*You guys rock! Thank you for supporting me this whole time, it means the world to me.*
Ok everyone, here comes some serious stuff. There is a description of violence in this chapter so I'm warning you, without ruining the plot. I'm going to put a limitation on Fenris' phasing ability that may or may not be true. I don't remember if he can do this in the game or not, you'll see what I mean.
I'll be waiting for the reviews and feeling sick with nerves until I see what everyone thinks…
The Fate of Wolves
Chapter 10 – Repercussions
Fenris hid the red band Laria had given him, under a loose stone in his floor. He had learned that trick from her.
He had learned so much from her. She had changed everything for him. In a few months he had gone from a solitary, isolated automaton, to a man who knew what it felt like to truly care for another person.
Fenris may have looked the same on the outside, but inside, he had been altered forever. He now knew what it was to trust someone, and to have that trust returned. He knew that it was possible for a person to be honorable, pure and decent. Laria was all of those things.
She drove him crazy and she was far too idealistic sometimes, but he also admired her for being able to maintain that outlook despite being a slave. She amazed him, she confounded him, she aroused him, and she humbled him. He needed her, and it was terrifying to realize that.
Laria was working in the kitchens when she was ordered to bring a specially labeled container of tea from the cupboards to the steward. Laria knew the tea was unique because only Hadriana ordered it, and when she did, the steward got nervous.
Laria had a feeling that the tea had magical properties. Magic was like currency in Tevinter, and the more skilled a person was in magic, the more valuable they were. Hadriana wanted nothing more than to be valuable to Denarius.
Slaves weren't quite as ignorant as the Magisters thought, but Denarius and Hadriana didn't try to hide their abilities either. Their magic struck fear into the hearts of their servants and it tightened their hold over them. Slaves didn't think of escaping from a place like Tevinter, it was too dangerous and the punishment could be worse than death.
The steward was jumpier than usual that night. He kept glancing around him like he was expecting someone to come around the corner at any moment. He seemed distracted and anxious. A man appeared just out of view and the steward hurried over to him. They spoke in whispers for a moment and then the steward hurried back over to her.
"Laria! Take this recipe and brew the tea. You can read, just follow the directions and be quick girl!" He looked around nervously again. "I'll be back momentarily, make sure the tea is ready and use the pot with the blue scrolling on it. It's in the cupboard!" The steward hurried away leaving Laria aghast. She did not want to be responsible for brewing Hadriana's tea. If something went wrong she would be blamed!
Laria returned to the kitchen, a look of bewilderment obvious on her face. She went to the stove to start the water boiling and caught Hilde giving her a dirty look.
The beastly woman approached her with malice etched on her face and Laria steeled herself for whatever vicious insults the woman would hurl at her.
Hilde actually could have been attractive if she hadn't taken to the environment of Tevinter so much. The desire to oppress others had rubbed off on the woman and she reveled in her power over the servants. She was a small-minded woman who used the authority she had, to break the will of others. Laria hated her.
The other servants made themselves look busy so Hilde wouldn't turn on them.
"You there,! Girl!" Hilde sneered. The housekeeper knew the servant's names. She refused to use them so they'd feel like objects instead of people.
"What do you think you're doing over there? Get your arse back to the scullery before I drag you there me'self!"
Hilde wiped her hands on her apron and backed Laria against the wall. Laria had to control her temper. It wouldn't do for her the punch the hag in the face, would it? Laria considered the scenario briefly and decided that she would most likely lose that fight. She had never raised a hand to anyone in her life, and had no experience fighting. Hilde would have her for dinner!
Laria bowed her head to the woman and spoke quickly so Hilde wouldn't box her ears for hesitating.
"I'm sorry Serrah. The steward ordered me to brew tea for Messere Hadriana." Laria kept her head down, hoping that hearing her orders came from the steward would make the old bag back off.
Laria heard Hilde gasp, and she looked up at the woman surprised. Hilde had turned red and she was gawking at her. The housekeeper drew herself up to her full height and looked at Laria with derision.
"The steward asked you to make Messere Hadrina's tea?" she thundered.
Laria was taken aback, she didn't understand the woman's anger.
"Yes, Serrah." Laria replied confused. "He told me he would be back soon to collect it Serrah."
