(My thanks again to those continuing to read and review. Hopefully one of these chapters will shed some light on the recent views to Serrah's past. For now let's continue with chapter four.)
Chapter Four: Endure
She smiled to herself as she lay back onto the hard mattress. Sleepily she wondered about the Elf sleeping in the corner of her room. What if her stupid spur of the moment thinking had Hadriana turn her hatred toward Serrah? Would Fenris have at least tried to help, or be grateful he was no longer the woman's main obsession? The man was so hard to read she found herself swimming in questions. Thinking back her plan was stupid, throw a rock? Yes and how stupid she would have looked if the mage had spun back around and saw her throw the stone. Quite stupid and most probably pummelled.
Serrah let out a heavy sigh and turned on her side her eyelids fighting her ever churning mind. She wanted to know what was going through Fenris's mind, his so very hard to read expressions and little jokes made him a hard person to decipher. Mentally she started a list:
He is an elf.
He is a slave.
He broods constantly.
He has beautiful markings.
He is a prized bodyguard or merely a shiny toy for Danarius? Both?
Hadriana hates him.
He has gorgeous green eyes.
He has tanned skin.
Long, lanky and lean.
He has pretty silver hair.
She felt her face heat up to the tips of her ears. Half her list consisted of things a bard might recite in poetry, or sing to someone they loved. Serrah shook her head and buried her face into the mattress. No she simply admired him, to her he was the most interesting man in the world, and surely she wasn't having thoughts akin to love? She tossed the other way staring into the thin sheet that separated the room and wondered if he was the one to make sure her wounds where attended to by sending down Gymea while she was beaten unconscious. Was he the one who had a hand in her getting this room, where normally she should have had but a square space like he had? Secretly she hoped these things were true, she did not wish to gain any more special attention from Danarius than she already had. In fact she hoped he would let her be a shadow and not speak to her more than needed, his voice made her skin crawl. A wicked smile graced her lips; if someone tried to assassinate him she could just trip or miss catching an arrow by mere inches. This thought led her into a blissful sleep.
"Serrah!"
She could feel her body vaguely, being rolled from side to side. Was somebody shaking her?
"Oh pickle toes! Wake up woman!"
She recognised the voice as Gymea and opened an eye, "Pickle toes?" she repeated tiredly.
"Maker you sleep like a corpse." She said a little flustered from rousing Serrah from her apparent deep sleep. "Danarius has been waiting all morning for you. He wishes to venture to the harbour and is becoming more than a little impatient."
Serrah bolted out of bed and drew back the sheet, both relief and disappointment washed over her.
"Hadriana told Danarius of Fenris's disappearing act. Of course she left out why she was looking for him in the first place, if the master cares for that at all."
Fear spread through her body; did her actions prove to just get the elf into more trouble?
"Do not look so..." She struggled for words and looked to the door like someone would burst through. "He is fine Serrah; in fact he is waiting outside the door to take you to the courtyard where the Master awaits." She finished quietly.
Serrah looked to the Elven girl and asked quietly as well, "He wasn't punished further was he?"
She shook her head with a smile, "He probably assumed something like this, and Danarius found him awaiting orders back in his bedroom."
The thought of Fenris sitting casually and looking as though he never left his room, Hadriana no doubt looking the fool, made Serrah smile. Gymea however didn't give her much time to think and started assembling armour. Wait was that armour?
"Please tell me that is not what I am to wear!"
There was barely anything there! Her heart hitched a beat when she realized it was her armour and she was expected to wear it.
"At least you have the body to look good in it." The elf said a little loud towards the door.
Serrah blushed, "Don't do that." She hissed quietly, "What exactly are you doing?"
The woman shrugged and smiled sheepishly, "Stating the obvious."
"So the whole world can hear?" Serrah countered.
"Not to the whole world." Before anything more could be said the armour, or to be more accurate the lack thereof, was thrust into her face. "Put them on and I will make sure all you can't reach is fitted properly."
Serrah started to put them on over the clothes she slept in but Gymea shook her head.
"Won't fit properly like that for one, and secondly the master would have a fit." She chided.
"But I do not wish to be half naked. This is no better than having no armour."
