Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"I was Astean," she argues. "I was sworn to do anything for love."

[Varric]

"Wrong," Varric says bluntly. "Even Vangal doesn't ask that much from anyone but paladins. Astea is Love, sure, but She's also Life. And Love and Life apply to you too."

[Marian Hawke]

"Nobody ever loved me," she says, and her eyes brim with tears. "I was the Bad Kid. You're the first person to give a damn about me my whole life."

[Varric]

"Sounds like they were the shitty Asteans."

[Marian Hawke]

"Maybe." Fat tears slide down her cheeks. "Maybe they were. But I promised to do better and I failed."

[Varric]

"Some promises shouldn't be made, much less kept. And you've paid and paid and paid again."

[Marian Hawke]

"And it wasn't enough." She takes a deep breath. "Can we bring Beth back?"

[Varric]

Fuck. "I... I don't know. The gods are picky about that sort of thing. And not very clear on how They pick for that matter," he says slowly. "But maybe... Bringing her back is unlikely. But talking to her? Or at least talking to someone that knows more about her from after she died."

[Marian Hawke]

"You brought me back. and Beth's better than me. More deserving, less... tainted."

[Varric]

"By your viewpoint, perhaps, but the Gods measure things Their own way."

[Marian Hawke]

"Beth never had to do any of the things I did that-- it should work. Can we try? Please?"

[Varric]

"That's kind of my point. The Gods bring back heroes and focal points, not the good or untainted," Varric explains, or rather warns her.

[Marian Hawke]

"So I'm... a focal point?" she asks, her voice hoarse. 

[Varric]

Varric frowns, noticing her sudden distress and puzzling his way back to figuring out what triggered her. "Shite, sorry, I meant that good and or pure aren't a factor really, not that They don't bring back pure or good people at all," he says quickly. "Focal point isn't a pretty term for Gillian or whatever. Not even for adventurer. Just important to-- to the narrative the gods are telling. Or want to tell at least. Not to be humble but you being a major part of getting me back to Alydra could have earned you the second chance by itself."

[Marian Hawke]

"I... was? I-- I think... I barely recall why you left Alydra. It's like a dream, that time. But I guess, if that earned me a reward, it must have been important."