"Oh blessed Maker, please watch over us as we descend into-" Sebastien's sky blue eyes went wide when Isabela began to teasingly blow warm air against his ear. He turned his confused gaze on her, "What are you doing…?"
"Trying to silence you." Isabela replied honestly while she checked over her weapons as they drew closer to the large ship. "Your constant praying gets rather old, sweet thing…"
Sebastien let out an annoyed sigh, "Please, I am trying to pray for our friend that's being held against his will. As well as for our own safety." Once again he began to pray out loud, "Maker watch over us as we…"
"Kick some major ass. Amen!" Varric joined in, interrupting Sebastien's second attempt at a prayer.
The prince sighed, "Why won't any of you people ever let me pray properly?" Grumbling, Sebastien leaned back into his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.
Hawke shook her head lightly, smiling at her friends while she tied her long hair into a pony tail. A few short strands of hair fell loose and framed her fair face. These playful banters were just one of the many reasons why she adored her friends so much. Even before a battle, no matter how dangerous the situation maybe, they were always ready for a light hearted teasing.
Through the thickening fog, Danarius'large ship came into view, its massive size towered over their little boat. Somewhere on that ship, was Fenris. Hawke could feel her heart begin to beat faster as her anxiety rose. Suddenly, something struck the side of their boat, startling everyone.
"What was that?" Asked Isabela, her eyes wide.
Sebastien peered over the side, what he discovered floating in the water brought a gasp to his lips. "Dear Maker…!"
"What…what's wrong?" Asked Varric, he moved over to look over the edge of the boat.
In the water was a man's body, clearly he had been one of the crew members from Danarius'ship. But he wasn't the only one that floated lifelessly in the water…for many other corpses began to bump into their boat. It looked as though most of the crew had been knocked off the ship during the raging storm. Instantly Hawke began to feel her panic rise once more. She quickly scanned the bodies, praying to Andraste that Fenris wasn't amongst the dead. Then realizing she should of known better…Danarius wouldn't of been killed so easily and that he would of made sure to keep his most prized possession safe.
"Blood of the ancestors, what happened?" Varric breathed, he raised a hand to the back of his neck.
"Hmm…looks like they had a little trouble with the weather." Zevran replied, "So sad when that happens..." He added sarcastically.
"I wouldn't look so sad Zevran." Said Hawke, her eyes watching the bodies float past them. "I'm sure Danarius is still alive and he'll most likely be holding a surprise when we board."
"Oh good, I do love surprises!" Zevran replied, flashing her a devilish grin.
Merril whispered something in dalish, her troubled eyes unable to watch the lifeless forms float silently past them.
Varric patted her arm, "It's alright, Daisy."
Aveline was silent, her gaze fixed upon the ship. It defiantly been through hell during the storm alright. The Maker had been on their side after all. The main topsail had tares in it, as well as the other sails. A few of the bowlines and bridles had been torn and now dangled loosely, swaying to the ship's movement. A couple of the wooden boons and masses were cracked or broken, few hung in the air, caught by the ropes.
When their boat finally reached the haggard ship, Zevran whispered, "So Isabela, you game for a little competing of points?"
"Aren't I always?" Isabela gave him a wink while reaching up to grab a loose rope.
"Good, the first to reach ten kills buys at the Hanged Man!" He chuckled quietly.
Just as Isabela began to climb, she suddenly stopped. "Oh shoot, I forgot something…" Turning to the beardless dwarf she whispered, "Varric…may I rub your chest hair for good luck?"
Varric chuckled, "Sure…why not." he bared his hairy chest to her, "Go ahead, give it a good feel."
Hawke placed the palm of her hand against her face and sighed.
Isabela smiled while giving Varric's hairy chest a good rub down. When she was satisfied, she thanked him and began to climb the rope.
Hawke was next. Due to Aveline's heavy armor, the captain was forced to remove it and leave it behind on their 'borrowed' ship. Armed with only a shield and sword upon her back, she too began to heave herself upward as they the scaled the side.
The three duel wielding rogues reached the top first, Hawke, Isabela and Zevran peered over the railing. The ship was soaked and smelled of rain. The railing and the side of the large ship was slick with water, making it fairly difficult to keep a firm holding.
Hawke's foot gave way and she nearly lost her balance, but Anders reacted instantly. Raising his hand and placing it firmly against her back, he pressed her to the ship's side. She nodded a silent thank you, then listened for movement. There wasn't a single soul in sight, which was never a good sign. Did one of the saviors see them approaching? No…that couldn't of been the case. Anders had created a thick enough fog that hid them from view. Perhaps Danarius became suspicious of the sudden fog and readied a trap for them.
