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

The dance Isabella taught me was more of a workout than dance. She called it a belly dance but it was all thighs and hips. "Practice this and someday you will thank me." she had said. When I asked her why she refused to answer.

"I gotta admit Bell this isn't the type of dance I thought I agreed to. It feels rather lewd." I told her as I bent my knees. "Oh, darling it IS lewd. But it's fun." I humored her for about 20 minutes before Zevran came over lust in his eyes as he watched her.

"It has been a great night ladies but I have some pressing matters that need attended to." He spoke as he picked up Isabella by her waist and tossed her over his shoulder. "I like where this is going." She said excitedly "See you in the morning Hawke."

"Thank the Maker the dancing is over." I muttered to myself. The world was still swaying. Or maybe that was me. The night breeze was cool and refreshing. I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. It was a cloudless night and hundreds of stars twinkled above me.

Maker, if you're really there, please keep my family close to your side and grant me the strength to…. I wasn't really religious and the thought felt silly. I laughed at myself.

"What did I miss?" A deep voice behind me startled me. "I thought you had already went to bed Fenris." I replied to him once I calmed myself down. He held his hand out silently asking for mine. I obliged and he walked with me back to the lounge chairs. I sat in one and laid back looking up again.

I heard liquid pouring and the scrape of the legs of the chair next to me move closer. When I turned my attention back to him, he held out a goblet. I took it.

"Just some water." He assured me as he sat down. He had moved the chairs closer so we didn't have to raise our voices too much to communicate.

I looked over at him and he silently stared up at the stars like I had been. "I hope you had a nice evening. Looks like you and Varric hit it off pretty well." I said to him.

He nodded. "It was much better an evening than I've had in a while." He admitted. I smiled. "Good. I am glad. I want you to be comfortable here." The alcohol loosened my tongue as I continued. "I want you to know that once my business here is concluded you will have your freedom. I would give it to you now but…" I got quiet before finishing my thought.

"I know whatever you have going on involves my former master. You want information from me about him, don't you?" he asked. I felt his eyes on me as he asked.

"You have been his shadow for a very long time. I'm sure you have information I can use. I want you to give it to me because you want to. I don't think I could trust information ordered from you. I'm rambling again." I took a long sip of my water.

"Hope is a foreign feeling to me but, I hope your plans end in Denarius' demise. It's nothing less than he deserves." Out of the corner of my eye I saw him turn his head to look at me.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the since of relief that had begun to wash over me. When those words really sunk in, I began to tear up. He hopes for Denarius demise. Thank the Maker! I hope his feelings are the same tomorrow. Varric said something once about drunk thoughts… what was it?

"I hope you mean that. It's part of the plan." I replied bringing a hand up to dry my eyes. "Will you tell me about him? Don't leave anything out. I've heard rumors that he is a cruel hard man so don't try to spare my feelings. Tell me everything you are comfortable sharing with me."

FENRIS

I did as she asked. I told her story after story. Sometimes I ranted and raved as the anger of the memories surged through me. She listened quietly only asking brief questions here and there. I felt as if I was unburdening myself by telling her these things I had never been able to tell anyone before. No one else cared to hear it. I felt a little lighter the longer my stories went.

I awoke to a quiet laughter. When I opened my eyes, I saw the Antivan across from me. Taking a moment to orient myself I looked at the slight warm pressure on my chest. Hawke slept soundly with her arm wrapped around my stomach and her head on my shoulder. My arm was behind her, around her shoulders. She seemed to fit snugly against me like that.

"This is so sweet." He teased in his thick accent. The long, curved tattoos on the side of his face made his grin appear larger than it was. Mischief sparkled in his eyes.

"Don't say anything else." My voice was cold.

"I wouldn't dream of it my friend. From what Isabella has told me it has been a long time since Hawke slept so deeply. Without nightmares." He stood with his arms crossed over himself. Then he reached a hand up to rub his chin.

"Maybe it was the alcohol though. I've never seen her that drunk before." With a wave of his hand, he shrugged.

"I will leave you with one more thought though. While you can count on my discretion, I promise you that if Isabella sees you both like this you will never hear the end of it." He laughed again and walked away.

