Chapter 30 – Face the tiger

I feel sick, so horribly nauseated, Amelie thinks to herself. She paced back and forth around her room, today was the day that Danarius was to arrive. The plan was simple, Hawke, Isabela and Varric would be in hiding. Fenris had changed the meeting place from the Hanged Man to a place in the wounded coast, a wide open area. Fenris would get what he wanted, information and such, Amelie had told him as to why his sister chose to go to the Magisters. He had promised not to hurt her but Amelie didn't know how that was going to hold up in the heat of the moment. She had to try and remain calm, somehow this was more nerve wrecking the second time. Amelie had spoken to Leto letting him know what was going on, he had promised to stay in the city, she didn't want him anywhere near Danarius. Dressed in leggings and a thick blouse she sighs, she had promised to stand by Fenris' side throughout the entirety of what was going to happen. Danarius didn't know who she was and that was a bonus. With a sigh she picked up the staff that she had been making over the last few months, normally it would feel natural but in this world it was alien. She wanted to be at her most powerful but it just didn't feel right. Amelie thought that making the staff would make her feel more confident about using it yet it didn't seem to be working out that way. Ugh! Snap out of it! She swore and gently slapped herself. 'If you're that stressed about it, just leave it,' she muttered to herself as she put it down and brushed a loose curl out her eyes. Glancing at the clock she felt the dread pool in her stomach, it was time to go.

The journey to their meeting place was uneventful, quiet but simple. Amelie had procured some good horses from the yard and she had pride of place on the Courser who was more than happy to be out and about. The area they had chosen came into view, a wide plain with high slopes on one side and the sloping beach on the other. The other companions would be on the hills so they had the advantage point, looking over what could possibly become the battlefield. They parted ways as they got closer to the sand, the Courser happily trotting onto the beach, head held high. Amelie felt her nerves settle a little as his glee rubbed off on her, she stroked his neck and spoke sweet nothing's to him. She pulled back on the reins a little encouraging him to stop. She slid off his back and patted his rump as she walked over to where her lover was tending his own horse. Amelie had given him space as he seemed tense but she wanted to talk to him before everything happened. 'It could be different,' Fenris said simply surprising her.

'It could be,' she agrees as she strokes his horse's mane, he was fiddling with the saddlebags and refused to look at her.

'But it will not be, will it?' He sighs as he pauses leaning on his hands.

'I don't know. Honestly? I don't want it to be,' she admits making him pull a face as he looks at her in inquiry. She forces herself to smile as she explains, 'I don't want you to have to keep worrying about Danarius turning up at any moment. At least, this way, you can confront him and be done with it.'

He nods understanding what she means. 'Amelie... I worry,' he admits as he stands up straight and looks over the water.

'I do too,' she agrees. She moves closer to him and leans her head on his shoulder in a small token of affection, 'we are together. We will face him together. You won't be alone any more,' Amelie says softly. Fenris inhales deeply and turns to give her a brief hug.

'We will not be alone any more,' he clarifies making Amelie smile as she embraces him. 'Come, they will be here soon,' he says as he moves away taking his sword from the saddle. Amelie takes the reins of his horse and leads it to a tree that was attempting to grow on the trail, the Courser happily followed Amelie and when they were both close enough she tied them to a branch. She doubted that the Courser would bolt at trouble but she wasn't so sure about the other. Better safe than sorry. She sorted the horses and returned to where Fenris was standing, his hair being blown about in the wind that was picking up. 'Is this you?' He asked as there was a little rumble in the sky, the clouds darkening.

Amelie blushed in embarrassment. 'Partly,' she admits as she tries to calm herself, the clouds cleared a little and the wind let up a bit. 'Sorry,' she added as she stood next to him, both of them facing the sea. He shook his head dismissively not needing an apology; it was almost calming that she was feeling as anxious as he was. 'The tide is coming in,' Amelie observed, the bay that they were standing in had high land breakers. They wouldn't see a ship until the last moment but they weren't too concerned, Hawke would be able to warn them if there were more ships than they thought. About half an hour passed in reasonable silence, only the waves breaking and birds overhead to be heard. Then, there was a whistle from Varric. A ship.

Fenris tensed as a full minute passed before the vessel came into view, it seemed like an eternity for it to pull to shore and dock. A plank thudded against the sand by the sailors and then she came into view. His sister. Amelie stiffened as she walked down the plank a smile broad on her face. 'It really is you!' She said in pure excitement, the genuine emotion turning bitter in Amelie's mouth.

Fenris stood his ground and nodded. 'Sister,' he says simply. Her face falls a little as she comes closer realising that she wasn't going to get quite the meeting she expected.

'You're tense,' she mentions. 'Who's this?' She adds looking at Amelie. 'You didn't mention a woman,' Varania adds.

