[M] The Missing Mage {Natsu & Rose}
 

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Silence engulfed the walls of kirk wall, A silence that was all but perfect for one mage of the fox variety to take advantage of, with a smirk on her face, the fox like creature quickly took to the shadows and down a dark alley, to a door marked with a seal of magi.. Three times she did knock upon the door and soon after a gruff voice broke the silence.

"How does one kill a Templar?" The fox creature smiled and without a breathe to rest she replied. "One, kills a Templar by stalking their target, stealing their supply of lyrium waiting and watching, until the moment where the craving is unbearable, Then is where you strike with silence and quickness and slay the beings that have trouble us magi." Not a word filled the air once the foxkin finished only the sound of gears and locking mechanisms unfolding filled the air as the door steadily opened.

Melissa took a few steps forward before meeting the tough looking reaver that stood guard at the door, He quickly examined her head to toe, but not without hearing one of Melissa's famous quick remarks. "You like what you see big boy?" She giggled and patted him on she shoulder as he smiled and responded. "Welcome back, Melissa, It is saddening to see one with such beauty and talent as a neutral around the magi."

The women grimaced not even making contact with the other. "I have no need for petty fights, Nor do I have the need for more trouble, things are already hard as it is.." She frowned then moved forward to an older gentleman sitting over a counter. "Old man, I need the cloak I had ordered a week ago. You said it would be ready by now" The man looked up from his desk releasing a deathly sounding cough. "Well, Well, look who is back, a lot of us thought you had died you know?" The women scowled at the idea of her death glaring harmfully at the old man. "Who do you think I am some scummy novice, I would not die or get captured so easily..."

The old man let a hallowed laugh from his dry throat and nodded. "I guess not, As for you cloak I have it already set up, all you need to do is throw it on." From under the counter the man pulled out a black velvet like cloak, one of those Cliché robes you see in the movies that hides ones face and shadows the torso. Melissa quickly grabbed it from the old man and threw it on smiling and nodding as if to saying 'thanks', The women turned and made her way towards the door and out the alley.

Little did she know, that alley would soon lead her to an adventure that she would never fathom to happen in a thousand years, For as she exited she came eye to eye with the worse thing possible.. A wretched Templar..."Fuck"

The arms that gripped tightly around her own caused the women to begin to get angry, The thought of being caught by such foolish troupe of Templars made her blood boil. "You know, this is no way to treat a pretty lady?" The women giggled a bit as she looked around to the faces of the men whom 'caught her"

"You aren't the pretties lot around, I was thought the Templar were supposed to look strong and handsome, You know I knew a handsome Templar once" As the foxkin slyly ran her mouth she slowly slipped her arms further and further out of the men's grip, and though she was almost free the women kept talking.

"Hey, do you know why I am wanted around these parts? Its a funny story, at first it was because the useless wardens tried slaughtering an innocent girl for killing a corrupted templer, But then, the little girl learned tricks of the rogue trade and began to know how to talk her way out of her problems.. Sorta.. like.. THIS!"

It was with that word that the women slipped from the men's grasp and dropping to her knees and delivering a skillful and accurate leg swipe to the two whom just had her in their arms, Watching the two fall with an awestruck look on her face made her do nothing but giggle.

Her attention quickly turned to two other Templar who stared at her like she was a bottle of lyrium, she thought it strange that the smaller one of the group had yet to make its move, but this was not the time to focus on such trivial matter. As she noticed the bigger of the three Templar charging her at a full pace, on his hip a small dagger, She simply smiled stepping to the side and showing the man into a brick wall nearby and skillfully taking the dagger and without a second thought throwing it through the air into the other Templars leg..

It was silent for a moment as she stood looking to the hooded Templar who had yet to move. "Well, are you going to do something or can I just go now?" She said with a cocky and sly grin. "Did you realize that I would be to much for you?"

As Melissa felt the hardened embrace of the Templar's arms once again holding her by force she couldn't help but to look over to the elf whom had just imprisoned her once more and scowl. How, How could she be caught by such a awful creature, The creatures whom her and her father had hated as long as she could remember...

"Wretched elf, Aren't you supposed to be cleaning the castle with the rest of your kind? You look like you would be more suited to a broom in your hand then a bow..." The women's blood boiled as the many simply scoffed and paid no attention to her. "Hey! Pointy ears! I am talking to you!" Still the man refused to even glance her way.


