show them the joy and the pain and the ending
This is why she does not usually involve herself in the midst of such dramas. Oh, she watches. Quite voyeuristically. But she is a fly on the wall, a silent spy.
The emotions coursing through her are completely at odds with how she normally behaves. Not foreign, but unwelcome.
A sigh escapes her lips as she looks between the two men. They had truly mucked things up. Left on their own, Heartfire might have left Leliana a little sore, but perhaps a little wiser. A little stronger and a little more hopeful. Contrary to popular belief, her intent had not been cruel, merely curious. She would not have torn down. If anything, she would have built up.
Of course, Dovev could not leave well enough alone, and he had attracted the attentions of his master.
Men. The thought is full of disgust. They had come, thinking they could fix things when there had been nothing to fix.
The magician's words draw her attention, bringing her eyes to him. She frowns, blue eyes sharp, as the import of what he has said sinks in.
Oh, she knows love can hurt. She is far from naive. She experienced it herself, even had she not seen it enough to know better. But it should not hurt. This she knows too. No, what catches her off guard is his comment upon parentage. Upon the souls he can apparently see inside of her. A shiver races down her spine as her head jerks upwards, eyes crystallizing to a narrow focus as she peers at him.
But then she shrugs it off, like water cascading from her skin, as Leliana asserts herself. A coolness steals over her features as her gaze turns to consider the girl, the fire in her soul dimming to its normal hush. The regal bearing of a queen settles over her like a familiar cloak. She had been one for so many years, it is far easier to don than any other mantle.
And it has become so obvious her energies are wasted here.
There is a reason she doesn't usually interfere. There is also a reason she has sworn off loving again, and it is staring her in the face. She does not need to be bludgeoned with it to see the truth.
Instead, she becomes the Heartfire everyone else knows, chilly and confident. She dips her head slightly in Leliana's direction, acceding to her wishes. The girl had made her choices, and Heartfire is content to allow her to live with them. Her help had been rebuffed anyway.
With one last, lingering look at Ashley, she slips gracefully around Leliana. She eases along Dovev's bony side, lips tracing a light caress along his hip, back, shoulder. There is no forgiveness in the touch, despite its gentleness. Only warning.
Instead, when she reaches his ear, she whispers softly ”You could have so much more, if only you were brave enough to reach out and take it.” before turning to go. Her parting wisdom.
And indeed, it's true. He could have had her, only a short time ago, had he been brave enough. He could have Leliana with but a crook of the proverbial finger. It doesn't matter if he is worthy or not. All that matters is what is, a fact he seems unable, or unwilling, to comprehend.
heartfire
i filled up my senses with thoughts from the ghosts
Theoretically this is before Heartfire got knocked up (darn timelines, lol), but since it's ~*magic*~ hopefully this is ok