((Note: These events follow immediately after Addiela in the Houses of Lore, Reunion ))
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Eduwiges stood tall and proud in the light of the setting sun with one foot propped up on the bow pulpit and her flaxen hair sweeping across her face in different directions with the whim of the wind- an image that any ship would be proud to display as its figurehead. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as the vessel neared the island of Tol Lochú, bringing the House of Three Graces into full view; her mission had been successful and she was bringing Addie back from her questionable studies in Minas Tirith to reunite with Hawke and the rest of her friends. “Hold tight!” the old boatman called out as he steered the craft toward the landing, and it didn’t take long before it was secured and made ready to disembark.
The vessel creaked as the waves caused it to bob and tug against its mooring to the pier, but it held fast thanks to the old boatman’s skill with the ropes. Eduwiges stepped off the boat first and then turned to reach back a hand to help Addie, but the woman, in her tactile defensiveness, refused the gesture- a move which would also be in the best interest of Eduwiges due to the negative energy that was coursing through the gaunt woman from exposure to dark magic and the Morgul dagger at her hip. Eduwiges shrugged at the refusal of the hand- she was quite used to Addie's contrariness- and then used it to gesture for Addie to go on ahead while she unloaded the horses.
Addie opened her mouth to object to proceeding first, but she knew that any attempt to argue with woman would be futile. Therefore, she remained silent and turned to slowly climb the stairs that snaked their way up the island to the grand, stone house. Her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings; she loathed having to go back into that house with those trees and her mind was already preparing for another confrontation with the Captain, but as fortune would have it, her target was outside and it didn’t appear that Nethrida was anywhere around.
Eduwiges finished her task with the horses and ran to catch up with Addie, who had already made it halfway up the stairs and had her piercing gaze locked on the one she had come to see. She fell into pace with Addie and looked over to offer her a concerned warning, “Be prepared, he is still a little weak.”
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Perched on top of the white stone wall that outlined the edge of the bluffs above, Hawke was unaware that Addie was homed in on him; his focus was set on the seagulls, watching as they dive-bombed the rippling surface of sea in their pursuit to quell their endless hunger, but his mind was busy trying to recall… something. The scent of the briny air, the cool breeze through his hair, and the harmonious symphony of gulls and waves all seemed familiar to him and even soothing, but there was much that was still a blur, as though he were still drowsy from a long slumber.
"Was I supposed to fight Lif?” he murmured to himself, trying to piece the fragmented pieces of his memory back together.
Xanderian sat down next to him and placed the goblet of wine that she had poured for him on the wall between them. “Why would you battle Lif?”
He turned to look at her, ignoring the wine for the moment, “I think we were fighting?”
The elf offered him a warm smile and her voice remained calm and comforting, though her eyes held a hint of concern still, “She had told me that matters were settled between the two of you... Do you not remember this?”
Hawk looked to be embarrassed for having made the mistake; it was easier for him to remember things when he was around the people involved. Seeing his confusion, Xanderian raised a brow and the last conversation she had with her sister concerning Hawk came to mind; she knew that she would have to be gentle in helping him remember.
On Hawk’s other side, Finchley had been sitting and was grinning from ear to ear as she listened to the two speak- she was just glad that Hawk was alive and that he was next to her; however, upon noticing the movement below, she stood and peered down toward the dock, curious to see who had arrived. As she caught sight of the familiar, dark robed figure ascending the stairs, the smile on her face slowly faded away little by little, though it didn’t turn completely into a frown.
Being aware that Finch was now standing, Hawk stopped speaking and glanced over toward her. It was clear by the woman’s expression that she was no longer registering their words and that she now seemed to be struggling with the sudden anxiety in the pit of her stomach. Noting this change in her demeanor, Hawke stood and followed her gaze down to see what was bothering her. Xanderian also turned her attention to those below, though she did not move to stand, and smiled at seeing the familiar platinum hair and armored form of her Rohirric ‘lynx’, "Eduwiges returns...”
