thranduil oropherion (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rowancrowned) wrote2015-03-22 06:02 pm
rowancrowned) wrote2015-03-22 06:02 pm
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My brother had...disagreements with our mother. I haven’t asked for details, from either side. But I doubt he’ll stay like that for long, I suspect he’ll just try transferring during the upcoming arlathvhen.
[ That’s what she’s hoping for, at least, because she can handle transferring clans. The idea of him completely abandoning the clans is too horrible to think about, and it would mean that she would, of course, have to follow him. It’s a topic she’s been avoiding with Sorrel, and this probably isn’t the time to bring it up to Thranduil.
So instead, she rises to her feet, and walks across the room, to the bookcase filled with files. After a few moments of searching, she pulls one of the files out, then takes from it a paper. ]
Lady Gwenäelle Vauquelin, 24 years old. She’s younger than me. And I doubt she’s planning on making it past 100.
[ That’s what she’s hoping for, at least, because she can handle transferring clans. The idea of him completely abandoning the clans is too horrible to think about, and it would mean that she would, of course, have to follow him. It’s a topic she’s been avoiding with Sorrel, and this probably isn’t the time to bring it up to Thranduil.
So instead, she rises to her feet, and walks across the room, to the bookcase filled with files. After a few moments of searching, she pulls one of the files out, then takes from it a paper. ]
Lady Gwenäelle Vauquelin, 24 years old. She’s younger than me. And I doubt she’s planning on making it past 100.
Edited 2018-04-27 03:35 (UTC)
Perhaps he will be happier elsewhere. [ and this is a true thing, a genuine wish. he hates to see so many leave their clans, bed humans, no hope of elflings.
if he is made a hypocrite-- but that is a thing at least a little in the distance. there will be no talk of children until after the war.
he watches her walk, making no commentary and only leaning back in his chair slightly to make sure his eyes stay on her. he likes watching her in her space, likes her confidence. ]
Ah, [ he says, and is at least glad of her apathy towards her own birthday. he would hate to forget it. ] No, and neither will you. And there is nothing I can do to keep death from either of you- from any of the elves here. I have accepted this.
if he is made a hypocrite-- but that is a thing at least a little in the distance. there will be no talk of children until after the war.
he watches her walk, making no commentary and only leaning back in his chair slightly to make sure his eyes stay on her. he likes watching her in her space, likes her confidence. ]
Ah, [ he says, and is at least glad of her apathy towards her own birthday. he would hate to forget it. ] No, and neither will you. And there is nothing I can do to keep death from either of you- from any of the elves here. I have accepted this.
[ Were tit any one other than an elf, perhaps this elf in particular with the ancient aura around him, Iorveth would have probably been suspicious of someone caring so much about him seeing a place like his ancestors used to build. But, as it stands, Thranduil has given him no reason to distrust him. After a short few seconds of considering, Iorveth steps forward to join him, pacing over to the table. ]
If you wish it.
[ After all, there's wine on offer, so why not?
Eyeing the food, he takes one of the apples carefully, and eases himself into one of the chairs across from Thranduil, watching him a long moment before speaking again. ] I've been told many of the Rifter elves here come from worlds much kinder to our race than this one, and my own. I assume you're one of them.
If you wish it.
[ After all, there's wine on offer, so why not?
Eyeing the food, he takes one of the apples carefully, and eases himself into one of the chairs across from Thranduil, watching him a long moment before speaking again. ] I've been told many of the Rifter elves here come from worlds much kinder to our race than this one, and my own. I assume you're one of them.
No, [ thranduil says, drawing the threads together as she speaks. ] No, you cannot.
[ he needs a moment. not to pull at what he knows of arda and come to a conclusion based on that, which is like breathing. no. this is thedas, where he is a new arrival, an interloper. ]
They are not kin to you, I think. They have-- something links them to the Darkspawn, something foul and sweet like rot, it makes them unclean. What have they taken in from their dragons? I hear nothing any foulness that in your music, but they are a secretive bunch and may well want you for their own purposes. I know those here have sworn an oath of sorts to aid us, but they are Wardens first.
Your voice- do the words command here as they did there?
