"Maker's breath, Hawke, you look like hell. Bad night?"

"Yeah. Bad night." Hawke dragged his feet into Aveline's office and took a seat without being invited. "How are things with you?" he asked listlessly.

"Fine." She took her own seat and closely watched Hawke, who was struggling to keep his eyes open. "What brings you here, Hawke?"

"Hm? Erm…what did bring me here?" His brow wrinkled in confusion, and he rubbed his forehead hard.

Aveline laughed. "So, how many did you have last night?"

"None. Absolutely none. I wish I had got pissed, now; it might at least have been worth me feeling like this." He made a half-arsed attempt to sit up straight. "Oh…I know why I came here, now. You're aware that Fenris does jobs with me from time to time, aren't you?"

"Yes, Hawke. I did one with you both, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Erm, well…I know that Fenris has only just joined the Guard, but he has a job to do with me tonight. It's very important and I need him. I know he hasn't told you, but that's my fault: I forgot to remind him about it."

Aveline folded her arms. "That's funny, Hawke…Fenris doesn't seem like the forgetful type, to me."

"Well, I guess he's been so excited, what with joining the Guard and all, that it slipped his mind."

"Excited? Fenris? Are we talking about the same man, here?"

"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway," Hawke retorted, irritated that Aveline hadn't fallen for his story. "The fact is, I need him tonight, so he won't be able to do his shift. And let me make it clear that it's my fault that anyone forgot. It doesn't matter who forgot, does it? So I just wanted to tell you that, and would appreciate it if he didn't get into trouble for not turning up for his shift. As I was saying, I forgot to tell him. Remind him, I mean. About this job."

Aveline sat back in her chair and folded her arms tighter. "Are you aware that you ramble when you're lying, Hawke?"

Hawke blinked several times, his somnolent brain haltingly processing her words. "Are-are you calling me a liar, Aveline?"

"Is there some doubt, here? You are a liar, and a pretty terrible one, at that." She leaned across the desk. "I'm a busy woman, Hawke. Is this something to do with those slavers up in the mountains?"

"E-eh? How do you know about that?"

"Oh, Hawke," Aveline groaned. "You know the patrols up in the mountains? Who do you think they work for?"

Hawke looked at her, his puffy eyes wide. "Erm…the city Guard…?"

"The city Guard," she answered. "We've been keeping an eye on them. So far, they haven't broken any laws, so we can't touch them. Does Fenris plan to go after them?"

Hawke looked to his side, and, at first, didn't answer. "He has a job with me," he stated again.

"Hawke, I can't condone one of my men going off on a private vendetta," she said firmly, watching him for a reaction. "Particularly when he's supposed to be on duty."

"Who said anything about a vendetta?" Hawke protested hurriedly. "I told you, we have a job…"

"That's enough, Hawke. I don't have time for this. Either tell me the truth or go. I have a lot to do."

"Oh, all right," he lamented, accepting that he wasn't going to outwit Aveline today. "Yes, we're going after them. We have reason to believe that Danarius's apprentice, Hadriana, is among them."

"We, Hawke? Who's we? Who else is going with you?"

"Varric, Bethany, Anders, Sebastian and Merrill are all meeting me in about an hour. I'm here to collect Fenris."

"I don't know Sebastian or Merrill. Are they reliable?"

Hawke nodded. "You did meet Merrill once, in the pub; briefly, though."

"So that's seven of you. From what I've heard, Hawke, there are quite a few slavers up there. You're going to be outnumbered," she said thoughtfully, and paused for a few moments before standing up. "Where are you meeting?"

"The usual place."

Aveline tapped her index finger against her chin and walked back and forth slowly. "I think I can spare a few…all right, Hawke; I'll meet you there. I've had enough of waiting for them to attack someone. Let them attack us; then I can finally arrest them. Don't worry, Hawke; they'll be behind bars before nightfall."

