There was a building of dull pain forming in the back of her neck as Hawke stared down into the crate.

"It's empty." Hawke told the others mildly surprised.

"It's a set-up." Bethany concluded, frustration clear on her face. "Someone's playing us."

Hawke sighed-it's been a long day. "I suppose we have no choice but to tell Anso this turn of unfortunate events."

Hawke made for the door of their shabby confines and wrenched it open. A row of menacing and heavily-armored sycophants greeted them in the cool night air.

"That's not the elf!" An ugly woman cried out, pointing at Hawke and the others with a long sword.

"It makes no difference. We kill anything that comes out!" said another beside her.

"Damn." Hawke cursed pulling out her blades. Her other companions were already battling it out with other attackers. She focused and threw one of her throwing knives aiming for the throat of an on-coming assailant. Not waiting to see if he was killed, Hawke moved forward and rushed toward her next victims, successfully throwing them off balance. Hawke and her companions were more than a match for these men, which she found highly amusing and grateful. After their last victim, her friends caught their breaths with Anders moved around, checking for any signs of trauma. When he was satisfied, he bent down toward the bodies with the rest.

"Anything?" Hawke called out as she made her over to a very frozen body, raising her eyebrows at her sister's violent, yet effective handiwork. Hawke kicked the body over and searched the pockets, but found nothing except a few coins. She pocketed them and stood up, looking at the others. They didn't seem to find any luck pertaining to who they were what they wanted. Hawke was tired. That dull pain was becoming increasingly more stabbing. She reached for her neck, massaging it and sighed as she stood, stretching.

There was a chorus of "no's" from the others as they continued their search. Not finding much at all, Hawke led the others over to the stairs leading away from the alienage. "Well, let's head out. I want to find Anso and go home."

"Are you alright, Hawke?" Merrill asked concerned as the she and the others caught up to Hawke.

Hawke smiled at her and the others, grateful for their concerned glances. Bethany eyed her carefully as did Anders, his eyes carefully searching, as he looked her up and down. Hawke was aware of his stare and turned away, speaking over her shoulder.

"I'm fine, Merril, thanks. It's just been a long day." Hawke looked up, seeing hundreds of starts littering the darkened sky. She rubbed her eyes. "And night, by the looks of it."

"Sister," Bethany began, leading the others up the stairs. "It would do you good to take a break once in a while. Mother would definitely be relieved. She worries."

Hawke nodded feeling guilty. "I know. But-Bethany!"

Hawke reached out and pulled her sister back by a single stick of her clothing. A man stood at the top of the stairs, his own sword, dangling from his hand as he watched Hawke and her companions, eyeing them with extreme malice. He walked down the stairs, his heavy armour clinking as he moved.

"What have we here?" the stranger asked with a nasty smile, his sword tight in his fist. "It doesn't matter who you are. You will die where you stand, after you tell me where the elf is."

"What elf?" Hawke asked annoyed. That's the second time this elf was mentioned. Threaten my friends, she thought heated, not while you're alive. As slow as she could to not draw attention, she reached behind her and took a hold of one of her knives.

Before the man could say another word however, there was a flash of blue and a hand reaching into the man's body. Hawke watched wide-eyed as the man gurgled, blood spurting out of his mouth. With a loud pulsating sound from the arm, the man was thrown down the stairs into a lifeless heap by her feet. Hawke furrowed her eyes and looked back up the stairs. A figure was covered by shadow, but slowly emerged into the moon's light with a light step. An elf was making his way down slowly into the alienage staring at the body with an indeterminable look. His hair was white, his eyes bright and intimidating, but the most distinguishable part of him were the odd marks all over his body, odd marks beautifully placed. Hawke looked at the elf curiously as he made his way down, only stopping when he was standing over the life-less body. He looked up and stared at Hawke.

"The elf, I presume." Hawke said first, looking at him, inquisitively.

The elf quickly looked her up and down and cocked his head. She swallowed and blinked a few times, not liking the way he stared at her, as if he was seeing right through her. She folded her arms across her chest, feeling more secured. "Care to explain the goings on?"

He opened his mouth after another moment's pause. "I apologize. I did not know that the attack would be so numerous." He looked at the body by his feet and waved a hand over it. "I knew it might be a trap, however, which is why I asked Anso to find someone capable of taking out these slavers." He said the last word as if acid was dripping off each syllable. He paused and looked at Hawke, them the others, and back to her, with that inscrutable stare. His mouth twitched slightly. "He choose well."

"Bit of an exaggerated force to find one escaped slave." Hawke said, slowly, crouching down to look at the body, herself. The man's eyes were still open, wide in terror, his mouth looked as if it were trying to scream. He had a giant hold in his chest where his heart used to be. She felt a bit disgusted at the sight.

"Danarius has the wealth and the influence." The elf replied, crouching as well. "I am not some simple slave, he can assure you that."

"Does it have something to do with your markings?" Hawke asked, looking at his strong arms. The intricate carvings in his skin were white in color, but she had the distinct feeling where the flash of blue light came from. She also couldn't help think of how very attractive she found those markings. Over a dead body. Ugh, she thought.

"I suppose I look strange to you." He replied lifting an arm as if examining them for the first time. "Yes, this is lyrium, burned into my skin."

"Ouch." Anders replied, from behind Hawke.

The elf continued. "It allows me the ability to phase. It is the reason Danarius is hunting me and that I must ask for your help once more."

