Part One

A few weeks, Rendon Howe had promised his son, a few weeks in the dank world of Denerim and they could return to Amaranthine. But it had been more than a month now. The elder Howe was determined to ally with Teryn Loghain and was constantly at meetings and parties working his sneering charm. Nathaniel had been forced along, much to his chagrin. He had suspected his father's plan for quite awhile. Rendon preferred Thomas as heir to the estate and preferred to marry the rebellious Nathaniel off to a wealthy woman in the city.

Nathaniel had been introduced to many of the young women his father threw at him in order to create alliances. Many had been quite nice, many of them were much younger or much older than him. He had been polite, no more than that. He had no interest in one of these arranged marriages for profit.

He missed home. He missed his sister and his young nephew who would always stop crying when he was placed in Nathaniel's arms. He missed the forests. He missed hunting for his own grub, satisfied that he could fend for his family.

Nathaniel had snuck away from his father for the day, letting himself wander the marketplace of Denerim without more small talk. He longed to go hunting, but he knew he would have to be back before nightfall to avoid suspicion. He had just purchased a bowl of steaming soup, filled with a meat he could only hazard to guess was squirrel. It was far from the fare he had eaten the past month and he happily ate it outside the gates of the Alienage. He kept his hood down as he ate, just in case, savouring the greasy fumes of his meager meal.

Even in the din of the marketplace, he heard a voice, laughing heartily not far from him. The soup seller was negotiating with a blonde man, whose charming smile was attempting to get a lower price.

"Cedric," the man flirted, "How often have we given you a discount? What's a bit of chipmunk between…friends?"

Nathaniel shrugged. He had been close in his guess. But he could not take his eyes off the man before him. He was lean and looked hungry under his many layers of clothing. His hair was tied back haphazardly, but revealed his fair face well, even though stray hair would sneak around his brown eyes.

Cedric was wavering, obviously deciding between throwing the young man out and taking his offer. Nathaniel stood up and went to the soup seller, handing to him an extra copper.

He did not say anything as he left, finishing his soup with a gulp and leaving the bowl behind. He could feel the blonde man's eyes upon him and Nathaniel could not help but smile as he heard soup being poured for him.

He went back to the Arl of Denerim's estate later in the day, after buying a bracelet for his sister from an Orleasian trader. He went up to his room and cleaned himself with a jug of water resting by the window. He looked out into the streets of Denerim, half of him wondering where the blonde man was now. He hoped he had enough to eat tonight.

He heard his father in the hallway and he dried his face before turning to see his father fuming in the doorway. Nathaniel bowed his head in respect before Rendon marched in, shutting the door behind him.

"You embarrassed me today, boy," he accused, pushing his son back towards the bed, "You were supposed to meet with the Lady Tabitha and her daughter today. Or did you forget and go frolic around the city like a common peasant boy?"

"Lady Tabitha's daughter is twelve years old," Nathaniel retorted, "And I am a man of twenty and two. I do not think that bodes well in a match, particularly when the bride is still a child."

"So instead you do not even show up? There are few ladies interested in you here, boy. They see you as a Wildman, not a proper lord. You are the future Arl of Amaranthine. It is time for you to have a wife and begin siring children of your own. The Howe line must continue."

"Thomas is 16 now," Nathaniel said, "When he comes of age in two years, he is welcome to start a dynasty. I'm sure you would think it suits him better than I."

Rendon slapped Nathaniel across the face, but the archer barely flinched.

"There is to be a ball at the Royal Palace tonight," Rendon said, "Heal that bruise and dress accordingly. Perhaps there is some royalty that you have not offended and will still be willing to offer you their daughter."

"I'm not going," Nathaniel said softly, "You know I cannot dance. I will only make more of a fool of you than you think I already have."

Rendon's face twisted into a smile, "Fine, boy. I will tell them you are ill and are not able to attend. It will be easier to convince a lady of your charms if you are not there to disprove me."

Nathaniel sighed slightly as his father left, rubbing the growing bruise on his cheek. He had a few ointments for the beatings. They were never enough to truly hurt him, but they were enough to remind him of one thing: Rendon Howe had no love for his son.

oOoOoOo

Anders was now regretting taking the day off to shop in the Marketplace. He had little enough coin and it was foolish to make his face known outside the walls of the Pearl. He never knew when a Templar would stumble out of the Chantry and recognize him.

He thought of the gruff man who had paid for his stew. He had barely looked at him as he passed. Yet Anders was grateful, albeit confused. He had not often experienced kindness from strangers.

The Madame was lining up his clientele for the evening. It was a long list, which made Anders groan slightly. He hoped he had enough stamina for all of this. The previous night he had almost fallen asleep as some noble lady was riding him from on top while he was tied to the bedpost. Luckily, she was into slapping and biting, which woke Anders up quickly enough.

