Chapter 11
'Hey um, Garrett,' Catherine says softly as she wanders towards him, she had sent several messages to where ever he was. She was just happy that he got the note before he went too far out of town. He smiled and kissed her cheek softly, realising that she was a little tense as he pulls away.
'Okay, what's going on?' He says raising a brow as he looks at her. She bites her lip as he crosses his arms. 'Oh shit, there's definitely something going on, and by the look on your face doesn't seem good,' he sighs. 'Okay, hit me with it,' he says simply. Catherine does indeed hit him with the news and his face falls.
'So yeah, thanks to Amelie knowing the future and stuff she um, went up the coasts,' she mumbled. Garrett rubbed his beard and sighed again. He takes a breath in through his teeth and his facial expression causes Catherine to almost double take. 'What? What did you do?' She asked in concern. He pulls a face and winces, she shakes her head and pinches him hard in order to get what she needed out of him.
'Ow! Bitch!' he say says with a pout as he rubs his arm in relief. 'Well, it's just that I met Fenris, I mean, I saw Amelie before she left, I sent her to you here and then... well, I saw Fenris and I sent him...here...too,' he mumbled, watching as Catherine's expression slides off. 'Well how was I supposed to know that she was going to go flouncing off?' He says defensively. Catherine stood jaw dropped before she unleashed a flurry of punches to his arm.
'You. Bloody. Fool! I can't believe it!' She said panting with the exertion. Garrett tried to field her blows with an alarmed look. 'Don't give me those puppy-dog eyes,' she sighs before throwing one last punch at his chest. 'I am beating on you because Amelie and I had a very, uh, certain conversation. About a certain elf... two elves actually... ' she said as she tilted her head. 'Anyway the point is, with his hearing he could have easily heard ...things,' she says biting her lip.
Now it was Garrett's turn to squeeze out information. 'What the hell do you mean things?' He asks as he grabs her hand. 'Catherine, Kitty cat, you tell me now,' he says simply.
'Well, uh, you know how she knows like, what's going to happen and stuff,' she mumbled. Garrett pointed out that she did as well and she simply shrugged her shoulders. 'Well, y'see um, this is where Fenris meets and kills Hadriana, and you gain a new maid called Orana,' she says softly. 'It didn't go well, um, Fenris and Amelie had a... uh, falling out afterwards, he said some pretty harsh stuff to her, like ''Hate all mages'' kind of stuff. And then um, later on at her house, he went over to apologise and it got a little physical-'
'Physical? Wait, isn't this the same Fenris that was... you know, not inclined to uh, that type of carnal pleasure?' Garrett interrupted.
Catherine gave him a pointed look, 'Gay you mean? Yes, he was more inclined to men, but Amelie and Fenris were very close and they weren't stupid. There was tension, lots of it and that night it just sorta came out-'
'I thought you said that Amelie was a virg-'
'Are you going to keep interrupting me?' Catherine asks. 'That's right, shut up. She is a virgin, I would know otherwise but that night, things were said, things were done... and then the next day he freaked out and totally avoided her for like a week; then things were just always different. She wouldn't tell me what happened that night, I could never get it out of her. Then we later learned that he was gay, it alleviated the tension a little bit.' Catherine sighed. 'What I'm saying is that with what Fenris heard and what he might do, seeing as the other Fenris, bare in mind, he was more gentle than this one. I just don't know what will happen. You need to go up the coast, otherwise Amelie could be in real trouble.' Garrett mentally sighed and nodded. He thanked her for the information and kissed her goodbye. She wouldn't let him leave until she had sharpened his sword thoroughly. 'You better be careful. I'll meet you at Fenris' mansion later on, I think that Amelie will need some girl time,' she says softly. 'Although I'm just ,going off my timeline,' she mumbles.
Garrett stops in his tracks and returns to her, stroking her cheek gently before kissing her. 'This is your timeline now,' he says firmly. 'Do not forget it,' he adds.
...*...
They find Orana in a pool of blood, her father's body on the table. Fenris felt Amelie mentally break as she saw the scene and with merely a pause in her actions, before she throws herself at the young woman, her bag dropped to the floor with a clink. The elf is shocked and scared trying to pull away, but Amelie holds her close and eventually she succumbs and falls into the mage's arms, seeking comfort. Fenris rubs his eyes and his inner dialogue warns him to stay back or be thrown to the deep end. Amelie provides reassurance for a few minutes before she pulls away, checking the father's pulse. Gone. Probably within the last twenty minutes. Fenris moves closer to the body and closes the man's eyes, making the young elf cry out more and cling to Amelie.
'I'm so sorry,' Amelie whispers, 'I was too late,' she says through a sob that she desperately tries to hold in.
'Mistress was so scared, she needed Papa's blood. She was going to kill me, b-but he stopped her,' the young elf whimpered. 'All the slavers were being killed. She panicked,' she explained. Amelie pulled her away and wiped her eyes.
'I am sorry,' Amelie repeats, this time it made Fenris feel utter guilt. He felt selfish that he thought that Amelie was doing this just for him, to control him by having power about what she had done. Deep down he knew that he was wrong. 'You need to leave here,' Amelie says softly. 'You need to go to Kirkwall,' she murmurs. 'Do you know the way?'