If it was possible, Hilde turned redder.
"And why didn't he ask me to make the tea?" she questioned and she looked accusingly at Laria, as if she had something to do with it.
Laria fumbled for an answer that wouldn't get her smacked. She looked back down at the floor.
"I don't know Serrah. Perhaps the steward knew you were busy with many duties and didn't wish to inconvenience you Serrah." Surely that explanation would calm her.
Hilde let out a huff of air and Laria lifted her head. Hilde was looking at her with a strange expression on her face. It was relaxed and yet calculating at the same time. Laria waited nervously but suddenly, Hilde turned around and went back to her work.
Laria was baffled but she didn't question her good fortune.
Once the water boiled, Laria got out the tea pot with blue scrolling on it. She combined the tea and the water in the pot and placed it on a tray with the matching cups. The pot felt strange, like there was a whisper of energy coming from it, and Laria wanted be done with it as quickly as possible.
She heard hasty footsteps and knew the steward had returned. Thank goodness! The evening had been stressful enough and she still had work to do before she would be allowed to go to bed. Fenris would be in the next room, and she couldn't wait to hear his voice. She almost smiled.
As she picked up the tray and waited for the steward to come through the door, Hilde appeared on her right side. Laria looked up at the woman, startled. Before she could ask what she wanted, Hilde shoved Laria, hard. Laria fell to the floor, the tray crashing to the floor with her. Laria was stunned and braced herself on her hands and knees.
She gazed at the mess around her. The teapot was broken, as were the cups. The dark liquid pooled on the stone floor.
There was shocked silence in the kitchen as every servant froze in horror. At that moment the steward entered the room and gasped at the scene before him. His mouth opened and closed but no sound came out.
Laria blinked rapidly and scrambled up.
"I'm sorry Serrah!" she exclaimed, in a panic.
Laria looked at Hilde and started to explain what had happened. Before she could speak, Hilde pulled her hand back and slapped her across the face.
Laria cried out and held a hand to her burning cheek.
"You stupid mutt!" the woman screamed, grabbing the collar of her blouse. Hilde shoved her back to the floor and stepped forward addressing the steward who was still gaping at the mess.
"Pardon me Serrah. This little bitch is useless. Her nose in the air, carrying on all day with who knows who in that storehouse!"
Laria's mouth fell open in bewildered shock. Hilde knew! She knew that Laria had been meeting with Fenris in the storehouse! How was that possible?
Laria was speechless and could say nothing in her defense. She shook her head silently while words continued to escape her.
The steward flushed and grabbed Laria by the arm, jerking her upright.
"Go to your cell immediately!" he roared. "You will be dealt with later! Housekeeper, there is another pot that will suffice on the bottom shelf in the cupboard. Get it and make another pot quickly!"
Laria was still too stunned to move and the steward turned to her again his face mottled and blotchy in anger.
Laria ran to the basement, past the guards, and huddled in the corner of her room. Fenris wasn't there yet, so she curled into herself, fear eating at her stomach. What would they do to her?
Fenris returned to his cell that night, and the room seemed even more oppressive than usual. Denarius had been in some sort of mood, and Hadriana had been foul-tempered as well. Some of the guards received the brunt of her anger before she and Denarius had retired to the master bedroom to work off their… aggravation.
It was still peculiar to Fenris to view the night as a pleasant time. It was at night that he and Laria talked to each other, although Laria did most of the talking. Fenris was happy to just listen, as she told stories and tales of Ferelden.
One of the guards locked Fenris in his cell, and Fenris sat waiting until the guards would take their stations for the night.
He leaned his head against the wall and imagined Laria's face before him. He smiled as he wondered what subject would grab her attention that night.
Fenris was going to reach for the loose stone to retrieve the red band, when he heard a commotion.
There was a man shouting about some sort of accident and broken pots? He heard Hadriana's name mentioned and Fenris stood up coming to attention. He heard the boots of the guards approaching his cell and Fenris tensed waiting for his door to burst open.
They were not coming for him.
Fenris went cold as he heard the guards open Laria's cell door and the man called her name.
No.
Fenris had not spoken to Laria since that morning. He didn't know what could have happened to make them come for her. Had they found out about them? Surely they would have come for him too. Denarius would have had Fenris brought directly before him if that were true.