[ he needs a moment. not to pull at what he knows of arda and come to a conclusion based on that, which is like breathing. no. this is thedas, where he is a new arrival, an interloper. ]
They are not kin to you, I think. They have-- something links them to the Darkspawn, something foul and sweet like rot, it makes them unclean. What have they taken in from their dragons? I hear nothing any foulness that in your music, but they are a secretive bunch and may well want you for their own purposes. I know those here have sworn an oath of sorts to aid us, but they are Wardens first.
Your voice- do the words command here as they did there?
I wish it, [ he confirms.
the apple, then, and half the loaf, which thranduil pulls apart. the cheese he makes use of the knife to cut, and that he places atop the bread, which he pushes towards iorveth. then, the cups of wine, and he takes his half of the meal and returns to his desk. ]
'Kinder'. Yes. In some ways and crueler in others, but our children did not go hungry and our labours were for ourselves, which is far superior to what is occurring here. [ his expression folds into displeasure, if only momentarily. ] It is shameful, and see what happens to the world when the Men decide they are too good for custodians. What of yours, friend?
the apple, then, and half the loaf, which thranduil pulls apart. the cheese he makes use of the knife to cut, and that he places atop the bread, which he pushes towards iorveth. then, the cups of wine, and he takes his half of the meal and returns to his desk. ]
'Kinder'. Yes. In some ways and crueler in others, but our children did not go hungry and our labours were for ourselves, which is far superior to what is occurring here. [ his expression folds into displeasure, if only momentarily. ] It is shameful, and see what happens to the world when the Men decide they are too good for custodians. What of yours, friend?
[ what of yours, ah. so much to say, but most of it comes out looking the same as this world's, but perhaps bloodier. or perhaps it's only that way because he lived these things, and the elves of the alienage were never in the wars that put them where they are. well, here we go. starting at the beginning. ]
For a long time, Aen Seidhe, my people, called elves by those outside us, covered most of the land. We lived peacefully among the other elder races. [ for the most part, a few skirmishes and scuffles here and there, but no all out wars to speak of. they coexisted. ]
When humans landed on our shores, they brought war with them. My ancestors thought little of them, ceded some lands to their conquests and called it fair. Even allowed them into our cities in peace. [ Iorveth snorts, shaking his head at the foolishness of the thought. It was their own pride, considering themselves above and beyond their reach, underestimating the cruelty of man. He takes a long swig of his wine, before continuing on. ] They returned with armies. Were it just a matter of skill, Men would've fallen there, but it was more about numbers.
We are long-lived, but reproduce slowly. Humans expire quickly, but multiple like vermin. Soon, the bones of Aen Seidhe cities were buried under new human ones. They didn't even bother changing most of the names. [ Vizima, Novigrad, Cidaris, Cintra. All Aen Seidhe cities now ruled by humans, where nonhumans are damned to the outskirt slums, assuming they aren't thrown in dungeons or put to the noose for one absurd reason or the other. Pathetic, really. ]
The Continent looks much like Thedas now, for my people.
For a long time, Aen Seidhe, my people, called elves by those outside us, covered most of the land. We lived peacefully among the other elder races. [ for the most part, a few skirmishes and scuffles here and there, but no all out wars to speak of. they coexisted. ]
When humans landed on our shores, they brought war with them. My ancestors thought little of them, ceded some lands to their conquests and called it fair. Even allowed them into our cities in peace. [ Iorveth snorts, shaking his head at the foolishness of the thought. It was their own pride, considering themselves above and beyond their reach, underestimating the cruelty of man. He takes a long swig of his wine, before continuing on. ] They returned with armies. Were it just a matter of skill, Men would've fallen there, but it was more about numbers.
We are long-lived, but reproduce slowly. Humans expire quickly, but multiple like vermin. Soon, the bones of Aen Seidhe cities were buried under new human ones. They didn't even bother changing most of the names. [ Vizima, Novigrad, Cidaris, Cintra. All Aen Seidhe cities now ruled by humans, where nonhumans are damned to the outskirt slums, assuming they aren't thrown in dungeons or put to the noose for one absurd reason or the other. Pathetic, really. ]
The Continent looks much like Thedas now, for my people.
