Apparently not enough. Apparently, their love is supposed to sustain me instead of such paltry, selfish things as happiness. How unnecessary. A Keeper is sustained by divine purpose, not...
[ Alistair is quiet for a moment, because he's trying to understand. He's never really been in love--not that Pel is, yet, he doesn't know, maybe that's premature--and the Wardens are dedicated to their purpose above all else, but it doesn't bother him. He needs a moment to find an analogy to make his sympathy more than shallow and instinctive.
Remembering those terrifying weeks when it looked like he might possibly have to give up the Wardens and go be a king are as close as he can get, but it's enough to make him sound a little firmer and less flippant. ]
[It occurs to her that having this conversation with James results in him being extra-careful and trying not to offend anyone, especially not elves, while still sympathizing and trying to shoulder her pain. Which sounds like it ought to lighten the load, but it doesn't. James strives to inflict himself with her pain, and she inflicts herself with his as he inflicts himself with hers, a never-ending spiral of compounded misery.
Alistair says three words, and she smiles.]
Do you...really think so? Continuing the bloodline and all...although there's nothing to say we can't adopt elven orphans from alienages. Their blood is as pure as mine.
The Grey Wardens had to conscript me, did I tell you that? [ He didn't. Probably. Did he? ] The Templars didn't want to let me leave. Not because they liked me or wanted to keep me around, or anything, it was just that they were sure I'd go out and embarrass them. And I do my best to. It's one of the few pleasures in my life.
So saying that he's decent, relatively, and you're a smart woman who wouldn't do anything stupid— that's really the biggest concession I can make. And I can't stop teasing you for it. You understand, right?
Edited (my memory is so baaaaad) 2016-01-28 19:27 (UTC)
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[ He says it like please. ]
You love your people.
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[There's no word for it besides...]
Sustenance.
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Remembering those terrifying weeks when it looked like he might possibly have to give up the Wardens and go be a king are as close as he can get, but it's enough to make him sound a little firmer and less flippant. ]
Well, that's bullshit.
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Alistair says three words, and she smiles.]
Do you...really think so? Continuing the bloodline and all...although there's nothing to say we can't adopt elven orphans from alienages. Their blood is as pure as mine.
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[ Look. ]
The Grey Wardens had to conscript me, did I tell you that? [ He didn't. Probably. Did he? ] The Templars didn't want to let me leave. Not because they liked me or wanted to keep me around, or anything, it was just that they were sure I'd go out and embarrass them. And I do my best to. It's one of the few pleasures in my life.
So saying that he's decent, relatively, and you're a smart woman who wouldn't do anything stupid— that's really the biggest concession I can make. And I can't stop teasing you for it. You understand, right?
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