( There are whispers that might counter their staying in these walls, the possibility of a camp, but that is not yet a thing confirmed and she will not raise false hope onto to betray it later. There is too much that is uncertain, as yet - the damnable Wardens and their secrets. )
Pray do not speak to me as though I am ignorant of the risks or my responsibilities.
( Not a warning, quite. There is a quiet edge of something else in it, a knife sneaking down into the space between, trying to pry pieces of her apart, though she will not allow it. It is met with too much resistance, for all that it makes it through. It could verge on a request, a rasp of rawness in it that she would snatch from the air if she could - snatch, pull back, and burn 'til there was no evidence remaining. Not anger, but something far worse and something she will not allow herself.
The greatest spy network that Thedas has seen, some say, or fast becoming it. Even so, they had missed this. They had failed to see something under their nose, and it was being kept secret by those she had trusted. Part of her wonders if she is a fool to trust any. Part of her wonders if she has become too cruel for people to come to.
Leliana does not look at Morrigan when she looks up - quite when her gaze dropped she's not sure - casting her gaze towards the window instead. The people who have known her longest now without betrayal are Josephine, Morrigan and Shale. One once idolised her, two had believed her a fool, but all of them had been allies and none of them looked at her as they used to. She would not wish them to, even as she wonders if the betrayals are inevitable here, too.
Then Morrigan speaks of repercussions and drags Leliana's watchful focus back to her, as she smiles that dangerous familiar and unfamiliar smile, and Leliana thinks she might be able to see something else in it, but she does not know if she should trust her judgment in the people she used to know so well, any more. She had tested Josie before she trusted her with the Inquisition. Perhaps Alistair and Zevran deserved no less. )
Do not mention it. And-- Thank you.
( Though she does not know if she should take that offer. Not yet. Not now. )
no subject
( There are whispers that might counter their staying in these walls, the possibility of a camp, but that is not yet a thing confirmed and she will not raise false hope onto to betray it later. There is too much that is uncertain, as yet - the damnable Wardens and their secrets. )
Pray do not speak to me as though I am ignorant of the risks or my responsibilities.
( Not a warning, quite. There is a quiet edge of something else in it, a knife sneaking down into the space between, trying to pry pieces of her apart, though she will not allow it. It is met with too much resistance, for all that it makes it through. It could verge on a request, a rasp of rawness in it that she would snatch from the air if she could - snatch, pull back, and burn 'til there was no evidence remaining. Not anger, but something far worse and something she will not allow herself.
The greatest spy network that Thedas has seen, some say, or fast becoming it. Even so, they had missed this. They had failed to see something under their nose, and it was being kept secret by those she had trusted. Part of her wonders if she is a fool to trust any. Part of her wonders if she has become too cruel for people to come to.
Leliana does not look at Morrigan when she looks up - quite when her gaze dropped she's not sure - casting her gaze towards the window instead. The people who have known her longest now without betrayal are Josephine, Morrigan and Shale. One once idolised her, two had believed her a fool, but all of them had been allies and none of them looked at her as they used to. She would not wish them to, even as she wonders if the betrayals are inevitable here, too.
Then Morrigan speaks of repercussions and drags Leliana's watchful focus back to her, as she smiles that dangerous familiar and unfamiliar smile, and Leliana thinks she might be able to see something else in it, but she does not know if she should trust her judgment in the people she used to know so well, any more. She had tested Josie before she trusted her with the Inquisition. Perhaps Alistair and Zevran deserved no less. )
Do not mention it. And-- Thank you.
( Though she does not know if she should take that offer. Not yet. Not now. )