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Blackpowder Dominance	By : TropicalFool Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 2889 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Dragon Age & all characters are owned by BioWare & EA, not me. I make no money from this story.

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The Arishok pulled back, holding the mage away with one giant hand. "Was it the elf who taught you that?" he asked, his brows lowered and head tipped to the side in inquiry.

Clearly something was wrong, but Anders wasn't sure what. At least he was still breathing. Trying not to stammer, he answered in his new language, but mangled the syntax in his nervousness. "Yes, the elf, Fenris. He taught me your language and explained a bit about the Qun, and yes, he showed me that."

Before the mage could continue, the Arishok broke in. "We will speak now in the common tongue. It is important that you understand what I am about to say." It startled Anders to realize that, although he was still speaking Quanri, the Arishok had switched from the intimate to the formal address.

Moving fluidly to common speech, he continued, "He is not your friend, this elf." This was not news to Anders, but what exactly had the Fenris done to him? The Qunari continued, "What you have just done is Darthas-Dun. It cannot be denied and cannot be revoked. It is a ritual of complete submission and makes you, in every way, my slave, giving me the power of life and death over you, forever."

The mage blanched, his whole body quivering. Had he just sold himself to this Northerner, and for nothing but an elf's revenge? They were deep in the compound, even if he used magic, he doubted he would escape alive.

Seeing the small desperate movements the other was making, the Quanri held up a hand. "However, we are alone and I am Arishok. I shall not have heard or felt what just occurred. It did not happen."

Anders almost fainted with relief. He had come so close to having his life ended, or rather not ended, but made into what he was sure would be a living hell. He wondered if Fenris knew exactly what he was doing or if it was an error? But the elf was not prone to mistakes, and surely if he had been unsure he would have mentioned that. No, Anders believed it was an exquisite revenge. The only thing that was puzzling was that Fenris would be willing to give up the relief that the mage offered him. Perhaps he had found another able to supply that need. It wouldn't matter now; Anders had what he needed from Fenris and would be careful to not fall into any more clever traps. And thoughts of revenge could run both ways.

The Arishok motioned to a chair beside a mahogany table, encouraging the mage to sit before he fell. The table held a game they had been playing the last time they met and Anders concentrated on the pieces to bring his mind back into focus. The board was a grid scratched into a worn piece of soft wood and the playing men black and white polished stones. It was a game of strategy and deception that the mage enjoyed, but invariably lost. He had learned a great deal watching the Arishok maneuver his pieces until the snare tightened and there was no escape.

As he came back into himself, Anders looked up and said simply, "Thank you."

The Arishok flicked his hand as if dislodging a fly and said, "Nothing happened. It will not be spoken of. But tell me now, what is it you want? I have enjoyed our times together, but am not so naive as to believe that it was merely my company that kindled them. And I am honored that you took the trouble to learn to speak properly." At this, he returned to his native language, and to Anders' relief to the intimate mode. "So, 'tis time, my friend, that thou impart thy purpose. Methinks thee intended a ritual of Darthas-Dus, which, like Darthas-Dun, cannot be denied, but holds thee to no obligation past the single night. Is it only that thou doth wish my body? 'Tis flattering to think so, but doth not have the ring of truth. I would know what thee desires before we continue."

The time for game play was over. Anders knew that the Arishok would not tolerate dissimulation. Choosing his words carefully, he said, "A night with thee I woulds't indeed enjoy. Thy body has… fascinated me since we first met and I have found thee an engrossing companion these many nights. But as thou hast divined, my purpose lies deeper. I would know of gaatlok and its manufacture."

A smile spread across the Qunari's harsh features. "So, tantalesh, it was thee who hired the underhanded dwarf. I have wondered." It was not a question, but Anders was more startled to hear himself referred to as tantalesh, beloved friend, than that the Arishok had unraveled his previous plot. The mention of gaatlok had not destroyed their carefully crafted bond. The mage could not prevent himself from issuing a small sigh of relief, which caused the Qunari's smile to broaden.

"Darthas-Dus, is this what thee wishes also? 'Twill make for this one night only, a slave of thee. Before thou dost answer, consider carefully. Much depends on how much thou dost believe in my compassion and forbearance."

Fenris had explained it as an assertion of submission to the act of love, but had not mentioned the degree of submission that would be required. Anders had thought of it only as a quaint Qunari ritual of seduction. Did he really trust the Arishok enough that he would put not only his manhood, but his very life, in his hands, even for an evening. Of course each time he came to the compound and especially to this room, he was giving the Qunari the power of life and death, but Qunari were nothing if not honorable, so unless he did something like inadvertently enact theDarthas-Dun, the risk was small. It was different to contemplate surrendering his will as well as his body, even for one night.

