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Iridescence	By : Arcanis_Born Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4697 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Dragon Age and the characters from it do not belong to me. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Dragon Age 2 is owned by Bioware, as with all it's characters, the story as it deviates from canon is mine however, as with the personalities of characters as they deviate from those in the game.

The wind softly swirled around those gathered around the pyre, but did not remove the stench of burning flesh from the air. Around him, people gathered silently, listening to the Grand Cleric recite the rights of the dead. Some crying, others just simply staring silently. Returning his gaze to the pyre, Fenris wondered silently if there was something he could of done to save her. Anguish ripped at him, gnawing at his already fragile sanity.
"You alright, Fenris?" Fenris tried to hide his shock at being removed from his thoughts, yet the dwarf could see that the elf seemed to barely holding on.
"What, no nicknames, Varric?"
"No..." Varric sighed as he joined Fenris staring at the burning flames. "No, not today."
"...Now as we offer this woman to your side, we ask that you hold her close and protect her. Great Maker of us all, please accept our prayers and guide us through this troubling time." Elthina finished, signaling to everyone the ceremony was over. Slowly, friends and people who knew the woman began to wonder off. All but the elf's new companions.
"Any word about Anders?" Aveline asked as she approached Varric and Fenris. At the mention of the abomination's name, Fenris' markings glowed brightly and a deep growl could be heard coming from him.
"No. And if he knows what is good for him, he will stay gone. Why I did not strike him down, only Maker knows. But I will find him, and when I do, I will take great pleasure in ripping his heart from his chest!" Fenris snarled, piercing Aveline with a deadly stare.
"I'm sorry, Fenris... I shouldn't have -"
"Do not worry about it. My anger is not for you, Aveline. I..." The glowing eased slightly as Fenris took one last look at the pyre in front of him. "I need to go. I have something I need to do."
With that Fenris stalked off. Watching him go, the small group of friends stood silently, speechless as they each tried to absorb the events of recent days.
"Where is he off too? Did I do something again?" Merrill asked innocently as she watched the silver haired elf walk away.
Everyone turned to look at the small Dale and supressed a groan at her question.
"Come on, sweetie. I think some ale is just what we need right now." The female pirate remarked as she fluffed Merrill's hair before heading toward Low Town.

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"Orsino."
The First Enchanter looked up from his patient to see the silver haired Tevinter elf come through the door. "Fenris, is the funeral over? Sorry I could not attend, but I needed to attend to matters here."
"How is she? Has she awoken?" His breath caught as he crossed the room, remembering what had happened the day before. The room was different, but the similarities between the two was enough to bring the memories crashing upon him, making his heart clench in his chest.
"No, I'm afraid not. She breathes, and the injuries are mostly healed, however I suspect something else is keeping our fair friend from awakening." Orsino sighed as he made room beside the bed for Fenris. Gently, the elf took the woman's hand, a look of longing on his face.
Orsino noted his expression as he watched Fenris slowly run his hand across the woman's forehead.
"What is it that I must do?"
The words were said without emotion, without even looking away from her face, but Orsino knew the elf cared for the women. They all did, in fact. Each in their own way.
"Tell me what I must do to bring Hawke back to us."

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****The previous night****
"Maker... What have I done?" Anders whispered as he watched Fenris hold on to the woman he loved. At his words, Fenris looked up, seeking out the mage as if he just remembered his presence. Eyes blazing with hatred and contempt, Fenris' skin burned as the lyrium glowed brightly. The ache in his heart temporarily forgotten as it was replaced by a blinding rage.
"YOU! What have you done?! You have killed her!" Roared Fenris as he leapt up and ran at Anders. Grabbing him by his feathered cowl, Fenris lifted the mage up to his feet and threw him against the wall. The force seeming to shake the whole room as pieces of the wall fell from the indent Anders' body made.
Anders didn't fight the attack, he couldn't even take his eyes away from the lifeless form of his dear beloved. It wasn't until he felt a hard gauntleted fist strike him across the jaw did he seem to come out of his stupor.
His legs buckling under the blow, Anders fell down to the ground, spitting out some of the blood that filled his mouth. Another blow came, this time a sharp kick to his ribs, causing him roll away on to his side.
He knew he deserved this, every blow given to him reminding him of what he had done. Another blow came again to face, perhaps from the elf's boots, but at the current point, Anders was unable to tell anymore.
Fenris only stopped his assault when he heard the startled voices of the elder dwarven servant as he entered the room, most likely awoken due to all the noise.
