Chapter 3

"If you want him, he's yours." Hawke says with a cold stone voice. Her face stands calm, as the words rips through my ears.

"What?" I manage to say, as my hearts starts to pound panicky in my chest.

Behind us, Sebastian and Aveline protest at the sudden betrayal.

"We can't abandon our friend in his hour of need." Sebastian says.

"I hope you're joking." Aveline narrows her eyes as she places a hand on Hawke's shoulder, but the Champion shrugs the hand of her.

Looking at Hawke with a grin, Danarius eyes narrow into mean slits. "Interesting. I'll make it worth your while, of course. The power of the Imperium will be at your disposal."

I turn around to look at the woman, who I once called my lover. Who I still want as my lover. "Don't do this, Hawke. I need you." I plead.

She bats her eyes once and I can see that her eyes are searching for something. Slowly, I reach out to her hand and touch her finger softly. When she slowly shakes her head, I can feel my stomach drop to the ground. "You're on your own, Fenris."

I look at her, never breaking eye contact with her. My hand drops from her hand. "I suppose I should not be surprised."

"This is wrong." Sebastian continues to protests, as Aveline mutters an 'Unbelievable' as her face looks in disgust at Hawke behind her.

"What shall it be, Fenris?" Even with my back towards that man, I can still imagine that smug expression on his face. "Will you throw your life away?"

Feeling desperation, but moreover feeling the ground under my very feet disappearing. I know how bad this situation is and I know that I've lost this battle. Defeated and lost I turn around to face him once again.

"No. I will go with you." I say as my head hangs and my eyes stare at the ground aimlessly.

"Lovely! Here's a token of my appreciation, Champion. I'm sure I can arrange to have something more… appropriate sent along soon." I can feel Danarius's eyes rest on me for a brief moment. "Come alone, everyone! The boat leaves for Minrathous within the hour!"

Helplessly, especially since I ran out of ideas now, I follow him without looking up. My hands are in a tight fist and I clench my teeth together. All sense of freedom just washed away within less than 5 minutes.

(:.:)

In a cell on a boat, we are sailing towards the very country I vowed to never return to. I am trying to come up with any idea of escaping this place, but I can't think of anything. Why, why, why? Why did Hawke betray me? Did I do something? I have agonized myself for the past days with the same questions over and over. The red scarf around my wrist glares at me. I want to tear it away from me and scream, but I can't bring myself to do it.

In my hand, the very ring I once got and had always gave me courage whenever I needed it, is resting in my palm. The two rubies have the same dark red colour as the dress she wore many years ago. Maker, I regret it so much now for not calling out at her. I should've done that. I should've spoken with her when I had the chance. I wanted to feel her hands on my skin; I wanted to feel her hand in my hand and sense that comforting touch brushing away whatever fear I have now.

"Leto? Leto!" An urgent voice calls out for me with an unknown name. I don't need to look up to see who it is. I place the ring back in my pocket as quietly as I can. "Please, I had no other choice. Please, try to understand! He's going to make me his apprentice when we get back home, Leto!"

I can only snort at that. Danarius making an elf his apprentice? Please, don't make me laugh out loud in this miserable situation. So my sister sold her own brother out to become that very monster, huh?

I suddenly hear someone shoving Varania away and the cell door opens with a loud shriek. When I look up to see who it is, one of Danarius's guards, I stand up.

"Slave. Your master is expecting you."

I narrow my eyes viscously at the man before me, but soon let my head hang down defeated. What can I do? What else can I say? That I am not a slave, while the shackles are almost literally around my neck? I follow without saying a word, ignoring the pleading calls of Varania, climbing up the stairs as every step becomes more heavier.

When I reach outside, the salty air hits my face and the sound of waves clashing against the ship fills my ears. The men on deck all ignore my existence as I am lead to the captain's quarters. I try to postpone the very confrontation with Danarius as long as I can. Without a doubt will my memory be whipped out. Every sense of freedom that I ever had will be destroyed again. I will go back to how I was before; empty, shallow and hollow. Nothing to hope for, nothing to lose either.

I feel like this is the last time that I will ever see the sky the same way as I do know, so I follow the outlines of the clouds that are hanging in the sky. Perhaps the does that slaver has some kind of humanity left in his body, as he allows me to remain on deck for a while. My eyes watch, trying to memorize every detail. In the distant I can see something small, though it comes closer to us.

I know it's time. I take a deep breath as I regain my energy again to take the next steps. The slaver opens the door and allows me to enter the quarters. As expected, it is ridiculously decorated with far too expensive furniture that one would normally never find on a ship, let alone in the captain's quarters.

"Ah, my little wolf!" Danarius exclaims as he sees me. The door is closed behind me and I can feel a cold chill crawling up my spine. "It is so good to see that you've returned at my side."

