I apologize for taking so long to get this chapter posted, for some reason I had a hard time getting started with it, but I hope that you will enjoy its added length. I will try to make more regular updates in the future. Thanks to everyone who has commented and followed my story, its so exciting each time I get an e-mail alert. Please feel free to comment if you like or even if you don't. Enjoy!
Bioware owns all characters and if you recognize it, its not mine, unfortunately.
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Chapter 10 – The Testing
The next morning Hawke awoke sweaty and shaking from her dreams yet again. It seemed like she would never be free of them, the ones last night had been bad to say the least. She dreamt of her last days in Lothering when the darkspawn had over run the village. She could still see the faces of her friends and family. She remembered how they died, she shook herself and tried to will the images from her mind, it was not an easy task.
She had to focus on today, her survival depended on it she knew. After the testing was over there would be time enough to grieve and to remember, but not now.
Her cell door creaked open and Rinval stood before her already dressed in his armor. It was still early, the first few rays of light were just beginning to creep into the depths of the masters cellars. "Go to the kitchens and grab your breakfast quickly while I round up the rest of the guards, we head for the testing grounds soon." He said.
Hawke nodded and did what he said, it was the first time that she had been allowed to walk without an escort and it felt strange. Usually Fenris was there to lead her through the days activities and she found herself wondering where he was.
The slave galley was buzzing with activity and there was a large group of guards whispering amongst themselves as she made her way to the cooking fires. Breakfast was the usual grey gruel, but at least it was filling and hot.
It wasn't long before Rinval called out "all guards and trainees who are to go to the testing grounds form up in a double line." Hawke was surprised at the sheer number. She got in line herself and soon they were all ushered up the stairs and out onto the grounds. They marched in relative silence as the sun was just beginning to rise.
Hawke lifted her chin and felt the morning breeze kiss her face, it was warm. It was always warm here in Tevinter and it felt like today would be no different. How she missed the cool breezes of Ferelden, the smells of the forest. She sighed to herself, would she ever get back to her homeland? And even if she did, would there be anything left of it?
Once again her mind had wandered to places better left alone. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying desperately to focus on the tasks ahead of her. She wondered who she would have to fight. Fenris had told her that the battle would be too the death. She looked around at the other guards marching along with her. Would she have to kill one of them?
It didn't seem fair, but then again life wasn't fair was it? If life or the Maker had been fair to her she would still be in Lothering with her family and there would be no blight upon the land. No sense dwelling on the fairness of her current situation.
Before long they arrived at the arena, there were no spectators in the stands yet but there were servants; no check that , they were slaves running here and there in preparation for the days events. She could smell the smoke of barbeque pits cooking fine meats and banners and flags were still being hung around the arena.
Hawke had a hard time wrapping her mind around what was happening, all of this was just to test the new slaves the master had bought. No, she thought to herself, this was to be a demonstration of his power and wealth. Her master must be trying very hard to impress someone.
Rinval spoke up then, separating the rogues from the warriors and then breaking them into smaller groups based on his observation of their skills. They were speaking in Tevinter and Hawke didn't know what was being discussed. He motioned to several guards who then took charge of the smaller groups and marched them off into different directions. Her group was herded toward a gate in the lowest portion of the arena and she found herself locked behind iron bars with ten or twelve others. They had a good view of the training arena from where they were, she would be able to watch all the fights easily. She eyed the rest of the group around her, wondering if she would have to fight one or some of them later.
Time passed and she sat down in the corner of the holding area waiting for something to happen. After a time a cart creaked outside and one by one all of the guards in her section were brought forward and fitted with armor. She noticed that all the pieces given to them seemed to be similar in color and design.
Hawke herself was given a breastplate, gloves, and grieves made of shining silver metal. It was accented with red padding. She smiled inwardly, red was her favorite color. This was a good sign.
The armor was not the finest, but it seemed sturdy enough. It was difficult to get her armor on with her collar getting in the way, but in the end she managed it. They were also given weapons, Hawke was given two daggers of silverite, they seemed sharp and were well balanced. She tested their weight in her hands and twirled them without thinking.
After this was complete another guard stepped forward, one she did not recognize and began giving them their instructions. She listened quietly as they were told that they would be fighting as a unit against others that were chosen to be their opponents. They would be expected to show no mercy because none would be shown to them.
When this was done the group was left alone once again and Hawke cast glances to those that she would be fighting with once again. Several of them seemed to be comfortable with the blades they were given and she hoped that they were all skilled fighters because she intended to survive this test.
The sun was well up in he sky now and as she suspected the wind held the promise of another hot day. There was very little breeze that managed to penetrate the holding area she was in, before long they would all be sweaty and uncomfortable. Hawke watched as the seats around the arena began to fill up with the masters guests. She noted that the guests were all dressed in their finest clothes and surrounded by what she suspected were their own house slaves.
