Fenris' Mansion
It had been 3 days since Hadriana had died by his hand. The lyrium etched into his skin glowed faintly now as he recalled ripping the still beating heart out of his previous tormentor. The magister's apprentice's eyes had bulged and pleaded for mercy as he watched the life drain from her. He felt no relief in her death and felt no comfort from the Antivan brandy he had swiped from an inattentive merchant in Hightown. Fenris looked down at the empty bottle and saw his face in the reflection. He saw his silver hair sweep across his forehead and behind his long elfish ears. Looking directly into his own eyes he felt a surge of self-loathing and hatred for the creature he had become. He stood up quickly, knocking the high back chair to the ground and hurled the bottle against the bedroom wall sending shards of glass flying.
"It appears I have come at inopportune time my friend."
Fenris snapped his head in the direction of the voice. Sebastian Vael, exiled Prince of Starkhaven stood in the doorway holding a small linen satchel.
"I apologize Sebastian, I did notice you were there or else I would have…" Fenris struggled to find the words not meeting his friends gaze.
"Would have waited until I left to abuse the walls so heinously?" Sebastian finished for him. He walked into the room, the light from the blazing fire bouncing off his ivory armor. "I thought you might be hungry, and it appears you've only had a liquid diet since I saw you last." Glancing around, Sebastian noted the empty bottles, both whole and broken scattered across the room.
"Is this chantry charity Brother Vael?" Fenris quipped while hoping the noises from his stomach did not betray his eagerness to ravage the fresh bread he could smell coming from the bag.
"Aye. I overheard some of your neighbors praying to the Maker for aid in ridding the stench coming from this place." Sebastian gingerly made his way to the window, avoiding the broken glass and other bits of rubbish on the floor. "Fresh air would do wonders for this place. And maybe a mop." Turning back to Fenris he saw the elf bent over the satchel pulling out the assortment of food with veracity.
Sebastian removed his grandfather's bow from his back and placed it on the bench and sat across from Fenris as he ate.
Fenris kept his eyes down knowing that his friend was watching him, waiting.
"Are you ready to talk now Fenris?"
"No."
"No is not the right answer."
"There is nothing to talk about. She needed to die and I killed her."
"I was talking about Hawke."
"Oh."
"Though, if you would like to confess your sins to the maker, I can escort you back to the chantry and pray for your soul with the other lay brothers and sisters." Sebastian flashed his dazzling smile to his brooding friend.
"Hardly. I have no sins for which the blame cannot be placed on a certain Tevinter magister." Fenris spat in between chews of bread.
Fenris watched Sebastian adjust the straps on his leather arm cuff that protected him from bow mishaps. He knew that Sebastian was waiting for him to speak again, so he put down the wedge of cheese and asked bluntly, "What about Hawke?"
Sebastian looked up and met the haunted gray eyes of the elf across the table. "She misses you. She doesn't say it, but she doesn't have to."
Fenris stood and walked to the fireplace and folded his arms across his chest plate.
"After you stormed off, Hawke came here and waited for you. Isabella came and dragged her home the next day after you still hadn't showed." Fenris' heart ached knowing that he had again caused her pain. He knew the best way to love her was to stay away. She did not deserve his anger or his problems.
Sebastian continued, pulling Fenris back into the moment, "She has sat at the window watching for you. I've never seen her so forlorn before, this isn't the Hawke we all know and cherish."
Returning the overturned chair to its feet, Fenris lowered himself, feeling the weight of more than just his spiked armor. "Does she know that I'm back?"
"Varric saw you return late last night and told us all this morning over breakfast. That Orana girl from the holding caves, makes these cinnamon tarts that seem to be made of the heavens. And these egg puff things with Colovian ham, sweet Andraste, they would make a pious man do evil deeds. Actually, I think Hawke put some in the bag here."
Fenris snapped his attention away from the flames "Hawke? She made the parcel of food?"
"Oh yes. She knew you would need sustenance and sent me right over to check on you." Sebastian was still digging in the bag when he exclaimed, "Ah ha! See here my friend, never have you tasted something so magically delicious before." He held in his hand the tartlet and looked around, "Fenris?"
The chair was empty and the door was swinging on its hinges. Sebastian, realizing he was alone looked down at his treat and spoke, "All the better. Just you and me my sweet."