Deciding to leave Fenris to sleep, Hawke busied himself preparing dinner, completely unaware that Fenris had not been asleep at all. When the meat was done, he removed it from the oven and left it to rest upon the counter. He then went back to the reception hall, where a relaxed Fenris was still lying on the settee, but was now 'awake'.

"Dinner's nearly done," Hawke told him. "I'm going to bring that table in from next door. We can use it to eat, and then we can leave it in here for the game later on."

"Let me help you," offered Fenris.

"No, I can manage," replied Hawke. "The whole point of bringing the table in is so that you don't have to walk in there. You need to keep that foot up for the next few hours."

"But what if I need to answer a call of nature?" Fenris asked.

"Tie a knot in it," Hawke joked.

"It's not that long, Hawke," smiled Fenris, and Hawke burst out laughing.

"What have I told you about putting yourself down?" Hawke scolded him, and went into the dining room, still laughing.

Fenris watched Hawke as he dragged the large dining table over to the settee, and then returned to the dining room for some chairs, which he placed around the table. He then sat at the end of the settee, taking care not to bump Fenris's foot.

"We can have our reading lesson here, as well, if you feel up to it."

"I do," said Fenris. "I look forward to it."

"Not bored of it yet, eh? Well, we're nearly at the end of the alphabet, Fenris: today we'll cover the letters 'R' and 'S', which means you'll be able to write your own name at the end of the lesson."

Fenris allowed himself a small smile, and Hawke also smiled at the look of pride on the elf's face. "You're doing really well, Fenris: by tomorrow you'll have learned your letters, and we can get you reading properly."

A serious look came over Fenris, then, and he glanced down at his hands. "I will never be able to repay you for everything you've done for me, Hawke."

"Yes, you will," Hawke said. "You can learn to read, and then I'll have someone else to be boring with and talk about books all the time. That's the only reason I'm teaching you, you know."

"I will do my best, Hawke," Fenris replied with a knowing smile.

Hawke rose. "I'm going to dish up, now. I'll make us some tea, as well. I recommend that you lay off the wine for a couple of days; it'll help your body to fight the infection more efficiently. Did you drink your medicine?"

"Yes, Hawke. Here," Fenris said, passing him the empty mug.

"Thanks. Are you comfortable? Does your foot feel all right?"

Fenris nodded. "I am very comfortable, thank you. The pain is gone."

"Fenris…will you let me know if ever you're in pain, or feel unwell, again? There are sometimes alternatives to magic, you know."

"I will, Hawke. And thank you again."

~o~O~o~

After Hawke and Fenris had dined together, Hawke cleared the plates and cups away, still refusing to let Fenris help, despite his protestations. They then commenced Fenris's reading lesson. Fenris was progressing so well that Hawke continued right through to the end of the alphabet, and neither of them noticed that the sun was setting, so engrossed in the lesson were they. At the end, Hawke tested Fenris, and his reward for passing was to be allowed to use the latrine. Naturally, this strongly motivated Fenris, and he passed with flying colours.

When Fenris returned, Hawke examined his foot again, and, using some of the spare rags from atop the mantelpiece, he re-dressed Fenris's foot, as the short walk to the latrine had caused the wound to start weeping.

Shortly afterwards, just after seven bells, a loud rap sounded on the front door of the mansion.

"Didn't Varric say he would call at eight bells?" Fenris asked, sitting up straight on the settee. "He is early."

"I'll go," offered Hawke, as he was nearest to the door, and, as he stood up, he didn't fail to notice the tension in Fenris's posture. He walked over to a window and looked out. "It's Sebastian," he told Fenris, who exhaled and stood up.

As Hawke opened the door and invited Sebastian in, he wondered if Fenris reacted in the same way when he called on him.

"Good evening to you both," Sebastian said with a friendly nod, removing a bottle of wine from under his arm. "I believe it's customary to bring a gift when invited to someone's house. I trust it'll be put to good use." He handed the bottle to Fenris, who took it with a smile and a small bow. "Hawke told me that he's been tending to your foot, Fenris. I wish you a swift recovery."

