They made their way through the bends of trees up a stiff incline, lichen covered rocks jutted out of the blue green grass, dotting the trail up the side of the mountain, guttural calls could be heard in the distance and Jennifer bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement. She bounded around Isabela before walking up ahead with a bright grin.
"Is she always this… chipper?" Tallis asked as she stomped heavily on the trail as the inclined steepened.
Hawke smirked wistfully and looked up ahead of the trail. "Always."
Fenris smirked beside himself and Isabela sniggered next to him. He turned to her with a glare but Isabela was already looking elsewhere.
Jennifer shrieked loudly. Fenris was moving swiftly, dodging the lichen ridden rocks, the aromatic fir trees and the muddied slopes to get to her. He couldn't move fast enough. Maker if it wasn't enough, he came to a skidding halt as did the others when Jennifer held out her hand, there before them where dragonlings, covered in pearlescent gray scales. Fenris turned, unsure, Jennifer's eyes glistened, and the look of shock and wonder filled her features, he just stood beside her, watching. As her smile grew, a deep warmth built in his belly. It wasn't until Jennifer turned towards him that he realized his markings were glowing dimly.
A soft hiss, alerted him to the dragonlings once again, one lunged towards him, it's reptilian maw snapping dangerously at his throat. Jennifer tackled him, taking him to the ground and narrowly escaping from the large pointed teeth. The others moved, attacking the beasts, and Jennifer cried out in horror. "Wait!" The first one was slain, crying out in a wail of agony, alerting others, and reluctantly she joined the fray, Fenris pushed up from the ground, lyrium aglow as he sliced through the young dragons. He kept Jennifer in his sights, her eyes brimmed with tears as she fought against the dragonlings, her mace swinging upwards to connect with the jaw of one of the larger dragons. When the last of them fell, she dropped to her knees, a hand shakily reaching for the reptile.
A quiet sob escaped her as she stroked its neck lovingly. "They're gone." She whispered in disbelief.
Tallis looked at Hawke with a questioning glance, and he shrugged.
"It wasn't their fault." She whispered again, holding hit's head gently in her lap as it's elongated pupils glazed with death. "It wasn't their fault!" She yelled out looking at Hawke. "They didn't need to die." Her lip quivered as she hugged the dead beast tightly.
"What's the problem?" Hawke asked as he stared down at the dead dragon.
"I have never seen a dragon before…" She placed the head gently upon the ground. "In my world they are creatures of legends, now they're gone." She stood. "They didn't need to die!"
Hawke rolled his eyes. "They attacked us if you didn't realize."
"Because they were protecting their young!" She wiped at her eyes, furious at nothing, at everything. "They just needed… they needed to be shown they were alright."
Fenris stepped behind her, and Jennifer could feel his warmth – his support- and she ground her teeth. "Nevermind." She stepped away to collect herself at the opposite end of the path. Isabela trailed after her whispering words of comfort and Fenris frowned.
He looked at Jennifer with a queer expression as Hawke and Tallis discussed what to do with the remains. "Not our prey, I suspect?" Fenris asked.
Tallis lifted a brow. "Do wyverns and dragons even mix? I don't think so." She knelt down and her and Hawke continued on.
Fenris moved closer to Jennifer. "Are you alright?" He asked, nervously shuffling from one foot to the other. Her reaction puzzled him. They were beasts nothing more. Even if they were protecting their young they would have killed their group.
"How many times were you considered a beast?" At firt he had thought he'd spoken his thoughts aloud, but she continued. "Your name means 'little wolf', how many times were you treated like one? How many times did you lash out when you were fightened?" She snuffed looking back as Tallis and Hawke gathered some remnants of the carcass for baiting. Jennifer closed her eyes tightly. They were no different. They had family. This is why I hate hunting, it's a needless waste of life." She turned back towards him and gave him a watery smile. "Let's move on. Shall we?"
Fenris nodded. "Agreed." Jennifer continued to look around her in awe, thought it was more subdued than before. She stopped, looking at a tree closely. She stepped forward. "What is it?" Fenris asked, stepping beside her.
"Can't tell really, but have a look at this. What do you make of it?" She asked of no one in particular. Upon the solid base on the evergreen was an acrid green substance.
"Looks like wyvern poison. Seems like were on the right path." The poison had eaten away at the bark, the wick beneath black and dying. Jennifer stepped back before turning towards the others as they walked off.
