Author's Note: I had not realized that I did not include the new first paragraph. This is what I had originally written, and I hope it clarifies the scene a bit better, enjoy!

Chapter 1: An Error In Judgment

The Tranquil they spotted on their latest mission to safeguard escaped mages from the Kirkwall circle had filled Ellawyn Hawke's heart with dread. It was on their way to one of the many secret tunnels that had been made by the resistance that they saw them; a pair of emotionless Tranquil who simply stared at the lot of them with complete and utter neutrality. The mission itself was mostly successful, except for the fact that one of the young mages had betrayed their trust and protection. They were under the assumption that there were no blood mages in the group, but when confronted with a threat of Templars the adolescent sliced his palm and became an abomination. They had no choice but to cut him down.

The cold, unfeeling faces of the spiritually lobotomized mages with suns on their foreheads had bored into her very soul and she could think of nothing else on their way back to Hightown. To be entirely honest, they scared her more than the abomination had. It was just her and Fenris now; Aveline, Varric, and Anders had all gone home and needless to say it was an uncomfortable walk. They had…something years ago but Fenris had ended it after their first night together. She still hadn't quite gotten over him, but he made it very clear he was no longer interested in her. Sometimes he would say something that, to her, sounded like flirting, but she would dismiss it as wishful thinking as quickly as the thoughts came. Perhaps it was time to move on. They were just business partners now, nothing more. When they arrived at his door he turned to her suddenly with a puzzled expression on his face.

"How do you stand it?"

It was Ellawyn's turn to be puzzled "What?"

"How do you stand it? The fear of…that you could become an abomination?"

She shrugged, a little put off by the odd question "I know I'm strong enough to resist."

"But how? Have you ever been tempted by a demon? You have never taken your Harrowing, so you haven't been tested in any official capacity."

She scoffed "Yes, well, let me turn myself in to the Gallows and have it done straight away. It's not like I've been, I don't know, running from the Circle my whole life."

Fenris sighed with annoyance. "You know, perhaps you should go" he muttered.

"Um, you are aware that I would never be allowed to leave…ever."

"That would be a small price to pay for the peace of mind, wouldn't it? Knowing that if you become possessed you wouldn't live long enough to hurt others? And you'd be able to see Carver more often."

"What is wrong with you?! Why are you talking like this?"

"It was a simple question."

"No, it really wasn't Fenris! Have I done anything that would make you suspect me of being susceptible to demons?"

"No, but neither did that young mage. If he had been made Tranquil that would have never even happened."

"This is the first job you've been on that Tranquil were present and you didn't even interact with them. They have no feelings! They can't appreciate music or art or colors or…or love! I would rather die than become Tranquil!"

"But if you can't feel, how would you know what you were missing?" Fenris asked.

"You have no idea what you are saying... what that would mean...You know, I've been looking for a sign to get over you, and I think you just gave it to me. Mission accomplished, Fenris. This...pining over you that has been going on for years, completely gone! Thank you for releasing me! Bastard!"

With that she ran off into the night, leaving Fenris on the doorstep of his manor house, dumbfounded. She still had feelings for him? What had he done? He had an urge to go after her but did not want to be hit with one of her more nasty spells so he stayed where he was. It was more than likely that he would have a better chance of talking to her about it in the morning. She vastly misunderstood the intent of his question. He wasn't trying to argue that she should become Tranquil, it was more to sate his curiosity. If this had happened years ago he would have thought it entirely her fault, but he knew it wasn't true and was humble enough now to admit that. It had been inconsiderate of him to ask such a question. He felt like such an ass. 'The sooner I go to bed, the sooner I can wake up and make this right' he reasoned, and went inside his borrowed home to do so.

She walked swiftly down the streets of Hightown, eager to get home after such a disturbing conversation with her ex-lover. How could he suggest such a thing? There were some noises in an alley but disregarded them, young couples often snuck out of their family's manors at night to meet in secret. She recalled doing so herself as a younger girl, though there were different hazards faced when sneaking out of a four room cottage than a twenty room mansion. The idea of her being in the Circle, not to mention the Kirkwall Circle, made her nauseous. There was anger in her, but also an acute heart break. For years she had held on to a fleeting hope that he might feel the same for her one day, but from his comments it was very obvious he couldn't even empathize with her. He had meant the world to her, but to him she was just another lay who happened to be a good ally. It stung.

A shadow teased at the corner of her eye, retreating from her line of sight. On instinct she turned away from it; she knew this trick all too well growing up with twins. Before her were two helmeted, yet visibly startled, Templars; one with a black sack meant for her head, the other with a pair of shackles for her wrists and ankles. They would not take her down so easily. She called up a mind blast which knocked all who surrounded her away like ragdolls before sprinting for her life into the street on the right of her house. She could not go home or take refuge at the homes of any of her friends for they would hunt her down and their necks would be on the line for sheltering her. She could, however, run past the Blooming Rose on her way to the docks, and by extension the sewers and underground passage ways of the city she would need to lose them in. At this time of night there would be many loyal witnesses who could report the pursuit to Varric if he came looking for her. If her plans to evade them failed, he would probably have to. Now was the time for flight.

