Ghost Story

[Marian Hawke]

"It's okay. We'll figure it out. Together."

[Varric]

That gets a startled, almost outright shocked look for a heartbeat, then he smiles warmly. "Together, huh?" That's not something I've had since (ne) well before I left (home) Nyra.

[Marian Hawke]

"If you'll have me," jokes Emma. 

[Varric]

Varric, however, has a somewhat serious expression as he considers her joke. "How would you feel about making your mentorship official?" he asks abruptly.

[Marian Hawke]

"You mean, you want me for an apprentice? Really?"

[Varric]

"Really."

[Marian Hawke]

Emma gives a little squeal, popping over to throw her arms around Varric and squeeze him tightly. "Thank you! I won't let you down!"

[Varric]

And there's touching. "Ahhhh." Varric grimances over her shoulder and gingerly pats her back. "I-- yeah. Never thought you would."

[GamesMaster]

Varric doesn't bother with sleep that night; worried about torches and pitchforks, he stays up the night through using a favorite extract of his. As the night wears on and no mob appears, he turns again to the little journal he found, reading through it to distract himself from his midnight worries. 

Dear diary-dad, I hate that Car is gone. Or I should say Carver, that's what Mother's decided to call him. It's an old family name, apparently, from her family when we lived in Glaley before moving to Nyra a few generations ago. Carver's gone to the Oak on a secret journey without me, and I hate it! It's so not fair. Why can't I come too?

Dear diary-dad, day four and Carver's still gone. This is dumb and I hate it. I can't focus on school. I want my twin. 

Dear diary-dad, it's been almost a week since Carver left, and today I was bad. Weird things keep happening when I lose my temper, and without my twin I can't seem to keep it anymore. At least it was only in front of Marian. She understands. She tries to be a good sister, and I feel a bit bad, because all I want is my twin. 

Dear diary-dad, Carver's back! Carver's back Carver's back Carver's back! I'm almost happy enough to forget what else happened today. We didn't know what day he'd be coming back or we'd never have done it, but we decided to ask Astea some questions using an old divination ritual Marian found in the library...

[Carver Amell]

'Are you some kind of witch like your sister?' The words still ring in his ears, hours later. 'We're gonna burn you and her both together!'

He knows it isn't true. He's used divine magic to change his form, nothing arcane about it -- and Mother has receipts to prove it. And as for Bethany, she is just a little different. Those weird occurrences were all coincidences. There isn't any magic in his family; there never has been. It's all just nasty rumors. Just children playing at something they didn't understand. He is smarter than that, stronger. He doesn't need to pick on someone weaker than him just to feel manly. He is thirteen. He is a man now, and he was going to stay that way -- and that means protecting his twin, no matter what. 

Carver peels away from his mother to let himself into the back parlor, looking for Beth. He hasn't seen her in weeks, and he's eager to get back on track with his life, show off his new form. He pulls the door shut behind him, turning to find Marian and Bethany sitting on the floor. The table had been shoved to one side, and candles were set out in a circle, burning merrily.

"Oh spirits, please answer my question!" says Marian, in an ominous, reverent tone. "Should I let Drake.. you know.. with me?"

Rage burns through Carver, hot and immediate. Before he can think what to do, he's in motion, surging forward and drawing the little knife at his belt. "You stupid--! What the hell are you doing?!"

[Bethany]

Do it? Ciren's bouncy butt, Mari, if you can't say, you shouldn't be doing it. She's not entirely sure what that saying truly means, but she's 'peeked' people saying it more than once in this sort of circumstance and she's almost certain it fits. And with Drake? Ick. He's all like oily and stuff. I wonder if his hair is flammable? Shit, no, don't think about that! Don't even consider it dummy! She shudders a little, trying to drive that thought deep, deep down. Gods, I can't-- 

"Ah!" Beth lets out a terrified yelp, her heart in her throat, at the shout. She tries to leap to her feet but gets tangled on her skirts and tumbles back to the floor to stare up at the stranger threatening them with a knife.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian leaps to her feet, hands balling into fists. "Who the hell are you?!" she demands, already ready to protect her baby sister from the intruder. 

[Carver Amell]

"I'm Carver," he snaps right back. "And you're doing magic!"

[Bethany]

"I-- no we're not-- We're not--" Beth's mouth drops open. "'chu's ma'win true'n sir? No fids?" she blurts out in their mangled common twinspeak.

[Carver Amell]

"No fids, dumbass," he growls. "You know they burn witches, right?! Do you know how much it'd hurt to be burned! La'a bu 'tu'pid 'di't min'times!"