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Post by ADALHEIDIS ROARK on May 20, 2014 3:07:29 GMT
For a little while Adalheidis had denied it. The ceaseless humming in her ears was probably just the silence getting to her. When she turned to respond to a question, only to find no one there, the person had simply lost interest and left. But the whispers were getting louder. Little by little. They welcomed her, goaded her, beckoned to her. They called her. Ceaselessly day and night. And while she wasn't yet overwhelmed she knew it wouldn't be long now. A year, maybe two if she was lucky. It was time to report her coming Calling. And it was for this reason that Adalheidis found herself outside the warden-constable's door.
The Constable was a good woman. A bit younger than her, but with every bit of fire and drive that she could want in a superior. A strong fighter and even stronger personality. It had truly been a pleasure serving under her. Would continue to be an honor serving under her for whatever time she had left. For a moment Adalheidis hesitated. Her knuckles hovered over the door, not even scraping the surface. She considered turning and leaving. Giving it another day. There was so much more she could do! And while she had no problem returning to Orzammar it seemed a waste if her time wasn't here. But just as quickly as she turned away from the door she turned back.
"Adalheidis you are a warrior. And a warrior understands when their end is coming and coming fast." She scolded herself for second guessing her instincts. Only children ignored what was right in front of them. For more than a week now she hadn't had a single moment of silence. It was only when she closed her eyes did it fade, as she slipped into the dreamless sleep all of her race endured. But even there there were murmurs. Without hesitating again she knocked. Three times her knuckles struck, loud and clear.
"I am sorry to intrude ma'am, but this is Adalheidis. I have pressing news I must share with you, may I come in?" It only took a moment for her to announce herself, voice booming and clear as the knocks that preceded it. Hopefully she wasn't interrupting anything too important.
WORDS 376 TAGS alya karimiNOTES I hope this is an okay starter! |
MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ |
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Post by alya karimi on May 20, 2014 20:35:56 GMT
this is somewhere; is it somewhere that you want to be?  it's always been strange to alya, to sleep and work out of an office situated in one of the bloodiest fortresses in ferelden history. those are the times when she would think back to what her keeper had said about the land. there is bloodshed everywhere, no matter where they move - the only difference is whether history remembers or not. she had been a recruit shortly after vigil's keep had been retaken, and she spent most of her ensign years helping with the rebuilding efforts. so yeah, she did have some special attachments to the place, and she'd risk her skin to defend it till the end. that counted for something, didn't it? when someone knocks on the door, alya is quick to shove all of the paperwork on her desk into a bin and hide it underneath the table. she figured out a long time ago that people were a lot more willing to take advantage of her time when she didn't look as if she were busy. in this line of work, there seemed to be a lot of people who held hierarchy to be something sacred. alya listens to the voice from behind the door and realizes that she's about to receive one of those people. "coming!!" she hurries over to the door without stumbling over her chair, to her credit. she practically jerks the door open. "heeey, come in and sit down! what's up, ada?" she steps aside to clear the doorway as she smooths out a stray strand of hair out of her eye. ADALHEIDIS ROARKLAIKA OF GS! |
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Post by ADALHEIDIS ROARK on May 20, 2014 21:32:39 GMT
The sound of Alya's scurrying brought a grin to Adalheidis's face, an expression that turned to measured neutrality once the door was open and she was -- not quite -- face to face with the younger woman. It was always a bit awkward maneuvering the height difference during conversation.
As she entered the room Adaleheidis couldn't help but wonder why exactly that particular thought had come to mind. Especially when there's much heavier topics to cover. Probably because there were much heavier topics to cover.
Adalheidis wanted to be straight with Alya and get straight to the point. Say what was happening to her and take the proper action. But it wouldn't come out. The words stuck in her throat. It turned out that accepting death personally and accepting it publicly were very different. She'd spent days coming to terms with it herself, but she couldn't say it to her superior. Because of this there were a few moments of complete silence before Adalheidis's deep sigh filled the room.
"Ma'am, I've never been one to mince words, and I've never really been good at using colorful language. So I'm going to have to just give this to you straight," The words came out choppy and rigid as Adalheidis spoke. As she did so she made sure that she locked eyes with Alya. She wanted this message to get home and be as clear as she could possibly manage. After another deep breath she spoke once again.
"It has truly been an honor fighting for the Grey Wardens, and especially under you," Despite her promise of brevitiy she felt the need to lead into it, "But my time here is coming to an end. For two weeks now I've heard whispers in the back of my mind, and a strange tug on my very spirit. I believe my Calling has begun." For just a moment emotion shone in the Dwarf's eyes. They shimmered for only a second as she once again thought about what this meant. No heirs, no companion, and not even the Stone herself would come to guide her.
But she would have the Wardens and the Dwarves of Ozammar, and while her life would end forever she would go out with glory.
