Author's Note: This chapter feels so unpolished despite going over it several times. UGH! I hate huge time skips, I need to practice proper recaps. So now we get to meet Fenris proper! I am happy for the responses so far, although it seems to be more popular on AO3 that FF, but I assume that's because the DA fanbase is very active there. Then again, ME:A just came out, so fans of both may be LONG GONE from the DA fandom :P (I know I partially am) I hope you enjoy chapter 2!

~Start of Chapter 2~

It had been three years since that fateful day. Three years and she was now only known now as Magister Hawke. She had effectively stopped being Aria, and become a cold magister, playing the part as perfectly as she could. Learning new rules, and playing the political games that the Tervinter Imperium provided.

The young elf she had saved, whose name was Yirel, ended up thanking her and pledging herself to her house forever with such intent that Aria had allowed her to become the house's Steward. She handled all the affairs for Aria, and as it turned out, she was damn good at it. She helped her navigate the new rules and societal requirements of being a magister, as wekk as becoming something of a confidant.

The particular magister she had taken out was also a member of the senate, providing her with his seat and ample opportunity to ruin a few bigots days where she could. But she had to use tact; it would be a death sentence to be openly in support of slave rights and openly against the Tervinter Imperium.

If she was arrested or killed, those in her house would lose her protection. Those she freed risked danger in that abandonment. No, they were her responsibility now and she took that seriously. Everything was a perfectly balanced act.

She kept her home affairs private, making sure all of her servants, she refused to call them slaves, knew to stay quiet. Her own personal guard had been made up largely of slaves as well. Those who weren't slaves, were hired guards that had spent most of their time abusing the slaves on the estate prior to her taking over.

She had fired almost all of them keeping her personal guard small and trustworthy. Those who respected her decisions and pledged their loyalty to her house, and not the previous Magister's, got to stay.

It was no secret she kept herself surrounded by slaves, or rather elves as they all mostly were. Everyone assumed it was due to her cold heart and obsessive research, and not a single slave was willing to break her confidence to right that inaccuracy. Mutual benefit and all that.

Her home was safe, she protected them and had given a small sanctuary where she could. It did little to ease her guilt ridden heart however. She was still surviving off the backs of those who had no choices.

But if not with her, then with whom? Yirel had already told her of her life with their old magister. It was horrible, something no one should have to live through. It seemed you could only be so progressive in the Tervinter Imperium, magister or not.

She had already seen them strip a man of all his worth, killing most of his slaves like cattle for trying to free them, before he too was executed. The privilege of the elite was more important than basic rights, even to mages it seemed.

Sadly that did nothing to resolve the fact she had ended up piss in off Danarius, Tervinters most dangerous magister. He had wanted her to join him, offering up an array of slaves and wine for her use.

She declined spitefully, but returned none of the sent slaves, nor the wine.

Mysteriously they all disappeared after having been turned away at her door. She hadn't a clue what had happened to them, claiming she had sent them home not having a need, nor space, for more slaves.

Truthfully they were sent far away with a pocket full of coin, and a ship providing safe travel privately for such occasions. She had befriended a pirate a few years ago, and after a particularly drunken night where she was robbed, had come to an agreement with said pirate Captain. By the time Danarius expected their return, they were already halfway across the sea. She would have kept them easily if her accepting didn't send the wrong message to Danarius. It was dangerous to have him around her affairs anymore than he had been already.

She also honestly didn't have the space to take on every single slave that was offered to her either, most magisters had a revolving door due to 'accidental slave deaths', thus they always had space. She wasn't like that, and she was hardly going to broadcast that little fact to the entire senate.

The senate had ruled in her favour, that it was merely a case of slaves escaping and it was Danarius' responsibility to ensure their obedience. It was rare another magister would refuse such a gift, but not unheard of.

Such is life.

But things were becoming a lot more troublesome for Hawke after that. Hadriana had been snooping around sniffing up her seat viewing her as the weakest link. Danarius was clearly supporting it, and after discovering he had a lyrium branded bodyguard to call his own...

