Promises: Chapter Thirty-Five

Disclaimer: Dragon Age and all assorted characters/places/etc belong to Bioware, not me.

Ansburg was two day's away from the bandits' hideout. The trio used the time they spent traveling to the city to plan what actions they would take and hash out the roles they would play once they arrived.

"So dare I hope you have some notion of how to ruin this Ian of yours?" Hawke asked early the next day, shortly after they had set off from camp. She walked next to Fenris, barely a hand's width apart from the elf. Fenris rather liked having her by his side that way; it would be easier to protect her from any and all harm if she was always within reach.

"First off, he's not my anything." Nathaniel shuddered visibly. "So I'll appreciate it if you choose your words with more care in the future."

"Oh I assure you, I selected my phrasing with the utmost of care," Hawke replied sweetly.

Nathaniel glanced at her askance. "Of course. Why am I not surprised?" he muttered. "As to your question, I do indeed have a plan on how to ruin him. It's clear that Carrow has connections to criminal elements in Ansburg, and strong ones at that seeing how he was able to convince them to kidnap me. I plan to expose him for scum that he is and let the endless gossip that pervades high society take care of the rest."

"Sounds good to me. I don't suppose you've identified these contacts of his," said Hawke.

"If I did, I wouldn't need your help," Nathaniel replied a bit testily. "I've known for awhile that the blighted bastard has ties to Ansburg's thieves' guild. If I had proof, I would have already used it against him."

"But surely you must have some idea of where to start," Hawke pressed him.

"I do. That's why I need you…or rather your companion."

"Oh?" Hawke glanced sideways at Fenris but like the mageling, he had no idea about the thought process behind the archer's statement.

"The head of the thieves' guild of Ansburg is an elf," Nathaniel explained. "As such, he recruits heavily from the alienage. It's hard for elves to find work in the city, and so I guess poverty leads them into a life of crime," Nathaniel explained matter-of-factly. "However elves won't talk to me. That's where your friend comes in. The residents of the alienage will be much more likely to confide in him."

"Isn't that taking a leap of faith? I mean, Fenris will be a stranger to them. I doubt that a successful thief is prone to divulging his secrets to whoever walks in off the street."

Nathaniel fixed Hawke with a stare, but that didn't faze her. "That is why," Nathaniel said in crisp tones, "I expect that it will take some measure of time before your companion will get any useful information. However I have no doubt that eventually he will be able to learn more about the thieves' guild. Like I said, they do look for recruits from the alienage and an elf who's handy with a sword should be a target for them."

Fenris winced at Nathaniel's poor choice of words as his mageling emitted a soft growl. Fenris could see Hawke scrunching up her face. He could tell she was about to put her foot in it. He squeezed her hand, drawing her attention to him. With a brief smile and an exaggerated roll of his eyes, he let her know just to let the matter drop. His mageling didn't look too happy about that, but she did as he bid.

Hawke sighed heavily. "So let me get this straight. Your plan is to have Fenris to charm any elves in the thieves' guild into giving up valuable information," said Hawke slowly.

"Yes, I'm certain that some of them must know something."

"And then you use that information to find solid evidence to present to the…who rules Ansburg again?"

"The margrave," Nathaniel answered promptly. "And that's the other issue, I have actually." He rubbed the back of his head nervously.

Hawke and Fenris exchanged a glance. "Other issue?" Fenris repeated. When Nathaniel had spoke about his situation the night before, it sounded as though all they needed to do was to find evidence of Ian's connection with the thieves' guild and then that would be that.

"There's always something else, isn't there?" Hawke grumbled under her breath from her spot beside Fenris. "It was the same way with Zev."

"True. At least this one is more honest," Fenris pointed out to her.

"If a lot less charming," was Hawke's response.

"That's a good thing," Fenris replied quickly. The idea of Hawke lavishing her attention on another man was not a pleasant one. Though he didn't understand the source of his mageling's irritation with Nathaniel, he was happy that she was unlikely to be as friendly with the archer as she had been with the assassin.

Meanwhile Nathaniel had remained silent as the two of them exchanged their remarks, but he now cleared his throat, calling their attention to him. "Oh the joys of traveling with a couple," he remarked sardonically. "I do so love not understanding all these coded conversations."

