Chapter 4

(:.:)

"We have to see the King as soon as possible." Anne says, as she walks through the corridor with a hasty pace. "Before breakfast if it's possible."

I keep up with her, but while the people make room for her, they hardly step aside for me. Here and there, you can hear the soft greeting 'my Lady', when Anne passes them by, while looking with arched eyebrows at the elf who follows her. I am grimacing at the back of Anne, whose hands are folded on her stomach, she turns towards a gangway. What is she planning to do anyway?

An open wooden double door, grander than hers, is up ahead. This is the Great Hall. People are trying get into throne room, which is behind another closed door.

"Anne-," I try to speak to her, but she ignores me as she walks forward towards the herald.

Bowing slightly towards her, the man nods as she whispers something into his ear. With three knocks on the floor with his wooden staff, he pitches his voice out loud:

"Her Ladyship, the Mistress Anne Theirin."

'Anne Theirin'. The name of the royal family. The many questions I had years ago arise again when I hear the title they have bestowed on her. With a straight back she enters the room.

The people in the Great Hall, most of them are nobility, turn around to look at her as she enter while making room for her to pass by. I can see how they whisper towards each other as Anne makes way through the crowd.

"Anne,-" I try again and this time Anne turns around to face me. Her eyes look keen, but her face is frowning in concerned.

"Please, let me do the word." She says quietly as they enter the throne room.

The hall is empty, with the exception of a smart clothed looking man, who hurriedly makes way towards Anne. The man, a little bit round and tinier than Anne herself, makes a small curtsy when he clears his throat. Anne acknowledges him with a small nod with the head and I can see the way how the man is nervously twirling his thumbs together.

"My Lady, forgive me but the King is in an important meeting with the Teyrnirs of Gwaren and Highever. Lord-,"

"Lordship Guerrin and Lordship Cousland, yes." Anne interrupts the man. Anne turns around the man, walking towards the door next to the throne. The man tries to stop her from entering and I can hear the almost soundless sigh she is letting out. "I shall wait for His Majesty here then."

"But My Lady, you can't!" The man sputters out at the suggestion. I raise up my eyebrow at the wild gestures the man is making with his hands. "It is unheard of for a Bann to wait,-"

"Enough, George." The voice behind him draws all our attention.

Anne bows deeply for the man who is standing at the now open door. Just like most warriors in Ferelden, he wears an armour and a sword around his waist. However, the quality of the leather is far too good for a commoner and the way how the people in the room look up at him tells me more than enough. Unconsciously, I lower my eyes and head for the King of Ferelden.

"Your Majesty,-" Anne says, as keeps her still bowed down, but the King sighs when he looks at her.

"Maker's Breath, Anne." He swears as he waves the man out of the room. "How many times have I told you that you should just simply call me 'father'? Or Pappa, like when you were younger."

"I don't recall that I've ever called you 'Pappa', your Grace." Anne answers as she raises up. "I was told that you are still in a meeting. If I am interrupting, then I will wait for you."

"Nonsense, come." The King gestures for her to come inside the room. Hesitantly do I follow Anne, or at least have the intention to, until her father stops me. "I am sorry, but who are you?"

He asks me directly, something that I did not expect for the King himself. Though I open my mouth to answer him, I can't find the right words to speak. What can I say? That I am a runaway slave from Tevinter and that I came here to beg for his 'gracious mercy'?

"He's a very important person to me, Your Majesty." Anne answers quicker than I could make up an answer. With a confused expression on his face, her father looks at her with an arched eyebrow. "He's the reason I interrupted you, so please, if we may procced inside?"

"Ah, I see." The King says and with a broad smile on his face he looks at me. "Well now, I shall introduce myself properly, less I embarrass my dear daughter. The name is Alistair… uh Theirn. The, -uh-, King of Ferelden, I suppose."

He supposes? I look at his hand who he holds in front of me, with a deep frown on my face. Hesitantly I take the hand and shake it uncomfortable. I mumble out my name, thinking that this is rather awkward. He allows me in, letting me enter before him, as a polite gesture. When I enter I see that the room is empty, with the exception of us now. I somehow had expected that the Teyrnirs are inside, but the large table in the middle of the room with eight chairs are empty, nor have they been touched for quite a while.

Anne must have wondered the same thing, since she asks: "I thought that you had a meeting with Lord Guerrin and Lord Cousland?

"The rest of the court thinks so too." Alistair answers with a grin. He sits down on a chair and looks at the both of us expectedly. "What can I do for you?"

For a moment I look at Anne and then back at the King, wondering if I should ask for sanctuary now, but before I can ask it, I am being interrupted. "I would like this man to be my bodyguard."

The moment that Anne says that I snap my head around at her with big eyes. What in the oblivion is she doing? Does she think that I am willingly going into service for whatever reason or whoever? I ran away from Tevinter to escape that kind of life; I was forced to flee to Ferelden because of that!

