And now Zevran has entered. I wish he was a companion in DA 2. Imagine the banters if you had him, Isabela, and a romanced Fenris in a group. Scratch that, I imagine someone would be dead lol. Bioware owns all.

Ch. 4 Foiled Plans

They look at the woman who made the bold statement, confusion on their features, "Sent here? Haven't seen you before, who are you?"

Hawkes acting and clever lie amazes him, "Who am I you ask? I happen to be a dedicated apprentice to the magister Danarius sent all the way here to assist you! Word should have been sent of my arrival long ago! How dare you not know of me!?" She must have learned that from the slaver mages during her time captive. Her overbearing conceitedness could have deceived him of her being one of them; it kind of made him nervous too. There were flaws however, she was no blood mage and her lack of a staff and extravagant apparel would fool no one.

"Oh we are terribly sorry, we have heard of him and you must be very gifted to be his apprentice. These patients are resisting treatment and they fail to realize this is for their own good." His eyebrow rises, they couldn't be serious. They have to know she isn't a mage. She curtly nods, "So I see. Well there is going to be a few changes around here, so let them be for now. I have important matters to address with you, so may we continue this discussion elsewhere?"

"Yes you may follow us into the clinic," A mage tells her and opens the door for her to enter.

"We will be at my father's estate awaiting the news." A younger noble with neatly kept black hair and faint stubble steps from behind the group. He then looks over Hawke with a smile, "I hope to properly meet this lady on your return." The nobles walk off and Fenris easily picks up they are about to walk into a trap. Given by the look on Hawke's face however she already knows and planned on it. He then realizes she pulled off this sort of arrangement, knowing they wouldn't cause an incident out in the open and give away their true intentions. Now they could take them out behind closed door and keep the elves out of harm's way; she truly thought of others first.

"Is he yours?" one asks as he approaches the threshold. "Oh don't mind him, think of him as scenery." They both step inside, followed by the door slamming behind them and trapping them in, the mages must have just been guarding the entrance or scouting for more prey. With the trap now set, they both find themselves facing a group of men in a large open room; they were not mages or elves.

"So they are taking male elves now and human women, about time. Prepare them and we will take them to the others. They move to capture them, but Hawke jokes, "Not much a clinic you're running here. Where are all the patients and healers? And given by your odor, it is hardly hygienic in here, no wonder disease is spreading."

"You…you bitch! I have waited far too long for this moment to extract my revenge! This woman is all mine!" A crazed man with a scar on his face approaches her and Fenris notices Hawke's character darken to a form he never thought possible with the generally upbeat girl.

They charge and Fenris conveys to her, "Leave one alive…" before he slices across at them; one would tell where the others are. She flips over the group so that they can attack from both sides and their numbers are quickly dwindled down to only one. She makes it clear to him as they fight that she wants the man with the grudge to remain alive and he accommodates to it. The man cowers in the corner of the room and they close in until she stops, "I will let him feel someone else's wrath; you can handle things from here."

She puts away her weapons and sits down on a desk as he grabs the man's collar, lifting him up, "Where are you holding them!?"

"I don't know, I just secure the slaves and they take them away!" Then man's quivering voice did not help his lie in the least bit.

He reaches his hand back as it fades before his thrusts it toward the man's throat to choke him from within, "You'll have to do better than that!" He releases as the man gasps for breath and manages to say, "Okay I'll tell you whatever you want, just please don't do that thing again!"

"Then where are they!?" His patience was wearing.

"Out the back door there is a tunnel that leads to an estate. A key to it is over at that desk that whore is on." Fenris moves his hand to grip the man around his neck tightly verses his collar to choke him a bit once more; he wouldn't tolerate the name calling lies either.

"Once you pass through it, you will reach the dungeon they are storing some of them in." He laughs, "But it's a suicide run for you two. You won't make it there."

"He's laughing? You really need to work on your intimidation factor Fenris. Need my help? I'm sure if I crush his genitals beneath my boot again, if there was any to begin with, he won't find anything funny. The last time he sure didn't," she mocks them both. He understood her reference then and suddenly ached to end this man's worthless life. Maybe she would recover more peace by taking it instead, but he was more than happy to do it for her; this scum didn't deserve the right to die by her hand in his eyes.

"No! Let me go! You have everything you need!"

"Just one more thing is missing…" He then rips the man's throat out and drops him to the floor. "You heard him, let's not waste another moment." He notices Hawke raising an eyebrow at him, "Remind me not to withhold information from you ever." He smirks, "I think I can be a whole lot more creative with you than that Hawke. Mock me again and you will find out," She laughs uneasily at that, "I have the key…"

He takes it from her and she picks up a sheet of paper that was resting behind her. After looking it over briefly, she states, "It seems your Tevinter friends have been plotting and targeting alienages throughout Thedas."

"Yes as they have been for ages now," he responds blandly to the obvious.

"No I mean here look," she hands over the form and all he sees is various symbols, he curses under his breath. She notices his detached look and says, "This is a document of progress reports and quotas from other areas. They have been pulling this stunt off elsewhere, sending in supposed healers that are actually Tevinter mages out to enslave them. How cruel, tricking people with thoughts of hope and then taking away any that they once had along with it. How can no one else notice or even care?"

