A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I have big plans for this story so I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it! Some of the chapters may be longer than others. This is one of my shorter ones. Also there is a lot of heartache in this story and some chapters are mature for a reason. Violence, sexual themes, etc. will be throughout. But this is mainly a story about finding love. So even when it seems like things are bad, keep that in mind. No heartache in this chapter though. Also will switch between POV. Mostly told through Fenris, but some Hawke as well, and others. Hope you enjoy.

Act 1

Chapter 2

"A little Adjustment"

Despite Fenris offering her the bed, which was very sweet of him, Hawke still barely slept through the night. The pain in her back, the sorrow from this whole situation, the realization that her life would be forever changed kept her awake.

Poor Fenris probably didn't slept at all either. Hopefully her own room would be provided soon, she got the feeling that his small personal space was precious to him. There were most likely few things that he was able to call his own. Imposing on her only ally wouldn't be the best way to start things off.

It had come as a great relief to have him as her companion. She gathered that he had been Danarius's bodyguard for some time, and as she had no experience being a slave his advice and mere presence had already helped her greatly. Not to mention he wasn't bad at all to look at.

While she stood guard at her new master's desk, which was a ridiculous task, she looked across the room to him as inconspicuously as possible. Elves had never really been that attractive to her, but then again she hadn't known many in her life. The contrast of his white hair and dark skin was breathtaking. And Maker his eyes, not only were they the most beautiful shade of green she had ever seen, but they were deep and intense, fully showing his emotion. And how could she forget those lips, sweet Maker, they were perfect. She felt her stomach turn on itself as she imagined that positively sinful voice coming out of them. She took a few moments to further examine his mouth, the way his lips naturally pouted out, wondering just how soft they might be.

Completely forgetting herself she went off into a daydream of getting to feel his lips brush against her skin, the only thing that brought her out of it was his mouth curling up on one side. Wondering what he was smiling at she looked up to his eyes again and noticed him staring back at her, catching her in the act of ogling him.

Mortified, Hawke bit the inside of her lip to suppress the nervous smile from spreading across her face. As the heat began building on her cheeks she looked down towards her feet cursing herself.

"Hawke, fetch me my spell book," Danarius ordered her. She hesitated for a moment but only because she had no idea where he even kept it.

"Yes, Master," she responded spotting a book shelf at the other end of the room she began moving. Fenris cleared his throat and she looked over to him. He pointed to the table at the other side of the room. She nodded and walked over to it. There were quite a few books strewn atop it and she wasn't exactly sure which one her Master needed. She picked one up and looked to Fenris, he shook his head. She grabbed another one, he nodded a yes.

After she brought it back to Danarius's table she bowed slightly to him and took her place across from Fenris. When their eyes met both smiled widely at one another. Yes, thank the Maker she at least had him.

On her second day at the estate Danarius decided that he didn't need her assistance in guarding his study and ordered her to assist the cook in preparing the upcoming meal.

Men, she thought with a sneer. Just because she was a woman he assumed that she cooked. She had never even toasted bread. All her attempts ended with charred remains and grimaces as she tried to eat it. But at least she wouldn't have to stare off into space for the remainder of the day. Why this man would need a bodyguard, let alone two, was beyond her.

She found the kitchen only getting lost once in the process. The cook and two elven slaves were busy preparing the food. They didn't even look at her as she entered the room. She stood at the threshold of the door for a moment not wanting to interrupt them. Everyone seemed very involved in their work at the moment. The small blond elf finally looked at her with a startle. "Danarius asked me to come and help," Hawke offered.

The head cook looked up and motioned for her to join in helping the blond elf, clearly annoyed at her intrusion.

"I have to warn you," Hawke spoke as she approached her. "I'm not really the best at cooking."

"That's ok," she smiled. "All we really are doing is cutting. You can use this knife to slice carrots and potatoes."

Hawke sighed in relief and joined the girl, taking her cues as to how big the pieces should be and where to put them.

After what felt like hours, but was most likely only a few minutes, Hawke couldn't stand the silence. "So, I'm Hawke by the way. I just got here a few days ago."

"Yes, I know. You are to be Master Danarius's new bodyguard. There is much talk of your battle with the guards," she grinned.

"Yes, that was very gratifying," she chuckled. "What's your name?"

"Orana," she replied nervously.

"So Orana, what do you do here," she smiled trying to ease the girls tension.

"I mostly just help with the cleaning and cooking. I don't really know how to do much of anything else."

The girl was clearly enjoying being able to have someone to speak with, but it was obvious that she was nervous. She kept looking towards the cook between sentences to verify that she wasn't going to scold them. "Where are you from? I came here from Lothering. In Fereldan."

