The two women marched down the corridor with haste.
"Leli', is something wrong?" the elf asked softly. Leliana blinked her eyes and cleared her throat.
"Er… no – "
Wren scoffed. She stopped in her tracks and faced her friend.
"Don't lie to me," she frowned, "What's up?"
The redhead sighed and pressed her back to the stone wall.
"The mage… I could have done something whether it helped or not, but I just stood there…" she whispered, "The Templars were here for a meeting with Alistair and when my scouts caught the three of them, those mage-hating-bastards walked past. When they saw her…"
Tears started to spill over her rosy cheek; Wren took her hand gently.
"You couldn't have anything," she murmured, "They would have done everything in their power end her life, claiming her as a malificar or bloodmage. Not even the King would be able stop to them…"
"But I could have done something!" Leliana sobbed. Wren hugged her friend like she had done for her only hours ago.
"We're pretty broken, aren't we?"
Leliana laughed sadly. She sniffed and composed herself.
"Right," she huffed, "Let's have a chat with this Crow."
They were now at the cell door; three armoured men were guarding the entrance.
"We may need to be forceful," Wren warned Leliana, "So let me deal with him."
She entered the cell first, followed by Leliana. A man was shackled to the wall; he was muscular and lean. Mahogany curtains hid his eyes from the two women.
"Who do I owe the pleasure of two beautiful women visiting me in my…" he chuckled, "Love boudoir?"
"Don't make me wretch," Leliana said, disgusted. Wren ignored her. She gave him a half smile. She strutted towards him in a way she once saw Zevran's 'friend' Isabela walk. He shook his hair out of eyes to have a better look at the elf. A sly grin stretched across his face. Wren Tabris; the Hero of Ferelden, he thought.
"Antony, is it?" Wren asked with a smirk.
"Who wants to know?" he asked huskily. She cocked her head and smiled once more. The Crow's chin lifted up by her index finger; Wren's face was now inches away.
"I do," she purred, "You see, I know why you were put in here. I know that the Crows hired the mage and her brother, with that, your boss sent you with them."
He was quiet, watching her cautiously.
"What I don't know or understand is why and who would hire the Crows and then send one of their own with two other hired assassins," she continued, now stroking the side of his stubble covered jaw with her thumb, "Can you help me, Antony?"
"What's in it for me?" Antony asked, his cheeky smile returning again. The elf pressed herself closer to him, her hand still on his face. She could feel his desire growing. She bit her bottom lip seductively.
"You're life," Wren whispered in his ear. His teeth clenched together.
"I am not like you're Zevran Arainai," he hissed back in hers, "I do not betray my brothers."
She backed away from him, her face blank.
"You will answer me," she murmured. He laughed. As he did this, Wren's knuckles collided with his jaw. The Crow was stunned and this gave her an advantage; her knee flew up between his legs. Antony cried out.
"Just because you have one group dead or chained, does not mean we will give up," he laughed, spitting out some blood and winced at the throbbing pain in his groin, "They'll both die… eventually. Especially now they're in the same country."
Wren punched his side.
"Who are you targeting?" she hissed, giving him another fist in the ribs. Leliana gasped. An insane laugh escaped the man's lips.
"Two of the most powerful beings in Thedas," he answered with wild eyes, "And…"
Antony lifted his head up slowly, gasping at the pain in his ribs. He looked straight up in Wren's eyes, a dark grin slowly stretched across his face.
"And," he repeated, his face darkening, "The ones you keep so close to that elf heart of yours."
Wren froze. She understood. They wanted her. They wanted him. Alistair it made sense; he was the king, but Hope…
"She knows everything, therefore we know everything!"
Her hands locked around the collar of his shirt, pulling his face closer to hers.
"What do you want with them?" she snarled. He laughed once more, but winced once again.
"Not me – her," the Crow answered.
"Who is she?" she questioned. Antony's eyes widened at her question.
"We do not know her name, but she is powerful and cunning, as she is beautiful." He answered. "She cannot be stopped. She's quite stubborn."
Wren pushed him away from her, and took a step back.
"Yeah? Well I guess she's found a challenger."