Fenris was not sure what they would find in Varanias unconscious and felt his anxiousness rise. On the one hand this would maybe be his only chance to know for sure what her deepest wishes were, but on the other hand it was not right to be allowed and able to look so deeply into someone else.

The fact that Aidan, Ayumi and Cassy had seen what he had been dreaming about… He had to think about what it meant to him once this was over.

Hi gaze was wandering to Ayumi and Aidan, the eyes of the mage still closed while the young woman was talking to him. It had not directly worked to find Varania, so Ayumi had started to calmly instruct him. Fenris was not sure what to make out of the fact that – despite not being a mage – the young woman seemed to know so much about spirits and this whole place.

"What have you dreamed off?" he heard himself asking Cassy, partly to distract himself, but also because he simply wanted to know.

She shot him a glance and slowly raised her eyebrow. "What do I get when I tell you?"

He was frowning slightly and in a mixture of irritation and amusement. "You have seen my dream, so I think it is only fair if I know more about yours!"

Chuckling, she stroked her hair back and then answered more seriously: "I was with my parents again. They were alive and happy. Well, leaving wasn't so easy. " He heard that she tried to sound untouched, but knew it better. There were only a few things that really seemed to matter to this woman, but her family was definitely one of it.

He just wanted to say something – comforting words he was not sure how to formulate best – when their surrounding changed again… and turned into a Tevinter mansion.

He froze.

Cassy looked at him warily, but he could not return her gaze, but simply followed the floor in which they were standing till the room at its end. The door was open and led them into a wide parlor with ivory-colored pillars, carpets and valuable vases. Drawings were hanging on the walls, and Fenris was quite sure that Varania had done them.

His sister was sitting on a divan next to the open door leading on the balcony, instructing Micah who had just cast a little flame. His face was concentrated while he was looking at it and tried to let it slowly become bigger.

"Very good", Varania was praising him, and when the flame disappeared, he was widely smiling at her.

"Can I go and play now?"

"Of course", she answered and added: "Just do as I told you: Never hurt anyone with your magic, unless you have to defend your life!"

"Sure!" Cheerfully, he was springing to his feet, nearly crashing into an all too familiar looking man who just entered the room: Namely Fenris.

"Sorry, uncle!" was it bubbling out of the young boy, but he also seemed as if he was expecting to be reprimanded.

The Dream-Fenris – who was looking exactly like him, but wearing an armor in Tevinter style, his broad sword on his back – was looking as if he tried to hide a smile and be strict instead.

"Just be a bit more careful and look where you are going, Micah", he eventually said, and the young boy was exhaling relieved. Than he nodded, winked a last time at Varania and ran off.

His other self was sighing. "He needs…"

"… to be more concentrated, I know", Varania ended his sentence and laughed. "We are working on it, Leto."

Nodding, he became serious. "Your guest is here."

She suddenly looked tense and stood up, checking her appearance in one of the mirrors hanging on the wall and stroking over her fine robes. "What is your impression of him?"

The face of the Dream-Fenris darkened. "I do not trust this man", he said; "and I think he is showing-off far too much. You cannot trust a word he says, Varania!"

Turning to him, she let a servant give her some water for her hands – and thanked the young man with a smile – than looked at her brother again.

"You know that my position is still not secured. And although things changed in Tevinter and you are protecting me, it would make sense to ally with a powerful mage…"

"That does not sound AT ALL as if anything has changed", the Dream-Fenris growled, and the real Fenris had to approve his other self.

Varania and her brother weren't able to end the conversation because in the same moment heavy footsteps could be heard and a tall frame appeared in the entrance of the room.

The Dream-Fenris tensed because the faint blush on his sister's cheeks showed him clearly that this possible alliance was not only a political decision.

The real Fenris tensed because the mage, who was entering the room, was Derrik.

Cassys hand was on Fenris arm as soon as she understood who was entering the room. Unfortunately she was not able to hold the other Fenris back – who, by the way, was looking gorgeous in the armor he was wearing – so he stepped between his sister and the mage.

Slowly Derriks eyebrow was rising. "I thought that I am a guest, Magistra."

"That you are", she confirmed and passed Dream-Fenris, giving him a short, annoyed look and then offering Derrik her hand.

