Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"It doesn't feel like a curse. But I don't know for sure what curses feel like. So maybe."

[Varric]

"Depends on the curse and the caster. Some are meant to be subtle, to decrease the chances the victim gets help. Others are more blatant, to increase the suffering."

[Marian Hawke]

"Maybe I'm cursed to suffer," she mutters. 

[Varric]

Varric frowns a little. "Not just suffer, I hope. And besides, if Littlebeard can break his curse, then so can anyone."

[Marian Hawke]

"It just seems like the stuff I remembered today was pretty shit, and what was the reason? Either I pissed off the gods, or maybe I was already cursed by then."

[Varric]

"Gods have Their own plans, plans that don't much care about petty, insignificant things like mortals."

[Marian Hawke]

"I was thinking of changing to Alydra, like you," says Emma quietly. "Astea's clearly not doing a lot for me."

[Varric]

"I'm not--" Varric shakes his head. "Gods don't do anything for free, or for your benefit. They advocate and advance Their own causes and sometimes that helps mortals out. Nothing more, nothing less."

[Marian Hawke]

"You don't think they can help me?" asks Emma, sadly. "Even if I switch?"

[Varric]

"They can, sure. Just don't know if They will." Varric laughs bitterly. "When They need something, They see it done, make no mistake."

[Marian Hawke]

"What happened? Between you and Alydra?"

[Varric]

Varric doesn't answer. And doesn't answer. And doesn't answer. Almost five minutes later, the silence heavy and unyielding as he cooks, he finally sighs. "Ne asked for my Helene to die. And ne did."

[Marian Hawke]

"Was it..."

Emma begins to speak, but falters, reconsiders. Finally, getting together her courage, she finishes the sentence: "Was it to save you?"

[Varric]

"I--" Varric stares at the oven for a moment. "I don't know. Ne sent-- Ne was an oracle. Incredibly powerful, by far the best I'd ever heard of living and one of the best I've ever read of period. Ne got visions regularly. Mostly small things, little quests. It was almost a hobby, a game, for us. Ne would see a problem and toss it at me to solve. It was almost fun, seeing how I could go about fixing a problem or solving a puzzle. And then ne got a vision about a necromancer's attempt to ascend into lichdom." He falls silent again, brooding.

[Marian Hawke]

"Necromancers are no joke," says Emma quietly, trying to sound supportive.