Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't fight like this!" she says, aghast.

[Varric]

"Don't need you to fight-fight. Just... hold the world in place so she can't overwhelm us. Keep it bright, like it is here, so she has to fight straight on. We can take her in that kind of fight," Varric says firmly. The Scale is an ambush predator. Granted, some are Zevran and I, but to a lesser extent. And there's three of us.

[Marian Hawke]

"He," she corrects. "And he'll stab me."

[Varric]

"He, right. Can you... not be stab-able? I'm not sure how much control you have over your.... avatar," Varric admits. Really wish we'd grabbed Lawful right about now."

[Marian Hawke]

"Not much, like this. I can't control much of anything, like this. I have to... Liz could believe she's capable of healing injury, or Garrett might believe he's wearing armor."

[Varric]

"Then Marian should be able to go full paladin," Varric point out with a faint smile. "They are you, apprentice mine, just as much as you are them. Anything they can do..."

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't," she whimpers. "Why don't you understand that? Why can't you understand?"

[Varric]

"Stubborn faith," Varric says instantly. 

[Marian Hawke]

Marian's shoulders slump, and she buries her face in her hands. "You're not going to give me the masks back, are you?" she asks softly.

[Varric]

"Only if you agree to fuse them back into yourself instead of becoming one," Varric agrees gently. "I know it's a risk, a bit one. But I can't... I can't give up on you that way. I just... can't." Maybe... maybe before Mori (Bianca's thud, cold pain in my chest, my kids' horrified look) but not now. "I'm sorry. A little."

[Marian Hawke]

"You're keeping alive a fantasy," she whispers. "The real me will..."

She takes a deep breath, then lowers her hands. "For my girlfriend. I will try. If this is the only way, I will try." There's a look of grim resignation on her face, one he may have imagined but never quite seen before.

[Varric]

"Thatta.... apprentice," he finishes a bit lamely. Need to remember to ask, err, Marian about pronouns and such after we get out of here (Helene...). "Alright. We'll regroup, head to Justice. Remember- focus on staying safe and keeping the area well light so he can't hide. We'll do the bulk of the fighting."

[Marian Hawke]

She bites her lip a moment, studying him. "Varric, I... I just... I just wanted to thank you," she says, her eyes sliding away from him. "You've been... for what you did for Bethany and Carver, I... and, for trying to save me. Twice, now, you've tried. I appreciate it."

[Varric]

"Hey, none of that. You're my kids," the dwarf says gently, leaning over to kiss her temple again. "So no saying goodbye. This will work, I'll see to it one way or another." Died for them already. Would prefer to not have to again but... at least in here it's just a nap (assuming they're right about the lack of side-effects).

[Marian Hawke]

"I can't protect me and her both," she whispers, eyes lowered. "So I'll do my best."