#bergen_county

Following the rather stunning revelation she made to the rest of the Lodge, Brekke waits for Dagmar to join her outside.

Dag follows, looking rather... stoic.

Brekke leads her towards one of the paths into the woods, trudging along in silence for several minutes.

Tromp. Tromp. Tromp.

Eventually... "I know this news is unwelcome."

"Not my place."

"Of course it is your place. Speak your mind." It is part invitation, part instruction.

"This is... for good? Forever?"

"As a change of residence? Yes. But if you mean that you and I will not see or speak to each other again...no. In fact, I would very much like you to come to visit and see the beauty of Alaska's wilderness."

Frown.

Brekke notes this and looks down as she walks. "I am sorry, Dagmar. I know this hurts you, but that is not my intent."

"I know that."

"But it does not help to know it, does it."

A long pause. "No."

She nods. Some silence as they walk, perhaps an invitation for Dagmar to say more?

"I should have gone to BCC instead of Rutgers."

A blink. "Why?"

"Lost a year and a half of time, didn't I?"

"Lost? How lost? You are achieving good goals at Rutgers."

"Lost time here."

"No. You have been here as well. You have served in crisis and in calm."

"Mmph."

A glance over. "You are also no longer the frightened wilder you were when you chrysalized. You have grown, and you have become a hero in your own right, many times over."

"Sometimes."

"Sometimes, I'm pretty sure I'm still her, too."

A brief, wry grin. "I understand that."

"I don't want to guilt you or make you feel bad."

"I know that. But I wish you to be candid with me. I also want you to understand...it is hard to leave. But it is time."

"...Why? How do you know?"

"Ah. That is harder to explain. It is..." she pauses, then taps her chest. "A feeling. A...sense." She pauses. "A need."

"But you're needed here..." She stops, frowns.

That half-grin again. "Am I?" Said easily, not with any hint of self-pity.

"Of course you are!"

"You're... Rivervale is you. The carvings and the woods and the way it feels."

"Yes," she says with a sigh. "This is true. That is the nature of a hold and its balefire. And it will adapt. To be truthful, I am curious what it will become under Hearth Kerri's leadership."

Harrumph.

"I know."

"But I also know that this is right."

"And I will always return to help in times where I am truly needed."

"How can I be your knight, if I am here and you are there?"

A brow. "A knight is any less loyal at a distance?"

"But," she shakes her head, "I do understand. That will be something we will have to figure out. But we will figure it out. We can be clever, when we need to be, yes?"

"Maybe."

"Let us try, at least."

"Come...there is a branch down, further along this path. Help me clear it."

A small task at hand, one that is easy to manage, may provide some small comfort as the conversation lulls for the moment. ((Fade Out))