O Maker, hear my cry:
Guide me through the blackest nights.
Steel my heart against the temptations of the wicked.
Make me to rest in the warmest places.
-Canticle of Transfigurations 12:1
Guide me through the blackest nights.
Steel my heart against the temptations of the wicked.
Make me to rest in the warmest places.
-Canticle of Transfigurations 12:1
Lady Marceline sat at her desk in deep contemplation. It was perhaps overdue that she had finally made this decision. Maybe it was one she shouldn't have even have given herself in the first place. While Félicité was a fine apprentice and quick learner, the fact remained that her and Pierre were the only children in the Inquisition. She had spoken about it to the young heiress in recent days, and even though she appeared to enjoy the work she did with Marceline, she was still alone in Skyhold. Her and Pierre.
The second matter was the most difficult, and it was about her son. He was much in the same position as Félicité, but though as he was her son, she was too close to actually see it. He was in as much of a dangerous position as she was, if not more by virtue of being the Ambassador's son. Even before Félicité, he had been alone too, save for his family and the friends he'd made. It was only thinking about Félicité's position that it dawned her that Pierre had the same sort of problems. She leaned back in the chair she sat in and crossed her arms, and let her head fall limply against its head rest. Maybe it was her selfishness that kept Pierre around, and her inability to admit a mistake that kept Félicité. It was not an... entirely pleasant thought.
A few more minutes gave her some extra time to consider it, but fortunately not too much. A soft knock at the door heralded the presence of a visitor. After announcing herself, Estella went ahead and opened it on her own, stepping inside and shutting the door quietly behind her. The Lady Inquisitor's state of dress suggested she'd been hard at work of the more physical kind; her hair was falling loose of its disciplined braid, and she appeared to be wearing a large amount of sandy dirt on one side of her body, a few streaks missing where she'd clearly tried to dust it off and not had much success. She'd never said where she trained or who with, but clearly there was some vigor involved.
Perhaps that was why she elected to stand rather than sit, offering Marceline a small smile. "I got your message," she said, somewhat unnecessarily considering her presence. "Something you need me for, Lady Marceline?"
Marceline considered the question for a moment before she shook her head, "No, not as such. There are just some things on my mind that I wished to talk to you about. You can take a seat if you wish," She answered while she gestured at the number of seats that were in her office, followed by leaning back forward and letting her elbows rest on her desk. She hesitated for a moment, but she hoped it would be considered a deliberate pause instead. She then tilted her head slightly and began. "I have given it some thought, and I believe it is in Félicité's best interest that I relieve her of her duties and allow her to return home," she said, crossing her arms and letting a palm rest outstretched.
"She is... nearing the age where it would best serve her to focus on her education, something I believe the Inquisition does not have the facilities to provide," she continued, leaning back as she spoke. "If she wishes, I believe a reference from the Inquisition will open many doors for her."
Estella demurred on the seat, with a gesture, clearly not wanting to get dirt on the furniture, but when Marceline explained the rest of the situation, she lapsed into a thoughtful silence. "Well," she began, almost cautiously from her tone of voice, "as you pointed out when you brought her here, the work she did was for you, rather than the Inquisition. I think therefore, it's probably best for the reference to come from you as well." Her speech was slower than usual, deliberately-chosen, but mild in aspect. "But I don't think that will open any fewer doors, so to speak." She smiled, the expression almost conciliatory.
"Does she intend to apply to the University in Val Royeaux? I have a friend who teaches there. I'd... considered going at one point, myself, but admission's only open to nobility, and, well—you know about the situation with my family." She lifted her shoulders. "I hear it's a wonderful school."
"I believe she is, though she has a few years yet. Still, there is no harm in getting a head start. Maker knows my mother made sure I was prepared before I attempted to enroll," Marceline answered. She felt her body relax now that the topic shifted toward something else for the moment. "It is. I do not know if I told you, but I studied business and politics during my time there. Attempting to follow in my mother's footsteps, I suppose."
