Dawn of Summerday Eve

Posted on 12 Dec 2021 @ 9:24pm by Warrior Martin Josceran & Rogue Elinowy Ursulas
Edited on on 13 Dec 2021 @ 1:42am

2,439 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Martin's apartment
Timeline: Cloudreach 19th – Next morning after visit to Chantry

The first rays of morning broke the horizon. Upon the roof of Guard Josceran's apartment, the ritual began again. Each foot was placed with intent, shoulder's width apart. The strength of her arms pressed her palms together, building in tension as she waited for this moment. Her hair set ablaze in that first burst of sun. She listened to her breathing, she felt her heart race, counting each beat as she began....

"Then did I see the world spread before me,
Sky-reaching mountains arrayed as a crown,
Kingdoms like jewels, glistering gemstones
Strung 'cross the earth as a necklace of pearl.
"All this is yours," spake the World-Maker.
"Join Me in heaven and sorrow no more."

"World-making Glory," I cried out in sorrow,
"How shall your children apology make?
We have forgotten, in ignorance stumbling,
Only a Light in this darken'd time breaks.
Call to Your children, teach us Your greatness.
What has been forgotten has not yet been lost."

As she greeted the day proudly singing of the Maker's love for his bride, she moved through the practiced 21 forms, twisting, shifting and rolling her arms and legs in rhythmic liturgy to the Chant that left her lips. Twas the eve of Summerday. The faithful of the town would be about adorning their homes with garlands of flowers, scented pasteries and spiritual gifts to honor the earthly bride of the Maker. While not as important in Chantry's calendar as the immolation and sacrifice of the bride, it was uniquely beautiful giving honor unto earthly love as much as that of the maker. It perhaps explained why the general populace embraced this more superficial of holidays. Sister Elinowy looked over the Jader skyline as the morning broke. The Maker loved all these people, the Anderfels, Antiva, Ferelden Nevarra, even the mages of Tevinter and of course blessed Orlais. Each was called to extend the chant to the ends of the earth. Why should not those called by the maker not rejoice in the simple comforts of hearth and home the festival emphasized.

Upon resting after her morning devotion, the scarlet haired sister prayed for all the people of Thedas. Today may be the day they truly learn to love one another. It was her duty to help them see this. She reentered the home where she had been given shelter for the night and if the Maker permitted thorough out the Festival. She checked the kettle she had started heating in the hearth before ascending to the roof. She scooped in several spoonfuls of the ground beans that would make the guardsman's coffee. The pungent spiced aroma began to fill the house.

Sister Elinowy's devotions were enough to rouse a light sleeper like Martin. He groaned, rolled around, but couldn't drift back to sleep, although he'd pulled another late shift and only caught a few hours of sleep. The pale golden light of dawn filtered through the ill-fitting shutters, reminding him that the day had already started. He kept meaning to ask Raoul to fix those but always forgot.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee was finally enough to convince him to give up on sleep for now. He stood, splashed some water on his face and pulled on a fresh shirt. The children were still sleeping so he crossed the corridor silently, deftly avoiding the creaky spot by Raoul's door, and made his way down to the kitchen where Elinowy was making breakfast.

"Good morning, Sister. If that coffee tastes as good as it smells, I may have to ask you to stay longer."

The tall Chantry sister smiled. "It is the least I can do for your kindness of allowing me shelter in your home. I should warn you, the sisters back home banned me from making coffee in the mornings. Apparently it is not advisable to make something you do not consume. Something about being so thick you could chew it. I hope it is at least palatable to you." she said giving a modest bow.

"I'm sure it can't be quite that..." Martin trailed off as he caught a glance of the coffee, which did look a very deep shade of black. "...bad. Uh, what do you usually have for breakfast ? We have half a loaf from yesterday, jam and butter."