Hawke groaned and pushed himself to his feet. "Aveline…I really, really appreciate the offer, don't get me wrong. But you have to realise that I don't think Fenris has any intention of arresting them, particularly Hadriana."

"Fenris is a soldier in my regiment and is aware of the laws and statutes of the city. He can't just go around killing, willy-nilly. He knows that, Hawke."

Hawke shook his head sombrely. "Not this time, Aveline. This…woman is not just a criminal. She's evil. You don't know what she did to him. She deserves everything she gets."

"That's just your opinion, Hawke," Aveline argued. "It's not up to you, or Fenris, to hand out death sentences."

"Like I said, Aveline, I appreciate your offer, but I think it's best you have nothing to do with this. Forget you saw me." Hawke started to walk over to the door.

"I can't do that, Hawke, not now you've told me," she replied. "I'll be there in an hour with a few of my guards to make sure the law is upheld. If the slavers attack us, then sure, we'll need to defend ourselves. If that results in their deaths, then that's fair enough. What you can't do, Hawke, is just go after someone with the intention of killing them simply for being here."

"Rest assured, Aveline, Hadriana will attack us with everything she's got, and that she will die. Just do one thing for me: leave her to Fenris."

"It might not work out like that, Hawke."

"Leave her to Fenris," he persisted. "This is very important to him. He needs to be the one."

Aveline sighed and reached behind her neck, tightening her ponytail. "All right, but not at the cost of his life. If he's in trouble, we will step in."

"We all will, but don't kill her unless there's no other choice. Please."

Aveline nodded. "We'll do what we can."

"Thank you," Hawke said sincerely, stifling a yawn. "Is Fenris about?"

"Yes, he's up; his shift went for ablutions not long ago, so he should be around. He did very well, you know, Hawke. Last night, I mean."

Hawke's face lit up. "Oh, yes?"

"Some of my guards look down their noses at the refugees, but Donnic told me that Fenris was very compassionate and patient with them. He dealt with a couple of drunks, and was firm, but not heavy-handed. I'm actually thinking of permanently assigning them to Darktown; they seemed to enjoy it. And to think, it was meant as a punishment…"

"Really?" Hawke's grey and drawn face brightened a little. "You had to punish Donnic? What for?"

"Never you mind," she said sternly, pushing him towards the door. "Off you go. I need to find a few volunteers."

"You're brilliant, Aveline," he called as he was shoved out of the office, "And I'm still going to marry you one day."

"From what I hear, Fenris might have something to say about that," she answered.

"Is there anything you don't hear?" groused Hawke.

"Not a thing. Now, sod off. See you in an hour."

Hawke blew her a kiss and she firmly closed the door, shaking her head.

~o~O~o~

After finding Fenris, who was with Donnic talking to a small group of their colleagues, Hawke was introduced to Davy and Filbert, the other two guards who'd been on duty in Darktown during the night.

"This is my friend, Fletcher Hawke," Fenris told them. "He is teaching me to read, and we are going to have our lesson, soon, aren't we?" Fenris glanced up at Hawke, who nodded, and the smile they shared made it obvious that they were more than friends.

"Teaching him to read, eh?" remarked Davy, folding his arms. "Well, when you get to the letter 'R', can you teach him the meaning of the word 'round'?"

The guards fell about laughing, and Donnic clapped a hand around Fenris's shoulders. "That's right. We nipped into the pub last night before our shift, and Fenris's round never seemed to arrive."

"We did not have enough time," Fenris contended, as if they'd been over this several times. "I told you: I will stand you to the first round this evening."

"Now, you're a witness to that, Hawke," Donnic said.

"Aren't you guards supposed to be sober when you're on duty?" Hawke queried amusedly.

"Look, mate, it's bloody cold in Darktown, y'know," Filbert piped up. "We need a little something to warm our blood, don't we?"

"Fair enough," Hawke chuckled. "Well, Fenris, are you ready to go? There's something I want to show you."

