The next morning, Elizabeth got up and dressed, looking around for her cloak. Oh that's right, Fenris has it still. She sighed, shaking her head. She wondered if the former slave was feeling better after a night's sleep. Don't think like that. He's nothing to you, just a means to an end. And yet, the worry was there. She finished getting dressed and went downstairs to find her mother hadn't awakened yet. She smiled at Orana and left the estate, noticing that it was still cold but wasn't raining anymore. The sun was just beginning to rise, so she didn't send anyone to fetch her companions yet. Instead, she went to Fenris's mansion, knocking on the door. There was no answer, which got on her nerves. After several minutes, however, worry began to creep into her thoughts. She cracked the door open and peeked inside. None of the candles were lit, which was unusual. She let herself in, closing the door after herself, and slowly made her way upstairs. Fenris was still in bed, which was surprising enough since he was an early riser. Wrapped around him, however, was her cloak. Elizabeth wasn't sure which was more shocking, and she really didn't care. For a brief moment, she let her guard down and went to his bedside, kneeling down and brushing his bangs aside. Her fingers only briefly touched his skin, but she could tell he was feverish. Before she could ponder further, however, the former slave began to stir. Without opening his eyes, he coughed hard and rasped out "Water..." as if he knew Elizabeth was there. She blinked in shock, but did as he asked. Not knowing where everything was in his house, she went to the small basin for water and magically filled it, bringing it to him. She dipped a cup in, then put it to his lips. The still sleeping elf drank slowly, only choking on it once. "Wait...that smell..." His eyes opened suddenly and he sat bolt upright, staring at Elizabeth with what could be anywhere between anger to shock to relief. Elizabeth just looked up into his eyes, heart pounding.
Fenris narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Elizabeth stood up, setting the basin and the cup down. "If you want the truth, I came to check up on you. It does me no good to have the best fighter on my team laid up in bed."
Fenris glowed slightly for a moment. "I am not laid up in bed and I do not need checking up on." He stood, glaring at Elizabeth. He was nearly naked, wearing only his small clothes. The lyrium markings swirled around his body, accentuating his musculature in all the right places. "And you would do well to remember that, Hawke." He broke off, coughing hard and doubling over, putting a hand against the wall to brace himself.
Elizabeth shook her head and took the cup, dipping it in the basin of water, and pressed it into his free hand. "Here. Don't say I never did anything for you." She waited until he took a drink before turning to go.
"Hawke," there was a pause as Fenris caught his breath, "wait."
Elizabeth turned back around to face the elf. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from going over to him and wrapping him in something warm as she watched him shiver. "I'm waiting."
Fenris went to the fireplace and leaned against it, poking it halfheartedly in an attempt to get the fire going again. Elizabeth shook her head and went over. "Back." She waited till he had stepped away from the fireplace before throwing a fireball into it, hearing the logs crack as the fire heated the room up. She heard Fenris almost growl and rolled her eyes. "You don't have to watch me do magic, just like I don't have to watch you struggle to warm your own room."
Fenris shook his head and sat down on a chair. That wasn't what irritated him, surprisingly. "If I appear ungrateful, I apologize for I am not."
"No?" Elizabeth sat in another chair, watching the light make his skin glow without the lyrium. "Then I'd love to see you being ungrateful."
Fenris sighed, sniffing. "I'm not some puppy to be coddled. Nor am I a mouse to be teased."
Elizabeth sighed, closing her eyes. "You are just like Carver." She looked up to see Fenris looking at her, confused. "Stubborn, scared, and incapable of showing gratitude." She shook her head, looking away. In a softer voice, "But you're also strong, confident, and slice your enemies in half before asking their names." She stood. "Take a day. You look like shit." She started walking.
Fenris stood and easily caught up with her, grabbing her arm. He was glowing slightly, but it stopped when she looked at him. Her eyes had lost their light, the sparkle that danced and had caught his eye when they first met. Her face held no expression. That made Fenris feel...what did he feel? He closed his eyes. "I know I don't look like I'm at my best right now, but neither are you. It's three years today: don't think I've forgotten." He remembered well their trip to the Deep Roads, when Carver became corrupted and they could do nothing. He remembered well the pain that could only be seen in the distinct lack of emotion in Elizabeth's eyes as she stood up from his corpse.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. "The difference is, my past is in the past. The city depends on me to fix their goddamned problems and I will do so or we will all die. Who depends on you?" She knew she'd struck a cord and she didn't want to care but she did. She shook her head. "Take a day. Isabella can take your place today." She left without another word, leaving Fenris standing there staring after her. They both felt the same thing, and they both knew what it was. Regret.
