Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Andy za'Frane]

Andy hesitates a moment. "I need her testimony as well," he says regretfully. "But! I'll ask you the questions, and she can write down an answer each time before you answer. I can read hers over after-"

[Bethany]

"Packbrother, it's fine," Bethany says softly. "Just... stay between us," she adds even softer.

[Carver Amell]

"You ask me, and if she wants to add anything she will," he argues. "I don't want-- I can't let anything upset her. Not after all she's been through."

[Andy za'Frane]

That'll have to be good enough, Andy decides after the girl doesn't protest again. Sgt. Manud shouldn't have put them in the same room to be interviewed in the first place, not my fault if their testimony is a touch invalid for it. "Alright, that'll suffice. Do you want to pull the chairs over so you can sit for this?"

[Carver Amell]

"I'll stand." That said, Carver looks behind him and pushes a chair toward Bethany with his foot. 

[Bethany]

Bethany gives her twin a fondly exasperated look as she takes a seat. 

[Andy za'Frane]

"Alright, then we should get started," Andy says in a friendly tone. "As I said earlier, I am Recruit za'Frane. May I have your names?" he asks after getting out a pad of paper and a pencil. "And your residence?"

[Carver Amell]

"Carver and Bethany Hawke, of-- nowhere, I guess, but we were born in Golden Shores." He takes a deep breath, lets it out with a shudder. "We're refugees, we have family in Nyra. Gamlen Amell."

[Andy za'Frane]

Wait, what? Refugees? What are they- "I... I'm very sorry, I'm starting to realize- I wasn't... briefed in anyway about the nature of... what occured," Andy says slowly. "So I think I need to ask first if either of you need medical attention, food or... anything else of that nature before we go any further."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "We're fine. I had supplies out in my hunting grounds we picked up on the way out."

[Andy za'Frane]

At Bethany's jerky nod, Andy takes a deep breath and speaks again. "Very good then. Okay. Can you... explain the event in question?" Fuck, I'm not even sure what to ask, where to start.

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, looking at his hands. "I was with my mother and both my sisters, preparing lunch, when the bells went off. They prepared to take shelter while I went to see what the danger was. I saw demons, roaming the streets openly. Just like before, with the witches. I went back for my family, and we took shelter in the church, but they broke the consecration of the grounds. We fled, but Bethany broke her leg. We hit a checkpoint on the way out, two demons guarding the gate out of town. My-- my elder sister, Marian, died leading them away so we could flee. Later, we met up with a.. a family friend, Varric Tethras. He healed Bethany's leg and we made our way here. As far as I know, the demons are still there."

[Bethany]

"Varric said the demons were gone," Bethany whispers. "Remember? When he found us in the woods? The miners and the guards there... he..."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, slowly. "Sorry. You're right. Tethras and his guards took care of the demons. But there's nothing left of the town."

[Andy za'Frane]

Varric Tethras? That's a dwarf name... and I recall Manud sending a dwarf into the interrogation room. Must be him. "That's... good to hear.  A bit of silver lining, I mean, that the demons are gone at least." He takes a deep breath. "Do... do you have any idea what caused the... demon attack?"