A/N: Hey guys, so I suddenly got this idea in my head for the plot, and I came up with the outline for chapter 12 first. These next two chapters are mainly about character relationship development and then the plot will resume heavily on chapter 12 :)

Chapter 10: The House At The End

Living in a creepy abandoned mansion was not exactly Thalia's idea of safe. But Hawke had assured her that Hightown would be the last place the Templars would look. The next night Hawke led Thalia and Cullen stealthily to her supposed "safe place".

"It would be best if I stayed behind," Anders explained before they left, "I uh- have to take care of the clinic and adding another mage to your party wouldn't help."

Hawke approached the ivy-covered door with hesitance, "Now there's something you should know. There's a very grumpy elf that lives here, but I'm sure he'll be just happy to take you in," Thalia and Cullen exchanged looks of worry.

Hawke grumbled under her breath. "If I can just convince him first," she did the special knock that she and Fenris had come up with.

Some moments later the door was swung ajar to reveal a tall elf with stark white hair and vivid green eyes. Thalia was shocked by his appearance; he had white tendrils as tattoos that swirled around his body. He looked deadly, but his expression towards Hawke was one of friendship. Maybe he wasn't so bad?

Fenris looked past Hawke and bore his eyes into Thalia's skull. Any trace of warmth was replaced by a coldness that seemed familiar to the elf. Fenris turned back to Hawke with an eyebrow raised in question.

Hawke laughed nervously, "We're friends right Fenris? And you know how the saying goes, the friend of my friend is my friend."

"That's not how it goes." Fenris said flatly.

Hawke was starting to look more uncomfortable by the second. Fenris sighed, "What do you want Hawke?"

"How about we all get inside first?" Hawke asked.

"Be my guest," Fenris remarked sarcastically, moving inside.

The group followed him to the only decent room in the mansion. Thalia took note of how the floor creaked and groaned beneath her feet, how the walls crumbled under the weight of hidden secrets of the past dead. How could a person live in such a decrepit place? Fenris didn't look like a blind man.

The only light in the hallway were ones of little candles guiding the path up the stairs and into the master bedroom. The bedroom had a table set up with a few chairs surrounding it, he gestured to the table as he sunk himself into a plush red seat by the raging fireplace. The bed had been pushed into the corner of the room by the window. The bed's fallen curtains had been turned into blankets laying in a pile on the bed.

Hawke, Thalia, and Cullen all sat uneasily at the table waiting for Hawke to announce her proposal.

Hawke took a deep breath and stood up. This drew Fenris's attention, "I want you to let them stay here until the Order gives up their search. This girl's name is Thalia, yes she's a mage," Fenris jumped out of the seat, he looked livid. Hawke raised her voice about his thoughts, "and before you say anything let me remind you of how the mages are treated like slaves at the Circle," she strongly held onto Fenris's glare before speaking again, "They were going to die, but they didn't and now they're here; continuing to run for their life. Just like you are," Fenris clenched his fists, he didn't like being reminded that Danarius still hunted him. "Your house is the only that is not accounted for, thanks to Isabella and Varric. They could safely hide here until we figure things out."

Fenris was furious, "No."

"Fenris!"

"No Hawke! I will not live with a mage!" Fenris yelled at her.

"You once said to me that you have met very few people that have done things without self interest. I'm asking for a favor as a friend, Fenris." Hawke took a step closer, challenging his tall stature.

He started her down and growled, "Get out."

Hawke couldn't believe Fenris! She stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.

Thalia and Cullen had been silently frozen the entire argument, as though they were watching a play unfold. It wasn't until the sharp sound of the door that they were brought back into reality.

Not wanting to further anger Fenris, Thalia went after Hawke, she reached for the door handle but Fenris's voice stopped her, "Not you."

Thalia turned to find Fenris looming above her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Cullen, who had risen to Thalia's defense when he saw Fenris walking over to her.

"What?" Thalia asked meekly.

"You can stay," he said quickly before rushing out the door himself. He had to apologize to Hawke, Maker knows that woman can hold a grudge.

Thalia looked over to Cullen with wide eyes, "I guess we can stay?"

Cullen shrugged, just as confused as Thalia.

IXI

"Hawke I'm sorry I- wait...are you crying?" Fenris stopped in his tracks as he spotted Hawke sitting in an alley. Her head lay in her knees, and her body shook an unmistakable rhythm.

She lifted her head and suddenly realized she had been caught, "Fuck you! I'm not crying, I just got something in my eye…"

Fenris slowly approached her, he had never seen her cry before. Granted he hadn't known her that long but still…"I didn't think you would be this upset. You have my apologizes, really."

"Didn't I just tell you I wasn't crying?" Hawke got up in his face, "Does it look like I'm crying?" She dared him to say yes, just so she could yell at him more.

