I do not own anything Dragon Age. Rights belong to BioWare.

Becoming Pavus's niece really filled in my schedule with a whole bunch of useless nonsense. I thoroughly regretted complaining about how bored I had been before that party. My days were filled with trips to restaurants and theaters with the elite. I had never been so exhausted before. Pretending to be someone I wasn't was taxing in a way I had never experienced. It wore me out in a way that my brain felt like it was going to explode. Every night for the next few days after I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

"Please?" I could not keep the whine from my voice. "Is it so much for me to ask for a single day to myself? I can't take the fake smiles and pretending everyone is so funny." I leaned back in my chair pushing away my breakfast plate. I knew I was being childish, but I was seriously losing it. "Isabella comes back today and I will be at the port one way or another."

Varric sniffed loudly as I stared at him. Mentioning Isabella had broken his stubborn wall. He missed her as much as I did and he unfolded his arms and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Fine. I will send out the messages necessary to let your new entourage down gently. Don't act surprised when people start asking you if you are feeling better but I think I can buy you a day or two of freedom." He relented. I practically crawled across the table in my excitement throwing my arms around the burly dwarf. "Thanks Varric!" Try as he might to hide it, I knew he viewed me as a little sister and I basked in the warm feeling that crept over me when he rounded one arm across my shoulder briefly hugging me back.

"Off with you." He shooed me away from the table. "Don't forget though you are still a fancy lady and you will have eyes upon you even if you don't realize it. I suggest a shopping trip, maybe ask the cook if there is anything that needs replenished. Keep up appearances and take Zevran with you." I clicked my boot heels together, straightened my back and saluted. "Yes sir." He blew out a deep laugh. "Damnit kid you are so hard to stay mad at. Go get ready. I'll tell Zevran what is going on."

A little over an hour later I was dressed in some of my finer riding leathers. I chose to go out in no make up and with my hair in its normal simple long braid. Zevran wore a frilly white shirt and black pants. He looked so strange with his hair pulled back. I watched him climb atop his horse and ignored him when he asked if I was enjoying the view.

"Don't forget out side the gate your contrite submissiveness." I sneered at him. He bowed his head to me with a gentle "As you command mistress."

"You have the lists of everything the cook and Head Housekeeper need?" I asked. I am so glad I have a normal task for once this week. I thought to myself as we trotted through the front gate.

"What time do you think my busty buccaneer beauty will pull into port?" Zevran asked. "Late enough that anyone important will not see us together in the streets."

We chatted with each other as much as we could before our masks had to be put back on. I hate this. Pretending to own another person is the foulest thing I have ever done. For what felt like the millionth time I thanked the Maker that I would never really know what it would be like to actually own a slave.

Market Square was bustling with hundreds of people. Shops of every make selling anything you could imagine lined the streets. Carts were set in intervals along the sidewalks offering even more. Our first stop was the grocer. I would make sure that the people taking care of us would have everything they needed to do their jobs. The cook almost cried when I offered to fetch provisions. Halward's staff was starting to grow on me. They each seemed honest hardworking individuals. The memory of the cook's horror when she found me scrubbing pots with her apprentice brought a smile to my face.

We trotted up to the store and tied our horses out front. I tossed a silver to a young boy on the street and told him there would be another one if he watched out for my horses. He eagerly began to brush them and hollered for his friend to fetch a bucket of water. "Mistress Hawke!" a warm voice greeted me as I walked in the front door. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" A tall thin man walked around the counter trying to politely meet me as close to the door as possible offering to take my jacket. I shrugged it off and tossed it over my shoulder. I heard Zevran catch it.

I make a gesture, pointing from Zev to the proprietor "I've brought a list of the things my house needs. Make sure it is delivered before night fall." I walked around the store with my hands behind my back looking into display cases and pretending to shop. The man took the paper from Zevran who had remained just inside the door and began running around checking to see what was available. "Tell me," I began keeping my voice as harsh and condescending as I could, "has anything interesting happened around the city in the last few days?" I made my way to the register waiting for the grocer to finish his task. "There have been a few skirmishes along the outer wall the last two days or so." He responded as he glided behind the counter and began totaling my purchase. "Rumor has it that the Quanari have heard of your arrival and are interested in trying to get through to you. Did you really kill their Arishok in Kirkwall?" I sneak a quick glance at Zevran who's eyes widened ever so slightly at the news. "If they want to see me so badly, why have I not heard about it myself?" I muse to myself aloud. "I am sure I don't know Lady." Was the curt reply.

Once everything was paid for, I exited the building Zevran close on my heels. He couldn't walk beside me pretending to be my slave but he spoke low enough no one outside our arms reach could over hear. "I know that look." There was mirth in his voice. "Thinking about sneaking off with me and Isabella after dark tonight to see what the horned men want?" I nodded. "I have to show our girl a good time when she gets back. You have your idea of that and I have mine." He laughed taking a single step back.

We walked around for another hour looking at everything that took our interest. We lunched together as I shopped. I bought nothing interesting. There was nothing I wanted but I knew that I had more than enough wealth to share and spending at the booths and stores that seemed to need it a little more made me feel less guilty about having it.

We made our way back to our horses. The two boys who had been taking care of them did a good job. The grins that spread across their faces when I gave them each 8 silvers melted my heart.

