Chapter 11


54 Days – Varric


"Come on, Blondie – tell us what's going on!" Varric's excited voice echoed throughout the tunnel, but Anders ignored him. "You know that if you don't tell me your version I'll just make it up as I go. Our story is just dying for some tragic romance!"

Varric hadn't forgotten his brother's betrayal – not in the slightest – but it wouldn't do to brood over that ass until they got themselves back above ground. No, now was not the time, but as soon as they got to Kirkwall again, he'd have to bring Bianca over for a visit.

"Varric's right, sweetheart," Isabela said, mischief resonant in her tone. "It'll be better if you just tell us what's going on between you and Bethany now. If not, I might even have to contribute to Varric's story a bit! Hmm, now let's see… How about this, Varric? 'From across the chasm, Bethany's lips parted in a soundless gasp as the full impact of Anders' lustful spell took effect on her trembling body.'"

The look on the mage's face was priceless! They'd all seen him spouting fireballs from his hands, and Varric swore that a few of his incendiaries were about ready to spew forth at Rivaini's comment. Varric roared with laughter and reached with exaggerated slowness for his worn, leather-bound journal.

"Say, Rivaini – that's good! Want to repeat it back to me so I can take notes?" Varric's eyes gleamed as he and the pirate dissolved into laughter together.

"So help me, dwarf, if you make up any lies about her, I'll send that little booklet of yours up in smoke." Anders' voice was cold, and his eyes continued to scan the tunnels they traveled.

Despite the apostate's no-nonsense tone, Varric couldn't resist one more jest. "So, when you say no lies about her, does that mean that you are still fair game?"

The mage whirled around, eyes blazing. "Enough! We've better things to do than wander these Maker-forsaken pits joking around with one another. Bethany and Fenris are out there somewhere, and we need to find them – and soon – if any of us want to make it out of here alive."

Varric was astonished at how driven Anders had become since they'd discovered the blasted-away stairwells and seen Bethany and Broody from across the thaig. The mage hadn't wanted to stop to sleep, eat, or drink – if he kept going at this rate, the three of them would need to be rescued.

The more he watched the mage, the more Varric couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before – that templar-hating fool was actually falling for Sunshine!

Ha ha, this story is coming together nicely! It would be even better if Broody managed to catch our Bethany's attention, too, though…

"Calm down, sugar." Isabela's voice was wheedling as she sidled up next to Anders, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "We'll find those two – but there's no reason we can't have a bit of fun along the way, is there?" She grinned at the raised eyebrow that served as answer. "Oh, lighten up! Just think of all the fun Bethany and Fenris are having – I'm sure they're just a bundle of laughs."

Varric chuckled as he walked behind the other two, hastily scribbling in his journal while the mage's attention was diverted.

What exactly are those two getting up to? Well, if they're not here to tell me what's going on, I guess it's up to me to fill in the blanks…


54 Days – Bethany and Fenris (according to Varric)


Bethany and Fenris stumbled their way through the tunnels, ancient bones and dried deepstalker dung crumbling underfoot (hey, it's the sodding Deep Roads, isn't it?). Their forced separation from Rivaini, Blondie, and especially Varric – their natural leader in these trying times – was causing nerves to fray and tensions to run high.

"Varric will find us," Bethany said with utter conviction. "If there's anyone down here who can bring us to safety, it's him."

"Yes." The elf's sullen tone was predictable, but an undercurrent of respect ran through his words. "And as soon as we are back in Kirkwall, we can help him by finding that good-for-nothing, ugly older brother of his."

Bethany's voice turned cold at the mention of the traitorous Bartrand. "Yes. I think I have just the spell – a lovely little elemental one – to show that dwarf exactly how I feel about him. Nobody gets away with treating my friends that way – not even the Queen of Ferelden."