Hawke suddenly felt relieved he couldn't read her mind. She recovered and said with a wide smile, "If it means killing more slavers, I've no problem with that."

The elf gave her a quick nod and stood up with her. "Fenris is what I'm called. I'll be waiting for you in Hightown; he has a mansion where I am sure he is waiting for me. I will meet you there."

"He scares me, Hawke." said a small voice behind Hawke after he had left, quieter than he had appeared. Hawke turned her head to look at Merrill and saw her staring at the spot Fenris was standing a few moments before. She was wearing a grimace on her face and biting her nails nervously.

"Don't worry, Merrill. We'll protect you." Hawke told her with a reassuring smile. With another sigh, ignoring the increasing pain in her neck, she beckoned the others to Hightown.

"I could stand to know more about this Danarius, Fenris." Hawke said, after Fenris found her and started leading her toward a mansion. It looked old and run-down as they approached it. Plenty of cobwebs around the corners and a putrid smell lingered, making her cough and her eyes water. The others were also groaning from the lacking environment.

"Blood magic." Anders muttered.

"He is a blood mage from Tevinter." Fenris told her plainly as he stopped to look at Hawke. "I was held captive until I escaped. For years he's been sending slavers to apprehend me. Now he is here, and he will die by my hand."

"Well, then." Hawke said, shrugging her shoulders and motioning with her hand. "Lead on."

Fenris opened the door, and the pack of them were greeted with the daemons familiar to those of blood mages.

"I suppose talking about this is out of the question." Hawke cried out laughing. She saw Fenris's glance at her, looking bemused, making her smile broader. She continued to laugh, enjoying the freedom only fighting would give her. She could hear the roars of the deamons from all around her, but she had plenty of tricks to confuse them. They were situated in a large area, making her job easier. Hawke could hear the others throwing curses as she threw her own home-made smoke bombs at the attackers that were surrounding her. The deamons roared again in frustration, unable to see her, but she knew where they were, figuring out their position before they disappeared in her smoke. Hawke stabbed them one by on, their cries echoing before they went back to the hell they came from. She was able to catch her breath for a moment, noticing Fenris's strong swings with his broadsword. She was impressed by the way he moved; such grace and elegance she had need seen before. It scared her, but it also brought up something else.

"Look out!" Hawke turned her head in time to see a deamon precariously close to her, but it burst into flames before it could touch her. She looked around and saw her sister smiling at her, then she stuck her tongue out. Hawke couldn't help but smile. The battle was short and easy, albeit not without a severe disappointment for Fenris. Danarius was nowhere to be found, only his magic.

"Of course he's not here! He wouldn't be here. " Fenris growled quietly, sheathing his weapon. He brought his hands to his face and rubbed it in anger. He let out a long sigh. "I…need some air."

Hawke looked at the others shrugging her shoulders in return to their blank stares. She pointed at the stars leading to a second floor. "Perhaps there is something for you up there. It's a mage's mansion, after all. I'll go check on Fenris."

Hawke didn't have to go far out the door to notice Fenris quietly waiting outside a column frowning at the expensive marble ground. She moved over to him but barely took a step before he spoke to her, his voice low, almost growling.

"It never ends." Fenris said. He turned his head to look at her, his face a deadly calm.

"What doesn't end?" Hawke said, staying put and keeping her feelings in check. She didn't know this elf, and she had no idea what other things he could do with his glowing parts. Fenris was dangerous, she knew that much.

"Mages." Fenris snarled, looking at her. He pushed himself away from the column and moved toward her, his eyebrows furrowed and spat. "Everywhere I turn they surround me or hunt me, and here I am working with them. It is a plague."

"My friends have shown themselves more than capable." Hawke replied feeling defensive. Her sister was a mage, and no one will speak that way of her.

"You can speak to us directly." Bethany said staring hard at Fenris. The others had now emerged from the mansions and were standing close to Hawke, hearing most of what he had said. Anders and Bethany looked livid, only Merrill seemed frightened.

Fenris walked closer and stood firmly in front of Hawke. She kept still, refusing to be intimidated, suddenly realizing how very short she was even beside an elf. Hawke shook that out of her mind and crossed her arms. Fenris continued. "I saw you casting spells inside. I should have realized sooner what you really were." He looked back at Hawke, his face furious. "You hold a viper in your midst. It will turn on you and strike when you least expect."

"Watch yourself, elf." Anders began, his hands in fists. "We are more than capable of killing-"

"Anders." Hawke shot a warning glance at him. Anders said no more but glared in Fenris' direction.

"You weren't objecting when they helped you in there." Hawke said, trying to speak calmly.

Fenris squared his jaw. "I know magic has its uses and there is of course mages with good intentions. No matter how strong there willpower might be, mages will fall prey to temptation. They always do."

"No one is stopping you from moving on, you know." Bethany retorted stepping forward. Hawke laid a hand on her sister's arm and shook her head.

Hawke tried again. "Why are you so important to Danarius?"

"My skin." Fenris said, acidly. "This lyrium he placed in my skin provided power for his pet, and he wants his investment returned, even if he must rip it from my corpse."

"How awful." Merrill replied, sympathetically.

"And seems like a waste of a perfectly handsome elf, too."

Hawke silently balked at herself from her latest slip of the tongue. She could feel Bethany's eyes boring into her head. Hawke knew she'd hear about this. Fenris, however, looked taken aback, giving her a nervous chuckle, but he cleared his throat, trying to recover himself.

