A/N Thank you all for your support.

And special thanks to Ms. Kyla Baines, my dear beta. I have learned a lot from her and intend to keep it that way.

Well, enjoy. And please let me know what you think.

Bethany

"Who is he?"

Bethany choked the tea she was drinking.

"Who is who, Mother?"

"The one that caused you smile by yourself for nearly a week."

Leandra Hawke was smiling. And, it was not one of her usual smiles. It was that deadly I-have-been-there-when-I-was-at-your-age smile.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

" My dear Bethany, after nineteen years of living together, I thought we were close" she said over-dramatically.

"Very funny, Mother. Garrett would be proud of your skills."

"Where do you think he got his skills, hmm?" and she took the bait.

"Father?" she asked innocently.

"Malcolm? He wasn't funny at all. I never understood whether he was jesting or being serious."

"Sounds like Garrett."

Speaking of the devil, Garrett entered the room. He was covered in blood, which was becoming alarmingly normal for him. It must be one of his street cleaning days.

"Bethany, we have to go to Sundermount," he said apologetically. She knew how Garrett hated to use her in battles. Every single fight was a gamble for them. Even though she did not like killing, she could not bring herself to leave Garrett alone in this mess.

She smiled at him reassuringly, "I will be ready in a second."

She went to her room to get her staff. She could still hear her mother speaking through the paper-thin walls.

"At least eat something before you leave. I know a bath is only a dream."

"I will eat. Don't worry, Mother. We will be back by dinner"

When they left the house, Bethany saw Anders and Fenris waiting near the staircase. She smiled at Anders who smiled back warmly. Then, she turned Fenris. Their eyes met for only a moment, yet time seemed to stop. She broke eye contact immediately and started a conversation with Anders just to escape from his gaze. Questions raced through her mind. Why did he affect her so much? Why was he no longer ignoring her? Why did she always feel his gaze upon her? What should she do?

The relationship between Fenris and her was…not complicated. At least it hadn't been until recently. He called her a viper and warned Garret that she would strike him when he least expected it. She thought him an ass. She did not tell this to his face, but later in the Hanged Man, when Anders asked her thoughts, she earned a drink from him for all the laughs she caused.

After a few weeks Fenris became their official companion. Garrett told her his skills were useful, and he needed them to defeat his former master. Therefore, he would contain his hate for mages while being near them. However, he never quitted his habit of making innuendos. In his eyes, Anders was an abomination and Merrill a blood mage: the good features they had valued nothing. On the other hand, he was being careful around her. Once, she wondered what Fenris would call her if Garrett were not around – mage, witch, or maleficar seemed the most likely. She hated him for that. Therefore, to prevent any conflict that might happen between them, she chose to avoid him. She did not talk to him, look at him or walk near him. He did not even notice. Did not seem to care. Not that she was upset about it. This system seemed to work until last week. And then, he said her name with the nicest tone and looked at her with those deep green eyes. All this history evaporated in one second.

"and then Knight-Captain Cullen confessed his love to me."

" Wait. What?!"

Anders laughed.

"And now she listens."

She turned to him. "I…am sorry."

"You seem distracted these days. Any particular reason?"

"No," she said. Maybe too quickly. This made Anders chuckle.

"Okay then, keep it to yourself. But I will be offended if I hear the story from Varric."

She smiled. Remembering last week.

"Don't be. Even I may learn the story from Varric."

Their laugh was cut by a fire-arrow that passed between them. Sundermount. Land of the Blasted. She was already sending her famous fireballs in the direction of the attack before a second arrow was released. Garrett took his maul while Fenris activated his markings. Three archers and four warriors she saw; with that white flowing outfits, they seemed like slavers. Fenris was more aggressive because of that, but consequently he became less careful. While he was taking one of the warrior's heart out, he did not see one of the archers equipped daggers and started to fight offensively. She cast Winter's Gasp, and the sneak attack the rouge planning for Fenris was prevented at the last second. He was surprised to see a dagger on his back when he turned. He released his sword and the frozen rouge shattered before him. With Garrett crushing the last warrior's head, the fight was over. Fenris was looking at her. Then instead of performing his usual nod of appreciation, he spoke;

"Thank you."