'Bring…it…on...' Hawke thought angrily, this time they were ready for whatever the damned blood mage planned to unleash. Well, at least she tried to convince herself of that…
Zevran tapped Hawke on her shoulder, turning to look at him, he raised two fingers then pointed his hand in the direction of the front of the ship. Two men could be seen climbing the steps from the ship's lower level.
A strange smile slowly found its way to Zevran's lips, a smile that even made Hawke a little nervous. The handsome antivan elf reached over and removed the dagger from the shealth on Hawke's thigh. Slowly, he began to scrape the blade into the side of the ship. Pulling it downward, causing it to make an eerie scratching sound as he repeated his motions. The two men stopped talking to one another and listened curiously.
They started to make their way towards them to investigate the sound. When they were only mere inches from the railing, both Hawke and the ridiculously awesome elf made their move. Zevran lashed forward and grabbed the man closest to him, his hand covering the man's mouth before he could make a single sound, while his other hand sank the dagger deep into his throat.
Hawke had moved just as fast, her hands were instantly around the other man's head. With a firm twist, she snapped his neck and he fell limp in her arms. The two companions placed their victims quietly against the railing, then climbed over the edge.
Holding her hand out to Merrill, Hawke helped the tiny elf climb over. Anders was next, he swung his long legs over the side. Once on deck, he removed the staff from his back and looked around.
Isabela helped Aveline over, the two were now back to back, blades and shield ready, just waiting for an ambush to spring. It was refreshing to see that the two women were watching out for one another. Since there had once been a time when they completely despised each other.
Poor Varric…with his short arms and legs, he had the most trouble trying to climb the ship. It was Sebastien who ended up having to give the dwarf a piggy back ride. While Sebastien did the climbing, Varric looked annoyed as hell, let alone embarrassed for having his arms firmly holding Sebastien around the neck with legs wrapped halfway around the man's waist.
"Not so tight Varric…" Sebastien whispered, surprised that the dwarf's hold was so strong. "You're cutting off my air…"
"I'll cut more than that off if you tell the broody elf about this…" Varric grumbled, oh how he hated this…
"I won't tell a soul, though Isabela might…" Sebastien grinned, once on deck he lowered the proud dwarf to the floor.
Once everyone held their weapons at the ready, they began to fan out. Their eyes ever watchful, their movements slow and steady. Where was the rest of the crew? It was as though they climbed on board a ghost ship…
Just when Hawke started to silently head towards the stairs that lead down into the lower level, something to her left caught her attention. Within the darkness of the shadows, a figure moved. Though before Hawke could turn to examine the figure, a dagger went flying past her, just inches from her face.
A man fell dead at her feet with Zevran's dagger deep within his left eye. "That makes one…" The elf whispered to Isabela, grinning wickedly.
"Lucky shot." She huffed with a smirk.
Hawke reached down and removed the dagger from the dead man. She winced when the fellow's eye was plucked from it's socket and clung to the blade's tip. Turning her head away from the gruesome sight, she held the dagger out to Zevran, whom chuckled.
Taking the blade, he then reached over and wiped it against the railing. The man's eyeball was removed from the blade, though it ended up falling to the floor in front of Zevran's feet. "Oops…" He muttered. Then moving his foot forward, he pushed the eye over the edge of the ship and into the water below.
Hawke shook her head at him, then turned her gaze to Merrill who looked extremely nauseated at that moment.
"We're being attacked!" A man's voice shouted from behind. Everyone turned their gazes on the blood mage that appeared from the top of the stairs. Within a blink of an eye, the man vanished.
"Where'd he go?" Sebastien asked, turning around.
"Up there, by the wheel!" Shouted Varric, already the dwarf aimed his beloved Bianca and fired a bolt at the mage.
The mage vanished in a cloud of dark smoke before the bolt could strike him.
"You know, you're seriously making it hard for me to stick up for your kind!" Hawke shouted angrily.
"Hawke!" Anders arched a brow at her.
"Kidding…." She replied quickly, hearing rushed footsteps coming from the stairs she spun around. A group of armed men entered the deck, their weapons drawn.
"Alright! Left over's!" Zevran cheered with a laugh, clearly happy that not all the crew members had died during the storm.
Three of the men within the group instantly looked to Aveline and Merrill. Since neither wore heavy or leather armor, the men figured they were the easiest targets to take out first. Which was their last mistake.
