Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Your very existence is proof that that hunt has been completed, that we won," she says quietly. "Every day you live and breathe is a victory against that." 

A brief pause, then she adds, "Metaphorically breathe. And metaphorically live, really. Every day you walk under the sun? Or something to that effect."

[Carver Amell]

Carver reaches for Beth's hand, takes it firmly. ...was my big sister always so heroic? How did I never see it? Just because she was so broken and lost? Whatever happened in there, she's found, now. She's come home, for real.

A pause, then his brain offers up, dammit. Now I have to work hard not to get shown up again.

[Bethany]

"That's... a thing," Beth says weakly, gripping her twin's hand back tightly. "Huh. I just realized... priestess-in-training, paladin errant and now a summoner bonded with a divine spirit of... hunting the wicked or something I guess."

[Garret Tethras]

"I... okay. That which was before has been... dealt with," Garret says slowly, nodding.

[Carver Amell]

"So you'll release her? You'll give my mother her soul back?" asks Carver, insistently.

[Garret Tethras]

Garrett cocks his head to the side, considering it. "She does not seem to be wicked. I do not have a reason to wish her hunted." He glances to the side, towards Marian, to check with her. ~Should I release this contract?I could also transfer it. Or sell, I think.~

[Marian Hawke]

~Yes, you should release my mother from her bondage she only suffers because she wanted to protect my beloved siblings,~ says Hawke, her dry tone carrying over the summoner bond perfectly. 

[Garret Tethras]

~She also hurt all of you. Repeatedly. And you are all... vital. You are the most vital.~

[Marian Hawke]

~She did this to save us. I owe it to her to-- how do you know she hurt me?~ she asks, abruptly. ~I don't blame her one bit for being how she was. Where did you get that idea from?~

[Garret Tethras]

~I do not know? I just... remember things.~ Garrett hums softly, thinking. ~I do not think they are a shared source?~

[Marian Hawke]

But how did he know my mother? wonders Hawke. Tentos surely didn't care if she hurt me, and Vig never said... oh. I wonder if he was just keeping mum to avoid hurting my feelings?

Unbidden, tears prick at her eyes, and she wipes them with the back of one hand. "Go ahead and release her."

[Garret Tethras]

Garrett stills, then slowly lifts the paper and touches it to her wet cheek. The paper instantly turns a deep black, then dissolves. "Done."

[Marian Hawke]

"Thank you," she whispers. "Sorry. I... It's just hit me all at once that Vig is gone." She takes a deep breath, lets it out. "But I have you now. So it's not all bad."

[Carver Amell]

"Thank you," echoes Carver, louder. "I owe you one," he adds. "Now let's get upstairs and check on Don."

[Bethany]

Beth nods, leaning against her brother a bit. "I want to look the both of you over." She glances over to the rest of the room. "With Merrill and Glimmerwing helping, as I don't know much about outsiders really."