A/N: And here is part two! Thank you for all the wonderful words of encouragement on the last chapter. I kind of feel like I should address a common question that I've had. Hawke and Fenris WILL NOT be traveling to Kirkwall in my story. I know, I know…wth. For what I have planned, it's better this way. Also there are three Acts, just as there are in the game. But Act 1 is most likely going to be significantly longer than the last two. Unless I make changes to my outline. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the update. Less heartache in the chapter after this one.

Act 1

Chapter 13

"Prison Part II"

For weeks he had heard neither good nor ill of Lucian and Hawke. So he assumed the worst. She did not succeed in her escape attempt.

His suspicion was confirmed when they arrived for a surprise visit at Danarius's estate. In only a matter of weeks she looked vastly worse. And this time when she exited the carriage there was absolutely no eye contact made between the two of them. Dinner was much the same. Not once did she look in his direction.

He, however, could not help himself from glancing at her from time to time. Her eyes were void. Her once beautifully tan skin was now pale. Like some sort of undead, she followed Lucian around and did exactly as he commanded her, without hesitation.

The previously powerful and intoxicatingly beautiful woman that he fell in love with was now an empty shell. There was nothing left of the Hawke he knew. He wondered what had happened after the last night he saw her.

True, even then he could see her strength waning, but at least some of her fire was still alive. He wasn't even sure if she attempted to flee her master. If only he could be alone with her for a moment he would be able to find out.

Turns out a private audience with her was not needed to answer his questions. Once dinner was through Lucian and Danarius retired to his study so they could catch up on whatever it was the two most disgusting creatures to walk Thedas would need to catch up on.

While he and Hawke stood directly across from each other in the study, Fenris tried not to let his heart break any more than it already had as he watched this lifeless Hawke stare into space across from him.

"Are you still having issues, Uncle?" Lucian asked. Obviously, referring to the assassination attempt made against Danarius.

"It is being dealt with," his master replied. "Talla's sources are quite good. Between the two of us we have been more than successful at eliminating my competition."

"Do you intend to keep her? Talla I mean," Lucian whispered. Even though the door was closed, having Talla hear this would have surely caused a war between the two Magisters.

"Oh, she still has her uses," Danarius smirked back.

The two continued to converse about the political issues currently affecting Miranthous, while Fenris blocked them out and focused all his attention on Hawke. Despite her slight weight loss and tired appearance, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. If he could just see her smile at him. Just once. He didn't even need to see teeth, a slight curl of her lips would suffice.

When their eyes finally met, and he was sure she was actually seeing him and not just looking through him, he felt a rush of breath leave his lungs. For the barest of moments her eyes softened and her lips slightly parted as she took in his face.

"Hawke," Lucian called ending the moment. "More wine," he commanded and wiggled his glass out to her. Without hesitation she retrieved his goblet and walked across the room to re-fill it for him. "And don't bring it back half-empty like the last time," he added more harshly than necessary.

Fenris watched as she filled his glass nearly to the brim, then carefully made her way back across the room to him. She approached Lucian from behind and slightly bowed to him. "Does this meet your expectations, sir?" Her voice was so small and quite Fenris had to strain to hear her. Abruptly Lucian turned around to inspect his glass.

His shoulder connected with the wine goblet, sloshing just the tiniest bit over the rim. Hawke flinched and stiffened all the muscles in her body as unwarranted rage poured out of Lucian. "Put it down on the desk, slave," he ordered her with a hiss.

Slowly she did as she was told, clearly terrified that he would harm her as she did as so. And he did not disappoint. As soon as her hands left the goblet, he backhanded her so fiercely her head swung back nearly taking her whole body with it. Calmly, she righted herself then bowed to him again. "Forgive me."

He mumbled some sort of insult then waved her away. Hawke backed away from him and returned to her previous spot. Her face was blotchy and her eyes were red and gleaming, but she did not cower.

"I am impressed," Danarius mused as he took in the scene. "She is much more agreeable then when she left."

"It took some time, but eventually I was able to teach her where her place was. She attempted to run away several times before I was finally able to convince her that it was in her best interest to stay put."

"Run away?" Danarius seemed shocked. "Why have I not heard of this?"

"Do not worry, Uncle," Lucian tried to sound reassuring. "She never got far. You know my home is built like a labyrinth. She never had a chance of actually leaving the property. In fact the last time she tried wasn't long after our previous visit here."

Fenris felt his stomach drop. He looked across the room at her, but her eyes were downcast as the mage continued relaying the tale to his master.