Cassy had to admit that she looked good in her deep green robes and with her red hair pinned up. Dream-Derrik, who was wearing a blue-greyish robe that suited his eyes, seemed to think the same when he took her hand and placed a kiss on it which lasted much longer than would have been necessary.

Both Fenris' were growling low in their throats.

Slowly, the mage let go off Varanias hand and looked into her eyes. "I am glad that you decided to invite me, Magistra", he stated, sounding nearly gentle. "You are a fascinating woman."

Blushing slightly, Varania turned and gesticulated into the direction of the divan. "Please, there is no need to say flattering words, Magister. This is a purely logical decision."

Passing the Dream-Fenris and completely ignoring his dark scowl, Derrik followed Varnia… and shot the four observers a glance.

Smiled at them.

And then winked.

"What the…", Cassy hissed when he was taking place next to Varania on the divan. "Has he just…?"

"Yes", Aidan approved silently. "Let us wait and see if he can reach her."

"How is that even possible?" Fenris growled quietly.

"He is strong", Ayumi answered. "Maybe he has been possible to free himself, like I did. But he somehow managed to take over a role in Varanias dream…"

"Tell me, Varania", Derrik just said; "have you in the meantime improved your Force magic?"

Varania, who had just sipped on her whine glass, froze and stared at him. "Excuse me?"

Derrik smiled widely at her. "I heard from a certain person that you had your problems with it…"

Frowning, she put the glass on the table next to her and answered: "I am perfectly able to cast Force magic. Who did plant this rumor?"

Derrik shrugged and also took a whine glas one of the servants offered him. "I don't remember…"

"You don't remember?" Cassy had to hide a grin because Varania sounded more than a bit scandalized… and absolutely snobby.

"No need to worry, my dear", Derrik answered patronizing; "I can teach you. Besides, when you are at my side, you don't need to be a perfect BATTLE mage. Your tasks will be in… other areas…"

There was no way to NOT hear the salaciousness in his words, and Varania was gasping indignantly for air.

"What the hell is he doing", Fenris growled next to Cassy. "Does he think insulting her will achieve anything…?"

Color had flown in Varanias pale cheeks, but instead of her the Dream-Fenris said warningly: "Do you think it is wise to insult a magistra in her own house…?"

Ignoring the elf, Derrik continued looking Varania in the eyes and whispered so quietly that only she and the four observers could hear it: "I really start to develop a weakness for your hair, Sweetie. And in this way, so damn snobby and with your ivory skin, I additionally develop some other ideas what I'd like to do with you on this divan…"

Fenris muscles tensed under Cassys hand, and she had to grip him harder to hold him back from doing anything. Damn, this was so much Derrik that Varania would be completely lost if she did not recognize him now…

"Derrik!" the Elven woman hissed. "You are such an arrogant fool…"

Her eyes widened in shock and disbelieve once the words had left her mouth… in the same moment in which the Dream-Fenris transformed with a cry of fury into a rage demon…

Derrik was quite satisfied with himself as he saw the outrage on Varanias face turn into REAL rage.

"Derrik!" she hissed with sparkling eyes and a blush on her face that made her more attractive than he was willing to admit; "you are such an arrogant fool…"

He was just about to give her a smart-ass comment – in fact it was his way of avoiding that he would simply kiss her instead – when the Dream-Fenris behind her turned into a Rage demon.

His instincts immediately kicked in, and Varania was pulled off the divan and pushed behind him within one second, an arcane field building around the two of them.

With a roar the Rage demon hit them and let them stumble back while the real Fenris was crashing in his side, his immense sword in his hands.

Adrenaline was crashing through Derriks body and fueling his magic. He had always been a checkless fighter – at least it was the way his teachers in the circle had called it – but since Ostagar he did not try to hold back anymore. Demons were nothing he feared. He had refused their temptations more than one time, so no need to worry about that.

Ice magic hit the creature, surrounded it and slowed it down, giving the Elven warrior and his girlfriend with the nice ass the chance to charge. Ayumi did her "I am an ex Qun fighter smart-ass girl" thing and defeated some smaller demons who had suddenly appeared as well, supported by Uncle Aidan who would definitely make sure that nothing happened to her.