Bethany shivered. She nodded and followed Anders as a way of escape again.

The sun was setting when they found the map Master Ilen requested. On the road back to Kirkwall, Anders was speaking to Garrett with his low tone. It must be one of his freedom for mages speeches. They were getting far as Bethany found herself walking with Fenris. Not knowing what to do, she unbound her red scarf from around her throat to bind it again as she always did when she was nervous.

"You are attached to that scarf" Fenris observed. "Why?"

Great. Just great.

"It is a long story" she tried to evade.

"It is a long road" he persisted with a smirk.

He was not looking at her, yet he was waiting. He seemed really interested in the subject. So, she decided to tell the whole story.

"Carver was always the aggressive one among us. He always picked fights with other kids. Beating them or getting beaten were his favorite sports. One afternoon, I found him sitting under a tree and there was blood all over his face. He said one of the kids threw a rock at him. His eyebrow was split open. It must have been hurting him but he was trying not to cry. I was scared and felt useless because I could not help him." She stopped to breathe again. It was always hard to talk about Carver. "Then when I touched his face, a white light appeared in my hand and the wound was closed in a blink of eye."

Fenris was surprised. "You healed him."

"Yes, I did. That was the first time I showed sign of magic, but for what cost? There were templars in the area. They sensed my magic and started an investigation. I still can't forget Father's expression when he found out what happened. He tried to hide me but the templars were not quitting. I was scared and could not stop crying. On the day of our escape, Garrett came to me. This scarf was in his hands. He said it was enchanted and that the templars could not sense my magic if I bound it around my neck. Surprisingly, it worked. Templars stopped our carriage, but then they let us pass the town. When I grew older, I learned that the scarf was not enchanted. Yet I still think it possess a charm of luck." She must be smiling right now. "I know it is silly to think it can still protect me from templars while I am carrying a staff nearly long as I am."

"It is not silly," Fenris said, "and it suits you."

Was he flattering her? She felt her cheeks redden. How she hated her cheeks.

"Thank you," she managed to say.

They were in Kirkwall sooner than she thought.

The waiting was over. After months of hard work they finally managed to collect 50 sovereigns. Garrett was preparing for the expedition. Along with Varric, he decided to bring Anders and Merrill after he talked with their mother who was scared for Bethany. Although she wanted to go and help, she could understand his reasons.

Before the day of the expedition, Garrett invited all of his companions to the Hanged Man for a final speech which was only three words:

"Drinks on me!"

She hoped he had saved an extra sovereign for that after she saw Isabella's drinking. Only a sponge could be compared to her, yet she seemed having fun.

"Bethany, you should taste this sodding ale. It tastes like piss, but it feels good."

Why not, she thought. She was waiting for her drink when a man came near.

"Hello, love" he slurred.

He was drunk. Apparently. As he did not seem to know who she was or what her brother's weapon of choice could do to him. She felt sorry for the man and tried to ignore him.

"Hey! I am talking to you. Want to get to know me and my legendary friend?" he said as he pressed himself to her.

Then she saw a blue flash. Before she could figure out what was happening, Fenris was beside her and holding the man from his throat.

"Get lost if you want your legendary friend to remain attached to you."

Garrett was beside them in seconds. He was carrying one of his craziest smiles which was the exact one that always got her into trouble

"I think I might have an idea," Garrett said,"Fenris meet me in Varric's room after I'm done with this idiot."

They exchanged the man like a sack of potatoes and Garrett went outside.

Now all eyes within the Hanged Man were upon them. She forced herself to look at him, yet he was looking at his feet.

"I…thank you."

"It's nothing"

She could hear Varric's laugh even from a distance. She saw Garret came back and Fenris followed him to Varric's room.

She needed a drink. Or maybe three.

On her second ale, she wasn't nearly drunk as she wanted. Isabella could not seem to stop talking since the incidence. She was asking questions, and Bethany could not understand their real purpose.

Then, she saw them. Garrett was still carrying that Maker damned smile while Fenris' face was white as sheet. He looked like he just made an agreement with the demon.

Fenris went straight to the exit as Garrett came near her.

"Bethany," he took a deep breath before he dropped the bomb, "you are going to stay with Fenris while I'm gone."