Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene throws their arms around his neck. "I didn't know," they whimper. "I swear I didn't know until just before I sent you to die."

[Varric]

And this talk is happening right now. "It's... it's fine. The alternative was them dying, wasn't it? My family. Seli and Lovan, their unborn kids. Aveline. Everyone else there. With that choice... You make that choice again. You make it just the same, every time. Alright?"

[Helene Dakesh]

They nod, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "This one has... this one has wished this one could apologize, could explain, many times. This one was waiting for this one's speech to be restored. This one... this one is so sorry," they whisper, shuddering. "This one did as Alydra asked, but this one wishes this one knew another way."

[Varric]

"You have so much more faith than me," Varric murmurs, still holding them gently, carefully. "I considered it, once, when... when my life plans came apart as a young adult. Taking vows, I mean. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't... accept that Their plans were... good enough for me personally. I couldn't trust Them enough."

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one lost some of that faith when Honored Varric didn't come home," they whisper. "This one is small, and weak. This one wondered if this one were strong enough to serve a god who asked so much of this one. This one asked Alydra if the task was not completed, if this one had not... served this one's purpose. And when this one received no answer, this one... attempted to move on."

[Varric]

"...Sunshine mentioned that, yeah. I think Beth and Carver have convinced themselves it was just because of the botched rituals but... everyone has a break point. The rituals, the burden of that choice, the results... all of it happening so close to each other..."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, still holding onto his neck. "Alydra demanded much," they whisper. "But they gave you back. They gave me myself back."

[Varric]

Alydra didn't organize my ressurection, nor fund it (but maybe they did give me permi-). "Oh damnit, I almost- I- Mileen. I- I don't remember most- but They had a message. For you. Hold on..."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene tenses, breath catching in their throat. "A m-message?"

[Varric]

"Yeah, it... what was the wording... " Varric closes his eyes for a few seconds, then nods as he opens them. "A message from a friend. Please take care of... The-One-Who-Is-Helene. Tell them that their assistance is... pleasing? No, it was something more thankful. Appreciated!" He frowns, then slips into celestial. "One-That is-Mileen said it was a message from a friend- and I could feel the... weight of the word. Please take care of The-One-Who-Is-Helene. Their service is very appreciated. That's... words don't fit right, but that's close, I think." 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Alydra," they sob, and they cling to him tightly, crying onto his shoulder. Appreciated. I am appreciated. They sent Varric back to take care of me.

[Varric]

Varric sniffs a little. "Not like I needed some divine busy-body to tell me that, mind you," the dwarf says gruffly. "You're my friend. Best friend. Course I'm going to look after you." He hesitates, then half-offers, half-demands, "you're family. That's... just how it is."

[Helene Dakesh]

"You're my best friend," they echo back. "You're family." It's easier, even now, to repeat words just said than to put them together -- and this emotional, this tired, they don't bother looking for different ones. Varric's words explained perfectly.

[Carver Amell]

As the trio near Gamlen's house, Carver gets more and more nervous -- and that means the normally taciturn man gets more talkative. "She's bound to try and lie, so just, trust me, I'll tell you the truth about anything she says, I swear. Um, she doesn't know anything about Merrill -- sorry Merrill -- so I'll have to introduce you. Her. Uh, did you meet Gamlen, before? She lives with Gamlen now. I haven't been in ages, not since... well anyway, she never did agree to take Beth back, so I stopped coming eventually. Uh, but like I said, whatever she says is probably a lie." 

He swallows, looking around, then cuts over through an alleyway into an even worse looking part of Coalside. It's a far cry from where they lived -- even the non-city-slickers Malcolm and Merrill can tell this area is bad, from the litter in the streets and the general run-down appearance of the buildings. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill edges closer to Hunter, fingers slipping into his dense fur as she looks around nervously. This is in the part of Coalside Sis made me promise to never go to alone. And spirits and animals, even mabari, don't count.

"Just the once," Malcolm says, glancing around nervously. "Meeting her brother, I mean. Visited Golden Shores the once, just after you and Beth were born. Bit..." He hesitates, not wanting to speak ill of him and possibly put his son's back up. Not that Carver seems too fond of the man but... "Not the most social of people," he finally goes with.