She ran her gloved hands over a peach in her palms. Vethari had been planning on eating it, but just couldn't bring herself to do it. Currently, she was standing on the balcony where the Spymaster received her messages via crow. It wasn't quite obvious to her yet if this was her way of hiding from Zevran or looking for a way to find more answers from Leliana. Zevran was out there in the town, helping the locals and sharing stories of his adventures while she avoided him. Things were tense between them still and she was only making things worse for them.
"Didn't think I would find you here." Leliana joined her side, and Vethari decided to finally bite into the peach skin and all. It reminded her of her childhood when her father had brought the fruits home as a rare treat.
"It's been a week, are you sure she's coming?"
Leliena leaned down by the railing of the balcony, brushing her hand over the wood finish. "She'll come, even if she's been hiding recently. I've never known Attie to shy away from the important things for long. What is going on with you and Zev?" She changed the subject so fast that Vethari could feel the emotional whiplash twisting in her.
"Nothing."
"Unbelievable, you have been here for a week and you are just as guarded as always. You are hurting him, Vetri...surely you can see that?"
Vethari took a bite of the peach, but it was no longer a sweet and juicy fruit. Instead, it was sour and unappetizing, reflecting the bitterness that had taken root within her. "He'll live," she said.
Leliana's face twisted into a scowl, "Zevran doesn't deserve to be treated this way. When he reached out to me about your Calling, I was almost tempted not to look into it. After everything you did-"
Vethari tossed the peach aside, the fruit sailing over the balcony before it hit the ground with a thud. She ran her hands over her head and leaned against the railing, resting her forehead on the wood. "Do you know what cruelty is, Leliana? It's giving someone hope when you know that your story will end in tragedy."
Leliana's expression softened as she stepped closer to Vethari. "You don't know that. You've already achieved the impossible. You defeated the Archdemon and survived. We have the book. Solas is the key to unlocking what the Blight is, and by following his trail, we find a cure."
"We both know what I asked Alistair to do to keep myself alive, and the stupid fool did it. Because he was good, and I was the demon. The knife-eared monster, a title I've come to embrace. No matter what I tell Zevran, he stays by my side like a loyal, lost dog. He's better off hating me."
The air between them was thick with unsaid feelings, and Leliana let out a heavy sigh, placing her hand on Vethari's shoulder. "I understand where you are coming from. I was lost for years after everything that happened, and that's when I became devoted to the Divine. I loved her." Leliana paused for a moment before continuing. "I thought I misunderstood what the Maker wanted from me. I thought he wanted me to only focus on killing those who threatened us."
Vethari looked at Leliana, a hint of confusion on her face. "You know I don't believe in the Maker or the Dalish gods..."
Leliana chuckled softly. "No, that's not what I mean. You are still so literal. What I'm saying is that I know the darkness you speak of, but it was when I let my friends in that things became clearer. The light made its way through the overcast of my soul, and I am grateful every day for my companions for helping me carry that burden."t. After everything you did -"
Vethari threw the peach across the expanse of the town and ran her hands over her head, resting her forehead against the railing." Do you know what cruelty is, Leliana? Giving someone hope when you know for a fact that your story will end in tragedy."
"You don't know that, you've already succeeded in the impossible. You defeated the Archdemon and you survived. We have the book. Solas is the key to unlocking what the Blight is and by following his trail we can see how to cure you. "
"We both know what I asked Alistair to do to keep myself alive and the stupid fool did it. Because he was good and I was the demon. The knife-eared monster, a title I've come to embrace, and no matter what I tell Zevran he stays by my side like a loyal, lost dog." Vethari sighed," He's better off hating me."
The air between them was thick with unsaid feelings and Leliana let out a heavy sigh placing her hand on Vethari's shoulder." I was where you were, for years. I was so lost after everything that happened and I became devoted to the Divine. I loved her." Leliana stepped closer, "I thought I misunderstood what the Maker wanted from me. I thought he wanted me to only focus on killing those who threatened us."
"You know I don't believe in the Maker right? Or the Dalish gods…"
Leliana laughed softly, "No. That's not I mean, you are still so literal. What I'm saying is I know that darkness you speak of but it was when I let my friends in that things became clearer. The light made its way through the overcast of my soul and I am grateful every day for my companions for helping me carry that burden."
Vethari stared at Leliana with a sort of confusion, she wasn't quite sure why she was being so kind and nice to her. It made her angry because everything she tried to do was to lessen the hurt everyone would feel when she finally died. It was a fucked up idea to her that anyone would hold unto people that were just targeted by fate for a brutal death. Leliana wasn't an exception to that rule just because they drifted apart over the years. "That is a very adorable sentiment, but I'm not about load all of my shit onto Zevran so that he can grip a corpse for assurance. He needs to move on from me. The only reason I even agreed to all of this and chasing a fairy tale is because I at least owe it to him to try at least one."
Vethari straightened, seeing a commotion gathering by the gates. Kids were pushing through the adults trying to take a look at the stranger riding into Lothering on a majestic beast. A hart. She'd never seen one quite so close up.
"Is that your Inquisitor, Leliana?" Vethari pushed herself away from the balcony, heading for the stairs, she wanted to see the woman herself up close.
"Yes!" Leliana said brightly and even though she didn't run, her pace was lighter. It hit Vethari that her old companion was happier to see the Inquisitor than she would ever be to see her.