His fists ball up tightly as she tells him this. Just how low are they willing to stoop to? I have seen the worst of it, lived through it, but even I can still be surprised? What they are willing to sacrifice and inflict onto others really has no limits.

"Then we should not idly remain here." He takes a step but turns back as she mutters sincerely, "Thank you..."

He nods empathetically, "He will never hurt you or anyone else again. Find ease in knowing that." He may or may not have physically defiled her, but his stain was forever left on her mind regardless. With that said, he turns away and she follows him.

Out the back door they locate the said tunnel, but find many passages within. Hawke looks to the ground, checking for recent footprints, but they all seem to be fresh and heading all directions. Hawke sighs, "How are we supposed to know where this goes to?"

"We'll just have to choose one and locate that door. Which way do you suggest?"

"The one that doesn't lead us into traps or our deaths." He doesn't find her joking appropriate now. "No need to glower at me I get it. Let's see… There has to be something… She continues to check the currents paths until she resounds, "Found it!Good thing you elves seem to hate shoes." He kneels down beside her and she says, "The elven footprints I found only head in one direction. That way is our best bet."

"I knew there was some reason I let you stay, it just becomes cloudy most of the time." She lightly shoves off his shoulder and they both stand to head up the chosen path.

After trudging in the dark for a time, stone begins to surround them and a wooden door is just ahead of them up some stairs. "I think it goes here, this looks like it would lead to a dungeon. Though it appears abandoned."

"Oh and here I thought the mold brought out a certain charm."

He uses the key in the lock and it works as he hears it click open.

"So much for testing out my locking picking. I'm going to become rusty at this rate."

"We can always locate chain and locks for you to practice with later if you are really concerned," he informs her.

She feigns shock, "Ha I knew it! Fenris you closet pervert! Small steps first, we haven't known each other long enough for that just yet. And moreover, you would enjoy that far too much. Probably gag me too, so I couldn't mock you."

"That's not…!" He lets out a sigh to calm his excessive mortification, "How is it that you can turn everything I say into something so indecent?"

"It's a skill." She lets out a slight laugh, "It drove Carver mad too."

"I would hope we locate him soon then, so that I may have back some of my peace instead of being your only target."

"No peace for either of us now I'm afraid, the others are waiting on us."

They discontinue the impish dallying as the go inside, listening out for any noises. After traveling up a long corridor and he manages to pick up the sound of footsteps. "This way," he whispers and they stand outside a door hearing movement within. She stands in front of it, before bringing her leg up to kick it in and they rush inside. They take care of the few men inside and head forward to a door that leads into another passage.

"What's this, another shipment already?" A man blocks them, "Wait, you are no Tevinter or Antivan for that matter. Who are you supposed to be?" He can only guess what rebuttal she'll come up with.

"No, I'm not. I'm just someone playing a game."

The man crosses his arms, "What kind of game?"

"It's really fun. The game is where my friend and I go around searching for missing elves and killing all the slavers in our path. You're in luck, you get to play too; you're already a part of the game and so are all your friends here. Isn't this exciting?" The guard doesn't look amused and neither does Fenris.

"We're under attack! Get them!" He has no choice but to start attacking, he thought they would be discrete, but Hawke has other plans.

The last guard falls and he shouts, "They were guarding this room….!" He looks across the way at her and exhales; she was looting again, "Hawke, we can do that later. People need our help now." She goes limp in defeat and stands back up, "You promise later?"

"I what…? No…" She then walks up behind him still sulking; it must be a hobby.

The door before them thrust open and they enter a room, but are greeted by more slavers, this time an elf among them. The elf if the first and only to communicate, "Who sent you!? What business do you have here!?"

"You're helping them enslave your own people?" This must be new for Hawke, but he was accustomed with it. Elves are as willing as humans to sell out their souls and enslave their own.

"How did you..!?"

Hawke smiles, "Oops, we weren't supposed to know?"

"Then you know too much about what is going on. We can't let you leave," he takes out his bow.

"We weren't planning on leaving until all the elves are freed anyway," she flips her blades out and runs forward, slicing at the elf. Fenris kills two of the guards, but then an all too familiar pain rushes through him and he collapses to the ground; his markings burning against his will.

"Fenris!" She must have heard his pained shout, but as she runs to him, she is thrown back by a spell and restrained by the other slavers. He tries to stand, but the searing pain increases as the caster stands by him, "I know you are the long lost pet of Danarius. It's a good thing he told me how to control you or you would be quite the hand full." He ceases the drain of his lyrium and gives out orders, "Take him to a holding cell and make sure he is absolutely contained. Tie the girl up in the room over there; I will need information from her." Fenris now finds his strength returning to him fast; he could not let that happen and this mage is dead. He quickly pushes up to slice the man in two, but arms yank around him and pull him back. His markings burn again and his sword is taken from him; that chance was lost. Iron cuffs snap around his wrists and he pleads, "If you want information take me instead!" He distinguishes the man; he has seen him before and recalls his name being Maldonas, he worked with Danarius from time to time. There is no regard for others in this man, but that was nothing new to him from someone out of Tevinter.

