"Thank you for watching her, Varric." Kathrine said, placing the daggers onto her back. The dwarf stood in front of her, arms crossed.
"It's no problem, Emerald." the dwarf assured.
"Still, this helps." Kathrine muttered, grabbing Fenris' broad sword.
Aveline couldn't spare the guards, and there had been raider attacks reported. So naturally the guard-captain had come to her with the problem, and Kathrine had agreed to help. Now, she was about to leave to meet Aveline, Fenris and Merrill to head to the wounded Coast.
Alisa ran into the room, her pony-tails streaming behind her.
"Where are you going, mother?" the girl asked.
"The Wounded Coast. Varric is going to watch you." she explained.
"Varric!" Alisa squeaked.
"Hello, Angel." he greeted. Kathrine turned her head and mouthed the words "Take care of her, and be careful, alright?" and he nodded as she headed for the door. Alisa giggled.
"Finally come up with a nickname, huh?" she joked.
"I'll tell you it wasn't easy, Angel." he teased her. "Now, would you like you hear a story while your parents are out?"
"Yes, how about how you got Bianca?" the half-elven girl questioned. Varric chuckled.
"No, that's the one story I do not tell. Maybe one day for you, Angel, but not yet."
She gave him puppy-eyes and pouted. She had eyes like her father, no doubt in that.
"Please?" she begged.
"No, not today."
"Fine." she huffed, crossing her arms. "How about one of mother and father?"
"Of Emerald and the elf, hm?" he paused. "How about...killing Danarius? Or...Hadriana?"
"Both," she requested, already headed for the library.
"Alright, I can do that," he replied, fallowing after her.
In moments Alisa was sitting in front of a chair, while Varric was in the chair. She looked at him with big green eyes, waiting for him to begin.
"Alright, let's see," he began. "It all began when we were on our way to the Bone Pit, to check up on Emerald's partnership..."
-x-x-x-
"You are in possession of stolen property, step away from the slave now and you'll be spared." a slaver ordered. Kathrine looked up at the slaver then turned her head to Fenris.
"They'll never learn, will they?" she asked. In moments, her and her three companions were ready to fight.
Varric loaded arrow after arrow into his crossbow and fired, shooting slavers. Aveline held her dead husband's shield in defense and made her attacks with her sword. Fenris cut through the rows, headed for the mage that fired at them. While Kathrine was kicking and slicing through enemies.
In minutes, they were dead, all but one.
Fenris went over and bent down, pulling up the man's head by his hair.
"Where. Is. He?" Fenris questioned, slamming the man's head to the ground.
"Please...don't kill me..." the man managed. His head was slammed to the ground again.
"Tell me!" Fenris snarled.
"I don't know..." the man said. "I don't know, I swear. Hadriana brought us, she's at the holding caves, north of the city...I can show you the way."
"No need, I know the ones you speak of." the ex-slave responded simply.
"Then let me go..." he begged. "I beg you,I swear-"
"You chose the wrong master," Fenris concluded, snapping his neck. There was a choking sound and the elf stood. "Hadriana," he growled then turned to face Hawke. "I was a fool to think I was free. They'll never let me be!"
"This is...some one you know?" Kathrine asked, not batting an eye.
"My old master's apprentice, I remember her well." he paused. "A sniveling, social climber who would sell her own children if she thought it would please Danarius. If she's here, it's at his bidding, I knew he wouldn't let this go!"
"Then why are we standing around?" Kathrine questioned with a slight shrug. She could see the anger and hatred flash in his eyes.
"The holding caves hold slaves in the old times," he explained. "But apparently they are no longer abandoned. We must go quickly, before Hadriana has a chance to prepare...or flee."
Kathrine gave a small, curt nod.
"You know where they are, you take the lead." she told him, and he did, signaling for them to fallow.
-x-x-x-
Varric paused.
"I'm guessing I'll skip to the part where we were at the caves, fallowing the elf was boring and uneventful. Surprising considering." he told Alisa. The girl nodded.
"Alright," she agreed.
-x-x-x-
They stood at the entrance and Fenris turned to Hawke.
