A Lavellan Intrigue

Authors Note:

This story is an AU, set in the time of the Inquisition (Except for the start of the chapter). It will be involving all the characters from the previous games. Rated M for language, talk of rape/potential rape (only in the first chap... it's not graphic) and sexual situations. The main romance is between Rin (the future Inquisitor) and Dorian, though I will be including many others in there too. Also this is based off Dorian's actual backstory which you can read here: dragonage .wikia wiki/ Dorian_Pavus (take out the spaces) and a more in depth version in the book Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, Volume 2 which you can just read online (don't need to buy it or anything) I personally really liked reading all the backstories... so I'd recommend reading it!

I hope you enjoy :)

~9:29 Dragon~

A light wind whistled past Rin's face, his bare feet hardly touching the soft, grassy ground as ran freely, a gleeful smile plastered on his lips. His warm, dark brown hair blew about his pointy little ears, the thick, wavy strands twisting among each other. His eyes, a clear, emerald green were alight with mirth and freedom as he let his legs carry him as far as he could run.

He finally came to a halt, slowing quickly and quietly as his bright eyes caught sight of something ahead of him in the trees. Excitement coursed through him and he silently pulled his hand made bow from his back, his fingers running along the carved wood, intricately crafted for him by his father. How proud would he be of his son if he were to bring back food for their whole camp? How happy he would make the Keeper! His body trembled with the thought and he knew he must do this. Whatever the animal was he could take it down. And he would bring it back to the Clan.

But, as he neared the dark shadow of the beast, slowly realising how vast it was, his excitement began to be replaced with fear. For this was no ram or bore. This… was a bear.

Rin swallowed, trying to calm his speeding heart, his eyes stuck on the large beast that had not noticed him yet, it's huge, dark body lumbering slowly through the trees. He could hear the dull crunch of the leaves under the bear's heavy paws, each step sending a ripple of fear down his small, tense frame. He steadied himself, glancing quickly to the trees as he knew he must get off the ground.

Quietly, he ducked to the closest grand oak, his light footsteps silent as he crossed the ground and began scaling the tree. He glanced at the bear every second as he climbed, fear pushing him higher as at any moment he was certain the bear would smell him… see him… notice him in any way and it would all be over.

And the bear did notice him, through what sense Rin wasn't sure, but the beast made a low, rumbling roar, swiftly crossing the ground to the base of the tree that Rin was in. It always shocked Rin how fast the huge beasts could move.

His heart jumped to his throat, adrenalin pounding in his ears and he took his bow back out, now reaching for an arrow from his quiver. He just needed the bear to rear and he could make the well-aimed blow to his soft, underbelly.

However, he realised quickly the bear was female as her behaviour was so aggressive and he saw two little cubs emerge from around another tree. Rin felt a stab of guilt mix with his fear. He knew full well if he was down there he would be eaten by the mother and her children… yet now that he knew it was a little family… he would not be able to kill her.

The bear was rearing now, and Rin had his bow and arrow at the ready, fear pounding through him, yet his hands were perfectly steady. He knew he should just do it. How else would he even get out of this situation? But… he could not.

And just at that moment, the moment where he could have been the one to take down this great bear, but chose not to… there was a huge commotion in the trees around him.

The other hunters from his clan. He hardly could see or hear what was going on. He heard shouts and roars, arrows flying, swords slicing through the air.

And then,

"Come on down, Rinnie…" his older brother's annoyingly condescending voice sounded from below.

The older elf sheathing his huge sword and smirking at his little brother in the tree. The bear was dead and bleeding on the ground, the cubs nowhere to be seen.

The other hunters, all older than Rin, began moving around the bear to skin its fur.

Rin felt furious. Firstly, his brother, Taeneral, had taken what could have been his shot at glory. And secondly, he had just killed that mother bear!

Rin began climbing down the tree angrily. "You shouldn't have killed her," he said when his feet hit the ground.

"Oh, I suppose you were just about to, huh?" smirked Taen.

"I could have," said Rin childishly. "I didn't because I saw she was just protecting her cubs."