Finchley waved down to the two climbing the stairs and tried to smile a little as well, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Trepidation could be heard in her voice as she added, "... And Addie."
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Addie had hoped to observe the “resurrected” Hawk from a distance at first, but her fortune did not hold and all eyes were now turned on her approach. She drew in a deep breath and continued upward. Likewise, Finchley also took in a deep breath and then turned away; she held her hands out to Xan to help her up, not that she thought the elf needed it, but it was a move to give her a little reprieve from the inevitable. Hawke knew that Finchley was incredibly tense, but he was still unsure of what was going on; he had identified Eduwiges and knew who she was, but he didn’t recognize the one wearing the hood and cloak.
Not a word was spoken by any during the time it took for the two to cover the remaining distance toward the group. As they walked in silence, Eduwiges was beginning to sense the tension in the air; she was fully alert now, her tiredness forgotten as the hair curled on the back of her neck. They departed from the path and crossed the grass; however, instead of fully nearing the others, Addiela stopped in the shadow of the tree several feet in front of them in an effort to conceal her features from the revealing truth of the fading daylight. She looked toward the three and offered them a polite dip of her head in greeting.
Despite her efforts, Hawke did see her face; but since the hood covered her golden hair, his mind turned to her disguised form in the prisons of Dol Amroth. "Yolanda?" No, that wasn't right. He touched his temple as a burst of memory struggled to form- flashes of torture, a dark cell, her face; he looked toward her again. "Addie...?"
Upon hearing that there was still question in his voice, Addie reached up her hand to pull her hood down a bit more and further hide the darkness in her hollow eyes. Surprised, and somewhat saddened, to hear Hawke call Addie “Yolanda”, Xanderian reached out to grip Finchley's hand to her, perhaps a bit too hard- the Addie of that time seemed so far away. Finchely didn't seem to mind her hand being taken and even clenched her other fist; though she could feel herself suddenly going pale, she mustered the strength to speak up. "A-Addie, you can take your hood off. Actually, it'd be best if you did… for Hawk. It'd help."
Addie knew that it wouldn't be best to do so; her visage had darkened into a form which was still recognizable, but looked pale and sickly, almost dead. Therefore, she shook her head to the request. "I'm afraid that I cannot oblige, Finchley... bad hair day and all." Her gaze turned back to Hawke. "It is good to see that you breathe.” She paused in her assessment of him and her head tilted to the side, “Though you do not seem whole…"
Even the sound of her voice didn’t seem quite right, but he replied regardless, “I fell and nearly broke to pieces on rocks. Breathing seems good enough to me for now.”
Finchley squeezed Xan's hand, though a little weakly, and turned another shade paler. "... He's alive, Addie. Isn't that a good thing? So, you can... stop pretending. Everything's going to be alright, okay?"
Addie quirked a brow, she could see that he was indeed alive, but there were still so many questions. "And how did you survive the fall? How did you escape the waves that sought to draw you into their deep embrace?"
Hawke frowned and his hand twitched as if to rise to his temple, but he resisted the impulse. "I...don't remember. The ropes snapped...I drowned?"
Finchley shook her head and took a deep breath before letting go of Xan's hand to take a step forward, then another, and another. She kept a straight, calm face though she continued to turn paler. "He's hale and whole and anythin' that's missing will be found really soon. I promise you, Addie. Stop pretendin'."
Addie glanced down to the dagger at her side for a moment and then back toward Hawk; her brow rose in curiosity as she sensed that the blade might somehow be drawing energy from him. "Hm... Interesting…" After observing the situation for a bit longer, she turned her head to Finchley. "Pretending?"
"Aye, pretendin’.” Finchley nodded and took another few steps closer; her left hand twitched upward as if to grab at something, but she clenched it into a fist again at her side. “Addie, we know; but you don't have to do it anymore. He's alive, okay? You can stop now. I forgive you for anything you said that weren't true. So, please, stop."
"There is nothing wrong… no pretending... I am as I should have always been and will continue to be. It shall be for the best and you shall all see that soon enough."
