Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Even those who live without chains are still bound: by fear, by tradition, by honour. Slaves dream of freedom, but I have found free men dream of it even more."  

=====  

His first memory was of agonising pain.  

He felt it in his bones, his muscles, his nerves, in his very soul. His voice went horse from screaming. The man begged and pleaded for it to stop. For the pain to end. But it never did. It was as if the pain would last until his final breath. It was a mercy that he eventually passed out from the pain, if not for himself then for the other slaves in that hallowed Mansion that heard his pitiful screams for mercy. A warning of what their Master was capable of.  

The next time he awoke, a man donned in fine robes and wearing a satisfied smirk stared down at him. “Tell me, Elf. What is your name?” he questioned. The Elf, crumpled on the floor bleeding and trembling, didn’t know the answer. That seemed to please the man further “Good. Then henceforth, your name is Fenris. My little Wolf” he declared “I am Danarius. Magister of Tevinter and your Master. You will respect me as such. Is that clear?”  

The Elf now named Fenris nodded slowly, every movement sending shockwaves of pain through his battered body. Danarius sneered, giving him a hard kick to the stomach. Fenris cried out in agony from the force of the kick. “Answer me!”  

“Y-yes... M-Master...” Fenris managed to muster out  

“That’s more like it” he turned to the other Elves in the room that Fenris hadn’t noticed until then “Clean him up and have him sent to my chambers” he ordered glancing back at Fenris with a heated gaze “Make sure he is thoroughly cleaned” the Magister left the room and the other slaves moved to help Fenris sit upright. Only then did he realise why they stared at him with such pity. With such sadness. His body was covered in strange white markings that none of the other Elves bore. Swirls of white ink trailed up his legs and arms, across his back and torso and up to his chin. Three white dots were on his forehead hidden by striking white hair.  

He glanced up at them “What happened to me?”  

They didn’t answer. They simply prepared him a bath while they cleaned up the blood on the floor his blood.  

Thus began Fenris’ life as Danarius’ personal slave.  

Danarius was ruthless in all sense of the word. Not only did he expect Fenris to wait on him hand and foot, but he also had Fenris train rigorously to become his bodyguard. Any resistance was met with more suffering. More pain. More misery. Fenris remembered nothing of his life before Danarius. It was as if whatever the Mage had done to him had wiped his mind clean. A black slate for Danarius to do with as he pleased. Fenris knew nothing else and, over time, his resolve crumbled day by day. Week by week. Year by year until he was nothing but the Magister’s pet. A rabid dog ready to attack at his Master’s whim. The training made him a force of nature when required. He had learned to harness the markings to his advantage which pleased Danarius greatly. Sadly, this did nothing to curb the Magister’s cruelty.  

On top of everything else, Fenris was not only his personal slave and bodyguard but his bedwarmer too. Danarius was unmarried and had little desire for marriage or children. But that did not mean he was uninterested in the pleasures of the flesh. Fenris rarely had a night where Danarius did not take him by force.  

Despite everything, it was the one thing Fenris never gave up to his Master. He never went to Danarius’s bed willingly. His one act of rebellion against the Mage that had destroyed his life. Danarius took this as a personal slight. And soon, it became his favourite challenge.  

One day, Danarius simply stopped ordering Fenris to his bed. Telling the Elf that things would change for the better. Suddenly, Danarius became the perfect gentleman to Fenris. He stopped the punishments altogether. Showered him with gifts and trinkets. Promising the world to Fenris in exchange for Fenris’s complete devotion to him. And Fenris, starved of affection and desperate for any sense of peace, foolishly believed his sugar-coated lies. The other Slaves could only watch on in despair as Fenris fell for their Master’s ploy. Unable to intervene for fear of their own deaths.  

Eventually, Fenris believed he loved Danarius and was loved in return. He finally gave in to his Master one warm summer night. He went to his bed willingly. The next morning, Danarius had him tortured so badly that he couldn’t stand straight for a week. He had gotten what he wanted. Fenris’s complete submission and now he no longer needed to pretend to care. Something inside Fenris broke that day.  

