Chapter Five

Bitter Dissent

(SMUTTY SMUT)


We did not make it back to Kirkwall that night; why? Because we were attacked by fucking Slavers.

Axel and Alano closed rank on me, and I was standing in front of Fenris.

"Stop right there! You are in possession of stolen property! Back away from the slave and you will be spared." As they didn't clarify who the slave was, and all my guards were briefed on my past in case we had an over-night stay out of city walls, the Templars stepped in front of me.

Hawke, knowing who they were after, shouted, "Fenris is a Free Man!"

"I will not repeat myself; back away from the slave!"

"You idiot; you just did repeat yourself!" I shouted.

Fenris roared, "I am not your slave!" and began glowing.

When it was over and all 21 slavers were dead – 6 of them had been mages – Fenris approached the only one still somewhat alive.

Grasping the man by the hair and yanked his head back, growling, "Where is he?"

"P-please don't kill me!" Fenris bashed the mans' face into the sand and shouted, "Where?!"

"I don't know; I don't know, I swear! Hadriana brought us! She's in the holding caves just north of the city; I can show you!"

Fenris growled, "No need, I know the ones you speak of," and slit the man's throat. Axel looked sick. "You're going to allow that?"

"If we had let that man live, Axel, he'd just kill us. You may be Templars, but you're no match against a surprise attack."

Alano grunted, "She's right, Axe. He was a blood mage, anyway; death was all that awaited him." Axel nodded.

Fenris growled as he got back to us. "Hadriana… I was a fool to believe she wouldn't be involved in this. They'll never leave me be!"

"Then why are we standing around, love? As Templars, these men have a sworn duty to hunt down Maleficarum. Let's go!"

Fenris gave me a feral grin and nodded. Axel sighed but Alano shouted, "I love this job!"

Only 15 slavers guarded the entrance, and as such, they were easily dealt with.

Fenris stopped us at the mouth of the cave. "We must be careful; there were many of these holdings once, especially in the mountains, where slavers kept individual pens. They were designed to protect against raids by fellow slavers. No doubt that's why Hadriana chose this location…"

Hawke snorted, "Maybe she wanted to re-decorate; add a few flowers or a nice painting…"

Fenris and I spoke at once, "She's not a 'flowers' kind of person."

"Let's hope this isn't a waste of time," Axel sighed. I handed him a mountain dew. He and Alano looked at me suspiciously so I took it, opened it and used the waterfall method to take a drink; showing it was safe. Axel sipped it and soon finished it.

"That was amazing!"

"A drink from my homeland. It's almost completely sugar with some liquid mixed in somewhere. You looked like you needed a pick-me-up. Cullen's had those before…" I sighed and hand one to Alano who took it and began drinking at once.

We fought our way through the twisting cave – obviously it was nothing like in the games – killing any slaver, demon or skeletons we came across.

Nar the center of the twisting tunnels, we ran into Orana, the blonde slave girl with green eyes and lightly tanned skin. She was so… pretty; her cheekbones and lips having the perfect symmetry…

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" Fenris asked, helping the woman to stand. I pulled out some food and a water-skin.

"They've been… killing everyone! They cut papa, bled him…" she sobbed as I covered her in a blanket and handed her the provisions.

She sipped at the water but seemed scared to try the food until I nudged the jerky toward her some more.

"Why… why would they do this?" Fenris asked softly, kneeling beside me.

"The Magister…! She said she needed more power, that someone was coming to kill her. We tried to be good… we did everything we were told. She loved papas soup; I don't understand," she cried softly, as though the noise of her sobs would offend us.

I pulled her into a hug, softly whispering that she would be okay. "This has been terrible for you…" Hawke sounded sick so I looked up and followed his gaze. She had a nasty cut on her face so I placed a finger to it, sending healing magic into it. She widened her eyes, "You… you would waste your magic on me?"

"Honey… I used to be a slave. This is no waste."

Her eyes watered as she hugged me.

