UPDATE 9/26/2011: The most excellent rianax over at Deviant Art made a soundtrack for The Fate of Wolves. It's epic and it's here: .com/?t5wov31ch4r3fdw
*Yeah! This is it, the last chapter! I can't believe that I've actually written my first fan fic ever! I couldn't have done this without all of the incredible support from the people who took the time to review and I'm going to name every single reviewer that I can find a record of right now:
shewolf51, Alaskantiger, Letticiae, Lady Nightlord, Meneltar, Carve ur heart Out,Everything In Its Right Place,Crystal Night,CutiePancakes,Mouse019, Lacy Nor,Anson0602, TamaraAnn1978,Tasha,MadameLovely, nmanicole, xXthecatalystXx,TwixtNightAndMorn, themusicalmuffin, SurroundedSita, anon-nom-nom,Lillie,The Fall, geekreader42,Lillie Cullen,Silvergrace,Danielle, Termonetorx, Faithless Reject,FR, voltagelisa, Kitanashon, LunarMeridia, Kimber75,Miri, Xaiael, Revina-chan, souma331, PhoenixTheirin, Ashrandi the skull kid, herlindakitty, Sannenschein, Nobody, lyris musetta, Warrose, sapphiretoes, ReflctngGoddess,Lucy, Dhallhenn, FarieChan, Ravital, iagirl,FindSarah, Falcon Dragina, The-red-eyed-hunter, dragonlover131313,iheartfenris, Afrokot,Kurgs, violingrl07, rebelgoddess19, sweetestcondition, Sphinxes,Cindar, Sunako06, Sandrial Tsubasa,dolphinbreeze, Mierrik Revras, Alice, MakMoore and every anonymous reviewer too. There's also every wonderful person who marked this story as a favorite and there are too many of you to write out but I wanted to thank you so very much for that!
IMPORTANT: There are two endings to this story. The first one, this one, is the ending I decided to do for the readers. I will be putting up an alternate ending as well (technically the next chapter) and that is the ending that was always meant to happen but I decided not to make it official. The alternate ending will combine chapter 36 and 37 together but with important differences.
This chapter is not about the fight, it's about Fenris and Laria so that's the focus instead of describing a battle.
It would mean a lot to me to get reviews for this because this is the end. And, I hope that you all decide to read the Anders fanfiction I will be putting up after this. I know some of you aren't Anders fans but I fell for him pretty hard when I really thought about his character. I decided to do a very AU story about him and an OC character. I will not be a re-telling of the game even though it will have some elements from it. It will be my own Anders story.
The Fate of Wolves
Chapter 37- The End
Fenris was shaken to his core.
After so much pain and loss, his sister was standing before him. He couldn't believe it.
"Varania?" Fenris whispered hoarsely. "I…I remember you. We played together as children while our mother worked."
The elf nodded solemnly. "Yes Leto. Our mother was a slave. Do you remember her?"
Fenris shook his head. Hawke tried not to gawke. She was so happy that Fenris had found his sister. She was trying not to burst with happiness! She grinned like an idiot instead.
Hawke cleared her throat quietly. "You called him Leto?"
Varania turned her attention to Hawke and her expression was odd.
"Yes, that's his name." she confirmed in a rather empty tone.
Something was off and apparently Fenris felt it too. He took a small step towards his sister.
"Varania? What's wrong? Why are you acting so strangely?" he asked, about to reach out a hand to her.
Hawke grasped Fenris' arm, a feeling of dread coming over her abruptly.
"Fenris…something is wrong. I can feel it. Don't go near her!" she urged, pulling him back.
It was too late.
Behind them there was an odd sound like the air had warped. Hawke spun around and saw that their friends were encased in some kind of force field. A wall of energy shimmered, trapping their companions inside and blocking them from getting to Fenris and Hawke.
Fenris pulled his sword out, shifted towards his sister angrily.
"What have you done?" he hissed. "How…how did you do that? Are you…a mage?" he asked, horrified.
The voice he heard next chilled the blood in Fenris' veins. It was the voice of a nightmare.
