A/N 5/20/12: I have taken a little creative liberty in changing the timeline of events for the purpose of this story. In the actual game, there is a 3-year period between Acts 2 and 3, with Act 3 being only one year in length. In the game, it is during this last Act that Fenris and Hawke (if they are in a romance) actually get back together. In my story, Hawke and Fenris get back together sometime during the latter part of the 3 year period before Act 3.

Chapter One

Catelynn Hawke glared angrily at Anders as she sat across from him at the wooden table they were both seated at. They had both arrived at The Hanged Man earlier that evening and had taken a seat at one of the smaller tables in the corner of the tavern near the fireplace. Hawke had thought that Anders had just invited her for a few drinks and some friendly conversation, but it turned out that he only wanted to discuss her relationship with Fenris, and how very wrong he thought it was.

"I just don't understand how you can be with someone who not only dislikes and distrusts magic, but mages as well," Anders said with a frown. "Fenris actually thinks all mages should be locked away-for their entire life- in some Circle or Tower of Magi … locked away like some dangerous criminal or something!"

Hawke knew that Anders did have a valid point, but it was an old argument that had been going on for years. She was tired of hearing it.

"You can't really blame him for feeling that way," she replied in irritation. "After all, in Tevinter he was surrounded by magisters who practiced nothing but blood magic, and Danarius kept him leashed like some sort of pet."

"Well, if ripping and tearing out the still beating hearts from people's chests isn't an animalistic act, I don't know what is," mumbled Anders unkindly under his breath.

Hawke shot Anders a warning look. "I heard that, Anders. He is not an animal!" she exclaimed irately as she leaned forward, slamming both palms of her hands down upon the top of the table for emphasis. She gave Anders another warning glare. "You'd better apologize- or so help me!"

Anders gave a loud sigh of exasperation. He did not understand Hawke's continual defense of the elf. She would not even entertain the possibility that the day may come when Fenris may decide that she was no different from any other mage and therefore should be turned in to the templars and locked up in some Circle. Anders did not trust Fenris and he did not want to see Hawke hurt by the elf- again.

"Hawke…. Blondie… what seems to be the trouble?" Varric asked as he sauntered up to their table and sat down in one of the empty chairs next to Anders. The affable dwarf glanced back and forth between the two angry mages and then said, "Now is this any way for two friends to act?"

Hawke, reigning in her anger, leaned back into her chair and gave Varric a strained smile. "Hello, Varric." Reaching out her left hand, she grabbed onto the handle of the large tankard of dark ale in front of her, lifted it to her lips and took a long sip; she suddenly felt her stomach lurch as a wave of nausea hit her. She grimaced and set the nearly full tankard of ale back down on the tabletop, pushing it away from her.

Varric, noticing her sudden grimace and apparent distaste of the ale asked, "The ale not to your liking tonight, Hawke?"

Hawke shrugged her shoulders and pushed the tankard of ale towards him with a slight smile. "Here… it's all yours, Varric."

Varric took the cup with a grin of delight and replied, "It would be a shame to let such a lovely dark ale go to waste." He lifted the tankard in salute to her and then took a hearty swig from the cup before setting it back down again. "Thanks, Hawke. That certainly hit the spot," he said with a jovial grin.

Varric settled back into his chair, placing his right elbow upon the armrest so that he could rest his chin upon his closed fist. He turned his head to the right and gave Anders an amused look.

"So Blondie… what have you done now to get our Hawke in such a foul mood?" he asked Anders. Varric glanced over at Hawke; her lovely face was marred by the angry scowl she wore.

Anders turned his body slightly in his chair and looking down at the dwarf he said, "Varric- you'll agree with me, won't you… that Hawke is making a mistake getting involved with Fenris." He gave the dwarf an imploring look. "After all, weren't you the one who said three years ago that she shouldn't be with the elf?" he asked Varric.

Varric should have known that their argument was over the elf. Nothing would incite Hawke's rage more than someone verbally attacking Fenris or making disparaging remarks about him. The only other thing that could enrage her more was the mistreatment or subjugation of mages, and Anders was just as much against that as she.