As he spoke he rummaged in a cupboard to bring out two wooden plates, a butter knife and two black ceramic cups that he placed on the table, then unwrapped the bread from the clean cloth it was stored in. Two pots followed, one full of honey, the other of sugar. The butter was stored in a small covered dish, as was the jam. Martin helped himself to the coffee then looked questioningly at Elinowy.

"What would you like to drink ? I think we may have some lime-tree flowers somewhere if you'd care for an infusion." Neither he nor Raoul really drank anything other than coffee, but they kept the lime-tree around in case someone got sick.

As he waited for Elinowy's answer Martin took a sip from his cup. The bitterness of the overly-strong coffee did not catch him completely unaware thanks to Elinowy's warning and he put the cup back down to discreetly add a spoonful of sugar. Or two.

The flame haired sister held her hand up politely, "Thank you. I enjoy lime a great deal, however I made some tea earlier. It's remarkable what you can find freely growing even in a city. I used to have an extensive garden back in Bete Noire with an amazing variety of herbs from all over Thedas." she turned toward the small window as her thought turned to home. "The Maker provides." she said with a serene but sad face.

The sister looked... nostalgic ? No, it was more than that. Her tone and expression bespoke of loss and longing. Those were feelings Martin was better acquainted with than he would prefer.

"Bête Noire," he said carefully. "Is that where you're from ?" He made sure to keep his tone light and the question open, so that the sister could choose to either share or deflect.

With a bit more sugar to squash the bitterness his coffee was actually drinkable, albeit much stronger than his usual. Martin took another sip, without taking his eyes off Elinowy.

Her face with a practiced placidity Elinowy looked at Martin. "...Yes. Home. It seems so distant now. Another life almost. Until about ten years ago, I had never been anywhere else. Now my life is always something new and unfamiliar." she managed a bleak smile. "The path of the Maker can take you many places one never imagined going. I expected to live my life with my gardens, my research and caring for my community. Now I am drinking tea with the guard in Jader. But this life is a blessing too, even if it feels untethered. A path is always best seen behind you I suppose."

She lifted her tea cup and took a sip, lowering it to where her eyes intersected Martin's own gaze. "And what of you? You were a Templar in the order and now you fight to get the respect of your superiors. Your life has taken some turns too it seems."

Martin hadn't seen that line of inquiry coming, although he should have in retrospect. It had been a long time since anyone had asked - he'd steadily refused to answer any questions when his friends had come, one after the other, hoping to get him to return to the fold. It didn't feel like this was Sister Elinowy's intention though.

And in fact, she hadn't asked. She'd made a statement, leaving it up to him to comment or change the subject. That kindness was nothing surprising coming from her.

"You're right," Martin agreed. "Although becoming a Templar was never my decision. It was..." he hesitated. "...my family's wish. Oh, I liked it well enough. Loved it, even. The camaraderie, the training, having a higher purpose. In the end, however, I realized it wasn't the right calling for me." He shrugged. "I wish it had been but you don't really get to decide those things, do you ? It's just the way it happens. The Maker's will, maybe ? My family didn't really understand, though. That's one of the reasons I stayed here, rather than go back north..." He trailed off. He hadn't meant to share that much, but there was something about Sister Elinowy that invited confidences.

Elinowy smiled at Martin, nodding slightly as she sipped her tea. "I would think you would be an excellent soldier of Andraste. It is the order's loss that you were called elsewhere. I wanted to be a sister from the time I was a child, but I still recall the weight of my consecration rite. To cast your fate upon what to many people seems unknowable requires courage and a healthy amount of faith." she paused looking into her teacup, her eyes closing in reflection. "And here I am again, following a path that I have no confidence outside of faith will lead to anything of meaning. I find the Maker's sense of humor is the most manifest attribute of his will."

She thought introspectively again. "Forgive me, I am sermonizing you on my own discernments. What lays ahead for you this fine eve of Summersday?"

