Enchantment Chapter 26

It took quite a long time before the both of them regained their senses; they just lay wordlessly in each other's arms, trying to recuperate from what they had experienced. Fenris had given up attempting to phrase or even order his swirling thoughts and mystified feelings, so he decided to switch to another topic. When he spoke, his voice sounded a little rough. 'Tell me what happened last night, I can't recall a thing.'

Marian laughed soundlessly. 'I'm hardly amazed, considering the shape you were in when I found you.' She shivered slightly at the remembrance and suppressed a sob. Fenris let his hand softly wander over the skin of her back to soothe her and felt her relax under his gentle touch. She smiled against his chest. 'Would you believe we had the assistance of an elven army? A very disciplined and skilled one at that.'

He moved his hand from her back to cup her chin, making her to meet his eyes. A small glimmer danced in the silvery green. 'Let me guess, the slaver hunters from the Alienage.'

She looked somewhat taken aback. 'You know about them?' She sounded almost disappointed as if he had spoiled some kind of surprise.

He shot her a wan smile. 'Indeed. I heard about their existence not long before everything went wrong, due to my own stupidity.'

'Please Fenris, don't start that again.'

Lightly he tapped her nose. 'I mean, I let myself lure into a trap as easily as some dim-witted fool, like a naive amateur. You'd think I should know better after all those years of being hunted.'

'Hm. I won't argue with that, for the time being,' she smirked, teasingly.

They sat up; Fenris rested against the headboard and pulled her into his arms. He felt the need of keeping her as close as possible after what happened a short time ago. Hawke took a breath and started to relate what had happened last night from the moment he disappeared. She told about Zevran's and Isabela's frantic search, the treachery of the bartender, the mustering of the elves, the fierce battle on the ship, how she had found him lingering on the threshold of the Void and how they finally had managed to get him in this bed in the Royal Palace. She had to pause a few times to bite back tears, especially when she described the fragile condition he was in when she had located him. He listened to her without an interruption, even when her voice faltered; wordlessly he just caressed her.

After she was finished, Fenris stayed silent for a time while his fingers played absently with Marian's honey coloured hair. 'You've gone even through more trouble than I already imagined.'

'I wouldn't have accomplished anything without the others,' she protested. 'They deserve your credit as much as I do.'

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. 'By now I believe you would have stormed that ship on your own if you had had to, but you are right.' He planted a kiss on the top of her head. 'So, I would like to visit the Alienage to personally thank the elves who have so gracefully contributed to my liberation.'

'I'm sure we can find a moment in an undoubtedly busy day to do that,' she agreed.

'No, I want to go now.'

She shifted to face him 'Now?' she said astonished. 'Even before breakfast?'

'Yes.'

Even before breakfast, even before they would encounter someone else. Especially before they would encounter someone else. He needed to think and he hoped the walk to the Alienage would provide him with the time and opportunity to do just that. It was not all an excuse; he really did want to express his thankfulness. Besides that, he was curious to meet a bunch of elves who had set out to become slaver hunters, an ambition he had never heard of before.

And so, after he and Hawke got dressed and had slipped unseen from the palace, they walked through Denerim in the still early morning. They didn't speak much and when they did, it was only to comment on the weather that finally had cleared up, or on the cheerful determination with which the townsfolk busied themselves to rebuild their city. They kept their deeper thoughts to themselves; those spiralled and swivelled through their minds, yet too incomprehensible and tender to put into words. They approached the small street that led to the Alienage. The moment they passed the gates, Fenris halted in amazement.

'Are you sure this is the right place?' he said, looking around and raising his brows in disbelief.

Hawke grinned, she had anticipated this. To be honest, she also was surprised. Again. The place looked as pleasant as at the night before; it was even more astonishing in daylight. The colourful hues in which the houses were painted, for instance, helped to brighten up her still brittle mood. 'I presume this is a rhetorical question since it seems to me that the number of elves hanging around is at least some indication that this is their environment.'

'Yes, I noticed. But this place is nothing like, well, like an Alienage.'

'Tsk Fenris, what kind of prejudice is this?' she berated him playfully. 'Do you really think so low of your own kind that you're surprised they could manage to make a place look tidy, cosy and pleasant to live in?'

