I walked up the stairs to Hightown, Owen trotting at my side. I had risen especially early today to avoid my mother who was blissfully absent this morning – perhaps she had gone to the market. The freshest (I used the term relatively as nothing was ever 'fresh' in Lowtown unless you either made it or hunted it yourself) food was available in the early mornings when those too hung over wouldn't get up. I saw two of those mercenaries who had been in the Hanged Man last night – on their backs, in a gutter. They weren't dead as far as I could tell but they would sport some bruises for days to come. The rest of the trip was uneventful for even though I had left my staff at home, most people had heard of the fight.

Owen looked unhappy. He knew the way we were walking and the stare he gave me as we arrived clearly said 'are you insane?' I gave him a stern look as I raised my hand to knock on Fenris' door. Even with Anders' warning, I could not just leave Fenris be. I had to let him know that I would not be a threat as he didn't seem to believe me the last time we met. We had to be able to have some sort of cooperation if we were going to work together.

For a while it was quiet in the mansion. I wondered if I should go. It was early in the morning after all. He could still be resting. Then again he was also on the run, so the smallest noise would wake him up. Fenris could just be ignoring me as well which I wouldn't find so surprising. But then a shuffling noise from inside caught my attention. Owen started growling and I tapped a finger on his head, giving him a quiet no.

The door opened cautiously to reveal Fenris already fully armored. His shockingly white hair was still messy with sleep. It made the dark threat in his eyes much less frightening. He had a similar scowl from yesterday on his face.

"I apologize if I woke you." I said.

"You didn't." Was his curt reply. I had a hard time believing it but I said nothing.

"I…. feel like we ended badly yesterday." I started sincerely. "I did not mean to offend you."

Fenris scoffed. I watched him slightly, confused. I noticed the smell of alcohol. Had he been drinking? This early in the morning? Owen glared at Fenris, obviously angry this man disliked me. I kept a hand close to him just in case Owen should decide he'd had enough.

"Perhaps you didn't." Fenris replied. His words were cryptic and I bristled on the inside. Was he implying I offended him simply by being a mage? This man was prickly. As we had been talking, Hightown was waking up. Several servants had begun to stare at us and whisper to each other. Fenris was obviously not happy with this and shifted slightly.

"May I come in?" I offered and he paused, considering. After a moment, he nodded, his eyes concealing whatever he was feeling about letting a mage into his safe house. Fenris stepped back so that I could come in. I kept Owen on the other side of my legs, using myself as a wall between my over-protective mabari and the wary elf. I waited patiently for him to close the door and followed as he led us into a smaller room off the hall.

Obviously Fenris did not intent to clean the mansion. It was still in tatters and the dust we kicked up made Owen sneeze several times in a row. I saw Fenris tense at the noise but he stiffly kept walking. I sat where he indicated on a dusty bench. I restrained a sneeze myself. How long had it been since this Magister was here?

Fenris had turned to pick something off another bench nearby before sitting down. I immediately saw that it was wine. When he caught my eyes his expression was bitter and hard to read.

"Aggregio Parvalli. There are six bottles in the cellar." He explained, taking a drink. I held my tongue even though I strongly disapproved of drinking liquor this early in the morning. "Danarius used to have me pour it for his guests. My appearance intimidated," he put a disgusted stress on the word, "them which he enjoyed."

I could not restrain my own disgust at his former master. That was a cruel, cruel thing to do if slavery wasn't bad enough. I realized too late that Fenris had caught some sign of something on my face as his eyes reflected only hatred.

"He sounds like a terrible man." I said, hoping to ease the misunderstanding. "Slavery was reason enough for me to dislike him but this-"

I shook my head, keeping the feeling of helpless anger out of my expression. Fenris' story held a double meaning for me. It was the Tevinters and their cruelty that put my kind in a bad light everywhere. Their never-ending thirst for power was why the Chantry hunted mages down, no matter where or to whom we were born.

Fenris eyed me warily for moment as if suspecting a trick. Then he got up and looked away from me, the bottle still in his hands.

"He is indeed." And as if the thought of agreeing with another mage on the subject of a mage brought back an uncontrollable rage, he threw the bottle at the wall with enough force to shatter it. The action was sudden and it had startled me but I was proud that I remained sitting perfectly still. Owen, however, jumped with a snarl – apparently offended by the gesture. I reached down to stroke his head.

