All your reviews make me so happy. As shewolf15 politely pointed out it should be Tevinter Imperium rather than Emporium. No you're not nitpicky. The only reason why I changed it was because my spell check says the word imperium doesn't exist. I'll fix it later.

Chapter 4

Fenris POV

It was strange, to not have the burning sensation racing across my hands as I grasped Hawke's wrists lightly. Watching her tip her head to continue drinking I find myself tracing her lines with my eyes like others had done with me. Only difference is I knew where hers lead while other people would be left wondering where mine trailed. Danarius hadn't curled hers like he did with mine but hers were thicker with patterns you'd mostly associate with tribal people past the Free Marches. The only areas that curled like mine were the final spots under her eyes.

She brings her head back down and offers me a weak smile. "How long was I out?" She asks and my ears twitch with how painful her voice sounded. But that was just something to be expected.

"Three days." She winces and runs her hand through her hair. "Don't worry though, I've told your companions to keep returning until you've awakened." Her face relaxes and she gives me a smile.

"Thank you Fenris." I feel a blush creep up on my face and I look away. No one had ever thanked me before. Or at least thanked me for something that didn't involve ripping someone's heart out. A slight pressure on my chin makes me glance down to see Hawke gently pressing her lyrium laced palm onto the lines drawn on my chin. The cooling sensation made my skin tingle in an intoxicating way and I let my lips trail along her thumb's tip.

The door thudding open makes us both draw back and I turn to see my second most hated person in the world stepping over the threshold. Hadriana. "How touching, two filthy slaves falling in love with each other." A sideways glance tells me that Hawke had resumed her blank face and she was starring openly at Hadriana which was no doubt going to turn her angry. "Lower your eyes slave before I have you beaten." She snarls but Hawke only looks on.

"On what authority? Has my master given you permission for such an action?" Hadriana narrows her eyes dangerously and steps forward, slapping Hawke across the face. Pain flashed in Hawke's eyes as Hadriana's nails scratched on one of the lyrium lines.

"It does not matter what my lord says. You are a slave and slaves are meant to obey," She looks over at me then back to Hawke. "or be beaten for insolence. How enjoyable it will be to beat you around, frozen little bitch whore." Slowly Hawke turns her face upward to stare into Hadrian's eyes. With a snarl Hadriana raises her hand for another slap but before she can do it a loud thump in the open doorway makes her turn. Even without looking I could tell it was Danarius and by the small, tense steps he was taking he was not pleased.

"What folly is this?" He asks, his voice cold. Hadriana stumbles for an answer and twists her hands together.

"I was only teaching her respect." She finally gets out and Danarius turns toward Hawke.

"Tell me Khione, did you disrespect my apprentice?" Both Hadrian and I were expecting a lie for such a stupid question.

"Yes master. I should not have starred as I did. Forgive me." Danarius ruffles the hair on her bowed head then snaps his fingers.

"Hadriana, you have lessons to attend to. Get to them. And don't displease me again." As Danarius turned to talk Hawke looked up at me from under her hair, green eyes flickering playfully. Just what was her game?

Soon we were left alone again and she gently brushes a hand over a no doubt burning cheek. "You look confused. Is there a reason for it?"

"Why didn't you lie?"

"Because he knew what the truth would be." She motions me forward and I lean in. Dropping her voice lower still she continues. "And if I can convince him that I'll only tell him the truth then he'll believe me in the future when I lie."

As I pull away I catch her wide grin. Immediately my chest gets pleasantly warmer. The sound of a whistled tune makes us both look over to the window. Hawke springs forward. Luckily I was there to catch her before her muscles weakened and she fell onto the ground. As I help her stand I hold her body close to mine, my lyrium marked fingers sliding pleasantly over her bare arms.

A moment later she pulls away and wanders to the window, making a clicking sound with her tongue. "Cullen is anxious to know of your predicament. Anything to take back?" A quiet voice says on the other side of the wall.

"Tell him he can shove it. Not really. Tell him that I'm not in the position to turn the slave's minds but I'll be able to get him information if Danarius really is important to the government." As she was speaking her arms started to shake gently against the wall and I find myself reaching over for her. "End of report." She whispers just as I grab her elbow. The rustle of the bushes outside tells me her messenger was off.

