Author's note.

Sorry this has taken so long peeps really dregging my mind its bin a bit slow after a long shift at work lol. trying to plough through so we can get to the proper story as it were :3 bit of gore in this one - so you have been warned

Smoothedzeus: Not complete yet, but I have at least thirty chapters already written and I will be uploading one every couple of days depending on the reviews I receive XD

Angelic-Demon96: I'm going to take that as a good thing. It's certainly a very cute face.

Chapter 4

Fenris awoke with a start, looking around he realized he'd only been asleep for barely a few hours; a feeling of sudden dread ran through him. He'd felt uneasy all day, earlier in the week he'd heard a few whispers of slavers travelling in Antiva, looking for him and another called 'Song Bird' or something. Baring his teeth he started to clear the camp, the feeling of unease wasn't leaving and he knew better than to disregard his gut. He worked methodically, wiping all trace of his presence, when he had finished he leaned against a nearby tree internally fighting with himself. He should start walking and not look back, but an image of a young woman with a icy blue, piercing eye kept popping into his head. He fought and lost, he sighed turning on his heel he started to walk back to where he left her camp. I'll just warn her and move on, he thought to himself and without meaning to he picked up his pace.

The treeline began to clear, he could see the fire of her camp flicking with its dying embers. Slowing to a stop he started to think, why would she even listen to him? He pictured the scene running into her camp without her permission, waking her, and then telling her to move because he felt uneasy. Such a fool. Rubbing his eyes, he was so tired of running, of watching every shadow, if she was this other person, this 'Song Bird' then she may feel the same. Normally he wouldn't give a second or even a first thought to another person. He prized his freedom and guarded it with fierce obsession. It was his, no-one else's and nothing was going to take it from him. Well, he was already here so he might as well try. He couldn't figure out why she was even in his thoughts. Why should he care about a random woman? If she couldn't look after herself, then she shouldn't be travelling alone. That was a stupid idea, especially if you were a young woman. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was going to regret this. But, he should give her a warning at least. Feeling slightly nervous about doing so, he stepped into the field.

She was already awake when he strode into the light. The mare had woken her, it was up and pawing the ground, whickering at her. 'What? What is it? What's going on?' She was almost dancing with the mare, her hands raised high trying to calm the beast. 'Is there someone coming?' She grabbed the horse's head, she had disabled her wards as she woke up. 'What is going on?! . ... Why am I asking you? You can't reply.' She said laughing lightly and stroking the mare's head. 'I'm sorry for shouting at you girl, it's just like you can understand every word I say.' She stood calmly patting the horse's neck as she buried her face in it's mane. Fenris was entranced, he couldn't move couldn't find his voice he was scared that if he so much as breathed heavily the moment would shatter. She stood next to the mare, arms wrapped around it, her hair had worked it's way loose from her hood and hung just below her waist, curling in the breeze, triggering the ancient male instinct lodged deep in his memory.

Hawke was aware that something was wrong. Attempting to soothe the horse was important. The mare could bring unwanted attention if she made too much noise. Simply put, Hawke was annoyed. While patting the mare's neck she felt a presence, her body froze not wanting to turn and confront the intruder. Reluctantly, she turned, ready to tell whoever it was to piss off. Indeed there was someone standing there, but what shocked her was the way he was looking at her. He was so intense, not just the way he stared at her as if he could read her thoughts, but his being. Everything became mere blurry background when he was around. Hawke could feel herself beginning to blush as she noticed that he was staring at her hair; which she normally kept braided and hidden out of sight for it got in the way, and tended to make people stare because of the length and varied colours of brown. Like he was now...

Snap out of it fool, you're here for a reason! Fenris cleared his throat, running a hand through his own hair to cover his embarrassment at being caught watching her. 'Greetings,' he said. The mare nuzzled her head and tried to fondly pull her hood down, she hastily tugged it back from the creature.

Shocked, she replied without thinking, '..hi.'

