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

Parts of this chapter are pure dialogue. It will read more like a script than a story and Initials will be used to differentiate characters. For example: F= Fenris, Z= Zevran, V= Varric and so on. Hawke's dialogue will not have an initial. unless it is from Fenris perspective.

Fenris was still pretty quiet as we prepared for our ride into the city. We both went without armor but still carried our weapons. The house was well behind us and we still had at least another 45 minutes before we would even see the city limits. It was just the two of us and our mounts. The silence was so uncomfortable.

"I'm glad you still have that horse. She seems much healthier than when I last saw her." I had to start somewhere.

He nodded and stroked the nags neck. "I am fond of her."

"Have you given her a name?"

He nodded again. "I've been calling her Anna."

Surprise shot through me. "Did you name her after that awful Hadriana from the mansion?" Are they friends? I hope not. If they are maybe he takes Denarius as seriously as she does.

"I actually did. Don't you think they have a similar face?" amusement filled his voice. I laughed.

"For a second there I thought maybe you two…. Are you and her close?" I looked down at my hands. I clinched my reigns half dreading the answer.

He scoffed loudly. "That woman is as vile as she is ugly."

I laughed at that. "She didn't make a great impression on me either."

He smiled. "Yes. That was very amusing. I enjoyed watching you knock her down a peg. It was the most fun I've had at a gathering like that."

Silence grew again as the horses clopped forward at their own leisurely pace. "How are you feeling?"

I felt his eyes on me as he asked me what I meant. "Neither of us were really expecting him to give you to me. I need to know how you feel about it."

I had a hundred more questions but I guess that was as good as a place to start.

"I'm strangely comfortable with it." Was all he replied. The anxiety I felt about this lifted a little bit.

"That's great. We will have a few weeks to get to know each other a little better before I have to start my bi weekly visits to Denarius place."

"Congratulations on your engagement." The venom in his voice made me flinch.

The rest of the journey was completed in silence. He didn't engage or respond to any more of my attempts to begin small talk.

We visited a few shops. One provided several sets of clothes. From another he choose soaps and toiletries as he pleased. The whole time we were shopping he had this look on his face I couldn't quite place. He was almost in awe.

I also purchased a few bottles of Zevran's favorite Antivan wine, a few bottles of Isabella's preferred whiskey and a cask of Varric's favorite ale. It would be delivered after a few hours.

The sun was at the highest point in the sky when we began our return. There was no breeze so I pulled my braid up around itself and pinned it to the top of my head to keep it off my neck. I couldn't stand the silence any longer. "If you don't want to come with me during the weeks I will be staying at Denarius place I won't force you. I'd never ask someone to do something they were truly uncomfortable with."

I watched him straighten in the saddle. He looked offended. "I would not leave your safety to that coward you currently take with you."

I laughed. "That coward, I'll have you know, is far deadlier than you think. So is Isabella. And you haven't even met Bianca yet."

He shook his head in disbelief. "Doubt all you want. It doesn't make my claim any less true." I smiled at him. He must have found me amusing because he actually smiled back at me.

"Do you remember when I told you that I had a specific reason for being in Minrathous?" He nodded.

"I need to find out if I can trust you to help me with that reason. Since we hardly know each other, I do not know if I can trust you. My gut is telling me I can but this is too important to me to not listen to my brain over my gut. I have to be smart about this. Acting on emotion has blown up in my face too many times."

I got quiet again and collected my thoughts. "If I ask you questions, would you answer them honestly?" I pulled the reigns and stopped my mount. He followed my lead. Our animals were side by side so we were knee to knee. I looked him directly in the eye as I waited in his answer. He seemed to take in my stock with the same fervor I was looking at him.

FENRIS

The intensity of her gaze was almost uncomfortable. Shame started to overwhelm me as I realized that she was as blind sided by this gift as I was. No wonder she's wary of you. Her motive for being here obviously has something to do with my former master and she wants to know if me being around her will work against that.

"I have been rude to you for no reason this afternoon. For that I apologize. I said to you once that I knew that Denarius prized me over all of his other slaves. Giving me to you shocked everything I thought I knew and I am still coming to terms with it. As for honesty ma'am I have always been honest even if it earned me a beating." She blinked slowly at that.

"I would never beat you." She said quietly. I nodded. "I've seen enough of your character to believe you. If I had to choose between serving you or him… its not a choice. You have treated me with a grace and understanding that I have never experienced from anyone as far back as I remember. You treat me like I am just any other man and not …" I didn't finish my sentence as she pulled one of her daggers out of its sheath.