"Everything was fine until today…" she muttered. "It wasn't, baby girl; you just didn't know. I will take care of you, honey; make your way to my mansion in Hightown, I will be giving you a job. I don't keep slaves, and you'll be free to leave at any time. As part of the deal, you will be educated…" Fenris looked at me with a smile.

"She is a wonderful teacher; she taught me." Fenris' smooth voice was calming even to a scared slave woman.

"R… really?" she sniffed. "I give you my word, hun. I am unable to tell you anything that is not true. I will care for you as family, house you, clothe you, and feed you…" I gave her my address and she ambled off with Alano, who was taking it upon himself to make sure she arrived safe.

"Thank you for that…" Fenris muttered as he held me close. "Alright, love, don't go getting mushy on me now, we still have a Maleficar to kill," I winked and danced away from him, stopping only long enough to grab the Tevinter Chantry amulet for Anders that was on one of the fallen slaver body-guards. I tucked it into my pocket as I grabbed the lute from the same guards' hands so I wouldn't seem suspicious.

"What is that?" Axel asked. "Orana plays the Lute… this is hers." I shrugged and strapped it to my back.

As we entered the last room, I heard a screechy voice shout, "You've made a terrible mistake coming here, slave!"

Fenris growled and shouted back, "Not as much as you have, witch!" I giggled and danced around the room as Axel used smite on the Tevinter bitch. She screamed in pain and turned to the side as she wobbled. It was totally cheating to bring a Templar to a Mage fight.

She collapsed and we focused on the rest of the guards. When they were all dead, Fenris approached the bitch with his sword at the ready. She groaned and scrambled back, shouting "Stop; you don't want me dead!"

"There is only one person I want dead more," Fenris growled but I placed a hand on his shoulder. He lowered his sword at once.

"I have information, elf, and I will trade it in return for my life."

"Oh, the location of Denarius; what good will that do me? I'd rather he lose his per pupil." Fenris growled but made no move as I knelt before her.

"Tell us where his sister is, and I won't kill you." I felt Fenris stiffen beside me.

Hadriana smirked when she heard Hawkes stage whisper – 'she can't lie… why would she promise that?'

Hawke had caught on to my words.

"Varania is a servant in Qarinus serving a Magister by the name of Ahriman; she's not a slave, Fenris…"

Fenris leaned down as I moved aside. "I told you I would not kill you, Hadriana… I made no promises about Fenris." She looked at me in horror for a split second before Fenris ripped her heart out.

"Fenris…"

"I don't want to talk about it," I flinched at his harsh words. Then he sighed and turned to me. "This could be a trap… Denarius could have…"

"Varania really is your sister, Fenris."

"Trying to find her would be suicide! He has to know about her and has to know that Hadriana knew! All that matters right now is that I got to crush her heart. May she rot and…"

"And all the other mages with her… right?"

"Not all. You are a good one, at least…" I had told everyone that as far as any Templar could see, Hawke was throwing daggers not spells. The arsenal he always carried was good for that.

I placed a hand on his shoulder as he looked away, "Maybe we should leave…"

"I don't need you to comfort me!" he shouted and turned to me, "You saw what was done here. There will always be some reason – some excuse – why most mages need to do this! Even if I found my sister… do you know what they have done to her?!" I nodded and he reeled back and spoke once more, softly this time, "I… I need to go."

He walked out of the room, and I felt Hawke hug me from behind.

"It will be okay, Ara."

"I know, Hawke."


We set camp after that, since the sky was dark and I was exhausted. I cooked Chipotle Chicken pasta – after making sure everyone was okay with spice. Varric and Bela were baking bets on who could eat the most, so I made a large batch.

Axel slept in Hawkes room – Hawke had said he'd sleep in mine with me since I was sure that I would get no sleep if I was alone.

The next morning we made it back to Kirkwall, and walking into the House I was yanked into strong arms, my face against armor as I smelled Cullens' unique scent.

"I was worried when I came… back last night and the only ones here were Alano and the woman he brought back."