Yeah she was nervous to say the least. She had been to one such party on occasion where Fenris had pulled the beating heart from a slave girl that had accidentally dropped wine onto another magister's robes.

But now here she found herself, arguing with Danarius in a Senate meeting over the removal of basic slave rights, what little they had that is. Magisters wanted to be able to do as they wished without weighty laws in the way. While no one bothered to invoke any of the barbaric protections in place, it was still a headache to keep just in case someone tried. Someone such as Hawke.

Aria wanted to bring in more rights. The basic rights of food, medicine, toiletries, etc. It was still considered legal to only provide a minimum of 2 meals a week, and one glass of water a day. It was disgusting.

As you can imagine Danarius disagreed with her feverently. He believed they were property, and that's it.

"You are still new here. How dare you insult our ways." He boomed, his voice echoing through the chamber.

"Your old viewpoints will get you killed. It's time we evolve and start changing things for the better." Aria argued back. Her dark purple robes billowing as she moved her arms around angrily.

"You dare insult me? You are still a no one on the senate!" He shouted, his voice echoing off the chamber walls as he came to stand at his full height.

"I do dare. With how you treat people I'd be hard pressed to not dare." She all but hissed. It was no secret she sympathized with the slaves. However most assumed she followed Tervinter beliefs outside of a select few. Punishing her own as she saw fit inside the privacy of her own home.

Danarius knew different with the many house visits he had place during her first month in her new position. He soon realized she sympathized with the slaves in some way, and after that day he did everything he could to stall her at the senate or make her life harder.

Hadriana was often privy to ensuring that. On more than one occasion he had used his position, and hers, to take away slaves from her for various bullshit legal reasons. She was a cold hearted bitch who seemed to get off on torture.

While Hadriana wasn't on the senate, her father was. She was Danarius niece and apprentice as well as the daughter of another magister. The evil was strong in that family.

Most he had claimed ended up dead from his experiments. The rest sold, and a small few she had managed to buy back. Every single one had a story about that girl.

So to say she was itching for a fight was an understatement to be sure.

"Will you dare challenge me this time then?" he inquired boredly, knowing Aria was much weaker than himself. Danarius used blood magic, something Hawke was hardly aware of.

Aria mulled over her thoughts. She could challenge him and take away something he treasured. She could kill him and take his home. She could even push him from the Senate.

But then emerald green eyes flitted through her mind's eye and she knew why she had that vision all those years ago.

"I challenge you for the possession of the slave known as Fenris."

Danarius wasn't smiling anymore.

~Break~

Aria stood in the center of the atrium, her heart in her throat. Danarius made a show of slowly pulling his outer robes off and taking his staff from Hadriana, twirling it lightly as it sparked bits of fire.

Aria stood at the ready, her weapons more than capable if need be. Her old gun still maintained, rested at the small of her back just in case.

She barely heard the magister who was refereeing issue a countdown, but she was aware of the intense spikes of ice charging towards her. She dove away, splinters of ice decorating the room, sparkling like diamonds.

She quickly pivoted on her right foot, slamming her staff down causing a ring of fire to spread across the floor. Danarius quickly blinked across it, dashing towards her, fire in his hands. His face was twisted in a fury she had never rightly seen before, and she knew he enjoyed the blood he spilled.

She grabbed his left hand, the fire licking at her flesh for a moment, spinning him as she kicked his back, slamming him into the ground, slivers of ice cutting up his palms. As he stood to his feet, body shaking with rage, she noticed the flecks of blood on the marble floor, and he did too. It did nothing, but fuel his rage towards her, his calm exterior cracking.

"You bitch!" he shouted out as crackles of electricity shot from his skin. He turned towards her summoning a firestorm above the room causing everyone to dive to a safe area, and others to cast barriers.

Aria knew she was in for a rough ride, so she summoned some mage armor that took the brunt of the storm. She felt the heat, but kept her cool as she stared through bleary eyes, her arms up and ready.

Once it had ended she advanced on him, smashing his head with her staff as she twirled it. She went to summon her own electricity into the palm of her hand and struck his chest, stunning him briefly as she summoned another fireball.

