Chapter 7

'Venhedis!' Fenris snapped, looking around. 'Where in the fade is she? Damned woman!'

'Well I'm not fucking surprised she did that, you fool!' Catherine spat at him as she walked over to block him from moving out the doorway. 'What the living fuck were you thinking?!' She added. Her hand rested on the pommel of a small dagger that she kept in her belt. 'I swear down to the demonic fade Fenris, you hurt her and I'll slit your fucking throat.' She didn't shout or hiss at him, she said it calmly and matter of factly.

Fenris scowled at her, Amelie forgotten for the moment. 'You can try, weapon smith. Better men have failed,' he replied in a growl as his markings lit defensively. Hawke moved a couple of steps toward the pair, aware of the atmosphere in the room. He was worried to say the least.

Catherine took out the dagger and rolled it in her fingers. 'Aye, that I have no doubt,' she nodded. Fenris watched her eyes, not her hand. He was too battle experienced to be fooled by a rookie trick like that. Slowly she placed the blade back into her belt and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. He didn't move, ever wary that this woman might actually try to start something. 'But the thing is,' she said ever so quietly. 'I am not a man.' She smiled to herself as she spoke. 'And I will kill you if you hurt her, even if it means my own death in the process.'

Fenris snarled in response, jerking his head away from her mouth, he could feel her breath down the side of his throat. 'Woman, you have no idea whom you are dealing with,' he says deeply, letting his anger roll of his tongue. 'You would die before you made your first move,' he adds simply. Catherine holds his gaze, for a second Fenris found himself unsure of the actual outcome if it did come to blows. Then she does something that he didn't expect.

She laughs. 'Well. Fenris. See the thing you should know is, better men have failed.' She replies in the same tone that he had used earlier. Hawke could see the visible snap in his friend and he got between them just in time. Fenris spun on his foot and walked away slamming the door behind him. Garrett gave Catherine a look.

'You shouldn't have done that. He's unstable normally. Winding him up isn't going to help Amelie.' He states simply. Catherine shrugs her shoulders and gives him just as a pointed look back. She could feel her heart racing. Squaring up to an elf that was a living weapon wasn't exactly the smartest thing to do, and she felt the sick pit in her stomach begin to grow.

'He threatened my best friend, someone I consider family. Tell me you would have done something different,' she says simply as she brushes her hair back from her eyes.

'Well, I wouldn't have gotten so close to him that's for sure,' Garrett chuckles, trying to make her smile. It works for a moment and she feels a little of her tension relax. 'The real problem we have now is where she is. I'm not worried about Fenris. He shouldn't hurt her, he wants answers and that means that for now he's got a head on that isn't baying for blood. Though I don't know how long that will last.' He sighs and rubs his eyes. 'He'll be looking for her. Tell you what. You know her best. Where do you think she's gone?' He asks, aware that every moment Fenris is getting further away.

'Well, she's not stupid. She's not going to leave the city or go anywhere she could get hurt. She'll go somewhere safe and quiet,' Catherine mumbles thinking of various places.

Garrett nods. 'Right okay. You take the bottom half of the city and check everywhere you can think of. I'll grab Fenris and we'll do a sweep of the Chantry and the Barracks, also the surrounding areas. Sound okay?' He says, slightly worried about her safety. But Catherine was from Kirkwall and she was on a mission. He should be worried about those who might get in her way. He kissed her gently on the forehead before tearing open the door and running after Fenris, taking two steps at a time. This was a mess. He had no idea what to feel towards Amelie, but he knew that she deserved a chance to explain herself without being threatened. This had all happened so fast. He had to move and hopefully either he would find her, or Catherine would. Before Fenris.

-x-

Amelie crawled into a corner and clutched her hand. She wasn't one for self pity, but at this moment in time she could feel herself crying and she didn't give a damn. She pulled her torn robe over her knees as she moved them close to her chest. She was out the wind but there wasn't much insulation, nor light. But she was content to sit in the darkness. She could hear voices, they worried her just as much but she was sure that she was safe. They wouldn't find her here and even if they did, soon she'd have enough mana to teleport again. This was just a pit stop. Once her mana had recovered she would get herself healed and then get the hell out of this city. Once she had managed to relay a message to Catherine that was. She wouldn't leave before telling her best friend. Amelie was sure that she would want to stay with Garrett and Amelie didn't begrudge her a bit. As long as she was happy. But it was too dangerous around Fenris. He wasn't anything like her elf. He was rude, stubborn, nasty, petty and jumped to conclusion far too quickly to be safe.

