#rivervale_lodge

A look at Gerd. "Is Dagmar correct?"

A bite of her lip, "WHen you threaten to punch someone if they don't do what you want, then how is that NOT Bullying someone?"

"Right? See. So. I'm a bad guy. Doesn't matter what else I do."

"It is what you DID that was bad, not who you are. And we established I screwed up too okay?"

"Gerd...you had her cornered." A reminder. "If Stormwake or Star puts their ears back, and you continue to irritate them, you cannot blame them if you get kicked."

"As I said...you were both in the wrong."

"I know what I am. Shouldn't keep pretending I'm not."

"Dagmar, Gerd has said that she will be satisfied if you make things right with Connor. How will you be satisfied?"

"I don't know!"

"That's such a ..." Gerd takes a breath "Dagmar. You're a knight and a hero. Okay? I'm not being sarcastic. You've done heroic things. THAT'S the Dagmar I like. And maybe I got spoiled because that's the part of you I like and it's who you are too okay?"

Brekke starts to comment, but waits.

"We're not defined by our worst moments... otherwise I'd be forever an insecure bitch vomiting up lunch"

"No, I'm not. I'm not a... I'm not."

"You're GOOD.. you're brave, and yes, kind. Maybe that's why when you acted like that it caught me flat footed. I was.. . I didn't catch onto anything and I didn't give you room to have one bad day. But your one bad day isn't your everyday"

"Been play-acting so long I fell for it. All that hokey crap. 'His heart knows only virtue.' I ain't that."

An eyebrow. "Dagmar...what you are right now? It is not how we have come to know you. Both are true. I accept that. I accept you as both. There is room for you here, either way."

"I can't... I can't feel like this and be some knight in shining armor!"

"I watched that movie too, Dagmar. Even Bowen lost faith in the code. What made him a knight wasn't perfection, it's that he kept hoping to make it real"

"You're way too hard on yourself.... and frankly... I can't believe after we had a fight I have to take your side against you... "

Grumph

"I can't lie and act like I'm a paladin... I... you don't understand..."

"Maybe i don't...but the Chief does"

"Gerd...." A look. "Do not push."

"Sorry I just... " A sigh "Sorry. I'll go."

Then a sigh. "Dagmar...for now, I do not expect a paladin. But will you still help when we need you?"

"Of course. This is my home."

"Think I'm gonna let some dragon or outsider mess with it?"

A nod. "Then that is enough."

"Gerd...you do not need to go...but can you agree to give Dagmar space when she is stressed, so that you might talk about it at a later time?"

"I don't know. I'm not perfect either" She says "But I will try"

Bottling upsomething herself now.

"Mm." A nod. "Is that enough for now, Dagmar?"

She nods.

A nod. "In other circumstances, I would send you off to quest together in hopes to reestablish trust. But we have a threat bearing down on us, and I need you both here and ready."

"Yes, Chieftain."

Grunt, nod.

A look from one to the other. Then a nod, and she rises.

"Can I go now?" Gerd says, sounding resigned.

"If you wish." Brekke sounds somewhat resigned herself.

"Thank you." a deep breath, and she nods to Dagmar, "Hope you talk to Connor tell him it's not his fault. He needs it."

"I said I would"

"Ok. Thanks then." She says and goes.

A sigh.

"Dagmar, is there anything you need right now?"

"No."

"Sorry you got drug into this."

She shakes her head. "It is part of what I do."

"Still sucks."

A slightly wry grin. "It is hardly the first time there have been tensions in the Lodge. It will not be the last."

"Heh. Yeah."