I...am horrible. I can't believe how long I delayed this chapter. Can you ever forgive me?

I say that a lot.

Don't mind me.

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. I am sooooo happy you guys like this fic! To AccioNimbus2000, DarkHuntress621, and vanima gurtha: YOU'RE AWESOME!

ANYWAYS I'm back now, so all your prayers have been answered!

So, after this short disclaimer, you may now get back to your regularly scheduled fanfic c:

Telum: Why can't Fenris ever do the disclaimer?

Fenris: Because I'm brooding. Duh.

Telum: Do the disclaimer or I'm gonna tell the readers about what's going to happen in the beginning of the next chapter.

Fenris: O.O Libby doesn't own me or Dragon Age, but she owns Telum and Maerwen.

Telum: Heehee c:

To the chapter! AWAY!

Chapter 6

Telum POV

I was surprised on how easily Fenris told me his past. The whole time, he kept his smoldering viridian eyes on the ground or the embers. When I suggested the idea of the lyriums touching, his reaction was priceless. Those large eyes widened in shock and I felt like cracking up.

Though, I must admit, he is a very handsome man. A strong, curved jaw that led to the small lines of lyrium on his chin. Although his lips contorted into a permanent scowl, they were perfectly shaped and full. My eyes would watch those lips as they moved to tell his story. That and his eyes. The jade orbs shifted across the room and eventually land on my face, then flick away. He also shifted his lanky body as he spoke. All of him was just so...perfect.

Under that cold demeanor, he is also a very kindhearted person. I didn't expect him to jump to my aid as he did as I healed myself. And judging from the look of confusion on his perfectly angled face, he didn't expect it either. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would've laughed.

His past surprised me the most, however. He told me in words, but seeing it in picture made it easier to understand. The ritual that branded him made him lose almost every memory he had before. What I saw were small flashes: a young elf girl with red hair in pigtails giggling and running as she called cheerily, "Leto!", a creepy looking man with a grey beard and hair to match, a shadowy man holding a large sword, and other random things. Most of all, I saw blood. Pooled around various bodies with shadowed faces. Something told me this is how he survives in battle. By not looking at the victim's face, it makes it easier for him to attack an enemy.

When he opened his eyes after the flood of memories, something told me he had seen Maerwen. The thinly veiled sadness in his eyes said it all.

At first glance, you'd think that Fenris was a very stoic and unemotional man, but it's the opposite. If you look at his eyes and not his lyrium, you'll find an expressive, but tortured soul.

Well that sounded angsty.

I chuckled to myself and stood, stretching my arms above my head.

"It was lovely talking to you, dear, but I'm afraid sleep beckons me," I ruffled his silvery hair as I walked past.

He let out a low chuckle that shook my bones, "Sweet dreams, Telum."

I smiled and sauntered to my designated room. I closed the door and sighed. A cold hand ran down my spine, "Ma belle fille. Vous avez grandi à être si parfait ( My beautiful daughter. You've grown to be so perfect)," a achingly familiar voice sighed.

I spun and crashed into an end table near me.

"Y at-il quelque chose de mal, ma chère? On dirait que vous avez vu un fantôme ( Is there something wrong, dear? You look as if you've seen a ghost)," my mother intoned in Orleasian.

She looked just the same as when I was abducted all those years ago. Platinum blonde hair that now dragged across the floor. Soft, peachy skin that used to exude life shifted in and out of an ethereal state. Blue eyes that now looked dead and flat. The serene smile she wore didn't reach her eyes, which stabbed fear into my heart.
I knew this was a hallucination but, just like all the others, I couldn't resist.

"Mère ... Tu m'as manqué ... pourquoi m'as-tu quitté? Je ne sais pas ... Je ne savais pas quoi faire! Ils m'ont emmené ... ils m'ont emmené. Je ne savais pas quoi faire! ( Mother...I missed you...why did you leave me? I didn't know...I didn't know what to do! They took me...they took me away. I didn't know what to do!)" Tears stung on my eyes and I reached for her cold face.

"Je sais, l'amour, je sais. Tu m'as manqué tellement que vous me. Je t'ai cherché partout. Mais j'ai finalement vous avez trouvé. Nous pouvons être ensemble pour toujours maintenant. Coffre-fort ( I know, love, I know. I missed you so much. I looked everywhere for you. But I finally found you. We can be together forever now. Safe)," she settled her flickering hand in my face and I let out a small sigh. Even her smell was the same. Like dye and wildflowers.

"Ensemble ... pour toujours? (Together...forever?)" I whispered.

"Toujours, mon trésor. Tant que I. .. en direct...( Forever, my treasure. As long as I...live...)" Her voice was growing softer, and I smelled burning. I opened my eyes to see the flesh burning off my mother's face. *plop* *plop* chunks of decayed skin and muscle slipped to the floor. I tried breaking free of her grasp, but her bony fingers held my head in place. They dug into my head and I cried out.

