Okay first story here and I have been working on it for awhile, never really ready to release it until now. That is why I will have a lot of chapters posted at one time, then it will definitely tapper off and go to normal release speed. To give you insight before you start reading, I will be adding new events and removing events from the main canon story of DA 2, but will try in keep all the aspects of it that we love. This romance will be a slow development just as it was in the game, so don't expect make-out sessions a few chapters in. There will be tender and sweet moments though I can assure you that however. Also, I will try to stay in character with them as much as possible, but being this is my personal take on it and Bioware obviously couldn't cover ever aspect of their persona in the game, I will do the best I can. Last thing, I have not read the DA novels, but I have read the comics so if you know anything about them, you will understand somethings that occur that others may not. The spoiler level is at the bare minimum though, so those who haven't, you can still read this and not have the comic ruined for you nor will it take away from the story. Oh and sorry if I switch back and forth between past and present tense, I used past at one time, then decided to use present, so I doubt I fixed the errors. Anyway enjoy and Bioware owns all!
Ch. 1 The Elven Warrior
Darkness… It seemed to envelop her very being pulling her deeper into it. The faint cries and screams in the distance being the only indication that it hadn't swallowed her whole. She had been so focused on fleeing the darkspawn with her family that they all had forgotten that other threats still laid in their wake. Of course there would be slavers, why wouldn't they be there? Though there was the evident threat of the darkspawn running rampant, this was prime time for slavers to find weak and fleeing Fereldens without the need or worry of anyone else stopping them; they had bigger problems to worry about. Sometimes reason and logic is thrown out the window when desperation and greed are in control.
The images of the events played over and over again in her head, and she realizes how careless she had been. "I can't believe I did that…an amateur's mistake," passes through her lips with no one around to tell her otherwise. While she had managed to keep her sweet and gentle sister Bethany safe from the slavers grasp, a slip up on her part led her into theirs. At least she was safe with Carver and mother… at least she hoped. She had to lie to herself though, it was the only thing keeping her sanity now. She was well aware that she couldn't have left their side at a worst time and now she gave them more worries on top of of the mountain of others…. If they managed to make it to safety.
Bethany and Carver are strong, they won't be taken out so easily! They will get mother to safety without me! With that adamant resolution in her thoughts, the doubt that persisted is suppressed. Her mind now wavering away from those thoughts and onto another.
She hears the rough clang of metal as a slaver passes by her cell and she then continues her task at hand, picking at the shackles binding her wrist behind her. There was no way she was going to sit here and let these men do as they please, she would keep attempting to escape no matter how many times she failed and was beaten for it. That's not the kind of woman Marian Hawke is and she already swore before the day's end these slavers would know what true hell she could bring… Terror and fear that could rival engaging a high dragon would be the last thing to flow through them, along with her blades.
A beautiful noise strikes her senses as the shackles binding her fall to the ground resonating a sound of freedom. "Just one more barrier left..," she states as her aching muscles flex to a standing position, before making her way to the cell door. After scanning the area outside and satisfied that no slavers are near at the moment, she begins putting her lock picking skills to use once again. As her task nears the end, her heart stops as she hears a blood curdling scream not far from her. Panic sets in and she expedites the process knowing what ever caused that sound is headed her direction as another scream is heard at a closer distance. With a click the cell creaks open and she scans the area for any sort of weapon, moving deeper in as the unrelenting screams and the distinguishable sounds of a large blade draw near. The halls are barely lit by a few torches here and there, so she is very grateful at the moment for her experience of lurking in shadows.
Along the way, Hawke manages to find what appears to be a torture room as a sickening smell begins to overwhelm her. Despite her growing revulsion for the room, she knows there is no time left so she reaches for two daggers on the wall, not wishing to think what use the weapons have found in their time. An odd blue glow then reflects off the stone around her, causing the hairs on the back of her neck rise as she becomes aware someone… or something is lingering in the doorway behind her. Hesitantly, she turns around to face the figure, gasping a bit as she notices the blue glow radiating off in intricate designs.
Within her shock the figure stalks forward, a gauntlet hand wrapping around her neck as it raises her off the ground. Fear flashes for a moment in her eyes as they look down into his. It is not a human man like she first thought, but instead an elf, a rather tall one at that. His features are dimly given away by the light radiating off him, leaving her regretting looking into his eyes as they reflect hate back into her own. His free hand begins to arch up and move back reminding her of a snake coiling back before it viciously strikes its target. It then dawns on her… She's the target. The fight in her emerges, that brief spike in fear of the unknown long gone, as she reaches up her once dangling hands to pry his hand from her neck. Anger leaks from her mouth as she spits the words out to the elf, "You slavers aren't going to have much of a business if you keep killing your prisoners!"