And something else began to grow.  

=====  

They were in Seheron when his opportunity for escape came about. Danarius was there on business and of course, Fenris was to come with him to act as bodyguard. When the fighting unexpectedly broke out on the island, Danarius and his entourage were whisked back onto the ship just as it disembarked. Leaving Fenris behind as the ship had no more room for him or the other slaves of the other nobles. The look on Danarius’s face as the ship pulled out was something Fenris would treasure forever.  

Now alone, Fenris barely got out of the city alive. He stumbled upon a group of rebels in the Seheron jungle called Fog Warriors. They took him in and nursed him back to health. With little option, Fenris stayed with them for a time. Until Danarius came back for him.  

The Fog Warriors refused to hand him over.  

Danarius ordered Fenris to kill them.  

Of course, Fenris refused. He’d only been with the Fog Warriors a short time, but they had shown him more kindness than he’d ever thought possible. This angered Danarius like nothing else. How dare his little Wolf betray him so? The Mage snapped his fingers and Fenris’ vision went black. When he came to, the Fog Warriors were dead at his feet and their blood coated his hands.  

“You didn’t think refusing me would be so easy, did you?” Danarius spoke with a smug sneer “I gave you those markings. I carved the lyrium into your skin. Your body is a weapon that I control. You. Will never. Be free of me”  

Hearing that, Fenris did the only thing he could do. He ran. He ran and never looked back. Danarius was left dumbfounded. He had expected Fenris to fall to his knees begging for forgiveness, not to turn and flee like a doe during hunting season. He ordered his men to give chase, but Fenris knew the jungle by then and used it to disappear. This time, Danarius couldn’t find him.  

Fenris took ship the first chance he got and headed for the one place he was certain Danarius would never go to. Ferelden. Someone of Danarius’s standing wouldn’t be caught dead in Ferelden. Or as he would so colourfully put it, “A backwater cesspit of filth and stupidity”. With that in mind, Fenris was sure Danarius would never chase him there. He would no doubt face those Danarius would send after him in the near future. But that was nothing Fenris couldn’t handle.  

Unbeknownst to Fenris, he arrived in Ferelden at the worst possible time. For on the horizon lay the Darkspawn and with it, the Blight.  

Chapter Text

“We are Wardens! One and all! Fights for justice, shields for vengeance! Crush our enemies! One and all!” 

—Grey Warden song 

=====

When Fenris first arrived in Ferelden, his options for employment had been limited. Being an escaped slave with no education and a lack of any skills besides fighting and killing, his prospects seemed dim. 

Which is why he was so bewildered to have been hired as an armed escort. For a Grey Warden no less. Fenris had heard many tales about the Wardens. Vanquishers of the Blight and Keepers of the peace. Accepting of all races into their ranks no matter their background. It was the stuff of fairy tales, and yet here Fenris was. Walking alongside one such Warden with his coin purse now hefty in his pocket. 

The man’s name was Duncan. A human warrior with olive skin, black hair, and a kind yet weathered face that had an impressive beard. Duncan had approached Fenris after spotting him in the crowd. The Greatsword Fenris had as his weapon certainly turned heads. Duncan’s first offer was for Fenris to join the Wardens to which Fenris outright refused. 

He was desperate, not suicidal. 

Luckily, Duncan was one of the more understanding of Wardens. The older man knew all too well that the life of a Warden was not for everyone. And so, Duncan offered a second opportunity. To be his armed escort until they reached a place called Ostagar for a staggering twenty gold sovereigns. Fenris had never seen so much coin in his life. With that kind of coin, he’d be set for at least a year if he were careful. 

“Why so much?” he had asked with suspicion lacing his voice 

“I may be a Warden, but even I know the dangers of travelling alone. And by the looks of it, you need the coin more than I do” Duncan responded smiling “So, do we have a deal?” 

Fenris would have been a fool to turn down such coin. And if things went south and Duncan proved himself to be just like the people he’d escaped from? Well, the Elf didn’t even need his sword to kill. 