And he almost did say yes, but thought better of it, "No."

"Good." She backed off, and regained her composure, "You didn't see that. It never happened."

"What are you talking about? Saw what?" Fenris gave her a smile and she laughed slightly.

"She can stay," Fenris said.

"And Cullen too, yes?" Hawke asked.

"Oh yes. Him as well."

"Thank you," Hawke said shyly, "I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm glad you're doing this."

"Friends. A strange thought to be sure. For some reason I feel compelled to help you," Fenris said.

Hawke smiled, "Because you want to help me, and help them. You're a good person Fenris, no matter how much you try and hide it. Everyday, you put your life on the line for others."

Fenris felt uncomfortable, he wasn't to people calling him good or nice or helpful. More like broody, intimidating, or hot-headed, "Uh..thanks." He shifted backwards creating some much needed distance, "You had some job planned for today right? I think the rest are at the Hanged Man."

Hawke nodded her head, she wasn't sure but some imperceptible change had taken place in Fenris's heart. Some small, yet significant, ball had been nudged down from it's high standing in his heart.

IXI

The mansion had kept Thalia entertained for a whole day. She and Cullen had explored the place top to bottom. It was quite big and intimidating, but after a while Thalia started to look at it with glossy eyes. She could see the mansion's past, it's days of glory and beauty. She wanted to thank Fenris for letting them stay there. In return, she would help clean up the place.

Thalia had Cullen lift the heavy things, but eventually they moved all the junk into one room and the usable furniture into another. Of course they left Fenris's bedroom alone.

Thalia wanted to burst, she felt inspired, "This so much fun! I never thought I'd get to live in a mansion!"

Thalia thought of her family, as she had been in the back of her mind ever since she escaped. She desperately wanted to visit them, to let them know she was alive. But she knew better; the templars would have sought out her family and questioned them. No doubt they have someone watching the house.

Maybe she could get a message through to them, with the help of Anders or Varric. She hadn't been gone from the Circle for very long so they might understand her delay.

Cullen took notice of how Thalia's countenance changed suddenly. She had been so happy one moment, then the next in deep somber thought. He didn't want to interrupt her so he silently left the room. He decided he would occupy his time making a map of the mansion. It was big afterall.

That day they managed to clean up and furnish the bedroom that Thalia would be staying in.

"We'll do yours tomorrow Cullen," Thalia smiled. She found him scrawling on a piece of parchment back in Fenris's room, "What's that?"

"Just a map of the place. I'm afraid my skills have dulled, although architecture is different from a combat tactics map," He chuckled at the obvious statement.

"Really? I think it's great, I'd never have thought to make a map. But why do we need one?" Thalia asked.

"For planning I suppose. Maybe I just wanted to remind myself of old times," Cullen stared back at the map as if something was staring back at him.

"Old times?" Thalia inquired.

"Back in Ferelden...there were books, maps, of far away places. For the templars only of course, if the mages saw all the places they were no longer allowed to go it would make them...rebellious. Not that hiding the books helped…" Cullen was brought back to Solona. He had lost one of his favorite map books, and stumbled upon Solona reading it in a secluded corner of the library.

She barely paid him any attention, but eventually looked up curiously over the title, "I was always wondering what you were reading...these are so beautiful Cullen. The detail and thought that was put into this, it's truly art. Think about it. These people had to travel all over Thedas to draw these exact lines…"

At the time Cullen had been amused and intrigued by Solona's thoughts, so he never asked how she had gotten the book in the first place.

"Before, when you were talking with Anders, does it have something to do with that Circle? Did something happen there?" Thalia wanted to know...she wanted to know everything about Cullen. Her curiosity was unable to be held check.

Cullen swallowed hard, he wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about it. But Thalia seemed so genuine. If he was going to talk about it, he knew it would be with her.

Cullen asked her to sit down, and slowly he shared his story. His awful terrible disgusting story. He even spoke of Solona, how his mind had betrayed him and he saw things he never should have.

"Cullen I'm so sorry...I won't ever be able to imagine that pain you went through but I am here. And I hope that you know that you can trust me. I will never do to you that those other mages did." Thalia placed a reassuring hand on his knee and gave a supportive squeeze.

"I know that. I came to terms with what happened long ago. But that doesn't get rid of the memories. They're a part of me now. With time the pain will dull…"

Thalia wanted to erase those memories from his mind, but she knew that they made him into the person that she loved. All she could do was show him that she cared. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. Softly she said, "All you can do is forget."

Cullen looked at her so intensely, a million thoughts flew through his mind. Who is this wonderful woman?

He returned her embrace, his hand glided through her hair. He pulled her close, out of her seat and onto his lap. He never wanted to let her go. She was special, in a way that was indescribable to his mind.

