Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm sure. I can't do this again."

[Varric]

"Alright. We'll start with a longbow and see where that goes. Sound good?"

[Marian Hawke]

She nods. "Thanks."

[Varric]

Varric nods as he steps back, his movements a little stiff, though he doesn't seem upset. "Good, good. I'm going to call it early today, get some extra sleep. So, uh, go ahead and get in some extra reading or whatever this evening."

[Marian Hawke]

She shifts a little from foot to foot, then nods. "Alright. Sleep well."

[Varric]

Varric nods twice as he grabs his tea. He seems to have forgotten about the stew, given that he hurries past the cold box towards his room. A moment later, from out of sight, Emma hears his voice drift back. "It's nice. Having some care about me again. Hurts somehow. But nice." 

[Marian Hawke]

I know what you mean, she thinks with a fond smile. 

[GamesMaster]

That evening, Varric has nightmares. The cold, hard steel slides between his ribs, immobile and insistant and there, where nothing steel has any right to be; he can't breathe, choking on his own blood, gagging, toppling to the floor. His spouse stands above him, face bloodless, sword bloodied. 

"Don't die, please don't be dead," ne says, and it's Emma's voice he hears, not nirs. He wants to comply. He does. But he can't breathe, his lungs refuse to inflate, and his throat is full of blood, warm blood leaking onto the floor beneath him, and everything begins to go grey. 

He wakes, sitting bolt upright in bed, gasping for breath that comes easily now. Bethie sits on the end of his bed, staring sadly at him, watching him sleep. 

[Varric]

What the actual fuck! What was-- "Explain," he demands in a snarl, Bianca out and aimed. His heart continues to pound in his ears, his breathing stays ragged, but his hand is steadier than the stone under his feet. What was that? Wasn't memory (never ever happen) and I can't see why I'd come up with it myself. Must be haunting but can't be (shouldn't be able to get into my head so damn easily!). 

[GamesMaster]

"You're starting to put things together," says Bethie quietly. "You're so close to finding out the truth."

[Varric]

"Lovely." Varric swallows repeatedly. "Where the fuck did that dream-- how? Why?"

[GamesMaster]

Bethie just looks at him sadly. 

[Varric]

Varric growls softly. "Help or leave."

[GamesMaster]

"I can't tell you. You don't want to know yet."

[Varric]

Varric scoffs loudly. "Bullshit. I'm Al- I always want to know whatever I can."