Did you honestly expect me to come forward and act like nothing had happened? I stood back and waited for you -- any of you -- to come to me. To show you still considered me a person worth knowing. I wasn't going to shove myself in your faces and demand recognition. I respected that you might not want to associate with a former Dalish. And then you became leader of the Elven Artifacts project so I figured I'd let you know I was a part of it. And still... this is the first you've reached out to me.
[ She pauses, wondering if she should have risked that step forward. She didn't want to be rejected, but maybe she should have been braver. ]
No, I'm not Dalish. I'm an elf, and I can help all elves far more by being out here doing what I'm doing that staying in a clan. I wrote a book, you know. No, wait, I guess you wouldn't know. It's about my journey to recover the Sulevin Blade, and it's just been published. A book elves can read written by another elf. That's how I'm going to help us move forward, Sorrel. I'm going to help all elves, but I'm not going to do it as a Dalish one.
[ She takes a breath and realizes that this is first Dalish elf she's really told her plans to in full. She's told city elves, Rifters, dwarves, and qunari about her plans, but never one of the Dalish. Has she been holding back because she hasn't wanted to hear their judgment? ]
It's-- it's Arlathvhen again, isn't it? That your mother kept me from. [ A year ago? Even six months ago? There would have been bitterness in her voice when saying that. But now she's achieved some sort of clarity. ] And for that, I'm thankful. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I attended and was traded to another clan.
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[ She pauses, wondering if she should have risked that step forward. She didn't want to be rejected, but maybe she should have been braver. ]
No, I'm not Dalish. I'm an elf, and I can help all elves far more by being out here doing what I'm doing that staying in a clan. I wrote a book, you know. No, wait, I guess you wouldn't know. It's about my journey to recover the Sulevin Blade, and it's just been published. A book elves can read written by another elf. That's how I'm going to help us move forward, Sorrel. I'm going to help all elves, but I'm not going to do it as a Dalish one.
[ She takes a breath and realizes that this is first Dalish elf she's really told her plans to in full. She's told city elves, Rifters, dwarves, and qunari about her plans, but never one of the Dalish. Has she been holding back because she hasn't wanted to hear their judgment? ]
It's-- it's Arlathvhen again, isn't it? That your mother kept me from. [ A year ago? Even six months ago? There would have been bitterness in her voice when saying that. But now she's achieved some sort of clarity. ] And for that, I'm thankful. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I attended and was traded to another clan.