{ inbox for fade rift }

[aceso]

A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Christine, are you available? I have a need for your services as a healer; not for myself, but for Ser Coupe. She has not partaken of her philter in three weeks and frankly, is in a terrible state.

[Garahel whines in the background, all anxious.]

crystals;

[limier]

[ did she wait to have this conversation until she was on a boat to orlais and would run no risk of having to have it in-person? possibly. maybe. you can’t prove it.

but to put if off forever would be to neglect what delacroix's done for her. ]

I, ah. This is Coupe. [ nailed it. ] I wished to thank you, and — ah — to apologize for taking you from your work. I will see your stores reimbursed.

a letter

[rowancrowned]

Mme Delacroix,

At your convenience, I would like for us to speak. I will be in my office tomorrow from noon onward.

Sincerely,

Thranduil

letter, late harvestmere;

[boneflayer]

Madame Delacroix,

I think that's the correct title to give an Orlesian lady, we have few visiting the Hold and Gjurd who is my teacher now bid me send word to you when the dreams came.

A raven comes in my dreams, dark as the longest night without the moons, stars hidden behind the clouds, cold enough to swear that Hakkon himself stands beside my bed, but I am never afraid because I know the raven is my brother. I know and the spirit that walks at my side knows: Asher went to the Lady of the Skies, but the Lady of the Skies is around us, and so he is with me.

That is not why Gjurd would have me send word.

There are lessons and duties as you would expect for a hold, but I have time to myself since I wasn't raised idle, I was raised with the stories of my grandfather in my heart as much as Asher was, I carried them with me. When the raven was shrieking in my dreams, when the raven burst through the trees on my patrol to croak laughter at the bear with the antler jutting through one eye, yes, this is why I was to write to you.

Hakkon Wintersbreath is Lord of War and Winter, firstborn of Korth the Mountain-Father. He of frost and steel, the one to lead us all in battle but not only are the warriors with valour and vigilance granted his favour but the wise. It is wise to laugh, I think, in the face of what might be a terrible thing that stops the breath. When I laughed, the raven ceased to shriek. Landed light upon my shoulder.

I slept in the hollow of a tree, woke to greet the dawn with thanks to the Lady. I found the stag to take back for the hold but gave the antlers and the liver for the Mountain-Father.

Lady keep you.

Aura Hardie, Honey Badger Hold

[gatheringstorm]

Hey, Christine. I have a present for you, more or less. Casimir was working on a cleansing rune for me, one for armor instead of weapons. It should protect against red lyrium, at least if it's not ingested. As long as it's worn, it should protect against exposure.

[circleprodigy]

[In an uncharacteristic, excited rush.]

Christine, I just received the news! I'm to be your assistant in the project.

crystals; as everything is going down in vintaland

[limier]

[ very, very quietly. very, very intently: ]

Dragon. Red — [ the distant sound of someone screaming, rapid approaching footsteps ] — Huge. If we do not make it back, report to Ashara.

[chainlightning]

Christine! It's Merrill.

[ the ':D' is more than implied ]

What have I missed? As far as the research goes, but also in general- I was rather lost and wasn't getting a lot of news.