She sighed after looking into the defiant Elven eyes and put the armour on the way it was made to be worn. The chainmail covered her chest in an x shape from waist to shoulders, where raven feathers tickled her biceps. The chainmail itself offered little to no protection she realized, but did move nicely with what little it had contact with. The junction at the back was being tightened by Gymea with two holsters where she supposed swords would be held later.
The bottoms offered more coverage, thankfully. A short chainmail shirt with black leather strips in the front and back like she remembered seeing on most leather armour. A pair of tight thin leather covered her legs from just above the knees to her toes. The leather was tight enough to not fall down her legs and where not very comfortable, the soles of her feet still felt naked against the floor.
"What no shoes? And here theirs a split on the hip of this chainmail! I would like to avoid showing flashes of ass while I fight!" She spat out angrily, appalled by what Danarius expected of her.
"N-no, that split is meant to be there Serrah. Here put these on, they will serve to make you feel less passionate about... the flashes. " she smiled, "And this to put your hair up so it doesn't get in the way."
She handed to her what looked like a child's pair of shorts. She cocked a brow but Gymea urged her that they would stretch. Slipping the shorts on under the chainmail skirt, she did feel better and they did stretch.
"Thank you. I do not believe I would have let the Magister live if I had to go anywhere with my ass hanging out like some sort of brothel maid."
"You're welcome, now would you go. I am not sure the master will let you live with how long you have made him wait." She said shoving Serrah to the door.
"Fine, fine." She said opening the door and looking at the silver haired man leaning on the wall, brooding she suspected. Or asleep? She couldn't tell.
She decided that with her rear covered she wasn't going to be embarrassed over the outfit, but she found in his presence she felt very insecure. She was sure her ears would melt away as he cast a mere glace before wordlessly walking down the hall.
"What no jokes at my expense?" She asked seriously, while putting up her hair as they walked.
He didn't look back, just kept walking and shrugged. What so he wasn't going to talk to her now? What had she done that had been so wrong? He stopped and she realized they were in a garden in front of some ornate gates. She could see the magister in the distance. He cast a glace which she could have sworn had a smile if he had not looked away again so quickly.
"You sleep talk." He said simply then opened the gates and made his way over to the magister with her in tow.
Her mind was now reeling. Maker no! What did she say in her sleep? She could just imagine it, her whispering odd wish washy things about how handsome she thought he was. She was willing to bet if she had it really pet his ego.
"So she wakes at last hmm? Makers breath I thought I would have to haul you out myself." He said not really looking as though he thought the idea completely intolerable.
She was expecting him to punish her, but it seemed he did not abuse his slaves in front of company. A young man accompanied him, though truthfully even after his name was spoken she did not find it important to remember his name. Before she knew it two blades were put into the sheaths on her back and the small group started to get into a carriage.
The ride itself was a bore and she couldn't help but keep her eyes anywhere except where her partner sat. She even cursed silently every time he could be seen in her peripheral. He probably had so much ammunition for potential jokes that he didn't know where to begin. How many times must she make herself out to be a fool to this man?
Her thoughts crumbled as they exited the carriage onto a very busy street. Many people poured through the middle of the street moving both directions, booths lined the sides with merchants advertising and selling their wares. It was definitely no harbour, although she could see one far in the distance. People did not seem to know what personal space was and she granted herself lucky she held no change purse. Danarius browsed the wares of many booths and she watched the crowds carefully, she did not want to be punished because she let someone get away with the magister's coin.
She heard murmurs and listened to snippets of others conversations. The merchants all claiming to have the best wares in Minrathous, some with beautiful woman and strong looking men bound in chains on display. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised with the open slavery, humans and elves alike, but the feeling remained. She had remembered hearing of the Imperium and its prestigious capital, however now being in it she couldn't help but think how far it must have fallen. A tower in the distance behind them cast a large shadow and reminded her whose country she was in. Magi ruled this place, and with an iron fist.
A young boy was tailing them, she realised. Serrah could see him ducking in and out of the crowds, if she had not been looking for trouble he would have been nothing but one with the random blur of the crowd. His intent was clear however as she saw the gleam in his eye as he passed the magister time and time again. He was going to be one sorry little pickpocket if she caught him.