Taen rolled his eyes. "So you were just going to stay up that tree forever then? Smart. Good thinking," he grabbed his brother by the shoulder and began leading him back toward their camp. "Grow some balls and do it next time, Rin. Your life comes before a bears."

Rin pulled his shoulder out of his grasp, glaring ahead of them. He hated it when Taen used the 'grow some balls' insult. "Get off…" he muttered angrily under his breath.

Taen chuckled. "Go back to Daddy," he teased. "We'll finish up here."

Rin glared ahead of him as he walked away, that type of maddening anger you could only feel for a sibling coursing through him. The type of anger that made you feel as though you'd be happy to never see them again. But, of course, that wasn't true.

More than ever now… twelve years since that day… as Rin's life changed forever, and he found himself missing his older brother.

The day the salvers took him.

~9:41 Dragon~

He was 27 years old, the world was thrown into chaos with refugees everywhere, Templars and mages waging war on each other and throwing innocent lives into disarray. Rin was trading in town, two other hunters on the journey with him, but they'd escaped when he was taken.

He could hardly remember everything that happened, it all seemed a blur really. Everything hurt as the salvers where anything but gentle with him and all he could feel was anger as they had taken his bow. His bow. From the town he was thrust onto a boat to where a new life for him would begin.

His legs were shaky from the long sea journey, his wrists raw and burning from the chains forced round them. He looked up to the sky, squinting in the bright light and cringing away from the dry heat that was Tevinter. Everything felt surreal, and not in a good dream like way. More in the fashion of a nightmare, one he really wished he could wake up from.

"What about this one?" snarled a salver, grabbing Rin's chin and forcing his head from side to side as he looked at him. Rin glared at the man. "Too old for the crows. Pretty though…" he growled. "Could sell him to the whores."

Another slaver shook his head, spitting on the ground at Rin's feet. "They never pay much. Try and sell him off to a Magister first. If that doesn't take… get the coin from the whorehouse."

But, a Magister did take him. Or his staff bought him for him. Ordering five new slaves for his estate in Qurinus. A Magister Halward Pavus, he heard was his name.

Though he didn't care, the only thought on his mind was how he'd get out of here. How he would get back home.

And so he hardly listened as an elven slave named Lissa showed him around. Showed him his hard, flat bed in a room with many other slaves. Showed him his list of responsibilities and tried to convince him of how lucky he was to have come to this house. That was possibly the thing that irked him most. Lissa and her attitude. All she knew was being a slave. And that's all she wanted to know.

And so he went to bed that night, his back aching on the hard surface and he thought of his clan. His brother, his father… did they even know what had happened to him? He closed his eyes, knowing sleep was a long way off.

Rineatherriel Lavellan… welcome to your new life.

xXx

Rin's eyes slowly traveled over the worn pages of the book he had delved into. He sank lower into the lounge, relishing the chance he had to be in his own world for a while. He'd only been here a few weeks, but since he'd learned of this huge, unused bedroom… he jumped upon any chance he had to escape in here and indulge. Today, he was so immersed in fact that for once his pert, pointy little ears did not hear the other person who had been in the room since he'd arrived.

Dorian had been asleep, of course, and so hadn't realised he had a visitor either; it was a very large room. However he realised quite quickly since waking that he was not alone.

Rin's bright green eyes darted up suddenly from his book as he felt that uneasy sensation of someone watching him and his eyes immediately fell on the stranger who looked sleepily surprised.

They stared at each other for a moment without moving. Then, "Who are you?" said Dorian, not demandingly, but with honest confusion coating his voice. The sleepy part of Dorian thought this must be a dream, one that would certainly become quite a good dream with this gorgeous, little elf in it.

Rin blinked, completely thrown by this arrival of a ludicrously handsome stranger who was wearing nothing but a pair of thin cotton pants he had clearly been sleeping in. "I…" he stuttered before composing himself. "Who are you?" he retorted instantly.

