Alistair (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bringspeopletogether) wrote2018-06-23 09:32 pm
bringspeopletogether) wrote2018-06-23 09:32 pm
[sandbox]
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.
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.
no subject
"Any draft I write, I can throw in the fire if Ivette thinks it says too much." He sounds like he's reminding -- reassuring -- himself. "Not as if a raven will snatch anything I write out of my hands before the ink's even dry."
He wrinkles his nose again, a little.
"Which does mean I ought to get up and write the draft. Even though it's warm here. And you're here."
no subject
no subject
"Well," gravely, "then of course we can't have that. There's been enough to be getting on with already today."
He nudges Cullen gently.
"Budge up, love."