Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene embraces Varric tightly, nodding and sniffling against his shoulder. "I would like that," they say quietly, letting their tears subside in his arms. If only...


Despite Helene's fears, the rituals go well. The first one, the one that takes away their physical characteristics, is the only one that needs to be done in the buff; after, they run their hands over their smooth form and marvel, staring down at their lap. Only a little blood, and no pain... this is remarkable. As they stand to pull their robe back on, they nearly fall, prompting Varric to catch them and lend them support; they lean on him gratefully, dressing and letting him fuss. They consume a bowl of stew without complaint, devouring the protein involved as though they haven't eaten in some time. 

But, after a bit of a rest, they push onward for the second ritual. This one is more subtle; they can leave their robe in place, as the changes are entirely internal, physical and mental combined. Afterward, they seem paler, their eyes fluttering closed as they slump from the cushion they were sitting on toward the floor. 

[Varric]

Damnit Helene, I knew doing all of this in one day was too much (a week would have worked better or maybe a month even). Moving to them quickly, he carefully props them up. Slipping an arm around their back, he lifts a small bowl of broth and alchemical healing potion to their lip- magical potion being potentially interactive with the rituals.

[Helene Dakesh]

They sip automatically, half conscious, eyes fluttering back open. "...Varric?" They whisper, when they have drunk enough. "Did it... Work?"

[Varric]

"Well, you're not dead, so that's promising. Any urges to feast on my blood, flesh or other body parts?" he asks, voice a bit too tight to be humorous.

[Helene Dakesh]

"No," they sigh, happily. "No. This one is still this one. I am still myself. Thank you."

[Varric]

"Sure about that? Pop quiz- two-thousand year old scroll in a language you don't know and the symbol of Alydra on it or a hand-written account of the founding of Draslina written by an unknown Seeker?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah," they say, a little concerned. "This one is unsure. The one involves.. involves.." They swallow, shaking their head slightly. "The one is more of a challenge, and yet, the rewards may be only a simple shopping list, while the other is verified knowledge but from an unknown... unknown source," they muse, their voice sounding faint and somewhat sleepy, but struggling through the sentence. "More research is required."

[Varric]

Alright, that checks out fairly well (slow and weakly stated though). "We're going to have to switch to plan C. You need more rest before the next ritual. Sunshine will be home in an hour, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if she looks you over before we continue."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Plan C," they mumble, sleepily. "Alright. Ah, no, I should-- I should rest, focus on... recovering," they mumble. "Perhaps we can revisit the final physical ritual next week, if it proves still necessary. This one... does not wish to push too hard."

[Varric]

Really? They're willing to slow it down a bit? Must be worse off than I realized (what about that phrasing is nagging at me?). "Alright. Let me carry you up so you can lay down somewhere more comfortable while we wait. Alright?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"I-- yes. I am sorry, I believe... I believe I may need a nap," they say slowly, turning to nestle against him just a bit more. 

They're asleep long before he tucks them into bed.


When Helene wakes, to Varric's relief, they seem much improved. They devour more food, but the sleepy tone has left their voice before they begin, and by the time they are done eating, they can stand. They thank him, again, repeatedly, and before leaving for home, they hug him tightly, nearly overflowing with gratitude. 

And then they leave for home, wishing him and his children well.


Terraday comes, without so much as a peep from Helene. Once his kids are off to their respective lessons, Varric settles in to read the packet, worried that it will be a final goodbye letter, worried that Alydra has called Helene to serve somewhere far away. He needn't have been worried in that respect; the first few documents in the packet are copies of legal documents, a final will and testament (which he doesn't bother reading) as well as naming him the executor of their estate and granting him power over their concerns should they become medically incapacitated. There's a whole list of instructions (which he also simply sets aside).

And then there's the next few pages: clearly on paper torn out of Helene's sketchbook, they contain cryptic poems in Celestial, along with annotations in Aklo in the margins. Each of them seem to be portentous, each of them spelling out cryptic doom scenarios, but none seem more clear than the first:

Dreadful fate awaits;

falter in your firm resolve,

and bury the pups

Around the margins, in Aklo, they try their best to describe the indescribable: the feeling of balance, of a delicate system of fates, of sorrow and grief, of necessity. This is the path that leads to the fewest deaths, overall, but specifically, they are concerned that 'the pups' may mean Carver and Bethany, that their likeness to their Mabari has not gone unnoticed. That they could never do that to Varric, that they have grown to care for the twins, that they could not falter in their resolve and risk harm coming to their family. 

The other poems are more cryptic, but also more clear. The notes indicate their best guess: something is coming, something dire, something that threatens all of Nyra, and that if they do not change themself, if they do not go through with the ritual as they had planned, it might well kill all four of the Tethras household. They cannot, will not, let that happen. They don't lay out their plans, but it's clear there's more to it than he knows; they speak obliquely of a second ritual, a separate appointment they have to keep. Spread across the pages is regret, bargaining, at times even denial -- surely they're misunderstanding, surely they've misread this, surely it's saying to not go through with it. But each time, they come back to the first, simple verse: if they falter in their resolve, 'the pups' will die.

And they can't let that happen.

A knock at his front door disturbs his reading.

[Varric]

Pretty much what I expected really (no plan is wasted thought, even the terrible ones that you hope never need using). Should double check these after I finish with the rest (make sure they're done right, that whoever helped write these up didn't fleece them). Hmmm. Already updated my will and such for the kids (need to add Merrill to the house deed, get that done tomorrow, ugh hate my real estate agent, skilled but shrill) but wonder if I should add Helene in there too? Wouldn't hurt to have another name on the list (just in case). Alright, what's the rest of... all... the hells?

He reads rapidly, barely glancing at each page, his brain capturing the image and culling out keywords, phrases. Each poem gets a longer glance, imprinting it deep so he can worry it over, try and run his own checks on its meaning. "No... no, you daft azure git, that isn't- how can you even be sure this is about you? What if it meant my resolve? Or- fuck!" He growls harshly as he reads one that references the many-lived unchild as the focus. "Fine, but there are-"

Growling again, he stalks towards the door, Bianca tapping his hip.

[GamesMaster]

He doesn't recognise the person at his door, but he recognises the robes, the holy symbol of Alydra -- and the too-schooled expression on her face, the too-kind eyes.

"Mister Varric Tethras?" she asks, her voice sad, soft, compassionate.

[Varric]

"Yes," Varric says, voice clipped. "Say it blunt."

[GamesMaster]

"There's been an accident," she says, hesitantly. "We're not certain what kind, but, we found papers to the effect that you are to be considered the next of kin of Helene Dakesh?"