"Somehow she got a dagger, I assume one of the guards was careless when they were in the room with her. Feisty little thing took out two of my men and nearly made it to the outer wall before we were even the wiser. Luckily, she vastly underestimated the security of my home. One of the guards found her hiding behind the stables. Little bitch had found some rope. I suppose she was going to attempt to scale the outer wall."

"Sounds like quite an escape attempt," Danarius eyed both of them as he took a sip from his glass. "How exactly were you able to convince her to 'stay put?'"

Lucian chuckled darkly then looked back to Hawke and licked his lips. Fenris felt his fist clinch and imagined ripping his face clean off. "Darkness and shackles seem to do wonders," he smiled evilly. "Well perhaps the constant stream of water we dumped on her head, the days of beatings, and a few choice threats did the trick. Hard to tell." The way the mage talked about hurting her as if it was nothing, made Fenris's blood boil. All this was his fault.

If he would have never tried to convince her to escape, perhaps none of this would have happened. Yes, Lucian still would have been cruel and heartless but perhaps she wouldn't have had to endure the grueling torture that he had no doubt inflicted upon her.

Why couldn't he ever do anything right with her? If only he could walk across the room and embrace her, tell he was sorry for everything that had happened, promise to take all her pain away. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to offer her strength.

When she finally looked him in the eyes, Fenris was certain he saw the beginnings of tears. She was doing an excellent job of keeping her emotions from spilling over, but he knew that look. Desperation. Pain. Emptiness.

Without breaking eye contact, Fenris reached up to tug on his ear lobe, hoping to offer her some sort of comfort.

But before his hand even made contact she closed her eyes and turned away from him to look at an adjacent wall. Fenris felt his heart drop. She had given up.

For the rest of their stay at Danarius's mansion, Hawke refused to even look at him. Not once did she even glance in his direction. She was gone.

For months Fenris tried to block out his feelings for Hawke. It was useless to hope that she would ever be coming back to his master's estate and even if she did, who knew how long it would take before she recovered and became more of her old self.

It was best that he remember her the way she was. Strong. Cocky. Beautiful. Fierce. Before her there was nothing and now that she was gone, he doubted there would ever be anything worth living for again. It was days like today that made it especially hard to hold on to the good memories he had of her.

When Lucian arrived with a slave in tow, Fenris assumed Hawke wasn't him. He was so certain that she had been left behind. Or worse, that she had died.

It wasn't until dinner was being served that he even realize the incredibly thin, worn out looking woman following Lucian around was in fact Hawke. Her arms were bone thin. The clothing she wore hung from her body loosely, swallowing her up. Her once shiny black hair looked matted and thin. Dark circles surrounded her eyes. She was pale…so pale. All of her movements were lethargic like her body was barely able to muster the strength to do even the most minuscule of tasks. She stood completely lifeless behind Lucian, oblivious to her surroundings. Only when she was addressed directly did her face even register a look of thought.

Fenris wanted to scream. She was so beautiful. She was so amazing, and now when her body finally gave up she would be tossed into an unmarked grave and never thought of again by anyone.

Except him.

"Lucian! How can you treat her so horribly?" Claudia's unexpected scolding broke through Fenris' thoughts. "Look at her. She is about to topple over. Danarius how can you not stop this?"

His master momentarily stopped his eating to examine his once powerful bodyguard. "It is most unfortunate that you have allowed her to decay so." The casual way in which he addressed the slow death of Hawke made Fenris' blood boil.

"Unfortunate?" Claudia exclaimed. "She was the best archer I had ever seen. Now I hardly believe she could even muster the strength to lift her bow. Let alone shoot it. Girl, when was the last time you were allowed to eat?"

Hawke eyes remained forward, not even realizing she was being spoken to.

"Slave!" Lucian yelled over his shoulder, causing her to jerk to attention. "Claudia asked you a question."

She looked over to Danarius' sister and waited for her to repeat the question. Sweetly, Claudia lowered her voice as if she was afraid of startling her. "Hawke, when was the last time you had any food?"

Her eyes darted to Lucian, seeking permission to answer the question. When he nodded, she opened her mouth to speak, but the only sound that escaped was a hoarse whisper.

"Speak up!" Lucian yelled. "You know I can't stand your mumbling."

Hawke cleared her throat and licked her dry lips. "It…" she began then stopped as if the words hurt her throat on the way out. After a moment she continued. "It has been four days, madam."

