The caravan set off early the next morning, just after dawn fully broke, as they'd said. Seren was glad they'd kept separate watches because while a few of the guards glanced their way, none came over to inform them the party was leaving. The sheer dishonesty of it, of taking their coin with the clear intent to cheat them of it galled her. It was Tevinter, yes, but was everyone here born an asshole?
Fenris roused immediately when she shook him, and only nodded as if he expected nothing else when she explained how quickly the next stage of their flight nearly ended. She wondered if that would ever change for them, if she would ever stop being surprised at how quickly others would screw anyone over for a bit of coin, if Fenris would ever stop waiting for it.
When they departed into the early morning light, Seren and Fenris did as they'd been instructed. They followed at the very back of the caravan, keeping a few places behind the last of the guards. They received a few curious looks, lingering more on her than Fenris, but no one spoke to them as the caravan began it's slow journey across the dry, dusty landscape.
Travel was silent for the most part. So far, this felt like the riskiest part of their journey. Here, they were at the mercy of those who owed them nothing nor had any interest in their well-being. And they were bound by the speed of the caravan, which seemed to move at a crawl even though Seren knew they were making as good a speed as was possible.
The caravan stopped as the sun rose directly above them. Quick, clever awnings were attached to the sides of the carts to provide protection from the sun as the men settled down to take a break from the hottest part of the day. The draft animals were fed and watered, and then the men took their turn.
Debating for only a moment, Seren strode forward, Fenris falling into step behind her. She moved quickly to where rations and water were being handed out and stepped up the very back of the line. The guard handing out the food and water paused, and then looked over his shoulder at the merchant, resting under a more elaborate awning. The merchant pursed his lips as he looked back at where they waited. Seren met his gaze, steadily. After a moment, he simply nodded, returning to his more sumptuous meal, and the guard handed Seren a portion of food and water.
However, as Fenris reached for his portion, it somehow tumbled to the ground. Laughter rippled around them. Seren shifted her weight, but a quick touch to her arm from Fenris had her stilling. He bent down to pick up the food and didn't meet the guard's eyes as he ducked his head in thanks and turned back to find a spot to sit. Seren glared at the guard for a moment before she turned to follow.
"It's fine," Fenris said as she sat next to him, dusting off the bread before tearing off a chunk.
"It's not," she grated.
"Se—" he bit off her name with a sigh, "this is hardly the worst I've endured. Let it go. We can't afford to anger them."
With a frustrated growl, Seren nodded. "I know, I know, it's just…. Maker, I hate it. I hate this country and its people. I hate the cruelty for cruelty's sake."
Tipping his head to the side, he regarded her carefully. "Is it truly so different in Ferelden?" he asked.
She thought for a long moment. "I won't say there's no cruelty there. There are people who will cheat and steal and take advantage of others. And I know that there are those who would look up to certain people, but..." Seren shook her head. "My father lived his entire life and raised a family as an apostate. Yes, we often had to move, but there was always a place we could go, a place to make a home and people who would welcome and help us. Who would lie to the templars and give us time to escape when there was nothing in it for them. Nothing except doing what they knew was right." Gesturing helplessly around her, she said, "I just can't see any of that happening here."
Fenris nodded, looking down. "Would it be better for us there, then?"
"I…don't know. I won't lie and say elves have it easy. It would make some things harder. But I know there are places we could go where we could live a life, probably as safe as any as we could hope for."
"But you don't want to go there?" he prompted when she fell silent.
Seren shrugged, conflicting desires fighting within her. Fenris's question recalled thoughts she'd already had. "I know it would be safer," she said quietly. "The more distance we put between ourselves and Tevinter the better. I know that. And Fereldans are not a welcoming bunch to you know who. It would be safer."
He waited.
"But they're my family." She looked at him pleadingly. "I have to at least see them, know they're okay."
"Then that's what we'll do." Fenris returned to his simple lunch.
"And you don't mind?"