The men rushed towards the two 'helpless' looking women, Aveline stood ready with her shield and sword before her. Merrill chanted a quick spell in dalish and instantly roots began to quickly form from the deck's wooden floor. A vine wrapped itself around one of the men's legs and yanked him high into the air. The hold on the man's leg painfully tightened and the sounds of bones being snapped could be heard. The man screamed in agony as his leg was twisted and crushed in an unnatural way. Merrill then used her magical hold on the vines to send the human soaring through the air and over the side of the ship.
Isabela had once said Aveline was like a human battering ram and tonight she was proven right. For Aveline rose her shield and blocked the first man that attacked her. Moving her body forward, she forced her attacker backwards. Then in one fluid sweep of her arm, she brought her sword around and sliced the man across the face. All that armor he wore had just been proven useless as he dropped his sword and grabbed his bleeding face, howling in pain. Lashing out her right leg, she kicked him hard in the stomach, knocking him into the second man that tried to charge at her.
Isabela was just finishing off her own attacker, then leaping over his fallen body she went to help aid Aveline. Though before she could sink her blades into the two men who attacked her, Sebastien shouted for her to duck. Isabela reacted instantly, she dropped to her knees just as an arrow flew right over her head and struck the door to the captain's chambers to her left.
Sebastien fired his own arrow at the one who tried to take out Isabela. Even in darkness of the night, the exiled prince's arrow flew true and struck his target in the throat.
Once it was clear, Isabela quickly sprinted to Aveline's attackers, badly wanting those kills to be hers. The one who had been knocked to the ground was rising to his feet. Leaping into the air, Isabela lashed out both her feet and kicked the man in the face. He was sent sprawling backwards. The moment he struck the ground, her blade came down and sank deep into his face. Rising to her feet, she turned to the man that Aveline had wounded, he rolled on the ground, screaming in agony. "Aw, let me help you ease the pain, sweet thing…" She said with a cruel smile before finishing him off as well. Looking up, she shouted at Zevran, "That's three!"
Zevran laughed, "The night is still young my dear!" He replied, keeping his gaze on his own opponents. Twirling both blades in his hands, he grinned at the three men that began to surround him. Neither of them made a move until Zevran spoke, "Well, come on then. Neither of us are getting any younger…" Then motioning his right blade at the older, more rugged looking human he taunted, "Especially you!"
The older man growled through his rotted teeth, "Damn knife ears!" He spat at the ground before making his move. The man held his sword high as he charged toward Zevran, his sword eager to sink into the cocky elf's flesh.
"Too slow!" Zevran shouted while moving to the left, easily dodging the older human's attack. The man tried to swing again, but Zevran was faster. He moved out of the way, then lashed out his leg and kicked the man in the rear, sending him sprawling forward. As the man landed against the railing, Zevran quickly spun around in time to block the other two men's blades with his own. "Aw, come now! I was hoping for a challenge!" The two men just blinked at him, "No…really, I was. So please, be kind and don't disappoint me."
"So, the knife ears thinks he's funny…" The bearded man muttered, glaring at Zevran.
"Don't talk to him Sam, just kill the bastard!" Shouted the other human.
"Fine." Sam replied, he removed his sword from Zevran's blade and swung again.
With a bored sigh, Zevran blocked Sam's sword with one blade, then stabbed him with his other. The man gasped in pain, "Two…" Zevran continued to count his kills as the other man swung a second time, Zevran countered and blocked it once again. Swinging both blades forward in a criss cross motion he sliced through the second's man's neck. The human's head landed on the floor and rolled into Sam's crumbled form. "Three…"
Hearing movement behind him, the antivan elf twirled his blades and quickly thrust them towards his sides. The older man that had just tried to attack Zevran's back, was instantly impaled with the elf's blades. Choking on blood, the man fell to his knees. "And four…" Zevran counted as he yanked his weapons from the man's chest.
While the others fought, Hawke was busy trying to catch the annoying blood mage that kept teleporting all over the damned ship. Eventually she caught him at the stern, slowly she snuck up behind him, he hadn't seen nor heard her approach until it was too late. "Dodge this…" Her tone sarcastic as her own blade plunged through his back and out his chest.
The mage cursed at her, "Damn bitch…!"
"Yep, that's me." Placing her foot firmly against his ass, she pushed him off of her blade. He fell to his knees in front of her, blood dripping from his lips. He turned his head and glared up at her, she instantly recognized him as one of the men Danarius'had with him at the tavern.
A cruel smile formed upon his blood covered lips, "You might have killed me whore…but you are too late to save your precious elf!"
He was just trying to get a rise out of her…It wasn't too late. Hawke refused to believe that. She narrowed her eyes at him and leaned down towards him, "Lies…" Her voice dripped with disdain.
