Annoyance bit at Lena's senses as she stared at Sebastian's pleased expression. It would get to his head if she didn't immediately refute such a claim that she loved him. He'd be smirking and lording it over her or making jokes. Taunt her sentimentality.

"You love me?" Keith asked as they lay in the same field as when they first started going out. "Ha...you-you love? I mean how do you even know that?"

Lena fumbled. His smile grew wide and he let out a huff of a laugh. It grew loud and obnoxious as he rolled off her.

"Oh man wait till I tell Javon." He snickered and pulled his flip phone out. Lena paled as he quickly typed out a message. "No it's cute. Absolutely adorable." His attempt to reassure her was not serious.

Lena's cheeks burned but she rolled over away from him. "You're such an ass."

"But you loooovvve me."

"Not anymore I don't." She deadpanned. It was a lie. He was an asshole and yet...her first love.

"Awww…" Keith pouted but continued to laugh. "Come on. Don't be salty."

"I'm not salty, more…" She turned a playful smirk at him, swallowing the well of emotion that almost bubbled up in her throat to warble her voice. "Incredulous that you totally believed that."

"Oh you bitch." He snorted and laughed. "Gosh can you imagine if-"

"I know right?" She rolled her eyes, forcing herself to laugh.

Lena's throat tightened at the memory. She remembered the relief she felt for convincing him and then herself that she hadn't loved him when later on it turned out Keith was cheating on her with five different women, each of them oblivious of the others.

This is why you have barriers. This is why you have rules. Lena closed her eyes. She cared about him but hadn't realized how deep it went until Nathaniel put it so aptly. When had Choir Boy gone from just a client and friend to…something more? Probably when she let Harlan damn near blackmail her to keep their arrangement a secret from the Vael family.

Sentimental fool. She berated herself.

"Oh Selena." Sebastian's voice was soft as he stood up, but the uplift of the corner of his lips infuriated her. Lena glowered at the smirk. "Had I known I would have properly-"

Foolish drunk. Let's nip this, now.

"You're such an ass." She rolled her eyes. "I love you as a friend." Desperate to correct the smugness Sebastian was already building up, she would say anything. Even if it meant denying what seemed to be plainly evident to everyone but Sebastian. She'd bury it, bury her sentiments, bury her feelings; bury it all. "I cannot allow romantic feelings to develop because then I will have to sever our contract."

"What?" Sebastian stiffened up. "Why?"

"You're a Brother of the Chantry." Lena reminded. "You've taken your vows. All members of the Chantry can hold no romantic feelings for anyone. Your love is reserved for the Maker and Andraste."

It was a splash of reality of his duties and the oath to the Maker he'd made. Lena stepped up to him as he frowned.

"Don't be so naive, Sebastian. Don't mistake caring for romantic feelings." She distanced herself before he went too far with it. "Remember you are still paying me. Ultimately, this is a business transaction." It needed to be said. For her own safety and sanity. Especially considering what he just tried to pull. She needed to make it clear that he was a client, to further cement the distance between them. "If you still want that kiss. We're going to have to renegotiate our contract. And after you forcefully pushed me against the wall, there's an additional fee for coercion for you." She glared. "So I don't think you can afford my new prices." She pat his cheek, trying to ignore his dejected and crestfallen look.

"Perhaps then..." Sebastian gripped her hand to his face, enunciating his words with an over-exaggerated burr, just in the way he knew she liked. "What about I win it in a friendly wager." He emphasized the word.

"You've already forfeited the tourney. What other wager would we engage in?" Lena crossed her arms.

"I bet if I can serenade you-"

"Nope. Not taking that. Are you forgetting I heard you singing the chant?" Lena snorted.

"No. However you haven't heard me sing anything else."

"You're royalty. You probably had a governess train you to sing when you were younger and play all manner of instruments."

"I wouldn't say all manner-" Sebastian tried.

"Uh huh. Still, that is not a bet I'm taking." Lena kept walking. "Are you implying I'm stupid?"

Nathaniel barked a laugh. "It would seem he is." He strolled up to his friend. "Perhaps you may have a better chance if you first apologized for your crass behavior my friend."

"Yes!" Sebastian perked up. "Come with me." He grabbed Lena's arm, beginning to pull her along.

"Oi! HEY! YOU, let me go-" Lena growled.

"She said let her go." Athenril stepped in, gripping his wrist and twisting it until he let go of Lena. Her gaze fierce as she stepped between the two.