'Are you going to be my mistress now?' The young elf asked. 'I can cook, c-clean-'
Amelie shook her head. 'No, no, no, no,' she says in shock. 'No I am not going to be your mistress. I am simply going to give you a home, a job, a new life,' she promised. Fenris raised a brow at the conviction that Amelie spoke with. She spoke a little longer with the young woman before she sadly made her way out the tunnels. Amelie had to take a moment after the elf had left to regain her composure.
Fenris looked around and the glanced over at the mage. 'I did not know you were in the market for a slave,' he said bitterly knowing it was the wrong thing to say as he said it. True to his thought she glared at him and simply shook his head.
'Fool. You think so badly of me, it makes you seem so cynical. Next time think before you speak,' she says with a slight edge to her voice, her hair crackling with energy. 'Come on. I want to beat the shit out of this bitch before you kill her,' she says quietly as she wipes her eyes ignoring him as she passes. She picks up her bag and fishes out a Lyrium potion, ripping off the seal and pulling out the cork. She avoids his eye as she gulps it down, readying herself for the fight. 'We're going to cheat a little and take a shortcut,' she murmurs before she leads him down the corridor. Fenris grabs her arm again, not caring about the physical contact.
'I... apologize,' he says almost in a hushed whisper. 'For what I said, earlier,' he says forcing himself to look at her. Amelie simply nods, she thinks he is talking about the comment that he spoke about Orana. He was talking about the words he parted with before he entered the tunnel. She merely nodded and he realised that she wasn't on the same brain wave as him. He let her go, he was going to have to speak to her afterwards. After all this.
'Don't worry about it,' she says simply as she brushes her hair behind her ear. 'That's the last health potion that you have in your belt. I've taken the last Lyrium potion, so my mana source is as good as it's going to get,' she said looking at the door. 'Get ready it's going to happen fast and intense,' Amelie murmurs as she touches his arm and teleported them to the other side of the door. Fenris stood stunned about what just happened as well as who he was seeing. There was Hadriana, the disgusting woman that tortured him so. She took one look at them and screamed for her guards. Amelie was already on the case, although she was weak, her reserve was about three quarters empty, she dredged up the mana and energy to throw a blast of energy at the other door, watching at the stone around the edges of the seal bubble. 'Fenris get her!' Amelie pointed out after a few seconds; but what seemed like an age since they entered the room. Hadriana was shaking and staring at them both in fear. Amelie was shaking herself with the exhaustion but she didn't stop with the energy blast until she was sure that the door was sealed. Hadriana on the other hand cast a shield around herself as Fenris' blade came into proximity. He swore loudly, banging his fist against the white coloured orb, he could see the fear in the bitch's eyes as he roared in anger at her defiance. Amelie fell to her knees, panting like a dog, sweat covered her brow, she was almost completely spent. She coughed, wiping her forehead as she looked over at Hadriana.
Fenris scowled and paced in front of the mage he so despised, waiting for her shield to disappear. 'Mages,' he hissed. Amelie watched as Hadriana began to cast, mentally she grimaced, if she finished her spell they would be arse deep in demons.
'The problem with a shield is that they always forget about the one major weakness,' Amelie says dragging herself to her feet and moving closer to Fenris. He looked at her for a second with concern before his eyes were drawn back to Hadriana. She concentrated, focusing a kinetic blast in her foot, with a swift movement she slammed her slipper into the floor, sending the bolt under the shield and to Hadriana's ankle, where Amelie detonated the crushing energy. Hadriana screamed in agony as her ankle snapped with the force, but it was seconds too late, her spell was complete and Amelie could sense the fade opening. Her shield failed and her broken limb gave way, Hadriana fell heavily to the ground, Fenris' killing blow blocked by the demon that tore out the floor. Amelie pulled out her dagger, her mana was almost gone, she would be truly scraping the last of what she had. She wasn't in a real condition to fight demons, but she just had to survive long enough for Fenris to kill Hadriana and then, hopefully he'd help her. Hopefully.
Hadriana surprised them both by limping to her feet and towards the door that Amelie had gotten them past. She opened it with a wave of her hand. 'Kill them!' She screamed at the demons that then began to swarm towards the pair. Amelie swore as she watched the Magister disappear out the door.
'Fenris! You must go after her!' Amelie screamed as she forced her body to call on resources that she just didn't have. He cut through a demon and looked at her, Amelie had closed her eyes and he could feel the pressure in the room increase. 'Go now!' She said as she began to rise in the air, her hair spreading around her, it was becoming harder to breathe, even to stand. Fenris gritted his teeth and nodded at her, following Hadriana out the tunnel. He was close to the entrance when he heard her scream and the whole mountain seemed to shake, as Amelie released whatever it was that she was holding. Amelie fell to the floor and inhaled deeply, her ribs complaining at her greatly. She was in the epicentre of the gravity crushing cage that had truly soaked up the last of her mana, even some of her own body force. But it had annihilated the demons around her, luckily. She could hear a sword and feel the waves of mana resonating from outside. Amelie knew that Fenris could be fighting for his life, so she forced herself to stand. She stumbled as she walked, her feet barely able to carry her, waves of pain robbing her of any sane thought. Using pure willpower Amelie gritted her teeth and placed her hand on the wall to help her up. 'Come on Amelie, what are you? A nug or a dragon?' She moaned. 'I feel like a beat up nug. Or that high dragon, who's arse I totally kicked,' she coughed, realising that she indeed was talking to herself. But it was helping with her situation, she had managed to almost get to the entrance. She looked out onto the mountain, turns out the day had passed faster than she anticipated, it was almost evening and the storm still hadn't passed over just yet. The wind on her face felt rather good, and there was a fleeting thought about Orana and how she hoped she was okay.
