A Ship Bound for Tevinter

"We're… leaving him?" It wasn't until they were back aboard ship that Varania finally worked up the nerve to question her master's actions.

Danarius turned to her and she feared to see that look of disapproval, but what he evidently considered a victory at The Hanged Man had put him in a generous mood. "Do not fret, Varania. Your brother will join us soon. We have removed all that was holding him back." He turned to his prize, the chained red-haired mage, still unconscious, and ran a hand through the man's hair admiringly. "A fine specimen, is he not?"

Varania didn't know how to respond to that. He was a handsome man but surely that was not what her master was referring to. "He was the nobleman? I thought southern mages were kept in Circles. And he didn't seem-"

Danarius interrupted her with a dismissive wave of his hand. "None of that matters. He will be my weapon. He has ability in all four schools of magic and his body should be strong enough to survive the lyrium."

"The lyrium?"

Danarius frowned. "Why do you think I held a tournament all those years ago? It was not to find the best fighter so much as the strongest, most tenacious. Leto was a success. Can you image what a mage inscribed with lyrium could do? But none has survived the ritual. This 'Champion of Kirkwall' will."

Kirkwall – A Borrowed Mansion

Magic had tainted everything. Fenris grabbed one of the few remaining intact chairs and smashed it to the floor. There was no past for him to reclaim. Magic had taken that too. He threw the splintered pieces into the fire. Why had he stayed in this Tevinter's mansion? He hated this shithole town, festering in blood magic. He should have left long ago. He began collecting things, throwing them on the fire, as if were it hot enough, it could burn away the taint of this place.

He paused upon picking up the book Kaiden had given him. Fenris had felt ashamed for Kaiden to find out that he didn't even know how to read, but Kaiden had pointed out how fast he picked up new languages, that of course he could learn to read in no time. Kaiden was always seeing the best in people, especially him. The man was an idiot, living in a fantasy world.

Fenris fell to his knees. The smoke from the fire must be choking him. His eyes blurred and he couldn't breathe. The events of the day ran again and again through his mind. He was lying on the ground, bound by some cursed magic, helpless to do or say anything. He saw Kaiden kneel before that monster, saw him chained like an animal, saw Danarius, triumphant, looking at Kaiden the way Fenris remembered... Fenris heard a scream and realized it came from him. He did not try to stop it; he couldn't contain the anger anymore. He screamed his hatred until he retched, then lay on the floor shaking. His voice came out a hoarse whisper, "I will kill you, I swear to all the gods and demons I will kill you, you bastard."

A Ship Bound for Tevinter

Kaiden awoke to the creaking of a ship, the smell of the sea, and a splitting headache. Cold metal bit into his neck, wrists, and ankles, while incongruously, he was enveloped in softness. Someone had changed him out of his battle-ruined attire and into a clean robe. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying on a cot in a small room below deck. It was dimly lit by a lantern swinging overhead, but he could see the red-haired elf sitting near him. It was Varania, Fenris' sister. Anger envenomed him. His magic flared and Kaiden hissed in pain as the acrid metal of his bonds drained off his mana. It felt like sticks being pulled out from under his skin.

Varania's voice was soft. "Do not try to use magic. That only makes it worse."

"Don't pretend you care." When Kaiden tried unsuccessfully to sit up, Varania moved to help him. "Stay away from me!" Kaiden twisted and managed to maneuver himself into a sitting position.

Varania sighed. "I'm sorry-"

"Like hell you are! How could you betray your own brother?"

"It's not like that. I had no choice. I-"

"Bullshit. We all have choices."

"Just listen!" She continued, her voice again quiet. "I don't expect you to understand. You don't know what it's like in Tevinter. This-"

"You would have returned him to slavery to that monster." Kaiden wanted to strangle her. He didn't give a shit for whatever sob story she wanted to tell him. He might not know what it was like in Tevinter, but she did. And she had been willing to drag her brother back into it.

Anger flashed in those olivine eyes, so much like her brother's. "You Marchers are hypocrites. You make the elves in your cities do your work but you take no responsibility for their welfare."

"What has... It's not right how they're treated, but at least they're free."

"Free from what? Freedom meant more work but no home. It meant losing..." Varania bit her lower lip and turned away.

Kaiden made a point of looking at her fine robe. "You seem to have done alright for yourself."

She turned back to him with a glare. "Thanks to Danarius! I almost-"

"Thanks to Danarius?! Do you even know what that bastard did to Fenris?"

"Danarius gave him power, more than most elves in Thedas dare hope for – slave or free."

Kaiden gaped at her. Could she really be so blind? He thought of telling her what he knew yet... even if she would believe him, it was not his right to tell. "So you believe Danarius has a right to... to own Fenris?" Kaiden could hardly bring himself to even say it.

"More right than you did."

"What?" It took all Kaiden's focus to keep his magic from rising again. Calling a firestorm down on this ship was increasingly appealing. "How could you think... I was his friend." Maker, how he wished he could claim to be more. "What did he write you?"

Her gaze fell. "I don't know. Danarius told me..." She shook her head. "I don't know what to believe anymore. You are a strange man, Kaiden Hawke."

"So I've been told."

"You are a powerful mage and of noble blood. In Tevinter, you would have been a magister."

"And?"

"And yet you surrendered yourself into slavery. Why?"

"Do you truly not know?"

Varania looked away. As she sat there worrying her lower lip, Kaiden leaned back against the rough wood wall and watched her. There was nothing more to say. Although part of him wanted to yell at her, he knew he would lose control of his magic. It was too much a part of him to separate the response from his emotions. He really hated these shackles. They presented a choice of pain or self-imposed tranquility. After several minutes, Varania stood and left without replying.