"Well, me and poppa…"

"Enough with the chatter girlies. There is work to be done. Get to it," the old hag cook ordered.

As soon as her back was turned Hawke stuck her tongue out at her. Orana brought her hand to her mouth to suppress her giggle.

After a few minutes Hawke leaned over and whispered to her, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you into trouble."

"It's fine. It's nice to have someone to talk to," she smiled briefly before going back to her task.

When the cook finally left, Orana and Hawke were instructed to cook the meat. She was incredibly grateful that she was not given this task by herself. Surely it would have burned it to bits, earning some form of punishment from Danarius.

As soon as they were alone, Hawke started up the conversation again, knowing that Orana wouldn't.

"So…" she paused trying to think of what they could talk about. Then an idea hit her. Fenris. Surely there was loads of stuff she could find out about him. "What do you know about Fenris?"

"The Master's bodyguard? I've never spoken to him. He is…"

"Intimidating," Hawke finished her thought.

"Yes," she smiled and continued cleaning the dishes while she spoke. "He was here before I arrived. Most of the things I know are things other slaves told me. So it might not be true."

"Where did he get those markings? What are they?" She picked up a towel and joined her.

"From what I have heard they are lyrium. Danarius issued them to him."

"Those markings were issued to him? In the form of lyrium? Wouldn't that kill a person?" Hawke asked completely stunned.

"Well, they say he is not the first Danarius had attempted the ritual on. Just the first that survived. From what the other slaves have told me it was quite horrible. They could hear his screams throughout the mansion. And when he finally came back, he had no memory."

The two continued cleaning up the kitchen in silence. Hawke couldn't believe that an act as vicious and tortuous as this was allowed to be done. In Fereldan any person who knowingly inflicted pain on another was considered a monster. Slave or no, Danarius would have been punished for this act if he had lived back home.

Then the words of Fenris echoed in her mind. You are in Tevinter. Hope abandoned this land. No wonder he was so quick to succumb to defeat. Any part of his life before was washed away when Danarius branded him. This is all he had ever known. Although, she found herself without her family she still had the memories of them. The thought of losing that, of not knowing their faces made tears come to her eyes.

"Hawke," his deep voice caused her to come out of her reverie. She looked to the door and quickly turned away when he noticed the emotion she wore on her face. "Has someone hurt you?" he asked quietly and walked towards her.

"No," she tried to smile. "I'm fine. I was just thinking. About things."

He eyed her warily but let the topic go. "Danarius would like to see you in his study when you are finished."

As she watched him walk out the door, she promised herself that she would not give up. She would carry enough hope for the both of them. He may not remember his life before, but she would spend every day she had with him replacing the memories he lost. Tevinter and the Magisters may have taken everything else away from them, but she refused to let them have her hope. One day she would find a way to get herself out of this mess, and he would be going with her. No one deserved to have this fate forced on them.

It had been months since Hawke arrived at Danarius's estate. Initially it had been very difficult for her to adjust to life as a slave, but became easier when she started looking at it as if her master was a Captain and she was merely following orders issued to her. That had taken the sour taste out of her mouth. Even when she was young she hated being told to do something. Being asked was a different matter, so she really had to bury that stubborn side of her. Which was much easier when she found out the whippings would be a regular occurrence. Keeping her mouth shut, and her eyes from rolling had proven to be difficult, but she had finally decided to make the best of this situation for the time being.

She was a slave. There was no getting around it. Escaping was not an option at the moment. She'd be found by his guards within hours. Danarius didn't believe she was ready to properly protect him, so she hadn't even left the estate. Finally, she had decided that if she was going to be a slave, she was going to be the best at it.

Anything Danarius asked her do, she made sure to do it to the best of her ability. Fenris still proved to be a valuable companion. If she was ever in need of clarification or help he assisted her without pause. Every night when she said her prayers to the Maker she thanked him for Fenris. He was a constant reminder that things could always be worse. If he wasn't here, there was no telling what her smart mouth or insubordination would have gotten her into. With him as a guide she had quickly become adjusted to this life.

And she had it much better than other slaves. The small room Danarius had issued her down the hall from his own may have been small, but it was hers. A small window that she could look out of to see the stars. A bed that she didn't have to share. Every night she thought of Credos and Orana, the only two slaves other than Fenris that she had actually developed any type of relationship with. Orana had become a friend of some sorts. After a few awkward conversations her insecurity gradually came down. She had opened up about her feelings, dreams she had, hopes that she refused to let go of. It was nice seeing her go from the small voiced mouse to a girl with passions and ideas. Hawke relished in being able to witness the transformation. Any downtime she was allowed, she sought out the girl. The two would talk for hours, it made her feel normal.

