The Hunger Games

Taegen was always busy with something, not that it usually bothered him, but there were times he wished he could just go off hunting or spend time with his daughter or granddaughter and not feel like he was ignoring duties. Normally he'd have help with his duties but his apprentice had managed to tip the cooking pot and spill hot scalding water on himself causing second degree burns.

It was inventory day and without his apprentice it was going to take twice as long, which meant he wouldn't even be able to leave for the resupply trip until the next day. There were times he'd considered telling his apprentice he was no longer needed, most days he wasn't all that helpful and he was rather accident prone which annoyed the ever loving piss out of Taegen, but since this was technically his third apprentice in two years, he was hesitant to get rid of him.

One, two, three, four, five, fucking hell. Why did inventory have to be so tedious. He sighed and sat down on a cut log to take a much needed break.

Orlaith was dragging her mother through the clan's camp, begging to go to the beach. 'Momma, swim. Momma-uh!' The child whined loudly, her half-elven features extremely prominant. Unlike her mother, the girls' features were majority human.

Maybe a little later, Orly. Elrea murmured, as she tousled the girls hair and scooped her up. You're supposed to be practicing counting to one-hundred, anyway.

'Why do I needa count?' She demanded, large brown eyes fixed on her mother's features. She didn't much think life had much to do with numbers, so why must she learn numbers all the time? It was always numbers or letters.

I thought you'd be gone by now, she called, as she caught sight of Teagan, looking defeated or annoyed one, perhaps both. She couldn't decide. Aren't you late? She inquired, as she stopped next to the log he was resting on, ignoring the loud whining of the halfling in her arms.

Taegen smiled at Elrea and her daughter, somehow despite his lack of patience for people, when it came to kids he had all the patience in the world and having been a single father himself, understood what it was like having to raise a kid alone. Well, not entirely alone, the clan was always there to help and that definitely meant something. Then he shrugged.

Yeven broke his arm, or, I don't know broke something. He's with the healer now and it's going to take awhile before he'll be able to work. I'll have to leave in the morning, I've only gone through half our food stores and I still need to go around and see what every one else needs on this trip. He got the name of his apprentice wrong, so anyone that paid attention to the names of all the clan members would know that the kid's name was Jeven, but since Jeven was Taegen's third apprentice in two years, he'd stopped trying to remember their names.

Elrea grimaced at the news that the apprentice was injured once more, and dropped Orlaith to her feet. The little girl took off immediately, into the nearby trees, but she wasn't worried. Jeven's really not cut out for hearthkeeping, is he? Then again, Taegen, you're not exactly the nicest person to your apprentices. She made a face at the older man. She'd heard the stories of how he treated his apprentices, positively no patience. Surely they were not as stupid as he made them out to be.

Well, it's no fun doing inventory alone. I'll help. Rea's face was bare, no vallaslin in sight. She stood out, she knew. But she didn't feel like she deserved a vallaslin, when she gave nothing to the clan, except her time. She shifted her weight, turning to track Orlaith through the trees.

The girl was trouble, always trying to keep up with the elven children. Never heeding that she shouldn't try to do everything everyone else did. Let me gather Orlaith, she stated, heading off in the direction of laughter and giggling.

It was too much laughter to just by Orlaith; and she frowned as she stood just out of view, listening to the names the other children were chanting. Harsh, things about being shemlen, dull-earred, 'freak'. That was when she stepped up behind the group of children. Go on. Take your nasty words, and get back to your mamas. Her voice was neutral, and she waited until they dispersed before she moved to kneel in front of her daughter.

Orlaith, crying, no longer the happy-go-lucky girl she'd been mere minutes before. She was crying too hard to make sense of what she was trying to say, so eventually Elrea pulled the girl into her arms and hugged her tightly. Why don't you stay with me today, and we'll help Taegen with his inventory? Then, when the moon is high, we'll go to the beach. Just me and you. The slight nod against her shoulder of agreement told her that her terms were accepted, and she moved back towards Taegen and the stores of food.

