Under Darkness [AU]

[Isabela]

"We're here about Hawke." Isabela's tone is gentler than normal, but she suspects that's going to be the key word that makes the shoe drop for him. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke?" Andy repeats. His face twists, a conflicted mess of guilt, shock and... fury. "What does she- she's gone."

"She's not dead," Zevran snaps. Takes a deep breath. "Hawke was... hurt. She's recovering. She wanted us to give a message to Seli."

The tiefling scowls. "Probably doesn't even remember me. Good," he mutters. "Seli's not here anymore. Try the temple." That said, he steps back to start to close the door in the faces.

[Isabela]

Isabela lets him, crossing her arms. Once the door's shut, she mutters, "Really? How mature." 

[Tethras Clan]

"What in Ciren's name happened to him?" Zevran mutters. He'd been getting better. Cleaned up and really processing, uh, Logan's death. "Should we... knock again?"

[Isabela]

Isabela lets out a long breath, then shakes her head. "We go to the temple. Let's find Seli, see if she's in better shape."

[Tethras Clan]

"She was pregnant," Zevran suddenly recalls. "During the funeral, she was... you don't think..?"

[Isabela]

Isabela shakes her head. "I don't know." Her voice is quiet, but she forces a smile onto her face. "It's probably fine. They're probably just..."

[Tethras Clan]

"Guessing isn't helping," Zevran says with a sharp exhale. "We should just... go to the temple."


Zevran is able to lead them there with ease, having been there more than a few times before... they'd left Nyra. He pauses a moment at the entrance, as if bracing himself, then takes a step inside before pausing again. As if waiting for something to happen.

[Isabela]

Isabela walks in with ease, placing her hand gently on the small of his back. "Come on," she says with a smile. "You can be awed by the majesty of Ciren later."

She knows what he's worried about, of course. She'd had similar worries before, walking into temples to Astea. How could she, never loved and never loving, be welcome in a holy place like that? But the gods rarely smite people for walking into their temples. They were welcoming, always hoping for a convert. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran tenses at her touch, then presses against the hand for a moment. "Right. Of course. It's... just so very rare to be face to face with my equal in... fanciableness," he manages with a wan smile.

Speaking with one of the greeters has them walking to the gardens. It doesn't take long for Zevran to spot a familiar human woman sitting in the grass with a half dozen toddlers of assorted races all watching her plant a flower. Less than ten feet away, there's a double basket with two infants dozing in them, a cluster of glowing thumb-sized objects scattered on the cradle rims.

"Thank Bastion," Zevran whispers as he spots them.

[Isabela]

Isabela says nothing; her smile doesn't change. But Zevran can feel the tension flow out of her arm in relief. 

"Bright Seli, I presume?" she calls as they get closer. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Just a moment please," she calls back automatically, barely pausing in her simple but entertaining lecture to the younglings. After a minute or so, Seli finishes planting the flower and starts directing the toddlers into selecting their own flower from a selection nearby. Still clearly paying more attention to her class than whoever called out to her, she finally glances over. "Yes, how can I he- Zevran? Zevran!"

The merikos drow almost defends himself from an attack before his brain clicks on the look of utter relief and hope on Seli's face a she springs up and nearly tackles him.

[Isabela]

"I'm Isabela," says Isabela after a moment. "Good to meet you. Hawke sent us." That's the important parts: identification, politeness, and the thrust of the message, that Hawke is alive to send them. 

[Tethras Clan]

"She's alive? You know where she is?" Seli demands, stepping back from Zevran. "Where? I've been looking for her for months now. No-one knows where she went!"

Zevran shifts uncomfortably as he notices a few of the other adults in the area looking over with concern.

"She's alive. She... was hurt, but she's recovering," he says quickly. "It... was bad, but she's recovering. Slowly."

[Isabela]

Isabela clears her throat. "Maybe we can go somewhere more private?"