BioWare owns all, I just play in their pond.
12. Subjugo – Fenris
"I can't believe I'm seriously considering a foray into the Deep Roads with a blood mage, an abomination, and a man who, not long ago, arbitrarily decided to let a dozen mages just walk away." Fenris paced the length of the room he occupied in his former master's mansion, never pausing, never resting.
"Well, at least you're seriously considering it," Hawke reclined in one of several chairs, feet propped on the table in a deliberate counterpoint to the elf's attitude. "Besides, unless I can manage to look scary enough, Bartrand may not let me bring all my friends to play with."
"Yes, yes, make light. Considering what you are, you should have every reservation I do, and more."
"What I am? Fenris, I'm hurt. Let me ask you something: how is random, senseless violence carried out by a mage any worse than what we see done by any of the garden variety thugs we cross paths with on an alarmingly regular basis?"
"Those thugs aren't acting on the whims of a demon."
"End result's the same, though, isn't it? People are still dead."
"I… can't believe the abomination didn't throw that at me when he was griping about my talents."
"Likely because he understood trying to change your mind is pointless. As is asking why it's acceptable for him to heal you of any life-threatening injuries you pick up when clearly he just needs to be put down for his efforts. I don't believe I heard a word about magisters while that gash in your back was mending." Ooh. If looks could kill…
"Then what is your point?"
"I said the night you claimed this house that I expected no payment for helping you throw off the hunters who were after you. You owe me nothing, but you want to follow me into a hole in the ground where we'll spend at least a fortnight depending on each other for our lives. Why in Thedas would you go along with that if you think I'm suddenly going to pop a few growths and try to devour you?"
Fenris gave no answer, so Hawke pressed on. "The sooner you realize that evil is evil, the better off you'll be. It makes no difference if the motivation is human or demon. More, any mage whose acquaintance I've kept for any longer a time than it'd take to kill them would prefer death over demons. Magic never held you captive, Fenris; it just happened to be at the command of the man who did. As for those mages I 'arbitrarily' released? Would you send a freed slave back to his master?"
Fenris had stopped pacing, but still made no move to respond. Hawke took this as his signal to leave. He paused at the door to give his terms.
"Come with us or don't, Fenris. You have the luxury of choice now, something few slaves or mages ever get. But if you can't look me in the eye and tell me my life is worth every bit as much as yours, I won't have you at my back."
