#rivervale_lodge

Alisa retreats into the lodge ashamed

Kerri looks up from folding some laundry. "Alisa? Are you all right?"

"No. I am not. I am unworthy, and I am a coward"

A look of shame fills her face

A blink. "That's quite a statement. Would you help me fold these sheets while you explain?"

she's a good girl, Alisa, her dedication and eagerness to please has often lead to her being easy to take for granted, first the first time she says "I would prefer not. I should pack my things. this is a place for heroes, not cowards"

Kerri is briefly nonplussed, then puts the sheet back in the basket. "Some say that folding a fitted sheet is an act of bravery. But it can wait. Tell me what happened."

It comes out in a rush, "There was this nightmare chimera, this giant rolling hopping head with veins for legs and a hundred eyes.... " She babbles of her encounter with the CHief and Frank... and how they followed her... "..... but then battle engaged and... this fear...." And she goes on using words about how she acted like "simpering" "craven" and "dishonorable" while also mention "But even the DOG, little older than a PUP attacked... but not I... I was the cringing cur.. a damsel with a blade I was too useless to use. And the Chief SAW it, Sir Frank SAW it... " tears wet "I am no warrior. Not worthy to walk the same halls as the Grimhand, nor the Hammerstrike, nor the Waveborne, nor you... I... I stain this place"

She frowns. "You think only fearless warriors are welcomed and valued here? You do a disservice to Connor, to Jack Flap, to Layne, to Symon, to so many among us if you think that."

"But it has been all that defines me, all that I can provide. You are Hearth, without you this place falls apart, hospitlity and honor , no wonder a Daireann serves you with pride, but a warrior is all i am. I ccannot rule here. I am no troll. My blade is what I offer, and we saw how little worth that offer was today when I shamed myself before two warriorers who have treated me with nothing but kindness when they needed aid! "

"So you want to compound one shame with another, by running away?"

The sheer drama flowing is impressive. Not like Kerri hasn't seen this sort of thing before, but sidhe nature does add flare. There should be music to this

Kerri has, indeed, seen plenty of WOE! DRAMA! over the years.

"Running away IS what cowards do, isn't it? I can at least be true to myself now that I know what that is"

"What and who I am" A sob.. "Pardon, I .. I want to go pack now"

"Stay where you are," Kerri says gently but firmly.

"Now...am I right that you are the one who alerted them to the monster chimera to begin with?"

"I..." But she's too good a girl, and she knows the Dame outranks her TWICE... "FINE. Let us prolong my humiliation" then she seems to hear the question "Of course, it was to be my chance to do more good"

"And you led the way to the attack?"

"I lead them to the monster before I cowered, simpered and cringed before it" A sniff

"So...you learned of the threat, alerted others, and led the charge. After that...you had an unfortunate moment. There's not anyone in Rivervale who hasn't had a bad dice roll unfortunate moment."

"Oh you're just trying to make me feel better" a sniff. she cries beautifully

"Are you accusing me of lying?"

That gets her to back up "Never, Hearth"

"Then accept that what I'm saying is true. And accept that it applies to you as much as it applies to me...and to the Chieftain and Frank. It has happened to all of us."

"it.. has..." Realization "You speak true. I know it. I.. I am sorry I just..." A sniff "It was the most mortifying thing in my life"

"Now that I can believe. Just because it happens to all of us doesn't mean it isn't agonizing."

"I thought it was just me" She says "And now it seems I have something new to be embarrassed about- Arrogant presumption"

A wry look. "You might want to be embarrassed about looking for things to be embarrassed about."

A low mutter "I am still sidhe, Dame Kerri. We do tend to wrap ourselves in the limelight"

"Understood. But while seeking the limelight, try not to burn yourself too much."

Sheepish "Well, I ..do greatly admire the Chief. So I suppose... I don't want her to think less of me? Nor Sir Franklyn who has taught me that courage is among the Liams as well"

"That's a reasonable concern. But it might make sense to find out whether they do, in fact, think less of you before you assume that to be the case."

"And I can tell you, I'd be astounded if that was the case."

"Sir Franklyn won't... he's very kind and forgiving. Not that the Chief is not, but he excells. Still, the Chief is JUST, she will give me a task to reclaim my honor if she thinks i am in need"

That gets a grin. "There. Now I think you are making sense."

"Well, it was going to get there eventually" A bit sheepish for a different reason now "But it is well that it's not....while I was three miles out walking away with all i own in a backpack"

"Yes, I was hoping to prevent that. Now...I'm going to recommend a little chocolate milk therapy...and then you can help me with those sheets, yes?"

"Yes, Hearth," A pause "And thank you. I hope that's my wilder break down for this year, or at least until I'm sained"

"We can hope." It's more likely that there will be many more, but...

She brings Alisa into the kitchen and makes sure she gets a tall glass of the chocolatiest milk.

Alisa has been such a proper young fledge it's almost been dull, but as she gets closer to her saining this winter, who knows?

And the girl savors the milk with gratitude "Thank you"

And out in the hall "WOOOO!" A happy yell. From the Mountain

"You're quite welcome." Then a blink, and she calls back, "Woooo?"

"Yes, verily woo" Vali can't be seen but his smile she knows is huge

"That you in the kitchen, Hearth?"

"Me and Alisa. Are you coming here to tell us what you're wooo-ing about?"

"Sure.. warning, I plan to take a glass of our finest celebratory booze" He enters in

"So noted. What's the celebration?"