Hawke took a step back; he didn't know this person, nothing about her seemed familiar except that brief glimpse of her face. Likewise, Eduwiges also stepped away from Addie and gave herself room to get her sword out if need be. She watched the woman with great wariness now and internally asked herself, “Who is this person she brought here?”
Xanderian began to slowly move toward Addie, “The Maiden of Madness left me news of your intentions, sister Addie. Why has the Lord Elrond given you my possession?”
Addie sighed at seeing that the subject of her study also seemed to fear her; she had already received this reaction from the others, but this would make matters more difficult in gathering the information she sought to learn from coming here. And now, she was being questioned about that dagger again, a topic she had no interest in discussing with the others. She shrugged as she replied, hoping to quickly dismiss any talk of it. "I was not there to ask him, Xanderian."
“If Elrond did not grant you my possession, how did it come to you?”
Addie shrugged again, "It matters not. It is here and I shall take good care of it."
Xanderian shook her head, “Addiela, bearing Pride is not wise of you. It has properties you do not understand and that your lineage cannot sustain.”
Hawke was beginning to feel dizzy now; something was pressing on his mind- heavy, dark. Addie waved her hand toward Xanderian to dismiss these concerns, but her eyes continued to watch Hawk so that she could witness whatever interaction was occurring between him and this dagger.
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Up the hill, Nethrida emerged from the house and pursed her lips as she noticed the gathering across the yard; she seemed elated as she descended down the slow incline and approached the group, not yet privy to the full context of the scene before her. With little care, she called out to Addie as she drew near. “See? He lives. You didn’t fail after all.”
Addie glanced over her shoulder after hearing the familiar voice and moved to the side to give the captain plenty of room; she had to mind her composure to keep herself from snarling at Neth with the lip that was still busted from their last encounter. Now that the woman was momentarily distracted, Xanderian strode across the garden and stopped in front of Addie. Heartbreaker was singing softly to itself as Xanderian held out her hand. “Sister Addie, give me Pride for the moment. Whatever it is you have your heart set on and Xandilif has sworn to aid you with, when you require it I will return it to you. But for now, give me that which is mine.”
The action drew everyone’s attention to the dagger and Addie quickly backed away from Xanderian, her hand reaching down to protect Pride. Hawke now felt cold all over as he looked at the dagger- he knew that dagger. Startled by Addie's sudden movement, Eduwiges backed away, still on guard. “Addie, what is wrong with you? Why are you acting this way?”
Nethrida scoffed at seeing that Addie was no different from the last time, “Have you no idea what she seeks to accomplish? She has been dabbling in the dark arts of Necromancy.”
Addie quickly retorted, her voice full of conviction. “Dark arts? I call it enlightening… a new beginning.”
Remembering the conversation that she had with Neth before she set out to Minas Tirith, Eduwiges moved herself between Addie and Neth, hoping to prevent things from coming to blows again. Nethrida shook her head and her voice resonated with the all the sternness of a true captain, “No. You call it that because you see not the great folly you're setting yourself up for. There is no new beginning. You CANNOT raise the dead.”
Xanderian ignored Neth for the moment and continued to move toward Addie. "Whatever you intend, I promise when you ask it I will return the relic to you... but give it to me now lest others suffer.” As those words exited her mouth, Hawke lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Xanderian turned her head and called out, “Finchley, see to Gwaelion.”
The raven-haired woman turned at hearing Hawk fall behind her and her expression broke. She clutched her left hip in a vice like grip and hurried over to him. "Hawk?" She knelt down and carefully pulled his head to rest in her lap. "Hawk?!"
Addie paused for a moment when Hawke hit the ground and looked to the dagger; it was clear that it hadn’t drained his life-force, but she would need to study this more to fully understand why it was affecting him in such a way. However, it didn’t look as though she would get the chance as Xanderian was once again moving toward her. She shook her head and continued to back away from the elf while keeping a tight grip on the hilt of the dagger.
“Be sensible, Addiela. You cannot manage that which you hold. I give you my word… whatever you face, we will face it together… just give me Pride.”
