Geek. Fangirl. A place for stuff and nonsense.
At the moment, expect to see a lot of Dragon Age and Avengers, mixed with a little Vampire Diaries, Doctor Who, and Game of Thrones/ASoIaF. And musicians, always musicians.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Warden!Bethany’s Alphabet - D is for Dance
(Characters that I really like keep magically creating themselves in these ficlets. How does that happen?)
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Bethany suspects Stroud asks her to go to the Margrave’s ball only because she’s currently the only female in residence at the Warden compound. That’s okay. Whatever the reason, it means she gets to buy a fancy dress and be a normal person for a night. It’s an opportunity she can’t pass up.
Honestly, when they walk into the ballroom at the Margrave’s Keep, for a moment Bethany feels like she’s in some storybook from her childhood - one of the ones where a servant girl becomes a princess for a night by some magical force or another, falls in love with a prince and ends up living happily ever after. But then Stroud leans over and murmurs to her, “Remember, you’re representing the Wardens tonight. We need the Margrave’s support for our Keep’s expansion.”
Honestly, when they walk into the ballroom at the Margrave’s Keep, for a moment Bethany feels like she’s in some storybook from her childhood - one of the ones where a servant girl becomes a princess for a night by some magical force or another, falls in love with a prince and ends up living happily ever after. But then Stroud leans over and murmurs to her, “Remember, you’re representing the Wardens tonight. We need the Margrave’s support for our Keep’s expansion.”
Definitely not a children’s story. More like a political drama, mixed with some military action - the kind of story Carver always preferred. Though, the idea of Carver all dressed up and making nice with the Ansburg nobles is amusing enough that Bethany has a genuine smile on her face when she’s formally introduced to the Margrave and his son.
The son - Hendric - takes Bethany’s hand and bows. “May I have this dance, my lady Warden?”
It’s not quite a storybook moment. Hendric is slightly shorter than Bethany, and looks a little puffy besides, but he has a kind smile and looks honestly delighted when Bethany agrees to be led out onto the dance floor. “I’m not really familiar with this dance,” she confesses when the music starts. “I apologize if I step on your toes.”
“That’s all right. I’m not a very good dancer myself.” He laughs. “We’ll just hope we’re both wearing sturdy enough shoes.”
They manage to begin just fine. Once they’ve caught the rhythm of the other people surrounding them, they’re able to converse. “I’m curious,” Hendric says, “how does a lovely woman like you end up a Grey Warden?”
Bethany’s not quite sure how to answer. This certainly isn’t the time to talk about traitorous dwarfs and rock wraiths and the feeling of death creeping into her blood. “It’s a long story,” she settles on, “and not necessarily a party sort of conversation.”
He flushes pink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”
“No offense taken,” she assures him. “I haven’t been a Warden for very long,” she continues. “Just over a year.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
Another question that can’t be answered honestly. No, I hate it. I wish I’d died in the Deep Roads. Only, that’s not quite true either - she doesn’t wish herself dead. She wishes her life had turned out differently, sometimes on a daily basis, and she hates the taint that oozes in her blood like a hallucinatory time bomb. But, she likes being useful; she likes being able to use her magic without fear of Templars, and she likes watching the people around her come to respect her abilities more and more every day.
Bethany glances around the room. If things had been different - if she’d made it home, if she lived in the mansion with her mother and sister and enjoyed the spoils of their expedition - would she be like the people here? Would she have gone to balls in Kirkwall, danced and flirted and gossiped with the rest of the Hightown nobles? They’d certainly found enough in the Deep Roads that, with careful management, she wouldn’t have had to work, not for a long time. So, theoretically, she could have lived the life of a young noblewoman, free of obligations.
Was that even something she wanted?
Her mind’s immediate answer surprises her. Maker, no. I’d rather be useful.
“I don’t think being a Warden is necessarily something you enjoy,” Bethany answers slowly, “but I enjoy the results of what I do.”
“Fair enough.” Hendric smiles, just before they collide with another couple. They both blurt out hasty apologies, but when they look at each other, they both burst out into giggles. “Perhaps,” Hendric says, “we’re better off sitting this one out. But will you allow me to get you a drink?”
“I’d like that.”
Hendric leads her across the floor, and Bethany leaves the dancing - and some of her storybook fantasies - behind. She feels just a little bit lighter for it.
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missl0nelyhearts said:
oh, sugar! i love warden!bethany so much. you captured so much of why it’s such a great path for her (and not so great). USEFUL. like the ladies of Downton Abbey (if you watch), Bethany finds herself in adversity. <3
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