"Orana; she's my new servant. She can cook and clean for your men, but no one is to make unwanted advances. She's new to freedom…"

"She was…" I nodded and handed the elven woman her Lute when she got close enough. I also handed her a gold piece, "Your starting bonus. This is what you'll receive every two weeks but I figure you need some money for clothes… Alano seems quite taken with you, so I'm sure he'd be willing to take you to the market. I have another gold piece to buy food to feed the small army we're housing."

I passed her the second gold piece and a magically made a cart appear for her to cart things from the market.

"Than… thank you, mistress!" her green eyes were open wide and I smiled. "No one calls me Mistress, sweetie; my name is Ara." She blushed and nodded before heading off to find Alano.

Cullen growled and hugged me again. "If you keep this up, Knight-Captain, I will begin to think you harbor feelings for me…"

"Sod it, I've told you I harbor feelings for you. Axel, report."

"We were delayed on our way back from the Dalish camp by Maleficar Slavers attempting to… retrieve Lady Couslands Elven friend, Fenris. We preformed our duty, Captain and left no Blood Mage alive."

Cullen stiffened. "You took a detour to…"

"Come off it, love. They would have taken me if we hadn't…" it was true. The next step, rather than a city ambush, would have been to take me after observing that Fenris lived with me.

"Fine… how many blood mages were there?"

"Total enemies: 62 – Mages: 20." I rattled off, even telling him how many were male vs. female.

"Er… right. And how many mages was Alano there for?" Cullen asked.

"12…" I shrugged.

"Right; I'll get that report to Meredith. There's a reward for Templars who take care of Maleficar in the line of duty. 50 silver a head. The reward might be a promotion this time however… so many Blood Mages with a Mage witness means there's no doubt to it."

"They'd deserve it! You should have seen your men, Cullen… I mean Knight-Captain… Alano is amazing with his daggers and Axel… I've only seen two other men move so fast with a Great-sword and one of them was Qunari!"

"Just… call me Cullen when we're at home…" I smiled up at him; he'd called it home!


Fenris arrived later that night. I threw myself into his arms and he hugged me back. I felt Cullens' presence near-by and knew he was watching.

"I've been… thinking about what happened yesterday. I took out my anger on you; undeservedly so. I was… not myself; I'm sorry, Ara," He sighed as he pulled away.

"Fenris… I mean, I knew you'd be okay, but I was still terrified that something would happen…" I looked down.

"Yes… I needed to be alone. When I was still a slave, Hadriana was a torment. She would ridicule me, deny my meals, and hound my sleep. I was powerless to stop her because of her status, and she knew it. The thought of slipping out of my grasp now… I couldn't let her go. I wanted to, but I couldn't."

I nodded, "I know, Fenris."

"Bah! I did not come her to burden you further," he hissed at himself.

I snorted. "If you leave, I will follow you. No way am I letting you be alone tonight, love." I felt rather than heard Cullen hiss a breath.

I placed my hand on Fenris' arm though his back was to me. A moment later, I was slammed against the wall. I smirked even as I heard Cullen unsheathe his sword and move forward.

I wrapped my arms around Fenris' shoulders and brought him down for a kiss. He growled against my lips, his hand coming up to cup my cheek.

Cullen was frozen and I moaned as Fenris moved his kiss to my neck. "Unless… you're okay with… an audience or… an extra participant… we should…" I cut off my words as I whimpered in response to his growl of dominance.

"If he is joining us, then he'd better hurry…" Fenris made sure his words were loud enough to be heard by our… audience as he lifted me – I would never get used to being lifted; the men in Thedas were so damn strong.

"I hope he does, but I think he's a bit… shy." I noticed the glint of his armor retreating to his office, and I knew I was right.

The moment we were in the bedroom, he closed the door with his leg and deposited me on the bed. I was wearing shorts and a tank top – Cullen had turned red when he saw it and dashed for his office, much to the amusement of his recruits.

Fenris was glowing as he unhooked his armor, his gauntlets dropping to the floor, and I stripped off my tank top. "If you don't hurry, my love, I will start without you…" I groaned, laying back on the bed and slipping from my shorts.

He hissed a breath, "No small clothes?"

I shook my head as my own fingers pinched at my nipples. I watched him rush to unhook his chest piece. As it dropped to the floor, my hand slid lower and brushed against my mound.

