Danarius

Varania wouldn't meet his gaze, and Fenris' heart was starting to race. He started to ask her what was wrong, when he was interrupted by the voice of his nightmares.

"Ah, my little Fenris, predictable as always." Danarius crooned as he descended the stairs, shadowed by heavily armed guards.

"I'm sorry, Leto..." Varania was looking down at the floor, her body language closed off, arms wrapped around herself.

"You brought him here!?" He exclaimed in shock. Danarius tutted as he came to stand beside her.

"Now now, Fenris, don't be mad at your sister. She was only doing what any good citizen of the Imperium should."

"I never wanted this! I won't let you kill me for these filthy markings!" Fenris squared his shoulders, ready to fight, and he could feel the tension int he air as his friends...his family, steeled themselves as well. Danarius laughed, and that chilled him to the bone.

"Oh how little you know, my pet. And this is your new mistress then? The Champion of Kirkwall? Quite lovely." He crooned, eyeing up Marian.

"You will stay away from her!" Fenris snarled, drawing his weapon and standing protectively in front of Marian. Anders had also stepped forward to shield Marian from even being seen by the vile magister.

"My my, how you dote on her. I remember a time when you felt such love for me, Fenris. I am aware of your dalliance with her, even without Varania the rumors of the Champion and her tattooed sex slave would have brought me here."

Fenris growled and felt his cheeks burn at the comment.

"I hope his time with me made him a skilled slave for you, Champion. We're hardly the same, of course, but obviously we share the same tastes..." Danarius' eyes grew dark and hungry as he remembered what he had done to Fenris during their years together.

Marian snapped, pushing her men aside to get in Danarius' face. "How dare you! We are nothing alike you disgusting worm! I love him, and I will tear your flesh from your bones before you ever lay a finger on him again!" She brought her hand up and punched the magister as hard as she could. His soldiers drew their blades, ready to attack, when Danarius held up a hand to still them.

"You're a feisty one, Champion. Perhaps I shall bring you along with me." He snarled before grabbing Marian's throat, cutting off her air. Anders, Carver, and Fenris all leapt towards them, weapons drawn, and Danarius cast a protective shield around himself and Marian. As they fought his men, he used his magic to probe into Marian's mind. He laughed cruelly when he felt her fear, then stopped, eyes widening slightly as he found the knowledge of her pregnancy. He loosened his grip just enough to allow her small gasps of breath.

"It seems you have even more property of mine, Champion."

Fenris heard this and roared his rage, killing the last of the guards before launching himself at the barrier. He could feel the lyrium burning him as he drew on it more heavily than he ever had, his entire body flickering and translucent as he moved through the border of the fade and reality, ripping through the barrier to get to Danarius. The bastard's eyes widened in shock and fear, and he dropped Marian entirely, focusing on strengthening his barrier. Fenris was not hindered by this, and still forced his way through to Danarius. He put his arms inside the man, and spoke in Tevene as he slowly began to tear him open from the inside.

"Tu numquam debuisti minari mea familia" You should never threaten my family. And with that final exchange of words, he tore open Danarius' ribcage, exposing his innards to the world and causing a painful death. Nothing less than he deserved. Once he was dead Fenris released his power and crumpled onto the floor, exhausted and his body singing in pain, just as it had when the marks were first forced upon him.

Marian dropped to his side, checking his pulse and his breathing, and found him alive but struggling. She called Anders to his aid, then went over to Varania and slapped her across the face.

"How could you sell out your own brother to Danarius!?"

"I have struggled and suffered my entire life since Leto bought us our freedom! Danarius offered to make me his apprentice, it was my only chance at a better life." Varania held her cheek, barely able to meet Marian's eyes.

"You could have left! You could have built a new life!"

"What do you know of my life, human? You know nothing of what we elves go through! Just because you're pregnant with Leto's child doesn't mean you know anything about our lives!"

Fenris stood shakily with Anders' help, glaring at Varania.

"You will watch your tongue when speaking to her."

"Why, because you'll murder me too? You don't even remember! You fought for the opportunity to have those markings; to be Danarius' pet. You received a boon as your prize and used it to free me and mother. At least as slaves we were protected from the other magisters and the common rabble, when you freed us we lost everything. You will never understand what we went through because of your choices." Varania spat in Fenris' direction.

"I... I'm sorry." His anger had been evaporated. The knowledge that he had chosen this path changing his perspective.

"It doesn't matter. I will continue to suffer, again because of you." She sneered. Marian was ready to hit her again, but Fenris held up his hand to stop her.

"I would have given you the world, Varania..." Fenris responded softly.

"What? Why? It's not like you know me." Varania huffed, her own anger deflating.

"I had hoped...even if you could never truly be my sister, you could at least be Aunt to our child. But it seems there is too much pain between us for that."

Varania looked down at the floor, wiping away an errant tear that escaped her.

"I'm sorry, Leto, but I don't think I can do that." She then walked past Marian towards the door, stopping as she grabbed the handle. "Congratulations to you both. I hope your baby never lives through what we have." And with that she left. Marian was tearing up from the heavy emotions and went over to Fenris and hugged him tightly. Anders pulled away to allow her to hold him and he and Carver began looting the bodies and cleaning up the mess, silently understanding that their thoughts on what had transpired could wait.

"Thank you, Marian. I'm so sorry that I put you in danger."

"I'm just sorry that this happened. I can't imagine how you're feeling about all of this."

"It hurts. But at least I am free. Our baby is free. I don't know where I would be without you."

"And you'll never find out." She smiled softly, kissing Fenris tenderly before putting her arm around him and helping him walk out of the war-torn tavern.