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Description
Darkness went on for days, she only knew time passed because she watched the line of light track across the stone floor. They brought her no food or water, her mouth dried out and her stomach controlled her mind. Her chains made it so she couldn't sit or lie comfortably. So she paced, small and slow steps, around the room, reciting lessons of morality, practicing foot work anything to take her mind of the slowly growing hunger pains. Finally the door rattled. A tall man with a pointy beard approached the bars. He ran his long dainty fingers down the iron to the lock, his flesh was pale, smooth, no callous marred his skin. His hands look as though they had seen a day of menial labor in his life.
"Ser Hawke" he crooned sliding a key into the lock and turning it slowly. She looked up rising to her feet in one fluid motion. Chains punctuating her every move.
"I never imagined I would meet you like this."
"The feeling is mutual." She smirked "I always hoped the first time I met you I would be stepping on your throat,"
Anger turned his grin sour. He walked close to her "I do so like breaking the spirited ones." He eyed her, knowing full well she knew what he meant.
"Are you hoping that one day I'll serve your wine and sit at your left hand?" She mocked
"If there is anything left of you." He took her chin in his hand, his grip was firm as he tilted her face up to his, he eyed her. Like one looks over produce at a market, his thumb touched the corner of her mouth and snaked across her lips.
"I could make it decidedly less painful for you." He purred.
She opened her mouth allowing his thumb to slip past her lips, and she snapped her teeth shut.
"You Whore," he swore pulling his hand back to him cradling his injury blood pouring from the wound. He raised his good hand and smacked her across the face. She felt his ring rip across her jaw. Wiping her lip with the back of hand a sick smile making its way across her face.
"I am going to enjoy the sound of your screams." He hissed as he left the cell calling to the guard "Put her in with the others to go to the estate."

Stumbling into the new cell she fell to her knees. A mix of Danerius' and her own blood in her mouth and on her hand. Running her index finger along the inside of her lower lip she used the life blood as ink to scrawl an enchanted symbol on the floor.
"Blood Mage? Or just stupid?" Asked a quiet voice from the darkness.
"More so the latter." She replied standing, trying to staunch the wound at her lip.
She heard the other prisoner chucked as he came towards the bars that separated their cells. Dailish tattoos grew like a tree across his face, and copper hair trailed down his shoulders. Like her he was barefoot and unarmed though unchained.
"At least your honest." He mused, he reached a hand through the bars. "Rue"
"Faith." She answered, awkwardly attempting to shake his hand.
Knocking her hand to one side he took her chin, and tilted her head to one side. "He got you with his ring didn't he?"
Hawke nodded "I bit him." She laughed "seemed like a good idea at the time."
Her fellow captive tore a small portion of the clean part of his shirt and held it to the wound. "So what were you scribbling on the floor?"
"Your not a regular slave are you?"
The two captives eyed each other through the bars silently. Debating how much information they were willing to divulge to one another.
Finally Rue Spoke "I am a Grey Warden."
"A warden?" Hawke mumbled in awe, "How did they catch you?"
He laughed "I am here by choice, my brother is at Danerius estate, this is my rescue attempt."
"Well then." Hawke exclaimed "Great minds think alike."
The Warden frowned finally releasing her making sure the blood had stopped. "Another human?"
"An elf." She said softly "He has a history with these slavers. I wanted to make sure they didn't take his future too."
Rues copper brow raised as he looked her over "He must mean a lot, to you. Considering the cage the chains and the blood magic."
Hawke sighed "it's not blood magic as such." She told him, trusting him enough to let a little of the plan slip. "It's an enchantment, the blood is a detonator."
Rue cocked his head, and crossed his arms. "I feel your plan could be a little more complex than mine."
She turned her back to the bars and slid to a haunched sitting position.
"I'm going to destroy this place." She whispered, she heard Rue join her on the floor. Felt his back against hers with the bars between them. "I have two people left in this world I care about. These people threatened to take one away. I have watched every member of my family get killed, and I'm not about to give up what I have left to a slow tormented existence."
"I understand." He told her "I felt the same when the took my brother. If you need help I'm here."
She smiled, "are you any good with enchantments?"
