The greatest of thanks to voltagelisa, whose help and friendship mean more to me every day!
Thanks to everyone who has read and favorited this story! Your response was AMAZING and I am so glad you were pleased!
A very special thanks to my reviewers: voltagelisa, zevgirl, FalynnAngel, AdalaeAmell, Kimber75, gamerchic, dragonlover131313 and fifespice - You thrilled me more than I can say!
Fenris, Isabela and Varric were met at the entrance of the Viscount's Way by a very flustered Aveline. Bodahn had been sent to inform the Guard Captain of Alexa's plight and she had dashed from her office, her husband Donnic in tow.
"Where is she?" Aveline asked, her eyes moving quickly between the companions.
"Gone," Isabela said, shaking her head sadly. "We were too late."
"What? Gone?" the captain cried. "What do you mean 'gone'? You mean she's….."
Varric stepped forward, placing a soothing hand on Aveline's arm. "No, Aveline," he said softly. "She isn't dead. She is missing. According to the witness we spoke to, she was taken by Fenris' former master, Denarius."
"Witness?" Aveline asked. "Where is this witness?"
"She didn't survive," Fenris said darkly, his expression leaving no room for questions.
Donnic stepped forward and placed a reassuring arm around his wife. "I don't understand, Fenris," he began. "Does Denarius hope to draw you out by taking the Champion?"
"Not according to the witness," Isabela answered. "Apparently his sole intent was to capture Alexa. He hopes to bestow the same gifts onto her that he did Fenris."
"Maker," Aveline whispered, her voice shaking as she regarded the lyrium markings that covered Fenris' skin. "Can he really do this to her?"
"Easily," Fenris replied, beginning to pace. "In fact, her natural magical talent will make it far easier for him. She is already the perfect lyrium conduit. Alexa is a powerful mage; should he succeed, he will have created the ultimate weapon."
The group began walking back to the Viscount's manor. "We need a plan," Aveline said, "and quickly. He couldn't have gotten far with her, so we need to pursue as soon as possible."
"Anders and Merrill should be informed," Varric said. "They will want to go with us."
"Sebastian, as well," Isabela said, ignoring the furious glare she received from Fenris. "He cares deeply for Alexa, and will insist on being included in her rescue, I am sure."
"We don't need him," Fenris stated bluntly. "Denarius did this to get to me and I will be the one to take Alexa from him and end his wretched life."
Aveline sighed heavily at the duo. "We can argue about who is to be the hero later," she declared in her 'Guard Captain' tone. "Right now we need to prepare a rescue mission. Donnic," she said, turning to her husband, "please head to the docks and retrieve the harbormaster for me. I need every bit of information he has on Denarius' ship; its cargo and destination are particularly important." Nodding solemnly, the guardsman turned and dashed off.
"Bodahn stayed behind in my office," Aveline continued. "We should send him after the remaining members of our party. The rest of us need to organize the journey." Silently they continued to the guards' barracks, each filled with concern for their missing leader.
o~~~~~~~~o
Alexa's eyes open slowly, the drug Denarius used on her having kept her immobilized for many hours. As her vision slowly adjusted to the darkness, she sat up; taking stock of her surroundings.
The motion beneath her body told her she was on a ship; however, the opulence of the surrounding room with something more akin to a palace suite then a cabin.
Large stained-glass windows covered one wall with velvet ruby drapes surrounding each one. The floor was polished cherry; covered in large fur rugs. The furniture was of the finest craftsmanship; the chairs and settee covered in lush, velvet pillows.
Finally, there was the bed. She was lying on red silk sheets; a thick down comforter pulled over her. There was a canopy above her head and gold adorned the headboard. Were she not the prisoner of a psychopathic mage, she would have been captivated by her location.
Stepping from the bed, she gazed down at her clothing. She was wearing a sheer, emerald green gown of the finest silk; a perfect match for her eyes. Wonderful, she thought, noticing the way she could see every detail of her body through the material. I suppose I shouldn't even wonder who changed me into this. Denarius had been less than subtle in his attentions to her figure when they first met. The very idea that he had touched her made her shiver with revulsion.
