Have I told you lately how awesome you guys are? No? Well, reader, yes you, you're awesome.

Orana lightly plucked the strings of her lute, humming a slow, soft melody. She sat next to Hawke's bed playing her favorite Tevinter ballad. It had a soothing effect on the people who cared to listen to the music even though the song was one of tragedy. Orana kept her eyes closed letting her fingers glide over the thin strings that guided by her memory. She couldn't cook as well as her father or clean as flawlessly as her mother, but none could deny her musical gift. And she played for her mistress, offering the only comfort she knew.

When Hawke had been rushed into the bedroom, Orana squealed in surprise. She had been straightening Lady's Hawke's bedclothes. Anders had asked that everyone leave the room, and Orana obeyed without a second thought. Fenris carefully laid Hawke on the bed and he cursed to himself. She caught a glimpse of her savior for a moment and she couldn't conceal her shock. Her mistress had been beaten and she was bleeding horribly. Orana had seen her father that way once, and images haunted her. She was ushered out of the bedroom without another word and was left in the open den to let her imagination wander.

Later, she heard Anders and Fenris arguing downstairs. She heard shouting and spells being cast and it brought back dreadful memories. Orana clasped her hands over her ears trying her best to drown out the harsh voices. She hated fighting, and she wanted to be away from it. She managed to sneak back into Hawke's room and her eyes filled with tears when she saw her mistress' wrapped in cloth. How could anyone hurt her mistress this way? Hawke was so full of love and compassion and she brought hope to those who had forgotten how to live.

"Mistress…" Orana whispered. She didn't dare touch Hawke for fear that the lightest caress would bring her pain. So instead, Orana decided to play for her. She grabbed her lute and sat on the floor near the fireplace. She plucked at one string and looked to see if Hawke had stirred. There was no movement other than the rise and fall of Hawke's chest. Orana continued and played several chords before she started humming along with the melody. The music took over as it always had and she began to sing.

O mighty hero, do not stray

Follow your heart, it knows the way

Stay your path though dark and cold

Be true Anu'le as your story unfolds

Surrounded yet alone

Wherever you roam

Eyes open yet blind

Anu'le…

free your mind

Oh, Anu'le, why do you cry

You search far and wide

But your treasure

Has never left your side.

She held the last note for two bars before she lifted her fingers from the lute finishing the song. Silently, she stood to her feet and headed for the door. She saw Fenris standing there.

"You changed the words," he said quietly to her.

Orana nodded. She knew Fenris had heard her playing. "I was born a slave. Every human I knew was cruel and cold," Orana said looking to Hawke. "But meeting her, I never knew a human was capable of such love. Lady Hawke's hero is much like the hero in my song, yes?" was all she said before she walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Fenris stared at the closed door, contemplating the song he had just heard. How foolish he was. Hawke's new servant was certainly more than what she appeared, or perhaps it was Hawke's influence that gave the girl strength to speak her mind. He turned and looked upon Hawke's sleeping form. With each step he took, he felt his chest tighten and he couldn't hold back a choked sob when he looked upon her face. He knelt by the bed, taking off the guards around his hands and fingers. He ran his fingers through her hair, careful not to touch her face.

He cursed and blamed himself for being the sole reason of her pain. He was nothing but a coward, a weakling that failed the woman who had stolen his heart. "Forgive me…" he said to her, resting his head on her bed. "Forgive me, Hawke." He put his hand over hers which was draped across her stomach. "And may our child forgive me."

"Lita," came Hawke's raspy voice.

Fenris' head snapped up and he saw that Hawke's eyes were now open. Her face was turned toward him and he felt her fingers close over his. "I thought we could name her Lita. She is a part of you, past and all."

"Hawke," Fenris breathed. "Lita… had I known, I would have never let- I am a fool. I deserve any and every punishment that comes my way. I don't deserve you, Hawke. I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"Fenris…" Hawke hushed him.

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

He didn't know how it was possible, but he saw forgiveness in her eyes. Her cheek was bruised and swollen and her lips were cut, but he never found her more beautiful. Slowly, he stood and sat next to her on the bed. With his help, she moved to lay her head on his lap. To feel her so close again was a dream that had come true. Every night since he had left her, he imagined holding her close, breathing in her scent, feeling her hair against his skin. He finally learned that losing Hawke was far more painful that losing his memories.

"Don't leave me," Hawke whispered, holding him as tightly as her battered body would allow.

"I won't," Fenris promised. "Whatever you want, it is yours."

"Just you," she said. He played with her hair for some time unsure of what else he could say. Hawke broke the silence with a whimper. "I wish I knew if she had your eyes."

Fenris closed his eyes and imagined what his daughter would have looked like. He saw a little girl dancing in the rain and jumping in puddles. Hawke ran up to her, laughing while she gathered their daughter up in her arms. Lita had dark hair just like Hawke, but she had piercing green eyes just like him. Hawke tucked Lita's hair behind her pointy ears and he could see his daughter's radiating smile. It melted his heart.

"I imagine…" he started, opening his eyes, "that she does."

"Hmmm," Hawke sighed. "And your ears."

"Your smile."

"Your strength."

"Your heart."

"What does Ah-nu-ley mean?" Hawke asked.

Fenris pondered the significance of Orana's version of the Tevinter ballad of a hero that journeyed on a quest to find a mighty dragon that had killed his family. In the end, both the hero and the dragon met their fates in glorious battle and their story became legend. Orana, however, changed the lyrics to reflect Fenris' life. "It is a name given to one who wanders," Fenris contemplated.

Hawke nuzzled her face into his arm. "Does this wanderer find what he is searching for?"

"Yes, he does," Fenris said. "And he swears that he will never let go of his treasure ever again." He leaned down and gently kissed her. They spent the rest of the night mostly in silence, mourning the loss of a child they never saw, touched or heard. But she was loved all the same. Fenris knew he could never fully heal the scar that permanently marked Hawke's heart, but with the time he had left of his life, he would damn sure try.

Anu'le is just a word I made up. If it has any similarities to any other word in whatever language, it was purely coincidental and has no affiliation with said word. I just thought it was pretty.