Under Darkness [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke takes a deep breath, lets it out. I'm not the center of this Clan anymore, she realizes slowly. Or, maybe I am, but not in the same way. I'm not the pillar holding them all up, the glue binding them together. They're stronger, now, without me. Merrill's getting more independant. Varric's learning to be more expressive. Aveline's become more focused, more dedicated. This, my pain, took them from broken, half-dissolved, barely a group of people, to being a real family, to blossoming. Maybe, if I wasn't here, they'd be alright without me, now. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke... talk to me," Aveline says sharply, getting a bit concerned about Hawke's reactions to this.

Still in the doorway, Isabela hears the door to the house get yanked open and the sound of hurried footsteps.

[Isabela]

Isabela, suspecting what's up, steps inside so she can get out of the doorway, lest she be bowled over by an overenthusiastic shaman. 

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke struggles to find words appropriate to say to Aveline, words that won't hurt her. She won't like where this is going, but if you don't say something soon, she'll guess anyway. The more the urge to speak presses against her, the less she can find worth saying. So she remains silent.

[Tethras Clan]

Not just a shaman, but nevertheless a wise move on Isabela's part. Merrill bursts into the room and instantly heads to the bed, climbing up the foot to take up the only open path to her beloved. "HawkeHawkeHawke- you're okay, I was so- it hurt so much to leave you but the babies- I couldn't- and then the troll was right there and you were- and then fire and then- you're okay, you're okay," she babbles.

Only a couple of yards behind Merrill, Zevran slows at the doorway, content to just stare at Hawke. Almost subconsciously, he reaches to the side, arm moving to circle Isabela's waist.

[Isabela]

Isabela does something remarkable: she turns halfway toward him, burying her face against his shoulder and letting him hold her, letting herself be comforted. My savior, she thinks, taking comfort from his reassuring, solid warmth. 

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke opens her arms, enfolding them around Merrill, cradling the elf close. The tears return, dripping into her hair. Merrill, you're safe, you're alive, I didn't fail again, you lived.

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm sorry I left you, I'm s-ssorry," the elf bawls, pressing against Hawke as closely as she can, uncaring of the large, imposing paladin, the curvy pirate, the merikos drow... or the magus that was so deeply intertwined with her nightmare. The trauma isn't gone, of course, but it's dimmed enough for her to ignore it if she wills it. For now anyway.

Zevran pulls her closer, lowering his head to breath deeply of Isabela's scent, that hint of seaspray that clings to her despite her long absence of any sea, much less the ocean. My hope, my proof of life, of goodness. Not alone now, no, but forever the first. "I love you ma'bela," he murmurs, eyes still on Hawke, but heart filled with all of his loves.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke clings to Merrill, running her fingers through the elf's hair. "Shh, hey, hey. You did good. You did perfectly."

[Isabela]

Isabela can't bring herself to say it, not in front of so many, but her heart responds. She sighs, content, nestling against him.

[Tethras Clan]

"You saved Gilly and Tomas," Aveline agrees. "And you went back, you saved her. You didn't abandon her, you didn't. You went to get help." Merrill presses against Hawke even tighter, still crying, but she nods a little as well.

Shifting, Zevran tries to draw Isabela's gaze upwards so he can ask without words, 'are you okay?'

[Marian Hawke]

"You saved my life," whispers Hawke. "Good thing there are no debts between us."

[Isabela]

Isabela glances away, a clear sign she's not. A moment later, her eyes flick to the cuddle pile, then the door, as if to ask if he wants to step out for a moment. 

[Tethras Clan]

Choosing one love over another is as hard for Zevran as it is for Hawke in many ways. In this case however, while he might have been deeply worried about Hawke these last few days (months, seasons), she's awake now and surrounded by Clan. Isabela needs him more. Nodding, Zevran slips out of the bedroom, not letting go of Isabela's hand the entire time.

"Saved me first," Merrill whispers. "With a smile," she adds, not wanting Hawke to think she means a... more ambiguous moment, even if she thinks of that as just as valid.

[Isabela]

Isabela pulls Zevran far enough away that she won't be easily overheard. Before she can talk herself out of it, before she can wimp out, she says, softly, "Those slavers were looking for me. For... they think there's an heir."