Orlaith, still sobbing hard, was being rocked by her mother as they returned. And Elrea was quiet, as she stood in front of the hearthkeeper, re-thinking her decision to bring Orlaith to the clan. She'd known there was a possibility the girl would be picked on as she grew, if she was not elvhen enough. But she'd not wanted to let yet another child go. Selfish of her, probably.

She didn't know what to say or do, so she just stood there, quietly rocking her daughter.

Taegen wasn't about to deny that he found apprentices difficult to get on with. He didn't mean to be so impatient but then it hadn't been all his impatience that caused him to go through so many, though perhaps a bit part of it.

Look, I'll admit I'm not the easiest to get along with but it wasn't all me either. I don't know what Jeven would be suited for as accident prone as he is, I mean I told him he might not be suited to climbing trees and what does he do later that morning, climbs a fucking tree and falls out. I mean is common sense too much to ask for.... Maybe he did expect too much from his apprentices, and maybe a big part of him would rather just work along even if it meant taking longer, but everyone else had apprentices so, it just felt like an expected sort of thing.

He nodded and smiled thankfully as Elrea offered to help, he waited. They were just inside ear shot, he could hear some of what was being said but some he had to strain. Not that he meant to eavesdrop, but as he was waiting for them to return it was hard not to. He clenched his jaw as he heard some of the things the other kids were saying, it was horrible how cruel people could be. One might say they were just kids, but in his experience kids just mimicked the things their parents believed.

He smiled warmly when they returned.

Hey Orlaith, how would you like to go over there where my place is, if you go inside there's an old chest and in it is some old toys that used to belong to my daughter, perhaps you can find something in there you'd like Taegen might be hard on his apprentices, but when it came to children, the father in him always showed through, then he turned to Erlea.

People can be cruel to things that are different. We hold ourselves above the shemlen yet still make fun of things that are different or that don't fit our idea of what should be, we're really no better when it comes right down to it. Again, despite the fact he could be on the cruel side to his apprentices, it was never out of spite or with the intention to be cruel, he was just an impatient man that had certain expectations.

Elrea squeezed Orlaith, Wanna go? The little girl buried her face into her mother's shoulder, and Elrea bounced her gently. Alright, well, I've got to put you down so I can help Taegen. A sniffle and a nod, Orlaith was soon on her feet, rubbing her eyes and pinching her ears between her fingers as she stared up at her mother. Then to Taegen.

The elven woman chewed her lip, You know, Orly, your ears are really pretty. She reached down to brush her fingers gently along her daughters' rounded ears. They're unique, just like you. Oh, what a lie that was. Though her daughter had never seen a human before. Only elves.

Why don't you go pick out a toy, and you can bring it with you when we go to the beach tonight? She raised her eyebrows, peppering the top of the child's head with kisses. Eventually, with enough kisses, the child was giggling quietly and willingly heading towards Taegan's.

When she was gone, though, Elrea sighed up at the hearthkeeper. One of these days, she's going to ask me why she doesn't look like everyone else. Maybe we should go back to the city... She frowned at the idea, and shook her head. ...Anyway, inventory? She tried not to think about it, how she felt like her fears regarding Orlaith were coming true the older she got.

She pushed herself to her feet, and moved towards the stores, determined to do inventory to take her mind off of the harsh words said to her child. Regarding Jeven... I think you just need a new apprentice. Or, I mean, maybe just don't have one.

Taegen felt better when Orlaith seemed to feel better, kids were meant to be young and free and always smiling and it made Taegen sad when that wasn't the case. It wasn't just about the hurts the child was going through now, but the realisation of what that could mean for her once she grew up, would it be a burden on her soul she'd bare the rest of her life, would she grow up hating other elves, hating her own kind because of the abuse she suffered as a child. Taegen understood that intimately well, his parents having been murdered by the Orlesian shemlen when he was just a child.

Taegen shook his head slightly at the mention of going back to the city. He'd been to enough of them to see what the alienages were like and they were just hideous awful places. In his mind the elves were the lesser of two evils when compared to the alienages.