She searched the room thoroughly; looking for anything she could change into. Apparently her host felt she wouldn't need any other clothes during their journey. Fine, she thought furiously, if he likes this gown so much, I will set the bastard on fire while wearing it! She approached the bedroom door, lifted her arms above her head and, drawing on the elemental powers at her disposal, aimed a stream of fire at the door…..
…. And nothing happened. She furrowed her brow, concentrated harder and still nothing! It was then that she noticed the bracelets that adorned her wrists. She brought her hands closer to her face, examining the golden bands that encircled each one. They were almost an inch wide and covered in glittering diamonds.
"Stunning, aren't they?" Denarius asked as he walked into the room. "I had them made especially for you." A coy smile spread across his lips as his eyes travelled slowly over her gown, finally returning to her face.
"Stunning? Yes," she answered, "if you enjoy being chained like an animal, that is. I, for one, do not."
"Chained?" he asked, the smile vanishing from his face. "Not in the least, my darling Champion. You are no slave of mine, and never shall be. My greatest desire is to have you as a partner; however, I am no fool. You are a powerful mage, and until you can be convinced to see the mutual benefits of our new relationship, I must protect myself."
Alexa crossed her arms over her chest; both to make a point and to cover herself from Denarius' lustful glances. "Then I shall be wearing them for a long time, as I will never agree to be your partner," she spat angrily. "And if you think binding my magic will protect you from me, you do not know me as well as you claim to. There are so many other ways to kill you, and I will find one that works. I promise you that."
"You are a determined woman, aren't you?" he asked, chuckling softly. "I admire that. It is no wonder than my little Fenris adores you so." At the look of surprise on Alexa's face, Denarius' smile widened. "You think I did not know about the two of you? He wrote often to his sister and you name was mentioned frequently in his correspondence. When I realized you were the Champion of Kirkwall, the one who slew the Arishok, I knew I had to have you."
"You will never have me, Denarius; at least not as you wish," Alexa replied. "I will escape your gilded cage, one way or the other. When I do, I will see you dead for what you have done to Fenris."
"We shall see, my beautiful Alexa," Denarius replied, opening the cabin door. Outside, Alexa could see several heavily armed guards come to attention as he approached them. "In the meantime, I will have someone prepare your dinner. You have been asleep for quite a long time, and you must be famished. I will also have a bath drawn for you. Should you require my help, you need only ask." He stepped into the hallway, and Alexa heard the heavy door bolted shut behind him.
Patience, Alexa, she thought as she paced the room, searching for any means of escape. Eventually, he will drop his guard; and when he does, you must be ready to act.
o~~~~~~~~o
Sebastian lay in his bed, visions of the woman he loved floating through his mind. Ever since he left Alexa's home earlier in the evening, he had been fighting the desire to rush back to her, take her in his arms and finally claim her as his own. His chantry training, however, kept him from doing so. He knew they should wait until they were married to consummate their union, but that did not keep him from desiring her desperately each time they were together.
There was no doubt in Prince Sebastian Vael's mind that he would marry Alexa Hawke. He had loved her since the first moment they met. She had come to him in the chantry after defeating the Flint Company mercenaries who sought his death. He took one look into her deep emerald eyes and he was lost.
His feelings only grew as he travelled with her. She was a woman of infinite kindness; always willing to help those in need. The fact that she was an apostate disturbed him at first. However, she always kept close control over her powers, and she treated the templars fairly; even when those around her sought the end of their order. She would make a formidable princess for Starkhaven, and a loving wife for its prince. If only he could keep her from the cursed elf they travelled with…
Fenris! The mere thought of the former slave brought fury to Sebastian's heart. He was heartbroken when he learned of Alexa's interest in the elf; but as he placed her happiness above all else, he hadn't interfered. He was sure he had no chance to win the Champion until the evening Isabela approached him in the Hanged Man Tavern. The former pirate captain told him of Fenris' betrayal of Alexa after their night together. Sebastian longed to shoot an arrow through the elf's heart for daring to disrespect Alexa in that way, but he did not wish to bring her further pain.
