Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

She winces. "Is any of it not painful?"

[Varric]

"No." Well, that's honest at least. "Well, unless you can sweet talk a god into just waving the problem away."

[Marian Hawke]

She hesitates. "Can I try? Maybe Alydra will take pity on me."

[Varric]

"Memories aren't strictly speaking in Nir domain, but it could work. Astea's your patron. Bastion is healing. Could try any of them." His voice is a little detached, more analytical than just before. 

[Marian Hawke]

"I could offer to change to Alydra if she'll-- sorry, ne'll-- fix me."

[Varric]

"She is also accurate. Gods aren't mortals, They're above and beyond gender. Anyway. That's a big thing to bargain with."

[Marian Hawke]

"Is it? What's the worst that could happen?"

[Varric]

"They could ask for more than faith. They could ask for your life. Your death." His face is blank, expression set and closed off. "It's not something to consider lightly."

[Marian Hawke]

"But I could say no, right? if they ask for something like that. Besides, Alydra's a Good deity-- or, sorry, a Neutral one. She wouldn't ask for something like that."

[Varric]

"Ne would."

[Marian Hawke]

Emma stares at him for a moment before asking gently, "Who died?"

[Varric]

Varric goes silent, looking away from Emma. Just as she's giving up, he whispers softly, "my spouse."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm sorry," she says quietly. "I know that had to hurt. When we lost--" 

Her face goes vague, but then he can see a struggle come across it, can see determination in her eyes. "When we lost...."

[Varric]

"She was younger than you. Dark hair," he reminds her urgently. "Innocent."

[Marian Hawke]

Her lips begin to form a syllable, but she loses it. Still: "My sister. When we lost my sister, it nearly broke the whole family. Maybe it did, I don't know. We were never the same again." There's triumph as well as comfort in her voice.