Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Liz takes a deep breath, lets it out. You know dying is a shitty plan E (plan E-3). He's probably going to push for Summerhill (Plan E-2) over adventuring (Plan E-1) but it's fine, you can make the final call without answering him as to why. Five months is (how could you forget their birthday) fine. Doable. Fine. It'll be okay. Maybe Plan D will work anyway. Maybe it's not so hopeless as all that.

"Alright," she says, softly. 

[Carver Amell]

"Not alright, I don't agree to this," snaps Carver. "I won't let someone else die to save me, not ever again, dammit. Not ever."

[Bethany]

"...Carver. You... you needed to walk away to heal too, remember?" Despite her words, she still had a death grip on Liz's hand, her knuckles white and starting to ache. Not that she notices. "And- and she's worried about us, right? Saving us, that's what she said. So... so if she needs to... leave for... if she needs to leave, that doesn't mean she has to be alone. Dad can hire guards and guides and... Or maybe a construct or something. Oh! A sworn Junon tulwath... which is basically a smarter construct but still."

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at Beth a moment, then turns his hard, uncompromising glare on Liz. "You come back. That's part of the deal. Plan E involves you coming back."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz glances away, unwilling to agree. 

[Bethany]

"Damnit Liz, why can't you see that this, that you- you- k-k- not coming back would hurt us more than anything else?" Beth asks in a broken voice.

[Carver Amell]

Carver gives Liz a moment longer, then sighs. "Beth? Keep hold of her. If she tries to cast, smack her. Dad, get a sedative." 

[Marian Hawke]

Liz starts, trying to get her hand free of Beth. "Wh-what?"

[Bethany]

Beth's head twists around her mouth dropping open as she echos Liz. "What?"

[Varric]

"I assume you're taking one first?" Varric asks politely, not taking out any of the dozen or so sedatives of various types he carries around these days out just yet. 

[Carver Amell]

"No." He scowls. "She'll need one for transport."

[Marian Hawke]

"T-trans-- what?!" Now she tugs harder, eyes darting to the exit, past Carver.

[Varric]

"No, she will not. And if you try to have her committed against her will, I'll block you," Varric snaps, voice cold. 

[Bethany]

Eyes wide, Beth tries to catch up, tries to figure out what's going on. 

[Carver Amell]

He scowls at his father. "Listen to her! She's not well, Dad. Summerhill's not like Danvers. They've been nothing but kind to Mother, and they've done her a world of good. She needs help, and I'm not going to sit here and fuck around with promises and back-up plans and let her suffer."