Estella huffed softly at that. "Well, considering how good you are at both of those things, I'm sure you succeeded." Her face betrayed a bit of amusement, but the observation seemed to be a genuine one. Then again, they usually were, with her. "How are they doing, your parents? I know your father was injured when you found him on the Exalted Plains. He's recovered well, I hope?" The Lady Inquisitor crossed her arms comfortably over herself, her posture easing a little from its previous residual formality.
"They are fine, thank you for asking," Marceline answered with an appreciative nod of her head. "Mother had always been a strong woman, I doubt that there is much that can lay her low. My father has finally returned home as well, and he has healed well from what mother has told me, though I still worry. He is too stubborn to let anyone know if any aches or pains are still lingering," she said with a shake of her head. They were both strong people, though sometimes that mean stubborn as well, and that of course made her worry about them.
There was another tilt to her head, and nodded to herself, deciding that this was the best time to add the second thing she wanted to say. "Speaking of my family, there was another matter I wished to tell you," she added, though she was unable to keep the displeasure from her face. "While thinking about Félicité's position, it also led me to think about Pierre's," she then leaned forward on her desk, and propped her chin up with her hand. "I had hoped that by keeping him close, that I would be able to spend more time with him... But, I do not know that that has happened," Marceline said with a frown.
She always felt so busy that she wasn't able to spend the time with Pierre that he deserved. It felt like Larissa spent more time with him than she did. Granted, it was nice to know that he was so close but, that meant little if she wasn't able to spend the time with him. "I have talked to Micky about this as well, and I believe it would be best for him to return home to my parents as well. There is... not much here for him, I'm afraid."
For a moment, Estella thought about that, her lips pursing a little. She looked like she was trying to decide something, from the way her eyes focused just over Marceline's shoulder. But then she nodded once, just a slow dip of her chin, and her gaze moved back to eye contact. "I can't really argue with that," she pointed out. She had, after all, been rather uncomfortable with the presence of children in the Inquisition in general, and stated as much in no uncertain terms before. "Did you need me to arrange an escort for them with Leon, or were you just letting me know?"
"More of the latter, actually, though there was something I wanted to ask you as well," Marceline said. She then began to pick through the letters on her desk looking for one in particular. A recent letter from her mother, from when she had sent correspondence speaking about much of the same things Marceline and Estella were. Eventually, she found it at the bottom of the pile and pulled it to the top. "I plan to accompany them both home, since Félicité is on the way in any case. I intend to stay home for a week or so, to finally spend time with my family without having to worry about this. At least for a little while," she said, gesturing toward the letters and notes on her desk. "Or, well. Attempt to, I suppose," she added, shrugging. Undoubtedly, thoughts of the work she had waiting back for her at Skyhold would pop up every now and then.
However, she wasn't the only one who worked so hard for the Inquisition. "Still, I just wanted to ask and see if you would join us?" she offered, "You work so tirelessly, I just believed it would be nice for you to spend a few days away from it all as well."
Estella blinked, clearly surprised by the offer. She didn't immediately decline though, as the rumors of her work ethic might have implied she would. Her brows knit over her eyes momentarily; she seemed to be thinking of something that troubled her, though she gave no particular indication as to what. "I wouldn't mind taking a few days," she admitted, "as long as I can have a few beforehand to set all my work in order. Would you..." She paused, almost hesitating, then caught up with herself and finished the question. "Would you mind if some of the others came along? I'm not the only one in need of a break, I think."
Marceline nodded in understanding. She was, in all honesty, surprised that Estella did not need bit more enticing to take the time off. She frowned for a moment, worried that maybe she was under a bit too much pressure herself to accept the invitation. Still, she accepted it, and perhaps she could get a better answer during their time off. "We still have some time, there are matters that I must attend to as well," she agreed. She still had a few individuals she needed to see, some correspondence to send, and a letter to send to her parents stating her intentions.
As for the others, she nodded her acceptance. "I agree completely. I intended to speak to them and ask if they would like to join us as well. Micky in particular wanted to see if Khari wished to come. I believe he thinks she deserves some time off for all the effort she puts into her training."
