Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, definitely get our dad."

[NPCs]

Despite the elf bitch's protests- evidently her name is Raynare- they do find themselves in a small tree-house. In case, it's an house built into a tree, not a child's play area. Varric and Helene are there, as are three Elders, a leather glad merikos elf with a pair of combat axes, the three bullies and Merrill. Who, it might be noted, hasn't gotten more than two feet from Carver this whole time. Even that distance was only to hug one of the Elders, a truly ancient looking woman named Marethari. Once they're all settled in- though some, including Raynare, seem to be expecting someone else- Varric clears his throat. "So. Seeker Helene can cast Zone of Truth, as well as a spell to Discern Lies. Would you also like to cast such a spell or is their oath sufficient?"

Looking somewhat annoyed, the older of the two male Elders nods curtly. "Yes, we would, thank you," Elder Jorim says snidely. "I shall cast a Zone myself as well. Then we shall see what you have to say for yourselves." Once they're both done, he gestures at Carver curtly. "Well boy?"

[Carver Amell]

"I was going to meet my sister when I heard a noise. Sounded like crying. I went over and they were saying cruel things, and it looked like kicking her. So I told them to stop. Then they said nastier things, so I hit her. That made them stop." He shrugs. "I called for a healer, and we got Merrill fixed up and brought her here."

[NPCs]

"So you admit to attacking her!" Elder Jorim declares with a victorious tone.

"And says under truthing it was to defend her from their attacks," Marethari points out. "Can you give more detail? Starting from where you first saw them. Who was doing what? What did they say exactly?"

[Carver Amell]

"Uh. I heard them say, don't belong here, and I think, being in the mud fits you? Something like that? Look, it, I, I know what bullies sound like, and these sounded like bullies. I thought they might be after my sister -- bullies always seem to go for my sister -- but they weren't, they were after Merrill. Oh, and I think they implied I fucked her."

He pauses, then, glancing at Varric, he adds, in a softer, colder tone, "She looked like Bethany right after Marian died. Or, or when they called her a witch." When I called her a witch. "I'm a Vangalite. It's against Vangal's first principle to let someone like that get hurt like that."

[Bethany]

"I missed most of this," Bethany supplies without being prompted. "I arrived after he'd already scared them off or otherwise stopped them. But I did see Merrill cowering, her things scattered on the ground and her covered in mud. And she had some scrapes on her hands and knees that would fit with falling. Or being pushed. Her dress was also ripped, on the sleeve. Could be from being grabbed but I can't honestly state it was, I'd be guessing. Wasn't a cut though, it was a tear." 

She shrugs. "And Merrill was..." Beth hesitates, not wanting to say outright that the poor girl had resembled nothing more than a beaten dog. "It's clear she was scared. More than that, she shows signs of long-term abuse."

[NPCs]

Looking uneasy, Jorim tries his best to counter their testimonies. "But neither of you actually saw them hurt Merrill. And I highly doubt your... opinion on her mental state or this abuse is reliable in the first place."

[Bethany]

"Actually I've a bit under a year of healer trainer at one of the Nyra Bastion temples," Bethany says sweetly. Varric, having been expecting to have to do some soothing and smoothing, is just leaning back with a grin as his kids tear this guy (and bitch) apart. 

[Carver Amell]

"I've seen abuse."

It bothers him that he can say it, that nothing happens, no lights flash to show it's a lie. But there it is. He's seen... well, he guesses, abuse. He's seen how the other kids treated Bethany, after all.

[NPCs]

"Yes, well, we should hear-"

The door is pushed open abruptly, a young looking elven male rushing in as it does so. "Raynare! I just heard- are you alright, my love?" he asks breathlessly in elven, rushing up to the bitch. 

"Malcolm!" Her eyes glint for a moment, a crafty, calculating gleam in her eyes for a second. "Oh my dearest, it was terrible! This human brute attacked me in the woods!"

[Varric]

Malcolm? "Well, shit," the dwarf mumbles, moving to get between the newcomer and Carver.

[Carver Amell]

And the human brute is on his feet, reaching for his sword again. A moment later, he releases it, stalking toward him with an open hand instead. "You!"  

[Varric]

"Killing is bad," Varric lies smoothly, having resisted the truthing. "You'll- well, maybe not regret the action, exactly, but still regret will be a thing."

[Bethany]

Beth is silently staring at the young elf, unable to form words. Is... that's... that him. That's our father. That's... that's our father. He's... he's engaged to her? That bullying bitch? Why... why did he pick her? Her, over us...

[NPCs]

"Me? What are-" Malcolm breaks offer, staring at the twins with a perplexed look. Why do they look so familiar? No, that's not important. "You attacked my betrothed!"