It would be an understatement to say that Fenris did not sleep well that night. The moments he could sleep were riddled with nightmares; the worst of these began in the Gallows courtyard. He was alone, no Hawke, which was odd because she almost always seemed to be in his dreams since they first met. Even if she was just on the side she was as constant an element in his dreams as he hoped he was in hers. Suddenly he saw her, facing away from him in Circle garb about thirty feet away. He ran to her but when she turned to face him he stopped dead in his tracks. A bright, burning red Chantry sun emblem sat oppressively on her forehead. A fearful memory came to mind because it looked like it was branded onto her with a cattle iron like the Tevinter Imperium would use on slaves and livestock alike.

"Hawke? Ella, are you ok?"

Expressionlessly and void of all emotion she recited "I am at peace. Who are you? Oh I remember, you are the elf warrior Fenris. You were once one of my companions, hello."

"What happened to you? Why are you talking this way?" He felt that he knew the answer but he couldn't accept it, it was not how he imagined talking to…one of them would be.

"I am Tranquil at last. You should be happy; I am safe and can harm no one."

"But Hawke, why are you acting like this? I...I care about you. Deeply."

"Yes, I remember that we have had intercourse of a sexual nature when I was in the chaos. I don't feel anything in that, or any regard really. It's quite relaxing. My loyalty lies in Knight Commander Meredith and the Templar, Ser Grimeld, my Keeper. Their will supersedes all else. If you wish for me to enchant your sword you must ask Ser Grimeld for permission"

She gestured a hand across the courtyard, towards where the weapon sellers should have been, and Fenris saw a large man looking at them intently. Ellawyn then turned her gaze back to the slave statues behind her, her head tilted to the side like she was considering them. It was when he turned back to her that Fenris saw the multitude of finger shaped bruises on her neck and the tips of several inflamed, angry cuts that appeared to trail down her back. The sight gave him a flashback to the whipping welts he and other slaves received under their masters; the scars of many of his own could still be seen. He wanted to scream, and cry, and kill. Bile rose in his throat and he felt himself slipping out of composure. Whoever did this would pay with pain and death; slow and agonizing. Gone was the woman he fell in love with; all warmth, kindness, sarcasm, and wit. In her place stood a cold, will-less shell. He wanted her back. 'I think it's time to have a little chat with her "Keeper"' he thought bitterly to himself as he stormed off to the other side of the Gallows courtyard. As he got closer, he analyzed the massive armored man. His face was severe and his stance formidable. He would have been a fearsome sight if not for the shit eating grin that had found its way to his face as he stared lecherously at Ellawyn. It was his dream so he could rip the idiot's head of right then and there, Maker knew he wanted to, but he also wanted answers. He attempted to regain his hard practiced unreadable expression, 'Time to play the game'.

"Hello, I was wondering if you would allow that girl over there to enchant my sword."

"Yeah, she's good at that isn't she? I make her enchant my sword whenever I can" his laugh drove Fenris to a dangerous edge.

"No," he drew his great sword threateningly, his voice tinted with rage "this sword."

"Sure, sure," he brushed him off "Her new master will be arriving soon though, but you can before he comes."

Fenris paled "What?"

"Her new master's coming to pick her up. I ordered her to go over and stare at the slave statues for a few hours. I told her it was because she displeased me by hesitating to perform some of my more…personal commands. It's kind of poetic though, isn't it? Almost seems like she's contemplating her fate, if she could contemplate things like you and me. I'll tell you Meredith was loath to part with her. She's mostly a trophy around here; imagine, the Champion of Kirkwall filing you papers, fetching your meals…polishing your weapon."

He paused and smiled knowingly at Fenris, but when he didn't get a response he continued.

"Anyway, I'm quite disappointed at her leaving too. We've had so much fun. She's just so…compliant."

His sick grin made Fenris want to vomit. It took all he had to not cleave the scums head from his shoulders. This vile man had used his authority and her weakened state to rape and beat her and now she was being sold into slavery?! He would not allow it.

"How much did the…buyer offer?"

"More gold than you can imagine. A couple hundred chests of jewels too. The man is loaded!"

Fenris' stomach began to curdle "Who…who was the buyer?"

"A fellow goes by the name of Danarius; an odd man but endearingly wealthy. Speak of the Archdemon, here he is!" The Templar waved to a figure behind Fenris. At the mention of his name, Fenris froze. The magister himself, in that sly, smooth, predatory voice of his that grated Fenris' nerves like barbed wire, replied

"Ahh, I see you have my little parcel all wrapped up for me. I've transferred the funds to the Templar's treasury this morning, so I'll take her now. Care to help me with introductions, Ser Grimeld?"

