bakerstreet | a 10?

Of course. As long as I still draw breath, I'll keep fighting. No matter how impossible the odds might seem.

[And now she can manage another smile, though it's small. The time for dreams is long gone, wondering what her life might've been if it hadn't been for Howe's betrayal. There's a tinge of sadness that she has to ignore for her own sake.]

But it's a lot less daunting with friends, yes?

Even when those friends are a slightly faith-crazed lay sister, a grumpy ex-caged giant, and a stabby elf.

.....And Morrigan.

[Sneaky witch thief prone to swooping. He wasn't sure he'd ever manage to trust Morrigan.]

[Luciana lets out a laugh, shoulders shaking a little-- somehow it helps her feel lighter.]

Precisely. We've all been brought together by circumstances that are... less than ideal, but I wouldn't have chosen anyone else. The most important thing is that I trust all of you to be by my side.

We're the ones that chose to face this, while everyone else, it seems like, is busy putting personal problems before the world-ending Blight.

[His nose wrinkled but then, after a sigh and a shake of his head he looked at her sincerely.]

Your family name does us a lot of good out here. Even as much as it might not have been your ideal outcome, it means we might have a chance.

I suppose I can't blame that line of thinking. They chose to join for their own reasons, yes, but I believe that they'll be there when it counts regardless. Just like I can count on you, Alistair.

[She falters a little-- she can't help it. After all, she'd never gotten the chance to properly grieve her parents. There was never any time, a tiny part of fearing that if she stopped fighting then they'd have died for nothing.]

I'm... glad for that. I never really realized how privileged and safe I was until that night at Highever. That my noble blood can be of some use out here is more than I can ask for.

I know you know exactly how storied that name is. Both Cousland and Highever. Without your Teyrnir, there'd be no Ferelden.

[He'd not been a great student and he didn't pretend otherwise - but history? That, he knew. And he knew how many figures of import, from the Alamarri that produced them all, came from Highever.]

I grew up with the stories, I read everything I could. My brother would follow our father, of course-- but it never bothered me that I wouldn't inherit the title. I was our father's daughter all the same. And I looked up to him, to our name.

[That she now holds the sword is... strange. What does the name mean for her now, when she has no idea if Fergus is even alive? She lets out a shaky, soft sigh.]

It's a lot to live up to.

Family names always are. I'm... I was taught so much about the history of Ferelden. Strange to think that all it takes is one Blighted dragon and that might all be over. But when I hear the song...

[He shook his head again, this time like he could chase that sound away - even though he knew better.]

It's easier to believe.

We won't let that happen. I know that I can't claim to be some great leader that'll pull us through unscathed, but if nothing else I'm determined to end this Blight any way I can.

[Beacon of light and hope, right? Is that what she aspires to be in a time so dark and uncertain? She finds herself hoping almost desperately that she doesn't sound like a child, still.]

[He couldn't help a chuckle, though it wasn't entirely from humour.]

We are quite scathed already, I agree, but... Luci, you've already done things Cailan neglected to do, like actually ask for help from forces within Thedas that are as affected by the Blight as anyone else. Even with everything that's happened -- horrible things... You're still focused on saving as many people as possible.

[He gave her a shaky but sincere smile.]

Do you know how many freeholders are going to swear to your Teyrnir after this? If you thought the Couslands were respected before...

[A soft, weak snort escapes her. Not much humor to be found indeed, but his words do comfort her.]

I can't deny that, the scars I shall soon bear can attest to it. Thank you, Alistair. This... isn't what I thought my life would be, but I do truly want to save our world and its people. I only wonder when I'll see what other people see in me. I do what I can, yes, but I'm not some great hero in the making.

[His smile brings a small one to her own features. Despite how small it is, however, it still reaches her dark eyes.]

I can only imagine, I suppose. I dreamed about that when I was little -- how I might bring honor to my family name someday.

[Now his smile turned encouraging.]

Not just your family name. They're going to make statues of you, just you watch. One in each village square.

[This was verging, he knew, on their discussion from earlier. Right now, though, he was counting himself as successful. He'd managed to turn the conversation all the way around to her. Success.]

Statues of me? Do you think they'd be able to accurately capture my beauty? I take it very seriously, you know.

[Now Luciana manages a genuine laugh, brushing dark curls out of her face like she's getting ready to pose. Of course she realizes-- she's always been sharply observant. But she'll let him have the win, at least for now.]

I suppose I never considered that they might do that sort of thing.

It's part of the basic handbook. Which I know we ran out of before we recruited you - my apologies, we'll have to go get one from Weisshaupt. But I specifically remember that the page at the very end said 'and if you save the world, you get at least five statues'.

[It didn't. And there was no such handbook. But to him, it sounded like something that would be in one - if one existed.]

Does it now? I'll admit, not something I'd expect from legendary heroes. But who would decline statues, really? If I am to become legendary myself, I will have to be immortalized in some way or another.

[But it does make her think. Joking is nice, she just isn't sure how exactly she wants to be remembered yet. Grey Wardens who ended a Blight were revered all over, the kind of heroes you just looked up to. Could she really be such a person?]

Joking aside, maybe I'd like to be remembered in stories.

That's going to be Leliana's purview, then. She's the storyteller between us. If you rely on me, it'll be stories about close calls in the Lothering inn and cookie-eating white-haired giants who think we don't notice when he's been playing with kittens.

[Joking aside? Sorry, this is Alistair, but beneath the teasing bits, there was honesty. Leliana was the storyteller, the singer, the one who will probably be telling the real and respectable version of this story.]

If it's told right, it'll be about your hope and determination, even when things are darkest. The rest of us will get appropriate footnotes.

Maybe some people would like to hear the stories about close calls and cookie-eating giants. Makes us all sound a bit more real.

[Yes, she knows he's mostly teasing. But it helps to have the lighter moments like this and to still be able to laugh. That despite the danger, the darkness-- she is still herself. Though she does know very well that Leliana will probably be the one to tell their story, too.]

More than footnotes, I hope. You may argue if you want, but I believe especially deserve far more than a footnote, Alistair. You and I survived at Ostagar, and you've stuck with me since.

The stories about Shartan were called Dissonant Verses and taken out of the Chant. When the Fifth Blight is remembered? It's gonna be you.

[He chuckled, shaking his head.]

And I am fine with that. Let me just keep right on going, right under their noses, and maybe I can just end up with my nice little cottage with a few sheep.

a 10?

(S)HE'S A 10, BUT...

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