***
Forcefully they were shoved into a wagon and taken to the estate. Hawke still bound, head covered, could only guess their final destination. There was no front door for her or Rue, they were ferried in through a back door, and locked back up in the depths of the house.
Clothes were thrown at her feet, the chains between her shackles released, White linen shirt with a black posture collar, pants and a sash, she recognised the garb as What Orana wore when they first met. She backed away from the pile as if they were on fire.
Some how the thought if her impeding torture was lessened by her own clothes, the padded shirt stained from years of use, fitted to her form worn under every set of armour since she was young. The thought of stripping naked in front of Denarius to change into the foreign cloth was terrifying.
"You put it on, or I will find some one to put it on for you." Slowly she stripped, her skin goose pimpled in the air. Danerius smiled "far more fitting of your new status."
The linen was soft, not quiet warm enough but better than being nude.
With out a moment to stretch her chains were locked together again. The guard yanked her by the collar out of the cell and forced her to follow the Mage to another room. It was bare like the rooms they had found Hadrianna in. Stone floors and walls charred and black. the guard locked her chains to a ring cemented in the floor, and she was left alone with denarius.
"There are so many ways I could whittle down your resolve inch by inch." He said, pacing around her "until you are little more than a house pet. I broke our little wolf I can break you."
"Fenris escaped you, killed your hunters and your shades, yet you talk like nothing's changed."
Standing behind her he chuckled, she could feel his pointed beard on her neck.
"Hasn't he told you this is not the first time he had escaped? It is the longest, but I'm a patient man." He ran his hands across her shoulders, she felt her skin crawl at his touch.
"Perhaps when he is back I will have him kill you. I found with his last escape that worked best, reminds him that its not good to love anything."
She lunged for him, but he stepped out of reach, her chains holding her in their iron grip, pulling her towards the floor. She held the taught, pulling to the end of her leash. He lowered his face to hers and smiled a sickly grin "you show your weakness my dear."
The collar bit into her throat as she strained against it, she couldn't speak even if she wanted to. "Shall I tell you other stories of his torture? Or would you prefer to know what I have crafted for his future?"
She spat, a huge glob of spit collided with his face. Reeling back disgusted he wiped the offending saliva with his sleeve. This time he didn't respond with physical violence he touched the chain about her throat and a bolt of lightning running from his finger tips into the metal that bound her.
Lightning licked through her veins like fire she convulsed, stumbling back as far as the chains would allow. Breathing heavily she eyed him with venom, she wouldn't grant him the satisfaction of words.
The mages well defined dark eyebrow raised.
He grabbed the chain, held it tight and pulled forcing her head close to his, he watched her face as a second bolt ripped through her.
She struggled against him, unable to escape, the contact of metal against her skin giving him five points for the electricity to flow through. Her knees buckled, she slumped to the ground. Despite her resistance the magic still caused her pain.
"You have a natural defence again the magi arts."
Hawke laughed "I had an apostate for a sister, I learned a few tricks."
"I am interested to see how many tricks you have learned."

Hawke fell into the cell with a clatter of chains. The newest collection of slaves shied away from her as she struggled to push her self to standing. She was thankful for the perpetrations she had made for the plan, the enchantments and wards Sandal had taught her, the very same symbols she had had etched into her skin turning her flesh into its own armour. Natural aptitude would have helped, but the funny little dwarf with his unique knowledge had on this day saved her life.
"Hawke?" Rue called out, pushing his way to the bars that adjoined the two cells "Do you live?"
"Barely" she crocked. Her body ached as she dragged her weary way towards him. The other slaves parting to let her through. Her movements punctuated by the rattle of her bondage.
"Your singed" the Dalish man noted as she drew herself into a ball and hunkered down in the corner.
"When lightning didn't work he tried fire."
Rue said nothing his eyebrows knitted together in concern. "Can you survive it?'
She smiled 'I have to."
The guard slid a collection of plates with slop in the cells. The others swarmed, avoiding the one plate that was close to her, she reached to it spooning a little into her mouth with her fingers.