Do you not consider yourself an elf? [ 'aen seidhe', he can say that, he can make allowances, but it will be very difficult if they do not all have a banner to unite themselves under, quendi and elvhen and bosmer and aen seidhe alike.
thranduil follows the story easily enough. this could have easily happened in arda, but for the way the elves had always dictated the terms by which men could interact with them. and they had always been superior in their arts; men who did not ally with the dark lords found themselves in need of elven support. outbreeding, though. that was a problem everywhere. ]
I am sorry, [ he says. ] for your loss.
[ war was pointless unless it was against the great enemy. no good came of killing. finding delight in warfare indicated a weak spirit. yet thedas and iorveth's world yet squabbled against itself. thedas had corypheus, but what of iorveth's home? pointless. ]
What of mixed children? Are they possible?
thranduil follows the story easily enough. this could have easily happened in arda, but for the way the elves had always dictated the terms by which men could interact with them. and they had always been superior in their arts; men who did not ally with the dark lords found themselves in need of elven support. outbreeding, though. that was a problem everywhere. ]
I am sorry, [ he says. ] for your loss.
[ war was pointless unless it was against the great enemy. no good came of killing. finding delight in warfare indicated a weak spirit. yet thedas and iorveth's world yet squabbled against itself. thedas had corypheus, but what of iorveth's home? pointless. ]
What of mixed children? Are they possible?
'Elf' is the word the dh'oine gave us when 'Aen Seidhe' proved too long and difficult to pronounce. [ 'Dh'oine' fairly clearly meaning humans, and sounds like an slight, sort of the same way 'elf' sounds to Iorveth's ears most of the time. He understands it isn't so hostile a thing in Kirkwall, but century old habits are hard to break. ] But yes, I consider myself the same race as you and those in the alienage here, only variant like regional tribes might be, as dialects are to a mother tongue. I'll answer to elf here, because that unity means something, but in my homeworld, it is an insult.
[ He gets the importance of it, and doesn't intend to separate himself more than he already is by being a Rifter, but it's long been part of their culture that Aen Seidhe are a division of a race that was once a much larger whole. ]
We have stories of our people beginning as a single race, the Aen Undod. They then split into several different clans and separated to travel the spheres, as the Rifts pull from different realms, though the technique of it was long lost even to our ancestors. [ because the Witcher has legit dimensional travel and it's weird and terrible mostly. ] The closest others to us are the Aen Elle, who inhabit a realm beyond a thin veil to ours. The very desperate of my people like to imagine they're trying to break through to rescue us, or help push back the humans.
[ Clearly, Iorveth doesn't hold the same hope, because how do any even know they're there, and even if they were, it's most likely they'd know about as much about the Aen Seidhe as the Aen Seidhe know of the Aen Elle - next to nothing, fairy tales. as for war, his people fight because otherwise they die in squalor, and Iorveth doesn't have it in him to fizzle out quietly. The sentiment of sorrow gets a brief nod, and there's nothing much more to say of it beyond that. It is what it is, and it's far too late to do anything about it. But mixed children, that's something current. ]
Mixed children, yes. We have no elf-blooded humans like Thedas. Half-elves have a mixture of traits that appear with whatever random selection of genetics they're born with. They're scorned as much as any other elf is, though, truthfully, most humans these days have some amount of elven blood in their ancestry. [ Niflgaardians especially, but it's a truth most elect to ignore. ]
My people are few and dwindling. The struggle we face now is avoiding extinction.
[ He gets the importance of it, and doesn't intend to separate himself more than he already is by being a Rifter, but it's long been part of their culture that Aen Seidhe are a division of a race that was once a much larger whole. ]
We have stories of our people beginning as a single race, the Aen Undod. They then split into several different clans and separated to travel the spheres, as the Rifts pull from different realms, though the technique of it was long lost even to our ancestors. [ because the Witcher has legit dimensional travel and it's weird and terrible mostly. ] The closest others to us are the Aen Elle, who inhabit a realm beyond a thin veil to ours. The very desperate of my people like to imagine they're trying to break through to rescue us, or help push back the humans.
