Nightmares Should Really Stay in the Fade
Chapter 12
A Strike for Liberty
A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed and await the coming chapters! The end is nearly here… Finally, battle! Glorious battle! To all you Danarius haters out there, (who doesn't hate that sick son of a bitch?) This is his last appearance! (Unless….oh never mind…)
Back at the mansion, the two magically restrained captives were dripping wet, tired, and bedraggled.
Danarius released them upon entrance to the mansion and they made their way to the slave's quarters quickly. Annabelle worried they might catch cold, as the slave's quarters were rather freezing at night. She stepped out, a blanket wrapped around her and he changed into some dry clothes. Then they switched and Belle now wore a simple dress, and Fenris a drab tunic and trousers.
Fenris, weakened by the days he'd spent in the dungeons and the dampness down to his bones, went straight to his cot. Belle took the blanket she had and wrapped it round him, shivering the whole time.
"Have we had a discussion similar to this before?" Fenris asked. "We'll warm up faster together."
Annabelle nodded. Anytime she could stay close at his side was a comfort to her, especially now. She snuggled up next to him under the blankets and hugged him close so they could both warm up.
It wasn't long before Varania came in with some warm stew, which she placed on the wooden table next to their cot.
She shook her head sadly when she saw them, their drowsy eyes peering up at her from under the covers. "Poor things." She said. "The master told me to see to it you don't fall ill, but he sure made it hard, didn't he? Get some rest, but first, have some stew. It will warm you up."
Fenris and Hawke sat up, blankets still covering most of them, and Varania handed them each a bowl of watery stew and a wooden spoon.
"Thank you Varania." Belle said, smiling shamefully that she was in a weak position.
"You are welcome, friend." Varania nodded. Annabelle gratefully ate the stew, savoring every bite. Though it was pretty plain, it was something, and her empty belly was thankful.
Fenris, on the other hand, began slurping his stew sloppily, making it very clear slaves had more important things to worry about learning than table manners. Belle chuckled half-heartedly.
He glared at her and attempted to use the spoon more gracefully, without much success.
When the stew was finished, Hawke and Fenris laid back down for some much needed sleep, now much warmer.
Meanwhile, outside the mansion stood Leliana and Jowan.
"So, let me get this straight, we're just going to break in to this highly powerful magister's heavily guarded fortress and free his slaves?" Jowan asked.
"Indeed. It won't be easy, but we have stealth, element of surprise, and a little bit of magic. And I have a plan…well, half a plan. If he catches us, we fight." Leliana said.
"And if we lose," he began nervously.
"We won't lose. Not while I breathe."
"Help! Somebody help me!" shrieked a horrified voice, awaking Annabelle and Fenris with a start.
"Orana!" Belle jumped out of the cot just in time to catch the young elf before she fell on top of them, as she was breathing heavily as if she'd run from Fereldan to Orlais and back.
Orana seemed hysterical, and Annabelle gently steadied her, before the girl burst into tears.
"What is it, dear? You scared me half to death!" Belle exclaimed, shock still evident in her eyes.
"They took Papa!" the tiny elf blurted out.
"Who took him?" Annabelle asked calmly as she guided the delicate girl to a stool to catch her breath.
"Your master and my mistress…they cut Papa, bled him!"
"Blood magic." Fenris snarled, disgustedly.
Belle nodded, fear for the kindly bodyguard's life sinking in.
"They said their authority was being challenged, that somebody's coming to kill them and they need life energy. I don't understand! The mistress loved Papa's soup, and he always served as a loyal guard! He never did anything wrong! Please, you have to do something!" the girl begged.
Annabelle took the young woman into her arms and hugged her.
"Everything was fine until today." Orana sobbed.
Fenris, now standing near Belle and Orana, shook his head sadly. "It wasn't. You just don't know any better."
"But I do." Said Annabelle boldly, Varania walked in just as she said this, and moved to comfort Orana. "Orana, stay here. You too Varania, look after her. Fenris, do you know where that son of a bitch keeps our weapons?"
Fenris nodded. "The armory. I'll come with you. You cannot fail."
"No, Leto! You are much too weak!" she grabbed his arm and he looked at her, eyes softening. She hugged him. "Please don't do this."
"I'll be alright, sister." He said, hugging her back. "We'll be back soon….hopefully." he muttered the last part.
"I love you, brother."
He looked her in the eye sternly. "Do not treat this as a farewell, Varania. I am skilled with a blade."
"They say someone's coming to kill them, they just don't know who." Belle smirked, her old, spirited voice returning for the first time since their arrival.
Stealthily they made their way to the armory and Annabelle looked for an object to pick the lock with.
"Sod it Fenris! Where's a hairpin when you need one?" she whispered angrily. "If we break down the door we might blow our cover. But we have to try. If we get our weapons, we'll at least have a fighting chance!"
