It took her far longer than she had expected to get to anything looking like what she'd expect Tevinter to look like, but there it was, a great number of cities far beneath her. But which one should she go to? Minrathous? Being the capital and all, maybe it would be the best chance for her, but it was a lot further up the coast and she was already getting exhausted. And what was she supposed to do there, anyway? Should she find a school, or become the apprentice to a magister? And how was one to do that, anyway? She pushed herself, looking for the mighty capital.
It was a lot warmer than in Ferelden and Claire was glad she'd found some lighter clothing to wear. People kept staring at her, and she couldn't blame them. She didn't look anything like them. Again, her pale skin, blond hair and blue eyes stuck out like a sore thumb, and she wondered if that would be a good thing, or a bad thing, when trying to get someone to train her. She also had no idea if she should even tell anyone she was somniari. Titus never did, as far as she knew, and he had succeeded in becoming quite adept. She was not going to go find him, however. She needed someone who wasn't so prominent, but still a magister.
"Excuse me." A sharp male voice spoke up behind her, so she turned. There was a man dressed in fancy robes, his black mustache curled at the ends, his head shiny and bald like a stereotypical villain, and he was looking at Claire with a grin. "I couldn't help but notice you're dressed so... differently. Might I ask where you're from?"
"Um, I just came over from Ferelden." She said. "From the Wilds." Why did she say that? Her clothing was from Kirkwall.
He looked surprised, but still smiled. "Oh, a barbarian! What do they call them, Chasind, yes? I am Magister Tyranius, and I have a proposition for you, that is, if you have nowhere to stay."
He was a magister, it was her chance... "My name is Claire, but I'm not actually Chasind. They just took me in after I was abandoned, left to die. See, I'm a mage and the Templars wanted to kill me so I had to leave."
He seemed even more pleased. "Oh, dear, we won't do that here." He said. "Come, then, I will have my slaves prepare some food." Slaves... she cringed at that, but she would see if they were treated poorly or not. She nodded and the magister put his arm around her and talked to her about the city as they walked back to his mansion. She was beyond lost by the time they arrived, and she was impressed with how large it was. He hurried her in and took advantage of her disorientation to keep her confused, informing his slaves to get her dressed and properly prepared. Claire didn't know what was going on as a group of slaves descended upon her, dragging her off to a secluded room, and proceeded to attempt to undress her.
"Hey wait, stop!" She said, fending them off.
"But the master said we're to get you dressed..." One of the elven maids said, looking pitiful.
"Can I at least undress myself?" Claire asked. "I'm not a huge fan of getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers."
"You'll need to get used to it sooner than later." A gruff looking woman said. "Otherwise you won't last long here."
"So, am I to be a slave then?" Claire asked. "He didn't really say, but that's what they do, isn't it?" Looking around, she saw there were five women in all, three elves and two humans, and they were all dressed provocatively.
"It will be a lot easier if you let us help you." Another elf said, reaching for the straps on Claire's dress. Claire moved away and quickly undid her dress.
"No, please, not now. I'll... I'll do it." From apostate running for her life to slave in the Imperium. Coming to Thedas was definitely not what she had imagined it to be. Standing there naked in a room full of slaves... They helped her into an outfit similar to theirs, though her flat chest didn't help matters. She felt like she looked like a little boy playing dress up.
"We need to hurry and get you back out there." The gruff woman said. "I am Alessandra, by the way."
"I'm Claire." She said as Alessandra ushered her out into the main hall. It was a beautiful layout, great architecture, with high ceilings that had great acoustics, but to her, it had suddenly become a prison.
"Ah, there's my little barbarian." Tyranius said, walking towards them.
"So I'm to be a slave then?" Claire asked, frowning.
"You can't blame me for snatching up an opportunity like you." He said. "No family ties, fresh into the city, no claims on you... Of course, you'll still receive training for your magic, I can't have you turning into an abomination or anything on me, now, can I? And if you prove good enough, perhaps you can become my apprentice. At the moment, you look too much like a boy, and that's just not my thing." She cringed as he put his arm around her waist. "We'll just have to wait for you to fill out a bit up top." He put a hand under her top, brushing his fingers against her nipple, and she reflexively jerked away, staring at the ground, blushing angrily. He grabbed the back of her head and turned her towards him.
"You'll learn soon enough that you must allow me to do whatever I want with you." He said. "You are my property now, and you will be marked as such." He made a movement with his hand and laid his fingers on the left side of her chest. Searing pain burned into her flesh as she tried to get away, but it was too late. He had put a mark on her. As she stood there gasping, he laughed.
"Perhaps I'll have to teach you obedience." He said. Turning to Alessandra, he said, "Put her in isolation. I'll decide when to let her out." He smacked her on the rear as she was led off and she wondered if she was going to be able to escape when the time came.