"I know nothing of the ritual behind these markings, but they helped me escape and they will help me kill Danarius."

Hawke sighed. She needed all the help she could get, right? She spoke slowly, hoping her friends would forgive her. "There is an expedition that I might need help with."

Fenris looked at her curiously, but nodded his head. "I would like to fulfill my debt, then."

Anders muttered something else under his breath but said nothing else. Hawke sighed, looking at them. They shrugged and moved away from Hakwe and Fenris, their looks telling.

"Will you have a problem with my friends?" Hawke asked him after another moment, staring at him. Was he trustworthy?

Fenris started at her, then the others. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again and nodding. "That remains to be seen. I will be watching them closely on our travels."

Hawke squared her jaw, "You do anything to hurt my friends, or deliberately put them in danger-"

"That is not my intention." Fenris said, firmly. "I owe you debt for saving my life, Hawke, was it? Should you need me, I will be here. Danarius might wish for his mansion back, and I will be waiting." Fenris gave her another final nod and headed back toward the mansion.

Hawke didn't realize she was holding her breath until she finally relaxed and let out a long audible sigh as Fenris's door closed. She put her hands to her face and rubbed it, rather rapidly. She thought there was going to be another fight. His presence was completely nerve-wracking. "Oh, Maker."

"Sister, he hates mages!" Bethany cried out. "He'll turn us in to the templars!"

"None of us want to go to the circle." Anders said to her sharply. "He can't be trusted!"

"He's so scary, Hawke." Merrill said quietly. "I don't like him. He's not like the Dalish at all."

Hawke had her eyes closed; the pain in her neck had increased and she reached up to massage it. "I hear you, I hear you." She said, reassuring them as she tried to stretch her neck. "Let's not make any hard decisions right now."

"It's hardly difficult." Anders replied softly.

Hawke chose to ignore this and led them toward Lowtown. "Come on, we were supposed to meet Varric at the Hanged Man hours ago."

"Do you think Isabela would be there?" Merrill asked, her mood changing dramatically.

"I have no doubt about it." Hawke told her with a smile.

"Hawke!" yelled a voice over the din. Hawke turned and saw a dwarf waving to her.

"Varric!" She called back with and smile and walked over.

The Hanged Man was as loud as ever. It was late, and what better way to relax than drink a pint of ale that looked and smelled like rat piss. Not to mention the delightful odors of sweat, blood, and vomit. Hawke avoided the place when she could, however, it was a great place to swap stories and speak secrets to one another; no one could ever hear it. It was also the only place Isabela and Varric could be found. Unfortunately.

"Pull up a chair." Varric said happily, looking at her. "Glad to see you alive. What took so long?"

"Oh, dear Varric." Hawke began, plopping down across from him. "We were…delayed."

"Delayed?"

"By a mad, mage-fearing elf!" Anders said, sitting beside Hawke, his face full of anger and frustration.

Varric chuckled looking between Anders and Hawke. "What?"

Hawke began to tell him about the events of the night, until Anders interrupted her with a slew of curses that made her want to cover Merrill's ears. Bethany was looking wide-eyed at him, and Hawke watched him amused when this story turned into a rant about mage freedom. Hawke closed her eyes, happy to take a moments rest. The pain in her neck was almost unbearable. She stretched her neck again and heard it crack loudly. That was what she needed.

"You know, that's disgusting." said a voice from behind.

Hawke opened her eyes and looked up seeing Isabela behind her with tankards in her hands full of who-knows-what. The pirate had a broad smile on her face, her chemise just low and high enough to tease. It was obvious how much she liked the attention and everywhere she went, there were greedy eyes all over her.

"Whatever your drinking is disgusting." Hawke replied, now cracking her back. "This feels wonderful."

"When's the last time you slept, Hawke?" another voice responded on her other side.

"Aveline!" Hawke said recognizing the voice. She swiveled around and smiled at her old friend. The woman's red hair was tied tightly behind her head, as she gazed down at Hawke with her bright green eyes. "You made it! I didn't think you would."

"Of course, I would." she said with a smile which turned into a frown, her arms crossed. "I just don't approve with you working with Meeran again. I thought you were done with that bastard."

Hawke groaned, placing her head on the table. "I know, but if this expedition is going to take place, we need the money."

"Speaking of which, how much did you get?" Varric asked Hawke, interrupting Anders who had now turned his attention to Bethany, the only one who seemed willing to listen.

"If I add it to our pile, 15 sovereigns all together." Hawke said happily, laying a heavy pouch on the table to show him it's increase in size.

"That's it?" Varric said, looking a little disappointed. "Well, it's better than nothing."

"It's more than what we had. There are other jobs available…" Hawke said thoughtfully, but she eyed Aveline warily. "Meeran could help."

Aveline grunted as she sat beside Hawke, her feet facing away from everyone else. She leaned behind and rested her arms on the table. "I can't keep you from doing things outside the law as long as I don't hear about it." She furrowed her eyes, "I don't need that publicity, especially after I've just been appointed Guard-Captain."

"You can count on me Aveline." Hawke told her. "Anything that I invite you to will be strictly for my ears only."

"So tell me about the elf you met-" Aveline began, staring at her.

"You mean the mage-hating one?" Anders said turning to look at her, his eyes flaming up once again.