Apparently Fenris noticed the boy as well; where she was waiting the boy to get closer, Fenris disappeared into the crowd. Danarius did not seem to notice and continued looking through a self of amulets. She unwillingly stuck close to the magister filling in Fenris's space. After a couple more booths her worry turned to relief as the Elf reappeared at her side his heavy broadsword keeping most from brushing too close to him. She wondered how he dealt with the boy and scanned the crowd just in time to see the boy flawlessly snag away a different targets pouch of coins and disappear into the crowd in the opposite direction.
Well done, was all she could think; about Fenris and the boy. Many people stared at their group she realized and she wondered why. There were many other travelers there whom she found more interesting. Some magister's even had Elven children on... leashes! She could feel her stomach flip over, so this is The Tevinter Imperium? Where mages did as they pleased and leashed their young slaves, she wanted to burn the market down.
It was dusk by the time they reached the harbour, her legs surprisingly enjoying the long stroll. People where scarce here, but many boats lined the water. The moody skies setting a gloomy mood and Danarius seemed to become a little irate.
"Where is he? This is the trade spot is it not?" The magister exclaimed looking to the young man next to him.
The man nodded politely and wandered to the boat we stood next to and boarded. A few minutes later the man returned with a very dark and very broad man. He stood foreboding in front of the Magister and all Serrah could think was how she hoped she would not have to fight such a large man.
"I don 'appreciate being sent int'a dangerous job wi'out being warned first." He stated folding his arms, "I dint think you'd be show'n your face here again."
Danarius looked taken back, "What do you mean? Where's my cargo?"
The Captain scratched his head annoyed and she thought she saw dirt fall from his thick red dreads.
"The island be cov'rd in Qunari buggers. No cargo n'more, the beasts say they belong t'them."
Beasts? That wasn't nice, the Qunari are a bit... scary, but not beasts.
The magister looked to have used all his willpower to not start a screaming fit and looked up at the burly captain.
"I assure you they do not belong to them, and I had no idea they were there. Let alone that they would steal my cargo."
The captain unfolded his arms and held out his hand, "You still owe. Few o'me men were taken."
"I will pay you twice the coin if you bring me to the island and back safely."
This intrigued the captain and he smiled a not very toothy grin. The men shook on it.
"We'll be leav'n the docks in two days. Don 'be mak'n me wait."
The magister was not a very happy man and grumbled all the way back to the estate. The servants could tell as much when they greeted him at the door and he waved them off telling everyone just to leave him be for the night. Seeing his distress however just made Serrah smile. Adwa then came down the hall from where the magister just took off. She was quite angry as she rolled an empty cart.
"The nerve that man has." She said quietly; probably afraid of the magister's loyal subjects hearing her.
Serrah could smell the bounty of Adwa's cooking somewhere down the hall.
"What is the matter Adwa?" Serrah asked following the woman. She motioned for Fenris to follow, which he did so silently.
"He will not eat all that food on his own. I doubt he will even nibble at it with the mood he is in."
Angrily the elderly woman shoved the cart into the kitchen scarcely missing the table.
"That food could go to some good use then." Serrah stated plainly with a little smile playing on her lips.
The old woman shook her head and wagged her finger at her.
"You giving away your food, was your own choice. Giving away the Masters food is another thing all together." She warned, then turned to Fenris and shot a finger in his face, "Don't you let her do anything with that mans food. Not a thing!"
"But there are hungry people serving his every whim! That food could be used to fill the bellies of the people who work hard just to get by."
"Child you do not understand. Hunger means we are weak. Weak means we cannot fight. No fights mean no hassle and no hassle means the Magister is happy." Tired she looked at Fenris and Serrah.
"Do not worry Adwa, if the Magister is as distraught as you say then Hadriana is our only worry."
The old woman let out a frustrated sigh, "I share your feelings on where the food should be distributed. But I can't help, the most I sneak enough food to the family's here too much already."
