Moonpriestess30: It's winter here though it can't make up it's mind for sure. I remember being pregnant during the summer. It's exhausting. I feel for you.

Eiris: Sweet? Sweet?! Yeah, okay it was pretty sweet, I'll give you that.

Chapter 14 – Baggage

'Come on, you can't tell me that you're not curious?' Varric said as he snipped off the end of a cigar, rolling it between his fingers.

'Curious as to how she became bound to someone though blood magic? No thanks,' Garrett replies shaking his head. They were sitting around Varric's table at the Hanged Man, 'I don't get your fascination with it-'

'It's not a fascination, it's a curiosity, there's a difference,' the dwarf replies pointedly. He looks around the table at Aveline and Fenris, 'oh come on, I can't be the only one!'

Aveline sighs, 'I'll admit, it's a morbid curiosity. Almost when someone tells you not to look at something but you desperately want to,' she says as she sips her beer.

Varric clicks his fingers at her, vindication received. 'Y'see! That's what I mean. Broody-'

'No. I already know,' Fenris said bluntly as he taps his fingers against the table and looked at Varric. 'You do not wish to know,' he says honestly. 'You will not feel better with the knowledge.' The door to Varric's rooms swing open and Eve walks in with a tray and a smile, she was greeted by a rather awkward coldness.

She starts to put the new mugs on the table and looks at each of them, 'what? What's going on? Why do you all look guilty?' She asks as she pauses. Aveline and Garrett refuse to make eye contact with her and Varric clears his throat looking at his cigar with a critical expression. She stands up straight and tilts her head. 'Fenris?' She directs knowing that he won't lie to her.

Fenris gives Varric a rather exasperated look for the position that he was now in, with a sigh he answers. 'Some... have become curious as to how you are bound to a master as an Intended,' he says slowly and carefully watching her face fall a little and become expressionless. It had been about six months since her master had been killed, she had regained her voice but there were times of stress when it would cut out.

'Oh... oh I see,' Evelyn says biting her lip and looking down at the floor. There's a minute of silence as she looks at the bottle of wine in her hand. She clears her throat and raises her head. 'What do you wish to know?' She states simply.

'You don't have to-' Garrett begins.

'No,' she interrupts, shaking her head. 'It's okay, the atrocities of the Tevinter Imperium shouldn't be hidden.'

There's an awkward silence across the room and Varric breaks it, 'I'm sorry, Sparrow. I was just wondering how it all came about,' he admits. Fenris rubs his eyes and wishes he wasn't there, this was not going to be a fun conversation though he understood the curiosity. He could see the tenseness in her shoulders and the hardened expression her features had taken.

Evelyn nods and walks over to the door shutting it before coming back to the table. 'Very well. I was twelve when I was chosen. My mother was an Intended for another master and her children were raised with the intention of becoming the same. I don't know my father but my mother said that he was kind, handsome and in the brief time they spent together they were comfortable. Which is more than I could have asked for. My siblings weren't fathered by the same man and there were a couple years between us. I happened to be the only daughter and so I was considered... more valuable,' she said as she looked at the tray that she had placed on the table. Her voice had taken a dull monotone and the tension in the room was rising rapidly.

'The day I was bought, it was an auction. It was also the last time I ever saw my mother and brothers, … I don't know what became of them. So that the Magisters knew what they were purchasing I was placed on a podium, dressed in a light gown. They were allowed to touch and move me to check for imperfections and the maturity of my body. I had only just entered womanhood so it would be a few years until I had a woman's figure. I was sold to a young master of seventeen, I was his first charge and would become his personal slave as long as he could groom and protect me. I was taught to sing, entertain, personal care and certain... implied techniques which would be would later after the ritual expanded upon.' She could tell that the atmosphere was awkward to say the least but they wanted to know and she had no embarrassment of what happened to her. It wasn't her choice after all.

'On the day of my twenty second birthday I was taken to a room where I was stripped nude. My master painted symbols of his blood on my skin. He made a small incision and took some of my blood painting it down his lips, to bind me to him. I was then made to lay down in the middle of a large ritual circle that had rare herbs burning, bowls of lyrium and had been painted with blood. My body was then his to do as he wished and when he reached the peak of his pleasure he spoke the words that bound me to him for life,' she states coldly. 'For the next four years his every wish was my compulsion. He controlled my body, mind and soul. I was a puppet and there was nothing I could do about it.'

'Andraste,' Aveline whispered shaking her head. Garrett had paled and Varric looked like he was going to need a drink.

Evelyn placed the bottle of wine that had been ordered on the table from her tray and looked around them, 'so now you know,' she says quietly.

'Fucking hell,' Garrett rubbed his face and looked over at Fenris who wore an expression of indifference. He already said that he knew what happened, hearing it from her was hitting in an unpleasant way and the elf was forcing himself to remain neutral. 'Thank you for telling us,' he mumbles.

Evelyn shrugged a shoulder and wore a weak smile, 'it is what it is, Hawke. We all have baggage,' she says quietly. 'But, hey, I'm doing a lot better now wouldn't you say?'

Varric chuckles half-heartedly, 'never lose that spark, Sparrow,' he grins making Evelyn smile at him in return as she picks up her tray and holds it against her chest.

Garrett tried to shake some sense into himself, 'you, uh, you finish your shift soon don't you?' He asks. Evelyn had been staying around the houses since she left the Hanged Man, unable to sleep at the tavern after what happened.

'Yes, in about half an hour,' Evelyn nods.

'Are you staying at mine tonight? I know Anders has become a bit reclusive,' he says trying to mend the bridge that he felt was weakening. 'Merrill is busy with her mirror and Bela, well she won't be back till early morning.'

'I-' Evelyn said quietly.

