Chapter 9 Decisive Actions
A/n I always loved the Reaver trait tree. It was so much fun to play with. Though I wish the members of the party reacted accordingly to your character who choose the reaver talent tree.
Just so you know. I don't own Bioware. Wish I did though. I'd have a field day. :3
It had been a few days pass since spending the night with Hawke and his family. Yet the weird dreams Fenris had still haunted him. There was no way he woke up during it. Maybe it was some demons and spirits messing with him. He hardly knows anything about the Fade other than it being the realm of spirits, demons, and mages. If it was up to him, he rather just go without sleep to avoid the Fade altogether. He was sure that what ever those dreams were, was that it was not real. He also assumed he dreamed that strange anomaly that happened with Hawke. The way the man's blood reversed itself and went back into the cut. Surely all a dream. A cruel trick played on him by demons wishing to see his reaction. He sighed. Maybe it wasn't a dream. He knew what reavers were. He knew they were few left in the world. But whether or not Hawke was. There was no proof. Fenris reassured himself it was just his mind playing a trick on him from lack of sleep due to the strange dreams. And that there was no evidence that could label Hawke a reaver. After all. Reavers are harbingers of death and destruction with no sympathy for others. They also are not entirely family-orinented. Nor due they have the will to tolerate others without ripping them to shreds just for the fun.
Fenirs sighed slowly letting it out in one long breath. He was tired. So very tired. They had just about enough trouble. Doing some sort of run for a guy named Martin. Hawke didn't like having everyone follow him. So only three people went with him at a time. Bethany an obvious choice no matter what. Fenris was chosen as well as Varric. They first went to the docks looking for some Orlesian Port Authority Seal. At least that was what was said anyway. Fenris really couldn't focus. They talked to some dock workers. And by they. It was really Hawke who talked. Went to see the harbor master next. Some assistance Adin wanted to be paid in order to remember where such a cargo was placed. All that got the boy was a knife pressed tightly against his throat. The boy quickly blurted out what needed to be heard and Hawke dropped him like an empty bottle of rum. By the way. Hawke normally hurls those to ground. Which was the same as he hurled that boy to the ground without much care. Bethany had apologized for her brother and scurried off after him. Varric and Fenris remained quite. They had then went to the warehouse and was stopped by some scruffy looking guards. One of them had the nerve to threaten Hawke. Hawke backhanded him so hard. The guy's neck snapped from the force of impact. The other two guards moved out of Hawke's way. They had then fought a bunch of supicious looking creeps inside the warehouse before it was all over in a matter of minutes. Fenris had watched Hawke closely during the fight. The man hardly got hit. Which was pretty damn impressive. If Fenris had anything to say about it. They found the cargo. It was a bunch of poisons and venoms of all kinds. Hawke gave it a once over before turning and heading back to the Hanged Man. After telling Martin about his cargo they had seperated. Hence the reason Fenris sat alone in the broken down mansion.
Fenris was beyond the point of caring whether or not he should stay up. He took the main body of armor off along with his guantlets and embraced the bed with a sigh as he plopped down onto it. He had made sure that everything was secure before hand. Soon he drifted off to sleep. Fenris was not granted enough time to doze as he awoke to feeling a very strange presence in his room. Strange yet familar. He was sure he locked the front door, right? Fenris slowly slid his hand onto a dagger hidden under his pillow. "That blade will not protect you from me, Elf." A dark voice droned. Fenris closed his eyes and held onto the dagger tighter. He wasn't exactly sure if he could ever relax around the giant of a man known as Hawke. He sighed as he released the dagger and sat up. Unaware that his jerkin was open. He looked over to where Hawke stood. The large man was standing before the fireplace. Fenris sat on the side of the bed and got up. He felt unarmed. He looked down and quickly pulled his jerkin closed and even put on his armor once again. He started to make his way cautiously over to Hawke. Standing on the side that Hawke could see him. "What are you doing here?" Fenris asked looking up at the man. "Simple. The reason, why you were contiously staring at me during the battle earlier today. You should damn well know there is no time for distractions. Or were you planning on attacking me instead but failed to get the chance." He stated looking over to Fenris. "I wasn't planning on attacking you, Hawke." Fenris said feeling slightly insulted that the man would even suggest. "Then why praytell were you openly staring at me?" He growled. Fenris took a breath before answering. "I was trying to understand what you are." Hawke didn't seem to be react to the answer. "I am many things. Though if you wish to understand me more. Staring at me will not give you an answer." He said slowly before heading towards the door. "You should really lock your back door. Least you get a suprise entry." He said with a slight laugh which caused Fenris to flush. For some odd reason Fenris thought Hawke wasn't talking about the door. Before he could say anything though, Hawke spoke up once more rather succinctly. "We have another job to do. Move it, Elf." Hawke ducked down to walk through the door. Fenris sighed heavily as he went and picked up his greatsword. Soon following suit after the large man.
