Nyssa stood still, her eyes moving to track the two people she loved most in the world. She was unable to not worry- her heartbeat a frantic pulsing in her own ears- but she knew they were capable fighters.

Still… I should try to go for the others… and yet… her mind warred with her heart, knowing that if something happened to either of them while she was gone, she would never forgive herself.

Not that I am helping much here… she told herself. She didn't know that she had started to move until the human beside her grabbed her shoulder to keep her still.

"The best way to help is to stay safe, and maybe provide a distraction like before," he said quietly from beside her. She nodded, though she didn't turn from the fight before her.

She thought the demons looked like monsters from a nightmare, or even from the old stories she used to hear as a child. And as she stood there praying for her friends' safety, she also wished fervently that she could be a help- instead of someone to be protected.

Not knowing what the right decision was, she decided to follow her instincts and go for help. Both of them couldn't keep this up much longer; Cat still didn't look completely well, and Fenris had been fighting five to one against the humans; had struggled and won- but now there were demons.

"I'm going for help," she said in hushed tones, glancing to the man beside her. Corff looked at the determination on her face and realized there was no point arguing.

"All right," he replied, looking around the room. "Follow me."

Corff crept behind the bar, keeping out of sight until he reached the end, and peeked around the corner. He stuck his arm out to keep her at his side. "Wait until I tell you," he murmured, watching the room. "You will have to go fast, and there may be others outside. Don't stop, don't look back- just keep running," he gave instructions, turning to see if she understood. At her nod, he turned back. Once no one was looking their way, he moved his arm and gave her a nudge. "Now."

Nyssa did as she was told, and ran without looking back. She burst through the pub door, pausing only to wonder for a moment which way Hawke and his crew went.

Cat flowed through the room, constantly on the move, though it was costing her. She was tired down to her bones, and the adrenaline along with the thought of burning to death was the combination keeping her in the fight.

She knew she couldn't win this, not without help. With only her daggers she was a close range fighter , and had to be close to do any significant damage- but fighting a rage demon meant searing heat added to the demon's claws for any that got too close.

Any success she had had against such an enemy before was because of using sneak attacks, stabbing it in the back and retreating. She could even have fought it head on if she was wearing her drakeskin armor, or with just her large blades if necessary- but right now she had neither.

There weren't enough people fighting to distract it from her, so she could sneak around it. In fact it seemed like the demon had marked her, it's blank face of fire never deviating from her and following every movement she made.

That left her with one choice. Keep moving until Fenris could help… and hope that Danarius didn't summon more just yet.

The thought of the mage had her glancing over, seeing the man still inside his protective bubble of magic, and Cat sharply changed direction, barely avoiding a fiery swipe of claws. "Almost got me there, bastard!" she huffed, backing towards the barrier.

She hoped that her thought would work… if only to give her a bit of a reprieve from her constant retreat.

It was difficult, keeping an eye on both the dangerous mage she was moving towards, and the scorching demon that was advancing on her, but it seemed like Danraius was confident in his barrier spell, since he didn't try anything.

She back away more quickly, tucking herself behind the barrier, and hoping the demon's attention would transfer to the mage. She was panting now, as she watched the monster approach the barrier. It seemed to pause and give a look to the mage as he continued to feed mana into his spell, and Cat's lips curved up.

Then it was over, and the monster's head tilted, and looked around the barrier to find her again, the clawed hand coming at her.

"Crap!" she jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack, but felt the singeing on her arm from the heat. "Too close!" she muttered to herself as she back away.

"Foolish girl!" Danarius smirked, though his attention was still on his spell. "You cannot turn this servant against its master!"

"Cat, down!"

She reacted without another thought, falling immediately to the floor in a crouch, bracing with her hands on the floor in front of her. She looked up, seeing the back of Fenris as he finished the swing over her head and striking into the flaming demon.

He was still alight, his tattoos flaming with the blue tint of the lyrium. She panted, trying to get her breath, begging her body to get up, to fight with him, but at that point she could only watch.

He was incredible. His fury was making his swings even more powerful as he stepped back to get a full swing again. Then without stopping, he threw his sword above his head as he leapt up, and swung down with a mighty blow.

