Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Go tuiste," Merrill says softly, reaching over to gently stroke a lock of hair, careful to not actually touch Helene.

[Varric]

"You... you are not freakish. You are not a girl. You are not my wife," Varric croaks out, voice strangled and pained. Soft taps can be heard by those of keen ear or close proximity to the dwarf, taps that are slowly gaining in frequency.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, lifting the pencil and moving it up the page to write, in large blocky letters, "UNDERSTOOD". They underline the word, then flip the sketchbook to show it to Varric before resuming writing.

[Carver Amell]

Carver rubs the back of his neck. "Helene.. I'm sure Dad loves you. Whatever's going on, whatever you need in Draslina, we'll all be here to support you. Okay? If you're worried about that sort of thing, don't be. Dad fucked up, but not like that, not that badly. He would have done a hell of a lot better at taking care of you than, than we did."

[Bethany]

"Umm. While Helene is writing, I can just... SummerHill is stable enough. Between the small guard detachment and the Warbound, they've managed to clear out the traitors and secure all the patients. It..." She licks her lips, guilt on her face. "The only patient that was affected was Leandra. They were targeting her, specifically. And... and given that they were told to wait for a cue, the leader of the Warbound says it was probably intended to distract and distress us. That- that's all I really have to report."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, swallowing hard. "We still have to free her. We still have to.. She sold her soul for us," he adds, to the room at large. "We can't let that stand."

[Varric]

"What?" Varric asks sharply, eyes widening. Leandra did what now?

[Carver Amell]

He takes a deep breath. "Remember the tainted alchemical agents? Someone slipped one to Mother. She was shown images of us being tortured and she... she took the deal. They tried to reach you, they said, but you didn't answer, so they got me when I got back from the ball. She... she feels like she made the right choice, finally. Like she regrets letting Liz di-- suffer, and she's glad she prevented it this time. Once she's free, I think... I think this might be good for her, but... But I don't know how she'll react to losing her twin," he realizes, face falling as he struggles with the grief he's been pushing aside. "Gods."

[Bethany]

Beth makes a sad sound and reaches out for Carver, wanting him close but not wanting to leave Don's side either.

[Varric]

"I... damn. I never got any messages from SummerHill. Not about Leandra, I mean. But I didn't go over for my weekly this week because of Ball preparations so..." He closes his eyes, body trembling as he tries to focus, tries to think. "I'm sorry Carver."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "Now that I know you were, were captive, I can't blame you for not being there when I needed help. But... Gods. I'm trying not to think about Gamlen."

Seeing Helene hold out the sketchpad, he takes it, glad to have something else to focus on as he takes Beth's outstretched hand.

"They say, this one is dream-taken, like Kevin. This one underwent treatment and would seek more of the same. This one fears this one will not be well until such is done. This one will hurry."

[Varric]

Varric stills, swallows, breathes. "I... I would like to request that... that you wait until this current crisis is resolved and you can... speak again, so we can discuss... details and... options," he finally manages.

[Carver Amell]

Carver hands the sketchbook back and waits for a reply, reading it as soon as the book is handed back: "This one afraid speaking will not ha... happen? happen without treatment. This one deteriorates."

[Bethany]

"Tuiste!" Beth says, straightening up. "You know better than that- never attempt to self-diagnose during an episode of any kind. Depression, delusion, close-in, non-verbalism- doesn't matter, you don't self-diagnose. It's never accurate and more than half the time you end up undervaluing yourself and thus create a self-casting loop that drives you further and further into the problem. Once all this... crisis stuff is handled, you should make an appointment with Wynne or John or the like and have them make a proper, unbiased evaluation." Taking a breath, she winces a little. "Sorry, that was sharper than I- stress. But still, that doesn't excuse it. So I'm sorry. But not wrong."

[Carver Amell]

Helene takes the sketchbook back, but Carver moves around behind the chair, suspecting not having to hand it back and forth would be easier.

"They say, self-diag... diagnosis? Oh, not self. Sorry. Diagnosis was attempted but condition deteriorated too... rapidly? I think? For diagnostic magic to be developed. Speed of det-- det? Oh, deterioration -- speed of deterioration suggests expert intervention mandatory ay ess ay pee. Hence Draslina."