Thalia pulled away, but Cullen held her firmly, "Don't go. Stay."

"Cullen…" Thalia felt him rising under her, "Are you sure?" He didn't remember the first time they were together...she wasn't sure if she could be with him and not let him know.

"I want you," he said. His hand drifted down to her leg, slowly sliding upwards. Before, he had so many restrictions. He would never have gotten this freedom in the Order. The freedom to love.

Thalia struggled not to respond with a shiver, she had to tell him. She had to, "Don't you think it's weird? That day when you woke up next to me, and Meredith saw...us."

Cullen was confused, where was Thalia leading this to? "Yes…?"

"You woke up and didn't remember anything...well I...I remember all of it. You came in and without saying anything you...took me…" Thalia found it hard to say all the words, "I was so happy...but then afterwards when we were caught and you didn't remember anything, I told myself to forget it."

"So I really did break my vow? I always thought it was truly a misunderstanding, somehow some way…" He didn't understand why he couldn't remember it. Maybe he got drunk, that was the only explanation he could find. Even still...it disturbed him that he slept with Thalia and couldn't recall any of the passions he was feeling now.

"I'm so sorry...I got you into this...though scars on your back now. It's all my fault, I ruined your life," Thalia started to cry, if only she had turned him away that night.

"No," he lifted her head so their eyes met, "You saved me. You made a new life for me! I have the freedom of a man now, not a templar. My choices are my own, I don't blame you at all Thalia. I wanted you then, and I want you now. That fact hasn't changed. So please, don't cry, it hurts to see you in pain."

Thalia threw a pretend punch at Cullen chest, "How are you so Maker-damned perfect?"

He smiled and caught her hand, slowly he brought it up and kissed her fingers, "My lady? Shall I lead you to your new chambers? With this map I shall guide the way."

"My handsome knight, you may do anything you like," She gave him a seductive smile. It seemed as though Cullen would not be spending the night in a dusty dark room.

It was the second night together for Thalia, but for Cullen it was an experience he would never forget. This only made him question why he didn't remember even more.

Thalia was from another world, a world full of brightness and love. Cullen thought he would never be allowed there again, but here he was in bed with a beautiful caring woman.

Cullen hadn't been content in a long time. But that night, he slept soundly, Thalia had built a shield for him that deflected all the nightmares. In those moments, he was safe.

IXI

"The whole point of an abandoned house is that no one goes near it. If it suddenly looks inhabited then people will get suspicious. Hell, maybe even come by to see if it's for sale!" Hawke was irritated. She knew Thalia's intentions were good, but she didn't understand the concept of staying safe.

Hawke had come to visit them the a few days later in the afternoon. Thalia didn't know when Fenris had gotten back the previous night, but he slept in the entire morning. Thalia had to answer the door, and invited Hawke to see the improvements of the mansion. Unfortunately, she was not pleased.

"Then we won't fix the outside. It's simple. Fenris shouldn't have to live in this dump. Bright surroundings make a brighter mood." Thalia sang her last words. Lately she had been trying extra hard to be positive and cheer up the people around her.

"Birdie I don't think he cares." Varric shook his head. He had come up with a nickname for Thalia. He said that she reminded him of a songbird, all chatty and fluttery.

Thalia pouted, "Maybe not on the outside…" One day, she had spied Fenris admiring the room that she and Cullen had cleaned and rearranged the furniture.

At first he had been angry, all the impractical decorations reminded Fenris of his ex-master's estate. But he had sensed the warmth from Thalia's kindness, the kindness and energy that had put together the room. He smiled at a painting on the wall of a man and a woman playing some kind of outdoor activity that he didn't recognize. They seemed happy too, like Thalia. To him it seemed impossible to be happy while his former master was chasing him, so how did Thalia remain positive while the templars hunted her? Unbeknownst to him Thalia had seen that smile.

As fate would have it, dust caused Thalia to sneeze and reveal her presence.

If Fenris had been startled he did not show it. He simply glared at her for sneaking up on him.

"Do you like it?" She asked.

He gruffed, "It's clean," before rushing out of the room.

Thalia smiled over her personal victory. Fenris was a softy at heart.

IXI

Thalia proposed they have a little get together for all of Hawke's band of misfits. Fenris had been against the idea, but Thalia convinced him with her persistent smile. Varric and Isabela brought stories and cards with them, and Merrill and Aveline were discovered to be amazing cooks. Hawke brought her sister Bethany over, who was also a mage. Thalia and her got along well, and spent most of the night gossiping and giggling away. Anders was there too, and of course Cullen.

They laughed the night away with jokes and booze, their happy souls echoed away through the darkness. Despite their individual struggles, every person appreciated having a group of people they could rely on. These were the people in Thalia's life, and she hoped they would never leave her like her original parents had.