"Ah…" Sebastian grunted in pain as he stepped back. He met Athenril's sharp gaze. A sheen of blue in the low light, her ears perked up and grin dangerous.

"Who do you think you are, elf ? Touching-" Nathaniel's hackles rose.

"It's alright." Sebastian held a hand up, looking at Lena who said nothing. He noticed her rubbing where he'd gripped. "Lena?"

"Thank you, Athenril." Lena called. Athenril didn't back down, merely staring both Sebastian and Nathaniel down. "Athenril." Lena touched her elbow lightly. She looked down at Lena and gave a short nod as she pulled back. "No need to manhandle me, Sebastian, where did you want to go?"

Sebastian glanced at Athenril, before pursing his lips to hide his smile. "Well...recalling how you so enjoyed the Chant when sung, I thought I would sing you a song as an apology." He kept the gleam from his eyes, knowing such a thing was appealing to Lena. At least he was humble and kept his head ducked down. If only Lena wasn't naturally shorter than him.

"Uh-huh...singing. That's your way of apologizing?" Wobbling her head, she weighed the options. She wouldn't mind hearing him sing again. But if it's any Thedosian song, she wouldn't know it. She'd just have to make sure to keep her reactions in check. Still...a live vocal performance by Sebastian Vael. The only other time she'd heard him sing was behind closed doors and drawn curtains. Usually there was a gag in the way. "Alright, where do we need to go?"


They approached the Southernmost wing of the inner keep. Cacophonous sounds, clapping, and singing filtered and echoed from one particular room. Sebastian slowed with a frown. But Lena quirked her head.

"I suppose it was too much to hope it would be empty." Sebastian deflated.

Nathaniel clapped Sebastian's shoulder. "Perhaps we should return to my chambers. I'm sure one of the servants can-" Nathaniel suggested but Lena interrupted with a raised hand.

"Wait…" Lena stared at the door to the music room. The tinkling sounds of a harpsichord accompanied by lutes and tambourines came out, but that wasn't what drew her. No it was the voice singing. It had a certain cadence, a certain drawl not native to Thedas. Not as far as she knew.

It vibrated, humming deep into her bones.

"So I told that kindly gentleman my tale of woe"

The hairs on her neck rose in a warning to stay away but it made her step closer.

"Every baby needs a da-da-daddy to keep her worry-free. Every baby needs a da-da-daddy, but where's one for me?"

"Lena?" Sebastian called.

"I know that song…" Selena mumbled and pressed the door open. Right away she was taken in by the crowd that filled the room. It was an indoor amphitheatre, with several rows of seating that were packed. People were even standing in the aisles, giggling at the performance. It sounded like a lute, or some variance. But also tambourines? That wasn't right. Tambourines were too modern but there were precursors to it. Lena couldn't see the stage or over the people blocking her way, so she ducked around.

"Watch it." Grumbled a woman, but low enough not to disrupt the music.

"Who is playing?" Lena asked, trying to navigate around a particularly portly fellow. He was as wide as she was in her rump.

"Just a mage."

"Not just any mage." Sneered a cultured voice, one Lena recognized instantly and her legs turned to goo.

"Some sweet daddy who enjoys Bringing home to baby little diamond toys." The lyrical swooning continued.

Selena looked toward the cultured woman beside her who sent a glare at the man she was working her way around. Madame Vivienne rose an elegant brow.

"The finest Virtuoso of Orlais." She corrected, with a proud look.

Virtuoso? Lena frowned as she wrangled around another set of legs and came to a point she could view the stage. There was only one person she knew that title could be applied to and that was…"Zither…" She gawked at the mage on the lute. The lightshow behind him. A piano - no harpsichord - beside him with another person who she knew to be named Edmond if memory served. Zither was accompanied by Edmond on the harpsichord, another individual on what looked like a percussion instrument and a dwarf singing. Some sort of activated rune allowed her voice to project or… no.

Lena squinted and leant forward. She could see the lyrium in effect and somehow she knew what it was doing by the slight skip between sound and the movement of her lips. "Auto-fucking-tune." She couldn't believe it. Auto-tune! Enchantment Auto-Tune! Somehow… her previous discovery of using lightning enchantments to charge her iPad didn't seem quite so amazing. "Motherfucker."

Selena made eye contact with the dwarf singing. She was blonde, amber-eyed with rich sun-kissed skin. You could feel the warmth just from looking at her. But the moment you made eye contact, Lena felt it. A pull.

Who was she?