"Thank you. You are very kind," said Fenris, gesturing for Sebastian to sit; the archer joined Hawke at the table.

"You don't drink alcohol, do you?" Hawke asked Sebastian as they took a seat. "You've brought wine that you can't drink?"

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "That is true, Hawke; however, I feared that flowers or chocolates might give the wrong impression."

"I wouldn't have minded chocolates," Hawke said with a pout.

The three men shared a laugh, and Fenris placed the bottle on the table for later. "Would you like some tea?" he offered.

"Oh, that would be most welcome, Fenris; thank you," replied Sebastian.

Hawke rose from his chair and pointed to the settee. "Sit down, you," he ordered Fenris with a cheeky smile. "You're supposed to be resting that foot." Fenris mock-scowled and shook his head, but did as Hawke said.

"I'd make the most of it, Fenris," Sebastian advised him. "As soon as you're on the mend, I have no doubt that Hawke will have you running around the Free Marches, chasing after mercenaries."

"No doubt," said Fenris with a sly smile at Hawke.

"Actually, we'll be heading into the Deep Roads fairly soon," Hawke told Sebastian. "We just need to get a bit more money together." Hawke's face dropped a little, then, and he turned to Fenris. "Um…I don't think I've ever asked you if you wanted to join us on the expedition, Fenris…I…just sort of assumed…" He coughed, and then looked at Fenris expectantly. "What-what do you think, Fenris? Would you, um, like to, uh, accompany us?"

"Us?" asked Fenris sharply, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes…uh, Sebastian has very kindly offered to go along…"

Fenris glanced at Sebastian, and his eyebrow disappeared beneath his hair. What Hawke didn't see was his wink at Sebastian. "And who else have you asked, Hawke?" the elf demanded.

"Well…Varric's coming along. Of course he is; he's the one who, um, well, it was his idea. Sort of. And, uh…Anders," he said in almost a whisper. "He's got to come; he-he's a Grey Warden and all that. Fenris, I'm sorry I never actually asked you…it's just that I couldn't imagine not having you along and I've kind of factored you into my plans. Without actually asking you. Erm…" Hawke cleared his throat and smiled nervously.

"You asked all of those people before you asked me?" Fenris asked gruffly. Sebastian covered his mouth with one hand to hide his smile. "So, let me get this straight…I am fourth choice?"

"What? Maker, no! I mean…it wasn't like that, Fenris, honestly!" As Fenris and Sebastian started sniggering, Hawke gasped dramatically and placed his hands on his hips. "Fenris! Don't you ever do that to me again!"

"It was quite funny, Hawke," chortled Sebastian.

"Funny?" spluttered Hawke, making a concerted effort not to laugh himself. "I've never been so scared in my bloody life!"

"Do you really think I would allow you to enter the Deep Roads without me?" laughed Fenris, flashing a toothy smile at Hawke.

Hawke folded his arms and shot a stern glance at Fenris. "You're lucky Sebastian is here, else I'd be calling you a very bad name, Elf."

"Oh, don't let me stop you," Sebastian said. "I'm sure it's nothing I haven't heard before."

"All right then…how about Asinus for a start?"

"I cannot argue with that," laughed Fenris, and Hawke's heart swelled as Fenris wiped a tear from his eye, his shoulders rocking with mirth.

"I must confess, I haven't heard that one," said Sebastian.

"It means arse," Hawke told him with a pointed glance at the elf.

"Ass," Fenris corrected him.

"Same difference," mumbled Hawke, and he threw a wink of his own at Fenris before heading to the kitchen.

Hawke took his time making the tea. He'd noticed that Fenris was comfortable in Sebastian's company, and he wanted Fenris to make as many friends as possible. Now that Varric had begun making enquiries as to the whereabouts of Danarius, Hawke wondered if a few people's noses would be put out of joint by that, and was more concerned than ever for Fenris's safety. Having more friends would not only boost Fenris's confidence, but also increase the number of people he had to call on if ever he found himself in trouble; Hawke would not always be around.

