Hello everyone, I wanted to apologize for my errors in writing. I tend to just type away and publish without proof reading (which is a big mistake when you have a two year old at home demanding your attention) either way be patient with me. I'll try to be more on top of it in the upcoming chapters. Feel free to leave any feedback. -C

Fenris awoke to several knocks at the front door. He sat up in the arm chair, throwing his head back into the backrest falling back asleep. More knocks came. Who the hell could be at the door this early in the morning? He opened his eyes briefly, wiping a bit of drool off of his face. He ignored whoever it was and started to relax slowly falling back asleep. A heavier pounding sounded on the door and didn't stop this time. He jolted wide awake stomping angrily to the door. He threw it open with a loud bang to reveal a small boy standing there. Dirt covered most of his body, he was peering up a Fenris through his greasy hair.

"Letter for you Messere." He held out a small envelope in front of him.

Fenris stared down at the letter and back up to the boys face, "From whom?" He swiped it out of his hands.

"Serah Hawke," He held out his hand expectantly. Not moving from the spot he stood.

Fenris dug in his coin purse and pressed a silver into his palm. He shut the door and continued to scowl at the small elegant writing on the front on the envelope. He opened the letter carefully and pulled a small piece of parchment out. Each stroke of her penmanship was perfectly placed, even if the symbols were foreign to his eyes. He tried making out any of the words to indicate what it was about, but it was a futile attempt. A disgusted feeling washed over him as he thought of Danarius laughing at his meager attempts.

In frustration he crumpled the letter and threw it away from himself. His hatred for the man continued to plague his mind no matter how far he traveled. Danarius is the reason for all of his struggles in life: no past, no family, even the simple task of not being able to read...it all stemmed back from him. He had no hope for a future, and Fenris could feel his plan of running away was at a dead end now. The only thing he could do was wait and when the moment came he would kill Danarius. Until that moment he would never truly be free.

He stood up and reclaimed the paper ball, pulling it apart to try and make it flat again. Maybe he would visit Hawke later to see what it was about.


It was late evening when he strolled into Low town. He managed to find the Hanged Man and when he inquired about where Hawke lived he was surprised to find it was not far. He chose to ignore the blood specks on the stairs as he climbed up them. When he reached the top there was an older woman kneeling down scrubbing the bloodied stone with an old brush. She threw the brush in the bucket and stood up, wiping a bit of sweat off of her brow.

"Hello" she said kindly nodding toward Fenris.

"Um- hello..." He was taken back by how warm this woman was towards him. "Does Hawke live here?"

"Of course you would be here for her, no one else gets any visitors." She gave a nervous glance to the door and sighed. "She's inside, but you'll have to excuse the mess. I think she might have pushed herself a little too hard today." She picked up the bucket and went down the stairs.

Fenris nodded towards her and opened the door. A marbari growled at him as he entered and a room full of eyes were set on him.

"Caboose, stop it!" Hawke yelled. When Fenris saw her he didn't know what to think.

Hawke was sitting backwards on a chair, her shirt was cut open in the back revealing what looked like a claw sticking out of it. Isabela was behind her working relentlessly with a needle and thread sowing up one of the three gaping wounds in Hawke's back. Merrill was in front of Hawke holding her hand with a damp wash cloth in the other trying to mop up the sweat that was pouring off of her forehead.

"Hey Fenris," Hawke looked exhausted. She winced and letting out a low growl as Isabela stuck the needle into her skin again. Hawke dropped her head, the knuckles on her hand going white from where she squeezed Merrill's hand. Caboose walked over to Hawke and whined gently laying his head in her lap.

"Try to relax, kitten. We just need to close this up before you lose anymore blood."

Fenris walked over to her back and cringed at the sight, "What happened?"

"Sodding...d-dragons" Hawke cringed as the needle went through again.

Anders busted through the door pushing past Fenris with Bethany following quickly behind him. He had a large red spot on his for head from where he had just been napping.

"Impeccable timing" Isabela removed the needle from the thread and began tying it together so it would hold.

Anders began to look Hawke over touching her back in various places to see how much damage was really done. Fenris could see the worry was thick in his eyes.

"So.." Hawke winced at his prodding, "what's the verdict?"

"You'll live...but it doesn't mean to make this a habit. There's only so many times I can save the day."

"I didn't ask for the Dragon to swoop down on me you know." Hawke hissed. Anders wrapped his hands around the claw in her back and yanked it out in one swift motion.

"Damn it Anders! Couldn't you at least give me a warning?!"

A small smile played on his lips, but his face soon hardened again as his hands glowed blue. The wound slowly closed up. Hawke scrunched her face up in pain.

