Fenris slammed his hands on the table, glaring at Aveline with angst. "I need to know if it's a trap!"

"I have done as you asked, Fenris," Aveline stood, "the rest is up to you." She walked out, passing Elizabeth Hawke on her way.

Elizabeth shook her head as Fenris cursed in what she could only assume was Tevinter. "If you're going to cuss, use a language we can all understand."

Fenris shook his head in disbelief that of all things, that was what she'd noticed. "I didn't tell you, but I followed Hadriana's lead. Everything she said about my sister was true. She's not a slave: she's a tailor in fact. I sent her a letter with enough coin to come meet me and now she's here!"

Elizabeth got a bad feeling suddenly. "You're worried it's a trap?"

"I don't know. The more it seems Danarius doesn't know, the more it turns out he does!" Fenris looked at Hawke. "Come with me, Hawke. I need you by my side."

Elizabeth pursed her lips for a moment. "Where is she?"

"She's at the Hanged Man. She'll be there during the day for at least the next week or so."

Elizabeth nodded. "You won't face this alone."

Fenris smiled softly, then looked down. "It would mean a lot to me. That's all I ask."

Elizabeth nodded, but could tell that Fenris didn't want to talk any more. She turned and left, sighing softly. Since they spent the night together three years ago then faced off against the Qunari, he'd grown more and more distant. Nonetheless, she knew now that she truly felt something for the former slave and she would stand by him no matter what, even if those feelings weren't returned. She shook her head and went back into his room, tilting her head. "Let's just go now."

"Are you sure? What about Meridith and the mages?"

Elizabeth laughed. "They'll still be there. Hell I could use a break. If they kill each other in the time this will take, well that's a bonus."

Fenris smiled and nodded, going with her. Aveline was still outside and came along, her curiosity getting the best of her.

When the three walked into the Hanged Man, Varric joined them, the group walking toward a table. Elizabeth noticed how there were no other patrons in the pub.

Fenris stepped closer to the table than the rest. "Varania...? I remember you. We played in our master's courtyard while Mother worked. You called me..." he stopped, the memory gone.

"Lito. That's your name." The red haired elf stood and looked away.

Fenris tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

Elizabeth gasped, realizing they were trapped. "Fenris, we need to get out of here!"

A graying mage walked down the stairs, accompanied by soldiers. Elizabeth didn't need to hear his name to know he was Danarius. She didn't even listen to what he said, but heard clear as day when he called her Fenris's mistress. "Fenris belongs to no one!"

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy? He is quite useful, isn't he?"

Fenris began to glow, glaring at Danarius and Vanaria both. Elizabeth pulled her staff out, stepping in front of Fenris. "I will see you dead, blood mage!"

Fenris drew his sword and sliced a soldier in half before they could react to Elizabeth's threat, Aveline ramming into another with her shield. Varric shot a flask of miasma into the thickest part of the crowd before picking off the guards. No sooner had they dealt with that threat, however, than Danarius summoned shades and rage demons to attack them. Elizabeth ignored everyone shouting at her to stay back and jumped in the middle of the fray, summoning the Maker's fist to slam their foes to the ground before freezing all the rage demons. She turned her attention to Danarius, focusing on him despite his attempts to stay out of the midst of battle. Fenris knew she wouldn't kill his former master and let her keep him distracted while they cut through wave after wave of shades, corpses, and demons. Finally, they stopped coming. Elizabeth stood over Danarius and put her staff on her back, stepping away. Fenris came over, glowing with rage, and grabbed him by the throat. "You are no longer my master!" He killed him quickly though painfully and let his body drop before turning his attention to Vanaria. Elizabeth closed her eyes, knowing what Fenris was going to do and understanding betrayal, but still not wanting to see him lose his family in a worse way than she'd lost hers. She turned away when he crushed her heart. Fenris sighed. "I thought finding my family would give me a place in the world, but it didn't. I am alone."

Elizabeth couldn't bear hearing his voice, seeing him so utterly crushed. She shook her head. "You have me, Fenris." She knew there were probably tears in her voice.

Fenris smiled sadly and put a hand on her cheek, then turned away, unable to look in her eyes when she so clearly still held him close even after leaving her alone that night then suggesting a duel that nearly killed her. "Let's leave this place. I don't want to see it anymore." He walked out, followed shortly by Elizabeth and Aveline.

The guard captain went back to the barracks while Elizabeth stared after Fenris sadly. Varric came out and touched her arm. "Care for a drink? I'm buying."

Elizabeth looked down at the dwarf and smiled, shaking her head. "Next time, Varric."

"Alright, but it'll cost you for giving me a raincheck." He went back inside to help clean up the mess.

Elizabeth sighed and made the walk back to Hightown. By the time she got there, she couldn't stand herself anymore and went to Fenris's mansion instead of her own estate, needing to talk to him. She walked right in and went upstairs to his room. "I helped you out of the trap you feared, and you killed your sister. Now what?"

"Is it so simple to you?!" Fenris spat with anger before realizing how difficult it must have been for her. He looked down when he saw tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. You...thank-you for being with me."

Elizabeth shook her head. "That's it?" She sighed with frustration and regret and turned to leave.

"Wait," she stopped at Fenris's voice, "that's not it." The elf sighed while Elizabeth returned to him. "What to you do when your past is...gone?"

"You start over," Elizabeth sat down as did Fenris.

"There's nothing for me here." Fenris sighed and grabbed a bottle, clearly having lied about drinking the last one six years ago.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "There is something, Fenris."

Fenris looked at her, then looked down sadly. He sighed. "We've...never discussed what happened between us three years ago."

"You didn't want to talk about it." Elizabeth said flatly.

"I was a fool. I thought it better if you hated me, but it isn't better. Then, I told the Arishok you had the right to duel him, and you nearly died." He sighed.

"I didn't. That saved many lives, Fenris." Elizabeth couldn't believe he'd been thinking about that all this time. It was almost touching.

"I should have asked your forgiveness long ago. I hope you can forgive me now."

Elizabeth felt her heart thud. She blinked at him, stunned. She took a shaky breath. "I understand. I always understood." She didn't, and hadn't, but if this was how he wanted things then so be it.

Fenris went to her, putting his hands on the arms of the chair she sat on. "If there is a future to be had, I will walk into it gladly at your side."

Realization dawned on Elizabeth as she heard those words, realizing he wasn't trying to officially end whatever they'd had but was trying to rekindle the flames. She stood and grabbed him, kissing him as though her life depended on it. She'd never felt this feeling before, the sense of need. But she knew what it meant to value another's life above her own and that was love.