The pair fell silent, both deep in thought about their current predicament and how best to exact their revenge once that beautiful opportunity came. As they turned a corner, the blue lyrium veins that glowed in the stone gave the soft curves of Bethany's face an ethereal quality. The elf allowed himself a quick glance at the way her hair framed porcelain skin, his fingers twitching in unbidden desire to comb his clawed gauntlets through the raven locks. With an effort, he forced his gaze straight ahead and asked the question that had haunted him since Bartrand's betrayal, willing his voice to remain neutral.

"What is there between you and the mage?" The sparkly interlude from across the abyss hadn't gone unnoticed by Fenris.

Come to think, who hadn't noticed that? Ah, sweet drama.

Bethany glanced at Fenris from beneath thick lashes, shock flashing across her face. "That – it was nothing."

His brow furrowed, Fenris stopped walking and spun to face Bethany directly. "I was a slave most of my life, and it taught me to notice things the less-observant might miss. You cannot fool me, Bethany, it was something," he growled, the markings on his arms flaring to life.

Bethany frowned at his tone – she hadn't spent a year of her life as a smuggler to simply fold like a delicate flower now. "I'm not saying there is anything, Fenris, but even if there were, what is it to you?"

"You deserve better than the likes of him," the elf replied simply, his voice clipped. Even before they had split up to explore the tunnels, it had been as clear as the Grand Cleric's conscience to Varric and the rest of the group that the broody elf was harboring feelings for the lovely mage. Only Blondie seemed oblivious to the actions of his potential competitor. He wasn't here to see anything now, though.

Bethany arched a sculpted brow, her dark eyes still blazing. "'Better than the likes of him?' I suppose by that you mean better than a mage? In case you've forgotten, Fenris, I'm also one of those despicable harbingers of all that is evil in the world." Her tone was pure venom, but the elf didn't flinch.

"It's not just that he's an abomination – though that is part of it. I know his type. He'll use you and toss you away with your heart in pieces. I'm sure the others would agree with me on this."

Bethany laughed without humor. "And I suppose that you think that you'd be the perfect substitute for Anders?"

"Who's to say I'm not?" Fenris stalked closer, a dark and predatory gleam in his narrowed eyes.

Bethany stumbled backward, bumping into the roughly hewn wall. "Fenris, no. You and I both know that you have no interest getting caught up with someone like me." She shook her head in a desperate attempt to dissuade him. "There really isn't anything going on between Anders and me. Just… just leave it alone. We've got to keep moving – there's no point in standing around and acting as though we're caught up in one of Varric's dramatic love stories." She turned her shoulder to edge past Fenris' imposing form.

"Bethany." Her name was a whispered command on his lips, and their eyes locked once more. He leaned forward slowly, purposefully. His lips were mere breaths away from meeting Bethany's soft ones –

"What's that, Blondie?" Varric's pen hovered over the page, his hand trembling to write more. He looked up to see an irate mage, staff pointing into the darkness of the tunnel ahead of them.

"Damnit, dwarf! Put away that blasted book of yours – we're about to have company." Just as Anders shouted, Varric was able to make out a group of seven or eight darkspawn barreling down the passage towards them. Isabela cursed loudly, seizing her daggers and twirling them before slipping into the shadows, presumably to flank their attackers.

Shit! And I was just getting to the good part, too! This is exactly what our story's been dying for – a good, old-fashioned love triangle. This whole Grey Warden-tainted-psychic stuff really kicks in at all the wrong times. Well, I suppose it is high time that I showed a few darkspawn exactly why they shouldn't mess with dwarves – especially dwarves armed with ruthless ladies such as Bianca, here.

Varric tucked his book into his belt and slung his trusty crossbow off his shoulder. He hummed under his breath as he selected a bolt, and ducked as a spell from the apostate flew hot over his left shoulder. Adopting a wide stance and locking his missile in place, Varric grinned at the nearest genlock with an offhand, "Maker's breath – you really are an ugly brute, aren't you?" before punching a hole straight through its chest.