Not to misspeak, but life is cruel everywhere, there'll always be something. Better to show your daughter how to stand up for herself, to stand strong against the idiots and assholes that live to put people down, how to love despite all that, than run back to the city. He didn't mean it to come off as harsh and wasn't even sure if it had, he really was just speaking from his heart.

You're probably right about the apprentice, but I can't overlook the fact that one day someone's going to have to pick up the mantle, and if they aren't ready, where will the clan be. Maybe I just need help picking one.

Elrea chuckled wryly, shaking her head. She's a little girl. She shouldn't have to grow up as fast as I had too. She wouldn't teach the child to stand up for herself just yet; not at the young age of five, six years old. In the future, certainly. As for the city? She'd blend in as a human just fine. And I'm sure Fereldens love elvhen pussy. The words tasted sour in her mouth; she's only prostituted herself a few times since the clan took her in; and those few times were with fellow clanmates.

None of her relationships ever existed without payment. She'd accepted that that was just how things were. Orlaith would never have family, she'd never have a father. There'd simply be a rotating door of paying customers, stepping into the night to meet her mother.

It kept the child in nice things.

There's no flush to her cheeks at speaking so crudely; she's never been one to blush. At least, not about this. Sometimes she caught herself wondering what it would have been like, to grow into a proper assassin. What would it be like if the Crows had never gotten their hands on her and she'd not been born in a brothel?

Would some sweet boy somewhere serenade her, and tell her pretty compliments? Probably. He'd also probably turn around and lie to her face, over and over again.

At least this way, she knew her worth. Even if she deemed her worth through sex.

She turned to watch Orlaith disappear from view, before raising her eyebrows at the hearthkeeper. I guess you have a point," though she wondered what was so important about the role of hearthkeeper. It seemed like a lot of inventory to her. Nevertheless, she stepped into the stores, and started taking tally from one of the farthest most walls of the building.

Taegen thought about pointing out what the shemlens would do once they found out that Orlaith was the daughter of an elf, then it wouldn't matter if she could blend in or not. Still, it wasn't any of his business and he'd probably already said more than he should have, he wasn't even sure why he said it, Erlea was a grown adult who could do as she pleased, besides maybe others would never find out Orlaith had an elf for a mother, in which case she'd just be another shemlen. Though there was always something people would tease for, too poor, wrong politics and sometimes they didn't even need a reason to tease or be mean towards someone simply because they exist.

Taegen shrugged it all off, or at least tried to. He didn't really want to respond to the elvhen pussy comment, especially with her daughter so near by. Though he imagined that all shemlens liked it, regardless of what kingdom they were in.

He started taking inventory from the wall nearest the wall that Erlea was counting.

Hearthkeeper isn't an easy spot to fill, it's not quite as glamorous as some of the other positions but it actually involves a lot. There's the cooking and food needs for the clan, I aide the healers with their work, am responsible for the morale and well-being of the clan. Then there's the diplomatic duties, I travel and bring word and supplies back and forth between Arlathan, as well as other dalish clans and occasionally shemlen cities, which means I have to be aware what everyone needs from these places.

You're right about that, she remarked about the glamour of the job, a bit snarky, sarcastic. But I think that this job has its own kind of charm, you're in here, taking inventory of what the clan has. You're checking store levels, ensuring we have enough food, hide, clothing...

She continued counting, If you train someone who is incompentent, well, the clan really might fail. Not that I think the Keeper would let that happen; I do think he'd step in and do this job if the person placed here was too daft. Chi was a large, scary man that Elrea couldn't help being weary around. He was kind enough to accept her into his clan, and offer her a safe place from the ones she was running from...

But that didn't change the fact he intimidated her.

And dealing with the shem? Ugh, that takes a lot of patience. I should know, she joked, turning to write the number of whatever she'd been counting onto a nearby piece of paper, it appeared to be a list.

He listened as she agreed with him about the position of Hearthkeeper, though when she commented about the job having charm he raised an eyebrow. It wasn't how he'd have described it but then it was interesting to hear her point of view on things. When it had come time for him to apprentice, choosing the hearthkeeper hadn't really been a choice so much as a logical decision, since his adoptive mother had been the hearthkeeper. 

