When Elsa Hawke first met Fenris she was covered head to toe in blood. She was panting heavily as she stood before him, holding her defensive position ready to strike. Her small band of misfits stared at the elf before them intently, not knowing if he was a friend or foe. Yet Hawke was staring at him for all the wrong reasons.
His eyes were an intense piercing green and she could feel her face grown warm under their gaze. Thankfully the blood covering her cheeks hid that embarrassing detail. As he apologized to the group about bringing them into harms way, she straightened her back and relaxed her posture feeling he was no threat to them. Sheathing both of her daggers she asked him about his curious markings. He explained they were not given to him by choice, either way she thought they were beautiful. As their conversation continued she felt more and more compelled to know more about him.
"Well if they were really trying to capture you, then I am happy that I helped." She smiled at him brightly.
Fenris seemed a bit taken back by her kindness. Hawke could hear Anders behind her gagging at her corny remark. Which was responded by Varric throwing and elbow into Anders side.
"Oh, what was that for?" Anders muttered under his breath.
Hawke shot the two an annoyed look and continued her conversation with the elf. After Fenris has asked for her help further with dealing with his former master, how could she say no to him?
"If it will give me the chance to rid the world of more slavers, I'll gladly oblige." she took a small bow.
Fenris's hard face softened for a moment. He told Hawke where to meet him in High town later, and he disappeared from sight. Hawke wiped her face off with her sleeve and turned to look at her sister. She grinned when she saw her frantically trying to pull pieces of flesh out of her hair. "Let me help you Beth."
Anders stood there watching Hawke carefully. He had never seen Hawke taken back by anyone before. Even when Justice almost ripped her in two for barging in his clinic for the first time. She never even flinched, not even once...but this...this was different. She was giddy as school girl as she walked with Bethany making wild hand movements as she talked.
"We aren't really going to traipse around Kirkwall, in the dark I might add, after a man who just little ripped out another man's heart are we?" Anders protested.
Hawke's tense shoulders fell and she turned her attention back to him. Her big brown eyes met his and he could tell there was no being talked out of this one.
"What, are you afraid of the dark now Blondie?" Varric chuckled, making Bethany and Hawke both giggle in unison.
"The dark? No. An elf who can rip out internal organs...well it's more of a obvious answer Varric." Anders sighed. Hawke smiled while rolling her eyes, turning her attention to the line of corpses Fenris had left behind.
"It's intense what he can do...but he needs our help." Bethany said sounding as if it was a painfully obvious choice. Anders furrowed his eyebrows together crossing his arms. Hawke smiled at him, he looked as if he was a small boy pouting about not getting his way.
"Common Anders," Hawke was in front of him grabbing his left arm pulling him along, "Beth is right you know, we can't turn our attention away from someone in need. Ex-slave or not he is still a living breathing soul. Mages aren't the only ones who need our help." she noted looking at him with pleading eyes.
"Yes and I'm sure those big green eyes had nothing to do with it right Hawke?" Varric chuckled.
Hawke released Ander's arm immediately. He looked towards her face and caught, what he thought was, a small blush rush across her cheeks. However mixed in with the sweat and smeared blood it was hard to tell. Hawke turned her back to Anders running a hand through some wisps of hair that had come out of her braid. "Let's get going" she took off jogging after the elf, Bethany not far behind her.
"Well looks like Hawke has made up her mind Blondie." Varric patted Anders arm.
"Yes, well we better not let her down then." Anders frowned watching her and Bethany disappear around the corner.
When they reached High town they met Fenris almost instantaneously. As Hawke greeted Fenris he explained about his former Master hiding out in a near by mansion.
"Sounds like a trap if I've ever heard of one." Varric mused staring towards the mansion.
"Nothing we can't handle" Hawke smiled as Varric nodded in agreement.
When they entered the mansion a swarm of Shades, with the occasional rage demon, attacked them. Waves after waves of them poured out of every door. Hawke had never seen so many in her life. Her father had always taught her and Bethany about them, but nothing could ever prepare her for how monstrous they were in real life.
Bethany let a rain of fire wash down onto them. Hawke and Fenris were side by side hacking and slashing away at the demons with ease. Hawke couldn't help herself but admire the pure strength and agility that Fenris had fought with. She could easily see why he had managed to sustain his freedom for so long. He handled his great sword as if it was as light as her daggers, leaving no room for error. His eyes were so intense and focused, she could feel herself getting lost again. She let her guard down for a brief moment.
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a lighting bolt whizzing past her head into the face of a shade. "Thanks Anders" Hawke said over her shoulder while grabbing her daggers more readily and began hacking away again.
"Be more careful, Elsa" Anders scoffed throwing a few more spells at the shades around her.
"Right.." she shook her head. Why in Andraste's flaming knickers had she gone all goo-goo eyed over him now of all places?
When all their enemies were slain, Fenris kicked in the door to the main room and was surprised that it revealed nothing. "I have to leave" Fenris spat pushing past Hawke, rage and hatred pouring from his tone of voice. The group gave one another a confused looked. Hawke and Bethany were the first ones to chase after him.
As Varric and Anders reached outside, they could hear the Hawke sisters and Fenris arguing from behind the door. It was music to Anders ears.
"You can speak to me directly, you know" Bethany said annoyance creeping across her face as she stared Fenris down.
"My sister helped you Fenris." Hawke raised her voice angrily stepping between the two. Fenris looked past Hawke to Bethany and a scowl returned to his face as he pointed towards Bethany.
"I saw you casting spells in there, I should have realized what you were sooner," Fenris turned his attention to Hawke, "You will see you have a Viper in your midst."