"Oh I see; you are fond of her. How amusing… Take her down the hall instead. I want him to hear her." He struggles violently now, he had made the worst mistake. He looks to Hawke seeing her still out and being carried off by another man and his blood boils. His hand begins to fade as he attempts to phase through his constraints. With a hand free, he wastes no time and rips the closest man's heart out. The others panic now as he kills another, but Maldonas uses the same tactic and the last thing he hears is, "Knock him out!" A blunt object crashes into the back of his head and he collapses to the ground.

Metal bars obstruct his view as he wakes up and he notes the fifty pounds of chains he gained, his body is entirely bound to the wall. A voice lets him know he is not alone, "I haven't seen them handle one of us in quite that way before. What did you do to strike such fear into them, this is ridiculous?"

He looks to the elderly elf, "Not enough. How long was I out?" He feared the worst.

"Not too long. They finished chaining you up only minutes ago."

Then there is still time. "Have you seen a woman with red hair?" The elder nods, "They took her off to that room down the hall. I feel sorry for her, no one they have brought in that room has come out alive yet. She must have got word of what they are doing here like the others and was found out about."

A type of anger and fear that he has never known build within him, he didn't know why, but he knew he could not lose her. His markings flare as he fights against the binds.

"Calm down lad, you will only hurt yourself!"

"I will not sit back while they hurt her!" The guards start to take notice of him.

"She is a friend of yours?"

Fenris does not answer and the old elf frowns to him, "I'm sorry… you might not want to listen then.

He then hears the mage's voice followed by a door opening and closing. He would get free, he just needed time he didn't have…

She really loathed mind blasts and this guy's was really strong. Hawke starts to come to, finding herself in a lightly lit room and bound to a chair. If it was rope she would cut through with the small dagger they missed, but they chose to use metal.

A door opens and closes as a voice says, "So you are awake now. I doubt your friend has done the same."

"Where is Fenris!? The older man steps in front of her, "Around… Do not worry for him; he will be on his way to his master soon. I say good riddance; quite problematic that one. Even after cuffed and weakened, he found his way free and killed a few more men very brutally before they took him down. No wonder his master wants him back so much."

"It's a pity he missed you," Hawke hisses out to the man.

"You on the other hand need to worry about yourself. I intend to have answers from you at any means necessary."

"Listen asshole, you are the only one that needs to worry!"

"Is there any real point in name calling?"

"You don't like that huh? How about this? Do all Tevinters speak as repulsive as you do? I mean listen to your voice, it's just plain awful. Thank the maker Fenris doesn't sound anything like you; it's hurting my ears with your whiny prattling."

"Oh great I have captured a jester that doesn't know when to stop talking. Maybe this will help," sparks emit from his hands and electrify her body, but she clinches her teeth shut to suppress any notable reaction.

The pain ceases and he replies, "You are quite strong for such a fragile looking girl. Even with your noteworthy hindrance, you still manage to resist as if it is not even there. I have a feeling you would have been just as problematic if it were not already placed on you."

"So blood mage, let me guess. You're going to use that little blood control trick of yours to make me talk against my will. I'll save us both time; you will learn nothing."

"That may be, but using that technique is far too dull. There is another I prefer that is just as effective and a lot more entertaining to me. Also, Danarius is a good friend of mine and he would not be pleased if I did not make the one that is helping to

keep his prized possession away suffer a bit before they die. You might be strong, but after a few minutes of this, you will crumple at my feet like the others."

"Big talk coming from a man wearing a dress... So blood magic, profane egotism, and verbal ear raping… You Tevinters have so much going for you," she hated showing fear and was not about to now. What helped that a lot was that she is glad it was her about to go through this and not Fenris, he had undergone enough with blood mages. She would have to hold on, he would not be taken back to that man and this guy would not live for hurting him like that. The first lock had already been picked.

"Since you still insist on this condescending attitude, I'll show the full weight of what you are dealing with. Just don't die too quickly." He makes a cut on his wrist before raising his hands in the air, summoning up a spell of some sort, and she quickly comes to find out what it is. The blood literally begins to boil within her whole body and it rises to a stage that she feels like she is being burned alive from the inside. She breaks at that point.

A nightmarish scream exits the room and leaves his mind and soul forever tarnished by the sound. The mage was using blood magic on her, he could tell. That unmistakable stench lingered in the air.

Another cry echoes against the cold stone surrounding them and he realizes he is out of time, he needs to act now. Those guards would be his way out of here.

"You may want to step back." The old man does as suggested when Fenris activates his lyrium once again, his thrashing now noticed by the guards.

"Shut up in there elf, you'll give the old man a heart attack!" The two guards laugh, but when Fenris fails to listen, he shouts, "That's it, I'm going in to make you!"

"Wait, didn't you hear what he did to the others," the second guard states cautiously.

"Who cares, he's just an elf. No amount of glowing is going to scare me off, so come on. He'll be a lot less scary with his skull smashed in now won't he," he opens the cell door and takes out his sword as the other guard follows suit.

He raises his sword up to bash him in the head, but he takes that opportunity to unleash a burst of spiritual force from the markings built up rage that fueled them. The guards are knocked back and lie lifeless on the ground, so Fenris looks over to the shocked older elf. "What are you waiting for, find the key. I just want to save her and kill that mage; I have no interest in harming you."