"Probably best we're not here for that, then," joked Donnic, and Hawke rolled his eyes. After much shaking of hands, the other three guards departed.

"Something to show me?" asked Fenris. "I'm intrigued."

"Well, don't get too excited; I haven't discovered Andraste's birthplace or anything," replied Hawke as they left the barracks. "I'm hoping you'll like it, though."

"I'm sure I will," Fenris answered warmly. "Whatever it is."

As they walked through Hightown and down the steps into Lowtown, Fenris, after some prompting, told Hawke about his shift. Hawke was so proud and immersed in the conversation that he almost forgot what had been on his mind, what had kept him awake all night. However, as they neared their destination – an anonymous-looking building not far from the Hanged Man – the conversation lulled slightly, and Hawke's mind, and stomach, began doing somersaults.

"Here we are," Hawke said, taking a key from his pocket and unlocking the door. "After you."

"Isn't this the place that Sister Petrice abandoned?" Fenris asked with a frown as they entered, his frown intensifying as he noticed that the small house had been done out very nicely with several pieces of furniture from the mansion.

"Yes," answered Hawke, closing the door. "Varric's…looking after the place for the time being."

Fenris removed his helm and placed it on a table, and his sword against a wall. "What you mean is, he has claimed possession of it without having any legal right to do so," he guessed.

"Look, you're off-duty, now," Hawke said, doing his best to keep his tone light. "This is something that Varric needs to work out with Aveline; it has nothing to do with us."

Fenris sighed, knowing full well that Hawke would charm himself out of any his protestations. "What does he intend to do with the place?"

Hawke smiled lopsidedly and gave a rueful shrug. "Well, he said it's for his friends to use when they need some privacy."

"Privacy?" There was a question and a hint of amusement in Fenris's voice as he took a seat in a wingback chair, groaning softly and stretching his legs out in front of him.

"All right, then, if you must know, it's for him and Beth, and for you and me."

Fenris slid down in the chair a little, finding it very comfortable, and folded his hands in his lap. "For us to have…privacy in?"

"Now, now, Fenris. It was very generous of Varric to give us the use of his place…erm, his place that doesn't actually belong to him," Hawke joked, taking a seat in a chair opposite Fenris. "I suspect you're misinterpreting his intentions."

"And I suspect I am not." A playful smile danced across the elf's face, and, any other time, Hawke would have taken full advantage of it. Instead, he hung his head, sighed and sat forward.

"Is…something wrong, Fletcher?"

Hawke cleared his throat and sighed again, rubbing his forehead. "Look…I need to tell you something. You know that Varric's had a few people keeping their ears to the ground?"

Fenris eagerly leaned forward in his chair. "He's heard something?"

"Yes. A group of slavers has arrived in Kirkwall and are hiding out in the mountains. I want to make it clear, though, that no one matching Danarius's description is among them."

By now, Fenris was on his feet. "But still, they may be able to provide information as to his whereabouts. We should go immediately." He retrieved his sword and turned back to Hawke. "Will you help me?"

Slowly, Hawke rose, his legs leaden as he stepped closer to Fenris. "You don't need to ask me. You know that."

"I should have known." Fenris raised a gauntlet-clad hand and gently rested it against Hawke's cheek. "Thank you." He took a step closer to Hawke but halted when Fletcher's posture stiffened. "What is it?" he demanded, a mite of anger or panic in his voice, Hawke wasn't sure which.

"Listen," Hawke said quietly, licking his lips nervously. "This group…it's led by…a female mage."

The soft light that had been in Fenris's eyes dulled and waned, and he removed his hand from Hawke's face, turning away slightly. "That is…unusual."

"Do you-do you think it could be Hadriana?" Hawke asked anxiously. He noticed Fenris's hands clenching at his sides, and his shoulders rising and falling.