"'tis quite alright my dear Owen." I murmured softly. The mabari glared balefully at Fenris who was simply watching this exchange with a little bit of interest before Owen knew Fenris wasn't going to throw any more bottles. The dog settled again, only closer to my legs. It might have been my imagination but Fenris' expression seemed to soften a fraction.

"You've had a difficult life." I stated gently, hoping that this, perhaps, meant we could start again on a better foot. Fenris made looked at the fire as if looking at me too long made him uncomfortable.

"I'd rather not speak more of it." His tone was flat and dry. I was not offended in the least by this. It was understandable. Either he did not trust me, which was unsurprising, or it was traumatic. It could very well be both.

"I'm willing to listen when you need to speak." I offered softly. That made him turn to look at me and the corners of his lips curved into the tiniest of smiles. Even if it was rather bitter and more of a smirk, it was a small accomplishment. It was gone as quickly as it had come, replaced by a guarded look. A small bit of confusion shadowed his eyes and disappeared too before he sat on the bench nearby me. He did not seem to know what to make of my offer. It was an offer for the future perhaps when he trusted me.

It was a short while before he spoke again.

"Have you never wanted to return to Fereldan?" Fenris asked his hands clasped lightly before him as he stared into the small flames of the fireplace. I went quiet, examining my fingers twisted in my lap. It was a difficult question to answer. I had not thought of Fereldan in a long time for all my good memories had been poisoned by the nightmares in which I spent my nights reliving my failures as an older sister. I had no wish to speak of that death to a stranger.

How can you expect him to trust you when you don't trust him? A little voice whispered to me. I simply ignored it. One day maybe. I could feel Fenris looking at me now, his brow furrowed.

"My life is here now." I said simply. It was not a lie but it was not the truth either. This answer seemed to annoy him.

"And that's it?" He demanded his voice accusing. I would have bristled with anger had I not been keeping a tight grasp on my expression. "You leave it behind so easily?"

"I did not do so easily." I said, straining to keep a collected tone. How dare he suggest I could simply leave my whole childhood behind as if it did not matter? Through my pant leg, I felt Owen's muscles tighten in response to my distress and I forced myself to relax.

"And it no longer matters now?" Fenris snapped in response.

"It matters a great deal." My tone was stony and cool but at least it wasn't a snap or a yell. I had to remind myself that he didn't know anything about me. He probably assumed my life had been easy, having been raised in a place where mages had all the power. How wrong he was. Magic was worthless when it couldn't defend the people you loved. Fenris seemed to have caught some indication that my defensive tone was because I had lost something for he stopped.

"I apologize. Your life is your own." The apology seemed forced but I allowed the hardness of my expression to fade somewhat even though the stings of his accusation still throbbed sorely.

"I understand." I said more calmly. There was another pause before I asked the question that had been on my mind. "Do you intend to stay here in Kirkwall?"

My tone was simply curious and Fenris, at least, did not appear to be offended. It was ever so easy to offend such a prickly man. I had a sudden desire to speak to Anders who, although fervent in his work, never misunderstood my words and rarely took offense. I doubt he would be very happy in finding out that the day after his warning, I had gone anyway to speak to the man he found fault with.

"For now." He answered curtly. "I suppose it's as good a place as any other."

Then quietly, so quietly I almost missed it: "I would return to Seheron if I could… but there is no life for me there."

For a moment I was afraid to ask after this place but decided to try.

"Is Seheron where you are from?" I kept my tone gentle and neutral, doing my best not to rile him again.

"So I've been told."

"Told?" I repeated appearing simply curious. In truth I was shocked. He did not remember his home and yet his master would torture him by telling him of the home he did not know?

"Yes, told." His words had a dark finality to them and I dropped the subject in respect.

I wanted to ask a great deal of questions – about Fenris himself, about his master, about his escape but I did not want to push him any further. He had already shown me a great deal of respect or trust in telling me of where he was from and not immediately accusing or attacking me when I asked him. I didn't want to ruin that.

"I could see myself staying… for the right reasons." Fenris answered me then looked at me again. His tone was carefully neutral. "I should thank you again for helping me against the hunters."

I smiled a little bit at him, tilting my head gracefully. He looked slightly surprised at this.

"I was glad to help Fenris." Then, remembering my last exchange with him over money said, "You're welcome."

