Blood from Stone [AU]

[Garret Tethras]

''What he got for meeting the price asked by... the asker. Eight of his profits are to your detriment. Six specifically, two for your family.''

[Marian Hawke]

"What did he do?" whispers Marian. "What were those profits?"

[Garret Tethras]

''...one was for luck. One was to be able to read emotions at will. One was to kill a rival, Brigit of Clan Dowsrock. One was to ruin a rival, Gregor of Clan Tethras.'' Varric makes a choked noise and his eyes close as Garrett continues. ''One was to locate and transport six and three quarters tons of silver ore to a supplier. One was to blackmail Vornlathe of Clans Dunswithe. One was to repair his body. One was for watchers to follow the twins. All of it was part of building up his ability to get Clan Dunswithe to attempt to sanction you so he could reach you.''

[Marian Hawke]

"Repair his body?" asks Marian, quietly.

[Garret Tethras]

''He attempted to learn alchemy,'' Garrett says after a little thought. ''It went poorly. He accepted the inhabitants of devils, the sharing of flesh, in order to stabilize his lungs, liver and pancreas. Also to restore the damage to his face.''

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke turns her face away, stomach heaving, remembering the icy cold feeling settling over her as she closes her eyes, drifts off to sleep. Recalls the voice, muttering truth to her, recalls the images, recalls the certainty of her worthlessness, her failure. Recalls--

Her eyes go distant, seeing some horror. Her aura dampens, showing her distress, and her body quivers faintly, trembling with fear.

[Varric]

Attempted to learn alchemy (like me, always was curious about the art, twisted to envy and-). Needed that much help, that sort of measure to... Marian! Varric jerks forward, ignoring the tensing of Garrett's body at his approach. ''Marian, talk to me. Back to me, back with me. Hey, listen Marian. Listen to my voice and come back to here and now. Garret, repeat what I'm doing mentally.'' Must have been reminded of... her own...

[Garret Tethras]

Off-balance and confused, Garrett elects to trust his most vital's dad. He echos the dwarf's words, adding a few of his own as he starts to catch on to the idea. ~Feel my arm around you, most vital. I am here. We are here. I will keep you safe. Please do not leave me.~

[Marian Hawke]

Don't leave me--

She remembers... something else. Somewhere else. You keep going. Always. Because you love too much to just die.

Don't leave me. Stay with me. Not words, but a feeling, a desperate, protective feeling. A feeling echoed back, two halves each clamoring for the whole. Stay with me.

~Garrett~, she whimpers, shuddering, and it's not just a word, it's his whole essence she calls out to. Deep breath. Stay here. Stay in your body. Stay. 

Slowly, she begins to come back to herself, the flashback losing its grip on her, letting her curl against Garrett's flesh and cling to his tunic.

[Varric]

Seeing her start to react, to lean against Garret, Varric relaxes his own grip on Marian's arm. ''Hey, daughter mine. Take a deep breath for me?''

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes, Papa," she whispers, then takes a deep breath, lets it out. Closes her eyes, lets herself feel grounded, feel at home, with family, content. I'm not that person anymore. I'm Marian now. I'm invincible. I have a new body and I'm not traumatized and everything's good now. Please, let everything be good now.

Another deep breath, letting it out slowly, controlled. 

[Garret Tethras]

Next to her, Garrett breaths in deeply, then exhales along with her. ~I am sorry. I... I should not have said that. It hurt you. I do not like hurting you. Not like this. The biting and pinching was nice. It was a good hurt, it made you happy. This is a bad hurt. It was...~ He hums softly as something settled in place. ~I was careless. That makes it a bad hurt. But I did not mean it, so it was not an cruelty. I am still sorry.~

[Marian Hawke]

~I asked,~ she sends back, her mental voice sounding tired. ~You did nothing wrong. I'm just... damaged.~

[Garret Tethras]

''I knew you were hurt in that way. I... remember. Like fog. I should not have...''

[Varric]

''Hey, hey. You're doing fine. Less than a day old after all, regardless of your... inherited memories. You're coming along just fine. Now you know to remember about... old scars. To warn people.''