He shrugged. "We can try." He said. Then Fenris backed up several steps and sprinted forward, body-slamming the door with all his might. Followed by a few swift kicks from Hawke, the door finally gave way. Fenris quickly grabbed his trusty greatsword, and Belle got her dual swords, as well as a bow and a quiver of fine arrows. Then they made haste towards the laboratory, where Fenris said Danarius did experiments, as well as likely being the very place Fenris received his markings.
He braced himself for a flood of memories and Annabelle kicked open the door. Strapped down to the table was the poor old elf, Darius, blood covering his nearly naked body. He cried out when they entered the room and blew their cover. "Shit." Annabelle hissed as she dodged a fire bolt from Hadriana's staff. As she dodged there was a loud, pained cry and a guard who had snuck up on them fell to the ground in the inferno. Without so much as a relieved glance at the now very much dead soldier, Belle charged forward, dual swords ready.
Danarius raised his staff and cast a spell, and seconds later there was a rumbling of the ground that knocked Annabelle off her feet for a moment, and a rage demon pulled itself out of Maker-knows-where. It advanced towards the warrior and the recovering rogue, and Annabelle charged at the demon, swords piercing its chest, and killing it in three striking blows. Danarius raised an eyebrow as the two faced him.
"Impressive, Goldie."
Belle looked down at her blistered hand, covered in blood. She smeared one finger across her nose with the blood leaving a war paint-like mark, and said, "My name is HAWKE!"
She then proceeded furiously to slash through two guards who were trying to defend their master. Fenris joined her, watching her back as they dodged spells. Danarius summoned about twelve walking corpses, half of which Fenris took out with one cyclone-like maneuver.
Belle took on the rest with her bow, taking one arrow and igniting it over the burning body of the dead guard by the door, and firing at the group of corpses Fenris was taking on. Once they all were dead, Annabelle turned to Danarius, and with a vicious tone in her voice that even Fenris didn't even recognize, she snarled, "Why don't you face us yourself, cowards. After all, we're only slaves to you. A clue, no. "
She smirked at the intrigued look on Hadriana's face, knowing they'd finally accept the challenge.
"Have at you!" Hawke cried. This encouraged Fenris and he dove for Danarius. Danarius was quick to dodge his attack and cast a grease-spell on the floor. Fenris slipped, and as he started to get up, Danarius placed a booted foot on the warrior's back.
Hawke saw this, and she threw her dagger at Danarius as hard as she could. She hit him in the arm, and he screamed furiously, forgetting about Fenris and charged angrily towards Belle. Fenris sprang up quickly and retrieved his sword, but Hadriana was faster. She tripped Fenris, and he fell again, and she planted her dagger in his back. Annabelle panicked. "Fenris, NO!" She shrieked.
She knocked Danarius to the ground with the hilt of her larger dagger, and charged Hadriana. The mage was frightened by Belle's powerful display of swordsmanship and stepped away from Fenris. Belle pinned the mage against the wall, dagger ready to kill.
"Please, please don't hurt me…" Annabelle laughed in Hadriana's face, before slitting her throat.
Fenris was standing now, and pain was evident in his face, but he was alive.
Danarius began to stir and Fenris strode angrily to where he lay on the floor. Markings glowing, he waited. He wanted to see the horrid little man suffer, therefore he waited until he was fully awake.
Fenris smirked as Danarius opened his eyes, markings still glowing. Belle stood behind them now.
"Fenris…what are you doing…Fenris?" The old man panicked, as the elf pulled him up by the collar on his robes as if he weighed nothing. "Fenris! Put me DOWN! I command you, slave!"
Over the magister's protests, Fenris stated the one thing he longed to say for so many years.
"You," he began. "Are no longer my master!"
And with that Fenris ripped out his former master's heart with his bare hand, ending what had been started so many years ago.
Danarius's lifeless body fell to the ground and Fenris turned away, dazed. He stumbled, and Belle steadied him. They embraced briefly and Annabelle could hardly control her relief.
"Fen, Fen, hang in there, we did it! Now we can be free!" He smiled weakly, and she helped him take off his shirt. It was only a small flesh wound and Belle tore a long piece of the hem of her dress, wrapping it around Fenris as a makeshift bandage. He winced when she touched the wound, but did not cry out in front of her.
When she was convinced he was not bleeding as badly she relaxed a little.
"It was a small price to pay for freedom." He said, sighing calmly. "Go to Darius. He may still be alive."
She nodded and reluctantly left Fenris kneeling on the floor, and walked to the table where the older elf was still strapped to the table, blindfolded and gagged. There was a great deal of blood coming from a wound on his shoulder. She gently removed the blindfold and gag.
"Darius." She said softly. "You still with us?"
There was a pause, and the abused elf, turned his head weakly to look at her. "I am, Da'len. Fetch Varania."
"Varania?" Fenris asked, standing up slowly at the mention of his sister's name.
"There is something you don't know about your sister, Fenris."