“Xan you cannot possibly believe that!” Nethrida interjected. “Do not side with her foolish cause. That…thing,” she pointed to the dagger, “that accursed blade… ought to be cast into the sea and never seen again.”
Finchley brushed some of Hawke’s hair out of his face and bit her lip. She looked up at Addie and a few tears ran down her cheek. "Addie! Stop it! Just give it to her, please!" She still had one hand clutching at her hip. "Please, stop, before Neth and Lif have to make good on their promises. I don't want to lose another person. Please, Addie..."
Addie looked around to the others; it was clear by their expressions and body languages that they were not going to be satisfied with letting her keep the dagger; she had no other choice but to hand it over for now. With gritted teeth, she unfastened the dagger from her side and held it out to Xanderian. Her eyes were barely able to withhold the rage that she felt toward all of them.
Whether by her elven power or Heartbreaker’s quiet song, the evil aura in the air seemed to dissipate significantly, like a cloud lifting, as Xanderian took the dagger and slipped it under her belt. Hawke immediately gasped a shuddering breath and some of the color began to return to his face. Finchley sighed in relief, but still frowned down at him in worry; her bottom lip was now bleeding where she had bitten it, but her grip on her left hip was easing up. Xanderian glanced back to the pair for a moment and smiled before looking back toward Addie. “Thank you, sister Addiela. I have given my word. Whatever you face, we face together.”
Eduwiges moved closer to Xan and relaxed her guard; she still didn’t fully understand what was happening. Regardless, she nodded in agreement with the elf’s words. 'We are all in this together, Addie.”
Addie didn’t reply to either of them, she just continued to stare at Xanderian and forced a sickeningly sweet smile as her response- a smile that was intended to hide her resentment and bitterness over this outcome.
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Though the two of them had now agreed to help Addie, Nethrida still considered it all to be madness. She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “That thing should be stored somewhere it can never be found.”
Xanderian rested a hand on the captain’s shoulder, “It is mine by right, my warrior.”
Nethrida hesitated a little and her voice seemed to lose some of the urgency it had prior. "It... matters not who claims it by right... It is... clearly dangerous."
Addie side-glanced over to Neth, not really wanting to turn her head from Xanderian or the dagger, and her voice was calm and comforting, like one trying to convince a small child that everything was fine. "You know not what you speak of, Captain. Things are only dangerous when not handled properly; but in the right hands, they can be very useful and even aid a greater cause."
Xanderian tilted her head to the side in curiosity. “I admit that I am surprised to see it here. How did you gather it from Elrond's vaults?”
"As I said before, it matters not; it was given over and here it is. Lord Elrond knows of its purpose and has given his blessing.” Addie kept her gaze on Neth as she continued, her next words clearly intended mainly for her. 'If you all doubt me, as you so clearly do, at least rest assured in the word of the Elf Lord.”
Finchley winced at Addie's words and looked up to her for a brief second. She lifted her hand from her hip, as if burned, to wipe away her tears and physically smooth out her brow; however, it only furrowed again when she looked back down to Hawk. "Hawk? Come on, open your eyes... It's okay..." But Hawk still didn’t move; though he no longer seemed to be in danger, he remained out cold- his mind and spirit still weak.
Xanderian paused as she considered pressing the point of how Addie obtained the dagger, but decided to let it go for now. "I think, then, as we are all promised to aid your intentions, you should tell us what these intentions shall be, Addie.”
This was the moment Nethrida had been waiting for. 'Yes, Addiela, tell them of your intentions… Or I shall.”
A devilish grin slowly curled on Addie’s lips as she locked eyes with Neth once more, two forces still at war. "By all means, Captain, please do inform everyone… though I think that you are blinded by your own biased feeling on the matter."
Nethrida crossed her arms and lowered her head slightly, while still maintaining her gaze toward Addie, and her voice regained some of the grimness it had during their confrontation a few days prior. “I remember what your ‘new beginning’ is… You're aiming to raise your father from death. And had Xan not heard His call, Gwaelion as well, that was to be a new beginning for them both.”
