*** TRIGGER WARNING ***
This chapter has a graphic scene that deals with attempted rape. If you find this triggering, I recommend not reading this chapter. Don't worry, you won't be missing much if you skip it.
A sudden loud snore from an elder warden wakes Much. He flips around and nudges the blanket before cocking his head. He whines.
Rising from his little makeshift bed, he pads over to Alistair and nudges him with his nose. Alistair half-heartedly waves him off. "Not now." He mutters. "It's sleepy time."
Again, Much lets out a small whine as he once more nudges the young Warden. Groaning, the lad turns over. "Ana." He mutters, reaching a hand out to nudge her shoulder. When his hand finds nothing but air and bedroll, his brows furrow as he opens his eyes. It takes a moment for his eyes to adjust but he makes out the empty bedroll beside him. "Ana?" He sits up and glances around. Where is she?
Much whines and licks his hand. He looks down at the hound. "Where is she, boy?" He whispers. Regardless of how quiet they were being, a nearby warden grumbles for him to shut Much up.
Seeing he has the lad's attention, he trots down the middle of the rows of sleeping wardens and stops midway to look back at him. His ears perk up and he cocks his head. Seeing no other option, Alistair sighs. Flinging the blanket off, he grabs his cloak, wincing as he accidently hits the armor he stacked up nearby. It clatters and his eyes warily dart out among the others. A few moments pass before he quickly rises and puts on his cloak before following Much out of the tent.
Ana's awakened by somebody pouring ale on her. Coughing, she rolls over and wipes her face with her sleeve.
"Wake up, Princess." She hears a smooth, familiar voice say. Her heart begins to race and she feels fear freeze her in place. Wet strands of her hair plaster themselves against her face as her gaze slowly shifts upwards. Much as she feared, Daniel stood before her. He grins down at her. "Miss me?"
Her eyes dart around her to see the occasional lit brazier nearby, Where am I? She wonders. She hears something and squints slightly before her eyes widen. He's not alone. A handful of other men, some in the signature blue and silver tunics of the Wardens and a few in just their normal leathers, watching her.
She returns her gaze to Daniel, her eye catching the glint of her mother's dagger on his belt. Her blood boils at the sight but she says nothing about it. "What do you want from me?" She asks, her voice breaking. "What could I have possibly done to make you constantly stalk me?" She didn't like the way he looked at her.
He kneels before her. "Haven't you figured it out yet, Ana?" He reaches out and touches her cheek which she finches away from. "Perhaps third time's the charm? Sleep with me tonight and I will leave you be."
She clenches her jaw. "Why me? There's plenty of women in camp."
Once more he smiles. "They're not as interesting." He firmly grabs her chin and tilts it upwards. "They're not Teyrn Cousland's daughter."
The fear flashes across her face as she swallows. She never told him her name. The others ,with exception of Roy, whisper to each other.
"There's quite a few noblewomen in camp." She says. "Wives and daughters of noblemen. You don't need me."
Daniel shrugs. "They're only minor nobles. Your family is the second most powerful in Ferelden, outside the King and his family." His hand moves down from her chin to the loosely tied strings of the robe. "People like you stick their noses up at me." He pulls the first string and lets the top fall open, exposing her bare collarbone. "Let's just say, I want to touch and enjoy what only they can touch." His gaze meets hers. "What do you say?"
Ana leans forward slightly, her jaw clenched. "I say, go to hell."
As she says this, his face screws up with anger and he backhands her. She lets out a surprised yelp as the momentum of the slap forces her back toward the ground. Reaching up she touches her nose and mouth, pulling it away to find the darkened blood on her fingers.
When she fell back, part of the robe opened to show her leg up to just above her kneecap. He licks his lips.
"Daniel, we can't." One of the men in leathers hisses, his eyes wide as he steps forward. "She's the Teyrn's daughter! She's a noblewoman!"
Daniel glances down at her exposed leg once more before shrugging. "She doesn't look like a noblewoman now, does she?" He motions to the others. "Grab her."
The others exchange a glance before doing as they're told while the one who was against it watches in horror. "This is barbaric! I'm going."
As the man turns, Daniel motions for Roy to go after him. As his companion huts down the man, Ana struggles violently as the men grab her arms and legs while another covers her mouth to suppress her screams. Ana's tears stream down her cheeks as she bucks as she watches Daniel begin to undo his trousers.
"Hold her legs apart." Despite Ana's efforts to hold her legs closed, the men hold them open as Daniel slowly stalks toward her. "To think, I thought that you'd have actually learned some manners since our last encounter." He says with a feigned disappointment. "I even gave you the option to spend one night in my tent in exchange for me leaving you alone and yet… you rudely tell em to go to hell!" He shakes his head, tsking. "So unlady-like! It's a good thing that your parents are dead. I imagine they would be too happy with your attitude."
Ana struggles but the mens' grips are too strong. Daniel sighs and pulls out her mother's dagger, tilting it in the light. "This was your mother's, wasn't it?" He smirks. "It's a shame. It's a beautiful weapon. Too bad she never showed you how to use it."
