Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"I'll still put out word, ask around, but I'll go slow and quiet-like," Varric replies, nodding. "Sounds like he's where Thems want him to be. Still, I suspect his friends and family would like to get a firm answer so..."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Yeah. I, uh, it'd be good to see him again, if the gods will, and all."

[Varric]

"It's more likely than not," Varric says kindly. "Most new fledged heros face small challenges at first. And many of them touch base with their support structures as soon as they can. He has a new Purpose, but that doesn't mean he'll forget all of you."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods again, looking relieved. "Okay. Yeah. so, uh, I'll tell the guys he's fine, and we'll.... we'll wait."

[Varric]

Nine weeks pass before the group is ready for their Golden Green trip, between dealing with newborn puppies, arranging for the brothel to run in their absence (thankfully Zevran seems to have a true knack for it and is helping Brianne) and waiting for word from Niko. Varric ends up hiring a full-sized wagon with driver and guard to come with them- well, 'hiring' is a strong word. Evidently, as something of a compromise from Taskmaster Vallen, the paladin had called in a favor so Bright's Kenta is coming along as both guard and trainer for Carver. Given that Helene is also present... Carver didn't so much escape his lessons as trap himself with his tutors all day.

The trip out to Golden Green is uneventful if a trifle slow thanks to them tagging along with a caravan heading to Raplin's Oak. Three and a half days of travel ends with Varric, Helene, Kenta, Bethany, Carver, the driver and the mabari- one mother and four pups- arriving just in time for lunch. "So. Doubt they have inns, so we're living in tents. Carver, you and Kenta mind setting them up while Geoff takes care of the horses? Helene, Beth and I can grab fresh food, then we can go wandering for today. Take care of our business in the morning, then do Helene's research?"

At the general agreement, the party splits off to do just that. After lunch, Beth and Carver head into town, wanting to see what the village their... wanting to see where Malcolm lives. Where he choose to be instead of being with them. It's... nice enough. Rural, like Golden Shores, but build inside and amidst a forest instead of in the open next to a river.  Lots of shade and with the sounds of birds ever present. Naturally enough, Beth eventually steers them towards the  small market square, though in fairness, there's not much else to see in the village. "So..."

[Carver Amell]

This place is... nice. Peaceful. quiet. Good hunting grounds. Away from the craziness that is Nyra. He could like this place, maybe. If he'd been born here. If it weren't for...

There's a tension in him that doesn't go away. He's on the alert, scanning every face in the crowd, looking, hoping both to see and not to see. "So," he replies. 

[Bethany]

Bethany huffs a little. "How're you doing? What're you feeling?" she probes more directly. I feel mostly... numb. At least for now, who knows how I'll feel when we're face-to-face. But Carver. His angry worries me sometimes.

[Carver Amell]

"I just need to see him. I just need to know why," he says, his tone low, dangerous. 

[Bethany]

"And when you find out?" Bethany asks softly, licking her lips. "What will you... do then?"

[Carver Amell]

"I..."

He hesitates, falling a step behind for a moment before he catches up. "I don't know. It, it depends what he says. What he... I just can't... maybe when I see him it'll make sense."

[Bethany]

Beth laughs, a curt, almost harsh sound. "Carver, what explanation can there be that you'd accept? What possible reason could there be?"

[Carver Amell]

"Well, what if he's sorry? What if he wants to be part of our life again and he's been feeling awful about it this whole time?"

[Bethany]

"So sorry he got engaged instead of so much as writing us after Marian-" Bethany cuts off, turning a way to so she can get control of her emotions again. "...oh look, roasted sugar-chestnuts," she observes a bit dully. "We haven't had those in ages." Fath- He used to make them all the time. I wonder if... it seems like they grow a lot of them here, maybe...

[Carver Amell]

"Do you want chestnuts? I have some cash left over from-- from stuff."

[Bethany]

"...sure. Sure, that... something sweets sounds really nice right now," she says, trying to throw off her dark mood. Carver is right. Maybe there's a reason. I shouldn't... I should go into this with an open mind. "I'll get us some cider," she adds, pointing at a booth a few yards down the line, well within eyesight, "and we can met up at that oak over there."