Voices. Shouting. That was what woke her, the clear sky from the day before when she had been ushered in to Starkhaven was hidden behind a blanket of dark clouds that threatened to soak the land beneath them as lightning struck in the distance and lit her room. Laila pushed herself upright, holding her hand out in front of her as she tried to pull flame in to her palm. Ice, maybe? She sighed and dropped her hand, something was stopping her from casting spells. She could not help but be a bit surprised that he was cunning enough to make sure she was completely disabled and at his mercy. The curiosity of her magic now pushed to the side she turned her attention to the voices outside her door, slightly muffled by the wood. The thin blanket slid from her body as she made her way off the bed, shuttering slightly when the cool wind nipped at her bare skin. Bare feet hurried across the stone and when she had reached the door her ear pressed against its hard surface, her body becoming flat against the wood as she tried to become apart of the argument taking place. Immediately she recognized the familiar heavy accent filled with anger, something she had only heard once. The other, the other seemed familiar to her, but it was not something she could exactly separate from someone on the street.

The argument soon died down and she heard heavy armored boots coming towards her. She pushed off the door, wishing she could have picked up more than just the ending of some bickering. Moving over to the fire that had once burned, but had died while she slept leaving only red embers to burn in its wake. She tucked her hair behind her before turning to look out at the small window, leaning on the stone she looked out on to the view. A beautiful garden with a large statue of a man she could not recognize lay in front of her, the grounds empty of any visitors more likely due to the approaching storm. A part of her could not help but feel appreciative that she was locked inside the room, it was better than having to brave that storm inside a camp and alone. The armored boots soon stepped in to her room and she heard them pause before the door shut behind her visitor. She glanced over her shoulder to see the Vael prince, his hand still placed on the closed door.

"I would apologize for my state of clothing, but I was not given anything to dress myself in." She turned back to the window, listening as he moved about the room. The sound of his boots grew closer to her until she felt the thin blankets she had tightly wrapped herself in the night before draped over her shoulders. "This is a beautiful garden." She remarked, pulling the blanket around her shoulders before looking behind herself at Sebastian who stood close to her. "If I am to be held captive it is nice to have something so beautiful to look out upon."

"Hawke." His voice was so quiet she almost did not hear him speak.

"I was quite surprised that you thought of stopping me from casting." She pulled the blanket tighter around her. "You've changed from the Brother I knew you as, I would have never thought you so..." She stopped and turned to face him, pushing her back against the wall. "I told you the truth, I do not know where Anders has gone or any of his plans. He was the first to leave, Merrill was the last. I traveled with her for weeks, just the two of us, while she searched for a clan. We finally came across one and I parted ways with her, not one of them knows where I am." She looked down, harassing the edge of the blanket with her fingers. "If you wish to kill me..." She sighed and stilled her fingers. "I won't fight back. My mother is dead, my brother hates me and I've not seen him since what happened in Kirkwall. I'm sure he has no interest in speaking with me. I left Yais with Aveline, it is better if he is with Carver... with the Wardens. I have nothing left, people who I thought would always be with me soon found their own ways and I was left to myself." She looked up at him. "Thousands want me dead, some want me to join them... the mages. I can't-" Her cheeks became moist and she wiped her face on the blanket, taking in a deep breath. "I fought so hard, I tried to do everything I could. For my family, my friends... and you." She looked up at the blue eyes that watched her. "And when it came down to it, all of you left."

She moved past him and back to the burning embers of the fire, getting as close as she could in an attempt to pull heat from it. Wind blew from the small window, pulling the long black hair from her face. "Now I am hated and a prisoner to a man I had once felt for, even if he did not feel for me in return." She laughed softly and turned her head towards him. "I thought after everything was over you would see how I cared for you and would leave the Chantry, some type of story that you tell to hopeful little girls to inspire the existence of true love in their hearts." She shook her head as she looked away. "Look at me now. Alone, caged like an animal and completely powerless. I think this is the first time, through everything, that I would not fight death." She turned to face him again. "What else could I possibly lose?" She shrugged. "At least I will see father and mother... and Bethany."

This was not what Sebastian had thought would happen when he heard she was moving towards Starkhaven. Had she come this way knowing he was in her path, hoping he would take her life? Was that what she wanted, to meet her death? This was not the strong woman he had seen, the fighter who stood her ground and fought against impossible odds. This woman was broken, damaged from the years of solving problems for others... of the death around her. Anger that he held for her, for refusing to do what needed to be done seemed to melt away as she melted before him. Spilling out her fears and showing her weakness, something he had never seen. Even when he threatened her with Starkhaven when she refused to give Anders his deserved death she had stood up to him, daring him to come. "Laila." He moved towards her, reaching out to touch her arm as he came closer. He gently turned her around to see her eyes downcast at the floor, she was ashamed. Or was it fear? He pulled the gautlets from his hand and let them fall to the floor. Her eyes closed tightly when his hand touched her face, something he would have never dared to do in Kirkwall, not within the Chantry. There were no rules anymore, no more vows, they had been broken when he had taken back Starkhaven from Goran. He did not have to worry about the temptation she had been to him and how he had prayed for the dreams of her to come to an end.