Fenris caught the smell of Amelie on the wind, and using his peripherals he saw that she was by the door. She looked weak and incredibly tired, guilt flooded through him but he mentally shook himself and concentrated on the witch that he had literally in his grip. He'd been interrogating her about this so called sister, while holding her by the throat. Hadriana was now begging for her life. 'Information, for my life! You gave me your word,' Hadriana gasped, clawing weakly at his hand. Amelie smiled faintly, but she heard something rustling behind her. Tilting her head she caught the sight of claws before the pain struck, it was deep and blinding. She was barely able to breathe, feeling the agony tear down her back again and that is when she found her voice. Her scream pierced the atmosphere around them, but was cut off as she felt the third skin splitting slash.
Fenris' head whipped around as he heard Amelie scream. His heart felt like it had taken a sliver of cold steel straight through, he saw Amelie fall to her knees, the demon rising above her, the blood draining from her face, running down her arms; the already stained blouse she wore, now becoming baptised in her own blood. His lack of concentration caused Hadriana to remove a dagger and ruthlessly drag it over his hand causing him to drop her. It became a choice, kill Hadriana, or save Amelie. He felt his very being been torn in two, the death of which mage, which meant more to him?
'Fe...ris,' Amelie gasped, she found the dagger she had used earlier and turned to face the demon. Using whatever strength she could muster she stabbed the creature in it's eye, before forcing herself to turn and throw the blade. Hadriana was rising above Fenris like a vengeful spirit, intent on his death. He was too busy staring at Amelie to realise. Her dagger hit Hadriana in the stomach knocking her to the ground, with a pained scream. 'Kill...her...' Amelie choked, feeling the shade behind her dissolve into the fade. She didn't see what happened next; as she felt the wet grass and blood soaked stone touch her face as she collapsed. Too much energy and mana, the blood loss and physical strain had taken all she could give. After what seemed like an age, she felt Fenris come near and pick her up, as gently as he could without hurting her too much. She opened her eyes and weakly smiled at him.
'I'm sorry, Fenris,' she murmured. Then she gave a half hearted chuckle, making him raise an eyebrow. 'Well, it only took me two tries...but I finally got this moment half right.' She coughed. She grimaced in pain as he began to move, she knew that he would want an explanation of what she said. He walked down the trail a little and sat on a nearby boulder, placing her on his lap. 'What about... Hadriana?' She moaned as she looked around as he went to his belt.
'I took care of her. Do not worry,' he replied coldly. Amelie winced and realised that it was the wrong thing to ask. Her gaze moved over the side of the trail and she saw what he meant. Lifeless eyes and a drooping mouth, blood pooling out the corner of her lips and the cavity in her chest. There was Hadriana, fear frozen on her face, her skull split open from the fall onto the rocks. But her missing heart, the bones of her rib cage protruding through her robes affected Amelie more than anything else. It seemed brutal and ruthless and deep down was her greatest fear. Her attention was brought back to the present as Fenris forced something between her lips.
'Wha-?' She inquired, her mind several timelines out of sync. She weakly tried to brush his hand away so she could focus on what he was giving her.
'Drink, you need to, otherwise your bleeding will not stop,' Fenris says almost tenderly. She caught his eye and nodded, not wanting to turn the moment bitter. This time when she felt the neck of the bottle touch her mouth, she closed her eyes and drank, trying to ignore the bitter taste. Tiredness swept over her as the slashes on her back began to tighten and heal. 'Sleep,' Fenris said as he stood up, cradling her close, her head lolling onto his blood splattered armour. He couldn't quite decipher what he was feeling at this moment in time. Confusion, anger, disappointment. The list was endless, but this moment seemed to be something that Amelie feared, so for now, he would simply ignore them. There would be better times to analyse his thoughts. She had made the choice for him, the demon or Hadriana. Fenris didn't quite know how to process how recklessly she threw her own life on the line, for something that she already knew wouldn't make him feel better. Provide a little closure, yes, but satisfaction? Barely.
...*...
Amelie awoke with a gasp, a pained gasp at that. 'Easy, easy,' a familiar voice said softly. 'You've been through a lot Ami, you need to just be still,' she said reassuringly. They were in Amelie's room, the adjoining bathroom and large fireplace. The bed was soft and comforting against her wounded body. Catherine had pulled a wooden chair over where she could perch, a bowl of warm water at her feet.