Surprisingly, Duncan remained as polite and conversational as when they met. He was Kind to Fenris. Something the Elf was completely foreign to. As they travelled, he taught Fenris how to navigate the strange new land that was now his home. By the time they reached the lands of Highever, Fenris had come to respect Duncan. 

“Where are we?” he asked when the grand castle came into view 

“Highever Castle” Duncan announced “It belongs to the Cousland family. I am hoping to interview some of their Knights as potential recruits. A man named Ser Gilmore is said to be a remarkable fighter” 

Fenris shrugged “Well, good luck to him I suppose” 

“Come now. We can rest here for the night. Teyrn Cousland has never been one to turn away a stranger in need” 

“Now that mindset will get him killed one day” said the Elf following Duncan towards the castle. 

=====

Odessa Cousland, the youngest child of the family, had woken up with a feeling of dread. Today was the day her older brother left for war and her father would follow in the morning. The thought terrified her. But Odessa couldn’t show she was scared. Her father was counting on her to keep everything running while he was gone. 

She sighed getting out of bed, deciding to don her usual armour. Despite Eleanor’s best efforts, Odessa was a rogue at heart, and her father Bryce had always encouraged her to perfect her craft. After getting ready, Odessa made her way downstairs but not before grabbing her blades. A force of habit but Odessa wasn’t taking any chances. Not with so many reports of Darkspawn filtering through the castle. 

The young woman entered the main hall where her father was speaking to their long-time family friend, Arl Rendon Howe. “I’m sorry, Pup. I didn’t see you there” her father greeted warmly “Howe, you remember my daughter” 

The other man nodded “She's grown into quite the capable woman, has she not. My son Thomas asked about you, by the way” 

“To what end?” Odessa asked 

Howe chuckled “To what end. Such glib. She’s just like her mother when she talks like that” 

“You see what I contend with Howe? There’s no telling my fierce girl anything these days. Maker, bless her heart” her father said with a caring smile. “At any rate Pup, I summoned you here for a reason. While your brother and I are away, I’m leaving you in charge of the castle” 

Odessa nodded “I will do my best, Father” 

“Only a token force is remaining here and you must keep peace in the region. You know what they say about mice when the cat’s away, yes? There’s also someone I want you to meet” her father then turned to a nearby soldier “Show Duncan in” 

The young Lady was surprised to see a Grey Warden of all people walk towards her. But what really shocked her was his choice of company. She’d seen many an Elf before now but never someone like him. The Greatsword alone on his back was enough to render her speechless. 

“It is an honour to be a guest of you Hall, Teyrn Cousland” Duncan spoke “My friend and I here are most gracious”  

Howe appeared somewhat at unease. Especially with the massive sword-wielding Elf glowering at the older man “Your Lordship. You didn’t tell me a Grey Warden would be here” 

“Duncan arrived just this morning. Unannounced” Bryce explained “Is there a problem?” 

“Not at all. Just surprised” 

Fenris did not like the man. Granted, there were few in the world he even liked at all, but there was something about the human that set his teeth on edge. Something in the human’s eyes made him suspicious. 

“At any rate, you should go find your brother” The Teyrn told his daughter “He should be upstairs saying goodbye to his wife and son” he glanced at Duncan and Fenris “Actually, would you mind showing our guests to their quarters? I’m sure they’d like to freshen up after such a long journey” 

Odessa nodded “Yes Father. If you would like to follow me. It’s not far” 

Fenris took note of their surroundings as they walked. The castle was well built and well maintained. Soldiers and servants alike greeted them as they passed by. Even the Elven servants had a smile on their faces whilst greeting Odessa. It put Fenris somewhat at ease that Duncan had been right. The woman before them led them to the larger guest quarters on the lower floor. “I hope this will do. I apologise that we didn’t have a chance to clean up before you arrived” 

The room itself was immaculate with only a little bit of dust that was hardly visible. Two queen-sized beds rested against the walls along with a vanity, a bookshelf and a wardrobe. There was an attached washroom with a wooden tub as well. The walls were decorated with paintings and drapes. Considering Fenris more often than not slept on the floor when his former Master tossed him out of bed, it might as well be something out of a dream. 