Serrah was sure her anger painted her face, but she could not control it. Sneaking a child a piece of bread or two here and there wasn't enough. She has seen those children walking the halls on their way to their duties, eyes sunken and knees knocking. Fenris, she supposed, had similar thoughts.
"Have the children gather. They are not staying hungry tonight." Fenris said surprising her. "We are not taking all the food that is too risky. But I assume you have a plan to get some out?"
Serrah nodded happy to have a partner in crime.
"I do not know if it will work though. This needs to be done right and you have to go along with it, seeing how the magister is in a mood..." She trailed off, the plan formulating in her head. "It may get messy or we may walk away merely disappointed."
The old woman didn't look like she would help at all, but Serrah's face must have looked pathetic enough because the woman gave in.
"The breads will be fine for a couple days and those I can distribute without notice throughout the day tomorrow. The meats and vegetables should be eaten fresh." She returned to lecture mode however, "You do realize it is night, many are asleep, and I will have to wake the children."
"Ah but the night is young Adwa. Tonight the children will get the nutrition they need, and tomorrow morning can fill their little stomachs with breads. Mark my words not all that food will go to waste."
"Take this maybe it will help." The old woman practically threw a pouch at her that clinked with glass bottles inside.
Adwa left shaking her head while mumbling about stubborn youngsters. Serrah looked at her partner and immediately told him her plan.
"You are mad, why am I helping you?" Fenris said as they rounded the corner just outside the magister's dining room.
"I am not mad, I didn't eat last night. Maybe it is hunger that drives me."
"So this is for you?" He said with an unbelieving tone.
Whether or not the tone was disbelieving she would say such a thing, or him catching her lie, she did not know.
"No, but my plan might benefit my stomach, therefore it is even more compelling." She answered sheepishly.
"I think that depends on Denarius's mood." He sounded sour, as though he knew this wouldn't end well.
The plan itself was going to be hard to pass off. She planned to walk away with a couple plates at least. She didn't know how many children were kept as slaves here and wanted to make sure they all got some.
"Ok we are here so pick me up." She said quickly jumping into his arms and downing one of the bottled concoctions Adwa gave her. The taste was horrible and she gasped at the aftertaste.
It took all her willpower not to think about his warm arms around her when he instinctively caught her and the way he smelt like leather and Elfroot. He seemed surprised and stood there holding for what seemed like eternity, which she ruined by finally peering up at him.
"I did not realize this was part of the plan." He stated heading to the door. "Surely you could walk."
Her face felt feverish as she felt his biceps ripple as he balanced her to take hold of the handle. Or was that the potion taking effect? As usual she could not tell.
"Believe me this is the fastest and probably most believable way." She whispered before he opened the door.
She lay limp in his arms then scarcely breathing, her arms curled on her chest. Her face was heating up still, she thought she might actually die from the electricity she could feel everywhere his body made contact. Maker's mercy she never wanted to leave this man's arms.
"Andrastes pyre what is wrong with her?" Danarius said bolting off his seat at the head of his table.
So far so good it seemed. Part one, make him believe she is sick was underway.
"I do not know Master, she suddenly collapsed." Fenris said monotone. "The cook said she had to throw away her food last night. She said Serrah refused to eat."
How was he going to get Danarius to believe him if he doesn't put some emotion into it? Apparently it didn't matter how Fenris spoke because Danarius had Fenris seat her in the nearest chair.
"Make her drink this." The magister said shoving a goblet into Fenris's hand.
He grunted in discontent but did as he was told with a "Yes Master."
She let her breath hitch as the wine dribbled down her throat and she sputtered before taking a couple sips. The wine proved only to make her cheeks redden further which was good. Not healthy, but good for the plan. She sat up on her own wobbly putting a shaking hand to the goblet, pushing it away. He sat it back into the table and she let herself open her eyes a little, the alcohol already making for a little haziness, but the potion was the real poison. The table was FULL of food. She couldn't believe how much was there and all for one man? She noticed a spot next to the magister's seat that had already been eaten off of and left for the slaves to clean up. Hadriana's spot perhaps?
"You are stubborn I will give you that." Danarius said angrily, "You think starving yourself will make me pity you? Make me send you away like you want me to? I could replace you if I wished!"