[ Clearly, Iorveth doesn't hold the same hope, because how do any even know they're there, and even if they were, it's most likely they'd know about as much about the Aen Seidhe as the Aen Seidhe know of the Aen Elle - next to nothing, fairy tales. as for war, his people fight because otherwise they die in squalor, and Iorveth doesn't have it in him to fizzle out quietly. The sentiment of sorrow gets a brief nod, and there's nothing much more to say of it beyond that. It is what it is, and it's far too late to do anything about it. But mixed children, that's something current. ]
Mixed children, yes. We have no elf-blooded humans like Thedas. Half-elves have a mixture of traits that appear with whatever random selection of genetics they're born with. They're scorned as much as any other elf is, though, truthfully, most humans these days have some amount of elven blood in their ancestry. [ Niflgaardians especially, but it's a truth most elect to ignore. ]
My people are few and dwindling. The struggle we face now is avoiding extinction.
Edited (had to fix a comma) 2018-05-05 04:15 (UTC)
I’m not afraid to die.
[ She says it with the practiced ease of someone who has said it before, and is as sure of it now, as she was then. She’s more important now, she’s making a difference, she has plans. But she is still a single elf, and a single life.
She stares at the paperwork for a few moments longer, than sighs and returns to her seat, taking up her pie. ]
And I wish for nothing but happiness for you. You deserve nothing less. I just—I just worry.
[ She says it with the practiced ease of someone who has said it before, and is as sure of it now, as she was then. She’s more important now, she’s making a difference, she has plans. But she is still a single elf, and a single life.
She stares at the paperwork for a few moments longer, than sighs and returns to her seat, taking up her pie. ]
And I wish for nothing but happiness for you. You deserve nothing less. I just—I just worry.
[ Beleth poses the meeting as a simple one, no division leader business, just the two of them getting a chance to spend time with each other. When she poses the question, it’s with a casual ease that probably means she spent half an hour rehearsing it. ]
Would it be remiss of me to ask you advice? On a, ah. Personal matter. ]
Would it be remiss of me to ask you advice? On a, ah. Personal matter. ]
There are elves in Skyrim who are corrupted. Falmer. Twisted, blind, living in darkness with poisonous creatures; I spoke to a Warden before of them and that she spoke of them and the Darkspawn in the same breath is...something to think of.
[If Inessa can still be spoken to then maybe she can reach out more, somehow. Her only talent at speaking with others has been to get shopkeepers and traders to give her good prices in bargains so she's not got any honeyed words to help her here. But she can't ignore the overlaps.
It's impossible not to. And she might need to write things down to pass to Thranduil on the promise he burns it after, if it falls into their hands then her blade would have to come out.]
Not their souls, but there are things other than souls that it could be. I'm friendly enough with one of them, if I find more I'll let you know, I need to know what they're doing, what they are. This is-- this is wrong. This is a sickness.
[A sigh shudders out of her, borders on the edge of a laugh.]
More than half my Voice is locked away from me. I know the words but nothing comes. I've tested some in secret but never against a foe, against a being. They look at us differently, are they ready for this? For a gag? To cut out my tongue?
[If Inessa can still be spoken to then maybe she can reach out more, somehow. Her only talent at speaking with others has been to get shopkeepers and traders to give her good prices in bargains so she's not got any honeyed words to help her here. But she can't ignore the overlaps.
It's impossible not to. And she might need to write things down to pass to Thranduil on the promise he burns it after, if it falls into their hands then her blade would have to come out.]
Not their souls, but there are things other than souls that it could be. I'm friendly enough with one of them, if I find more I'll let you know, I need to know what they're doing, what they are. This is-- this is wrong. This is a sickness.
[A sigh shudders out of her, borders on the edge of a laugh.]
More than half my Voice is locked away from me. I know the words but nothing comes. I've tested some in secret but never against a foe, against a being. They look at us differently, are they ready for this? For a gag? To cut out my tongue?
Fear it enough that you avoid it.
[ she is too young to die. he watches her eat. ]
I am touched. What is it that you worry about?
[ she is too young to die. he watches her eat. ]
I am touched. What is it that you worry about?
Of course not.
[ the reply comes easily, matched with a smile and a marked increase in interest. ]
[ the reply comes easily, matched with a smile and a marked increase in interest. ]
I do my best to.
[ She gives a noncommittal shrug, shoving a piece of carrot in her mouth, which serves as a convenient means of stalling until she can think of something that doesn't sound like paranoid hand wringing. ]
I worry that you'll get hurt. It's...so easy to get hurt, when it comes to relationships. And I think that you're one of the strongest people I've ever met, but you can't just slap a bandage over those kinds of wounds.