Turns out they had to go deal with some escaped criminal for some filthy magistrate. They had walked past the Hanged Man and Varric met up with them. Merrill had wanted to go as well. Hawke had groaned and made a very whispered complaint about 'Damned stray elves.' Whether it was just Merrill or Fenris included. Was unsure. Fenris simply shrugged it off and made sure to keep a respectable distance away from the moronic wrist slitting flower frolicing elvhen mage. Just the other day. Merrill had the audacity to ask him to go frolicing with her. Just because he was elven didn't mean he wanted to act frivolous. He just wasn't that kind of elf. He sighed once again as he made sure to keep Varric evenly between him and that blood mage. They past a few city guards on their way out of the southern city gates. The location of where the criminal was hiding was somewhere near the Wounded Coast. Fenris frowned a scowl as he began to feel hot dirt and sand press up beneath his feet. "Wonderful. Traipsing through dirt. How can the Dalish stand it?" He seemed to ask distainfuly. Merrill glanced at him. "Do you like anything?" She asked slightly upset by his tone. Fenris growled a repsonce, "I like quiet." Merrill gave a frown. Varric just had to say something. "You know. This nature thing is growing on me..." He started. Merrill smiled a bit till Varric finished. "Like a tumor." Merrill frowned and it seemed her ears dropped a bit as she leaned forward grumpily. She stood up straight and walked faster to catch up with Hawke. Though Hawke's strides were long and calculated. He was much further ahead of the group even while he walked at his slowest speed. The large man could leave the other three behind if he so wanted. All he had to do was take off running. But he didn't see a need in running to every single destination. Unlike so many others. Though at the moment. Hawke was just trying to drown out the insistent noise spewing from all three of their damn mouths. When they had finally shut up. He became aware of the elvhen mage trying to match his stride.
It only took a few hours to reach the area. There were guards standing about outside the cave. Hawke slowly gazed at each one. He sneered. "Lazy fucks." He said lowly as he made his way over to them. One turned and looked up at him. Rather pig headed looking. Auburn hair and jade eyes all smushed together on an overly large square head. "You the one the magistrate sent?" He asked. Hawke remained silent. "Right. Heard about you. Not much of a talker. Listen. Just go in there and bring the guy out so we can take him to the magistrate." The man said. Just then an elf with dirty blonde hair stormed up. "That bastard is to taken in alive?!" He yelled. Hawke couldn't see the elf from his position. Turning his head till his horrid oceanic eye focused on the elf. The elf shivered but walked closer. "That bastard is a murderer!" He said loudly. The guard turned to him. "Back off elf. We followin' the magistrate's orders. Now be off with ya." The man said. "You are just trying to give that murdering bastard a chance to escape!" Raged the blonde elf. Hawke growled. "Shut the fuck up. Both of you." Both men looked at him. Hawke held his eye tightly closed as he growled before opening it again and staring directly at the elf. "The fuck are you." It wasn't a question but more like a demand. The elf slumped forward a bit. "Elren. Sir. Please. That bastard needs to be killed. He takes elven children and murders them. He took my daughter Lia in there!" He pleaded. Hawke seemed to pause his breath. As if holding it. He turned fully to the elf. "Elven children..." He murmured. Elren took a breath. "Yes. That monster takes elven children and beats them. And then murders them! I am sure he already killed my daughter! And these men won't do anything about it!" He said trying to fight against crying. The guard stepped towards the elf. "We are not going against our orders!" He shouted. Hawke's eye slide over to the guard. "Is this accusation true. If so then why only elven... children..." He slowly spoke through clenched teeth. "Because no one thinks twice when an elven child goes missing!" Elren hissed. The guard growled. "Oy, now elf. Back off. We bringin' him in and that's that!" Hawke's hand twitched as he let out a pained hiss.