One of the things that he enjoyed about the Arishok was his serenity. If there was a lull in conversation, simply because a topic had found its end or one was lost in thought, there was no hurrying to fill the void with pointless chatter. The Qunari was a master of comfortable silence.

Getting up slowly from the chair, Anders began to pace. The gaatlok was, of course, his main objective, but he wanted the Arishok as well. The play with Fenris was satisfying from a perspective of power, but there was no affection, quite the opposite, and although the elf had become more proficient, the lack of true exchange of pleasure left the mage feeling frustrated and out of sorts.

The Qunari was the most powerful being he had ever met, at least in the physical sense, and that alone was a mighty draw. And they had become close friends, even if Anders' motivation for initiating the friendship was mercenary. Plus his curiosity was more than aroused; what would it be like to be made love to by a giant? But to surrender everything? It was an immense risk.

The Arishok waited patiently, studying the game board before him. He had never contemplated tolestesh with a human, although he and Anders had discussed the Qun's attitude towards pleasure. It had surprised the mage to discover that although quoltesh, pairing for reproduction, was strictly controlled, tolestesh, pairing for pleasure, had no physical restrictions. There were concerns for emotional involvement with an inappropriate caste, but as long as such complications were avoided, the Qun encouraged what the Chantry would think of as licentiousness.

If the mage initiated Darthas-Dus, the Arishok would be very interested in finding his limits. Even a Qunari, more or less so depending on rank, could be pushed beyond his breaking point byDarthas-Dus; how would a soft human respond? He sat up observing the man's agitation. Interesting how it was difficult for a human to come to a decision. If he wanted the gaatlok, he would submit, if not, not; all of this todo was to little point.

Finally, Anders stopped in front of the Arishok, saying, "Yes. Woulds't thou teach me Darthas-Dus, should it please thee."

The Qunari stood, towering over the tall mage, and replied, "In the teaching is the doing. If thou dost say these words and make these gestures, then Darthas-Dus is done. This time there will be no retreat. Dost thou understand? Woulds't like it explained in common tongue?" So saying, he reverted to the common speech and repeated the warning.

Looking up, the mage paled a bit, but replied in his newly acquired Qunari, "I understand. To say the words, to do the ritual, will commit me to thee for the night in complete subjugation." He was breathing heavily through his nose, his chest rising and falling with each deep respiration.

Anders was shocked when the Arishok laughed harshly and said in the common tongue, "You must really want this gaatlok, little human."

Replying in kind, he said, "Yes, I do. I believe that it will be necessary for what I must accomplish, but it is not only that. I want you as well, and I suspect that you are not inclined to offer meDarthas-Dus."

At this the Qunari laughed louder, the first real laugh Anders had heard from him. "Very well, small one. Tonight you will remember, should you live to have memory at all."

At that Anders almost changed his mind. If it has been only his libido driving him, he would have, but he and Justice needed that gaatlok. He hoped that the spirit would be able to get him through the night.

As if reading his mind, the Arishok asked, "And that demon within you, it agrees also? I would not wish to be forced to slay you because your demon reneged."

No matter how many times Anders tried to explain that Justice was a spirit, not a demon, the Qunari would refer to him as nothing else. It had been Justice as much as anything that had originally intrigued the Arishok, and Anders had been surprised to find that the spirit was willing to join in their discussions. Awkward at first, it soon become natural to have the three of them conversing long into the night.

"He is in agreement," Anders answered, thinking, not only is he in agreement, he probably would not let me retreat should I wish to.

The Arishok rubbed his chin in thought, then said, "Very well. We begin. Say these words." They had the same meaning as the words Fenris had taught him, but they words themselves were different and apparently that difference was all.

"I desire the light of the Qunari to shine within me and about me," the giant rumbled, then nodded. Anders repeated carefully, being precise in his pronunciation. He didn't want to commit himself to something worse through an inadvertently misspoken word. When he was done, the Arishok nodded again, then said, "You will touch my chest, in the center, over the heart." The mage did so. "Now my chin." It was done. "No my forehead, between my eyes, and linger there a moment." Anders wondered if the lingering were part of the rite or only for the Qunari's pleasure as he performed the act.

"It is done. You are mine until the cock crows." Never had Anders thought that he would be grateful that the docks seemed to be overrun by scrawny poultry, but at this moment knowing that there were cocks to crow was a great comfort.
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Blackpowder Dominance