With a sly smirk on her face a devious scowled she mustered what ever saliva she could from the back of her throat and launched it towards the elf, hitting him smack dab in the middle of his face. Melissa cackled and giggled as the Elf was held back by what was left of the Templars, Hearing the man curse under his breathe brought joy to her heart.


"You are all the same, Templar and elves alike, So quick to judge and so easily aggravated." She then giggled and proceeded to look at the man whom now had wrappings around his leg to treat a wound that she had inflicted. "Hey Ugly, How is your leg? You can still move it? Awe, Too bad, I was hoping to cripple you for the rest of your miserable existence"

Once again she had angered yet another Templar causing him to thrash about and scowl more and more, This was almost to entertaining to let pass, But Melissa saw this as a window, She quickly lifted her leg and brought it to the leg of one of the Templar holding her, The man quickly fell to the ground groaning in pain and suffering. "Poor Templar, this just isn't your day is it?"


With a giggled and a swift kicked to the other mans abdomen, Mellisa was once again free, But not before the elf swiftly slammed her to the ground and proceed to tie her in shackles and chains. Melissa sighed in a sorrowing disbelief, Not only did she get caught once by this bastard but twice. Her father would have been disappointed to see this.

"You just never miss a beat do you slave?" She giggled and poked at the man trying to see if he would slip up, but by this time he had already guessed her tricks and proceeded in tying her up. "Well, This is just great, Sheesh." The girl closed her eyes and simply thought to her self. Well, this could be worse, they could have removed my cloak by now and noticed my tail..

The minutes became what felt like hours, as they trudged further and further away from the walls or Kirkwall and towards the cave she had heard nothing but terrible stories about, It was said that mages were sent there when they were thought to be a danger to society, To be tortured and abused for information, That place was the definition of hell, It made the circle of magi look like play time at an amusement park.

"Oh, You are that scared of me huh? So scared that you have to send me to hell itself?" She giggled and shook her head. "What a shame, Its sad to seem Templars so pathetic as you result to this.." Melissa looked once more to the elf who imprisoned her, She was floored by how silent he had become, It was almost insulting.

"What's wrong pointy ears? Worried that you will never get to see my backside again?" It was amazing how that even in what could be the last minutes of her life, Melissa still found things to run out of her mouth, It was just like her.. "Hmm, Well, I do have to say it will be a shame to not be able to beat you guys up anymore.."

She looked to the wounded Templar and snickered still thinking of the moment she threw the knife into his leg, The Templar next to him spouted off a mean and hurtful "Shut up Witch, Or else I will feed you to Morrigan from the wardens group".

Melissa smiled with eyes as big as the sun as she turned to the man whom had said that. "You know Morrigan?! She is so pretty, I wanted to meet her before I died.. I guess that won-" Before, the foxkin women could finish blood splattered across her face as a blackened arrow pierced through the Templar's neck.

Melissa held back screams of agony as she quickly had a flash back of the incident she had been in at the circle of magi, and as if out of now where darkspawn appeared from the bushes holding black tainted blades quickly disposing of all but the elf, She watched in horror as they fell to the ground, her eyes emotionless.

She looked to the elf, without a stammer or stutter in her voice, she yelled to him. "Unlock me from these shackles before you get yourself killed! You can't kill them alone!" At firs the elf ignored her slaying a few dark spawn that dared make their way towards him but soon the man was surrounded with no back up.

"Look! I don't care if you chain me up again afterwards! Just don't let me die like this! No one deserves a death so horrid.." The elf huffed and turned to the women quickly unlocked the shackles around her hands and handed her the key to unlock her legs, She did so quickly and without a second thought she jolted to one of the downed Templar and took a short sword from his waist.

She quickly, without a merciful though in her head, decapitated those who had been touched with the dark spawns tainted sword, The elf looked at her and spouted something at her looking at her with hate, almost as if disapproving her actions.

"Look, They are dying anyway, Suffering in fact, If I wouldn't kill them this way, they would sprout back up and attack us in a blurry haze.." The women bent down to the accessory belt of the wounded Templar and from it a bottle of lyrium she smiled and quickly gulped it down.