His cold smile only widened, "It's true." Coughing up more blood he continued to taunt her through gasps of pain, "The moment we left the harbor…Danarius didn't hesitate on torturing the foolish slave. He should of just killed him at the tavern, but no. He wanted to play with his little pet wolf." The mage laughed, "There's no way he's still alive-"
Before the bastard could finish, Hawke let out a fierce cry and brought her sword downward, The blade sliced through his damned head, causing it to roll and bounce down the steps. Fenris was alive…she refused to believe he was dead.
Hearing movement behind her, Hawke moved out of the way just in time as a blade appeared close to her right side. Spinning around she brought her blade against her attacker's arm. A scream of pain echoed into the night as her attacker's arm fell to the floor, the hand still clenching the sword.
A second guard moved towards her. Hawke quickly dodged his blow. In one fluid motion, she grabbed onto the one armed man and rolled across his back, lashing out her legs, kicking her second attacker away from her. Once on her feet, she twirled her blades and swung them toward the one she had just kicked. The man's blood splattered across her leather armor, he too was down for the count.
"You know…I really think they were trying to kill us." Merrill said thoughtfully while backing up next to Aveline.
"You think?" Isabela managed to choke out while being pinned against a wall. The man holding her by the neck actually thought he had won. He laughed cruelly in Isabela's face, however his laughter was cut short when she brought her knee up firmly against his groin. When he stumbled back, she then head butted him, smashing his bulbous nose. Sebastien helped her out by firing an arrow into her attacker's back. When the man fell dead at her feet, she cursed at Sebastien, "Hey! That still counts as mine!"
"Oh no it doesn't!" Zevran corrected her with a laugh.
Once again, Isabela shouted a long line of obscene curse words.
When it seemed that there were no more crew members to fight, everyone gathered together. An uncomfortable silence fell upon the companions as they glanced around at the gory carnage that covered the deck. The ship suddenly felt too still and was too damn silent. The only sounds that could be heard, were the ocean's restless waves and the eerie creaking noise that a old ship would make.
It was Varric who broke the silence, "I don't like this Hawke…"
"I know…this isn't over yet." She replied, while glancing around. Turning her gaze to the stairs that would lead to the lower level, she began to make her way towards it once more.
Then a groan that sent shivers down everyone's spines broke the silence. It was a nightmarish sound that was a mix between a blood curling scream and a howl only something dark and unnatural would make. It began to grow so loud that everyone covered their ears.
Suddenly a flash of fire appeared right behind Hawke. It felt as time itself had slowed down as she turned to face the large Rage demon. Her long hair flowed around her shoulders as she spun around to bring her blades up to block it's attack. Swords were useless against creatures that were made of pure fire and lava. There was only one way to really add any serious damage to such a monster made of flame. "Anders!" She shouted.
Focusing his magic, Anders swung his staff down low in front of the Rage demon. Instantly sharp spikes of ice formed upon the floor, surrounding and impaling the creature. Within a matter of seconds, the Rage demon was dead, vaporizing into ash. But that wouldn't be the last…
They were soon surrounded by dozens of screaming shades. It was difficult to keep an eye on any of the damned things, for the clouds above hid most of the moon's light, their only light.
"Back to back! Now!" Hawke shouted, the others quickly obeyed. Instantly forming a circle, their backs together, ready to fight as one.
Anders's eyes glowed a fierce blue as he shot out bolts of lighting at the shades nearest to him.
Merrill called upon the powers of nature, soon vines formed from the floor of the ship. A shade that dared to get too close to her was quickly trapped by the vines she'd created. Some pierced through the creature's body as the others squeezed it tightly.
Both Isabela and Zevran were busy slicing through their own set of shades. Each laughing and daring more of the creatures to draw closer.
"Ha! That's six now Zevran!" Isabela shouted at her competing friend, "Get ready to pay for the round of pints!"
Zevran merely laughed in return, "Only six my dear Isabela? I'm already up to eight!"
"You what?" Isebala asked, sounding pissed.
"Nine!" Zevran counted out loud as he sliced through two more Shades. The creatures howled in anger as they tried to attack, but the ridiculously awesome elf was just too damn good. When he finished with the last shade, he laughed in triumph. "Ten! I win! You get to pay for rounds at the Hanged Man, Isabela!"
"BULLSHIT!" Isabela cursed angrily, clearly not happy that she had lost their little wager.
Varric cheered at his beloved Bianca as he fired bolt after bolt into the shades that appeared on the other side of the ship. Sebastien was right there with him, firing his own set of arrows into the damned creatures.
