The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

"I love heights," she admits. "Seeing everything, being up high... I don't let myself do it anymore, but I used to love climbing onto roofs."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel stiffens a little, licking her lips. That... struck a nerve evidently. "About... well, not about that exactly but..." She glances at Marian. "There's... more. Things you need to know but... it can wait, if you need time to process..."

[Marian Hawke]

"Tell me."

Her voice is flat, deadpan, but she turns slightly, glancing at Haliel out of the corner of her eye. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Something... Helene is still.. indisposed and Varric has tried but... they don't have any real clue what the ritual was. And it was interrupted, badly. And- sorry. They're not really sure what happened, but... what was done to you is... deep. We're not sure if even Dau could remove it, not without... moving you to a new shell entirely," she finishes delicately.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian is quiet for a time, staring into the fire. Finally, she says, "I don't know either. I almost know. I -- they wanted to create... something. Something powerful and dangerous, for Sirena and for themselves. And I'm... somehow, I'm the something. I don't know what that means. You say I'm not evil, and I believe you, but I might be dangerous. Keep your guard up until we're sure I"m not. Don't-- don't let me hurt anyone. I trust you with that duty, Haliel."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"...I promise," Haliel says, throat tight. "I will not leave your side until- until we can both be absolutely sure. Not for anything, not for any time." A part of her wanted her to stop at 'side.' The rest of her knows she can't push, for both their sakes.

[Marian Hawke]

"Good," she sighs, and some of the tension flows out of her. "I'm sorry -- did I wake you? If Zevran's on watch, you should try to get some sleep."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel flushes and glances away. "I was up."

[Marian Hawke]

"...alright," she says softly. "What did you have in mind for breakfast? I can teach you to make cinnamon buns, if you like. If we have cinnamon left."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel's breath catches in her throat and she beams at Marian. "Yes! I-" she clears her throat. "Yes. We do. And I would. Like it."

[Marian Hawke]

"Good."

She smiles, a shy, genuine smile, and gets up, looking for the ingredients. Over the next couple hours, she shows Haliel how to make the dough, the filling, how to set it aside to rise and shape. The second rise, she pulls away, wanting to go for another flight to see the sunrise better; she gives Haliel instructions on how to bake in the modified Dwarven Oven she's packed as part of their standard gear, trusting her with that task as she resumes her perch up a tree, watching the sun rise. 

[Varric]

When Marian has her fill of sunrise, she looks down to see that the rest of the party has emerged from tents. Thankfully, Haliel seems to have already talked to them, as none of them are staring or making too much of a fuss about her being awake. Varric notices her looking of course, but just nods as he... cuddles a tiny bundle of cloth to his chest. He looks... bizarrely domestic, despite the nervous tension in his shoulders.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene sets about nir prayers, wishing to get them done before Marian returns, before ne has to talk to nir apprentice. Despite the assurances from the paladin that nir former apprentice is not evil, ne is... concerned about the state of her soul, about who she will be when she wakes. The selfish child she was when she slept? Something darker, more sinister? Or perhaps, a slim chance, she will have returned to being the eager, brilliant apprentice Helene knows she can be?

[Marian Hawke]

Marian glides back toward the camp, touching down near Varric, eyeing the bundle in his arms. Rick. I saved Rick. He-- I've not been around a newborn since I was too small to remember. What if I startle him? I must look like a terrifying monster to a baby.

She hangs back, then, settling her wings against her back once more -- she's still learning the most comfortable way to carry herself, to settle them with the fabric around them. 

[Varric]

"Hey," Varric says softly, bouncing his arm slightly as the bundle makes fussing noises. "Glad to see you awake- figured you'd want to met your godson, yeah?"