Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

She nods, seeming relieved. "Yes. Thank you, Vig. I'll leave this in your capable paws."

[Vigile]

Really? She is... Well. If she is feeling so out of sorts to allow such a thing without any sign of reluctance, then I am doubly, nay, triply glad I suggested such. "Very good then. I shall be sure to visit her once a day, to check on Liz for you, to assure her of your own well-being and to carry any messages you might wish to pass."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Thank you," she says softly. "I... thank you."

[Marian Hawke]

Relieved that Cindy might want her back -- and a little ashamed of herself -- and more than a little tired from her ordeal -- and significantly overwhelmed -- Liz doesn't speak much on the way to Varric's home. She hangs her head, hands jammed into her pockets, eyes on the ground, shoulders hunched. 

It's nearly dinner time when they arrive. Liz slips toward the guest room, intending to unpack her trunk, and almost runs straight into Beth in the hall.

[Bethany]

Bethany stares at her for a long, silent moment. "...wrong room," she says quietly. "You're bunking with me for... well, a while." She tries to muster a smile. "Hopefully you don't snore. I don't, or so I'm told."

[Marian Hawke]

"Oh," she says quietly, with a small nod. "Thank you," she adds, when the silence stretches on too long, when that seems insufficient.

[Bethany]

"...want a hug?" Bethany offers, the silence wearing on her as well. 

[Marian Hawke]

"I--"

Her voice cracks on the short syllable, and her shoulders hunch more. "I think so," she whispers, and then she leans forward, resting her head on Beth's shoulder as the tears flow fast and hot. 

[Bethany]

Bethany pulls her close, hand curling around the back of Liz's head. "I have you," she whispers. "I have you."

[Marian Hawke]

"She left me," she whispers, through the sobs. "I... What do I do?"

[Bethany]

Oh Liz... "You cry," Bethany whispers. "You cry and weep and feel bad. You mope around and stew over what happened. I'll hold you and comfort you. Merrill will play and sing with you, reminding you that joy can happen. Carver will scowl and loom, unsure how to hit things better but willing to do whatever he can. And eventually you'll start feeling better. Eventually... the hurt will get better. It'll still ache on bad days but there'll be more happiness and love than hurt."

[Marian Hawke]

"Drake never left me," she whispers. "He never had time. Things were good and then they weren't and then he was dead, like everyone else." She shudders, swallowing hard. "Everyone was dead. And then I had Cindy. What do I... how do I be alone? How do I even begin?"

[Bethany]

"I... I know it's not the same, but you're not alone," Bethany says firmly. "You might not have a girlfriend- or boyfriend- but you have us. I... to be honest, you'd probably get better advice from Carver or Merrill. They were... They were good for each other, but neither was ready and they didn't realize it until it was too late. They still love each other, always will."

[Marian Hawke]

"I ruined it. I ruined everything," she whimpers. "Why, why did I do it?"

[Bethany]

"Not everything," Beth says quickly, feeling strange being in the role of... not just comforter but also strength and support to her big sister. "And you don't know it's ruined. Even if- even if Cindy is... even if you're separated now, doesn't mean you always will be." Presuming her reason for dumping you now of all times doesn't result in her 'deciding' to leave Nyra. Rapidly. "And you still have us. Okay? You're not alone."