Hawke's main concern, however, was now that Fenris's foot was on the mend, Hawke would no longer have an excuse to stay at the mansion, and Fenris would once again be on his own, leaving him more vulnerable, especially at night. Although Aveline had posted extra guards in Hightown, Hawke was not entirely convinced that a couple of ex-templars would be effective against a blood mage who didn't need to rely on lyrium for his powers. Fenris was by no means anonymous in Kirkwall, and surely Danarius must know that he now resided at the mansion?

Hawke's eyes widened and he raised his head as an idea suddenly formed in his mind. Perhaps there was a way for Fenris to become anonymous and well-protected…but would Fenris agree to it?

The more Hawke thought about it, the more he liked the idea: it was the perfect solution, with the potential to allay all of his fears over Fenris's safety. All he had to do was convince Fenris. With a hopeful grin on his face, and a nervous flutter in his belly, he quickly set about making the tea.

By the time he'd taken the tea through, Varric had just arrived, and, much to Hawke's delight, so had Donnic. Inhibiting a crafty smile, Hawke set the tea tray down and walked over to greet the two men.

"Fenners!" Donnic exclaimed with a hefty slap to the elf's shoulder, passing him another bottle of wine. "I've brought a little something to wet our whistles with."

"And what have you brought along, Varric?" Hawke queried as he arrived beside the dwarf, noticing no bottle, or anything else for that matter, under Varric's arm.

"Hey, I'm providing the eye candy, Hawke!" protested Varric. "What more do you want from me?"

"You? Eye candy?" mocked Hawke, looking him up and down with disgust. "If you're the finest specimen the male sex has to offer, that's the most compelling argument I've heard yet to go straight!"

"If you must know," said Varric with a sniff as the men walked over to the table, "your sister happens to think I have rather distinguished features."

"Are you sure you heard her right, Varric?" teased Donnic. "Maybe she meant 'disfigured'."

"Or 'disgusting'," added Hawke, taking a seat on the settee next to Fenris.

Varric scowled at his friends as he took his own seat between Sebastian and Donnic. "Anyone else care to insult the dwarf?"

"If you wish," Fenris said quietly. "Disastrous?"

Hawke and Donnic fell about laughing, and even Sebastian had a hard time containing his mirth. Varric folded his arms and smiled grimly. "I'm gonna wipe the floor with you, Elf."

"We shall see," replied Fenris, tickled that he'd made his friends laugh.

"Will you two be playing together again?" Donnic asked Hawke and Fenris, and Hawke looked at Fenris.

"I believe I shall play alone, tonight," Fenris answered, smiling at the mage.

"Oh, that's fighting talk, Elf!" chuckled Hawke, overjoyed to see Fenris so relaxed.

"Speaking of fighting, Fenris, the Guard is recruiting at the moment," Donnic said with a furtive glance at Hawke. "Just thought you'd like to know."

Fenris smiled and shook his head, and, when Hawke made no protest, Donnic frowned. "Nothing to say to that, Hawke? I'm trying to recruit your 'lucky elf' again, you know."

"Fenris can speak for himself," replied Hawke. "If he wants to join the Guard, that's up to him."

Donnic cocked his head to one side and looked at Hawke curiously.

"You beat me fair and square in the beer-drinking contest," Hawke explained with a shrug. "I know when I'm defeated."

Fenris, who along with Sebastian was pouring wine for the others, listened to the exchange but didn't notice the look that passed between Hawke and Donnic.

Intrigued at Hawke's apparent change of heart, Donnic glanced over at Fenris and waited for his wine, taking it with a grateful nod. "You know, Fenris, Aveline is doing away with single patrols. If you joined the Guard, you could end up as my partner. Wouldn't that be grand?"

