The Silver Queen [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, quiet for a time, just resting against Zevran as their drinks are delivered. When the waitress leaves once more, he says quietly, "I miss Varric. It's weird -- I only knew him for a few days, but..."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran nods. "Well, they were very... charged days. And he had a way about him. Solid and... reliable, someone that you knew you could trust despite his gilded tongue."

[Carver Amell]

"Let's get drunk in his honor?" asks Carver, reaching for his glass.

[Tethras Clan]

"He'd be so proud," Zevran says with a deep laugh.

[Isabela]

"So, long story short, I kept her husband busy fucking while my menfolk raided the place, got the docs we needed, and rescued a Pavitra that had been enslaved. By the time they came to get me, the slaver had me tied up, but his wife killed him, so we took her and ran. She needs a healer to talk to about her trauma, so we figured we'd head here." Isabela's smile stays bright, but her eyes are troubled, hinting that there's more to the story than she's letting on to Dau. "Do you know someone who can help?"

[NPCs]

"I know many people," Dau replies. They had moved to just outside the town during their walk, stopping near a trio of apple trees. Isabela lounges on a small stone that appears to be natural but on closer inspection reveals it's been lightly shaped into a surprisingly comfortable seat. Nearby, Dau is perched atop a wildflower that shouldn't be able to hold even his tiny form without bending. Cheating druids. "Peace and healing are very important facets of this place. If your friend comes to the Oak, Father will guide a healer to her, just as He guided me to you."

[Isabela]

"I rather assumed He was guiding Carver to you," she says wryly. "I wonder what's gotten into him, anyway?" 

[NPCs]

"That is his tale to share," Dau says simply. "Carver does not need my help at this time. Your other companion can help for now. You have the greater need."

[Isabela]

"Do I?" she says lightly. "I got nothing more than what was coming to me."

[NPCs]

"What was coming to you?" the Daughter repeats curiously. "You follow the any and no paths of ONE THAT IS TEIRIS, do you not? I had not realized that some of that one's followers endorsed rape and torture as the due course of rescuing slaves." Yeah, okay, that was... a word/phrase. Almost enough to distract her from what came after...

[Isabela]

She coughs, shaking her head. "That's not-- I went in there for sex, and I knew he was a slaver. Actions aren't free from consequence simply because I freely choose them."

[NPCs]

"Is it not a common belief of HE THAT IS CIREN, whom is most suited to judge such things, that one never deserves rape?" Dau asks in that same tone of politefully curious disagreement. A long, slow blink. "Not that such a thing would negate the wound an act leaves. Carelessness and haste might cause a hunter to cut herself while sharpening a blade. Some might say that the wound is their due. And yet the wound still exists and must be treated."

[Isabela]

"I'm fine," she says, waving a hand. "I knew what I was getting into."

If you ignore the nightmares, the sobbing late at night, I'm perfectly fine.

[NPCs]

"You were expecting to be raped and tortured?" Dau asks, the ivy on his brow wrinkling.

[Isabela]

"I should have been. I knew he was a slaver."