'Cat?' Amelie said opening her eyes and seeing her best friend loitering over her with a wet cloth. She smiled as much as she could and then felt the tears down her cheek.
'Oh, what's this? Why are you crying? Orana is totally safe and Fenris seems... well Fenris, but he didn't lash out at anyone when he brought you in,' Catherine aid softly. She wiped a bit of grime from Amelie's face and smiled. 'I think you need a bath and some food,' she nods. 'Garrett went up to find you, but he got a little sidetracked when he found Orana. He's perfectly happy with taking her on as a maid, so no worry there,' she babbles.
'I couldn't save her father,' Amelie says in barely a whisper.
'Some people just aren't meant to be saved, Ami, you know that better than anyone,' Catherine says sadly. 'Don't beat yourself up about it. Now do you think you can stand?' Amelie shook some sense into herself and nodded, taking the help as she was pulled upright onto her weak feet. 'I'm going to run you a bath, then-'
'Catherine, Cat, thank you, but I will be fine after my bath. You needn't worry. ' She smiles at her friend. 'I'm sure after the bath I'll feel a lot more like me,' Amelie says poking her in the ribs. Catherine gives her a look but nods.
'Okay, well I'm going to let Fenris know that you're in there, in case you drown or something,' she says pointedly. Amelie rolls her eyes but allows Catherine to help her into the bathroom. She watches as Catherine fusses with towels and soap but she's too kind hearted to scold her friend for worrying. Reluctantly she leaves, closing the door behind her. Amelie sighs in relief and leans against the wall for support as her strength leaves her for a moment. Painfully she begins to strip, the blood sticking the material to her wounds.
'Ow, ow ow,' she hisses as she pulls it over her head. Bending over was more of an effort as she took off her leggings, all clothing she pushed into the corner of the room as she limped toward the bath. Pulling her hair over her shoulder and away from her back, she gingerly lowered herself into the tub. A sharp intake of breath was the only sound in the room, then the slosh of warm water. Amelie winced as her muscles reacted to the heat of the water. Various small cuts and bruises stung and prickled in the temperature. She slowly reached for the jug, filling it up with water before dumping it over her head. It was a few seconds before she realised the mistake that she had made. The slashes on her back complained greatly and she felt the dry blood split and the wounds reopen. Her reaction was less than dignified. She screamed for a brief second before she clamped her hand over her mouth in hope to stop it. She was too late the damage was done.
There were a few knocks at the door. 'I heard you scream,' Fenris says bluntly. She didn't dawdle on the fact that it was less than a minute before he reacted. Instead she shook her head, then scolded herself as she realised that he wouldn't see it.
'I-I am fine. I just... lack foresight,' she says pulling a face as she squeezes her hair.
He pauses with his reply before speaking, 'I smell blood. Fresh,' he states. Amelie rolls her eyes. She was a woman, of course there was blood. Admittedly, women had figured out a solution to that problem a long time ago.
'I just...' she sighed knowing it would be useless to lie. 'I opened the cuts on my back with the water,' she clarified. There, I told you, now go. I can manage to bath by myself, she thought bitterly. To her shock and horror the doorknob began to twiddle. 'What! What are you doing?!' She asks in panic, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around her chest.
'I am coming in. You may need stitches and sitting in hot water will make you bleed more,' he states matter of factly. Amelie's eyes widen, is he serious? Of course he is. It's Fenris. But, it's not my Fenris, well... maybe he is more my Fenris than the other one was... Amelie! You're getting off track! She mentally conversed before she realised that the door was still opening.
'But, I am...naked,' she says feeling her cheeks go bright red with just the words. She swore she heard a small chuckle from him, but it might have just been her imagination.
'Do you think I have not seen a woman before? Or is it that I am a man?' He asks half amused. Amelie
blushed more and she swore the water was heating up with her embarrassment. Fenris rose a brow waiting for her reply, patiently.
'N-No it's just that...' she began, it's you. I don't want you to see me like this, her brain thought treacherously. 'So, you uh, have seen a lot of women?' She asked without her brain's input. She died a little inside when she heard what she said.
'Wednesday nights. Hanged man,' he says simply, pausing. He wasn't sure if her world would have been the same. Amelie raised her eyebrows in realisation.
'Isabela,' they said together, Fenris for clarification and Amelie as she got his point.
'Oh, yeah. Strip night at the hanged man,' she says softly. 'Wait? You joined in at strip night?' She asks with a slight laugh. It was Fenris' turn to go pink in the ears. He looked at her, which turned out to be the wood of the door, seeing as he was still in the other room.
'N-No. I just happened to be passing and I was witness to more than I wished,' he explains frantically. 'My point is, I am not ….peeking on you,' he said feeling stupid with his word choice. 'I simply wish to help,' Fenris shrugs a shoulder starting to feel a little annoyed at her. He still hadn't figured out how he was feeling and he didn't need this type of distraction. 'I can get the Smith if you wish,' he says simply.