Addie nodded to confirm as though this were just some everyday matter. "Aye, and not just for them… the possibilities are endless." She turned her gaze toward Eduwiges. "Even your father, Eduwiges, you can see him again… embrace him once more."
Eduwiges shivered at Addie’s mention of her father and moved her hand in an ancient gesture to ward off the ‘evil eye’ as she spat on the ground. “My father is dead, just like I will be dead one day.” She walked closer to Addie, anger flushing her face red. “Do not mention my father again with this filth, Addie, or so help me.”
Nethrida looked to be greatly relieved that Eduwiges was not taken in by this promise. The Rohirric woman clenched her fist and glared and glared at Addie, but Addie just shook her head and sighed out, "Yet another that does not understand."
Finchley held Hawk closer, almost protectively and looked up to Addie again. "Addie...I'm sorry your father's gone.” She took a moment before continuing. “Dwarf folk say when they die they return to the one who made 'em and elves get to go out to the West somewhere. We ain't like them, Addie. We dunno where we go. But wherever it is, maybe it's not a place you should be tryin' to bring your father back from. I know it's hard when someone you loved isn't there anymore. You can't ask 'em things you thought you should have. Maybe you have some regrets... But bringin' 'em back might make more regrets in the end. It ain't right."
Those words caused Addie to turn and look at Finchley. "Why should only the elves be granted immortality? Death takes life and holds it in its grasp, like a prison, Finchley; and it would have us believe the lie that its capture of life is final. But that is not so…"
Nethrida interjected. “'I do not envy the Eldar... In some ways I feel a little sorry for them; and the thought of a peaceful rest after a life of toil doesn’t sound so bad.”
Without pause, Addie coldly replied, “Then I shall let you remain in that prison of death, Captain.”
Nethrida huffed, “The pursuit of eternal life led to the destruction of Númenor, Addiela.”
When Nethrida said that, something clicked within Eduwiges’ mind; she snapped her fingers and angrily shouted. “A black Númenórean! That’s what you sound like, one of those! And we all know how that turned out… foul men tempted by Sauron. It was all a lie, Addie; you are smart enough to know that! What foul creature has infested you?” With her question, she stepped forward and her expression of anger turned to one of focus as though she were now evaluating an enemy.
Addie waved her hand dismissively. "Many only know of escaping death in its corrupted form, for those that have freed life did such so that they could command it. However, there is a second way… a way of setting the life free for a second chance; the way I seek."
Xanderian looked from one to the other as they went back and forth with words. “And you believe you know how to accomplish this, Addie?”
Addie nodded, but before she could reply, Nethrida spoke up once more; this time her voice was very stern and her expression showed her determination to not let such ‘nonsense’ even be considered. “It cannot be. She is being deceived!”
Addie scoffed, "'It can be, and it will…” Her eyes then turned to the dagger once more, “And that holder of death is one of the keys."
Nethrida grew even more frustrated and turned to Xan to try to reason with her with an appeal to her emotional side, “If the Wights of the Barrow Downs couldn’t be brought back to life by a Necromancer far superior to what Addie could ever hope to master, what hope does she have? All she will manage to do is corrupt herself with black magic and raise a shambling carcass. Surely you have to see that, Xan!... Would you be saying the same if it meant witnessing her raise a shambling, decrepit version of Hawk?... Naught but a shell that won’t even recognize us and would likely seek to attack?”
Xanderian stood still, silently thinking while the others spoke. She then sighed. “I do not think it will come to anything approaching that, sweet warrior, but I do agree with you that this is folly and dangerous. “ She looked to Addie, “But I also know that Addiela must put this to the test, and that it would better to do so with us then alone.”
Finchley shook her head; she was hesitant to speak, but felt that she must, "…I ain't ever had a father. Or a mother. I had Grams and it was enough. But I've seen good mothers and good fathers. And good mothers-to-be. Even if they were stuck in a... 'prison', none of 'em would want their child to free them at their own risk.” Her eyes looked toward Addie with concern, “You obviously loved your father, aye? So I don't think he'd want his daughter hurtin' herself for somethin' like this."