The performance came to an end. It wasn't a long song. Short but the arrangement elongated it, with stretched out vowels and repeated chorus. There was the movements of the dwarf and Zither in question. It was eyebrow raising for sure. The dwarf was wearing a very scandalous mini-skirt that looked like something Shirley Temple should be wearing. It was childlike and meant to evoke innocence, yet with her bosom and shapely figure it evoked a different image entirely.

"Fucking..." Lena grumbled as the song finished and people applauded. She only just noticed that Sebastian and Nathaniel had managed to sit beside her. The room was all humans, save for herself and the other dwarf on stage.

"Thank you, thank you. As always the performance would not be possible if not for the Chantry's generosity in allowing Zither and the quartet to play. Please offer your patronage to Alfonse." The magical musician took the attention with glee. The blonde dwarf shuffled off to whisper to Edmond on the harpsichord, all the while she sent Lena a look.

Could they be someone like her? Someone trapped in Thedas? Exactly how many people had Rahmi and Daerin had sent here? How many families were missing- Missing persons disappearing under mysterious circumstances. There were hundreds of reports. Was this how? Were there potentially hundreds of Earthfolk here with her? Lena's thoughts jumped a mile a minute.

"Now if anyone has any special requests-"

"I have a question." Lena didn't know when she'd get this chance. The room hushed as she stood on the seat. Sebastian went to shush her, but she pushed him off. The singing dwarf turned to her, a smirk playing at her purple lipstick lined lips. As though saying, this'll be fun. "The lyrics specify that every baby needs a daddy. But that's not true. Every baby needs a mommy. Plenty of babies go all their life without a daddy. Afterall, women don't need men in their life." Lena didn't look at Zither, but at the dwarf.

"Uh… well, I am not the lyricist-" Zither responded with a laugh.

"I know." Lena didn't stop. "Because… well you always know who the mother is. So why...should every baby need a daddy, Peggy?"

The dwarf laughed. "My name ain't Peggy, darlin."

Lena smirked. The southern and slow drawl from the dwarf all the confirmation she needed. "Really? You look like a Peggy."

"Naw...I'd say I look more like a Marilyn. Like Miss Monroe. Got the locks too." Here the dwarf pushed her hair large Shirley Temple like curls, that were clearly not natural, up.

"Or Shirley."

The two dwarves laughed, with some secret joke that others in the audience didn't know. "Sorry folks, dwarf humor." The dwarf explained to the crowd.

Lena sat back down, a beaming smile at her lips as Zither gave her a critical look over before he asked for requests from the audience. They played a few songs that Lena didn't recognize, but Sebastian and Nathaniel certainly did. Then "Marilyn" did a few songs Lena knew. Beatles as though it was a folksy song.

There was a brief intermission, that halved the audience as people were well in the "mood" from the way their hands lingered. It was still the pleasure palace.

Sebastian had disappeared to grab some wine, that he and Nathaniel shared while Lena left them when "Marilyn" gestured for her to come on stage while the band went off.

"So…" 'Marilyn' smirked. "Didn't think any of our kind were this far south anymore."

"Didn't think there was 'our kind' to be honest." Lena leant forward. "Name's Selena."

"Aurora." They shook hands. Not bow, no kissing of the hand, no formalities. Just a handshake. Lena smiled.

"So, by your accent, yer a yank?"

"Yep. New Jersey. And by your accent you're from…" Lena couldn't peg it.

"Tennessee." Aurora poured a glass of what looked like bubbling black water. "Pop?"

"You've got soda?" Lena gawked at the bottle.

"Pop." Aurora corrected with a smirk. "But sure, nothing like the real thing, but close enough."

"Oh my goodness, yes." Lena took the offered wine glass and let the fizzy stuff tickle her nose and then drank. "Oh man, tastes like warm coke."

"Does it? Tastes off to be honest."

"Really? I've had some from Coke World in Georgia before. And this is pretty close."

"Yeah, but after they removed the coke." Aurora explained and sipped her own glass.

Lena choked on the coke. "Sorry what? I'm sorry what?! Coke as in…" Lena eyed the glass. "...cocaine?"

"Yeah. No one here has figured out how to get that stuff off the leaves, not that they want to. So...one bottle of that stuff costs 10 sovereigns. So enjoy the good stuff." Aurora sipped her glass. "So, what year ya from?

"Sorry… year?"

"Yeah, all of us were snatched from different years." Aurora explained. "I'm from 2000. World didn't end in 99, but at least a Republican got into office."

"Oh…" Lena stared. "I'm from 2016."