However she heard the strangled noise of Hadriana as she grew pale and fell to the floor, blood starting to ooze from her nose. Twisting her head to find the source of the commotion, she missed the red glow surrounding Danarius.

Aria had only but a moment until she felt her throat seize and her brain pound. As she looked up she finally noticed an angry Danarius, hand outstretched and glowing red. He was using blood magic. He was probably using a more than happy to be used Hadriana to boot.

She felt her eyeballs start to swell and she scratched at her throat in panic. Blood magic was still illegal here, but no one seemed concerned. No one bothered to step in, and she realized just how much the senate wanted her dead.

Shit she had no idea how unmatched she truly was.

She felt blood pouring from her nose as she reached into the back of her robes pulling out the cold dark metal of her gun. Raising it a shot echoed and the pressure in her skull stopped.

Danarius was flat on his back, unconscious, blood pooling from the wound on his shoulder she had inflicted.

Lowering her weapon she teetered on her heels until she came crashing down herself.

"Aria Hawke is the winner!" She heard someone shout as her world slowly faded away.

~Break~

Fenris wasn't sure what to think when Danarius was carried out of the atrium unconscious and bleeding. What he did know, is it meant a brutal beating in the end for him.

So following obediently, head cast down, he followed his master through the main hall only to be halted by another magister.

"Slave, Danarius is no longer your master, if you have any intelligence left you'll go collect your new mistress and take her home." The magister who spoke was Danarius' brother Ronario. He hated Fenris and seemed to dislike even more what had occurred to his brother.

Fenris knew right then that it was a warning to collect his new mistress before she was killed herself. It being clear at this point what had occurred behind the senate doors to injure his old master so. Leaving him masterless and up for grabs from whomever killed her was a dangerous situation to be in so he hurried towards the doors before they fully closed. Entering the atrium Fenris felt the prickle of magic lick at his lyrium marks. Stifling the gasp of pain that would have come out if he were anyone else, he went over towards the fallen and bloodied form of his new master.

As he gingerly picked up her form her head lulled to the side and he got a good look at who now owned him

Aria Hawke.

The new idiot mage whose days were numbered. Great.

Fenris stifled the feeling of happiness that spread through his belly at escaping Danarius' clutches. He knew it was a matter of time until he came to kill Aria and claim him back. After all, Danarius was a blood mage through and through, and had ensured Fenris had little choice in the matter.

He had to do as his master bid. But, until Danarius was well enough, Fenris was free of him, if even for a moment.

He felt the warning from Ronario as he walked past him, holding his new mistress in his arms so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

Besides, she was a mage through and through. He would only survive this if he remembered that.

~Break~

Aria awoke to a pounding in her head. As she sat up she noticed that Yirel had cleaned her up and changed her into her bed clothes.

She swung her legs over the side of her bed as she stretched out her neck, her now longer hair tangling as she attempted to brush her fingers through it.

She stood without too much trouble and she rounded her bed and tripped over a form on the ground. Letting out an undignified shriek, she grasped at her bedding as she toppled over. She fell in a tumble of her bed clothes and bedding, landing on a warm and less than soft form that let out a grunt.

She rolled onto her back holding her head where she had hit it against the chest that lay at the end of her bed. Sitting up she noticed she was all but half laying on her new white haired elf.

Shit.

"Uhh...hi?" was her eloquent response as she stared up at his larger form, eyes wide and confused.

He merely bowed his head offering a small apology as he rose to kneel. He turned away and seemed to be awaiting something, tense and rigid.

"What...are you doing?" Aria was beyond confused now.

"I have cause my mistress harm, I am awaiting my punishment."

The stoney response did nothing to settle the rock sitting lodged in her throat. It was in that moment she realized just how royally she screwed up. He was Danarius personal bodyguard and slave and she had effectively won him like a trophy for her petty grievances.

He was a living being what was she thinking? Now he was her responsibility and he felt it completely natural to sleep at the foot of her bed as if he were a dog. He was discussing physical abuse as if it were the weather.

