bethen avilla ; the circle mage (bethe) wrote in thedas,
For so many years, Bethen had wondered what it would be like to return to the town she'd been born in, but finally arriving here, it dawned on her that she was now homesick for the Tower, instead. For all the trauma endured in that hallowed spire, the worst days of her life played out in that gilded cage, it still struck her as a place of safety and comfort. Out in the open, she felt insecure and wary, especially as she drew nearer to the chantry. For as much as she trusted certain brothers and sisters of the Light, she couldn't help anticipating persecution. After all, it was the Revered Mother here who had sent templars for her. Even if the Tower turned out to be a haven, Beth still thought of the act as a condemnation, not a salvation.
She couldn't decide if the feeling of eyes pressing on her back was entirely imagined, especially since she had finally given up her Circle robes for a plainer set. After leaving Amaranthine, she had decided that it was false to pretend she was still part of the organization; furthermore, few members of the general populace had any fondness for magi, even if she was, more importantly, a Grey Warden. There was no need to draw attention to herself. Nevertheless, she felt anxious as a fully armored templar and a lay sister walked by, a feeling that receded as they hardly looked her way (though to be fair, she couldn't be certain the knight could even see her with his helm).
The unexpected feel of fur under her fingers and the pressure of the wolf's head brushing up against her made Bethen jump, tension still present in her body. She relaxed, though, realizing that it was the Ledaal's strange companion -- she hesitated to call him a pet, though he was far too tame for an ordinary wolf. He was intelligent, at least as much as any trained Mabari, and maybe more obedient than Noa was toward her master. The level of intuition he displayed was almost unsettling, but she had little room to judge what was or wasn't normal animal behavior. Instead, she indulged in the consolation he was attempting to provide, returning the favor by sinking her fingers deeper into his mane and gently stroking his neck.
As they neared the walled-in structure, Bethen paused and looked down at the wolf, smiling apologetically. "Hmm, I wish you could follow me, but I don't think you'd be very welcome where I'm going... No offense," she said quietly, scratching at a spot behind his ears, a place that Noa had enjoyed immensely. The irony of her statement hit then, and she smirked, "We're alike in that regard, I suppose. Though I'd be better at hiding what I am than you."