No, something else had happened, something terrible. Fenris pressed his ear against the door so he could hear what was happening.
The unknown man spoke again and Fenris recognized his voice as that of the steward.
"You ignorant twit!" the man screamed. "Do you know what could have happened to me tonight because of your blundering stupidity?" The steward sounded like he was having trouble breathing.
Fenris had known fear, but nothing he had experienced could surpass the icy terror he felt at that moment. They were going to hurt her! Fenris shook his head in denial as his mind raced. There must be something he could do!
"Guards!" the steward called and Fenris heard them step into Laria's cell.
"I'm sorry Serrah!" she cried. "It wasn't my fault, I swear! Hilde pushed me, I would never…"
The steward cut her off.
"I've had quite a discussion with the housekeeper." he said ominously. "She told me how you shirk your duties and cause trouble. It's time you learned your place. Guards, give me the rod."
No, Serrah! Please!" Laria pleaded.
Fenris beat on the door of his cell. "No!" he roared.
He could hear Laria struggling and he rammed his shoulder into the door trying to break it down.
There was a woosh in the air and a hard sound as the first blow fell and Laria screamed. Fenris raged and continued hammering at the door. One of the guards told him to shut up and Fenris growled in fury.
Another blow fell, then another, and another. Laria cried out in pain, again and again.
Fenris' lyrium markings began to glow and he embraced the power flowing through him. He lifted his fist to shove it through the door and met with unyielding wood. He tried again and failed. He snarled in frustration as he remembered his training. He couldn't phase through inanimate objects, only the living! He roared again, cursing and beating the door with his fists.
The steward was still hitting her, but Laria wasn't screaming anymore.
Fenris stood still, panting, his fists clenched, lyrium still glowing, and tried to hear her.
There was nothing.
The steward took a deep breath and sighed.
"That's all for now. I think she's learned her lesson." He sounded satisfied and disinterested.
Fenris was frozen, he couldn't move. His blood had turned to ice in his veins.
The guards escorted the steward out, one of them banged on his cell door as they passed. He barely heard them. The passage went quiet as the guards took up their stations again.
He wasn't sure that he could make his legs move. He needed to see if she was alright but he couldn't take a step. He was still gasping for breath, but his lyrium markings had dimmed.
Fenris made himself move. He fell to the ground at the wall between their cells and pulled out the loose stone separating them. He took a shuddering breath.
"Laria!" he called urgently. There was no response.
"Laria! Can you hear me?" he called again. Nothing.
Fenris panicked, and going flat on his stomach, he reached through the opening in the wall, feeling around the floor on her side. He kept calling her name as he reached.
His fingers touched something wet and he withdrew his hand. Blood. Stricken, Fenris swiftly reached through the opening again, trying to feel farther.
"Laria? Laria!" His voice snarled between clenched teeth.
There was a moan, so quiet he almost missed it. He froze.
"Laria?"
Fenris made no sound as he breathed, hoping that he hadn't made it up. He waited for what seemed like an eternity, straining to hear something, anything.
The quiet moan came again and Fenris reached towards the sound.
"Laria, I'm here! Can you hear me?" There was no response, and Fenris laid his forehead on the cold floor. He was helpless. He couldn't get to her, he couldn't help her.
There was a shuffling sound on the other side of the wall and a muted groan. Fenris lifted his head. His hand instinctively reached again and he felt a brush of fingers against his. Fenris sucked in a grateful breath and grasped the hand in his own.
He could hear shallow, labored breathing on the other side of the wall and he held on to her hand tightly. A kind of low keening came through the wall.
She was crying and Fenris could do nothing.
He had to control his rage so he did not crush the hand he held. The lyrium burned again and Fenris felt such hatred, he thought he would choke on it!
He had no power here, in this place. He could not even protect the one he cared for above all others. She had been beaten, brutally, and all he could do was yell and scream and thrash futilely. He placed his head back on the stone floor. He squeezed her hand gently.
"I'm sorry Laria" he whispered.
The quiet sobs reached his ears and it was all he could hear. Every moment in his fragmented life, came down to that sound.
This would not happen again. Never again. The hate congealed in his heart and he welcomed it. The hate would give him the strength to do what must be done.
Denarius had created a monster, and now he would deal with him.