Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

She blinks. I had awful nightmares. That doesn't usually happen when I take a tonic. "I.. I was asleep," she points out instead.

[Tethras Clan]

"Yes, but did you dream of... anything?" Aveline busies herself with getting out sugar, honey and lemon juice. It's a bit amusing, that she feels so at home here that she doesn't bother to ask for permission or even where things are. 

[Marian Hawke]

She looks faintly startled. "I... I did, actually. A nightmare."

[Tethras Clan]

"Do you remember any of it? Any of it at all?" Damn. So much for the hope that this was unrelated...

[Marian Hawke]

"I..."

She glances to Carver, then back down at her hands. "It was about... demons," she says, quietly. "I have those, sometimes. I was trapped, and I couldn't escape. It wanted... Well, it doesn't matter, I was about ready to give it whatever it wanted, to get free. To come back safe. I couldn't... Even in my dream, I couldn't not come back. I couldn't do that to you all again."

[Carver Amell]

Carver's head snaps up, and he stares. "Did you-- did you---?" he asks, unable to quite formulate the most important question.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline carefully sets the tray on the table, taking far too much care not to spill the bowl of brown sugar crystals. "Can you remember more details? What did you want you to agree to, exactly?"

[Marian Hawke]

"My-- my soul," she whispers, shivering. "It wanted my soul. It seemed a small price to pay."

[Tethras Clan]

Moving to the side, where Liz can't see her, Aveline catches Caver's eye, then gestures for 'all quiet/full stealth' in the very limited hand sign system the guard use. Hopefully he clues in that he shouldn't tell Liz that it's not a dream right now. "That... sounded very painful. Given what you've suffered before... The way you phrase it- do I gather that you woke up before the dream finished? Before you agreed?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I... I think so. I offered some other things, just in case I could get away with it, but when he pushed me, soul or nothing, I... well, I decided to agree, but I think I woke before I said the words."

[Tethras Clan]

The paladin pales slightly as she crosses the kitchen to get mugs. "That is... Fortunate. You... Say you offered other things?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I.." she flushes. "It was just a dream, but I was scared. Why?"

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline hums softly as she pours them the tea, automatically fixing her own and Carver's. "Call it professional curiosity. Do you have those sorts of dreams often? Sugar, honey, lemon?"

[Marian Hawke]

"It was... More vivid. Lucid. I suspect because of the misbrew. Usually there's no--" way out, she doesn't finish, but judging by Carver's wince, it was heard anyway.

[Tethras Clan]

So yes, a curse dream. "I see. Do you put anything in your tea? And forgive me for not asking earlier- how are you feeling today? Honestly please."