'She is with me tonight,' Fenris states simply, his look daring anyone to say anything about it. 'When you are ready we will leave,' he says in a softer tone towards Evelyn. She smiles weakly and nods as she leaves the room. Once the door was shut behind her he turns to the rest of the room, 'do you feel better for knowing?'

'Ancestors, Broody,' Varric says with a sigh of exasperation. 'Obviously not. I mean, poor Sparrow-'

'Do not pity her, it only devalues what she has been through. I think we would both appreciate it if what was said does not leave this room. I cannot see any benefit to the others knowing,' Fenris says bluntly.

'Of course,' Aveline nods as she knocks back the rest of the contents of her mug and reaches for a fuller one. 'She's always welcome to stay with me should she wish to, I know it's hard for her being moved from place to place.' Fenris nods and promises to let her know of the offer. Garrett and Varric had been speaking in a hushed whisper and had got into a little bit of an argument, more of a spat if anything. Varric seems to have won and Garrett reaches across for an ale as he gains Fenris' attention.

He sips his drink before speaking, 'so... Fenris, you and... Evee, is there... perhaps something there?' He asks knowing full well that Fenris and Evelyn had kissed, Isabela couldn't help herself and had told him during pillow talk. Aveline sat up and Varric lit his cigar taking a deep inhale as they looked at Fenris for his reply.

'What do you mean?' Fenris replied simply.

'Oh come on! You clearly have feelings towards her!' Garrett whined, feeling like hitting his head against the table. 'It's been six months! I know for a fact that when she stays at yours she doesn't sleep in the guest bedroom,' he says slyly. Aveline coughs on her ale and Varric pauses in his exhale, his face going red as they both stare at the Tevinter elf. If looks could cripple, Hawke would be on the floor.

Fenris adjusts the way he's sitting and rolls his eyes, 'there is nothing untoward going on.'

Varric lets out the smoke in a billow, 'thanks the ancestors, I thought for a brief moment that if this is what you're like when you've been with a woman, we're really in trouble,' he teases lightly making Fenris roll his eyes once more. Evelyn proved to be a distraction from the conversation as she entered the room once more, having been allowed to finish a little early. Fenris stands up and picks up his sword from the rack. 'You two sure that you're going to be okay going through Hightown at this time?' Varric asks.

'Yes, as Hawke has taken care of the gang roaming the area, I can protect us from any other threats,' Fenris nods as he straps the leather buckle across his chest and feels the familiar weight of his weapon against his shoulders. He places a hand lightly on the base of Evelyn's back and she waves goodbye to everyone smiling a little at the chorus of farewells returned. The journey to Fenris' mansion was peaceful and they made good time despite the brisk chill in the air.

Eve's mutism was selective, she tended not to speak if there was no need. Often while staying at Fenris' they were both perfectly content without words being said between them. Evelyn stood in the spare bedroom, plaiting her hair over her shoulder and the tension was clear across her shoulders. With a wobbly step she moved over to the bed and sat on the edge as her emotions overwhelmed her. There was a knock on the door and she looks up wiping her eyes and smiling weakly. 'Crying was a lot easier to hide when I couldn't make sound, huh,' she whispers as Fenris enters the room. 'I'm sorry, just the whole talk from earlier. Brought it all back,' she mumbles.

Fenris nods and gently places a hand on her knee, 'Evelyn, you need not explain it to me. Although I am wondering why you are in here when we both know that you will be in my room in a few hours.'

Evee blushes lightly. Fenris hadn't been lying when he said there was nothing untoward happening. Since her master had been killed she had suffered from night terrors, the whole group knew about them. Fenris and Evelyn had discovered that is she shared a bed with someone they were far and few between. The first time they had happened he resorted to simply holding her and it provided enough comfort for her to calm down and sleep. Evelyn felt that she had gotten closer to Fenris, the months they had spent together were healing for both of them. They hadn't shared another kiss since Anders' clinic but it wasn't needed for the moment. 'I never want to presume,' Evelyn says quietly.

Fenris gently takes her hand and leads her to his room where he had already gotten a fire going. The room was warm and the couple of candles that were lit caused a gentle flicker. Fenris hadn't ever admitted it but when he slept next to Evelyn, he slept well. Even though there were times where his brands where uncomfortable, it was worth the discomfort. 'Do you wish to talk about it?' He asks

She had continued to plait her hair, shaking her head she breathes in deeply, 'no. But there is something I wanted to tell you,' Eve says as she flicks her hair over her shoulder, she felt nervous about telling him but it was time. 'I've found somewhere to live,' she says trying not to look at him, looking at her hands instead. 'The lady who's renting it is nice and I've saved up enough money to pay Varric back and buy some furniture-'

Fenris turns to face her and tilts his head. 'You... found somewhere to live?'

'Yes, so I won't be such a burden on everyone now. Especially you,' she said as she desperately tried to keep her voice steady. 'She says I can move in next week. The rent is cheap enough and I'll have enough for food and things.'

'I see,' came his terse and blunt reply.

'Fenris, it was always the plan for me to support myself-' she begins and feels his hands either side of her arms. 'Please, it's not fair on you and the others,' Evelyn mumbles. His fingers dig into her skin a little making her look up with him.

His eyes bore into hers and she can't tell what he's thinking. 'Stay here.'

'What? No, Fenris, I can't, after everything I did to you,' she shakes her head and moves away from him. 'Don't say things like that.'

'Evelyn,' Fenris said as he walked back around into her view, 'I am being serious.'

'Stop it! It's one thing staying the odd night but being here permanently? I just can't do it to you. It's not fair,' she glares at him, tears in her eyes. 'After everything that happened between us, why would you feel comfortable with that?'

He raises his hands again and places them back on her arms, 'because it is you,' he said softly.