The knock on the doorframe easily caught her attention -- for all her business, Deidre at the very least seemed painfully aware of her surroundings. Hazel eyes lifted from the pages of the book she was quickly scanning, alighting on a pair of crystalline, pale-blue irises that were familiar to her by now. The cleric-to-be smiled at the sight, her fingers shutting her book. "Beth! Come in, come in," she invited, gesturing to her as she roamed around the room, stopping at a corner and planting her hands on her hips. While she wasn't looking at the mage for the time being, given that she was surveying her messy bed with her eyes, it was evident that her following words were meant for her. Still, it didn't detract from the fact that she was happy to see the mage -- these days she found joy in the simple indulgence of watching people seeking her out and coming to her door for one reason or another. Staying in Amaranthine and traveling with a group only reminded her of how she missed interacting with people in a more significant way. The life she led didn't leave much room for deeper connections apart from what she managed to maintain over the years; her heart, her unyielding embrace of her curious brand of joie de vivre, yearned for more.
Her stay in Aeonar forced her to learn, in a ridiculously hard way, just how much her people meant to her -- how important company was to the health of a human soul. To be alone for such a long period of time, with nothing but the quiet day and the oppressive night, had nearly driven her insane and it was only the intercession of one who would do anything for her (if she could) that saved her from the brink. It was something she never wanted to experience again, but it was also a lesson learned in the appreciation of others that breathed the same air as she. No man, or woman, was an island.
"Please forgive the mess," she apologized. "I thought I'd get a head start figuring out what I want to be bringing. That's often the rub when it comes to dangerous territory like this...it's hard to anticipate what you'd actually need, and bringing too much in the way of belongings is often unwise. Slows you down. Darkspawn aren't like bears...you can't just play dead and trick them into leaving you alone." The last was a quip, though it barely reached her eyes and indicated that she was apprehensive about their operation. Granted she knew that the creatures wouldn't be all they would find there -- she authored a book regarding battlefield deaths and their effects on the Veil. The fact that there would be a few mages accompanying them didn't stem her worries about the current state of the iconic ruins of Ostagar.
"I meant to look for you after the Joining...after I heard about what happened in the ceremony," Deidre confessed, her expression softening. She could have gotten word herself -- she knew a few of the recruits after all. The fact that there had been a funeral after it was done could have also clinched the idea that the process wasn't as safe as people originally thought. Still, curiosity traced over her sunkissed mien -- while she wanted to get to know Bethen more and intended to in their latest bout of traveling, the serious expression on the other woman's face gave her pause.
She might still be thinking about the briefing, she thought. "Are you alright? Is there anything I could do for you?"