bethen avilla ; the circle mage (bethe) wrote in thedas,
As she was being dragged along, Beth's stomach growled indelicately. She sighed in mock despair, "I'm going to be completely devastated if there are no cookies to be found in this kitchen." It was strange to feel so ravenous; she would have to remember to bring enough extra rations on this trip, if this was what her hunger was going to be like from now on. There had been days in the past where she forgot meals in lieu of working on projects in the library, but the thought of missing out on a snack right now was unfathomable. Thinking of her starvation was easier than thinking of what other things she would miss. The less she considered their parting, the easier it was to go along with this game.
Glancing at a few familiar landmarks -- a particular painting here, a suit of armor there -- they were halfway to their destination now. The broad wooden door to the dining hall, which would then lead to the kitchen and larder, was in sight when she heard a breathless voice call out from behind them. "Hey! Are you Ser Aurin?" Out of instinct, Beth stopped dead in her tracks, dropping Aurin's hand like it was a piece of coal hot out of the oven, and hid her own behind her as she turned around. It was a different messenger than the one who had been looking for her earlier, though the elven woman looked no less harried and irritable at having to hunt for her intended delivery subject.
Not wanting to be in the way, nor to let a stranger in on their secret, the mage took a step back and waited off to the side of the hall for the exchange to end. The messenger had already taken note of her presence, though, bowing her head. "Warden," said the petite woman, before turning to crane her neck upward at Aurin. A scowl was tugging at the corners of her mouth, though she was trying to show restraint, perhaps because he was a templar and because she was in the presence of one of her employers. "Been looking for you, ser. You're in a party headed to the town of Redcliffe. Lucky you. Nice place. A bit fishy." The messenger briefly glanced over at Beth, as if only just realizing it was odd that the two of them were together, before turning back to Aurin. She didn't say anything -- not that is was her place to do so, anyway -- merely continued her information. "Your briefing is mid-morning, tomorrow, in the meeting hall by the library. Final departure time from the Keep is the day following. Maker's blessing." The woman bowed at them again, and was just as quick to dash the other way down the corridor as she was to approach them. An awkward silence took her place.
Redcliffe. It was on one of the shores of Lake Calenhad. Bethen used to pretend she could see the village from the higher levels of the Tower, but in truth, one could hardly see the shoreline of the docks from their island. At least she knew exactly where he was headed, unlike at other times, when he would go off on missions that he couldn't speak of. There was some small comfort in being able to point at a spot on map and think he was standing under her finger. Better than knowing nothing. Idly, she began to play with the hem of her sleeve, her spirit clearly dampened by the interruption, though she attempted a wry smile, "So... Now we know for certain. I'm going camping in the outbacks, and you're going to enjoy feasting on smoked fish." Obviously, it wasn't as simple a situation as that, but she almost didn't want to know what kind of peril they were both going to face.