"Sweet baby jesus." Aurora's eyes went wide, downed her glass and poured herself another glass of Coke before downing that too. "What's the world like?"

Lena cringed. "Not good."

Aurora nodded. "The world ended in 2012 didn't it?"

"What- no… just… ugh it's a long story." Lena sighed. How do you sum up a decade and a half of history and the impending clusterfuck of a campaign that was beginning?

"Say no more." Aurora shrugged. "I understand. Had the same problem trying to figure out how best to tell Aster. She's from the 80s. And from her to Diana, she's from the 50s."

"Are they all dwarves?"

"Yeah, every single one of us are dwarves."

"How many of us are there? And how come I haven't come across you guys before?"

"You didn't come across Spice?"

"Spice? Whose spice?" Lena squinted.

"Spice, last I heard, had taken up residence in Kirkwall. She never said what year she was from."

"Huh?" Lena meant to ask where to find her but people were beginning to filter in, so she lowered her voice.

"Tell ya what." Aurora pulled a parchment out and a pencil from a bag. Lena wondered how long she'd been here. "You seem a decent sort. Me and the band are playing at all the Marcher Tourneys. Then we headline at the Grand Tourney before we head down to Nevarra and Orlais. Don't suppose you could meet me at the Grand Tourney? I'll see if I can gather the others, for a good proper get together."

"The Grand Tourney…" Lena eyed the written date. She'd have to check her calendar "You use roman numerals, too."

"It's all they use in the circles. Just easier to use what they use." Aurora shrugged.

"Not if I can help it." Lena mumbled. Aurora's brows furrowed in concern.

"Now…" Aurora slid the paper across. "Seeing as how this is the pleasure palace, how about we throw some good ole fashioned American charm at them in the form of music."

"I'm not a very good singer."

"Oh, bless your heart." Aurora smirked.

"I know that's not meant to be a compliment." Lena deadpanned. "Besides, I doubt we know the same songs."

"You like musicals."

"Well...yes."

"Pick one. I'm from the heart of Country music but that don't mean I didn't study the music of the Big Apple."

Lena leaned back. "Would the band know how to play along?"

"They're pretty good at improvisation."

"Hmm." Lena clicked her tongue against her teeth looking to the dwindled audience as Sebastian and Nathaniel with rosy cheeks sat back down. Sebastian sent her a wanton smile, mouthing her title. "Have you ever heard of Chicago?"

Aurora's slow smile was all that she needed. "Which song?"

"When You're Good to Mama."


Lena giggled as she led the way out of the amphitheatre. Aurora picking up a modified Cell Block Tango. She could hear women giggling over the lyrics and snorted as she made her way through the corridors.

Behind her trailed one enthralled client and his best friend. She sent a look over her shoulders as she skipped. She was an in a positively grand mood. And, if she could admit it, was in the mood too. Which pleased Sebastian greatly. He hovered close enough for him to breathe her in. He was close enough that she only had to stop for half a second to give a teasing grope through his trousers.

"We ought to head back to my quarters if both of you keep looking at me like that." Lena turned, walking backwards ahead of them.

"Is that a proposition, Mama?" Sebastian's burr came rumbling out. His dark gaze heady and lips wet. Lena snapped her mouth shut knowing she had invited the title be used more publicly with her song selection.

"For a price, it can be." Lena cooed back as she made a right.

"But Mama-" Nathaniel snorted over the title, his face unable to remain serious. "There are two of us, how will you ever manage to appease the both of us at once? Especially given our..." Nathaniel looked at Sebastian. "...shared predicaments."

"I'm fairly confident in my abilities." she turned and raked her gaze down both of them to their crotches. She stepped to them both. "I am quite skilled at multitasking, as you should know by now." Her hands trailed up their thighs where she cupped Sebastian, who expected it but Nathaniel's cheeks went red before he glanced up at Sebastian with a silent question of permission. While they had shared a night together, even that night had primarily been focused on Nathaniel.

"Very capable." Sebastian reiterated for his companion.

Nathaniel released a controlled breath as Lena walked away. She turned down another corner. Waiting a moment, he stopped Sebastian.

"You're just the same as always." He shook his head, somewhat disappointed in his friend. "Priesthood hasn't changed you one bit."

"It has, I assure you."

"Yet you're still cohorting around with..." Nathaniel squinted. "...whores."

"No. Just the one."

"Just the one?" Nathaniel started at the implication.

Sebastian opened his mouth to explain but Lena's head popped around the corner.