I look at Danarius, straight into his eyes. I may have lost the battle for my freedom, but I will at least face this man with pride. He will not win just so easily. When I see that Danarius has noticed my unwillingness to yield, his all too smug face turns into something what I would call a grimace.

"You may act like this now, but once we've returned home I'll make sure you will once again have affection for me."

I snort at those words and spit down on his valuable carpet, without ever breaking eye contact. I can see the very fury that is growing in his eyes. With a snap of his fingers, he uses the magic that activates the very markings on my body. I scream out at the pain that goes through my body. I can feel myself falling down on the ground. When it stops, every muscle in my body is shaking because of the cruel impact. I manage to lift my head up and glare at him furious.

"Stand up now and stop this nonsense of yours already." He says while sighing. He turns around and faces me with his back. "Don't think that you're not irreplaceable. I will not hesitate to kill you if you try to defy me again."

I stand up slowly, but my legs are shaking. Before Danarius, as he stares out of the window, another ship approaches us. Though it is still far away in the distant, I can almost see the flag. Wait.

"Now, fetch that bottle of wine over there and pour a drink for me. I am dying to have one now."

I can barely hear what he is saying, as I am more focused on the ship. I stumble towards the side table that has a pair of crystal glasses and a bottle of Agressio. The pain makes my ear whistle and my vision clouded. Damn, it has been years since I've felt that sort of pain. My fingers wrap slowly around the neck of the bottle.

When Danarius turns around, I don't hesitate for second before I slam the bottle against the right side of his head. I can hear him cursing as he falls down on the ground. My body still feels numb as I grab closest thing I can get; the side table. I throw it through the window and the glass shatters, making a clear breaking sound.

I make the mistake to look over my shoulder and I can see that Danarius as his hand raised. Shit. I must jump now! The buzzing pain shoots through my body again and I jump, -or more stumble, out of the window as the glass scratches my skin. I hear vague sounds of screams and yells, until all the sound disappears when a cold dark blanket surrounds me. All the air is pushed out of my lungs and I can taste the salt in my mouth.

I use all of mine limps to swim up again. When I reach the surface, I can hear myself taking a deep breath and without thinking back of what happened just now I swim to the other ship. With the Maker's blessing, I am allowed to get up there.

I can hear different screams in different languages, but I can't distinguish who is making what. When I see the other ship, they have lowered another smaller boat in the sea and the peddle towards me. I keep telling myself that I need to hang on for a little bit now. I never stop moving, as magic flies behind me, almost hitting me. Cannon shots are suddenly fired, as if they are warning one another.

I slowly feel my body becoming tired because of the strong current of the sea and because of the water that is filling my lungs. When I reach out to touch the very wood of the boat, a pair of hands are dragging me inside. I can hear them speaking to each other, cursing and growling for all their trouble. It doesn't matter to me anymore. I know, while my body is shivering, that I've managed to escape once again.

Through hazes of vision, I am barely able to make out the flag that this ship is sailing under and ironically I am able to see that it's the very crest I've watched for many years.

(:.:)

"You need to ask for His Majesty's sanctuary." Growls the captain at me, as we are about to harbour the haven of Denerim. "Though it won't be easy. Many folks these days."

For almost two weeks I've been on sea. Danarius was apparently sailing in the borders of Ferelden and, as the captain has told me, it has been a new policy for Ferelden to patrol the border for slavers. It has been my luck that this ship happened to sail by accidently. Otherwise, I would've been in Tevinter now.

It seems that the Bann of the Denerim Alienage has requested the King to do so, because of the many kidnappings for slavery that has happened in the past. Though it seems that the Bann has disappeared for some reason.

"The King is sympathetic though, knife ear." The captain continues. "Tell your story if you have the chance and maybe he'll help you."

"Why would a King help a runaway slave?" I answer skeptic, while looking over the busy harbour.

"His lover is an elf. Even has a daughter with her; sweet girl." The captain answers, while spitting some of his chewing tobacco out. "Has helped out folks like us y'know? Not licking those perfumed noble asses like the rest of the Banns."

An elf that is respected by humans? Interesting how everyone seems to know that and no one bats an eye to that. "I'm surprised that you respect an elf."

The captain snorts out loud. "Not all knife ears, but that flat ear girl is doing good. More work for us. Better payments. Better treatment. My men are getting a decent education now. Most of them can read now. My wife and children are able to eat good food now and wear good clothes. It wasn't always like that. Especially after the Blight."

I thank the captain for everything he has done for me, as I am about to jump off the ship. It surprises me when he wishes me luck and sending me off as he finally calls my name. I had at least expected a last 'knife ear', or something in that nature.

"Hey," He calls out at me for the last time and I turn around. "If you go to the market of Denerim, to the house at the end of the street on the right, go look for a green door. Say Mephis send you to a servant girl called Dolaris. She'll help ya."

