Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"You should have told me," he says, his tone dark, dangerous. Instantly, he regrets it, shaking his head. "Nevermind. I'm yours. Whatever you need."

[Bethany]

Bethany shrinks, wilts. "... I was afraid," she whispers. "You hated my magic already, I didn't want to tell you about... what else was wrong with me."

[Carver Amell]

"It doesn't matter now," he says, his voice dull again. "It just... let it go, Bethany. What's done is done."

[Bethany]

"'I can't forget what I did, how I hurt you. I can't let that happen again.'" Bethany just lets that hang there for a long moment.

[Carver Amell]

"You're nothing like Father." He stands, abruptly, and turns to stalk into the woods. "I'm getting more firewood."

[Varric]

"Carver!" Varric calls out with concern- and a touch of anger- from the fireplace. Bethany, having been cuddled up to Carver, is pushed to the ground at his abrupt rising, and the dwarf is naturally opposed to that sort of thing. 

[Carver Amell]

He stops, hands balled into fists, teeth clenched. Great. Way to fuck it all up again, Carver. He forces himself to turn around, to march back to Bethany, to open his hand to help her up. 

[Bethany]

"It's fine, I'm fine," Bethany says hurriedly, just as quickly taking her twin's hand to show she's not upset with him. "I just, umm, I said something..." She winces a little, then frowns as she realizes she's playing peacemaker again. But... I don't want us to fight anymore. We can't. I can't lose anyone else, even for just a night. What if- what if something happens and we never get a chance to... I can't. It's fine. It's fine. "It was my fault."

[Carver Amell]

"It wasn't!" He means to stay calm, he really does, but the words rip their way out a snarl anyway. "Nothing's your fault! It never is!"

[Bethany]

Bethany wilts, eyes on the ground. "...I'm sorry," she whispers hopelessly.

[Varric]

"Alright, that's enough of- of any of this. Carver... mind getting those fish? We should start supper. Bethany, start some rice. I'll go... see if Leandra is awake." Useless bitch that she is. Checks out the second we stop moving. Either praying, staring or sleeping.

[Carver Amell]

Without another word, Carver turns and stalks off, back to where they left the fish. 

[NPCs]

As it turns out, they're the first of the refugees to arrive at Nyra but not the first to bring word, thanks to the mine having messenger birds. In fact, the guard detachment and relief group is likely to arrive the following afternoon. Good side, they're expected but not required to wait to be processed. Downside, they have to be the first to explain what happened. Which... that's no-one's idea of fun. Well, maybe a Keindrinasi.

Carver and Bethany are shown to a small meeting room probably used for guard briefings, not questioning criminals or the like and told to wait. They at least get a jug of water and slightly stale baked good to tide them over, so that's something. As the sergeant that had lead them in leaves, they hear him bellow for 'Recruit Lovan' to get his ass to meeting room J.

[Bethany]

"Wonder why they're interviewing Varric and Leandra separately and us together?" Bethany asks softly as they wait. Biting her lip, she pours them both a glass of water, silently trying to curry a shred of favor or affection. The last leg of the trip had been... very rough. Tense. Awkward. Painfully quiet. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver raises and lowers a shoulder, sipping his water. He'd been quiet, lately, more and more: sullen, sulky, miserable. But if she pushed him, he'd make the effort.