Instead, he bided his time and watched the Champion's interaction with her companions carefully. When he determined that she no longer had a relationship with Fenris, and that Anders' numerous advances toward Alexa were being turned aside, he stepped forward; confessing his feelings to the beautiful mage. She had been reluctant to begin a new relationship with anyone, but he refused to be deterred. Over the last several weeks, the couple had grown closer; her ardent kiss as he left her home was all the proof he needed. Sebastian now knew that he would eventually win her heart.
He was startled by a loud banging at his bedroom door. Rising to his feet, he pulled on a pair of breeches and a cotton shirt. His heart filled with dread when he opened the door and found Merrill, Anders and Bodahn standing in the hallway. "What has happened?" he asked quickly, seeing the despair on the mages' faces.
"We have to hurry!" Anders exclaimed, stepping into his room and tossing Sebastian his armor. "Alexa has been kidnapped and we are going after her!"
"Kidnapped!" Sebastian exclaimed as he hurriedly donned his clothes. "But I was just with her! Who could have done this?"
Merrill stepped forward and placed a hand on the prince's arm to calm him. "We will explain on the way," she said quietly, "and I don't think you are going to like what you hear."
o~~~~~~~~o
Denarius strolled down the hall, a look of determination on his face. His first meeting with Alexa had gone much as he anticipated. She had been combative, as he knew she would be. Her resolve to fight only enflamed his need for her. She would make a magnificent magister; of this he had no doubt.
"You!" he called to the two elven slaves who were preparing the evening meals. The pair immediately bowed low before him, keeping their eyes averted.
"Take a plate of your finest food to Mistress Hawke immediately!" he ordered, and the younger of the two elves straightened up, rushing to comply with his demand. "Furthermore, see to it that she receives a hot bath. And if she isn't completely satisfied with them both, you will be held responsible. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Master Denarius," the elder elf replied. "We will see to it at once. Mistress Hawke will be pleased, I am sure."
"She had better be," Denarius spat as he walked away.
He approached a cabin at the end of the hallway and knocked softly. "Come in," came the response from inside. Denarius entered the small room, smiling contentedly at the scene before him.
"Master Denarius!" the youth called, rising quickly from his study table and bowing respectfully before his mentor. "Thank you for coming to see me. How is Mistress Hawke? I have been very worried about her."
"She says she is fine, Feynriel," Denarius replied, "though I worry about her. She has been through quite an ordeal and she needs our help."
Feynriel sighed, worry crossing his features. "I don't understand, Master," he said sadly." Mistress Hawke's companions seemed so kind when they rescued me from the slavers. I cannot imagine what has happened to change that."
"I understand your confusion," Denarius said, placing a hand on the half-elf's shoulder to 'comfort' him. "Mistress Hawke's companions are indeed good people. However, they have allowed a very dangerous fugitive into their midst and unknowingly put her in terrible danger. She believes this man cares deeply for her; when in fact, that could not be farther from the truth. He will hurt her, Feynriel. I need your help to make sure that never happens."
"Of course, Master," Feynriel said quickly. "Mistress Hawke has saved my life twice now. I will do whatever I must to make sure she is safe."
The innocent elf missed the devious glint in his master's eyes. "Excellent, Feynriel," he said kindly, taking a seat at his student's small table. "Let me explain how you can assist Alexa…"
o~~~~~~~~o
"Well, Captain Isabela," Aveline began, emphasizing the pirate's title, "it looks as though you will be using that new vessel of yours sooner than you imagined."
Alexa had helped rescue Isabela from her former employer, the Antivan mercenary, Castillon. As a result, Isabela had taken possession of his vessel, the Eternal Majesty. She had been working diligently ever since to locate a proper crew so she could once more return to the sea. "You know I will do anything to help bring Alexa home," she replied, smiling softly at the Guard Captain.
