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[rowancrowned]

 

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[aenseidhe]

[ several hours later, he's still right next to the crystal, letting conversations from the network play in hopes of any news on Thranduil, while he combs his fingers through gwenaelle's hair. so, when thranduil's voice comes through, he immediately snatches it up, giving gwen's shoulder a shake. ]

We're here. [ Both of us, you know who. ]

Where are you? Are you well?

[rowancrowned]

Yes. The Archon is with us, [ a fact the rest of the inquisition doesn't need to know until he's in kirkwall. ] a fact the rest of the Inquisition does not need to know until he is in Kirkwall.

[ also thranduil stole his hat. ]

We will be pursued, if Corypheus has not already sent a ship. I have heard that Beleth is making preparations.

[ after a moment: ] I am very glad neither of you are here.

[elegiaque]

( she rolls to sit up properly when iorveth does - casts a not guilty enough for thranduil's liking later look towards where her satchel and weapons are ready to be grabbed when the walrus is ready to set out.

he doesn't need additional worries just yet. he'll know soon enough. )

Preparations are being made, ( she agrees, flattening a comforting hand on iorveth's stomach as much for herself as for him. )

What are we doing with the Archon? What happened?

[rowancrowned]

Keeping him alive. He may yet be useful for heading a resistance against Corypheus' occupying forces, once he is in better health.

[ he sighs. it is no artful thing. he is tired. ]

One of the elves he enslaved stabbed him with a poisoned dagger, though I do not know if it was at the behest of the Venatori or her own doing. She was exceedingly clever about it.

[ another beat. ]

Her name was Caesennia. Or-- he called her that. She had no tongue to speak it herself.

[aenseidhe]

[ ...................oh.

it's a good fucking thing Iorveth didn't go with him, and also that Iorveth is not likely to be allowed near this Archon. Enslaved elf, no tongue, revenge stabbing. He can't help but say it - ]

And we thought this dh'oine not only worth suffering to live, but rescuing? Allying with?

[ there's a growl in his voice. ]

[rowancrowned]

We have a poor score for keeping the rulers of countries alive. He is a point in our favor.

[ he switches to sindarin; expects them to keep up. ]

His death would gain us nothing, here and now.

[elegiaque]

It would gain us-

( gwenaelle curls her fist around the crystal, deafening thranduil to them and dropping back into trade from her frustrated and clumsier sindarin. it would gain us a dead archon, she wanted to say, but instead in an undertone to iorveth, )

The Walrus is going to meet the ships.

( she is going to be on it.

fight with him now, when he's just going to say kingly things, or later when there's a crew of pirates to sway to their side and a knife in her hands? )

Maybe we should play nice.

[aenseidhe]

[ he's quick to put his hand over Gwenaelle's, and while he hears what she has to say, this is not a topic he's dropping lightly, finishing her sentiment. ]

- Justice for all those who's lives he's stolen, enslaved, tortured. And honor for the dead.

[ she didn't have a tongue, thranduil. sometimes he feels like he needs to remind the elven king that the elves of this world and iorveth's didn't have the luxuries his own did. how much one cruel human's death can mean to all those underneath him, harmed by him, and all those who didn't live long enough to see it.

he very bitterly wants to say something about abandoning elves to die may as well be kin-slaying, but that part he keeps to himself well enough. ] But, of course, singular morality means so little when political gain is to be had.

[ that would be sarcasm. but also, it's one of the things that sickens him about most humans in war, and many elves. ]

[rowancrowned]

[ thranduil, who is doing his best impression of an adult on peanuts, is making various points, but as his voice is currently being muffled by gwenaëlle’s hand, all of it goes unheard. eventually, when she pulls it away— ]

—else we may not survive.

But we will seen one another soon, and I am soothed by that if nothing else.

[aenseidhe]

[ well, of course he had to go say that, and knock Iorveth off his injustice soap box with feelings. this motherfucker right here. ]

As are we. [ softer, quieter. they'll discuss the issue of the archon, and the phylactery, once he's back. iorveth doesn't want him distracted by it right now. ] Travel safely, take no unnecessary risks.

[elegiaque]

( bless you, thranduil, for occasionally knowing precisely what to say to make her point for her.

granted, he might have objections if he knew exactly what they were about, but nevermind it. it can wait. )

You'll have better odds soon, ( she says. ) Your ship's to rendezvous with Araceli's latest naval acquisition. I think they've some hopes of stealing another in the process.