"Toujours! Toujours! Toujours! Ensemble pour toujours! (Forever! Forever! Forever! Together forever!)" She was yelling.

"S'il vous plaît arrêter! Maman, tu me fais mal! S'il vous plaît! ( Please stop! Mama, you're hurting me! Please!)" I cried.

She dug her bones into my hair and pulled, "Les enfants ont besoin d'être enseigné une leçon! (Children need to be taught a lesson!)" she hissed.

A single tear leaked out of my eye and I weeped, "Démon! Tu es un démon! Tu n'es pas ma mère! Démon! Démon! (Demon! You're a demon! You're not my mother! Demon! Demon!)"

She let go of my hair and caressed my face with her gruesome hand, "Tu crois que je suis un monstre? Comment pourriez-vous faire du mal à ta mère comme ça? (You think I'm a monster? How could you hurt your mother like this?)"

Anger surged through my body. Red light engulfed the room and my mother jerked her hand back.

I jumped and encircled my hands around her slender neck.

"Easily. Because you are not my mother!" I cried, tears dripping down my face.

"Non! Non! Ne me laisse pas comme ça! (No! No! Don't leave me like this!)" she thrashed and flailed, but kept my hands securely around her neck until the lyrium burned her to death. I leaped away and watched as my mother's shell transformed into a desire demon. She then collapsed into dust and flew out the open window. I huddled into the corner of my bed and tried to stop trembling. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, but that didn't help.

The door flew open and Fenris barreled into the room, his hair disheveled and clothes in disarray.

"I've been pounding on the door, but it was locked! Why were you yelling?" He stopped on his march to my fetal form when he saw my shaking.

"Ce n'est rien ... ce n'est rien. S'il vous plaît aller, ce n'est rien. S'il vous plaît ...(It's nothing...it's nothing. Please go, it's nothing. Please...)" I whispered, my breath catching.

"I...I don't know Orleasian," he sat next to me on the bed and placed a hand on my shoulder. My quivering immediately stopped and I tensed, turning my head to look at him.

"I...apologize. A hallucination, you see...I can't resist sometimes," I croaked.

He was silent. The question was in his eyes: Would you like to talk about it?

I shook my head, "It was just my mother."

He nodded and stood up. My shaking started up again and he jumped.

"Ah! I'm sorry, did I do something?" he looked at me as if I were a porcelain doll. That has never happened to me before.

I looked at his hand and saw there was no gauntlet, seeing as that would be uncomfortable to sleep in. I then looked at my bare shoulder and let out a shaky groan.

"I think I found a new power."

It took a moment for it to click in his mind, causing pink to enter his olive cheeks.

"Oh. Right," he cleared his throat, "Would you like me to sleep...in the same, er, bed as you? To stop shaking?" He cleared his throat again.

I smiled and said, "Fenris! I didn't know you were that forward! You could at least buy me a drink first!"

He chuckled that low, sweet chuckle again,"I don't think the Hanged Man would appeal to your tastes."

I laughed and shoved my twitching fingers into my hair, loosening the tie and making my hair spill out.

"Oh, bugger," I muttered and struggled to gather it up into a plait. My shaking prevented that from happening, however.

A warm hand engulfed one of mine. I turned to see Fenris holding the tie and placing it onto the end table that wasn't broken.

"It will be irritating," he whispered.

My heart pounded uncomfortably in my chest and I took a shuddering breath. He lay down on top of the sheets and offered his hand. He still wore the large, clunky breastplate and belt and I raised my eyebrows.

A sly grin lightened his face, making me catch my breath, "Would you like me to take my top off? You could at least buy me a drink first."

I blushed brighter than my tattoos and looked away.

He laughed heartily and got up, walking to a dresser and grabbing a torn shirt from one of the drawers.

"Ah, I knew Hawke's odd collecting habit would come in handy!" He said, shucking his armor on his top half. The silver lines ran down his broad, tanned shoulders, back, and arms as he threw on the tattered shirt. The lithe, corded muscles flexed as he struggled with the neck of the shirt, eventually ripping it. He turned and caught me staring.

"What? You saw me half naked. Can't I do the same?" I explained at his look.

He smirked and settled back onto the bed more comfortably.

I grabbed his hand and immediately fell asleep.

But before I free-fell into unconsciousness, I thought:

Is this love at first sight?

Ooooooooohhhh, guuurl. You fallin' for Fenriiisss!

Telum: *blushes*

Fenris: *smiles at Telum*

OMG THAT WAS A SMILE, GUYS! WE HAVE TO MARK THIS DAY ON THE CALENDAR!

Fenris: *glares at me, but then turns to make flirty eyes at Telum*

Telum: *giggles*

Okay. Now it's getting gross.

And yes, the Orlesian was French. That's what I think of whenever I hear an Orlesian noble speak.

SO! If you think this chapter is amazing, say aye. If not...I'll sick Hawke's mabari, Kitty, on you.

Kitty: WOOF.

Good girl! Until next time, guys! Stay awesome!

~Libby c: