Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Thanks," he says, his voice softer. "Maybe there really is a chance."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline smirks slightly. "I really hope so. Always wanted a little brother," she says with a wink.

[Carver Amell]

He expects the blow to hit home, to really hurt. And yet... instead, he finds himself smiling, a shy, genuine smile. She's never going to think of you that way, Carver, he tells himself. But this could be... This could be alright. Having a real family again. Isn't that what you always wanted?

[Tethras Clan]

The following afternoon was... a decent day for Hawke. No panic attacks or depressed funks, but she's a little quiet, a little directionless. Still, they're trying to get her to learn to work through her less than good days, so they're out in the backyard of the cabin for another spar. As a change of pace, however, her partner isn't Aveline- though the paladin is close by- but instead Zevran.

"Might I have this dance, mon faucon bon?" he asks with a flourish, a pair of blunted daggers in hand.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke smiles, reaching for a witty line -- and coming up blank. Still, she hefts her practice staff, shifting her foot back for balance, and beckons him on. 

It goes well for a few minutes. She blocks some attacks, a little sluggish, but clearly remembering his lessons. She even goes in for an attack of her own. This is when things go wrong: she pushes in when he deflects her attack, reckless as usual, and gives him an opening to press his blunted dagger against her throat, forcing the yield of the first round. 

Or at least, it should be a yield. The counter-attack is lightning fast: one second, his blunted knife touches her skin, and the next instant, they're both covered in a half-inch-thick layer of ice, stopping him from pulling free without significant effort. Forcing him to see her too-wide eyes, her too-pale face, her blue lips.

[Tethras Clan]

"I submit," Zevran says instantly, untensing his body as Aveline surges to her feet to get them. "You are safe, my voice in the dark. I will not harm you." He'd half expected this to happen. Feared it. Tried to prepare for it as best he could, by practicing what he would say if it happened. How he would feel.

The words at least go as planned.

[Marian Hawke]

She blinks at him, struggling to focus. Something about his voice-- she can't see anything, but that voice, that voice soothes her. The ice melts off them, rushing from their bodies in little riverlets as she collapses, closing her eyes and surrendering to gravity. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran springs back, needing space, needing to not be able to see Hawke's eyes so well. Thankfully, Aveline is there to grab Hawke, to pull her close. "I've got you, I've got you," she says softly. "You're safe, amata, I've got you."

[Marian Hawke]

She rests against Aveline, limp, her staff forgotten. Everything forgotten but the rush of her heartbeat, the smell of Aveline's hair, and the dark. 

'A... collar?'

'It will mark you as mine, when we're among my people. Unless you don't want to be mine...'

'no, no, of course, I just...'

'You are mine, aren't you, my pet?'

'Yes... Yes, of course.'

'Good.'

[Tethras Clan]

"It's okay, you're safe with me," Aveline continues to whisper in Hawke's ear. "You're safe at the Oak, back with your Clan. It's okay Hawke. Talk to me, amata."

[Marian Hawke]

It's okay. I'm safe. My shield has me. I'm at the Oak. I'm with--

with--

Zevran? Why was... That wasn't Jadan, that was--

"Zevran," she whimpers, beginning to struggle to get free of Aveline.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline glances around and spots Zevran kneeling a dozen feet away, staring up at the sky. "He's fine too, he's just giving us some space. It's okay, amata, everyone is okay. No-one is hurt."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke pulls free enough to see Zevran, gasping for breath as she does. Something-- The sun. His eyes.

She tears away from Aveline, stumbling to Zevran even as Aveline follows along. She drops to her knees, bending over his face, trying to shield his eyes even as her tears drip into them. "You are-- you are--" How does it go? "You are irreverant and-- and wicked and--" I can't rememeber, I can't remember the words, why can't I remember the words, he needs me and I can't--

She slams a fist into her thigh, just as Aveline closes her hand around it to stop her. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran blinks rapidly, the sudden shade confusing him for a moment. Wicked... I'm wicked. Evil. No, that's not... Hawke? Who is saying- Aveline. Aveline is saying Hawke's na- Hawke! Jerking sharply, he struggles to focus on Hawke. "My voice?" he croaks weakly.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke struggles, desperate for the freedom that came so easily a moment before. Bad, I'm bad, I can't, I'm useless, worthless, I can't do anything, I can't help him, I can't remember how, can't remember the words, can't save anyone, nothing but a pet, a sheath--

It's no use. Aveline is far stronger than her; she'd tested this repeatedly over the months. The paladin's grip was firm, as unyielding as it is gentle, even as Hawke's struggles became both weaker and more wild.