"Hawke?" Aveline said looking pointedly at Hawke and ignoring Anders. "Is he trouble? Where is he staying?"

"He seems to be squatting in an old mansion that used to belong to his former master." She waved away a mug of ale that Isabela offered her. "I don't drink the swill here."

"Former master?" Aveline said, bemused.

"He used to be a slave, controlled by a blood mage named Danarius from Tevinter." Bethany said, who was sitting across her sister. "It sounds awful what they did to him."

"You pity him?" Anders asked incredulously.

"He was a slave, Anders." Bethany said, her voice full of sadness. "No one should go through that."

"He could be lying." Anders said, but Hawke didn't really feel he believed that. "Besides, just because of one incident, he believes all mages to be behind any evil in the world. It's the same reprehensible attitude Templars have."

"Will he turn us in?" Merrill asked, sounding alarmed. "I don't want to be in the Circle."

"It's alright, kitten." Isabela said, patting Merril's hand soothingly. "Not while I'm around ."

"I don't think he'll be trouble." Hawke said turning back to Aveline. "He says he's waiting until he pays back his debt to me."

"Debt?"

"Oh, well…" Hawke told her the turn of events, only without Ander's manifesto making its way into the story, thus, being much shorter. "He's a capable fighter though, and that thing he does with his fist is pretty impressive, if not a little unnerving."

"Hmmm." Avelin said, taking all this information down. "It's a little early, but would he be interested in the Deep Roads?"

Hawke yawned, massaging her neck. "I don't know. I mentioned it." She looked around at the others. Isabela was teaching Merrill a game of Diamondback, looking very pleased with herself; Anders had pulled out some parchment and was writing furiously with a black feathered quill; and Bethany was listening to Varric looking completely fascinated, no doubt hearing some adventure story Varric knew of, or most likely an exaggerated tale for the audience's behalf. "Varric, definitely, because of his ass of a brother, Bartrand. Anders has explicitly told me he would never like to go back."

"If he's going to work with us, I want to make sure he's good on his word." Aveline said with a hint of warning. "As capable as he might be, we don't need that sort of thing hanging on our backs."

"I understand, Aveline. I'll speak with him." Hawke looked at her friend. "What about you? Interested in the Deep Roads?"

"Only if you have no other options, Hawke." Aveline admitted, draining her own tankard. "I'd rather be in Kirkwall with my men."

"Afraid of deep dark caves, Aveline? I would never have guessed." Hawke teased.

Aveline smiled, then looked at her, her eyes concerned. "Go home, Hawke and get some rest. You look dead on your feet."

"Yes, Guard-Captain." Hawke said with a mock salute and stood up, actually looking forward to the thin blanketed sheet covering her moth-eaten bed. "Bethany? Ready for some well-needed rest?"

Bethany looked up and nodded. They bid everyone goodnight and made their way out into the open cool air. It wasn't the best smell, but it could beat the vomit infested hole the Hanged Man possessed.

"Anders can heal you, Sister." Bethany said, looking at Hawke. She had reached for her neck again. It felt better, but not by much.

"It's minor, it'll go away on its own." Hawke said shaking her head. "If I asked him for help for every paper cut I received, I don't think he would like me very much. I'd take away the time he put into his rants against the templars and the circle, and mother wouldn't have anything to worry about."

"Speaking of mother," Bethany began, "why don't we ask her about the estate? Gamlen wasn't very clear about the affairs surrounding it."

"I agree." Hawke replied as the two of them walked up the steps and Hawke pushed open the decrepit door to her uncle's home. She hated coming here. Everything was always broken and modly. She doubted whether Gamlen even cleaned. He was never home, and she had no interest on where he was, but she had a good idea where he could have been. The hovel also smelled, better than the Hanged Man, but the rat piss was still pretty obvious.

They walked in and found Gamlen and their mother arguing. Their mabari hound bounded forward and starting jumping on the two of them, trying to like their faces. Bethany and Hawke petted them, and made their way over their mother and uncle.

"What's the matter, Gamlen?" Hawke said with a smirk, standing beside her mother. "Found out the dog is smarter than you?"

Her mother sighed, looking at her. "Maker, this is no time for jokes."

"I had to sell the estate, Leandra!" Gamelen replied, ignoring Hawke. He was looking desperate as he spoke. "I didn't know your blighted family would be waltzing back into Kirkwall."

"Where is the will, Gamlen?" Leandra asked, losing patience, stomping her foot. "If I could just see it-"

"It's gone." Gamlen said shorty, not quite looking at her in the eye. "But I know what it says and there is nothing in it that will help you."

"Gone? What do you mean it's gone?" Bethany asked, confused, speaking up. "You didn't take it?"

"No, I didn't!" Gameln yelled, his arms across his chest.

"Why so defensive, uncle?" Hawke said, knowing full well he was hiding something. "Afraid you did something bad?"

"Don't be smart with me, girl." Gamlen snapped, then he turned to their mother. "It's your own fault you left, none of this would have happened."

"Leave mother out of this." Bethany sad angrily, stepping forward.

"Who did you sell the estate to, Gamlen?" Hawke asked, moving in front of both Bethany and Leandra and shoving a finger into her Uncle's chest.

"No one you know." He said shortly, slapping her hand away. "That's all there is to it."

Leandra sighed, giving up and walked back to the fire, sitting heavily into a chair, admitting defeat.