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MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ |
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Post by alya karimi on May 21, 2014 0:36:47 GMT
this is somewhere; is it somewhere that you want to be? as promised, the woman does not mince words at all. alya feels her smile freeze on her face. it's really the only thing that she can do, with the alternatives being much uglier. she is the warden-constable -- she cannot fall to pieces here. especially when other people depend on her for strength. she has been losing brothers and sisters for a long time, but the words are always a shock to hear. for alya is not the sort of person to live life with such ugliness hanging over her head. she cannot dwell on these things and lead. she swallows silently and does not tear her gaze away from the other warden. she is a good woman. she deserves better than that. her smile fades slightly, but underneath alya is clenching her teeth. "...i see."she won't cry now. she will cry all that she wants later. alya remembers slobbering all over the previous constable's armor. that won't do here, not when the other warden is probably more terrified than even alya is right now. "i...i will take your news to the warden-commander. we can get one of the mages to get a look at you in a week, figure out how much time that we need."
she's already thinking about the forms that she's going to have to fill out, all to avoid thinking about-- oh, creators. screw it, the formality won't do. ada's eyes look suspiciously shiny, and alya moves forward to take the warden's hands into hers. "no, it's okay...leave me to take care of everything." she would do that, and so much more, if only she knew how. she can't cry. a warden-constable cannot cry. especially not at the death of a generation. she has to become a stone - she has to become ada's rock. "i...i've always admired your tenacity too. fighting with you has been no less of an honor." her less-than-enthusiastic tone is the best that she can do to prevent it from cracking. a band of outcasts, out to save the world. alya thinks that they are the words that need to be said. "hey ada...you know that you're perfect, right? no matter what the taint is saying...what does the dammed taint know about dwarves, anyway? what does the taint know about women?" her words feel heavier than they usually are. her heart feels even worse. "...is there anything that you want?" alya asks finally. "if there is anyone that you want me to write to afterwards - or anything that you want done-- heck, i'll even scourge the very ends of thedas for any brand of ale that you want me to deliver to your barrack-- just say it, and it's done. consider it a boon from your friend, not your constable" ADALHEIDIS ROARKLAIKA OF GS! |
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Post by ADALHEIDIS ROARK on May 21, 2014 16:51:12 GMT
The change in atmosphere was more immediate than Adalheidis would have liked. For some reason she thought they might get away with a casual conversation. A quick back and forth that involved nothing more than official business. When she would go to Orzammar, what they would do to find out how long she had, and then she would leave and go back to her room. Or to the training grounds. Anywhere but stay in the office. Instead Alya's body became more rigid, and the stiffening of her jaw didn't escape Adalheidis's attentive gaze.
For a moment Alya's calm tone and straightforward speech fooled Adalheidis into thinking she would get her simple talk after all. Her feet moved to leave and then Alya began speaking once more, and with much more emotion. It stopped Adalheidis before she moved more than three steps forward, and made her movement serve no purpose but to bring her closer to the younger woman. A rather convenient distance as Alya found her hands in perfect reaching distance.
The warmth of Alya's grasp was soothing. For just a moment Adalheidis allowed her shoulders to fall just a bit and let out a sharp breath. While emotion wouldn't claim her here, she did feel a strange grief in her chest at the realization this woman would see her pass and would, in her own time, come to pass just the same. As she was reminded of the countless that fell before her. She didn't want to go. It was a fact that made her ache almost as much as the way she would go.
"Ma'am, with all due respect I can't have you do everything." Adaleheidis found her voice becoming hushed, as much out of respect as her own emotion. Alya was working hard to try to make her as comfortable as possible, and it meant a lot to her. As she spoke her grip on her superior's hand tightened shortly.
"I'm happy that my service has been satisfactory. It means a lot to me to hear that from such an up and coming warrior. Your upbeat energy has been just as welcome as any stoic calm on the battle field," A smile spread across Adalheidis's face as she poke, greeting her sad eyes at the edges and showing off some of the wrinkles that had developed over the years. At the sudden comments about the taint the Dwarf couldn't help but laugh a bit, "As for me being perfect, I wouldn't be so sure. But I understand what you mean ma'am. Believe me, I haven't let the taint do anything to my own sense of self worth. I am just as sure of myself as I have been in the past."
As Alya continued to speak Adalheidis was reminded why the woman was so universally adored. She truly was a kind soul with everyone else's interests extended before her own. Still, Adalheidis couldn't ask her to do all that she requested.
"If you insist I only have two requests. One is that you continue what you've done here up until your own Calling comes -- forgive me fore my bluntness on this point ma'am," And after this Adalheidis's smile spread to its widest, the shimmer gone from her eyes and a more casual voice took her, "And you'll have to get out drinking with me at least a few more times before I march on those Darkspawn bastards!"
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MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ |
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Post by alya karimi on May 26, 2014 19:01:18 GMT
this is somewhere; is it somewhere that you want to be? her limbs feel numb, and it feels like a fuse has blown in her head. her discomfort is secondary, her discomfort is secondary-- for the elders, the notion had always earned them a blown raspberry from alya. for a friend, these words are the only things that keep her tethered. she draws back and walks over her desk, where a small ceramic cup sat in the corner. she takes a piece of tree bark from the cup and starts chewing on it, an old dalish remedy that her grandfather had passed onto her. she does not offer the bark to the other woman. she didn't need to let the other wardens know when she felt stressed out. even if ada might have needed it, alya decides to protect the small bit of weakness that she has. she smiles tiredly. "i...i am happy to hear that, ada." the dwarf would not have been the first person to tell her that, but it has been awhile. mostly, everyone had been annoyed in her ensign days when she be singing cheerful tavern songs while they warmed up before a battle. "i'll be here" she confirms. really, what else did this world have left for her after what the darkspawn did after the fall of the archdemon? she's still got a couple of decades at least. alya bites down hard on her piece of bark before her fears and concerns spilled out. those are for the warden-commander to listen to, and nobody else. "i'll be here -- ferelden and orzammar are in good hands, don't you worry. the wardens have always been here for your dwarven folk, and that's not about to change by me, heh. i didn't get to this position by pandering to surface politics."alya does hate to think about things like this, but she supposes that their luck at the joining meant that they lived much longer than they could have. she thinks about it for a second. "i'll call for you when i can." the determinator being the weight of her duties. alya does not forget that she has power over the time and location of ada's assignments. ADALHEIDIS ROARKLAIKA OF GS! |
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