Nightmares Should Really Stay in the Fade
Chapter 11
The Calm Before the Storm
A/N: Thanks for reviewing, you guys! It means the world to me! Inspiration music: Mean by Taylor Swift
Before long, two riders on horseback trotted up along the path to the mansion, pulling their mounts up when they saw the two figures huddled together, chained to the hitching post. The rider on the white stud dismounted first and walked over to them. Annabelle eyed the mage distrustfully, wondering if he was there to help or to mock them. He knelt next to where she and Fenris sat, sheltering each other from the rain.
"Do you need a cloak? It's rather cruel of your master to leave you out here in such conditions." The mage had a soft, gentle voice, that brought relief to Annabelle's eyes. He moved to remove his cloak as her expression softened. She shook her head, however, water dripping from her short golden-blonde hair that was now a light brown from the rain.
"It's alright, Magister. Our master should be back soon, but you are most kind." Belle said, trying to hide the regret of refusing help.
The rider on the bay mare was now at their side as well, and she had pretty red hair that was cut short, and a gleam in her eye Annabelle could not help noticing.
"I'm no slave owning, blood-relying, mage-lord, dear." Said the mage. Fenris took a deep breath and spoke up.
"You are a mage, in Tevinter, and you have never used blood magic?" he raised an eyebrow, challenging the mage.
"He dabbled in it, long ago," said the red head in a thick Orlesian accent. "But his doomed fate was changed when my friend showed him mercy when nobody else would. Now my friend is the queen of Fereldan, and I am Leliana, a bard from Orlais, and this is Jowan, my husband."
Annabelle looked up at Leliana with wide eyes. "Sister Leliana? You're alive?" she exclaimed. "It's me, Annabelle Hawke!" Belle shuttered at saying her real name, but at the same time it felt good.
"Annabelle?" Leliana practically squealed. "Does this mean you are Kirkwall's Champion in need of help?"
Annabelle nodded. Jowan and Fenris, now quite confused, looked at the two women in shock.
"Wait, you know that Champion?" Jowan asked.
"Yes, from Lothering! The village I lived in for several months. A worried friend of yours sent out word you needed help, and we couldn't turn away when I heard you were defending a runaway slave. We exchanged letters and before long, came to the conclusion you had both been captured and taken to the land where mages rule."
Jowan noticed the suspicion in Fenris's eyes as he eyed the former blood mage. "Are you alright, ser? You're…looking at me funny." Jowan asked, trying to sound as polite as a man could when being given a death-glare.
"Do not speak to me blood mage. Annabelle may trust you, but I do not. Until I am free of this collar, it shall remain so." Fenris snarled.
"Fair enough." Jowan said, trying to hide that he was offended by Fenris calling him a blood mage. "May I ask your name, though?"
"Fenris. What do you intend to do?"
Leliana shrugged. "We can try to reason with the magister-"
"You don't know Danarius." Fenris said bluntly. "Besides, it would make things worse for us if you tried to help."
Leliana sighed. "It was my idea to help you. You cannot be punished."
"What if you bought us and freed us? I have no money here but as you know I am wealthy and highly regarded in Kirkwall. I can pay you back." Belle mused.
"We could try that. Jowan could pose as a magister, and I as his wife, which wouldn't be a lie after all." Leliana said thoughtfully.
Jowan nodded agreeably.
"That might work, but I highly doubt denarius would sell me. But for Annabelle there is a chance. If she is free…" Annabelle nudged him gently, raising her voice over the roar of the now torrential rain.
"No. It's both of us or neither."
"Annabelle is right. We will not abandon you, Fenris." Leliana promised, smiling hopefully at the elf before her.
"But what about Varania? We cannot simply leave her behind." Belle said sadly as their chances oif escape slimmed in her mind.
"Who is that?" asked Jowan.
"My sister." Said Fenris. "But I don't just want to be free. Freedom means nothing if I cannot stop Danarius from hurting others, or tracking me down again. I want to kill him and free all the men, women and children he has treated like cattle, only because he could , and only because they cannot fight back. Most of it is because they are elves, half-elves, or in my Annabelle's case, elf-lovers."
His markings shone brightly with fury. "Fenris, it's laright. Calm down." Belle said soothingly.
He relaxed, but fury was still evident in his face.
"Well, we can wait here with you until Danarius comes. He sounds terrible." Leliana said, sighing.
Fenris nodded, Annabelle clinging to him for warmth now. Jowan undid the buckle on his cloak, placing it gently over the two, repelling only a little of the merciless rain. Fenris wrapped the cloak tighter around his beloved and she hugged him close.
Belle looked up at Jowan. "Thank you my friend. Maker bless you." She tried to smile.
The mage nodded. " 'Tis the least I could do. Maker's mercy, they could have given you something warmer to wear at least."
"We are slaves." Said Fenris, an odd calmness in his voice until he said the word 'slaves.' "Our comfort is the least of their concern."
Leliana shook her head sadly. "I hope I can convince this Danarius to let you go. I'll duel him if I must."
Fenris snorted. "The day Danarius shows that much honor I will happily return to tending to his every whim."
Fenris's companions looked at him questioningly.
"It would not be a fair fight, I can promise you that." Fenris said, but just as he spoke, Danarius stepped out of his friend's mansion, Hadriana at his side.
"What wouldn't be a fair fight, my pet?" said the magister, a wicked look on his face that Belle had come to despise so much. "And why are you talking to these strangers?"
Fenris tensed up in Annabelle's arms. "It's alright, Fen." She whispered softly, rubbing his arm under the cloak to keep him calm.
"Answer me, my Pet. Who are your friends?" Danarius sneered.
"Forgive us, Magister. My name is Leliana. Jowan, my husband and I took pity on these two, as they were freezing and clinging to one another for warmth. Annabelle and I, however, go pretty far back. I don't know what they did to wrong you, but surely there is no need to treat them as if they are animals, no?"
"Listen, messere." Danarius said sternly. "You should watch whose business you poke your nose into. These two are my property, not yours."
"What if I bought them?" Leliana challenged defiantly.
Hadriana scoffed. Fenris glared at her, disgust and hatred evident in his features.
"I think not, my good lady, they are not for sale." Danarius remained calm. The calm before the storm, thought Annabelle.
"I would pay generously-"
"I SAID NO! " Danarius shouted, making them ll jump with surprise, even Hadriana.
"Can I convince you to duel me for their custody then?" Leliana asked, calmly.
"No." Danarius said. "Good day messere."
Danarius unbound Fenris and Annabelle from the hitching post, snatching up the cloak and throwing it in the mud. He took both their leashes in his hands. Hadriana handed Belle and Fenris their weapons, which they strapped to their backs.
Leliana could do nothing as the snowy-haired elf and the golden-haired Champion were led away.
TBC
