FENRIS

"Agregio pavali. There are six bottles in the cellar." I look down at the near empty glass bottle in my hand, then at the flickering fire in the bedroom's hearth. Serena sits in front of me on one of the wooden benches beside the lit fireplace, her teal eyes gleaming, watching me with patient curiosity.

Three days have passed since the 'conversation' I had with the abomination in the Hightown marketplace, regarding her past. But even though I have had multiple chances to interrogate Serena about his proclamation, my questions remain unspoken. Unanswered.

And perhaps that is for the best.

To bring up such a topic when we are only hours away from venturing into the Deep Roads might prove reckless. We cannot risk making the Dalish warrior flee. Our strength in numbers depends on it. But even so, intrigue swells within me like a flame.

I lift the bottle and inspect the little bit of wine still left inside. "Danarius used to have me pour it for his guests," I recall, referring to this specific type of wine. "My appearance intimidated them he said, which he enjoyed."

Serena's lips curl upward. "I can't imagine why they would be put off." She eyes me in an openly appreciative manner.

I smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Serena giggles. I take a short swig of the wine. Its fruity flavor slivers across my tongue, tingling my taste buds.

It is rather fine tasting, I'll admit. But it reminds me of all those accursed parties I had to attend to with Danarius. The countless stares. The physical and verbal abuse. The rituals.

After a long gulp, and a moments pause, I look at the bottle once more, then toss it at the wall. The glass shatters, splattering leftover droplets of wine everywhere. The mess, although regretful, oddly satisfying.

"It's good I can still take pleasure in the small things." I turn to face Serena again.

"You could've offered me a glass first, you know." She raises an eyebrow at me.

I shrug. "There's more, if you're really interested."

"Perish the thought!" She puts up a hand. "How else would you redecorate the walls?"

A laugh escapes me, without me willing it to. But I quickly stifle it and look away.

How this woman manages to evoke such strange reactions out of me continuously perplexes me. Sometimes more so than the many secrets she hides.

The abominations words from the other day reel in my head again.

Speaking of secrets . . .

The logical damn I've carefully built up over the past several days slowly starts to overflow, the curiosity exceeding an unknown threshold, where the walls begin to crack. Holes form. My reasoning falters. And then, the walls of resistance collapse.

"I heard the most peculiar rumor the other day," the words fly from my mouth before I can even conceive the willpower to stop them.

Serena tilts her head. She's watching me now. Carefully. Expectantly.

There's no going back at this point. Not without incurring her wrath or impatience.

I gulp down my hesitance and hope my nosy actions don't backfire on the rest of our group. For it was not my intention.

"It stated that you were once married," I continue. "I'm curious if there's any truth to that."

I stare at Serena.

Her teal eyes lose their usual sparkle.

They become devoid of emotion as she once again dons her distant mask.

"Perhaps," she answers with a slow, pensive nod. "But only if you consider him leaving three months after the ceremony and never returning back a marriage." The way she explains it comes off very nonchalant. Emotionless.

"You . . . don't seem too bothered by the fact?"

"Oh, no. I am." A strained smile parts her lips. She glances over at the hearth, crossing her arms. "But it's in the past. What's done is done . . . I don't wish to go on in any further detail."

The lack of pain on her current expression doesn't fool me. For although she does a fine job at trying to act and sound strong, the way her voice hardly quivers at the end reveals the truth.

She's been hurt deeply by the act. And more so than her pride allows. But there's also something else there in her gaze.

Regret. Significant, sorrowful regret.

The likes I can understand, relate with.

"I also wanted to leave my past behind me." I walk over to the bench beside hers and take a seat. "But it won't stay there."

Along with foolish, careless questions, it seems.

I groan at my own uselessness.

"Tell me," I move on, desperate to find another subject. "Have you never wanted to return to Ferelden?"

"I have no home left to return to," she shrugs off.

I narrow my gaze at her. "The blight is over. You could rebuild what you lost, or you could join a new clan and start anew. Do you truly not want to?"

My ears twitch at the faint sound of a laugh muffled behind her lips. "Even if I wanted to," she lowers her head, "Kirkwall is my home now."

I nod. "Having a place where you can put down roots. I understand. Still . . . to have the option must be gratifying."

Serena stares at me, ever the watchful observer. "Do you intend to keep living here?" she asks. "After the expedition, I mean?"

I shrug. "I haven't decided. For now, it's as good as any other place. I would return to Seheron if I could, but . . . there is no life for me there . . ."

I hang my head, the memories of the fog warriors returning, drifting through my head one more time.

"Is that . . . where you're from?" Serena asks.

"So I've been told."

"Were you really young when you left then?"

"Perhaps."

Serena shifts in her seat, perhaps sensing I'm not quite comfortable with this subject matter either.

"You could track your former master down, I assume," she says, crossing her legs.

I purse my lips. Danarius's blasted smirk flashes before my eyes. "I imagine he has returned to Minrathous, though, I dare not go near the city when he is alive . . . No, it is better to wait for him to leave his fortress. Fight from a fortified position. I do not expect your help when that day comes, but I would not turn it aside."

Serena lowers her head. "You've been on the run a long time then, I take it," she says, and for a second, I could swear I see a look of understanding flicker in her eyes.

"Yes. Three years now." I sigh. "Danarius has a way of finding me. Perhaps it is the markings? Whatever the means, it never takes him long to follow. This is the first time I've ever give him reason to pause. I suppose there are advantages in numbers."

Serena smiles. "Haven't you sought out help before?"

"Hirelings when I could steal the coin. Never anyone of substance until you. Danarius will not give up, however. I await his return."

"And what if he does give up? What then?" She leans back in her seat.

I furrow my brow. "Then I go to him. I will not live with a wolf at my back."

Serena flashes me a wide, scheming grin. "Sounds like the right idea to me."

A laugh builds in the back of my throat, hearing her agreeableness. But this time, I have enough control to keep it there, to stop myself. "If it comes to that, I doubt it will."

Serena purses her lips and tilts her head at me. "Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like you want to stick around," she says.

I ponder the idea and nod. "I could see myself staying . . . for the right reasons." I focus on her again. The earlier sadness in her eyes seems to have vanished, replaced by a new sense of calm, as though a raging storm has passed.

To think, the very first night I met this woman, all I could see was the malice dwelling within her passive-aggressive, cautious glares. And now, I've seen so much more. A woman that's slowly been opening herself up to me. In the form of a warrior and perhaps even a friend. A very beautiful friend.

"I . . . should thank you again for helping me against the hunters," I realize, thinking back to the fateful night we first met, including our first battle we fought side by side together, here in this very mansion.

Serena's gaze softens. "Yes, you should."

"Had I known Anso would find me a woman so capable, I might've asked him to look sooner."

Serena laughs out loud, bold and cheerful. "You sound like you're about to ask for a loan!"

"Well, this mansion does require some upkeep," I tease.

Serena chuckles, then I stand up and smile down at her.

"Perhaps I will practice my flattery for your next visit? With any luck, I'll eventually become better at it."

Serena's eyebrows shoot up. "Let's just hope we make it out of the Deep Roads first," she says. "Then we can think about any future visits."

She stands up on her own and saunters over to the door. Her tempting hips swaying, with almost deliberate purpose.

"Rest well, Fenris," she says. "We're going to need it."