"By the Maker! What is going on! Messere Fenris?" Bodahn came rushing into the room, followed by his son, Sandal, and the new elven servant Orana. With Fenris distracted by their presence, Anders slowly pushed himself to his knees, and with one hand around his aching ribs, managed to crawl a few feet away, out of the way of the three newcomers.
"Maker, no..." Whispered Bodahn as he caught sight of the lifeless Hawke still lying among the remains of her bed. Sandal pushed past his father and ran to Hawke's side, crying and repeating over and again "Pretty Lady", the words he always to describe his new friend.
Orana just shrieked, covering her mouth with her hand before she turned and ran from the room and out of the house.
Fenris just stood there, feeling his rage ebb as he watched the two dwarves approach Hawke. His despair starting to return, Fenris found he couldn't speak to explain what had happened. All he could do was watch silently as both servants kneeled by the broken remains of his love.
Suddenly, the smaller of the two dwarves stood up and ran from the room and down the stairs. Bodahn tried to reach for his son, but figured the sight was just to much for the poor boy and let him go. However, within less than a minute, the boy returned, with what appeared to be a small stone in his hand.
"What is it, boy? What do you have?" asked his father, yet the boy didn't answer. Instead he walked over to Anders, who was now leaning against a wall a few feet away from Fenris. When Fenris saw the boy approach the mage who had killed Hawke, he could feel his skin again begin to burn as the rage returned to him.
"Do not go near him!" Growled Fenris as he grabbed the boy's arm. Sandal just looked up at him, and the look on his face shocked Fenris enough to let him go. He always thought the dwarven boy was a bit mentally lacking, but he seemed nice enough whenever Fenris came across him. However, this time those dwarven eyes didn't hold their normal innocence in them. Right now, they seemed ancient, like they held more wisdom in them than Fenris ever thought possible.
"Please... Anders, help Pretty Lady." Sandal's voice seemed pleading, like what he held in his hand could actually help. Bewildered, Fenris let go of the boy's arm and watched as he handed the small stone object out to Anders. "Take this. Help, please..."
Anders just stared at the boy in front of him. Like most, he never gave the boy much thought. Sure, Anders had heard stories of strange things happening around the boy, and that he seemed to be a competent enchanter, but he had no clue what he was asking of him now.
The look on Sandal's face was a mixture of concern, hope, and something else... Something foreign and far away. Slowly, Anders reached out his hand and took the small stone from the boy's hand. Looking at it, it appeared to be an enchantment, but not one had ever seen before. Once the he handed over the stone, Sandal stepped to the side, allowing Anders to see past him to the woman lying dead in the rubble of what used to be her bed.
Completely unsure of what he was supposed to do, Anders decided that he must at least try whatever it was the boy wanted. With a loud grunt, he forced himself to his feet, wavering slightly as dizziness threatened to over take him as fresh pain flooded his body.
Growling, Fenris stepped in front of the mage, murder dancing on his eyes as he glared at him. "Don't even think of going near her, abomination." If a word could of been spoken with more rancor and lethality, Anders had never heard it. Even his hatred for Templars didn't even seem to match the hatred in Fenris' voice. Could he blame him though? After what he had done?
Never removing his eyes from Fenris' glare, he heard a small scuffling as Sandal moved closer to the murderous elf, taking his hand. The already constant glow from Fenris' skin spiked higher at the sensation, and it took a sheer force of will not to strike out at the small dwarf.
Across the room, Fenris heard the sharp intake of breath that must of came from Bodahn as he watched his son touch the Tevinter elf. Memories of Hawke pulling him and his son to the side years ago and telling them to never touch the mysterious man echoed in his head, and he couldn't help but fear for the life of his dear son.
However, the look in Sandal's eyes as he looked up at the elf is what really steadied Fenris' hand. Again, his eyes were filled with a longing and a type of wisdom that Fenris had never seen before. Reluctantly, he looked back at the mage who had stolen his life from him.
"Fasta vass. But I am watching you abomination. I will not let you desecrate her body further. Do what you must, but know that I am not through with you!" Malevolence and venom dripped from his voice as his eyes sparked hot coals at the mage. To his credit, Anders didn't try to say anything back, just nodded his head sightly before hobbling awkwardly over to where his beautiful Hawke lie.
Falling to his knees by her side, grief threatened to overcome him. Blinking back the tears he felt stinging his eyes, he lowered his hand to lightly brush against her cooling cheek. He stopped however, as he heard a loud growl from behind him. Sighing heavily, he held the stone in his hand trying to think of what he was supposed to do.
"Think. Feel her life. Pull it back." He heard Sandal say from beside him. Anders looked up to see the young dwarf reach out and place his tiny hand on his own. With a smile that was so characteristically his own, Sandal nodded to the mage. "Enchantment..."