"Unless I am greatly mistaken," Varric began, his gaze falling on Isabela, "we do not have enough people for a crew. What are we supposed to do?"
"Don't worry about that, Varric," Isabela replied. "I think I have an answer. Meeran and the Red Iron mercenaries owe Alexa much for the work she has done for him over the years. I will go to him immediately and procure all the men I need. They have a great deal of respect for our Champion, and would not wish to see her harmed." Alexa had worked for Meeran for a year in exchange for her initial passage into Kirkwall. She had proven to be an exemplary mercenary, and the leader of the Red Iron held her in high esteem. Isabela knew that Meeran would be cooperative; if only to ensure his continued relationship with Kirkwall's Champion. Rising from her chair, she quickly exited the office to make the necessary arrangements.
"Alright," Aveline said, her fear subsiding as they made definite plans for a rescue. "You will need provisions for the trip. I will send some of my guards to rouse the local merchants so that you may purchase anything you will need. I wish I could do more." She looked away, her eyes misting over as she realized she would be unable to accompany her companions on this journey.
"Aveline," Varric said kindly, "we know that you can't come with us and we understand. Someone has to stay here and help keep order in this insane city; especially now that Alexa is gone." The Champion had so far been able to walk a fine line between the mages and the templars; and by aiding both sides of the conflict, kept the violence to a minimum. Now that she was missing, someone would have to step up and negotiate with the warring parties.
Sighing heavily, Aveline nodded. "I know, Varric, but I still wish…."
"You filthy monster!" Sebastian cried as he rushed into the room, grabbed Fenris by the arms and threw him up against the wall. "Is it not enough that you use Alexa and then cast her aside? Now her life is in danger because of her association with you! I swear to you, if your former master harms so much as one hair on my Alexa's head, I will see you pay for it!"
Varric groaned as he saw the blue glow begin to emanate from Fenris' body. Without moving a muscle, he threw Sebastian from him, stalking after the prince with a murderous glint in his eye. "Your Alexa? I think not, Vael! She will never be yours; not as long as I draw breath! Alexa was mine, and when I have rescued her from Denarius, she will be mine again!"
"Enough, the both of you!" Varric exclaimed furiously as he saw Sebastian reaching for his bow. "Now is not the time for this! Alexa is missing and that should be our only concern! You two can compare 'weapon' sizes once she is safely back with us!" His declaration had the desired effect on both of the furious men. Fenris' glow faded and he stepped back, his head hanging sadly. Sebastian's arm froze and he turned his grief-stricken gaze to the dwarf.
"You are right of course, Varric," he said quietly, his hands falling to his sides. "Alexa is the priority now. However, I want to make myself very clear, elf. When we once again have Alexa with us, and we will rescue her, I will do everything in my power to keep her as far away from you as possible. You will never be allowed to harm her again."
"You are free to try, Sebastian," Fenris retorted, "but you will fail. I will not give up until she is once again with me."
"You know," Aveline interjected, glancing at Varric, "I was about to say how sorry I am that I won't be joining you. Now I think I may be better off here. The mages and templars aren't even this difficult to deal with."
Anders stepped up, staring angrily at Fenris and Sebastian. "Aveline, what is our status?" he asked. "Have any plans been put into motion to rescue Alexa? Do we even know where Denarius is taking her?"
"I may be able to help with that, Guard Captain," Donnic said as he entered the room, dragging Harbormaster Liam along with him. He shoved the man in front of Aveline's desk. "Liam, tell the Guard Captain what your thieves heard when they boarded the mage's vessel in search of loot."
The harbormaster shuffled his feet nervously and spoke, his voice shaking slightly. "Well, messere, my associates went on board the Tevinter vessel to make sure that they weren't bringing illegal merchandise into Kirkwall, you see," he began. "While they were inspecting the cargo, they overheard some of the mage's guards talking. One man said he hoped they had time to visit the Pearl while in Denerim. The other said he doubted it, as they would be moving south toward the Wilds immediately upon their arrival. I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but that is all they heard. They had to leave quickly, before their inspection was discovered."