The other elf nods and searches the guards and finds the key before unlocking Fenris. Footsteps are heard, so he ceases freeing him to peek out the cell.

"What is going on?" The old elf then steps back over, "Lord Basilio entered the room, why I can't answer." Hawke is quiet now so he fears she is either succumbed to the torture or they plan on something else with her. He refuses to believe she is dead however, she is too strong willed to go out that easily, he is sure of it. The door to the room opens and the old elf looks out once more before returning to his task. "Well I have good news and bad news for you. She lives, but I doubt she will suffer a better fate where she is going."

"Inform me of what you know." The elder continues his work and answers, "This estate belongs to a wealthy merchant and his son, Lord Basilio is the one who removed your friend. They have been working with the slavers to capture the elven women and either enslave them here or send them off to be sold elsewhere. Once I found out too much, they captured and imprisoned me here before I had the chance to warn anyone. I guess they plan on me rotting down here."

"Why only women?" He had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer and given the look the elder elf gives, it's as he feared. "I'd rather not say outright, but the women can perform certain services that Lord Basilio prefers and desires. He keeps the ones he likes and discards the rest to the Tevinters." The chains then fall as the last lock is undone and Fenris shakes the remaining ones off as he stretches his limbs. He then kneels down to the two guards and slits their throats with a sword before pulling them back further into the cell. His attention is then drawn back to the old elf, "There is a door that leads to a passage not far back the opposite way. Go warn the others." He throws the other elf a sword and the he catches it, "You plan on going at this alone?"

"I cannot leave her."

The elf nods and bids, "Good luck to you then… Can I get your name lad?"

"Fenris."

"It was nice meeting you Fenris, I am Daeron. Dareth shiral emma lethallin." Fenris watches him run off, before heading off to the room Hawke was in. He opens the door and is horrified to see scarlet invade his senses, but smiles when he detects the source. "Good work Hawke," he mumbles as he leaves to go find her. The respect he had for this woman just grew tremendously.

The agony finally ceases and her breaths are left heavy from the physical trauma that ravaged her. The mage looks down at her contently and states, "Nothing to joke about anymore now is there?"

"Oh I'll find plenty of jokes when I smile down at your corpse," she uses what little strength she has left to project her voice.

"Ha, more insolence even after all that. Perhaps I need to try harder!" He about to unleash another wave but it doesn't matter; one hand is now free and that is all she needs. In a quick thrust, the hidden dagger slips into her grasp and plunges up under the man's chin through the roof of his mouth. He makes some pathetic gagging noises before he collapses to the ground in a bloody heap. Her moment of reprieve is crushed however as the door flies open.

"Why are you torturing this…!" The noble from before looks astounded at her as the guards quickly move in past to hold her. "What should we do with her my lord!?"

"You should let go before you end up like him!" The noble smirks at her remark and move in closer to her, "Women of Antiva are generally such delicate creatures, but you are no Antivan woman are you? Can't say he didn't deserve that fate for harming such an exquisite lady such as yourself. I would like very much for you to join me in the festivities upstairs, so I can get to know what kind of woman you really are."

"What makes you think I won't just kill you too?"

"You could, but then tragic deaths may occur to the elven women you went all this way for. You wouldn't want that now would you?" She glares at him, before staring back down to the ground; she would have to submit for now if she wanted the chance to locate the missing women and Fenris.

"Good, you will find that I am a very courteous compere." The guards then unhook Hawke from the chair and lead her out of the room with the man. "Prepare her for this evening and if she causes any trouble, please inform me right away."

"Yes my lord!" They push her forward and she grits her teeth; they will regret this sooner or later.

She is lead to a room and shoved inside; she glares back at them before turning her view to the cowering elven girls before her, they looked barely past their mid teens. A guard stalks past her and grabs one of them and lifts her up, "Listen here wenches; your master wants her all pretty like as his escort for this evening. Do not disappoint him." His hand grips her butt inappropriately and Hawke resists the urge to run up and snap the guy's neck. "We'll be waiting outside." The guards head out the door as the elven cries. "Are you alright Amaniel?" The other two elves rush over to her side.

"I am fine, let's just do what they say. Please undress so we may bathe you," she dries her eyes and looks up to Hawke. "How many of you are here?"

"I don't know; fifteen or more last time I was able to count. Now please do as they say or we will be punished again." Hawke grumbles, but does as told and the elf named Amaniel notice the red painting her skin and clothing. "So much blood… Are you wounded?"

"Not externally…" She sheds her armor and they ask, "You are not a lady friend of his… They abducted you too?"

Hawke creates a small nod and informs them, "My friend and I were on the way to find all of you, but as you see, we weren't so successful thus far. It's not over though; I will find some way to get you all out of here. I'm sure the others are around here somewhere."

"Thank you so much for that; we really do appreciate it, but so many have tried and failed that we have lost almost all hope. Do not endanger yourself further," the elf speaks with gloom breaching the atmosphere, but Hawke won't allow it to stay. "Don't give up now, you are not slaves and you just have to fight back to prove it. It can be done, but giving up will not bring you any closer. When the time comes, I will need you help to round up the others and get them to safety. Can you do that?" They nod, just not assertively and Hawke continues, "I'll follow along with their little party, but already have a strategy on how to crash it. Amaniel slightly smiles, "You are confident enough, maybe you will be different."