'No..No it's okay, you can come in, I'm just being silly,' Amelie says nodding. She could feel that the wounds needed treatment and she was just being silly, like she said. Fenris gives her a moment before entering the room and closing the door behind him. Amelie was sitting in the bath, knees up, arms over her chest and hair draped over her shoulder. 'Thank you Fenris,' she mumbled looking at him with shy eyes. He merely nodded. Amelie hadn't factored in the fact that he was going to be topless. It looked like he had just got out the bath himself when she disturbed him. He carried a spool of silk and Amelie could see that there was the glimmer of a needle stuck in the side. She bit her lip as he walked around to her back. He pulled up the small stool and sat near the edge of the bath.
'Yes... You will need to be stitches,' he says apologetically. He ran his fingers around the slashes, making her jump for a moment. 'I am sorry, but I do not have any health draughts left and it cannot be left.' He explains. His eyes betray him and skirt over her shoulders, arms and waist. Her freckles decorated her skin delicately, but he could see her ribs a thought that didn't sit right with him. White criss crossing scars, that looked like vines travelled down her arms and the top of her thighs. 'What.. are those?' He asks curiously, touching one that started at her shoulder.
Aware that he was behind her, Amelie stretched out her arm. 'Oh, those, um. Well, I got hit by lightening. I am a bit of a attraction in a storm. And these are the marks that are left. On most people they would scar forever, but I'll only have them for a day or two at most. They don't hurt. I'm used to it,' she mumbled, knowing how weird it sounded. His fingers trace the trail on her shoulder for a moment more than she thought he would, then he took his hand away.
'This will be unpleasant,' he says simply as he begins to thread the needle. Amelie leant her head on her knees and half nodded, but she wasn't prepared to just how much it would hurt. She bit her lip and turned her head burying it with her arms. Fenris winced slightly, feeling that these wounds were his sin, his responsibility. Hadriana was his problem and yet she had gotten badly injured. Not that he had any choice about her going. Something popped into his head and he thought it might distract her. 'What did you mean when you said that, ''it only took you two tries but you finally got this moment half right.'' I do not understand what you meant by that,' he says softly. Amelie rose her head a little and sighed.
'Well, you deserve to know, it was you in some technicality,' she whispered. Fenris simply tilted his head but stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue in her story. 'It was a few years ago now, but we were in the wounded coast where we were attacked by slavers, who demanded that he; I mean the other Fenris. He returned with them to Hadriana and Danarius. Obviously I had a massive issue with that so we slaughtered them all. One of them told us where Hadriana was waiting, he wanted to go right away and kill her. I argued and said that we should wait for night, have the element of surprise. We would go back to the city and restock, grab a few more people and then go after her full force,' Amelie said with her eyes closed, it was strange, the more she spoke the less pain she felt. As if she was being disconnected from the real word and lost in her memories. Fenris on the other hand simply listened quietly, not wanting to knock her out the reverie that she was in, the more information he got the better. The slaver parties she killed on her own must have been the original ambush. 'Well, we went back to the city, but a few hours later, we were ambushed again, more slavers. He was so angry with me, saying that I was delaying him on purpose. We argued so much, I could tell that it was important, but I didn't want the issue to control him. It was so hard to talk sense, he was insisting that I was trying to control him, that if I didn't help him, he would leave and do it himself. That if we didn't go that moment, he would leave and not come back. So, I gave in. Grabbed Aveline and Varric and off we went to the wounded coast.' She said sighing.
Fenris felt a little shame as he was sure that he would have reacted just the same. 'I thought your relationship with this...other elf, was good?' He said unable to phrase it the way he wanted. Amelie nodded.
'It was, but once he heard about Hadriana, he changed. Wouldn't listen to reason. He seemed to forget that we were his friends and began to treat us with such anger. As if it was our personal fault this had happened. I suppose it was. It was only because he was friends with us that he had stayed. Staying longer in the city made him easier to track,' Amelie explained. She knew that Fenris probably didn't care about what she thought but each stitch was sharp and stinging and made her want to bite through her lip, so rambling was easier. 'To cut a long story short, we found Orana, her father had been dead for hours. She said it was because word had traveled back to Hadriana that her slavers had been killed. I knew that his death was my fault. If I hadn't pushed for returning to the city, we could have saved him. I offered Orana a job as my maid, I could tell she was scared and I knew that she wouldn't do well in Kirkwall on her own. Turns out I needed her a lot more than she needed me in the years to come. She became almost a sister to me,' Amelie wiped away the tears that silently fell. 'He was furious at me. Scared me as he turned on me, claimed that I was taking Orana as a slave. I guess he thought that I was doing what every mage would. I had to argue with him that I had just given her a new life. He did apologise for being presumptuous, but I should have taken that as a forewarning-'
'Like I did,' Fenris said quietly, finishing the top wound and re threading the needle. 'That was exactly what I did to you,' he sighs.
'You apologised as well Fenris. You were bound to have some similarities to him. He is the alternative version,' Amelie shrugs a shoulder with a wince. 'I know I'm rambling, but I am getting there.' Hearing no objection from the elf behind her she continued. 'We confronted Hadriana. She told us about this sister. Aveline begged me to stop him from killing her. I refused. I said that it was his choice to let her live or kill her. Deep down inside I knew that if he let her live she wouldn't stop hunting him. On the surface I was hoping that he wouldn't need something as crass as revenge.' She mumbled. Her next words seemed harder to say. 'He killed her. Crushed her heart in her chest. I... I tried to comfort him, but he, was, he was so bitter and resentful. I asked him if he was okay and touched his shoulder. He reacted as if my touch was acid that had dropped from the ceiling.'
