The Silver Queen [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I... I was called Cindy, once," she says, softly. "But.... that was someone else. Someone kinder than I."

[Tethras Clan]

"Then take the name as a goal, a reminder of who you wish to become once more," Zevran suggests.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Wish to become?" she asks, bleakly. "I am a disgrace. I have no right."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran makes a rather rude and dismissive noise. "Oh Silver Haired Beauty, you are on a pirate ship- disgrace means nothing. Half the crew were slaves, the other half nearly as bad off in life before they made a home here."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"That is not-- slavery alone is no disgrace."

[Tethras Clan]

"Then the sex? More than a few- myself included- were pleasure slaves," Zevran says as lightly as he can.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I was meant to be better," she whispers, and the tears come fast and hot as she wipes them with the heel of her hands. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Why?" Zevran asks gently. "Better than what?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I was meant to destroy slavery, not prop it up. I was meant to die rather than become his tool. I was only supposed to go with him long enough to secure my sister's safety and then..."

[GamesMaster]

Vigile's ears flatten back against his head and he hisses again.

[Tethras Clan]

"And then you found out you were merely mortal, like everyone else," Zevran says gently. "It is a hard lesson, especially when taught in such a... very extreme manner. But that does not mean you cannot improve. Make amends if need be. Do better. Learn and hone your skills. Be kinder, more loving, more generous, more honest, more loyal- whatever you think was your flaw, embrace the opposite."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She takes a deep breath, then another. Finally, after a long moment, as Helene's spell dies out, she speaks again:

"I will go to Glaley, one more time. I will extract my family, ensure they are safe. Then... then." She doesn't look at Vigile.

[Tethras Clan]

Oh you poor thing... People are never safe. Then again, I am hardly going to try and convince you to not spend the next lifetime keeping your family safe. "Then a decision can be made on the path forward from there," Zevran agrees without agreeing. "If you try to look ahead too far to plan, your vision will always trick you. Best to revisit things when you're closer."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Alright," she says, lowering her head. "Alright."

[GamesMaster]

And it is. It takes a little over a week to reach Raplin's Oak -- time for Bela and Coquette to get a little immediate distance from the events. Bela's weeping silently by the time she finishes reading Helene's transcript; Coquette argues with Vigile frequently about what she is and is not allowed to do to harm herself. But slowly, they each begin adapting to their new circumstances, to look forward to the future instead of back toward the past. 

As they approach, shortly after sunset, Bela calls Zevran and Carver up to the deck to look down at the landscape. "That's... a lot of fires," says Carver weakly, looking at the array of lights in the darkness.

"Yes," agrees Bela. "The Oak wasn't this large last time I was here."