That got a smile out of the Lady Inquisitor. The mere mention of Khari could do that to a lot of people, it seemed. "I don't think she'd quite see it that way, but if more of her training partners are going than staying, I'm sure she could be convinced." There was a brief, pause, then: "Perhaps we should plan to leave a week from today? So everyone can get their business squared away first and such."
"That sounds reasonable. I will send my parents a letter so that they are not caught off guard," Marceline paused for a moment and chuckled. "I am sure Micky will want to pack immediately."
The second matter was the most difficult, and it was about her son. He was much in the same position as Félicité, but though as he was her son, she was too close to actually see it. He was in as much of a dangerous position as she was, if not more by virtue of being the Ambassador's son. Even before Félicité, he had been alone too, save for his family and the friends he'd made. It was only thinking about Félicité's position that it dawned her that Pierre had the same sort of problems. She leaned back in the chair she sat in and crossed her arms, and let her head fall limply against its head rest. Maybe it was her selfishness that kept Pierre around, and her inability to admit a mistake that kept Félicité. It was not an... entirely pleasant thought.
A few more minutes gave her some extra time to consider it, but fortunately not too much. A soft knock at the door heralded the presence of a visitor. After announcing herself, Estella went ahead and opened it on her own, stepping inside and shutting the door quietly behind her. The Lady Inquisitor's state of dress suggested she'd been hard at work of the more physical kind; her hair was falling loose of its disciplined braid, and she appeared to be wearing a large amount of sandy dirt on one side of her body, a few streaks missing where she'd clearly tried to dust it off and not had much success. She'd never said where she trained or who with, but clearly there was some vigor involved.
Perhaps that was why she elected to stand rather than sit, offering Marceline a small smile. "I got your message," she said, somewhat unnecessarily considering her presence. "Something you need me for, Lady Marceline?"
Marceline considered the question for a moment before she shook her head, "No, not as such. There are just some things on my mind that I wished to talk to you about. You can take a seat if you wish," She answered while she gestured at the number of seats that were in her office, followed by leaning back forward and letting her elbows rest on her desk. She hesitated for a moment, but she hoped it would be considered a deliberate pause instead. She then tilted her head slightly and began. "I have given it some thought, and I believe it is in Félicité's best interest that I relieve her of her duties and allow her to return home," she said, crossing her arms and letting a palm rest outstretched.
"She is... nearing the age where it would best serve her to focus on her education, something I believe the Inquisition does not have the facilities to provide," she continued, leaning back as she spoke. "If she wishes, I believe a reference from the Inquisition will open many doors for her."
Estella demurred on the seat, with a gesture, clearly not wanting to get dirt on the furniture, but when Marceline explained the rest of the situation, she lapsed into a thoughtful silence. "Well," she began, almost cautiously from her tone of voice, "as you pointed out when you brought her here, the work she did was for you, rather than the Inquisition. I think therefore, it's probably best for the reference to come from you as well." Her speech was slower than usual, deliberately-chosen, but mild in aspect. "But I don't think that will open any fewer doors, so to speak." She smiled, the expression almost conciliatory.
"Does she intend to apply to the University in Val Royeaux? I have a friend who teaches there. I'd... considered going at one point, myself, but admission's only open to nobility, and, well—you know about the situation with my family." She lifted her shoulders. "I hear it's a wonderful school."
"I believe she is, though she has a few years yet. Still, there is no harm in getting a head start. Maker knows my mother made sure I was prepared before I attempted to enroll," Marceline answered. She felt her body relax now that the topic shifted toward something else for the moment. "It is. I do not know if I told you, but I studied business and politics during my time there. Attempting to follow in my mother's footsteps, I suppose."
Estella huffed softly at that. "Well, considering how good you are at both of those things, I'm sure you succeeded." Her face betrayed a bit of amusement, but the observation seemed to be a genuine one. Then again, they usually were, with her. "How are they doing, your parents? I know your father was injured when you found him on the Exalted Plains. He's recovered well, I hope?" The Lady Inquisitor crossed her arms comfortably over herself, her posture easing a little from its previous residual formality.