"Yes, I think it could be her." Fenris's voice was cold, obdurate; his posture rigid. Hawke instinctively reached a hand out, but, just before it made contact with Fenris's shoulder, he drew it back.

Hawke's odd reaction and nervous demeanour triggered a note of alarm in Fenris, and a distinct feeling of unease gripped him. "When did you learn of their arrival?" asked the elf suspiciously, slowly turning back to face Hawke, but not looking at him.

"It doesn't matter, Fenris; let's just…"

"I asked you a question," snapped Fenris. "I need to know how long they have been here. How many of them are mages. Do you know this or not?"

"There are fifteen of them, and Varric's contact said that about half of them are mages."

"And?" prompted Fenris. "When did they arrive? This morning?"

Hawke shook his head, his cheeks burning. "Yesterday. No, actually, the night before."

"Yesterday? And you were informed of this, when? Today?"

"No, I-I was informed yesterday, but listen…"

"Listen? Listen, Hawke? Why…" He took a deep, unsteady breath. "Perhaps you do not understand how important this is to me!"

"I understand only too well."

"Then how…why are you telling me this a full day after they arrived? What is in your mind? Why did you keep this from me?"

"There are fifteen of them, Fenris, and some of them are possibly blood mages. I needed time to get people together to help, and you were safest at the barracks. That is why I kept it from you. I'm sorry that…"

"So you, alone, decided this?" Fenris gesticulated wildly with his hands, and Hawke could hear genuine panic in his voice. "Do you not think it should have been my choice to decide where I was safest?"

"You would have just taken off after them, on your own, without a thought for your safety!" Hawke protested hotly.

"You know this for certain, do you?"

"Yes!"

"If you know me as well as you claim, then you should have known not to keep this from me!" Fenris turned his back on Hawke and shook his head. "You knew of this last night when I came to the clinic. When you joked and flirted with me. You knew the whole time, and yet duplicity came so easily to you. I thought I could trust you," he said darkly. "How could I have been so stupid?"

"You can trust me! Do you think I enjoyed keeping you in the dark? I've been up all night worrying over this!"

"I can trust you, can I?" Fenris mocked, spinning around, and he fixed Hawke with an icy glare. "You proclaim that I can trust you, and yet you speak of gathering people together behind my back, without my knowledge! You…you and Varric knew of this, but decided to keep it from me? Who else knows about this? Who else knew before I did, Hawke?"

"Look, I told you I needed to get people together, Fenris," Hawke said tightly. "They've all dropped whatever they were doing to help you. And Varric is blameless in this," he insisted. "He thought I should tell you, but I made the decision not to."

"That would make sense," growled Fenris. "I thought you were different from other mages, but you are no better than Danarius."

"What? How-how can you compare me to him? I was trying to protect you!"

"Can you not see?" Fenris rasped. "Youtook it upon yourself to decide where I should be, what my movements are, and what I should know! You have sought to manipulate andcontrol me at every turn! I am not in the market for a new master, Hawke!"

The sudden silence, onerous and fraught, was permeated only by Fenris's heavy breathing. Hawke was utterly dumbstruck, his mouth gaping open.

After some moments, he whispered, "I…can't believe you just said that. I knew you wouldn't take this well, but…I can't believe…how could you think…"

Fenris, as shattered at the words that had left his mouth as Hawke was to hear them, gave no answer, unable to look Hawke in the eye.

Hawke moved over to the door and opened it. "Well, I suppose I've wasted enough time," he said thickly. "We should go. They're waiting for us at the Hanged Man." Without waiting for an answer, he departed, leaving the door open.

Fenris squeezed his eyes shut, his stomach pitching and roiling as heat and nausea suffused his core. Fortunately, he hadn't yet broken his fast, else he would have spilled the contents of his stomach onto the floor. He knew that he'd hurt Hawke, and badly, but couldn't allow himself to dwell on that, now.