Of course his friend only did it because she was his ward. The fact that she had turned within the last years into a gorgeous young woman had nothing to do with it…

Inwardly laughing, Derrik rammed the rage demon a stone fist into its body. There was no time for this hesitation, and once they were back , he would tell his friend. Contrary to himself, Aidan had still a chance of becoming happy and could give a woman everything she wanted: Love, honesty, and especially sanity.

"Derrik!"

Varanias voice sounded sharp in his ears, but was coming too late: A second Rage demon was materializing directly next to him and hitting him so hard that he was flying through the air and crashing to the ground, hearing something break inside of his body which definitely should not break.

Sensing that he was still the more dangerous enemy, the creature followed and towered over him while he was using the pain crashing through his body to fuel his anger and power.

"Eat this, ugly face", he hissed and catapulted the demon another stone fist in its face.

The Rage demon stumbled back, roared and lunged for him… At least it tried, but was suddenly sliding over the ground.

Ayumi awaited it while Aidan was creating a crushing prison around the creature, giving the young woman the chance to hurt it badly. The rest was done by Fenris: He simply was splitting the demon in two, and it burst in an explosion of fire and light.

Silence was following, and now that there was no enemy left, the pain shot so intensely through Derrik that he had to gasp for air.

The only problem was that it wasn't really working.

Shit. A rib most be in a place where it should not be, and that was bad… really bad. Healing casual wounds was one thing Aidan could do, but anything else was Esther's business. And Varania was just beginning to find out where her magical strengths were located.

The face of the Elven woman appeared in his sight field, and she looked not angry anymore, but concerned. "Derrik?"

"That was… not bad, Sweetie", he managed to say and coughed, feeling his strength fade.

"Aidan?" Shit, he must really look bad when she sounded like this. She even had started to stroke his hair…

His friend's face appeared as well, and then he felt healing magic but immediately knew that it would not be enough.

"Shit!" Aidan hissed.

"No cursing, Uncle Aidan", Derrik whispered and blinked to fight the darkness who was rapidly approaching.

"Can't you do something?" Again it was Varania who was speaking, sounding desperate.

He took her fingers and squeezed them, feeling awkwardly weak. "It's alright, Sweetie. At least I taught you how to REALLY do a Force blow…. I will die as a happy man…"

"Shut up", she cursed under tears. "Just…. shut up…"

He had never been the kind of man who liked orders, but this time he was willing to oblige… and went silent…

When Derrik was closing his eyes – either because he was unconscious or worse – Varania sobbed and Aidan cursed, activating another healing spell.

"Why isn't it working?" Ayumi asked, her voice tense and her face pale while crouching next to the mages.

"There is blood on his lips", Fenris heard himself answer. "Probably a rib has punctured his lung." He had seen injuries like this before, when he had been Danarius bodyguard.

"I am afraid that is exactly what has happened", Aidan murmured and checked Derriks pulse, looking even more worried when he pulled his hand back.

Fenris eyes went to his sister who was stroking Derriks hair and looking completely different to the controlled magistra he had been able to watch only minutes before. Somehow, seeing her like this calmed him down and let him start to think about the possibilities they had.

His eyes went back to Derriks face which was becoming paler with every second.

"Fenris, isn't there anything we can do?" Cassy asked quietly, standing close enough that their shoulders touched.

He shot her a short glance. She had been a good fighting partner, quick and concentrated and ruthless. Now she looked as worried as the rest of them and he really wished that there was something he could do. He might not like Derrik, but he certainly did not wish the mages death…

"Can't we combine our magic?" Varania just said under tears. "Please, Aidan, we have to DO SOMETHING!"

Aidan shook his head. "Healing magic won't help when the source isn't removed, Varania." He sounded helplessly and desperately, slowly losing his usual controlled demeanor.

A thought came to Fenris mind. It would be a risk, but on the other hand they did not really have another option.

Crouching down next to his sister, he looked at Aidan and then at her. "When I was with Danarius, I saw him one time using his magic to… torture one of his slaves who was supposed to be a spy for another magister. He broke his bones with Force magic, but once he was hurt too badly, he restructured them and broke them again, sometimes using healing magic to … extend his agony…" They had all become silent, and he could clearly see their eyes lying on his face, horrified. He could also hear the unspoken words in the air: Why he hadn't done anything against it.