"We must be careful, there were many such holds once. Especially in the mountains, where individual slavers kept private pens. They were designed to protect against raids by fellow slavers, no doubt it's why Hadriana chose this place."
"Did slavers attack each other often?" Kathrine asked.
"They did, what better way to find slaves then to steal them?" he replied. "The holdings outside of Tevinter have mostly been abandoned. But they still exist."
"Hadriana won't escape us," Hawke vowed, turning to enter the cave.
"Let's hop this wasn't a waste of time..." he muttered, fallowing her.
Each person held their weapon in hand, ready at any incoming foes.
"They're still here. Good," Fenris commented.
All of them made their way through the cave and Hawke opened a door. In side was a room, a dead body lay on a block, blood was everywhere.
"See for yourself, the legacy of the magisters," he said.
-x-x-x-
"Wait," Varric paused. "Angel, this part is repetitive. We fought Shades, Corpses, mages and slavers. Want me to skip to where we met up with Orana?"
"If you want to, go ahead." she responded. The dwarf nodded and continued.
-x-x-x-
"Did they touch you?" Fenris asked the elven girl.
"They've been killing everyone," she said. "They cut papa, bled him."
"Why? Why would they do this?" he muttered.
"The magister, she said that she needed power, that some one was coming to kill her." she said. Fenris look from the ground back to her. As she continued she turned, took a few steps and turned back. "We were good, did everything we were told, she loved papa's soup...I don't understand."
"Is the magister still here?" Hawke asked.
"I think so, she said they were prepare for battle," the girl explained. "I think she's very frightened."
"She has every reason to be," he growled, narrowing his eyes.
"Please don't hurt her," the girl begged. "She'll be so angry if you hurt her."
"This is...terrible, for you." Kathrine whispered.
"Everything was fine, until today." she said.
"It wasn't, you just didn't know any better." Fenris told her.
"Are you my master now?" the elven girl asked, hope filling her eyes.
"No!" he replied instantly.
"But I can cook, I can clean, what else will I do?" she asked, hope draining.
"If you go to Kirkwall, I can help you," Kathrine told her.
"Yes? Oh praise the maker! Thank you!" she exclaimed, running off.
"I didn't relize you were in the market for a slave." Fenris spat.
"I gave her a job, Fenris," she corrected.
"Then that's...good. My apologies." he said. "Let's find Hadriana and be done with this place," he added, turning to walk off. Kathrine shook her head slightly. The anger, the hate, the pain. She could figure that he was determined to kill Hadriana.
As soon as they found the mage, battle began. Kathrine took out the Shades with Fenris, while Aveline and Varric took on the corpses and other enemies.
Each managed in blows at Hadriana when she teleported near.
The battle ended after minutes.
Fenris took a few steps toward her and raised his weapon, he could hear the mage's heavy breathing. He blocked her staff away from from her, out of her grasp.
"Stop!" Hadriana gasped, raising a hand. "You do not want me dead!"
"There's is only one person I want dead more," he snarled.
"I have information, elf," she said. "And I will trade it in return for my life!"
"Bah! The location of Danarius? What good will that do me? I'd rather he lose his pet pupil."
"You have a sister, she is alive!" Hadriana told him. The elf's eyes widened in shock. Hadriana sat up. "You wish to reclaim your life? Let me go and I will tell you where she is."
"This is your call," Kathrine told him.
"So I have your word then? I tell you and you let me go?" Hadriana asked. Fenris leaned his face down toward hers.
"Yes, you have my word." he lied.
"Her name is Varania, she is is Keralias. She is serving a magister there by the name of Aramen." Hadriana explained.
"A servant, not a slave?" he questioned her.
"She's not a slave," the woman confirmed.
"I believe you," he concluded, skin beginning to glow blue. He instantly moved and stuck his fist in her chest, gripping her beating heart. She gasped and he crushed it in her chest. He removed his hand and her limp, dead body fell to the ground with s small thud.
He turned and began to walk away.
"We are done here," he said.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Kathrine asked him. He turned on her.