I was staring, his chest was amazingly fit. He didn't have a 'pack' of as like Alistair, but h was just as fit. He did, however, have that amazing 'V' that many women went wild for – myself included. He kicked off his boots.

He was watching me as two of my fingers slipped to play with my clit. He removed his greaves with practiced movements.

Soon he was there, kissing me as he lay beside me on the bed. His hand came up to replace mine and I moved to suck my fingers clean. He growled and captured my fingers between his lips. I felt my hips jerk in arousal as his tongue swirled my fingers.

"Fenris… I have to warn you… if we do this… oh Goddess," he had leaned in and took my nipple into his mouth, nipping at it before moving kisses up my chest to my neck.

"What are… 3 years ago, you mentioned kinks…" he breathed against my ear. I shook my head.

"This time… just us, no… kinks…" I moaned as he nibbled my earlobe.

He removed his fingers from within me and I whimpered in disappointment.

My hand wandered down his chest as I sat up. "I love you," I whispered as my hand closed around his length. He was only slightly thicker than Alistair and about an inch shorter – 8 inches that were perfectly tanned showing his skin tone was natural. Like Alistair, he was also circumcised; I'd asked Wynne about that one, only to learn that it was how men were born… unless they were a dwarf; only Dwarves had the foreskin.

"Festis bei umo canavarum," he hissed at me.

"And you'll be the death of me, Amatus," I kissed him.

When I pulled away, he was looking at me in curiosity and lust, a strange combo. "You know how to speak Tevene?" I nodded, "A few words and phrases, nothing more."

I was suddenly pinned beneath him, my hand forced to release him. "Translate this: Na Amatus Via Somniar." He growled. Amatus was an endearment similar to Vhenan in Elvhen.

"Only Amatus lives in Dreams?"

"Only my Love lives in my dreams," he whispered as he lined himself up with me. I spoke in the language of the Fae, "I give you my heart, and may you hold it well."

He growled and thrust, ripping a cry from my throat as I moved my hips to meet his. I felt a warming sensation on my upper right arm as my tattoo gained an addition that I would have to look at later.

"Fenris!" I whimpered as he moved on hand to rest next to my hip and hold him up, and his other pinched at my nipples. "Ara," he growled against my neck before nipping it.

"Ha… harder. I love… being bitten," I panted, my hands resting on his chest.

He obliged, and I felt the tips of his canine teeth dig in to my neck. I felt my fingers rake across his back.

The hand that had once played with my breasts now ventured to slip beneath me, pulling me close to him. I brought one leg to wrap around his waist as he groaned my name in that deep voice that I loved so much.

I kissed his neck, causing him to gasp. "Do it…"

I nipped, lightly at first, before getting slightly rougher when I heard his approving growl when he thrust harder than before.

"Yes! Fuck… I love it hard…" I whimpered.

I was startled when he pulled his hand from behind me only to gather my hands, pinning them above me. I bit my lip as my head tilted back. I wrapped my second leg around his waist and rolled my hips, causing him to grunt and release my hands, moving to steady himself before moving harder and faster.

My hands came down to grip onto his upper arms, feeling a surprising warmth flood my tattoo, sealing my theory.

I was getting so close, and cried out, "Fenris… goddess, please…"

His hand reached between us, two of his long fingers finding my clit causing me to scream in pleasure.

I was positive I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips before he leaned in and kissed me. I cried out with my peak, and he brought his fingers away from my sensitive area, brushing them across his lips before smirking at me and once more cleaning them with his mouth.

He growled, his head leaning down to press his forehead into my neck as his thrusting reached a fever-pitch. He was getting there. He bit into my neck and grunted as he filled me.

He collapsed to my side and I snuggled into him after using magic to clean up. "I love you…" I muttered before I yawned and fell asleep.


The next morning, I was really hoping I was still asleep when I saw Fenris, sully dressed in his armor staring into the fireplace.

"Fen… Fenris?" I whispered, hoping I was wrong. "Was it… was it bad?"

