The Archon strode out, and sat himself upon his throne and regarded Fenris, small and trembling on his knees before him.

"Elf, look at me," the Archon instructed, and Fenris looked up at him through his long white bangs that fell over his eyes. "Have any of your memories returned?"

Fenris shook his head. "No."

"Very well," the Archon acknowledged. "Magister Pavus, are you prepared to give your defense?"

Dorian stood and faced towards the Archon. "I'm afraid we've had a bit of a set-back. We had a witness who was there in Kirkwall when Fenris faced Magister Danarius. She was found brutally murdered just this morning."

A gasp rose from parts of the main hall.

The Archon frowned. "That is troubling. Are there no other witnesses?"

Dorian shook his head no. "All the other eye-witnesses are unavailable at present. Viscount Varric of Kirkwall would take weeks to travel here. Admiral Isabella of Rivain is Maker knows where. The Dalish elf, Merrill is somewhere in the Free Marches, but we haven't yet located her. Also, as you know, the Champion of Kirkwall, Garrett Hawke, perished in the Fade aiding the Inquisition."

The Archon looked over at the Magister who had taken on the role of prosecutor against Fenris. Magister Ahriman, who once employed Varania as a mage apprentice in his household. "Typical," thought Dorian to himself. Ahriman was a known compatriot of Danarius.

"Magister Ahriman," the Archon addressed the prosecutor. "Do you have any witnesses to call forth against the elf?"

"Not as such," Ahriman inclined his head towards the Archon. "However, we have located an individual who knew the elf at the time. One who may shed some light as to the true nature of this elf."

"Oh Dear," Dorian said quietly. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Bring them forth and have them say their piece," the Archon instructed.

Ahriman gestured to one of the guards who opened the door to the main hall and allowed a cloaked figure to pass through, walking over towards where Fenris knelt.

When the person raised their hood and revealed their face, Dorian heard Cullen's sharp intake of breath next to him. "Anders!"

"That's who I was afraid of," Dorian sighed. "It's no secret that he and Fenris had no love for each other."

"Please, state your name and how you know the accused," the Archon instructed.

"I am most commonly known as the mage apostate, Anders," the mage said.

Fenris' head snapped up at the familiar name. Surely he was only reacting to the name that Cullen had told him about, and not due to a memory.

"I was an acquaintance of Fenris when we were both in Kirkwall," Anders continued. "We were both associates of Garrett Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall."

"You were not present at the time the elf is accused of killing Magister Danarius?" the Archon questioned.

Anders shook his head. "No, I was too busy in my clinic dealing with another bout of chokedamp in Darktown at the time."

"What were you told of the elf's actions?" the Archon asked.

"I know that Fenris was tricked into coming to the Hanged Man that day by his sister," Anders recounted. "Thankfully he brought Hawke, Varric and Merrill with him. I believe Danarius had the temerity to offer Hawke to buy Fenris back from him."

"According to The Tale of the Champion, it is said that you and the elf were bitter rivals," the Archon stated. "Is this true?"

Anders laughed. "Oh we bickered like two squalling cats, that's true enough," Anders agreed. "But we didn't hate each other. I certainly never hated him. I was jealous of his relationship with Hawke. Maker, I miss that man."

Dorian pulled Cullen towards him and whispered. "This isn't going nearly as bad as I had feared. I thought I remembered Fenris saying he hated Anders?"

"Oh you know how Fenris likes to grouse," Cullen chuckled. "They did bicker incessantly whenever I saw them together, but they also held a grudging respect for each other as well."

Dorian noted that Ahriman was looking increasingly frustrated as his witness was slowly ruining his entire case against Fenris.

"Maker knows," Anders was saying. "While I never had any love for Fenris, I always thought Danarius got what he deserved for what he'd done to the poor elf. Can you imagine how much pain he must have been in to receive those markings? I always felt bad for him just for that alone."

The Archon nodded in agreement. "This is not quite the testimony I had expected to hear, but I appreciate your candor, Anders. Please remain in case there are further questions."

Anders nodded and stepped to the side to wait.

"Magister Pavus," the Archon addressed Dorian again. "As you have no witnesses of your own, are you prepared to make your case?"

Dorian cleared his throat. "While I do not have any eye-witnesses, I also have a character witness I wish to call forth, if I may?"

The Archon nodded.

"Then I call Ser Cullen Stanton Rutherford. Former Commander of the Inquisition and Former Knight-Commander of Kirkwall," Dorian announced. Cullen nodded and allowed himself to be led out of Dorian's box and towards the doors that led to the floor of the main hall.