He nodded his head as she talked about how the Keeper, Chip, wouldn't let things get to the point where the whole clan failed because the Hearthkeeper couldn't do the job expected of them. 

Fortunately I don't plan on being done with the position any time soon. Sure he was fifty-seven years old, but he barely looked a day over thirty-nine and he had about the same amount of energy that anyone had in their thirties. Plus he was stubborn as fuck, so there was also that. As she talked about how much patience it took dealing with the Shemlen, an idea formed in Taegen's head. Maybe it was a dumb idea, it was probably a dumb idea, but as they went around inventorying things, the words finally just tumbled out of his mouth.

Ya know, if you're looking for a change of scenery, you could always come with me. I'm headed up to Arlathan this trip... I mean if you and your daughter want. He shrugged, he meant the invitation to sound sincere, but sometimes his laid back attitude could come off as stiff or insincere, though he didn't mean for it to be that way.

Elrea grinned, shaking her head, No, I imagine the life span for elves is higher outside of the alienages and brothels? She inquired, resuming inventory quietly. The quiet was welcome, it was a soothing peace, even when she could hear Orlaith just outside, playing with some toy or another. It was only when he broke the silence that she paused in taking inventory, turning to study him. I don't... She chewed her lip, considering her options.

Thank you for the offer, but, I'm... part of me wants to say yes. Arlathan sounds wonderful. I'm just... hesitant, because it's so near to my homeland. She rocked in place, studying the older elf. But... I don't think anyone should be looking for me, now. I was just a prostitute in one of many rooms of a brothel. She hummed, shaking her head.

Silence ensued, as she turned back to resume inventory, leaving uncertainty in the air. After a while, I would like to go, but leave Orlaith at home. Just so I can ensure it'd be safe for her.

His cheeks flushed a few shades of subtle red as she pondered his offer, perhaps it would have been better if he hadn't asked. In some ways he hadn't really planned to ask, the words had just tumbled forth out of his lips before he'd had much chance to even consider them. He did enjoy Erlea's company and there was a part of him that didn't want it to end once they'd finished up the last of the inventory. A more attentive person might have put two and two together and remembered where she'd come from and the fact she might not want to travel through that area just to visit Arlathan, but he often forgot where she was from, hell sometimes he forgot she wasn't Dalish despite her lack of Dalish tattoos.

Sorry, sometimes I forget you had a life before coming to our Clan, I completely understand if you don't want to go. I plan to steer clear of shemlen settlements this trip, may briefly touch base with a Dalish clan in the Free Marches on my way. There was a part of him that would have favoured having the company, but he cared more about Erlea's comfort than his own, even though at this point those feelings were mostly subconscious and not things he was actively aware of.

Elrea shook her head, It's okay... I would really like to go. See what you do on your trips. I kind of miss the cities, anyway. She didn't miss the work, though. She wasn't sure that she'd ever miss the work.

Some small part of her hoped she might run into her children, the ones before Orlaith, who were torn from her arms. But she'd need to go deep into Crow territory to find them. She'd have to pose as a Crow, and she'd failed at that once.

One failure a lifetime was all she was allowing herself.

I'd like to go. She said, more confidently.

Taegen had no idea he was grinning like an idiot when it was clear that she would definitely go with him, he knew he felt good about the decision, but he was trying to tell himself that was imply because he'd have company on this trip. It absolutely positively couldn't have anything to do with a certain romantic feeling that was slowly developing towards Elrea, nope nope nope! Whatever he was feeling definitely had to be heartburn, he should probably definitely take some healing herbs to make that feeling go away.

Well, it's settled then, now I just have to decide if I want to get on the road tonight once all this inventory is done, or wait until the morning to go. With my apprentice out I had expected this to take me longer, but with your help it's gone rather fast. Which would be easier on you? Because, honestly, it makes no significant difference if we leave tonight or tomorrow. There was a part of him excited about the idea of some alone time with Elrea, but of course it wasn't personal. He was responsible for the emotional well being of the clan and he didn't really know enough about Elrea to know what she might need or want. That was all this was, simply for the good of the clan that he gets to know her better.