I took a moment to look down at her sleeping face. I had never held anyone close to me like this before but I liked it. I didn't want it to end but the Antivan brought up a good point. I did not want to hear her annoying friend's comments about this. If she had just fallen asleep in her chair, I would simply pick her up and take her to her bed. The way she lay against me left me no room to be able to do that so I just rubbed my palm up and down her arm.

"Hawke, I think we should get you in your bed." She took a deep breath in through her nose as she woke. She was disoriented so I spoke again. "We fell asleep talking last night. We were up very late." She looked up at me and blinked several times.

I looked down at her and watched as her eyes slowly widened in surprise. She shot to her feet and away like a cat. I laughed. "Don't worry I won't bite you. Let me accompany you upstairs." I stood and held an arm out.

Fenris and I stayed up until almost dawn as he told me the horrors he had lived through. Beatings, torture, periods of starvation, sexual abuse; the list went on. My heart broke for him many times. Never once did I hear anything other than anger in his voice at the atrocities he had endured. He did not feel sorry for himself or his situation at all. I respected that.

Waking up on his chest was mortifying. I didn't remember moving into his chair let alone falling asleep on him. There had been the slightest smile on his face when he woke me so I didn't linger on it.

The walk back inside and up the stairs to our adjoining rooms felt like it was going in slow motion. I almost fell back asleep walking up the stairs. By the time we got to my door he was laughing quietly to himself.

"I don't think I'll ever drink that much at once again." I muttered to myself.

I opened the door and took a step inside. "I appreciate the escort back to my room." I laughed. I was leaning heavily on the door knob to keep myself upright. I felt so lethargic. He smiled. "It was refreshing to unburden myself of some of those experiences. Thank you." He didn't give me enough time to respond as he turned and walked away.

After I closed the door, I staggered across the room and was asleep as soon as I crawled into my bed.

It was midafternoon by the time I woke back up. I still felt tired but I didn't experience the headache and light sensitivity Isabella complained about after a night of drinking.

I sat in my bed staring off into space as I thought about all the evil that Fenris confided in me last night. If Denarius really was that cruel, I had my work cut out for me.

My stomach rumbled loudly protesting how empty it was. After climbing out of bed I changed into another baggy lounge outfit and brushed my hair. I decided to forgo my usual braid. Instead, I just pulled a bit from the top of my head to pin it back behind my head to keep it out of my face.

My free hand rummaged around in the drawer of my vanity until I pulled out a barrette. It was an obsidian woman, arms outstretched, head flung back standing inside a shape that looked like a horse shoe. I stared at it a moment.

I made this for you messare. That other day when we was talking about my boy, you told me bout your own pop. Sounded like a nice man. It also sounded like you missed him som 'thin terrible so I made this for ya. You ain't a mage so you don't have any use for his staff so I made a copy for you to use in your hair. Heard girls like things like that.

I almost heard Bodhan's voice as I thought about how small it looked in his large hands. It was a pleasant memory and I smiled to myself in the mirror as I clipped it into the hair at the back of my head.

I left my room and made my way down the hall. Once I got to the kitchen I stopped and rummaged around for anything I could find. Since I had missed the first two meals of the day grabbed a bowl and filled it with strawberries.

I caught a bit of conversation as I made my way through the kitchens to the lounge.

I: "What do you mean she slept with him?!"

V: "Not like that. They talked till dawn then crashed on the same lawn chair. Sues saw them on her way in this morning."

I: "I'm not really not sure what to say about that. It sounds rather sweet. Leave it to her to make a drunken night sweet. I was kind of hoping she'd jump the quiet one and get it over with."

V: "You know Hawke isn't like you. You're comfortable in your own skin and lifestyle, she isn't. How many times have we heard that woman say she wants what her mother and father had. Just because you've never found it doesn't mean she won't."

I decided that was the perfect time to interrupt. "What about you Varric? Do you favor lust or love more?"

I smiled at the small jump they each did when I startled them. "Come on Hawke you know dwarves. If I ever have to marry it will be to improve the name not for love. So, to answer your question looks more like lust for me until duty calls."