Sebastian stood up and passed a glass of wine over to Varric and Hawke, before taking his seat again.

"You not drinking, Elf?" Varric asked Fenris, who was sipping at his tea.

"Hawke has advised me not to drink alcohol for a day or two, while my foot is healing," he explained. "I will drink tea, along with Sebastian."

Varric nodded and looked under the table at Fenris's bandaged foot. "How's it doing?"

"Much better, thank you. Hawke has done a fine job."

"What do you say, Fenris?" Donnic interjected, eager to get back to the subject of recruitment. "When your foot's better, why don't you come along for a trial? I tell you, some of the recruits are so full of themselves; I'd love to see you put them in their place!"

Fenris smiled modestly and shrugged his shoulders. "I am flattered, but I have been invited to join a Deep Roads expedition; today, as a matter of fact." To his side, he saw Hawke laughing sheepishly. "I cannot say for how long we will be gone. I do not think I can make any other commitments at the moment."

"Does that mean you might consider it when you return?" Donnic asked excitedly.

"I did not say that," Fenris said with a smile.

"For how long will you be in the Deep Roads, Varric?" Donnic asked the dwarf.

"Who can say? Could be weeks, even months. It all depends on what we find down there."

"That's fair enough, but when you come back…" Donnic leaned forward on the table. "Fenris, I'm asking you seriously. Try out for the Guard. We'd be honoured to have a man with your skills among us. You know I'm not going to shut up about this."

All eyes turned to Fenris, who shrugged again. "I must confess, I have not seriously thought about this, but the idea is not without appeal. The expedition must be my first priority, however." He turned to face Hawke. "What do you think?"

"It's completely up to you, Fenris," said Hawke, careful to contain his excitement. "Think about it, though; while Varric is looking into…" He stopped himself, then, wary of saying too much in front of Sebastian and Donnic. "Maybe we should talk about this later."

Fenris looked around the table. "It's fine, Hawke. I don't mind them knowing."

"Are you sure?"

"Donnic should know about this, anyway; perhaps he will reconsider his position once he learns the truth."

"I doubt it, Fenris," said the guard. "Come on, tell us."

Hawke waited for Fenris to speak, but the elf glanced at him and remained silent. "You want me to?" asked Hawke. Fenris nodded.

"Well, as you're aware, Fenris escaped the custody of his former master and is a fugitive in the Tevinter Imperium. As slavery is illegal in the Free Marches, however, Fenris is not a fugitive here; I want to make that absolutely clear."

"I know that, Hawke," said Donnic.

"An attempt was made to capture Fenris last month; in fact, that's how I met him," Hawke told them. "Danarius, his former master, was behind it, but has since gone quiet. We don't know where he is or what he's up to. Varric has started looking into that."

"I have a few people on it," Varric elaborated. "One is leaving tonight for the Vinmark Mountains. There's only one safe place to enter Kirkwall via the mountains, and there's a patrol stationed there; maybe they'll have some information. If my man has no joy there, he'll continue on to Tantervale at the border; he has family there, so it's no bother for him. I have a few old contacts who are now in the Imperium, and he'll get a message to them.

"There's also the possibility that Danarius, or at least his cronies, arrived here by sea; it's unlikely, but I'm not ruling anything out, so I have someone sniffing around at the docks. Danarius may also have holed up in Ferelden, somewhere; you never know. I also have one or two people keeping their ears to the ground here, in Kirkwall."

"Varric…I am…deeply grateful," Fenris said quietly with a bow of his head. Varric waved his hand dismissively.

"Forgive me for saying so, Fenris," said Sebastian with a frown, "but this Danarius character seems to be going to an awful lot of trouble in order to find one slave."

"That is precisely what Hawke said on the night we met," Fenris replied, and he told Sebastian and Donnic about his markings, and how prized he was considered to be in the Imperium. He also told them of his life as a slave, and of Danarius's brutality, but left some details out; only Hawke knew certain details of his former master's depravity, and even he didn't know everything, yet.