She watched, grateful beyond belief, the demon wailing as it disintegrated into ash. Fenris was panting along with her, his sword resting where it had landed on the ground. Cat looked at it, unsurprised to see the large slice made in the firmly packed earth.

She looked up again, as the barrier around the magister disappeared. He stood tall, glaring at the elf for a moment. Then he waved his hand, and Cat could see only a reddish color in it, thinking he was conjuring a fireball. With a sudden movement, he bent forward and blast the spell on the ground.

And disappeared.

Fenris met Cat's eye for a split second as he furiously scanned around the room. "He's moved!" he shouted to her, and she tensed, bringing her daggers up in protection.

There was a clicking noise, almost like the ringing of a shovel against the ground, and Cat's heart plummeted. "It's not over!" she called back, struggling to her feet. "Corpses!"

Fenris moved, putting his back to hers as the corpses began to claw their way out of the ground around them. He could hear the bartender swearing, and he couldn't help but agree.

Then, he looked towards the stairs, and saw the man he had sworn to kill- pulling his sister out of the way and onto the stairs. He flexed his hands, and re-gripped his sword. One of us will not leave here alive, he swore to himself again.

Though he was less certain now which of them it would be as he surveyed the enemies that continued to pop up around them. He glanced back behind him, focusing on Cat's panting. She will not be able to continue much longer, he thought. I need to get her out of here.

"This is not like you."

He looked up at her as she giggled, wondering why he ever thought it charming.

"How would you know?" he asked crossly.

"Come now," she said, shaking her head in a pout as she pulled him along. "You invited me- so shouldn't I do what I came here to do?"

"I no longer need it, as I told you!" he moaned to the sky.

"So dramatic!" she replied happily, her tinkling giggle getting his ire up again.

"Can we not just leave?!" he demanded.

"You think I would leave without saying goodbye?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him as they walked through the archway leading from Hightown into Lowtown. "It is this way, no?" she asked,

"You do not need to say goodbye, you haven't even said hello!" he glared, but continued to walk forward, guiding her even as he tried to talk her out of it.

"Exactly!" she said with smile. "So I'll have to say that too!"

"Argh!" he rolled his eyes unhappily.

She turned her head to him, her smile replaced with a look of steel that he knew very well. "You cannot leave without saying goodbye either, no?" she asked. "You would regret it, and you are one that likes to live without regrets."

"You know me so well, do you?" he countered, glowering.

"Oh yes, very well," she murmured, smiling at him, and he turned away. He knew if he didn't tell her what she wanted to know, she would stay until she figured it out another way.

"Look," he began, and stopped suddenly as he saw someone racing up the path towards them. "Nyssa?!" he said, incredulously, as he recognized the woman.

The small elf turned, and stopped in her tracks. "ZEV?!" she screeched, eyes wide.

Leliana smiled at the look on her friend's face as the beautiful elf came towards him quickly, and as he flinched, expecting to be hit. Instead she grabbed onto him as if steadying herself.

"Please help! Cat! And Fen!" she cried, "They're in trouble!"

Nyssa didn't know what to think of the woman coming with them, but Zevran trusted her, and he had said she was a friend of Cat's. She was dressed in armor, and carried weapons, so she could obviously fight. Now, Nyssa just hoped they got there in time.

She remembered how both he and the woman had looked upset at her earlier cry, but had immediately gone blank, as if assessing the situation. He had only looked at her, told her, "of course, lead the way."

Nyssa had looked at the woman, and he said, "she's a friend of Cat's too." He had turned her, and asked where they were, as he grabbed her hand.

"The Hanged Man," she managed to reply as he pulled her into a light jog.

And so she led them there, though in actuality Zevran was keeping her pace with his. "Shouldn't we run faster?" she asked again, shaking her head from the memory and looking up to where Zevran moved beside her.

"We need to know what we are getting into," he replied. They were nearing their destination now, and he slowed into a fast paced walk. "Now tell me everything that happened."

Their faces were grim as she explained about the mage and his men, how the men were beaten, and then the mage calling the demons.

Zevran looked to woman who nodded. She turned to Nyssa, "Are there any others in there? Innocent bystanders that got caught in the fight?" she asked.

