Chapter Text
Danarius knew a losing fight when he saw one, he just wasn’t often on the losing end of it. Now, he expected his pet project to fight back, he even expected that the elf would have help however he didn’t expect the ferocity that help would fight with. At first, the magister had found it amusing how the ‘Champion of Kirkwall’ had barked at him and defended the elf but now it was starting to fall into place. He knew the look in their eyes when they glanced at each other across the battle and he noticed how they quickly jumped to each other’s aid. Danarius may have been trying to get a rise when he made the suggestion at first but it appeared he was correct and it meant he wouldn’t win the battle here. Very well, Danarius knew when to accept defeat but he would not be leaving without a prize. The Champion’s weakness was her predictability in this fight, she had made a habit of periodically attacking him before slinking back into the shadows to defend her companions. There was a split second before her attacks where her blades glinted in the light and the moment Danarius saw it, he spun and cast a powerful spell that sent her crashing to the ground unconscious.
“Take her. We’re leaving.” Danarius ordered, already turning to head out the back door of the Hanged Man.
“Her my lord?” The soldier asked sceptically, practically ignoring the rest of the fight, “I thought we were here for the elf?”
Danarius hummed, “If he wants her back, he will have to come and claim her.” The solider simply nodded and lifted the unconscious woman over his shoulder and followed his master out of the fight, leaving the others to die at the hands of the slave and his friends.
Fenris was furious, come the end of the battle he could not remember striking down Danarius and so he checked the bodies. The Maker damned magister was not among them!
“After all this time he finally shows his face and slips through my fingers once more.” Fenris fumed, his markings glowing in response to his anger. Varric and Isabela even took a step back so they were out of swinging range.
“Uh, Fluffy, now would be a great time for you to step in with your whole ‘Fenris cool your shit’ speech.” Varric called to the tavern, expecting to see his friend literally jump over chairs to reach the elf and calm him down in the way only she seemed to be able to do but nothing happened. “Evangeline?” The dwarf’s eyes eventually landed on Isabela who was kneeling by the stairs and holding up a dagger. Evangeline’s dagger.
“Oh, this can’t mean anything good.” The pirate winced when Fenris’ fierce glare fell on her and the much loved weapon. His expression changed from infuriation to something akin to fear, Evangeline would never part with those daggers willingly.
“What happened? Where’s Evangeline?” He was almost storming up the stairs before Isabela grabbed his arm to keep him in place.
“Your guess is as good as mine but panicking isn’t going to do her any good.” For once she was a voice of reason and her comment forced Fenris to take a deep breath and try to calm himself. If he went rushing into anything now, he could just get her killed.
“You know this bastard better than us, Broody. What’s the chance he kidnapped her?” Varric asked carefully, trying not to trigger another bout of fury.
“Danarius only takes prisoners when they will be useful to him.” Fenris scowled in thought, “I can’t imagine what use he would have for Evangeline.”
“Unless he wants to use her bait.” Isabela’s suggestion stunned both the men and she shrugged, “You’re not subtle, it’s rather obvious you’ve got the hots for her not to mention you’re very protective.” Before anyone could answer, the sound of shuffling in the corner caught Fenris’ attention and he was reminded of Varannia’s presence. In the blink of an eye, he was standing over her with a menacing glare on his face.
“Where would he take her?” He knew she’d heard the conversation and didn’t want to waste time elaborating. Varannia cowered away from him, after seeing him fight she didn’t even want to consider him family anymore.
“I don’t know!” She answered honestly, “Maybe back to Minrathos? Or Seheron.” Fenris considered for a moment crushing the girl’s heart, she had after all, led him to an ambush that resulted in the woman he loves being taken hostage. However, upon reflecting what his friends and Evangeline would say, he decided upon glaring at her and stepping aside.
“Leave and pray I never see your face again.” Fenris had to take several more deep breaths to keep himself from flying off into a rage again as his ‘sister’ ran out of the Hanged Man.
“So what now?” Isabela asked, coming to stand next to the elf as a comfort if nothing else.
“We draw straws to decide who tells Ginger?” Varric suggested, of course he was concerned but Evangeline was a big girl and was probably giving the magister hell right about now.
“I don’t think you appreciate the gravity of the situation, dwarf.” Fenris hissed.
“I know we’re in a tight spot, Broody, but Evangeline won’t go down without a fight. She might even kill him before we get to her, but that doesn’t mean we leave Elia in the dark.” Varric was right because of course he was. The elder twins seldom did anything without each other and that Elia wasn’t there at present just made this harder. There was a good chance someone was going to get stabbed for this information.