A dark chuckle echoed from the landing above them.
"Ah, My little Fenris." Danarius chided. "Not the sharpest tool I've ever had but certainly the prettiest." The man's smile was pure evil.
Fenris felt the breath get sucked out of his lungs. The world seemed to tremble and shake but he realized that it was him who was shaking.
Denarius was here! A hideous wraith from his past come to destroy him.
How did he find me? Fenris' thoughts were spinning so fast he couldn't catch them. Then in a moment of painful clarity, he had it.
He turned slowly to face his sister. Varania!
"You! You did this to me!" he snarled.
Varania seemed unmoved. "I did what I had to do Leto."
Fenris shattered one of the small tables with his sword, sending splinters everywhere.
"Don't call me that!" he bellowed furiously. "I am not that boy and you are no sister of mine, you backstabbing whore!"
Fenris grabbed Varania by the throat with his free hand and lifted her off the floor. Her fingers clutched at his gauntleted hands feebly.
"How much did they pay you to betray me, Sister? Hmmm? How much was family worth to you?" Fenris could barely breath he was so angry, so hurt.
Danarius spoke now. "Put her down Fenris." he ordered calmly, sounding quite sure that he would be obeyed. "She's a good apprentice and I don't want her damaged."
Fenris threw Varania against the wall and bared his teeth to his former master.
"You do not order me to do anything Danarius!" Fenris answered. His feet were planted wide and his stance said that he was ready to fight.
Danarius simply laughed as if he were vastly amused. "Look at my wolf. Still a little beast aren't we?" he mocked.
Fenris couldn't even form words, he just growled making Danarius laugh even more. The mage clapped his hands in delight.
It was that laughter that snapped Hawke out of her moment of fear. Seeing that vile man making fun of Fenris, trying to make him feel like an animal made her blood boil.
"How dare you speak to him like that you conniving bastard!" Hawke cried. "He doesn't belong to you and he never will."
Danarius simply clucked his tongue. "Ah yes, the Champion of Kirkwall. The mighty Hawke! Or should I call you Laria?" he smirked.
Hawke felt a tremor go through her. He knew who she was.
Danarius nodded as if reading her thoughts. "I can't tell you how happy I am to find you two together. I get two slaves back in one trip. And I must say that you've made me wonder how many other slaves have such… untapped potential."
He folded his arms on the bannister, challenging her with his eyes. "I look forward to finding out when we get back to Tevinter."
With that, several groups of Tevinter soldiers emerged from the upper floor.
Now that she was unfrozen, Hawke pulled out her blades and took a position at Fenris' back to protect him.
"You will not take her." Fenris' voice was deadly and Danarius didn't like it.
"I see that you will have to learn your place again Fenris. I shall enjoy teaching you." Denarius promised.
Fenris smiled, letting every ounce of hatred he had felt over the years pour into his face.
"You are welcome to try Danarius." Fenris readied his sword.
Danarius scowled unhappily. "You overestimate your value Wolf! I would prefer to take you back alive but I can retrieve my investment by skinning you instead."
Fenris laughed darkly. "If you're so confident then why are you still talking? Come and get me!"
Hawke realized that Fenris wasn't exactly thinking clearly. He was blinded by anger and hatred, and he failed to see that they were outnumbered and without the support of their friends.
"Fenris," she whispered. "There are a lot of soldiers and Danarius is a mage. The others are trapped! We need a plan."
"The plan is to tear Danarius' heart from his chest and shove it down his throat." Fenris replied.
Hawke managed to find the energy to roll her eyes. They had just fought gigantic living statues and a hideous golem in an all-out battle at the Gallows. They weren't exactly in any shape to take on an army.
"That's wonderful my love, but we need a strategy." she retorted sharply. "We need to free the others."
Fenris' eyes narrowed dangerously as he spied his sister leaning against the wall.
"Kill the source of the spell and they will be freed." he murmured and began moving purposely towards Varania.
Hawke's stomach dropped. "Fenris, are you sure? She's your sister!"
She could barely hear his reply.