"You best hurry and follow, else if you take too long I may have all the fun with myself." Lena teased and laughed as she disappeared around the corner again.

"I will explain. One day perhaps but… Mama doesn't like to be kept waiting." Sebastian urged as he followed after the Madame. Nathaniel could only shake his head as he trailed after them.

Lena could hear their hurried footsteps behind her as she skipped through the corridors. Her feet light as she giggled. Perhaps she drank a bit too much coke, but she was absolutely giddy at the possibility of having two men to command in bed again. Images of Sebastian on his knees servicing her and Nathaniel behind Sebastian seeking pleasure in him, made her hot under her collar at least until a sound had her pause.

"You will do as I say, wench." A slap echoed down the corridor and Lena stopped skipping as there came a muffled scream. It was a splash of frigid cold water.

"Please- no- mmhhmmm."

"Oooh so slick and wet."

Lena's blood ran cold as she heard another slap, this one obscene and familiar.

"You're enjoying this, I can see it in your face."

Lena stepped as quietly as she could toward the sound. A pair of bodies could be seen in a distant alcove. Her gaze on the reflective green elven eyes that were staring out dead into the world.

"Ah, bit of a voyeur are you? Madame?" Nathaniel snickered behind her. Lena lowered her chin.

"Reminds me of my younger days back home." Sebastian whispered, so as not to disturb the couplet. Lena snapped her gaze at him.

"I refuse to believe there is any part of that castle that you haven't partook in or on with the servants." Nathaniel joked.

Lena's fists clenched.

"Ah, that only continued until I was a young man. My parents forbade me from distracting the servants. Pity really." Sebastian mused.

"We have to stop him." Lena growled.

Both men laughed, but upon seeing her serious expression, "What?" they mirrored each other. Lena hissed and went to move forward. Sebastian grasped her arm, stilling her. She glared until he let go.

Her steps were lighter, movements practiced in shifting her body so as not to draw the eye. Too many nights walking in the dark trying not to alert her mother across the hall and then trying not to wake the other whores in the Rose. It wasn't enough as she was no bard or rogue so she made noise, yet neither participant of the assault in progress noticed. Not until she was bearing down on them. The serving girl's eyes widened at Lena who grasped the nobleman's shoulders and with every bit of strength she had in her, tossed the man down to the floor. Selena pounced on top of him, and pressed the dagger she removed from her corset to his throat.

"Men like you disgust me." Were her first words, they growled and reverberated around the stone. The faint blue glow of her eyes were the last thing the man saw before she gripped his hair and smacked his head against the stone. He let out a shout and groan as she did it again.

She hadn't secured his arms in her anger. He pushed her off. She went flying back. The nobleman scrambled up.

"What is the meaning of this?! If the Propser hears about this."

"Lord Montford will not find out about this." Athenril's voice was as smooth as the daggers she pressed two daggers against him. One at his neck and the other at his back. "Not unless you wish your father to know of your extended visit to the Retreat."

"Who do you think you are? I am-"

"Childless." Lena snarked as she stood up, leering at him. She eyed Athenril and the dagger the elf held up to his throat.

"What?"

"You. Are. Childless." Lena growled and used the heel of her palm to hit him in his solar plexus. He grunted and doubling over giving Lena an unprotected shot at his nose and then groin. Her right hand heel went right to his nose, breaking it and then she spared no expense at dealing a double blow to his groin. Athenril smirked as she hefted the man back and whispered in his ear.

"You best run off before your father finds out. Or perhaps Lord La Foix should take a special interest in your affairs." Athenril added.

"Non!" The man shivered.

"Get. Lost." Lena spat and the nobleman ran off. Athenril and Lena watched him go in silence, an unspoken camaraderie between them as they nodded. Athenril stepped around Lena to help the girl cover her modesty. Lena left her to it, not used to consoling others.

"You should have let them be." Sebastian spoke once he and Nathaniel caught up.

"They were just having fun." Nathaniel shrugged.

"Didn't look very fun for her." Selena hissed.

"Oh that's just the way they are." Nathaniel grinned.

"Submissive." Sebastian grinned at Lena in that way he knew she liked. When she didn't return it, his brows furrowed.

"They don't start to moan and wiggle until you give them a few swats." Nathaniel explained.

"You cannot be serious." Lena ground out.

"You of all people should know this." Nathaniel exasperated.

"Excuse me?" Lena snapped.

"You're a-" Sebastian cleared his throat when her glare pierced him into silence.