I patted his shoulder as I passed him to sit in a chair next to him. "What are we talking about?" this smart comment made Isabella laugh. "You know damn well you were talking about you." She almost purred as she spoke. "You slept in pretty late. How's that hangover?"

"I haven't experienced any headaches or sensitivity to light or sound like you've described. I just feel as if I could sleep forever. Only got up because I was hungry." I smiled smugly at her as I shook my bowl of berries. Her mouth fell open.

"Of course you don't have a hangover." She threw her hands in the air in exasperation and groaned. "You can't even have a normal drunken fling. What's wrong with you?" I laughed at her frustration. "Maybe I got dropped as an infant?" I retorted with another giggle. Varric coughed a few times trying to stifle a laugh and that's what broke Isabella's frustration. She laughed too.

"What has our new guest been up to today?" I asked as casually as I could. "You mean you soon to be lover?" Isabella teased. I rolled my eyes at her but chose to ignore the comment. I looked directly at Varric.

"The rumors about Denarius cruelty are not exaggerated. He has no problem with beating, torturing, starving or even sexually abusing his slaves." The matter of fact in my voice made Varric wince. "Fenris told me about some of the things he's survived at that monster's hands." I paused uncertainty washing over me. "I know it's too late to back out now but, I do not know if I will be able to keep my composure when I have to be at his house. How does one turn a blind eye to atrocities like that?"

He looked solemn as he stroked his beardless chin, lost in thought. "You will have to spend time desensitizing your self to it. Sort of how soldiers get used to killing. I suggest a visit to the slaver's block. You will see plenty of cruelty there." He took a long drink out of the mug that had been on the table next to him.

Before long he took a deep breath and started. "You were right. He is much funnier than I originally thought. I liked shooting the breeze with him last night. He wants to learn Wicked Grace." I nodded. "I think we can trust him but am still hesitant."

"Zevran thinks he's trustworthy too. Said he seems like the kind of man who is brutally honest to a fault. I agree. He seems too angry to lie." Isabella reached out to take some of the berries I was eating. I slapped her hand away. "Ouch hungover Hawke is mean!" she pouted.

FENRIS

I hadn't been able to go back to sleep after taking Hawke to her room. I decided that I needed to make myself busy and went to check on Anna. Her stall needed fresh bedding so I spent a few hours mucking the stall. I also brushed her down and checked her shoes.

I thought about how Hawke promised me my freedom after she accomplished her goals. The idea thrilled and frightened me. I could not remember a single minute before waking up on that table with these ghostly markings branded onto me. What would I do with my freedom? Where would I go? I had heard stories about run away slaves taking jobs as servants because they already had those skills.

The thought of some of the domestic things I had been required to do for Denarius for pay was amusing and I laughed to myself.

"What's funny?" a voice rung out from the shadows. I hadn't heard her approach and stifled my surprise.

"I was just contemplating what I will do if you really do grant me my freedom." I admitted to her. I still had my back to her, picking up the brush again and working on the horses side.

"When." Hawke's irritation was clear in her voice. Out of my periphery I saw her lean against the post that the stall's hinges were nailed into. Anna nickered at her softly and swung her large head to investigate.

I looked over at her and asked her to clarify. "Not if, when. I am a woman of my word. I promised you your freedom and you will have it." She paused for a moment giving me the chance to reply. I did not. I could not. I didn't know what to say. If the statement had come from Denarius, I would not have this odd hopeful feeling in my chest. I was actually thinking about earning coin to survive in the event I was a free man after all.

Turning my gaze back to the horse I continued to brush. "Anyway, back to what was so funny. You were thinking about your freedom?" She was now stroking Anne's forehead. The horse seemed pleased with all the attention.

"I was thinking about what to do to earn coin to support myself. The thought of being a servant was amusing." I admitted to her. She giggled. "I couldn't see it either. You could always come back to Kirkwall with us. I made a lot of coin dealing with the slaver problem there. Poetic justice, getting paid to save others from slavery."

"I could probably do that anywhere outside of Tevinter." I mused.