"N-no," Nyssa replied thinking back. "Cat mentioned something about not seeing any of the regulars in the place, once Hawke and the others left. It was just me, and the human manning the bar. I am not certain if others are still in their rooms."

"Very well," she replied, pulling out her bow. She turned to Zevran and asked, "What is the plan?"

He grabbed his daggers as well, brandishing them in front on himself. Nyssa thought it the wrong place to feel her heartbeat speed up, but the light glinting off the steel, and the dangerous look in his eye made her swallow suddenly.

"We kill them all, of course," he said. He turned to Nyssa. "Stay here."

She nodded to him, and he turned, but she reached out and grabbed him before he could move away. "Please… be careful," she asked with pleading eyes.

He said nothing, just gave a nod and a wink and she let him go. She watched as they readied themselves on either side of the door, the woman reaching for the handle. They looked to each other taking a deep breath. He gave her a nod, and she pulled on the handle, and in a moment, they were both inside.

Nyssa clenched her hands together. Now all she could do was wait.

That thought lasted for about a minute… then she followed them.

The change of light made it difficult, and Zevran blinked his eyes rapidly to help them adjust to the darker room. He was infinitely grateful for the small corner they stood in before the room opened.

Once adjusted, he saw Fenris standing in front of Cat, who was on the ground. His breath caught at the sight of blood, but he saw her breathing, so he moved on to the enemies that were attacking the pair.

"The glowing elf is ours, no?" Leliana asked as she moved silently behind him to look into the room.

They both turned at a curse that was shouted from over by the bar.

She turned back to him, and gave a smile as she put her bow away and grabbed daggers. "I will help him, you take care of them," she said, and moved off in stealth.

He gripped his daggers and smiled. He hadn't thought he could face either of them so soon… he knew he wouldn't be welcomed- but helping in a fight was a different matter. He moved like lightning, not caring about stealth as he gave a war cry and attacked.

Cat looked up at the cry, wondering what was happening. It was all a blur, but not because there was a wound on her head that kept blood running in her eye, nor the dizziness as the fatigue took her over… at least she didn't think so.

But that blur and cry seemed familiar…

The corpses around them began to fall one by one, and she looked up to see Fenris keeping his sword up for defense, his breath coming in hard pants. The skeletons were turning toward this new threat, leaving them an opening to catch a moment of rest.

She looked again towards the blur, and focused… "Zev?" she asked in wonder, idly questioning if she were seeing things.

"Get her back!" Zevran called even as he moved to the next skeleton. His moves were flowing, wasting no movements as he sliced a trail through the enemies.

Fenris frowned, though he could be grateful for the help, he wondered why it was Zevran and not Hawke. He wondered where Nyssa was, if she had sent him to them. He looked up to where Danarius had been, seeing that the mage was looking furious at having his victory spoiled.

"I will get her, help him!"

He turned at the whispered demand, his eyes going wide at seeing Nyssa crouched next to Cat and helping her to her feet. Nyssa glanced up to him once she was standing, though she was burdened with Cat leaning on her. She seemed to look right into his soul.

"Now is your chance to kill him! To be free of him!" she cried to him, and then turned, helping Cat back behind the bar.

He turned back to face his old master, forgetting his own fatigue as the man stared back at him from across the room. He could see the anger on his face, and it made Fenris smile in dark pleasure.

Even as the last corpse fell, and Zevran moved to his side, Fenris didn't move his gaze away from the man.

"So… this is him?" Zevran asked, finally breaking the moment. Fenris glanced aside, his eyebrow raising.

"That is my former master, yes," he replied dryly. "Why did you come?"

Zevran wanted to say many things, but he fell back onto his normal self defense, and smirked. "Why, I seem to remember a promise to assist in killing the man. I keep my promises."

Fenris looked at him, then turned back to the magister without a word. He wanted to tell him that he needn't have come, but he knew that if he hadn't… he and Cat would most likely have died. Or have been enslaved. And that thought weighed on him.

"I thought you were going with Hawke," Zevran continued.

"I am," Fenris replied.

"Oh?" Zevran said, looking up with pursed lips. "I would expect them to be here as well then, I know how much Hawke enjoys a fight."