'I apologize for the intrusion, I came to tell you...' His voice dwindled as out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Moments later, an arrow thudded into the grass beside the mare. The animal reared up, neighing loudly in fear and ran towards the trees, knocking her onto the floor heavily. More arrows were shot and thankfully landed beside the fire. Fenris looked at the young woman, she had already flipped onto her feet. The fall had caused her hood to fall back and he could see the bandages wrapped around and under her hair, covering the left half of her face. Half braided, it whipped across her face as she grabbed her pack, pulling it onto her back. She stepped back and pulled out two daggers that rested at the base of her spine, hidden by her cloak. Fenris could feel the anger roll off her, she ignored his presence as she looked as to where the arrows had come from. He was right, slavers had tracked his position and now he dragged her into it. These were no normal slavers, to be able to sneak up on him was impressive, he could see them in the weak firelight. He swore mentally and cursed himself for the fact he had allowed himself to become distracted by a pretty face. Now he was cornered. The only option was to fight and hopefully cripple the group so they return to Tevinter. Without looking at her, he charged in front drawing his sword, it shimmered with a deadly glimmer along it's length, the fire making the metal glow could see at least fifteen men, bad odds, but nothing he hadn't faced before. They would have to kill him, he wouldn't stop fighting. If she was smart she would run while they were distracted. She couldn't hope to take them. He saw the worry in her eyes when she held her weapons.

Just a few feet away now. Some held bows and knocked arrows, holding them in his direction, those he ignored. The main body of slavers attempted to flank him, but he cut them off. Swinging his blade, it scored it's way through several of the men. Hot blood burst up his face, the metallic taste catching his tongue as he breathed through his mouth. The sound of fragile bones snapping as the massive force shattered and tore it's way through their bodies rang in his ears, along with the pounding of his heartbeat. Like a drum, he fought to the rhythm. Ducking and weaving from the arrows that he felt pass his body. The sword was a heavy weight in his hands, the pommel now slick with his sweat and slavers' blood. The yells of capture turned to piercing screams as their life force poured onto the grass, their broken bodies lying on the floor. A shout came from behind him, as he spun he saw more men rising from the wilderness, there were so many. This was a fight he could not win. He parried a blow and headbutted the individual in front of him, the cartilage of the man's nose splintering and breaking under the force. It blinded the slaver long enough for Fenris to to run him through. Stepping back, he fought his way back to the young woman, tearing skin and splitting limbs his sword hungrily shredded it's way through anything that crossed his path. His arms burnt with the exertion, his muscles complaining. The internal struggle was worse. He battled against his own skin, trying to stop his lyruim from glowing too brightly. His coverings would only hide so much. The urge to resort to more primal tactics of using his hands was unbearable. He didn't wish to use his lyrium around the woman. It was bad enough that he was fighting for his freedom, let alone questions.

Growling as he faced took care of the opponent that came too close. Out his peripherals he could see her fighting, she welded the two blades as if they were part of her body. Quickly and swiftly she dodged and swerved, men fell around her. She looked like a mythical creature, her hair loose and flowing, the firelight and score of men dying by her hands.

Before he knew it he was beside her. He glanced around, although they killed many, more came. This was a serious slaver operation, he could feel himself becoming tired and the wounds he had sustained were beginning to take their toll on his body. There was only one thing left to do. Fenris turned to her 'Move!' He yelled.

'What?!' She replied, slitting a man's throat as he came to close, the blood splattering her clothing, her breath was hard and heavy. The layers and bandages didn't seem to hinder her movement at all.

'I said, move! Run into the forest and do not stop,' Fenris repeated, using his shoulder to push her towards the trees. He had no idea why he was doing this. She was nothing to him, yet at the same time, he couldn't bare seeing her get captured. He could see a sharp wound on her arm and he felt more anger. 'Run, and don't stop, I will hold them for as long as I can, now go!' She looked at him disbelief plastered across her face. 'Do not argue, just go!' He yelled. Shoving her behind him, he blocked a blow aimed in her direction. The slavers were regrouping and beginning to flank around them. The only escape was indeed the forest. He looked at her in concern, she looked back at him, not quite understanding why he was risking himself for her. He pulled his sight away and began to advance on the slavers again, his hair streaked with red and she could tell that he was favoring his left leg to his right.

Hawke gazed at him. First he threw himself into battle like a reckless idiot, but then as she watched, she could see he was anything but. He was strangely graceful and very powerful. And now he was telling her to run, to leave him to fight. Alone. For her. Hawke nodded, sheathing her blades she ran into the forest, stumbling over a few of the dead slavers. Guilt crawled inside her. She had no idea why he was doing this, but she wouldn't go back. She wouldn't let herself get captured. She would take this chance and run. Survive and fight another day. She could hear a few of the men that had broken away from the main group and were now following. She glanced around over her shoulder, he was almost glowing in the firelight, fighting like a demon. She forced herself to concentrate at the task at hand and forcing herself to look away she ran into the trees. Leaving him. Leaving him behind.

*hope you like it next chapter should be interesting as everything catches up so no more flicking back to things that already happened if you get me lol*

The more reviews I get, the more I know you lot like it and the quicker I'll edit and upload the next chapter. Or PM me, I don't mind. XD

Thanks for reading xx