Bethany pursed her lips as she looked between them. She looked at Hawke then pulled her to the side and said, "I have the feeling Gamlen wasn't entirely honest when we were talking about the will. I think we should find the estate and look for it."

Hawke agreed. "Sounds like a plan, will you talk to mother?"

"Of course."

"And Gamlen. I think he hates me."

Bethany laughed at this, "I'll ask him who bought the estate."

Hawke suppressed a yawn as she made her way toward her mabari hound. "Hey pup," she said, scratching his stomach which he gratefully rolled over for. "Up for a game of 'Hurt Gamlen' for us? You know, just a chunk of his leg. Or all of his leg. I hear it's really meaty."

He barked at her and wagged his tail.

"Yes, yes, I know." Hawke said, smiling. "He's a terrible uncle."

Hawke continued scratching his belly, her thoughts turning back to the elf, Fenris. She had to admit that he scared her; the way he looked, the way he acted. Merrill, Anders, her sister, they all had reason to fear him. Hawke had already taken a stand a long time ago she would always protect her sister, and nothing would stand in her way of that.

"Look!" Bethany said loudly, interrupting her thoughts. She ran over to her sister, holding something tightly in her hand. "Mother gave me a key to a lower room of the estate."

Hawke stood, smiling at her. "What about Gamlen?"

Bethany made a face, looking annoyed. "It took awhile, but he eventually told me he had actually sold it to slavers. Can you believe him?"

"Our uncle is quite the winner, he is." Hawke said with a sigh as she and her sister headed into the bedroom they shared. She closed the door behind them, making a face at the bedroom, Gamlen's hovel, and of course, Gamlen. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Slavers, huh….You know this might be a good time to talk to Fenris..."

Bethany didn't say anything as she looked at her sister. She narrowed her eyes then, watching her sister undress and head over to the bath. "I'm trying to keep an open-mind, sister, but I am not so sure about that elf." she paused. "And what were you doing, flirting with him? Of all things, you had to flirt with him!"

Hawke stopped moving, feeling embarrassed and gave her a sheepish smile. "I…I don't…he didn't seem to mind..."

Bethany placed her hands on her hips then sighed moving to undress herself. "I can't say you don't have good taste, even if he hates mages. What about Anders? He seemed to take to your company. I thought you did, too."

"Anders..." Hawke repeated, not really wanting to think about. "I don't know about Anders. Maybe I'm just a flirt."

Bethany just looked at her , a worried expression forming on her face. "Just…just be careful."

"Always." Hawke said with a massive yawn as she dropped herself into the tub of lukewarm water. "Tomorrow, we'll get the estate back. We'll move into our new home."

Hawke made her way back to Hightown early the next morning to find Fenris. She was hoping on chance he was still in the mansion. Remembering the series of events he had encountered during his life, she figured he probably slept with one eye opened, if at all. Turning a corner, she saw Danarius's home. It was quite and dark, and she felt the hair on her neck suddenly stand. For whatever reason, it seemed more destitute, than last night, but funnily enough, the smell was gone. She didn't like it here at all. Did he leave, Hawke squinted her eyes at the higher windows of the estate. The windows looked black and could make out nothing. Well, there's only one way to find out. Clearing her throat, she made to knock as got closer to the door, when it suddenly opened, just a twinge.

Hawke blinked a couple of times, it was much too dark to see inside. "Uh, Fenris?"

"Hawke." was the reply. Fenris was still there. He hadn't left. She felt something in the pit of her stomach, but couldn't place it.

"I had a question to ask you, if you'd let me." she paused, only faintly seeing an outline of him.

"Yes, I believe you would." The door opened wider to allow her in. "Please."

Hawke gave him a quick smile and a nod and stepped in, looking around. Her eyes were quickly adjusting to darkness, and saw how very disheveled everything was, as if someone had left in a hurry, but quite some time ago. Portraits, various vases, and even skeletal bodies were scattered across the floor. Cobwebs were creeping up and around the columns and buttresses along the ceilings of the home. Old pieces of parchment lay strewn and molded over a handsome-looking bookcase that was covered in dust. It didn't look like this last night.

"If you would follow me." Fenris said, his voice echoing against the empty walls of the foyer. He closed the door behind her and made his way up one of the spiraling staircases. His light footsteps making no sound as he seemed to lightly hop from one step to the other. Hawke had never seen anyone move like that before. She watched a thick layer of dust covered the bannister as she followed him up the stairs. She kept her hands to herself.

"I love what you've done with the place." Hawke said, trying to start conversation. "The bodies even, quite the touch."

She heard a grunt from him, but wasn't sure what that meant. No sense of humor, noted.

"I was just about to enjoy something." Fenris began as he led her into a well-lit room. A roaring fire was burning into the room, making it comfortably heated. "Agreggio Pavali. There are six bottles left in the cellar. Danarius had me pour it for guests, for intimidation purposes, which he enjoyed, he said."

"I can't begin to imagine why they'd be put off." Hawke closed her eyes, of yet another slip. She really needed to control herself.

Fenris looked at her, a half-smile quavering on his lips. "I…appreciate the compliment." After a deep guzzle of the wine, he tossed the bottle in the air lightly, caught it then threw it hard at the wall. He gave a small sigh, watching the drip of the wine fall down, "It is good I can still take pleasure in the small things."

"Hmm." Hawke said with a raised eyebrow. "I like wine. You could have offered me a glass first."