"They left earlier, I am catching up once Isabela shows," he replied in clipped tones.

"Ah," Zevran said, now understanding. "So then-"

"Silence!" Danarius screamed in anger at the pair.

Zevran turned his head smoothly, his face showing a frown. "It is rather rude to interrupt a conversation, do you not know?" he corrected the man, and turned back to Fenris.

"So then-"

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Danarius demanded, shaking with rage.

Zevran, his face flat, turned yet again, and then gave a smirk, knowing it would infuriate the man further. "Who me?" he asked, as his smirk turned to a sneer. "You have very bad manners, but what can one expect? My name is Zevran Arainai," he said giving a flourishing bow. "A former Antivan Crow, and one that will help you towards your death."

He turned now to Fenris. "Have you caught your breath?" he asked. "I would like to kill him now."

Fenris glanced at him, the corner of his lips quirking up before he could stop it. "As would I," he replied.

Both elves turned to the furious magister, and brandished their weapons, even as he summoned another round of corpses from the ground, and surrounded himself with an impenetrable barrier.

"That blasted coward," Cat muttered, as she watched from the bar. She held a cloth that Corff had given her to her head in an effort to stop the bleeding.

"More pressure," Leliana said next to her, and put her own hand over Cat's to press down even as Cat winced.

"I still can't believe you're here," Cat said to her, and she smiled.

"Zevran said you were needing some help," Leliana replied. "And he asked me to come, for support." Cat glanced over again, where the pair were fighting. "Though I admit I didn't think it would be for this," Leliana added.

Cat was quiet as she turned back, and the others with her followed her lead. She knew why Zevran would have asked Leliana to come, she had been in need of help for awhile now, but this was not the time for explanations. The group was silent as they stood behind the bar and watched the battle.

He is so focused, Leliana thought as she watched Zevran fight. Normally he would be smiling, or calling out to his enemy as a distraction. It seems this is very… personal.

Cat looked down as Nyssa grabbed her hand and clutched it. She held onto her friend as well, knowing that Leliana and Corff could not understand the situation as she and Nyssa did.

It's obvious that Fenris shared this with them, for Nyssa to be feeling it so deeply and Zevran to promise to help kill the bastard, she thought. But still… it is somewhat strange that he did…

She couldn't keep her attention on her thoughts however, as the battle in front of them became more heated. The warrior and rogue fought like demons themselves, and eventually Leliana let go of Cat in order to pick off a shade or two that would see them and come their way.

Cat could see that her friends were growing more agitated each time that Danarius would transport himself across the room and put up his barrier. She turned to glance at Leliana and spoke quietly.

"We need to help, get to another side of the room and attack Danarius before he puts the barrier up. If this keeps up, they will soon tire and get injured."

"How long has he been feeding that barrier?" Leliana asked as she studied the fighters. "It seems weaker than before."

"It has been awhile," Cat replied, looking him over in a new light. "He has had a few minutes without it, to regenerate his mana."

Leliana glanced back to them, then out to the fighters again. "I have an idea, but you will not like it," she told Cat.

Cat glanced back to her, out to Fenris and Zevran, then back. "Let's do it anyway."

Nyssa steadied herself, as she followed Cat out from behind the bar. She was surprised that the human was following the plan as well, but she assumed that he just wanted his bar back.

The red-haired woman was calling out to Zevran in another language which sounded similar to many of the words that would slip in when he was speaking, and she thought it must be his native tongue.

She looked to the woman, as she was leading this, waiting for the signal. With a nod, the woman began moving… and Nyssa moved in the opposite direction with Cat. Once in place, she stopped, and Cat continued onward, completing the small arc that they made at the back of the room.

"We can handle this!" Zevran called out, turning to give them a wink as he moved. Nyssa couldn't help but smile, feeling more at ease now, though she couldn't pinpoint why exactly. But if Zev wasn't worried, then she wouldn't be either.

"We are helping! Whether you like it or not!" Cat called out. Nyssa hoped the magister bought it- Cat was giving a good show, looking like an angry warrior- when in reality she wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight.