It must be nice, to be so certain in one's calling, and in the Maker's will. Martin had made the choice that was right for him, but at times he wondered if he hadn't been selfish in so doing. No, he knew he had been. He just couldn't have gone on to become a Templar, after... he chased the unbidden memory from his mind.

"I don't really have any plans," he replied to the Sister. "Aside from doing my shift as usual. I might put in some overtime today, Summerday is always a busy time for the Guard as you can imagine. Hopefully that will put me in a better stead with the Captain. I'll need to do the rounds in the Alienage anyway, and that always takes a bit longer."

It took longer in part because he always took the time to speak to some of the residents of the alienage. Getting to know them was an ongoing process, even after years on the job, but it had been immensely helpful in the past. It was a mutually beneficial situation, in which he occasionally looked the other way on lesser misdemeanours, but knew he could get honest testimonies about more serious crime ; of which the elves were the victims as often as the perpetrators, if not more.

"Just another day on the job." she said nodding kindly. "Be careful around all those elves, you never know what they could be up to." she stated solemnly. "I have a day of preparing for tomorrow's festivities. The elder had wanted me to give blessing around town. I am happy to do that, but I would like to make things a little more special for those enjoying the festival, especially the children. I'm going to make some surprises for them. I need to find some cleaning solutions and fairly potent alcohol spirit and a silver button if you have any. It wont make a big mess, I can mix it up here in the kitchen."

Well, that was unexpected. So the Sister was a bit of an alchemist on top of everything else ? Go figure, Martin thought, amused. He'd certainly not make hasty judgements about people in the near future, especially Chantry Sisters.

"The cleaning solutions are in that cupboard," he said, pointing to the piece of furniture in question. "And I'm sure I can dig out some cheap brandy. But I'm afraid we're short on the silver buttons. I have a couple of spare copper ones, if that'd help...?"

The Chantry sister began to look about the pantry as Martin had indicated. "No, I'm afraid only silver will do, the copper doesn't react the same way, it won't ignite properly. But not to worry, the Maker will provide." she said having no real idea where she would come across a small silver button, expensive as they might be, they were no uncommon. She had not been able to work with reagents during most of her time away from Bette Noire, it felt good to indulge herself in a little alchemy again. This was just a harmless trinket for the children she was working on, but the thrill of crafting was still there.

Elinowy selected a few bottle of spirits that were in the cupboard, uncorking and sniffing each to find the most potent mix of alcohol. "Do you find working with the creatures of the Alienage rewarding? I would be personally terrified, of course knowing the Maker would do with me as he desired, but isn't it dangerous? Even for a man of the Guard?"

Creatures ? Martin knew that Elinowy wasn't overly fond of elves but that was pushing it a little bit... wasn't it ? He eyed her cautiously. She didn't look like she was joking.

"Well... I suppose, yes. But dangerous is kind of in the job description." Martin shrugged then smiled. "I'm not sure it's more dangerous than being a beautiful red-haired Chantry sister alone late at night arresting would-be muggers." He paused, wondered if he really should stick his nose in this specific issue, but he couldn't not say anything. "Sister, forgive me if I'm overstepping, but... can I ask why you hold such a negative view of elves ?"

Elinowy paused for a moment and looked thoughtfully at Martin. "I suppose I do. Forgive me. I have just had very unpleasant experiences with elves in the past. They have been quick to lie and faster to be up to some type of mischief. I remind myself that their race bound themselves to magic and turn away from Andraste and the Chant to follow pagan deities." she sated placing the supplies for her crafting project down on the table and quickly cleaning her hands on a dish towel. "I do understand there can be good elves, but I just have not met one. Thieves and predators on the unwary and innocent. They have been unreliable and dangerous. I would never mean one harm, but I do watch my step around the Dales."

Picking up her ingredients, the Chantry sister spun about to place the goods down on the nearby table. "I will get to my work. I pray your day passes without great danger for you. I will try to have something edible come dinner." she stated cheerfully.

 

RSS Feed