.xvi.
For all the time she'd spent in the hold of that damn ship, she'd forgotten how big and bright and loud the world was.
Arriving in Minrathous is unbridled chaos compared to the deafening quiet she had become accustomed to. Noise everywhere, senses that had atrophied being strained to deal with the overload. So many people talking all at once, all pressing on her. Danarius leads her like a dog by her chain. Initially surprising, no one bats an eye, though distantly, she remembers what Fenris had told her once, how Danarius had collared him as well, like the saarebas of the Qunari.
"What do you think, my little bird? Such a beautiful city, isn't it?"
A difficult question. It is a beautiful city, though significantly besmirched by the slaves walking at the heels of their masters as if it is perfectly normal. And there is so much to take in, the ebb and flow of passers through in the port, talking and yelling and some even laughing. Several children play some game with a wooden hoop and a stick, crying out when they are successful in keeping it balanced. The bright sunlight and open air, and the dry warmth is slightly reminiscent of Ferelden in the height of summer. However, she manages some mumble of assent, pleasing enough to Danarius.
"Nothing like Kirkwall, drab gray city that it is."
Her heart lurches at the mention of it. She wonders what they're all doing. Are they at the Hanged Man, staring at her letter with confusion and hurt? Have they even noticed how long she's been gone? How long has it been? Weeks?
Pulled from her thoughts by a shout, she turns to watch what she can only assume to be a magister rushes forward, visage furious.
"You coward, I was wondering when you'd come crawling back," he drawls haughtily, coming to stand just paces away. He is accompanied by two weary looking elves, who cast glances at her, faces impassive.
"Primus," Danarius greets, lips stretching into a semblance of a smile. "Delightful, as always. One wonders how you've managed to keep that supercilious tongue in your mouth in the time I've been away."
"I will choke you with your own venom," the other magister spits. His blonde hair catches the sunlight as he moves, circling them. His threats are met with unconcerned laughter.
"Step back, my little bird," Danarius waves her away, giving her the end of the chain to hold for herself. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
She complies, grudgingly, taking a few steps back, crossing her arms, brows lowered, as she watches the two mages walking, slow steady matched movements, like a dance.
"Magister Danarius," Primus announces, conjuring ice to his fingers. Snow flakes spin around his body as the magic build upon itself, despite the heat of the day. "I challenge you to a duel."
"To first blood?" Danarius is grinning, unseen force magic shifting the pressure all around them.
"To the death."
"How intrepid you've become. Almost threatening."
Primus launches a massive frost projectile straight at him, all power and no grace. Danarius spins out of reach, and it flies out over the water and lands with a loud, attention grabbing splash. Anyone who wasn't watching the duel is now, gathering around, eyes wide and hungry for carnage.
"You think you can get away with what you did?" Primus screams, over the strange, sound warping effects of Danarius force blast. He manages to block it as he yells, but a good part of the crowd behind him stumbles. This doesn't deter them from watching, though.
"I loved her! You had no right!" He's lobbing shard after shard of ice, without aim, blinded by his anger. She side steps a wayward shard of ice, listening to it crash into the hull of a ship floating in the docks. What is it that Danarius has done to this young man?
"I assume you're referring to that little red headed elven strumpet? Has no one ever told you it's foolish to dally with a woman that belongs to another?"
"I was going to free her! We were going to leave this horrible place! And you knew that, you monstrous. Murdering. Bastard!" He punctuates each word with fire, now, hurling them with all his force at Danarius, who hasn't even broken a sweat.
"You are a magister, Primus. She was but an ill-fated lust." Her blood boils at his cold, prideful words. She finds herself wishing that Primus pull it together and tear him apart.
"I'll kill you!" the blond mage finally flings himself at his opponent, heedless of the danger. His carelessness cripples him as Danarius flicks his wrist, drawing rock from the cobblestone streets, freezing the other in his tracks. Then he unhitches his staff, approaching the trapped man with a predatory, self satisfied grin.
"No, no I don't think you will." He raises his staff to the man's chest, slicing the robes part, pressing the blade against his chest.
"Wait!" she yells, jumping forward, past Primus' elven companions, who look a lot less blasé then they had moment ago. Surprisingly enough, he listens, turning his head to her, but never taking his eyes off of paralyzed man, who looks like he is trying to keep a brave face in the wake of death.
"I don't very much appreciate interruptions, my little bird." His tone is a warning. "Is there something you need?"
It's stupid, she knows it. She can almost feel Aveline's disapproving stare at her back, or here Isabela's irritated snort (really Hawke? Do you even know how to walk away from someone in peril? Is it physically possible or is your hero complex too strong to resist?) If only Aveline or Isabela were here, or any of them.
She takes a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Do you have to kill him? Is there no way to settle this peacefully?"
The blonde, Primus, looks at her with confusion, as if he'd just noticed her presence.