"A Madame." Nathaniel's finished. "A whore."

"Yes. So that means I know what a face should look like when they are willing and enjoying it."

"She's just an elf." Nathaniel shrugged. "You know elven girls. They all want it."

"Just an elf? Just an elf?! I suppose I'm just a dwarf."

"You're different. You're not like the other dwarves I've met." Sebastian tried.

Lena's neck gave an audible crack when she turned to Sebastian. Not like other dwarves. Not like other Hispanics. Not like other Mexicans, Not like other Puerto Ricans. Not like other girls. Not like other women.

"What are the other dwarves like per say?" Lena snapped. "You know what, no. Don't answer that." Lena growled. Her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger.

"You should have let them be. The purpose of the Chateau is to grant privacy to do what you want. It was rude to interrupt." Nathaniel tried to reason with her on an etiquette basis.

"Rude? Rude to interrupt him molesting her?!" She hissed in a harsh whispered breath. "Rude to stop him from raping her?"

"She liked it. Didn't you?" Nathaniel poised the question to the shivering elf. There was no response. Nathaniel gave a frustrated sigh. "He wasn't doing anything wrong. That's what she's there for." Nathaniel tried to calm her anger but her head snapped back in offense.

"What she's there for?" Lena took a forced breath, suddenly remembering what she'd caught him almost doing the night before. "Like she's just a piece of meat? Is that it? Like she was nothing but a warm cunt and pair of tits for you to fuck whenever you want?"

"I wouldn't put it so crassly-" Nathaniel wrinkled his nose, affronted by her language.

"Wouldn't put it so crassly?!" Her voice rose, left hand clenching at a phantom neck. "So if I were to say that you're only good for fucking - to be just a dick for my pleasure." She spat at him, hand in her corset. "Would that be so crass? Would you enjoy that sort of thought and treatment about you?"

"Well, I wouldn't mind such a life. Aye Sebastian?" Nathaniel smirked and nudged Sebastian but the Royal Archer didn't agree with him. He was quiet, drawing back.

"You wouldn't mind?" She gave a cruel laugh. "Oh...well then let's make your dream come true." Lena advanced on him with as much force as she could until his back hit the wall. Her dagger pressed to his groin. He shouted but stilled once he felt where it pressed against. "I'll just cut off your dick then. Seeing as how that's all you're good for." She growled.

"Lena-" His throat clenched with fear.

"Oh...you don't like that do you? Don't like to be thought of as just your parts. Welcome to the fucking club." She withdrew, disgust in her snarl as she backed up. She thought it was done, thought he got the point. She thought wrong.

"She's here to perform a service. A service that man was enjoying and you-" Nathaniel now was angry and pointing at her. His male bravado giving him the courage. He didn't have his sword on him or dagger. He thought he'd be safe. "You interrupted. Do you even know what it's like to be denied-"

Lena rolled her eyes, already knowing where he was going. "Release? Satisfaction?" She gestured around them, to herself, to Athenril, to even the elven girl now covered up. "All the fucking time. But that doesn't mean we violently seek out men to get our release. Most of us don't fucking force men to have sex with us, because it's wrong. Because it's not how we want to be treated." Lena jabbed her dagger in the air. "But I guess you missed that part of my reciprocity song."

"We make you release when we do. You've orgasmed on me." Nathaniel spat at her. "And I seem to recall you fondling me under the table not some nights ago."

"And if you'd said no at any given time. I would have stopped." Lena spat back. "That's the difference. You say no, and the woman is supposed to back off. But if a woman says no- Oh, it's not what she really means. I'll make her want it. It's not rape if she orgasms. "

"That's right." Nathaniel pounced up, thinking she was agreeing with him. "If she has an orgasm, she wanted it." Nathaniel smirked, as though he had her beat. "Just like you did. Sebastian paid you to perform that service. You wanted it, didn't she Sebastian." Nathaniel looked to his friend for some backup but Sebastian was silent, contemplative and distant.

"Oh my fucking god." Lena wanted to punch him. "You realize, it is my job to know how best to make someone orgasm. I've studied the body and let me tell you boy, you don't even have to want it to be able to orgasm. And it's not like a woman hasn't ever faked an orgasm before." Lena growled.

"Fake an orgasm?" Nathaniel sputtered and rolled his eyes. "No one can fake an orgasm."

Lena raised a brow at him, her anger nearly dying at the ridiculousness of his assumption. Instead she took a steadying breath and met his eye. "Oh can't they?"

