eachdraidh | Video - Seelie locked - Forward-dated to the 3rd

I'm back!

[Sigrid has bathed and washed her hair and polished her skin and everything is braided and tucked and in place as she sits before the locket, sitting like a lady instead of a girl.]

I'm in Caer Glaem and I have presents for a lot of people. Treun is a wonderful city and I will go back, and not only for business. Let's see...

[She looks at something off-frame, ticking each item off on one hand by tapping each fingertip against her thumb.]

Sansa, Gendry, Arya, Jon Snow, Lancelot, and Fili, I've got presents for you all from Treun and I want to see you. But!

[She smooths herself out and looks a little more formal.]

I am Sigrid of the House of Dale. We didn't get any new alliances in Treun, but we've got something just as important happening.

[She can't help the smile that breaks out.]

Before the envoy was sent, Treun was struggling to trade with Caer Glaem. You and I, shardbearers, can use the fairy rings to travel safely from here to there and back, but those without shards cannot. Treun is a hub of trade--traders come from round the world and their goods ship along the Road of Eithne to Cothromach, and from there across the mountains to Caer Glaem. As you know, most of the major battles of the war in the last few months have taken place along the Road of Eithne, making it very dangerous to travel. We have been on the brink of losing trade not only with Treun, but with all those who come by the Road of Eithne--the eastern world, more or less, and a great many by sea.

With the Council of Treun, it has been agreed [her smile splits into a grin] that a new road is to be built south of the fighting that will allow merchants from Treun to travel safely not only to Caer Glaem, but to the western world.

Trouble is, I need people to help build it. I've got three lovely earthbenders who'll work it through the mountains, but we'll need as many as possible to help make this safe path happen for the merchants. The monarchs will supply most of the laborers, but I need foremen. People who know what looks wrong, mostly. We don't even have roads in Lake-town, so I'm not much good there. Oh--there will have to be a bridge over the river.

...Thank you. For listening, even if you can't help.

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[She shakes her head, a fingertip flicking away the only tear that manages to escape. It is the last one.]

I was scared, and I always have to control everything especially when I'm scared. 'Cause if I don't control everything, nothing gets controlled, sometimes. Or--I've always had to think so. And I know I go too far sometimes, but I always think going too far is better than not going far enough and someone getting hurt...and this time going too far was what hurt, and it didn't even help me. I will stop if you say no, every time you say it again, no matter what, and I mean it. Even if I think it's important, if you say no, I'll know I've gone too far.

[ And this time? This time he believes her. He reaches out and takes her hands again, gives them a slight squeeze. ]

Then I forgive you.

[And then she can meet his eyes again, tightening her hands around his. Her cheeks still burn, but she nods mutely, fairly sure she's going to spend the rest of their lives trying to make this up to him. Because the mistakes you make at fifteen are the ones you are most certain at the time are the most world-shattering ones.]

You are brave. I think that even more now.

[ He lets out a weak sort of self-effacing huff at that, drops his eyes away. Part of him wants to reject that again but to continue to do so would be ungracious. ]

Thank you, you are kind to say so. I hope I can live up to such praise.

You already have. That's why I said it. You can't take the blame for other peoples' failures. One person can't do everything. That's why there's more than one of us.

[ In his eyes, though, failed at tasks set for him. He had to flee. He cannot be called good or brave. He releases her hands and drops to a crouch to scoop up the puppy, adjusts her in his arms and glances between her and Sigrid with a small smile. ]

My dear friend here is the bravest. She is the reason I made it back to Caer Glaem at all. If anyone deserves praise it is her.

There's enough of it to go round. [She holds out her hand to introduce her scent to the dog.] I'm very grateful to you, [she says to her,] for saving my friend.

[ The puppy squirms in Lancelot's arms, curious now, and sniffs at her fingers before licking at them a little -- eyes lifting to study her face. ]

I think you can count that as a thank you.

[ He shifts the puppy to hold her a little more securely as she tries to wriggle again, scritching behind one of her ears. ]

And thank you of the gift, too, for thinking of me.

Video - Seelie locked - Forward-dated to the 3rd

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