Danarius looked beyond the skirmish, seeing the woman standing against him yet again, and he sneered. They cannot fight against me, and protect her… he thought, and he gave a wicked grin. He needed to replenish his mana, and soon, but he had enough to surround her with corpses.

Releasing the barrier, he dug deep for all the power he could spare. He had almost finished reciting the words when pain enveloped him and he gave a scream. Looking down, he saw an arrow had pierced through his foot.

He looked around, crazed, incredulous as to where it had come from. He saw the woman in armor, and panicked, quickly pulling up his barrier.

But he was not fast enough.

Fenris… his property… grabbed a hold onto his throat, and slowly lifted him to the tips of his toes, and then beyond into the air. He couldn't even speak to order him to stop.

"Maker's breath," Cat wheezed, even as Nyssa rushed to her side. They were both looking at Fenris, in all his silent fury, as he stared at the man who had once owned him.

The wild and fiery rage was gone, and in its place was something even more deadly. Fenris tightened his grip as the magister started to speak, cutting off his windpipe so he could not. Cat could see the internal battle, knowing that he was expecting to feel a certain way at this moment and now, was confused when he did not.

"Fen?" she asked quietly, breaking the silence. "What do you want to do?"

"I…" Fenris answered uncertainly, as he looked from her, to Zevran, to Danarius, and finally to Varania that cowered at the stairs. "I want… to be free of this."

His face became determined as he pulled the magister slightly closer. "You," he said, no longer uncertain. "are no longer, my master."

With a panicked cry from the mage, and a horrible squelching sound, Fenris closed his fist, tearing through his captive's throat as his did. No longer having a hold on him, Danarius' twitching body fell to the ground in a heap, and Fenris lowered his arm, releasing the remaining piece he had in his hand.

No one commented, though it was a grisly sight. There was just the sound of heavy breathing as the rush of the fight caught up to them. Cat saw Varania crying, and knew that Fenris could hear that as well. She began to wonder what he would do, even as his eyes snapped over to his sibling.

"I remember you," Fenris broke the silence. He didn't move, just stared into the face that looked similar to his own. "You and I used to play in the courtyard while mother worked."

"Yes," Varania said, her cheeks streaked with tears. "I am so sorry Leto."

"Leto…" Fenris blinked his eyes rapidly, as if caught in a memory.

Varania looked confused now, as she stood uneasily. She crept forward, trembling before him as a rabbit would facing a wolf. "Yes," she said again timidly, stopping a few feet before him. "That's your name."

He looked down at her, and Cat could see that he was uncertain. She stepped forward as well, and grabbed his hand.

She almost let go when Fenris turned his head to look at their joined hands, then to her face. She could see Varania was surprised as well, but she merely gave him a smile and squeezed his hand for a moment as if to remind him that she was with him. He was not alone.

Fenris looked up again, from Varania to Cat, and then finally back to Varania. He gave a large sigh. "Just go," he said, sounding defeated.

Varania seemed puzzled. "You… aren't going to kill me?" she asked, immediately regretting her words as his eyes narrowed on her.

"Is that what you want?" he asked harshly.

"N-no," came the meek reply.

Nyssa stepped forward, her anger leading the way. "He should kill you!" she exploded. "His own sister, leaving him to rot while she went free, forgetting him for years, and now this?!"

"Nyssa…" Zevran murmured as he pulled her back.

"W-what?" Varania forgot how scared she was in her shock. "That is not what happened!" She looked back up to Fenris, insulted. "Is that what you tell people? What you tell yourself to make you seem the victim?!"

Fenris reared back at the verbal slap, looking to Cat, who shrugged. "What else should he tell us, but the truth as he knows it?" Cat replied..

"YOU sent us away!" Varania stepped forward, pushing her finger into Fenris' chest. Cat would have smiled had it not been so serious. She was glad that Fenris' fire was a family trait.

"Even when mother was sick, you couldn't be bothered to even reply to my letters!" Varania continued. "You said you would win the boon from the master, and things would be better- but they were not," she deflated easily, her tone going from anger to remorse. "Freedom…" she added. "it was not better. Not for either of us."

"And that justifies betraying him?!" Nyssa shot back, wriggling out of Zevran's grip to move to Fenris' side. "Bringing that evil man to come… collect him?!"