Thus, I wander through the streets of Denerim, following the vague directions the captain gave me. Although I am skeptical of those people helping me, my feet are walking on their own as my ears are hearing every sound that echoes through the empty streets. I am not a fool. This isn't the first time that I am on the run and if I've learnt one thing by now then it's that there's no safe haven anywhere.

I finally found the door that the captain mentioned; a horrible poison-green door, which is absolutely standing out besides the dark brown coloured doors. Hesitantly do I knock on the door. After a silence that makes my spine shiver, the noises behind the door grow louder as hasty footsteps come closer. With a loud bang, the door swings open and a human woman with black curly hair that is sticking out from every direction one can imagine, is standing in front of me. Her body is curvy and robust.

"What do ya want?" She says after inspecting me from head to toes.

I can imagine that this must be a strange sight for her; an elf with snow white hair and completely covered with markings. After clearing my throat I ask her if she is Dolaris. She answers with a yes.

"A man called Mephis sent me here, saying that you could help me."

"That depends, love-" She slurs out. "-whacha got to offer for me?"

I look at her as I still my movements for a moment. I should've known. Nothing is free in this world, damn it. I scowl as I put my hand in my pockets and I can feel the little object in my fingers. I already know what that is. I almost feel foolish for even considering this woman's help, but what choice do I have.

"If I give you this-" I say slowly, while I show the signature ring to her and I can see how the greedy eyes of Dolaris are growing wider. "-will you help me?"

She tries to reach out towards the ring, but I quickly retake my hand and place it back in my pocket. She frowns at that, but her face then looks relaxed. "What do you need?"

"I need to request the Kings royal sanctuary for protection. If you can let me speak with someone, then you'll get this ring."

"Ha!" She huffs out as points her nose in the sky. "So the little elf comes knocking on my door for trouble. Well, damn that bloody fool of a Mephis. I know someone who might be able to help you, but it won't be easy."

She opens the door for me and nods that I should step inside her house. Slowly I step inside the humble house and I can see the poorly decorated living room. I hear how the door behind me is closed and my whole body is on edge, as I am unarmed and vulnerable right now. I look over my shoulder at the woman and she carefully looks the door with several locks.

"What are you going to do?" As I watch her how she rumbles through a closet.

"I am going to lead you to the castle of course. A friend of my knows someone who can speak on your behalf, but we need to be quick now. Everyone is now rushing in the morning, but that rush will end soon." She says without looking at me. She drags a brown cloak that has known better days out of the drawer. "Here. Put this on. Can't have you sticking out, can we?"

She throws the cloak towards me and I catch it with one hand. Through the backdoor, we exit the house and rush through different alleyways and ports. When we reach through the castle gate, Dolaris pushes me towards a door that is out of sight. I immediately recognizes it as the entrance for the servants, just like Danarius has in his mansion.

"C'mon, follow me now." Dolaris says as she pushes the wooden door open.

The door protests at the push she is giving. A strong smell of food and the warm air hits my face. The noises of people talking loudly and sacks of potatoes in the corner gives me the notice that we've actually entered the kitchen.

"Whatcha got there, you skank?" One of the working women ask Dolaris, as we walk in the kitchen. The messy knotted hair of the woman, whose kneading dough, is white because of the flour, just like her right side of her face. "Got another servant for us, didya?"

"Mind your own damn business, wench." Dolaris snarls as she kicks a potato out of the way. "You're messing up the bread again if you ya don't watch what yer doing!"

We hurriedly go through the kitchen and I scarcely manage to avoid a couple of plates and pots that are in the way to the door. I am being pushed and pulled through another door, until I come across the servants' passageway. As I recall from my time as a slave, the most busiest place of the whole household. Just like in Tevinter, the servants are moving quickly and swiftly through, hasty making way to their destination where they are to be expected. Sometimes, you hear someone laugh through their sprints, while they bump into each other. Some of the handmaidens are carrying a couple of dresses in their arms, while others are carrying a mop and a bucket.

"We have to hurry, before breakfast start." Dolaris says and she quickly taps someone on the shoulder. "Hey you, where is Yvette?"

The man, this time an elf with an outstanding pointy nose turns around and looks at her with droopy eyes. "W-what?"

"Don't look at me like I ask ye to shite in a bucket! Where's Yvette? I've got someone here for her."

"She's about to go to work, of course. She just went back to the quarters to retrieve something."

Dolaris nods and pulls me through the crowd again. "Damnation! We have to hurry now! By the way, those damn sharp claws of yours are bloody dangerous!"

