Dragon Age 2 is owned by Bioware, as with all it's characters, the story as it deviates from canon is mine however, as with the personalities of characters as they deviate from those in the game. In case you haven't noticed, I have gone decidedly off-canon. However, I that's part of the fun of fanfiction, right? ;-)
Again, thank you for all the reviews. As always, all of the reviews really do help push me forward to make each chapter better than the last. Please, if you like how things are going so far, or you have any ideas or any (constructive) criticism, please leave a review.
It is always appreciated! Thank you again!
Fenris groaned as he started to awaken and felt the after effects of fighting that witch. Opening his eyes, he saw his companions settled in a small circle nearby, going over future strategies in careful whispers and low voices.
"There is no need to whisper, I am awake. Unfortunately..." Fenris let out a string of curses as he made his aching body sit up.
"You're awake! Good, we were starting to wonder." Aveline said as she came and sat down beside him. "Next time, it would probably be a good idea to wait for the rest of us before facing off against a witch."
"I had no choice. She... She claimed she was..."
"Yes, we heard." Aveline replied with a deep frown.
"She said other things... Things about me... and about Hawke."
"None of which are true. I am surprised I have to even say that."
"What if what she spoke of is true? I do not remember my life before this cursed lyrium." Fenris held up his arm and stared at the intricate weaves of lyrium there with disgust as he remembered everything the woman said.
"You can't be serious, Broody!" Fenris looked up to see Varric approach and lean against the wall close by. "Look, I wouldn't know what happened in your past from a zit on a Darkspawn's ass. But there is one thing I do know, and that is Hawke never slept with mage-boy."
"You can't honestly be considering what that woman said, are you? She wasn't even real!"
"Isabella is right. It was the same thing with Wesley and Donnic. Just illusions created to toy with us."
"Fenris, if you can't trust us, trust in Hawke. With everything you know about her, does this sound like something Hawke would do?"
Fenris looked up at the bloodmage, thinking through what she and the others had said. And even he had to admit that what they said made sense. Sure, Hawke was friends with the abomination, and even supported some of his ideas on mage freedom. But never once did she appear interested in the mage in any way other than friendship, despite the abominations non-to-subtle advances.
"I suppose... you are right." Fenris admitted with a small blush.
"Well what do you know, there may still be hope for you yet, Broody!" Varric chided with a grin. Offering his hand to the elf, Fenris accepted it gladly and stood with help with his friend. He was still incredibly sore, and had a sudden yet deep craving for a wagon full of Agreggio Pavali.
"You going to be okay there, wolfy?" Isabella joked, getting a wickedly menacing glare from Fenris.
"Do not call me that, wench." growled Fenris in response, his body falling into an attack stance.
"Easy now, big fella. Save that anger for the hooded host of this grand castle." Varric cautiously stated as he stepped slightly between Fenris and Isabella. "And as for you Rivaini," Varric added as he glared at Isabella, who for some insane reason was looking like she enjoyed taunting Fenris. "Try not to make our elf friend kill you. It would really get on my nerves to try to break in a new Diamondback player."
Isabella still held her sly smile as she turned and continued down the hall. Varric just sighed and shook his head before looking back to Fenris with an apologetic look in his eyes.
"That woman has got to either have the biggest balls in all of the Free Marshes or the most brain damage to taunt you like that, Broody."
Fenris raised a questioning eyebrow at Varric's continued use of his nickname for the elf. "And what of you, calling me 'Broody'?"
"Hey! I mean it as an endearment! You know that!" laughed Varric as he and the rest of the party continued down to the next room.
"Maker help me, Varric..." Fenris growled in response, trying to hide the slight smile that threatened to give him away.
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The rest of the way to the tower was fairly normal, if you consider fights with demons, undead and Darkspawn "normal". However, considering what they just went through, the group was happy with the change of pace.
Several rooms - and many offshoots that resulted in dead ends - later, the group finally reached what seemed to be the tower they were in search of. Twisting stairs led upwards, enclosed on each side by crumbling rock and the occasional window that looked out on the valley below. Looking outside, it still appeared to be nightfall. However, neither of them could tell how long they actually spent fighting their way to the top.
"Ugh... Why are there so many blasted stairs?"
"Shut up Isabella. I would think you would be used to such vigorous excercise." Aveline teased.
"Yes, but only occasionally did it include stairs..."
Aveline groaned, shaking her head at the suggestive wink Isabella gave her.
As they rounded the next bend, the group stopped suddenly as finally reached what they were searching for. All the bantering stopped as they took in the heavy wooden door from Sandal's dreams. It even had the dragon head door-knocker in the center. Instinctively, Sandal latched onto Fenris. His presence so common now that the elf barely complained anymore. For some reason, the boy had become attached to the brooding elf, and rarely - if ever - leaving his side.
"You recognize this, Sandal?" Aveline asked when she saw how badly the dwarf was trembling. All the boy did was nod in response, not even taking his eyes off of the door in front of them.
Growing impatient, Fenris reached forward to push the door open, but was stopped by two small hands wrapped around his forearm. "No! Fire!" the boy screamed, his voice cracking from fear.
