Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"I... I wouldn't want me around either of them anymore. Not after I..."

[Varric]

"I think they should be the ones to decide that," Varric points out.

[Carver Amell]

"I can't," he whimpers. "I'm not-- I'm no good. I've never been any good. Now, maybe, they'll believe me. But probably not. Probably they'll..."

[Varric]

"This is bad. I won't lie about that. You messed up and it went... real bad. But how bad it went is far beyond what anyone could have expected," Varric says gently. 

[Carver Amell]

"You expected. You knew. I -- I should have known." He buries his face in his hands, shuddering, and asks, "Did she... do it on purpose? She must have, right? Because I... because I... just like Helene."

[Varric]

"Can't be sure what her... plan was, but yeah, she meant to reach out to the moon again," Varric confirms. "Not something that can be done by accident really."

[Carver Amell]

"I killed her," he whispers, shuddering again. "I don't deserve to get to run away."

He takes a deep breath. "Untie me? I won't -- I won't hit you anymore."

[Varric]

"She's not dead yet," Varric says sharply. "She's- she's stable. And Elder Marethari says she should be able to help again." He takes a deep breath. "Look me in the eye and give me your word that you won't run. Or hurt yourself."

[Carver Amell]

"I won't run," he says, earnestly, hanging his head in shame.

[Varric]

"Alright," Varric says quietly, moving to do so. "S... what's your thoughts now? About what to do next."

[Carver Amell]

"I.. I figured I'd... I can change shapes, now. It'd be more... comforting, I think."

[Varric]

"Do you want to see Merrill or Beth first?" 

[Carver Amell]

He finches. "Beth," he whispers. "I don't-- I can't-- I don't deserve-- Beth. Take me to my... to Beth." 

With that, he leans forward just a hair, his form twisting, shifting into that of a dire doggo. 

[Varric]

Probably for the best. "Carver, look over here? Remember how I said that Marian is with Cindy, the woman that Helene and I have been helping with the evil gem thing? And how Marian is... hiding from what was done to her by pretending to be other people? Right now, she' Garret Tethras, my second cousin, a male merikos dwarf. She needs to be that for now. Try not to... push him. We need to focus on Beth and Merrill for right now, okay?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, once, and gives a small, jerky tail wag.