Dorian raised his eyebrows. "I'm… Dorian," he said slowly. "And this is my room…"

Comprehension slowly dawned on Rin; Dorian Pavus, the magister's son who had been… missing. He'd been causing quite a number of scandals, the last of which resulted in him being basically kidnapped by his father's men from a lord Abrexis's home whose son he was sleeping with to be brought here where - so Rin had heard - he was to be kept to confinement. A prisoner in his Father's home till Halward 'sorted his son out'. Though this was all just gossip, of course. "Oh…" said Rin finally, he glanced down at the book he was reading. "Well I… was just cleaning…"

Dorian's eyebrows went further up his head and a slight smile played beneath his neatly styled moustache. "Oh, yes?" he said lightly. "Your eyes clearly do a good job of it, then."

Rin smiled wryly, "I'll just… go, shall I?"

But, Dorian was still smiling playfully. "You didn't tell me your name," he said, watching Rin stand up.

Rin looked at him dubiously. "Should I be worried you'll report me for a 'terrible slaving attitude'?" he questioned. "Because if that's the case, I'll give you the name of my nemesis. The one that's always telling me to 'do my job'."

Dorian actually laughed at this which took Rin by surprise. He had been joking of course, he just hadn't expected Dorian to be amused rather than annoyed by it.

"It's merely a custom I'm used to," Dorian quipped. "Social etiquette," he added. "You know, knowing someone's name when holding a conversation with them. Seems a little derogatory otherwise, don't you think?"

Rin smiled too this time, if only slightly. "Well then, if that's the case. I'm Rin. Nice to meet you, and… you have an excellent collection of books."

"Thank you," smirked Dorian. "I certainly thought so." He eyed Rin curiously for a moment. "How… did you get in here?" he added. "I only ask because normally I'd make sure I was impeccably dressed before entertaining company," he said smiling and gesturing to his state of undress. "And… because wards have been placed on all my doors," he added on a side note, a clear tone of bitterness to his voice.

Rin glanced at the window to his left hesitantly.

"No…" said Dorian in disbelief. "We're a good four stories high. There's no way-"

However he broke off when there was a sharp knock on his main door.

"Dorian…" Magister Halward's voice sounded through the wood. "Are you decent? We need to speak."

Dorian looked at the door then back to Rin only to see him sitting on the sill of that very window. The elf glanced at him one last time, those piercing green eyes holding his gaze a moment longer before he ducked out of view.

Baffled by this Dorian then jumped when his Father knocked on the door again.

He sighed in irritation. "No, I'm not decent," he snapped. "But, come on in anyway. Didn't stop you the last time when you had your men unceremoniously 'visit' me."

xXx

The rusty tang of blood tainted Rin's tongue while the smell of moss and mould clung to his nostrils, the rough, stone wall grazing his cheek.

Forceful hands pushed him up against the harsh wall and his heart clenched, fear gripping his stomach as he could not believe this was happening.

How had this happened?

Things seemed to have escalated for quicker than he'd imagined.

It felt like only mere moments ago he was having a heated conversation with Lissa as they scrubbed precious, stone floor of the Pavus household.

"This is demeaning…" Rin muttered darkly, throwing his sponge in the wooden bucket by his feet as he knelt on the cold, stone floor.

The smaller, female elf beside him threw him an angry look. "Shh…" she hushed him. "The Pavus house is a good house to work for," she hissed, watching as Rin stood up. "You should be thankful that we-"

Rin kicked the bucket over suddenly. "Work for?" he repeated angrily. "That implies that we get paid. We're slaves Lissa. Slaves."

"Rin…"

"No," snapped Rin. "We're worth more than this. We shouldn't even be here."

"Well how did you end up here then?" Lissa demanded, now scrambling to clean up the mess Rin had made.

"Doesn't really matter, does it?" he uttered angrily. "But, I am going to get home."

Lissa shook her head at the ground. "You're going to end up in a horrible house," she said lowly. "And you'll be wishing you were back here."

Rin rolled his eyes, heading for the door that lead to the main halls of the house. "I'm not sticking around to stay a slave."

"You can't just leave!" Lissa called after him. "You were bought and paid for. The Pavus's own you!"

Rin ignored this, running a hand through his ruffled, dark brown hair angrily. He couldn't believe he was even in this situation.