"What?" I manage to hiss at her, before I can stop myself.

"I would like this man to be my bodyguard." Anne repeats, while pretending that she didn't hear me. "You said that I would be better for my protection if I had a bodyguard. Well, he is one that can protect me."

Scratching the stubbles on his chin, Alistair has thoughtful expression on his face. "That's true, but you always resisted against the idea. How did you even find this guy?"

"I met him when we were in Highever, your Majesty." She lies, as keeps looking at her father's face with a steel expression. "He is very capable, I can guarantee it. But above that, he is the only bodyguard I am willing to accept. So please, let him remain here."

I can't even protest, before the King agrees with his daughter full enthusiasm. He stands up from his chair, and claps her rather roughly on her small shoulder. "Very well then. Fenris, you are now in service of the royal family."

"Thank you, your Grace." She knees before him, much to the King's annoyance and Anne turns around to leave the room. I can do nothing except following her out of the room. Rage follows me as I glare at her back. I am about to open my mouth, until I hear her speaking to me: "We'll talk inside my quarters, Fenris."

With hurried steps we walk through the same corridor. Instead of following her, I walk next to her. The people are still giving the same endless expression, which is a mixture of disgust and envy, while other look at awe at Anne. Nevertheless, I can see from the right side of my eye that she keeps her gaze at the ground, avoiding everyone's stares. Her mouth is a thin line, as if she is dissatisfied about something. When we enter her rooms again, the two ladies that had attending her this morning are working on some dress that lies down on the table.

"Please, leave us alone for a moment." Anne says when she addresses the ladies. Without saying anything, they stand up from their chairs and walk out of the room. My eyes follow them as they leave, until I rest my gaze back on the back of Anne. With a sigh, she turns around and looks at me. "I can explain it, Fenris."

"Oh,-" I snort when she says that. "You can explain it? Well, then please do."

She gestures with her hand at a chair, offering a seat for me, but I merely cross my arms over each other and remain standing on the same spot. She instead sits down on a chair that stands by the table. "I know how this must look like,-"

"You know?" I snarl at her. "You just did what I've fled from! What were you thinking? That I would be okay with this? To be put in service again?"

"You're not a slave here, Fenris. You're a free man, just like any other."

"A free man, who has been put into service without consent." I growl at her, while coming closer to her. "What? You are nobility now and that makes you think that you can do whatever you want? Just another knife ear to serve you?"

"No!" She exclaims in a horrified way. "I would never do that!"

"Then pray tell me how this is better than slavery?" I slam my hand down on the table and I can see that she flinches at the impact. "Why Anne? Why, why, why? Of all the people in the world, I thought that you would understand how this would mean for me!"

I look at her in the eye and after a brief moment she breaks contact and lowers her gaze at her hands that are placed on her lap. "I am sorry. I should have discussed this with you, but I was afraid that we didn't had enough time for that."

"Time for what?"

"Danarius isn't dead yet, is he?" She says, while standing up from her chair and walking towards her desk. From one of the drawers she takes out a paper. "I've got that confirmed when he sailed across the border of Ferelden. Listen, I know that you had escaped him eight years ago."

"You…" I says in a slow voice. "How do you know that?"

With a pause of hesitation, she looks at me until she breaks eye contact and looks at the wood of her desk as if it's the most interesting thing she has seen in years. "I… didn't spy on you, you know? I don't know what happened to you after you escaped the Imperium, but I do keep my eye out at the Magisters, so that's why I know you escaped."

I keep looking at her, but I remain quiet now as I feel a bit bewildered at the revelation. She knew that I had escaped Danarius.

"Fenris, you have to believe me when I say that I don't, nor ever, have the intention of binding you to slavery ever again. The problem is this; I don't know where Danarius is right now. Either he's back in Tevinter, or here in Denerim, or he has hired mercenaries to capture you. Either way, you are in direct danger at the moment."

"I know." I says, while frowning at her. "That is why I planned for asking sanctuary."

She leans down on her desk with her hands for a moment, until she pushes herself up straight and walks towards me with slow steps.

"Do you know the process of 'sanctuary'? It all sounds a bit abstract when you use the term, but in reality it's actually rather specific. Any idea how long the paperwork is, before someone is able to be considerate for a possible sanctuary? Do you know that the King isn't deciding on that alone? No, at least two joint sessions have to take place between the King, the Queen and the two Teyrnirs of Gwaren and Highever. And afterwards, if the joint session between conclude that the person in question is able to get sanctuary, that decision must be approved by the majority of Arls and Banns. THEN, you have sanctuary." She stands before him and claps once in her hands, as if it is all very logical. "You see, no country want to get into war for one refugee. So, the process is very bureaucratic and it at least takes a year. Meanwhile, you should be happy if you found someone who's willing to help you, if you haven't been caught by then."