Fenris could tell that she was crying, but he stayed quiet, this was important to hear; he wanted to know what this other Fenris said and felt. Maybe it would help him understand what he felt. Amelie finally began to speak again. 'He spoke of how the bitch had taunted him. If this sister was just a trap. Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said, 'what does magic touch that it doesn't spoil.' I mean, I think he regretted it as soon as he said it. But it was just... he meant it. In that very moment, he meant it and he was directing it at me. I know he hated that I was a mage, but I didn't think that he hated, well me, because of it. He left quickly after that comment. I was left there, covered in blood and demon goo and maker knows what else, all for him and he just leaves.' Amelie wipes her nose, then wipes her eyes. She looked back at Fenris and his expression was blank. She wasn't sure if he was even listening to her. At this moment she didn't even care. It was nice to get it off her chest and hopefully it gave him some understanding as to why she was so adamant about going.
'Well,' Amelie mumbled as she looked at her hands. 'We went back to the city, I went back to the mansion and a few hours later he turned up in the foyer. Sandal had let him in,' she says quietly. 'He spoke about the poison that he couldn't seem to get rid of, how Hadriana's very presence seemed to sink into his very skin. The markings, tattoos, they were everything that was wrong. He apologised for taking his temper out on me, I understood and told him it was okay. I tried to comfort him and touch his hand but he threw me against the wall... I just can't stop thinking about what happened. Now I'm thinking that I'm the problem. What if Hadriana wasn't the poison? What if it was me... I mean I come to this world and I see that Garrett is already doing a much better job at being a Hawke then I ever was. I am nothing but trouble, I'm the poison that needs to be rooted out. Look what I've done to Catherine, dragged her to a world, away from her friends and she doesn't even blame me. I always seem to just fuck up and no-one care that it's my fault. People die around me and no one goes, 'hey, what if it's her?' I mean, I couldn't protect my sister, I had to kill my own brother and then I lost my mother,' she sobbed. 'What if I was the poison? Anders, Aveline and Isabela, they would have been so much better without me. Poor Orana would still have her father, the other Fenris would have moved on, away from my selfishness and been safe. Sebastian would be content and I woul-'
Fenris had finished the stitching a few moments ago and he realised that he needed to step in before she blamed herself for breathing. He ran his fingers through her hair, making her stop in her place. She looked at him through her fringe as he knelt beside the tub, her heart beat was almost audible as it sped up. He could feel her soft, auburn curls wind around his fingers as he moved his hand down her cheek, brushing her fringe over her ear. He looked into her eyes as his thumb gently wiped away the tear by the corner of her mouth. She had almost stopped breathing, aware of his contact. 'You are not poison,' he says softly but firmly. As he said it he realised that he wasn't doing it just to comfort her, but he truly believed it.
'No?' She whispered, begging him to stop her mind from turning on her. She blinked slowly, causing another tear to fall onto his skin. He could feel her breath on his hand, the heat from the water emanated from her body, the bubbles that clung to hear her hair smelt faintly of roses. He stared at her, unable to speak for a moment. She was throwing him her trust, drowning in the conviction of his approval.
He leant forward and his forehead briefly touched hers for a moment. 'No,' he repeated before moving away completely. He felt as if he couldn't breathe properly, the heat was suffocating. His heart was thundering in his chest, throat tight and he turned away from her. She hadn't moved, maybe through shock? He realised that he was either going to have to leave or make an excuse as to why he got up. 'I will, leave you to your bath,' he mumbles taking the cowards way out. Amelie sat up a little and opened her mouth to stop him, but she couldn't make the words form. So she simply watches as he leaves without a backwards glance. The door clicks to shut and Amelie can finally feel like she can breathe again.
'That...was a ….experience,' she mumbled to herself as she laid back in the tub, biting her lip as the warm water washes over her back. She thought back to the last twenty minutes and wished that she could erase them from her mind. She made a total fool of herself. Totally and utterly. 'Piss,' she swore as she dunked her head under the water and swept away the feeling of her tears and his touch on her skin. It took a lot more hot water and soap before she managed to remove the grime from her skin and hair. A lot more pain as well which she wasn't too grateful. Her mana was returning slowly and she felt the relief run through her body. Getting out the bath was a little more awkward than she cared to admit. But she ultimately felt better without the smell of dried blood and mud clinging to her. Now she smelt of the rose bubble bath that Catherine had brought over, it was a great improvement. She towel dried her hair before stiffly wrapping the towel around her and opening the door. She tilted her head, Fenris had lit the fire and the room was warm. She was assuming it was him, it wasn't lit before she got into the bath.