She didn't know if that helped or made things worst. While he didn't attack her yet, his grip tightened around her neck. A realization then hit her; this elf was no slaver, that right was only reserved for humans as far as she had seen. He must be a slave doing their dirty biddings. Maybe she could talk some sense into him, it certainly was worth a try. As it looked, there was no breaking his iron grip despite her own strength she retained. Though speaking was extremely difficult in her current position, she managed to escape out words seeping with confidence, "Wait I understand, you are their slave aren't you! How could you let them control you like that! Killing innocent people by order of those that oppress you! You're obviously strong! I can help you escape here too if…!"
His eyes narrow as he grits his teeth together at the word "slave". He first thought the girl before him was another slaver to be dealt with like the rest, but now he sees what she really is, the bruising of shackles now apparent on the tiny wrists before him. She must be somewhat crafty if she managed to escape her cell, probably from the one that was wide open I recently passed. I wonder why she was separated from the mass group and isolated? Still this wasn't why I came here. The slavers that were after me have been dealt the wrath of my blade and accursed markings, thus my purpose here is done. I have no need to kill a girl that stares death in the face and blindly believes she could reason with it. If I were their slave or better yet, who I once was, there would be no chance for reason. So not letting her continue he shouts in a rage, "I am no slave!", dropping her to the ground.
He turns away from her, anger still lingering on his face, as he makes his way out the door only to stop as a hand grips firmly around his gauntlet. He lets out a feral growl from the contact as he turns his shoulder back to her and she looks up with confusion in her eyes, "Then you are escaping here and trying to help the rest of us out?" Her eyes begin to fill with hope instead as he turns away from it, freeing himself harshly from her grasp as he gruffly states, "No!", continuing on. He only makes it a few steps up the passageway before he notices, to his annoyance, the girl is following close behind him, two daggers wielded in her hands. His markings flare up again as his quickly turns around and she takes a step back, "Easy now, I'm not trying to sneak up from behind and attack you or anything." A smirk then forms on her features, piercing the darkness closing around them as she continues, "If I was, we wouldn't be having this conversation now."
Of all stupidity. Here she is boasting about her 'skill' to someone that nearly killed her, that found her knee deep in a slavers strong hold in route to Tevinter. Why these slavers haven't rid themselves of her yet I will never know.
Her accent is thick and foreign to his knowledge, thankfully not Orlesian, but not wanting to give her a reason to say anything else mind wrenching, he turns away again making his way out, her steps barely if at all audible behind his own. She may follow him now, but once outside, she and he are on their own.
His movements stop, his ears slightly twitching as he hears armor headed their way…. Their way… It seems like an eternity since he could put things in those terms in turn from the normal "his". The girl then moves beside him and says "Be ready," causing him to make a sound in annoyance. He only hoped for her sake her bite was anything like the bark she projected earlier. He had no interest in defending anything but his own freedom.
The slavers become visible and he lifts his blade to rush forward, but shoots an eyebrow up as the two slavers fall to the ground, a blade pulled from each of their backs. He looks over to where the girl was just standing seeing her gone and now where the two slavers had fallen. When did she move?
"What are you waiting for? Come on!"
Hawke can barely make out the confused look on the elf's face though the lack of light and can't help but smirk. Even though she just met him and doesn't begin to know who he is, she can imagine getting any reaction other that a scowl from him is a miracle in of itself.
They continue on drawing closer to the exit, not seeing any other prisoners and with no other run ins with slavers, but once outside, that's a different story.
The light is nearly blinding as it embraces the two of them, before her eyes adjust and the hopelessness of the situation comes into full view. They are completely surrounded, blades are drawn toward them and the archers' arrows aimed with deadly intentions. Hawke glances over at her current companion, seeing an eerie calm replace the anger on his face as he mutters something that she assumes is a curse, though of an unknown language to her. Her attention is directed back to the slavers, before she can fully take in the features that define him.
One slaver steps forward, staring the elf down before a smirk forms on his cruel face, "So you're the infamous elven slave that magister is going to pay us well for." His stare moves it's direction to Hawke as his eyes drift down her form and he finishes with, "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble. I've been informed that the rest of my men are dead and all the other prisoners have escaped, except this little tart. Turn yourself in and I'll extract your punishment on this slave instead… most throughly."
"Captain wait! That girl, she is the one we were warned about. The one that…" Another slaver states, but is cut off, "I don't care, they are still just slaves!"
Hawke's anger is bubbling to the surface now. How dare he refer to them as slaves, she wasn't some beaten down bitch or ''tart'' to any man and she wasn't going out without a fight even if the elf agreed to that deal, no wonder he shouted so forcibly when she assumed to call him one. She is now reminded the full weight of that word and what it meant. "We aren't slaves you blighted assholes!"