All that mattered was making her suffer. Making her beg for mercy. Seeing the look in her eyes when she realised he would not grant it. Feeling her life ebb away, slowly, and forever committing that moment to memory. He couldn't allow his feelings for Hawke to get in the way of that. He couldn't.

Hawke's eyes, moist and dull with hurt and fear, winked into his mind, and his own eyes stung as he stared, unblinking, at the door. Angrily, he rubbed them hard enough to hurt, and hefted his sword onto his back.

"This is what comes of getting too close to someone! You should never have allowed it to happen!" he castigated himself before leaving the safehouse, slamming the door behind him.

~o~O~o~

"Here he is," Aveline told the group assembled outside the Hanged Man as Hawke emerged from an alley near to the pub. "Hawke, where have you been? We've been waiting here for…" She glanced behind Hawke and frowned. "Where's Fenris?"

"He's coming. I think," sighed Hawke wearily, and he nodded at his friends. "Afternoon," he said to them, and they murmured or nodded their replies.

"You think?" pressed Aveline. "He either is or he isn't, Hawke. Have we wasted our time coming here? Is he coming, or not?"

"I don't know, all right?" Hawke snapped, and then covered his eyes with his hand. "Look…I'm sorry. Like I said, I had a rough night. I've just told him to meet us here. I assume he's on his way."

"I'll go and look for him," offered Donnic, who had accompanied Aveline with two other guards.

"No need," said Sebastian, who stood nearest to the alley. "I can see him approaching."

Bethany moved to Hawke's side and gently touched his arm. "Are you all right, Brother?"

He shook his head. "Look, Beth, if I'm snappy, please take no notice, all right? I had a bad night and I feel like shit. Sorry. Crap."

She squeezed his arm and smiled sympathetically as Anders also moved to Hawke's side. "He didn't take it well, then?" he guessed.

"No, he didn't," Hawke answered gruffly, and, as Fenris entered the square, Hawke turned away and walked over to Varric.

"There you are, Fenris," Aveline said to the bewildered-looking elf.

"I…had not realised there would be so many of you," he mumbled, not knowing whether to feel grateful or irritated that so many people had known about the slavers before he had. His eyes wandered over to Hawke, who stood away from the others with Varric, talking quietly. His eyes then moved towards Anders, who was giving Fenris a distinctly disparaging look. Fenris readily returned his glare, not knowing the reason for the abomination's displeasure, but not needing much of an excuse to shoot daggers at him, either.

"Over here, Fenris," called Aveline, and he walked over to her, not taking his eyes off Anders until the last moment. "Right, listen," she said to the group. "Hunter and Donnic, you'll take the vanguard with me. Fenris and Clara, you'll take the rearguard, directly behind the archers. Mages in the middle. How many mages do we have? Three?"

"Four," piped up a small voice. "I'm a mage."

"Oh, right…Mary, isn't it?" asked Aveline.

"Daisy!" shouted Varric.

"No, it's not, you pillock," Merrill chided him. "My name's Merrill, as you very well know." She pulled a face at him and then turned back to Aveline.

"Merrill," Aveline repeated. "And what kind of mage are you?"

"I'm a blood mage," she said plainly, and Hawke clapped a hand over his eyes, groaning. The quiet chatter that had rippled through the group ceased.

"Oh, my," Sebastian was heard to remark.

For once, Aveline was lost for words. "Erm…"

"She's a battle mage, same as Beth," Hawke offered through an exasperated sigh.

"Right…erm, well, Merrill and Bethany will flank the healers," Aveline directed. "Hawke and Anders, you stay in the middle. No moving away unless it's absolutely vital."

"Healers tend to work from the rear, Aveline," Hawke argued, and Anders nodded his agreement.

Aveline shook her head dismissively. "No. I want you two protected. If you can find a decent hiding spot when we get up there, then by all means take it. While we're out in the open, though, you'll stay in the middle. Any more questions?" she asked the group.