He waited in his room, hearing the others moan and grunt around him. The sound was almost hypnotic and he had trouble sleeping now without the sounds and smells of sex around him. He had never stayed in a place so long during any of his escapes. But here he seemed to be safe. Any Templar who found him would never report him and the money was good. Maybe he could go across the seas to the Free Marches. That's where they told him Karl had been sent-

No, he wasn't allowed to think of Karl. It was the only rule he had here. It hurt too much to pretend it was Karl he was with. Instead, he pretended he was back in the circle. It helped with clients too. Having sex with an apostate added a certain thrill.

There was a knock at the door and Anders answered, only dressed in some breeches that barely hid his small clothes. The Madame stood there with a young man that Anders did not recognize.

The Madame said, "This young gentleman would like to pay for your services for the entire evening. He has offered to triple your usual fee, of which of course I will take a modest cut. Is this acceptable to you?"

Anders knew he didn't have much of a choice, but he was intrigued and nodded.

The young man came in, looking awkwardly at his feet as Anders closed the door.

"Well," Anders said with a smile, "Can I offer you something to drink? I think with what you're paying, I can afford to spoil you a little bit."

"Okay," the man said, blushing as Anders poured him a glass of scotch and another one for himself. Anders sat on the bed, holding out the glass to him. The man sat beside him, taking the glass quickly and drinking it down in one gulp.

Anders gave him the other glass, "Here, you seem like you need this more than I do." He stood up to pour himself another drink in the empty glass. The man sipped the second, letting his eyes linger on Anders as he poured the drink. Anders smiled a little bit to himself as he came to sit by the bed again.

"So," he said, "This is your lavish evening. What do you have in mind? I'm sure you were told the house rules before you came in, yes?"

"Yes," the man admitted, "But I was a bit distracted and had trouble hearing them. You'll let me know if I do something foolish?"

Anders laughed and took a drink, "Why are you so nervous, sir? You're blushing like a virgin on her wedding night."

The man blushed slightly, "I'm not a virgin…but I've never…been with a man before. But…we don't have to do…anything."

Anders looked at the man's face more carefully, "You're the man who paid for my lunch earlier today, aren't you? Did my pathetic attempt to flirt a meal out of a man charm you enough to switch teams?"

"I've always been attracted to men," he admitted, "On and off. But…I couldn't stop thinking about you. And when I asked the stew seller, well after enough coin, he told me you were here."

"Look," Anders said, taking the glass away from him, "I'm not looking for a Daddy or anything like that. You don't need to come and save the poor little whore and make yourself feel like a big man."

"That's not what I'm here for," the man tried to explain, "Its just…I'm probably going to have to get married soon. And I've never been with a man and it was just something I wanted to try before I had a wife. I could never cheat on a wife, even if I didn't love her. So…here I am. Seeing you…made me brave enough to just try it."

Anders relaxed, smiling as he put the glasses back down on the table, "Should I worry about me making you fall in love with me and wanting to run away together?"

The man laughed, "I doubt that. No offense."

"None taken," Anders grinned, sitting back down beside his client, "So I should make tonight one to remember then. I'll do my best."

The man reached for Anders' face, touching the scruff slightly as he pulled him into a deep kiss. Normally Anders never kissed his clients, but the sheer taste of him and the gentleness of his hands made him kiss back.

"What can I call you?" Anders asked.

"Nate," he replied, "I've always liked when people called me Nate."

"Well, Nate," Anders said softly, "What would you like to try first?"

Nate laid him down on the bed, unlacing the breeches and removing Anders' small clothes. His cock had already been growing erect and Nate blushed again as he looked at Anders' naked body.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Anders said almost gently, reaching for Nate's shirt and pulling it over his head.

"I never thought I'd be so nervous," Nate admitted, "I just…I just don't want to hurt you. Whenever I've…been alone, I've been so rough with myself."

Anders felt a throb go through his cock, letting it rise to its full size, "I'll let you know if you do something wrong."

Nate grabbed Anders' cock in his calloused hands and started stroking him briskly. Anders' eyes opened up in slight shock at how good that felt. It was not often someone tended to him during a session. It was a pleasant change.

Nate leaned down as he did so, pressing his chest ever so lightly against Anders, looking deeply into his eyes. Anders looked up at him, seeing the grey eyes scanning his body and smiling slightly.

Nate brought his face down, brushing his lips gently against Anders' and kissed him softly. Anders grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down, forcing his tongue into the other man's mouth. Nate groaned slightly, pulling his hands around Anders' neck and bringing the man to be sitting just under him while Nate straddled him, their cocks rubbing against each other slightly.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Nate admitted, "Can…can you lead me? Show me what you want. Show me what feels good."