"I have seen your abilities," Sebastian said, remembering the time at the coast. "Are these markings of yours unique, then?"

"I believe so," Fenris answered, his eyes dropping to the table, "unless Danarius has…no, I do not even want to think about that." He and Hawke exchanged troubled glances.

"This bastard needs to be stopped," snarled Donnic.

"Quite so," Sebastian agreed. "I will pray for your success in this venture, Fenris. I am also at your disposal should you ever need me."

"You have my profound thanks. All of you," Fenris said, glancing around the table. "So, you see, Donnic, my joining the Guard may not be a good idea, after all. I would not wish to place your fellows in danger while I am a possible target."

"I disagree, Fenris," Hawke opined. "You could become completely anonymous within the Guard, and you could reside at the barracks, instead of here."

"Yes, and you could wear a helm, Fenris," Donnic suggested. "Not all of the guards do, but nobody would know your identity if you wore one."

"Would I not be conspicuous in the uniform of the Guard?" asked Fenris. "You are at least a foot taller than me."

Donnic shook his head. "Not all of the guards are as tall as me. Height isn't a requirement to join, you know. Some of my fellow guards are not much taller than you. You wouldn't stick out, trust me."

"You know, you two could be onto something," Varric said animatedly. "Elf, if you joined the Guard, I could put the word out that you're still living here, at the mansion, when in fact you're at the barracks. I could have this place trapped to the hilt!"

"What do you think, Fenris?" asked Hawke. "You'd certainly be a lot safer. It all depends on whether joining the Guard would appeal to you, and if you had plans to eventually settle in Kirkwall."

After a moment of thought, Fenris looked across at Hawke. "I will consider it. Perhaps we could speak of it later?"

"Yes, of course," Hawke replied, feeling a warm glow in his belly, that Fenris had singled him out for advice.

"Now, are we playing cards, or what?" demanded Varric. "I have an Elf to wipe the floor with."

"At your service, Dwarf," Fenris answered with a bright smile.

~o~O~o~

After a very enjoyable card game, during which Varric made a respectable showing, if not quite wiping the floor with Fenris, Sebastian thanked the men for a splendid evening, and announced that he wished to return to the chantry before its doors were closed for the night. Donnic offered to escort him there on his way back to the barracks, as he had an early patrol the following morning. Before they left, Donnic once again urged Fenris to think seriously about joining the Guard, and he and Sebastian warmly bade them all goodnight.

Varric stayed for a while to talk business. "Came across a potentially well-paying job today, Hawke," he said as the three men once again took their seats, and he removed a leaflet from his pocket, unfolding it and sliding it across the table. Hawke picked it up and read it.

"Some Orlesian noble's wife has taken off somewhere," the dwarf explained for Fenris's benefit. "I talked to him on the way here. To be honest, I can't blame her; he was a real lowlife, and seemed more concerned about how he looked, and what his wife's family would think, rather than the fact she could by lying in a ditch somewhere. Still, he's offering a reward for any information. I told him we'd take care of it. I also helpfully took down the rest of the leaflets he'd posted around town."

"You think of everything, don't you?" Hawke laughed. "Any leads?"

"He said we should start at the Blooming Rose; apparently, she had a 'friend' there."

"The Blooming Rose?" Fenris asked with a glance at Hawke. "Is that not where…"

"Where you killed that blood mage, yes," Hawke answered quickly, knowing very well that wasn't what Fenris meant.

"That was not to what I was referring, Hawke." Fenris's eyebrow rose again, and Hawke wriggled in his seat, heat creeping into his cheeks.

"I may have…visited there…one time. Maybe."

"One?" Fenris folded his arms, and Hawke clapped a hand over his eyes, embarrassed.

"All right, then, three," Hawke confessed. "And the time you came along was the third; I haven't been back there since. What's it have to do with you, anyway, Elf?" he teased.