Just as he opened the door to storm out, two guards pushed their way into the room, their posture brimming of arrogance and power.

"What's this?" crooned the larger guard and Rin's stomach curdled with distaste. The most frightening thing about all the guards in the house hold… was that they were almost all mages. "Subordination? Slaves talking of… running away?"

Rin gritted his teeth. "Just me," he said lowly. "Terrible slave, you see. Lissa here was just telling me about what an excellent house this is to serve at…" he struggled to spit the words out, but he wanted to make sure in no way was Lissa caught up in this. Whatever this was about to be.

"Pretty little thing…" the same guard murmured, while the smaller of the two kept back, his eyes, just visible beneath his helmet were guarded. Almost as though he'd seen this before; he didn't like it… but he didn't do anything about it.

"Leave her be," Rin said immediately, his bright, green eyes darkening.

But, the large guard turned to Rin. "Oh I wasn't talking about her."

Lissa's eyes darted between the two of them, her heart beating wildly with panic.

Rin felt a slow, cold feeling settle in the pit of his stomach. "So you'll let her leave then," he said lowly, trying to hide his own growing fear with his anger.

The guard moved to yank Lissa to her feet, leaning very closely to her face. "Get out…" he hissed menacingly.

Lissa scrambled on her feet, throwing Rin one last petrified look before darting out of the room, to where Rin hoped she might get help.

Rin braced himself as the large guard turned to him, his partner still remaining stonily in the background. "Get on your knees, knife-ear," the feral man spat.

Rin would do no such thing. "No," he said lowly, staring the guard down.

This only seemed to excite the guard more. He came closer, ready to shove Rin to the ground, but Rin was ready. He was fast and nimble, though he adored his bow in a fight, he had learnt to manage himself in melee.

He ducked quickly out of the guard's grasp, his heart pounding with terrified adrenalin. He wasn't sure how he would get away from this one. The guard lunged at him again, but he dodged the lumbering attempt again, this time landing a swift blow to the side of the guard's neck, just beneath his helmet.

The guard growled angrily, and suddenly, Rin found himself falling against the stone ground as a blast of fire just scorched his arm, managing to burn the thin fabric of his tunic, and singeing his skin. He scrambled to his feet, staring at the mage who had removed his helmet, a fowl smirk on his brutish, gruff face.

He began fiddling roughly with the buckles of his belt, still looming closer to Rin. "Get on your knees, scum," he sneered lowly. "Or you won't be so pretty when we're finished."

Rin glared darkly at the man, "You'd really trust something so… important to you, inside my mouth," he snarled, surprised at himself for holding himself together so far, as internally he was panicking out of his mind. "I've been known to bite. Hard. Causing irreversible damage."

The guard actually stopped, a foul sneer crossing his face. But, then, very slowly a gruesome smile grew on his lips. "Turn around," he growled in sickening enjoyment.

Rin breathed very quickly, glaring down the man. "Fuck you," he hissed lowly, not moving.

"Manius…" the smaller guard finally spoke. "Do we really-"

"Shut up, Gallus," the man named Manius snarled back immediately. "And get me some damn oil." He turned back to Rin, his smirk in place again. "Thanks for the suggestion," he growled, "But I'll be fucking you. So turn around, scum. Or I'll make you turn around."

Rin was not going to turn around. The second Manius came closer to him, he went to punch the man again, but this time the mage was ready for it.

In a moment, Rin was grunting in pain as he was shoved roughly against the wall, his hands burning as they were encased in ice, shoved above his head, blood mixing with his saliva as his face smashed against the stone.

And that was how he got here.

Immediately Manius was right behind him, pushing him carelessly into the rough rock. His large hands forcing their way around his body to unbuckle his own belt.

Rin kicked back at him desperately, panic clouding his mind now as fear and pure disbelief threatened to overwhelm him.

Manius slammed him back against the wall, and tears of pain sprung to Rin's eyes, though he did not let them past and he bit back his cry of pain.

Just at that moment, the door to the small parlour opened suddenly.