She cast a few small lights into the air, like fireflies. It gave her enough to see that her wrist was dislocated. She had felt the snap, she just wasn't sure. Looking around she saw a small length of wood. Ignoring what might infect her if she put it in her mouth she did it anyway. She gripped it tight in between her teeth as with a sharp jerk she reset the bone with a sickening pop. A high pitched yet half stifled cry of pain forced it's way through her teeth as the deep burning ache set into her wrist. Tears streamed down her cheek as she weakly spat out the wood and cradled her arm against her chest. She wiped her cheeks on her other sleeve as her crying slowed to almost hiccups. She was indeed feeling sorry for herself. She hadn't done anything to deserve this distrust and anger, and now she was sitting in the dust, injured and scared of people she once, in another life, knew as friends. Her eyes flicked around the place she had chosen as a temporary hideout. It was large enough for her to stand and there was only one way in or out. Well, two if she felt suicidal. She wasn't quite at that point. She sniffed to herself and tried to shake some sense into her fear drenched body.

She wasn't afraid of fighting. She had been in plenty of fights. She wasn't afraid of dying, everyone had a time to die. She was terrified of hurting the people she cared about and loosing another loved one. Even if the only familiarity might be a name and physical appearance. Her skin twitched and shook as her heart slowed and her body temperature cooled down. It was bitterly cold in here. She wouldn't go down without a fight, but she would try to avoid one at any cost. If it meant taking the coward's way out then so be it. Trying not to move her hand she buried her head into her knees and tried to rest. She needed to recover her mana as soon as possible if she was to escape.

-x-

'I couldn't find her anywhere,' Catherine panted as she entered the Hanged Man and spotted Garrett. He swore and ran his hands through his hair. They hadn't made Amelie's disappearance public knowledge, only to a trusted couple. The others just thought Hawke had stopped by for a quick visit.

'We checked everywhere. My house, Merrill's, Anders'. Hell, we even sent Aveline and Varric to the Wounded coast. But we just got a bird saying that she's nowhere to be found,' he sighed. 'She's been gone for hours. Are you sure she's not left the city?' He asked desperately. Catherine nodded.

'I'm deadly sure. She wouldn't leave without telling me. It's something we promised each other.' She mumbled looking at the floor and praying that she was right. 'Sebastian hasn't seen her and even your mabari can't get a hold of her scent.' She sighed deeply. She looked over to where Fenris was staring at the fire moodily. They hadn't been able to get a word out of him since Garrett caught up. He had promised not to hurt Amelie when they found her. A curt nod was the only response he gave when Hawke demanded that the elf give his word not to hurt the woman. Catherine couldn't tell what he was feeling. Anger was clear but there was something else underlining that emotion.

Fenris closed his eyes slowly and wished he hadn't. All he could see where her eyes, the golden amber swirled with the deep metallic copper. So full of life and at that moment; she had totally surrendered to him. She wasn't going to fight back. She wouldn't hurt him. Not even to save herself. Her expression screamed her fear, but not that she was going to die. It was that he was the one holding the blade, that he would do it. For some strange reason it stung him deeply. It infuriated him and he wanted nothing more than to be rid of the woman. Yet, at the same time. He couldn't. He needed to know what this was. Why she was like that towards him? Why he felt like he did. They had searched everywhere they could think of and there wasn't a trace of her. Nothing. She had truly vanished. They had looked...everywhere... hadn't they?

'The mansion,' he muttered to himself as he clenched his fist. How very clever of the mage. Hide in plain sight. He scowled before his face went blank. The others needed to think he knew nothing. He turned on his foot and picked up his sword, slowly strapping it across his back. Garrett watched his every move and tilted his head.

'You alright my friend?' He asks curiously. Wondering why Fenris had suddenly begun to move.

'I am going home. There will be no point searching in the dark if we cannot find her in daylight,' he says simply. 'She will not return to my home. She will search for Catherine. You had best take her back to your mansion Hawke. That is where Amelie would start her search,' he says it bluntly and in such a monotone, Garrett nor Catherine even consider that he was leading them astray. Garrett found himself nodding in reply. It made sense.

'Very well. I'll let you know if she turns up. I know you have some questions,' he says softly. Catherine gives Hawke a wary look but sends a nastier one to Fenris. She didn't trust him after what he had done and she stood by her word. She would attempt to kill him if she found out he had hurt Amelie. Fenris simply nodded and ignored the looks. He walked out the Hanged Man calmly and when he was sure that was wasn't being watched or followed he began to run.