Aria felt her eyes burn and her mind bled with shame. So she did the only thing she could think of. She picked herself off the floor and bolted out of the room in a flurry of blankets and bed clothes.

~Break~

"You really bolted and left him there in your room?" Yirel chuckled as she chopped up some fruit for breakfast.

Aria was cooking herself some porridge, not enjoying allowing anyone else to cook her meals for her.

"It's not my fault, I was surprised to say the least. I expected you to give him his own room!"

"In my defence I tried and he declined. Stating that your vulnerable position would not look good on him if he abandoned his post. He's very serious that one, and beyond conditioned." Yirel spoke the last part softly, her voice wavering in unbidden sadness.

"I didn't think it through..." Aria whispered out finally admitting it to another person.

"No, you didn't. Now he is yours to take care of, so take care of it already." despite being 10 years older than the 17 year old girl, she was centuries older in wisdom and experience.

"I know..." Aria glumly pouted as she poked at her now overdone porridge. "Drat."

~Break~

The weight of her situation lay heavily on her mind. Never before had she been so responsible for another being. The thought of having to be his master to keep him calm and safe made her feel ill.

Oh how deep they were both in. She wasn't used to being this close to someone before, after her family had fallen apart she had completely closed off. Never wanting to feel that heartache again.

None of the slaves here were ever this bad. Most accepted the kindness when offered, even if they had remained shy or timid for some time afterwards.

Shit, did this mean she'd have to take him with her everywhere? Could Danarius still order him to kill her? Would he want too? What about her research?

Just how dangerous was the lyrium that lined his entire body? Or she assumed his entire body, she had only seen as much as a tunic and trousers would show. Why was she thinking about that anyways?

Fuck she wasn't used to anyone being in her bed chambers, much less a man.

She stalked back to her bedchamber deciding to stop being such a chicken and face the music. She still had to get dressed for the day and show Fenris to the baths, and then kitchen.

She entered the room without knocking, not wanting to give up that particular decorum. This was her bedchamber and she could enter it as she saw fit, he was technically the intruder here.

Fenris was seated against the wall, head still bent, and undressed where she had left him. She strode over towards him and took a deep breath. She wasn't sure there was anything she could say that would make this ok.

"Ok, alright. Thank you for ensuring my safety while I slept. I would prefer it if you'd collect your armor and follow me to the baths. Then you'll have breakfast before practice starts. I assume you do train that big sword of yours?" she raised a dark eyebrow in inquiry, but mostly jest.

If Fenris was shocked he didn't show it. He quietly collecting his armor and strode over to her, face blank. Aria took another sigh pinching the pad of her thumb, before she whisked out of the room hoping she didn't look as nervous as she felt.

It was only a matter of minutes before they reached the baths. Aria gestured towards the door and Fenris walked in without hesitating. Letting out the breath she was holding, she leaned against the wall and rubbed her brow hoping to work out her headache.

This was not going well already.

~Break~

Fenris wasn't used to being able to bathe without command. The one thing he had always been provided with was a bathe and perfumes, something he had grown to hate. Even the simplest pleasures Danarius would taint, as a reminder that nothing was ever given free.

His cleanliness was ensured if only for the self serving reasons Danarius always had. No doubt his mistress would be the same. It was no secret many Magister's were drawn to his exotic beauty and lyrium infused tattoos.

He bathed quickly, deriving no joy from the action, before snapping his armor pieces into place and exiting the room. Fenris was, however, startled by his Mistress casually standing by the door, arms crossed.

"I apologise for keeping you waiting." He bowed, mistaking her furrowed brow as thinly veiled anger.

"I, what? No it's fine..." she sighed as she turned away, pinching her brow once more. Fenris followed after obediently, shifting the sword on his back until it was comfortable.

"I'll have Yirel serve you some breakfast, let her know what you'd like." Aria clipply explained as she opened the doors into the kitchens. Her servants still ate in the kitchens, no one really used the dining room anymore. Aria never entertained guests, and strictly cooked all her own meals, eating them in solitude.

"Yirel!" Aria shouted over the bustling kitchens as various elves were busy preparing themselves for the day.