Zevran stepped up to my side and gripped my elbow. Leaning close to my ear he mumbled "We have someone following us. He looks very familiar." He dropped my elbow and bowed low apologizing aloud for his ill manners. I stepped up into the saddle as I looked around. It was not very hard to spot the white-haired elf leaning against a pillar in front of the building directly behind us. People seemed to avoid him like oil in water. His arms were crossed over his chest and I could barley see his eyes through the mess of snow fine hair that fluttered over his face in the breeze.

I rode across the street stopping before him. "Nice to see the man who is almost as fast as me." I greeted with a smile. His scowl was immediately replaced with pure shock as his mouth fell open. "What? Not used to someone speaking to you?" A subtle pink bloomed across his cheeks as he cleared his throat. "That and I am not accustomed to anyone referring to me as a man." Came the gruff reply. I had momentarily forgotten that I was speaking to a slave and my heart squeezed in my chest.

"Name is Marian Hawke. You may call me Miss Hawke. What is your name?" the words felt like stones in my belly. You almost let your mask slip you fool. I scolded myself. "Fenris." He replied simply. "What brings you to market today Fenris?"

He stands up from the column he had been leaning on and reaches into a pocket between his breast plate and his tunic. "You do Miss Hawke." I drop my free hand to the pommel of a dagger on my hip and hold my breath expecting an attack.

He slides an envelope from his hiding place and holds it out. I snap my fingers and point to the envelope in his hand and Zevran hops down from his steed and retrieves the letter. As he hands it up to me, he cracks a sly smile and winks, playful, since his back is turned to the man with the strange markings. "Thank you Fenris." I flash him a polite smile and start to tug on the reigns to leave. In a flash Fenris stands to block my horse's way. The horse snorts and begins dancing backwards as it is startled. "Please Miss Hawke my Master also instructed me to wait for your reply and return it to him."

I glance to Zevran and notice his face is its same mask of indifference but the knuckles of the hand holding the reigns to the horse he hadn't yet climbed back on were white. The revelation did not sit right with him.

"I have business here still for at least the next hour and another hour ride out of the city limits to return to my uncle's house. Will Denarius wait that long?"

"He will wait as long as it takes." He replied with a shrug. "His instructions were to deliver the envelope and bring the response back. He specifically said not to leave until I had a response from you."

"Very well." I reached into the coin purse tied to my waist and pulled out a handful of coins. "Zevran, hand him the reigns to your steed. This will cover the purchase of another for your return to the Pavus Estate. I will be headed to Tilly's to check on my most recent order and then the Dark Lady to leave a message for our friendly Siren. If it takes you longer than that to purchase another nag catch me up on the road out of town."

"My Lady I must protest. I should not leave you unattended." The worry in his eyes almost unsettled me. "Zevran, while I appreciate your concern for me, need I remind you that I am more than capable of taking care of myself?" a hard annoyance overtook my tone. He sputtered, a blush creeping up his neck and face. "No, my lady. I remember. Do you have any other orders for me?" he dropped his head to look at his shoes. "Yes. Send a message to Bianca letting her know that I will have to cancel our evening appointment and will reschedule with her as soon as I am able." I see the understanding in his eyes as he turns and disappears into the crowd.

During our exchange Fenris had climbed atop the stallion that had been Zevran's and was quietly stroking its neck. So much for a day off from the espionage nug shit.I took the lead and rode off toward Tilly's dress shop.

FENRIS

She was the most mind-boggling person I had ever met. She seemed so cold when interacting with me and her own slave but the smile she gave the boys she paid just before she noticed me was the warmest thing I had ever seen.

No wonder Denarius is so captivated with her. She is a complete mystery. I ran my hand over the sturdy neck of the horse she allowed me to use. It was the simplest kindness. I usually had to walk or sprint behind anywhere I went with my master. The slightest smile pulled the corners of my lips.

There was something about this woman that tugged at me. For the first time in a very long while I was looking forward to see what the next few hours would bring.

I could feel his eyes on me the entire journey. I wonder how loyal he is to Denarius. As his personal body guard, he must know things about the Magister that no one else would. Maybe he would know where the evidence the Archon wants is hidden. When Tilly's shop came into view, I saw her oldest two kids in the door way advertising their mother's shop handing out flyers. The oldest, Marie waved to me but kept dutifully working. Her middle Pierre practically dumped his stack of flyers into his sisters' arms and ran forward to greet me.

I hopped down from my horse as the boy threw his arms around my waist. "Mistress Hawke it's so nice to see you today! Momma isn't done with your latest order yet but she will be thrilled to see you." He snatched the reigns out of my hands and looked around for Zevran. The last time I had visited the shop my Crow friend showed him how to throw daggers. The boy idolized him. "Zevran isn't with me today, Pierre, I've brought a different friend." His pout was quickly replaced with shock and awe when he spotted the quiet elf dismounting. "That's Fenris!" he exclaimed. It was my turn to be shocked as I asked him how he knew that. "Every one knows who he is! He's completely undefeated in the Arena. Dad used to take me every month. He hasn't fought in months. Rumor has it that Denarius retired him to train his house guard."

By the time the boy's excitement tumbled out of him Fenris had approached. "That rumor is correct boy." was all he said. The boy gulped, surprised and embarrassed to be addressed by the older man. At a complete loss for words Pierre grabbed the reigns out of Fenris' hand and began to walk the horses around to the back of the building. I reached out an elbow and nudged my quiet companion. "I didn't realize you had a fan base." I teased. "Those victories aren't really mine." He muttered looking away. Normal me would have reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder but Minrathous me just ignored it and walked into the building. "Stay here. Allow no one inside except the children. Do it without harming anyone."