'My kind? I wasn't born and raised in an Alienage,' he reacted prickly without even thinking. He immediately regretted his rash words. Hawke pressed her lips to bite back a sharp retort. He didn't deserve a scolding; he had been through too much to even receive a comment on his nasty sounding words. A short silence fell. 'That – sounded rather arrogantly, didn't it,' Fenris said, looking somewhat ashamed. 'It wasn't meant that way, it came out totally wrong. Besides that, I don't even know whether it is true or not. I'm just – stunned I suppose.' And apparently still too muddled to think clearly. Take care.

Marian understood that feeling. 'You always say you hate coming to the Alienage in Kirkwall.' She carefully avoided the lost-memories-issue, merely because she had had enough emotions to cope with for one morning, as had he, she knew for sure. 'I thought you would be pleased to see it doesn't always have to be like that.'

'I am, I just didn't expect it.' He took in the neat houses, the paved alleys and the small thriving gardens. 'You must agree with me that this is probably the only Alienage in Thedas that doesn't look like a depressing slum.'

'I'm certain you're right although, luckily, I don't know them all. Now let's go and look for Soris.'

They found the elven commander next to the Vhenadahl Tree, agitatedly entangled in a conversation with Shianni who seemed to hold court at the place. From a distance it looked as if they were having a serious quarrel, until Soris burst out in a merry laugh. They stopped talking when they saw their two visitors approach. Shianni turned to face them and looked Fenris up and down.

'So, this is the elf the fuss was all about,' she said with a crooked smile before Hawke even had the chance to introduce him. 'Can't say I blame you. He looks cute enough. If he wasn't spoken for I'd have him any time.' Her eyes twinkled mischievously at those facetiously words. Fenris's eyes flew open and it was all Hawke could do to keep a straight face. She stifled a grin. She had met the elven woman before; perhaps she should have warned Fenris she didn't mince her words and couldn't care less if someone got insulted or befuddled in the process.

Fenris re-found his bearing within a few heartbeats – he was used to Isabela's behaviour, after all. He cleared his throat, not entirely sure if he should be offended by the Hahren's flippant remark or had to smile about it. Frankly, he still had to get used to the fact women – and even men – found him attractive, despite Marian's frequently uttered admiration and Isabela's constant unmistakable hints. He gave Shianni an unreadable look. 'As long as you are aware of the fact that I am indeed spoken for, I won't protest,' he responded, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. 'But I did not come here to harvest comments about my appearance. I simply wanted to show my gratitude.'

'Don't thank me,' Shianni said bluntly. 'Thank Soris and his hot-headed youngsters.'

Fenris decided to go for the smile, making the Hahren´s knees more wobbly than she liked to admit, and turned to Soris. 'I hope none of your warriors has died or sustained an injury because of me. For what I've heard they did an amazing job.'

'Don't worry,' Soris assured him, 'we lost no one and the few injuries were nothing more but some bruises and scratches. You yourself suffered much worse. I must say I'm amazed to see you're up and about this fast. When they carried you back to the palace last night, you seemed more dead than alive.'

'I was,' Fenris admitted, 'but Wynne is a wonderful healer.'

'So it seems,' Shianni reacted. 'And King Alistair was so generous as to send his soldiers to relieve our elves. Humans acting towards elves in this way wasn't heard of in this place a year ago. Back then we got abused, were raped and hauled off into slavery without anyone lifting a finger.'

Hawke glanced at her with a lopsided smile. 'According to Wynne, much of the change in attitude is due to your persistent and stubborn behaviour.'

The Hahren burst out laughing. 'I believe I taught them a thing or two about respect, yes. And I'm glad to find my lessons haven't fallen on deaf ears. Would you care for some breakfast?'

They accepted and spent a pleasant hour eating and drinking under the Vhenadahl Tree, among a large group of enthusiastic elves that had joined them and kept rattling about the battle on the merchant ship, turning every participant into a hero.

After they took their leave, Fenris and Marian ambled back to the palace. None of them were too eager to make haste, so they took the long way back. As soon as they were crossing the bridge over the river Drakon, he took her hand in his and halted. She looked quizzically at him but said nothing. He desperately wanted to get the subject that had been wandering through his head all morning off his chest, but didn't know how to bring it up. Finally he mustered his courage and cleared his throat. 'Did you notice anything peculiar this morning when we, when we,' he got lost in his words and felt utterly stupid. He turned to watch the river that at this point lazily was covering the last stage of the journey to the Amaranthine Ocean. He felt frustrated with himself. His left hand still held Hawke's; he rested the right one on the parapet.