The guard and elf look at him as does his companions. "I hate people who harm children... Only... One thing I want to do..." He snarled accentuating the word 'hate' as he turned towards the cave. "You bleedin' mad if you go against the magistrate's orders!" The guard said jabbing his finger at Hawke's face. Which was a very piss poor choice of action. Hawke's hand shot up and clamped tightly onto the guard's head. The other guards turned towards them. Hawke picked the guard up by his head before rougly tossing him onto his ass. "Don't put your hand in my face." He said slowly as his mouth twisted into a dangerous scowl baring his teeth. "The magistrate can sod off and choke on my greatsword. For all I fucking care." He said walking off towards the cave. Merrill tilted her head. "He doesn't have a greatsword. He has an axe." She whispered aloud. "I don't think he was refering to his weapon, Daisy." Varric said following after Hawke along with Merrill. "Huh?" She asked. "Uh. Think about it Daisy." The dwarf said simply. Fenris caught on to what was implied. He shook his head as he followed.
The group entered into the cave that looked more like an old corridor of some old thaig. Lava and fire spitting everywhere. Varric let out a breath and fanned himself. Merrill pulled at her scarf to loosen it. Fenris shifted uncomfortably, his leather jerkin seemed to instantly stick to his skin and markings. Hawke on the other hand seemed unphased by the sweltoring heat that blasted into his face. He merely pressed on. The four of them went from room to room clearing out demons, arcane horrors, bandits, spiders, and skeletens. They soon went through one room and saw a small girl sitting on the ground in a long corridor. Hawke walked up to her.
"You must be Lia." Hawke said softly. A drastic change from his normal hostile tone. Which shocked all three of his followers.
"H-how did you know?" Lia asked looking up at the large human.
"Your father. ... I see no visible damage done... Were you touched?" He asked making a gesture the girl seemed to understand.
"Um. No Kelder didn't touch me." She said as she stood.
"Kelder."
"Yes. The man who took me. He said if I didn't go he would hurt my family."
"How did you escape?"
"I didn't. He let me go. He got mad at me and hit me. Told me I was nothing. Then he started crying. I asked if he was okay. He pushed me and told me to run."
"He is a criminal, Lia."
"But, he isn't! He says demons make him do it! You see, he doesn't want to hurt anyone. The demons make him do these things."
Varric and Fenris both face palm in that next moment. Hawke rolled his eye.
"There are a lot of bad and nasty people in this world. Completely's demon free." Varric said eyeing Hawke warily.
"She is just a child and does not understand. Her pity is admirable. If misplaced." Fenris said.
"He might be facing demons of his own. But they are not forcing his hand. Now get out of here. The way is clear." Hawke said.
"Please don't hurt him." She asked before hurrying through the door.
Hawke began walking further into the burning hallway as fire sprouted from the lava. The other three following him close behind. They soon come to a room where a man was sitting down against a pillar holding his head. The man stood up.
"And you... Must be Kelder." Hawke droned, though there was a slight growl present.
"I am. Did my father send you?"
"Let me guess... Magistrate is your father." Hawke eyed the man as his hand twitched.
"Yes. He is a good man but he can't help me."
"Demons..." Hawke spoke slowly before his face went neutral.
"Yes. They make me hurt them."
"The elven children."
"Yes. They are just so beautiful. The demons are jealous. They make me hurt them and they hate it when the children cry!"
"So you murder them for being beautiful."
"No! The demons do! Father has tried to help me. Keep me from what they make me do! But he can't! The circle doesn't help either. They say that there are no demons!"
"..." Hawke watch as Kelder began to turn this way and that while pacing back an forth. Hawke seemed to be losing interest in what the man was saying as a single thought began to run through his head. His vision turning a hazy red hue.
"I can't stop. I can't stop it! I have to do what they say! They're in my head! They want to make bleed them! Bleed dry those beautiful children. I couldn't think of letting them hurt her! She was worried about me! I couldn't! I couldn't let them destroy something so innocent. So pure..." He started rambling before he ran up to Hawke. "Please make them go away!" Hawke's mind instantly screamed kill him. Bleed him. Hawke started to drool slightly.
"He sees the truth of it. Let me-" Fenris couldn't finish his sentence as he watched Hawke lunge forward.