Everyone was speaking in excited tones as slaves ran amongst them offering them food and drink and seeing to the guests needs, and getting them seated in comfort. Hawke was amazed at the spectacle that was unfolding before her eyes. She still did not see her master, she wasn't even sure she would recognize him amongst all the guests dressed in fine silks and jewels.
Every once in a while a visiting mage would wander to the holding area as if to inspect the fighters and discuss between themselves who looked the most promising of the bunch. Apparently there were bets being taken on the outcome of the matches. The magisters would beckon a fighter forward to inspect his weapons and size, asking them to flex their muscle and turn around trying to judge their fighting ability.
Hawke herself was called forward to the bars and inspected several times, she tried to ignore their chittering and place a mask of indifference on her face, but she knew she heard the word barbarian spoken more than a few times. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her and she wished that they would just get on with it already
After more time had passed a man came forward dressed in splendid mage robes, Hawke thought she recognized the face of her master. Her suspicions were correct as she saw him come closer and recognized Fenris standing off to the side and behind him. He was dressed in grey and red robes, with more jewels on his fingers and around his neck than she had ever seen before.
He had a huge fake looking grin on his face as he came forward to the bars in front of her group. "Ah, and here is my newest guard to be, is my little barbarian ready to fight today?" He said while looking straight at her. "Indeed, I am ready master" she replied as she bowed her head. The word master was difficult for her to say, but she swallowed her pride and forced herself to say it, she didn't want anything to go wrong today.
She wanted to get that blasted collar off and she figured that this was the only way she was going to make that happen. She hoped that if she performed well and showed fighting skill that he would remove the stupid thing from her neck.
She chanced a glance at Fenris while her head was bowed, but he too was staring at the ground and did not look up at all. She studied him more closely and noticed that he seemed more broody than usual today. His mouth was set in a thin line and she could see the lines of stress around his eyes. She wondered about it.
Perhaps after this was all over she could approach him and find out where he had been the past days. Someone Hawke did not recognize started speaking to her master just then.
"Danarius, this slave of yours seems hardly capable to fight, she is so small, I hope that all your effort and the coin you spent will be worth it." "Oh do not fear my friend, I am certain that she will show us all her skills today, I was told by he slavers who captured her that it took more than ten men to take her down." He said while smiling broadly.
"Yes, well we shall see Danarius, if nothing else it will be pleasant to enjoy your hospitality for a day." The man smiled at her master and bowed to him. "Indeed, let us take our seats then so that the show may begin."
With that her master turned his back to her and proceeded to his seat at the front of the arena followed by his multitude of slaves that were shadowing him. Fenris included. As he reached his seat he stood and addressed the crowds in attendance.
"My esteemed fellow mages and magisters, I bid you welcome to my estate and invite you to partake of the many delicacies offered to you today." He smiled broadly and motioned his hand toward the many slaves who were flitting amongst the guests offering food and drink. "Today as you all know is the annual celebration of my becoming a magister of the senate, it is tradition that decrees a celebration to honor this event, I hope you enjoy. Let the games begin!"
His voice must have been magically altered to be louder than normal because it seemed to boom across the arena. Hawke wondered how it was that she understood his words, normally he spoke in Arcanum or Tevinter when speaking to other magisters but she understood his words perfectly.
As she watched; a squad of fighters walked into the arena, she noted that their armors were silver and green, others marched onto the field and their armors were accented by blues. Apparently all the squads had been given different colors to differentiate them from each other. A flag was dropped and she heard Danarius yell "Begin"
The two groups clashed, it was difficult for her eyes to follow everything that was going on. The men were fighting fiercely swords clashing and armor glinting in the bright sun. The crowds cheered as a warrior got a particularly brutal shot on one of his opponents staggering him back and making him fall to the ground. A referee of sorts gave a signal and the man was removed from the field.
It appeared that this fight was not to the death, the pattern continued and as one man fell he was removed from the ring and returned to the holding areas. Hawke breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps the master could not afford to lose too many of his guards at once. She felt relieved a bit, but Fenris and Rinval's words came back to her and she knew that eventually the blood bath would begin. She could not imagine that the magisters would be satisfied unless they watched at least a few slaves die a horrible and gruesome death.
Hawke watched as the blue team had been declared the winner and the crowds cheered for the victors. The blue team in turn held up their weapons and in a rare display of emotion yelled and pounded their chests, enjoying the adrenalin of the moment.
As they left the field a group of jugglers and acrobats dressed in ridiculously bright and outlandish clothes to entertain the crowds walked into the arena. They jumped and juggled and danced around while the downed guards were removed. After that another group was led onto the playing field and again swords clashed and the sound of metal on metal could be heard.
This time the victor was the team with the bright orange. Again the jesters and jugglers took to the field, Hawke watched it all with trepidation. Her turn on the field was sure to come soon.