'Made love? Devoured each other? Unless you prefer ravished? I know I do.' She caught his glance and backed down. She nervously worried her lip. Trying to make light of this wouldn't work, nor for him and neither for her. She damned well knew what he was referring to. 'Sorry. Got carried away. Peculiar you say? That's an understatement if I ever heard one. Extraordinary doesn't even start to describe it.' She smiled wanly.

'So you felt it too?' he asked warily. He let out a shivering breath. 'I was starting to wonder if I imagined it.'

Marian snorted. 'If you're capable of imagining such things, you could teach Varric a thing or two about using one's fantasy. He would gladly sacrifice a ream of his costly parchment to learn your secret.'

Fenris laughed out loud, though a bit shakily. 'I bet the dwarf would sacrifice even his precious chest hair to hear this story.' He closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. 'It was ... unnerving... He didn't have to open his eyes to see her strained expression, and commenced, 'At first. And then it turned into something ... out if this world.' He heard her take in a trembling breath. He snapped his eyes open and turned to her. 'Let me put it this way, you won't have to say you love me. Not because I know, not because I can feel it, but because I saw it. Literarily.'

She swallowed and hesitantly stepped closer to him. 'I know what you mean,' she whispered.

'There was no difference between us any longer. There was no you or I, there was ...' he struggled, 'just one spirit.' He let go of the parapet and framed her face. 'Your mind entangled with mine and I can truly not say where mine began and yours ended. Yes, I was scared to death but then became – exalted.'

Her beautiful sapphire eyes glistened. 'It felt like you blended with me, like our minds melted together,' she assented breathlessly. 'I too was absolutely terrified but when I allowed myself to give in to it, it was the most wonderful thing I ever experienced.'

He embraced her and kissed her tenderly. 'So what happened?' he murmured on her lips.

'I don't know,' she sighed. He encircled her firmer and she buried her face in his shoulder, holding him tightly.

They started walking again; he put his arm around her shoulder and she laid hers around his waist. After a couple of paces he dared to ask, 'What did Wynne do to me?'

Marian shrugged. 'Healing you, as far as I know. Nothing more, certainly nothing less.'

'No strange rituals? No summoning of – whatever she would call upon?' Even he could not believe the Fereldan First Enchanter would involve herself with demons and blood magic.

'Absolutely not. I saw just the bluish light I'm familiar with. And I can't imagine Wynne meddling with any kind of dark art whatsoever. The only things you can invoke are demons. I can hardly believe they would cause something like – like,' she made a helpless gesture with her free hand.

'What about Anders and that Justice figure?'

'He didn't exactly summon him, as far as I understand.'

Fenris pondered that. 'Perhaps it was nothing more than some kind of aftermath of almost dying,' he concluded. He cast her a sidelong glance. 'And maybe I affected you, or you were so relieved to find me alive and well the same happened to you.' He smiled affectionately and squeezed her shoulder.

She returned the smile. 'It's as good an explanation as any other. For now.'

But they both knew there was more to it. Far more.

Elissa Cousland was up early, as usual. Even after all the unexpected events of the past night. When she got out of bed she kissed her husband lightly on his cheek and whispered in his ear, 'See you later, sleepyhead,' which earned her an incomprehensible grumble. But, also as usual, Alistair managed to catch her around her waist to pull her back onto the bed and steal another, heated kiss before he turned onto his stomach and hid his face in the pillows with a grunted, 'You're completely crazy, you know.'

She chortled, 'About you. Yes I know.' It had become their private morning ritual since she had returned from Vigil's Keep and she still hadn't grown tired of it.