That was it, the men rush forward as the arrows come plummeting toward them. The elven warrior swings up his massive sword to knock away any arrows aimed at him, dodging any remaining ones. Satisfied he can hold his own and had an unspoken mutual agreement of not going without a fight, her thoughts waver to herself. She glares at the men running toward her and with swift movements spins around slicing one across his crest, avoiding his own blade as she lifts up to slice another across his throat. Leaning down, she dodges a sword and runs between another group to stab them from behind. She then grabs one of them and uses him as a shield against more flurries of arrows. A smile lights her blood stained features as she presses onto the next…. She never felt more alive.
It's always the same. The slaver spills his false deals and derogatory comments in a pathetic attempt for me to back down. I didn't make it this far by "backing down" or losing for that matter. This time was a bit different however now that the girl was thrown into the mix. He thought she would have gotten herself recaptured by this point, but instead much to his surprise she is still holding on and… helping? A trail of bodies lie in the path behind her and he can't see any reason not to give her credit. Though focused intensely on the fight before him, he had managed to glance over to her in a peak of curiosity and get a glimpse of the once unfounded "skill" she had spoke of earlier in action. She was graceful and precise no doubt, but he did see a flaw in her ability… This girl has no focus.
He hacks through another slaver, plunging his blade back as it forces its way into a one trying to sneak up from behind him. He quickly pulls it out as he brings it up to block a sword hurling toward him. The slavers are obviously dwindling down, but in their panic, the heightened barrage of attacks are becoming more evident. The shine of a blade then catches the corner of his eye as it flies past him, followed by the death cry of the target it impelled. He cuts down the slaver before him and slightly turns to see that the blade indeed hit its mark, an archer that had his sights on him. He looks to the girl, who sends a smirk his way before continuing on, so he can't help but mutter another Arcanum swear.
The rest in his sights are taken out quickly after that, but soon as he finishes off the last one in his path he realizes that he hasn't run into the master slaver as of yet. Looking over at his helper, he notices the man of question looming up behind her while she pulls her soul remaining dagger out of a recently deceased slaver. It was his turn to return the favor now. Not that he cared anything for the girl, it's just she too more than deserved her right of freedom after the battle they both faced "together"… Another word unfamiliar with him. More importantly still, he didn't want that pathetic man to have the satisfaction of claiming another victim.
Everything was finally going the right way for once. She and the elven warrior are making quick work of the slavers despite the odds. She even managed to successfully help him out, though he didn't seem too pleased about it. Men and their pride…
The man she is currently stabbing met the same fate as his other allies through her soiled blade, but now a cold chill runs up her spine as a shadow is casted over her. Someone has managed to creep up behind her. She tries to twirl around and attack, but her blade wielding wrist is forcefully stopped by a strong hand as the hilt of a sword crashes against her head. It was happening again, in her eagerness to plow through the enemies in front of her, she became more and more cocky as her concentration slipped away. As skilled of a fighter she is, it would regardless always end up like this if she kept losing herself in the battle at hand. She falls to the ground as the man stands over her with an evil smile locked on her when she turns back his way, her vision suddenly a bit hazy.
"Say goodbye slave!"
The edged side of the sword hurls her way, but is abruptly stopped as a recognized frame steps in the anticipated path, a heavy sword halting the blow. She watches her savior light up again in a familiar blue glow as it winds up the tattoos covering his body. The familiarity completely vanishes however and her eyes widen as his fist fades into a ghost of blue light, plunging into the slavers chest and solidifying to retrieve his still pulsing heart. He crushes it, tossing it to the side like a piece of trash as the overkilled slaver slumps over. What in Thedas is this elf? Actually, she knows very little of elves and had only seen a few in her time so maybe this was normal. She couldn't convince herself that was true.
She slowly stands, as her mind tries to stray from the thought this elf almost gave her the same fate as that slaver and she carefully tries not to provoke him, "I… Thank you, I didn't notice him until it was two late. I guess we are even now. So…um.. Where are you headed?" She had to ask, there maybe more and she doubts she could hold off a group like that on her own if she ran into anymore by herself. His ears twitch at the sound of her voice and he turns to face her, now allowing her to finally see him for what he is.
She wasn't what you would call a short by any means, but the disposition of his stance makes it seem like he towers over her though there was only a few inches in height between them. His hair is snowy white, cascading down his face with two forest green eyes peering from behind the curtain and down to her own blue ones. The pale, silvery tattoos contrast off his tanned skin and run down his chin and neck, wrapping around toned arms that are exposed from the threatening armor he wore. She could imagine those tattoos were all over, since she noted when he last glowed, not even the armor could prevent it from shining through. The first thing she noticed however… He is extremely cross.
He seemed to take in her features as well through his intense stare and soon staying true to his nature it seems so far, "For a moment I was questioning how you had managed to become captive human, but now you have made your folly quite clear. Find your way home little girl. I am in no mood to babysit you further." His voice is deep and though she can admire the masculinity of it, she cringes at his words.