[ She gives a noncommittal shrug, shoving a piece of carrot in her mouth, which serves as a convenient means of stalling until she can think of something that doesn't sound like paranoid hand wringing. ]
I worry that you'll get hurt. It's...so easy to get hurt, when it comes to relationships. And I think that you're one of the strongest people I've ever met, but you can't just slap a bandage over those kinds of wounds.
[ She's nervous about this, fidgeting with her sleeves. It's probably stupid--no, it's definitely stupid. But. ]
When you were talking about Gwen, you said that she infuriated you, but she made you...like being infuriated, and wanted to be around her, even while she was being infuriated.
[ Perhaps not in exactly those words, but she may be projecting, just a little. ]
When you feel that way about somebody, does that mean that you, ah. Care about them--as. You know. [ She waves a hand dismissively. YOU KNOW. ] Or could they be separated? That is to say...can you feel that way about someone that you don't care about in that manner?
When you were talking about Gwen, you said that she infuriated you, but she made you...like being infuriated, and wanted to be around her, even while she was being infuriated.
[ Perhaps not in exactly those words, but she may be projecting, just a little. ]
When you feel that way about somebody, does that mean that you, ah. Care about them--as. You know. [ She waves a hand dismissively. YOU KNOW. ] Or could they be separated? That is to say...can you feel that way about someone that you don't care about in that manner?
We have the yrch, [ he says, and nothing more, because he will not explain them for this conversation, though she offered the falmer. yes, to think of orcs in the same breath as darkspawn is easy indeed; he has thought of it when fighting them. ]
I would appreciate the knowledge. It is wrong.
[ wrong enough to resonate with both of them. ]
If I were king, and I had this occur... [ the elves, he would not harm, that is his nature, but playing host and playing host would look very different, depending on how they all behaved. ]
That we were not all executed is an indication that they value our usefulness somewhat. But I will prepare for a way to keep us all safe, if such a thing seems to be on the horizon.
I would appreciate the knowledge. It is wrong.
[ wrong enough to resonate with both of them. ]
If I were king, and I had this occur... [ the elves, he would not harm, that is his nature, but playing host and playing host would look very different, depending on how they all behaved. ]
That we were not all executed is an indication that they value our usefulness somewhat. But I will prepare for a way to keep us all safe, if such a thing seems to be on the horizon.
❰ it's the second time adalia has shown up at thranduil's office door, but this time she doesn't bother to knock. iorveth has suggested she speak to thranduil in person, and adalia can see the merit of that, but she's still nursing some bruised pride, so she's not as willing to be polite as she may otherwise be. ❱
Provost. Iorveth suggested I come speak with you.
❰ with the Significant Eyebrows that suggest it's a matter of importance, and a motion toward closing the door behind her, so they may speak in private. ❱
Provost. Iorveth suggested I come speak with you.
❰ with the Significant Eyebrows that suggest it's a matter of importance, and a motion toward closing the door behind her, so they may speak in private. ❱
Dh'oine, [ thranduil mimics, trying it. ] Our little cousins call them shemlen- shem- here. It means quick children, [ and obviously thranduil is very fond of it, though he can't use it publicly anymore. ]
Yes. The unity does mean something. [ he's worked so hard to cultivate it, to bind them together in respect to an eventual when of it being needed. he means it when he says they are all family. ]
That is interesting, [ he says, even and polite, as if it is no great concern. his face falls at the second admission; these elves have no blessed lands to return to, no námo to build them back to perfect health. ]
Yes. The unity does mean something. [ he's worked so hard to cultivate it, to bind them together in respect to an eventual when of it being needed. he means it when he says they are all family. ]
That is interesting, [ he says, even and polite, as if it is no great concern. his face falls at the second admission; these elves have no blessed lands to return to, no námo to build them back to perfect health. ]
I'd hardly call them quick, in anything other than their lifespan. Dh'oine has no real meaning besides 'human', though the ages have assigned implications along the lines of 'thieving fucking pests with no honor or souls to speak of' most of the time. [ You might guess that there's some bad blood there. ] As 'elf' has similar connotations.
