Under Darkness [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Lately, yeah. Since Pet showed up." Tethras confirms.

Champion frowns. "Pet was always here."

Tethras sighs. "Well, no, but that's academic and I'm not having that argument again. Since Pet got her name, anyway." 

[Tethras Clan]

"What was she before she was Pet?" Wynne asks, frowning slightly at the byplay. "Or... who?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Daughter," Champion says, and the word feels Elven even if it doesn't quite sound it.

"According to Champion's theory," corrects Tethras. "I believe Daughter left shortly after I showed up, but Champion here thinks she came back as Pet."

"I'm sure of it. Look into her eyes, it's the same look," Champion argues. 

"Maybe," says Tethras, "But how much of that is just because we, oh, I don't know, all have the same face?"

[Tethras Clan]

"...Has Bellflower always been Bellflower? Or rather, did someone leave right before she arrived?" Varric asks.

[Marian Hawke]

They both shrug. "Bellflower predates us both," Tethras adds. "I'm older than Champion here, but Daughter was older than me. Pet's the newest--"

"Maybe--" cuts in Champion.

"-- but Marian, Street Rat, and Her all predate me. I gather from Street Rat that She is older than Street Rat, but Daughter and Bellflower were twins. Daughter should probably have been named Marian if it wasn't for Marian being Marian: Daughter was human, and Bellflower's an elf. She's next eldest, then Street Rat, then me, then Champion." 

[Tethras Clan]

Please her bitch and embrace what makes her different. Well, 'embrace' might not be entirely accurate, Varric gathers. "Alright, I think we're stalled here for now, so let's head down and see Marian. Unless anyone else has any ideas?"

Zevran coughs a little, then, "back in just a moment, I... have a terribly silly idea, but... one moment." Without waiting, he slips around the nearest corner. Aveline scowls, starts after him, pauses, waits a few seconds, then starts after him again. Before she reaches the corner, he's popping back around. "Didn't work, sorry, shall we be off?"

[Marian Hawke]

Tethras leads them down a corridor, ducking into a garden. She kneels, whispering to the ground, and a sinkhole opens; she leads them down the trapdoor, ending up back in the mostly empty chamber with the ray of light shining down. Weird, that wasn't where it was before. 

There's another occupant this time, however; another Hawke, looking much like Marian. At first, it seems like it is her, but she's changed her clothes; instead of a thin cotton dress, she wears a black lacy nightgown, and a distinctive dog-collar around her throat. This must be Pet. There's no mistaking her; she looks at the ground when they enter, turning to face them with her hands clasped behind her back, unspeaking. Waiting.

Tethras walks right past her, not bothering to greet her. Treating her like furniture. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran quickly moves to get out of sight, not wanting to... just in case. If she... if she reacted like Merrill,
 I couldn't.. gods. No, best to be safe.

Frowning, Aveline moves to the submissive young woman and then kneels just in front of her. "Hello. Do you recognize me?" she asks in a very gentle, soothing voice.

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes, mistress," she whispers, not looking up. 

"You're wasting your time with that one," says Tethras dismissively. "She'll say or do anything you tell her to." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Can you tell me what my name is?" Aveline says, ignoring Tethras. "Can you look up at me?"

[Marian Hawke]

She glances up, though only briefly before lowering her eyes again. "Yes, Mistress Vallen." 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline takes a deep breath. "Please call me Aveline," she says gently. "You're my... well, you're part of my amata. I would like it a great deal if you called me Aveline. I promise I won't hurt you on purpose."

[Marian Hawke]

Again the whisper, soft as dead leaves blowing over cobblestones: "Yes, Mistress Aveline." 

[Tethras Clan]

"...can you manage just 'Aveline' without the... title," she asks after wetting her lips.

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes, Aveline," she says, in the exact same tone.