Not able to look at Cassy, he turned to Varania. "I have no idea how he did it, Varania, but maybe the same idea could work here to help Derrik, the other way around."

"I", she inhaled deeply and looked again at Derriks face. "I don't know how!? What if I hurt him even more badly?"

"Varania", Fenris heard himself answer, sounding calm, but also strict, the voice he had used back in Minrathous when talking to other guards or sometimes when talking to Hawke in Kirkwall; "he will die anyway. I know that you can do it. Aidan is here to support you with his magic, right?" Looking at the other mage, he saw him nod, looking calmer again.

"I would do it by myself, Varania," Aidan said, "but you know that I am no expert in offensive magic." His hands removed Derriks robe and moved over his costal arch, suddenly stopping. Then he took Varanias hands and put them on Derriks skin. "Here, do you feel it? Do you feel the difference?"

Varania nodded, hectically wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Yes, I can feel it."

"Alright", Aidan said and looked thankfully at Fenris who was still crouching next to his sister. "Try to pull the rib back. I will heal him once it isn't in his lung anymore. Alright?"

Varania did not look as she was alright at all, but did not say anything, but simply was squaring her shoulders and nodding. A strange feeling was growing deep inside of Fenris, and he knew what it was: Pride. For her.

When the two mages started to work, he was slowly raising his eyes to Cassy, fearing what he would see in them after he had revealed this ugly part of his past.

He was taken aback by what awaited him. There was no reproach in her eyes, and also no pity. Instead, he saw something he had never seen before: The look of a person who was proud of him.

Cassy could see the insecurity deep within Fenris' eyes when he was looking at her.

To say that she wasn't shocked about what she just had learned about him, would be a lie. Somehow she seemed to have whitewashed his past and what he had experienced in her imagination, even though she could see every day how much it had formed him and made him to the man he was today.

But still: All she could feel in this moment was pride for the way he just had acted. Calm. Considerate. Strong.

It was a new side to him she had not seen before, and she found it impressive… and also kind of hot.

Looking at Varania and Aidan again, she could see the Elven woman flinch when Derrik moaned in pain. Then Aidan was starting to heal him, and immediately a bit of color was flowing back into the pale cheeks of the battle mage.

Cassy was exhaling relieved, as were all the others. Well, except of Fenris. He simply stood up and made a step back.

Varania was turning to him after getting up. "Thank you."

He nodded abruptly. "You are welcome."

With a low moan Derrik was opening his eyes and blinking.

"How are you feeling?" Aidan was asking and helping him up.

"Shitty", came the honest answer. "Where is the pretty Elven lady I was able to see at last? She looks way better than you…"

Chuckling, Aidan was supporting him, while Ayumi said dryly: "Looks as if he is fine again…"

Derriks hand went to his rib cage before he was looking at Varania. "Hey, Sweetie. Want to give me a hug?"

She scowled. "No. I want to find Micah."

"Ah, and the Ice Princess is back", he murmured, but then nodded and squared his shoulders. "Alright, I am fine. Let's go and look for the boy!"

Cassy went to Fenris while Ayumi was instructing Varania what to do.

"You saved his life, Fenris. You know that, right?"

He shrugged. "It was just an idea. I was not sure if it would work."

"But it did", she said firmly and touched his hand. "Although it must have been hard for you to tell us all this."

He pressed his lips together and withdrew from her touch. "The truth is: Until I have spoken the words, I did not even think about how all of you could react." His voice sounded harsh. Suddenly he had the desire to tell her – to make CLEAR to her – that he was not the good man she seemed to see in him. "I witnessed worse things than that, Cassy! And never did I do anything against it!"

Her eyes, bright and clear, were wandering over his face. Then she quietly said: "Gut feeling, Fenris. Do you remember what I told you about it? No matter what you saw – not matter what you DID – it won't change the opinion I have about you."

"Then you are a fool", he growled.

She shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe you are the fool…"

"Cassalia…!"

She made another step towards him, standing now so close that their bodies touched and he could fee her warm breath on his face. "Yes, Fenris?"

Looking into her eyes, he only was able to sigh, which let her smirk... and then capture his lower lip between her teeth and pull slightly.

"Stop brooding. We have a young boy to recue!"