Aedwen stares out over the small clearing of crosses; at least thirty, and who knows how many went unmarked even still. She does not follow Swoz as he moves past her; she doesn't move at all, really. She only stares, as if in a trance.
With the old tool in hand, Swozbhar carefully starts to dig a small distance from the pack of crosses, quiet. He looks back towards Aedwen, but doesn't speak up. Might not be able to find words. He’s nearly two feet into the hole when he speaks up, finally. "... Did you know we'd find this here?"
"No," she says simply. "I didn't know what we'd find."
Coming upon the mass burial, Sif's lips part, and her breath is held for a moment as her hat is pulled off her flaxen head.
Gwannes approached the gravesite with the remains in hand, approaching where Swozbhar had been digging. The man paced forward, stepping down into the hole. He laid the wrapped sheets down in the center of the newly-dug grave, then stepped back out of it. "Ah--... Did anyone... Are we saying any words?" He glanced to Aedwen, then Swozbhar, then to the others. His eye darted to Sif, then to Devin, then over to Svana in the distance as well.
Devin stepped forward. "I...was raised with an Order education. I can if you like."
"... If by the Navigator's grace, they've long sailed away to the lifestream. But, go on." says Swoz.
Sif is silent at the question, but steps forwards behind Devin, an obvious hesitation ere she does.
Gwannes jabbed a thumb at Aedwen. "It's-- It's her call."
Aedwen offers the woman a smile, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "..Could you, Devin?" Looking to Sif just beyond, she reaches a hand out towards the bard, inviting her near.
Devin nodded, then murmured gently. Her eyes fell closed as she came up with the words. "Though poor in the material, they had a wealth in spirit. In heart and honor earned and spent doing that which they could to resist evil. Let such wealth carry them unto Thal, a blessed place deserved by those who give." She opened her mouth to add more, then hesitated. She shook her head. It was enough.
Lowering her head, Aedwen allows her lips to curl into a soft smile, finding some fascination in the hem of her jacket. "While the sentiment is sweet, and certainly do I appreciate it.. The Velodyna will always be there, Sif." Looking up, she meets the bard's gilded gaze with her own paler greens, a certain fondness creased at the corners of her eyes. "You, however, are irreplaceable. The others, too, of course."
Sif offers a chuckle in reply, then a simple shake of her head as she looks off into the fire. Not a denial, but rather a passing thought she didn't voice. "All's well, though, eh? Spinner saw us out safe 'nough an' 'ere we are..." She sighs as she looks out at Starfall, and the impossibly tall stone figure of Rhalgr cut from the mountain.
Following Sif's gaze, Aedwen leans back on her crate to look up towards the very top of the statue, humming quietly. "There's not a day that passes that I do not wonder if this is all but a dream, still."
"Too good t' be true?" Sif asks with a crooked grin. "...Or not wha' y' expected?"
"Both, I suppose," Aedwen answers, closing her eyes briefly. "Pictures and tales never do their subjects justice, compared to seeing it for yourself. And with how long I've waited.." She laughs and shakes her head. "I don't think it's all quite sunk in, just yet."
Devin breathed a slow sigh. "We're both women of secrets, M-Aedwen. Or were." The parcel was placed into the other woman's hand. "I'm accustomed to cover-stories and misdirection; it's a part of my world. I mistook your hesitant tone for such, rather than the delicate confession it was. I'm sorry." She looked aside, frowning. "It's a simple enough thing to learn, now that I have. It shan't happen again." Her gaze drew back to Morning's, lips pressed together.
Aedwen clicks her tongue and waves dismissively at the woman as she takes the parcel, tucking it beneath her arm. Turning, she reclaims her seat beneath the tree and moves the subject along without hesitation. "Did you read these?" she asks, humming as she sees the first stack of yellowed papers into her lap.
Devin followed, leaning her shoulder against the tree. "I did." She spoke softly. "We- My people, we have files on a weapon that matches the description. But there's so very little we know about it." She cleared her throat, shaking her head as though to escape the memory of what she'd read.
Aedwen takes several long moments to review the documents in their entirety. Slow and tedious, she examines them with growing scrutiny the further she reads. At one point, she stalls all together and merely stares at the paper, yellowed and smudged with ink. A gentle shake sets in her hands as she sets it aside. Swallowing, she shakes her head and continues on, flipping through the remainder of the files. Previous records are brought to the forefront, compared to later ones.
It's apparent she's searching for something, but it's difficult to pinpoint what. Clearing her throat, she pulls out a folded piece of paper from her jacket and opens it, her hands still shaking as she reviews it. Two distinct handwritings are found upon it; one clearly her own, but the other's author is a mystery. "Tell me what you know of it," she says, not looking up. "Of Bittermill, and what happened there."
If I Think They Are: Ugly || Plain || Alright || Cute || Freaking Adorable || Pretty || Beautiful || Hot || Stunning
“Oh, she’s just gorgeous, don’t you think? Her face is lovely, and her eyes.. My, I think they’d make a nice substitute for the sea ~”
If I Would Go On A Date With Them: Not even if we were the last two one earth || No || Maybe || Eh….Sure || Yes || WILL YOU MARRY ME
“I think I’ll steal Devin’s own words here and say, brief and few as our encounters have been, they’ve left me looking forward to the next.”
If I Trust Them: Not At All || Not Really || Kind of || Yes || With My Life
Aedwen’s features twist up a bit and she cants her head. “I’m not sure I’d say so. We hardly know each other, and there seems to be more to her than she’s letting on.” A laugh parts her, quiet. “Quite the hypocrite, aren’t I?”
If I Care About Them: Not At All || Not Really || Kind of || Yes || Deeply
“I can’t quite place why, or even how, but she has.. Found some place within my heart. I am fond of her, to say the least.”
If I Would Sleep With Them: Not Enough Alcohol in the World || No || Maybe if I were wasted || Maybe || Eh…Sure || Yes || TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF NOW!
The woman’s cheek flush a faint pink and she offers a roll of her shoulders. “Well.. I’d not say no ~”
My Comfort Level With Your Muse: Keep a Distance || Okay You Can Stand There, But Don’t Touch Me || Let’s Get Coffee and Talk || Let’s Cuddle || I Can Change In Front of You || Let’s Take a Bath Together
“I’m eager to know her better. Speaking with her is.. Easy to do, despite what reservations I have.”
If I See You As: A Stranger || An Acquaintance || A Friend || A Close Friend || My Best Friend || A Crush || The Love of My Life
“Passing strangers at an unfortunate time in my life; one of transitions and one that keeps me away for suns at a time, not readily available. Mayhap that will change, given her involvement with Rhuli’a, but we shall see.”