She lets out a small laugh, "I should probably get ready now shouldn't I?"

"Oh right, we'll prepare your bath." Hawke scoffs, "No you won't, you're not slaves and I can do it myself."

"At least allow us to help you get dressed and ready then. If they are not satisfied then…"

"Yes, they'll hurt you again... Agreed, but I can bathe myself." She then bathes as the women wait holding out something she finds distasteful. "Um, what is that?" Hawke points dubiously at the object.

"It's the dress you will wear silly." Glass seems to shatter around Hawke with that fact. If there one thing she detested in this world, it would have to be dresses. She remembers the dark times in her past when her mother and sister would try to tempt her into dress shopping with them. She was better off in the room with that blood mage.

"Is there something else instead, like something with pants?" The elven girls giggle, probably for the first time in a good while, "This is the only thing we could find to fit you. You are too tall to wear elven dresses and there is nothing with pants."

Hawke gives in; she would just have to withstand this if she was to rescue Fenris and the elven women. They help slide the dress onto her and tighten it to her figure; this would be difficult to fight in and this is probably why she hated dresses so much; they were useless.

"See it isn't that bad. It looks really nice on you." Hawke agrees to disagree with them, "Let's get the rest over with. At least this will be extra motivation to end things sooner."

They begin to fix up her hair and place on a little make up, "You said you came here with a friend, are they still inside here too?"

"I'm sure Fenris is still inside here plotting away with that elven mind of his. I bet his ears are burning red with fury right about now."

This captures the their attention, "So he is an elf; is he really handsome?"

Another one chirps, "It would be so romantic to be rescued by a handsome elven man. Oh my I'm getting gooseflesh thinking about it."

Hawke laughs nervously, but quips, "If you can look past his rotten attitude, I guess you could see him as being rather alluring."

"You seem to have a sort of infatuation for him," The young woman named Amaniel jibes; she just had to get trapped with a room of girly well…girls.

"Ha! That is hardly the case with him; that man is far too galling," Hawke berates. She stares at the red cloth around her wrist and ponders how he was doing right now though… You better be okay Fenris or I will personally kick your ass.

This place is beyond maddening. Not only was it filled with endless corridors and guards at every turn, but he had to go about it stealthily so not to endanger Hawke or the elven slaves littered about. Its at this moment he realized what an invaluable asset she is. As he has observed thus far, she always seems to know the right place to go and how to go about it unnoticed or come up with ingenious guises to breach past their defenses; her rogue skills are phenomenal.

He ducks into another dark indention as a guard patrol steps by and he curses in his mind once more. He was getting nowhere and he damned this approach. He would handle things as he normally did and was best at; head on.

He jumps out of his place to puncture a guard and slices across at the other, creating a clamor of metal to ricochet up the great hall. He eyes at his feeble blade in his hands; it was far too light and not messy like he enjoyed. This is a sword a child would wield to him; he had to find his own.

He hides again as another guard approaches, but instead of walking into the bodies, he unlocks a door and steps within. Fenris follows the man inside and flashes his teeth to the scenery; for once things had turned to his favor. This was the armory and stored wall to wall with weapons and armor. All he needed to do is kill the poor unsuspecting slob and he could take his pick.

"Hey elf you're not allowed..!" He just walks past and impales the wimpy sword in the man's gut, letting him die with it. Good riddance... worthless piece of forged rubbish.

He finds his sword thrown in a discarded heap and growls at the treatment of it; none of the other great swords within could compare to the craftsmanship placed into his. After getting the feel of it back in his hands, he sheaths it and spots something interesting. He grabs two more blades knowing Hawke will need them later and heads back out into the fray.

The transformation is finally completed and Hawke doesn't dare try to see her appearance, it would only make it worst. The door flings open as the two guards step in and shout, "It's been long enough, is she ready yet!?" They cower back behind Hawke and one of the men does the routine she expected, but it didn't make her feel any more comfortable about it.

"Very nice…" She notices his hand resting on the hilt of his sword and plays him, "Oh you really think so?" A flirty smile plays across her lips and he steps forward, "We can always take a detour before we bring you too him."

"I'd like that…" She reaches for his hand and latches onto it, forcing him to draw his blade and yank it up across his neck from behind him.

"You bitch! He will hear of this!" She presses the blade to dig into his neck, "One of you better start talking; where are all the other women being held!?"

"You won't do it; you heard what he said he would do to these women! Argh!" The blade now draws blood from him, "Willing to believe that? That is why you will tell me where they are."

"The others are stored up the south hall and attending this evenings party," the younger guard exclaims shakily.

"You moron, why did you…!" She finishes off the restrained guard and sheds him aside.

"Why…but I told you!?" Hawke forces him to back up as he holds out his blade, "What are you doing here? You're barely a man if one at all yet." He gulps and she sighs, "Listen I don't know what made you think working here was a good idea, but you are not hardened enough to pull off this kind of work."