Stepping forward, he uses the dagger to cut the next string, and then the next as Ana mumbles something as she cries. He stops and frowns. "You're right. This is much too slow."
He sheathes the dagger and with one swift movement, he tears the robe open and it falls open, exposing her full naked body. The men holding her mutter under under their breath while a few of the older ones reach out to fondle her breasts and mound. She tries to move away from their probing hands with little success.
"Now, now men!" Daniel chuckles. "Don't get too greedy. Remember, I have first dibs on this one." As he says this, he slowly moves his hands up her thighs, gently rubbing her cleft with his thumb.. "What do you know! She's even already wet for me."
Her eyes blur with tears as she tries to focus on anything but what's about to happen. She barely hears Daniel's lewd praises as he pulls his cock out and fondles himself for a moment.
"Don't worry, baby." He says as he idly rubs her cleft. "You'll enjoy this."
She clamps her eyes shut as she hears the men's' ragged breathing and the very tip of the bulb of Daniel's cock graze her opening.
"Hey! Leave her alone!"
Daniel, who is moments from pushing his way inside, stops and turns just as Alistair emerges from the shadows. A hound leaps up from nowhere and bites one of the men. He releases Ana with a scream as he tries to get the hound off. The other wardens freak out seeing their brother-warden and release Ana, letting her crumble to the ground before quickly bolting through the ruins. The other men in leathers release their hold and swivel as Alistair begins wailing on Daniel, raining blows on him before getting kicked back.
Alistair stumbles back and Daniel sneers at him as he tucks his cock back in his trouser and unsheathes his dagger.
"This doesn't concern you!" He hisses as he launches himself at the younger Warden. Alistair dodges the blade that flies down at him and he uses Daniel's lost momentum to his advantage and swings his leg behind the man's knees, knocking him over. The dagger flies from Daniel's hand as Alistair once more is on top of him, raining blows down on him which he's barely able to block.
His fist hits his jaw and blood spits out from Daniel's mouth moments before Alistair is picked up from behind. He turns to face a returning Roy, suspiciously covered in blood as Roy knocks his head against his. He stumbles back and falls over Daniel's legs. Once on the ground, both men begin beating on him.
The man who has Much latched on manages to shake free with the help of another man in leathers and the hound falls and rolls over. Once freed, they flee while the one remaining man besides Daniel and Roy quickly rolls Ana over. He glances around anxiously as he wrestles with the front of his trousers. Ana, weak and half out of it, tries to fight him off but he grabs her wrists and slams them hard into the ground, earning a yelp.
"Don't move, you dumb bitch." He hisses.
Before he can barely get his trousers unbuttoned, he's knocked sideways as a hard fist collides with his temple. He falls over and holds up a hand, pleading for the man to spare him.
"You better fucking leave or I swear to the fucking Maker, I will END you!" Hawke snarls. The man nods and scrambles to his feet, tripping a few times before turning and running. Anger builds up in Hawke's body and he quickly flings a large fireball at the fleeing man. The flames envelop him immediately and he goes down screaming as Hawke turns his attention to the two beating on a young man.
"You two!" He bellows. Striding over, he grabs Roy's arm as he winds up for another hit. The man's brows furrow as he looks back. His eyes widen moments before Hawke's fist collides with his face, a loud s nap echoing through the open space. Roy quickly falls away gripping his nose as blood leaks out like as if somebody opened a tap. Hawke pulls Daniel to his feet and the two exchange blows but Hawke gets the final hit on Daniel before the man staggers back.
"You better leave." Hawke says. "If I catch either of you near Ana again, I will burn your ass alive."
With a sneer, Daniel turns around and taps Roy on the shoulder before the two of them disappear in the shadows.
As the men disappear from sight and the man he lit on fire goes silent, Hawke glances between the two before quickly walking over to Alistair. The poor lad's face is a bloody mess but manages to groan. Hawke kneels beside him. "Hey. Are you alright?"
"Never better." Alistair croaks.
Hawke smiles slightly. "Can you walk?"
Alistair struggles to sit up so Hawke helps the lad to his feet, allowing him to hold his shoulder as he steadies himself. Through his half-swollen eye, Alistair notices the person on the ground. "Oh no… Ana."
Alistair releases him and he quickly walks over and kneels beside Ana. He gently moves her hair from her face. "Ana." He whispers. "Ana, can you hear me?"
Limping, Much walks over and licks her cheek which makes her stir. Her sight is blurry for a moment but as it clears, she see's Nate's face. "Nate?" She breathes.
He nods. "It's me." Seeing her torn robe, he frowns. "Come with me. Let's head to the wash tent. Alistair can clean himself up and you can get dressed."
She's hesitant to accept his hand, the memory of the other men invading her thoughts. Once back to her feet, she pulls her hand away and pulls her robe closed, the shame burning through her. Alistair slowly approaches her, his face barely recognizable due to the blood.
"Ana, are you alright?" He asks.
She lowers her head and says nothing. Hawke shoots him a rueful look before shrugging. "Come on. To the wash tent."