"No one's keeping you from moving on, you know" Bethany chimed tightening her grip on her staff in response.
Fenris tried walking past Hawke to Bethany, his marking glowing a faint blue. But Hawke's whole body reacted faster than anyone could blink. She grabbed Fenris's arm and pulled him back in front of her. "My sister is an innocent, she wanted to help you, as did I." Hawke's voice was deadly as she released Fenris's arm and crossed her arms in front of her. "I don't see too many people, let alone mages, willing to run head first into a horde of demons to help you reclaim your freedom."
Fenris's eyes fell to the ground at Hawke's feet at the mention of this. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful," Fenris paused then looked back into Hawke's face, "I actually owe you a debt of gratitude and intend to repay it. I would like to join you for a time" He seemed genuine as he spoke.
Hawke's shoulders fell and she unfolded her arms, "Will you have problems with my companions?"
"Though I have my own opinions, I will trust your judgement. I can not offer more than that." Fenris looked past Hawke toward Bethany. Bethany nodded towards him and sheathed her staff on her back.
Both the Hawke sisters were forgiving, and after going through what they had during the past few years they had little room to keep people on their bad side. Less enemies in Kirkwall meant less people trying to cut your throat in the middle of the night.
"I have an expedition coming up that I could use some help with, I may call on you when that time comes. Besides, that it would be a waist of a handsome elf to let you rot in that mansion alone." Hawke said stretching out her back and yawning loudly.
Anders couldn't believe his ears, was she really attracted to this...mage hating elf?
Fenris studied her lazy demeanor and could feel a small grin grace his lips. Never had he paid much attention to flattery, but coming from her it was tolerable. Anders wrinkled his nose at the look he was giving her and shifted his feet uncomfortably.
"Well, after all that, I could use a drink. What do ya say Hawke?" Varric smiled trying to change the subject.
Hawke looked behind her to her dwarf companion and nodded back at him, "Only if you pay first round..."
"I say two." Bethany smiled. "I need three or four." Anders said miserably scratching the stubble on his face.
"You all drive a hard bargain. I guess a few games of Diamondback and I could get my money back from the lot of you." Varric laughed, "Is Broody going to be joining us as well?"
Hawke's smile spread from ear to ear at the nickname bestowed upon her new companion. Fenris raised his brow as the others stared at him expectantly. Anders prayed to the maker, hoping he'd say no.
"I do not Brood." was all he said.
"Sure you don't elf." Varric waved walking away from the group.
"You should join us," Bethany said as she took her place besides Hawke smiling at Fenris brightly. Anders moaned in annoyance leaving the girls, before he started gagging again.
"Not tonight." Fenris looked up at the empty mansion. Getting close to people was not something Fenris was used to, and really was not something he intended to do either. "I probably should wait here in case my former master should return. I will remain here, in case you need to find me again." He shrugged turning his attentions back to the two girls.
"Well if you change your mind we will be at the Hanged Man in Low town." Bethany cooed, walking past the two trying to catch up the Anders and Varric.
Hawke was finally able to relax around Fenris now that she wasn't being watched by anyone. Varric had a way of amping up certain situations to make them out to be more than they were. She was also quite pleased no one would see her crushing hard over the new guy anyways. She rubbed the back of her shoulder rotating her arm in a circle trying to work out it's stiffness. "You really should come." Hawke turned away from him as she could feel her heart speed up. What was this strange sense of emotion coming from?
She then met his gaze. "It'd be better than being alone here anyways." Hawke gestured to the mansion. "Either way, you're one of us now." Hawke beamed towards Fenris.
He could fill the tips of his ears blush as she smiled at him.
She turned on her heel and walked slowly after the others. Never had a man, well elf in his case, caught her this off guard. She wanted to leave before her face tried to fall into anymore blushing spells. Because Elsa Hawke did not blush, no, not even for a handsome elf placed before her.
Fenris watched her as she slowly sauntered away. Never would he had expected her to hate and forgive him all in the same moment. He had never experienced anyone quite like her before and as curious as he felt about her, he knew that getting involved with anyone meant pain. Frankly he had known enough of that to last a lifetime. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of regret for not following after her.
The mage know as Anders waited for her at the corner. She called to him and waved and he smiled back at her. "Hawke," Fenris called to her.
She turned around and was walking backwards so she could face him. She was almost to Anders by then and from what Fenris could tell Anders was scowling at him. "I'd like to join you soon...for a pint, if you'd permit it." Fenris called out to her. He could see her white pearly teeth all the way from where he stood.
"I'd like that, sweet dreams Fen!" she waved and turned back around, running forwards happily to Anders. She linked arms with him and they continued on their way.
Fenris smiled watching her turn the corner. Even if she was with the mage. He peered up at the mansion and sighed to himself really regretting letting them go without him. He shook his head and ran a hand through his white mop of hair. What was he thinking? Being alone was where it was safe, and it is what kept him alive up until this point. He could up and leave at a moments noticed without having to hurt anyone else along the way, or drag them into the mess he called his life. So why did he feel the need to put himself out there now? What was it about that woman that made him want to break all of his rules he so carefully stuck to up until this point?
He would stick around long enough until his debt was paid, that was for sure. He opened the mansion door and returned to the main room. Lighting a fire, he continued paced back and forth as his thoughts wandered back to Elsa Hawke.
"Venhedis" He exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air, sinking down into a near by arm chair. He stared into the fire intently as the image of her smile burned its way into his mind and he slowly drifted into sleep.