"She is nothing to me. Just one more future Magister that needs to die."
Hawke merely nodded. It was more important that they survive this. She would help Fenris deal with the aftermath later.
"Well then, I guess that I'll take the right side." she quipped.
Hawke decided to help assist Fenris and whipped a smoke bomb at the group of soldiers closest to him. If Fenris could get the barrier down, the others could fight and their odds of winning were almost certain.
Fenris only had eyes for Varania. The little girl he remembered was gone, replaced by a power-hungry, treacherous liar. He would take no pleasure in killing her but neither would he feel regret.
Varania flung her hands up in defense and Fenris clamped a hand around her throat before she could use her magic against him. The burn of his markings was stronger than ever and he used the pain to feed his anger.
He felt the power of the lyrium flow through his arms and down into his sword. The blade began to glow hotly with power and Fenris pinned Varania against the wall. He would waste no time on empty goodbyes.
Fenris took one last look at the woman who was his sister and plunged the lyrium-infused sword into her body.
Hawke heard a startled cry get choked off. She kicked one of the soldiers in the head and glanced behind her to see Varania slump to the floor.
She looked at the entryway but to her astonishment the barrier was still up. She didn't understand it. The magic should have dispersed when Varania died.
Danarius answered her question."Varania may have been a mage but I never said that she had erected the barrier. You'll have to deal with me."
Fenris looked at the blood on his sword and smiled.
"Gladly."
One unit of soldiers came down the stairs towards Fenris and the others came at Hawke from the other side. It was a good move, trying to separate them. But the soldiers were in their home, not on a battlefield.
Hawke kept weapons everywhere and she used them. Grabbing knives and poisons, she threw everything she had at the hunters while trying to keep an eyes on Fenris.
Fenris was fine. He was glowing brighter than she had ever seen him, using the lyrium to empower his blade and using his hand when he could to rip the soldiers apart.
Hawke wished she had time to admire his form. Maybe later.
The appearance of an axe slamming into the wall over her head made Hawke come up short. Where the hell had that come from?
She instinctively rolled backwards to protect herself and scanned the room for the origin of the attack. A heavy chair smashed against the wall and Hawke threw herself to the side.
She looked up at the landing. Great! Apparently Danarius had the ability to use telekenic weapons! She was too tired to groan at the unfairness of life.
Danarius was wielding the weapons of his dead soldiers.
"Fenris, Danarius is throwing weapons. Watch your back!" she called out.
Fenris responded by impaling two hunters on his sword. As he started to run up the stairs towards Danarius, a table crashed into him and Fenris tumbled backwards, landing on the floor.
The soldiers advanced on him as he tried to get up. Thinking fast, Hawke grabbed a torch from the wall and set the remaining two hunters in front of her on fire and raced for Fenris.
She dodged a shield being flung at her and rolled under a spear lobbed at her head. She had to get to him!
Fenris scrambled up and spun in a wide circle, killing two soldiers. The third felt Fenris' hand in his chest as he crushed his heart.
Danarius decided that he'd had enough.
Hawke saw a large blade rise in the air. It hovered for a moment before moving towards Fenris whose back was turned.
Time slowed to a crawl and it was as if Hawke could see every moment in her life that lead up to this point.
She could hear her parent's cries as the slavers tore her from their arms.
The young elven girl she had befriended in Tevinter in those early days.
The first glimpse she'd had of Fenris as he strode purposefully through Danarius' estate and the first time Fenris had seen his name in print.
She remembered that first searing kiss between them and how she had known that her life would never be the same again.
The explosion in Seheron that had separated them for so many years and the extraordinary night that she had heard Fenris' deep voice travel through her body after wishing for so long that she could see him again.
She could see the soft, wondrous expression on Fenris' face when they had awoken together for the first time.
Every touch, every cherished smile, every moment they had shared was recalled with perfect clarity as she saw Fenris' death before her eyes.
Hawke opened her mouth to scream, to warn him but it was too late.
Fenris turned and heard the wet sound of metal penetrating flesh.
The blade had spun and pierced Laria through.