Fenris reached out to take her hand. "I have freedom because of you. I have hope because of you. For the first time in my life, I know what it is to be a man and not a slave. And if that were not enough, for the first time in my life I have love." He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, wishing he could be closer to her than this, but remembering the merchant's warning too well. "I trust you. And I will follow wherever this road takes us, no matter the danger. There is no place I would rather be than by your side."
"What in the Black City am I supposed to say to that?" Seren muttered, shaking her head. "Maker, you're enough to give a girl a god complex."
"There is no one I would rather worship."
Before Fenris, there hadn't been much that could get Seren to blush. She'd never been the shy and modest type to begin with, and all that had happened since Ostagar had only reinforced that. But a few well chosen words from the man sitting across from her had her face hot enough to fry an egg.
"I bet you talk to all the girls like that," she muttered, trying to deflect.
The amusement on Fenris's face faded. "There has never been another. And there never will be."
Seren felt guilty. She forgot sometimes that quips like that didn't always land the same way for Fenris as they did for others. "You never know," she replied, trying to keep it light. "Maybe some comely tavern wench will turn your head."
But Fenris just fixed her with a knowing and serious gaze. "No, there won't," he promised.
This time, she had to look away completely. Fenris had always been intense, but the longer they'd been together, the more bold he'd grown. No, not bold. Honest. It was only now that she realized he'd probably always felt deeply, but had never had the freedom—not even his own thoughts—to give voice to them. Now he could, and it made Seren want to weep for all that he'd been denied for far too long.
"When I get you alone," she promised in a shaky voice.
"I'll hold you to that," was Fenris's reply, low and husky. Damn him, he knew what he did to her and she deliberately kept turned away so she could finish her own food.
For the most part, the rest of the trip was mercifully quiet. Fenris did nothing in reply to the slights paid to him, what the guards thought of as cruel taunts being little more than inconveniences. And while Seren seethed inside at the indignity, she did not show it.
But there was one incident that jeopardized everything.
They were nearly done with their part of the journey. The caravan had stopped to resupply water and the merchant had given some of the guards leave to enjoy themselves for the night. Cheap drink was shared and it wasn't long before some of the men were drunk. Seren and Fenris stayed well away, not wanting any part of their merriment or to risk drawing attention with inhibitions lowered.
Seren only approached to return the bowls that they had used for the meal prepared that night. One her way back through the encampment, one of the men reached out and grabbed her arm. He was one of the larger men in the caravan, and Fenris had noticed his gaze linger on Seren more than once. Those around him in their cups laughed and hooted, but the still sober guards jerked to attention.
"Get your fucking hand off me," Seren ordered, voice quiet, but carrying clearly.
Instead the man laughed and jerked his arm, pulling Seren off balance and down into his lap. "Come on, love," he crooned, "why don't you give a real man a tumble? I'm sure I've got more to offer you than that mute elf you drag around." He ground himself against her. "Or maybe he'd like to join. A good fucking might help him find his voice."
Fenris had surged to his feet the moment the man had pulled Seren down, his long strides crossing the distance quickly as he reached to grasp the sword strapped to his back. Orders to not touch their weapons unless the caravan was attacked were forgotten. The man would release Seren or he would die, as would any other who tried to stop him.
The other guards noted his approach with alarm, reaching for their own weapons. Fenris noted their position and how fast they could move, the years of training and serving Danarius not wasted in the first moment he truly needed them. A strangled yelp caught all their attention and they turned to the Seren and the guard.
The guard's eyes were wide, white showing all around the edges. Seren held a slim dagger to his throat with her right hand while her left hand was down between their bodies. Whatever she was doing, the guard did not appear to enjoy her touch.
"I said, get your fucking hands off me," Seren repeated, her voice cold.
The guard slowly, carefully raised his hands and Seren stood back up. The thin trickle of blood ran down his throat and her lip curled in disgust as she wiped the blade on her cloak and slipped the dagger back into its hidden spot.
