Disclaimer: Did you know, if you google me you get nothing but fanfiction? so I guess that means I don't own anything of substance.

The Space Between

Part 1

I looked on as that night's companions walked off, leaving me to my own devices. They were a strange group, to be sure, the mage especially. Neither of his companions seemed to take him very seriously—evident even now the way the dwarf turned and said something that looked sardonic, and the way the mage swooned overly dramatic, his brother shaking his head in disgust—yet they had shown a loyalty I'd never seen inspired by magic before.

"…You let him die, and I'll kill you myself."

"…You have a problem with my brother, you have a problem with me."

Both meaningless threats to me, but such declarations proved that if I wished a reasonably peaceful stay in the City of Chains, I had better tread carefully with this mage.

And yet…

I looked down at the coin in my hands. It was dented a little from my grip, but what struck me most about it was the fact it was there at all. Part of it, at least. When I had offered it to the mage he had looked…surprised I think that that was all I could pay him with.

It wasn't enough. Hadn't been nearly enough, but I didn't have anything else.

The mage had protested, "I need the money, yeah, but so do you! You look like you haven't eaten in days! I wouldn't take all the money you have just to get a little further ahead!"

It amazed me to hear such from a mage of all people. "Handsome Elf" was one thing; I was well aware I was…aesthetically pleasing to many people, but to hear such a…unselfish attitude from a wielder of the arcane.

Unbelievable.

It was trick. It had to have been. There was no such thing as a mage without wants. Not in this world.

Not in my life.

Yet in my hand sat fifty silver, a mere half of what I had offered the mage in the first place.

He'd given back half, and asked to borrow my sword arm.

I didn't understand. Couldn't understand. Wasn't sure I wanted to understand.

And yet…

I looked back up to where the three had been, but they were gone now. Not even the echo of their laughter remained. Instead, the sun was creeping up in their wake, reminding me of just how tired I was. I turned to go back into Danarius' mansion, my eyes turning back without my permission to the spot where the mage had been one last time.

I didn't understand him.

But oddly enough, I found I had no problem with that.


okay, so this is going to be a companion piece to Odd Couple. because like I said, I don't care what the game implies or states or what, Varric would not have any details concerning Fen and Hawke's private life. so, this is the solution to that. a little more generic it may be, but hopefully it'll be just as entertaining (if at least a little more enlightening into the inner-workings of my hawke and fen) as Odd Couple.

as always, reviews are lovely!