-ooo-
Jennifer couldn't stop crying. Four dragons, a mabari, much like her Rascal, and a wyvern all slain by their hands. She had half a mind to yell at the Duke Prosper, but Garrett only asked her to remain calm for the sake of the job. Jennifer grinded her teeth but nodded reluctantly. She had donned the emerald empire-waist silk dress, and much to her dismay, many a hopeful suitor confronted her with horrendously boring political and self-worth conversations. Fenris stayed by her side and on more than one occasion she asked him to glare at anyone who managed to even leer in her direction.
Fenris smiled at that but remained silent, though he did his fair amount of glaring. So Jennifer mingled for Hawke's sake. Fenris mentioned with a nod of his head that Tallis had returned. Jennifer sighed but made her way to Hawke's side. Tallis informed them about a door that was locked, complaining about her prestigious picks. Hawke suggested Fenris and Isabela look for another way in while Jennifer served as a distraction. Tallis and Hawke discreetly asked a guard and a servant about they key. Jennifer sighed as Tallis left the elven servant. "I don't know what's wrong. I'm usually better than this."
Hawke chuckled. "I take it she didn't have the key either."
Tallis shook her head. "She claims she handed it to Lord Cyril, the Duke's son." Jennifer groaned without meaning to. Hawke and Tallis, only looked at her.
"He's pompous, and uppity and boasts about his father's 'impeccable taste.'" Jennifer tried for her best Orlesian accent. Hawke chuckled before Jennifer smirked wryly. "Let's get this over with."
"Jennifer!" Hawke exclaimed in mock shock. "Do you mean to tell me you do not like Orlesians?" He asked quietly.
"Holy crap balls, no!" She scrunched her nose.
"A true Fereldan!" Hawke chuckled and patted Jennifer on the back.
They moved towards Lord Cyril and his group of merry men as they talked quietly amongst themselves. As Tallis, Jennifer and Hawke stepped forward, Cyril placed a hoity smirk on his face and motioned for the other men to leave. "Ah, the honored quests. You have never been to Chateau Haine, yes?" He asked as he held his wine glass delicately between his fingers. "Please, my lady Jennifer, allow me to give you this caprice, it is an old custom."
"My mother spoke often of Leandra, they were good friends when they were younger. It's a shame neither could be here, for differing circumstances." He nodded to Hawke.
"My mother wishes your father and you the best regards." Hawke bowed slightly. "But I must say, Tallis here has been asking such fascinating questions about the garden, but I can't answer them." He smirked at Cyril.
Cyril nodded. "I suppose I can do my duty for the family and show her around.
-ooo-
"No, I don't have the cheese tray, you're mistaking me for a-" Jennifer and Hawke stood a bit from the door, listening in on the conversation being held within the room. Didn't seem any of it was going as planned and Jennifer frowned.
A couple passed by and Hawke raised his wine glass in greeting, "Avoid the cheese plate… terrible." He shook his head in disgust and Jennifer fought to keep the smile that was threatening to show.
Tallis shook her head as she walked out the door. "This is officially my worst night ever."
"Not Lord Cyril's type?" Hawke asked with a smirk.
"Maybe he just doesn't like elves." Tallis sighed and looked at Jennifer. "You're going to have to do it." Tallis stated and Damn him! Hawke agreed. Jennifer glared at their smirks but straightened her hair and did her best to saunter into the room.
"Tell the elf that her pleas are for nothing. She pretty enough I suppose." He walked towards Jennifer with a disinterested look in his eyes. "No doubt there are some men who would like that sort of thing." He turned to face her directly.
Jennifer smiled, but it quickly faded as she curled her lip, pulled back her fist and hit Lord Cyril squarely in the jaw. His head jerked to the side but ricocheted back as he fell to his knees. Jennifer hiked the skirt of her dress and slammed her knee into his chin, causing him to sprawl along the deep red carpeted runner. Jennifer reached down to his belt and felt around until she found the key ring attached to the loop of his pants. She ripped it off and placed the key in the middle of her breast band.
Jennifer turned and straightened herself before walking towards the door and sauntering back outside. "You have it! Tell me you have it." Tallis asked excitedly.
"What do you think?" Jennifer asked quirking a brow.
"Good! Then we can find the… jewel. And get this over with." She smirked distractedly.
AN: So a few more chapters of Fenris' story then lots of Anders. So don't worry. Didn't forget about him. Later my pretties!