Within moments, Melissa's eyes glew with a brightened sea blue color, She casts a huge Transformation spell turning her self into a blood thirsty dragon and making quick work on the dark spawn, but, Melissa was not used to using such a spell and quickly after wards reverted to her normal form, her cloak practically torn off, and with that, her tail lying in the wide open as her body laid there unconscious..

As the women woke up from what felt like a drunken haze and her eyes peeled open, all she could see was a darkened room, she sat up coughing and chocking the stress and the fatigue from her last spell still taking its harsh effect on her, for a moment, or so Melissa couldn't remember who she was, what she was doing or even where she was.

That all changed when the silence was broken by something the elf spurted off in a rage, though in her haze she was too dizzy to comprehend what he said, She placed her hand across her temple and struggled to stay standing. "W-w..-where are we?"

As her vision slowly started to come back she glances around only to find out that they were in what she had came to know as hell, and not only was she in hell she was locked behind cell doors in hell. Great..

Wait, How did she end up here? The women paused and staring into space trying to remember what had happened, all that she had remembered where Dark spawn everywhere.. and then.. . Her eyes widened as she suddenly recalled everything that had happened before she passed out. Did she really do that? More importantly why didn't the man slay her for turning into such a beast?..

Though these questions in her head were important the one that bothered her the most was why and how she had made it into this cell, It was then she almost wanted to hit her self it was so obvious the elf.. He must have picked her up and brought her here but why?

Being the smart-witted foxkin she was the women decided to use her god given talent of being a big mouth to use.. "So, Let me guess, You only kept me alive for information is that it?"

Before the Elf could even muster a response a cold breeze ran through the cave, making the Melissa shiver, which was weird because she had a clo... as Melissa looked to her shoulders it was then she noticed her cloak had been torn off, and being the girl she was she let out a angered scowl "MY CLOAK! I spent so much money on it, It was so pretty."

Yep, The girlish foxkin didn't even give it a thought that her tail was showing, Nope, She was more worried about the coins she had just lost by losing the cloak, Though it didn't take her long to realize and cast a quick cloaking spell around her tail. "I wonder if he saw.." She whispered to her self in silence hoping the other didn't hear.

For the first time today, Melissa smiled with the most sincerity she could muster, It was nice knowing that some Templar had heart. "Well, First I would like to thank you for saving me, I could have met a horrible fate out there, Though I am sure your intentions were more towards getting information and repaying a debt than anything."

Melissa took a moment to take a breathe and look around the room, She reached through the cell, only to meet the darkened gaze of the elf sharing the room with her. "Calm down grump, I am grabbing a candle.." She giggled as she pulled one of the candles that lit the elf's half of the room through the cell bars.

"How, am I going to tell a story and show you things, with no good light, every story needs a campfire right?" She giggled as she sat on the floor and placed it next to her signaling the other to sit with her, the other did so as asked but not before scowling and offering his attitude in exchange.

"Look, Its going to be a long story and I don't want to hear you whimpering about your legs hurting, Now shut up, Sit straight and listen" As the women started off a giggle she playfully dropped her hands to her knees and looked at the man dead in the eyes. "So, Where should I start how about your first question?"

The women looked up to the ceiling as if she were looking for the right words to speak. "First of all, I should tell you when I was young, I ran away once from the circle, I was naïve and immature, and adventurous, I found my self upon a forest, and spent what felt like years, but in reality was only a few days searching for food and water.. "

The women began to shiver as tears fell down her face, It was almost as if she had mental put herself back into that same situation once more. "I was young, I didn't know...I stumbled upon one of the small Dalish villages, The ones whom shun humans and anything to do with them, and back then.. I had just learned how to cloak my tail, So you know what I looked like.."

The women paused trying to get the courage to talk.. "Without warning, without even a cause, I was attacked arrows flying at me at high speeds. I thought for sure I was dead, but then, this wolf grabbed me by the ankle and took me swiftly yanked me up. threw me on to her back and swiftly towards a nearby river where we were safe."

A small beautiful smile engulfed her face as she reminisced of this part of the story. "That was the day, I met the witch of the wilds, The beautiful Morrigan.." She looked over and giggled at the elf who was looking at her with a impatient stare. "I warned you this was going to be a long story, and I still haven't answered your second question!"