On the bed there was a light green nightgown, it looked only a little bit too big, but it seemed like heaven. It was soft, made of high quality cotton. She smiled to herself and looked around as she picked up the nightgown, draping it over her head and letting her towel fall. It had simple straps, leaving her collarbone, shoulders and arms bare. It seemed to be a mid thigh cut style, but Amelie was small so it hung just above her knees. She pulled her long hair out and picked up her towel to dry the ends. The cloth felt soft against her skin and especially against her back. There was a knock at her door, 'come in,' she said simply without turning away from the fire.
Fenris opened the door, 'ah, you found the gown. I was not sure that you had anything,' he mumbled as he entered, this time fully dressed in tunic and breeches. 'I simply found it in another of the rooms,' he said not really looking at her. He seemed to be internally battling with something. He held a bottle of wine, that was half empty by the sound of it. 'What...What happened between you and this other... Fenris?' He asked bluntly. 'You.. you said he threw you?' He mumbled. Amelie smiled a little bitterly. She moved closer and took the bottle of wine out his hand taking a large gulp before giving it back to him.
'You're gonna need to sit down,' she replied as she sat on the bed, he nodded and rigidly moved to the chair opposite, sitting down as she asked. He couldn't place his finger on why he had to know what happened. It was just his mind was implying that something more happened between her and this elf. Were they closer then she was letting on. Is that why she acted like she did around him. She sighed and pulled her hair over her shoulder, it was becoming a habit. 'Well, yes, he pushed me against the wall. Physically we were close,' she noticed that Fenris took a sip of the wine as she talked about closeness. 'I mean if it had been any other man, I am sure that it would have gone further. There was a lot of tension,' she blushes. Then she leans over and takes the bottle from him again. This was weird. Talking to him about it. She looked at the rapidly diminishing amount in the glass. 'We need more. I need more,' she states simply. Fenris seems to agree with her as he gets up and leaves, returning with a few more bottles. Amelie seemed more inclined to share the bottle than have her own so he didn't make an issue of it. They passed it back and forth for a few minutes before she spoke again. 'How are you feeling about the whole Hadriana thing?' She asked curiously.
His face turns a little stern and he takes the bottle back. 'Why ask? You already seem to know,' he muttered bitterly.
Amelie was a little shocked and sighed. 'I didn't know it would be the same, you're different people after all. I thought a few things would be the same, but you're not him,' she says gently asking for the bottle and smiling as little as he passes it over.
'No. I am not. Despite the similarities between us,' he says simply, feeling like he had to say it for it to be real. Amelie's expression said it all. She had known all along, and he had treated her like she hadn't. He felt more like an arse than ever before. All those suspicions about her being a mage and controlling him. Fenris had let his own insecurities punish her. 'Please. Continue, I do not wish to talk about me at this moment,' he says quietly. Amelie nods and drinks before starting to talk again, the wine making it a lot easier.
'He asked me if I would do something for him, something I wish I had refused to do. I knew that the...intimacy I wanted, it was... not possible. Deep down I always knew that it wouldn't be. He offered a different sort of intimacy and I, like a fool agreed. He wanted me to attempt to connect our minds, like I do with Catherine. I mean, I couldn't believe what he was asking. I was shocked, but I said yes. It destroyed any relationship I had with him, for years he kept his distance,' she said wiping her eyes. She finished the original bottle of wine and tore the wax seal off another, handing it to Fenris before she drank anymore.
'Did it work?' Fenris asked curiously. He couldn't understand what led to that decision. The thought of a mage entering his mid seemed unfathomable. But maybe that was the difference between them. 'I mean, is that why he distanced himself?' He clarifies.
'Um, well it took a few hours to get anywhere, he was so guarded. Understandable. But it didn't work like it was supposed to,' she said quietly taking the bottle and drinking more than she had since the first sip. She only stopped when Fenris actually took the bottle off her. He wouldn't hear the end of the story if she passed out. She coughed and shook her head, hesitantly letting go of the wine. She looked at Fenris who was now sitting on the edge of the chair, their knees almost touching. She could tell that he needed to hear this as much as she needed to say it. She hadn't told anyone before.
'His memories...they started to return,' she said quietly. Fenris almost dropped the bottle he was holding, but grabbed the neck in time. Amelie wiped her eyes again, 'just brief flashes, that I saw, but it freaked him out. He ran. It was too much too soon after Hadriana,' she said faintly. She refused to look up at Fenris as she heard him drinking. Almost two bottles they had gone through already. She was starting to feel a little woozy but not much.
'I... did not think that was possible,' Fenris said in shock as he leant back in the chair rubbing his eyes. Amelie nodded and giggled.
'Tell me about it. What a way to freak out a guy who hates what you are already by showing him his past accidentally,' she laughs in pure tiredness. To her ever growing surprise, Fenris actually chuckles and leans forward. She smiles as she catches his eyes and they both begin to laugh a little more. 'I've done some pretty stupid things in my life, but that has got to be in the top ten,' she giggles. Fenris coughs and treats her to a real smile.
'You...you are nothing to what I thought you were,' he says honestly. 'I cannot figure you out,' he adds. It was true, the conflict of emotions inside him were almost as colliding as the storm they encountered earlier. Amelie smiles and flicks her hair over her shoulder as she reaches for the wine.