Just as she thought that a guard came and opened the door to the holding cell she was in and indicated that it was their turn to take the field. Hawke gulped and tilted her head up as she marched onto the field with the others. The team they were fighting against was wearing purple. The signal was given and Hawke leapt into the battle.
Her previously tensed muscles were finally allowed the movement she had been craving and she fought with a vengeance hitting and kicking and twirling her way around the battlefield. Time felt like it had sped up and before she knew it the fight was over and her red team had triumphed.
It felt good to hear the crowds cheering and Hawke found herself yelling along with the others in her group. She couldn't help herself, she had a huge grin plastered to her face and she was slapping and hugging the others of her group in celebration. The victory was short lived though as they were led back to the holding cells, she began to feel the strain of the days events. Her muscles ached and her nerves were frayed. At least she survived this first round.
Back in the holding cells another slave came around with a jug and ladle giving them water. Hawke smiled when she saw who was serving them, it was Kender. She had not seen him in several days and it felt good to see a friendly face. He smiled back at her as he gave her the water.
"It is good to see you Hawke, you fought well, I am glad to see that your injuries have not caused you any permanent damage." She looked up into those large amber eyes of his and was mesmerized for a moment and had to fight herself to form coherent words. "It is good to see you as well Kender, I am sure that the only reason I stand here today is because of your skills with poultices and healing."
Kender smiled and said "You give me too much credit, but your welcome anyway." He gave a furtive glance behind him before he continued speaking, "I do not have much time, but I wanted to be able to wish you luck in the fights yet to come." Hawke smiled once again amazed at the fact that she had become tongue tied in the presence of an elf. For some reason which she could not determine she found elven men to be handsome and was attracted to them more than she had been with any human man.
She quickly banished those thoughts from her head and said "I wondered what happened to you as I never saw you down in the slave quarters after you healed me." "I have been assigned to work in the gardens, my skills as an herbalist have been put to use there, I find that I enjoy working there cultivating the masters plants and making salves and poultices. I am somewhat sheltered from the master and the other slaves and have quarters that were given to me in the barns." "I see" said Hawke. "Perhaps we will be able to speak again back at the mansion." His nod and the twinkle in his eye indicated to her that he would enjoy that. He left quickly then, before it would be noticed that he had spent longer than the expected amount of time serving the fighters.
Hawke felt better, just seeing Kender had lifted her spirits and she looked forward to seeking him out sometime in the future. For the briefest of moments Hawke didn't feel so bad about her circumstances and she allowed herself to relax as she thought of him and his warm amber eyes.
Eventually her thoughts returned to Fenris once again. He had seemed more grim than usual when she saw him guarding their master and wondered about what had happened to make him seem so distant. Perhaps it was just that their master was in his presence and he dared not show any signs that he cared whether or not she lived or died.
She looked out onto the arena and watched as a group of what she presumed to be slaves took the field. They did not wear colors as the previous fighters had and she wondered about that. She heard Danarious' voice boom out once again, "and now we have something different for your entertainment, this group of slaves has displeased me, I have granted them a pardon if they survive the fight that is to come." He smiled broadly and signaled the start of combat.
As Hawke watched with large eyes a bronto came charging out of one of the cells at the side of the arena. The slaves scattered and it was easy to tell from their movements that most of them had not been trained as fighters. They were here as fodder to give the mages the blood that they craved.
She watched in horror as one of the men was trampled underneath the feet of the charging animal. The others were either trying to get a hit in on the animal or running to the opposite side of the arena. One of the larger men actually managed to get a decent hit with his sword, but it didn't do much beyond making the animal angrier as it screamed its rage in a loud bleat. It turned back around quickly and charged the man who had no chance to get out of the way before he too was trampled.
The arena floor was now stained with the blood of the slaves. She looked up and observed the faces of the spectators, their faces reflected not the horror of watching people die, they were excited and she could see it reflected in their eyes. She felt sick, how could anyone enjoy this.
As she turned her attention back to the ring it was just in time to see a slave get himself pinned against the side of the arena, she looked away as the animal rammed into him and the poor mans blood and innards were splayed all over the wall and ground. The animal shook its head from side to side bleating its victory as the man crumpled. The magisters were screaming their pleasure at the sight, it all felt surreal. At that moment Hawke was glad that she had not been given anything to eat since breakfast because it probably would have come up now. She fought back the taste of the bile at the back of her throat.
There was apparently another intermission as the jesters and jugglers once again took the field. "I hope that my guests are enjoying the display so far" her master said, "this is only just the beginning" his grin was wide and he was apparently pleased with the way the day was progressing.
"We will take a short break and when we come back we will continue with the elimination rounds." That explained much she thought, the fighters that were victorious from the previous rounds would continue in their combat, presumably until one was left standing, but when would the fights change to fights to the death?
Hawke crouched on the ground in the corner of the holding cell awaiting her turn, she felt as if she would jump out of her skin at any moment. She tried to think back to the feeling she had when Kender came to visit and centered her mind for the battles to come.