"I…" Varania looked down, ashamed. "I did not think it was truly him." She looked at him again, sorrowfully.

"As if that makes it better," Nyssa seethed, slapping away Fenris' hand as he tried to stop her. "How could you leave him there in the first place?!"

Varania's mouth opened in shock. "W-what could I do?" she asked. "Mother and I were put out in the street with nothing, and told we were now free. We weren't even able to say goodbye!"

Now Fenris and Nyssa's eyes went wide in surprise. It was not what they were expecting.

"What happened?" Cat asked quietly.

Varania looked at her, years of bitterness that she thought she had let go of, coming back to the surface. "Leto won the contest, and was granted a boon. He asked that mother and I be freed."

Cat nodded, and Varania continued. "They took him away, and pushed us out the front gates of the estate," she said bitingly. "Told us we were free, and laughed as they went back in. We didn't see Leto, nor our home again. We had nothing but the clothes on our backs."

Nyssa's eyes filled, ashamed that she had been so harsh to the woman. Fenris was feeling sick. What did I do to them? he thought.

"We tried to go back but were refused. We went anywhere we could find work… but no magister wanted freed slaves. Mother eventually sold herself to another magister, so we wouldn't starve. She gave me the money, and asked me to stay free." Varania was looking away, tears of her own coming down her cheeks.

"I found a position as a servant, and was able to survive. Then I got your letter, my master brought it to me. I told him it meant nothing, and I forgot about it."

She took a deep breath, noting that the others were simply waiting for her to continue. "Then Danarius came. He seemed to know all about it, and wanted to accompany me here. I told him that it was not my brother, but he did not care. He offered…"

She broke off there, and Fenris' eyes narrowed. "What?" he asked.

"He offered to make me his apprentice if I did."

Nyssa gasped, and Leliana's eyes twinkled at the revelation. It just gets more and more interesting… she thought. And by the lack of reactions from the others… they already knew.

"You're a mage?!" Nyssa asked, taking a step back in trepidation.

Varania nodded. "It is the only reason I was able to survive. Otherwise I would have had no use to the magisters."

"It sounds as though you have each been living without the whole picture," Cat finally spoke up when no one else said anything. "But can we perhaps… uh, sit down?"

Fenris turned in concern, seeing how pale she was, and he quickly put his arm around her waist to support her as he led her to a table away from the bodies. Leliana and Zevran righted the table and a pair of benches, and Fenris and Nyssa helped Cat to sit.

"Thank you," she murmured to them. Corff brought out a box from behind the bar, and handed it to Nyssa. It was full of cloths and medicine, and she quickly went to work on cleaning Cat's head wound.

"Can you two help me with the mess?" Corff asked. Leliana and Zevran each gave a shrug and started helping the bartender carry and drag the lifeless bodies out of the pub for the body wagon to retrieve on its next rounds.

"Please, sit," Cat told Varania and Fenris, who both looked slightly uncomfortable. She gave Fenris a meaningful look, and though he looked uneasy, he sat down, and cleared his throat.

"I…" he began, but didn't know where to start. He turned to Cat. "I have to meet up with Hawke," he said, and stood.

Cat grabbed his arm before he could move, but she looked across the table at Varania. "The last thing that Fenris has been able to remember about himself was getting the markings from Danarius," she told the other woman. "He didn't remember that he even had family until a few months ago. That's when he wrote you, trying to locate you."

Varania look at him in surprise. "But… we were told that you refused to see us," she said, before laughing bitterly. "Danarius, of course."

"I am truly sorry," Fenris spoke up. "I cannot make up for what you went through."

Varania saw both the elven and human woman look to him in concern, and something inside her softened. "It may not have been how we wished it to happen, but you cannot deny that our lives are different now, then if we had been slaves." She sighed, letting go of the worst of the bitterness. "It seems… perhaps you did make things better… after all."

Cat wasn't happy about being carried, but she couldn't put up much of a fight. Besides, it was nice to see Fenris looking content.

"I'm sorry that Varania chose not to stay here," she told him, speaking softly since her face was near his ear.

