Hawke asked him to come.

"I am not leaving Free..." Fenrs started.

"She can come." The mage interrupted."Bring your magical treasure. If we stumble on a lyrium vein, we'll need it to transform Freedom back right away and the sooner the better."

"Transforming her in the middle of this Darkspawn filled hellhole? I'd rather stay in Kirkwall, thank you."

"Fenris. The lyrium smugglers and the templars are onto you. Thank you by the way, they've been so intent on finding your wretched hide that it's been months since I had to duck one of them. They're on a lead, though. You could use that Darkspawn filled hellhole..."

Fenris cursed in his native tongue.

"Are you sure?" He finally groaned before turning his face toward Hawke.

The mage was serious though. No sparkle in his eyes to prove that it was an elaborate joke. Not that it would be his style. He had been careful, but it was still many months and he was a tid bit too recognizable. He thought about Freedom. They indeed could use the Deep Roads in more ways than one.

"Then we have an agreement. I'll need help concealing the lyrium though. I'll have some on my person as it is easy for me to move around with the substance, but I acquired a lot."

He gave Hawke a pouch, then Varric came by and took another. Finally, Anders and Aveline came by to take the remnants.

Fenris took the last one. Such proximity with the substance was grating his markings and thus his nerves. Freedom, apathetic as ever, didn't seem to notice that she was being moved, or maybe Fenris didn't read well her lack of interest.

It was sickening him. She had been so full of life, had given him a taste of true freedom.

"I'll free you from this trap." he whispered against the cat's ear as he arrived at the Merchant's Guild. Thankfully it was close to where he lived. He arrived as Hawke was attempting to calm his little brother down.

"You have to take me down there with you."

"Stop playing stupid, you oaf! Can't you accept that I'm in charge because I make the right decisions?"

"The right decisions that got Bethany killed!"

Hawke paused a moment, utter scorn filling his eyes. Fenris didn't want to know how the discussion had began, but felt curious about how it would end. Hawke seemed at a hair breadth to hex his brother to the Black City.

"No. Bethany's courage got her killed." he softly whispered. "She shielded Mother. And since you don't want to look after an old hag if I, your arsehole of a big brother was to die down there, then you can leave my shadow instead of reveling in it."

Hawke's jaw grinding at his cheeks, he turned his back on a stuttering young man who was desperately looking for clever words and failing.

Fenris walked near Carver and didn't offer a smile. He didn't remember what it was to grow up or to have a family, but even he knew that Carver's words had been too harsh and hurt too much. He didn't even glance at the fuming human.

Anders was making sure every potion, every poultice he needed was at hand. Varric was making sure everything was alright with Bartrand.

Soon they were going down and hopefully come up rich as fuck, Isabela would say. Fenris nudged Freedom in his arms. He wasn't sure if she was sleeping or if she was too tired from her self imposed fast. He pushed a bit of jerky into her muzzled and she woke up before she let him feed her. Then she nipped at his finger and got back to sleep.

And just like that, they were gone.

"What are you waiting for?" Hawke finally said. "Grab Freedom and follow me!"

His heart lept in his chest and he didn't realise that he was squeezing Freedom in his arms in the first place until she weakly moaned. Had the moment arrived already? Feverish, he released his grip on the cat.

He barely recognised her now. Ever since she had reverted to her true form for a brief moment, her fur had lost its shine and her eyes were unfocused. It was time to see her smile. For real, this time, he mentally added as he remembered fondly all these times when he could see her shake her muzzle.

The Deep Roads had tickled her preservation instinct, And Fenris was somewhat glad for it. It was a relief to see her healthy fear of Darkspawn and how she would jump into the abomination's satchel of potions to escape them.

Fenris followed Hawke with Freedom in his arms and her bag on his back. His heart was thumping in his chest. Would it work, this time?

The mage took her in his arms once they were away from the rest of the expedition. The abomination was handling the lyrium's disposal in strange runic patterns and Varric was making sure no one intruded, Darkspawn or hireling.

Hawke was trying to explain the complicated process to Fenris.

"I'll have to draw a lot of energy from the Fade and the lyrium will make sure that when I run out of mana, there will still be fuel for the spell. Now, since it's part of the Primal School of Magic..."

Fenris lost him afterwards. It was easy to see the difference in education between Anders and Hawke. The latter would use simple words for which the abomination would provide a proper scholar term. Usually in Arcanum. Fenris resisted the urge to spit at his feet.

"Now, I must ask you one more thing." Hawke asked. "Are you sure you want Freedom to become human again?"

"Why are you asking me this?" Fenris spat immediately. "If anything like this happened to you, wouldn't you want to go back to your original form? Have you really seen her that day?"

"Freedom has been your friend for a long time." the mage added. "Would it be the same when she will be able to talk back? Also, those curves... "

He grossly mimicked a kiss with his lips. Fenris burst out:

"She is my friend, Hawke! The only one I ever had! If you are having second thoughts, maybe we should stop this right now." the elf added with a scowl, trying to get the cat back.

"Ok." Hawke said, raising his hand in a sign of peace that only made Fenris tense (mages who raised their arms were usually casting spells...). "Just wanted to make sure, you know. Also, I'd have done it anyway. The poor thing looks like she's going to kill herself most of the time. I'll just need you to stay near... In case something bad happens. That's a hefty amount of power I'll be moving around..."

Fenris nodded and took a few steps back. Freedom was laid amongst her things, especially her clothes. If it worked, maybe she would like to cover her body in front of four men. And the rest of the expedition. The mages also had talked about an anchor of sorts.

Hawke clapped his hands together around his staff and tapped the floor three times with the tip of it. A green aura glowed around him and as he directed the other end of the staff toward Freedom and the light spread to her form.

It seemed to take centuries for Fenris. He saw the lyrium carefully placed at strategic places to fuel the ritual glow and disappear as it was consumed. The green light had completely envelopped Hawke and Freedom and nobody could see neither the cat of the man anymore... Or even a woman. Magic prickled on his skins and Fenris soon realised that they had underestimated the amount of lyrium they needed. The ritual, though, continued and started slowly to feed onto Fenris' markings. Panic bubbled into his throat. This could be dangerous. He owed it to Freedom, however. Fenris took a step toward the light. It was taking too long. He heard yelling somewhere.

The light tugged at his markings, burning them. They flared blue and he winced at the pain. Freedom will be free, he chanted in his mind like a mantra. Slowly, he walked toward Hawke and Freedom. Freedom will be free. She'll see her baby soon. He felt a feather light pressure on his lips.

When he woke up, the woman with the dark skin was in his arms.

"Fenris" she said, her voice hoarse and unsure.

Fenris shivered.

Her blue eyes were staring at his very soul.