"Of course, messere!" He called back before turning to Fenris "I'm sorry she couldn't tend to your sword, we'll find someone to help you in a moment."

With that the corrupt Templar walked away from the paralyzed warrior to aid the viper approaching Ella. She was in danger, about to be passed from one monster to another, powerless to stop it herself, and he couldn't move his damned feet! She needed his help! It took a lot of effort for him to turn around and run to where she had been cornered.

"Ellawyn, this is your master Danarius. You will go with him and do as he says."

"Yes, Ser Grimeld."

"Now dear, I will name you Culfre, my little dove…"

"No! Wait!" Fenris fell on them, assuming the role of a slave merchant though it pained him "I can offer four times the amount this...man has offered. Just name the price and I will quadruple it!"

"You really want her to enchant your sword that bad, eh? Sorry, but the sale is final, messere, on your way."

In his mind's eye Fenris imagined a lyrium stone the size of a heart which he withdrew from his pocket.

"You see this, Templar? This is pure, refined lyrium, and I have mountain ranges more where this came from as well. It can all be yours if you give her to me." He said, waving the tempting prize before the Templar who was entranced by its sight and smell, dreaming of the bliss it would bring.

Then he heard a laugh fitting of this nightmare from his left.

"Oh Fenris, my little wolf. How you've grown. Sadly you haven't grown very wise."

With a single finger he disintegrated the rock into ash, bringing Grimeld back to his senses.

"You'll never have more than me, not even in your dreams. I need more pets for my menagerie, because I seem to have lost my bitch." He threw his head back in laughter.

Fenris was still frozen in horror that this vision of Danarius was interacting with him, so uncannily aware of the situation. The magister grabbed Ella by the chin much too tightly and turned her head to face him.

"Such a pretty bird you are, Culfre. We'll find you a nice little cage, maybe teach you to sing. You remember how to sing, don't you Fenris?"

Snapping to his senses he drew his sword, his skin bristling and glowing with the power of the lyrium within him, and bellowed "You will not touch her!"

"That's my boy!" he crowed as he summoned beasts from the beyond.

"Maleficar!" Ser Grimeld shouted before being enchanted to join the fight to cover Danarius' escape with Hawke.

"If I can't get to you here, I can at least get your heart. Foolish child!" he laughed as they disappeared from view.

"NO!" Fenris roared, hacking and slashing through the unholy horde that he could not hope to overcome alone.

Just as he was about to be run through by Grimeld's sword he awoke in a cold sweat.

"Ella!" He shouted to no one.

He leapt from his bed and started putting on his armor, falling over himself as he ran to the door. Birds were chirping and the sun stung at his eyes even through the dirty windows but he didn't care, he needed to see her now, to make sure his dream was just a dream. Some atonement was long overdue. As he reached the door he heard a knock and flung it open, hoping it was Ellawyn, only to see Varric, arm still raised before him.

"Uh…hey there broody, that was a quicker reply then I usually get from you" he quipped, though Fenris caught a hint of worry in his features.

"What is it Varric? I have to go see Hawke."

"Well that answers my question, shit. I thought she was with you. I figured since you were with her last, and, well, your history I would check here first. We were supposed to meet to discuss business around three hours ago, but she never showed and apparently she never got home last night. Do you have any clue?"

Fenris could hear his heart in his ears it was beating so loudly. This couldn't be! "Fasta vass!" he punched his door.

"Ok, that was mildly frightening. Something you want to share?"

"I…I had a...Last night I...Hawke was…Venhedis!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't speak Tevinter! Just spit it out, damn you!" Varric yelled back.

Fenris was a little stunned; Varric didn't usually sway from his usual facetious tone, even in the worst fights.

"I had a nightmare and in it she...she was made Tranquil and...I don't wish to discuss the rest."

Varric sighed with relief and bemusement "What does that have to do with anything? It was just a dream."

"Yes. But it's probably related to an argument we had last night about the Tranquil we saw on the mission...She called me a bastard and ran off. She was mad, and rightfully so...I was going to go apologize in the morning so she would have some time to herself. Otherwise I had the feeling that she would have turned me into a slug...or a rock or one of her other spells she's been working on..."

Varric stared at him incredulously as he spoke. When Fenris finished he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, his eyes shut tight "Well, at least you can admit that you were a total moron, makes my job easier."

"I should have risked it and gone after her."

"Listen elf, 'shoulda-coulda-woulda's' don't ever help anyone, so don't worry about that right now. What we do need to do now is find her. Are you ready? It'll probably be a long day."

"I don't care, let's go."