Ghost Story

[Varric]

"Not quite what I meant. Why are you here?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I live here."

[Varric]

The hells? "Since when?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I... don't remember, exactly," she hedges. "But it's been a while. Nobody was here."

[Varric]

Lie? Or so long ago she was too young to track it? Or hells, could be just too isolated (no interaction, no obligations or appointments) to care about time. "Nobody at all?" he asks mildly. "Why not go into town then?"

[Marian Hawke]

She freezes, and he can see the panic growing behind her eyes for a moment before she calms herself. "I don't want to," she lies. 

[Varric]

Well that was, ah, interesting. "No?"

[Marian Hawke]

"No. Who are you and why are you here?"

[Varric]

"The owner of this manor." He smiles thinly. "And living here."

[Marian Hawke]

"Oh! Shit," she whispers to herself. "I'm sorry. I'll put the books back."

[Varric]

"Do you live here?" Varric asks abruptly. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Um. I don't have to? But I have been," she says, her voice dropping to a whisper as she ducks her head to hide in her hair. "I'm sorry, please don't be mad."

[Varric]

Varric shrugs a little. "I just bought the place a few weeks ago. Doesn't look like you've done much damage or anything. Clear enough that you're careful with the books."

[Marian Hawke]

"Sorry," she says again. "I know they're not mine to read."

[Varric]

"Books need to be read," Varric says softly, eyes distant. "Otherwise they're just empty promises and wasted effort."