He slapped her a little force added with some earth magic she guessed. She turned and heaved wine and bile next to Fenris. She thanked the maker she did not puke on the elf; she would have felt worse if she had.
"Eat!" The magister ordered shoving a plate in front of her.
She shook her head and the magister hit her again and she tumbled to the floor.
"Did you like the dungeon? If I send you there again maybe you will re think your hate of food? I cannot have a bodyguard who is too exhausted to pick up a sword." He kicked her and she rolled from the force. "I do so much for you slaves and still you would insult me by turning away all kindness I give? Eat my little doll; I will make you eat till you puke."
She was pulled up by an unnatural force and shoved back into a chair. A plate of food soon replaced the empty space.
"Yes master." She said and started stuffing her face not even bothering with utensils.
The ribbon in her hair loosened and her hair fell around her. The sensation was heightened by the potion and felt like pin pricks as strands touched her cheeks.
"Pathetic." Danarius said disgusted.
He was true to his word however and she did puke up a few plates of food before he thought his point had been driven home. She was heaving for the last time when she collapsed, not quite out but enough where she might as well have been.
"If I hear you disrespecting any more of my kindnesses I will seriously consider slitting your throat as an example to others."
With that the magister left the room and she waited till she couldn't hear is angry steps before she lifted herself up with a shaking body. She pulled a handkerchief from the table and wiped her face and picked food out of her hair. She put her hair back up and dusted herself of standing on unreliable legs and started piling food on the plates. There was still so much food on the table that even a few plates of piled food would not be missed by the magister. Fenris being not so beat up was faster and filled three plates before finding a cart and taking what Serrah had and putting them there as well. She took out the second glass bottle from the bag Adwa gave her and drank the antidote deeply.
"This might be too much already, let us go." He said pushing the cart towards the door.
She grabbed a piece of bread and a chalice of wine and followed steadily even though her body felt drugged. Her world was hazy at best as she used the walls to keep herself from falling at Fenris's heels. He seemed to be taking on a slow pace for her and she appreciated it even though it might mean an increased chance of a run in with Hadriana.
Luckily Hadriana was nowhere to be found and the two of them were able to distribute the food easily. Most of the children seemed to fear her sickly pale skin and her brooding companion, but none refused the offer of food. One tiny girl with long red hair simply hugged Serrah's leg for an obscene amount of time before she scampered off with her food. Serrah couldn't help but smile, even if she felt like crap it was worth it to see children like that getting the help they needed. A group of children where then pulling at her.
"Lady, can you sing?" One little boy asked hope making his puppy eyes bright. "My momma used to sing to me."
She did not know what to say. Could she sing? She could not remember if she had done anything of the sort. She looked to Fenris who shook his head.
"Do not look at me; it is not I they asked. Many of these children are brought here by slavers from other countries, or sold themselves into slavery so their families can eat."
She looked back to the group of children who sat at her feet and lightly tugging her leather stockings. She sat with them and they immediately sought her comfort, sitting around and snuggling up against her sides, waiting for her to say anything.
"I think I remember an Elven song, will that do? It is called Endure."
The thanked the Maker the antidote was taking effect, her cheeks felt warm and she felt a little sleepy. Hopefully she could get through the song without falling asleep. Many of the little ones obviously just craving motherly attention did not care what song, just a song and they all nodded settling in to listen.
"Melava inan enansal
ir su araval tu elvaral
u na emma abelas
in elgar sa vir mana
in tu setheneran din emma na."
The children seemed drawn even more by her. She knew her voice was not beautiful, but she figured the children imagined each of their own mothers singing them to sleep as mothers often do. Even Fenris sat over in the corner and closed his eyes.
"lath sulevin
lath araval ena
arla ven tu vir mahvir
melana 'nehn
enasal ir sa lethalin"
As she found herself doing many times before time slipped from her as she sat comforting the children and falling asleep propped up by the bodies around her. Likewise her body served to hold up many of their tiny frames in their slumber.
(I realized while writing this chapter that I have been spelling Elven wrong in the other chapters. I have been typing Elvin instead. Sorry about that and if it bothers anyone I will go back and correct the other chapters.)