"My parents are both dead and I needed to do something to take care of my sister," she can tell he isn't lying; he is just a naïve boy that bit off more that he could chew. She can relate to that.

"Do you think your parents and your sister would be proud of this? They are probably rolling in their graves right now. Help these women to escape; this isn't the life for you or for them and it will lead you on the right path to take. You'll find the rewards you will reap to be vastly greater."

He lowers his sword, "I can help them and the others in the south hall escape, but I can do nothing about the party."

"Leave that to me," she then hands her sword over to Amaniel. "Will you trust him enough to follow? I'm sure you know more than I do."

"I have never seen him treat us unkindly and he has snuck us in his own share of food, so yes."

"Then shadow him and use this if something happens."

She looks at it fearfully, "But I never…" Hawke places her hands on her shoulders, "Now is the time then. Fight for what is rightfully yours and aid the others in doing so. They need you now."

She nods, gripping the sword firmly and Hawke gives one last warning to the guard, "And if you dare even think to turn on them, I will find you." He jumps back a little at her icy remark and she goes to leave the room.

"Wait, you never said your name."

"It's Hawke. Remember the plan and don't give up." She disappears through the door frame and hurries up the hall, cursing her heels the whole way.

Just when she is about to rip her shoes off and throw them in an angry fit, a doorway reveals a large dining hall full of people. She cringes… nobles…

Forget the blight and darkspawn, here lying before her in all its bleakness was the scourge of Thedas. Their high and mighty smug personality mixed in with their conceitedness was enough to drive her up the wall. She laughed; just like Fenris, but he somehow managed to pull in off in a manner she found both humorous and interesting. It was one of his more charming features considering he used it to provoke and toy with her. She really wanted to find him and fast, but a familiar form steps in front of her, "Ah about time you made it here."

"Like I had a choice…" she mutters angrily off to the side. He takes her arm and leads her into the masses, "You are truly a vision; I must show you off to the others."

"Great so now I'm a trophy; this is humiliating…" She has to stall long enough to give the others a chance to escape and count the number of women held captive in the room. Fortunately they are easy to spot out.

"Oh my who is this enthralling friend of yours Basilio?" A group of nobles approach them and he taps Hawke, "Go ahead, introduce yourself to them."

If she was going to be exposed to this treatment, she was going to have fun with it, "I am the queen of Antiva, can't you tell?" The other nobles laugh richly at her response, "Where did you find her, she is quite the comedian."

"She found her way to me and I just couldn't let her go." Yeah that's an understatement. She wondered if these friends of his knew what is going on or not; probably too stupid to know the difference.

"Why don't you gather us drinks so we may chat," he nudges her off and she contains a growl. She takes it as an opportunity to map out a plan of attack and heads around the room, but stops as a flash of silver catches her eye. A smirk plays her lips and she heads for the other end of the room to the source of the sighting. In a quick grab, the small blade is concealed in her dress sleeve and she grabs some drinks to head back over to the group.

"Good you are back, they were just inquiring more about you," They take the drinks from her and she is satisfied. Not only had she located all the elven slaves, she had an escape route in mind; she just needed the right moment to act. His arm holding the drink wraps around her and draws her in, "So where do you hail from?"

She cringes at her closeness to him, "Ferelden." They laugh again. "Such splendor could not possibly come from such a mangy place as Ferelden. Their women are crude and filthy peasants."

Oh I am going to enjoy running a blade through them later.

"Perhaps when you spend most of your life with your head up your ass, it's hard to notice." A hand grabs her arm roughly and he says sternly, "Excuse her manners, it will be dealt with later…" He gives her a cruel look, before several guards run over.

"My lord there has been an incident or several actually."

"Excuse us…" He jerks her away from the other nobles as they head away to a more secluded spot. "What is the meaning of this!"

"Sorry my lord, but a trail of bodies have been found and the armory was infiltrated. Also, the guards patrolling the outside perimeter have been slain. We are searching for the culprits."

Basilio's face flushes red with fury as he shouts, "Find them! I don't want a single slave to escape you hear me! If even one is free, they will alert the other knife ears!"

"Yes right away!" Their armor rattles as they run off and Hawke smirks, "Plans failing you?"

"You insolent wench, this is your fault!" The other guest notice his fury and Hawke takes her moment, "You're in over your head."

"What!?" She then takes the knife out, stabbing it into his arm. He wails and releases her, so she pulls it out of his arm and grabs him in return, the knife now digging into his back. The armed guards run up and surrounded her as the guests begin to flee in fright. "I want all the women freed now!" She lets the knife bury further into his flesh and he cries out, "Guards you know what to do!" She watches as one grabs an elf by the arm and holds his blade up to her and she curses in her mind.

"No, you are in over yours. What will you do now Ferelden bitch," Basilio laughs. The blade goes further in so he ceases his laughter, but now they are left at a stand still. The elves are all now cornered by the guards as the nobles have now all left the room. Damn it think Hawke…

Her train of thought is broken however as a blade pierces from behind the guard holding the elf and protrudes out of his chest. The elf backs away, running over to the others as the blade is yanked out and the guard drops to reveal his slayer.