"Nothing at all," Fenris replied with a playful glint in his eyes. "But still, you told me. Why was that, Hawke?"

Varric, sensing that he was a third wheel, rose and stretched his arms, feigning a yawn. "Think I'd better hit the hay, fellas. You staying here tonight, Hawke?"

"Erm, I suppose I'd better, just in case Fenris has any trouble with his foot. If that's all right with you, Fenris?" The elf nodded, and Hawke stood up. "I'll walk you back, Varric," Hawke offered.

"Well, you can't do that, Hawke, because then the Elf would insist on coming with us so he could walk you back, and he needs to rest that foot, right? I have Bianca to keep me company, anyway. Meet you in the morning, Hawke? We can take care of this," he said, waving the leaflet.

"I'll be there," Hawke promised, and he and Fenris saw Varric to the door, bidding him goodnight.

Fenris closed the door and locked it, and Hawke walked over to the table, collecting the empty glasses. "I'll go and wash these, and I'll prepare your last batch of medicine for today," Hawke said.

"Thank you. I will take a look around," said Fenris, collecting his sword from where it rested against a wall.

Hawke knew there was no point in trying to stop Fenris from conducting his nightly check. "Just shout if you need me."

"I will."

Fenris disappeared through a door next to the dining room and began his sweep of the mansion. Hawke glanced down at the glasses in his hands and then at the doorway through which Fenris had gone. His stomach flipped over as he remembered the way Fenris had looked at him when they were discussing the Blooming Rose. Had Fenris been flirting with him? Varric had certainly seemed to think so, as he'd made an immediate, and not very subtle, excuse to leave.

And why did Hawke feel so awkward now that Varric had gone?

"Ugh," he growled under his breath. "Of course he wasn't flirting with you! Why would he?"

Cursing his over-active imagination and nervous stomach, Hawke walked through to the kitchen, and, as he prepared Fenris's medicine, his thoughts turned to Anders. Although things were tense between them, Hawke still considered Anders to be his friend, and felt guilty for not inviting him to the game. If he had done that, though, he had no doubt that there would have been some kind of altercation either between Fenris and Anders, or Hawke and Anders, which would have made matters much worse than they were currently.

Hawke knew that tomorrow night would be important, perhaps a make-or-break point in his and Anders's friendship, but he was determined not to lose Anders as a friend. He would make sure they had a fun night together, and would convince Anders that he wasn't being left out in the cold. He had to do that, though, while impressing upon Anders how important Fenris was to him. Both men would be accompanying him into the Deep Roads, and there would be no room for animosity there, where none of them could escape from each other. Again, his stomach fluttered. Why did everything have to be so bloody complicated?

When he'd finished in the kitchen, Hawke walked back to the hall and moved the table and chairs back into the dining room, leaving Fenris's medicine on top of the mantelpiece. Fenris returned a short time later and the two of them sat on the settee next to the fire.

"Everything all right, Fenris?" asked Hawke, passing him his medicine.

"All is well, Hawke." Fenris took a sip and shuddered as the foul-tasting drink slipped down his throat. He then yawned and sank back onto the settee.

"You've had a long day, Fenris; maybe you should turn in for the night?" Hawke suggested.

Fenris turned around and glanced up at his bedroom. He then turned back to Hawke and shook his head. "I am quite comfortable here. Perhaps later."

"Are you worried that you'll have another bad dream?" Hawke asked him. "I mean…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's all right, Hawke. I don't mind." Fenris sighed, drank the rest of his medicine and set the mug down on the floor.

"Do you…have these dreams often, Fenris?"

"Not often, no…not the ones of Danarius, anyway."

"You have other dreams, then?"

Fenris paused, and his body seemed to slump. "There is something I dream of frequently…sometimes, when I dream of it, I am afraid to go back to sleep, lest it repeats."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hawke asked gently. "Would it help to share it with someone?"

Fenris took a deep breath and turned slightly toward Hawke. "It would not help, no, but I will share it with you, if you wish. I should warn you: it is not a pleasant story."