She wasn't a natural early riser, she was the first to admit, but her father hadn't put up with laziness, as he had called it. And after she became a Grey Warden, she had had little chance to spend her mornings in bed. Or rather, whatever sleep she could get wasn't spent in a bed at all for a long time. And being the Commander in Vigil's Keep had given her very little opportunity to sleep late either. So she had grown accustomed to wake long before breakfast. She headed for the small courtyard adjacent to the lovely ornamental garden to practice her battle moves. She had insisted on that courtyard with the dummies to attack and she enjoyed the early morning exercise in all quiet. She was clad in her armour and armed with two unadorned but beautifully balanced daggers; every morning she practiced because she dreaded her skills would dwindle, now she had returned to Denerim, with no Darkspawn to fight. With nothing or no one to fight, in fact, besides the droning advisers of the Crown and the boring ambassadors of varying countries. They, however, she could not fight in the traditional way, how much she often wanted to. Honestly, she more than once contemplated a slap around the ears or a good kick in the butt would bring them all to their senses. She sometimes wondered how Alistair coped with it without going completely mental. She admired him for it. After all, he hadn't exactly been tripping over his feet to get the job. That was one of the reasons she let him enjoy his time of staying in bed a little longer. But one never knew when an attack would come, deadly danger would arise or war would break out. So she wanted to keep her skills honed.

She crossed the garden and to her bemusement saw Wynne sitting on the bench next to the pond. She'd almost overlooked the First Enchanter; she was sitting very still, half hidden by a weeping willow, her eyes closed. Elissa halted.

'Wynne?' she said hesitantly. There was no response. Alarmed, the Queen rushed over to her and laid a hand on the elderly woman's shoulder. Wynne's eyes flew open.

'Oh, it's you,' she said with a sigh. A faint smile appeared on her face but Elissa wasn't fooled.

'What's wrong? What are you doing here on this early hour?' she pressed. 'You should be in bed, considering all the exertions you've been through last night. You need your rest!'

'I couldn't sleep,' Wynne replied. 'I checked on Fenris and after I found he was doing well, I decided to come here. The garden, and especially the pond, is lovely at this time of the day. A balm for the mind. Don't worry about me, my Queen.'

'Don't call me that, you're one of my best friends! I'm still Elissa, that stubborn girl who thought to end the Blight on the spot.'

Wynne chuckled softly. 'As a matter of fact, that's exactly what you did.'

Elissa sat down next to her. 'That is rubbish and you know it. I would have accomplished nothing without my friends.'

'No one would, child,' Wynne said wearily. Above them in the weeping willow, a blackbird started to sing and they both kept silent for a while to listen to the delicate and yet forceful tremolos.

Elissa watched the First Enchanter closely and to her dismay suddenly noticed lines in her face that hadn't been there the other day. She was looking extremely pale and there were dark shadows under her eyes. She looked at least five years older. A nasty suspicion began to rise.

She had been startled, to say the least, to be dragged out of her bed last night by no one less than Zevran. He had at that moment forgone his usual charming and seductive exposure, which had startled her even more. After his brief explanation, came a flurry of preparing guestrooms, organizing refreshments, shouting for clean towels and water. And all that in the dead of night. They suddenly got saddled with a couple of prisoners, one apparently a baker from their own kitchen, and Alistair had called together half of the soldiers at guard-duty in the palace to send them down to the docks. She had hardly had time to wonder about the unknown people that, not much later, hurried through the palace gates. A bunch of elves, a scarcely clad woman she vaguely recognized, a beardless dwarf, a Seeker ('A Seeker?' 'Yes, a Seeker, I'll explain later, cara mia') and an extremely tense looking young woman who was practically glued to a badly wounded elf lying on a litter that looked more like a hatch of some sorts. Amidst all the bustle, Zevran had managed to update her, and when the commotion had subsided somewhat she had taken a moment to see how the injured elf was doing. At that time Wynne was still working hard to heal him. She had looked up at her with a tired smile.

'Don't strain yourself too much,' Elissa had warned her

'If I don't strain myself now, all of my former efforts will have been in vain,' Wynne just had said. 'If I don't strain myself now, he may die as yet.' After a short pause she had added, 'He may die as yet; he's even worse as I already feared. Please don't tell Marian Hawke, should you run into her. She's already on edge. I sent her away to get more lyrium potions.'

'Is there something I can do for you?'

Wynne had shaken her head. 'No, my dear. You have enough on your mind; just let me do my work.'

Elissa had gone back to the main hall to organize some more until everyone had had a meal and a bed to sleep in (except for the elves who had returned to the Alienage) and all the prisoners were safely locked up. Only then she had gone back to bed.

