Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

The door bursts open in a rush of cold air, the temperature plummeting as she skids to a halt. "Bethany! What is it, what's wrong?" she asks, the rug frosting over, Bethany's tears turning to slush on her cheeks. 

[Bethany]

Bethany stares, mouth gaping open. Her lips move silently for a moment, then, "that- this isn't me?" Reaching up, she gently touches a swiftly melting drop of frost on her cheek. She continues to stare at Marian, not in horror or rejection, but- she darts at her sister, desperately embracing her.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian pushes her backward a moment, holding her at arms length by her shoulders, studying her face. "You're... okay?" she asks, her eyes red and puffy from crying, her own tears frozen to her cheeks. Her hands are cool to the touch, as if Bethany needed another sign. Seeing that Bethany's really, truly okay, she hugs her tightly. "I-- I--"

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes another step back, hands shaking. "You're a witch too?" he breathes. 

[Bethany]

"Not just me, not just me," Bethany sobs against Marian. "I'm not a freak, I'm not." It doesn't look she's paying attention to anything but her own bone-deep relief at this revelation.

[Marian Hawke]

"You never were," she swears. "Never, never, never. I'm so sorry, I was supposed to protect you and I-- and I made it worse!"

[Carver Amell]

Carver swallows the lump in his throat, hot tears burning at his eyes. But... but she's my twin!

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Twenty minutes later, when Leandra finally gets home, Bethany is cuddled up to her twin in the kitchen, both of them sipping at mugs of hot tea. Marian is dutifully preparing dinner, the counters freshly wiped. She purses her lips, then nods curtly. Moving to the twins, she kneels down. "How are you doing, Bethany? How's your nose?" she asks gently.

[Bethany]

Bethany jolts a little, having been lost in her own thoughts when her Mother entered. "Umm- I- fine? It's fine. Varric healed me," she stammers, pressing against her twin for comfort.

[Carver Amell]

Carver keeps his arm around her in a show of silent support. 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Eyes softening a bit, Leandra leans in to kiss Bethan's forehead. "Good. That's Mister Tethras however. Proper manners cost little and earn much," she says tritely, if not inaccurately. "And good on you for looking after your sister, Carver. Like a gentleman as well, not like... some others." Rising to her feet, she turns to regard Marian with a sterner expression.

[Carver Amell]

Carver wonders for a moment whether the rules about protecting sisters refers to big sisters as well, or only little ones. But he's rather shaken by the whole encounter and really, isn't protecting Bethany enough? So he stays quiet, watching with big dark eyes.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hangs her head, giving the stew a stir. "Dinner's almost ready," she says softly, meekly, as almost a peace offering. 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Mmmmh," her mother says, studying Marian for a long moment. "Marian, why didn't you explain that Joey's hurt Bethany before?" she asks abruptly. "Why did you- why did you ruin your name like this over some drunkard's half-breed boy?"

[Marian Hawke]

Why didn't I explain? When, in between being told I was expelled and told to shut up like a good girl? What should I have said? Admitted to the teacher that Joey keeps calling Bethany a witch and that's why we keep thumping him? Give more credence to the rumors, like you said last year would happen if I brought them up again? Or maybe I should have admitted he fell on his ass because I froze the grass, that would have gone over well. Ruin my name... what the hell does my name even matter? My future is gone, Mother! Any hope I had of going to University in Nyra is gone. They'll never take me without an education. I'll never be able to see the world, figure out where Father came from, if I have any relatives left. I'll be trapped in this one town for the rest of my life, and it was all worth it for Bethany but the hell do you get off telling me I should have just explained better.

"I don't know," she whispers, swallowing her rage, eyes on the stew. "Too stupid to think of it, I guess."