Claudia's jaw dropped before she turned a fierce scowl to Lucian. Fenris always liked Claudia. It was refreshing to see someone stand up to the filthy mages. "Four days Lucian? Do you not care if she dies?"

"I agree," Danarius chimed in. "I would like her back one day and preferably not as a corpse."

"Oh, please," Lucian scoffed. "She is fine. Four days is nothing to these slaves. Come here." He beckoned for Hawke to walk to him.

Slowly, she put one foot in front of the other but just before she reached his chair her legs gave out and she crumbled to the floor.

Without thinking of the consequences, Fenris immediately ran to her. He lifted her body with an ease that terrified him. She weighed nearly nothing, but she was still breathing. When he looked around, everyone was looking at him expectantly. With as much ease as he could muster he answered the question they were all eager to know. "She lives, but barely."

Danarius snapped his fingers and a slave waiting off of the dining room walked briskly to his side. "Take her to the slave house and clean her up. Try to see that she lives through the night. And Lucian, since you are so incapable of caring for her, I will be sending this slave to stay with you as well." Danarius looked over to Orana and narrowed his eyes. "If she dies I will hold you personally responsible. Is that clear?"

Trembling she bowed to him. "I understand, Master. I will do everything I can."

Fenris actually believed her words. Orana would do everything within her limited skill to bring Hawke back. The both of them were then excused to carry Hawke to the slave quarters, so Orana could begin nursing her to health. Fenris carried her easily the entire way, neither of them speaking.

When he placed her down on the dirty bed, Fenris closed his eyes and tried to steady his racing emotions. Orana left to retrieve some supplies, leaving them alone for a moment.

Delicately, Fenris held her hand as he began smoothing her hair away from her forehead. There were so many things he wanted to tell her in this moment, but all seemed to be lodged in his throat. Her eyes barely opened as he just sat there watching over her. "Fenris," she barely whispered.

"I am here, Hawke." Her weak hand tightened around his own as a single tear trickled out of her eye. Fenris wiped it away and gently shushed her. "Orana is going to help you. Everything is going to get better." She nodded slowly then closed her eyes.

When Orana returned, Fenris left so she could bathe Hawke in privacy. All night long he tossed and turned in his bed, praying to the Maker that he please save her. And then prayed to whatever other God he could think of, that the Maker would finally hear his prayers.

Nothing could have fully prepared Orana for this. She had known that Hawke wasn't doing well. The gradual decline of her health was obvious, but this…

Back at Lucian's she and Hawke were alone in the small room she was being held in. There were no windows, no bed, a set of chains fastened to the walls. The smell was horrid, and she had to focus extra hard not to vomit when she realized what the two of them were most likely stepping in.

Hawke's body was frail, barely even hanging on. She had been able to get a little broth in her, and now her friend was curled up in a ball resting in the corner.

Tears stung the back of her eyes as she watched this helpless woman before her. There was nothing of Hawke left. "What has he done to you?" she whispered.

The next day, Orana timidly requested that she be allowed to clean Hawke's prison. She also suggested that Lucian allow her a bed and perhaps a lamp or candle while she was recuperating. After a fierce eye roll, he agreed.

Without the help of the guards or any other slaves, Orana cleaned as best she could then lay Hawke on the flimsy bed that had been brought in. Periodically, Hawke would come to. Her eyes would burst open full of fright. She would look around the room as if expecting something to suddenly reach out a grab her. When her eyes would settle on Orana, it was almost as though she was trying to figure out if what she saw before her was real or some sort of dream.

"I'm here to help, Hawke. Get some rest," Orana would encourage her. After a moment she would lie back against the mattress and drift back off to sleep.

For days it was the same routine. Feed her, bathe her, watch her sleep. It was like taking care of a child. Only once did Lucian come to check on her progress, and seemed utterly unconcerned with whether or not Hawke ever recovered.

It had been hours since Hawke last awoke, and Orana knew she would be forced to rouse her shortly. It was imperative that she regularly received the food her body so desperately needed. Sitting in the corner of the small room, she closed her eyes and decided to give her just a few more minutes of peace before forcing her awake.

Being completely exhausted herself, Orana momentarily dozed off and was awakened to a soft voice reaching her ears. "Why are you here?"

Fluttering her eyes open, she looked across the room to see Hawke sitting up in her bed. Initially, she felt elation that she had gathered the strength to do that on her own, but when she was the emptiness in Hawke's eyes she sombered. "I am her to help," she responded quietly.