'You and me both. I still don't know what's going on in here, and it's my head,' she smiles more. 'Fenris, can you promise me something?' She asks. He raises a brow and gives her a curt nod. 'Promise me, that if you...ever get some memories back, from something that I cause...you'll not push me away for years,' she whispers.
'How long did he...' Fenris says unable to really finish the sentence.
'Almost three years,' she admits with a shrug of her shoulder. 'Refused to talk about it at all. He was polite and more like a golem around me,' she sighed. 'I mean, I get that it's a massive shock that you discover something that was lost to you, but it felt like he was punishing me for it,' Amelie looks at him. 'Please, promise me that you won't, not for that long,' she asks. 'I know that I am asking a lot-'
'No you are not. I promise,' he replies. It's the least he owes her. She told him about her life, her real life in the other time and it helped him understand a lot. Admittedly, he was feeling a lot more guarded around her right now, but that was because he felt he was becoming to a realisation that he didn't want to face. Amelie yawned lightly and rubbed her eyes.
'Fenris, I don't think that I will be able to get Catherine or myself back home,' she says as she looks into the fire. 'Would that be a problem?' She inquired. He tilted his head and got up, placing the wine on the floor. She looks a little apprehensive as he comes closer.
'You need to sleep,' he says simply as he grabs the quilt from the end of the bed. Amelie looked like she was going to complain but another yawn made it obvious that he had a point. She nodded and moved up to the pillows lying on her back after she moved her hair out the way, or risk scalping herself. Fenris draped the quilt over her without much ceremony, before kneeling next to the bed.
'You're always tucking me in,' she teases lightly making his ears blush, she smiles softly as she turns to look at him. 'Thank you Fenris,' she murmurs, sitting up on her elbow. In a moment of insanity, she leant forward and gently brushed some of his stray hair from his eyes. He didn't move and didn't take his eyes from hers, making her heart skip in anticipation. She traced the markings on his chin, causing him to close his eyes for a reason she didn't know. She could smell the Tevinter leather polish, with it's hint of spices that he used to clean parts of his armour, it clung to his skin. It's familiarity swamped her, her own scent of roses wove around them lightly. The heat of his breath on her skin felt like a furnace and caused skitters across her being. This was the moment, and he was letting her have total control; the thought scared her deeply. Impulsively she leant closer and kissed his cheek, savouring the feel of his skin under her lips. Sanity hit her like a high dragon and she moved away. Fenris' eyes were wide open and the euphoria she was feeling was swept away abruptly. She wanted to say something, wanted him to say something. Something. Anything. She felt like a deer in front of a hunter's bow. His expression was something that she couldn't comprehend. She felt her chest constrict as she began to speak, 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done th-' Fenris cut off her words by simply moving. He could tell that she was scared of him and that thought didn't sit right. He sat on the side of the bed, trapping her from moving away from him. Her chest was rising quickly and he didn't waste another second thinking about doing what he had wanted to do since the first night. He tilted her chin to face him as he dipped his head and captured her lips in his. He felt the sharp gasp before she registered what was happening. He could taste the wine on her mouth, her smooth and delicate lips returning the kiss. He wrapped an arm around her waist gently as her pulled her closer, winding his fingers through hair as he deepened the embrace. Amelie felt her chest against his, their body heat immersing her wholly. He caught her lip against his teeth and she moaned lightly in reaction, making him want to hear and taste her even more. Time passed as they embraced before a heavy breeze of freezing air swept over them both from the open widow, causing the fire to flicker greatly, drowning them in darkness for merely a moment. It was like a metaphorical cold shower. Fenris pulled away from her, breaking the kiss. They both breathed heavily, clinging for what they had deprived themselves from. Their eyes didn't leave each other. Slowly they both began to breathe normally, but he still held her close.
'Do not apologise,' he murmurs, stroking her hair; he loved the feel of her curls lingering as they wound around his fingers. Amelie bit her lip and it took almost all his self control to stop himself from stealing another kiss from her. Instead he ignored the pain that prickled across his skin with the contact and pulled her closer to him still, feeling her cheek rest in the crook of his neck as her slender arms wrapped around his chest.
'Stay,' Amelie whispered into his ear, causing a rush to flow through him. He mentally thought about what she meant and what it would mean, when he stopped. He just stopped worrying. About what it could or would be and he decided to just act on what was. That point. He nodded and moved onto the bed, lying beside her as she lifted the quilt and enveloped him in it. Fenris noticed that her actions were a little slow, she was getting tired. Without saying anything he moves her gently, ignoring his own discomfort. She rubbed her eyes and yawned for the third time that evening. He reaches up and closes the window a little as his embraces her, burying his head into her hair as she falls against his chest. He buried any negative thoughts he was having, they both needed this. He could analyse it later, for the time being there was this. Her weight in his arms, the smell of roses and the warm glow of the fire. It was enough. He kissed her forehead, his eyes drooping as he felt the tug of the fade.
Well that's about 9000 words, tried to make this chapter a decent length instead of splitting it up. Next chapter isn't going to be too happy xD
Please drop a review and let me know what you think, I'm not a mind reader.