"Of course," Aveline replied sardonically. "I trust you will turn over to my men any cargo you recovered from the vessel?"
"Yes, Guard Captain," Liam replied quickly, bowing slightly to her. "I am free to go, then?"
"Donnic," Aveline said, smiling gently at her husband, "please see that Liam has a proper escort back to his warehouse. They are to confiscate any materials his men procured from the Tevinter vessel. Also, have a few guards go round and wake the local merchants who specialize in food, armor and weapons. We must make sure Isabella has everything she needs for the Eternal Majesty."
"At once, Guard Captain," Donnic replied, pushing Liam from the room. "I will report back as soon as there is news."
Aveline turned to her companions as the door closed behind her husband. "Well, I suggest you all get some sleep and gather your belongings," she said. "Isabela will want to leave at first light, I am sure."
Fenris remained after the others had left the room. "Is there something more you needed, Fenris?" she asked, sitting back in her chair.
"You are close to Alexa, are you not?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes, you could say that," she replied, cocking her eyebrow at him. "Why do you ask?"
Fenris took the seat opposite her, sighing heavily. "I know you are aware of the mistake I made three years ago, Aveline," he said quietly. "I want to make it right, and I need to know if I have any chance at all."
"If I said you didn't, would you give up?" she asked, leaning forward and folding her hands on the desk before her.
"No," he replied bluntly. "I won't ever be that foolish again."
"Good," she said, a wry smile on her face. "If you keep up that attitude, you may yet have that chance you wish for."
Rising from the chair, Fenris bowed toward the Guard Captain. "Thank you, Aveline," he said simply before turning and walking away.
I hope we all have a second chance with Alexa, she thought sadly as she gazed out the door after him.
o~~~~~~~~o
Alexa stared at the elves as they brought in the bathtub and several pails of steaming water. "Forgive the intrusion, Mistress, but Master Denarius wanted us to make sure you had a proper bath after your dinner," the young elven lass said. She approached the tray of food, a concerned look on her face as she saw the uneaten meal on the plate. She turned quickly to Alexa, he eyes filled with fear.
"Was the meal unsatisfactory, Mistress?" she asked nervously. "I can bring you something different, if you like."
"No, thank you," Alexa replied, staring at the bedroom door. The guards had locked it the moment the elves entered. Damn, she thought furiously, this may be harder than I imagined. "I don't need the bath, either, so you may take the tub back with you."
"Please, Mistress, don't make us take it away," the older male elf begged. "If Master Denarius thinks we displeased you, he will punish us."
Alexa's heart broke as she saw the terror on the elves' faces. Quickly she rose from her chair, approached the young female and placed a hand on her arm to reassure her. "I am sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't know that. Of course I will take the bath. I thank you for your kindness. You may leave the meal, as well. I will try to eat something later. Would you tell me your name?"
"Thank you, Mistress!" the male said, bowing deeply to her. "My name is Lavenar, and this is my daughter, Elenia. We will be taking care of you for the duration of your voyage. Please let us know if you have any special requests for meals. We will do our very best to accommodate you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Alexa said. "You may call me Alexa, if you wish. I am no one's Mistress and you needn't be so formal with me."
Elenia stepped back, her hand shooting up to her throat. "We couldn't, Mistress!" she exclaimed. "If Master Denarius heard us, he would be very angry."
"Ahh," Alexa replied, smiling broadly at the elves. "I understand. Then we shall have to make sure Denarius knows how pleased I am with the both of you, won't we?" she asked, happy to see the fear slowly vanish from their eyes. "Now, if you would excuse me, I would very much like to try out this wonderful bath you have prepared."
"Certainly, Mistress!" Elenia said, adding some rose oil to the water. "I will be back later to clean everything up before you retire for the night."
Lavenar bowed before her, smiling softly as he rose. "Thank you, Mistress, for helping my daughter and myself," he said softly. "We are both very grateful."
