thinkin about tushanshu

[whywhoandwhat]

Whatever it is you're thinking, don't.

I shouldn't need to remind you that you are already planning on bringing someone else there, and want to send Anders somewhere else. I'd prefer if you didn't drag me into this as well.

And in case you forgot, there's already enough trouble dealing with the Architect and the Mother. So as I said before, just... don't.

Comments

[ladyspitfire]

Someone has a lot of plans for you.

[And considering the time Nathaniel is taken from...well.]

[whywhoandwhat]

So it would seem. Unfortunately, they are still rather excited by these plans, despite knowing that it is a very stupid idea.

[ladyspitfire]

No chance of this giving you relevant experience?

[Elissa, really.]

Maybe they're hoping to protect you from what's going to happen in Amaranthine.

[whywhoandwhat]

What's going to happen? I find it difficult to believe that much will happen there, now that it's nothing but smouldering rubble.

[ladyspitfire]

[Wait...]

What do you mean it's nothing but rubble? Explain.

[whywhoandwhat]

[... Starting to sense that something isn't right, here.]

You agreed to burn Amaranthine to the ground. That way the darkspawn inside would be destroyed, and we could return to save Vigil's Keep. [At the cost of people's lives, but... no one said it would be an easy decision.]

[ladyspitfire]

[Oh, Maker, no.]

No, I-- I agreed that we should protect the people. We built up the Keep as much as we could and I trusted that the others would be all right.

[And it had been a risky choice. She wanted so badly to go back and protect what was hers, damn the consequences.]

We burned the city?

this is hurting my heart and i love it

[whywhoandwhat]

We did. [And while he knows it was necessary at the time, he still wishes they didn't have to make such a choice.]

Sigrun wished to stay behind and try to save the city, but you convinced her not to. It... [He sighs.] It was Amaranthine or Vigil's Keep. And it had been decided that Amaranthine was beyond saving.

oh good then I'm doing my job right c: (but it's hurting me too, sob)

[ladyspitfire]

[Her gut twists at the very idea. The Keep will take a long time to fix, she knows, and they will still lose so many people...but the entire city? That's unforgivable. She swallows that back, refusing to let Nathaniel know of how much it hurts her to hear.]

I'm so sorry, Nathaniel. Your sister-- Did she get out?

[whywhoandwhat]

[The mention of Delilah - and questioning whether or not she still lives - hurts him more than any darkspawn ever could.]

I don't-- I am not sure. There hasn't been any opportunity for me to search for her.

[ladyspitfire]

[Once upon a time, the Howes had been allies. Friends. That she could not even help him find his sister before they torched the city... Maker, what has she done?

In lieu of anything comforting - what is there to say, really, at a time like this? - she reaches out to set her hand on his arm.]

I'm sorry. It should not have happened this way. We should have tried to save the city.

[whywhoandwhat]

[He stiffens at the touch, but doesn't move to swat her away. It had pained him more than he let on, agreeing to set the city ablaze. But it had to be done, didn't it? They were Grey Wardens, after all. It was their duty to protect people from the darkspawn. Even if it means sacrificing an entire city of people in the process, apparently.

A few moments pass before he speaks again.]

... Thank you. [He's not sure why he's thanking her, to be honest. The Amaranthine he knows is still nothing but ashes and rubble, and that isn't going to change. But still he feels like it should be said, anyway.]

[ex_apostasy775]

Someone wants to rescue you from the broodmothers and your flawless Fereldan reputation, and you're unhappy?

Though—I suppose happiness would be horribly out of character.

[whywhoandwhat]

[Anders, pls.]

Forgive me for thinking that saving Ferelden from hordes of darkspawn is more important than being stuck on the back of a giant turtle.