041 VIDEO LIST SEVENTEEN

[deadliestviper]

[The Beatrix who comes back to the Barge is not the one who left. Yes, she's the same person; she looks the same, except a bit older. She's rounded the corner into her early forties now, but it's not age that weathered her face. She looks exhausted, ashen-skinned and with dark shadows under her reddish eyes. So many things have changed from the last time she was here.]

Ten years.

[Ten years of monumental changes. She'd gone back; she'd seen Budd dead; she'd blinded Elle and killed Bill. She'd lost her enemies, at least she thought. And she'd gotten the most precious gift imaginable, which hadn't been revenge.

Ten years of motherhood, ten years of hugs and growing pains and tantrums and tears. Ten years of watching the most beautiful little girl in the world grow into a beautiful young woman, bright-eyed with a smile that always dazzled her. Easily the most perfect daughter any mother had ever had.

And then in the last week, it had all changed again.]

Well, I'm back.


[Ben]
I'm sorry about Zack. But I'm glad you're here. [Very, very glad. Much more relieved than she can say, if her voice cracking is any indication.]

[Ellie]
[This one is more difficult. She hopes to God Ellie's still here, and at the same time is afraid to see her. Too close for comfort.] Are you okay, honey?

[Vin]
How was she? Is she all right?

[Anya]
If you don't have an aversion to rock music, I have some things for you.

[Arthas]
[This one, at least, is an easy message.] Why the hell is this sword in my room?

[Lab Personnel]
If any of you have a working knowledge of chemistry, I have a favor to ask.

Comments

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Ten years is the Long Summer; ten years is her life in Winterfell, older than she was when she left. She was only nine when everything began to fall apart.]

Why?

[She's used to people leaving, tells herself she's inured to it. She's not; only suspicious when people come back.]

[deadliestviper]

Because I needed to be back here.

[Not just because of the deal or the indenture to the Admiral. There are more people here she loves than there will ever be at home.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

What happened? [She knows, on a deeper level, that this is where Bea's pack is - but she has a pack at home, too. So something must have happened, to make her seek a deal.]

[deadliestviper]

They murdered my daughter.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Who?

[It's a snarl in her voice: they had better be dead, too.]

[deadliestviper]

An enemy I should have killed.

She's dead now. Blew her brains out as she left my house.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

How long ago did it happen?

[She remembers grief: she cut it out of her chest along with her heart. It turned her into a mouse again, a sheep, a listless thing that did as she was told and no more.

If it was recent, she doesn't know how Bea manages.]

[deadliestviper]

About twenty minutes ago.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Where are you?

[deadliestviper]

In my cabin. Are you all right?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

I'm fine.

[But she doesn't think Bea is. She sees the redness in her eyes, and that's why she's already on her way.]

[deadliestviper]

Good. I was worried.

[ Misplaced concern, but heartfelt nonetheless. She's barely had time to process her emotions and currently the one holding the forefront is not B.B., not my little girl. Thinking about another girl, hers or no, is the only way she knows to proceed.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

You don't have to worry about me.

[Arya had a mother, once. She almost saw her again, before she died; instead, she dreamed about dragging her body from the river. Maybe that's why she goes to Bea, now: not because she thinks of the woman as a mother, she's so hesitant to allow people into the roles of family, of mother in particular - but because Beatrix is a mother. And because her mother lost children, too.

The correlation doesn't make sense to her, but it moves her feet. Soon enough, she's knocking on Bea's door.]