Hawke glanced around them, more Shades and Rage demons were appearing out of no where. It wouldn't take long until they were all out numbered. She knew Danarius had to be the one behind the damned creatures and that he was hiding somewhere below deck.
Anders's body seemed to have been made of pure lighting as he fought off the Rage demons. His eyes glowed brightly while his fierce battle cries echoed through the night as he fought furiously. He spun around, constantly firing bolts of energy towards his foes. None of the demons were able to get close to him, for he would create a path of thick icy spikes, impaling them instantly. "We need to head below deck, now!" He shouted to Hawke while pressing his back against hers.
"I know but we can't just leave the others like this…!" She replied while slicing her blade through another Shade.
"They're be fine, don't worry. The faster we find Danarius, the faster this will end. Let's go!" Anders sent another icy bolt at a Rage demon that began making its way towards Merrill. Once it was dead, both he and Hawke headed towards the stairs.
He was right. They had once taken down a High Dragon together, the others would be fine. Though once Hawke had taken seven steps down, five Rage demons appeared, separating her from Anders.
"Anders!" Hawke shouted, she began to climb back of the steps but he ordered her to stop.
"Don't worry about me! I'll be right behind you, I promise, go!" His voice more stern, ordering her to continue on without him.
She cursed, knowing he was right once again, the sooner she found Danarius and killed him, the sooner these creatures would stop appearing. In the back of her mind Hawke knew it would be wrong for her to take the blood mage's life. For Danarius wasn't her kill, he belonged to Fenris. She didn't want to take away the former slave's much deserved vengeance, but if things turned out different…she just might have too.
While the battle raged on above her head, she entered further into the darkness of the second level of the ship. Only a few dim lanterns that hung upon the walls gave her enough light to see her surroundings. There were too many damn doors in the hallway, just which one was Danarius hiding in? Hawke's nerves were on the edge, just waiting for someone or something to appear from behind a door and attack.
As she passed a door to her right, it sounded as if someone had just tried to lock the door. Spinning around, Hawke lashed out her leg and gave the door a firm kick. The door flew open and a figure stumbled away. Raising her blades, Hawke entered the room, ready to fight.
"Please don't kill me..." Begged a woman's voice.
Hawke's eyes went wide, she recognized the elf immediately.
Varania backed up against the wall, her arms raised in defense. "I had no choice..."
Hatred took over Hawke as she stormed over to the little elf and grabbed her by the neck while the other hand pressed her blade against the side of the woman's face. "Where is he?" She demanded.
Varania looked up with fearful eyes, "In the hold, on the floor below us."
Hawke tightened her grip on the elf's throat as she asked the one question she was most afraid of learning the answer to. "Does he live?"
Slowly, the elf nodded. "Yes. He lives." After hesitating a moment, she added in a trembling whisper. "Barely..."
Once again, Hawke felt her heart skip a beat. She narrowed her eyes, "Where's Danarius?"
"I...I don't know." Varania replied, her eyes meeting hers.
"Don't play with me!" Hawke shouted, pressing her blade harder against the side of the elf's face. A thin line of blood appeared and began to slide down her cheek.
"I haven't seen him since before the storm." Varania pleaded, "Please, I really don't know."
Slowly, Hawke released her hold on the elf. Finding herself believing the woman, she might have told her the truth, but that still didn't ease Hawke's anger. The woman had betrayed the only family she had left, her own flesh and blood. Fenris, her own brother who had worked so damned hard the past three years to try and find her. Who could do such a thing to their own family?
As much as Hawke found herself despising the elf, she couldn't bring herself to kill her. Bethany's face had entered Hawke's mind at that moment, keeping her from killing the woman. Instead, she lashed out her fist and cold cocked Varania in the side of the head. The elf landed on the floor unconscious, she would be dealt with later.
Hawke turned her back on the elven woman whom lay at her feet. Taking a deep breath, she then slowly exhaled before making her way down into the holding area. Varania's voice repeated within her mind.
'Does he live?' Hawke had asked.
'He lives...barely.' Had been her answer.
As Hawke approached the door that would lead into the room that Fenris was being held in, a cold chill went down her spine. She was afraid…
Afraid to see just what condition the one she loved was in. Afraid to learn just what Danarius had done to him. For a moment, Hawke's hand stayed wrapped around the doorknob, hesitant to enter the room. She couldn't be afraid, fear was not an option.
"Just breathe..." Hawke whispered under her breath in attempts to calm herself. Then without another moments hesitation, she opened the door and stormed inside.