Disclamer: I may have forgoten to put this on in the begining, but I thought it was obvious. I do not own anything assosiated with Dragon Age (Bioware does)
I had been Anders's cat for weeks. I had been staying with Merrill a couple nights a week. When she had learned I was sleeping on the streets of Darktown, she forced me to stay with here. And when I say forced I mean made sad puppy dog eyes until it look as thought she would cry.
I wasn't opposed to staying with her. I was afraid of anymore of Anders's friends figuring out my secret. I knew Isabella and Varric knew and the more people who knew the longer it wouldn't be a secret.
Lately I'd been on the offensive with the Carta. I had heard whisperings of plots and plans. The Coterie had passed the torch to the organization in order to save cost. I figure they would be less bold about an attack if they were still scrambling behind the scenes. I would turn into a cat and prowl to there hideout in Darktown. It was easy to find. It had a spokes person standing out front selling confiscated items to turn a profit.
I'd change a couple of documents. Shipping manifests with the wrong date. Things would turn up late or go to the wrong person. It wasn't hard to cause chaos among them and the more I snooped the more I realized certain branches weren't even talking to others. Or if they did they would leak false information. Sometimes all I had to do was make sure some of the members were properly informed to screw up someone's plans. The Carta was certainly a den of lions.
Either way I had them scrambling. There was only one last thing to do. I switched a meting date for one group to meet with an Antivan Crow. I was worried the assassin might be an elf. The Crows were notorious for using elfs. So my problem was they weren't meeting an elf. I was going to intercept and kill them. Whiter they assumed the elf double crossed them or that it was all a trap to be rid of them from a rival, it didn't matter. The higher ups would hear of it and know one would know who did it. Accusations would be made and it would be the final straw I needed, so to speak. They would forget all about the apostate hiding in darktown because they were too busy attacking each other.
I never had a reason to go to Hightown before, at least not during the day. I had instructed the Carta to meet the assassin outside the Chantry and that's where I was waiting. I had purchased a black cloak for the evening. The cloak was pulled tight around me with the hood pulled. I wanted to look the part, but I assumed even at a distance I probably wouldn't pass for an elf; Elven blood or not.
I watched their body language on approach. Shoulder's swaggered and relaxed. So I held my attack. In my mind I was already running thought the spells I would use. I didn't have a staff so I would rely on area spells. Without a focusing rod to channel my magic through I wouldn't be able to strike at an individual person.
The thieves came closer. The one leading the pack was the first to get suspicious and he stopped in his tracks. The others kept walking. But only took two more steps before he called out a warning. "That's not the Crow."
I wasn't sure exactly what gave me away other than not being an elf. It didn't matter anymore I threw the hood back and started to run toward the posse. They were still out of range when they noticed my deception and I had to get closer. Mages aren't supposed to run into battle. I've always been an exception. Too eager, that's what my instructors told me. Let them come to you.
I only ran a few feet into the Chantry. The Carta ran the rest of the distance. I started chanting my first spell; Pull of the Abyss. I like to start out with putting them all in the same area. It was like crowed control. Without giving them a chance to recover I cast Maker's fist. Pulling them into the air and them increasing gravity to slam them down hard. Third, I charged a lightning bolt in my hand for chain lighting. I wouldn't really have to aim it. All of my targets were still huddled together trying to get back on their feet.
When it was ready I let it go. The electrical charge hit one of them and the bounced between them as the negative charge of the electrons sought out positive energy hitting the whole party. Next to add insult to injury I began summoning the electrical storm; the Tempest. My breath was ragged and my energy was draining, but I wasn't done yet. I had one spell left to go. The spell I used to escape the tower of magi; Telekinesis. I scattered my opponents to the four corners of the courtyard with the last of my energy.
I placed my hands on my knees and tried to catch my breath. It was a one sided battle, but I was alone and I didn't have the luxuries of allowing them anytime to react. I could feel the sweat running down my face and dripping into my eyes. It stung so I used my cloak to wipe my face. My heart rate was elevated from the strain and I could feel it in my chest.
I stood back up and took some deep breaths. It was slowing now and returning to a slower rhythm.
I started to look around and to my surprise a few of the Carta were trying to make it to there feet. Normally it would have been no big deal. A couple of arcane bolts would have solved the problem. Unfortunately I was in no place to perform such a focused attack. This was a disaster. I couldn't run. I couldn't let them leave. Witnesses would be able to identify me.
I tried to raise my arms. I had no choice. I needed to make sure they stayed down even if I had no strength left. Surly there was something left in my arsenal of spells. Maybe I would get to use the daggers I carried after all.
I was desperate and could think of nothing. Then almost as if I summoned a demon, a warrior appeared. He sped past me. The sword he held in both hands was almost as tall as he was. His hair shimmered in the moon light. He was small in stature, though his movements were swift and well percisioned. It was the elf from before. The one that visited the clinic.
He darted from one enemy to the next striking down anything that dared to move. When he was done and there was no one left he put away his sword. He stood some feet away and gave me a sideway glance. I felt as though my heart stopped beating for a moment and my stomach shot quickly into my throat and back down. I thought about running. But I owed him. A simple thank you would suffice wouldn't it?
Right as I open my mouth to speak I was interrupted. "I saw you casting spells, Mage."
Oh yeah...That's why I don't like you.
Once I heard him speak the nervous feeling I felt before was gone. Instead I called out to him a bit cocky, "Really is that so strange? I can think of a couple of apostates here in Kirkwall."
"Yes, So can I. It seems Kirkwall is plagued with apostates."
He made my blood boil. I breathed deeply to subdue the anger. I was in no position to fight him. This was also Anders's friend. Although I don't know why. Yes he was easy on the eyes. I'd even consider spending some quality time with him if he would learn to just stand around and look pretty. But that sodding elf doesn't know when to shut up.
He must have sensed I had something to say, but I was holding back. I kept a straight face as he slowly approached. His eyebrows furrowed in the middle and his eyes looked intense. His next comment almost threw me back, "Do I know you?"
I laughed nervously and quickly turned my head to the side to avert his gaze. "No."
I said the word like he was crazy for even considering the notion. I turned my head knowing it was the eyes that gave me away. I thought about darting away that moment, but that might be more incriminating. The elf started to walk around me to get a better look. The best way to get out of this would be to turn the focus around.
I laughed nervously some more and said, "I bet you use that line on all the girls?"
This time I cast my eyes to the ground. Hopefully he would just think I was blushing and didn't want to make eye contact.
I looked up briefly from shock when I heard him start to chuckle. I just couldn't picture what this stern, angry elf looked like chuckling. A part of me wondered if his face might crack. However, I was quick to check myself and looked back down at the ground.
He smiled as he spoke back, "No, I can't say I've used that line before. If it works you'll have to let me know."
Andraste'sflamingknickers, now I was blushing. I bit my bottom lip. It was a nervous habit of mine. "Well, Thank You. It's not everyday that I'm rescued by a handsome elf."
I turned to leave, but stopped and asked a question over my shoulder, "What's your name?"
"Fenris"
I spoke the word again repeating it as I rolled the foreign sounds over my tongue, "Fenris."
At least now I know his name. I hadn't caught it before. He shouted after me, "Wait, what's your name?"
Even thought I heard him I pretended to be already gone once I turned the corner out of site. I heard his foot steps as he rounded the corner himself, but he didn't see me in the shadows. If he did I doubt he cared. All he would have seen were the green eyes of the cat staring back.
