Chapter 2 – Her Debt

Hawke glanced at Fenris while everyone else gawked at the naked girl slumped on the ground unconscious. Her heart clenched as she saw the look on his face. She knew that expression like the back of her hand. After all, she had given it to him enough times when he wasn't looking.

Adoration.

How could Fenris have feelings for this girl they had only just found? She didn't understand it, but when she noticed something flash in his eyes, she decided it couldn't be the first time he had seen her.

He didn't understand it. The girl in his dream, the dream that had plagued him all day, was now unconscious before him, in a burning temple room and completely naked. It just wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. Could it? He wasn't sure, but he was certain that he couldn't just let this girl go. Not after just finding out that she is real.

Before he could stop himself, he walked over the girl and quickly scooped her up into his arms. His mind raced as he quickly rushed her out of the temple, trying not to look at anything other than her face. He studied every detail and marvelled at her beauty, her long slender eyelashes, her small button nose and her pink, plump lips. Fenris couldn't help but notice he stared at her lips longer than necessary. He tried to hide the slight blush that spread lightly on his cheeks.

The group just stared dumbfounded at Fenris as he walked with the young stranger in his arms. He never took to anyone new and just kept in the background, staying out of the way and keeping his opinion to himself. But now, here he was, holding a complete stranger and all they could do was just follow him out of the temple and try to find a way to wake the girl.

When they finally got out of the temple and could breathe properly, Fenris rested the mysterious girl on the ground and looked at her, completely oblivious as to how to wake her. Hawke sighed as she stepped forward and withdrew a hooded cape and small clothes from her pouch.

"Um, maybe we should dress her before we wake her up…? I mean, it's not much, but-"

"It will do for now." Fenris' quick reply almost made Hawke fall over with shock, but she quickly composed herself and moved to the girl, quickly dressing her as best she could. When she was done she summoned Anders over to the girl to try and heal her burns and wake her. Fenris scowled at him the whole time, until she finally came too and Fenris almost knocked Anders off his feet to try and get to her.

"Uh… W-where am I…?"

Her voice made his heart stop. He had only ever heard it once, in his dream, and now being able to hear it while conscious, was like his dream literally 'came true'.

He resisted the urge to touch her face or hug her, for fear of breaking her or the group whispering about the reason behind his intention. He didn't like either option, so he just stared at her instead. A small blush adorned her features as she noticed his stare and they locked eyes.

It was Hawke who broke the silence.

"We're outside the temple. My name is Hawke," She pointed to the rest of the group and introduced each one until she got to Fenris,

"And this is the one who got you out of the temple, Fen-"

"Fenris…" The girl breathed, and the blush spread further across her cheeks. "You came to help me after all."

Hawke couldn't help but scowl. So she was right, they had met before. And although she wanted so much to ask how they knew each other, she knew there was a more important question that needed answering,

"Who are you?"

The girl's eyes instantly snapped to Hawke's face and the light in them dimmed as she became void of any emotion. She turned abruptly to the whole group and stood. Her eyes skimmed over all of them, and their eyes followed. She bowed slightly before speaking,

"My name is Marryah. I thank you all for saving me, but, I'm afraid I must ask that you do one last thing for me."

The group stared at her for a few seconds and Hawke opened her mouth to speak, but it wasn't her voice she heard. It was Anders'.

"Who exactly are you? And what is it you require from us?"

Marryah looked to the ground, her hair hiding her face. She took a deep breath and snapped her head back up. Her face turned stone cold and her eyes burned with seriousness.

"I require your assistance in taking me to the Deep Roads. As for whom I am, and why I need to go there, I can't tell you. At least not right now. When we get to where I need to be, I promise I'll tell you everything. But, for now, I'm not telling you anything."

Everyone stood in silence for a while, completely bewildered. It was very awkward and lasted for a very long, gruelling, 10 minutes. There were so many unanswered questions hanging in the air, and Marryah had turned her head away from the group, not daring to show her face.

"Why can't you tell us?"

Hawke's voice rang through the air like an echo, and everyone's eyes snapped to her. Everyone except the person she was addressing. When she kept silent, Hawke's brow furrowed and she coughed loudly to get her attention.

Suddenly, Marryah whirled around and she hissed lightly, her voice laced with venom,

"Because if I do, you'll use me to early."

A huge flock of crows suddenly burst from a nearby tree and matched the darkness in Marryah's eyes. The whole group, including Hawke, shuddered and decided not to ask any more questions.

Marryah closed her eyes and sighed deeply, regaining herself, before smiling warmly at the group,

"I owe you all a great debt and I promise to repay that debt once my mission is completed in the Deep Roads.

You will all understand when we get there."

The long trip back was filled with silence and for the most part, Marryah was asleep on Fenris' back. Well, that's what the group all thought. In reality, she was awake and was silently watching the man who had saved her life and was now carrying her on his back.

They had agreed to take her to the Deep Roads, but asked that she wait a week or two to prepare for the voyage ahead, as well as the darkspawn that were surely waiting for them when they got there. She had said that it was fine, as long as they got there before the month ended. They had decided not to question her anymore about it and soon they had set off.

Now, while being carried by her saviour, she felt the need to wrap her arms tightly around his neck, trying to feel his warmth for as long as possible. She sighed inwardly as she moved her lips lightly against his shoulder blades.

"Thank you for saving me, Fenris…" She whispered as quietly as she could, so the others wouldn't hear their private conversation. She saw him tense up, but then, realising it was her voice, relaxed.

"You came to me in a dream. How did you do that?" She could barely make out his voice and had to strain just to hear it. When she finally grasped his question, she smirked against him. When she didn't reply, he turned his head to watch her mouth, 'magic' sarcastically. The half-smile that crept upon his face made her blush and she tilted her head down to hide her embarrassment.

She glanced to the side and noticed Hawke staring at the two of them from the corner of her eye.

Before they were all about to depart, Marryah noticed she was wearing clothes. She asked Fenris how she was clothed and as a faint blush spread across his face, he pointed to Hawke.

"Hawke!"

Hawke's body tensed as she registered the voice that had called her name, and slowly turned her head to the source. She frowned at the small female form headed towards her, but upon noticing the genuine smile plastered on her face, smiled in return.

"It's not her fault Fenris has apparent feelings for her." Hawke thought with regret, "She's probably only grateful for his rescue."

When Marryah finally approached Hawke, she noticed just how little she was compared to her, "Marryah. What's wrong?"

Marryah was clutching the cloak she had given her and without warning sprung forward and hugged Hawke to her tightly.

"Thank you so much for the clothes! It was so kind of you!"

Hawke stood in shock for a moment before slowly wrapping her arms around the petit body clinging to her. Smiling warmly, she began petting the back of Marryah's head,

"You're welcome Marryah."

"She really is so small and fragile… She's just a little girl compared to us." Hawke thought with sorrow. "And yet, it seems like she has witnessed a lifetime of sorrow's…"

Hawke tightened her hug on Marryah before smiling and sending her off back to Fenris.

Marryah smiled at the memory and noticed Hawke look at her with a warm expression before sighing and looking straight ahead.

"Fenris…" Marryah whispered after a few minutes silence, "Promise me you won't hate me after I finish my mission?"

Fenris looked at her with a frown and was about to question her but saw the sorrow in her eyes, "Please." It wasn't a question, she was desperately pleading with him. Fenris couldn't take the tortured look on her face and gave in, "I promise." He sighed.

Marryah's face lit up and she hugged him close, "Thank you. Thank you so much."