Fenris could vaguely hear sounds...but he couldn't identify them. He had been dreaming. Danarius had come back, and was chasing him. Somewhere along the way he'd found Hawke, and together they fled from Danarius. But something had happened. Hawke had slowed down, and Danarius was about to catch her. Fenris had just turned to see Danarius with a knife to Hawke's throat when he woke with a start. Hawke was sobbing.

The noises continued. The curtain was open a fraction, and as he rolled over, he could see Hawke moving around the room, putting on her boots.

Perhaps there isn't a chamber pot in here...

His eyelids were still heavy and he tried to sit up groggily, but pain shot through his side, and he grunted.

"I'm so sorry"

It took Fenris a moment to process what she'd said. He stared at her in the split second before she turned, and realised she had her bag and weapons with her. Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her face. She flew the door open and started running.

"NO"

Fenris bolted up, clutching his side in agony. He threw on a shirt and followed her down the stairs as fast as he could. His movements were not as graceful as they usually were, and he smashed into a vase on the way down.

He didn't care.

"HAWKE! WAIT!" Fenris shouted, his breathing laboured. He was the faster of the two...he'd catch her.

Where on earth is she going?

He stumbled more than a few times, and crashed into a member of staff on the way down.

"Get out of my way, fool!" Fenris snarled. The bar man stumbled off hurriedly as Fenris noticed the blood leaking through the bandage on his side.

He finally made it to the stables, staring wildly at the stalls. Hawke was cutting a rope, as the bewildered stable boy glanced in Fenris' direction.

Hawke scrambled onto her horse. Fenris gasped for air as he shouted and ran towards her, the pain in his side seething. Hawke kicked the horse and bolted away into the rain.

Fenris ran after her, feeling tears welling in his eyes. He ran until he collapsed.

"Hawke!"

She was gone. Not even her silhouette remained. He had no idea where she might be heading – Ferelden, probably...but...Lothering? Denerim? Haven?

Fenris let out a cry of agony, face buried in his hands. The rain was soaking his clothes, but he didn't care. Marion. Gone.

His eyes stang as the rain mixed with his salty tears, and his bottom lip trembled.

He tried to take deep, meditative breaths. It was difficult at first, but slowly he began to breathe normally again. His heart stopped pounding as he did his best to relax. He was soaked through, and tears were still escaping his eyes, but he was almost calm.

Slowly, Fenris got up, and trudged back to the inn. His breeches were ruined from kneeling in the newly formed mud, and he was starting to feel cold with the rain trickling down his bare back.

When he walked into the inn, the few awake patrons were whispering intently to each other. Then silence. They all looked up at him, eyes following as he walked back up the stairs, stepping over the broken vase, and onto the landing.

He closed the door of their room and rested his forehead against it. He'd maintained a determined face the whole way back, but he could feel the guise cracking. He turned his back to the wall and slid down to the floor, as the sobs finally escaped.

Fenris wanted to kill something. Anything. He wanted to stick his hand into someone's flesh and feel their heart beating in his hand. He wanted to punish someone.

But who is to blame?

Sobs still wracked his body as he got up and lit a candle by the crack of moonlight coming through the window. The room was in disarray – Hawke had clearly packed in a hurry.

Fenris wiped his eyes. His bag, clothes, and under-used boots were still sitting neatly in their places, just as he'd left them. By contrast, anything that might have been shared was tossed to the side, as were various items of clothing Hawke had forgotten.

How could I have SLEPT through this? I, who so rarely fall into a deep sleep...

Fenris moved over to the bed. He'd only begun sleeping deeply in the last few months. Something about having Hawke at his side eased his nightmares, and the pain. Having her near somehow made everything better.

I thought we were happy. I know I was...and I thought she was too.

He knew why she left…though he struggled to admit it.

Their conversation earlier had set her off. It must have been. He understood, in a way.

He began methodically making the bed and tidying the room.

What had she said?

"I can't let you die for me"

Fenris trembled as he angrily tipped the small end-table.

How could she not realise that just as she couldn't allow him to die, he could not allow her to die? Her life was so much more valuable than his own.

He pushed his hair out of his eyes and fixed the table.

How could she do this to me?

I love her.

Could I have protected her forever?

A sharp pain in his side forced him into the armchair. Last time he'd been seriously injured, Hawke had taken him to a mage. Could he have done that? Trusted Hawke's life to a mage?

He knew of course that not all mages were evil. Some had their uses – even Anders had some advantages. But could he have actively sought out a mage? Someone he despised?

Perhaps I would have failed at protecting her. I suppose...I already have.

Fenris tried to stop the tears that still fell down his cheeks, but it barely seemed worth it anymore.

He stood again, and walked over to his pack. He reached towards the bottom. Inside was a small, wooden box.

Fenris gingerly opened it. The moonlight reflected off the gem, making it shine brilliantly. Comparatively, the gold band looked plain.

Fenris trudged back to the bed and sat down, staring all the while at the radiant gem. Tears were streaming down his face again, the saltiness stinging the markings on his chin and neck. He sighed.

I suppose it doesn't matter now.

Nothing does.