Moonpriestess30: I'm glad it didn't seem I put it in there simply because I could. Not going to lie, I love Fenris in this chapter.
Chapter 6 – An accident
Evelyn sat in the bath while Isabela washed her hair. 'Oh, sweetness, I'm so sorry this happened to you,' she says quietly as she gently runs her fingers against her scalp. Evelyn nodded and brought her legs up to her chest as she rested her arm across her knee, and leaned her head on her arm. Isabela bit her lip, she hadn't been given much in regards of detail around the subject. Sebastian and Varric had been able to tell her most of what happened but apparently Fenris was the one that interrupted it. He had since disappeared after talking to Sebastian. 'We don't have to talk about it, but I'm here if you want to, I mean... I've been in a similar situation myself. Not quite as violent though... so maybe it isn't the same...' she mumbles. 'I'm sorry, I'm just talking shit-'
Evelyn turns to look at her, tears in her eyes. 'They were so angry,' she signs slowly. 'They wanted to hurt me... they hated me-'
Isabela places her hands on Evelyn's and stops her from signing. 'You are everything that they felt they would never be able to have. You're beautiful, graceful and gentle. At the same time you stuck up for yourself and made a point of letting them know that they couldn't treat you like shit. Do not ever let anyone make you doubt yourself,' she says softly. Isabela wipes the tears from her cheeks and smiles weakly. 'Come on, Anders is waiting to look you over. He can heal some of those bruises.'
She nods and stands up on shaky legs as Isabela holds out a large towel. Corff, the bartender of the Hanged Man had been very apologetic. He didn't know that sending Evelyn into the cellar for a restock would have caused this. He didn't even notice that the patrons had left after her. Eve begins to dry herself as the pirate squeezes the water out her long hair. 'Clothing?' She signs as she wraps the towel around herself.
'Oh yeah, I managed to find this, I mean I know you've been sleeping in your underclothes until you get some more coin,' Isabela said as she grabbed the white nightgown from the chair, it had pretty straps and would come to at least her knees. 'You'll still have to wear some knickers but it will be a bit more comfortable for you.' Evelyn smiles with some genuine happiness and pulls it over her head. Isabela tries not to look at the severe bruising around her throat and upper arms, it just made her angry. Passing her some underwear she cleaned up around the bathroom while Evelyn dressed. Once she was she lead her to Varric's rooms, Corff had closed the pub while this was going on. Aveline wanted an investigation into what happened and removal of the bodies was going to be a little complicated.
Varric smiles weakly as he sees Eve walk in, 'hey Sparrow. Are you feeling better?' He asks. Anders stood up and nods at her as she's steered into a chair near him. Isabela waggles her hand horizontally in a, she'll get there, kind of way.
Anders smiles at her and speaks slowly and clearly. 'Okay, Eve, I'm going to heal your bruises to the best of my ability. They might not all disappear if they're quite deep and you've got to show me anywhere that hurts,' he says gently. Evelyn looks at Isabela and signs something that turns even the pirate's face a little pink. 'What? What is it?' Anders asks.
'Oh, just that... the piece shit managed to... touch her thigh with … himself-' she says awkwardly.
Anders opened his eyes in realisation. 'Oh. Oh! Oh, no, you'll be fine. The hot water of the bath would have taken care of any... nastiness. I hate to ask, but I feel that I must, do you know what sex is?' He says carefully. Varric politely made his excuses and slipped out the door but Isabela stayed put to translate for Anders.
'In the technical sense, yes. She knows it means that two people lay together and they can create children- Anders, remember she has been purposefully kept ignorant,' Isabela reads from Eve's signing and then chips in at the end.
'Right well, yes, I'll be honest, that's exactly what they were attempting to do. Lay with you without your permission, which is why it is a crime. If you want more detail into what the actual mechanics are you might be better off talking to Isabela, it'll be a little less awkward. I had to ask because I need know what extent my healing needs to do,' he said softly. 'So you have bruising around your face, throat, and upper arms, anywhere else?'
Eve's face goes bright red and she nods, looking at Isabela who reassures her it's fine. Eve motions to her breast and her inner thighs. Anders looks at her kindly and without judgement as his hand lights up in mana, 'this may feel prickly,' Isabela warns with a tease that makes Eve relax a little more. Anders' touch is professional and he soon eases most of the aches that adorned her skin. It doesn't take long but she soon looks like her normal self.
'Thank you,' she signs to the mage as he stands. He says his goodbyes and leaves the room. Isabela looks at Eve, asking if she's okay. 'I'm tired. And I feel really worn out. Emotionally and physically, I think I just want to go to bed,' she admits.