Hawke rolled her eyes in annoyance. "If you don't want us to help you—"

"Unfortunately my wants have never been high on anyone's priority list," Nathaniel snapped, scowling fiercely. "I would rather be able to handle this on my own. However that's what I've tried to do in the past, and you can see how far that got me. So while I do not want help, I will be pragmatic and seek it out."

Fenris cocked an eyebrow up. He could understand the other man's longing to be entirely self-reliant. He himself had not trusted anyone to guard his back until Hawke came along. However there seemed more to the man's displeasure than just that. Indeed Nathaniel seemed almost bitter at times, and Fenris wondered what could have upset the archer so.

"In any case, you were about to tell us about another issue you have to deal with," said Hawke, prodding the archer for more details. "Let me guess. This Ian has allies outside of the thieves' guild that we must also deal with."

"Close, very close," said Nathaniel. "It's…something like that. Carrow has had a reputation for being both a bully and a coward. Complaints have been made about him before, and there are many in Ansburg who would love to see the bastard shipped away for good. However the margrave is amongst Carrow's staunchest supporters and protects him against all charges."

Fenris resisted the urge to curse. It was one thing to help ferret out evidence about Howe's enemy in order for the archer to have his revenge. It was another thing to dispose of the ruler of a city. "If you're expecting us to overthrow the margrave and for such little coin, then perhaps it would be best for us to go our separate ways," he said stiffly.

"I don't think that's it, Fenris," Hawke told him softly. Her gaze flickered over to Nathaniel. "So is the margrave of Ansburg known for being bully himself? Or perhaps he has a reputation for being a fool instead?"

"Neither," the archer replied with a shake of his head. "In fact, he's one of the best rulers that the city has ever seen."

Fenris wrinkled his forehead, deep in thought. "If that is true, then it is strange he would be so taken with a man you've described as a bully and a coward," he said.

"Indeed, it is strange. However I have heard that there is foul magic that can cloud a man's mind and senses." Nathaniel looked pointedly at Hawke.

Her eyebrows both shot up. "You suspect blood magic?" she cried. "Then that's not a job for us but rather the templars."

"Ansburg has its templars, but none of them are in my confidence. Besides a mage should be more than capable of recognizing blood magic when she sees it, right?"

Hawke shuddered. "Yes," she replied. "But just because I can sense it doesn't mean I want to be around it. Blood magic is…it's unnatural and foul and being near it gives me the creeps."

"That it is," Fenris agreed. "However if there is a blood mage manipulating the ruler of Ansburg, then someone needs to put an end to that. We are better equipped than most to deal with such foul magics."

"I suppose so," Hawke said reluctantly. "Besides I guess it might not be blood magic. Blackmail is just as possible," she said, her expression brightening.

"That is true, especially as Carrow has ties to those who are in the business of stealing secrets," Nathaniel said. "If it is blackmail, however, then we'll need to figure out just what the blackmail is. It might be easier to deal with blood magic than unravel blackmail."

Fenris grimaced. The archer had a point, but the elf preferred to deal with blackmail himself. Evidently the archer had never dealt with blood magic before and so had no grasp of its perversions. However Fenris took some comfort in the fact that he had Hawke at his side. His mageling was one of the strongest mages he had ever come across, in both moral fiber and magical capacity, and so hopefully she would be able to shield them from any spells a blood mage might lob their way.

"So is there anything else?" Hawke asked. "Or is that the full extent of your troubles with your fellow squire?"

"That is all." Nathaniel cast his eyes skyward. "And I thank the Maker for that. I think those two issues are more than enough for us to deal with."

They didn't speak again about their plans until they had made camp for the evening. Fenris assigned himself the job of cooking once more, and he was determined to use the bulk of their supplies before they reached Ansburg. Given the expansive task they had before them, he doubted that they would leave the city any time soon and so their food stores would go bad before then. Hawke helped him out in the beginning with finding the different ingredients and the like, but after everything had been added to the pot, there was little for the mageling to do.

It was out of boredom that she turned to questioning Nathaniel. She wandered away from the fire and sat down next to the archer. "So you said that you wanted Fenris to scout out the alienage for you," she said conversationally. "What am I supposed to do?"