Eyes followed her, two big golden pools looked out from equally golden locks. A small girl watched her hands. Hungrily eyeing her bowl. Hawke placed the bowl back on the ground and slid it towards her. She snatched it up, eyeing her like a wild beast gobbling the food. Rue chuckled watching the exchange. "You're a strange human," he mused "kind but strange."
"That's the nicest description of me yet." She looked over at the elf child " and what do you think of me Sunshine."
The child looked up fear in her eyes at being addressed, food smearing her face. Hawke chuckled Bethany was just as bad at the same age. Reaching out tentatively she cleared some of the offending muck from her face. Chains and her aching bones protesting loudly.
The child gasped but said nothing, skittering back as if her touch were electric. Hawke shook her head and leant against the bars. "Don't be offended," Rue told her "your probably the first human to show her kindness."
"I started this for selfish reasons," she began "I have always hated slavery but it meant nothing to me because I never knew a slave. Then I meet Fenris and Orana" she sighed "but I was still here for me, because I can't bare the thought of not having him in my life." She looked around the cell, the slaves cowering together. The little Girl obviously alone, Rue at her back, still unable to find his brother. "Now." She paused "now I see this, I feel the masters boot, I need to end this in Kirkwall. My life, my pain is second to freeing these people."
Rue smiled "your heroism is inspiring, a touch over zealous, but I respect the notion.
"It's all well and good to say." She stated "we need to put to action these things. Tomorrow find your brother, if he's as good of a Mage as you say his help will be much appreciated."
"He is, his heart is kind like yours so you may even sway him to your cause."
She chuckled "you make it sound like your not."
"First and foremost I am here to save Cè, the odds of freeing every one are slim."
It was at that moment Hawke realised she could hear a pin drop in the silence of the cells. Every slave had ears on her and Rues conversation.
"We have to try."
The small girl tentatively left her corner and sat next to Hawke she fingered the chains curiously. And then eventually poked her in the arm, she raised it to allow the little body to slip next to her.
"Well how about that." Rue exclaimed.
The tension seemed to slip off the other captives in an instant. As the child played with the chains about Hawkes wrists. Slowly one by one, they began spacing out. Some even coming close to Hawke and Rue. Hunkering down for the night.

Description
Darkness went on for days, she only knew time passed because she watched the line of light track across the stone floor. They brought her no food or water, her mouth dried out and her stomach controlled her mind. Her chains made it so she couldn't sit or lie comfortably. So she paced, small and slow steps, around the room, reciting lessons of morality, practicing foot work anything to take her mind of the slowly growing hunger pains. Finally the door rattled. A tall man with a pointy beard approached the bars. He ran his long dainty fingers down the iron to the lock, his flesh was pale, smooth, no callous marred his skin. His hands look as though they had seen a day of menial labor in his life.
"Ser Hawke" he crooned sliding a key into the lock and turning it slowly. She looked up rising to her feet in one fluid motion. Chains punctuating her every move.
"I never imagined I would meet you like this."
"The feeling is mutual." She smirked "I always hoped the first time I met you I would be stepping on your throat,"
Anger turned his grin sour. He walked close to her "I do so like breaking the spirited ones." He eyed her, knowing full well she knew what he meant.
"Are you hoping that one day I'll serve your wine and sit at your left hand?" She mocked
"If there is anything left of you." He took her chin in his hand, his grip was firm as he tilted her face up to his, he eyed her. Like one looks over produce at a market, his thumb touched the corner of her mouth and snaked across her lips.
"I could make it decidedly less painful for you." He purred.
She opened her mouth allowing his thumb to slip past her lips, and she snapped her teeth shut.
"You Whore," he swore pulling his hand back to him cradling his injury blood pouring from the wound. He raised his good hand and smacked her across the face. She felt his ring rip across her jaw. Wiping her lip with the back of hand a sick smile making its way across her face.
"I am going to enjoy the sound of your screams." He hissed as he left the cell calling to the guard "Put her in with the others to go to the estate."

Stumbling into the new cell she fell to her knees. A mix of Danerius' and her own blood in her mouth and on her hand. Running her index finger along the inside of her lower lip she used the life blood as ink to scrawl an enchanted symbol on the floor.
"Blood Mage? Or just stupid?" Asked a quiet voice from the darkness.