Xanderian offered the others a reassuring smile. “I think this must be settled so that Addie can come to her senses. Once this matter is complete, perhaps everything will be clearer.”
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There was something, some presence or feeling that made the elf’s words seem right to the others. Finchley winced a little after hearing them, but nodded to herself as if accepting this something that had guided Xan's decision; she relaxed her grip on Hawk a little, but still looked to be pale. Despite her constant flare-ups, Nethrida quickly eased back down, but seemed to be struggling against this force that was calming her mind.
Addie breathed a sigh of relief and offered Xan a smile of gratitude, perhaps the most Addie like expression that has crossed her face in a long time. "Finally… Someone understands." She then looked back to Neth and smirked.
With her anger dispelled, Eduwiges stopped moving toward Addie and turned to look back at Xanderian. “Fine, but she does not leave this island and she must be guarded until she has her… test. Agreed?” Her eyes turned to Neth for support.
Nethrida nodded sternly in agreement and though she attempted to muster a stronger emotional response, her tone came across as more calm than agitated. "I agree. And she must share –everything- that is needed for this... ‘ritual.’ There can be no secrets, no deceptions."
Addie rolled her eyes. "Guarded again?... Really?"
Eduwiges stood firm and replied coldly, “You brought a morgul blade amongst your friends who love you. You are dangerous. I only hope you come to your senses.”
Nethrida kept her watchful gaze on Addie, “That is why she will remain here and share with us what she needs so that we may attempt to recover what is missing, for I do not trust her anymore.”
Addiela shook her head and snorted in exasperation, "As I said, it's not dangerous when you understand it."
Nethrida snapped her head toward Addie, “Silence!”
Addie let out an amused laugh at Neth's command, but didn’t say anything more on the matter- they had at least agreed to let her continue in her task. With that settled, she turned and walked toward Hawk. Seeing the woman come her way, Finchley pulled Hawk to her chest and curled herself protectively around him. Nethrida flinched forward a step or two and Xanderian watched with some concern, but neither moved to fully stop her from reaching him.
Eduwiges turned to Neth and whispered under her breath, “I will put my faith in Xan that she can control this. We will defend and protect the others, agreed?”
Nethrida nodded and then quietly murmured back, "I shall see to it personally that she remains here."
As she neared his unconscious form, Addie brought her staff around from her back and her hollow eyes looked toward Finch to assure her, though it was somewhat unsettling, that she meant no harm. Finchley relaxed her grip ever so slightly, enough to grant Addie access to him, but still remained curled around him. With the staff, Addie gently poked at Hawk's hand and then at his shoulder.
Hawk stirred and made a soft noise, almost a groan, as Addie prodded at him with her staff; she had, uncannily, touched the places now marred by scars from arrow wounds. Finchley looked up at Addie and turned even paler, though it didn’t seem possible that the woman could turn any lighter, and pleaded with tears threatening to return to her eyes, "Please, please, don't hurt him.”
Addie briefly glanced over to Finch as she knelt down to place her staff on the ground beside her so that she could reach out her hand to touch Hawke's in an effort to determine if either cold or warm energy was radiating from him. "I have no intention of doing so."
Finchley relaxed her grip on Hawk a little more. "No more than your intentions to hurt yourself?"
Hawke's hand was warm enough to the touch; the traces of Elven magic still lingered, but there was no sign that he had ever truly been dead. Addie nodded to herself, satisfied in the information she had learned through that one touch, and reached back for her staff. She stood and adjusted her hood before looking back down to Finch to reply. "I assure you, Finchley, I have no intention of harming anyone. In fact, I seek to stop destruction. I do not blame you for fearing me though… one usually fears what they do not understand, even if it is good."
"I don't fear –you- Addie. I fear this person that ain't you at all."
Addie turned away from the two, but offered one last look over her shoulder to respond, "Did you ever think that who I was before wasn't who I was meant to be, Finchley?"
"I know who you are well and good, Addie. Meant to be's... that's someone or somethin' else's idea. Not yours."