He roughly passes by her, leaving her standing there stunned. Was he insulting my fighting ability and did he even have the audacity to call me a little girl? I am twenty, a grown woman and he doesn't appear to be much older if at all. And my folly? What folly did I make that he had not? Who does he think he is, he doesn't know a thing about me! Not letting the elf get away with such snide remarks, she then turns back his way and voices sarcastically, "Oh did you mean the one I made when I lost a dagger to protect a moody elf who can't watch his own back without needing to be aided by a little girl. If you're going to play the role of a pretentious prick, at least be able to back it up." A smirk forms as his advancement stops. Yep she struck a nerve and hard.
"Venhedis!"
He wanted to continue walking away, but his blood boiled at the redhead's bold statement. She should be most thankful that she never made it to Tevinter. With a tongue like that she would either lose it or her ability to continue breathing. Both he is beginning to consider taking himself. Snapping around in a quick movement, his pace quickens toward her while he roughly lashes out, "You honestly think I required your help!? I can't begin to count how many have met their end facing me, some by their own undoing in deciding to hunt me down and others by my own like now! I will no longer run and hide! I came here alone to kill them being all too aware of what I was up against and I will continue so! I have no use for anyone that will only get in my way!"
Her face that was once beginning to match her fiery red hair with anger begins to lighten as a frown forms her features and her eyes that remind him of the sea begin to fill with a different emotion.
"So you were never captured like I was. You came here in an attempt to get them off your back for a little while?"
"Yes!"
"I'm sorry, I imagine that must be difficult."
"I don't need your pity!"
"It wasn't…" She voices and he turns away again, but stays as she remarks, "I have no home to go to. That is, I have no idea where my family is now, we were fleeing the blight when I was taken."
"Then I will assume you are Ferelden?"
"I am."
He runs his hand through his hair as he thinks on this. Just the fact that he has to "think" about it frustrates him beyond belief, the answer should be blatantly clear. This should never be a considering issue. He has only himself to worry about, no one else matters except for the magister that profusely hunts for him. The key to his survival thus far was not to trust or rely on on anyone else, but still his mouth betrays him as he asks, "You…have no where to return?"
"That's what I'm saying."
He sighs, suppressing a swear directed at himself before the following line of, "If you wish, you can follow me to the next town. After that we will have to part ways."
"I think I can live with that, or given by your scowl, maybe not."
With his frustration to it's max he steps forward followed by her voice shouting, "Wait a minute, don't you want to loot the bodies first? I doubt they will be needing it anymore."
His teeth grind at this new delay in movement. What am I thinking? Or maybe that's just the problem, I wasn't, at least not clearly.
The last body is checked and she places the two silvers into a pouch attached to a belt on her light armor. There wasn't a lot like she hoped, but enough to hold them over for a little while when they reach the nearest town. As fortune would have it, one of the slavers did have a nice pair of daggers to replace hers that were stolen. She rises turning to face the overly pissed elf leaning against a tree waiting for her to finish, who turns a glare and nasty remark her way.
"Are you quite finished yet human?" The irritation embedded with his words.
"It would have taken me half the time if you helped you know," Hawke's sighs.
"I've had more than my fill of helping you as it already stands." He starts forward up a path as an eyebrow raises. Oh yes traveling with him is going to be puppies and rainbows all the way… She can't wait to make it to town.
"So how far to the next town or better yet, what is the next town? I would have escaped sooner, but it's hard to when you're on a boat and surrounded by water." She asks, catching up to his side.
"We'll travel through the Tellari Swamps towards Seleny. Several days at most unless we decided to plunder everything we come across along the way." He replies quick, obviously not wanting to further gauge in conversation, but he only managed to provoke it.
"Oh sarcasm how quaint coming from you." Hawke shoots a look at him as he shoots one back her way. She sighs, wanting to ease the tension between the two as she forms a slight smile.
"I'm Hawke by the way, you can call me that instead of human or girl. Mind telling me your name or am I going to have to come of with a creative nickname for you?" The smile turns into a smirk at the funny names that flood her mind.
The scowl only grows on the elf's face and he stares down at her, "My name is Fenris human. There is no need for your childish nicknames." It now reflects on her face, "I am a grown woman, but a guess someone like you would have no idea what that means. Between your evident lack of manners, overwhelmingly miserable attitude that hovers around you like a dark cloud of despair, and fondness of ripping out vital organs, I don't know what would put them off first." The elf named Fenris growls and snaps back, "Do not speak as if you know anything about me! Every time you have opened your mouth, your statements lead me to believe that is further from the truth!" Hawke is beyond ticked at this point, "Oh and this comes from the guy that was more than too quick to judge me earlier!" He turns away from her, looking more riled than before as he grumbles another word of his unknown secondary language and she just lets it go. If they both continued, the arguing would never stop.