Fenris looked at her. "There is more if you would like some."

Hawke waved her hand, a small smile on her lips. "Parish the thought. How else would you redecorate the walls?"

Fenris chuckled as he made his way to a bench facing the fire motioning for Hawke to follow. She chose another bench to face him. He sighed softly, as he stared into the fire, all trace of merriment, gone. "My past follows me wherever I go. But it never leaves me." he looked at her, closely. "You are Ferelden. Do you never wish to return?"

"It's where I grew up." Hawke said finally after a moment of thoughtful thinking. "It'll always be my home."

"The blight is over. You can always rebuild what was lost."

"I could. So many things had happened between then and now." Hawke frowned thinking of Carver. "My family and I fled the Blight and survived. I doubt you would have done no different."

Fenris gave her a nod. "You are right, in that." He shook his head, suddenly. "I apologize. Your life is your own, it simply…seems oddly familiar."

Hawke leaned back on her hands as she looked around the room. It was not as decrepit as the foyer, but it was not much different. Only t fire seemed alive, besides Fenris and herself. "Do you intend to continue living here?"

"I've made no decision yet." Fenris replied looking at her. "Perhaps Seheron in due time, but I can't see me having a life there."

"Seheron." Hawke repeated, thinking of her history. "Is that where you're from? Do you remember?"

Fenris replied simply, "Perhaps."

Hawk looked at him, obviously aware he was answering nothing related to his past. She changed the subject to Danarius. "Your former master hunts you, even now. What if you went to search for him?"

"By now, he has made his way to Minrathous, but I will not go there while he is comfortably sitting inside his fortress. Better wait and attack him when I am fortified." He looked fierce as he spoke about his plans. He paused before turning to Hawke. "I do not expect help from you Hawke, but if you do offer it, I will not turn it aside."

"Dead slavers is part of my business." She nodded her head in agreement. "It seems you've been on the run for quite some time."

"Three years." he said. "He holds ways of finding me. I can only assume it is the markings. However he does it, it never takes long for him to find me again. It seems now, I've given him reason to pause. I suppose there are advantages in numbers."

"You've never found help before?"

Fenris shrugged, staring at the fire again. "When I could steal the coin. However, you, Hawke, are of substance, and I take pleasure in knowing he is hesitant, but I doubt he will give up. I will wait."

"Would he give up? What then?" Hawke asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"I'll find him. And break him." He growled staring somewhere beyond Hawke's understanding.

"Sounds like a plan." Hawke said, bringing her knees to her chest and hugging them.

"Perhaps, perhaps not."

A silence followed then as Hawke listened to the crackling coming off of the fire, her own thoughts elsewhere. She gave out a moan and reached up for her neck. She had decided sleep probably did her good. At least her neck was not in as much pain as before.

"You know," she started, massaging the back of her neck. "If you're looking for a life, you could stay in Kirkwall. It certainly sounds like you want to stick around. Maybe add a little more color to the wall. The Hanged Man has an excellent dish of the same color and consistency of sewage."

Fenris half-smiled at her. "I could see myself staying-" he looked at her, but Hawke could not read him, "for the right reasons. But I should also thank you for helping me with those hunters. Anso certainly helped me find someone very capable. I should have asked him sooner."

"Or, I should thank Anso." Hawke automatically replied with a grin, turning into a grimace. Bethany will have my head. Or my tongue. I should tell her this story...

Fenris stoop up smoothly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Perhaps you should, and then on your next visit I could practice my flattery and become better at it."

Hawke laughed at this and stood up herself. "Well, my initial reason for coming here was to ask you a question..."

"Ah." Fenris said his eyes still gazing intently at her. "How may I help?"

"My mother's parents owned a home here in Hightown, and my fool of an uncle decided to sell the estate to a group of slavers. I was curious whether you would throughly enjoy the prospect of bashing said slavers into a dead heap?"

Fenris laughed at this. It was certainly different than what she had heard from him before. It was…nice. "I would indeed, very much like to join you."

"Good." She said, elated. "Let's head out. We are to meet Bethany and Varric at the Hanged Man."

"So, you're the elf." Varric said, looking at him up and down. Hawke and Fenris had made their way to pub and were heading out again, with Bethany and Varric in tow. "The mage-hating elf?"

"What of it?" Fenris said shortly, glaring at him.

"Nothing." Varric said with a mischievous smile and a shrug. "I just wish Blondie was here. I love getting him riled up."

"Darktown is our destination it seems." Hawke said suddenly feeling disgusted as she looked at a floor plan she was holding of the old Amell estate. "Of course, the perfect place of business for slavers."

"Just Gamlen, being his usual irresponsible self." Bethany added annoyed.

"Come on, time do some redecorating." Hawke said, leading them toward the sewage-ridden undercity.

They had made their way into the miserable bowls of Kirkwall, Darktown. A dirty, wretched place that holds the refugees that had fled the Darkspawn after the gates of Kirkwall were shut due to the overflow. Hawke coughed, feeling the toxic fog that covers the streets and walls of Darktown in her throat and stinging her eyes. She could hear people moaning in pain, and the four of them had to move around bodies that were on the ground, alive or dead, she couldn't tell. They followed the path toward the Amell's lower basement as best as they could, but they were moving in circles, and it took time for any of them to make any sense of what maps they had of the under city.

