Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Liz's easy smile fades, and she nods. "Magic can be a scary thing sometimes," she admits. "I haven't any myself, but my sister -- the one with the bad leg -- she does."

[Varric]

"Sure you do," Varric says casually. "I can tell those sort of things. But anyway, the three siblings were terrified about being found out. See, there was a... monster problem there too, and they did much the same as... your Longshores. Paranoia and appeasement. Oh, they weren't as open about it, but they made offerings to ward off trouble just like here. Didn't work." The storyteller sighs deeply, coming to a stop and turning to face the young woman by his side. "See, eventually, ignorance caught up to them. They were so worried about being safe, about casting off anyone that stood out, that they started to forget why they did those things. And finally, someone made a mistake. Instead of fighting against the monsters, they tried bribes and hiding and it failed. So when the monsters came... less than a dozen people managed to survive that day."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz stares at him, eyes wide, brimming with tears. "That's--" she begins, swallowing hard.

[Varric]

"Mary Ann was one of the people lost, sacrificing herself to save her siblings. Not forever, thanks all the Bright Gods. But she was... taken, by one of the monsters. That monster hurt her, for months, until two adventurers found and rescued her. It's strange though- you see, those two adventurers? Well, between the fall of that village and Mary Ann's rescue, the male of the two was badly hurt and his partner needed both a healer and a sanctuary to rest in so they could hide from the ones hunting them. It was Silence and Hunter that provide that- Silence had taken up the path of the healer and Hunter that of the shield. Those two adventurers wouldn't have been able to save Mary Ann if it wasn't for the twins. And the twins wouldn't have been able to save them if Mary Ann hadn't saved them." The Storyteller smiles sadly, yet proudly. "So in a way, Mary Ann saved herself. Victim, yes, but also savior, and stronger than she ever gives herself credit for."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm glad," she says, wiping at her eyes. "I'm glad you got your apprentice back. I'm glad it all worked out."

[Varric]

"Not yet. See... she's free of the ##### but the kinds of scars and pain ##### went through doesn't vanish just because the ### she was trapped in every night was broken. ###### isn't whole and healthy just because she escaped from ######'# in Glaley. It's going to take a lot of work to get my apprentice, my daughter, Carver and Beth's sister, back home in full," Varric says with gentle ruthlessness.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz stops walking, paling. "that's.." she whispers, then takes a half step back, eyes darting left and right, looking on the verge of running. "You're--!" she cuts off again. 

[Varric]

"You?" Varric supplies for her. "Yeah. I'm sorry, ######. But you have to face this before it breaks you entirely. You can do it. I know you can. You're strong, apprentice mine. You can beat this. You're not alone. You have your family back- me, the twins, Cindy. And you should met Merrill and Helene. You're not alone."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm not #######," she whispers, vehemently. "I'm not, Varric. I'm Liz. I'm only Liz. I've only ever been Liz. That's someone else."

[Varric]

Varric studies her a long moment, then nods slowly. "You're right. You're not ######. But ###### is you. You're a part of her. The part of her that's how she wishes she was. Bit of a strange distinction, but there we are."

[Marian Hawke]

"Who would want this life? Barely existing for my own sake, never being allowed a childhood, dying young to protect people who will never appreciate it." It's the first sign of bitterness he's seen -- but it's a flood all at once, venom and hate.

[Varric]

"Bite your tongue," Varric snaps back. "Beth and Carver love you. They grieved for your loss, and I assure you that they've never forgotten what you gave up for them. Before and after the ###### attack. So do I."

[Marian Hawke]

"Not me," she reminds him. "For your apprentice, maybe. If I'm lucky maybe I'll be well remembered after this. But I don't have any time left. It's my turn to make that sacrifice. My turn to finally fulfill my purpose in life." She turns away, as if to go around him. "Your story was nice, but it's time for reality to resume."

[Varric]

"What part of 'you're not her but she's also you' was hard to get?" Varric asks curiously. "You're not... dying, you're just becoming part of the whole again." He shakes his head. Why am I arguing with her? 

[Marian Hawke]

"I hope you're right," she says quietly. "But I have to protect my sister and her twin and my whole town."