"More so the latter." She replied standing, trying to staunch the wound at her lip.
She heard the other prisoner chucked as he came towards the bars that separated their cells. Dailish tattoos grew like a tree across his face, and copper hair trailed down his shoulders. Like her he was barefoot and unarmed though unchained.
"At least your honest." He mused, he reached a hand through the bars. "Rue"
"Faith." She answered, awkwardly attempting to shake his hand.
Knocking her hand to one side he took her chin, and tilted her head to one side. "He got you with his ring didn't he?"
Hawke nodded "I bit him." She laughed "seemed like a good idea at the time."
Her fellow captive tore a small portion of the clean part of his shirt and held it to the wound. "So what were you scribbling on the floor?"
"Your not a regular slave are you?"
The two captives eyed each other through the bars silently. Debating how much information they were willing to divulge to one another.
Finally Rue Spoke "I am a Grey Warden."
"A warden?" Hawke mumbled in awe, "How did they catch you?"
He laughed "I am here by choice, my brother is at Danerius estate, this is my rescue attempt."
"Well then." Hawke exclaimed "Great minds think alike."
The Warden frowned finally releasing her making sure the blood had stopped. "Another human?"
"An elf." She said softly "He has a history with these slavers. I wanted to make sure they didn't take his future too."
Rues copper brow raised as he looked her over "He must mean a lot, to you. Considering the cage the chains and the blood magic."
Hawke sighed "it's not blood magic as such." She told him, trusting him enough to let a little of the plan slip. "It's an enchantment, the blood is a detonator."
Rue cocked his head, and crossed his arms. "I feel your plan could be a little more complex than mine."
She turned her back to the bars and slid to a haunched sitting position.
"I'm going to destroy this place." She whispered, she heard Rue join her on the floor. Felt his back against hers with the bars between them. "I have two people left in this world I care about. These people threatened to take one away. I have watched every member of my family get killed, and I'm not about to give up what I have left to a slow tormented existence."
"I understand." He told her "I felt the same when the took my brother. If you need help I'm here."
She smiled, "are you any good with enchantments?"
***
Forcefully they were shoved into a wagon and taken to the estate. Hawke still bound, head covered, could only guess their final destination. There was no front door for her or Rue, they were ferried in through a back door, and locked back up in the depths of the house.
Clothes were thrown at her feet, the chains between her shackles released, White linen shirt with a black posture collar, pants and a sash, she recognised the garb as What Orana wore when they first met. She backed away from the pile as if they were on fire.
Some how the thought if her impeding torture was lessened by her own clothes, the padded shirt stained from years of use, fitted to her form worn under every set of armour since she was young. The thought of stripping naked in front of Denarius to change into the foreign cloth was terrifying.
"You put it on, or I will find some one to put it on for you." Slowly she stripped, her skin goose pimpled in the air. Danerius smiled "far more fitting of your new status."
The linen was soft, not quiet warm enough but better than being nude.
With out a moment to stretch her chains were locked together again. The guard yanked her by the collar out of the cell and forced her to follow the Mage to another room. It was bare like the rooms they had found Hadrianna in. Stone floors and walls charred and black. the guard locked her chains to a ring cemented in the floor, and she was left alone with denarius.
"There are so many ways I could whittle down your resolve inch by inch." He said, pacing around her "until you are little more than a house pet. I broke our little wolf I can break you."
"Fenris escaped you, killed your hunters and your shades, yet you talk like nothing's changed."
Standing behind her he chuckled, she could feel his pointed beard on her neck.
"Hasn't he told you this is not the first time he had escaped? It is the longest, but I'm a patient man." He ran his hands across her shoulders, she felt her skin crawl at his touch.
"Perhaps when he is back I will have him kill you. I found with his last escape that worked best, reminds him that its not good to love anything."
She lunged for him, but he stepped out of reach, her chains holding her in their iron grip, pulling her towards the floor. She held the taught, pulling to the end of her leash. He lowered his face to hers and smiled a sickly grin "you show your weakness my dear."
The collar bit into her throat as she strained against it, she couldn't speak even if she wanted to. "Shall I tell you other stories of his torture? Or would you prefer to know what I have crafted for his future?"