"I thought that would be obvious. You'll scout for blood magic, of course," was the archer's ready reply.

"If the margrave is under the influence of blood magic, I should be able to tell just by speaking with him," Hawke said. "The problem is getting in a situation in which I would speak with him."

"Oh that's not a problem at all." Nathaniel dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. "I'll introduce you as a cousin of mine, and we'll get you into the castle that way."

Fenris had been paying attention to their conversation while he minded the pot and he did not like what he heard. He did not like the idea of abandoning Hawke to a castle potentially full of blood mages while he slummed about the alienage. Satisfied that the food was not in danger of burning in the near future, he stalked over to loom over the archer. "That is unacceptable," he said firmly. "You will not split us up like that. We are a team," he told the other man.

"Funny. I rather thought you were a bit more than that."

Fenris was saved from having to react to that snide remark by Hawke kicking the other man in the leg. "Stop that," she said, wrinkling her nose. "That's not Fenris meant and you know it."

"Besides," she went on, "Fenris is right. The two of us are a team, and that means we do our best work when we are together. I won't be much use at all if I'm up each night worrying about how Fenris is faring in the alienage."

Fenris frowned, unhappy that Hawke still had that notion she had to protect him still stuck in her head. He was quite capable of taking care of himself—well so long as no foul magic was involved—and there was no need for her to lose sleep over his safety. Still this was not the time for such a private conversation, not when they had to make it clear to the archer that they would not be separated.

"So are you suggesting that you want me to get Fenris into the castle as well?" Nathaniel shot a disbelieving look at Hawke. "Getting a pretty girl in is one thing. Everyone will believe that you're my cousin, especially since no one in the Free Marches has any concept of who's who in Ferelden. An elf is a different matter. The only elves in the castle are servants, I fear."

Hawke leaped upon that admission. "Then that works in our favor," she announced. "Fenris can be my bodyguard. It's a subterfuge we've used often in the past." Fenris found himself nodding his head in agreement with Hawke's proposal. Though he wasn't fond of being taken for a servant, that was preferable to being separated from his Hawke.

"Your bodyguard? Do you have any idea of how strange that sounds? Why would any maiden need a bodyguard in the safety of the margrave's castle?"

"Because it's not safe," Hawke said through gritted teeth. "As your kidnapping proves. You can say that you hired Fenris to keep me safe from whatever enemies are haunting your steps. Who can argue with a nobleman doing what he has to do to keep his female relative safe after he has been threatened himself?"

Nathaniel cocked his head, considering the suggestion that Hawke had made. "It could work," he said finally. "Fereldans are thought to be barbarians after all. I could mention that I'd prefer a mabari but given that there are none around, an elven warrior with no local ties is the next best thing."

"That sounds like just the thing a Fereldan fresh off the turnip cart would say," said Hawke.

"Ha! There is that." Nathaniel frowned then. "Although if Fenris acts are your bodyguard, that doesn't give him much time to prowl the alienage for clues."

"I doubt my services will always be needed," Fenris spoke up. "For example, I'll hardly be needed if you're around to personally see to your cousin's safety."

"That could work very well," Hawke said. "You can say that you've hired Fenris to watch over me when you can't," she told Nathaniel. "In turn, that might make Fenris a more attractive potential recruit to the thieves' guild because he can come and go to the castle as he pleases."

"It might also make the thieves' guild more reluctant to contact Fenris, knowing that he's working for me," Nathaniel disagreed.

Hawke shrugged her shoulders. "There is always that possibility. I think that it's just as likely that they'll try to win Fenris over because he works for you and you're a target that they're after," she replied airily.

The archer's shoulders tensed up, and that clue was enough for Fenris to tell that their new companion did not appreciate how Hawke had so readily brushed his concerns aside. The elven warrior checked a sigh. It was time for him to intervene before the conversation got heated. "You are both right," the elf stated, his tone decisive. "My position as a bodyguard might scare the thieves' guild away from me or it might attract them to me. It's impossible for us to predict how they will react. We cannot plan for all contingencies. The only thing we can do is be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances as best we can."

