Edited: 5/14/11

Disclaimer: Bioware owns all

"Fenris, we have to get out of here!" Hawke cried when she realized the trap Danarius had set for them. I can't believe I didn't realize this sooner! I blame me and my damn emotions getting in the way.

Hawke knew something wasn't right when Fenris told her his sister was at the Hanged Man waiting for him. She had wanted to believe beyond hope that his sister was genuine, that she could help Fenris re-connect with his past and even bring some of his memories back. And maybe, just maybe, he would finally find some peace and move on with his life, perhaps even forget about Danarius eventually. Though, of course, as fate would have it, as soon as Hawke called out her warning Danarius appeared at the top of the stairs. Guess Fenris won't be forgetting about Danarius any time soon. Damn.

Although this could be our chance to finally kill him.

"Ah, my little Fenris. Predictable as always." Danarius said in a tone that sounded as if he was talking to a small child...or a pet. I do not like how he refers to Fenris as 'my little Fenris'. thought Hawke furiously.

Danarius was much older than Hawke expected. He had a long gray beard, his cheeks were sunken as if he hadn't eaten well in a long time and he had dark circles under his eyes. He almost looks like a corpse. Apparently ten years of hunting someone relentlessly can age you drastically, or perhaps he was already an old man when Fenris escaped. That seems just as likely. He's probably using blood magic to prolong his life..

As Danarius approached Fenris his eyes widened in surprised to see his former master, but quickly turned to anger snarling at his sister for her betrayal.

Danarius quickly cut in telling Fenris that his sister did what she was supposed to do causing Fenris to now direct his anger at him.

"I never wanted these filthy markings, Danarius! But I won't let you kill me to get them!" He growled.

Danarius only laughed directing his attention toward me "You are his new master, then?" but in a tone that made it seem more of a statement than a question.

"I am not his master!" Hawke hissed. "No one is, and no one ever will be. Not even you."

Danarius laughed again, "We'll see."

Without warning, shades appeared from the ground. I really should expect this by now, especially when dealing with a magister.

Danarius had gone back upstairs forming an arcane shield around himself, but his guards stayed down here to join the fight.

Fenris immediately sprang into action easily cutting down three of Danarius guards in one fell swoop.

Hawke, Varric, and Isabela quickly joined after him taking down shade after shade and guard after guard.

Just when they were almost finished and would be able to focus their attention on Danarius, more slavers burst through the Hanged Man doors- probably a dozen or two more. There's no way we can handle all these men!

We must fight! There was no way she was going to let Danarius have Fenris, dead or alive.

Isabela had disappeared into the shadows whilst Varric killed three guards in one shot as soon as they came in. He was now killing as many guards as he could with Bianca.

Fenris, as usual, rushed headlong into the mass of enemies, at first slicing through them easily causing blood and guts to go everywhere. He was now having trouble as they started to swarm him. Good...

Now having the perfect opening, Hawke rushed the enemy cutting down as many guards as she could whilst Isabela sprang from the shadows, blades flashing. But the opening was short-lived, the guards quickly realizing what was happening. They started to turn on Hawke and Isabela. A slaver must have gotten behind Hawke because suddenly she felt an excruciating, sharp pain in her head.

No!

Her vision blurred, and she felt something thick and warm sliding down her face. Blood.

No!

Her knees buckled. This can't be happening! She no longer had the strength to stand.

No! I must...

She lost all train of thought as she fell to the floor with a thud.

Darkness took her.

That was over a month ago and in that time she had carefully worked with Meredith and Orsino trying to get them to come to some sort of agreement. To no avail. Anders had ruined any chance of that happening, so she was forced to choose sides. Even though she sided with the mages- Fenris would have loved that- she had to kill both Orsino and Meredith. Heh, I guess everyone was a blood mage in Kirkwall. Figures. I only wish Fenris was here to rub it in my face.

Hawke had woken up two days after the confrontation with Danarius only to find out that Fenris had gone with Danarius in order to save her and Isabela and Varric. Apparently, they had been seriously injured as well but not as badly as Hawke.

It was the most heart-wrenching realization to wake up to. To know that a friend and once lover that she sworn to protect- at least to herself- was taken on her watch. She couldn't bear it.

She had screamed, she had fought, and she had demanded that they go after him immediately! But with no ship and the tension growing between the mages and Templars, the plan of going North towards Tevinter impossible. She had to stay to deal with them, she could not immediately go after him her companions, oh so kindly, reminded her.

She hated them for it but had no choice but to comply. It was the most agonizing month of her life. Luckily Isabela had recovered her ship from Castillon slightly before the battle between the mages and templars.

Being forced out of Kirkwall provided the perfect opportunity to take Isabela up on her offer of being part of her crew and to use her ship and crew to help find Fenris.

Hawke could have gone by land as it probably would have been faster. But she was hated by all the templars for siding with mages. She decided it was much safer to go by sea and risk being attacked by pirates rather than by templars.

And that's where Hawke found herself now: on Isabela's ship in her own cabin somewhere on the Waking Sea.