"Pull your blade." She ordered. "Do you hear that?" she started looking all around us. I closed my eyes trying to focus on what she heard. I heard nothing. Pulling my blade, I asked her what was bothering her.

"It got silent around us. No bugs. No birds. We are not alone."

Bandits had attempted to set upon us until the leader recognized Fenris and thought better of it. We shared many laughs at their expense as me completed the journey back.

I believed Fenris when he said he had earned beatings over his honesty. I was still going to take the next few weeks to learn more about him.

Once we had unsaddled, brushed and fed our mounts he slung his saddle bags over his shoulder. He had meticulously folded and packed everything.

"I want you to know that I am grateful to you for showing me kindness. I've never owned more than one set of clothes before." His voice was steady and deep. My stomach twisted. I swallowed and took a deep breath. "There are terrible rumors about the way Denarius treats his slaves. I can only imagine what you have survived. I swear you never have to worry about that kind of treatment from me."

I hung my head. My next couple sentences were going to be hard to say. "I've never thought of myself as a slave owner before. I hate the feeling but, I will keep this arrangement as long as it suits me. I am praying to the Maker my gut is right about you but until my brain agrees this is where we are."

I saw his tattooed hand reach out as his crooked finger rested under my chin. He tilted my face up to look at him. "I understand. I would be weary too if I were in your shoes. I will earn your trust, whatever it takes. Having met you has already saved me from horrors I won't mention. I'm sorry for my behavior today. It will not happen again." My stomach fluttered. He was standing so close.

"What sweet moment am I interrupting?" Isabella's voice rang out from the darkness. Startled I jumped back putting some distance between Fenris and I. All that did was make her laugh at me. She faced him and purred. "Maybe I should have waited a bit and interrupted the kiss you were thinking about."

"I was not!" I protested. She clicked her tongue at me. "Not you. Him." She winked at him this time.

"Think what you wish." He shrugged it off. "Thank you again Miss Hawke."

She put her hands on my shoulders and watched him walk out the barn. "Maker that is a delicious man." She breathed before she turned back to me. "Ready for the mini party this evening?" excitement was evident in her voice. I smiled at her.

"Absolutely. I ordered some of that port Zevran likes and some of Varric's ale. I even found a bottle of your whiskey." My smile widened as her eyes got large. "It will be delivered before dark." She squealed and jumped up and down.

"We've been getting food and everything ready. The servants have been tipped well and given the night off. Halward and Dorian have set extra magical wards. We even found something that will quietly play music for us. Everything will start in the gardens and eventually we will move inside." She took her arm in mine and we began to leave the stables.

Half way back to the house she dropped the volume of her voice and asked me, "How did your talk with that sexy broody elf go? Do you think we can trust him enough to bring him in on this? I can't even begin to imagine the type of dirt he has on Denarius that we can use to our advantage."

"I still am not sure that he doesn't have a lingering since of loyalty to the man but I think he is honest and that is a start."

It had been the early afternoon when Fenris and I returned from our shopping trip. I had a few hours to myself. I bathed and dressed in something comfortable. I smiled at myself in the mirror thinking about how much Isabella was going to hate my choice of lounge clothes. They were baggy and shapeless and the most comfortable things I owned. The deep purple made my hair and skin appear even whiter than it already was.

I looked over at my vanity. The book Denarius had given me sat atop it. It was large for a book bound in plain brown leather. A black metal clasp held the covers together. Before I knew it, I was sitting at the vanity opening the clasp.

12 Eluviesta 2007

I have found the most interesting tome hidden in a long-forgotten corner of our great Imperial Library. I cannot decipher what it says but there are drawn diagrams all through it that seem to reference magic. What if I have found ancient magic that no other in Tevinter has ever witnessed? I tremble at the thought.

26 Eluviesta 2007

The coded pages still elude me. I have reached out to a trusted colleague that has given me a rough estimate on how old the tome could be based on. Anywhere between 100 and 150 years old. The implications are exciting. I am more determined than ever to decipher this text.

9 Frumentum 2007

After 6 months I have finally cracked the code! After having the first few pages completely translated this tome is everything I hoped and more! It describes the idea of having pure lyrium directly added to your person to boost your magic reserves. Imagine the power one could wield if this were true. I must know more.