No sooner had he spoke did a small light start to emanate from the stone in Anders hand. Swallowing his surprise, he tried to do as Sandal said. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing and focused on Hawke life force. At first, he couldn't feel anything, but as the minutes ticked by - or was it hours? - he began to see a small light flicker in his mind's eye.
Using his powers, he tried to reach out for it, but it kept slipping out of his grasp. Feeling frustrated, his concentration started to waver, and he could feel the light drifting further away.
"By all that is holy, Andraste guide me..." Anders heard himself whisper quietly to himself.
"I shall lend you my aid..."
The heavy male voice echoed through Anders mind, almost making him lose his focus again.
"No! You have done enough, spirit! It is because of you that the woman I love now lies dead before me! I want you gone, spirit! Return from where you came, and never show yourself again!"
Anders' inner voice shouted into the void of his mind.
Anger at the situation and at the spirit's intrusion filled him, cementing Anders' determination to make amends. Even if the spirit did this to her, it was because of him that the spirit held such anger and hatred. He had corrupted the spirit, and he had been a fool to not realize what would happen when he made his offer to his friend so long ago.
Anders felt his body tingle as a sharp flood of electricity filled his body. With the pain came a strengthening of his powers, and with one last grasp was able to hold onto the small light that was Hawke's life force. Using the remaining of his power, he guided the light closer to himself, and when the light was before him, Anders opened his eyes to see the light become real.
Tiny, no more the size of a star in the night sky, it hovered silently over Hawke's still body. Ignoring the sharp intake of breaths from those around the room, he placed his hands on either side of the light and slowly guided it downward.
When the light disappeared into the corpse of the woman who he loved - who he is responsible for killing! - Anders began to pour healing magick onto her, trying everything he could to return his love back to the world of the living.
Seconds ticked by, and nothing happened. Sweat beaded on Anders forehead, using every last bit of himself to try and heal her. Finally, a movement, a small flutter of her chest. Was he imagining it? No, there it was again! Again, a small intake of breath, this time more audible even though it was barely more than a whisper.
"Thank the Maker! She's alive!" He exclaimed, shocked and stunned beyond measure. Anders didn't even care when he was violently shoved aside by the elf who scooped Hawke up into his arms.
"Orsino!" Fenris barked over his shoulder. Suddenly the old mage was beside his side, examining Hawke who was still in the elf's arms. Anders doubted it would be easy for anyone to remove her from his grasp, as he knew it would be for him if he were the elf.
It was then that Anders' mind clicked forward and he noticed the room they were in was more full than it was just a few moments ago. He turned his head to see not only the two dwarves, but several guardsmen and templars looking at him with their hand's on their blades. And behind them was the elven girl who worked for Hawke, Orana.
"Of course. She wasn't running away, but getting help for her mistress. Smart girl in bringing the First Enchanter, it also explained the templars. Not so good for me, however."
No sooner had the thought passed through his mind did two templars make their way over to him and roughly pull him to his feet. The pain from the beating he received from Fenris returned in force, yet he did not struggle against them. At the moment, he wanted to be taken by them. He knew it was because of him that Hawke almost died - did die - and he knew he would have to pay the price for his crimes.
Before he was removed from the room entirely, however, he heard the First Enchanter tell the templars to just take him downstairs. He needed to know what happened and what exactly Anders had done. The templars grumbled about not being ordered around by a mage, yet they saw his wisdom and took Anders down the stairs into the main room where the threw him roughly into one of the chairs there.
Anders looked up in time to see Orsino guide Fenris from the room to the room across the hall - Hawke's mother's room. There he suspected they would examine her further before anything else was done.
"Whatever comes, I shall face it without running. Maker, please keep her safe."

****Upstairs****
"Lay her down here, Fenris. I must examine her. She is still gravely injured, and I need to remove the piece of wood from her chest before we lose her again."
Fenris quickly obeyed the First Enchanter, laying her down gently on her mother's bed. However, he did not move away, instead kneeling down and taking her hand in his, grateful beyond words she was alive.
In the moments when he realized she was gone, he felt himself die. His past, his memories, his fears, the very lyrium burned into his skin; none of it mattered anymore. Unable to breath, all he could do was just look down at the woman who just minutes ago accepted him, flaws and all. Now, she was gone from him.
Rage, despair, fear, shock, horror... They all filled him in one great rush that formed into a bellowing roar that consumed him. And when it washed away as quickly as it came, all he was left with was a bitter darkening rage and a growing void of emptiness inside of him, emptiness that once was filled with the beautiful rogue who had not only stolen his heart, but melted and put it back together as well.