Orana even got Hawke to admit that she was attracted to Fenris. But that is where the feelings ended. He was definitely something nice to look at, but letting herself develop anything more for him would prove to be problematic. Danarius would surely use it against her. It was already obvious that the two had developed a platonic relationship, and sometimes their Master used that to his advantage.

Anytime Danarius threatened to use his magic to torture Fenris she would willingly do as he asked. Luckily for her, none of the tasks had been too repulsive.

At the moment Fenris and Hawke were trailing behind Danarius and Hadriana walking in the garden. They kept a few yards of distance between them so they had the privacy they desired to discuss whatever it was Magisters and Apprentices needed to speak of.

"Have you heard if Lucian will be joining them tonight?" she sighed, knowing that he would understand her reason for asking.

"Danarius hasn't mentioned it. But that does not mean he will not be here," he responded keeping his eyes forward on their master.

"I don't think I could handle the both of them again. One is bad enough, but together…" she scoffed.

"Yes," he finally turned to regard her. "It would appear that Lucian is just as fascinated with you as Hadriana is with me."

She dropped her jaw and gave him a mock look of surprise. "I am honored that a man such as him finds me fascinating."

"I'm sure a lot of men find you fascinating," he smiled.

"Really," she smirked and stepped closer to him so that their shoulders touched while they walked. "And are you one of them?" she grinned. "Do you find me fascinating, Fenris?"

"I don't know if that is quite the right word. Curious. Stubborn. Hard-headed. Foolish…"

"Alright, I get it," she frowned and put space between them again. "I'm very daft. Look, I think I've come a long way since I first arrived. Thanks a lot to you, but I am getting better at this whole thing."

"You didn't let me finish," he shot a smile over at her which she met with one of her eye rolls.

"Continue if you must. But just remember, sticks and stones, Fenris."

When Danarius and Hadriana rounded a corner through the gardens he placed his hand at the small of her back, guiding her closer to him. He leaned over to her ear and whispered in his deepest voice. "Captivating."

She smiled widely, and felt the beginnings of a blush building on her cheeks, but refused to let him see the effect he was so easily able to have on her. In an attempt to make him just as flustered she stopped walking and leaned into his chest, turning so that their faces were nearly touching. "Go, on," she teased.

Not seeming to be affected by her poor ploy he stepped closer and let his fingers run across her back. "Mesmerizing," he looked directly in her eyes. When he leaned further into her face, Hawke involuntarily let out a gasp of air. He gave her a cocky grin. "What of me, Hawke. Am I fascinating?"

It took her a moment to actually hear what he said. His mouth, his eyes, she was lost in them. When had he become so bold? She hadn't really thought this plan through. "I think you are great," she finally stuttered out.

He made an amused hum in his throat, and pulled away from her. "It appears we also need to work on your vocabulary."

She grinned and rubbed the back of her head trying to think of a more suitable word. But the only ones that came to mind she most certainly wasn't going to tell him. "Umm…amazing," she finally settled on with a chuckle.

"Amazing," he nodded his head then looked at her from under the swoop of his hair. "I suppose that will do for now."

"You don't play fair," she laughed. "You know exactly what you are doing with that deep voice and those piercing green eyes."

"I don't know what you mean," he grinned and started walking again.

It was obvious to Fenris that Hawke was beginning to adjust to life as a slave. It had been nearly four months and her whippings had drastically decreased. The insubordination she normally expressed when given an order had begun to wash away. Only he was ever a witness to her countless eye rolls, silent mocks behind her masters back, and sighs of frustration when he left the room. She had been given small quarters right down the hall from his own, which meant Danarius planned on keeping her. But she had a bad habit of sneaking into his room in the middle of the night 'because she couldn't sleep.' As much as he had grown to love her chats, he knew it was only a matter of time before they would be caught and severely punished. But at least he didn't feel so alone anymore. There was now someone, who due to their roles in the household, was a constant companion.

She no longer reacted when Hadriana tortured him. Her feet would always be planted firmly to the ground next to her master with eyes forward, showing no signs of emotion. Danarius was quite pleased with himself, believing that he had broken her. But what he didn't know was after each night it happened, when the rest of the house had long been asleep, she would creep down the hall to his room. Tonight was no different.

Fenris lay on his mattress trying not to move. All of his muscles still ached from the grueling pain Hadriana inflicted on him. He would feel better in the morning, but tonight he knew he would hardly sleep. The sound of the door knob turning didn't even cause him to flinch. He had been expecting her. She walked in quietly and shut the door with great care to not make a noise.

"Fenris," she barely whispered. "Are you sleeping?"

"One day, Hawke, you are going to get caught," his words sounded like he was scolding a child. "What do you think will happen then? Danarius does not like it when his slaves fraternize behind his back."