Fenris could tell that neither of his companions entirely appreciated his reasoning. The archer remained silent, stewing over his words. Meanwhile, from the set of Hawke's chin, it was clear that she was not going to let Fenris have the last word. She looked up at him from her spot on the ground, her eyes blazing passionately.

"You're probably right, Fenris," she said lightly. "Actually scratch that. You usually are right. However there are some things I won't ever agree to, and chief amongst them all is that I will never agree to be separated from you." Her gaze cut over to the archer, who appeared startled about how fierce the mageling could be. "I've lost my family once already and that was more than enough. Fenris is the only one I have right now, and if you think I'll be all right with any plan that keeps him away from me, then you have another thing coming."

Unable to meet Hawke's stare, the archer looked away from her. "Understood," said Nathaniel simply. His eyes flicked over to Fenris. "You're luckier than you'll ever know, my friend, to have your woman be so devoted to you. Would it that we were all so lucky." A heavy sigh escaped the archer's lips. Then in a single motion, he leapt to his feet and stalked away from camp, leaving the two lovers behind.

"Something tells me that he hasn't been lucky in love," Hawke said. She rose to her feet as well and brushed off the dirt from her robes with her hands.

"That may very well be," Fenris said sternly, "but it is not our place to pry. He is paying us well enough. We should leave him alone and let him keep his dignity."

Hawke snorted. "I'm not sure he has any to start," she grumbled. A wicked look flashed across her face. Hawke put her hands behind her back and crossed her legs, looking up at Fenris through her eyelashes. "But since he's been kind enough to leave the two of us alone, perhaps there are better ways to use our time?"

"There may be indeed," Fenris said huskily. He stepped closer to his mageling, shortening the distance between them. He cupped Hawke's face in one hand and tilted it up so he could kiss her. Before his lips could touch hers, however, his nose caught the scent of a foul smell. His eyes crossed as he realized what that smell was.

"Blast!" he swore, letting go of Hawke and turning towards the fire. "I forgot about our dinner!" He quickly made his way back where he had left dinner cooking, with Hawke close on his heels. Thankfully dinner wasn't unsalvageable, but by the time they were done, their other companion had returned and their time alone had ended.

Fenris was feeling decidedly grumpy the next day. Hawke had slept with him last night, cuddling up against his side the way she always did and leaving him hot and bothered. It was absolutely maddening to feel her soft breasts pressed up against his chest but have to refrain from caressing her curves the way he longed to. The elf was used to being able to do something about the feelings Hawke always arose with him. However, as the two of them now had another traveling companion, that wasn't exactly possible, especially when that companion was within earshot.

It didn't help matters that the blasted archer couldn't take a hint and leave them alone. Fenris had been as blunt as he could be when he had asked the archer to scout around while he and Hawke prepared breakfast. Though Nathaniel agreed to do as such readily enough, he finished scouting their surroundings in a matter of minutes and returned to camp all too quickly, which only added to the elf's frustrations. It took all of his considerable self-control not to order the archer to scout their surroundings again and this time do a proper job of it.

Of course, the other problem with not having any time alone with Hawke was that Fenris still hadn't had that conversation he had promised her. He worried that the longer he let that fool notion that she needed to protect him go unchallenged, the more likely it would take root in her head and that he would never be able to convince her otherwise. The mere idea of him needing a guardian was laughable. He was more than capable of taking care of himself, and he believed he had proven that time and time again. The only thing Fenris feared was blood magic. For that, he did count on Hawke to shield him. However even then, the mageling could work her magic from safely behind him. There was no reason for her to ever engage their enemies physically. While her staff wasn't a useless weapon, it still wasn't a very effective one and so she needed to stay outside of the fray, like any good mage would. Hawke was stubborn though and often too willing to ignore common sense. Fenris just wished that his mageling wouldn't do so for his sake.

"Anything wrong, Fenris?" Hawke asked. He glanced over at her to see that she was looking at him with concern in her eyes. "You've seemed out of sorts all morning long."

Fenris clenched his fists. The truth was he had been out of sorts all morning, but that wasn't due to Hawke. Or rather he as grumpy because of what he hadn't been able to do to Hawke. "It is of no moment," he said.

