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peopleofthedas2010-11-13 11:03 pm
valiasedai) wrote in peopleofthedas2010-11-13 11:03 pm
Where We Stand - Chapter 3
Everyone, meet Erise *points to icon*
Chapter: 3 - Mending
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Words: 732
Rating: T for now
Aaaand I can't think up a chapter summary! Sorry XD
Over at ff.net
Erise watched carefully as the gathered crowd departed. Court was a distasteful here as it had been in Orlais. At least I had other Wardens there. Her initial relief at finally being allowed back in the field was already over. Horror and trouble were all she had found here, and she found herself feeling more alone than when she had arrived. The new Wardens were the only ones who sought her out, and they did so rarely. The servants never said anything cruel, but she knew she had won no love from them. All of these were things she had expected, things she could handle, but the Seneschal's words had come as a stinging surprise.
Since her arrival the man had been willing to work with her, never treating her as anything more or less than what she was. She hadn't expected him to hold such prejudice, not when the former lord of the castle had done so much evil.
The last of the petitioners gone, Erise turned on her heel and left without so much as backwards a glace. She needed to work. Personal issues with the Seneschal could wait.
*******
Varel watched as the Commander disappeared into a hallway. She had said no more than necessary to him today and everything had been delivered in short sentences steeped in coolness. He couldn't blame her for that, not when he was still ashamed for saying something so thoughtless.
"Captain, would you stay here for a little while? I need to speak with the Commander." The other man nodded once and Varel immediately set off for her office.
The faint rustling coming from the library almost escaped his notice as he strode heavily down the hallway, head filled with a dozen different ways to begin. Peering in, he saw the Commander smoothing out a map on one of the large tables, parchment and ink set nearby. He cleared his throat loudly enough for her to hear before stepping into the room. "Commander."
Keeping her eyes set on the map, she gave an absent nod. "Yes?"
Letting out a slow breath, Varel tried to ignore the way his skin was prickling. "I wanted to speak with you." He kept his eyes on her as he moved the door slightly, letting the hinges creak. "Do you mind?"
Waving a hand, she shook her head. "No. What is it?"
Varel closed the door quickly and paused a moment before locking it. It wouldn't do to have someone stumble in. Turning back to the Commander, he was met with an almost flat expression, only a slightly-cocked eyebrow giving away her curiosity. He waited a few moments, all of the elaborate explanations he had tried to construct gone. Simplicity would have to do. "I wish to apologize."
Her face went perfectly smooth. "What have you done wrong?"
Varel blinked looked around the room, caught off guard. "For what I said last night. It was inappropriate."
The Commander shrugged, but there was a certain stiffness to the casual gesture. "You spoke your mind. I do not expect apologies for your thoughts. Is that all you needed?"
"Yes." Varel let out a sigh as he shook his head. "No. It's not all. I was wrong to say that. You've been good to the people here." Good to me. He itched to put the thoughts to words, but he couldn't judge whether or not she would believe him.
"For an Orlesian?" Her voice was thick as she turned her gaze back to the map, and he could see her hands trembling.
Moving towards her, Varel reached to lay a hand on the Commander's back but paused. It wasn't appropriate, but she seemed so damnably sad he felt compelled to do something. "That doesn't matter." She turned her head away and he gave in to his original instinct, placing a hand on her back. Varel heard her breath catch when the tips of his gauntlets brushed the skin at the nape of her neck. Surprised, he pulled away, only to draw a shiver that echoed down his spine.
He held his breath a few moments, waiting for a response, but none came. He turned to leave and paused briefly at the door, glancing back. "The others may not realize it yet, but we needed you. Thank you."
She stayed silent, but the tremble in her hands grew still. It would do.
************
Beta thanks, as usual, to decantate!
Chapter: 3 - Mending
Characters: Erise Caron, Varel
Words: 732
Rating: T for now
Aaaand I can't think up a chapter summary! Sorry XD
Over at ff.net
Erise watched carefully as the gathered crowd departed. Court was a distasteful here as it had been in Orlais. At least I had other Wardens there. Her initial relief at finally being allowed back in the field was already over. Horror and trouble were all she had found here, and she found herself feeling more alone than when she had arrived. The new Wardens were the only ones who sought her out, and they did so rarely. The servants never said anything cruel, but she knew she had won no love from them. All of these were things she had expected, things she could handle, but the Seneschal's words had come as a stinging surprise.
Since her arrival the man had been willing to work with her, never treating her as anything more or less than what she was. She hadn't expected him to hold such prejudice, not when the former lord of the castle had done so much evil.
The last of the petitioners gone, Erise turned on her heel and left without so much as backwards a glace. She needed to work. Personal issues with the Seneschal could wait.
*******
Varel watched as the Commander disappeared into a hallway. She had said no more than necessary to him today and everything had been delivered in short sentences steeped in coolness. He couldn't blame her for that, not when he was still ashamed for saying something so thoughtless.
"Captain, would you stay here for a little while? I need to speak with the Commander." The other man nodded once and Varel immediately set off for her office.
The faint rustling coming from the library almost escaped his notice as he strode heavily down the hallway, head filled with a dozen different ways to begin. Peering in, he saw the Commander smoothing out a map on one of the large tables, parchment and ink set nearby. He cleared his throat loudly enough for her to hear before stepping into the room. "Commander."
Keeping her eyes set on the map, she gave an absent nod. "Yes?"
Letting out a slow breath, Varel tried to ignore the way his skin was prickling. "I wanted to speak with you." He kept his eyes on her as he moved the door slightly, letting the hinges creak. "Do you mind?"
Waving a hand, she shook her head. "No. What is it?"
Varel closed the door quickly and paused a moment before locking it. It wouldn't do to have someone stumble in. Turning back to the Commander, he was met with an almost flat expression, only a slightly-cocked eyebrow giving away her curiosity. He waited a few moments, all of the elaborate explanations he had tried to construct gone. Simplicity would have to do. "I wish to apologize."
Her face went perfectly smooth. "What have you done wrong?"
Varel blinked looked around the room, caught off guard. "For what I said last night. It was inappropriate."
The Commander shrugged, but there was a certain stiffness to the casual gesture. "You spoke your mind. I do not expect apologies for your thoughts. Is that all you needed?"
"Yes." Varel let out a sigh as he shook his head. "No. It's not all. I was wrong to say that. You've been good to the people here." Good to me. He itched to put the thoughts to words, but he couldn't judge whether or not she would believe him.
"For an Orlesian?" Her voice was thick as she turned her gaze back to the map, and he could see her hands trembling.
Moving towards her, Varel reached to lay a hand on the Commander's back but paused. It wasn't appropriate, but she seemed so damnably sad he felt compelled to do something. "That doesn't matter." She turned her head away and he gave in to his original instinct, placing a hand on her back. Varel heard her breath catch when the tips of his gauntlets brushed the skin at the nape of her neck. Surprised, he pulled away, only to draw a shiver that echoed down his spine.
He held his breath a few moments, waiting for a response, but none came. He turned to leave and paused briefly at the door, glancing back. "The others may not realize it yet, but we needed you. Thank you."
She stayed silent, but the tremble in her hands grew still. It would do.
************
Beta thanks, as usual, to decantate!