In silence they both continue up the path, the surroundings becoming more dreary as they enter the Tellari Swamp lands. She had heard tales of this swamps and about the Antivan Witch of the Wilds that wanders through them, but she didn't believe it, just like the stories of the Wilds in Ferelden. It reminded her of her father however as he told of her mystical powers to the trio before they slept at night. She takes a deep breathe in and relaxes for the first time in a long time; it felt good to be free again. She had lost track of time, but figures it has been well over a month since she was taken. During that time she vowed those men wouldn't have their way with her like they did to some of the other women in the group, it was hard listening to their cries and not being able to help. Though she was furiously beaten, whipped, and isolated from everyone, due to her "violent" nature, it was good to know they haven't taken everything away from her…not again anyway. Her thoughts are then interrupted as the elf notices her distant glaze.
"You must have been captive for quite some time?" She almost wants to smirk at this elf's poor social skills in small talk, but she was too thankful he is trying to lighten the mood between them. "I knew I was on that boat for far too long, I never would have guessed I'd traveled this far north. It probably didn't help I was alone most of the time, it seemed to crawl by." The elf raises an eyebrow as he looks at her questionably, "Why exactly were you isolated?" Now that was a question Hawke was waiting to answer, he probably wouldn't believe her, but it was fun to tell none the less. "After multiple broken bones, a missing ear, a massive fire that ended up killing a forth of the slavers, oh and a certain treasured part a man that will never work right again, they finally learned they couldn't force themselves onto me, nor did they want to try anymore. So in other words keep your hands to yourself around me elf."
"Same to you." He may not show it, but he seemed to be pleased despite the sternness of his reply. Now it was her turn to ask questions about him. "A mage is after you? If so I'm guessing it has something to do with those glowing markings and the ability to tear a man's heart out of his chest."
"A woman's I am capable of too."
"Well good thing according to you I'm a girl." That got a new reaction as his lip quirks up to the side slightly. It was only a matter of time before she could get this elf to drop the front and flash a smile.
"His name is Danarius, my former master and a magister within the Tevinter Imperium, where you were headed."
"Not by choice."
"Of course…. You are correct though, it has a lot to do with these markings. " Disgust is the best way to describe the way that word rolled of his tongue. "I know I must look.. odd to you. They are made of lyrium. I received them in a ritual he preformed, my first memory being the pain inflicted as it was branded into my flesh."
Hawke's eyes widen. He doesn't remember his past and his first memory was…. that? No wonder he acts the way he does and holds such hate in his eyes. She couldn't imagine being any less bitter to world if she had to go through that without the memory of Bethany, Carver, mother, or…father. Her eyes sadden at that thought and she says, "So you remember nothing before then?"
"No, all events from before have been wiped from my mind completely as hard as I try to find a way for them to resurface."
"It must be hard to talk about, you don't have to continue if you do not want to, I understand. There are… things I can't bring myself to mention also." He looks to her eyes, reading through her with those eyes of his that makes her feel like an open book that he has full access to, before turning away and answering, "There isn't much more to say. I escaped him and have been on the run ever since, evading the men he sends after me so that he may reclaim his investment."
"How long since you have escaped him?"
"It's been two years now…" He seems to contemplate after these words leave him.
"The hunted becoming the hunter, I must say I like that idea that you turned to face them… You were right then, you didn't need my help, but I needed yours so thank you for that. Sorry it took me so long to admit it, mother always said I was irritably stubborn." She laughs out the last bit.
The elf can't help but smirk as he states, "Your mother sounds like a rational woman; it is a shame you seem to not have inherited that trait."
"Hey!" A smirk, yes she was making progress with him.
The remaining day was uneventful as the sun was beginning to set. "Let's make camp soon, I haven't been this tired in a long time."
"Agreed. We'll stop at the next clearing."
"Oh how about over there!" Hawke runs over to a grassy area in-between a cluster of trees out of the mud they had trudged through, Fenris trailing up behind her.
"Yes this is good as any."
They separate into different tasks as Fenris starts a fire and Hawke finds a clean running water source nearby aside from the murky swamp water. I can't wait! I haven't had a proper bath in ages. She shutters off the memory of being forcibly stripped at times with the others to bathe as the slavers watched. They didn't even try to hide what was passing through their minds as they stared at her.
They are lined up like cattle as they walk to the stream, her hands bound tightly with rope like all the others. It's only been about a week since she was captured and she wondered if she should resort to drastic measures to free herself. No, that was only meant for protecting the ones she loved and even though she wanted to find them, she would probably only end up leading the slavers to them now. She was cunning, she would find another way eventually that would not endanger them. She stops at the edge of the water feeling the cool splashes against the bottom of her battered feet, this is the closest thing she has felt to relief since she has been with them.
"Strip now!"