"Is that it?" Bethany said pointing toward a junk pile that was sitting in front of an opening. She looked at her sister, than the map in her hands. "I think that's it."

Hawke looked at the direction she was pointing. She walked over to a pile of wood and old cloth that was chaotically placed. What was more odd is that it looked like it was moved recently. It was not covered in dust, and mold (which was a common occurrence in this part of the city) was not growing on the wood. She kicked the wood to the side, and felt a cool breeze on her leg.

"Help me!" Hawke called to the others, pushing a rather heavy crate out of the way.

The four of them pushed wood panels, crates and cloth away from a very open passageway.

"Good job, Bethany." Hawke said to her sister. "Let's find that will."

Hawke and the other must have caught the slavers by surprise when she kicked down a door that lead to the lower rooms of the basement. They were certainly not expecting four heavily armed individuals early that morning; just what Hawke wanted, and was thoroughly pleased with the teamwork. Hawke quickly scanned the area at one particular fight, trying to diagnose the scene. Bethany had hung back, trying to help out the others if they were caught off guard, Hawke was gratified for her quick eyes; Varric, with his lovely Bianca, was quickly dispatching the enemies that heard the clatter and were running down a set of stairs in waves, often putting a single arrow between multiple attackers; her eyes finally rested on Fenris. His lyrium markings glowed magnificently with each swing and each cry that terrorized the assailants and made the walls shake furiously. That yell-thing was certainly new. She shuddered, not wanting to be attacked by him.

Hawke didn't see it coming as one of the slavers took the blunt end of his weapon and bashed it hard across her face. With a grunt she fell backward, stars swimming over her head. She swore she could feel her skull rattling. It hurt so much, she no longer felt the pain in her neck. Hawke looked up quickly and saw a large man looking over her, ready to drive his sword down and cut her in two. Hawke furrowed her eyes, focusing as well as she could; she knew tricks for just the occasion. With a quick flick of her wrist, she pulled out a bomb and threw it onto the ground. A dark gray smoke filled the room, confusing her attacker and giving her ample time to get out of harm's way. She quickly stood up, her daggers in her hand and rammed it into her assailant's back. By this time the smoke had cleared and Hawke found herself with her weapon embedded into a leg-less man. There was silence in the room as the four of them watched the body drop from her daggers and land with a horrible squelching sound. Hawke looked up and saw Fenris with a twisted smile on his face, his sword dripping.

"Very nice." Hawke said, staring at him, then the body.

Fenris inclined his head and lowered his weapon.

"That's disgusting." Bethany said, looking green.

"Such are the ills of battle, Sunshine." Varric said, wisely. "Hawke, where next?"

"Well," Hawke said pulling out the map of the inside of the Amell estate. She placed it on a table nearby, and moved a single candleholder by her. Bethany flicked a wrist and a fire sprang out of the candle. The others surrounded her, staring at the map. Hawke cocked her head, trying to make some sense of the confusing blueprint. Hawke was also very aware of how very close Fenris was as he looked over her shoulder. She cleared her throat then she shifted her body weight slightly leaning closer into the map, trying to ignore him. Hwke read the names of the room, and looked above her. She followed a trace with her fingers on the print and nodded.

"If I understand anything about reading this, we need to find two more sets of stairs." Hawke said, staring at the map. "This place is massive."

They found no oppressive force facing them as they made there way up, but Hawke felt a tingling on her neck that told her danger was still approaching and judging from the others, they felt the same way she did.

"A trap, no doubt." Fenis whispered when he caught up with her.

"We'll be ready." Hawke said, firmly, her daggers in her hands.

"Gamlen's kin aren't you?" said a sudden gruff voice moving toward them. A tall man pulling out a long staff was sneering at them, his other hands stroking a long pointed beard. "I should have killed him when I had the chance."

The mage hardly finished talking when Fenris ran at him with his sword, however the slaver had one over him and with an invisible force, pushed Fenris back, throwing him into Varric. With a grunt Fenris jumped right back up as Bethany helped Varric to his feet.

"Rude." the mage continued calmly. "I didn't even finish talking." With that, he raised his arms up and daemons formed from the floor.

Hawke threw one of her daggers, but missed the mage but hitting a deamon instead. Another ferocious battle ensued. Fenris was indeed much more enthusiastic if he wasn't before. Perhaps the thought of killing a blood-mage slaver- the epitome of his former master-made his adrenaline run faster. Bethany and Varric stayed a distance, making sure they had the situation under their control. Hawke tried her best to keep deamons off Fenris's back as he tried to hack his way through to the mage. He was, in fact, the one to take the final cut and slice the head off the mage, and just as calmly, he sheathed his sword, looking quite satisfied. His actions made Hawke believe at any moment he would mentally implode, she had to believe there was a lot going on in that head of his.

"Sister?" Bethany said questioningly.

"Yes." Hawke said, getting out of her reverie. She stood up, after searching the dead mage. "Though this door. Want to do the honors?" She handed her sister the key. "Just be careful, please. I don't want anymore surprises."

Slowly, expecting another trap perhaps, Bethany led the other to a locked door at the top of short staircase. "This is is!" she said excitedly, fitting the key into the door. "The vault! I'm sure of it!"