'Sweetness, of course. I don't blame you. I'll pass what you said onto Aveline and we'll get this sorted, okay? You've got a day off tomorrow right? Take it, take the next one off as well. I'll talk to Corff, it'll be all good,' she said as she lead her towards her room. 'Have you got your key?' Isabela asks as Evelyn finds it in her ruined clothing that had been thrown onto her floor. 'Lock your door behind me. You'll feel better. If we want to talk to you, we'll knock four times okay. Any less or more than that, it's not us.' Isabela knew she was babbling and she waves goodnight as Evelyn shut the door behind her and she heard the lock click.
With a heavy, relieved sigh she walked downstairs where she found Hawke and Aveline talking to Varric. 'Bela, how is she?' He asks as she gets closer.
'Fine? I think? I mean she's pretty shaken up and upset but she said she's really tired so I've put her to bed and she's locked her door,' she explains.
'What the fuck happened? Tell me again,' Garrett sighs looking at Varric.
'Look, we came down to order some food, Sebastian was gonna go home so he had his bow. The bar was quiet, we stood in Isabela's spot and next thing we hear is a shout from under us. We ask Corff what was going on down there and he said that Sparrow was doing a restock. Fenris said it sounded like a man, Corff shrugged not knowing how to reply but then there was another noise, like a thud. Broody tore open the door to the cellar and the next thing I know, Chantry boy has his bow knocked and took aim. There were horrible noises as Broody disappeared and apparently annihilated the guy that was choking her and Seb shot the one that she had bitten,' he says rubbing his eyes. 'This shit is fucked up, Hawke. I mean-'
'Yeah, I know what you're saying,' Garrett nods. 'I think I'm making this city better and something like this happens.'
Isabela frowns, 'hey, we're not to blame for their fucked up actions, at the end of the day there are always disgusting pieces of shit looking to tear someone else down,' she states simply. They look at her and she decides to change subject, 'so, anyway, did all of them die?'
Aveline tilts her head from side to side and looks at her notepad, 'no. I'm assuming she killed one of them, there's the neck of the broken bottle sticking out his eye. Fenris... killed another... they're gonna be clearing him up for a week, and Sebastian shot one,' she reads. 'There was a guy outside in the street, a lookout. I've got his description and we'll send out a notice across the patrols to keep and eye out-'
The door to the tavern opened and Corff shouted that they were closed before he realised who walked in. Sebastian, who looked a little pale around the throat held the door open as Fenris comes through with a body over his shoulder. He walks towards Aveline, Varric, Isabela and Hawke and without ceremony drops the man onto the table. 'Fucking hell!' Hawke exclaims covering his mouth.
'Fenris! Is this-?' Aveline says looking at the man; his face was beaten and swollen, several of his teeth were missing and she could tell that he had broken and dislocated fingers. There was probably more unseen damage but he seemed to be breathing. Just.
The Tevinter elf rolled his shoulder and crossed his arms. 'Your suspect,' he says simply, bluntly.
'He's barely breathing!' Aveline says as she motions for a couple of her guards to come over and help her move him.
Fenris raised a brow, 'he is alive,' he points out. If Sebastian hadn't been there he probably would have killed him.
'What the fuck happened to him?' Isabela asks as she leans back as the guards lift him, she was sure she already knew the answer but her question was automatic.
'He fell down the stairs on the way here. Several times,' Fenris says coldly. Varric has to stifle the chuckle that threatens to break free. The expression on the elf's face and the way he delivered the line was just... it tickled Varric probably more than it should. Fenris looks at Isabela, 'is Evelyn..?'
'Oh, she's gone to bed. She was totally exhausted and a little emotionally numb after everything that happened. I'll check in on her later,' she said surprised that he even asked. He wondered if he should see her but he shoved the thought to the back of his mind, that was a dangerous path to go down. 'We should all probably get some sleep,' Isabela says pointedly.
'Yeah, you're right,' Hawke nods as he looks at Aveline who was directing her men and women. 'Alright, Fenris, Sebastian, I'll walk with you two up to home, Varric and Bela, look after her please? I'll come by in the morning to say hello,' he says softly.
Isabela nods and Varric pats her thigh, 'be safe, all of you,' she says as Hawke grabs Fenris firmly but insistently by the upper arm and practically drags him out the bar. She sighs and looks at the dwarf. 'This is all kinds of fucked up, huh,' she mutters.
Varric nods and agrees, 'oh yeah, Riviani. Not even I'm gonna write about this,' he says quietly as he starts walking towards the stairs. 'I'll stay up for a bit, you go get your head down,' he offers. Isabela nods and follows him, a weight heavy in her chest from the night.