[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

The letter he finally sends is maybe a little more impolitic than it ought to be, but if he doesn't send something now, he'll still be writing when his Calling arrives.



Fiona,

Ivette Cousland is looking for you. The name might ring a bell. Hero of Ferelden? Slayed the Archdemon some years ago?

Anyway. She's not having any luck, so I thought I'd try my hand at getting in touch.

Cousland's been searching for a cure for the Calling these past five years or so; she even retired as Warden-Commander of Vigil's Keep so she could pursue her research better. She knows your leaving the Wardens wasn't like mine. You didn't just walk away from Weisshaupt: you managed to un-Join somehow, with no ill effects. You're our last, best lead on the matter, so you can understand why she's rather eager to speak to you. It's very likely she doesn't have much time left, what with it being almost a decade and a half since her Joining and living through a Blight.

Frankly, I don't expect I have much time left, either.

Cullen and I are in South Reach these days. I'll always know where to find Cousland, if you'd rather speak with her directly. For all our sakes, I hope you'll be in touch.

--Alistair





Two weeks later, a raven knocks its beak against their window frame.

This is a matter best discussed in person, says the note attached to its leg. I can be to South Reach by the end of the month.

It's signed only with the letter F. Alistair spends the next few hours talking up a nervous storm, hands digging in his hair, half anxious, half furious. (This is exactly what he didn't want: for her to read this as an overture. For her to think she could have any claim to Alistair's time, Alistair's space, outside of giving him and Cousland the information they needed.)

Then he writes a letter to Cousland and sends the raven on its way.

Comments

[highnever]

Ivette presses her lips together -- in an effort not to start laughing, this time. When she's sure of herself:

"Alistair, that's... very similar to what you said about Morrigan, when we met her. Something about 'zap, frog time?'"

[bringspeopletogether]

He stares.

And then Alistair groans, loudly, and drops his face into his hands, shoulders already beginning to shake with poorly-suppressed laughter.

"Maybe that's Fiona's plan," he manages. "Turn us into frogs and stop the Calling that way -- "

[highnever]

"...would you believe me if I said Avernus already tried that?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair splutters. "He did?"

[highnever]

"It stands to reason," Ivette says, waving a hand. "If the act of transmutation can change a body's components so utterly... why wouldn't that be one of the first things to try?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"I suppose."

A quick grin.

"Though that means poor Orzammar has to deal with a swarm of frogs going on their Calling when it doesn't work. Dozens of them hopping off into the Deep Roads with tiny frog swords in hand, ready to stab a darkspawn in the ankle."

[highnever]

Ivette laughs, bright. "He never said anything about changing the swords, Alistair."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's eyes light up.

"Dozens of Warden frogs all carrying a single giant sword," he whispers reverently.

He's already plotting the next sketch in his journal.

[highnever]

"To do what with it?" she asks, giggling.

[bringspeopletogether]

"All that extra reach?"

He's starting to laugh, too.

"They could at least stab a darkspawn in the knee."

[highnever]

"Yes, once, at which point they'll all be stepped on by an ogre."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair, with all the solemnity he can muster -- which isn't much, considering how his mouth keeps twitching -- rests a palm over his heart.

"And we shall remember them," he intones.

[highnever]

Ivette reaches out and slugs him in the shoulder.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Ow!"

Alistair recoils, exaggerated, and pretends to nurse his shoulder.

[highnever]

"Think about that while you're remembering them."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Bruises fade, but the memory of my former superior officer punching me is forever," he sighs, just as exaggerated. "It may even erase the memory of a dozen Warden frogs."

[highnever]

"Did you want a better bruise? Because I can -- ?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Nooooo, no no no no, thank you, no."

He pats the spot where she punched him.

"Once is more than sufficient, ser."

[highnever]

"Doubtful," Ivette says, dry. "But assuming I take you at your word -- anything else before I hand over my notes and put my bedroll under a tree?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mmm -- no, I think the new and exciting twist in my family tree was the only big thing," he decides, and gives her another lopsided smile. "Will you need help unpacking?"

[highnever]

Without missing a beat:

"Yes, my maid will be along with my trunks."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Wonderful, I'll bring out our best plates and a full tea service. We're fresh out of candied mint, though, so there won't be any of that on your pillow in the evening."

Somehow, Alistair manages to deliver all that with a (mostly) straight face.

[highnever]

"Good," Ivette says, as imperiously as she can. "It's downright vulgar these days, didn't you know?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Oh, dear, it is?" With mock-dismay. "I learned all the wrong things at Inquisition Domestication Camp. Next you'll tell me nobody drinks tea anymore and I'm supposed to be boiling twigs every morning."

[highnever]

"That's what tea is, Alistair." Ivette digs in her pack, pulls out a slightly weather-beaten leather-bound tome carefully wrapped to prevent loose pages from falling out. "Here." And tosses it in his direction.