The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

The taunting dies off when she doesn't respond; Marian's not worried about her secrets, after all, since they're encoded. She's more worried about her future.

Nobody's coming for me, the imp in her mind tells her. I'm going to be sold. Maybe even to drow. This is what I deserve.

They pass through a valley, where the morning mist still hangs thick on the ground. Visibility dims, both from the light being blocked and the mist. Marian closes her eyes, whispering another silent prayer. 

I know I am unworthy, but please, Alydra, please, let me find some way to escape. Let me find some way to get free.

The screams interrupt her prayer. Cold fear curdles in her gut -- at least enslaved she knows what to expect. Who is attacking, and why? A monster? She's chained and caged, she can't get out. Will she be ignored? Will the monster claw open the cage to get at her?

Swish-thunk. Swish-thunk. Screams, begging for mercy. Swish-thunk.

That sound, what is it? The monster's attack? No, it sounds like  a weapon -- a trebuchet? A crossbow? 

The screams die off, and she shivers. Naked, alone, and terrified -- what a way to die. 

A figure comes through the mist toward her cage -- a humanoid, not a monster. A goblin? No, too stout -- a dwarf? Could it be?

Marian lifts her head, lips moving in silent prayer, as the figure advances on her cage.

[Varric]

Face carved from stone, Varric skims his gaze over Marian without seeming to see her or her naked body. He glides past her cage with eerily smoothness- flying? just a few inches but... As he passes, he almost absently tosses a small bundle at her through the bars. 

"Yell if someone comes at you." 

A yard away, he pauses suddenly and fires, a scream informing all of his successful aim. The bundle partially unrolls, revealing that it's a cloak wrapped around two vials labeled as healing potions, a set of lockpicks and the wands she had used before. That delivered he vanishes back into the mists, soon followed by another scream.

[Marian Hawke]

He came for me.

Marian curls around the bundle, sobbing into it for a long moment. She knows she ought to put on the cloak, pick the lock, get free, but for a moment all she can do is sob gratefully into the cloak. He came. He really came.

Finally, she forces her shaking fingers to fasten the cloak around her, gets to work on the locked collar around her neck. It takes her several tries, and once she almost drops a pick, but she manages to get it open, then frees the pup the same way. "Good boy," she whispers. "It's okay. It'll be okay. We're safe now."

He really came.

[Haliel Lightsong]

There's a thuddering of a horse, a shout- female, clear and pure but startled and uncertain- and then a large horse bolts into the clearing. The rider, clad in heavy armour but with shining white hair revealed by lack of helm, just barely manages to keep the horse from hitting the wagon and more falls then dismounts in the doing. Pulling herself upright, Lightsong looks around wildly and finally spots the merikos elf. "Marian! Oh thank Bastion!" Looking deeply relieved, she hurries to the cage, drawing her blade as she does so. In the mists around them, the sound of the crossbow is the lightning to a wet gurgle's thunder.

[Marian Hawke]

My knight in shining armor, thinks Marian, with an odd, almost hysterical giggle. She scoops up the dog, cradling him close, letting Lightsong get the cage open. I'm alive. I'm being rescued. It sounds almost too good to be true. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong doesn't bother with keys or locks, instead hacking the wood the bars are set into in order to rip them free. "Are you hurt? Did they- are you hurt?" Her voice trembles despite the swiftness and surety of her hands.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian shakes her head, letting out a sound that's half whimper, half giggle. "I'm fine. Safe, now. I-- I can't believe you came for me."

[Haliel Lightsong]

A sigh slips out of the paladin. "Of course we did, Marian. You're are friend. I would venture forth for anyone, but.." She blinks rapidly but tears still dampen her eyes. "I must confess that I have never been this... motivated before." She winces as someone's sobbing is cut off with a wet thunk. "...and Mister Varric is... Well."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian winces. "Upset with me for being caught?" she asks, hesitantly.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong shakes her head rapidly. "No, Seeker Helene said that he was... furious at the slavers and... he seems... I am trying very hard not to notice how he is conducting himself in combat. I shall be doing penance for that tonight but I cannot make myself do otherwise. I will do penance for that as well."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods, picking up the wands, the potions. "I'm okay," she says again. "I... can we go home? Please?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong sheaths her blade and pulls Marian into agente hug. "Of course. Of course we can. I will always come for you and always take you home. No matter what."

"Ah... but you need to take a new name and face. You're sorta wanted for grand theft?"

[Marian Hawke]

She flinches. "Of course," she mutters. "Of course. I-- I'll deal with that tomorrow. Can I... I just... I just need to sleep. I can't, uh, I can't focus, I'm..."

She bursts into tears again, sobbing on Lightsong's armored shoulder. "S-s-s-s-orry--" she mutters, as she does. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Shhhh. Shhhh. It's okay, my friend. My darling friend. It's okay. Will you trust me to take care of you until tomorrow?" Lightsong asks gently. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes," she whimpers, shuddering. "Yes. Please. Please, just take me home."