Crude and overzealous she increased the intake of her breath. The anger almost all but gone in her body language. "Ooh." She moaned, never once breaking eye contact with him. Lips wet with a flick of her tongue as she gave another moan, chest heaving. "Hmmm. Ah-Ah… Nnngh. Yes. Ooooh fuck yessss uh-uh!" Lena did her best impression of her own orgasm, sounds, hisses, and all.

Sebastian looked up with shock and recognition. He knew those sounds, knew them from every Tuesday. Her sounds grew in pitch, in fever until she stopped, all the while staring Nathaniel down. He was gobsmacked.

Lena gave an exaggerated bow for her performance. "A woman can fake an orgasm if it will make her attacker go away faster. If they think she wants it, maybe he'll get off faster, maybe it won't hurt so much anymore."

The silence in the hall was deafening after that. The elven girl had her hands pressed to her ears and Athenril was wiping away the fluids from her thighs.

For another moment, Lena thought he got the point this time for sure. He had to - until.

"You were paid."

"What?"

"You were paid for a service and you did what you had to-"

"Are you fucking kidding me-"

"To get us off. If that means you faked your orgasm, so be it. But you still did your job. Her job is also to provide that service."

"Her job is to be a servant."

"At the pleasure palace."

"Oh. So sorry, your lordship." Lena ramped up the sarcasm. "Didn't realize she was a slave with no choice in the matter."

"She's not a slave. She is paid." Nathaniel snapped back at her.

"Right… she's paid." She gestured at the girl. "So she's paid to be slapped?" The elven girl flinched, causing both men to look her way. "To be harassed? Molested? Raped ?" The girl let out a whimper and curled into Athenril's side. The words were a splash of cold water to Sebastian as he paled and looked down, ashamed. "Did that really look like someone who enjoyed it? Oh wait, let me make it easier for you. Imagine if she was a noblewoman. Imagine if she was your sister or your mother. Imagine if she was human."

"She could have said no." Nathaniel crossed his arms, but there was an uncomfortable tenseness to his shoulders at her last words.

"Is she really allowed to say no in this situation? Or does her job hinge on enduring the master's guests? Is there compensation for such additional unwilling services?" Lena bared her teeth. When there was no response, no indication of a change of thought in Nathaniel's demeanor she shook her head. The air was beyond thick with tense "You should leave."

"I will not be ordered around by some upstart dwarfess. You will show me respect. I am the son of Lord Rendon Howe of-"

"And the apple fell straight down from that family tree. You're exactly like your father." Lena spat back. "Leave."

"I will do no such thing." Nathaniel growled.

"I SAID LEAVE." Lena roared. Her eyes flashed blue and the world trembled and quaked.

Nathaniel drew back as if shocked. Sebastian gave a strangled groan but began to leave nonetheless. Nathaniel gaped at her, mouth and eyes wide.

Lena just barely caught her own reflection. The familiar lyrium blue glow of her eyes should have spiked her heart rate in fear but she turned back on Nathaniel. With a guttural growl, she advanced on him. He fled the scene in the direction Sebastian went.

Once they were out of sight, Lena's tensed shoulders dropped with a heavy sigh. She turned toward Athenril,

"Please…" whimpered the servant. Lena looked back at her as she cowered into the corner of the alcove.

"It's okay." She said and sheathed her dagger, slipping it back into her corset. "It's alright. We're not going to hurt you."

"It is not you I worry about." Came her simpering words, tears at her. "The Duke-"

"The Duke will do nothing." Athenril said as she knelt by her. "Not about this." Athenril looked at Lena.

"How do you know that?" Lena asked slow. By Athenril's grim expression, Lena didn't want to know.

"Come, we should get her to our quarters." Athenril stood.

"Wait, shouldn't we take her to the servant's quarters?" Lena asked.

Athenril shook her head. "No. Dip will want to know about this."


"Sylvia!" Serendipity rushed into Lena's quarters, falling to her knees besides the elven girl.

Lena had been curious why Serendipity needed to be informed, until that moment. The resemblance was uncanny, down to the shape of their eyes and even jaw structure.

"She's your daughter?" Lena gawked as Denier stepped into the room as well with a frown.

"Mother!" Sylvia sobbed and let Dip wrap her up.

"Oh by the Maker, Lena, thank you. Thank you." Serendipity kissed each of Sylvia's cheeks, checking her over. "He didn't…" The question was left open and Sylvia shook her head. "Thank you."