With no further questions forthcoming, everyone slowly moved into their positions. "We can keep the formation pretty loose until we get out of town," said Aveline, "but once we leave the city we'll need to tighten up. You all got that?"

Everyone answered or nodded in the affirmative, and Aveline moved to the head of the group with Donnic and Hunter, an experienced scout who carried a crossbow on his back, as well as a number of daggers.

As Fenris dropped back alongside Clara, his fellow guard, he found he was unable to take his eyes off Hawke. Clara was very chatty, which Fenris found highly irritating, but he answered all of her questions or statements with a polite nod or brief reply. It seemed that Hawke wasn't very talkative, either: the abomination was chatting to him animatedly, but Hawke only nodded occasionally, and didn't seem to engage in the conversation at all.

Fenris knew that once this day ended, if he was still alive, he would need to make apologies, perhaps several. All of these people had given up their own time to help him, and yet he'd barely spoken a word to any of them.

A numbness seemed to settled over him, which he embraced: he couldn't let guilt or regret interfere with what had to be done. When he looked at Hawke, however, the numbness dissolved, bile rose in his throat, and the heat and nausea returned in incapacitating waves. After a while, he made a conscious effort not to look at Hawke. He was the chink in Fenris's armour: the one thing that would divert his focus.

Once Sebastian could get a word in edgeways around Clara, he engaged Fenris in conversation, which Fenris found a welcome diversion, and rather soothing in comparison to Clara's inane prattle.

When they reached the outskirts of the city, Aveline called a halt and ordered the group to tighten their formation.

"Just a minute, Aveline," Anders called from the centre of the group. "Before we get going again, I need to see to Hawke."

"All right, but make it quick," she called back.

Fenris's ears pricked up, and he strained to hear the conversation up ahead.

"Is he all right?" Bethany quietly asked Anders.

"He's got a migraine through lack of sleep," he answered, and placed his hands on the sides of Hawke's head.

Fenris moved slightly away from the group for a better look, and was dismayed at how pale Hawke had become. He felt his markings jump, and grimaced as Anders sent assuasive energy through Hawke, which translated as fire surging through Fenris's veins.

Noticing the elf's discomfort, Varric glanced at him and jerked his head upwards. With a grateful nod, Fenris assured Varric that he would be fine in a moment, and he once again turned his attention to Hawke and Anders, noting with repugnance that Anders was looking directly at Fenris, wearing what appeared to be a faint smile.

His spell complete, Anders looked back at Hawke and gently cradled his face, looking directly into his eyes. "Better, now?" he asked softly. Hawke nodded and patted Anders's arm before turning to face the front of the group. Anders once again glanced at Fenris before also turning away.

"The healers are ready, Aveline!" Anders announced cheerfully, unaware that a pair of cold green eyes were boring into the back of his head. Or, if he was aware, he didn't seem to care.

"Good," replied Aveline, looking over the rest of the group. "Let's keep our wits about us."

They made their way to the Dalish camp at the foot of Sundermount without incident, and were escorted to Keeper Marethari upon their arrival. Merrill noticeably squirmed as all eyes turned to her and her group.

"We're going up the mountain to take care of some slavers," Aveline told the Dalish leader. "If any of your people are up there, I'd recommend you call them back; there could be trouble."

"I appreciate your concern, Captain," Marethari said with a small bow. "None of my clan are up on the mountain at the moment, although I see that one of our own travels with you. Welcome home, Da'len."

Merrill stepped forward and dipped her head reverentially. "I-I'm not coming back, Keeper; I'm just helping out for a bit, that's all."

"Be that as it may, it gladdens my heart to see you again, and in such august company," answered Marethari kindly. "Please look after her," she said to Aveline, who nodded.

As the women talked, Fenris distanced himself from the group and looked up at the mountain, the summit of which was shrouded in mist. In his peripheral vision, he noticed Hawke's head turn in his direction, and lowered his eyes to the ground, his stomach knotting tightly as Hawke slowly approached him, stopping a short distance away.

