Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

He pauses. "Do you... know that, like you knew what she said?" she asks, quietly. "Or do you just... think that?"

[Bethany]

Bethany stills a moment, even her breathing. "I..." She presses her face against Carver's chest. "I... Before. Before we delved, I hadn't... considered it. But now... now it seems obvious that she wasn't sure," Bethany says carefully. "That... that she survived last time, so it wasn't certain to be fatal. But whatever happened, it would make her heart stop breaking."

[Carver Amell]

"Gods," he chokes out, fat tears falling onto Beth's shoulder. "Gods. Merrill. I-- I can't-- no words could make this better. I know they can't. I... you deserved better. I made a promise, when we took you in, never to do what I did. I can't ever make that better. Some days I don't want to live long enough to try. But if you just, please, just help me fix this, just help me bring your smile back..."

[Varric]

There's a loud crack, then a blinding steel-grey light fills the alley. 

"Blistering dross filled shit storm!"

[Tethras Clan]

When the light fades, the alley is gone. The city-forest is gone. Well, not gone but moved above them, an enormous curving sphere an impossibly close forever away. Around them, they can hear someone crying, though the smooth, featureless pale blue sand they stand on could not possibly hide anyone from their sight.

[Carver Amell]

Carver releases Beth. "Merrill?" he whispers, then repeats, louder, "Merrill!"

[Varric]

Varric shakes his hands a few times as he gets to his feet. The mirror is gone, having shattered into the light- while he'd been staring at it. Is she pissed at me for some reason (plenty to pick from) or was that accidental? "You four alright?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Lookit! Lookit! Lookit!" Hunter barks as he leaps a solid dozen feet into the air and clears thrice that before touching down.

[Varric]

"...you three alright?" Hunter's clearly fine...

[Bethany]

"Y-yeah," Bethany replies, rubbing at her arms. "Can... can everyone else hear..?"

[Carver Amell]

"Merrill?!" he demands again, looking around. "Please, talk to me? Where are you?"

[Tethras Clan]

"She hides," Silence says softly, sadly.

Hunter stops bouncing and creeps back over the group, ears flat and tail between his legs. "Boss Mate is scared." He sniffs the ground, then whines. "Face salt."

[Carver Amell]

"Merrill," he whispers, shuddering. "Please. I won't hurt you. I promise."

[Varric]

Salt? That wouldn't be heavy enough to- really Varric? That's what your brain focuses on (hate the sound of crying). "Not sure if she can hear you here. We still haven't found the Id yet. If it- she- is back on Aldis, then she won't be able to hear us on this repressed memories moon- assuming they are here. Maybe. The normal rules for Delves, such as they are, don't seem to be very... set in stone in regards to Carver. Try... keep talking."

[Carver Amell]

"Merrill," he says quietly, taking a few steps away from Beth, starting to shift his hand -- but then pauses, going for his boot knife instead. Don't want to scare her off.. "Merrill. I need you." Please, work. Please believe me before Dad gets upset. "We're inside your mind, right? So you're here with me? I need to cut, I'll need your healing to make it safe." If nothing else lures her out.