Fenris approached the table and assisted Hawke in unbinding the elf's limbs. Once free, the man relaxed, and Fenris nodded for him to continue. "She's a mage, Fenris. Danar-the master only found out a few weeks before he came looking for you."
Fenris's green eyes widened." A mage?" he asked. "Why would she not have told me?"
"I wouldn't know. But she didn't even know it herself until she skinned her knee, willed it to heal, and it healed instantly when she touched it." Darius stated.
"But magic is a curse as much as it is a blessing, and I am not eager to trust those with such power. Surely you understand." He motioned towards Danarius's body on the ground.
"Of course…" There was a knocking on the door. Belle jumped, and the door opened. It was Orana. "Makers brea-" she stopped mid-sentence, remembering her faith. "Creator's Mercy! The master! Is he dead?" she shrieked as she saw her father's frail and broken body, running to his side and pushing Fenris aside.
"Papa! Emma ir abelas! They should have never-"
"Hush, Da'len. Don't fret." He looked up at Fenris and Annabelle hopefully. "We are in good hands now, I think."
"Papa, you're wounded! Does Fenris know about his sister?"
Fenris sighed. "Yes. I shall fetch her at once."
"Fenris, no. I'll go, stay here."
Belle pleaded, clinging to Fenris's arm.
He looked her in the eye. "Hawke…Annabelle, I'll be fine." Then he strode off into the corridors.
Darius took a deep and labored breath. Annabelle looked on sadly as his daughter embraced him, and she remembered her own father, caring and strong.
Back outside the mansion, Jowan and Leliana had decided to break in. They fought their way through the first floor without much resistance, then the second floor. It was on the third floor that Leliana spotted Fenris and another elf, a woman, running the other dierection.
"Fenris!" Leliana called after them. The snowy haired elf whirled around, ready to fight, but there was no need.
"You missed your chance at a rescue. We beat you to it. Danarius and Hadriana are dead. But now an innocent man is on the brink of death. Follow me, and watch your back. There's no telling how many guards are still alive." Fenris said.
"We took out about a dozen on our way here" Leliana began. "Oh, you're bleeding!"
Fenris struggled to look at the wound on his back. "I'll be fine."
Varania spoke up. "I can heal that, it looks pretty minor."
She did not wait for his permission. When she touched the wound his markings began too glow, but he caught himself, and they went out. Her hand began to glow a misty whiteish color and the mist spread to the wound and it closed under the bandage. "Let's keep moving Leto-Fenris. Sorry, brother."
He nodded, and they ran back to where Darius lay wounded.
Varania rushed in, followed by Fenris, who met Annabelle by the table and embraced her gently.
Varania looked over Darius's wound and shook her head. "Danarius's magic was keeping him alive." She said, turning to Orana. "I'm so sorry, Da'len, but there is little I can do."
Darius took a deep breath and said, "Orana, dear, you must promise me you'll be brave and face freedom alone. I shall miss you."
"Papa, no! There must be some way!" Orana cried.
"This young woman is unable to undo the damage that has been done already."
"Orana, I am so sorry." Fenris began.
"You don't need to be." She said, clutching her dying father's hand still. "You have freed us all."
" I can go peacefully now that I know my beloved daughter is in good hands." Darius said, short of breath.
"Papa!" Orana cried.
"At least I got a chance to say goodbye. Thank the Creators. I'm not a slave anymore." Then he took his last breath and said, "I am free."
And there, surrounded by friends and the gathered slaves who had heard the commotion Darius passed from this world to the next.
Once he was gone, Orana burst into tears and slowly let go of his limp hand. Leliana stepped forward.
"Allow me to share with you an old Dalish song. When my mother died, this wise elven woman comforted me and told me that we should not fear death, or hate it. And she sang this song to me, and I have never forgotten that day." And when Orana nodded, Leliana began to sing in a mournful tone.
"Hahren na, melana sahlin,
Emma ir abelas,
Souver'inan isala hamin,
Vhenan him dor'felas
In Uthenera na revas"
She hummed a pretty melody then continued.
"Vir sulahn'nehn,
Vir dirthera,
Vir sumahl la numin,
Vir lath sa'vunin."
"Vir sulahn'nehn,
Vir dirthera,
Vir sumahl la numin
Vir lath sa'vunin."
Annabelle covered Darius's mutilated body with a sheet one of the slaves had given her.
"Ashes we were, and ashes we become, may the Maker, or the Creators offer this man a place at their side, whichever he chooses." Leliana said solemnly. "He will be loved, no matter who he worshpped."
"Ma serannas, messere. " Orana turned to Fenris.
"What do we all do now?" She moved her arms to indicate the number of slaves in the room who had never tasted freedom.
TBC
A/N: Ok, that was a REALLY long chapter for me. 8 pages. *^&^&%^#$! Can you believe I typed than all in one sitting? How'd you like it? PLEASE REVIEW! I won' post the next chapter until I get at least three reviews from people I don't know in real life, as the next chapter will likely be the last.
