Chapter Three – Adjusting Part Three

When I left it was dark outside. I was nearly at the stairs that would lead to Hightown when I heard noises behind me. When I looked I saw a dark figure flashing behind the corner. Part of me wondered what it was and that I should look, but a larger part told me to rush to the mansion. I did the latter and not long after I heard noises again. This time it caught me off guard when I looked back and I was pushed into a narrow ally.

It was an elven man and I had to blink a couple of times before I recognized him. He whispered something and I couldn't hear what he was saying. Suddenly a woman's voice spoke roughly and pushed the man away.

"Move away slave." she said. My heart sunk to the bottom of my feet. I did not dare to look up at her, but her hands found my throat and made me.

"Hello you. Think you could run from Danarius eh? We'll show you what we do to slaves who think they can manage on their own."

"Hadriana." I whispered.

"Oh yes. Good you remember me. Danarius left me on charge. I was so disappointed he ordered me to let you stay alive." She took out a small knife and thrusted it into my stomach. It didn't go deep, but it was far enough for me to shake on my legs and let me cry out in pain.

"He wants his investments back so badly. It's unbelievable really how his two investments ran off just like that. Speaking of the other one, did you meet him? I bet you did. Where is he?" She demanded as she kept the knife at my throat.

"Why should I tell you? You cannot kill me. You just said so yourself." Hadriana grabbed both my shoulders and I dropped on the floor from the pain. I forced myself not to scream and focused. When she wasn't pleased she dragged me up again and ordered the slaves to take me with them. I did not let them touch me however and I slammed my bow against Hadriana her head. This could give me a head start and I ran as fast as I could. I took a detour, but eventually ended up in Hightown. When I arrived at the mansion I ran up the stairs and walked into the middle room. I sat against the wall and cropped myself up and started humming. I hugged my knees and held a small knife in my hands. Adrenaline rushed through my veins and I hated myself for getting scared like this again.

When the door opened I focused my eyes and the entrance and lowered the sound of my humming. I sat here for a while now, but maybe she found me. Maybe he came this time. The door closed and footsteps made their way on the stairs. When my eyes saw it was Fenris I focused on the ground instead. He rushed towards me and sat down next to me. He took the knife from my hands and looked at it.

"Accalia. Are you hurt? What happened?" When I continued humming he roughly took my arm. My head shot up and I looked at him and then his hand. His bare skin touched my own and I wondered how much pain it would cause him.

"I... I have to leave. I'm putting you in a lot of danger." I whispered. Fenris shook his head and I noticed his hand stayed where it was.

"Fenris? Doesn't that hurt?"

"It's all right." he replied. "Are you hurt?" he asked again.

"It's nothing major. She used the knife to stab me." When I released my knees he saw the bloodstain coming from my stomach. His eyes widened a bit and he wanted to help me stand up.

"I am too tired Fenris."

"Stand up or I will carry you to the healer."

"Wait. Can I... tell you something?" He looked at me with worried eyes, but nodded.

"How do you overcome that pain? It's... hurting so much all the time." I whispered. "What I am trying to say is that Danarius gave me the same markings as you have. It's only on my back though, but it's driving me crazy."

"You get used to it eventually. It will always be there, but you can learn to live with it." he softly replied as he put a bit of hair behind my ear. I felt his hand linger on my skin there. "Maybe you can learn to use it in your advantage as well. I think you can, considering what happened today. You started to glow the way I can." I nodded.

"Do you feel the same that I feel when someone touches you? I mean, I feel like I can never give anyone a hug anymore, or let them touch my shoulders or back. For you it must be so much worse. I feel guilty for causing you pain when you touched me just now."

"It's hard to explain, but trust me when I tell you some things are worth it. No more stalling now however. I don't want to hurt you either, but I will carry you if you do not come with me. I know Garrett can heal a bit as well."

"Garrett? Must we?" I said as I stood up. "Can't we see Anders? I mean, I know Anders. I mean… he healed my arm before and I'm not sure about Garrett." Fenris raised an eyebrow.

"Trust me when I say you can better trust Garrett than Anders." I stood up and walked with Fenris towards Lowtown to see Garrett.

"You know, the walk to Garrett is almost as far as the walk to Anders." I said. "You shouldn't have bothered also. The knife did not go in far."

"You don't want to gain an infection Accalia. Stop being so stubborn." He replied.

"What did Anders do to make you favor Garrett?"

"You do not know?"

"Know what? Oh by the way, I was not joking about leaving. They found me and they know I'm in Kirkwall. They'll find you too if I don't leave."

"Let them come. I will make sure Danarius will never do this to anyone again." Our talk continued and soon we reached Garrett his house. Technically it was of his uncle's though. When Fenris knocked on the door Leandra, Garrett's mother, opened the door.

"Dear Maker. What happened to you, young lady?" She asked when the saw the bloodstain.

"That's a long story. Don't worry, it did not go in far and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Fenris his pushing." The woman guided me in and shouted for her son. When he came out of his room I noticed Anders was in there as well.

"How about that? Anders is here too!" I exclaimed. Garrett seriously guided me to the bedroom and made me lie on his bed so they could heal me properly.

"Maker, what have you done to her Fenris!" Anders accused.

"Shut up mage. I found her like this!"

"Stop arguing. That won't help her at all." Garrett intervened.

"Will you all stop worrying, it's nothing!" When Garrett finished his healing, while Anders looked over his shoulders, he let me sit up again.

"There. Good as new."

"Thank you, Garrett. I'm sorry for coming over at all."

"Don't worry about it. Get some rest and make sure to be up early tomorrow. We'll go to the Wounded Coast to see if we can find the boy." I nodded and Fenris and I left the house again. The walk back took about the same amount of time as the walk towards Garrett his house. We walked slowly and talked about what happened, about what Fenris could do with his tattoo. He told me that it was made of Lyrium and eventually he told me he'd teach me how to use it myself.