"So…" Denier nudged Lena who was perched on the furthest chair, watching the exchange. "Who was it?"

"Truthfully, don't care. Some noble prick."

"Yes, well you might not care but a nobleman's son is attacked for touching an elf. Someone will pay, and it'll be the servants, unless he waits till Kirkwall, then it will be the alienage." Denier grumbled. "Damn humans."

Lena sent him a frown. "Hadn't thought of that."

"Thats cause humans won't touch dwarves, not like that. But elves…" Denier frowned.

"Free game." Lena sighed rubbing her temples. "Fuck. He just kept saying if his father hears about this… freaking Malfoy."

"Malfoy?"

"Uh...not his name." Lena waved off. "Shit...Athenril threatened him like she knew him."

"She probably does then." Denier stepped toward Dip and Sylvia, kneeling down. "You okay?"

"Now I am, father." Sylvia muttered and slowly reached toward Denier's arms, where he tucked her against his chest.

"Father?" Lena's eyes popped wide open, staring at Sylvia. She noticed the girl's dress was ripped and stained. She hadn't seen how far the man had gotten with her, but she knew there was emergency sap - just in case. She didn't want to ask how far. The matter was delicate enough without her being insensitive, so she turned away and headed for the bedroom. There should be concentrated witherstalk sap in her lockbox.

The room was dark but she knew where it was. Stepping low, she grabbed it only to pause when she saw Dopey scurry.

"Hey there buddy. Might want to stay in here." She cooed, only it hissed at her. Legs curling under and body shivering. "What's wrong?" Lena reached a hand out but stopped upon seeing the glowing lyrium blue sweat droplets on her hand.

Stumbling back, she looked at both her hands. The sweat building up. "What the…" her hand pressed to her forehead came back wet and clammy.

Hands shaking, she shook her head and opened her lockbox. Quickly locating the concentrated sap, she stood on shaky legs. The dark room swayed.

"Hey." She called out as she stepped out of the room. "Give her some of this...just...just incase." She held out the bottle as Athenril walked in. Denier stood to grab the bottle but Lena wasn't paying attention, instead Athenril locked eyes with her. Athenril gasped clutching her chest in pain. "I don't feel so go-"


NOTES: Thank you guys for being patient with me.

This chapter has been in the works since... bloody hell forever ago. And I hate that I haven't finished this 'Chateau Haine' book in 2017 and I am paying for it now. Lots of IRL stuff went down the last three months. My last semester at school, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and the craziness of the company I work for fully transitioning to our new parent company's system, and of course Holiday stuff.

Some of you will be shocked by the development in this chapter. The blatant racist and sexist behavior by Nathaniel and Sebastian, but I want ya'll to remember way back. When Sebastian first purchased Lena. He didn't ask her what she wanted, merely assumed she had to do her job. Even going so far as to chase her around the room. Also remember Sebastian (and Nathaniel) are rich nobility. Those sorts got away with a lot. We like to think that our favorites couldn't possibly be that way but given the environment, the clear prejudice against the poor and elves, they would have been raised to not see them as a full person. Sure later on they do, but it's akin to the same sorts of people who go "Oh all brown people are wetbacks, but Jose down the street... no no he's hard working." the whole "Not my n*gro/sp*c" sentiment.

Remember this when looking back on this chapter. They always seem nice, that they wouldn't be racist or sexist, up until you see them treat others like you. Or even others different from you and them. That's what I was trying to show with this chapter. And also how old friends from those environments can bring out the really bad behaviors in you. Nathaniel is that sort, even though Sebastian was the one committing and encouraging those types of behaviors back in the castle.

You didn't think Lena was the only one like her did you? Well here ya go. More on the others...eventually.

REVIEWS:

whrr. trudy: I like to take established canon and see what I can extend to make it a bit interesting. I mean they do have vampires in universe. Hunger demons possessing bodies or the undead. I just wanted to take magic as far as it could supernaturally go in terms of the living without being Undead. Oh there is a lot about our dwarf but I enjoy writing stuff that is happening around her, even if she doesn't know about it. So many crazy things. A whole lot of crazy things happen. I will sneak as many people from canon as I can, where it applies.

coduss: lol... yes Sebastian drunk is a doof. But also an asshole doof. Lovely Sebastian.

twinbuster2: thank you kindly! I'm glad you enjoy the details and realism.

Jemstone6259: We will be seeing more of Iron Bull. Though not while in Chateau Haine. And there may be something quite saucy eventually.

Thank you again for being patient and for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it!