Bethany opened the door and turned into a hallway where another unlocked door stood silently. Hawke and Bethany exchanged excited glances before she opened it. Hawke looked around the room following Bethany inside as she went to search somewhere else. It looked virtually untouched except for a few locked chests, hopefully of memories. Varric was looking at some of the locked chests, probably seeing anything of value. Fenris had a thoughtful look about him as he stared curiously a painting of a griffon. Something caught Hawke's eye and she turned to search behind a large bureau that looked as if it was kicked in. She tugged and pulled out a portrait of her very young mother and…that must have been Comte de Launcet, she thought to herself. She made a face, Father was most preferable. This man looks awfully snooty.

"Sister, open this box! It's locked, I can't open it, without setting it on fire." Bethany called out waving to her. "It has our family crest on it!"

Hawke moved over, pulling out her tools and soon heard the satisfying click of the opening of a lock. She slowly touched the red crest on the green box feeling an anticipated thrill in her stomach. She felt a squeeze on her arm. She looked and saw Bethany smiling broadly and gave her an encouraging nod.

"Hawke, don't keep us waiting." Varric said, sounding bored.

Hawke laughed, looking at him. "Sorry, Varric." She licked her lips and with a quick move, opened the box and pulled out a large pile of papers. "This is it! We found the will."

"Let's show mother!"

"Mother!" Bethany said waving a paper in her hand as she burst through the door. "We found the will!"

"Yes, Gamlen." Hawke said looking at him, annoyed. He was fidgeting. "It turns out, all the money the Amells left was for you, mother, and only a stipend in Gamlen's name that was to be monitored, only by you."

Leandra sat up as she stared at her daughters. She stood then, taking the papers from Bethany and read, her eyes quickly moving down the parchment, her eyes narrowing. She finally looked up accusingly at her brother. "Gamlen, how could you? They left me everything and you took it all away from me!"

"I took care of them, Leandra" Gamlen yelled, angrily, not moving from where he stood, into a darkened corner. "You were gone and had run away with that apostate. Leaving me to care of our parents. Don't blame me for your negligence!"

"I doubt you waited until their bodies were even cold before you began spending all of their money." Hawke put in, her hands in fists.

Leandra sighed putting her hands up in front of Gamlen to shut him up. She looked at him angrily, then at Hawke and Bethany. Then she looked at her hands, one of her fingers touching the Amell crest. "There is nothing I can do about it now. I'm just so pleased they didn't hate me before they died." With a quick swipe, she brushed her face of any tears and straightened up her back. "I shall write to the viscount and explain the situation. I doubt he will have any problems giving back the estate."

"You can't just walk into the Vicount's office and ask for the house back!" Gamlen cried out. "You have to be someone in this town to get anything done."

"Then I had better get started." She glared at him then walked back to the fire, settling in the chair, reading the will again.

Bethany then reached and took Gamlen by the arm, shoving him out his door. "Come back in the morning." She turned to look at Hawke. "I can't believe Gamlen lied about the estate. I would never do that to my family."

"He's a rat. Don't compare yourself to the daily lunch special of the Hanged Man." Hawke said with a smile.

Bethany sighed scratching her head in frustration. "I thought I was doing a favor for mother, but I realized when I found the box, I wanted the will more than anything. I wanted to know where I belonged. That will told me everything. You can't understand how happy I was to know that I didn't have grandparents that hated me."

"No one could ever hate you, Bethany." Hawke said kindly, giving her sister a hug. "You've always belonged with me and mother. And Carver."

Bethany looked downcast. "I miss Carver. He was hot-headed and stubborn, but he was my brother. He took care of me, even if he hated what I could do." She shook her head. "But you're right. Wherever you and mother are, is my home. I'm glad you're my sister. You know, if I was in the Circle, you would just be a name on a piece of paper, and I would never have know who you were."

"Which reminds me." Hawke pulled out the portrait she had rolled up and placed into her pack. She handed it to Bethany who looked at her curiously. "Open it."

Bethany unfurled it and a smiled spread across her lips. "Is that mother? She's beautiful."

"You look just like her." Hawke said looking over her shoulder. "Look at that atrocious ring."

Bethany laughed out loud. "Hmm. No, I don't think I would prefer him over father."

"Certainly not." Hawke said with a smile. "Do you like it?"

"I love it. Thank you." Bethany furled it back up and went to the bedroom to stow it away.

Hawke turned over to her mother who was now silently watching the fire, her arms across her chest.

"Mother."

Leandra jumped at Hawke's touch, but grabbed her hand and held it affectionately. "I was thinking. Of you and Bethany and Carver. It upsets me that Gamlen would do this to his own family, but I feel so much better that my mother didn't hate me and my father still loved me.

"She didn't hate you, Mother." Hawke said consolingly. "She was just trying to protect you."

"In the end, I don't think she minded anymore." She said with a sniffle, rubbing her daughter's hand. "I think she was just happy I was still alive. She would have loved you all. She would have been upset at first, but I know she would have taken you all in her arms and never let you go."

"That's comforting to hear."

Her mother gave out a long sigh. "I wish your father was here and your brother. There are so few of us left now."

"Blame the darkspawn, mother. Not yourself. The blight was out of our hands."

"You're right." She said with a watery smile, placing a hand on Hawke's cheek. "You're always right." She gave her daughter a hug and seemed to gain a new strength. "It's time for me to write to the viscount."

"Come on." Bethany said in Hawke's ear. "The Hanged Man. Varric asked us to meet him."

"Of course he did." Hawke said with a sigh. With a wave to her mother, the two of them left once more, feeling much more happier.