As Cullen entered, he had to suppress a smirk when he saw the look of sheer panic on Anders' face. Apparently the apostate hadn't heard about his arrival in Minrathous.

"Commander," the Archon acknowledged. "Please state your relationship to the accused and say your piece in his defense."

Cullen blushed at the word relationship. "I have been acquainted with Fenris since he first arrived in Kirkwall fifteen years ago. He was often in the company of Garrett Hawke whenever the Champion had business in the Gallows, where we had set up the Kirkwall Circle. I also encountered him at the tavern known as the Hanged Man from time to time as well."

Cullen walked closer to where Fenris knelt, wishing to be closer to him. "We lost touch after the events with the Chantry in Kirkwall," Cullen said, looking pointedly at Anders who looked like he would love nothing more than to shrink and hide into a very small hole. "Then after the Champion perished in the service to the Inquisition, Fenris came to Skyhold looking for answers and he eventually also chose to serve the Inquisition."

"Is that how he lost his memories?" the Archon asked.

"Yes, your Eminence," Cullen replied. "He was on a mission with the Inquisitor, Dorian and several others. They were attempting to route a Venatori stronghold that had decided to continue their plans without Corypheus. One of the mages hit Fenris with blood magic spell as soon as he recognized him."

"Did you witness this?" the Archon questioned.

"No, your Eminence," Cullen replied. "I had duties to perform at Skyhold and I was unable to accompany them on their mission. However, the Inquisitor was there."

"Hmm," the Archon nodded. "Continue with your testimony but I may wish to hear from the Inquisitor on this matter after you are finished."

"Yes, your Eminence," Cullen nodded, and cleared his throat. "Anyway, Fenris and I grew close before that mission and he shared with me many of the abuses he had suffered under the hands of Danarius. He bears no scars, other than his markings, because they were always fully healed. He told me of the constant beatings and rape that he suffered from Danarius and his associates, and sadistic torture at the hands of his apprentice, Hadriana."

Cullen then detailed out several instances he remembered from what Fenris had told him. The murmurs and shocked gasps rose from around the main hall as Cullen described in vivid detail what Fenris had suffered at the hands of his former master.

"These accusations you lay forth are indeed egregious," the Archon said sternly. "Those acts are enough to warrant Tranquility if they had come to light when Danarius yet lived. Would that there were eye-witnesses to this."

Just then Dorian signaled his wish to speak. "I have just been informed that such a witness wishes to step forth, if they may?"

The Archon nodded and Cullen stepped aside, waiting next to Anders, who shifted very nervously next to the former Templar. "Don't worry Anders. I'm not a Templar anymore and mages are free now in the South, if you hadn't heard. Stop acting like I'm about to make you Tranquil," Cullen whispered.

Just then a small female elf was ushered onto the floor and she walked nervously in front of the Archon.

"Please speak, elf," the Archon instructed.

"Thank you, your Eminence," the elf bowed. "My name is Tilana, and I was once a slave in the service of Master Danarius. All the things that Commander Rutherford said before? Every word of it was true. I witnessed most of it first hand and heard about the rest from the other slaves who had been present."

"Were you similarly abused?" the Archon asked with a note of sympathy.

Tilana nodded. "Yes, most of us in that house were, but Fenris, he got the worst of it. He was Danarius' favorite, and it was never good to be his favorite."

"I see," the Archon nodded and looked at Fenris. "Fenris, I believe you claim to retain only about a year's worth of memory of your service to Danarius. Is that true?"

Fenris nodded. "I think the first year I was in his service were probably not as bad. The abuses began slowly, several weeks after I received my markings. Some of the worst abuses they claim I suffered must have occurred during the time I cannot remember."

"Can you share some of the abuses you do remember?" the Archon asked.

Fenris nodded again. "It all began when Master Danarius grew displeased with his body slave. I didn't witness it, but the rumor was that the slave tried to say no, and Master Danarius beat him to death. The chamber maids complained for weeks about how much blood they had to clean."

Fenris took a deep breath before continuing. "After that incident, Master Danarius began to pay more and more attention to me, complimenting my looks, touching me. Then a week later, he ordered me to join him in his chambers. That…that was the first time he forced himself on me."

"Were you ever beaten?" inquired the Archon.

Fenris nodded. "I…did not please Master Danarius very well that first night. I cried out in pain and the next day I was chained to a pillar where he had me whipped and caned. Afterwards he had healers come and heal the wounds so they would not scar, but he instructed them to not soothe the pain."