Lifting his eyes to the mage who stolen everything from him, he flew at him, intending to not just kill him but to make him suffer as much as possible. Raining blows down on him, his anger grew. And when he heard movement coming from the open door of the room, he very nearly attacked them too. Thankfully, his mind recognized the two dwarves and elven girl before his rage lashed out at them too.
Seeing them there, their grief and shock on their faces, brought everything back to Fenris' mind. Unable to move, he watched as two dwarves approached the still body on the floor. Part of him wanted to push them away, to keep her all to himself, even in death. But the sadness he saw on their faces held him still. He wasn't the only one who adored the woman who lay there. Everyone she met grew to love her.
That is, if they survived.
Nothing had ever seemed to stop the woman, not blade nor arrow. Hawke was deadly with her strikes, dancing a morbid dance of death in battle. Countless times he had seen her get injured in the heat of battle, yet nothing seemed to be more than a scratch with how she held herself. Always seeing to others and refusing treatment until she assured that the others were well.
Fenris had started to believe that nothing could take her down.
Yet, how very wrong he was. There she lay slain, by a person she called friend even! Again, grief clawed at him, nearly dropping him to the floor. When the smaller dwarven boy fled the room, he could hardly blame him. The boy had seemed to develop a child-like crush on his Hawke. Always rushing to do whatever she asked. To see her slain must of been too much for the lad.
Yet not even a few moments later did he return with that mysterious stone. And for as much as he grew to like the boy, Fenris could not believe he wanted that abomination to help! What did he think he could do? However, as he blocked the mage from approaching his love, the look the young dwarf gave him made him feel like he needed to let him try. Was he being a fool? What more could be done? She was dead!
Yet he stood back and watched as the abomination knelt before her body while the young dwarf joined him. Soon, a small light came out of the stone, and for a split moment, Fenris allowed himself to have a small hope that maybe - maybe - there was a chance for something, anything to happen.
Fenris watched as Anders closed his eyes and did whatever magick the boy thought he could do. When he heard more noise coming from the door, he caught a glimpse of templar steel and rushed over to keep them from interfering.
"Shhh! Let him do what he is doing, then you may take him and string him up and quarter him for all I care. But for the moment, let him be." It was not a request. It was not even a command. It simply was; stated with the force of kings and great leaders. A statement that promised death to any who dared to disobey.
The templars and guards looked uneasily back and forth between them, then back at the glowing elf who had murder in his eyes. Hands on their blades, they debated what they should do, but Orsino recognized the Tevinter elf, and quickly went to defuse the guards before things got even more bloody.
"Let us wait one moment, my friends. We do not want more blood here, and if the apostate can heal the woman, I say we give him a chance." His voice was calm and level, but his eyes betrayed the worry and fear the First Enchanter had. Still unmoving from his position blocking the entrance into the room, Fenris looked like he was ready to kill any who thought of interrupting whatever was happening behind him.
"But ser, the apostate must-"
"And he will, my dear Templar. However, a few moments will not hurt us as we wait to see what transpires. If he makes any move of escape or to threaten anyone present, I will not stop you. I will even help to disable him for you. But for the moment, if there is a chance, any chance at all, that the life of this dear woman may be saved, we must allow it."
Passing uneasy glances between them, they each nodded their agreement. Hawke was well known around Kirkwall, even amongst the templars. Many at least respected her, even if they did not agree or even particularly liked the woman.
Removing their hands from their blades, the templars and guardsmen relaxed their stances and were allowed into the room by the deadly, glowing elf.

"Fenris!"
Fenris blinked rapidly as he came back to the present. The First Enchanter looked as if he was trying to get his attention. He looked over to the door and saw the templars ever watchful gaze upon them.
"Yes, I am sorry, Orsino. Please repeat what you said."
"I was saying that I need you to help hold her still while I remove the offending piece of wood. It is embedded deep, and I need it removed if I am to stop the bleeding and close the wound."
Fenris nodded, and moved up onto the bed, placing Hawke between his legs and leaning over so he could hold her shoulders down. Knowing this would undoubtably hurt her made Fenris' stomach constrict, yet he held his pose knowing that this must be done. Silently, he whispered his apologies before nodding to Orsino to begin.
Grabbing a bottle of lyrium that Hawke kept stored for emergencies, he poured some on the wound before drinking the rest down. Then, grabbing hold of the piece of wood with one hand, he swiftly pulled it free from her flesh. Feeling her body constrict and her breath hitch, Fenris prayed to whatever gods existed to keep her with him. He could not lose her again.
