Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says, without moving to get up.

[Tethras Clan]

Malcolm sighs a little before sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's alright, you know. What happened."

[Carver Amell]

"I managed to forget," he says softly. "Marian's in no shape to talk about it, and I think Beth forgot too. I just... I just lived my life. But.. I was four. Did I really even give being a girl a chance? Did I do the right thing?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Yes," Malcolm says with the devout fervor a true believer. "You're a boy, Carver. You've no need to doubt that."

[Carver Amell]

"How do you know?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Because I saw your eyes back then. Heard the pain and need in your voice," Malcolm whispers in a pained voice. "I held you while you cried on the way there, sobbing with doubt and hurt. I held on you on the way back, felt you cry with relief. No, this was what you needed. And- and Dau is Raplin's oldest Daughter. He spoke with you for hours, then did some kind of... dreamwalk thing. He was sure this was what you needed."

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, lets it out. "I don't... remember much of the trip."

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, you were only four," Malcolm points out. "Honestly, I wouldn't have thought you nor your sister would recall a bit of it."

[Carver Amell]

"I didn't really until... Jass mentioned Dau sent well-wishes and I..."

[Tethras Clan]

"Ah. Yeah, I guess that... you were pretty curious about him. I mean, he was a right strange, uh, person. Way outside anything you'd know before, so you asked a million questions," Malcolm says with a faint smile.

[Carver Amell]

"He was a.... plant? Of some kind?" offers Carver, hesitantly.

[Tethras Clan]

"Right," Malcolm confirms. "Evidently he... makes a new body for himself every few decades. Something about Raplin not getting the 'physical form' thing quite right on that first attempt. But yeah, he was some kind of berry bush when we were there."

[Carver Amell]

"Oh yeah," he says, chuckling. "I wondered if he tasted good."

[Tethras Clan]

Rather personal question, the bard in him remarks. "Not sure but I imagine so. Evidently they're goodberries. Like the nature spell. Each one is a meal basically."

[Carver Amell]

"Huh. That's pretty cool."