Fenris

I paced my room as Abby lay sleeping in the bed. Anders had been pouring over the notes the others had brought back. I glanced at Abby. She was curled up on my pillow. One hand holding tightly to Bandit's collar. Bandit laid there watching me, his eyes following me as I paced.

Anders entered the room and looked exhausted. "I think I have it. At least I have something to try." He said. The others followed behind him.

"Is there a chance it could hurt her?" I demanded moving between him and Abby.

"Give me some credit, Fenris." He snapped at me.

"It's your fault she's in this mess." I snapped back. "Magic did this to her. Forgive me if I don't trust you, your kind, or your judgment!"

"This isn't my fault. Rona was fine before the templars raped her and took her baby!"

"So you say."

"Um, guys, now is not the time for this fight." Varric pointed out. He glanced at the others. "How does she deal with them at all?"

"Well, it's easier for her. She gives them a pouty look and they are putty in her hands. Maybe you should try it." Isabela suggested.

I sighed heavily and rubbed my face. I was exhausted. The last few days had been grueling. And I was dealing with magic. That never left me in a good mood. And having to apologize to the abomination was really getting to me.

"I'm sorry. It's just…" I started, but he waved me off.

"I get it. This won't hurt her. If it doesn't work, I'm going to have to do more research, but I'm hoping it will be simple."

"Simple is always what you should start with." Merrill said appearing in the doorway.

"You should be in bed, kitten." Isabela said moving to support her.

"I'm fine. Thanks to Anders. And I want to be here. Maybe you can walk me home after?" Merrill asked her.

"Sure thing. Varric will come with us. We'll have a drink and think of all the ways to torment Abby now that we've seen how bratty she was when she was little." Isabela smiled at her.

"Are you going to move?" Anders asked.

"Should we moved Bandit?" Aveline asked.

"I don't know that he would let us. And it shouldn't hurt him either. Just need access to her. Anders explained. I took a step to the side and waited. Anders glowed and began chanting. A glow started around Abby, but as if faded away nothing happened.

Anders sighed and his shoulders slumped in defeat. "Of course it wouldn't be that simple. The girl was crazy, but talented. Some of the things she wove together…" Anders shook his head and glanced at Merrill. "If you feel up to it, maybe you could go over it with me. Maybe you'll see something I missed."

"Of course. What are we going to do in the meantime?" Merrill asked glancing at Abby.

"You all go and get some rest. She's out for the night at least. I'll try and not lose her again." I said and moved a chair to sit next to the bed.

"I'll have a patrol sent round here for tonight. Are you sure you don't want us to stay?" Aveline asked.

"No. Bandit will let us know if someone gets in." I said and motioned them to the door.

"We'll be back in the morning." Varric nodded. All of them left quietly. The mood of the house was heavy. I felt an oppressive weight settling over me. What if we couldn't undo it? What was going to happen to her? Would she ever forgive us?

I bolted awake sometime later as Abby screamed. Bandit barked in confusion. I shifted from the chair to the bed and shook Abby gently.

"Abby, it's a dream. I'm right here." Her eyes flew open and she gave a sharp cry. Her voice was hoarse from all the screaming and crying she had done. She looked up at me and it was that same look she had given me earlier.

"You gave me to him." She sobbed.

"Abby, it was a dream. I would never give you to anyone." I pulled her into my lap. I was relieved when she curled up and wrapped my arms around her. I had feared she would pull away from me.

"But you did. You gave me to the monster. You told him to fight me. You didn't protect me. You were supposed to care about me, but you gave me to him."

"What monster, Abby?" I asked confused. I would never hand her over to a monster. Or anyone.

"The big one with the big horns and scary eyes." Could she be dreaming of the battle with the Arishok? Or was this the time in the Fade when we had gone to rescue Feynriel?

"Tell me about the dream." I said holding her close.

"He…killed a man. He threw his head and…" She made a small noise and trembled. I tightened my arms around her and made soothing noises. She was remembering the battle with the Arishok. "He was gonna take Isabela. He was mad about a stupid book. I said he couldn't. He got really mad. And you told him to fight me. He said if I lost he would kill me and take her. You didn't care. You told him to fight me. You made him agree to it. Why didn't you protect me?"