"These cuts are deeper..." he studied them shaking the blood off of his hands, "Which means, I wont be able to completely mend the cuts. You're very lucky too, it barely nicked your spine."

"You could see, the bone...I thought it would help to stitch it" Isabela said folding her arms behind her back and leaned against the wall. Bethany pulled up a chair in front of Hawke and took over Merrill's job. Hawke smiled at her briefly.

"A good call indeed. This may hurt Hawke"

"Just fucking do it!" Hawke groaned. "I'm getting light headed from all of this blood."

Anders hands began glowing a deep blue again pressing down firmly. Hawke screamed clutching the chair, Bethany's hand, anything she could grab onto until her body relaxed. Her head fell in between her outstretched arms as she fell unconscious. Bethany stood up and turned away from everyone tears pouring out of her eyes.

Fenris reacted before anyone could blink. He grabbed Anders up by the neck slamming him into a nearby wall. "What did you do to her mage?"

"I didn't do-" Anders voice was cut off as Fenris tightened his grasp.

"Elf, you need to stop" Isabela placed a hand on his arm. "Hawke is fine. She passed out from shock is all. Look at her closely"

Fenris looked over to Hawke. Her face had softened and he could see her steady breathes as her chest fell up and down. Merrill and Bethany worked together to wrap bandages around her limp body. Fenris turned his attention back to the mage and looked him straight in the eye. "If anything happens to her, I will find you" he gave Anders's throat another tight squeeze before letting him go. Anders fell back onto his feet, grabbing at his throat.

"You think I would let anything happen to her? You seriously must be daft you know." Anders grumbled straightening his jacket. "We need to move her to the bed, she needs rest."

Bethany stood her up, but was struggling. Fenris pushed past Anders, picking Hawke up gently. Her form crumpled into his arms and in a way she looked helpless for the first time since he had met her. Fenris took her to her room and set her down gently on the bed.

Ignoring Fenris completely Anders checked her pulse and rolled Hawke on her stomach. She cooed softly under his touch as he felt for a fever. He smiled at her and moved a small strand of hair out of her face. He then stood straight as the older woman entered the room from earlier.

"She lost a lot of blood, but she will be fine." Anders looked at her bandaged form. "Make sure to change these once they've bled through and clean her cuts with this" He pulled a tiny salve out of his pocket giving it to the woman. She tried to hide the worry in her face but everyone could see it.

"She's fine mother" Bethany touched her shoulder lightly. "She just needs rest."

"Thank you everyone, I know Elsa can be reckless...we are grateful she has so many people looking after her."

Fenris studied her face as she spoke. So this was Hawke's mother. He could tell there was a small resemblance in their faces, and now he felt embarrassed about not introducing himself to her earlier.

"Well, I have to get back to the clinic...I wish I could stay-" he glanced at Hawke briefly, "I'll be by later to check on her." Leandra and Bethany both gave him a big hug. He turned to exit and gave Fenris an ugly look before shutting the door behind him.

"We'll be off too. We have some wounds of ours to nurse, and ale to drink. You want to join us..." Isabela asked pointing in his direction trying to recall his name.

"Fenris, and no. I'd like to stay here for a time." He watched Isabela carefully as she gave a disappointed look.

"Suit yourself then" She shrugged her shoulders and left with Merrill.

"Well, Fenris is it? Would you mind keeping an eye on her so we can clean up?"

He looked to Hawke's sleeping form snoring softly. "I don't mind."

Leandra smiled brightly patting Bethany on the shoulder. "Well common Bethany, let's get to cleaning up the mess your sister made. Gamlen will have kittens if he sees his house in this state."

"Oh mother.." Bethany moaned, " Can't we just leave it? After all-" the door closed behind them cutting her sentence off.

Fenris took a chair from the corner and set it next to Hawke's bed. He watched her for a few moments. Her skin was pale as snow. He could see a deep bruise setting in on her shoulder and examined the bandages that covered her upper body. He admired her, every inch. Fenris had never had the time to ever just appreciated something...nonetheless a beautiful woman such as Hawke. Even if she was bloody and mangled, she defiantly was her own character. It was very loud and outspoken, 'not taking anyone's shit' character...but it's what made her, Hawke. Yet now, she was so innocent and beautiful. He had never seen anyone that could match her beauty. He reached out to touch her cheek. She felt so warm against the pads of his fingers. He could feel a small rush of warmth crack throughout his body. What was this feeling?

"Hmmm.." Hawke moved her head away from his touch and he moved hand back to his side. She opened her eyes sleepily turning her face out of the pillow, "Fenris?" She whispered his name. He could feel his face soften at her tone. "You don't have too. Stay, I mean, I'm alright now." she yawned loudly. She was so quiet as she spoke he was almost afraid to respond to her.