Immediate danger over, the tension remained. The guards didn't move, hands still on the hilts of their weapons. Fenris stood still as well, hand still on the hilt of his own sword, unwilling to release it until he knew she was safe. Seren met his gaze and her expression eased slightly. She shifted and moved toward him, coming to a stop just before him and then turning back to the rest of the caravan.
The merchant was bustling over. "I thought you were told—"
Seren cut him off. "The next time any of your men touch me or my companion, they die."
The merchant started to reply, but Seren just turned around and walked away, back to where they had set up their sleeping area for the night. Fenris lingered a moment longer, looking first at the merchant and then the guard that had grabbed Seren. Then he too turned and followed Seren.
He found her gathering their things and carrying them farther into the darkness, away from the camp and its firelight. He grabbed his own pack, carrying it without a word. The lines of her body were tense as she shook the blankets back out and then sank down onto hers. He sat next to her and glanced down, noticing her hands trembling as she balled them into fists.
Carefully, he edged closer, sliding an arm across her shoulders. For a moment, she went rigid and then sagged against him. "I won't let someone touch me like that again!" she said fiercely. "Like they have a right to! Like they own me!"
Fenris remained quiet, letting the rage work through her until she was calm. He looked out into the darkness. Tevinter had left its mark on more than just her skin. He hoped that unlike the lyrium in her skin that someday she would be free of these.
They left the caravan two days later. They were nearly to the end of where they had intended to accompany the merchant anyway, and tensions had never really settled. It was safer to leave earlier and take the slight risk it presented than to stay.
That last night, they never unpacked, keeping their distance until the sun had fully set, and then taking off into the night. If they were spotted, it didn't matter. No one in the caravan would want to pursue them.
They kept to nighttime traveling for a few days, but as they drew closer to the Minanter River the roads became busied. Seren suggested they start traveling during the day, becoming two simple travelers like others they saw on the road. It made Fenris feel exposed, though he knew they would have to take that step sooner or later.
"We can wait another day or two," Seren offered, but Fenris declined with a shake of his head.
"No, I am being…foolish." Frustrated with himself. "We must do this. There's no point in putting it off any longer."
"If you're certain."
"I am." He stood, dusting his hands on his thighs and then reached out to help Seren up. "We still have far to travel."
"All right." Seren shouldered her pack and headed toward the road not far off. They'd only been walking a few minutes when she abruptly stopped.
"What is it?" Fenris asked, looking around in concern for some sign of something he'd missed.
"While we were traveling over the plans, we crossed into Nevarra, didn't we?"
"Yes?" Fenris answered, wondering what bearing that had.
"Nevarra," Seren replied. When Fenris gave her a confused look, she shook her head, a wide smile spitting her face. "Fenris, we're in Nevarra. You're free."
A small part of him knew he'd never be truly free, but he pushed it down. Free. He looked around them. Strange that such a plain and homely countryside should look so beautiful.
A tug at the collar of his armor recalled his attention. Still grinning, Seren pressed close, raising her face to kiss him. They hadn't touched much in the last few weeks and he pulled her close, relishing something so simple as a kiss. When they finally parted, they didn't immediately step away. Seren kept grinning at him.
"How was your first kiss as a free man?" she teased.
Fenris knew she expected a quick reply. 'Perfect' or 'Amazing' or some other glib answer. But he took the question seriously. "My first kiss as a free man," he said softly. A strange string of words he'd never thought to think, let alone say. "It was. And it was perfect because it was."
Seren's brows furrowed over the cryptic words, and then understanding washed over her face. The fact that he was free, that he could choose to kiss someone, and that there were so many more waiting for him, that was the gift. That such a kiss could exist is what made it perfect.
"Come on." Seren laced her fingers with his and tugged him back into motion. Fenris followed without hesitation, the sun shining down as walk, free and tall next to a woman he loved and for some reason had chosen to love him. There was still danger ahead, and they would face challenges, but Fenris wouldn't trade it for anything. He would endure everything in his past a hundredfold just to have this moment and all those that would follow.