As soon as the wood was free, the wound began to bleed profusely. However, Orsino was quick with his spells, and within seconds the wound started to close. Fenris watched as beads of sweat formed on the mage's brow as he worked to heal the damage done to her body.
"I need more lyrium!" Orsino choked out without taking his eyes off his patient.
The templars just stood still, unwilling to leave the mage alone and unwatched.
Watching their inaction only served to anger Fenris more. Setting his jaw he looked up at the First Enchanter, and through gritted teeth, uttered the one thing he never thought he would allow again. "Use me, mage. My body is lined with lyrium. Do whatever you need. Just... Just save her!"
Orsino just stared at Fenris, knowing fully what he was asking. "Are you sure?"
Ripping the gauntlet off his right arm, he offered it up to the mage with raw determination in his eyes.
Nodding solemnly, Orsino took the elf's arm with one hand while still using his other to work the healing magick, Orsino felt the rush of power flood through him immediately. Fenris held his teeth clenched as pain rocked through him, nearly blinding him. Along with it came the memories... Memories of when he was still a slave and his lyrium fused body was used to aid his master and his... spells.
He would not stop, though. Not if it meant saving his Hawke.
After a few minutes of intense agony, Orsino finally let go of Fenris' arm. A rush of air escaped past Fenris' lips as he released the breath he held to keep himself from screaming out. Through watery eyes, he looked down at Hawke to see the wound closed, a pink scar indicating where the wound had been.
Out of breath himself, Orsino stumbled back a few steps before his legs found a chair that was near the dresser on the side of the room.
"Serah?"
Orsino opened his weary eyes and looked at the templar who spoken. "I am fine. Just out of breath. A few moments, my dear templar."
"Will she live?" Fenris and Orsino looked up at the familiar voice. Standing amongst the guards was Aveline, the guard's captain and good friend to Hawke and her band of companions. Dressed for once not in her uniform, but what appeared her sleeping clothes. No doubt she rushed down here after someone had awoken her and told her what had happened.
"I believe so. At least, her body will." Orsino sighed and sat up straighter in the seat he was occupying. "Her soul, however, is another matter." Standing stiffly, Orsino moved closer to the bed to speak more directly with Fenris. "I do not know what that mage did. I do not know how he brought her life back. However grateful I am for saving her life, I do know that only her life was returned to her body. The essence that keeps her alive and allows her heart to beat. Her soul, however, the part that makes Hawke who she is, that I cannot sense within her. It is simply gone."
"Was it blood magic?" Asked a templar, still standing at the doorway, ever watchful of the passing events.
"No. No blood magic was involved." Fenris stated coldly. As much as he hated the abomination, he would not lie. Even if he didn't know the true answer, he knew what he saw. And despite being possessed, the mage used no blood magic on her.
"Then what was it? When we entered the room, we saw a bright light coming from the mage's hands. Aye, his whole body seemed to be glowing. Not like ser elf's did, mind you. But it was still there. First Enchanter, do you know?" This time the voice that spoke was that of a guard, who was quickly silenced from a sharp look from Aveline.
Orsino only shook his head. The answer to that question was the reason why he wanted Anders to be kept in the main room until he had a chance to question him. Sighing, he realized that now that Hawke seemed to be well enough to live for the time being, he better not put off questioning the young mage for much longer before Meredith arrived and blocked him entirely from the questioning. Maker help the lad then.
"If you will, my dear templars, I believe Serah Hawke to no longer be in danger of dying. Being the case, I would like to question the mage downstairs to gain better insights into what occurred. However, I do not believe Serah Hawke to completely out of the woods yet, so I would appreciate it greatly if the questioning took place downstairs so I am close by in case I am needed again."
"Never mind that here I will have a few free moments to question him before Meredith sticks her sodding head into it."
The man who appeared to be in command nodded to the First Enchanter after a few moments to consider the offer. Orsino smiled politely as he walked from the room and downstairs. "Blast the courtesy I must dance to just to get to the bottom of things!"
All the guards also left the room, all except for Aveline. Slowly she walked across the room to stand near the bed where Fenris still held Hawke tightly.
"Orsino is a good man. If there was anything to be done, he did it. As for the rest..." Aveline tried to be positive, to keep a smile on her face, yet looking down at the bloodied and disheveled body of her dear friend nearly undid all her careful training in keeping calm during straining situations.
"She will be fine!" Fenris barked out, his eyes snapping fire once again. Whether he was trying to convince the guard-captain or himself, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that his Hawke, his Iris, must be alright!
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Iridescence