Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Beka huffs softly, pleased because her pack is pleased, that her packmate is well. Varric joins Isabela in the standing rapidly. "Well, why are we still here?" he says, flashing a grin.

[Isabela]

Isabela only pauses long enough to flash him a grin before she's out the door, the Mabari at her heels.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke takes a deep breath, lets it out. 

Keep focus. Keep in the moment. Don't regress. Keep it together. Think about anything else. Anything.

She's sitting up again, holding Aveline's hand, listening to the paladin fill her in on what she's missed. Three days? I was asleep for three days? I wish my body didn't work that way. Well, but, I'm alive. Thanks to... Merrill, apparently. Thank Astea she's safe, but where did she find the courage to come to my rescue? Not that I'm complaining, but... 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke," Varric says from the doorway, relief throbbing in his voice, the name a prayer. Then a heartbeat later, he's walking into the room with a slight smile on his face. "'bout time you woke up, lazy girl. Twins' birthday is coming up next week, was starting to worry you'd miss it." Grunting, Beka pushes past so she can climb up on the bed to inspect Hawke again, make sure she's still fine.

[Isabela]

Isabela follows, though as usual she hangs back in the doorway. Relief is writ large across her features; she watches Hawke, smiling like she's delighted to receive a rare gift unexpectedly. 

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke reaches to pat Beka, to reassure her. "I thought I would too," she admits, her voice soft. 

[Tethras Clan]

"How're you feeling?" Varric probes, eyes flicking to Aveline as if to get a second opinion. Or maybe to remind Hawke that he can, so might as well be honest.

[Marian Hawke]

She's quiet for a moment -- a little too long. Then she forces a smile on her face and says, simply, "Alive."

[Tethras Clan]

"That's... a good first step," Varric says, a hint of worry lurking in his tone.

Aveline sighs as she hugs Hawke tighter with the arm around the merikos elf's back, the thumb of her other hand making tiny strokes on the back of Hawke's hand. "She's still a touch shocky. She... got pretty close to Mileen again. Stupid ass pushed hard, harder than she should have, maybe harder than she should have been able to by any sane measure, to make sure Merrill had enough time to get the twins to safety."

[Marian Hawke]

"I couldn't let her die," she whispers,her tone dull. "I couldn't fail again. I knew I couldn't win the fight but I needed to give her as much time as possible to get to safety."

[Tethras Clan]

That... that is just about the most.. aptlyHawke statement I've ever heard, Varric thinks absently. At least in regards to adventuring and such. "Right... well, you did that true enough. More than- bought enough time for her to get them to Carver and Andy and then get back to save the three of you."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke nods, lifting her head finally. "Merrill was... amazing. How did she... I didn't know she had that in her," she admits, her voice soft, wonderous. 

[Tethras Clan]

"She doesn't," Varric says bluntly. "She can't cast that spell. She's tried, since then. Minerva said that Raplin... added something, just before she left His domain. Gave her a little boost, just enough to reach past her limits the once. Thankfully, the cost was low and already dealt with- bit of hypothermia, but some cuddles with Zevran, some blankets and warm soup, and she was fine. But... damn, yeah. I've never seen her that... wrathful before. She's, uh, she's found her grit, I guess."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke shudders. I did this... I taught her wrath, grit. She's less innocent now, less... Merrill. I knew she would be, but seeing it is another matter. She's... No. Don't assume the worst. She'll be alright, now. She knows how to protect herself. She doesn't need me so mu-- she's not so helpless anymore. She's fine. She was fine. (I wasn't here to hold her) she will be fine.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline, knowing her amata, being so close to her right now, heart and body, seems to ready every flicker. "Hey... she's proud of herself. She seems... settled now. Knowing she stronger." the paladin says gently.

"More than that, I think," Varric adds, knowing his fey daughter better than he'd ever thought he might. "She... Merrill's always kind of thought of herself as... charity, maybe. That we wanted her, accepted and loved her, because we felt pity. But with this... a part of her feels like maybe she's earned her place here. Daft, there's no need for heroics to be Clan, but if it helps her feel more confident, I suppose it's not so bad."