the wheel has come full circle

ASHE question: how do you make a monster stop feeling so monsterous? you give her something she can hold in her palms without crushing, you give her something sweet and tell her to keep it.    Ashe nodded, visualizing the black tower in the center of the Hallowed Grounds. A wretched place that carried the worst of her memories in this world. "I want to go," she said. "If that's where it started, that's where we need to go." It seemed obvious, but dread was still creeping up her spine.    The subject shifted, and the wolf girl sat up with a frown. She had certainly heard. First the great news: Zariah was missing, giving her room and time to understand what she wanted to do about it. Then discovering Edrei still held the Hallowed Grounds in a Launcelyn choke hold. And then Wessex, that ascended who came back once more from death. And now Ronin.    "What even happened? You didn't want it?" she asked. She pulled at her lower lip with her teeth, her hands bracing on either side of the bench as she looked up at Ronin. "Back in Northaven..." She took a heavy breath before she continued. "I almost enlisted in the Storm Guard. I would have if you'd been named general before... all of this."    It certainly was no secret that Ashe did not follow anyone. She had never looked at their superiors and saw good people, she never once had faith that a single one of them gave a shit about the rest. Oppressing shapechangers, ignoring terrorism, playing their social political games, she had hated them all --- the Launcelyns among them. It was on principle she detested authority so much. Others could do what they wanted---she was never to bow before anyone again. But...    "I would have followed you then, and I'll follow you now," she finally said without looking back at him. "But never them. I won't. I never will." you wipe the blood from her hands you say her name, over and over like an absolution. you forgive her. you forgive her. you forgive.