( open ) who have given their love

[chantes]

Who: Leliana + OPEN
Where: Multiple locations
When: February 27 + 28
Rating: PG
Summary: A new arrival is getting her bearings
The Story:

ｒｏｂｙｎ ｃｏｕｓｌａｎｄ

( It was over. The breach had finally been sealed, and when the Inquisitor had returned from the sight of the battle she'd explained the story. Corypheus was gone -- destroyed and banished, with the lights that had been seen signalling the end of it all.

It had been destructive, and a little satisfying to hear.

Though she hadn't breathed a sigh of relief then, preferring to wait until they'd returned to Skyhold -- to find safety before allowing herself to celebrate, Leliana was relieved. Though Thedas would no doubt still be chaotic for some time the threat was over, and some tensions were easing slowly due to the Inquisition.

When Leliana turns, lowering her bow, she'll discover that she was right to not yet celebrate yet. The change in location has her confused, finding herself now in a forest rather than the ruins of the Temple of Sacred Ashes. There's a frown for a few seconds, and her companions are nowhere in sights. It's with a few careful steps that Leliana moves through the forest, an arrow prepared in her bow to remain ready to strike should a threat reveal itself.

Leliana walks for a while, suspicions rising as she finds herself evidently alone, until the sounds of arrows into wood drift into her hearing. She follows, hoping for answers, though it would seem that a question would come first.

Robyn?

Although Leliana could only see the woman from the side, and though she hadn't seen her in ten years, there was no mistaking the sight of her friend. It couldn't be, though-- Robyn was dead.

It was hard not to be sucked in by the sight of her, to be wishful even if that hope felt foolish. Leliana didn't want to think that she had seen stranger things, but there was only one way to know for certain. Raising her bow Leliana released her arrow into the target that Robyn had been aiming at. Friend or foe she would receive answers )

ｔｈｅ ｇａｒｄｅｎｓ

( It was all real apparently. Though much made little sense Leliana could at least believe that Robyn wouldn't lie to her. She may not understand Wonderland but Leliana had at least accepted it was real. If it was real, and if they truly were to be stuck here then Leliana needed to know her way around the place. Coming from the forest the gardens were easy to find, and a pleasurable sight once she was there.

She had her bow at her back now, walking slowly through the gardens as if she'd chosen to come here willingly. As much as this place was strange and unsettling she could not help appreciating a beautiful sight. There were few good things that Leliana could think of for Wonderland but this would be one of them, though perhaps the rest was to be discovered. Robyn had told her what had been important, and then they'd spent longer discussing everything but Wonderland. If there was beauty to behind perhaps it would be wonderful to do so.

After a few minutes of walking Leliana bends down to sniff one of the flowers, almost to check whether they were as real as Wonderland was )

ｔｈｅ ｃｈａｐｅｌ

( The chapel had come up in their discussion, in her "Wonderland 101 by Robyn Cousland". She expects nothing like a Chantry, perhaps only a chapel in name alone, but it's more than that.

It takes mere feet after Leliana walks in to understand why it is here, and why Robyn keeps watch over it. Robyn won't be alone in that, and as Leliana walks through the chapel she bows her head, stopping at the front )

Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just.

( She hasn't come to pray, or to offer a full verse, but she can still show respect in this moment, and until she returns again )

Comments

[chantes]

The Warden.

( Her Warden, considering some didn't seem to remember her. Leliana was troubled at how that worked, but then this place seemed to be in another world also )

It-- ( There was a pause for a second ) It is good to see her again after so long.

[morework]

[ She answers this and his next question both. Another world then. Where Aedan Cousland never existed. ]

Again. You knew her- back in Ferelden?

[ Cullen glances at their surroundings. He will want to know more of what separates their worlds. He may not be able to hear it all without cursing. And this is still a chapel. ]

We should speak elsewhere. Did you have a chance to look around?

[chantes]

We travelled together for many months.