She looks back to the grotesquely scarred slaver behind her and spits in his face as a response. She already had built a hatred for him after he raped several woman in the group as it was, she would kill him when the time came. The sickening man wipes her saliva off his face to lick it, causing her to regret the action. Her hair is gripped roughly and her pulls her head back to whisper to her, "Do it or I will for you." He doesn't have to say anything else, she swallows her pride and slowly removes her garments, struggling with her binds in the process. She felt so dirty, but she hid her emotions behind the veil she created. She would not show weakness, she would not give into them.
She drinks some of the fast flowing water, finding it quite refreshing before heading back to where Fenris is. It wasn't wise to be so trusting of someone she just met with "unusual" talents, along with some serious issues, but if he was going to hurt her, he would have done so by now when he had the chance. Besides she wasn't by any means weak and helpless despite the trauma she just endured. Now that she had proven she was not a slaver, she had no real reason to feel threatened by him. It also helped that he seemed to like to keep a distance between them. She just needed to test him a little more to see if he is actually the opposite of the type of man she believes him to be.
Fenris already had a fire going as the sun continues to sink and he hands off a piece of bread over to Hawke. "This is all I have to offer right now. Did you find anything?" Hawke is too busy finishing off the bread to answer him and his eyes widen a bit. Maker is she starving.
"How long has it been?"
"I can't remember."
How many times he said that to himself before. He had grown accustomed to not having meals, from his time as a slave and now constantly on the run with little coin in his hands. He would steal as she did more often if it wasn't for the fact he never wanted to linger around that long for reinforcements to show up. Though he wanted to get as many off his trail as he could, it would be foolish to try and take them all out at once. It was better to let a group go out on a sweep while he moved in to take out the remnants that remained behind until they were eventually all gone. He let it slide today for the fact they both had taken care of them. He wouldn't admit it to her, but she had in fact been a lot of help. While injuries are inevitable, this time he came out unharmed. He was not naive, he couldn't pin that on luck. Still he wouldn't say a thing to her about it, he didn't want to give her hope or a reason to want to stick around. She has a family somewhere and this is no life for her, he wouldn't wish it on anyone.
"Here, you may have mine as well." He holds outs his share of bread to her and she turns away from him.
"No way. I haven't died yet and I'm not about to. I found a nice stream nearby, so I'm going to wash up. I'll be right back so finish your food." She walks off giving him no time to argue and so to pass the time he removes his armor and checks it for wear, before strapping it back on. The fight went better than he could have hoped. Everything was sill intact, he only needed to clean the blood off, though he didn't dare head toward the water just yet. He couldn't help but be a little wary at the story she told him earlier.
Never...work right again? He cringed at that thought. No, he wouldn't think of risking that.
"Okay I'll show you where it is." He looks up to her, seeing her long, auburn hair is loosely braided down her back that shines with dampness. Her clothes are now free of blood as the dirt and grim that once hid her face away is now radiating with her smile instead. Her bangs swoop across more heavily to one side than the other to frame it with a tapered fringe that stops at her jaw line. She's what someone would call a "natural" beauty. While most woman of the Imperium caked on cosmetics to cover up and hide the imperfections of their faces, she needed none to make them envious. There wasn't a flaw to find other than a faint outline of healing cuts and bruises. He couldn't help but think or deny it, she is beautiful. Brushing that thought away quickly, he stands as he follows her to a stream, her words invading his senses, "It's no river, but it does the job. Sadly there are no fish to catch here." He wrinkles his nose at the word "fish". More good news today, things seem to be turning around for him, despite the obvious road block. If he never saw fish again it would be too soon.
"There is the river around here somewhere however..."
"No need!"
She looks to him with a questioning glance, before pushing it away, "I'm going to turn in then."
"That would be most unwise. Would you like to be recaptured? Wait for me to return and I shall stand the first watch."
A sly smile graces her features and she taunts, "Oh so now you are worried about me are you?"
"I… I am not!" He stammers back.
She giggles in response and leaves after saying, "Okay fine I will do my best to remain awake so you won't miss a moment of watching me sleep." She disappears into the trees, leaving a very flustered elf behind. Another swear slips his lips. First she is afraid of him, then she ridicules him, next friendly towards him, and now is she.. flirting with him? This girl is obviously playing games he reasons, that or trying to drive him completely insane.
He washes off, cleaning his weapon and armor in the process as he dries it off, heading back toward camp.
"Took you long enough." She looks to him with lazy eyes and he rolls his in response. She had come up with the conclusion while he was gone after her test at flirting that she could sleep at ease around him. He had no clue about anything when it comes to women. "I saw that."
"That was the intention. I was returning the favor for earlier." A huff from her is the reply to that statement and she pulls the armor off her shoulders, revealing the sleeveless green tunic underneath, as she sets it down before laying in the soft grass. "You don't have to stand look out, you can sleep too. I'm sure one of us will wake up if something happens."
"Says the girl who was captured by slavers." With quick reflexes, his hand reaches up and catches a stone hurled his way, as he projects his scowl to her.
"I would not suggest trying that again..," is all he says as his markings burn vividly and the stone in his phasing hand bursts into fragments and dust, leaving little trace of it behind.