“It’s perfect My Lady. My companion and I thank you for your hospitality” Duncan thanked her for them both. 

Odessa glanced at Fenris “Should you require anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. It was lovely to meet you both” she then left them be closing the door behind her. 

Aside from Duncan, Fenris was completely unused to such civility from another person. Even the other slaves back in Tevinter hardly spared him any kindness. Being the Master’s favourite didn’t earn you many friends. A hand on his shoulder spooked him from his thoughts “Are you alright?” 

Fenris nodded at the Warden shrugging the hand off him “I am fine” he moved to sit on one of the beds 

Duncan nodded in understanding “You can stay here if you’d like while I meet Ser Gilmore. Get some rest” 

Meanwhile, Odessa wiped a splatter of blood off her cheek with a grimace. Beside her Ser Gilmore sheathed his sword “Giant Rats?” he asked aloud looking at the many dead rats covering the larder floor “Sounds like every bad tale my grandfather would tell me” 

“Those were big rats” Odessa couldn’t help but shudder slightly 

“I’ve seen bigger. They come up from the Kokori Wilds” he glanced at the Mabari in the room who Odessa had lovingly named ‘Mervyn’. “Your hound must have lured them in” 

Odessa nodded “Explains why he was acting odd. Good boy, Mervyn” she praised earning a bark in response. 

“I shall let you return to your duties, my lady. And thank you for the aid”  

Odessa freshened herself up using the water jug in the pantry before leaving. She couldn’t exactly wander the castle covered in rat blood. Nan tried to be angry at the Mabari but melted just like everyone else did. She fed him some pork bits before sending them on their way. 

The rest of the day went as expected. Odessa found her older brother saying goodbye to his wife and son. His wife Oriana was upset that he was leaving for war, while little Orin didn’t quite understand why he had to leave. He just knew that his dad was going to go fighting. 

“Auntie? Mother says you’ll be in charge tomorrow. Can you teach me how to use a sword?” 

Odessa grinned “You bet. Let's go” she joked, winking at Oriana 

Her sister-in-law sighed “This is your doing, dear husband” 

“What? I didn’t say anything” Fergus laughed. Their parents soon joined to give their goodbyes as well. The air was thick with unspoken tension. Everyone knowing that come tomorrow, everything would be different. Eventually, Odessa’s father said she should go get some rest. 

Fergus chuckled “Being sent to bed already?” 

“Have fun marching to war, Fergus. In the rain” Odessa quipped 

Her brother huffed a laugh “At any rate, I’ll miss you sister. Take care of them for me”

=====

Night fell upon the castle. Fenris laid on the too comfortable bed staring at the celling deep in thought. His entire worldview had been tilted on its head. All he had known before hand was pain, servitude, and isolation. Duncan noticed his companion was quiet as he was cleaning his sword “Something on your mind?” 

“Just thinking” Fenris admitted with a small sigh. Duncan nodded in understanding. Then, he watched as Fenris suddenly sit up in bed. His brows furrowed and jaw clenched 

“What is it?” 

Fenris reached for his Greatsword “We need to get out of here. Now” 

Meanwhile, Odessa was roused from her sleep by Mervyn’s incessant barking at the door. Odessa groaned “Alright, I’m up. Ruddy mutt” She muttered hauling herself out of bed “What are you barking at?” 

The door flew open as a servant tumbled inside “My Lady, help me! The castle is under attack-!” An arrow from behind silenced him forever. Odessa scrambled for her blades which she kept by her bedside. She barely had time to grab them before the men outside her door attacked. Her skill as a rogue combined with her Mabari’s strength was enough to fight off the oncoming attacks. The door to the family chambers burst open. 

In stormed a blood-covered Fenris wielding his massive Greatsword. Odessa jumped out of the way just in time to avoid being caught in the blow. The attackers, whom she recognised as Howe’s men, now lay dead on the floor. 