'You mentioned the elf is doing well,' she now remarked.

'He is fully recovered.' The mage stared pensively at the pond. Under the surface a large goldfish was visible, lazily flipping its fins, lying perfectly still as if it was waiting for the first sunbeams to fall on the water.

'But only a few hours ago you were afraid he wouldn't make it.' Elissa sounded anxious. 'How could he possibly recover that fast?' The nasty suspicion turned into dead certainty. 'What have you done, Wynne?!'

'You know very well what I have done.'

Elissa let out an exasperated grunt. 'How could you be so foolish! How could you give away something so precious just like that! To someone you hardly know!'

Wynne bristled. 'Elissa Cousland! I have lived a full and, I hope, well spent life that has been expanded as some kind of gift. That gift is mine to pass on to whom I wish to. And he needs it more than I. They both need it more. How would you have reacted if it had not been Fenris but Alistair dying on that ship?'

The Queen bowed her head. 'I'm sorry. I was only concerned.' After some consideration she asked, 'How long do you have left?'

'I don't know. I never knew to start with. To be honest, I'm amazed I lived on as long as I did.'

Elissa sagged and blew out a heavy sigh. 'I can only hope he's worth it.'

'I'm fairly sure he is.'

Somehow they had ended up in the market square. The place looked a whole lot better in the sunshine but then, what didn't. The stalls were bright and colourful as were the items on display. A small crowd was strolling along the stands, perusing the wares for sale.

'We should be more attentive to where we're going,' Fenris said, 'we don't know this city, after all. We can get lost anytime.'

'That's true, but I suppose the inhabitants all know where to find the palace. Big building, royal banners, hard to miss. We can always ask directions.' Hawke grinned and threw him an impish glance. 'Although, I'm well aware men hate asking directions. They rather get lost and wander for hours in bewilderment, totally disorientated. Tell me, why is that? Your masculine pride getting in the way?'

'Perhaps we are just too cautious to throw ourselves at the mercy of some ill-willed miscreant that directs us in the way of his colleagues, eager to rob us,' he answered wryly. 'Tell me, why are you women so gullible?'

'I suppose we don't see an enemy in every helpful citizen,' Marian laughed. 'Since we're here, we might as well have a look around.'

'For what? You already purchased new armour and daggers back in Kirkwall.'

'There are more things to behold and admire than armour and weapons in a market, Fenris, you should know that. And – oh! Antivan olives!' she exclaimed delighted, tugging at his waist. She more or less dragged him towards a stall with a green and red striped awning and he noticed various kinds of delicacies trying to catch the attention and raise the appetite of the passers-by. They certainly called out to Hawke. 'Oh, and that special Orlesian blue cheese and look! Dried garlic sausage from the Anderfells!'

A corner of his mouth lifted. She always acted like a child in a candy shop when she was around her favourite titbits. He could almost hear her mouth-watering. 'Marian, please, you just had breakfast! Don't tell me you're hungry again.'

She nudged him lightly. 'You know damn well I can't resist these delicious temptations, hunger or no.'

'I bought them for you once myself,' he wanted to bring into memory but contained the words the moment they bubbled up. He didn't want to hint at the awful occurrences that had made him do that. Instead he said, 'Most women like chocolate or confections or other sweetmeats.'

'I don't,' she stated happily while she paid the merchant for the jar of olives she had bought. 'Most women don't love broody, lyrium infused elves either but I do.' She tilted her head when she caught his dark scowl and beamed at him. 'Alright, that was a blatant lie. I know all too well how women look at you. How did Varric put it? Ah yes.' She cleared her throat and continued in a rather fair pression of the dwarf's voice, '"If your brooding were any more impressive, women would swoon as you passed. They'd have broody babies in your honour." Really Fenris, you could collect women and start a harem if you put your back – Hmpf.'

The only way to silence her was to slant his lips over hers and kiss her until she was breathless and so he did, in the middle of the market. But, unlike the population of Hightown, the citizens of Denerim hardly took notice of this public demonstration of affection. Let alone they would gawk or look disgusted.

'Keep this up and we get either arrested or give the whole city something to talk about for years,' Marian panted when they finally broke the kiss.