"All right, Fenris. Take your time."

"I dream of the time when I received my markings, Hawke. The procedure…it seems my mind must replay it over and over. How I wish I had lost that memory along with all the others."

"What happened?"

Fenris swivelled toward Hawke a little more and raised one of his hands, showing Hawke his markings. "These marks are mistakes," he began. "I should not have had any markings at all, but I was Danarius's test subject for the procedure, if you will, and errors were made."

"Errors? What do you mean?"

"The lyrium was injected into my veins and was then heated using magic," Fenris said matter-of-factly. "That way, the lyrium would travel through my body, where it would be burned upon my blood vessels." He ventured a glance at Hawke, who had turned white, his mouth agape.

"Y-you were…conscious during this?" Hawke stammered.

"I do not remember all of it, but I believe I passed out a few times. Danarius, however, kept reviving me."

"Maker, Fenris…I-I can't even begin to imagine how that must have felt…" Hawke instinctively shifted a little closer to Fenris, wanting to be nearer to him, in the hope that his proximity would offer Fenris some kind of comfort.

"The pain was…extraordinary," Fenris said in a hushed tone, staring at his upturned palms. "Then, something happened that Danarius did not anticipate." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "The trauma to my body caused some of my blood vessels to collapse, which in turn caused the lyrium to break through my skin. These markings you see, Hawke, are the result of the chain reaction that followed: several of my blood vessels burst all at once, causing hot lyrium to spill onto my skin." He shook his head and again glanced at Hawke, who had turned away and had covered his eyes with his hand.

"I do not remember what happened after that. I am told that I lost consciousness again, and that Danarius was unable to revive me for several hours. I came close to losing my life…sometimes I wish that…" He sighed softly and placed his hand on Hawke's arm. "Forgive me, Hawke. I did not mean to cause you anguish, but it is…almost a relief to speak of this to someone."

"No, I'm…" Hawke breathed in deeply and turned back to Fenris, but didn't look at him. "I-I'm fine…t-this is what you dream about, Fenris?"

"Yes." Fenris removed his hand from Hawke's arm and rubbed his own arms, shivering.

"Are you cold?" Hawke asked him.

"A little."

Hawke stood up. "I'll be back in a minute," he said quietly, and walked up the stairs and into Fenris's bedroom.

After waiting for a few minutes, Fenris turned around, wondering what Hawke was doing. At that moment, Hawke appeared on the landing carrying pillows, blankets and the coverlet from Fenris's bed. Making his way down the stairs and over to the settee, Hawke passed Fenris a blanket and pillow and sat down next to him. As the firelight caught Hawke's eyes, Fenris noticed that they glistened with unshed tears, but said nothing.

Hawke placed a pillow behind his neck and covered himself with a blanket, and Fenris did the same. Hawke then took the coverlet and covered them both with it.

"Stay here, Fenris," Hawke said in a soft, unsteady voice. "Let's just sleep here, tonight."

Fenris nodded and pulled the coverlet up to his neck, ensuring that Hawke had enough of the coverlet for himself.

"Fenris…you have to get away from this place. He's a monster. I can't…he can't be allowed to…" Hawke bit his bottom lip and moved closer to Fenris, so that their legs were touching, but he kept his hands in his lap. "Please, Fenris; I want you to join the city Guard. Earlier, I thought it was a good idea, but now…he can't know you're here. He can't find you again," he said, anger and determination creeping into his words. "We're going to find him, Fenris. Whatever it takes, we'll find him. He can't be allowed to do this to anyone, ever again."

"I will call on Donnic tomorrow, Hawke," Fenris promised.

Hawke nodded, unable to speak, and closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging in relief. A movement was felt beneath the covers and a small, warm hand wrapped around Hawke's. Hawke gently clasped it and they both relaxed against each other.

"Get some sleep, Fenris." Hawke whispered. "I'll be here when you wake up."