[ 'elf-made' a term that implies something is shoddy or poor in quality, though most elven products are far superior to humans. the word elf also comes hand in hand with something akin to betrayal or treason in the Northern Kingdoms, which seems utterly hilarious to Iorveth, given they'd never been welcomed into those kingdoms, truly, and the humans must be idiots to think the people they've been walking over and torturing for centuries wouldn't join up with an army ready to decimate them.
all of that is a much longer story than is being asked here, though. about half-elves. ]
Some Scoia'tael units reject the half-elves as well, wary of their human blood, but I've never felt particular concern over them. They're on the path to extermination just the same as the rest of the nonhumans on the Continent. [ a beat, and he shrugs. ] There's unity in that as well. We take what we can get.
The city elves and Dalish in this realm would do well to work similarly, if they wish to get out of their respective encroaching graves.
[ 'elf-made' a term that implies something is shoddy or poor in quality, though most elven products are far superior to humans. the word elf also comes hand in hand with something akin to betrayal or treason in the Northern Kingdoms, which seems utterly hilarious to Iorveth, given they'd never been welcomed into those kingdoms, truly, and the humans must be idiots to think the people they've been walking over and torturing for centuries wouldn't join up with an army ready to decimate them.
all of that is a much longer story than is being asked here, though. about half-elves. ]
Some Scoia'tael units reject the half-elves as well, wary of their human blood, but I've never felt particular concern over them. They're on the path to extermination just the same as the rest of the nonhumans on the Continent. [ a beat, and he shrugs. ] There's unity in that as well. We take what we can get.
The city elves and Dalish in this realm would do well to work similarly, if they wish to get out of their respective encroaching graves.
Edited 2018-05-14 09:28 (UTC)
[That word strikes home, but orsc are orsimer are the mer no one claims a kinship with so she too leaves it for now, the children of Malacath.]
I am the Dragonborn but little respect was afforded me until I had run their errands, I've sat at the truce table when the world was close to breaking and all they wanted was to divide it up and blame one another for it. I've seen these things. Survived them. If you have need you can reach me.
I am the Dragonborn but little respect was afforded me until I had run their errands, I've sat at the truce table when the world was close to breaking and all they wanted was to divide it up and blame one another for it. I've seen these things. Survived them. If you have need you can reach me.
Did he, [ thranduil says, and beckons her in. ] Close the door.
[ because those eyebrows clearly mean that this isn't something to be overheard. ]
[ because those eyebrows clearly mean that this isn't something to be overheard. ]
❰ and close the door she does, moving thereafter to stand in front of his desk with her hands clasped behind her back. ❱
He intimated you have a plan for dealing with the phylactery question. If that's true, I'd like to help enact it however I can.
He intimated you have a plan for dealing with the phylactery question. If that's true, I'd like to help enact it however I can.
If she betrays me, it will break me, [ he admits. and perhaps it is cruel of him to hold a young woman to the bonds of forever, even when he explained them to her, and think they will be as binding and seem as born out of love at twenty five as they will at fifty five. ] And when she dies, it will ache, but I have mourned her death every day I have known her. But I will endure. The elvhen need me.
[ he's not... not expected his from her, but it deserves a bit more of his focus than, say, a casual conversation about their divisions. he lets her finish speaking and pause for his approval, and then nods. ]
Yes, [ he says. ] A rival, perhaps, but when it is romance it is... tangled.
[ he smiles a smile that recalls some far off memory, and it is only a slight shift of his lips, nothing more. ]
A competition, [ he murmurs. ] A wager, often, counting kills or the like. Such it was with my wife. That was how it began.
[ he plainly means the one lost to him. ]
Yes, [ he says. ] A rival, perhaps, but when it is romance it is... tangled.
[ he smiles a smile that recalls some far off memory, and it is only a slight shift of his lips, nothing more. ]
A competition, [ he murmurs. ] A wager, often, counting kills or the like. Such it was with my wife. That was how it began.
[ he plainly means the one lost to him. ]
I do, [ he says, and gestures irreverently at the window. ] I have sent word to Skyhold; their response will dictate our actions from there.
[ he did like cassandra. she knew the rifters well; she had to have, on some level, expected a response this vitriolic. how long thranduil can keep the anger banked is another question. ]
[ he did like cassandra. she knew the rifters well; she had to have, on some level, expected a response this vitriolic. how long thranduil can keep the anger banked is another question. ]
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