"No! I do not want to talk about it." he snapped. "This could be a trap! Danarius could have sent Hadriana here to tell me about this "sister", even if her didn't, trying to find her would still be suicide." he paused. "Danarius has to know, and he has to know that Hadriana knows. But all that matters is that I finally got to crush this bitch's heart." he turned away from her, head hung. "May she rot, and all the other mages with her."
"Maybe we should leave," Kathrine suggested, placing a hand on his shoulder. She couldn't bear seeing him like this.
"Don't comfort me." he snapped, shaking her hand off and turned to her. "You saw what was done here, there will always be some reason, some excuse, why mages have to do this. Even if I found my sister, who knows what the magisters have done to her! What does magic touch that it doesn't spoil?" he turned and wiped a hand over his forehead. "I...need to go." he sighed, walking off.
-x-x-x-
"Father just...left?" Alisa asked. Cerberus was now laing his head on her knee and she stroked it.
"He did. I remember your mother having Aveline head back to the barracks to handle her job, and then headed with me to the Hanged Man after looking for your father." Varric told the young girl.
"Tell me what happened at the Hanged Man. Would you?"
"Of course..."
-x-x-x-
Kathrine sighed and sipped her drink.
"You alright, Emerald?" Varric asked. She looked at him, eyes full of worry and pain.
"No, I am not," she confessed. "I feel horrible, I mean, I just...I don't know what else I could have done. But..."
"There wasn't anything else you could have done, but I see it clear as day, Emerald, you care for the elf." Varric replied. Kathrine blushed and took another drink. He chuckled.
"I do, yes, but I...I...don't know how to say it. I'm sure if I said a word, he'd never speak to me again." she managed.
"You know, he cares for you," Varric told her. "Every time you turn your back, he looks at you. In battle, if you go down, he fights harder and quicker. He acts different around you, I think dealing with his past is just going to be hard for him, is all."
"Heh, maybe. If he needs my help, though, I'll gladly help him. Well," she paused and finished her drink. "It's getting late, better head beck to my estate."
"I'll see you later, Emerald, and take care." he told her as she got up and headed for the door.
"I will, Varric, you too." she said with a wave then exited the pub.
-x-x-x-
"Now, Angel, would you like to hear about how Dandrius died? That's even better then your father crushing Hadriana's heart." Varric asked her.
"Yes!" the girl squeaked.
"Well, it happened a few years later..." the dwarf began.
-x-x-x-
"Are you certain it's her?" he asked the guard-captain, pacing. So close, he was so close to meeting his supposed sister.
"An elf, matching your description, on the ship you named. And alone, as far as I could tell." she reported. He stoped.
"I need to know if it's a trap," he snapped, slamming his hands down onto the table.
"I did as you asked, Fenris," Aveline got to her feet. "Now it's up to you." she started to walk and stopped when Hawke neared her. "You talk to him, Hawke, I've had my fill for today." she said then continued on her way.
"Venhedis fassta vass!" he cursed. Kathrine looked at him.
"Maybe it's just me, but I'd swear your upset." she commented.
"It's my sister." he sighed. "I didn't tell you but I fallowed up on the Hadriana's information. Everything she said was true. I had to keep it quiet but I eventually managed to contact Varania and send her enough coin to come meet me. And now, she's here."
"She was in Keralias after all?" Kathrine questioned.
"My sister left magister Aramen's service, I found her in Menrathos, that just made things more difficult," he explained. "But according to the men I paid, it's just as Hadriana said; she's not a slave, she's a tailor, in fact." he paused. "Getting a letter to her was difficult, and she didn't believe me at first, but she's finally come."
"Your worried Danarius knows?" the rogue asked.
"The more he doesn't know, the more I'm certain he does." Fenris snapped. "Come with me Hawke, I need you there when I meet her."
"Where do we go?" Kathrine responded.
"If we go to the Hanged Man during the day, she'll be there, for the next week at least." he paused and avoided her eyes. "It would mean a lot to me, that's all I ask."
-x-x-x-
"So you went to the Hanged Man next?" Alisa squeaked.