"Is that what we're doing?" she laughed. "I had no idea you wanted to fraternize with me, Fenris." Her voice still giggling she knelt down beside his bed and lit the candle.

He felt blood rush to his cheeks as he realized what she was implying. Her face became illuminated by the glow of the candle. A snarky smile stared back at him. Even in this light he could see the perfect lines of her face, her deep green eyes sparkling as the flame danced across them, her plump lips now moistened as her tongue idly traced them. His throat tightened as he looked at her.

"Here I thought you were a gentleman," she teased leaning just a little closer to his face.

He hadn't even realized he'd been staring at her and swallowed the excess spit that was forming in his mouth. "That is NOT what I said," he rushed out and rolled over quickly. On impulse he growled loudly at the effect she was so easily able to have on him. "Go away!" He said with more annoyance than necessary to help ease his humiliation.

She didn't speak right away, causing Fenris to feel a little badly at the tone he'd taken with her. She cleared her throat, which he knew was one of her signs for being uncomfortable. He rolled over to see one of her hands shielding her face from his. "Hawke…" he began in a soft voice. "I didn't mean…" on some strange instinct to comfort he reached out to her, starting to place a hand on her shoulder.

She brushed his hand away and forced herself close to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He was a little taken back and wasn't quite sure how to react. Instead of returning the hug, his arms were frozen in place around her body, but not close enough to actually touch her. "Are you alright?" her voice wavered into his chest. The feel of her breath against his skin caused him to shudder, and then a wave of warmth flooded over him as he realized how much his pain had affected her.

Some inner knowledge that he wasn't even aware he possessed brought a hand to the back of her head and began rubbing it comfortingly. "I'm fine, Hawke," he whispered and leaned his head back to look into her face. "But you shouldn't be here."

She brought her head up to look at him and released her hold on him. Fenris felt a strange emptiness at the absence of her touch. "I'm sorry," she looked into his eyes, her face now shadowed as her body blocked the only light in the room. "I just get so worried about you. Hadriana and Danarius, they're…they're," she struggled to finish the sentence, so he did it for her.

"Monsters."

Her face iced over and Fenris saw her jaw tighten as she breathed loudly through her nostrils. Through her teeth she spoke, "They're going to pay for what they do to you. For what they do to me."

For a moment Fenris actually believed that she somehow would find a way to make them pay for what they'd done. But then his cynical side took over. If he hadn't been able to be free from their grasps by now, how would she accomplish it? He started to argue with her, but then he felt soft fingertips running across his chest. Every muscle in his body tensed as he looked down to see her fingers trailing one of the lyrium lines that rested there.

In a soft soothing voice she spoke as she traced it. "They will suffer for forcing these on you. They will suffer for using them against you. And I will make them pay for ever hurting you." Her face winced and she turned her eyes away from him as her fingers splayed across his chest. "Trust me when I say they will beg for mercy long before I am through."

Her voice was even, no anger or hatred. She stated the phrases like they were a fact. He wanted so badly to believe her. As she finished speaking the only sounds in the room was their own heavy breathing. Fenris was surprised at how gentle her touch was. He normally associated pain with the markings, but her hands were soft, tender even as she tried to reassure him. As her hand followed the trail to his lower abdomen, Fenris watched her eyes intently. There was so much heartache, so much sadness. He wished he could wash all that away. On an impulse he reached for her wrist and brought his other hand to her neck pulling her face closer to his. Her eyes moved to his and studied them. The pulse in her neck pounded into his palm in rhythm with her labored breaths against his mouth. She parted her lips and leaned further into him, tilting her head slightly. But they stayed in that position, neither one willing to make the final move.

Fenris couldn't help but think 'what are you doing?' Although Hawke was beautiful, strong, admirable, she was still his Master's slave. This would only end badly. Innocent flirting was one thing, but this... This was something else entirely. It seems she thought the same thing and gave him a weak smile before rubbing the side of her face against his.

"One day you and I will be free from the Magisters," she whispered into his ear. "I promise."

She gently nuzzled her face closer to his before removing herself from his grasp and standing up. "I'll let you get your rest. See you in the morning," she smiled down at him and walked out of the room before he even had a chance to respond.

When the door closed he stared at the ceiling for a moment and contemplated what had nearly happened. Never in the life that he remembered had another person affected him so. She made him impulsive, vulnerable. She made his heart beat faster and slower at the same time. What would a life with her be like? Away from Tevinter? Away from Danarius? For a brief moment he let himself imagine curling up next to her in front of a fire, before he pushed the thought away. Even if they were free, she couldn't possibly lower herself to be with him.

"You are a fool," he spoke aloud before sighing heavily. He rolled over to put out his candle and attempted to sleep, but all his thoughts kept creeping back to her. Even the pain was clouded by the memories of her touch on his skin.