CHAPTER TWO: DAFFODIL
"A vain man drowned and flowers bloomed on his grave. His beauty rotted away to become eternal."
It was raining.
The library had been chilly and those who quietly studied shivered beneath their thick robes. The only sounds emanating from within had been the light chatter of teeth and the flipping of pages. Of course there had also been the sound of rain but that was only white noise compared to the sounds of daily life occurring. It had always been this way in the tower: cold and quiet, lifeless even.
Nestled among a pair of shelves sat the new and proud member of the circle. It had been days since her Harrowing, a week the next day if she had remembered correctly, and even with the time that had passed she found her thoughts lingering upon her encounter with the demon. It was side effects of the fade, that's all, is what the senior mages had told her when she woke up in bed the next day, it's normal to feel like this for the next little bit. However there was just something peculiar about it all. The girl was afraid to admit it but she didn't feel right and no matter how many times she joked with herself that it was just the feeling of some templar spying on her she knew that wasn't the case.
It was difficult to explain but the girl had felt different. It was almost as if she had been reformed after what happened, like she was someone completely different. It wasn't too big of a change but it felt like she was no longer that little apprentice who filled her days with romanticized escapes and being on the run from the templars. Of course those were just day dreams she dare not make real but still her dreams. And with the sudden blossoming into a full fledged circle mage it felt as if all of those beloved childhood fantasies were ripped from her. Tossed to the side of the room to rot, unloved and forgotten as if they had never even happened. That thought had terrified her and it made her feel odd.
"Are you sure they didn't turn you into a Tranquil? You look a little out of it." a voice mused to her right.
"Hah, never mind looking it, try feeling it." she answered with a half-smile as she turned her gaze to the side. Standing next to the girl had been Fauna, Rosy's closest friend who had yet to go through with her own Harrowing, and for just a moment the two stared at one another. Their eyes peered into each other's and as they did a silent conversation had been shared. Secrets bloomed in their silence, it became a little warmer within the cold room, and before much more could be left bare Fauna reached outwards to touch the girl's cheek.
"You without your color? I couldn't imagine anything worse."
The feeling of Fauna's fingertips against her skin had been a strange sensation. It tickled and pricked as she lightly rubbed, the feeling growing intense with each slight movement that ran from her arm downward. Her cheeks had been cold, something that didn't occur to Rosy until her friend's warm fingers met her skin, and as she continued to touch she began to warm up. Fauna had always been such a hands-on woman even when they were little girls. It was always a wonder with her that needed explaining with touch. Nothing else would make sense to her unless it was in her hand being studied and prodded. There had been quite a few times that need had been the cause for her getting into trouble by the elder mages. Even now as young women it was her main reason for being scolded like a child.
"How about we go for a walk? This library is beginning to drain me." Rosy stated then with a smile and a laugh as she removed herself from her seat to stand just in front of the blonde woman. "If I stay here any long I fear I'll be asleep before I know it and Maker forbid I rest while there is so much to do."
"Hah, we don't want to keep those templars waiting, do we? Who else would they pester with their fool notions." Fauna replied while quickly recoiling her hand, a grin curling the ruby-shaded lips as she quickly padded after her shorter friend.
The walk had been a quiet one since they left the library. The wandered by some of the many rooms and more than once had they been scrutinized and closely watched by a few templars. Despite how heavily they were being observed like little birds in an open cage with cats prowling about this was in fact one of their better days. Not good but still better. There hadn't been an incident to report just yet and the day was nearly half over. A really good day really.
Wandering by the little chapel with a few priests lurking about, they both peered into the room as they passed. The two sisters were diligently working, whatever their daily duties were, and were too invested in such matters to see the two mages walk by. Perhaps it was better off that way but regardless if they were seen or not they would have pressed onward. They didn't relish having a conversation with a bride of the Maker so late in the day.
"So," Fauna began as they neared the stairwell that led upstairs "The Harrowing."
Rosy's lips curled devilishly while her eyes darted towards her friend and found that her gaze had been met. "My lips are sealed. I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to."
"You don't even want to tell me?" The blonde began, the fake pout ever prominent in her voice. "And what of those eleven years of friendship? Did they mean nothing? You wound me."
"Oh Fauna, if you look anymore downcast you're going to start growing mushrooms."
"Maker forbid! I hate those things."
"With that pout? You'll have a dozen prize winners by the end of the week if you find a good corner, I'm certain."
The two then halted their walking as they neared the large window. Through the varying shades of glass they could see Kirkwall in all of it's terrible glory. It was silent as they both stared like caged little bird's longing for the sky, their eyes scanning the horizon through the rain that pelted their enclosure. There had been a few times as a child when she had gotten stuck in the rain and in consequence she had become ill. Besides the garden the only thing she could remember about her mother was her chilly hands and how often they grazed against her skin while she was sick. It was peculiar but there had been no explanation for why they were so, they simply were and Rosy hated it. A lot of the time she would recoil from her mother's touch and as a child she never understood the hurt behind her mother's eyes when she did so.
