Another chapter from the lovely JenniferHawke. :)

Marian

When Fenris smiled back at her, she felt like she could fly. The light from the lantern caused his skin to flicker, flames dancing back and forth over his tanned skin. The light hit his green eyes, and they sparkled back at her. Marian tried to hide her approval, and just chuckled slyly at him.

"See, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" She playfully teased the elf. It was nice to see him this way, but it didn't last long. That usual scowl he had soon returned, and he stared out across the land.

Marian was certain now, more than ever, that Fenris had a dark secret that he carried with him. When she asked him about the Tevinter Imperium at the dining table earlier, the look that he tried to hide - it was obvious to her that something terrible happened to him. The rest of his face remained blank and unreadable when she asked - but his eyes, oh those beautiful mossy green eyes had the hint of terror in them, for only the briefest of moments. Her heart ached for him. She had heard countless stories of how the Magisters kept slaves, mostly elves, and she prayed that he wasn't one of them.

"I hope you'll be happy here." is all she could muster up to say to him. Marian didn't much like sitting in silence. She was always talking, or humming, or singing to the animals as she worked. Fenris was a man of few words, but she enjoyed hearing him talk. His voice was deep and smooth; a very pleasant sound to her ears.

"I am sure I will be, once I familiarize myself to your way of living."

"Well, working on a farm won't be nearly as exciting as being someone's bodyguard, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time." Fenris winced, and she quickly regretted her choice of words.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume -"

"No need to apologize."

"Can I ask you something?"

"You talk a lot, don't you?" Marian laughed.

"I guess I do. I'm not bothering you, am I?" Fenris quickly shook his head.

"No. It's nice to have someone to listen to. It is not something I am accustomed to. What is it you want to ask?"

"Were you...I mean..." she trailed off. She knew she probably shouldn't be asking him such personal information so soon, but she wanted to know. It was eating away at her insides, the same way that insects tore away at their crops in the summer. "You weren't a slave, were you?"

Fenris' body stiffened, and his eyes narrowed at her. She instantly froze, his gaze pierced right through her, and for a moment, she became a little frightened.

"I fail to see how this is relevant to you."

"I'm sorry...it's just earlier, when I asked about the Tevinter Imperium, you seemed - "

"It would be wise of you not to speak of such things in my presence." he snapped, his voice cold and angry. Marian turned away from him, feeling small and insignificant.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." She began to scold herself for sticking her nose where it didn't belong. Of course he would be angry with her. Why wouldn't he be? If someone she barely knew started asking her if she were a mage, she would probably have the exact same reaction. She heard Fenris exhale deeply from beside her.

"You did not offend me. I just do not wish to talk about it. Can we leave it at that?"

"Yes, we can." she sighed with relief, when she turned and he no longer had that menacing glare on his face. Rather, he looked worried. There was a slight wind in the air now, and the breeze made Fenris' ivory hair flutter in its movement. She studied his features, his tan skin in comparison to his white locks. He had white hair and yet his eyebrows were dark. The markings that swirled across his skin were so intricate in their design. Curiosity burned within her, she wanted to know more about him, but she knew asking anything else tonight would be completely futile.

"Shall we go inside then?" she asked him, and he stood up, ready to comply. Marian led him back inside their home, and showed him to his room, where Carver sat on his bed, glowering at the elf. Fenris would be sleeping where Bethany used to. Marian's bed was a double, so it was decided that she would share her bed with her younger sister. So much for privacy, she thought to herself. She turned her attention to her younger, headstrong brother.

"Remember, my room is right next to yours, and our walls are paper thin. Don't think I won't come over here and teach you a lesson if you aren't polite to our guest."

"He's your guest, sister. He should be bunking with you."

"And what do you think father dearest would think of that?"

"I don't care what he thinks, and I don't care what you think either! This is my room, so I don't have to do as you say -"

"Carver! Pipe down or I'll come in there and give you something to whine about!" Malcolm's voice boomed from down the hall.

"See? Paper thin walls." Marian smirked, and Carver sulked, rapidly turning over to face the wall. "I'll be in the next room if you need anything." she said to Fenris, who stared at Carver as if he were a grenade, about to detonate.

Marian entered her bedroom, and Bethany was already there. She had moved her belongings into the room, and was sitting on the bed in her nightgown. Marian smiled at her little sister.

"Sorry if it's a little cramped in here" she said, closing the door.

"Oh no, I'd much rather share a bed with you than a room with Carver." she looked at Marian wide-eyed. "Do you have any idea what he does at night when he thinks I'm sleeping?" she whispered, a horrified look on her face. Marian shuddered.

"I'd rather not know."

Bethany turned around as Marian began to undress herself. She opened a drawer with the very few clothes that she had, and slipped on a loose white nightgown. It was a few sizes too big for her slender form. She did up the buttons and then climbed into her bed, laying at the side closest to the wall.

"Sister?"

"Yes, Bethany?"

"You really like that boy, don't you?" Marian smiled at her innocence.

"He's really a man more than a boy," she laughed. She imagined Fenris was in his late twenties, at the very least, perhaps even a little older than that. "But to answer your question, I think I do." she smiled, and a warmth came across her face.

"Why?" her sister asked her, curiously.

"Well..." she hesitated, giving it some thought. "I'm not too sure really." she said, trying to keep her voice low, afraid that the men in the next room would hear her. "There's just something different about him that I like."

"He sure isn't like anyone around here."

"You're right Bethany. He isn't."

"Is that why you haven't had a boyfriend before? Because they weren't different?"

Marian Hawke had never been in love. She was too busy working hard on the farm, and harboring a dark secret. Nothing about the men she grew up around piqued her interests, although that wasn't to say it went both ways. She had often gotten attention from the opposite sex, with their catcalls and repulsive remarks if she went into town late at night. It made her cringe, so she tried to avoid it when she could. She wore clothes that were loose fitting and kept her hair short. It was easier to work that way anyhow.

"Maybe." she finally answered her sister. Carver's voice could be hear from the next room. He was complaining to Fenris that he ought to find somewhere else to go, and he'd better stay away from his sister. Marian just rolled her eyes and banged her fist against the wall, and Carver silenced his whining.

"Let's get some sleep Bethany. It's been a long and trying day."

Again that night, Marian tossed and turned. Despite how physically drained she felt, her mind would not let up on her. Why did she have feelings for a man she just met? It was unlike her to fall easily. In fact, she avoided these kind of feelings like they were the plague. Emotions would just lead to a broken heart, and that was something she did not need in her life right now.

She lay against the wall, knowing the just inches away from it was Fenris' bed. He was so close to her, yet he might as well be miles away. She listened closely, trying to distinguish if she could hear him breathing deeply with sleep. No such luck, just Carver's usual snoring. She groaned and closed her eyes. Her body would surely be regretting the lack of sleep in the morning.