"Yes Mistress Hawke?" She bowed, her longer brown hair tied tightly in a knot atop her head.

"Please ensure Fenris is sufficiently fed, then send him to the training grounds. I want to see his skills first hand." Aria instructed as she pointed towards the servants table for Fenris to sit.

Fenris almost looked as if he wanted to protest, but he merely turned around in his seat, hands in his lap.

"As you wish Mistress Hawke." Yirel bowed and Aria bolted from the room quick as lightning.

It seemed as if his new mistress was less than pleased with him already.

~Break~

Dressed properly now in a pair of dark leather leggings and a white peasant blouse with intricate silver threadwork on the collar and cuffs, Aria felt a touch more comfortable than she did wearing her robes.

When inside her estate she wore what was comfortable and practical. Outside of her estate she wore what was expected of her, obnoxiously so. She made an effort to play the game well, flourishing her riches and status like everyone else.

But she was a girl out of time, and pants were always her prefered choice.

She donned dark leather boots as well that reached mid-calf and had a slight heel. Her staff was strapped to her side still, in a newer holster she had made of leather earlier that year.

She approached one of the few humans on her estate, the head of her guard. His name was Arterio, but she just called him Artie.

"Her Artie!" She greeted as she came to stand beside him as he watched over the other guard's practice.

"Hello Mistress Hawke." He bowed his head in greeting.

"I have a new personal bodyguard who I want you to spar with today, I want to see what his skill level is, as well as find out exactly what he can do." that was basically code for, we don't trust him yet he came from the devil himself so god knows what might occur.

"Is it the personal bodyguard you won from Danarius?"

"His name is Fenris, but yes it is." Admitting it outloud left an odd taste in her mouth and she scowled.

"Let's just prepare everyone for our newest addition shall we?"

~Break~

Fenris wasn't sure what to make of his new mistress. She refused to discipline him, and actually escorted him everywhere like he was some sort of lost puppy. It infuriated him to no end. Just what was she playing at?

She did not even touch him, save for her falling onto him this morning. Truth be told he had almost assumed she was just going to use him the same way Danarius did when he was startled awake by her body covering his.

But then his ears registered her shriek and he knew then that she had not known he was there. A foolish oversight, he had treated her as if she were Danarius and had forgotten himself. He never should have slept that night, she hadn't given him permission.

However, after she bolted out as if he was the one who was going to burn her, she returned not long afterwards dressed like a commoner and ordering him around, the earlier happenstance forgotten.

He expected to be beaten, for her to twist the lyrium in his skin until he felt his insides tearing apart. He expected the whip, but nothing came. She merely showed him where the baths were and then the kitchen.

As he ate his breakfast of fruit and oatmeal, he couldn't help his stunned staring as every other slave smiled brightly and went back for seconds of various ripened pieces of fruit. Yirel, the elf she had rescued years ago, happily handed him a bowl of now cold oatmeal and offered him some juice.

What game were they playing at?

Once he had finished he left silently, following his instructions to a T. Yirel quickly pointed out directions over her shoulder as she noticed his silent departure. He was thankful for her help, but her attentiveness reminded him that he was a stranger here.

When he entered the training grounds, he found his new mistress sparring with a couple of the elven warriors, using only her staff. She was easily outmatched, it was clear she was only just learning, but her slaves refused to provide more than a slight challenge. He stood just on the outskirts, his arms crossed as he awaited further orders.

"Ah Fenris, you've arrived!" She greeted, her face flushed and a smile wide on her face. She looked a lot calmer and less out of place than she was inside.

~Break~

Aria quickly gave the instruction that this session was finished, allowing the two guards she was sparing with to go take a bath and return to their posts for the day. The sun was hot and Aria had long ago gotten used to Tervinter's habit of bathing multiple times a day. One needs it when it gets as hot and sticky as it did.

Global warming did one hell of a number on this place.

So she allowed her servants and guard the same privilege. One servant becoming bedridden from heatstroke was enough of a lesson for her.