"What I said, Blondie," replied Varric in an attempt to clarify his position on the matter, "Was that maybe it might not be such a good idea for Hawke to get involved with a broody elf that had a lot of issues. It was just a friendly warning out of concern, and nothing more." Varric looked over at Hawke and smiled affectionately at her. "Who she chooses to be with is her own business… she's a big girl and she can take care of herself."

Hawke raised a brow and gave Anders a pointed look. "See, Anders…that is a mark of a true friend," she said coldly, her tone laced with condemnation. She then looked at Varric and gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Varric. At least I know that you're on my side."

Anders, wounded by her words, stared at Hawke in silence for a moment, his expression hurt and angry. "I am your friend… and I am on your side," he replied quietly. "I'm concerned for you, Hawke. I just don't want to see you hurt."

Hawke felt a twinge of guilt as Anders continued to look at her sadly, his brown eyes showing the hurt he felt. She knew that Anders only had her best interests at heart, but she was so tired of having to constantly defend Fenris to him- just as she was tired of defending Anders to Fenris.

Hawke let out a long sigh and rubbed her left temple with a slender hand; her head was beginning to throb with the early stages of a headache. Anders was one of her closest friends and she loved him dearly, but she'd had enough of him and his concern for one night.

"Anders… you and I will always be friends, and I do understand that you are concerned for me…" she paused, looking at him, and gave him a strained smile before she continued speaking. "But you are wrong about Fenris, and I will thank you to keep your opinions to yourself from now on."

Hawke, gathering her staff, rose from her seated position and stood up with a smile aimed at Varric. "Varric, I'll be saying good-night."

"Take care, Hawke. You know where to find me if you need me," replied the dwarf with a wide smile.

Anders had planned to stay at Hawke's estate tonight, but he was now unsure if he would be welcomed there or not. He supposed he could always stay at his clinic in Lowtown, but the templars had been there earlier today asking him questions about some of his activities that they found suspicious. Anders feared they might return with more questions that he did not wish to give answers to.

Hawke was about to walk away from the table when she noticed that Anders was toying with the silver chain that he always wore around his neck. The tavern's light glinted off the metal of the familiar key that hung from the chain.

"Anders, you are still welcome in my home… in case you are wondering."

Anders shot her a surprised look that quickly turned to one of gratitude. Hawke gave him a quick smile and bid him farewell. She walked away from the table, and exited the tavern.

Anders slumped back into his chair with a heavy sigh and muttered under his breath, "Well… what bloody else can go wrong tonight?"

"I hate to say it Blondie, but you sort of brought that on yourself," remarked Varric. He leaned over and placed a hand on the mage's shoulder in commiseration. "Cheer up and look on the bright side- at least Hawke restrained herself from kicking your ass tonight," Varric said with a grin.

Anders had to smile at that- he was indeed fortunate that Hawke considered them friends; otherwise, he might have had to practice his healing arts on himself tonight.

"Let me buy you a drink Anders," Varric offered. "It looks like you could use one."

Anders cheered up considerably after hearing Varric's offer to buy him a drink. Even though Justice no longer allowed him to get drunk, he did not prevent the mage from having a drink or two. Anders thanked the dwarf for his generosity and suggested that the two of them play a hand or two of cards.

"Cards, huh?" replied Varric. "How about Diamond Back?" he asked the mage.

"Fine with me," answered Anders with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

"Well, let's go upstairs and play in my quarters," Varric said. He grabbed his tankard of ale and proceeded to walk towards the stairs that led to the second floor where his rooms were located. He stopped and turned back to look at Anders, who was following behind. "By the way… have you gotten any better at playing?" inquired Varric with a wide grin. "Hawke's Mabari hound plays better than you do."

Anders gave a snort and said, "The hound doesn't play better than me… the dog just cheats better."

Varric raised a brow at Anders and then both of them began to laugh. They continued on to Varric's living quarters, where the two friends played cards, told ribald jokes, drank, and laughed together into the wee hours of the morning.