"Are you certain? If it's anything I did, I didn't mean—"

"You did nothing wrong," he hastened to reassure her. "If I am a little more…." He cast about, searching for a word to describe his mood.

"A little more broody," Hawke prompted him.

Fenris grimaced but accepted her description. It was rather fitting given the state he was in. "That will do," he said. "As I was saying, if I'm a little more broody today, it's because I'm mourning the fact that we won't be able to spend much time alone together."

"Oh I don't know about that." Hawke wrinkled her nose and bit her lower lip. "I'm positive I'll think of something. I always do."

A sigh sounded from behind them. "I would say that inviting strange elves into your bedchambers is hardly lady-like, but most of the ladies I know are always up for what they like to call adventure," Nathaniel said with a shake of his head. "However there is one last detail I've been meaning to clear up with you and that's the matter of your name."

"You know my name," the mageling replied promptly. "It's Hawke."

The archer gave her a look. "That's your family name, I'm sure. No Fereldan would name their daughter Hawke. What's your given name?"

"I go by Hawke," Hawke said tersely.

"Look, I'm only asking because it's better for us to use your real first name when I introduce you. That way you don't have to remember what name you're supposed to answer to."

"Well the only name I'm used to answering to is Hawke. By your reasoning, that's what we should go with."

"Is she always this difficult?" Nathaniel asked as an aside to Fenris. Not waiting for an answer from the elf, he turned his attention back towards the mageling. "How about this? I gave you both my family name and my given name. It's only fair that you pay me the same courtesy."

The archer looked expectantly at Hawke, but the mageling remained firm. "No," she said with a stubborn lift of her chin. "I shan't. I'm not very fond of my first name and I see no reason why I should give it to you so you can torture me with it."

"It can't be that bad," the archer replied.

"Doesn't matter. I don't like it."

Nathaniel rolled his shoulders back, the only sign of his frustration. The archer seemed to know that he was fighting a losing battle though. "Very well then. If you don't want to share your first name with us, then I guess I'll have to think up of a name we can use for you. What do you think of Hortensia?"

Hawke's jaw dropped. "I think that's ghastly. What parent would ever be so cruel to shackle their child with that name?"

"A pious one. Hortensia was the name of more than one divine you know."

"That doesn't change a thing. The name's still ghastly. This may come as a surprise to you but saddling a child with a name that bad, no matter how pious it might be, will only subject the poor thing to much teasing and taunting."

"Fine. How do you feel about Iphigenia?"

The mageling shuddered visibly. "Um…no. And might I just add that I feel sorry for any children you might have. Your taste in names is questionable at best."

"Is that so? So don't you agree that it would be better for us to use the name your parents gave you rather than one I think up?"

Fenris stifled a chuckle. He could see where this was leading. The archer was trying to wheedle Hawke's given name out of her. It was a decent strategy, but one that failed to take into account how hardheaded the mageling could be when she put her mind to it. He doubted that they would be able to learn Hawke's name so easily, not when it was clear that she was set against divulging it.

His assessment of the situation turned out to be correct. "You know that's not the only option available. We can always use a name that I choose," said the mageling.

"We could…except I'll be the one introducing you. So pretty much what I say goes, I think," Nathaniel responded.

Hawke pouted openly. "You really are a bastard," she muttered.

"I assure you my parents were married when I was born." The archer's tone was calm now that he was sure he had the upper hand. "But never you worry. Despite your claims, I am not unreasonable. Since you dislike Hortensia and Iphigenia so much, I'll use the time we have a left to think of a more suitable name for you." He paused ominously. "Not unless of course you'd rather go with your own."

The mageling was not about to be cowed by such a threat. "Go ahead. Do your worst," she challenged Nathaniel. "It doesn't really matter what you decide to call me. The more awful the name, the better in fact, because that'll make it easier for me to convince everyone to call me Hawke instead."

"Ha! No one is going to call a noble's daughter Hawke!" Nathaniel declared. "I can see that you have a lot to learn." He grinned wickedly. "And watching you learn," he continued, "is going to be fun."

Author's note: Thanks so much for reading. I'd appreciate it ever so muchly if you could leave a review to let me know what you think.