The cabin was extremely small with only a small bed, a desk and a shutter to provide light. It wasn't the most ideal of arrangements, but it was better than living with Gamlen. Though anything seems better than that. Hawke chuckled at the thought.

But the ship's deck more than made up for the poor sleeping arrangements. It was absolutely wonderful to be on the deck during sunny day with a nice breeze and the feel of the cool mist of the sea water on her face. I understand why Isabela loves this so much.

Yet Hawke stayed in her cabin, brooding- Maker, I'm becoming Fenris- when she should have been out on the deck enjoying the day. But she couldn't help but think of the elf and all her other friends. She missed them dearly.

Unfortunately, none of her other companions had been able to join her, not even her sister. They all had other business to attend to.

Aveline was needed by the city guards to keep the peace in Kirkwall. Varric had wanted to travel all over Thedas to make sure Hawke's story was told and told well. Merrill said she wished to find other Dalish Clans, and to hopefully make up for what she had done to hers. Finally, Bethany had said she wished to start a new life either in Ferelden or somewhere else far away from Kirkwall.

So in the end it was just her and Isabela, on this adventure. Though that really wasn't such a bad thing; on the contrary, it was a great thing. Isabela was her best friend, and the only one who was always there for her no matter what. Even more so than Fenris on occasion and Hawke could no imagine a better person to be with her to rescue him.

And as if on cue, Isabela walked into her cabin. "What are you doing down here, Allie?" She asked.

"I'm thinking."

Isabela scoffed, "You mean you're brooding. I understand you were around him a lot, but I don't need you turning into him." A pause. "How am I going to have any fun if you do?" She asked a little too sulkily.

Now, it was Hawke's turn to scoff. "Please. You loved Fenris. You had plenty of fun with him. In fact, I thought you two were in a relationship, once, with how you two talked to each other."

Isabela laughed. "Ah, yes I remember that. You came storming into the Hanged Man in a fit of jealous rage demanding to know if I was involved with Fenris. It really was quite adorable."

"I was not jealous!" Isabela smirked. "Fine! But only a little. And I did not storm in. I walked in quite normally and simply asked if you two were involved. There was no raging involved."

Isabela smirked again, "Whatever you say, Allie." Hawke opened her mouth to retort when Isabela quickly continued. "As much as I love our delicious banter, this is not why I came down here."

"Somehow I doubt that."

Isabella feigned dismay, "I'm hurt! If you think the only reason I ever visit you is to antagonize you, you don't know me at all, Hawke." Allie scoffed.

"Fine, think whatever you want. But that isn't why I came down here. You keep distracting me, Hawke. I'm never going to get to my point at this rate."

Allie raised an eyebrow at that, "I distract you?"

Isabela laughed as if Hawke had asked the silliest question, "Of course you do, sweet thing." She said as she now started to walk toward Allie putting in more of a swagger in her walk as she did so. "How could I ignore your long, beautiful red hair?" She continued to say though huskier than before. "Your luscious lips?" Her voice was becoming huskier, and she took a good, long look at Allie's body lustily, making her shiver. "Your well-defined curves?" She was almost at Allie "And your very firm-looking breasts?" Isabela's arms were now draped around Hawke's neck with her face...and lips so close to Hawke's own.

Allie blushed fiercely, feeling very uncomfortable though not in an entirely unpleasant way. She had an overwhelming urge to kiss Isabela. Maybe I should...

But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Isabela abruptly jumped back and laughed "And of course your irresistibly adorable blush. I can see why Fenris likes you." She winked.

Allie could only meekly reply, "You're just messing with me. I don't look anything like that."

"And you're modest too. But see Hawke you do distract me, as I have gotten off track again. I do wish to get to my original point."

"Which is?"

"That you must come out on the deck with me!" Isabela replied in an almost pleading tone.

She continued, "It's an amazing day, and I know how much you love being up there but instead you have decided to...to...be all Fenris today and waste it sulking in your cabin." Isabela snorted. "It's pathetic."

Isabela was right. It was pathetic. It was a beautiful day, and Allie was wasting it away by thinking about things she could not change. Her friends were gone living their own lives, and Fenris was somewhere in Tevinter, which she could do nothing about right now. She had to accept this and move on with her life.

With that in mind she decided she would go with Isabela but not without stringing her along just a bit more.

"Perhaps I like brooding." Was Allie's reply

Isabela huffed, "Fine! If you want to miss out on this perfect day by staying down here and brooding, then be my guest. I'll just head back up to the deck without you and enjoy the day with my crew who I can ogle and enjoy instead." But Hawke could see it in Isabela's eyes that she knew Allie was joking.

Might as well give in.

"Okay, okay. I'll go with you. Sheesh! No need to get all dramatic on me." Hawke said, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Isabela clasped her hands in glee. "Good. Now, come on!" She said as she quickly grabbed Hawke's hand and pulled her up and out on to the deck.

And as Allie was dragged along laughing, she momentarily forgot about Fenris and all her troubles simply enjoying the moment with her friend.

A/N: Thank you so much to strangegibbon for betaing this chapter for me. She is amazing!