you're a stranger til she whispers that your journey's over

[chainlightning]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Merrill & Sabine
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: A death announcement.
WHEN: Wintermarch 15ish
WHERE: Halamshiral but open to anyone
NOTES: Talk of death. Merrill in black, Sabine in green.

[ The broadcast starts with a hissed in breath. Merrill is almost in tears, voice shaking, but those who know her well will know it isn’t just shaking from sorrow -- there is true rage there, too. ]

Martel is dead. He was killed in Halamshiral. [ She takes a deep breath. ] Who did it isn’t known, other than that it was most likely- it had better be an enemy to all of us.

Martel was a rifter, and a shemlen. He was given a place in the LeBlanc house.

[ Sabine is recognisable, and quiet without sounding subdued. Embittered is a good word. Her Orlesian accent distinct against Merrill's musical Dalish, but also holds the kind of tension that comes with keeping it together. ]

But he called us little sister. Fitting, non, that a shem who can say as such for elves, and who would openly, is one who has fallen out of a fucking rift.

[ Too tired, too filled with grief, Merrill doesn’t argue. ]

I don’t- we don’t know what the rituals of his world were. But Martel considered Thedas his new home just as he considered us his family. He died for us, for the Inquisition, and we will remember and honor him for it. He was our friend, our family.

And- well. We thought you should know.

[ Sabine adds; ] He will be buried and mourned before we return for Skyhold. If you knew him. [ The invitation to, you know, join them is somewhere in there, oddly blank between the lines, grudging but necessary. ]

Comments

[sunshinethroughgrey]

I ... I didn't know Martel well. But he was special to Merrill, so of course I will be there. Would you like me to sew him a burial shroud, to be burned with him?

[She assumes they are going to burn him. They could go Nevarran but that doesn't seem likely.]

[chainlightning]

[ There is less anger in her voice, for Bethany; Bethany is also sister, and she nearly lost her too, once. ]

If you have time. If not- just you coming would be appreciated.

[ They are going to burn him, but back in Skyhold, a tree will be planted in his remembrance also. Merrill may tug Bethany along for that, too. ]

[sunshinethroughgrey]

I shall make the time for you, Merrill, you know that.

[Her voice is saddened, but supportive.] And of course I shall come. You just let me know whatever you need me to do, and I shall do. I am so sorry for your loss.

[chainlightning]

I don't know that there will be much before they lay him to rest, but. Thank you.

[ There's a pause and then, much more quietly: ] I didn't even get a chance to try and help him.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Oh Merrill ... sometimes... sometimes there just isn't any time. [She sighed, heavily, thinking of her Mother.] Sometimes all we can do is mourn. Don't blame yourself for not being able to help. He knew you would have, if you could. We all do.

[chainlightning]

[ After a moment- ] Thank you.

[ For more than just her words, for more than just the support. For everything. ]

I'll see you soon, okay?

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Any time, any place.

[And that is a promise made, for now and always.]

Very soon.

[foxsays]

[Very quiet, because they made it out of that damned dungeon:]

I will be there. He was-- [how do you honestly have words for what he actually was?] many things. Do either of you need anything to be brought to Halamshiral?

[chainlightning]

[ She knows. She knows, and that makes it hurt all the worse. ]

I- if you're in Skyhold now, do you think- would you be willing to see if maybe he wrote some sort of set of instructions, in case of his death? Always planning ahead, you know.

[ She knows it's a lot to ask, but if there's anyone not currently in Halamshiral that she trusts to do it, it's Araceli. ]

[foxsays]

When old men are not fond of their own voices, they are too fond of their own wisdom to be preserved for the future. [Merrill you heard nothing breaking through her bard's mask there, only you did. She's not going to hear him again, she won't get to make him feel impossibly old again or be called terrible by him.] No one will see me go in and out, I promise you that.

[chainlightning]

[ She heard it. She covers for her with a sad laugh. Oh, Martel. You poor bastard. ]

I'd tell you to lock the door behind you, but I hear Sabine's taking care of that. Maybe do it anyway, make any looters have to work harder for it.

