Ghost Story

[Varric]

Varric studies his apprentice with pained, almost grieving eyes. He has to try twice before he can call her name to get her attention. It takes another few seconds to continue after he looks into her own eyes. 

"Emma... how did you die?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Die?" she croaks, her voice half a whimper. "I didn't die. Please, don't let me die."

[Varric]

"Emma," Varric whispers, kneeling next to his apprentice. "The fire, it was ghostflame. An illusion, but one that only works on the living. You've been in the house for years, decades if I'm not mistaken, without being noticed or running out of food despite not being able to forage. Your memory problems, your sicknesses, why you're always cold to the touch..."

[Marian Hawke]

"Please," Emma whimpers. "Don't. Nothing has to change between us. We can be a family. Right? I'm your--" here she stops, coughing, before pushing on. "I'm your apprentice. Right?"

[Varric]

"I don't recall saying anything about 'until death' in my offer," Varric points out gently, reaching over to lay a hand on her upper arm. You're still a Tethras. Just, uh, a bit unusual case."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm not--" She coughs again, harder, and this time she has to pull away to cough on her hands and knees. When she's done, there's a wad of bloody phlegm on the ground beneath her.

"I'm not lying," she croaks. "I didn't know."

[Varric]

"I figured," he says gently, crushing down the panic that sight brings up. "I'm not mad at you. Okay? I'm not mad. This changes details, not themes. I'm not going to abandon you. I promise." He swallows thickly, the weight of those words, the first promise he's made since-- Since I promised Helene I'd stand my ground, that I'd handle the necromancer. This is (exactly right) too much.

[Marian Hawke]

"I... I need to rest," she whispers. "Can you help me inside?"

[Varric]

"Yeah, sounds good. Let's get you resting." Varric reached over and strokes her hair. "Let's get you home."

[GamesMaster]

He'd wanted Emma's help with the ritual, but she's shivering still, coughing, too weak to get up. So he's made her comfortable and set about doing the ritual, hoping now to get something that can help her out of it. At the very least, some divine aid in resolving her condition sounds good right about now. 

The purification ritual is complete, in her notes in the library. He goes through it perfectly, purifying himself with salt, with fire, and with water, each time opening himself to the truth and rededicating himself to seeking knowledge. 

Emma's present in every stroke of the pen, in the wording of the ritual, in the deliberation every piece was chosen with. Despite knowing she's in the next room, he misses her fiercely. 

When the first ritual is over, he feels lighter somehow, more pure. Tears stream silently down his cheeks, but they're good tears, as though he's hurt himself clearing out thick, choking thorns from his heart. 

[Varric Thedas]

"Helene."

For perhaps the first time in almost a decade, the name is spoken without even a hint of guilt or bitterness. Varric says it with love, with joy, and yes, with regret. But it's a regret tempered with acceptance. I wish you could be here. I wish you could have helped taught Emma. Could have spoken and known her. I wish I could have watched the two of you debate and discuss a thousand and more topics. Heh. Who am I fooling? I'd jump in the middle before too long. But we had a good life together, didn't we? Too short, absolutely yes, but still. It was a good life and more than I ever thought I'd get. And now Emma. Emma. 

With careful movements, Varric rises to his feet and makes his way to the library.

[GamesMaster]

Emma had been sleeping earlier, but she wakes when he comes in, agreeing to sit in the ritual room to watch the second ritual. With his newfound peace, Varric even manages to plant a kiss on her temple as he lifts her, carrying her into the ritual room. 

The second ritual is far more familiar to Varric -- a summoning, open-ended, asking for help from whatever tulwath of Alydra happens to be available to answers some questions. He makes the offering, sitting cross-legged, but his thoughts keep drifting back to Helene as he asks. 

No-one is more surprised than he when, as the bright light of the summoning fades, Helene stands before him. 

Ne looks different. More, somehow, than ne was when alive: more vibrant, more real, more intense. Ne's eyes glow faintly, and ne smiles an easy, casual smile that ne rarely had in life. Ne bows, just a little, in greeting. 

[Varric]

"You're taller."

[Helene Dakesh]

Ne smiles. "I am." 

[Varric]

Varric laughs weakly through his renewed tears. "I-- how long?" He shakes his head a little, trying again. "How long can you-- stay?"