"I'd like you to fight the captain of my guard Arterio, he also uses a greatsword such as yourself. I want to get a good grasp of your abilities so he will not being going lightly." Pulling out a towel she pressed it against her sweaty face, before one of her servants handed her a glass of water.

"Thanks." Taking a deep sip she relished the cold feel and sighed.

Artie entered the ring, along with Fenris and pulled his sword out at the ready. The signal was given and Fenris missed no beat advancing. He swung his impossibly large greatsword with ease, opting for a horizontal slash for area spread. It was a solid maneuver, maintaining distance with a non-mage opponent was almost mandatory for a mage. He was trained well for one, after all he was trained for Danarius. She expected nothing less.

Artie quickly dodge, rotating his slightly smaller blade as he rounded Fenris, moving quicker than the elf's larger greater sword would allow. For a moment Aria was worried this fight was going to end rather quickly, but Fenris surprised her as he dodged quickly, blocking Artie's blade with his armored arm. He had moved fast, impossibly fast to close that distance.

Artie twisted his arm catching Fenris' gauntlet with ease, moving to turn him around and disarm him. However, Fenris has other ideas. He twisted his arm around at the last second and plunged it into Artie's chest.

The tattoos were glowing angrily at this and Fenris faltered, stalling his movements, his hand still sitting inside Artie's chest.

It took another moment to realize that Aria had screamed out for him to stop, wide eyed like a doe, her composure fully lost. She rushed towards Fenris and placed a hand on his shoulder whispering for him to remove his hand and step away.

Fenris' eyes flickered towards his new mistress in confusion. Did she not want to see his abilities? Ensure he was a worthwhile slave to win? Her face was set in a pursed line and she gave no emotion away, her eyes dancing dangerously. He could feel the magic buzzing beneath her fingertips and he shivered. Pulling his hand out he stepped back, his head still bowed.

"I apologise mistress." He bowed low, before he placed his greatsword on his back and removed himself to stand at her back, awaiting her next instructions.

"Jesus...I just...what was that?" She asked, her hand again fluttering through her dark hair.

"My previous master had these lyrium tattoos branded on my body so I would be able to phase through people, such as to rip out their hearts...it was...a preference of his he had. I did not mean to presume." he had shied away again causing Aria to let out an irritated sigh.

"Someone get Artie to the healers, I need to have a talk with my new bodyguard I think." She was pinching the brow of her nose as she motioned for Fenris to follow her. She lead him out of the training grounds and into the halls of the manor once again. She lead him through another set of halls until they came to what looked to be a private courtyard.

"This area is private for me, and I suppose now you...I do most of my training here, however you may use the training grounds." She turned to him as the doors to the courtyard closed and he stopped, his heart in his throat.

"Yes mistress." She held up a hand stopping him and looked to be perturbed.

"Please just...when we are here call me Hawke if you want to be formal, mistress has never sat right with me..." she trailed off uncertainly. "However, that isn't why I brought you here. May I inspect your markings?"

"You do not need to ask mistress...Hawke." He tried the word out timidly, but refused to drop the mistress part.

"Ok, well, it's a step...but yes I do. It's your body, may I inspect them? It won't hurt." Fenris stared at her unsure. Why was she asking? He had no rights anyhow. However, he had to respond so he did the only thing he knew to do. Follow instructions. Unclasping his gauntlet, he removed it slowly before extending his arm out towards her.

Aria gingerly took it, noticing instantly the hum of the lyrium as it prickled against her magic. Slowly she traced the lyrium tattoos with care, not missing his soft flinches at her ministrations.

"He had this branded into you didn't he..." she didn't need the confirmation, it was already fairly obvious at this point. It must have been torture.

"Danarius did, and now it is yours." he sounded so far away, like he wasn't really here at all.

"You are not some weapon to be used as I see fit." She frowned, removing her hands from his skin. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding, and she stepped away.

"Just...I need to do my morning workout, please wait for me outside the doors. When sparring in the future never use your lyrium brands on anyone. That is all." She was suddenly cold and familiar to Fenris and he merely nodded his head and left without a sound.

Every Magister was basically the same.