"I...understand." He really didn't know why he agreed to staying with her. He would have never stuck his neck out for anyone before...maybe he was going soft? He stared at her and she stared back at him, her eyes heavy with sleep.

She smiled softly at him, "You have such intense eyes...I could get lost in them forever..." She closed her eyes again and Fenris tensed. He didn't know how to reply to that at all. His people skills were next to nonexistent, and his flirting skills were in a whole other galaxy far far away from here. He relaxed again when he heard her begin to snore. He relaxed back into the chair again and crossed his arms in front of him. This woman was someone he had never encountered before. Of course he had passes thrown his way, but he never had an interest in pursuing anything before now...but she seemed to change his mind about a lot of things.


Bethany came into the room hours later to change Hawke's bandages. When the door closed behind her Fenris woke with a start.

"Sorry about that," she grimaced. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"It is fine." he rubbed his hands over his face trying to wake himself up. "I should probably go."

"Oh, alright. Wait, could you help me change her bandages first?"

He tensed for a moment. That would mean he would have to see Hawke shirtless... and curse him for thinking this way, but he had no memory of ever seeing any female shirtless before.

"You wont be ogling her breasts, just hold her up while I change them out. Nothing complicated about that at all." It was as if she read his mind.

"Alright."

Fenris held her underneath her armpits propping her up as Bethany tried to work fast. Fenris kept his eyes on the fireplace a small blush coming to the tips of his ears. If he ever wanted to be close to a woman before, this was defiantly not the way he pictured himself doing it.

Right then Anders walked in looking down at a stack of papers he carried along with a few potion bottles balancing in his other hand. "Sorry I'm so late Bethany, I had to...to.." he trailed off dropping everything in his hands to the floor. Hawke's assets were covered by then, but just the thought of that mage hating elf trying to sneak a peek, even touching her as he did now angered him to his very core.

"You!" was all he said rushing over to Fenris and shoved him away from Hawke.

Bethany managed to wrap her arms around Hawke in time before she fell

"Don't you dare touch me mage!" Fenris snarled his markings burning a soft blue.

"Don't tell me what to do you pigheaded fool." Anders matched his tone.

"He was trying to help me...which I also need help now as well!" Bethany chimed in trying to wobble Hawke back over towards the bed.

"Help? He was trying to help you? A mage? Well I find that hard to believe now." Anders crossed his arms and gave Fenris a disgusted look.

"I was trying to help Hawke, now get out of my way." He tried to go over to Bethany to help her, but Anders stepped in front of him to block him off.

"You're not going anywhere, but out of here." Anders said firmly as sparks of lightning dance over his hands.

They kept arguing until it became a shouting match, then the shouting became a shoving match. Bethany had managed to make it to the bed in time and flipped Hawke onto it...only she flipped her onto her back instead of her stomach. At which Hawke's eyes flew open in response. "Maker!" she yelled jumping up from the bed. "Fuck, fuck it all! I hope all the dragons burn into the bloody void!" Her yelling made Fenris and Anders calm down and they both stared at her. Her bandages had come slightly undone at the top exposing the upped parts of her breasts.

"Uh...Elsa..." Bethany pointed to Hawke's chest. Hawke looked down and up to the two men who were standing off to the side of the room. They both were blushing, trying to act as if they didn't see anything.

"Oh common!" She yelled grabbing some clothes that were laying on the end of her bed and flung the door of her room open. She stomped past Gamlen and retreated into the wash room.

"Hawke, let me help you with your bandages!" Bethany called from the door.

"You tried helping if I may remind you, in front of Fenris..."

"Anders was there too"

"Don't remind me!" She yelled angrily throwing her boots on.

Bethany eventually ended up threatening to burn down the door down. At that point Hawke let her in. She changed Hawke's bandages and was quiet for a long time. When she was done Hawke out right ignored her and continued to tame her tangled hair.

"See if I ever help you again.." she muttered slamming the door behind her as she left.

"I never asked for your help!"

Hawke shrugged her clothes on as quickly as one could with her back being sore as it was. She found that she was the only one left at Gamlen's house besides Caboose. She felt a tinge of regret, but shook it off.

"Common boy, let's go." She left walking to the one place she could always go, no matter what time it was.


Hawke climbed the stairs of the Hanged man towards Varric's room. The door was opened so she let herself in. Varric was sitting at the head of the table pining over books and old looking pieces of parchment. A plate of food sat before him untouched. He looked up and smiled when he saw her, "Hawke, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Hawke pulled out a chair next to him and threw herself down in it. She propped her feet up on the table and threw her arms behind her head. "I needed to get away from Gamlen's for a bit." She frowned. Caboose settled down by her feet and rested his head on his paws. "Anders and Fenris were arguing about Maker only knows what...and Bethany is cross with me as-well" Hawke sighed heavily when her stomach growled loudly.