"I'm sorry, it's not… it was fine." I flinched, "No… that is insufficient. It was better than anything I could have ever dreamed."

"Fenris… what…"

"I began to remember… my life before… it was just flashes, but it's too much. I can't… do this." He looked away and I felt tears well in my eyes. I was hoping… I had been blocking most of the visions, but… maybe I would have seen that nothing changed…

"I've never remembered anything before; to have it all come back in a rush then just be… gone… I can't…" I heard his voice crack with unshed tears.

"Fenris, please… don't leave me…" I whispered, knowing that if I spoke much louder, I would cry.

"I'm sorry… I feel like such a fool. All I wanted was to be happy… just for a little while. I can't expect you to forgive me… but I hope, one day, you will." With that he walked out, leaving the door cracked open by accident.

I covered myself with my blanket but couldn't bring myself to use my magic to clothe myself or close the door. I sat there on my bed, sobbing.

"Fenris said… what happened; what did he do?" Cullen growled as he walked into the room, and took in the fact that I was sobbing.

"He left me… I… I wasn't enough, was I? I should have… known," I whimpered as I felt my heart break. Cullen sat on the bed beside me and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don't think it was you, Ara… did you have new inks added?" he asked, pointing to my arm. I know he was trying to cheer me up, but that just made me sob harder.

I looked at it. The black and red heart, surrounded by an infinity sign, had gained two miniature hearts, one dangling at each end – one for each mate I had taken. I had no doubt that if I took a third mate, there would be one more heart hanging from the tip of the heart.

He panicked and pulled me into a hug… only then did I notice he was only in his arming shirt and greaves… he looked like he hadn't had a chance to pull on his boots or chest piece.

I was clinging to him when there was a knock at the door.

"Er… what is it?" Cullen asked looking up to the doorway… that he'd left open.

"There is a… messenger at the door with a package for Lady Cousland… to be delivered to her hands only," I heard Axels voice and looked up.

"Are you alright, My Lady?" I stood, tucking the blanket around myself in a toga style before trudging my way down the stairs without a word.

I recognized the man at the door as the royal courier and gave a weak smile. "Hello, Thomas, did Alistair send you?"

"Yes, Milady. Package for you, from the King…" I took the parcel and gestured to the interior of the house. "Would you like to stay a night before traveling back?"

He lit up, "That'd be wonderful, milady!"

"Third door on the right is available." He headed off for a well-earned rest and I headed back up to my room. Axel and Cullen had silently followed me the whole time. I sat on my bed and opened the box; it was a dress… with a note. Confused, I looked to the note.

My dearest Wife,

Wear this to the banquet you told me about – the one for this up and coming 'Champion of Kirkwall'… I will be sure to match to it.

Much Love,

Your Husband Alistair Theirin

Despite my grief I smiled. He'd had the dress made in a wonderful crimson color; it was a halter-style with a sweetheart neckline and a ball-gown skirt. The bodice was made in a silk blend and dotted in actual rubies along the sweetheart top and the waist where the layers of sheer black and red taffeta flared out. It had a waist cincher belt built into the fabric so it didn't actually show. Beneath the dress were a pair of black boot heels that ran up to my knees and a pair of crimson gloves that would go up past my elbows. Along with these accessories, there was a shawl that was crimson in the center but faded to black at either end.

"Wife?" Cullen asked, confused and I froze and turned to him, seeing he had picked up the note.

"Er… whatever I am… Axel, close that door; this is confidential information."

"Explain," Cullen sat on the bed and I walked over to my Armoire, letting the dress drop. Cullen and Axel both sputtered as I got dressed. I pulled on black jeans and a black tank top… no shoes or anything else.

"So… whatever I am, I'm not an elf and I'm no longer human like I once was. I can't tell an untruth, I have unique magic… and these," I let my wings out and Cullen shot to his feet.

"Since I came to Thedas, the day of Ostagar falling, I have been something… new. On my home world, there are… stories." For the next 45 minutes, I told them almost everything I knew.

"What does any of this have to do with the King of Ferelden calling you his 'wife'?" Axel asked.