"Of course," Alexa replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If there is ever anything you need from me, you have only to ask."
The elves moved to the bedroom door, knocking on it softly. After they left, Alexa looked at the bathtub. No matter how much she wished to defy Denarius, she would not allow her obstinacy to endanger the lives of Lavenar and Elenia. Removing her gown, she slid into the warm water; sighing deeply as she sank to the bottom. She closed her eyes, allowing the warmth to momentarily soothe away her worries. In mere minutes, she had drifted off to sleep…
o~~~~~~~~o
Alexa opened her eyes, gazing around the room before her. She was seated in Aveline's office, across from her friend. The Guard Captain was smiling broadly at her, shaking her head.
"Maker, Aveline, I am sorry," she said, sitting up straight in her chair. "Did I fall asleep?"
"Yes, you did," the red head replied jovially. "I can hardly blame you, though; considering all that you have been through. I know you haven't been sleeping well since Leandra died."
The mention of her mother's name brought sharp pain to her chest. She knew she was gone, but the details were fuzzy, at best. That didn't make sense, did it?
"So, as I was saying," Aveline continued softly. "Donnic and the guards have questioned everyone at the dock regarding Fenris, but they have found nothing new. There has been no sign or him or the others. We must now assume they made a successful escape."
"Fenris?" Alexa asked. "Why would the guards be searching for him?"
Aveline's eyes opened wide, and she stood; coming around the desk to sit at Alexa's side. "You know why they want Fenris, Alexa," she said sadly. "He killed your mother."
Alexa stared at Aveline, her words not making sense. Fenris cared for her, even if their relationship had ended. He would never harm her mother…. would he? Though her heart told her it couldn't possibly be true, the Guard Captain's words made sense. Aveline and Donnic were her friends. They certainly wouldn't hunt for Fenris if he weren't guilty; especially knowing how much she cared for him.
Donnic entered the office, staring worriedly at the two women. "Is something wrong, love?" he asked Aveline, moving to her side.
"I'm not sure, Donnic," Aveline replied, placing a hand on the Champion's arm. "I was telling Alexa the status of the search for Fenris and the others, and she suddenly couldn't remember what he had done."
"That doesn't surprise me in the least," the guardsman replied, smiling sadly at Alexa. "His actions were beyond understanding, given the nature of his relationship with the Champion. We were all shocked when we found him standing over Leandra's dead body; and we were even more devastated to discover that your other companions had aided the murderer in his escape. I would be surprised if she weren't confused."
"I'm still here, you know," Alexa said, glaring at them both. "You don't need to speak as if I'm not."
Chuckling softly, Aveline patted her arm. "Now that is the Alexa Hawke I know," she said, glancing up at her husband. "If you are ready to continue, Champion, we need to get you to your ship."
"Ship?" Alexa asked, confusion once again filling her head. "Where am I going?"
"To Denerim, Serah Hawke," Donnic said, "don't you remember? That was where we were told Fenris and his cohorts fled. You said you wanted to hunt them down yourself."
Hunting Fenris and her friends? This couldn't be right! Yet they looked so sure. "Are you sure about this? I can't explain it, but something doesn't feel right," she said quietly.
The door opened and a distinguished mage entered, smiling warmly at her. "Serah Hawke," he said, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles gently. "I am so very pleased to see you are feeling better. If you are ready, we should get to the dock. My ship is ready to leave port whenever you are."
"And you are?" she asked, embarrassed at her inability to remember the kind stranger.
"I am Magister Denarius of the Tevinter Imperium, Champion," he said, bowing to her. "We have only met a few times, and I understand your confusion; given all that you have recently suffered."
"Denarius?" Alexa asked, gazing up at him. "Fenris mentioned you. You kept him as a slave!" She rose from her chair, backing away from him. "You are the one who branded him with lyrium!" Her hands glowed with power, and she took a defensive stance; ready to kill him if he stepped closer.