'Or you could ask directions and I could haul you back to our bedroom,' he offered. 'Besides that, I think the Gnawed Noble isn't that far away.'

'A very tempting suggestion,' she agreed, still hanging in his arms, longing for more.

They got interrupted by an urging sound that immediately cooled her down. 'Miss, missy.' A known, unwelcome, voice reached her ear. The both turned their heads and faced Brok Igulson. He looked almost guilty. 'I'm sorry to interrupt but since I came across you, I, er...' He faltered under their simultaneously murderous glares. He coughed nervously. 'There is something I want to talk to you about.'

'You've been withholding information?' Hawke asked coolly, not surprised at all.

But the dwarf fluttered his hands fervently to refute that acquisition. 'No, I didn't!' He deflated somewhat. 'Well, actually I did but not on purpose.' He looked around at the crowd milling about. 'Perhaps it's better if we speak in my workshop.'

Reluctantly they gave in and followed the runesmith. As soon as they entered the smithy, Brok Igulson dismissed his apprentice, sending him off on some vague errand. When the boy had disappeared, he turned back to them. 'It was not my intent to keep this away from you. But I was more than a little confused when you suddenly showed up and being dragged out of my workshop by a Seeker didn't help much to –'

'Will you please come to the point,' Hawke impatiently cut him short.

The dwarf plucked at his bushy black beard. 'Yes. Yes of course,' he mumbled. 'It's about that mine, you see. The amantium mine.'

'Go on,' Hawke encouraged him, although she wasn't sure she wanted him to really do that. On the other hand, she had heard so many unpleasant things already, what could possibly be worse? Besides that, her curiosity was kindled. Fenris put a hand on her shoulder and she smiled inwardly. It had become a custom, she hearing shocking facts and acting badly to it, he trying to prevent her from killing the messenger. She promised herself to stay calm this time, whatever Brok Igulson might reveal.

'I hadn't seen your father for about two years when he suddenly showed up in Lake Calenhad Docks. I think it wasn't long after your birth.'

Incredulously Marian stared at him. 'He went back to that place? So close to the Circle? After he ran away? What in the Maker's name drove him to that madness?!'

'He wanted to know if I had heard anything from the Legion of the Dead; he had lost every contact with them since his departure to Kirkwall. I was sorry to disappoint him but then again, the Legion have more on their minds than searching for a mythical mine. So your father decided to enter the Deep Roads himself.'

'How many surprises will that man throw at me over his grave?' Hawke murmured, perplexed. 'The Deep Roads? Alone?'

'He was a very powerful mage and not one to shy away from danger,' the dwarf said, a little reproachfully. Hawke just impelled him on with an irritated gesture. 'The next time I met with him was here, in this very workshop, that day he brought you with him and he asked me to forge and enchant that ring on your hand. You know all about that by now.' Nervously he bit his lip. 'You must know that the metal adjusts to the bearI forgot to tell you that earlier.'

Hawke just looked blank.

Brok Igulson sweated on. 'I mean, the little ring I forged for the bairn, has extended to fit the finger of a full-grown woman.' After another look full of dull question marks, he added, 'One of the characters of amantium is that it can grow or shrink on its own account.'

Involuntarily Marian's eyes got drawn to the band around her finger. 'Meaning..?' she said, hoarsely.

'Like I told you before, the metal seems to have its own mind, like it is some living creature…'

Resolutely Marian slapped her right hand over her left, while giving the dwarf a piercing look. On hindsight she wasn't eager to know what kind of monstrosity she was carrying around. She very much wished to rip the ring off, but was too afraid for the consequences that action might cause. 'Instead she said, 'Spare me the technical details. Just go on with what you wanted to say.'

Brok Igulson grimaced and gave a desperate tug at his beard. 'I asked him how his private expedition into the Deep Roads had gone, but he was reluctant to talk about it. He told me, however, that he had considerably broadened the chances of finding the mine.'

Marian frowned. 'How? Did he plant post down there signed with "Help wanted for discovering amantium, finder's fee promised"?'

Brok Igulson swallowed visibly. 'He made a pact with some – thing.'

Hawke's breath hitched. She staggered back and felt Fenris's hand clamp down on her shoulder. 'You mean ... a demon?' she croaked. If that were true, her whole world would come crashing down.

'No missy. With some Darkspawn.'