Anders hitched his breath at that revelation, the healer in him sympathizing for the poor elf's plight.

"Thank you for sharing that with us," the Archon said before looking up at the prosecuting Magister. "Magister Ahriman, do you have anything else to say in condemnation of the elf's actions?" the Archon probed.

Ahriman rose and took a withering look around the room. "The elf, Fenris, clearly violated one of our highest laws. Regardless of his treatment, he had no right to run or murder his master and his master's apprentice in cold blood. Your Eminence, you cannot ignore the law. The law demands that the elf hang for his crimes!"

"The law also states that exceptions must be made in cases where the accused has suffered from abuse at the hands of his master," Dorian countered. "Slaves cannot say no. Slaves cannot fight back. Their only recourse is to either suffer continued abuse or attempt escape. When Danarius pursued Fenris unrelentingly for nine years, Fenris had no recourse but to kill the man when he finally cornered him."

The Archon stood then. "I have heard enough. Magister Pavus is correct. The law does state that a slave accused of murder can be granted mercy based on compassionate grounds. This poor creature kneels trembling at my feet, having no recollection of the acts he is accused of. He cannot even speak in his own defense other than to recount long past abuses and enough others have come forth for me to see the truth of the matter."

Ahriman looked livid.

"I know Magister Pavus has been pushing for more investigations into the rumors of such behavior among some members of the Magisterium," the Archon continued. "I believe I see now that he is right and investigations will commence immediately."

Magisters all around the hall broke out in cries, some in anger, others in victory. The cacophony was deafening until the Archon raised his staff and let fly a large fireball that burst in the center of the room.

"Enough!" the Archon roared. "First, Fenris, you are free to go. Guards release the elf and allow him to rejoin his friends. I declare him to officially be Liberati."

As soon as the manacles were removed, Fenris ran to Cullen hugging the man tight, still trembling. Cullen held his love tight in his arms, whispering words of comfort into the elf's ear.

Next to him Anders snorted and then winked. "Fenris always does seem to attract the handsome ones."

Cullen chuckled.

The Archon then began to speak again. "Next, if one hair on the head of Fenris, Magister Pavus, or any of those who stood in testimony today, is harmed, I will route the entire Magisterium. They are all under my personal protection until the investigations have been concluded."

Cullen breathed a sigh of relief at that. "Anders, won't you join us for dinner? I want to thank you for your testimony today."

Anders looked warily at Cullen. "Well, alright. I guess I would be safer with a former Templar around. Where are you staying?"

"With Dorian….er…Magister Pavus," Cullen nodded at Dorian who was openly hugging Mahannon and grinning like a madman.

...

That night over dinner they all caught Anders up on the goings on in the South. Apparently he had remained in hiding all these years, still fearing for his life after fleeing Kirkwall. He hadn't even known about the Breach or the threat from Corypheus.

Anders was genuinely pleased to hear the changes the Devine Victoria was making and rejoiced at the news that the Circles and the Templar Order were formally abolished, and in their stead would be a College of Enchanters.

"Do you think it's safe for me to return home? To Ferelden?" Anders mused.

"Perhaps," Cullen said. "But there are still some who blame you for everything that happened after you blew up the Chantry. You may find it safer to remain in Tevinter."

"If you wish," Dorian added. "I could help you set up a proper clinic for the poor here in Minrathus. Maker knows we could use one, more than ever if we finally manage to abolish slavery."

"I would like that very much," Anders smiled. "I miss helping people in my clinic. Cullen, did you really not know where it was? Not once did the Templars raid it."

Cullen smirked. "Oh we knew where it was, but we didn't let Meredith know. You were doing the Maker's work by helping all the poor and sick down in Darktown. After everything you'd been through in Kinloch, I made sure you were left undisturbed. Also, Varric might have kept a contingent of Carta to keep an eye out for you as well."

"Heh, good old Varric," Anders mused. "I can't believe he ended up as Viscount."

"Neither can he!" Cullen laughed and Dorian and Mahannon joined in.

Fenris kept quiet, still traumatized by the events of the past few days.

That night Cullen held Fenris close as they shared a bed again after their forced separation. Fenris still couldn't remember his past feelings for Cullen, but he knew he had begun to develop new feelings for the man over the past couple of years. Cullen made Fenris feel safe and warm and…loved.

With that thought the elf snuggled closer to Cullen and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.