Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Before he can get the knife anywhere near his arm, the armour suddenly triples in thickness. 

[Bethany]

"Carver!" Bethany snaps, her heartbeat still thundering in her ears. "What were you- wait, did you do that?"

[Carver Amell]

Well that's easy enough. He moves the knife, then, cutting the straps that let him drop the gauntlet. It's not real, so it won't matter if I destroy it.

"Beth. Trust me," he says softly. "I know you're all out of heals, so it has to be Merrill." 

[Varric]

Varric clued into Carver's plan pretty quick, thankfully. And it's not like he could warn us (if she could hear him at all, then...) before acting. Head tilting, he clears his throat. "Promised to tell- Carver's cutting again. Help him," he reads aloud, Merrill's sloppy writing suddenly existing in the sand in front of him. "Yeah, she can hear you."

[Bethany]

Beth stares at Carver, breathing ragged. I- you- you want me to- Carver no, I can't, I can't. She starts to tremble, her head shaking back and forth as that terrible scream starts to build again. 

[Tethras Clan]

And then Hunter pops up in front of her, warm tongue swiping across her face. "Boss sib! No crying! Safe! Here! Love you!" At her side, Silence leans against her Person, quiet support.

[Carver Amell]

"He can't help me," Carver says quietly. "Things have changed since you've been gone, Merrill. Things have... Dad and I had a fight." Dad, please help me figure out how to make this work.

[Tethras Clan]

Nothing happens for a moment, then his knife...wavers, as if someone is trying to erase it. But Carver isn't weak-willed really and he's especially stubborn when a loved one is on the line- the knife wavers, then solidifies and the sound of crying grows louder. 

Please. Please no.

[Carver Amell]

"I need you, Merrill. Please," he whispers. 

[Tethras Clan]

Then why did you say those things?

(I trusted you)

Why did you cast me away?

[Carver Amell]

"I'm sorry," he gasps out, dropping to his knees. "I was just hurting so badly, I... I did wrong. I can't, please, Merrill. Please. It was never you, it was never your fault. I-- I--"

She's not going to buy it, some part of him whispers. She's not going to let you fix her. She'll never be okay again. Who could, after what you did? 

"I'm sorry," he whispers, hanging his head. "I guess I... I guess I never was any good for you after all."

Then he lifts the knife, presses it to his wrist, ready to slice himself open one last time.

[Tethras Clan]

But the flesh his knife touches isn't his. Instead of his tanned skin, it rests against pale elven skin, hairless and smooth. The nude elf doesn't speak, doesn't look at him, doesn't try to stop him. Just meekly waits for him to spill her blood on the tear salt ground.

[Carver Amell]

"No," he says quietly. "Not you. Never you. You never deserved this. It was always me that deserved to suffer, for what I did to you." 

He moves the knife, then, refusing to let it touch her, as he tries to disentangle himself from her.

[Bethany]

As he tries that, Bethany reaches them. Reaching into the jumble, she grabs the knife uncaring of the edge and rips it away from them. Ignoring the blood, she falls onto them both then, sobbing wildly. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill tenses, a gasp slipping from her at the scent of hot blood, and her eyes shut tightly. Around them, the sound of weeping deepens- not louder, but as if it's a chorus of tears.