~Break~

After the whole sparring fisco, Aria had done her regular morning routine to stay fit. She was hardly a hand to hand fighter, but she was still physically trained due to her old job. A habit she wasn't comfortable with losing. She did, after all, want to go home eventually.

Leaving her private courtyard, she motioned for Fenris to follow. He did so perfectly obedient and she felt herself mildly impressed at how agreeable he was. Quickly, she shoved that thought aside feeling sick with herself. He was a person, a person who didn't deserve this.

She moved towards her library, pulling her key out and unlocking the door before striding in. She knew Fenris would follow, but until she knew he could be trusted and they had to lay out some ground rules, she let him continue the only role he knew.

Being a slave.

She closed the door and locked it, flipping the latch closed, before striding towards her ornate worktable in the middle of the room. The walls were lined with shelves filly with books, various magical relics, and stray papers from various theories she had been playing with. Sitting down she motioned for Fenris to sit across from her. The walls were high, and she found herself hating the need to constantly get up from her work to procure a book high up on the shelves requiring the ladder. How she hated using that ladder, oh how she hated heights.

"We will spend most of our days like this, working out in the morning after breakfast, and then accompanying me while I work in the library. Mostly here I will only need you to locate specific books I need." She twisted a quill in her mouth as she caught the panicked look that flitted across his face.

"What's wrong?" She inquired feeling another headache coming on. What she wouldn't give to be a total asshole and not give a shit.

"I...that is...Danarius never...taught me to read, it was not...necessary for what he required of me." His cheeks tinged a light pink and I sighed again.

"Ok well, new plan, we shall remedy that while I work. Until then I will just use my magic..." She trailed off disliking using her magic in excess in places she was attempting to recreate the same ritual that got her here in the first place. Residual magic could ruin even the most perfectly executed spell.

Fenris looked as if he wanted to protest or say something, but he quickly tilted his eyes downwards and muttered a small 'Yes mistress Hawke.'

"It is...fine, I do not require of you the things Danarius did, however having you able to read would greatly help me, that is if you want to learn." She left it open ended as he stared at her confused now, eyes devoid of anything save his anxiety. Whatever she had done or said, had made him feel worried.

"I...must admit I have never had a bodyguard or an actual slave before coming here, so do not overthink my words or actions to find hidden intentions, there are none. I do not feel right ordering you to learn to read, it is a lot of work and would be a waste if you are not invested. Simple as that." She gave him an out, no pity, and no expectations.

"I would not mind knowing to read." He spoke simply, his arms sitting in his lap as he avoided her gaze.

"Alright, then let us find you some paper and quill, we shall start with the alphabet." her previous work left forgotten as she moved to procure the necessary tools for their lesson.

~Break~

Their lesson extended all morning and afternoon, only when Yirel appeared to advise them lunch was ready, did they actually stop their work.

They entered the kitchens together, much to Fenris' confusion. She waved him off allowing Yirel to direct the young elf's attention towards eating his lunch. Aria moved past everyone with a sigh as her stomach growled. She had taken too long and now she was starved for her lunch. She would have to wait until her staff had eaten before moving to cook her own lunch.

However, a plate appeared in her hands as Yirel winked, "One day eating food made by someone else will be fine, I made this myself." then she was gone fussing over Fenris as his ears flushed slightly pink.

True to her words, the plate Yirel had handed her was not the same food everyone else was eating, and instead was a simple plate of meat, cheese, and various fruits. It was a simple lunch, but the kind she had already eaten since she had started her magus training back home. It was quick, easy, and the best kind of lunch to travel with. In her opinion anyways.

Sitting down across from Fenris at the table she started to poke at her food, reading the magical tome she had brought with her. Fenris took a moment to give her a perplexed look, before returning to his own lunch mechanically.

~Break~

After Aria had left, Fenris had only half finished his own lunch which had irritated his new mistress it seems. She had given him a look, then quickly spoke to Yirel to ensure he finished his plate and met her in her bedchambers afterwards.

"Please ensure Fenris finished his entire lunch, then send him to my bedchambers." She had quickly requested as she scooped up her book and whisked out of the room in a flurry of robes. She had taken only a moment to give Fenris a pointed look that suggested he not test her.