A smiles forces its way to her lips as the majestic elf smirks to her, "Catch!" He tosses a dagger her way and she holds her hand up to catch it on the hilt, the small blade fully impaling Basilio in the process and she lets him drop. More guards continue to flood into the room and she fights her way through to join Fenris's side as he slips her another blade. The two of them are the only thing protecting the elves and the vantage is looking even more grim.

"You both better surrender now! We have you surrounded," a guard yells in the crowd.

Hawke's eyes drift over to Fenris and he nods, so a cheeky grin forms, "Surrender? You'll have to do better than that, it won't be enough to save you." With a skillful dagger toss, a blade sticks a guards chest as they both rush in to engage the remaining guards. Recovering her blade from the man, she spins up into the air and slices through another as Fenris swings his blade around and knocks over a group. Hawke loses both her daggers again as guards find a way past them and head toward the cowering group of elven woman. They collapse, but then a blade swoops down at her and she dives out of the way. A leg sweep sends him to the ground and using his own blade, she stabs through his chest. It is clear now however they are getting overwhelmed and being to back up closer to the women with no chance of escape. Her teeth grind together as her heart pounds from the exertion and she mutters, "Damn they just keep coming…"

"Keep it together Hawke, we can do this."

She notices the cool determination on Fenris's face and immediately she envies him. Whether he is used to facing down these odds or not, his composure aside the gravity of the situation is astonishing to say the least. He's right, I'm not about to give up, not with him at my side. We've come too far.

A faint glow rises up throughout his markings and he wastes no time to lunge forward. His blade cleaves through a guard and he takes a free arm to reach in past a blade targeting him and crushes another's heart. The guards become uneasy enough to focus on him and Hawke forms a confident smirk. Show off. She then kicks off her uncomfortable shoes and uses a dagger to cut down the bonding material around her legs, wielding both blades up again. A group charges her and she looks over, seeing alcohol littered about on the table by her as well as the chandelier hovering just ahead of her her. Using a dagger, she wields it to slide the bottles off the table at the incoming guards and hurls the spare up to cut through a candle. The tiny flicker of flame comes in contact with the strong liquor and bursts forth to engulf the men. With Fenris distracting the main horde and the fire beginning to roar throughout the room, her moments are easily hidden within the smoke shroud, striking like a viper when she finds an opening. The elves have now found a way out to safety and the upper hand is theirs.

An unseen force slams her against the wall and she tries to regain her footing as Tevinter mage approaches her. Fenris is currently surrounded at the moment as he tries to clear a path and the mage's blood enters the air as shades begin to rises up from the ground around her. "Damn it…"

A cry then escapes the mage and he goes crashing to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his back and she turns her glance to the source. A smile of relief forces its way to her mouth and with daggers in hand, she slashes at the demons, a lusty pirate helping her in the process. "About time you two made it!" Another shade before her disperses and Isabela answers, "Sorry about that, getting inside was a bitch. Although if I knew you would be dressed like that, I would have made it here sooner."

Hawke ignores her embarrassment due to the fight currently still going on, but with the four together, the battle proves to be more and more easier. Corpses now litter the room and the once white dress is now stained red from the enemy blood. Her companions look like they have been to the Black City and back as well. "Everyone alright!?"

Isabela cleans her daggers off on a corpse and answers, "You know it." She then turns to Fenris who is facing away and asks, "How are you holding up Fenris?"

"I have been better," is his gruff reply and Hawke lets out a sigh that she doesn't know herself is relief or annoyance.

A cat call distracts Hawke's attention and her eyebrow raises over at Zevran, "I for one have never been better." Hawke blushes as his eyes travel down her legs and she curses beneath her breath.

"Why were you both so late!? I don't even want to begin to tell you what Hawke and I have endured in your absence," Fenris's glare faces Zevran.

"Seeing your eyes lacking that usual ferocity and her appearance so erotically disheveled, I'm sure it was quite the story. Alas, this proved as challenging as I assumed and the way here was far more rigorous than I wished. We did however manage to lead the other women to safety while you both had the main body distracted. That is why I needed you both and you far exceeded my expectations. Come now, we should check the place and leave before the guard shows up, I'd rather not be the one to explain all this."

"We''ll take the back way then toward the alienage."

After Hawke retrieves her armor and they search the place to make sure the women had all escaped, they walk in silence back toward the alienage. Fenris still refuses to look at her and its beginning to annoy her, what did she do now? With that adrenaline from the fight gone however, her body is really hating her right now. I really dislike blood mages… Her body still burns from within, but she can still walk thankfully.

As they enter the alienage however, none of them are expecting the welcome they receive.

"That's them! They rescued us!" The four are surrounded and while Hawke's heart almost bursts with joy seeing the families hugging after being reunited and the gracious thanks the are given, Zevran is eating it up, as Fenris remains distant and Isabela has a small smile on her lips.

An older male elf approaches them and says, "I must thank you all my friends. I could not inform my people of this incident due to my capture, but now we were able to drive the remaining out of here due to your part. We will find someway to repay you."

"No no kind sir. This was not a business agreement. Your thanks is all that is needed, now we must be on our way." Zevran gives a small bow before he starts to walk off and the elder stops him, "At least celebrate with us."