The following night, Claire was dragged out of the isolation chamber and stripped, then adorned with a jeweled collar and led to the magister's chambers. Claire's heart was trying to beat out of her chest, her mouth dry, and dizziness making her stumble. The elf who had led her there gave her a pitying look as she handed the magister the leash and left.
"That's a good girl." Tyranius said as Claire slowly approached the bed. He was completely naked, lying with his legs spread apart. Claire felt sick and looked away. He was holding her chain, however, giving her no choice but to comply. "Your body is probably the least desirable of all my slaves, looking far too much like a boy's." He said, shaking his head. "But you must learn to obey, and I will teach you." She had arrived at the edge of the bed and he pulled her onto the bed, attaching the chain to a hook on the headboard so she was on her hands and knees.
His hands roamed her body, gently exploring her like someone looking over a horse for sale, from her feet to her head. He ran his tongue along her back, seemingly enjoying the fact that she was shaking. He spread her legs, running his fingers between them, caressing her, then he shoved his thumb into her. She cried out in pain, making him laugh as he curved his thumb and pulled it out.
"Good to see you're still a virgin." He said. "I do like my slaves fresh." She wanted to use her magic against him, she wanted to destroy him. But most of all, she wanted to escape. She heard the swish of a riding crop and she looked back in fear as he brandished it, smiling at her. "You'll see what happens when my slaves disobey. I'll keep you a virgin for now, but I will tan your hide."
After her punishment, she was stuck back in isolation where she was able to heal her wounds. If only she could heal her pride, and kill the magister... However, being in isolation was far from the torture he probably thought it would be for Claire, and instead she enjoyed being able to just relax for once. The cell wasn't very big, but it was big enough for her to stretch out in and she found herself drifting off to sleep.
Anders.
She needed to find Anders and let him know what had happened, that she had made it. She awoke in the Fade and tried to figure out what to do to find someone so far away. If the Fade just reacted to her will, then surely she could just form a portal to take her to Anders, right? She wove her will around the Fade, molding it, making it bend to her desires. There, before her, was a blue swirling portal. She stepped through, excited that it had worked, only to find herself just on a different island that was completely devoid of anything. She frowned and wondered what had gone wrong.
She spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how to find Anders, to no avail, and woke up feeling far from rested. At least in isolation, she was given food and water so her hunger was satiated. That night she tried again to find Anders, while practicing manipulating the Fade. It wasn't until her third night that she even got anywhere.
She found herself just wandering, traveling as far into the Fade as she could, searching for Anders. It was interesting that there were demons who thought they could trick her, but she always knew they weren't Anders. She was starting to really see the Fade for what it was, and the different elements and how she could manipulate them. She looked up to the Black City and thought that if she truly wanted to, she could probably visit it, but she didn't feel like becoming a darkspawn.
As she wandered, she eventually came to a place she thought resembled the tower in Ferelden and renewed her search for Anders. She was fascinated by the place, and how different it all looked in the Fade. She began weaving her will into the place, putting things in order, bookcases right side up on the floor, nothing floating around...
"Excuse me, what kind of spirit are you?" Claire whirled around and saw a boy, maybe ten years old, staring at her. He had black hair and hazel eyes full of curiosity.
"I'm not a spirit." She said, smiling at him. "My name is Claire, and I was just reorganizing this place."
"That's what spirits do, isn't it?" He asked. "My name is Evan."
"I... don't suppose your last name is Amell?" Claire asked, wondering if it was even possible. His eyes went wide and he nodded.
"How did you know?" He asked. "You must be a spirit!"
"Stay strong." She said. "You have a long ways to go, but I believe you'll be a great mage some day." Or he would be killed by the Templars when trying to free his friend who ended up being a blood mage...
"It was nice meeting you." He said. "I don't know why everyone always says spirits are scary. Spirits can be friends."
"They can!" She smiled at him. "But remember, sometimes our desires can warp them, and change them into demons. You must always be vigilant." He nodded, then ran off.
"I feared you'd died." Claire saw Anders walking up, looking back at where the boy had been. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again." He looked happy, but nervous.
"Hello, Anders." She said. "And no, I'm not dead." She smiled timidly at him. "Though sometimes I wish I was. It was hard finding you from Tevinter..."
"It's not easy." He said. "I know we haven't known each other for long, but knowing you escaped gave me hope. Perhaps not for me, but ya know, as long as someone can escape... Seeing you almost die, and having it be because of me... I heard what he said to you, what he would do if you didn't run... Why would you do that? You sacrificed yourself for me, and I can't stop thinking about it."
Claire fidgeted, again at a loss of what to say. "I don't know..." She said. "I don't think I could handle it, having them hurt you because of me. I think they would have killed us both, had I not run. Daric knew I'm not a normal mage."
"But hey, look at you now, you're in Tevinter!" He smiled.