Kirkwall – The Hanged Man

Anders went to The Hanged Man early that evening. It was a while before the rest of the group was to show up, but the waiting was driving him crazy. He hadn't opened his clinic today. After Varric had told him the news he'd been too distraught to trust himself to focus his magic.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary on the main floor of the tavern. It was still early, but there were already a few regulars at the bar. Had it really been only this morning that Kaiden had been taken from this place in chains? Anders closed his eyes as the pain hit him anew. Why hadn't he been there? Surely he – certainly Justice – could have saved Kaiden. No doubt it was because Fenris didn't want 'that abomination' there. Did that bigoted elf ever think of anyone but himself?

Anders ascended the stairs to Varric's suite and found the dwarf pouring over maps and charts with Aveline. Fenris was sitting by himself in front of the fire, his head in his hands. Anders decided to ignore him for now and walked over to the table.

"Hello, Blondie." Varric smiled at him, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You two already have a plan in the works?"

Aveline shook her head. "Not yet, I'm afraid. Normally, one should plan this sort of operation weeks in advance. With-"

"We have to leave now!" Fenris slammed his fists to the table. "Every moment we delay Hawke is…" He raked a hand through his hair then stood and began to pace, muttering something in Tevene.

Anders crossed his arms and glared at the elf. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you dragged him into a trap."

Fenris winced. "I never thought…"

"No! You never thought about Kaiden, did you?"

Aveline turned from the table. "Anders!"

Fenris glared at him. "You have no idea."

"I was-"

"Boys! Maybe we should rescue the lad before we fight over him, hmm?" Isabela had just walked in, followed by an elf who looked like he'd stepped from the pages of one of the salacious novels she fancied. Long blond hair cascaded down a billowy shirt that was unlaced halfway down his chest. He wore tight leather pants and – most surprising to see on an elf – leather boots. Two swords hung from a low-slung belt.

"Oooh, I think I may have to enter this challenge." The blond elf spoke with a sensual Antivan accent. "That or solace the loser."

Fenris turned his glare on the elf while Aveline shook her head. "Now about the rescue…"

Isabela beamed. "We can leave tomorrow!"

"You… have a crew then?" Isabela had acquired a ship, but last Anders had heard, it had no crew and needed a bit of work done. She'd said something about barnacles and mustard-colored furnishings.

Aveline scowled as she looked the blond elf up and down. "Not all from the Blooming Rose, I hope."

"Now there's a thought… but no. Someone," she winked at Varric, "spread the word that Kaiden's in trouble and that we're going to get him out of it. We now have a crew and my ship is being outfitted as we speak. An associate of mine has also offered his services." She exchanged a smile with the elf. "This is Zevran, a former Antivan Crow."

Zevran bowed with flourish. "A pleasure."

"The Zevran? Who traveled with the Warden Commander?" Anders remembered Lorynn Amell telling him of the roguish elf who had become her friend.

"Ah! You've heard of me then? Something naughty I hope?"

Anders couldn't help smiling as he shook his head. "You're exactly as Lorynn described."

"Really? She described my devastating good looks? And here I thought she had eyes only for Alistair…"

Anders sighed. "That she did."

Fenris's eyes narrowed. "Why would a Crow wish to help us?"

"Former Crow, my friend. And that is answer in itself. I will be harder for them to find at sea."

When Fenris continued to frown, Anders rolled his eyes. "He's a friend of the Hero of Fereldan. Stop being so suspicious."

"Ah, no, you are right to be suspicious. If I were this magister you're after, I would definitely hire me."

While Aveline looked taken aback by the statement, Fenris just shook his head. "Danarius would not hire you. He desires that I follow him to Minrathous."

"So it is a trap we walk into? Nothing like certain death to get the blood pumping."

Isabela started to pull him down the hall toward her room. "I can think of other ways to get the blood pumping."

"Isabela, you saucy minx, I have missed you."

"You always did have piss-poor aim. Luckily, you're good for other things."

As they entered her room, Varric turned to Anders. "You're certain he's from an infamous order of assassins?"

Zevran poked his head back out the door. "That, my friend, is why I am so good at it." He winked at Anders before he was pulled back into the room and the door shut.

Aveline seemed to suddenly realize that she was standing with her mouth agape. "Why am I even surprised?" She turned back to Varric. "Well, it looks like you have passage after all. I wish I could come with you all." To Fenris she added, "I'll make sure your mansion is still here for you when you get back."

"I have no further need of it. Do with it as you will." He nodded to Varric and started toward the stairs.

Aveline moved to intercept him. "Fenris…" But he avoided her and continued out.

Anders wondered if that meant that Fenris was leaving Kirkwall permanently. "About time-"

"Shut up!" Anders was startled when Aveline turned on him. "You don't know what it is to feel responsible for losing someone you love." That was not true, however Anders had only told Hawke about Karl. While he saw no point in arguing it now, Anders didn't believe that Fenris loved Hawke or was even capable of it. Aveline continued, more to herself than to him, "Not that Hawke is lost. I know you'll get him back." The full weight of her focus returned to Anders and the way she looked at him, Anders was thankful she wasn't a mage. "Be civil or at least keep your mouth shut." As she took her leave, Anders refrained from comment. He'd found it wisest not to argue with an angry woman, and every so often, he decided to follow his better judgment.

Varric rolled up the map of Thedas. "Well, this is already shaping up to be an interesting tale. Now to make sure it has a happy ending." Anders wholeheartedly agreed.