Ever since Hawke and Bethany met Varric, they have been doing ever job they could find to get enough coin for the deep roads expedition. Every copper was put up in savings, as a promise for a better future. However that left providing for their own family more strained then it already was. They had a budget that was very strict, and Hawke made sure to keep to it. She went without meals several times during the week with the exception of drinks at the hanged man that were bought for her. But it didn't matter how hungry she was, as long as Mother and Bethany were taken care of. As long as they were doing fine, she could remain content.

"So I'm taking it your injuries aren't holding you back from anything? I vaguely remember Merrill talking about you needing bed rest for awhile" He scoffed at her expression, grabbing the plate of food and setting it in front of her, "Here, eat this before you wither away in front of me"

She sat the chair down and immediately started digging in.

"Well, how did things at the mine go today?" He saw Hawke's eye slightly twitch as she looked down at her plate remaining quiet. "So it was that bad, huh?"

She grabbed some bread off of the plate and bit off a huge piece. Helping Hubert seemed like a good idea at the time, but if she knew that she would have been knees deep in dragons guts and her own blood she would have seriously reconsidered. "I've had enough of dragons biting, fire breathing, and shitting to last me a life time. Not to mention one swooping down on top of me...do you know how fucking bad swooping is?!" Hawke yelled with her mouth full. "To top it all off, I don't think I'll even convince Merrill to come help me with anything again. She almost got crushed several times today herself...it was terrible"

"Daisy? I thought you were taking Broody out for a test drive?"

She threw what remained of the bread back onto the plate at the mention of his name. "I sent a message for him this morning..." she looked down as she felt...let down, perhaps? She shook the feeling off immediately, "He never showed, so Merill was the only other one free besides Isabela and Bethany" Hawke shrugged she took the plate and set it under the table for Caboose. He barked happily and went to town on it.

"A message...wait, a hand written note?"

Hawke gave him a look as if he was crazy, "Um, yes Varric, I didn't know there was any other way to do that sort of thing..."

"You do know he used to be a slave right?"

"Yeeeeah" She sat up in the chair and stared at him, confusion taking over her features.

"Well, I'm taking a guess here, but slaves don't have many rights...including learning how to read"

Hawke stared at his face for a moment deciphering what he had just said in her mind. She face palmed herself and sighed heavily, "Riiight...I didn't realize. Oh maker how stupid of me...I should go apologize tomorrow."

"Don't be too distraught. I'm sure if he knew, he would have been there." Varric watched Hawke out of the corner of his eye.

A small smile graced her lips at the thought of him being there for her. She had spent most of the day thinking about Fenris ignoring her request for his aide. Maybe she wasn't such a loser after all? She was never very good with all of this raw emotion crap. It seemed like her emotions were weighing down on her more and more lately. She thought back to what her father used to always tell her.

-Remember Elsa, most people would turn us in if they found out about Bethany and myself. You have to keep yourself guarded at all times. They will punish you, Carver, and you're mother for knowing about us. It's important to take care of the family, no matter what the cost to ourselves.

Hawke always obeyed his wishes, no matter what she wanted. Keeping the family together was the most important to him, which made it as equally important to herself. All of her companions equally took a small piece of her walls down, as she began to know more about them. Who she was meant to be shined through a little more everyday...yet she was still guarded. She knew how to be friendly without getting close, how to lie like she was telling the truth, and how to hide her emotions like the most precious treasure through out all of the free marches. So why were things changing now that Fenris had suddenly bomb shelled into her life?

"He did come by today.." she said thinking of the moment when she opened her eyes on the bed and saw him sitting there. Her heart swelled and felt like it was about to burst. "I was a bloody spaced out mess though." she scoffed careful not to press her back into the chair.

"From what Riviani told me, I believe it." Varric chuckled. "And what this bit about Blondie being jealous?"

"Jealous? Anders?" she exclaimed. Varric gave her a look which said it all. "You must be crazy to think Anders would be jealous of anyone...over me." she leaned her elbows onto the table top and thought about it for a moment. All of these emotions was giving her a headache. Anders was jealous? What the hell was going on? Or maybe Anders had finally lost it. Maybe she was losing it.

There was only one thing she could think of doing at a time like this.

"Common Varric," she said suddenly standing up from the table. "Let's go get drunk."

"That's the first sensible thing I've heard today" He laughed. "You sure you're suppose to be drinking though?"

"If you think being injured is going to stop me from drinking you under that table, then you are losing your mind Varric."