"How…how do you feel, Fenris?" Hawke asked hesitantly.

Unable to speak at first, Fenris looked up at Hawke and swallowed hard. After everything Fenris had said to him, Hawke was still concerned for his wellbeing. His gut tightened further, twisting into a painful knot as he noticed Hawke's pallor and red-rimmed eyes.

"I-I am fine. You...should not have come. You are clearly unwell."

"I just didn't sleep very well," Hawke shrugged, toying with his hands.

"Because of me," Fenris stated, hanging his head. "Hawke…Fletcher…"

"Right, let's get going!" Aveline commanded loudly, having finished speaking with the keeper. "Back into your positions!"

"Come on, Hawke," Anders called over impatiently.

"I know you're scared, Fenris," Hawke said softly. "I'm with you, whatever happens. We all are. Never doubt that."

"Fle…" Fenris's voice broke before he could finish, and he watched as Hawke moved back into the centre of the group, no longer caring that Anders was still watching him. He took several deep breaths, each one fortifying him and hardening his resolve. Fletcher was with him. Fletcher understood. Suddenly, putting an end to Hadriana was no longer the only thing that mattered to him.

Fletcher mattered to him, perhaps more than anyone or anything ever had.

~o~O~o~

The journey up the mountain was long and arduous, but they saw no one for most of their journey. If any bandits were lying in ambush, they didn't show themselves, perhaps intimidated by the size of the group. As they drew nearer to the summit, almost as one, the four mages called a halt.

"What is it?" Aveline demanded, striding over to them.

"There's a number of people spread out further up the path," Bethany told her.

"How do you know that?" Aveline enquired. "Hunter? Any tracks?" she asked her scout.

"No, Captain," he called back. "Nothing recent, anyway."

"We can feel them," Merrill explained. "It's hard to describe to someone who's, well, not a mage. We just know they're there."

Hawke took Aveline's arm and led her to one side. "I recommend you let us head up the group, Aveline."

"Oh, I don't know, Hawke; those robes of yours are no protection against a stray arrow."

"But we know where the sentries are, and we can put them out of action before they have a chance to even nock an arrow," he argued. "You lot can't see them; we can. And I didn't want to question you in front of the others, but I want Fenris moved from the back. He's too vulnerable there. They may attack us, but he's the one they're really after."

"I'm not happy about that, Hawke; this is a tried-and-tested formation. The armoured warriors take up the lead and rearguard positions…"

"Tried-and-tested doesn't apply here, Aveline," Hawke asserted. "They'll pick you off one by one and scarper with Fenris before you know what's happened! And they probably have mages out there, too, who know we're here: you armoured warriors won't have time to blink. Issue the command, Aveline: don't make me embarrass you in front of your guards."

"You're a stubborn bugger, Hawke, you know that?"

"So I've been told."

"All right," she sighed. "You take over, then; you'll know the best position in which to deploy the mages."

"We'll be fine, Aveline. Come on." They walked back over to the group, where Aveline addressed them.

"Hawke is in charge from now on; you'll take your orders from him."

"Only until we reach the mountain pass, though," added Hawke with a smile at Aveline, which she returned. "Anders, you take the rear with Clara. Donnic and Merrill, right flank; Beth and Varric, left, and Fenris and Sebastian in the centre. Aveline, Hunter, you're with me. Fenris; may I speak with you for a moment?"

Fenris nodded once and walked over to Hawke, who led them around a bend in the path, out of sight of the others. "Fenris, I want Anders and I to cast a spell that will afford the group some protection. With me at the front and him at the rear, the sphere of the spells will overlap, meaning that everyone gets the benefit. It's not like most of the spells we usually cast; it's not cast upon one person in particular, so I'm hoping it won't cause you too much discomfort."

"There is no need to explain," Fenris said stoically. "I would not deprive our group of protection."

