From a kmeme prompt: Fenris wakes up in a different universe.
This is Fenris waking up in a universe that's very similar to DA2, but not quite. Fenris is from a default M!warrior Hawke/Isabela universe where Hawke is pro-mage and Bethany is a Warden. In this universe, Kirkwall is more or less the same, but each of our companions has something just a little different going on.
When he woke up in the morning, Fenris had a sense that something was different. His head ached, but it always ached when Hawke and Isabela visited. He instinctively checked around to ensure his burly, bearded leader hadn't passed out on the floor in some naked state with the pirate. Not that he really minded seeing Isabela naked, but Garrett Hawke was almost as hairy as the dwarf and had a habit of scratching himself as he sat up. It was an unpleasant morning-after chore when he found them in his house and had to kick him out.
He frowned. His mansion seemed cleaner than he remembered. Odd. Fenris scoured his mind for a memory of someone dragging that insipid blood-mage along. Perhaps she'd taken it upon herself to attempt forcing another act of 'elven goodwill' on him by cleaning.
Someone pounded on the door and he stared down from the landing. "What do you want?" he yelled.
More pounding and a muffled male voice shouted, "Let me in, Fenris. It's locked." Fenris frowned and walked down the stairs. He never locked his doors. There was no point. Let the damn slavers come.
When he jerked the door open the abomination stood in front of him with his arms crossed. But the blonde mage looked different, and not just because he was wearing Grey Warden armor. He didn't seem as weary, or as crazy. His eyes twinkled with humor not unlike Varric. Fenris felt his mouth gape open and stood there stupidly for a second.
The abomination began to talk, but his tone was different. Not the usual whining, but amusement. "Took you long enough. How much did you and Hawke drink after Varric and I left?"
Fenris schooled his face into neutrality and shrugged. "I do not know."
"Well, come on. Get your shit and all that," said Anders, waving a hand at the inside of the house. Fenris resisted a strong urge to flinch. The mage squinted at him and said, "Maker, you're really hungover."
"I must be," Fenris answered. He moved back into the house and jogged up the stairs.
The mage followed him and waited in the front area. "When are you going to fix this place up? It's so gloomy," Anders called. "Do you ever clean at all?"
When he glanced backward to ensure he was not about to be attacked, Fenris realized just how clean it was. No corpses. No broken furniture. Ugly and dank and dusty, but not dilapidated. His heart contracted thickly. Something was very different about today.
Anders, who didn't act anything like the abomination he knew, announced that Aveline wouldn't be coming along because she was still busy with paperwork as they walked out into Hightown. Fenris glanced around, but the city looked fine. Nobles wandered around the marketplace and up to their Estates and the faithful gathered at the Chantry. As he half-listened to the mage's prattle, he wondered if it was only Anders who was different. But that didn't explain his mansion.
"Oh, have you been to that new bakery just off the Market?" Anders yammered. Fenris tried not to roll his eyes. "Aveline sent me there twice before she took the straightforward way and kicked me out. I mean, Maker, come on. The woman is pregnant and she's trying to finish up all the work from her promotion before the baby comes."
Fenris stared at Anders. "When do you think that will be?"
"Any day now!" Anders flung his hands in the air and began to prattle. Fenris soon learned that the absent pregnant Aveline would not listen to reason from her husband Wesley or from Hawke or from anyone else, that she was eating everything and waddling to her chamberpot every few minutes, that she kept trying to tidy up and the pink and blue ribbons in her office simply had to go.
"I see," said Fenris. He wasn't sure what to make of all this. He was halfway down the stairs to Lowtown when a silent dark figure glided in beside them.
"Isabela," cried Anders cheerfully. "We were just talking about Aveline and her new baby. Do you think it's going to be a girl or a boy?"
"It doesn't matter which. Aveline will make a wonderful mother," said Isabela's voice. Not her smarmy, sexy purr, but the accent and confidence were the same. A backward glance revealed the Rivaini pirate woman he knew, but in considerably more clothing. Dark-dyed leathers that fit well. Instead of accessories she had tiny vials of swirling mixtures that he imagined her poisons. Her hair was covered in a dark bandana rather than the blue one. Fenris blinked and turned around. He almost hit a wall and swerved away in the nick of time.
"He's hungover," said Anders. Fenris scowled over his shoulder, but the mage rambled on, unperturbed. "Are you on your way to see that handsome Antivan who arrived at the Hanged Man at dawn?"
Fenris walked a pace ahead of them, listening without looking back. This seemed like important information about this relic Isabela was so keen on hiding.
"Something like that. I've had him tracking Castillion's potential buyers," she answered. Her voice lowered and Fenris strained to hear it over the crowd. "He thinks he is invincible because he survived the Arishok's wrath when he stole the Tome of Koslun."
He stumbled and Anders caught his arm. "Maker, I might have to break my own rule about hangover healings," said the mage.
"Do not touch me," Fenris growled, jerking his arm away.
"What's wrong with you?" Isabela snapped, stepping forward. "Don't take out your drunken festivities with Hawke on us."
Anders drew away and shook his head. "Never mind. Let's get you some water before we get there," he sighed. "I can't approve the hair-of-the-dog method, being a healer and all. Not that I would judge you."
"I would," said Isabela. She melted back into the shadows, and Fenris blinked. It was no easy task in daylight, as he knew from experience. Everything was too strange.
As they ascended the stairs of the Hanged Man toward Varric's suite, Fenris could hear the dwarf talking to someone. He sounded... woeful. Mournful. "I know he was a pain in the ass and all, but I never wanted him to die. He loved it down there. I didn't care for it myself, but Bartrand thought it was wonderful. His last words were that the stone sang to him."
Fenris paused, listening, and Anders glanced at him before doing the same.
The voice that answered was Merrill's, but not. Not the frivolous squeak he was used to, though it was light and lilting and delicate. Calm, soothing. Not foolish, but wise. "Then your brother died among your Ancestors, Varric. Who can ask more than to live and die at the heart of our gods? Whether it is the Creators that my people worship or the Maker, those who embrace their faith are always rewarded when their time comes."
"No wonder she's the youngest Keeper in Dalish history," Anders breathed, giving the door a lovestruck stare. Fenris blinked and stared at the blonde mage. "She's so brilliant."
Unable to think of a response, Fenris grunted. This strange Merrill's words rang in his head as they walked into the suite. Varric sat there in his usual duster, staring solemnly into a mug of ale. Across from him sat Merrill, in Keeper's garb, her wise gaze briefly touching his when he entered. Fenris took a seat by Varric just to be on the safe side.
"Where's Hawke?" asked Anders cheerfully.
"Went to the privy," sniffed Varric, "About half an hour ago." He took a long swig of ale and then burst into sloppy tears, muttering about Bartrand and how he'd been too young to die.
"Oh, there you are, Hawke" called Anders, looking outside of the door. "We were just looking for you.
Fenris turned and stared for a second at Hawke. Then he fainted.
In case you hadn't guessed, the differences are as follows:
Aveline's husband Ser Wesley didn't die on the flight from Lothering.
Varric's brother died of the Blight in the Deep Roads before he could betray them.
Anders never merged with Justice and has remained with the Wardens.
Isabela is working for the Qunari to track down the stolen Tome.
Merrill is Keeper of her clan. There's more, but I won't spoil my own story.