'Is it an issue?' Amelie asks simply unable to keep herself quiet.

Varania raises a brow and shakes her head. 'No... I was just expecting a private meeting between my brother and I-'

'This is private,' Fenris cuts in. 'This is Amelie. Amelie, this is Varania, my sister,' he says giving them both an introduction. The sailors around them busied themselves as their conversation unfolded. Amelie wasn't watching the ship, she knew that Hawke, Varric and Isabela would be keeping an eye on them. Varania moved further inland as the tide began to lap at her toes a little.

'She is a friend?' Varania asks casually but Amelie could tell what she was really asking. Fenris folds his arms and simply looks at her without giving an answer. 'I just thought that if you had someone special you would have told me,' she adds as the silence was making her nervous.

'Why?' Fenris says simply.

'Well... because... I'm your sister,' she says in protest. 'We can finally be together and I thought that meant telling each other everything, like a family.' Amelie tilted her head, this Varania was more confident than the one that she met, a little more manipulative as well.

Fenris took this well and simply kept her gaze as he spoke. 'Everything? I did not know you even existed until Hadriana told me. Did you know that I killed her? That I tore her heart out her chest and threw her over the side of a cliff?' He says coldly watching her expression pale. 'She begged for her life, deeming that the knowledge of a family member being alive would save her. It did not.'

'I didn't know that,' she lied. She may have not known about the manner that Hadriana was killed but she knew of her demise.

'Fenris,' Amelie said quietly. She felt a rise in mana and it came from his sister. He looked over to her and she spoke quietly, 'quæ est variae studii,' she said nodding. They weren't sure if this Varania would be magically inclined like the one Amelie knew. His sister narrowed her eyes, she had heard that Amelie was speaking their language but due to the wind she couldn't make out what was said.

'Your name isn't Fenris,' Varania said loudly. 'What she called you isn't your real name,' she attempts to gain control of the situation. Fenris turns his attention back to her, 'it's Leto,' she reveals. 'That's the name mother gave you,' she smiles. His reaction wasn't quite what she expected. There was nothing, no facial change, no wonder. 'What's the matter?' She asked worried that this wasn't going to plan.

Amelie touched his arm lightly in reassurance as she saw his hands shake for just a moment. 'Varania,' Fenris said simply. 'Why are you here? You have been content to let me live as a slave and I have been free from the Imperium for almost ten years. Only when Hadriana had told me that you were alive did you suddenly contact me, or even allow me to contact you, whichever it was.'

'I-I didn't want to put you in danger, there were stories of you being hunted. Now it doesn't matter, you can come home with me and we can be a proper family,' she smiles as she walks foward towards him. 'Just us,' she says casting a glance at Amelie.

'No,' Amelie snapped without thinking. The wind picked up around them, the sky began to darken just a little. Varania glared at her.

'Who do you think you are-?'

'Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you really think he's falling for this stupid act? This whole concerned sibling routine? If you wanted to help Fenris you would have done anything to keep him safe, you would have fought tooth and nail to protect him-' Amelie was ranting at the woman until Fenris placed a hand on her shoulder. She shut up almost instantly, her breathing heavy. A brief moment of embarrassment and disappointement in herself washed over her heart, she was supposed to keep quiet.

'How dare you insinuate that I want nothing but the best fot my brother!' Varania said angrily. 'What a nasty, judgemental, vicious little woman you are!' She hissed.

Fenris took a step forward suddenly making Varania jump. 'Why are you scared of me, sister?' He asked simply, his facial expression was not happy, he did not appreciate the way she was speaking about Amelie. 'Why would you think that you know what is best for me?'

There was a sharp pipping whistle from the hills and Amelie's head snapped over to the ship. There standing on the gangplank was Danarius. Fenris looked over and his face paled, his hands began to shake. 'It's because she does know what's best for you, my little wolf,' he says simply as he begins to stride down the wood. Varania went quiet, she was supposed to convince Fenris to get onto the ship and she had failed.

'You,' Fenris snarled at Varania, he didn't really believe that she was going to betray him until this moment. 'You have brought him here!' He shouted.

'I had to, Leto-'

'That is not my name!' He snaps at her. Danarius was smiling and looking at the strange pair on the beach. Amelie glared at him with pure hatred.

'Oh, oh my,' Danarius smiles. 'She's quite a firecracker isn't she? You found yourself a new mistress,' he teases lightly. Fenris growls and steps in front of Amelie. 'Oh yes, isn't that wonderful. Here I thought your hatred for mages would be the death of you and instead you're sleeping with one.' He laughs. 'Return to your master and I will let her live, defy me and I will slaughter her before you.'

'Get fucked,' Amelie said simply. This was going to become a fight, but she knew that they could free Fenris from this demon forever.