54 Days – Bethany


Bethany wasn't sure how long it had been since she and Fenris had last spoken, and the silence weighed down around her, heavy as Ferelden fog.

"You know, that… abomination… is not the only one who can keep you safe."

She had been stunned by Fenris' unexpected declaration – she knew him to be a capable fighter, and he had survived more than his fair share of horrific experiences. Why would he feel the need to actually say something like that? Unless… he couldn't actually have feelings for her – a mage – could he? The idea was ludicrous, especially considering how adamantly he had expressed his opinions about her abilities. She thought back to the rest of the conversation that had followed.

"Fenris, I appreciate your concern, and know how skilled you are, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, you know."

"The situation is more dire than you realize," he growled in frustration. "The only member of our party who can sense these thrice-damned darkspawn is separated from us by what could be miles of solid stone, and as the only two people who have any reasonable amount of skill in picking locks are with him, if we run into some sort of bolted door, we could be trapped for untold amounts of time." His eyes had blazed green with anger, and shockingly white hair had swung violently with each jerk of his head as he spoke. "Our only chance is relying on one another, and I'd venture to guess that a lone mage with precious few potions won't last long without a warrior to back her if she were to get into some sort of trouble. Don't wander off, and don't allow any thoughts of that man to cloud your judgment."

He'd been right, of course. Bethany was exceedingly aware of the fact that she wouldn't stand a chance of survival on her own in the Deep Roads. She thought back to the times she and Marian had played in the woods as children – even then her sense of direction was hopeless, and that was with the sun and landmarks to guide her. She had laughed off her ineptitudes then, completely certain that her older sister would always be there to tweak her braid, grab her hand, and lead her back to the comfort and safety of home.

Marian wasn't here any longer, and although Bethany's skill had grown considerably since those carefree days, she couldn't allow herself to forget what her father had taught her from the beginning.

"A mage is only as good as knowing – and respecting – their own limits."

It had been her father's words racing through her head that had caused Bethany to bite her tongue before saying anything further to provoke Fenris.

After that, the only words spoken had been to alert one another to take their turn at watch while the other slept fitfully, or to ask the other's opinion when the tunnel forked. Though they had only reached two such junctures, Bethany couldn't help but feel that they were hopelessly lost in an endless maze, buried miles under the surface. The nasty thought had crept up on her more than once, and each time it did, hilarity threatened to bubble forth as she thought wildly of them popping up out of the ground like two very dirty, over-large daisies somewhere in Ferelden.

Maker, I think this lack of fresh air and friendly conversation is getting to me.

She was suddenly acutely aware of how tired she was. As they had no way to telling what time it was or how long they had been traveling since they last rested, Bethany felt certain that it had been days at least. Every muscle in her body ached, and the soles of her feet had long since lost feeling. Her legs wobbled and knees shook with each step, and her skin felt like rubber as she lost all feeling to her lower extremities, stumbling as the numbness came and went. With trembling hands, she brought her water-skin to her lips to wet her parched tongue. As the cool water trickled down her throat, she sighed and reached her free hand up to wipe a stray hair out of her eyes.

She shook her head in an attempt to clear it, and the sudden movement caused her head to swim and vision to blur, and the ground abruptly lurched up to meet her. She found herself on her knees, the remaining water from the skin sloshing onto the ground and seeping into her robes. She closed her eyes and thought she heard Fenris say something – perhaps in Arcanum? – but her ears were buzzing and the sounds that filtered through were distorted. She opened her eyes with effort, and the emerald depths of his own swam into focus.

"Come on," he said gruffly, pulling her with surprising gentleness to her feet, "let's get you someplace a bit more comfortable than this pile of gravel you're kneeling in."

At his words, she became intensely aware of the sharp pain in her knees, and she stumbled beside Fenris, whose strong arm shot out to steady her. Surprisingly gentle hands lowered her to the ground and propped her against a relatively smooth expanse of the wall. She gingerly lifted her robes to see small cuts marring her legs where she had fallen hard.