Fenris felt his stomach tighten and he didn't want to finish his lunch anymore. He knew that if he ate anymore he would surely be sick later.

"Calm down she isn't going to eat you up you know," Yirel politely commented as she placed a cup of tea beside him, "Hurry now, drink up. It will help settle your nerves."

Fenris wanted to get mad at her, wave her off, but he found himself unable. Yirel was the slave he witness his new mistress save all those years ago. She seemed happier, chipper, and healthy. She even seemed to have been given power over the household, her word being able to sway their mistress without effort.

He had wanted to ask her to leave him alone, but instead he blurted out this.

"Why did she not eat in the dining hall?" He asked before he could stop himself. Yirel stifled a small chuckle with her hand, and gave him an amused glance.

"She never does, finds it lonely at best. Besides she prefers to cook all her own meals and eat them before the staff is scheduled for their meals, she's always been like that. Not that I blame her, many other magisters would be pleased if she were to die." She looked anxious at the thought and all it did was serve to further irritate Fenris.

His new mistress had managed to trick even her slaves into a false sense of security. They probably thank her for ripping their life force from their bodies as she fed from their power. Just like every other magister, just like Danarius.

He wasn't stupid, he recognized some of the symbols in the tomes she was working through, they were books about blood magic. The very same books he had seen Danarius read plenty of times...

He felt white hot rage and shame spike through his stomach and he pushed his plate away. He refused to finish the meal his new mistress forced on him. He would see to her needs and hopefully she would leave him alone for awhile.

Standing he left the kitchens ignoring Yirel's protests to wait.

~Break~

Aria figured she had some time to kill, with Fenris only having finishing half his lunch. Knowing Yirel she would fatten him up the best she could, which meant she had time. She only hoped he would listen and eat enough, as Yirel had advised her he hardly ate enough for breakfast.

She quickly took a hot bath to clean her aching muscles, before exiting her bathing chambers attached to her room. She didn't bother with a robe, enjoying the cool breeze that came through her window against her damp skin.

She moved through her room taking stock of her mage robes, deciding what was best for today's weather. She also wasn't sure if she wanted to continue teaching Fenris, work on her own work, or take the rest of the day off and read a book, a good old fiction book.

She didn't notice or hear the doors open as Fenris moved silently behind her. He found her already naked and his stomach hit the floor. She was just like Danarius...she had wasted no time at all.

Moving silently he slowly removed his armor, taking care to place it at the foot of her bed where he slept, before wrapping his arms around her, kissing her neck silently. He heard her intake of breath as she arched into his hands, his hands molding to her pert breasts, the nipples brushing hard against the palms of his hand. He rolled his hand as he kissed up the expanse of her neck, until he reached her ear.

It was finally then that Aria's mind snapped into place. Fenris found himself flung away from her, smashing painfully against the wall as everything in the room exploded from her force magic. Ripping apart the room like a tornado.

He could hear her even breaths as she stared at him, her hair hung around her wide animalistic eyes. She locked eyes with his fearful ones and stepped back shaking lightly.

"Get. The fuck. Out!" She all but growled. Fenris didn't need to be asked twice, his lyrium burning painfully at his skin as a reminder. He fled the room, sans his armor, and ran down the halls until he could run no more.

Aria stood there frightened and angry, before she sat on her bed with a groan. She shouldn't have done that. He didn't know, he didn't understand, he was just doing as he was taught.

She felt her stomach churn at the realization of what he thought she expected of him. Which meant that Danarius had expected this of him. That realization made her insides burn with fury and she felt herself staking a claim to Fenris.

'That asshole will never get him back, mark my fucking words...'

~End of Chapter 2~

Author's Note: There ya have it! A not-so-smooth meeting of the two. I simply adore Hawke and Fenris interactions, they are both so awkward and bad at communicating. This is just the start for both of them, hopefully Hawke clears up any misconceptions soon:P

LuniaWolfe: Thank you! I hope you enjoy where it goes, I am hoping to start getting into the mystery part of this story soon :)