He continued on, carrying the woman on his back- the only way she would actually let him carry her. "I am sorry that Leliana and Zevran left as well," he replied, feeling drained from all the emotional conversations earlier.

"Yes," she answered. "I was hoping that he would go with you and join Hawke, but Leliana has a job or two for him. He'll be happier with that I suppose."

"I suppose," he echoed.

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two?" she asked.

"Are you going to tell me what happened between the two of you?" he answered, and she shook her head with a laugh.

"I don't think I can take any more revelations tonight," Nyssa spoke up as she walked beside them. "It has been too many emotions for one day already, and I for one, am exhausted."

Cat smiled down at her. "Yes, that is probably a good thing for all of us," she said. "And we are almost home."

Fenris glanced over to Nyssa. "You are certain you are fine with staying with Cat?" he asked her.

"Of course!" she replied happily. "Cat is one of my favorite humans!" she said cheekily.

"I am your favorite human!" Cat said, pointing a finger at her.

"Of course, that is what I meant," Nyssa replied, rolling her eyes as she laughed.

They continued up the street, until the came to the house, where they found Merrill waiting outside, ready for the meal that Cat had mentioned. After much concern, and answering questions, Fenris was finally able to get them inside, and eventually take his leave. He knew he was supposed to wait for Isabela, but he desperately needed to be alone with his thoughts.

And for at least a little while, he could be. Only Cat and Zevran pushed him when he wanted to be quiet. The others, gratefully let him open up in his own time, so he was actually looking forward to being among the other men.

It would take time, but he had no doubt that eventually the thought of his sister being a mage would be palatable. He was one of Hawke's crew after all… and though that had taken some compromise on both of their parts, he could gladly call the mage a friend.

He smirked as he remembered one of the first things that Cat had told him. Not all mages are evil, Fenris.

Though he hadn't believed her at the time, and was unsure that he ever would, he supposed that there could be an exception or two to the rule.

"So we are just going to wait here?" Carver asked. "We haven't gotten very far," he pointed out.

"Might as well camp for the night and get an early start tomorrow," Hawke replied, and Duran nodded in agreement.

"We should come up with some sort of plan," Alistair added, recognizing the looks on their faces. "And it is much easier to speak over a fire, and with some food."

"Don't tell me you are hungry again already?" Varric asked, surprised. "I didn't think you or Nathaniel would be able to eat again for days, and its been hours!"

Nathaniel looked over as he set his pack down. "Never underestimate a Warden's appetite, Varric."

"So noted," Varric replied, as he began searching the area for rocks to circle the fire. "We waiting here for Broody then, Hawke?" he asked.

"That's the plan. If he doesn't join us tonight, then I'll want to find out why, so we would have stopped anyway," Hawke answered, frowning at the pile of sticks in his arms. He brought them over, and dumped them in the clear spot that Anders had made.

"I'm sure everything is fine Hawke," Anders said as he stacked the branches, noting that Hawke hadn't bothered to grab kindling, so he would need to put a little extra mana into his flame to get them going. "For all his faults, the brooder would ensure that Cat was taken care of before leaving."

"True enough," Hawke replied, giving Anders a look that had him wincing for not using Fenris' name. Cat wasn't the only one that did not enjoy their bickering. Hawke moved off to gather more wood.

"I for one am glad to have the extra time," Varric said cheerfully. "As I have plenty of questions, not all of which involve the Little Dove."

"I'll make you a deal then," Nathaniel spoke to the dwarf, as he unpacked his sleeping gear, and began to make his bed for the night. "A question for a question, though we cannot promise answers."

"Doesn't sound like a very good deal to me," Sebastian interrupted. "And Cat would not be happy to hear that you talk of her when she is not here."

Varric rolled his eyes. "I'm not gossiping about her, I merely want another viewpoint for some of the stories she's told us. Rivaini isn't forthcoming enough, and our Little Dove hardly ever talks about the past. It's as if her life began in Antiva when she met the assassin."

As he was trying to explain the difference to the Chantry Prince, Varric missed the concerned look shared between Duran and Alistair.

"There's one story I'd like to hear," Hawke said as he came back with another load of larger branches. "I'd like to hear about when Cat met the Knight Captain."