Possession

Disclaimer: All characters, settings, etc. from Dragon Age belong to BioWare. "Vox" belongs to Sarah McLachlan.

Author's Notes: Welcome to Possession. Its been a long time since I last wrote something for this site, but I am quite excited about this story. Fenris and Merrill. They seem like the last two people in the world who would get together, don't they? I love a challenge, so lets see what happens.

Summary: After the events of A New Path Merrill is haunted by the death of Marethari and the deaths of her clan. Marethari visits Fenris in a dream and asks him to set things right. Tara Hawke is too busy helping Anders with the Mage Underground, while Aveline, Isabela and Varric weren't there. Will Fenris be able to put aside his own past and help Merrill move forward from hers? Or will their pain consume them both? Fenris x Merrill; F!Hawke x Anders. Enjoy!

Prolog

In the desert of my dreams,
I saw you there

Sarah McLachlan, " Vox "

Fenris' gaze swept tthe cave, suspicion creeping into the pit of his gut. I have been here before. The thought came unbidden, daring him to put together the fragments of the puzzle that was feebly trying to form. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, irritated that there was one more thing that he was unable to remember.

" Greetings. I thank you for answering my call. "

That voice... Instinct took over and he turned in the direction from which the sound had come. Sure enough, there she was. The Dalish Keeper. What had her name been... Marethari? Yes, No, Maybe? What really mattered was that he had watched the woman die three days ago. She had no business talking to him. No business being here at all.

" Don't thank me yet. " Fenris kept his gaze locked with hers. He made no move to strike, yet was prepared to do just that if the need arose. " What did you call me here for? "

" Merrill. " the Keeper's voice was soft, little more then a whisper. Despite the madness of this conversation, Fenris found himself a willing captive clinging to her every word. " She suffers greatly. Her grief is beyond the imagining of most people. "

" That surprises you? " Fenris folded his arms across his chest. " You said it yourself: she knew that her blood magic carried a heavy price. It's hard to feel sorry for her. "

" I can understand that you hate magic. " the Keeper's voice remained calm. There was the slightest hint of sadness in her ageless eyes, though, that made Fenris wonder if his words had been too harsh. " But there's no reason to hate Merrill. "

" Did I say that I did? "

" You don't have to. Have any of you been to see her since Sundermount? No? " the Keeper's too knowing gaze made Fenris feel like she was evaluating the weight of his soul. " Lady Hawke and her man have been no better. The blame is not yours alone to bare. "

" We've never been close. " The excuse sounded weak to Fenris, and the Keeper's deepening frown made it clear she agreed with him. Frustrated at himself for caring a fig for what she might think, he went on none the less. " Wait... No one has gone? "

" No one. Hawke and her man are preoccupied with the plight of the mages, and with each other. No one else would know anything is wrong. " the Keeper's expression hinted at an underlying fierceness for a fleeting second before once again schooling itself into a pool of serenity. " Merrill has not left her house since the day your group returned to Kirkwall. "

" Why are you telling me this? " Fenris began to pace as he spoke, " I'm no good with words at my best. And Merrill tends to bring out my worst. Varric or Isabela – Maker, even Aveline - would be far better choices. "

" I saw the look on your face, right before I died. The way you watched her fall to her knees. The way you wished to reach out to her. The regret for not knowing how. It showed in your eyes. " Marethari cleared the spac between them in three strides. Fenris tried not to squirm when she placed a hand on his shoulder, halting his restless pacing. " Go and speak to her. Please. That's all I ask of you. "

" And say what, exactly? " Fenris turned to face the Keeper, the markings on his body glowing in response to his growing annoyance. " There, there, Merrill. Its alright. You didn't turn into an abomination this time. "

The Keeper said nothing. There was no need. Her disgust was written clearly across her weather worn face. Her wordless rebuke made Fenris feel like a petulant child. When she did speak her voice maintained its composure. " Do what you must. To ask more would be folly. "

Fenris woke with a start, his heart racing and his body coated in a fine sheen of sweat. The silken sheets that covered the bed were instead tangled around his body and for a moment he fought against them like binds, old instincts kicking in hard at the feeling of being confined . As he became more fully aware of his surroundings he managed to untangle himself from the bedding and rose from the bed.

Pulling back the thick red curtains that adorned a nearby window, he let his gaze take in the silhouette of high town's white stone buildings against the contrast of the night sky. For years he had watched the city through this window, and yet after all this time he had not tired of it. It was nice to be the master of his own domain. More importantly, to be the master of himself. He stayed here for the amusement of the former and to plot the certainty of the latter. If Danarius wanted his mansion back he was free to come and claim it.

From what he'd been told by Aveline, his mansion was in need of some massive repairs if he wanted to actually keep it. He frowned, his fingers tapping a random rhythm against the window as he pondered the ever growing mass of problems that were being dumped into his lap.

Perhaps he could strike two beasts with one blow, though? If he completed some of the renovating might he coax Merrill into staying with him until she properly recovered? An involuntary shutter went through him, the thought of sharing his space with anyone, much less a blood mage, causing mental alarm bells to go off.

Shaking his head in an attempt to calm his thoughts he made his way back to the bed and lay down. Flipping the pillow over so that it was cool against his skin, he shifted around trying to find a comfortable way to sleep. Going to see Merrill right now would likely have her mistake him for a Templar, and Fenris had no desire to take a Stone Fist spell to the face. Tomorrow, he thought as sleep began to claim him. He would make sure that Marethari's words had been nothing but a dream.

End Notes: Was it only a dream? Is Merrill alright? How will Fenris get his home fixed? Can he convince Merrill to stay with him? Will he even want to? Find out as Possession continues.