Analeese P.O.V

I feel myself shoot forward as I wake up with a start. Almost immediately I feel a light burning in my chest and take a deep breathe to try and dispel it before looking around to find myself in a red velvet chair that I remember was in the main bedroom. How did I get here? I look up and nearly shout out of surprise to see the elf...Fenris, sitting in an identical chair infront of me. I slowly wave my hand infront of his eyes before deciding that he was asleep. I lean back in the chair, and curl up slightly while I think about what I should do. Fenris gives me the chills just thinking about what he could do to me with the greatsword that is leaning next to his chair. You're not a threat to him. The fact that you passed out can confirm that. I nod to myself and slowly get up and feel myself torn between staying and going. I could leave and tell a city guardsman that an elf is living alone in the Hightown mansion covered in ivy, or stay and hopefully have someplace to sleep for the next year. I could stoop to blackmail to stay in the house.

"Brilliant plan, you'll be dead meat for sure."

I bite my lip to stop any more mutterings from escaping, before deciding to just go to Gysha in the alienage and figure things out. If I decide to come back I could always come up with a story, or just explain what happened. I slowly walk toward the door, and as my hand reaches the handle I hear a deep voice ask "Where are you going?"

I gasp and twirl around to see Fenris stand up with his hand already on his sword and the image of him driving that blade through me causes me to twirl back around and begin to run down the stairs as quick as I could without tripping. I hear him follow me and just as my foot reaches the bottom of the steps I feel a hand wrap around my wrist and pull me back. I trip over my own feet and fall against the stairs hard. I hiss at the pain in my back and go to scream before his hand descends over my mouth and I feel tears prick at my eyes. He's going to kill me. I knew this job was too good to be true! I bite his hand and try to pull away from him. I'm rewarded with a slight wince but he keeps his hand there. He lightly jerks my head back until I stop and can do nothing but close my eyes to stop more tears from coming as hisses at me "Be still and listen!"

I immediately open my eyes and look at him with terrified eyes as He leans toward me until his nose is almost touching mine. Like a fool, I feel myself blush at how close he is and how his eyes seem to glow with some emotion. He looks me in the eyes for a moment before he begins in talking to me in what appears to be a calming voice, but in the current situation seems threatening.

"I just wish to talk with you and ask you a few questions. If you answer me honestly, I swear that no harm will come to you. Do you understand?"

I look him in the eyes for a long moment while I debated my next action. I could nod and as soon as he moved his hand, scream at the top of my lungs, or I could do as he wants and hope he isn't lying to me. I try to find something in his eyes that shows his intent but see nothing. I feel my eyes once again look at the blue veins that trail around his arms and neck before blushing as I notice him looking at me looking at him. I take a deep breath and try to summon some of the courage of my uncle as I slowly nod at him. He just as slowly removes his hand from over my mouth before he stands up and holds out a hand to help me up. A little surprised at the gesture, I take it and only take my eyes off of his when I wince at the bruises that I know are forming on my back. He switches his grip from my hand to my wrist as we walk back up the stairs in silence. His grip is firm enough that I can't free myself from it but somehow feels gentle. Maybe he really won't drive a blade through my chest. He lightly pushes me down onto the chair I woke up in and sits in the opposite chair with a calculating look on his face. We sit in silence for a moment but after staring at the sword that is still in his hand I cough lightly and look at him from under my eye lashes because I'm too scared to lift my head.

"May you…please serah may you put the sword somewhere else while we have our…honest discussion?" I say with the meekest voice I've ever heard. I doubt he could see me as being more pathetic. I couldn't even pretend to not be afraid of him. I feel him stare at me for a long moment before taking his hand off of the sword while leaning it against the chair. I send a small smile at him to show my gratitude but he just nods in return.

He leans forward in his chair and stares me directly in my eyes while he begins to ask his questions. "Do you know a man named Denarius?" I look down as I try to remember exactly the names that were on the assignment slip. I lift my head up again and shake my head. "No serah. The name on the assignment slip was Maurice Copeland."

He nods his head and almost immediately begins asking questions again. "Are you a mage?" I freeze for a moment before shaking my head and trying not to look at the weight on my thigh. Being in possession of magic doesn't make me a mage. He can't kill me for owning a piece of magic. He glares at me for a moment but nods and I release a breath I wasn't aware I was holding. His anger toward magic can easily be seen and that trinket is the only inheritance I've ever gotten from my family, I really did not want to part from it. "Why would you stay in this house after seeing the…condition it was in?"

I feel my voice lower to a whisper as I respond with the simplest but best answer I could give. "I had no choice." I look down at my hands and see a blood stain on my apron from the roast. My eyes widen as I shoot up and throw my hands over my mouth. "I'm so sorry! Did dinner burn? I still don't know why I collapsed like that…" I feel warm hands grab my arms and I feel myself being lightly shaken before once again seeing Fenris' amazing light green eyes in my line of vision.

"I made sure that dinner didn't burn, you collapsed because a…companion of mine thought you were an assassin sent to kill me and threw a poison bomb at you that caused you to pass out. The reason that this happened is because I am the escaped property of a Tevinter mage by the name of Denarius. The real owner of this mansion is most likely dead, another casualty of Denarius' cruelty. If you choose to stay here your life will most likely be in danger."

I think on his answer while he just stares at me. If I stay here my life would be in danger? He looks like he meant what he was saying, that I really was going to be in danger if I stay here. Was it any worse than what would happen to me if I didn't take this assignment? I would have to go to the Blooming Rose, there was no other choice for a women if she wanted to make money. I would have to deal with strangers hands on me, eyes glued to my body for a sexual fantasy. I shudder and look into Fenris' eyes. For a very long moment we just stare at each other until I smile slightly and nod at him. He raises an eyebrow at me and I shrug slightly before responding in a lightly teasing voice. "I'd rather be in here with a sneaky elf with a giant sword than dancing on a stage at the Blooming Rose. If you don't mind I would like to stay here serah."

I see his lips twitch as he gets up and holds out a hand to help me from my chair. I take it and feel myself relax a little. This is the first act that didn't scare me, so I should enjoy it a little. His voice calling my name brings me out of my thoughts before I get lost in them and I quickly look at him. He sends a small grin at me and I smile back as he clears his throat. "Well if you are staying I'll show you to a room and enjoy some of the food you prepared. You may join me if you wish."

I try not to show my shock at being invited to eat with him, I instead nod and quickly follow him out of the room as he leads me to where I'll be staying. I bite my lip before I begin thinking too much on this decision and lightly brush my hands over my thigh to make sure the trinket was still there. At least with that with me I'll feel like Uncle Duncan is still guiding me through this life, even if he can't be here. I sigh slightly and catch the eye of Fenris who was looking at me again. I smile slightly but feel my eyes widen at the huge four poster bed and lavish bedroom he's shown me to. Well if this isn't the right decision and I don't wake up in the morning, I can say I died in the most comfortable bed I've ever seen.