She spat, a huge glob of spit collided with his face. Reeling back disgusted he wiped the offending saliva with his sleeve. This time he didn't respond with physical violence he touched the chain about her throat and a bolt of lightning running from his finger tips into the metal that bound her.
Lightning licked through her veins like fire she convulsed, stumbling back as far as the chains would allow. Breathing heavily she eyed him with venom, she wouldn't grant him the satisfaction of words.
The mages well defined dark eyebrow raised.
He grabbed the chain, held it tight and pulled forcing her head close to his, he watched her face as a second bolt ripped through her.
She struggled against him, unable to escape, the contact of metal against her skin giving him five points for the electricity to flow through. Her knees buckled, she slumped to the ground. Despite her resistance the magic still caused her pain.
"You have a natural defence again the magi arts."
Hawke laughed "I had an apostate for a sister, I learned a few tricks."
"I am interested to see how many tricks you have learned."

Hawke fell into the cell with a clatter of chains. The newest collection of slaves shied away from her as she struggled to push her self to standing. She was thankful for the perpetrations she had made for the plan, the enchantments and wards Sandal had taught her, the very same symbols she had had etched into her skin turning her flesh into its own armour. Natural aptitude would have helped, but the funny little dwarf with his unique knowledge had on this day saved her life.
"Hawke?" Rue called out, pushing his way to the bars that adjoined the two cells "Do you live?"
"Barely" she crocked. Her body ached as she dragged her weary way towards him. The other slaves parting to let her through. Her movements punctuated by the rattle of her bondage.
"Your singed" the Dalish man noted as she drew herself into a ball and hunkered down in the corner.
"When lightning didn't work he tried fire."
Rue said nothing his eyebrows knitted together in concern. "Can you survive it?'
She smiled 'I have to."
The guard slid a collection of plates with slop in the cells. The others swarmed, avoiding the one plate that was close to her, she reached to it spooning a little into her mouth with her fingers.
Eyes followed her, two big golden pools looked out from equally golden locks. A small girl watched her hands. Hungrily eyeing her bowl. Hawke placed the bowl back on the ground and slid it towards her. She snatched it up, eyeing her like a wild beast gobbling the food. Rue chuckled watching the exchange. "You're a strange human," he mused "kind but strange."
"That's the nicest description of me yet." She looked over at the elf child " and what do you think of me Sunshine."
The child looked up fear in her eyes at being addressed, food smearing her face. Hawke chuckled Bethany was just as bad at the same age. Reaching out tentatively she cleared some of the offending muck from her face. Chains and her aching bones protesting loudly.
The child gasped but said nothing, skittering back as if her touch were electric. Hawke shook her head and leant against the bars. "Don't be offended," Rue told her "your probably the first human to show her kindness."
"I started this for selfish reasons," she began "I have always hated slavery but it meant nothing to me because I never knew a slave. Then I meet Fenris and Orana" she sighed "but I was still here for me, because I can't bare the thought of not having him in my life." She looked around the cell, the slaves cowering together. The little Girl obviously alone, Rue at her back, still unable to find his brother. "Now." She paused "now I see this, I feel the masters boot, I need to end this in Kirkwall. My life, my pain is second to freeing these people."
Rue smiled "your heroism is inspiring, a touch over zealous, but I respect the notion.
"It's all well and good to say." She stated "we need to put to action these things. Tomorrow find your brother, if he's as good of a Mage as you say his help will be much appreciated."
"He is, his heart is kind like yours so you may even sway him to your cause."
She chuckled "you make it sound like your not."
"First and foremost I am here to save Cè, the odds of freeing every one are slim."
It was at that moment Hawke realised she could hear a pin drop in the silence of the cells. Every slave had ears on her and Rues conversation.
"We have to try."
The small girl tentatively left her corner and sat next to Hawke she fingered the chains curiously. And then eventually poked her in the arm, she raised it to allow the little body to slip next to her.
"Well how about that." Rue exclaimed.
The tension seemed to slip off the other captives in an instant. As the child played with the chains about Hawkes wrists. Slowly one by one, they began spacing out. Some even coming close to Hawke and Rue. Hunkering down for the night.