And now as a grown young woman she missed those times, especially those cold hands.
"Sometimes I wonder what it feels like." Fauna began and Rosy turned her head to look at her friend as she spoke. "The rain I mean."
"You've never felt it before?" Rosy asked, quiet and a little curious.
Fauna's light features softened in almost a sad way that made the dark-haired girl a little sad herself. There was some sort of longing behind her friend's hazel eyes that looked tormented in a way. Fauna was by far the stronger of the two, comparable to that of sturdy steel or a mountain even, and seeing her in such a open way was a little difficult to see. Despite being a strong, beautiful and capable woman it was clear that there was a certain softness in her core that hid a completely different person.
"When I was little, yes, but it's been so long I've forgotten the way it feels." The blonde answered then.
"I imagine it's still cold. And wet. I don't think you're missing much." Rosy retorted lightly causing Fauna too look over at her with an astonished look.
"Incredible. Thank you for that marvelous insight considering I can't already see that myself."
"Yes, helping the helpless and patching wounds is what I'm best at. No need to thank me, really."
The two women laughed then despite their moment of unfastened feelings just seconds prior. The feeling of relief welling in her heart was mixed with regret, however, for Rosy couldn't help but to be very much thankful for the sudden change of mood. The female loved listening to people and making them feel better but when her own rock of support weakened she couldn't help but to be afraid of it. It was a selfish thing to do, to not want to see her friend open in such a way, but what could she do? The girl just couldn't make herself accept something like that, knowing the strongest person she knew could be weak.
"I wouldn't want to go out in the rain anyway. It would ruin my makeup." Fauna stated through a grin as her eyes glanced back to the window.
"What's underneath would certainly scare any demon away, that's for sure." Rosy muttered under her breath, a smirk on her lips, which caused a loud laugh and snort to erupt from her friend. They laughed tirelessly for moments afterward as they stood in the ever growing darkness. The candles along the walls magically lit up as they always did with the waning day and despite their glow it wasn't very warm. It was still mercilessly raining outside and the cold seeped in through the windows like a lost spirit looking for the light.
But truthfully underneath those ruby lips and decorated green eyes had been a gorgeous and proud woman. A bit of a narcissist who had rarely ever been seen without the slightest of attention to her face and golden curls, Fauna was remarkable with her looks and courage. Brave, beautiful and vigorous, it truly was a wonder how someone like her hadn't been tied down yet. She certainly had enough suitors asking for her but as far as it was known she had turned them all down saying they "weren't her type." It was odd but it was apparent that such a strong creature needed no one to stand so strong and firm.
Which was another reason why seeing her so subdued terrified Rosy.
Suddenly the sound of someone running down the angled stairs made the two women turn away from the cold window to see what was happening. It was a bit odd to hear such a sound considering running down the stairs was a dangerous thing to do and even more so considering just how twisty and never ending these particular stairs were. Nevertheless they both watched as an apprentice a few years younger than them hurdled his way towards the spot they stood. It was a strange look he had in his eye, like he had just witnessed the rising of Andraste or something equally as compelling.
"R-Rosy?" he asked them with a huff as he skidded towards them.
"What's this about." Fauna questioned the poor boy in a protective manner.
"The First Enchanter w-wishes to speak with you!" He responded and made the girls look to one another. It was a bit odd considering they hadn't spoken since her Harrowing and she simply figured he wouldn't speak to her ever again after that. With this sudden apprentice and news of his want the girl wondered what this could be about. The look upon Fauna's lovely features indicated she felt the same towards this whole ordeal.
"All right, I will go to him. Mind yourself on these stairs, though," Rosy answered as she stare at the boy "It would be an awful thing to take a tumble on such a thing when we have perfectly good templars to ruffle our feathers."
For a moment it was clear the boy was a little lost for words but the moment he understood his eyes lit up and he beamed at the grinning woman. With a quick nod he turned his heel and continued his way down the stairs. Both Fauna and Rosy watched as the boy disappeared into the circle's depths leaving only a memory. Rosy then decided that it was her time to leave as well.
"I suppose I should be going as well. Don't get into too much tro -"
"Rosy wait," Fauna stated as she reached outward to grab her friend's hand and taken aback the girl turned slightly, her eyes meeting her friend's lovely ones. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Unsure of her friend's sudden seriousness she didn't really know what to say. They simply gazed at one another, the sound of the rain beating hard against the glass behind them, and for a moment it was as if time stopped in that dimly lit stairwell.
"Fauna, what's wrong?" she asked then, gathering the courage to bear her friends weight.
They stared at one another in that silence. Not a single word had been uttered as the rain poured endlessly.
"Nothing, I just wanted to say thank you."
Then she smiled and the tension was lifted. The warmth of her friends fingertips lingered with the coldness of her own as the taller female then let go. It was a strange and peculiar warmth that lingered. But Rosy nodded, turned and walked up the stairs as fast as she could without running. Not once did she look back and not once did she give another thought to the feeling in her hand. She was just too afraid to see her rock crumble.