I knew I wasn't very familiar with the Tevinter calendar but I think the journal started around 9:13. I wonder how old Fenris is.

I closed the book and clicked its lock into place. Maybe I should give this to Fenris. It feels wrong for me to be reading it. I traced the letters of his name on the cover contemplating what to do.

While lost in thought I barley heard the lock of my door being picked just before Isabella tumbled in. "I have to start keeping a lock on the inside, don't I?" I asked her laughing. "And keep me from barging in hoping to catch an eyeful?" she retorted.

"You've already seen me naked remember?" the laughter had me clutching my belly and leaning back in my chair. "I will need a thorough description later my dear." A thick accented voice remarked from just out side the door. My laughter turned into a horrified gasp at the thought. His grinning face appeared as he walked in.

Isabella laughed harder at my embarrassment. "Calm down Hawke. I would never tell him how round and firm your breasts are. Or how your rosy pink nipples look like they need to be kissed."

Even though I was clothed I crossed my arms over my chest trying to cover up and I screeched "Isabella!" Zevran's greedy eyes were fixed on my chest like he could see through my arms and the fabric covering them.

She threw her head back laughing again. "I will behave for now. I promise." The sentence came out in pieces as she tried to calm her laughter.

"We came to get you for dinner." Zevran explained as he still stared at my chest.

As we gathered the last of the plates were being served. Sues stood there waiting for my arrival. "My lady. Everything here should last the 6 of you for the evening. Is there anything else you require?"

"Is the servant's hall also taken care of?" We had given them the night off but most worked and lived here and didn't really want to leave so I decided to provide them with a party like atmosphere in their building. She smiled and nodded. Yes, My Lady. You are most kind."

"I wish there were more we could do to thank you for how well you care for us. Please enjoy this night for yourselves." "We intend to." I smiled back at her. He bowed and left. Behind her I heard the muffled footsteps of the rest of the crew leaving. They were as excited as we were.

Varric sat at the head of the table. Isabella and Zevran to his left, myself and Fenris to his right. Dorian had not arrived. He said he would be fashionably late.

I: "We haven't had a night like this since we were all last on my ship."

Z: "At least this time I am invited. I just had to meet you here."

"I for one am glad that the house will not randomly rock underneath me." I laughed.

V: "I'm surprised Broody here joined us. What will you have? Zevran and Hawke seem to prefer wine. Isabella has whiskey." She loudly protested at sharing as he offered. "And there is plenty of ale to be had."

Fenris sat next to me silently. He ate his meal as if he were the only one there. I nudged him with an elbow. "Varric is offering to pour you a drink. What will you have?"

"I'll take whatever I am allowed." He said with a shrug.

V: "Ale it is then." He poured a mug and handed it to me.

I turned my body in my chair to face Fenris as I set the mug down. When he reached his hand out, I took it in mine. Startled he raised his eyes to mine. Surprise shone in his eyes. "I meant what I said when you first came here to guard me. While you are in this house you are not a slave. I will only pull that rank if I absolutely have to." He swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded.

F: "I appreciate that. I would like to fit in here."

"Outside these walls I will have to keep up appearances, you understand?" he nodded again.

V: "She leads and she takes our council. Zevran only just came into the fold and might not stay with us long but, the ladies and I are both business partners and family." He got quiet.

I: "Varric is out of words again!" she snickered. "Let's not be so serious. Tonight, is just to enjoy good food, good drink and each other's company. Fenris you should also consider this your welcoming party. Relax."

Z: "You really should. I plan on getting you drunk enough to loosen that tongue. Maybe convince you to show me how you use it if I am lucky."

I laughed as Fenris cheeks turned pink and he cleared his throat.

F: "I can assure you that I will never be drunk enough to be interested in that offer."

I: "You don't know how persuasive he can be." She winked at Zevran. "Shall we take this out to the garden?"

V: "Yes please. I always get too warm when I start to get into my cups. The breeze will be so welcome."

"Plus, we can see the stars when they appear." I smiled at him. I stood and picked up a basket that was sitting down the table. I began filling it with some of our drinks and snacks.

I: "Are you ever going to tell me why you two are so obsessed with stars? I remember your sister asking me so many questions about how I used them to navigate."

"As far back as I can remember Bethany was obsessed with stars. She would drive Father crazy with questions. She would drive the rest of us crazy telling us what she learned over and over."