"Well… since coming here, I have felt a specific connection with three men; apparently once the relationship with these men is… consummated, for lack of better word, it binds us. Alistair has a tattoo like this himself, it's been there since he and I… slept together the first time. If either of us touches ours, the other will feel it. Now, I know for a fact that consummating the relationship is what seals it, since… Fenris…"

"He left you after wedding you?" Cullen growled.

"I tried to tell him last night what it would mean, but he was quite focused on… he doesn't know. Until we know more about what I am, however, the world cannot know that Ferelden does have a Queen. Alistair refuses to take another wife and now the Divine is setting up a wedding for m and likely 3 others… Alistair is one of them. Even if we don't know what I am by then, the Divines blessing will be all we need."

"You… you encourage one of your husbands to take another wife?" Axel asked.

"Well, it's only fair. I don't feel jealousy like others do. Polyamory was getting to be more common where I'm from, and I was a… participant. I had a husband and a boyfriend. My boyfriend was actually my best-friend-slash-girlfriends husband. It's… complex."

"Who is the third?" Cullen asked. "What?"

"You said you felt the connection with three men; King Alistair was obviously the first, Fenris was next…"

"Um… Cullen… you're wrong. I resisted Alistair at first… because there was someone I fell in love with first… I didn't feel the connections until I came out of the Fade in Kinlock Hold."

"I almost forgot… your group fought a sloth demon, right?"

"Yes… Cullen, you were the first one I felt the connection with. I teased Alistair, sure… but that's just how I am, you know? I flirt with everyone and there was never any harm in it back… home. I wasn't attractive enough for people to get the wrong idea, and even then I was a former slave… too much baggage. I um…"

"Is that why you have a crown?" Axel pointed to my open Armoire; I rushed over to close it.

"Made by the Dwarven Smith Paragon Caridin and designed by Alistair himself… The Dwarves of Orzammar know who I am, and what I am as much as we do. I have been declared Paragon in my own right, the only non-Dwarven paragon ever recorded. The Dalish named me 'Dirth'len' meaning Secret One or Child of Secrets. The Qunari have named me Katari meaning One Who Brings Death. Before meeting my new brother, Aedan Cousland, I was nothing. Now? Now I am revered among three of this worlds races, while belonging to a race that has yet to reveal itself to the rest. Science confirms that I am now of this world… but what am I?"

I folded my wings. "I have the ability to see the future, but preventing anything comes at too great a cost. If I told you there would be a massacre, you'd want me to stop it right?" they both nodded.

"The victims of that massacre were meant to die, so the deaths must be repaid in kind. I prevented two deaths and I have learned my lesson in the law of equal exchange. I lost Fen, my first Mabari, because I prevented the death of Seneschal Varel at Vigils keep… I lost my unborn child because I prevented the Death of Hawkes sister… think hard, Gentlemen, do you really want me to prevent a massacre when the only two changes I made, caused such innocents to die?"

"What would happen…?" Cullen asked.

"As you saw, Kirkwall will soon have a Champion. I cannot tell you how, but that it will involve death. To prevent these deaths… 412 Children ranging between 3 and 11 would die. When I prevent a death without first putting a fresh choice in place, it seems that the more… innocent suffer. And that would be the short-term effects."

Cullen looked horrified. "Do any children die in the first place?" I shook my head. "The ones who will be at the head of this prefer not to harm children… for their own reasons."

"Will you be… okay tonight?"

"I've gotten used to the nightmares, if that's what you're asking. I'm used to functioning on little to no sleep… I will live. But remember, this information is privileged. The Divine knows, and a handful of others. If they are my friends, then they know, but otherwise…"

They both stood and saluted. "Meredith won't hear of this from me, Ser!" Axel sounded very military in that moment; I smiled. "I know, Lieutenant Axel…"

"Well… I hadn't exactly told him of his promotion yet…" Cullen grinned ruefully. Axel hugged me before asking if we were going out. Forcing a vision, I noticed that Hawke and Anders were currently in the Gallows Dungeon, saving a Mage from a corrupt Templar. I shook my head. "Not today, hun…"