"Alright I get it! You're the scary elf with spiky armor and if I don't go to sleep you're going to magically fist me to death!" She then rolls away from him as she finishes with that. He coughs at that statement, noting it didn't sound right to his ears. At least she is quiet now.
The moon is high as he stares up at, the only sounds are the nocturnal wildlife, the smoldering embers of the slowly dying fire, the breeze blowing through the trees, and the deep breaths of the young rogue. He looks back at her, seeing her fast asleep. There was no intention of waking her up, he lied about standing watch. Even he had to sleep sometime when he was still alone and for now the slavers that were pursuing him had been slain, though time would tell when another group would chase him down again. The lie was merely told so she would for once close her eyes and know that someone was looking out for her. She seemed to trust him enough and other than her initial shock of their meeting, she showed no signs of fear even after that stunt he pulled off before she turned in. He understands all too well what she has been through and no smiles or conveyed confidence can fully mask the mental and physical damage she was inflicted by their hands. This was his silent thanks to her watching out for him earlier. Though it wasn't necessary, it was noble of her and a rarity to him, even if he didn't let her believe he appreciated at the time. Two eyes open up and stare into his, a sleepy smirk forming her lips. "I knew I would catch you watching me sleep."
The warmth rushing to his face and possibly coloring it is masked by the lack of light. "I was not. It was… unfortunate timing."
"Oh sure and I'm secretly an ogre."
"You do carry the temperament of one," He deflects her sarcasm.
She is unamused, "Oh ha ha you can joke, how clever. There is hope for the world after all."
"I was not joking." Her eyes narrow at him as a response.
Silence falls between the two and she looks up into the night's sky, noticing the position of the moon. "You weren't going to wake me were you?" She eyes him suspiciously, but he refuses to look at her, "You have undergone a horrible ordeal, you should have your rest. I have come across the look that you hold within many times before. You are on the verge of breaking and you need a sound mind if you hope to return to your family. Don't waste unnecessary energy trying to pretend to a stranger that you are unscathed. I already know."
"I wasn't brought up to be dense either, I know what you are doing and though it's well…sweet, I would rest much easier knowing I didn't have to accompany a raised corpse tomorrow." Her lips twists up and his face heats once again though he denies her claim. Even now she dodges the truth. "I was only…"
"Thank you and…you're welcome."
His words cease mid sentence and she gives him a light hearted smile as she now sits up, "It's time someone shows you the same kindness. You can rest easy, I'll kill anything that dares show it's face and don't worry… I won't watch you sleep." He doesn't know if his anger or embarrassment surfacing more, but it fades as she tilts her head slightly and looks at him strangely.
"Why are you looking at me like that human?" The nervousness is building within at not knowing what new torture this girl is going to subject him to. "It is Hawke and haven't really seen many elves before, nor have I been so close to one. I find your ears fascinating. Can I…. touch them?" Enough was enough, this mindless prattle was over, "Wha….No!" A pout then takes hold and a "Fine," escapes her as she leans back against a tree. He needed to get rid of her as soon as possible, if not, she would be his demise.
This is great! She doesn't think this elf had experienced any of the emotions she had subjected him to in a long time and thought it was best for him to feel something different than the miserable ones she too faced when captive. His clear inability to handle her crude remarks, teasing, and flirting was making it very difficult for her to keep from giggling before him, his awkwardness was strangely cute, if the word could be directed to him without bursting into flames of hate first. She was curious about his ears, but his answer was already known beforehand. A sigh left her at that thought, they did interest her. Being surrounded mainly by her kind made life very dull in Lothering, but occasionally a dwarven merchant or elven family would pass through and even once a Qunari was in her town. He had been locked up and she spoke with him frequently asking probably more question than she should have, but he didn't seem to mind the company even if he spoke little. She tried to have him freed, finding it wrong to give him to the darkspawn even after what he did, but someone else beat her to it and he left with a group passing through not long before they fled. He and Fenris would get along well she thought, they both seemed to be very fond of the word "no". As far as what he said however, this is just how she copes with serious situations, with humor. Crying and complaining over everything wouldn't bring her back to her family or protect them, so she just needed to swallow down the painful lump that formed anytime her thoughts went to them and wear that smile of hers. She had to remain positive and as they say, take advice from others with a grain of salt.
Looking back at the elven warrior, she may not know much about elves, but she knew enough to realize this elf is very handsome and rather unique looking aside the lyrium tattoos. She smiled at that as he now tried to ignore her.
"So can you hear and see better than I since your eyes and ears are a bit larger?" She meant it as a sincere question but with the way it was worded, he didn't take it that way.
"I wouldn't know; I've never been human," he announces in a dry manner.
"That's not what I meant smart ass."
"Oh yes mock the disfigured elf, not like that's never happened before!"