Hawke took a deep breath then clutched the thin blanket tighter to her body. "Why didn't you let me die?" Orana's heart broke as she watched the tears gradually build in Hawke's eyes until they fell slowly down her pale cheeks. "I just wanted to die," she choked out. Her face twisted in agony as she lay back down on the mattress to silently cry.

Slowly Orana moved to sit beside her. Hawke let out a slow exhale as the tears continued to stream down her face. "You don't mean that," she tried to soothe her as she held her hand. Hawke let out a muffled sob then turned away from her. "You must hold on, Hawke."

"I have nothing to hold on to," Hawke said sounding defeated.

"You have your hope." When Hawke looked back at her with disbelief Orana continued. "There is always hope, Hawke. I believe it was you who told me that," she sweetly smiled.

Orana could see it in her eyes, Hawke was only a thread away from giving up completely. A part of her understood, when you were in this situation what was there to really hold on to? As a slave you had nothing. But since knowing Hawke, Orana had learned that your master could only take away your faith if you let them. And she was not about to let them take that from Hawke.

"You must keep your faith," she whispered. "You may not have chosen this life, but you still have a purpose. There are still those who love and need you. Do not be so ready to leave us."

Hawke's lipped curled up with the slightest of smiles before she nodded then rolled back over to sleep.

Over the coming weeks Hawke gradually became more and more like her old self. She would sit up with Orana and tell her stories about life in Fereldan, she asked questions about slaves back at Danarius', and even from time to time was allowed to venture out to Lucian's courtyard to practice with her daggers and bow.

Her strength was returning, but the sparkle that was once so bright behind her eyes had dwindled. Orana feared that a part of her would be forever lost now, but she would hold on to her hope that eventually Hawke would pick up the pieces and become the woman she was before.

Over the coming months Fenris saw Hawke only a handful of times, but with every visit she made to Danarius' estate sparks of the woman she was before were returning. At first he noticed that her face seemed more full. Then her armor didn't hang as loosely. When Lucian ordered her around, she still did so without question, but there was the barest of hesitation in her steps before she obeyed.

There were even a few times that he saw her smile. One time in particular he remembered well. It was early morning and most of the house hadn't woken yet. Hawke stood in the courtyard and was watching the sun rise through the trees of the garden. For the first time in ages her lips curled up and even revealed a sliver of her still perfect teeth. And even though the grin she was wearing made his heart thump loudly in his chest, he couldn't help but notice that it didn't quite reach her eyes.

She didn't know he was watching, and Fenris feared that if he approached her the spell she was under would be lost. So he admired her from afar.

But he couldn't just sit by any longer. They hadn't spoken since the night Danarius sent her back to Lucian with Orana, and he doubted that she even remembered it. He could take no more. He had to speak with her, he needed to touch her.

He had overheard Lucian ask her to tend to his horses while he took a short nap, so Fenris decided to intercept her at the stables. Hiding behind one of the walls, he saw her approaching, and his heart raced.

As she walked past him, he gently reached out and gripped her wrist then pulled her to him. At first she seemed shocked, but Fenris saw the flash of excitement in her eyes.

When she was close enough to him he put his hand to her hip, then softly brushed her hair behind her ear. "Are you alright?" he whispered not exactly sure what to say.

Hawke shied away from his touch, and looked a little uncomfortable under his gaze. "I am fine, Fenris," she answered with a nervous smile.

He let his hands fall and the two of them stood in silence, while she stared down and the toes of her boots and he studied every feature of her face. When he could take the quiet no more, he took a step towards her, only to have her take one back. "I miss you," he painfully whispered.

"Fenris…" she sighed.

"Please, Hawke…please look at me," he begged. He just needed things to go back to normal. She was his sanity, and now having her so close, yet so far away was making him crazy.

"I know what you want from me," she answered. "And I'm sorry, but I cannot give it to you." She looked up to him, but instead of seeing the love he wanted to find, resolve and determination stared back at him. "I am a slave, Fenris. It was foolish of me to believe we could be normal. Please, just leave me alone. This is hard enough without you reminding me what my life could have been like." She turned away from him, and Fenris felt heat build behind his eyes, but he kept his jaw tight and didn't allow himself to give in to the emotions. "It's better this way," she whispered as she began feeding one of Lucian's horses.

Fenris pushed off the wall, and started walking back to the estate. It's better this way…

He wished he shared the sentiment.

A/N: I have decided to enable anonymous reviews. Don't be a troll and go all willy-nilly with it. (yeah, I just said 'willy-nilly' like a grandma) I'm trusting you...