Fenris shook his head and mumbled, "I apologize. Sometimes I forget how much more stamina I have compared to others – it is another effect of the markings I bear."

Bethany nodded, feeling better already now that she was sitting.

Perhaps we really have been walking for days, if what Fenris implies is true.

"Rest for a moment. Once you have recovered, we should move further, as this is not a secure location if we were to be ambushed." As he spoke, Fenris' eyes darted up and down the hall, searching for anything that might be lurking. "I'll be gone only a moment – I'll look ahead to see if there is any reasonable place to make camp."

As the elf scouted, Bethany rummaged in her pack for a piece of dried venison, her stomach roiling in protest as the gamey scent reached her nostrils. She gingerly ate small bites of the chewy food, knowing that she needed the nourishment. Shifting to find a more comfortable position, she flinched as she felt the sting of her legs, and winched as she realized the cloth of her robe had stuck to a particularly nasty gash. She gingerly peeled her garment away, and pulled into the cool, clean flow of mana within her – soothing relief was felt immediately as her flesh knit itself back together, and she felt her strength begin to return as she sipped at water.

Bethany barely heard the elf's quiet footfalls as he returned, and kept her head against the chill stone at her back. She looked up as he spoke. "There is an area not far ahead that should be sufficiently defensible. If you feel up to going a bit further, we can stop to recover there for a time."

Bethany nodded and rose with a grimace to follow Fenris. After a short time they entered a crevice in the wall that led into a miniature cavern.

"Do you know any spells that could disguise the entrance or muffle sounds?" Fenris asked quietly as he set his pack down.

Bethany glanced at him before nodding slowly, surprised that he would condone the use of magic. Though she was tired from healing herself, Bethany rose and faced the opening. With an outstretched hand, Bethany murmured and a glimmer of blue light flashed and swirled around the entrance before dissipating. Her strength nearly gone, Bethany stumbled back to her pack and shook out her bedroll with trembling hands. She arranged herself into a comfortable position, and was nearly asleep when the elf's deep voice spoke once more.

"I am… sorry."

Though her eyelids must have weighed ten pounds each, she forced them back open as she turned to look at the elf. "For what, Fenris?"

He was perched on his bedroll with his knees pulled up to his chest, and his shoulders were held high with tension. "I should have recognized your fatigue earlier. Mistakes such as this on my part – and yours, for not saying something – could be devastating if we encounter darkspawn in such a run-down state."

"'s ok," Bethany replied. The twinkling lights that adorned the top of the small cave were soothing, and she was finding it impossible to resist the urge to sleep. She thought that he might be saying something, or that he had perhaps shifted into a more comfortable position, but could not tell for certain through her haze of exhaustion. Her eyes dropped shut, and the touch of a calloused hand brushing her hair from her cheek could only have been a dream.


A/N: Hello dear readers! I'm sorry about the slight delay getting this chapter posted – real life has been crazy these past couple of weeks! Thank you so much to all of you who have been reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting – you're all wonderful Additionally, a big welcome and thank you to the new followers since the last chapter!

I have had lots of questions about who the ultimate romance for Bethany is going to be, and I'm actually glad that I've got people guessing – presumably, that means you're actually interested enough to hang on and find out! I have put up a new poll on my profile which gives you the option to vote for your favorite romance option for Bethany… this will not affect my decision (because to be perfectly honest, it's really Bethany's decision, not mine… I'm just along for this crazy ride!), but I like to see what people think.

Last but not least, a huge thank you goes to Miss Eve Hawke for taking the time to help me polish up this chapter. Also (*cues drum roll*), today, March 19th, marks her one year anniversary to this site! Woohoo - congrats and cake to Eve! I'd definitely suggest going and taking a look at her incredible stories!

Thanks again to all of you for reading! -Kyla