Anders smiled and flipped Nate on his back, kneeling just over him. He took off the man's breeches, letting his cock spring forth free with no small clothes to hold them back. Anders positioned himself to be just over Nate's cock, taking it into his mouth as he massaged the man's ass, stroking the delicate pucker of flesh that lay between his cheeks. Nate cried out slightly and in return, took Anders into his own mouth, copying the way his tongue looped around him, how his lips held him tightly. Anders could not help but moan, a grunt when Nate's finger slipped into him dryly.

Anders moved away from Nate, hearing the man mew as his cock left his mouth.

"Do you want to be inside of me?" Anders asked, watching the man panting on the bed. Nate's eyes widened and he nodded.

Anders walked over to the dresser he had kept the alcohol on. He rummaged through the first drawer, pulling out a bottle that shone brightly under the candlelight.

"What is it?" Nate asked as Anders tossed it to him.

"Something to help prepare me," Anders explained, "You must have noticed how a quim wets itself for the way in. I'm not so lucky to be able to do that on my own."

Nate seemed amazed, looking down at the little bottle. He opened it, pouring a bit of the liquid on his fingers, "It's almost like the oil I use for my armour."

Anders smiled, "Something like that."

Anders lay beside Nate, bringing his leg over him, pulling him closer to him.

"Reach inside me again," Anders cooed, "And use that to get ready for you."

Nate did so, moaning slightly as his finger reached up into him. He found a swollen area that caused the blonde to gasp slightly as he stroked it. Nate smiled, curling his finger around the area, pulling them in and out to brush against it. Anders tightened his grip on him, reaching out to grasp his cock and stroke it. Nate kissed his neck hungrily as he slipped a second finger in. Anders felt his legs shaking as the man did so, slightly ashamed for how desperate he was to have this man make him come. Anders kissed him, pulling Nate's hand from him.

"I want you in me," he whispered.

Nate gasped and angled his cock at the edge of the opening. Anders pushed him back slightly with a laugh, reaching for the bottle again.

"Remember?" Anders teased. Nate blushed, taking more of the liquid and rubbing it on to his cock, using the remnants to coat Anders from the inside. Anders squirmed as the sensation continued, moaning slightly.

Nate returned to his side as Anders bent forth on his knees.

"No," Nate said, "I want to see your face…if that's okay."

Anders' heart fluttered, "No, of course."

Anders lay on his back and Nate knelt over him, kissing his neck again. He pulled the blonde's legs around his hips, bringing him closer to him. Nate held Anders' back with one hand and the other wrapped around his cock. Anders ran his hands around Nate's neck and groaned with him as he slipped inside of him. Nate kissed him gently as he gave a first nervous thrust into him. Anders smiled slightly. He had been a bit too generous with lubrication, but that oddly made him feel desired. Nate kissed down his neck as he thrust again, angling himself against the mound he had found earlier. Anders cried out, his hands grasping in Nate's hair as he was thoroughly explored. Nate's hand began to pump up and down in time with his thrusts, his mouth slipping to the blonde's collarbone, biting down slightly as he mewed into his ear.

It felt too intimate, too…caring. Anders bit Nate's ear lobe and whispered, "I can take it. Just go on. Screw me. Pound into me."

"But you're just so damn tight," he moaned in return, "And I want you to feel as good as you're making me feel. Will this be enough for you? I want you to come."

Touched, Anders smiled slightly, gasping as a well timed thrust pushed into him, "Just keep touching me," he promised, "I…I won't be able to last much longer."

"Good," Nate growled, pumping harder, his thumb around the ring of his cock, the last bit of lubrication easing the roughness of his hand. His other hand grasped onto Anders tighter, almost digging his nails into his skin. Nate panted heavier, his mouth close to Anders'. Anders reached up and kissed him, biting down on his lip as he tried to stifle calling the man's name as he came. His seed spilling in the space between them and around Nate's fingers inspired him to reach a second hand around Anders, pulling him up on him as he knelt, thrusting into the blonde as he moved him up and down with his hands.

Anders met his mouth with a fierce kiss and he could feel the other man shudder beneath him, spilling his seed with a final thrust that brought him fully inside him.

Nate slipped out from underneath him, removing himself from Anders' side. Anders found himself reaching out for him, wanting him to lay beside him.

Nate sat on the edge of the bed and Anders lay down beside him, practically purring as he kissed down the man's muscular thigh.

Nate brought him to his feet and Anders stood in front of him.

Nate kissed him fiercely, pushing him against the wall. Anders tried to catch his breath between kisses, but found himself merely panting.

When Nate came up for air, he pressed his forehead against Anders and whispered, "I'd like to see you again. Every night for as long as I can. I won't be able to pay as much as I did tonight. Is that all right? If you'll have me."

Anders wanted to say that he would never have to pay him again if he didn't want to, but he stopped himself. This feeling of satisfaction would not last and he had to save up for his escape. So instead, he kissed him in response, feeling Nate tremble slightly as the blonde held him.

"Every night," Anders purred.