[foxsays]

[Why did you have to befriend these small terrifying ladies Martel, honestly.]

Was there not someone who had bees? It would be a good parting gift for someone poking around. Or a lecture on politics, the nature of man.

[Honestly the most valuable thing were their little talks, says the girl with a sapphire tucked away in her possessions.]

[chainlightning]

[ Good taste tbh. ]

Was there? I think it would make him sigh while he tried not to laugh, if that happened. If only bees could give lectures.

[ Merrill isn't even going to know what to do with his possessions, honestly. ]

[foxsays]

That or they were in jars. Someone sat on them in the tavern. You know the most about the right sort of wildlife, I am certain you would know how a bee would lecture.

[Keep it all and unleash it on the enemy. But that's the pirate in her thinking.]

[glandival]

Liquor.

[ Droll. She is made of coarser stuff than Merrill. More opaque. (She will definitely be drinking, later.) ]

Like the Dalishwoman says, he's the sort of shem who'd have written something down. Perhaps also-- his things, seeing no one decides to do what they will with them.

[foxsays]

Any preference?

[If not, it's Antivan brandy or good rum from Rivain because wine is for Orlesians. (No offense Sabine.)]

I'll see to it. He was a man of means, some I will move elsewhere until you are both returned to Skyhold to claim it, I do not trust the roads. Did he-- should I look for his medallion, or is it with him?

[glandival]

Strong liquor.

[ No preference. But definitely not Orlesian wine. ]

Merci -- thank you. And, ah, he has it. Had it. It is with him, [ her sentence terminates with a little impatience at herself. ] He should keep it, oui?

[foxsays]

[Noted, she'll bring both. Feels like the perfect time to get trashed.]

Good, I'm-- I'm glad. Something less to look for there. [Which isn't what she wants to say really but other people can hear this since so she's not going to make a scene.]

[byblow]

If I can do anything—

[ Obviously. He stops. Ineffectual all around. ]

I'm sorry.

[chainlightning]

[ Alistair is a surprise - but Merrill doesn't know about him and Sabine. Still, she appreciates it. ]

Thank you.

Did you know him?

[byblow]

Not very well. He—was smooth, I knew that.

[ And he donated the barrel of beer responsible for the best day Alistair has had all year. But this isn't the time. ]

And I know you two.

[chainlightning]

And kind underneath it, even.

[ At least, he was always kind to Merrill. ]

Just as you're kind, Alistair.

[glandival]

Do not.

[ Do not apologise. Do not do anything? Sabine wrestles a little bit with what she means and also with Alistair's sympathy and her visible feelings.

She amends, awkwardly; ]

You do not have to.

[byblow]

[ His answering pause is awkward in length, but that gives him time to square up. ]

I'd like to, if you want me to.

pretend this isnt five years late

[arlathvhen]

O-Oh. Oh, no...

[ She, by no means, knew Martel well. But she knew him, and she liked him. That he had died, someone who seemed so competent, and in charge, when idiots like her had managed to squeak by...That hardly seemed fair. ]

[ To Merrill: ] Ir abelas, ma falon. [ Then for everyone else: ] I'm sorry that this has happened. It's--He was a good man.

You have my help, if you need it.

<3

[chainlightning]

Ma serannas, [ said with a swallow at the end, Merrill choking back more emotion before she completely loses it. ]

I thought- well. He called me sister, so- maybe we could plant a tree for him, in Skyhold.

[arlathvhen]

If he called you family, than he is family. We will give him a beautiful tree.

I can make the arrangements, if you have a preferred type of tree...?

[chainlightning]

[ Oh, Beleth. Merrill doesn't have the words for how much that means, but there's another choked-off sob that maybe implies it. ]

I think- something that will grow sturdy. Something that someone could sit under when it rains and be sheltered.

[arlathvhen]

[ She nods--Oh, wait. ]

I'll do my best.