Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cedric blanches, glancing at the trapdoor -- and the fact that it's open. A moment later, he storms to it, glaring up at Liz. "What are you--- Varric?"

[Varric]

"Hello," he says congenially from behind- or rather, underneath- Liz. "Is is Sandy as you are? Or... Ash?" Could see it go either way really, though Ash would suit an elf better, I suspect.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Cedric. Why are you here? Liz? Why did you bring him here?" Cedric's voice grows angrier, sterner. "Do you understand what you've done?"

[Marian Hawke]

Liz's eyes flood with tears and she bows her head. "I'm s-sorry," she whispers. "But you were... you were missing."

[Varric]

Varric's eyes harden as he prodes Liz to leave the tunnel so they can stand properly. "What she's done? How about yourself? Vanish in the middle of the night, leaving your mother to panic? Did you stop even a moment to think on what she would feel? What your disappearance would remind her of? Of whom?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cedric glances aside, but he stands firm, his chin high. "It was necessary. I did not expect this betrayal, but perhaps I should have. I will be relocated by sundown."

[Varric]

"So you love your pride more than anything else?" Varric's voice is cold and hard- no longer waiting for Liz to get out of the way, he braces himself on the sides of the tunnels and climbs around her. "I had thought you better than that. Besides, don't flatter yourself. I didn't need Liz to lead me here."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"You understand nothing, Dwarf." Cedric's tone is righteous and imperious as he meets Varric's eyes once more.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz shrinks back, trembling, wrapping her arms around her middle as she lets the important people sort things out.

[Varric]

"You'd cast your mother aside, throw her darkest moments back in her face. You'd cut down your lover without even giving her the respect of looking her in the face. And for what?" Varric takes a step forward. "I ask truly, seeking an answer. What do you seek to accomplish with your selfishness?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Selfish, is it?" he snaps, glaring right back. "Fine. Don't trouble yourself any further, then. I shan't darken your door nor trouble your daughter again."

[Varric]

"Doubling down on the pride?" Varric snorts loudly. "Let me guess, you're trying to drive everyone away to protect them? You're not the first to try that, you realize."

[Vigile]

Moving silently, Vigile pads his way to Liz and winds at her ankles until she kneels or picks him up so he can comfort her.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"What concern is it of yours?" he growls.

[Marian Hawke]

Grateful, Liz scoops up Vig, cuddling him close. It gives her courage, at least a little; her voice a hoarse whisper, she asks, "where will you go?"