Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Things move... rapidly from there. Malcolm quickly leads his- leads the the five civilians back to Varric's, allowing Aveline to take control of the scene. Bethany has to be slapped, twice, to calm down and still needs a sworn oath from the guard captain to find Varric before she'll agree. After that, she's spent, empty, and just clings to her twin. When they get back, the three of them all pile into Carver's bed and just... exist, their mabari resting protectively around the bed. 

Seli, needing to do, to comfort, takes over the kitchen and just starts cooking. Lovan and Malcolm do whatever they can go help, the bardic elf trying his best to explain what happened to the small blue child that had told him to 'run to Preacher's way to Mileen's no more, follow screams and remember music soothes beasts' in an oddball mix of elven, sylvian, celestial and, of all things, catfolk. He doesn't speak the last, but could puzzle out the blanks well enough to have... well, not made up for his past but taken a good step, he hopes. 

The rest of the day passes, the youths being chided and coaxed into eating a pittance before collapsing back into the bed together. In the morning, they break yet again when Aveline, voice tight and eyes wet, tells them the news. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Merrill really has to pee.

She's been spending every night curled up in a pile with Carver and Beth and the dogs, all of them seeking the comfort of warmth, fur, pack, family, togetherness. But tonight, for whatever reason, she forgot to pee before climbing in, so in the middle of the night, she wakes from her deathlike slumber, needing to use the facilities. 

As she's returning from the washroom, she hears a bath running in the adjacent bathing chamber. Her mind flashing to images of Carver trying to clean blood off his clothing, she peeks in to find a concerning sight:

By the light of a small lamp, she can see a bath that appears at first to have nobody in it, the tap closing as the water reaches a fill height. There's a sketchbook open on the bench nearby, showing a gorgeous still image of a lake with a tombstone; as Merrill draws closer to look at it and the empty vial beside it, she can spy a still, blue figure under the water, fully dressed, eyes open, unmoving. 

[NPCs]

Even as Merrill is hauling the sodden not-allowed-to-be-a-corpse-no from the water so she can breath life back into it, Helene is dreaming. Or possibly having a hallucination. Or maybe a vision. A visitation. 

They're back at the pond, the ducks paddling placidly as the wind causes ripples to dance among the reeds. The samsaran is sitting neatly on a blanket, dressed in undyed, unadorned cotton robes, an empty sketchbook in their lap. Across the pond sits an elderly figure wearing a similar outfit save that theirs is dyed black, with a swirl of white atop their breastbone. The figure, who looks like a dwarf but lean for the race, is reading from a book, a slight smile on their lips.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene doesn't speak. There aren't words, not anymore -- not for days, not since Varric died. Nobody would understand; words aren't important now. 

My task is done, they think, the nebulous concepts refusing to gel into solid words even in their mind. It is ending/It is over. Rebirth, a new beginning.

A tear drips down their face: regret, mourning for what was lost, but relief also, at being done.

[NPCs]

A sense of fond approval tinged with regret and rebuke scents the air. Not censure or even disapproval, just patient correction. Without the use of a single word, the Ancient across the pond informs Helene that it's not yet time. That they need to hold Faith but a little longer. And that they have/are/will/could/may serve well and ably. 

As these thoughts form, the being glances up. The book snaps shut, offering a glance at the title, (filler). The next thing Helene sees is Merrill, face inches away and filled with concern.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks -- the first sign of motion in their body other than small, shallow breaths, since Merrill pulled them out of the water. The paralytic must be wearing off. 

[Tethras Clan]

"That was really, really dumb. You're very smart, like dad smart but being broken can make you do dumb things. But family makes it better. It hurts still, but less and less. You're lucky really. You already had family, before you broke. I had to wait decades. But... I was younger when I broke. I don't remember much until years later. I don't remember what it was like to be normal. So I guess I'm lucky too." Merrill leans down to kiss Helene's forehead. "It gets better. We just have to have hope. And believe in family."

[Helene Dakesh]

Family. They take a deep breath, and utter the first word they've said in days: a low, pitiful wail. "Varric."

[Tethras Clan]

"I know. I love him too," Merrill says softly, tears forming. "I... hate it! Why did he have to die? It should have been me. Or- or someone else. I know it's bad to wish death on people but I want it to be someone else. Malcolm maybe, if it has to be someone we know. And-and if I had just- if I had just noticed, maybe I could have saved him. I can heal, maybe..."

[Helene Dakesh]

They shake their head, reaching for their sketchbook -- realizing then how far away it is, how wet they are. How much their chest burns with each breath. I almost died. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill cocks her head, not sure how to help. Following Helene's grasping, she spots the notebook. Grabbing it, the elf pauses. "Dry first, then talk," she decides, rises to grab a towel instead.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene carefully dries their hands and arms, then opens the sketchbook. They open to a page: the new moon, a dead mabari. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill stares a moment, frowning. "...is this... the picture... did it already not happen? Or is it going to happen?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene taps the moon, twice, with a finger. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill tilts her head. "...does that mean, two moons from now or... the second thing I said? Oh, wait, ummm, one tap one for moons, twice for future?"