Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"...does... that mean I'm not in trouble?" she asks, quietly. 

[Varric]

"Not about the books at least," Varric assures her, shaking his head. "Didn't see any damage on my quick look around that doesn't look the work of time, weather and animals. You been here long?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I think so. I don't know how long. I don't know what the date is or what it was when I got here or... or anything."

[Varric]

How can she not-- "What's the earliest thing you do remember?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I mean, I was a baby once upon a time. I just don't remember when I got here."

[Varric]

"Everyone--" Varric pauses, just for a second. "Most everyone was at one point," he corrects himself with wary caution. "Not what I asked though. What's the earliest thing you remember, not assume must have occured?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I--" 

She hesitates, frowning a little. "I think... I think I remember... fighting. Yelling. I think my family and I used to fight. That's why-- I think they kicked me out."

[Varric]

Damn. Not surprising, but damn. "And you ended up here?"

[Marian Hawke]

She nods. "Are you going to throw me out too?"

[Varric]

Varric cocks his head to the side, amused and impressed by her blunt question. "Should I?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Probably. It's your house."

[Varric]

"Big house though. How many rooms can a single dwarf use at once?"

[Marian Hawke]

"D'ya mean it?" she asks, sounding wary now, ready for a trick.

[Varric]

"Other than 'probably should' is there a reason why it'd be a bad idea?" Varric asks her, repaying her directness with his own. "If there is, best tell me now. Maybe it's something I won't care about or can fix. Maybe it's not, in which case I'll at least send you on your way with supplies and an escort."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian is quiet for a time, looking at him with her big dark eyes. Finally, she says quietly, "People don't like me much. I'm a firebrand. I'll get on your nerves."