bethen avilla ; the circle mage (bethe) wrote in thedas,
"I don't think there's anything I really need. The Keep has most of the herbs I'll need in their store room, and I hadn't forgotten anything at the Tower. I made extra certain of it," the mage answered the first request, shaking her dark head at the woman beside her. Bethen was meticulous about organization; it was best put to work in her previous occupation as a librarian, but she'd always been the sort to make detailed lists and itemize long before she had reason to. Though she had packed and repacked her possessions multiple times over the last day since finding out about their departure, there was nothing excluded or forgotten, just yet to be placed. Her only last minute acquirement had just been negotiated, and with that, a great weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Now it was Dee's turn to take care of business. Beth smiled at the sister as they stepped out onto the street, "But you had your eye on a shop earlier, didn't you? I wouldn't mind taking a look around."
They would have to walk briskly to reach that store before it closed its doors, though. The buildings around them were tinted with the rosy hue of the darkening sky. Bethen finally nodded in affirmation to the second question and responded in the similarly neutral tone that Dee had possessed when she spoke of her own brush with death, "I did...once." In spite of how even her tone was, it was obvious that she was at least a little reticent to drag up memories of the worst day of her life. It was not a subject she normally liked to discuss with others, but she felt she owed it to Dee. Not only was it a fair exchange of information, they were also friends now, and if there was anyone who hadn't lived in the Tower that could attempt to understand, Beth had a feeling that Dee would be that person.
"They were lesser shades, but still frightening nonetheless, especially to a nine-year-old apprentice with only a couple of years of training under her belt. It was after I'd been rescued from an abomination, by one of the Enchanters and a couple of other survivors. We had almost made it to the lower quarters when several of them sprang at us from one of the chambers we were passing through. It had been empty when we entered, but I think our concentrated presence must have drawn them forward, across the already torn Veil. The Enchanter gave his life to see that the rest of us made it past the barrier that one of the Senior Enchanters had put up. The other mage died on the way, but Kinnon, one of the older apprentices, and I arrived to safety. We were lucky," Beth finished quietly, not looking sad or upset, but at least very pensive. She was always the lucky one, wasn't she? Her mind returned to the Joining ceremony; maybe it was simply a matter of luck, not fortitude, that had allowed her to escape death just one more time.
"Has Aurin ever told you about it? Not shades -- I wasn't with him until later. But he was in the templar quarters during the attack. It was the worst up there." Everyone had to help clean in the aftermath. Scrubbing and scouring on hands and knees, moving bodies and what remained of others, burning away flesh-like growths on the walls and floors of the upper levels...that smell, it was just as bad as the darkspawn blood, except as if one had lit the goblet on fire before handing it forth. She shuddered at the thought, but didn't allow herself to get too lost in her own thoughts, trying to lift the corners of her mouth into a feeble smile, "That isn't my story to tell, though. I suppose he might have said something to you already, anyway. You seem to know one another well enough. I feel...stupid for even saying this, but I already told you I thought you were imaginary, how much worse can I possibly get?" The self-deprecating remark barely had a chance to be humorous, as Beth couldn't help sighing, "You know him better than I do now. Or at least part of him. The one outside the Tower. It's like he has an alter ego. I just...feel left out. Maybe it's intentional, I am a mage, after all. Nevertheless, I wish he felt like he could still be somewhat honest with me, the way he feels comfortable around you and Alderic. I'm envious."