We began to make our way outside. "Her favorite stars were the Sacrifice constellation. Father told her the story once and she romanticized it. She wanted to someday know a love so pure that she would gladly sacrifice herself like the father in that story did for his daughter."

V: "That sounds like our Sunshine. She was so sweet. She hated every moment we were in the Deep Roads because she couldn't see the sky. Almost every night we would sneak off from the main camp and spend, what we thought was the evening, with a little picnic. She would try so hard to use her ice and spirit magic to make mock start on the ceilings above us."

I nodded and continued. "Now it's something Varric and I continue just to feel closer to her. There's no grave to visit. Not unless we want to travel a week or two under ground through darkspawn." I heard the bitterness in my voice and quickly took a drink of the sweet wine in my hand so I wouldn't keep talking. I couldn't let my grief spoil our evening.

I: "Oh I remember how sweet she was. I wonder if she ever took me up on my offer to pay for her a night at the Blooming Rose."

The comment was so unexpected that I choked. When I caught my breath, I laughed. "Maker no! I think by then though she had started to have feelings for Anders." I rolled my eyes as I spoke his name.

I: "I hope the poor thing didn't die a virgin. What a waste." She took another quick drink of her whiskey.

V: "Do you remember how red she turned when she asked you about that smutty book you had been reading?"

Isabella threw her head back laughing. "Didn't stop her from borrowing it later though."

The evening was lovely every one was laughing and I was more drunk than I had ever been. Isabella was telling how we helped Sebastian Vale through the Harimann Estate.

I: "Use the feather!"

Z: "Is that where you picked that up?"

V: "I think Sebastian is the only person I've ever seen get redder in the face than Hawke!"

I: "It turned out to be a friend of the family who was manipulating Sebastians cousin. Blah blah blah political scandal. But that was the funniest adventure we ever had together."

She finished her story with a drink of her whiskey. I was beginning to feel like my head was spinning so I got up and made my way to the fountain. I sat on its edge while watching the fish swim. They were all different patterns of white, orange and black. I found them absolutely beautiful. I hummed to myself a lullaby Mother used to sing to me as I reached down to roll up the legs of my pants. After I reached my knees on both legs I turned and dipped my legs in the cool water. I gently kicked my legs and continued to watch the fish.

I was blissfully lost in my own world and didn't hear the footsteps approach. I startled as someone sat next to me. I turned my head and the world tilted. It took a moment to focus on the face next to me.

"Ello Zevran." I was surprised at the slur in my voice. I giggled at myself.

Z: "Bella was right, you are absolutely adorable with wine flushing your cheeks." He laughed. I playfully pushed one of his shoulders. "Flatterer."

Z: "I have been asked to bring you back over to the group. Isabella wants you to tell a story about rescuing an elf boy from slavers."

I sighed. "She just likes hearing about how I killed Varian Ilithis the slaver. Says it makes her hot… whatever that means."

He laughed at me again. "Then I insist you come tell the story. She's got the wildest imagination. Makes things interesting."

"Glad I can help someone get laid." I told him. Before he could comment I raised a hand to cover his mouth. "I understand I can join you and Bella whenever I want but that isn't going to happen."

I felt eyes on me and looked around. My eyes met with Fenris gaze almost immediately. For a reason I didn't quite understand guilt washed over me so I removed my hand from Zevran's face. Once I did, he turned his sights back to Varric continuing whatever conversation they were having. Isabella was a few paces away dancing alone with her eyes closed.

Z: "Isabella is right he definitely feels some kind of way about you Hawke." I turned back to him as he laughed again.

"That's preposterous. He barley knows me. Besides once I told him the truth about me, he wouldn't want me anyway. No one would." He asked me what I meant and I shook my head. I kicked my feet some more in the water. The fish scattered startled.

Z: "Well let's put our theory to the test." By the time I swung my head back to look at him he had removed his shirt and flung it to the side. He was toned and tanned. He really is an attractive man. Isabella's men usually are.

"Not that I'm complaining, but why did you take your shirt off?" I squeaked.

He laughed again. "You can touch me if you want." His voice purred pleased with himself.

I shook my head. "I'll leave that to Isabella. I may be more drunk than I have ever been in my life but I'm not so drunk that I will make bad decisions. No matter how good they look." I winked at him. "Let's go tell her that story she wants."

Zevran stood and said "I still plan on testing the reaction of the slave. You ready?"

