Blood from Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene clings to Merrill's hand tightly as they walk, focusing on breathing, on putting one foot in front of the other, on keeping their head high. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Right here with you, tuiste." Merrill squeezes nir hand again. "Glim, keep an ear and snout out for signs of Dad?" The faerie dragon trills softly.

[NPCs]

Recruit Tom doesn't speak the entire time, instead giving a grunt or two when Merrill tries to ask him for more details. Thankfully, CrystalWing is more fancy than large, so it doesn't take long for them to reach the parlour where a handful of people are talking. Three are wearing guard tabards- one with sergeant marks- one has Vangalite robes on and the last is Varric.

"Lord Merchant, I understand that this is your home and you wish to protect your investment but-"

[Varric]

"But nothing," Varric snaps. "I refuse to allow you to start a demon hunt among my workers."

[Helene Dakesh]

Demon hunt. Helene doesn't realize they've repeated the words, shrill and panicky, until they hear their own voice echoing off the marble back at them, too loud. 

[Varric]

Varric's eyes snap to Helene, widening with some unidentifiable emotion before smoothing over. "...a figure of speech. Helene, what are you doing here?"

[NPCs]

"Maybe a figure of speech," the sergeant says darkly.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one has questions." 

The words tumble out of Helene's mouth like a waterfall, a familiar enough phrase to come through easily, cleanly. The next sentence is a little harder, but they've been practicing on the walk over: "This one has been informed that we are moving to Orzimmar?"

[Varric]

Varric stiffens, then frowns. "Helene, I'm a little busy right now. Can you just go home and we can discuss that later?" He gestures at the rest of the room pointedly.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes a step back, shaking their head stiffly. "This one-- this one--" this one is unwell. This one needs help. This one... 

"This one will be at the Temple," they manage. 

[Varric]

"Fine. I'll send a messenger or something when I get free. Now, Sergeant, let's talk about how you're going to handle this investigation in a way that doesn't end up with you under charges of slander, libel or conspiracy to defraud a Light, hmm?" With no more regard than that, Varric turns his attention back to-

[Tethras Clan]

"Like hells!" Eyes snapping with fire, Merrill scowls at her Dad. "I am not letting you pull a drunk Carver on Helene. You talk to them right now!"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes a step back, then another, face blanking of expression. "Th--this one-- this -- th-- this one-- temple-- purify-- this--"

[Varric]

Varric's head snaps back towards the pair. "I will not be- " he stops, sucking in a breath of air. "Merrill. Please not now. I will talk to you, both of you, but... Not now. Not here."

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill stares at the dwarf, heart aching. She starts to retort, then stops. "Fine. If you won't take care of your family... We'll take care of each other."