Aveline moved to block the mage from Alexa's line of fire. "No, Alexa," she said gently, holding her hands up before her. "Denarius is not a slave owner! Don't you remember? We discovered that Fenris had escaped from a prison in Tevinter. He is an escaped criminal, not a slave! Master Denarius was sent to take him back; peacefully, if at all possible. Everything changed when the elf killed your mother. Now he is a murderer, and Master Denarius will be accompanying you to bring him to justice."
"No," Alexa said, shaking her head in an attempt to clear her mind. "This cannot be right. How could I forget so many things, Aveline?"
"I may have the answers you seek, my dear," Denarius said, moving slowly closer to her. "When you discovered Fenris with your mother's body, he attacked you in his attempt to escape. You suffered a terrible fall down a long set of stairs. Guard Captain Aveline and her husband were able to bring you to me for healing, but you may have some residual memory loss. If you will allow me, I will help you to remember as we travel to Denerim."
Alexa stared for several moments at the people before her, finally lowering her hands to her sides. "I am sorry to be so uncooperative, Master Denarius," she said carefully, the words feeling wrong as they left her mouth. "I will come with you to find Fenris and the others. If he was indeed the cause of my mother's death, he will pay for his crime."
"I could ask for nothing more," Denarius said, leading her from the Viscount's manor toward his waiting ship…
o~~~~~~~~o
Feynriel opened his eyes, rising from the chair he had used for his trip into the Champion's dreams. He approached her bed and gazed down at her sleeping form. Denarius sat by her side, stroking her hair; her head resting in his lap. He looked up as the elf approached.
"Were you successful?" he asked, his expression stern.
"Yes, Master," Feynriel said, smiling proudly. "I have implanted the beginnings of doubt in her mind regarding the elf and his companions. It will take a few more trips to solidify the memories, but she should be more receptive to you now."
"Excellent," Denarius said, smiling down at the sleeping woman in his arms. "Starting tomorrow, you must spend time with her. She will recognize you, and that comfort will help bring her around to our way of thinking. I am relying on you to help me with this, Feynriel. Mistress Hawke's safety is in our hands; we must make sure no one is allowed to harm her."
"Of course, Master," he said, bowing respectfully. "I will leave you alone now. I should get back to my studies."
"Good night, Feynriel," Denarius said, watching as the young elf left the room. When the door once again closed, the mage turned his attention back to the Champion. It took every bit of control not to take advantage of his current position. He had been the one to move Alexa from the bath to her bed, and seeing her naked body had aroused him more than he ever thought it could. "Soon, you will be mine, my beautiful Alexa; and I will give you power beyond anything you ever imagined. When Fenris does at last find us, you will be the one to kill him."
o~~~~~~~~o
The companions arrived at the Eternal Majesty before sunrise the following morning. Isabela, true to her word, had recruited a large contingent of Red Iron mercenaries to help sail the ship. Once all of the provisions were stored away in the hold and everyone had been assigned sleeping quarters, the party met on deck to say their farewells to Aveline.
"Maker go with you," the Guard Captain said to her friends. It hurt to know that she was unable to help them in more than a perfunctory way; but she knew her responsibility was to keep Kirkwall safe until they returned with Alexa.
"Don't fret, Aveline," Isabela said, moving forward to hug her goodbye. "I may not be able to do many things, at least not in your opinion; but I do know how to sail a ship. We will be fine."
"You know something?" Aveline said, smiling at the pirate. "I actually believe you. Imagine that?"
Shifting her gaze to Fenris, Aveline smiled, her expression determined. "You bring her back, do you hear me?" she asked. "And remember what you told me in my office. I will hold you to that, Fenris."
"We will find her, Aveline," Fenris replied. "Thank you for your kind words. I will never forget my promise to you, have no fear."
Donnic put his arm around his wife as they watched the ship pull away from the harbor. "She will come back, love," he said, squeezing her gently. "Though Maker knows what they will find when they get here." Holding onto one another, the couple slowly walked back to the barracks, their thoughts returning to the task of keeping Kirkwall from destroying itself.