"Abby, I thought…I thought I was doing the right thing. I understood his culture. I knew you would try to protect all the other hostages. It was the only way other than to give up Isabela. If he had respected me as much as you I would have fought him, but he didn't. I knew you could handle him. I didn't realize you were scared." My heart broke as I realized where I had seen that look before. It was the same one she had given me when I had suggested she fight the Arishok.

"Of course I was scared! He's huge and scary! He was going to kill me! You…don't care about me. You always put me in danger and leave me there. Why, Fenris? Why don't you make sure I'm safe like I do for you?" I stared at her stunned. She was remembering things. Did it mean the spell had worked at least some?

"Abby, I never meant to make you feel like that. I do care about you. I never want to see you in danger or hurt. But you are so strong and tough. You always are the one to take care of all of us. I didn't know you needed me. I didn't know you wanted me to protect you."

She frowned at me, tears running down her cheeks. "Course I need you. You're supposed to be my knight. Like you were with the templars."

"I'm sorry, Abby."

She looked up at me with sad eyes. "Do you really think I'm bad?"

I hugged her to me, closing my eyes against the wave of pain. "Abby, you are a handful. You always manage to find trouble. You are constantly dragging me into messes. Having me fight for a cause I don't agree with." She started to pull away from me, but I tightened my hold on her. "But you're always well meaning. You would do anything for anyone who needed help. You are kind and generous. You are loads of trouble, but that is part of your charm. You are most definitely not bad. You are the best person I know. And I wouldn't want to change a single thing about you."

"You mean it?" She asked pouting at me.

"With all my heart." I promised.

"And you won't leave me again?"

"Never. And I won't hand you over to anymore monsters." She nodded slowly.

"Will you hold me until I can fall asleep? That's what Mother would do when I had a bad dream."

"Of course." I said and shifted so I could lay us both down. Bandit grunted in response and moved to one of the large chairs by the fire.

"Was I really older before the mage?" She asked.

I frowned down at her. "Who told you that?"

"Merrill. She said that I used to be older and that the mage made me little. She said that's why I don't remember."

"Abby…"

"Please don't lie to me anymore. I don't want to be angry. I'm too tired." She said sounding very much like the older Abby at that moment.

"You were older."

"Am I the girl hero Anders was talking about?"

"Yes." I answered worriedly.

"Huh. Night Fenris." She said and curled into my chest, wrapping her little fist tightly into the collar of my tunic.

"Night, Abby." I drifted to sleep wondering if maybe Anders would find the key to unlock this. She was remembering. It was going to be alright. Abby would eventually be adult Abby again. And when she was she would leave here. She wouldn't need me anymore. She definitely wouldn't be asking me to hold her after bad dreams. But she had wanted me to protect her from the Arishok. At least some what. Maybe she did need someone to lean on a bit. Maybe she wasn't the untouchable hero we all thought she was. Could she have been waiting for me to say something all this time?

The sun was barely lighting the sky from black to grey when I was woken by the sound of fabric ripping. I felt the pull of magic on my markings and opened my eyes, tensing for battle. I wrapped my arm more securely around Abby and then started as long legs tangled with mine. Abby shifted more and wrapped her arm around my waist. Seeing nothing in the room and Bandit still asleep in the chair, I glanced down at Abby.

Abby wasn't sweet little Abby curled into my chest. Abby was once again beautiful Abby wrapped around me. Her long, dark curls spilling down the silky expanse of naked back I could feel beneath my hand. I shifted slightly, holding my breath, praying I wouldn't wake her. The pretty purple dress hadn't survived the transformation. I wasn't about to look any farther to see if anything else had or not. I pulled the covers over her more and began shifting trying to get out of bed. If she woke up like this, naked and wrapped around me, I was fairly certain I wouldn't survive to explain.

Seemed the spell had worked. I wondered if Anders had fueled it with blood as Rona had if it would have worked sooner. All that mattered now was she was back. Would she remember the last few days? I froze as she tightened her arm around me. She snuggled closer for a moment and then grew still. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of having her close. I let myself run my hand through her hair. The silky strands were tangled and caught on my fingers. She made a small noise and furrowed her brow. I was debating ghosting away from her when she shifted off of me, turning over and settling down again. I slipped out of the bed and pulled the covers over her.