Stepping cautiously forward, waiting for the Hawke he knew to return and for her to lash out at him and call him every vile name she could come up with, he pulled her against his chest. She did not yell, try to hit him or even protest. Simply allowing the comfort to take hold of her and grabbing hold at the front plates of his armor, resting her head against them. This, he should have been there when Leandra passed, he should have held her like this while she let out her sadness and anger towards the loss of her mother. She was right, he was not there and his excuse was nothing in comparison. When she had approached him that night telling him of her mother's absence and asking him to come with her to look in Low Town, he was too absorbed in himself. Worried about the rising conflict with Quanari, fighting with himself over the choice regarding Starkhaven. She had looked to him for company and strength, instead of following her he had declined. When he heard about what had transpired with the blood mage he kept his distance. He was so worried about his damned vows and the temptation she gave to him that he had been selfish when she needed him most. After that night she seemed to pull away, coming to the Chantry to see him less often. He had always known that was the only reason she had ever come, she was not the person to want to spend their free time with the Maker. No. She only came on the chance of running into him and he knew it. As much as he tried to distract himself with loss of her absence he would find himself wandering Hightown hoping that he would catch her as she was making her way home.

He sighed, pulling himself out of his thoughts, her forehead was still pressed against the cold plates between her hands where she grasped at it causing her knuckles to turn white from the grip. "I am sorry, Laila." No more vows, he had to keep reminding himself, there were no vows he was breaking. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, slipping his head between her arms to let her arms rest on either side of his head and pulling her to him when she lifted her face away from his armor, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath when she clung to him and cried in to his neck. "You are right, I was the selfish one and I am sorry for not seeing it sooner." Fingers stroked her head and he pulled the shaking body closer, trying to be that comfort that she had needed so many years ago.

The two stayed that way long after she had calmed herself, neither wishing to move from an affection they had both craved all those years. It was not until a knock came at the door and a guard addressing Sebastian. He forced a smile when she pulled back and looked at his face, holding her blanket in place while he slipped her arms over his head. He pulled it back around her and held it until she took hold of it in her own hands.

"I'll send a servant with clothes and some food, see about that fire being lit." He looked over her shoulder through the window where the storm had finally approached and water now fell freely from the sky. "Give me a moment and I will return after you are tended to." The back of his hand ran over her cheek and he couldn't help but frown at her eyes that were puffed and red. He ran his hand over her shoulder before forcing himself to leave the room.

She watched as he left, turning away when she heard the lock once again. She made her way to the bed and pulled herself a top it, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting the air escape her chest. She closed her eyes and let herself escape within her own mind until she heard the door again and a young Elf entered, arms full. She stood from the bed to help the girl as she tried to balance the items within her arms. Laila took the food from her hands, walking back to the bed as the girl followed. "I would like to be left alone, if you do not mind. I can dress myself."

The Elf nodded her head slowly before hurrying out of the room to leave the mage alone with her own thoughts. Hawke picked at the food, slowly eating it while she watched the rain fall as the lightening struck and thunder shook the world around it. When she finished with her meal she pulled the dark blue dress the servant had brought her from the bed. Stepping into it before she groaned and looked down at the cuffs that encircled her wrists. How was she to dress herself, did the servant posses the key? She jerked her head up at the sound of a knock upon her door.

"Yes?" She pulled the blanket from the bed and covered her exposed upper body with it.

"I hope I am not intruding." An old woman smiled as she stepped in to the room.

"I was just trying to dress, but it would seem I cannot." She tucked the blanket under arm and held up her hand, high enough so the woman could see.

"Ah, well then, why don't you let me fix that." She pulled a key from her apron and hurried over to the girl, pushing the door closed with her foot. "Did you eat well?"

"Yes, thank you." Her restraints were pulled away, freeing her hands to be slipped in to the dress. She turned her back to the woman and quickly dressed herself.

"Here, love, let me help you with that. Sometimes these dresses are just not made for one person to dress themselves." The elder laughed and began the task of lacing the back of the dress.

"I'm sorry I did not get your name." Laila held her hair away from her back, keeping the woman's view clear.

"You may call me Elle."