The tension and anger that had been in the air since the moment we met dissolved a great deal. It would not vanish in simply one meeting, I was beyond hoping for such an improvement, but I was very glad to see that at least we could behave as normal people around each other.

"I should not keep you any longer." Fenris said, standing. I waited till he was on his feet before I followed his action. It would be good to show him the respect he never had. I had a faint feeling of gratitude from him. His expression was still guarded and wary but I knew it would take more than a simple conversation to change his first view of me, one he had hated all his life: as a mage.

"Shall we go Owen?" I said to the dog that had just gotten up. The mabari gave a disdainful sniff as he strode past Fenris.

"I'm sorry. He is not usually so bad tempered." I said apologetically to Fenris as I walked to the doorway where Owen waited. I swear if mabari could roll their eyes, Owen would have.

"It is fine." Was Fenris' reply but there was contemplation in his eyes. I wondered briefly what he was thinking about before I turned and left, believing my welcome to be overstayed. I passed through the dark mansion and into Hightown feeling as if a large burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Owen seemed a great deal happier to be away from Fenris as his ears perked up and his tail wagged. It wasn't till he barked in welcome at someone that I noticed a hooded man standing in the shadows of the courtyard.

Tall, wearing a hood and welcomed by Owen – there was only one man that it could be. I strode over to Anders in the shadows, mildly annoyed that he had followed me. He looked angry and a little more than mildly annoyed but it was hard to tell what he was thinking with the hood shading his eyes.

"Why did you follow me?" I asked, carefully avoiding using his name in such a public place. He was already taking a large risk by coming to Hightown of all places, part of the reason I was a little annoyed.

"I was worried." He said. He had the decency to look a little ashamed at least. "You are one of the few friends I have Logan. I didn't want you to get hurt."

I softened and smiled.

"That's kind of you. But I can take care of myself as you can see." I spread out my arms in a gesture to show I was unhurt.

"I see that." Anders said but he looked hurt. I, now, felt ashamed. I had made him a promise and I did not keep it. "Logan I-"

"I'm apologize." I said softly, cutting him off and looking into his brown eyes. He looked surprised. "I didn't mean to worry or hurt you."

"I understand why you did it. I just don't like it." Anders gave a heavy sigh. "Actually there is something I wanted to apologize for too."

"What for?" I asked, puzzled. I didn't think there was any reason for him to apologize to me.

"You've been… distant since you helped me with…" He trailed off and I immediately knew he was referring to Justice. "I got weighty and I should apologize."

"You can tell me anything you need to." I offered for the second time that day. A small mischievous smile appeared on his face. That smile appeared only sometimes and usually he had something witty or funny to say. I wondered what sort of man he had been before Justice – he occasionally told me stories of his time in the Gray Wardens and he spoke fondly of the red-haired elf that was his leader. They got into all sorts of trouble.

"Be careful what you offer. You might get more than you bargained for." He teased me lightly. He must have been a flirtatious man in the past because it always seemed he had a charming tone to his teasing. I smiled a little bit, shaking my head.

"Oh don't tease me." I said mock scornfully. It was strange, this moment felt so nostalgic – being at home with my family. I had only ever been playful with them – it was so strange that Anders, whom I barely knew, was able to get this reaction out of me. I owned it to the fact that even though we had only known each other a short time we had a similar past and a shared obstacle.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Anders asked. The mischievous smile was still there but there was something unreadable in his eyes that made me feel… different. Wanted almost.

"Not at all." I said truthfully. I was comfortable in his presence. What did he mean uncomfortable anyway? With his flirting? He couldn't mean it anyway.

"That's good." He said, his eyes dancing. Than before I could figure out the meaning, the expression was gone, chased away by regret and… fear. He hid that just as quickly. I blinked. I must have imagined it, I told myself.

He smiled again.

"Now Varric told me to fetch you so you could talk some sense into your brother. It seems Carver has lost a great deal of money." Anders reported cheerfully.

"Oh for Andraste's sake." I sighed and quickly started walking for Lowtown. Truly my brother never stopped getting into trouble.

Author's Note:

Hmmm - what's this? A change of lines? Why yes it is.

And I always found it stupid that Fenris would totally forget Hawke was a mage when she flirted with him. Let's not forget that here shall we?

Of course, this is a Valentine's Day present so it wouldn't be totally without some implication of romance - and this isn't your only chapter!