The arrival swore in Tevene, "What in the void is this?" he continued in dark anger. Rin's breath caught in his throat, pure adrenalin threatening to make his limbs shake while shock kept him plastered to the spot. "Get away from him. Now."

But, the guard with Rin to the wall chuckled lowly. "Ah, look, Gallus. It's the Pavus boy. Bet he'd like some of this," he said, his foul mouth making Dorian's lips curl in anger. "Daddy finally let you out of your bedroom?"

Dorian's fists clenched in anger and he felt them flare slightly as that anger turned to physical fire at his fingertips. "Let him down and back away," he snarled lowly.

No one moved. Then, "Manius…" the guard named Gallus said quietly, eyeing Dorian's fiery fists. "This is Pavus's son. Just... drop the damn elf. Let's go."

But, Manius pushed Rin harder against the wall, thrusting his large hips against the slave's back. "I haven't had my fun…" sneered the guard. "I don't care how talented he thinks he is," he continued, "he's still a prisoner to his own Father. He can't-"

But then, there was a flash of bright blue light, two shouts, a cracking sound, and then the two guards were encased in ice and stuck firmly to the wall the elf had previously been against.

They went to shout out, but with another flick of his wrists Dorian covered their mouths too. Quickly, he then ducked to help Rin off the ground, releasing his hands and ignoring the muffled attempts at a scream from the trapped guards.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, standing up with the elf.

Rin didn't answer. He felt… almost ashamed. He had never felt so demoralised in his life. He did not look up Dorian who had just rescued him. Instead he clenched his jaw, anger settling over him once more as the shock slowly wore off and he roughly, angrily did his belt back up.

Dorian threw a last look of disgust at the guards before turning back to Rin again. "Come…" he said quietly. "I can heal that," he said gesturing to Rin's face where he supported a puffy, bleeding cheek and lip.

"Thank you…" Rin said lowly, but it almost sounded like a sneer. "But, I'm fine," he glanced at the trapped guards, feeling a swell of satisfaction seeing them trapped and freezing. Suddenly, he stepped toward the one name Manius and punched him hard in the face, knocking the man's head back against the stone with a dull crack. "Now I'm fine," he added, turning away and heading for the door.

Dorian followed him quickly. "Rin, wait…" he hissed. "Let me heal those-"

"Oh great…" muttered Rin darkly, still walking quickly down the hall. "You remember me."

Dorian frowned. "Well, I don't usually wake up to elven book thieves, so yes I do…" he said casually. "Please…" he added lowly. "Just… let me help you."

"You already have, OK?" snapped Rin very suddenly, stopping in his tracks. "And I've already said thanks. For doing what any non-psychopathic person would have done in that situation," he added, "so you can stop following me."

He turned away again, wiping the blood from his lip, and wincing slightly as his hand brushed his bruised cheek.

The young mage watched him go, still frowning deeply, but he could see clearly that the elf wanted nothing to do with him. He was shocked at what he had seen. He thought the slaves in this house were at least treated well. He had no idea that in the dingy corners of the estate this went on. If that young, female elf hadn't run into him, fleetingly whispering for him to come here… and if his father hadn't finally allowed him access to the rest of the house... he wouldn't have known.

And his father wondered why he was proud to be a pariah to his countrymen.

xXx

Rin finally snapped. "Would you stop looking at me like that?!" he hissed at Lissa quietly as they made their way through the Pavus estate.

Lissa sighed quietly. "I just… can't look at your face without feeling sick."

Rin raised his eyebrows. "What a confidence boost," he said dryly.

"Oh! No, no," Lissa said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant… I feel sick to think of what those guards might have done. You're… you're very good looking," she muttered, her cheeks flushing royally. She cleared her throat, "I'm… sorry for what happened."

Rin decided not to comment on the compliment, noticing her discomfort. "It's fine," he said flatly. "I… would really rather just forget all about it."

"Sorry…" Lissa said again meekly. "You know, I'm surprised the Pavus boy didn't heal those for you. I thought he seemed alright."

Rin sighed heavily. "He tried to," he said lowly. "I didn't want him too."

