, mouth quirking into a smile. She had no doubt that Sophia and Lucien would have it all in running order by the end of the week. Who better to run the City of Chains than her? It wasn't a job she envied. Vicountess Sophia. Rolling the title in her mouth felt peculiar, but somehow fitting. If anything she was proud to have known her.
The last of her things had already been packed away, but here she was. Idling in the place she once called home, shoving things into the only reliable satchel she owned. Erasing any trace of her having ever been here. She pushed the chairs in and freed the small kitchen of clutter, pausing only to run her fingers across the table that sat in the middle of the room. All imperfect knots and memories of age-old conversations. She remembered the uphill clawing. The good times, too. She was sure that there were those, somewhere.
She plucked at the fabric of her shirt and smoothed her fingers across the bandages that bound the upper portion of her chest. If it weren't for Nostariel, she was sure she'd be long dead by now. And now, it was time to leave. Aurora would be wondering just where the hell she was. Sparrow slipped a small piece of parchment out from her sleeve and smoothed it out across the table. There was no guarantee that he would even return to ever see it. Small as it was, it didn't matter. It was a small promise, even if she couldn't keep it.
[font=garamond]The sea is unchanged. May we meet again.
In ugly, scrawling handwriting. Insufficient for a proper letter. Perhaps, even unintelligible, if he had not known her well enough. There was an old saying in Qunlat, and one she'd only partially written in the letter, but she'd long left those old bones behind. She was not one to wheeze out long confessions. Sparrow took another deep breath and slung the satchel over her shoulder, taking one last look around the hovel before stepping through the door and shutting it behind her. It did not take her long to reach the pier. Whether or not she'd been running the entire time would remain a secret. She squinted into the horizon, and held up a hand to her forehead, shielding herself from the sunlight. Honestly, the farther she got from Kirkwall, the easier it would be to breathe.
Of course, Sparrow noticed Aurora first. Bright haired lass. She broke into another brisk jog and stopped short of the wooden pier when she noticed Nostariel standing at her side. As much as her heart wanted it, she hadn't expected anyone to actually show up. She'd managed to keep as buttoned-up about their sea-side adventure, and their plan to leave, as much as she could. Either was, she was pleased. Her mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. “You're a sight to see,” any other eyebrow-waggling remark died on her lips. Her smile simpered and the corners of her eyes crinkled, “I'm glad you came to see us off.”
“Naturally.” Nostariel’s reply was easy, automatic. And why wouldn’t it be? They were her friends; she’d never simply let them leave. Aurora, she knew, had made a series of other goodbyes already, but she hadn’t had the chance to meet either of them until now, so she came bearing more wishes still. “Ash passes on his regards, too, of course.” Unfortunately, his work with the Guard, now more essential than ever, prevented him from also being here, but at least she could convey the sentiment.
“And you know we’ll all miss you.” She briefly enveloped Sparrow in a hug, too, before pulling back and resting her hands on the half-elf’s shoulders. “Something tells me, though, that this isn’t forever, so I won’t say goodbye, to either of you.” She smiled, the expression gentle and warm. “So I guess I’ll just say take care for now, until we meet again.”
“That'd be too final, wouldn't it?” Sparrow adjusted the weight across her shoulder and offered Nostariel a wink. She would have liked to see the others, even if she hadn't said so. Even if she hadn't seen them on their own, either. Easier that way. Easy. She laughed and swiped an errant hair from Nostariel's forehead: all grins. “Don't miss us too much, or we'll have to run back. Until we meet again.”
Aurora returned the smile, hers just as bright and warm. "Of course," she said with a nod. With that, she cast a glance behind her, the impatient man looking even more irritated, motioning to them that they should hurry. Aurora simply nodded and turned back to Nostariel. Now that it was nearly upon them, she felt... Melancholy. She almost wished she didn't have to leave, but she knew better. They had other purposes, places they could be of more use in aside from Kirkwall. Still, she was glad with the thought and hope of meeting her friends once again, one day.
"Lets go, I doubt the captain will wait for much longer, and after all we paid him, it would be a shame to get left behind now," she said with a small smile. The we in that statement belonging mostly to Rilien, who'd helped buy their passage when she came to him with her farewells. "I'll miss you all..." she said, taking a gentle hold of Sparrow's arm and ushered their way to the ship.
Once aboard, the captain wasted no time in pulling up the gang plank and setting sail out from the mouth of the harbor. Aurora stood on the bow of the ship, waving to Nostariel until she was nothing more than a speck in the horizon.
"Well... We're off. I guess," She told Sparrow, her arm falling and dangling by her side.
Sparrow wrapped an arm around her traveling companion's shoulder and steered her away from their old home: away from Kirkwall. It would do them no good to dwell on everything they missed. She wouldn't spend her time sulking—after all, she'd learned a long time ago that it amounted to nothing. Looking forward. Now, that was the key. She pointed towards the horizon and puffed out an exaggerated breath, murky eyes already wet, “We are. And it's just the beginning.”[/font]