Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill presses her face against Carver's armour, trembling. "Dad," she finally gasps. "I- just dad. Can't hurt- not more. Can't."

[Carver Amell]

"If Beth and I and the Mabari go, will you show Dad?" he asks, gently. "Promise?"

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill reaches out towards Varric. "No go. Hugs," she mutters. 

[Bethany]

"I think we can hugs," Bethany agrees, rather opposed to stopping them in the first place.

[Carver Amell]

"You can... you can only show him, while we hold you? That sounds okay."

[Varric]

This is going to suck, isn't it? "Of course," the dwarf says softly, reaching out to take the elf's hand. "So what-" His eyes go blank, then start darting back and forth almost as soon as she touches his hand.

[Carver Amell]

Carver shifts, pulling Merrill half onto his lap so he can hold her better, his other arm snaked around Beth. Please. I hope this works.

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill cuddles into Carver, his armour melting off to reveal his normal gear so she can get closer. Bethany, thankfully used to the elf's preference for nudity, doesn't object to the cuddling. A second later, a mabari head is thrust in between all this with a soft whine. Silence, slightly better behaved, rests her head on her person's shoulder with a contented sigh.

[Varric]

After a few minutes, Varric lets go of Merrill's hand to rub at his forehead. "That was... damn. I'm am both impressed and horrified," he mutters. That ritual is insane. I can't fathom how she did it while half-mad with emotion (maybe because she was?). Ugh. And to abort it last... "You stopped near the end," he says a bit louder, realizing the twins should hear this. And maybe Merrill too, given how shoddy her memory is right now. "You didn't actually reach for the moon in the end. You pulled back. Pretty sure that's why you lived."

[Carver Amell]

"Why?" breathes Carver, not daring to hope -- but not stopping himself, either. "Because you... because you had hope? For the family? That you could... that things could improve?"

[Tethras Clan]

"...I heard Hunter whining," Merrill whispers. "He sounds so much like you."

[Carver Amell]

"Good," he whispers. "Gods. Hunter. Thank you. Thank you so much. I couldn't... if Merrill had died, I would... thank you."

[Tethras Clan]

"Hunter is Good Boy. Help Boss. Help Boss Mate," the mabari says proudly, getting wet giggles and pets from the elf.

[Carver Amell]

"Very good boy," agrees Carver, his voice thick.

[Varric]

"Alright. I... I think I know how to do this. It's going to be real shaky though. Moving your memories around like this. And remember, people sleep for a week or so after a Delve. So... say anything you need to now," Varric says gruffly, still rubbing his head. Damns but this is hard. Trying to... reorder Merrill's brain is like trying to teach greased cats to sit while drunk.