"It's just you now… take care of mother." Bethany planted on last kiss upon Garret's forehead and he held her tight to him, sobs wracking his body as he slipped the dagger from his belt and in one quick motion ran the blade into his sister's heart. He felt her body tighten and all went quiet.
When he had finally wept until there was nothing left and laid her on the stone, there was a look of relief - and almost a smile on her face. He placed the bloody dagger back in it's sheath, and looking very lost - he stood and grabbed a blanket to wrap her body ceremoniously as they had done for his brother and father before her.
Varric let silent tears roll down his cheek - and for the first time the bard was absolutely speechless.
It was Isabela who rushed to Garret's side when he staggered from grief, falling to his knees and letting the sobs take him over. She always jested that he was a heart breaker, but this time it was very true. The strong, fearless man she had come to care for was reduced to nothing but tears and it killed her to see him this way. She untied the bandana that held her hair back and got on her knees, using the cloth to wipe the tears from Garret's deep brown eyes.
What do you say to someone in a moment like this, when their sister is ripped away from them because your best friends' brother betrayed you?
There were no words. He looked into her eyes, searching for something he didn't find and his lips quivered, begging to break into sobs that would stay in her mind forever.
"No more of this." Isabela's eyes were filled with unshed tears as she wiped Garret's nose, and he sighed.
"When Carver died, I told mother that we had to hurry. To press forward and we just left him there. I will not do the same to my sister." His eyes were stern and he was himself again in that moment, pulling strength from within to stand, and when he did Isabela stood with him, and held his hand.
Varric set an arrow to flame and shot it through Bethany, wrapped in linens and surrounded by stone. He sang rites of the departed as they all looked on, and throughout it all Isabela never let go of Garret's hand.
Garret was smiling when they packed their things and moved on from the camp, and Isabela was surprised. She stepped quickly to stand by Garret's side, and poked him.
"You seem so…happy. What inspired this?"
Garret looked down and took her hand in his again, raising the back of her hands to his lips for a small kiss.
"Bethany said it was just me," he looked to Varric and back at her, his smile growing wider, a dark chuckle rising from his throat. "In reality, my heart has never felt more crowded with the love of a family than it is right now."