"And I'm a slave." She groaned. "I'm afraid to mess with the magister's head... what if it backfires on me? He said he would train me, but... I don't know how long I'll be able to handle being a slave! Forced to obey his every whim... he..." She shuddered, remembering his touch, and rubbed her arm. "I can't just outright kill him, even if I want to... It's a lot harder than I thought and I have so much to learn." He shrugged and she looked at him, contemplating.
"I could probably make you forget." She said. "If that would help, I could make you forget you ever met me." His expression turned to horror and disgust and she regretted saying anything.
"What? No!" He said. "Aside from not wanting you messing with my head with your untrained magic, I don't want to forget you. And for all I know, you'd turn me into a drooling simpleton."
"Oh, that's great, so much faith in me!" She snorted. "I'm sorry, it was a silly thought. I don't know if I'll be able to visit you very much, it takes a lot of effort to get this far. The Fade is... it just... isn't just the place you go when you sleep, it's like an entirely different dimension overlaid onto the physical realm, but yet more than just a metaphysical realm, more than just incorporeal creatures can roam it..."
"I'm older than you and I don't even know what half those words mean." Anders said. "Where would you learn all that?"
Claire blushed. "Oh... back when my parents were alive, they taught me. They were very well educated. I just wish I could have learned more. But that's beside the point! What I mean is that I may not be able to travel this far very often."
"You're a very strange girl." He chuckled. "I'll look forward to your next visit then." Claire felt herself blush at his smile, feeling incredibly silly and suddenly bashful. Maker... She hadn't been so bad when she was sleeping with him on the road! Why would she suddenly get embarrassed? Especially since she didn't think he could care about her in any other way than as a little sister figure. Maybe if she would actually grow breasts, she would be easier to see in a sexual way. Maybe it was because of what the magister had done to her... What he had said, not to mention what the slaver and Varric had thought of her.
"Um... Anders, can I ask you something?" She couldn't believe what she was about to ask. He looked at her expectantly, so she continued. "Do I... do I look like a boy to you?"
He frowned and looked confused. "Not particularly." He said. "Why?"
"It was just... the magister says I look like a boy." She said. "He... said my body is not desirable, but that didn't stop him anyway..." It felt weird to say and she felt the tears threatening again. "I just wanted to know... I need to go."
"You're just a girl." Anders said, grabbing her arm, gently but firmly. "Don't listen to him, you still have years before you become a woman, and I'm sure you'll be a beautiful one." She looked at him strangely, not sure how to feel about it. "And I'm sure you'll be able to defeat him and escape before he's able to truly hurt you..."
"I'll survive." She said, smiling, trying to make light of her situation. "I mean, what's a little rape and torture compared to being abandoned in the Wilds to die, or being chased by sadistic Templars? At least I'm fed and not fearing for my life..." Dammit, she couldn't stop the tears. Why on earth was she even telling him this? He wasn't her friend, she didn't actually really know him! What she knew was a computer variation... this was a real person, with real opinions and feelings, who didn't know her. She turned to go, but he wrapped his arms around her and held her, surprising her.
"Stay strong." He said. "I'll be here if you need to talk. I can at least do that."
Every night she could, Claire went into the Fade and studied it. She spoke with spirits and demons alike, though the demons were not always so easy to work with. The desire to enter her world was strong in them, and she had to be stronger. Every so often she would seek out Anders, although she wasn't able to find him all the time. He always seemed genuinely happy to see her, too, which made her confused, but she never questioned it. She also practiced manipulating the Fade, discovering the different scenes she could create, and every so often, she would recreate something from her world, from her time before Thedas. She'd been in Thedas for two years and she wasn't sure she even wanted to go back home. The magister kept her busy learning magic and had started to allow her more freedoms, such as visiting the library, which was nice since the slaves weren't allowed to socialize much.
She studied as much as she could, reading up on the Dreamers of old, the papers that were published on the Fade, and everything else she could get her hands on. Tyranius had also decided that since her chest had filled out some by the time she was fifteen, she was more desirable. She hadn't been in his chamber since that one night a year prior, but he decided that she needed to do more for him and ordered her up again. Abelia, one of the elven slaves, was also called for, and they were led to the magister's chamber, nude except for a jeweled collar and a sheer robe. Abelia had beautiful auburn hair and green eyes, and she was the only slave who would really speak to Claire whenever they had a chance, and Claire found herself growing attached to her.
However, walking beside her, naked and heading to be forced to do some strange sex act, was not something Claire had had in mind when considering a friendship with the elf. She'd heard stories from the other slaves of Tyranius' sexual appetite and she considered herself very lucky she had been spared for a year. Her anxiety grew with every step they took closer to the magister's chamber and she glanced at Abelia. The elf seemed calm, and Claire wondered if she was just used to it, if she had been a slave her entire life. How different it would be to know nothing else! Poor Claire, she had had a life of freedom, stripped away from her... They entered the chamber and Tyranius smiled wide, sending chills down Claire's spine.
"It's time for your new training, Claire." Tyranius said. "And Abelia here will help tutor you."