Zervan gives a cheeky grin, "Well I'm not one to pass up festivities. How about the rest of you?"

"If there are drinks, then why not," Isabela tells him as she takes Hawke's arm. "Coming with?"

Hawke gives a nod as she looks back at the irritated face Fenris has, then giggles at the reason behind it, "Join us Fenris." His frown grows at her words, but he steps forward and past the smitten gazes at him.

The music fills the air as the city elves dance and drink, while the four sit around a fire talking with the locals. After cleaning up and the passage to the estate successfully sealed up, Hawke had run into Amaniel again and after the happy greetings and exchange of what happened after they separated, she tells Hawke, "Asier and I made it to the others with little trouble, but when we tried to escape, the guards swarmed us. That is when those two showed up and took over, telling us to run." She points over to Isabela and Zevran who are laughing as they chat with drunken elves and Hawke asks, "Asier? That boy?"

She nods and continues, "When we made it back here, our hahren had returned and told the others the truth of what happened, so we revolted and the few remaining Tevinters and nobles fled. I doubt we will have much trouble with the guard considering everything that happened, not all of them have been corrupted.

"I'm sorry honestly do not know much about elven culture or elves in general, what is a hahren? Fenris hasn't told me much…" She laughs, "It's our elder, he was the one over there talking with that… that… beautiful elven man." Hawke follows the young elf's lovestruck gaze and swallows a lump, "That would be Fenris."

"So… How do you both handle everyone else's scrutiny of you being a human in love with an elf?" Hawke's eyes snap back to the girl, "We aren't!" Why do I have to keep explaining this to everyone….

"I just thought…" She looks to be struggling with something and Hawke asks, "Why are you asking, what is it?"

She blushes and looks down before she manages to say, "Asier is really sweet, he protected us and begged for my forgiveness… I mean before you showed up. When the other men tried to force their way with me, he stopped them and was beaten for it. He has a good heart, but was just confused at the time until you straightened out his thoughts… He was just so concerned for the well-being and safety of his sister…. He asked to see me again soon and…"

"You are worried how the others will react?"

She nods again and Hawke places a hand on her shoulder, "I'm not one to talk to about relationship advice, but I know if I cared for someone enough, I would do whatever I thought was best for them. Even if that meant I could never be with them. You just need to figure out if ending it now or letting it grow will be the best for both of you. I wouldn't take others' opinions into account, because this shouldn't be about them. If they truly care for you, then they will understand even if they don't necessarily agree with it."

"Thank you Hawke, I will think on it…" They both stand and Hawke says, "I should probably get going, we have a ship to catch soon. I doubt they will want to stick around long after what we did. Even if it is the right thing, many won't see it that way."

The girl gives her a hug and asks, "Will we see you again?"

"Maybe, I guess time will tell us."

The farewells are cut short as the guard enters the alienage to begin their investigation, the elder sneaking them out in the process. "This is the way out. I will do my best to keep you all protected until you are able to leave, but I would suggest departing as soon as possible. I'm sure someone will recognize one of you and direct attention towards you."

"Thank you Daeron." The elder gives Fenris a quick nod, "If you ever find yourselves back here or in need of help, you are all welcome to come to us. Farewell."

They travel out of the alienage and back into the city streets as the elder closes the way behind them.

"Well that was fun, haven't been in a good scrap like that in ages," Isabela stretches and Hawke turns to her. "So about that ship ride…," Hawke states with a wryly smile.

Isabela throws a key to Hawke, "Got you a room for the night. I'll wake you in the morning, we're going have a long day tomorrow so be prepared to leave."

"Wow, having that much faith in us? What an honor. I can honestly say I can't believe in the end you are actually telling us the truth this time." Hawke smiles at the keys in her hands.

"Neither can I," Fenris agrees curtly.

"Oh please I don't always lie." The two don't appear convinced at Isabela's defense. "Honestly!"

"I have a solution to this, you can always join Isabela and I tonight so you will know if we leave without you," Zevran speaks up.

"NO!" They shout at the same time.

Isabela places a hand on Hawke's back and continues, "I know I haven't given you both any reason to trust me, but I'm not cruel enough to do that. I like both of you, that is why I knew as soon as I saw you, you were going to help us out. I guess the fake mission wasn't necessary, but we didn't know for sure and even if you both refused, I would have given you a ride… Just for a fee."

Hawke's glare matches Fenris's toward her and she laughs, "Okay bad joke. Anyway the point is, when I first saw you, you both look not only like you know your way around a blade, which I'll be damned you both do, you seemed the type to want to do the right thing. I wasn't trying to take advantage of that fact, so don't think that, but you proved it to be true when you agreed to help when there was no coin and you didn't believe my word to you. Zevran asked me to find people that would work as a team that looked out for one another and I supplied when I found the both of you. Now please just say you trust me enough now, so I can stop making an idiot of myself?"

Hawke sighs and says, "So you didn't just pick us on our appearance alone?"

"No, that was just a perk. I saw you both fighting in the streets, but you disappeared before I could talk to you. Then luck brought you to the tavern I was staying at." She winks and Hawke rolls her eyes, "I guess I will trust you enough if you knock on our room's door in the morning."

"Bright and early."