-x-

He quietly opened the door to his mansion. His heart was racing with the recent exertion and he placed his sword to the side. He had other weapons and that one was cumbersome in small spaces. He had an idea where she was. It was indeed very clever and he should have thought about it first. Yet, he was the only one who knew where the entrance was. But, if she was from this alternate world, that meant that she could to. If she was as close to the other elf as she said. He walked up the stairs silently and down the corridor to the right, entering the last door. He closed that door silently to keep his presence to a minimum. The only thing he could hear was his own breathing and heartbeat which pounded in his ears. Looking over at the wardrobe he began to push it to the side until it revealed a door. He paused, listening and waiting. But he heard nothing. He didn't know if that was a good thing or that he was barking up the wrong tree. But he had to look. Had to be sure.

Unlocking the door he walked up the secret passageway that led to the attic. It was the only way to get there and only one door to and from the place. He moved up the stairs with only the slightest creak on the old wooden floorboards. His anxiety grew the higher he climbed. He didn't know what to expect. His anger towards her had banked for the moment, the more he thought about what had happened the more guilt he felt. It made him feel angry in an entirely different way. More towards himself. He now felt that he overreacted. He wanted answers. That's all. He reached the top of the stairs and numbly stared at the door handle. With a deep breath he pulled it down and opened the door, letting it swing open. He looked around the room and saw in the far corner the small glittering lights.

He was right.

Amelie jerked upright at the sound of the door opening. She saw a silhouette in the doorway. Her eyes too used to the gloom of this room. She inhaled quickly and tried to get to her feet, but the cold had bitten deep and her legs were frozen. She stumbled and fell to the side, making her whimper in pain. Fenris stepped forward, not quite sure of what he was going to do when he got to her. All he knew was that there was something about this woman that scared him. And not in a life and death way. Something deeper. Amelie pulled herself upright and shook her head as he came near. She hadn't got the mana to escape. Teleportation was really a last resort for her and she could only go short distances. He had already found her once, she was sure he'd be able to again. He knelt in front of her and she felt fresh tears drop down her cheek. 'Please, Fenris,' she mumbled. 'Please... let me explain.'

He tilted his head. Her curls were covered in the light dust. He could see the swelling of her wrist. Her dress was torn and she had curled up for warmth. Her tears had created lines down her cheeks and it was clear by the redness of her eyes that she had cried a lot. He leant forward, his hand outstretched. He was going to help her up. He had promised that he wouldn't hurt her and he wouldn't break this promise. Not to Hawke. The dim bubble of anger still bubbled beneath the surface, his mind screaming that this was all a clever act. She was again, manipulating him. Then, something happened as his hand got closer to her.

She flinched from his touch, more tears falling heavily down her cheeks. She turned her head to the side, looking at him through her hair. A whimper broke from her lips. 'Don't... hurt me,' she begged. It struck him deeply in his chest. It wasn't the pathetic beg of a mage, pleading for life. It was as if she was talking to a brother or even a lover. That she could save herself but, she wouldn't hurt them. Wouldn't trade their life for hers. He breathed out deeply and clenched the outstretched hand, looking out the floor. Her breath hitched. She thought he was going to strike her. Shaking his head he stood up, Amelie followed his movement with her eyes but kept herself curled up, a smaller target.

'I will not hurt you... again,' he says quietly, fully aware that her arm was due to his anger. She looked at him in confusion, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. He rubbed his eyes. This was becoming more and more complicated by the second. The whole reading minds thing still preyed on him. But, he owed her time for an explanation. That at least. He hoped it would abate some of the guilt that he felt, for a reason that was lost to him. He bent down and gently took her good arm, pulling her upright. She stood shakily, he could feel her heartbeat through her thin clothing. It was racing. She was terrified. She wobbled and he took her arm over his shoulder as he bent and picked her up bridal style. She froze and her breathing quickened. She refused to look him in the eye as he carried her gently.

'Fenris,' she said quietly. He looked at her and paused in his walking. 'I'm sorry. For all of this,' she mumbles. He sighs deeply and nods.

'As am I,' he says, surprising her. She can't help herself as she wraps her other arm around his shoulder and hugs him tightly. He almost drops her in shock. This was unwanted physical contact. Especially with the situation that was going on. But he felt her warmth and the tears that fell from her cheeks against his skin and he couldn't help but tighten his grip on her frame as he bowed her head closer to hers. This wasn't going the way he thought and for that he was thankful.

Thanks for reading, please review :3