"I wasn't trying to…"
"I'm fully aware of this entertainment you seek and I will no longer allow you to involve me in it!" He glares back at her and she has to hold back a laugh. He looked… hurt. Well that wouldn't last if she had any say.
"If disfigured means incredibly attractive, then that was what I was going for." She knew she said too much, but the reaction is priceless. His eyes begin to widen as the moonlight gives away his flushing face, "Vishante kaffar!" He stands as he paces, continuing to spit out words in a different language and she then loses her hold and begins to laugh. All this noise over a simple compliment. "I'm a joke to you!?"
"No, of course not. This just isn't a typical reaction and I don't understand what you are saying, so it's making it worse." Her sides are now beginning to hurt from the laughing and he stops his pacing to glare down at her. "Keep heading down this side of the swamp, you can find your own way from here human!" He then turns to walk off and her smile quickly fades as she stands to stop him. "Wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm only trying to get your mind off everything that has happened to you… happened to me. I wasn't making fun of you if that's what you think. What you have done for me is very selfless and I know this is all very difficult for you." She sighs, "But I took this too far. Please, don't go… I don't want to be left alone anymore… She didn't know why, but the thought of him leaving really tore at her, probably because this is the closest bond she has formed with anyone since she was taken. The isolation she endured was probably the hardest part, she had no one to reassure or give her hope. Her strength could only hold her together for so long.
Her fists tremble into a tight clinch as she voices angrily to herself, "It's all my fault… I'm such an idiot… I should be there protecting them and I let this happen! Drawing her arm back as her anger peaks at herself, she turns to the nearest object to vent her frustrations, being a tree and drives her fists into it repetitively. Fenris has already turned back to her and stares for a moment, watching the torment she has been masking reveal itself as splinters of wood mixed with blood fly. Before she can injure herself further, he unconsciously intervenes; his gauntlet snapping her wrist, "Enough, you will only hurt yourself."
Her eyes turn to him, mixed with a deadly rage that would frighten most people. It then shifts completely as she continues to stare into his own harsh eyes. They soften and fill with anguish as she mutters, "Shit…"
The tears that she had been holding back for so long are now escaping her and she moves forward to press herself up against him, needing the support of someone right now. He tenses up at his apparent aversion to her closeness as a faint glow radiants off him, but he is hesitant to move or stop her as well. Soon he overcomes the awkwardness enough to rest a gauntlet on her back for the only solace he can or probably knows how to give.
Females.. He would never understand them or how they can cause a man to act so bizarre. Here he is standing there looking like a fool as she cries against his armored chest and he has no will to stop her. This wasn't the planned reaction nor did he intend on going against his word to her. He only wanted a walk to cool down and give her a chance to fall back asleep or at least get the idea that it's not wise to unnerve him. She was driving him mad with her prodding diversions in what he thought was an attempt to break the constant scowls and occupy her boredom, but she admitted to it being much more than that. As a free man he and can come and go as he pleases, but after hearing her say, "Don't go," his feet were anchored to the ground, like his former master barking out a command to him. The only explanation he can come up with is that she is actually a blood mage and has casted her cursed magic onto him, but no the answer was much more simple… He wanted to. There was no bond by force or order, but instead by his own desire to be there for someone that shared a fragment of his own pain. Now that his mind is riddled with thoughts of her, he realizes his anger has subsided and he gained something new to place his attention on, instead of his past. He would stay like this as long as she needed, despite his logic screaming at him.
"I'm sorry," she lets out a muffled apology. A small laugh escapes her through her cries, "I thought for sure you would be long gone by now, seeing me in such this disheveled mess and pushing my problems onto you."
"I will remain at your side," he assures her. Her grip tightens on his armor as she mutters, "Thank you Fenris."
His features lighten a bit at that. It felt nice to hear his name uttered in such appreciation. It was spoken with pure respect, not hatred or possessiveness like he had been accustomed to. She needed to rest though as well as he if they had any hope to make it to the next town in a timely manner.
She slowly releases her clutch on his chest plate, wiping her tear stained cheeks and looks to him embarrassed, "I must be completely silly to you. I'm not normally like this I swear. You won't have to be my shoulder to cry on again, I'm ready to move on. Nothing good will come if I keep feeling sorry for myself will it." He wanted to say it was alright, she needed time to recollect herself, but knew better. This girl had made him feel so many different things today… The thought of the word "feel" was surprising enough to him. As a slave it was best to never feel anything; no remorse for the innocent life he had slain as the magisters' amusement, no grudge for the torture he was inflicted when he had done nothing wrong, no hope for any thought of freedom. He would always be a collared dog leashed to that disgusting mage as long as he remained alive.
"Is something wrong?" She looks to his jaded eyes as he is snapped from his thoughts.
"I am fine… We should rest now." She smiles to him agreeing with that as they both retire for the night, the only words spoken as she mutters, "Goodnight" to him.