Things Left Unsaid Who: Ordhan Wyland, Lillie Therelle When: Evening, 21 Molioris, 9:45 Where: G3's camp between Denerim and the Brecilian Forest Summary: Ordhan finds himself driven to question Lillie about her use of magic. Rating: E Status: Complete
Lillian did not deserve to be so avoided. Much of the friendly, easygoing personality Ordhan had attributed to professionalism (if that was the right word for it) was proving to be more likely her own nature; she blended into the growing company with ease, her outgoing personality and helpfulness quickly endearing her to her new allies. Were she a completely stranger, Ordhan might have found her amiability refreshing. Given how much she liked to strike up conversation with her fellows, they would have likely talked, likely become friends of a sort.
But she was not quite a stranger. The knight instead had kept to the edges of each camp, away from the more sociable center of the gathering, busying himself with whatever mundane task he could set himself to. His armor was as well-polished as it had been when they first set out. What exchanges he and Lillian did have were civil, though at times awkward on his part, much like their recent meeting at Denerim had been.
Upon what stiltedness history gave them, there was...earlier. If there were any doubt of Lillian's usefulness to the group, it would have been dispelled by it, except for one detail: apostate. Despite Ordhan's doubts about Chantry teaching on magic, he was a Ferelden born and bred, and the word still managed to make his stomach tighten in uneasiness. The same feeling came whenever he glanced at her as they trudged on their way. The company was caught between trying to make up for lost time and not overtaxing the weakened Jill; they settled on a pace in between, the noise and adrenaline of the bandit encounter fading into the dust behind them. Every time the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the dark-haired woman as they went, a thousand questions and a thousand concerns flooded his mind. The road allowed neither the time nor privacy for any questions, however, and it wasn't until the company made camp that evening that he had the opportunity to put these wonderings to rest.
The night found Lillian in front of Jill's tent, legs tucked beneath her and a dress draped across her lap as she mended it. Some of the company had already taken to their tents. Deciding this was as discreet a time as any, he started to make his way towards her.
"Lillian?" he asked when he came near, keeping his voice low for more than the sake of the sleeping woman in the tent behind her. The knight's expression looked blank except for a light furrow between his brows, and his posture was not as straight as was normal, a hint of furtiveness about the stoop of his shoulders. "I had hoped to talk to you."