( He knows this, of course, or at least that Leliana had travelled with the Warden. They'd first encountered each other during that time at Kinloch Hold, but it was different. Now what Robyn had alluded to was making more sense, but it would be something for Cullen to explain -- who he thought her companion was )

Robyn showed me some of this place but there is still much more to see.

( They'd also spent more time catching up, talking more about Wonderland than seeing it as they'd talked in Robyn's room )

[morework]

I knew a Warden Cousland who saved Ferelden from the Blight. [ He sighs. ] But it was not her.

[ Cullen steps back out through the chapel door, and holds it open behind him. ]

His name was Aedan. I- don't know if Robyn had a reason to mention it yet, but Wonderland... doesn't only take people from different worlds entirely. It has just as little regard for different points in time and-- [ How does he even say it? ] different variations of the same world.

[ If he looks annoyed and frustrated by the very idea, then it is because- well, he is. Maker, is he ever. ]

Not everything changes, nor apparently every person, but in the year I've been here I've heard of at least three Heralds of Andraste, and about as many Heroes of Ferelden.

[ Hawke-- is a somewhat different story. Hawke... is always Hawke. With significant margin for variations. ]

[chantes]

( There's a nod, with Leliana understanding what he says. Robyn had told her as much, that not everyone had known who she was, and that there had been other Warden's. It had seemed to make little sense but now that Cullen was confirming it it was easier to believe.

He didn't know Robyn -- had never met the woman that had saved Thedas from the blight, or had become dear to Leliana. He didn't know of her sacrifice, just as Leliana didn't know of this Aedan's travels. It was almost as if it meant nothing, but at least whilst one remembered the important couldn't be lost )

If you have no knowledge of Robyn then should I assume that our Heralds would not be the same?

( Particularly if he has known of three different ones already )

[morework]

[ It's a fair assumption. Arguably, if the possibilities are endless, then there might just be a world where her Warden meets his Inquisitor, but until then-- ]

Unless your Inquisition follows a dwarven woman named Cadash...

[ What was the name Leliana told him last time? An elf, he remembers that much. Lavellan. --Ellana? He has it written down somewhere... ]

[chantes]

No.

( Though at least this time he will not be hearing of a new Inquisitor -- she had the same name to give him again )

An elf -- Lavellan. It seems at least that much of what has happened remained the same. Our Wardens ended the blight, and we began the Inquisition.

( It was only the person that, for now, had seemed to change )

[morework]

And the decade between... is there any use in comparing notes? [ He rubs the back of his neck. ] I'm not sure it matters, given our circumstances.

[ The other worlds intrigued him, at first. They still do, how could they not? But in the end he will never see them, never have a world but his own - for better or ill. In the end the difference serve little use in uncovering Wonderland's tricks. On the subject of which--

Cullen exhales slowly. ]

--Forgive me for saying so, but it is good to have you here.

[chantes]

I can understand. Surrounded by so many unfamiliar...

( When all is strange, especially the faces, why would you not be pleased to see a friend? Leliana had been, part of her incredibly relieved to see Robyn again despite what it meant. She would be thankful each day to have another chance with her, and hope -- and fight to ensure that nothing happened to her )

It seems that we have plenty of time to compare. ( It wasn't something that they needed to do now, and they likely would find more similarities than differences. Instead there was something more pressing to discuss ) Perhaps talking of something more recent may help.

( May help her, anyway. She's still acclimatising to this place, and that means needing to know about it )

How long have you been here?

[morework]

[ Cullen would not wish Wonderland on anyone he cares about, Leliana included. Unfortunately, much like the chaos that still plagues Thedas, Wonderland will require people to work against it - the more, the better. The more skilled, the better. Leliana is nothing if not the latter. ]

Over a year now, with some brief interruptions. [ And compared to the progress they've made over a year in Thedas the progress here has been... nonexistent, any other word would be too flattering. ] I've learned little of use, but I can share what I know. If nothing else you will be prepared.

[chantes]

The more I know can only help.

( Leliana doesn't exactly think that she's going to solve Wonderland, but it will help her become adjusted to the place and know what to expect )

There were-- interruptions?