Before I what he said sunk in he reached down and scooped me up into his arms. One arm around my back the other under they back of my knees. I flung water everywhere as I kicked and squealed in surprise. "For such a formidable fighter you are much tinier than you sometimes appear." He whispered to me as he walked.

Time seemed to slow down as Zevran made his way back across the garden.

V: "I might have to use that on the cover of one of my next bodice rippers." He made a rectangle with his fore fingers and thumb and looked through it.

I: "I don't know Varric maybe the next cover should just be a close up of you in your low-cut coat. That chiseled chest covered in that sexy chest hair. I'd read it." She had stopped dancing and laughed with the dwarf.

When Zevran set me down I stumbled a bit as the world rocked around me. Isabella caught my arm and held me up straight. I giggled again.

Z: "That is such an angry look on you, my friend. Are you wishing Hawke had been in your arms instead of mine?" The crow teased looking over at Fenris as he plopped down on his lounge chair. He crossed his ancles and raised his hands behind his head smiling smugly at him.

F: "I've had her in my arms twice now. I don't need to wish for something I can easily remember." He took a deep drink from his mug of ale.

V: "You know Smiley you have a higher tolerance for alcohol than I thought you would." He topped off Fenris cup for him then his own.

F: "Sometimes drinking myself to sleep helped ignore the things I was forced to see at my former masters behest." He shrugged. "It was rare that I was allowed more than a few paces away from Denarius at any given time."

I: "Like ever? He made you sleep in the same room?"

F: "On the floor just behind the door."

I: "Even when he was … entertaining?" she raised her hand to her mouth in shock as Fenris nodded.

When what they were inferring about clicked in my drunken brain I loudly scoffed in disgust and shook my head. Before I could stop myself, I asked if one of the women in question had been Hadriana.

F: "Hadriana would sell her progeny if she thought it would please him. Of course she is also his whore."

"Don't think of it as whoring. Think of it as starting a fire." Isabella and Zevran roared at the joke. I focused on unrolling my pant sleeves. The risk of them accidentally rising too high on my thighs sobered me a bit.

Varric asked Zevran to clarify. Once he did the deep rumble of Fenris laughter rang throughout the garden.

FENRIS

The three of them looked at me as if I had randomly grown another arm from the top of my head. Hawke though was smiling at my laughter. She giggled.

"I told you all that Fenris was capable of laughing. Wait till he starts telling jokes. He's rather funny when he wants." She said before turning her attention back to her pants. When both hems were back near her ankles she seemed to relax.

I: "Hey Hawke. Didn't you promise me a dance? I have an easy one to show you I think you're drunk enough for."

V: "And with you wording it like that I'm going to take that as my que to retire." He stood and refilled his cup. He looked at me, then at Hawke and back at me before he walked away. I watched in silence as he hugged Hawke and told her good night.

"Tell Bianca we said sweet dreams." Told him as she kisses his forehead.

As the dwarf made his way inside the pirate woman walked over to Hawke and grabbed her hand pulling her to her feet. As they walked to a place that had a bit more room the Antivan made his way to the lounge seat next to me. I really hope this moron isn't going to try to make any more innuendos towards me. I sighed to myself.

Z: "Beautiful, aren't they?" he began staring over at the two women. At least one of them is. I thought to myself as I grunted to him hoping it sounded like agreement.

Z: "I was born into slavery. And I know first hand that some slaves are brainwashed into having an undying loyalty to their master." Surprise washed over me as he spoke. I began to see him in a slightly different light.

Z: "It took me a few years to get over my loyalty to the first owner I had. I had been born her property after all. Do you know how long you were controlled by that magister?"

I shook my head. "I do not remember anything before waking up on the table after the ritual that burned these markings onto my skin. Absolutely nothing."

Z: "Tough break that. I'm sure you and I could swap horror stories for the rest of the night. Hawke is hoping to be able to trust you. All she has in this world that she cares about is Isabella and Varric. I have only recently met her acquaintance so I don't know her as well as they do." He rose to grab a wine bottle and fill his cup. When he sat back down, he sighed loudly before he continued. "With me not being as close as the rest of them are I have no problem asking you these questions. Do you miss Denarius? And if she asked you to kill him, would you?"

I looked him directly in the eye, with all seriousness I could muster I replied "I would kill Denarius simply for the satisfaction of doing so."

The smile that spread across the other man's face was predatory.

I used this website: wiki/Calendar#List_of_months_and_holidays