She looked at him with shock in her eyes. Her hands grasped the hilt of the sword that had been driven into her body and her knees buckled.
Fenris ran and caught Laria in his arms before she hit the ground. He pulled the blade out of her and cradled her against his chest.
She was gasping for air and Fenris desperately put pressure on the wound.
"Laria!" he cried. "Laria…hold on, please!" he whispered fervently.
He held her with his left arm while he tried to stop the bleeding with his right hand. Her blood pooled beneath them and Fenris urgently pleaded with her to breathe.
"Well, well." Danarius taunted behind him. "Isn't this just sweet? My little wolf has found a mate. How trite!"
He circled Fenris slowly, enjoying the sight of his pet huddled on the floor in obvious pain.
"That was almost too easy. I knew that she would try to save you. How pathetic not to mention, predictable." he sneered.
Fenris could barely hear Danarius' voice. He couldn't stop the bleeding, the wound was too severe.
His hands were coated with Laria's blood. This couldn't be happening!
Fenris brushed a bloody hand through her hair and whispered against her lips.
"Please…please don't do this! Please…" he begged brokenly.
Laria's lips moved as if she were trying to speak but she choked and then gasped again. Her fingers clung to Fenris and her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to stay conscious.
She drew in a painful breath. "Fenris…" her chest convulsed and he pressed harder on the wound.
"Shhh….don't try to talk, just breathe for me. Please!" he murmured.
Her face contorted in pain and Fenris held her more tightly. She shook her head and tears spilled from her eyes.
One hand shakily reached up and brushed the strands of white hair from his face.
Fenris made a sound of pure anguish and pressed his forehead against hers. He rocked her in his arms and cupped her cheek with his hand.
"My Fenris." she whispered and her breaths were ragged now.
"No!" he shouted. "I can't lose you…not again! Laria please!" he raged.
Danarius smiled maliciously. "I want you to remember this moment forever Fenris. Remember that there is nothing you have that I can't take away." He crouched beside them, careful to keep his robes clear of the blood.
"You will never be happy, you will never be free. Accept your place. The sooner you realize the truth, the sooner the pain will stop." Danarius held out a hand, waiting for Fenris to rise.
A strange vibration filled the air and Danarius clutched his head in pain. A scream was ripped from his throat as his back was bowed. The mage stayed frozen like that for a moment before he fell to the ground and turned to a pile of ash.
Fenris looked around him and saw Sandal standing in the doorway, holding a crimson stone that gleamed like diamonds. A gag hung around his neck.
"Enchantment." the boy uttered serenely.
A wave of energy travelled across the floor as the magical force field collapsed.
Merrill, Aveline, Varric, Isabela and Anders all fell to the floor gasping and coughing.
"Stone-humping nug's balls!" Varric swore. "I thought I was dead!"
Isabela rubbed her forehead. "Andraste's tits, I couldn't breathe in there! What happened?"
Aveline was the first one to see. "Maker…no. Hawke!" she cried.
The others quickly looked up and saw Fenris holding Hawke's limp body. Her eyes were closed. She was completely still and they could barely make out Fenris' torturous moans of grief.
Anders hurried to Hawke's side, placing his hands on her face. He closed his eyes tightly and became very still. Fenris said nothing. He didn't even look at them.
Isabela fell to her knees beside them. "Anders," her voice broke. "Is she…alive?"
Merrill began weeping. "Oh, Creators, help her please!" she prayed.
Aveline took one of Hawke's hands in her own but her skin was chilled.
Varric couldn't speak. He just stood there, unable to move. His friend…he couldn't even think it.
Anders turned inward and focused completely on Hawke, tuning everyone and everything else out.
He sent a pulse of magic through her body, searching frantically for a spark of life that said she was still in there. Magic could not cure death. If she was gone, there was nothing that he could do to bring her back.
The pulse went forth but met with no answering call. No. Anders refused to give up! He went even deeper into himself and for the first time, he asked Justice to help him.
He felt a warmth as the pulse he was sending strengthened. If there was anything left in her, he would find it.
