Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Oh." Has she... I don't recall seeing her cast at all since... "Haven't felt like using it then?" she asks, trying to keep her tone light. "And thank you. Not a fan of wet blankets."

[Marian Hawke]

"I don't cast much," she admits. "Just when I need it. I don't like using magic casually." 

[Tethras Clan]

"I can't say I ever really... is that... recent or..?" Aveline, sensing Hawke is fully awake, shifts a little so she's not directly atop of Hawke. She can hold herself up for a while on one arm, but it is more comfortable to be mostly on the bed and just overlapping on Hawke.

[Marian Hawke]

She shakes her head. "Always. Magic used to creep me out." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Oh right. Your... relatives." Aveline takes a deep breath. [i[No, that's not fair. It's not Carver's fault it took so long to track him down. Man has to earn coin to eat. Wait, did any of us... fuck. [/i] "Well, your brother is okay. He's on his way here, actually. He was off, caravan job to Draslina on an indirect trade route. It took us a few months to find him and get word but... he bought out his contract- well, he did, then Varric covered it- so he could come. Probably a week or two out by now."

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs. "I haven't leaked magic in months. I thought I was done with that. I'd outgrown it." A pause. "did you say-- Carver's coming here?" Her eyes widen.

[Tethras Clan]

"He does love you Hawke. He... he's got issues, needs to find his place, needs to find support but... he does love you." Aveline presses a kiss to Hawke's temple. "He wants to support his sister. I think... I think seeing you... your body, it... it made him realize he doesn't want to lose you like... We'll supervise his time with you, but I think it'll help. Both of you. You'll always, always have us, have your Clan, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to have your blood as well."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke is quiet for a time. Finally, with a weak smile, she asks, "Did you tell Papa yet?"

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm to be on hand during each visit, Carver can't have his sword unless it's peacebonded and if he shouts, I'm to throw water on him," Aveline says with a faint smile of her own. "We talked him down from chains, a geas and smiting him."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke nods, her eyes drifting closed. "If Papa agrees, it must be alright," she says, with a bit of a sigh as the last of her resistance flows out of her. 

[Tethras Clan]

"We'll talk to him first," Aveline promises "It'll be okay." Or I'll beat the shit out of him, then heal him up so he can explain himself to Varric.

[Marian Hawke]

The next day, after conferring with Aveline over breakfast, Varric decides to spend another afternoon in the garden with his original daughter. This time, rather than risk a repeat of the book fiasco, they set up a chessboard; pre-delve Hawke could never have managed it, but this time she helps him set up, listening to his story about his latest business dealings with seeming interest. 

[Tethras Clan]

"But yeah, for some fool reason, not a one of them ever considered that maybe magically attuned silk that's tougher than leather and a third the weight might be, I dunno, really damned valuable stuff. So... I'm now the proud- and slightly creeped out- owner of a cave-spider... farm," Varric finishes. "How was your morning?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Not nearly as exciting as all that," she jokes. "You know I'm just going to have to kill those things, right? When they inevitably breed out of control and eat the farmers?"

[Tethras Clan]

"This is possible," Varric allows. "I managed to get a spider-druid- I kid you not, guy's got a trained mabari-sized spider a familiar and he shapeshifts into a drider half the time- to take charge of the place but I'll be sure to keep you in mind. Speaking of druids... Minerva get you, uh, renewed okay?" He looks uncomfortable about the topic, still not having entirely forgiven himself for binding his daughter without her consent first, but at the same time, he refuses to not let himself think about it.