"Why do you care for his life?" he asks after a pause, blade still poised over the man's exertion reddened skin.
"Never any easy questions, are there?" she mumbles, with a frown. "This doesn't have to end in bloodshed, does it? It would not paint you in a very clement light." She watches his face, changing subtly as she speaks.
"You forget that my reputation is not built on 'clemency'."
She dips her head respectfully, though lacking true respect. "As they say, to err is human, to forgive is divine." He looks unconvinced. She falls back on her last tactic. "I humbly ask that you reconsider killing this man, master. " She grits the last word out.
They both stare at her with varying levels of confusion. Danarius, however, grins with genuine pleasure, undoubtedly at her use of his proper title.
"You're compassion again amuses and impresses me, little bird. Very well," he draws back his staff and sets it on his back. "I will allow him to live."
The crowd murmurs with shock. Hawke manages not to gasp. She hadn't actually expected that to work.
"You'll- you're letting me live?" Primus stammers, dropping to the ground as the earthen restraints on him let go. "Why? Because your 'strumpet' asked nicely?" He sneers. She bites down the urge to tell him to quit while he's ahead.
"Perhaps. Regardless of the reason, you should escape with your life and what little dignity you have before I change my mind." This seems to be shock enough, Primus stands, pulling his robes closed. He spares a look in her direction, his expression unreadable. And then he mouths, "Thank you," before turning and disappearing in the throng of spectators. They begin to cheer the drama being enough to entertain them in the stead of cold blooded murder, and Danarius soaks it up.
He takes up her chain again and motions for him to walk with her, no longer at his back, but as his side, through the streets.
"Why did you spare him?" she finally asks. The question is bothering her. All she knows of Danarius is the horrible brutality Fenris had revealed to her, piece by piece as he had come to trust her, a feat given his past. It is hard to reconcile what she knows of the man who walks with her now, leading her through the streets of Minrathous on a chain like a dog, yet, who had spared the life of a man at her behest.
"I'm sure my little wolf has made me out to be a horrible person, has he not?" She cocks and eyebrow. The answer is fairly obvious.
"I am not so terrible as he might have led you to believe."
Her first instinct is to express her doubt, but again she questions what she knows. Perhaps... No. This man is a monster. She knows that. There is nothing he can do or say to dissuade her from the knowledge, not after what he had done. She had seen the pain he had pointlessly, cruelly inflicted upon Fenris. She had experienced first hand the devastation this man had caused.
"You'll understand if I have trouble believing that." He smiles, eyes scanning the streets as they walk. Several stop to bow reverently.
"More and more I find myself gladdened that I took you up on your offer. It has been a very long time since I had companionship so intrepid as to speak their minds."
She resists the urge to remind him that his companionship probably is comprised solely of those hoping to appease him, and those with no choice, but she refrains. "Primus looked very ready to speak his mind. What did you do that angered him so much that he was willing to risk his life to confront you in the street?"
"Duels are common in this country, you know that. Many are simple peacocking, shows of magical prowess. Others are for revenge, and others for lesser reasons still."
"I'm assuming that one was 'revenge'."
"Right you are, little bird. I'm sorry to say that an elven slave he had been hoping to purchase died during a ritual I had been preforming. Such a tragedy," he says in mock sorrow. "He was quite taken with her. It was for the better. He is not from here, originally, so he does not understand how things must be." Belatedly, she realizes that must be why he had been speaking Common and not Tevene.
Terrible is the realization that follows: "You killed her on purpose." When he turns an eye to her and the corners of his motuh tilt up conspiratorially, she can't help but viscerally retract from him. He yanks her back with the chain, tightening the slack, and gives no answer.
Grudgingly, she stumbles forward, as he hums in contentment.
Author's Note: Have I mentioned how much I hate Danarius yet? Yes? Well let me say it again I hate this guy so much when I finally encountered him in Fenris' final companion quest I reloaded just to have the pleasure of beating him down twice. And his death felt so anticlimactic, something I hope to resolve in this story.
Annemarie01: I actually haven't played Awakening myself. I'm watched some bits of it, and I really loved Anders' characterization in it. I'm hoping to play it soon, though! I really love Anders. And thank you! I considered making Varric call her by a bunch of different nicknames, because of the banter they have, but I might have to stick with that one:)
LostSpace: welcome to the party! I promise the gang will get their act together and figure out what happened.
Avatarfan444: That is an excellent idea, goodness gracious! I'm glad you're liking the story! I like to write/play my Hawkes as mild jerks with hearts of gold, always with a strong personality. When I try any other characterization, it's interesting, but it's just not as satisfying.
Amylianna: Oh, Anders and his Tevinter garb are going to play a role in this, I assure you;) Specifically the ones with open chests.
MC: 3 You flatterer, you:)
Soon to come: Hawke and Danarius arrive at his estate! A new character is introduced! I think I need a bath, do you think I need a bath? Stick around!