Lissa stared at him. "Why in the void would you not want-"

"Because!" Rin cut across quite angrily this time. "That was… the most demoralising… and just… awful situation and I didn't want to feel any weaker than I felt already. Ok?"

Lissa sighed softly. "Rin…"

"Anyway," continued Rin stoutly, changing the subject stubbornly. "Now I can't sneak into his room to read anymore either. It's incredibly annoying."

"You…that's where you used to disappear to?" said Lissa in disbelief.

Rin glanced at her. "I like reading," he shrugged.

Lissa sighed, "I don't even know how to read," she said lowly. "Slaves aren't supposed to conduct in such things…"

Rin looked at her frowning. "I'm a bit sick of hearing what slaves can and can't do," he said in annoyance. "Are you at least able to admit now that this house, as good as you claimed it was, really still isn't great?"

"Rin…" said Lissa softly. "It's not that simple. This is a good house. That sort of thing that happened… it isn't common here. It is elsewhere."

"Well I'm going to get out of here," Rin frowned. "When I do, you're welcome to come."

Lissa looked at him sadly. "Rin…" she looked away shaking her head. "I don't know what you're planning. But, I… couldn't. I have a life here. A roof over my head, food to eat… I wouldn't survive out there. I'd end up in the slums…"

Rin frowned again, shaking his head at her attitude. He sighed, "Well… at least let me teach you how to read. There's so much to reading. Whether you're studying and learning or… just reading for fun. You'll love it."

"I think I'm too old to learn that now, Rin," said Lissa meekly.

Rin shook his head. "I'll get some books," he said smiling. "You can but try, Lissa."

Lissa smiled slightly, looking at Rin and her cheeks lighting up in a light blush once more.

But, before more conversation could be had, they both stopped suddenly, hearing raised voices ahead.

"You can't keep me locked up here forever, Father," Dorian was saying angrily. "What exactly are you expecting to happen by keeping me here? That I'll suddenly wake up the son you wanted on of these days?"

"I don't know Dorian," Halward said back just as angrily. "But, your behaviour needs to change. This… this life you're leading cannot continue-"

"I didn't realise that was your decision," snarled Dorian immediately. "I'm 29, Father. What I do with my life is none of your concern-"

"You are a Pavus. It is entirely my concern," hissed Halward. "Everything you do impacts our House. The gossip alone among the Magisters-"

"I don't care what they think," hissed Dorian. "I won't live a lie. And I won't stand for the things they wish me to stand for. I'll be the pariah for the rest of my life if that's what it takes to change things. You know the slavery in your own house-"

Halward made a loud noise of disapproval. "Don't tell me slavery is on your agenda now," he growled in disbelief. "Dorian, what have I told you? The archon that tried to demolish slavery in Tevinter was assassinated. Don't waste your breath on-"

"A man was nearly raped," Dorian cut in lowly. "Here. In your house. By your guards. You cannot tell me you are OK with that!"

Halward sighed lowly. "I cannot know what is going on in every corner of this estate."

"That's not an excuse!" said Dorian immediately, his eyes maddened. "You can't just turn away and pretend it doesn't happen! We-"

"Dorian, enough!" Halward nearly shouted this time, his patience reaching its tether. He took a steady, slow breath. "Enough…" he repeated quietly. "Have you heard from Magister Alexius?"

Dorian frowned in distaste, his stomach jolting uncomfortably. "No," he hissed. "And I do not wish to. And, stop changing the-"

"Dorian…" Halward growled lowly. "I am not speaking of this any longer," he spat, walking for the door immediately. "Keep quiet while I… work out what I'm going to do with you."

"Do with me?" hissed Dorian angrily, following him to the door and glaring at his retreating back. "I'm not a-"

But, Halward was gone, heading in the opposite direction to the elves and out of ear shot before he could finish his furious sentence. Dorian cursed angrily under his breath and turned back around to go back to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Rin and Lissa heard a loud bang as Dorian either threw something across the room, or kicked the door very heavily.

They exchanged a glance before quickly moving on. Rin now feeling guilty for being such an ass to Dorian after he'd helped him.

A/N Would love to know people's thoughts! Zevran and Fenris will be in the next chapter :)