"Thank you for your help, Elle. I thought I may be left in my small clothes until supper." Hawke laughed, glancing over her shoulder.

"Oh dear, I just found out that you were here. If I had known I would have came sooner." She finished the lacing and rubbed Laila's arm before turning to the fire.

"Oh please, allow me to do that." Hawke hurried over to the elder woman and took the tools from her hands.

"I thought you a guest of Sebastian's, I do not mean to be so forward, but I had thought the Chantry had changed him. You are the first naked and bound woman I have found within the halls since he has returned."

Hawke laughed, the fire roaring to life in front of her. She set the tools aside and looked over at the woman. "Were there many bound and naked women who were guests before he became a Brother."

"He was a lively young man." She laughed loudly. "He loved the women and the women loved him." She made her way to the bed, taking a seat and motioning for Hawk to join her. "Some of them were sweet young things, others... well I do not want to insult nobility, but I preferred finding his young servant girls over the nobles."

"Oh, I can only imagine!" Hawke chuckled as she sat down. "I am not one of Sebastian's lovers, I am just a friend."

The woman turned to face her, holding her hands in her lap. "I am curious why a friend would be leashed as you were."

Hawke turned away as she spoke. "It is a long story."

"He has a kind heart." She took hold of the mage's face and smiled when she saw the golden eyes again. "He will forgive you, I know so." She stood from the bed and took the girl's hand. "Come, you cannot stay in this room all day. Let me show you our home, the Vael's have such lovely paintings."


Sebastian raised his brow when he heard the giggling echoing through the hall, lowering the reports he held in his hand as it became louder. Out of curiosity he followed the sound, thinking he would find a few servant girls with his men or simply putting off their duties. He raised his eyebrow and stopped a distance away from the two figures, of course Elle would have retrieved Hawke as soon as she heard there was a young woman staying. He placed his papers on to a near by table, watching the two woman who spoke to one another before laughing. As quietly as his boots would allow him, being thankful he had been changed out of his armor before heading towards Laila's room it made it much easier to listen in on what exactly Hawke found so amusing.

"Maker! I find myself envious that I did not know Sebastian before the Chantry became a large part of his life." Laila laughed loudly.

"Oh!" Elle chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand as her cheeks flushed. "You're such a wonderful, strong girl. I find myself also wishing time had been different, though I assume for different reasons then your own." She smiled brightly and took Hawke's hand, waiting till the mage looked down at her before she spoke. "Your affections and strength may have tamed his wild spirit."

Hawke smiled and placed her hand over the old woman's. "That is sweet of you to say, Elle."

"Or you could have been in the same situation as the young servant girl..."

"Running from the noble woman as bare as the day I was born?" She finished the woman's sentence with a laugh.

"Hawke!" Sebastian yelled, quite louder than he had intended to, but the shock was evident in his voice.

She jumped at the sound of his voice, eyes going wide as her heart beat roughly against her chest with fear.

"It seems we have been caught." Elle laughed before turning to the prince. "Why did you not tell me this young woman was waiting in her room alone? We do not ignore our guests, Sebastian."

"Elle..."

"She is such a sweet thing, spending her day with me." The old woman touched Hawke's cheek, the mage smiled lightly at her in a attempt to hide her fear. It was a failure and she knew it when Elle gave her hand a tight squeeze. She released the mage and walked towards Sebastian, placing her hand on his cheek with a smile before leaving the two alone.

"I'm sorry, she came to my room and I..." She sighed when he turned to her. "She is very sweet, I just... she made me think of my mother. I had no intention on trying to leave or anything, I was just enjoying the company that's all." She wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the painting they had been admiring while Elle told her of encounters she had with Sebastian's lady friends. "It is beautiful here."

"I imagine she shared some rather, degrading stories with you."

Hawke smiled widely, but did not look away from the painting. "I was quite surprised, I had never thought you to be one with such a... reputation. I mean, you only told Isabela and myself that you had been with women." She looked over at him as he walked towards her. "I would have never guessed any of what she shared."

"I threatened the family reputation with my own, as my mother had told me, that is why I was sent to the Chantry." He stopped next to her and looked up at the large painting of Andraste.

"We all have our weakness, Sebastian."

"I was just a selfish child, the Chantry helped me mature. When I first returned to Starkhaven I had not expected to find Elle, I thought she had been killed with the rest. It was a relief to see her, she was like a mother to me."

"She is quite amazing." Laila smiled.

"Seems she has taken a liking to you." He looked over at the girl.

"I've taken a liking to her as well." She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked back to the painting.

"Well, she has already freed you from your room, perhaps we should head to the kitchens." He motioned his hand towards the hall he had come in from.

"I could go for some food." She walked with him out of the room.