Hawke lunged at Kelder and struck him down with a heavy blow. His oversized serrated guantlets ripping and tearing into the man's chest as blood sprayed across Hawke's face. Hawke didn't blink. His large hand digging further into the man's body. "Father...I-i'm... sor-ry..." Kelder choked out as Hawke shoved his hand further into the man's chest. Merrill covered her mouth as she watched. Varric's eyes widened. Fenris froze as he watched. Hawke's face was calm. He neutral expression ever present. His eye half lidded. He twisted his hand inside Kelder's body till a loud crack resounded throughout the room. Kelder's body went limp as his head lolled forward like a puppet's. Hawke tilted his head to the side and let off a pleased hum. The blood running down his face as he licked his teeth. Smiling sinisterly, he pushed Kelder off roughly with his foot without much care for how the body was treated. Blood cascading from the wound as it pooled around Kelder's body. He stared down at the body. Almost longingly. Before turning to walk back the way they previously came.
Fenris swallowed a bit. He was going to offer to end Kelder's life. Keyword. Was. He was so use to doing that for Danarius. He had figured it would have applied here as well. Normally the leader would never bloodly their hands with such acts. But Hawke. Did it without saying a single word. Hawke did not care about consequences. He just does things the way he saw fit. Fenris turned from the body and followed after Hawke. As did the others. Fenris was stunned by Hawke's actions. He was so decisive. So Sure. He didn't even flinch when the blood splattered across his face. His eye remained open. As if unblinking. Not wanting to miss the carnage he wrought. He was eerily queit during the walk back. Fenris couldn't help but ponder at what went through that giant man's mind.
They came out into the sun and finally out of that sweltoring pit. Lia hugged her father tightly. Elren looked up and smiled at Hawke. "Oh thank you. ... Did you kill that bastard?" He suddenly asked. Hawke glared at Elren. "Yes." Was all Hawke said. Lia looked down as her father walked towards Hawke. "I never thought an elf would ever get justice in this city. Thank you so much. Please take this!" He said handing a pouch of coins to Hawke almost like an offering to a god. Hawke took the pouch of coins and hummed. At least he got fucking paid. The guard went up to him as the elf went off with his daughter. "I feel just a bad for those damn knife-ears. But... Going against the magistrate's orders is suicide." He said. "Do I look like I give a flying fuck of what your damn magistrate thinks?" Hawke said looking at the guard. The guard backed away with his hands up. "Just sayin'." The guard spoke turning and walking away.
The group left the group of guards and headed their way to Kirkwall. Merrill and Varric seemed pleased by the outcome that elven children would never be harmed again. Fenris was just glad a mage was dead. Despite the horrendous display of brutality from Hawke. The sun began to slowly set within the rose greying sky. Almost back to Kirkwall. Almost.
Hawke's hand still dripped with Kelder's blood. Ever twitching slightly. That small twitch began to travel up the man's arm. Almost methodically causing the rest of his body to slightly vibrate. His eye struggled to stay open and focus up ahead. The blood. The sweet succulent smell was beginging to drive him slowly mad. He wanted to lap it up so badly. But he had spectators. He began to press his tongue against the inside of his teeth. Licking the inside of them back and forth. His breathing quickened a bit as he tried desperately to keep in control. There was no where for him to go. Open plains with dust, sand, and clumps of grass scattered here and there. His mind started to swirl with delightfully gruesome images. His pale face turning slightly pink. His mouth opened slightly and hung agaped as drool started to flow past his lips. He could hear it. The blood pulsing. Beating. Thumping. Through their veins. Three unsuspecting victims. Prey following a predator to their own slaughter and damnation. Oh how sweet would their blood taste on his tongue? In truth he was no different than Kelder. He had his own demons to face every day. Just like he was right now. Almost. Almost there. Just a bit further. Before he snaps.
He struggles to control his body and force his hand to a hidden bottle. Pulling it abruptly from it's hiding spot and ripping out the cork and drinking deep gulps. Ravishing the feeling as it sated his growing hunger to turn on his so call companions.
Close. Almost. Too close.
A/n I am going to refer to Merrill with the correct term Elvhen since she is Dalish. And Fenris as elven. Elvhen meaning one of the people. Elven meaning elf in general. Since Fenris is not Dalish nor considered 'One of the people.'