Nethrida pursed her lips and raised a brow toward Addie, “You may deceive yourself with this nonsense you spout, Addiela, but not us… Not me. You wouldn’t have asked me to do what you did if this were your true nature.”
Addie held up the staff and made a show of effortlessly spinning it before she fastened it over her back again. "My true nature? I was once a person once afraid of my true nature, of my potential; someone who was afraid of what people would think- that they would call me a witch. But no more… It is a gift I will use."
Nethrida kept her arms folded and frowned. "You had all the power before you let someone worm their way into your mind… And you will see your failure, when the wight rises from the ground." She huffed and turned her head away, having no more interest in further nonsense from Addie.
Addie laughed as she started to walk away, "Can you not feel it, Captain? The time draws near and we shall soon see who is right." Nethrida ignored the boast, but couldn’t help scoffing at the words as she marched off toward the edge of the cliff to stare out to sea. Eduwiges looked at Addie one more time, her expression a mixture of sadness, at seeing that her friend was no longer the person she once knew, and wariness. She shook her head, still trying to believe all that she had heard, and ran after Neth.
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Whether stirred by the prodding and touch or by natural recovery due to the dagger’s power being calmed at Xanderian’s side, Hawke awoke. The barest flicker of his eyelids gave him a glimpse of the dark, hooded figure in front of him and for a moment he questioned if she were death itself. Addie stopped and gave a final glance back toward the group, mainly Xanderian, not liking that the dagger was this far away, but for now... she would have to accept it. As she turned and continued to walk away, Hawk carefully moved to try to sit up and his eyes followed her for a moment before turning toward the two next to him. Finchley looked at Hawk and shakily smiled in relief, still several shades too pale. "Hey..."
Xanderian sat down next to Hawke and held him gently."Are you alright, my urchin?
Hawke could see that Finchley looked too pale, as if she had seen a ghost, but before he could ask her about it, she gave him another brief smile and looked over to Xanderian. "Xan, could you--... Could you watch him for a bit? I think I'm--... I'm gonna be sick." Without even waiting for a response, Finchley stood and hurried off, over the wall and down the slope, to the water.
It didn’t take elven hearing for Hawke to catch the sounds of her distress- retching intermingled with sobs of pain. "Finch..." He was tired and so he looked to Xanderian to go check on her. Finchley was still hunched over, finishing her retching as the elf reached her; tears were leaking from her eyes and one hand was still clutching at her hip while the other was wrapped about her stomach. Xanderian knelt down and pressed a hand to her forehead. Finchley flopped into a sitting position and curled her arms about her head, as if to hide herself. "I'm sorry.... I'm not runnin', I promise. I’m just... regroupin' is all. I'll be fine in a minute."
Having mustered the strength to follow, Hawke stood a slight distance away and wondered at the way Finch was clutching at her hip. Xanderian nodded softly at the woman’s words and scooted closer to hold her; as she did, Finchley peeked out from under her arms and spied that dagger. The sight caused the woman to want to shy away from the elf, but she was able to catch herself and hold herself still. Hastily wiping away her last tears from her eyes, Finchley attempted to get up and Hawke offered out a hand to help her back to her feet. Once upright again, she attempted a smile, but it was clearly a semi-pained one. "I... need to sleep. Sleepin' if off'll help, aye?" She nodded to herself and turned to head toward the house, grabbing for Hawke’s hand as she took off.
Hawke had opened his mouth to ask her if she was all right or if she was injured, but her grip on his hand pulled him towards the house instead. Finchley paused for a moment, shook her head and whispered to him, "I'm sorry. I'll be fine. And I'll tell you everythin'. You have a right to know. But I... haven't come to terms with it yet. I just... I need to sleep. Just promise you'll stay with me okay?"
Hawke looked extremely troubled, but he slowly nodded. "I promise."
Finchley laced their fingers together, "Great. C'mon." and led him back up to the house again.
Xanderian watched to two leave and then looked back over the water. Everything was as it should be or so it felt… But the sun had set and the moon was rising.