“Thank you” she said catching her breath 

The Elf sheathed his sword “Duncan sent me. The castle is overrun; we need to leave” 

“Did you say overrun?” Elenor asked coming out of her bedroom “That can’t be...” she glanced at the dead attackers, seeing their armor “Maker, that – How could he-” 

“Mother” Odessa cut her off “There’s no time. We need to go” suddenly she gasped “Wait. What about Oriana and Orin?” 

Elenor went pale “Andrastate’s mercy. You don’t think they went to your brother’s room first?” 

“I’ll check” announced Fenris. The mother and daughter quickly changed out of their sleepwear and into armor, with Elenor needing to borrow a set off her daughter. When they went to rejoin Fenris, Mervyn was whimpering at Fergus's door with the Elf looking almost green. Odessa tried to enter but Fenris held her back “Don’t” he warned firmly but Elenor pushed past them both. 

“No!” she wailed falling to her knees. Her daughter-in-law and only grandchild lay slain in their own blood “My little Orin...” 

Odessa shuddered a breath “Maker, how could he?” 

“Howe’s not even taking hostages. He plans to kill all of us” Elenor voiced brokenly “Oh, poor Fergus. Let’s go, I don’t want to see this”

=====

Highever Castle had fallen. The bulk of Howe’s men had yet to break through the gates, but it would only be a matter of time. The trio fought their way through the castle halls. Encountering more and more enemies the closer they got to the main hall. “Any idea why he’s doing this?” Fenris asked 

Odessa shook her head “Our families have been allies for the last three ages. It doesn’t make sense” 

Fenris shook his head “I thought there was something off about him” 

Eventually they made it to the main hall. No sign of Bryce or Duncan, but at least they now knew where to go. Ser Gilmore informed them that Odessa’s father was last seen heading for the servants entrance but had been badly wounded. 

They found Bryce exactly where Gilmore had said. The man was injured, gravely so. Barely able to sit upright when they found him. “Maker’s breath, what happened to you? You’re bleeding!” 

“Howe’s men found me first... Almost did me in right here” Bryce struggled to say 

Elenore looked at her daughter panicked “Once they’ve breached the gates, they’ll be upon us. We haven’t much time” she turned to Fenris “Ser Elf, I beg you. Help me carry my husband to the servants entrance” 

But Bryce shook his head “I - I fear I won’t survive the movement, my love” 

“No, father” Odessa pleaded “We can get you healing magic. Potions. Something!” 

Just then, Duncan entered the room. His robes stained with the blood of Howe’s men “I’m afraid your father is correct. I may have prevented Howe’s men from killing him, but is injuries are to grave” 

“Duncan... Ser Elf... get my wife and daughter to safety” 

Duncan nodded but there was something in his face that put Fenris on edge “I understand. However, I must ask for something in exchange” 

Bryce hung his head “I... I accept” 

“You mean me?” Odessa realised what Duncan meant. He came for a new recruit after all. A life as a Grey Warden wasn’t what she intended for herself, but what choice did she have? “I accept” she said quietly 

“Bryce, are you sure?” 

The injured man nodded “Our daughter will not fall to Howe’s treachery” 

Elenore took a breath before facing her daughter “Darling, go with Duncan. I would only slow you down” 

Odessa’s eyes went wide “What? Mother, no! You can’t-” 

“My love...” 

“Hush Bryce” Elenore said “I’ll kill any bastard that comes through those doors to buy them time. But I will not abandon you” 

Odessa let out a sob “I love you both. So much...” 

“Then live, darling. Become a Grey Warden and do what’s right. 

Above their heads, they heard the shattering of the gates and pounding footsteps. Howe’s men had finally broken through. 

“I’m... sorry it’s come to this, my love” Bryce whispered through pained breaths 

Elenore held him close “We’ve lived a good life. It’s up to our children now” 

“Then... go pup” he ordered Odessa for the final time “Warn your brother. And live” 

“We must go. Now” Duncan demanded. Fenris had to pull Odessa to her feet before she finally got the sense to run. Turning her back on her parents for the last time. 

Elenore blinked back tears “Goodbye, darling”