Gently I pull her in and I find myself wrapping my arms around her body. She turns her head slightly and presses the top of her left cheek into the lines on my neck and she places her right hand over the areas her spots under her eyes didn't touch. We stand there for about ten minutes before she starts moving her fingers, drawing lazy circles over sections of unmarked skin. It was… peaceful.

Sadly our peace was ruined a second later as Hawke's legs finally gave out. It was expected due to how many lines were engraved there. She chuckles lightly as I place her back on the bed. "Don't try anything foolish. I'm going to get you something to eat.

It had been three days since the ritual and we were currently trailing behind Danarius, moving about the market place. People openly starred. Of course they did, Hawke was wearing next to nothing, anyone would stare. The lyrium running over her body was only an augmentation. But she had her frozen mask back on so I couldn't tell if she cared or not for all the eyes on her.

We were on our way to master's personal smithy, Hawke's armor being finished yesterday. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a tall red haired woman walk to the edge of the street. She wore heavy armor and carried a sword as well as a shield. Her bright green eyes flickered over to Hawke then to me then to a spot behind me and jerked her head upward just the tiniest bit.

She walks away a moment later and I see out of the corner of my eye Hawke giving the tiniest of smiles, really just a twitch of the lips. A count to five and one of Hawke's companions that I did know walks past us with a cat's grace. She wore a light grey tunic which was cut short, a blue sash, a matching bandana, black, fingerless gloves, and an assortment of gold jewelry. Her brown eyes catch mine and she gives me a wink before heading over to a mage elf, hanging on her shoulder.

"Fenris." My attention snaps back to my master who had stopped outside the smithy door. He points to a spot on the ground like I was some mindless cur. "Guard." Curling my hands into fists I do as I'm told but as Hawke walks in after Danarius she trails her hand down my arm and I loosen my hands. Before she finally pulls away she hooks her index finger with mine.

I must have waited forty minutes before Danarius stepped back out, looking well pleased. Then Hawke followed and I realized why. She was wearing armor fashioned like ancient Tevinter arena fighters complete with a helmet with a plume of golden and brown hair. Hanging from her belt, only inches from the floor, was a tail with fur pluming out on the tip, a match to her plume on her helmet. The cut of the front on the helmet gave a menacing look.

We continued to walk the area, master no doubt showing off the lioness he had in company. I knew this tactic all too well since he had done it with me. Probably meant there was to be a dinner party later so he could show Hawke off to his noble friends.

Just as I predicted Danarius hosted a dinner party on the next evening. We were to be displayed, Hawke and I, by standing on either side of master's chair. There were twenty people all told, more than likely the other people invited had opted out. Halfway into the dinner one of the guests puts his glass down and grips the stem, composing himself before speaking.

"Danarius is there a reason for such folly?"

My master narrows his eyes before answering. "I know not of what you speak of Breon."

"Do not play me the fool. Do you intend to create an army of lyrium laced weapons? How much of the government's money do you intend to waste?" Breon declares, rising from his seat to point an accusatory finger, slamming his hand on the table.

"You've gone and crossed the line Breon. Fenris." It was time to do my job so without a moment's hesitation I charge forward, flaring my lyrium to the point where it separated my matter to where I could plunge my hand into Breon's chest and rip out his heart.

Someone gets up in defense of Breon but before I could charge at this next challenge Hawke walks forward, swaying her hips. A quick glance at Danarius told me he was enjoying watching Hawke's hindquarters as she stepped up to her opponent. Gently, caressingly, she trails a finger up his chest before making her lyrium blaze into life. Before her prey can take a step back she reaches into his neck and twisted before ripping back.

The man twisted on the floor, clawing at his throat. She had ripped out a section of his throat. He was drowning in his own blood. Danarius stands up, a broad smile on his face. "Such entertainment has worn me out and so I retire to my chambers. Good night everyone." And with these words he walks from the room, whistling a dark ditty.

I almost didn't catch it but a careful glance at Hawke told me she was going to crumble. Already her arms were starting to shake.

A/N

For those of you still waiting on chapter six in another tale have no fear it's almost done. This one was just half done and I wanted to finish it.

Sorry.

Ciao!~