I look with a raised eyebrow at the gloves that I am wearing with the sharp finger tops. We go through an another door, leaving the busy stream of people and get into a stairwell. A couple of servants climb up and down the stair and some wish Dolaris a 'good morning', which is answered with a low grumble from her side. I am eventually stopped before a door and she says to me that I should wait. With a soft knock on the door, she enters it and whispers something to the person whose opening it; a woman with a pale skin, who wears an elegant soft ecru coloured dress with strands of gold and silver embroidered, with a black gable hood on her golden-haired head, decorated with different pearls.

"Lady Yvette,-" Dolaris says while slightly nodding her head. "I've got someone who needs to see the mistress."

The woman, whose name is Yvette, looks at me from head to toe with conceited expression on her face. "And what makes you think that my mistress want to meet this man?"

My eyes are hiding underneath my cloaks' cap, but I glare at the self-important woman. Nobility. Nevertheless, I keep my mouth shut and let Dolaris do the word.

"C'mon deary. You do me a favour if you help me out with this one." She points at me with a thumb. The noble woman looks at the woman with skeptic eyes, until those eyes widen as Dolaris takes an envelope from her dress' pocket. "You do want this letter from your dear lover, don't cha?"

Yvette, whose biting on her lower lip with a scorning expression on her face, looks as if she is facing the hardest dilemma in her life. With a mumble of agreement she snatches the letter out of the other woman's hand. She quietly closes the door behind her as she signs me to follow her. I am about to step towards her, until a hand on my arm stops me. I hiss at the sudden contact.

"My payment." Dolaris says as I turn towards her. With her hand open up before me, she demands the ring that I've promised her.

Swallowing slowly, I reach into my pocket. The golden object falls into her open palm and I can see the object shimmering for the last before her greedy finger swallows it up. With a satisfied grin she wishes me good luck and disappears downstairs. Somehow I feel at loss for moment.

I follow the noble woman, who sniffs out rudely at me when I approach her. I can't say I blame her, since it has been weeks since the last time that I took a bath. Through the corridors of the servant, she guides me to corridor that is the passageway for the nobility and servants alike, though it is quiet at the moment. Through the open windows, the courtyard is right next to us and the sun is about to start showing himself. With a quick pace we go into a smaller corridor this time and Yvette stops suddenly before a double-wooden door. I manage to keep enough distance to avoid bumping into her.

She turns around and looks at me with a scowling expressing. "We are about to enter the quarters of my mistress." She says. "Don't speak, unless you're spoken to and try to act smart or try to be impressive. The mistress doesn't like that at all. You have to wait in the reception room, since her ladyship needs to get dressed, before she can receive you."

Without a warning she reaches out at me and pulls of the cap from my head, so that my face becomes visible. With a glare I stare at her, as she straights. – or at least attempts to -, my clothes to make me 'presentable'. While she pushes the door open, she slides the curtain open so that we can enter the reception room.

"Wait here." She pushes me slightly back and hurriedly enters the other room, which I guess is the bedroom.

With a frown a I inspect the accommodation from whoever this is. The room has big windows, with glass and lead. A big is warming up the place and there are several filled bookshelves. Deep red furniture; a couch and a highchair are close by the fireplace, with a soft carpet on the wooden floor. I big round table, with at least place for six people stands in the room, which is full of hardly finished embroidery work, while close at the window a dark oak-wooden desk, completely filled with several piles of paperwork and here and there a lost quill. The walls are hardly decorated, with the exception of a golden crest with letter 'AT' on it. Here and there a vase filled with flowers and… are those stockings hanging over a chair?

"Forgive me that you had to wait, sir." A voice interrupts my thoughts, as I tear my eyes away from the piece of clothing.

A young woman with a soft green dress, that hugs her small upper body tightly, enters the room, while being followed by two women, with one of the Yvette. Her skirt follows her movements with each step she is taking. Her light brown hair, hangs loose over her shoulder, with exception of the small and elegant knot of her thick hair, hold together with the pearl ornamented tiara. Two strands of brown curls touch both sides of her face as she carefully fastens the equally richly pearl ornamented necklace around her long neck. She hasn't looked up at me, but I recognize her voice the moment she spoke to me and I can't help but to freeze on the spot that I stand.

"I am afraid that the clothes of a woman are as difficult as always, so thank the Maker for my ladies in-" Her green eyes look up at me and she stops talking when her eyes come across my face. We both freeze and stare at each in unbelieve. She opens her mouth and then closes it again. Her hands fall slowly down and she is finally say something. "Leave us."

For a moment I think she is talking to me, until she looks over her shoulder at the ladies behind. The make a small curtsy and leave the room quietly and quickly. My eyes follow them for a while and I look back when I hear the door fall shut. I am still unable to look at her. She slowly walks towards with wary steps. Her hands are fumbling nervously with each other.

"Fenris?" She calls out softly. "Is that… you?"

With a sigh of relief, a feeling of pressure that I wasn't aware of, falls of my shoulder. "Anne." I call out at her.