"I know, and I also know you can bear discomfort," Hawke answered, "but I want you to let me know if it causes pain. If it does, we can decrease the sphere so it doesn't touch you and Sebastian, but I'd rather you were protected, as well."

"I understand."

"Promise me."

"I promise, Fletcher."

A moment of silence passed between them and Fenris took a hesitant step closer to Hawke.

"…Apologising to you yet again would be facile," he began.

"Fenris, it's-"

"No, let me finish, please."

Hawke nodded, and Fenris removed his gauntlets, letting them fall to the ground, and tenderly cradled Hawke's face in his hands. "In spite of everything I've said to you, of everything I've put you through, you have always stood at my side. I know that I don't deserve you, but, for some reason, you came into my life, and, for that, I am grateful beyond words. I…I admire you, Fletcher. You inspire me and make me feel…you make me want to be a better person. I can think of no greater compliment to pay another."

Deeply touched, Hawke hung his head and drew in a deep breath. "I-I don't know what to say. I think that's possibly the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

"There is more where that came from," Fenris said softly, "but it can wait for another time. I…wanted you to know. When we confront Hadriana, you may see a side of me that…well, you have not seen the worst of me, yet. Before you do, I wanted to tell you."

"I may not have seen the worst of you, but I have seen the best," Hawke murmured, bringing his hands up and clasping Fenris's. "And that's why…"

Fenris tilted his head to one side. "That's why…?"

"Perhaps that can also wait for another time," Hawke whispered, sliding his hands down Fenris's shoulders and back and pulling him close.

Without warning, Fenris's mouth was upon his, and he was pushed, hard, against the rock. Slim, taut, arms snaked around his neck and slender fingers tangled through his hair as hungry lips devoured his in a searing, greedy kiss. Up until now, Fenris's kisses had been soft, brief, and halting, but there was real hunger, real need, this time. A deep moan escaped from Hawke as Fenris pressed his body against him, and Hawke's hands balled, grabbing fistfuls of leather tunic, his breath coming out in gasps.

Then, another groan was heard, but it came from neither of them.

"I think they need a bit longer, folks," they heard Varric say, and they pulled apart, but could not see him. "They're discussing tactics," the dwarf added from around the other side of the rock.

"Hm. I sort of forgot that there are other people here," Hawke uttered.

"As did I," Fenris replied, and he gently smoothed down Hawke's hair before picking up his gauntlets and putting them on. "Perhaps we should return."

"We'll finish this later," said Hawke with a nod.

"Count on it," Fenris promised, and, with a sigh, they reluctantly joined the group on the other side of the rock.

"Come on, you two, we need to get going," Aveline urged.

"They need to get a damned room, that's what they need," Varric remarked to Bethany, just loudly enough for the red-faced pair to hear.

Taking up their positions – Hawke at the head of the group and Fenris in the middle with Sebastian – Hawke called over to Anders, who stood at the rear, looking rather dour. "Ready, Anders?"

His fellow mage nodded once, and both of them raised their staves aloft, reciting their spell in unison. A pale blue mist burst forth from the ground, quickly dissipating, and everyone in the group felt their skin tingle, and strands of their hair stood on end. The spell complete, Hawke's eyes moved to Fenris, who, with a brief smile, assured Hawke that he was not in pain.

"Everyone ready?" asked Hawke.

"One moment," said Fenris, addressing the group. "I may not have said so earlier, but I want you all to know how grateful I am for your assistance. You did not have to do this, and you will reap no reward from it…"

"We'll know you're safe, Fenners," Donnic answered. "That's all we want out of this."

The rest of the group uttered their agreement, and Fenris smiled modestly, feeling his insides glow.

"Fenris," Hawke said firmly, and the elf looked at him. "Let's put this bitch in the ground."

With a determined nod from Fenris, the group resumed their trek up the mountain, the summit in sight.