"Yes, we did." Varric told her. "Now, the next part is...well, just listen."
-x-x-x-
Kathrine, Fenris, Varric and Aveline walked into the Hanged Man. There was an elf with red hair sitting at a table, her hands clasped together.
"It really is you," she said, without looking up.
"Varania?" Fenris said. "I remember you. We played in our masters' garden as mother worked. You called me-"
"Leto, that's your name." she cut him off and got to her feet.
"What's wrong? Why are you so..." he trailed off.
"Fenris, we have to get out of here!" Kathrine told him.
"Ah, my little Fenris, predictable as always." a voice rang. A magister walked down the steps near then, flanked by guards.
"I'm sorry it came to this, Leto," Varania said.
"You led him here!" he accused.
"Now, now, Fenris, don't blame your sister. She did what any good imperial citizen should." the magister responded.
"I never wanted these filthy marking, Danarius, but I won't let you kill me to get them." Fenris spat. Danarius laughed.
"How little you know my pet." the magister paused and his gaze shifted to Kathrine. "And this is your new mistress, the Champion of Kirkwall? Quite lovely."
"Fenris doesn't belong to anyone!" she hissed.
"Do I detect a note of jealousy? That's not surprising, the lad is quite...skilled, isn't he?"
"Shut your mouth, Danarius!" Fenris snarled, skin instantly glowing a hint of blue.
"The word is master." was the last words said before a fight engulfed the Hanged Man. It was quick and simple. As soon as it was over,, Fenris walked over and picked up Danarius by the collar.
"You are no longer my master," he growled, skin blue once more and he bust the organs. Blood splattered everywhere. Fenris looked over to Varania.
"I had no choice, Leto." she said.
"Stop calling me that!" he spat.
"He would've made me his apprentice, I would have been a magister." she told him.
"You sold out your own brother, to become a magister?" he snapped.
"You have no idea what we went through, what I've had to do since mother died." Varania responded. "This was my only chance,"
"And now you have no chance at all," he advanced on her, ready to rip her heart from her chest.
"Please, don''t do this!" she begged. "Please! Tell him to stop!"
"Wait, don't kill her," Kathrine told him.
"Why not?" he asked. "She was ready to see me killed. What is she to me then another tool of the magisters?"
"Your sister's as much of a victim as you were," Hawke pointed out.
"Get out," Fenris hissed. Varania began to run but stopped and turned.
"You said you didn't ask for this, but that isn't true. You wanted it, you competed for it. When you won, you used the boon to have mother and I freed." she said.
"Why are you telling me this?" he questioned her.
"Freedom Is no boon. I look at you now and think you got the better end of the bargain." and with that, she left. He turned away then back to Kathrine.
"I thought rediscovering my past would bring a sense of belonging, but I was wrong. Magic has spoiled that too, there is nothing for me to reclaim. I am alone." he sighed, looking away from her.
"I'm here, Fenris," she assured. Fenris looked at her, a slight smile twisted on his lips and his eyes full of pain, then turned away before turning back once again.
"You heard what Varania said. I wanted these, fought for them. I feel unclean, like this magic is more then etched into my skin, but stained my soul." he paused. "Let's go, I need to get out of here." with that, he made his way out of the Hanged Man.
-x-x-x-
"So, she betrayed him? Just like that? Her own brother?" Alisa asked, eyes wide.
"Yes," Varric told her.
"Did anything happen after that?" the half-elven girl asked.
"Many things, but they aren't apart of what you wished to hear." the dwarf said. "Now, it's late, time for bed."
"Alright, but, can I still hear one more story?" she begged.
"Tomorrow, promise, alright Angel?" he responded getting up.
"How you got Bianca?" she questioned hopefully, getting to her feet as well, Cerberus standing next to her.
"Maybe," he chuckled. "Maybe just for you,"
Alisa yawned and he led her to her parents' room. He let her get changed before helping her into bed and pulling the blanket over her.
"Night, Angel." he said. She blinked with a nod and rolled on her side, snuggling close to Cerbersu. Varric sighed and walked out, headed for the library.