"Trap. Gotta be. Excuse me ladies and gents, I believe this is where I come in handy." stated Isabella as she kneeled down by the door and started examining the seams and creases. Frowning, she followed the edge of the door all the way up to the top corner, looking for anything that could mean the presence of a trap or trip wire. "Ah hah! I told you I am brilliant!" she exclaimed as she pointed proudly to the small indentation at the top of the door that glinted like metal if looked at properly.
"Do you see something Isabella? Why, I don't see anything. Are you sure there's a trap there?"
"Absolutely, Kitten. Clever, I'll give the bastard that. Almost didn't see it until manhands over there shifted her shield, which reflected the light from outside. I'm going to have to remember this one."
"Rivaini, I officially bow to your trap detecting skills."
"Enough. Can you disarm it or not?" growled Fenris, growing impatient of all the bantering his companions did.
"Now that is the question, my dear brooding elf. It's complicated, so if you hear me curse and see me run past you lot, it'd be a good guess to follow." Isabella replied, for once a serious tone in her voice. Deciding to give her room, the rest of the group backed up several paces as the rogue went to work. The fact that the distance would also help them outrun whatever would be released if Isabella messed up was already a given.
After several tense minutes, an audible click was heard followed by a heavy sigh from Isabella. "Damn bastard! If I wasn't so intent on killing him, I would love to know where he got the twisted idea for that monstrosity..." Isabella grumbled as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Finally, that Venhedis will know what it is like to feel true pain." Fenris snarled as he approached the door.
"Just try not to kill him until we find out about Hawke, okay Broody?"
Fenris just snarled as he shoved open the heavy door, revealing a strange circular room filled with books and lab materials. The walls were covered with sheets of paper describing all manner of things, most in a language that none of them had ever seen before. On one side was a table filled with various crystals and liquid vials of differing colors and sizes. And along the various tables and bookshelves were candles and oil lamps which created disturbing shadows from the unknown implements and tools that were scattered everywhere.
However, it was the hooded figure that stood looking out the large window that captured the group's attention.
"For a group of your caliber, I am surprised it took you this long to reach me. I am sorry to say that my hope for you has declined somewhat."
"We came here for answers, monster. Not to impress you, and certainly not to play your little games. Now, you will tell us what we want to know. Perhaps if you tell us, we will make your death quick."
The monster laughed as he turned around to face the elven warrior who spoke. The others, they would provide him the needed nourishment once he was free to hunt down his enemies. However it was him that the monster craved most. Thinking him a fool, the monster wondered why the elf didn't use his powers to their proper extent. Perhaps he didn't know how, in which case he was ever more the fool than the monster thought.
Then there was the Abatu. The witch wouldn't we pleased if he killed the fledgling, but his power would be a greatly need boost to the monster's own that it was too tempting to pass up. The witch herself would fall to him in her own time as well, so the monster dismissed any worry for her concern.
"Perhaps. But first, our bargain. When we first met, I gave you a choice. In exchange for the knowledge in how to bring your friend back to the world of the living, a sacrifice must be made. Who of you has chosen to be that sacrifice?"
"There is no bargain, monster! We never agreed to anything, and we sure as hell are not going to let you play any more of your games with us either!" Aveline barked out, unsheathing her axe and shield. Standing at the ready, her eyes burned with fire at the hooded creature who had toyed with her feelings for the men she loved.
The room filled with tense magick as a sourceless wind ripped around the small group. Papers rustled and flew free from their resting spots to join in the miniature whirlwind that was beginning to form in the center of the room.
"You would dare command me? Foolish child. I am no mere monster for you to threaten with your feeble weapons and empty words. I am he that once touched the face of the Old God's themselves!" the monster growled, letting the wind push back the heavy hood that covered his face.
All around, the group gasped at the face of their enemy. Part of his face was that of a Darkspawn, but the rest looked like a strange mixture of a pride and desire demon. The monster's features blended and altered back and forth between the three forms, each at different times and paces. However, his eyes remained the same. Red as fire, they seemed to glow from an inner source. Yet they held the power to pierce through the carefully maintained stoic faces of the group, bringing forth their horror and fear of the monstrosity that they faced.
"Wh..what are you?" Merrill squeaked out behind the hand that covered her gaping mouth.
"You can call me Rakshasa. What I am is beyond your limit of understanding. All you need to know is that I know how to release your Hawke from her nightmares and return her to what she once was." The creature laughed ominously as he lifted a strange goblet to his lips. On a closer look, it seemed to made out of the fused bones of humanoid hands, creating a twisted and morbid look. "As a fortune of fate it seems, when your precious Hawke is released, so shall I be." The laughter from the creature now was chilling, creating goosebumps and causing hair to rise.
"Like hell! There is no way we would release such a demon as you!" Fenris angrily shot back, rasing his blade raising into an attack stance.
"Fortunately, you do not have a say in this, elf. The events are already set in motion for my release and eventual domination of your pathetic world. All I needed was for you to make it past the trials and enter my domain."
Silently the creature moved across the room towards the group, a strange sadistic smile on his lips.