Maker, please, don't let it end like this!
There! Maker, it was so small he almost missed it. A tiny spark of life. It had to be enough. But he needed help. Holding onto that wisp of energy, Anders came back enough to speak.
"Fenris, she's not gone yet but I need your help. Talk to her, keep her here." he ordered.
Fenris wasn't sure that he heard the mage correctly. "What? What did you say?"
Isabela grabbed Fenris' arm roughly. "He said talk to her you idiot! She's not dead!"
What could he say to make her stay? Fenris wasn't sure so he just started speaking nonsense, grasping at anything that might get her attention.
Anders worked quickly, trying to urge the spark to grow. While doing that he used another part of his mind to begin closing the wound. His mind mended flesh and muscle back together while simultaneously adding healing energy to Hawke's life force.
He stimulated blood flow and that was the kick needed to get her life flowing again. Anders felt the energy in her respond as it seeped back into her organs.
Fenris was in the middle of promising to give Laria anything she wanted when she suddenly took a shuddering breath.
"Hawke?" Aveline said and squeezed her hand.
Fenris held her face in one hand and watched her struggle to breathe. Please… was all he could think. Just let me look into her eyes again.
Anders opened his eyes and he looked drained. He turned to Merrill.
"Merrill, Hawke keeps potions in the cellar. I need lyrium potions so I can continue healing her." he requested in a strained voice.
"Of course!" and Merrill took off for the basement.
Varric finally managed to move and knelt down beside Hawke. "C'mon Angel, you can do better than that."
She continued taking labored breaths and her fingers began twitching in Aveline's hand.
Isabela leaned over Fenris' shoulder. "Hawke I swear to the Maker, you'd better wake up. I prayed for god sake! Me! You owe me for that!"
There was no response and Anders placed a hand over the still healing wound.
"Give her a moment." he said quietly as Merrill returned with the potions. He swallowed one and felt the burn of lyrium singing sickly through his system.
Anders focused again and began helping Hawke's lungs to fully inflate. She started breathing easier and Anders worked on healing the bones that had been broken by the blade.
Fenris felt heat coming back to Laria's body but it wasn't enough. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.
"Edro elee hen." he said softly.
She shifted slightly in his arms and he caressed her face.
"Edro elee hen." he repeated.
Laria made a faint sound of pain and trembled for a moment, but her eyes opened.
Fenris couldn't speak, there weren't words. And his vision was swimming for some reason.
Laria raised a hand to his face and he held on to it.
"Don't cry Fenris."
Oh! That's what was wrong he thought, stupefied.
Laria looked at him, confusion crossing her features. She still didn't have the strength to use her full voice.
"Fenris, what does amin mela le mean?" she asked.
Fenris ran his fingers through the white strands in her hair. He remembered the night he first met "Hawke" and he smiled.
"I'll tell you later." he promised.
Epilogue…
In the wake of the event sin Kirkwall, Hawke and her companions decided that it was time to leave the Free Marches.
Anders joined some of the mages that he had helped in the Underground. Only time would tell whether is actions in Kirkwall would be a help to mages or not. There were rumors that he was researching how to truly separate himself from Justice.
Aveline and her husband Donnic moved back to Ferelden where they were welcomed after fighting to save Kirkwall. They entered the service of King Alistair and the maker blessed them with two children. Both had red hair.
Varric felt the loss of his brother deeply. He travelled to Orzammar feeling the need to connect with any family he had left. While he didn't stay there, he discovered that he wasn't alone in the world and that he had family who would always welcome him.
Merrill joined Anders for a time but during their travels she met a clan of Dalish. Their Keeper had no second and Merrill asked to stay with them and they agreed.
Hawke and Fenris started an Underground of their own. They sold the estate in Hightown and returned to Tevinter to organize a movement to free Tevinter slaves. Bodhan, Sandal and Orana stayed with them.
No one was more surprised than Hawke when Isabela joined them in their efforts. The pirate was able to purchase a ship and together they freed hundreds of slaves, starting with the ones that had been held by Danarius.