Sten waited impatiently with the others just outside the door. The two Grey Wardens had been back for less than ten minutes before immediately being swept into yet another meeting with Eamon, now accompanied by the Queen of Ferelden. This damn diplomacy and bureaucracy had only ended up with the pair of them kidnapped and thrown into prison. It had taken every fibre of his being not to tear through the Fort himself and much, much meditation. He was not surprised Warden Tabris had managed to get herself safely out, but he felt...relieved. And irrationally angry with her. She had no need to put herself in such danger. He felt himself bristling as the door opened again, ready once again to tell her what he thought of her latest decision-making.

Tabris exited the room behind Alistair, the man running off to meet their other companions and tell the story of their apparently harrowing escape. Sten stood, glaring as she walked past.

"You should not be so reckless, kadan," he muttered when she was within earshot.

"I did not want to put the Queen in danger," she replied, not looking at him.

"I do not care about the safety of the Queen."

Tabris smirked and whispered, "I can take care of myself. I think you would have known that by now."

He thought of their encounter at Haven, the fire in her eyes as her lips were a mere breath from his, the anger between them changing into a very different sort of heat. He cleared his throat and looked away.

"What is the next move?" He asked.

"There is trouble in the Alienage," she replied, "I'm going alone on foot to investigate. Anyone else will just attract attention."

"This could be a trap," he said, glancing to meet her gaze, "It is dangerous for you to go alone."

"You don't have to worry about me, Sten," she said, her voice growing softer.

"I do, kadan," he murmured, his hand brushing lightly against hers.

He pulled back, letting her walk from him. He could have sworn he saw her blushing.

oOoOo

Sten was growing used to humans staring at him when he walked the streets of Denerim, but the glances of this particular group of three concerned him. It was not mere curiosity, but active interest. He went a different way than he was planning, going through the alleyway beside the Wonders of Thedas. He could hear them now. They were following him.

He gasped for breath as the spell hit him, knocking him to his knees. He felt the ropes binding him before he could fight back. He understood a little as they pulled him, the magic dragging him through the dirt. They were from Tevinter. He laughed painfully to himself. After years of surviving the war in Seheron, he had been captured in a ditch in Ferelden.

His laughter inevitably disturbed his captors and he went unconscious.

oOoOo

Sten woke at the bottom of a cage. He groaned, his chest aching. To his surprise, he felt himself being lifted up into a sitting position and a canteen of water placed beneath his lips. He drank instinctively, opening his eyes.

He paused, wiping his lips as he looked over the older elven man standing before him. There was something about him, something in his green eyes...

"You're awake, friend," the elf said kindly, "We were worried you would not wake again."

"Where am I?"

"That's a good question," he replied, "Most of us have been transported from the Alienage. I'm told we're destined to be sold in Tevinter as slaves."

"You sound oddly calm considering your fate."

The elf smiled weakly, "I'm terrified. I'm just trying to keep it together. There are many much younger than me in the cages. I have to be strong for them. I am curious what they want with you. You seem rather large for a slave."

Sten said, "Our peoples have been at war for centuries. I imagine...I imagine I will be brought as a prisoner, tortured, and eventually killed."

The elf replied, "And you think I sounded oddly calm."

Sten said gently, "I am scared as well."

"My name is Cyrion, Cyrion Tabris," the elf said, lifting his small hand to shake.

Sten frowned, "Tabris?"

"You've heard of my daughter then," Cyrion chuckled, "I'm quite proud of her, saving the country and angering every noble in sight. I half expected her to somehow know where I was and rescue me. But...I have always been a sap for a happy ending."

Sten said nothing.

Cyrion shook his head, "No matter. We should rest while they are still gone. Drink a little more and sleep. You will need your strength, Qunari."

Cyrion sat back down in the cage, groaning as he reached the floor.

Sten hesitated before finally saying, "If there was someone to rescue us...I think there is no one stronger nor more capable than your daughter."

Cyrion smiled as he closed his eyes, "I like to think so."

oOoOo

Sten glanced up when he saw the two guards leave the room. The mage stood still with several guards watching them. He heard a quiet grunt and he looked towards the docking bay, swearing he could see a shoe disappear from sight.

A few minutes passed and another pair of guards went forward, the mage now wary and pulling out his staff. Sten hid a smirk.

He glanced over at Cyrion, who looked hopeful.

He heard the other captives gasp as a smoke filled the room. It was nearly impossible to see, but he could heard the quiet movements of a rogue, the sounds of men falling, the sound of metal against bone.

The smoke cleared as he saw Tabris with her dagger against the mage's throat. He tried to plead for his life, but she slit it, not looking back as he fell to the ground. She walked over to the cages, picking the locks with ease. Others fled before she finally got to them. She embraced her father as soon as he made it out the door, kissing his forehead. He tried not to listen in, standing awkwardly as the rest left.

"Sten," Tabris called out, "I'm surprised to see you here. Were you here to keep my father company?"

Sten replied in embarrassment, "I was...detained. There were many men, I was simply overpowered."

"Uh huh," she rolled her eyes, "Come on, let's go see Dad get home safe and then I'll walk you home. I wouldn't want you to get "detained" again."

Tabris laughed to herself as she walked back out into the Alienage, the two men following behind her.

Sten muttered quietly to Cyrion, "Your daughter is a...very strong headed woman."

Cyrion chuckled, "You should have met her mother."