"Never!" Fenris screamed as he launched himself at the creature, slashing his blade in a deadly arc. Yet the attack was stopped when the creature grabbed Fenris by his throat and began to squeeze, forcing Fenris to drop his blade to the ground.
"Fenris!" his companions yelled as they tried to reach him but were thrown back by an invisible barrier. Writhing and clawing as the creature's grip, Fenris' eyes blazed utter contempt and promises of death as he stared up at the demon.
"Fools. Your power is meaningless compared to mine. That you are needed for my freedom is disgraceful and demeaning to my glorious stature. However, through you and your lovely Myva Vynra shall grant me the ability to take my place amongst the Old Gods themselves!"
Fenris struggled to breath, yet the creature's hideous laughter filled him with bitter rage. Taking as much of a breath as he could, Fenris uttered dryly "Ego bibiturus sum... victoriae meae... a vestris... adhuc... corde micante!"
The demon laughed heartily at Fenris as he squeezed his throat tighter. "Is that the mouth you kiss your lovely Hawke with? Hmmm... We shall see, won't we? I wonder if she will be as willing to take me into her bed as she was you. What do you think, servus?" The demon's eyes lit up and his lips spread into a broad, evil grin as he spoke those words to Fenris. Inside, Fenris could feel his heart clench and go cold.
Filling with one last surge of energy from the overloading hate and anger that consumed him, Fenris lashed out at the demon. Slashing at him his claws, the lyrium in Fenris' veins glowed to pure whiteness, mixing with the dark mist that emanated from the creature.
Suddenly a huge explosion erupted from their combined powers, blinding everyone in the room. When the light cleared, the companions looked on in horror as Fenris lay unmoving in the center of the room, with only the demon's cloak nearby. The demon itself was gone from sight - even the magick that filled the air was gone.
Immediately the companions rushed over to their fallen comrade, trying to wake him. Yet despite the healing magicks used and the potions they forced down his throat, Fenris remained completely unconscious.
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Anders groaned at the light that shone through the doorway of his cell. Since he was brought in here, occasionally the guards would 'visit' him, offering gifts of punches and kicks between shifts or whenever they got bored. Thinking this was such a visit, Anders curled himself up in a tight ball and awaited his punishment.
"Get up mage. It seems fate has decreed that you are to be used again."
Anders tried to open his eyes to look at the woman who spoke to him, yet his eyes refused to work properly. All he could tell was that the woman standing over him reeked of powerful magic, both dark and dangerous.
"W-who... are you?" Anders whispered hoarsely. Days without water and a bruised and possibly even broken jaw prevented him from speaking much more than that.
"Why, your salvation dear boy. What else would you call this?" The woman cackled before bending down and removing the painful collar. "Now then, take this," a bottle was tossed loosely near where Anders' hands laid. "And get up. The guards may be fools, but even my charms have their limits if they see you limping past them."
Bewildered, Anders grabbed the bottle and saw it was restoration potion. Popping the cork, he greedily drank down the bitter concoction, feeling the effects almost immediately. Still wounded and low on magick, Anders was nonetheless able to stand and fight if needed be, thanks to the potion that the strange woman gave him.
His eyes functioning more normally now, Anders ventured a look at his would be rescuer. She had short black hair and despite the evil look in her eyes, was rather beautiful. The fact that her unique robes left little the imagination played little into the thought of her beauty. At least, that's what Anders told himself.
"Watch where your eyes gaze, boy. I need your legs able to carry you out of this bloody mess you gotten yourself into, not your eyes." The woman replied curtly before slamming a wooden staff against Ander's chest. Looking at it, it was of rather good quality, holding a powerful fire enchantment that also seemed to increase his magick and defence at the same time.
"Before we go anywhere, I need to know what is going on. Who are you really?"
"She said you would be trouble." The woman grumbled as she crossed her arms and looked on Anders with a glare of annoyance and anger. "'Tis no matter what my name is, boy. Know that for the moment, we are allies and that my intentions lie with aiding your lovely friend, Hawke."
Shocked, Anders reached out and grabbed the woman's arm. "Hawke? How do you know her? Is she alright?"
Wrenching her arm free, the woman glared murderously at Anders. "Do not think that our temporary alliance grants you the ability to manhandle me, worm. Do that again and you will find out the true meaning behind the phrase 'a woman scorned'."
Anders immediately backed off at the icy fire in the woman's eyes. Whoever this woman was and what her connection to Hawke was, if Hawke was in danger, he had to help her. Even if it meant aligning himself with a strange dark mage and fighting through an army of templars to do so.
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****Somewhere in the Fade****
Groaning, Fenris slowly came awake and looked around at his new surroundings. Immediately, the location came to his mind, causing a deadly smile to etch across his face.
Finally! Now nothing shall stop me!
Laughing, Fenris stood and marched off in search of the woman who freedom meant everything to him.
Translations:
Venhedis: A Swear Word
Myva Vynra: The Lyrium in Fenris' Veins, meaning "Lifeforce"
Ego bibiturus sum victoriae meae a vestris adhuc corde micante: I am going to drink my victory from your still beating heart
Servus: Slave
Abatu: A word used in reference to Sandal