I lean against the table, with my hands crossed. That does sound like a disadvantage at my side. Waiting for some nobles to make up their mind hasn't been a positive experience through the years, nor do I believe that it will ever be positive. However, one minor details remains unanswered.

"According to Tevinter law am I still probity of Danarius. What are you going to do when he just comes up here and claims me back as his matter?" I ask.

"The reason why I requested you as my bodyguard is to solute that problem." Anne answers. She walks towards the bookshelf on her left side and takes out a big book. With a loud bang she lets it falls down on the table and opens it. While muttering quietly to herself. "Ah! Here is it!"

She point with her finger towards a text that is written in black ink and in impossible small letters. I have to narrow my eyes to recognize the letters. I've learnt a little bit of reading back in Kirkwall, together with Hawke… though I'd rather not think about it now. I am not able to read fast enough the whole piece, until Anne speaks again.

"Look at this article. 'Those, who are regarded as citizens of the realm, whether men, elf, dwarf or any other nature, are freemen under the name of the King, regarded as if they were born free. No men or women, of any kind of nature, is now, nor ever, allowed to claim otherwise, unless the law depicts otherwise'. Written and ratified by Calenhad Theirin, First King of Ferelden."

"I am not a citizen of Ferelden." I say, when I manage to read the whole thing.

"You are now." Anne says, while taking the book up from the table to place it back in its rightful place. "The moment I took you under my service as bodyguard made you a citizen by operation of law. You are now a Ferelden, as if you were born in this realm. Nobody can claim otherwise."

As the pieces fall down and I slightly shake my head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It would take too much time, as I said before." Anne answered, with her back turned towards me.

"No." I say towards her back. "I mean everything. Why didn't you tell me back then? Who you are?"

Her hands rests on the books for a moment, until she looks over her shoulder at me. Her green eyes, who look keen and intelligent rests on my face. "I forgot to tell it back then."

"You forgot to tell that you're a princess from Ferelden?" I snort, while arching up my eyebrow.

She shakes her head and turns fully towards me. "First of all, I am not a princess of Ferelden, because I have no legal claim towards the throne. Secondly, nobody would've believed me anyway."

I shrug my shoulders. It's not that I can't understand why she didn't tell anybody. It must have been dangerous for her as well, if she did. "Does Danarius know?"

"Maybe he does now. I am not sure. Back then, in Tevinter, he wasn't even aware of my existence until they came to rescue me." Anne says. She waves her hands, as if she want to make the matter disappear out of the air. "But enough about that. Let's talk about you now. I know it's a shallow condolence, but I can arrange the papers for you citizenship. I know that slaves are not born with the status of any nationality, but with those papers you are no longer statelessness. So, I am going to give you a choice."

"A choice, huh?" I mumble.

"Yes. Either you can remain here and work as my bodyguard, or you can leave this place and go wherever you like. Either way, you'll get the papers."

"You are letting me go? Just like that?" I ask with widened eyes, feeling surprised at the unexpected generosity.

She nods. "I never had the intention to make you do anything with force. Though… I would like it if you could remain here."

As she speaks out the last sentence, I take a deep breath. "Why?"

She looks at me, though her face doesn't betray anything, she eventually shrugs her shoulders. "I suppose that I would like to be friends again. I feel that I own you a lot for all the things you did for me when I was in Tevinter."

I would lie if I didn't feel tempted by the offer. I would like to speak with her as well and to see how she has changed through those years. I do want that, but when my eyes fall down upon the red cloth around my wrist, I am reminded of the bitter betrayal that has occurred not too long ago and the reason why I was betrayed.

"How long will it take for you to arrange those papers?" I manage to say after a couple moments of hesitation.

Either I imagined it or not, but for a moment I thought I saw how Anne froze for a moment with a disappointed emotion flashing through her eyes. "I need two weeks for them." She says with a neutral voice. "You have to remain here until then, but I promise you that I will get them as soon as possible."

"Alright. Thank you." I say and swallow the lump through my throat.

She nods a couple of times. "Well, I suggest that you work, - or pretend to -, as my bodyguard until that moment. Least we don't want any suspicion for this small fraud. Anyhow, why don't you get yourself a bath and clean clothes? I will arrange that your room will be ready for you." She walks towards a door that I hadn't noticed yet and she pushes the door open for me to see. "I hope you don't mind that your room will be across mine."

"Ah." I manage to say, making perfectly sense for the fact that I work as her bodyguard now. "Right. Of course."

"Good." Anne says, while she pulls the door close again. She goes towards her desk and sits behind it. She takes a quill in her hand and dips it in a black ink pot, and starts writing on a piece of paper. She looks at me, while her head is still slightly bowed down, making her forehead wrinkle a little bit. "Now, off you go then. I do believe that you know the way towards the servants quarters as well. Yvette will get you back here once you are ready."

I turn around wordlessly and exit her quarters, with a deep sigh. She has changed through the years. That is certain.