Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Over the next year or so, she comes over maybe a dozen times. Each time, he finds her intelligent, well-spoken, and mature for her age; each time, however, she demurrs on coming over more often. It seems she'll have to learn to trust him in her own time, in her own way.

The twins, on the other hand, continue coming over long after they've 'paid' their 'debt', working for pocket money three days a week. He gets to know them, from Carver's protectiveness to Bethany's nurturing instinct; over time, they become something like friends, hindered only by being in different phases of life. 

It's not surprising, then, that when Bethany needs a safe place to go to ground, away from the chance of Mother being home, she suggests Varric's place. Marian, unable to shake the chill in her gut, complies; the pair end up pouding on Varric's door two hours earlier than usual, on a day Bethany wasn't meant to be coming over at all, with blood rushing out of Bethany's nose as she holds a handkerchief to it. There's no expression on her older sister's face -- just a blank, empty face, eyes that stare past things instead of at them.

[Varric]

Varric glances at them for a about a second before he's waving them inside. "What happened? Just the nose or are you hurt elsewhere? Where's your brother, is he okay?" He'd face torture before confessing it, but he's grown fond of the three Hawke kids. Marian's still prickly- older and less willing to trust, more inclined to cling to memories of a man that only rarely bothers to send letters anymore.  But the twins soak up the awkward, fumbling guidance and care that the dwarf provides despite himself, even if Carver tries to cover his appreciation with bluster.

[Bethany]

Bethany, trying not to cry, follows Varric in, one hand on her nose, the other gripping Hawke's hand like a vise. She whimpers softly, unwilling to provoke the ache in her nose by talking.

[Marian Hawke]

"Carver's still at school." Marian's tone is as flat as her expression. "This was my fault. I just want to make sure Bethany gets looked after. She was only hit once."

[Varric]

"Uh-huh. Explain and start at the beginning, don't leave anything else. I'll make my own opinions, thank you," Varric says firmly as he leads them to the backroom. They'd never been allowed inside, though they'd seen through the door a few times- it's his workshop, where he makes his alchemical creations. Unlocking the door, he points at a low stool, sized for a dwarf but usable by a still growing girl easily enough.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian clasps her hands behind her back, standing in the doorway, reciting in that same, eerie flat tone. "Joey was talking about Father again to Bethany, when Carver was busy since he knew Carver would hit him. I heard and came over to put a stop to it. Bethany was trying to break up the fight when he took a swing at her. So I rushed her here."

Clearly that's not the whole story -- clearly there's more involved, or she wouldn't look so flat, Bethany wouldn't look so haunted. But that's what Marian says. 

[Varric]

"Let me take a look," Varric says, glancing at Marian for a second or two. Bethany whimpers, but lowers her hand. Then yelps when he gently touches it. "Damn, that's broken. What did this Joey hit her with?" he demands as Bethany pales, a miserable expression on her face.

[Marian Hawke]

"His fist. He's merikos something, he's huge."

[Varric]

"Well, her nose is broken pretty badly," Varric says honestly, but without as much tact as perhaps he should be using. "I can set it, but..." I'm not really a healer. Eh, hells with it, it's only gold. "Marian, there's a sink over there- grab one of the blue towels there and dampen so we can clean her up after I heal her," he instructs the merikos elf. That said, he draws a finely carved wooden stick inlaid with wavy lines. Most of the stick is light brown, but the inner wood is polished to a light gold color. Tapping Bethany on the leg, he mutters three words in what the two girls would recognize as celestial from prayers, even if the words are a mystery.

[Bethany]

Bethany lets out a soft yelp, hands flying back up to her nose, suddenly free of pain. Her eyes are wide and she's got a rather befuddled expression- which would be rather adorable, were it not for the bloody mess on her lower face.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian lets out a long, slow breath as she brings the towel over. Once Varric's taken it, she backs toward the door. "Good. Okay. I'll just-- I'll see you at home, Bethany."

[Varric]

"Stand your ground," Varric says firmly. "I want to her Bethany's version of what happened before you go running off, thank you."

[Bethany]

Bethany nods meekly, eyes lowered. "Carver had to clean up the classroom- it was his turn is all, he wasn't in trouble. So I was waiting outside for him and... Joey..." The girl hesitates, conditioned to never speak ill of people. "Well, Joey has a rough home life, with his dad having... troubles. He and Carver squabble a lot, picking on each other about our dads," she explains with a disapproving air.

"But, uh, when he saw me alone, he started... teasing me." Again, the habits of minimizing her own issues, of not causing problems, causes her to edit things slightly, so she doesn't mention how Joey had pushed her over or throw her book into some bushes. Not that it likely helps much, given that Marian had arrived in time to see Bethany kneeling on the ground and her book is still in the bushes.

[Marian Hawke]

"I have to walk Carver home. I'm not letting Joey get to him too." Marian frowns, shaking her head. 

[Varric]

"That works out well then," Varric replies cheerfully. "I'd like to chat with Joey- or failing that, your teacher- myself. "Go ahead and finish cleaning your face a bit and we'll all walk down." Bethany's eyes are a bit wide, but she complies readily enough.