( 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]

( Leliana gives a nod, oblivious to what is on the Warden's mind )

Lavellan. She was who the world needed even if she was unprepared for that burden.

( Does that sound familiar at all, dear Robyn? )

[heroica]

Ah. [ She thinks back to what she's heard of all the 'different' Inquisitors and nods faintly. ] There was a man - a human - called Trevelyan here who was Inquisitor. He and I were close - along with another you might know: Dorian Pavus.

[ At that, she smiles fondly, heart aching for her lost friends. ]

... Though, the Commander recalls a dwarf, I believe. I've yet to hear of an elf, I think.

[chantes]

You now have.

( Surprise. She's giving you many of those today, but at least they are all good ones. Perhaps later, if Robyn asks, Leliana will tell her some of the tales of Ellana, if they differed from this other man )

I suppose for this other Inquisitor you had not been our Hero?

( She couldn't imagine it being different any other way )

[heroica]

[ By now, they've reached her room, and Robyn opens the door to let Leliana inside. ]

He... wasn't sure, actually. [ She wears a bemused expression as she closes the door behind them. ] He and Dorian knew that the - Warden had been a woman called Cousland, but they didn't know much more. [ ... ] Except that this Warden had wed Alistair and became Queen.

[ Which means the woman had convinced Alistair to undertake Morrigan's ritual, an idea that brings displeased spots of pink to her cheeks for so many reasons. ]

[chantes]

An action that you didn't take.

( Leliana doesn't have to ask given that she was there, and she understands entirely for Robyn's reaction. She looks away, giving a glimpse around the woman's room and making a show to be entirely interested in that to ignore the pink in her friends cheeks )

I imagine that your room at Highever looked similar, hmm?

[heroica]

Of course.

[ It's difficult to imagine a version of herself that would ask her lover for something so tremendous only to spare her own life, to become part of some grand fantasy. The lives are Wardens aren't meant to be so kind (or so selfish). ]

Nothing so grand. [ She laughs, setting down her things. ] This... resembles parts of the place, but my room itself wasn't this big. I hardly need this much space.

[ And yet, here it is. Why? ]

[chantes]

Perhaps here you could find something to do with it.

( Her gaze turns back to Robyn )

You have a new life, and it would seem many more opportunities.

( Not only were there no blights or things to be fought this place was not Thedas. She knew little yet but it already felt a little strange )

[heroica]

With the space? I suppose I could host parties. [ She laughs lightly again, but it's entirely possible the levity masks her more serious feelings on the matter. ] ... Leliana, I've been trying my best to make the most of the time I've been given here. But... it's difficult. Nothing feels as if it's a good use of such a gift.

[ Will it ever feel like enough? ]

[chantes]

Perhaps I can help.

( Don't... let her make this a mission. She'll make it her mission to ensure that you're happy, and feel okay with being here -- with being alive )

Tell me of what you've done here.

[heroica]

[ Robyn seems to struggle, briefly, with what to say. Something in her time in Wonderland is clearly... difficult, or something like it. ]

... Later on. [ She says, finally. ] If that's all right. Right now - [ She pauses, smiles (albeit grimly) at her friend. ] I'd just like to enjoy my time with you again, after so long.

[chantes]

( Enjoying time. It doesn't exactly sound like an alien concept but it's certainly been a while since Leliana has just sat and enjoyed something for the sake of enjoying it, especially a friend's company.

She nods regardless, giving Robyn a small smile )

Of course. What would you have us do?

( Or talk about. They'd had even less time or moments to do this thing before, at least in this way. There was no Blight or war here, nothing to stop them from just idling the time away )