"They are fine, thank you for asking," Marceline answered with an appreciative nod of her head. "Mother had always been a strong woman, I doubt that there is much that can lay her low. My father has finally returned home as well, and he has healed well from what mother has told me, though I still worry. He is too stubborn to let anyone know if any aches or pains are still lingering," she said with a shake of her head. They were both strong people, though sometimes that mean stubborn as well, and that of course made her worry about them.
There was another tilt to her head, and nodded to herself, deciding that this was the best time to add the second thing she wanted to say. "Speaking of my family, there was another matter I wished to tell you," she added, though she was unable to keep the displeasure from her face. "While thinking about Félicité's position, it also led me to think about Pierre's," she then leaned forward on her desk, and propped her chin up with her hand. "I had hoped that by keeping him close, that I would be able to spend more time with him... But, I do not know that that has happened," Marceline said with a frown.
She always felt so busy that she wasn't able to spend the time with Pierre that he deserved. It felt like Larissa spent more time with him than she did. Granted, it was nice to know that he was so close but, that meant little if she wasn't able to spend the time with him. "I have talked to Micky about this as well, and I believe it would be best for him to return home to my parents as well. There is... not much here for him, I'm afraid."
For a moment, Estella thought about that, her lips pursing a little. She looked like she was trying to decide something, from the way her eyes focused just over Marceline's shoulder. But then she nodded once, just a slow dip of her chin, and her gaze moved back to eye contact. "I can't really argue with that," she pointed out. She had, after all, been rather uncomfortable with the presence of children in the Inquisition in general, and stated as much in no uncertain terms before. "Did you need me to arrange an escort for them with Leon, or were you just letting me know?"
"More of the latter, actually, though there was something I wanted to ask you as well," Marceline said. She then began to pick through the letters on her desk looking for one in particular. A recent letter from her mother, from when she had sent correspondence speaking about much of the same things Marceline and Estella were. Eventually, she found it at the bottom of the pile and pulled it to the top. "I plan to accompany them both home, since Félicité is on the way in any case. I intend to stay home for a week or so, to finally spend time with my family without having to worry about this. At least for a little while," she said, gesturing toward the letters and notes on her desk. "Or, well. Attempt to, I suppose," she added, shrugging. Undoubtedly, thoughts of the work she had waiting back for her at Skyhold would pop up every now and then.
However, she wasn't the only one who worked so hard for the Inquisition. "Still, I just wanted to ask and see if you would join us?" she offered, "You work so tirelessly, I just believed it would be nice for you to spend a few days away from it all as well."
Estella blinked, clearly surprised by the offer. She didn't immediately decline though, as the rumors of her work ethic might have implied she would. Her brows knit over her eyes momentarily; she seemed to be thinking of something that troubled her, though she gave no particular indication as to what. "I wouldn't mind taking a few days," she admitted, "as long as I can have a few beforehand to set all my work in order. Would you..." She paused, almost hesitating, then caught up with herself and finished the question. "Would you mind if some of the others came along? I'm not the only one in need of a break, I think."
Marceline nodded in understanding. She was, in all honesty, surprised that Estella did not need bit more enticing to take the time off. She frowned for a moment, worried that maybe she was under a bit too much pressure herself to accept the invitation. Still, she accepted it, and perhaps she could get a better answer during their time off. "We still have some time, there are matters that I must attend to as well," she agreed. She still had a few individuals she needed to see, some correspondence to send, and a letter to send to her parents stating her intentions.
As for the others, she nodded her acceptance. "I agree completely. I intended to speak to them and ask if they would like to join us as well. Micky in particular wanted to see if Khari wished to come. I believe he thinks she deserves some time off for all the effort she puts into her training."
That got a smile out of the Lady Inquisitor. The mere mention of Khari could do that to a lot of people, it seemed. "I don't think she'd quite see it that way, but if more of her training partners are going than staying, I'm sure she could be convinced." There was a brief, pause, then: "Perhaps we should plan to leave a week from today? So everyone can get their business squared away first and such."
"That sounds reasonable. I will send my parents a letter so that they are not caught off guard," Marceline paused for a moment and chuckled. "I am sure Micky will want to pack immediately."