The women took a deep breathe before continuing. "Anyways, To my shock, The wolf transformed into this beautiful women, She sheltered me fed me, and showed her affection to me, She told me stories and how she herself was a run away, and though I tried to hide it, She eventually found out I was a mage, and with the goal of getting me home. Day by day she worked to teach me the ability to change my form, She showed me many forms, for a small field mouse to a huge dragon as you saw before.. "

Once again the women paused for a breath. "Don't worry I am almost done." She giggled and patted his legged through the cell bars. "Eventually, I learned enough about her skill to turn myself into a bird, and I flew home, Ever since that Day I have longed to meet her again, To show her how much I have grown and how strong I am.."

Melissa smiled and looked to the elf who was giving her a surprised look, She wasn't exactly sure how to take it... "As for the second question, I will try to keep it short, Around these lands there used to live a race, A race of half human half fox, We are known as the Foxkin, We bare the tail and fangs of the fox, but the natural look of a human.. My race was slaughtered during the peak of the fade demons, though to be the demons in disguise..."

She frowned as a tear slid down her face. " As far as I know I am the last of my kind, All I remember is being an Orphan in the circle and Templar Olaf as my father..." She giggled and laughed a bit thinking of her fathers face. "He was a nice gentle Templar, Maybe you have heard of him... um.." The women paused and looked to the ceiling. "What can I call you anyways? I mean I suppose I could keep calling you point ears..."

Melissa frowned as the Elf explained to her that Olaf, had disapproved of his training and had treated him so badly. "Daddy, had his own reasons for hating the elves, Please, for his soul's sake. Don't take it to heart, Elves killed his birth daughter, and my step-sister.."

A tear fell once more from the face of the foxkin, Melissa was getting really tired of this awful emotions and without even a second thought she flipped her attitude to one of a somewhat eager and happy attitude. "So your name is Volke huh? Well, My human name given to be by Daddy is Melissa." the women smiled and stuck her hand quickly through the bars to offer a hand shake to the elf only to be turned down.

She frowned and lowered her hand placing it on her hip in a sassy attitude style. "Well, Fine then, I was only trying to be friendly, I mean we are going to have to get along eventually, That is if you want me to help you get out of here alive." The women giggled and placed her hand over her mouths as the elf looked at her with shocked confused expression..

As the woman went to speak in response to her accusation, her words were interrupted by the terrifying growl of..... Her stomach? The woman quickly placed her hand over her stomach and groaned in pain, It had been days, since she had a meal, and weeks since she had a decent one. The women blushed and turned red as she looked to the elf.

"Sorry, Its been a while since I ate, and that spell took it out of me" The women raised her hand and placed it onto the cell bar, As she focused her energy the bar Vanished? No, This wasn't a vanish spell, It was clearly a cloak spell the item was still there by touch by cloaked by Melissa's magic.

"As I grew up and got stronger, I learned how to cloak my self and one other object or person, If you had a bottle of lyrium I could cloak us and we could get out o here." She let go of the bar, It quickly becoming visible. "But, I have one condition if I help you out of her, You will let me go free to do as I choose, You promise that and you will live to see another day."

Soon enough after she had spoken about taking things to heart the elf Volke, Seemed to almost instantly respond in a defensive manner, It almost made Melissa wonder if the Elf really did take things to heart. "Well, I would just hate to see you jump of a high building" Of course being how Melissa is, This statement was full of nothing but sarcasm.

The next thing to come up in the conversation was how 'experienced' the elf was with dealing with Darkspawn, Little did he know that Melissa had to deal with them on almost on a daily basis, Some times more then once, and she was sure to let Volke know that..

"Look, Mister high and mighty, You are not the only one to deal with these awful creatures. Being hunted, the only places you are usually able to find to sleep are in the open. There are nights that us mages have to stay up for hours on end just to make sure we stay safe."

It was strange, how quickly Melissa's mood could change, almost as if she had reservoir of emotions built up and ready to go for when she needed them. "I know more that anyone that they don't give up unless they either fall or get their prey. So even if you did leave me to starve your life would only last the week.. "

Melissa smirked with a cocky and playful look as she heard the hinges unlock and pry open, It wasn't long after that the elf made a threat towards her. She giggled and patted him on the shoulder being careful not to show she was being harmful, because well she wasn't.

"It's okay pointy ears, I wouldn't dream of risking my freedom and my life before getting to see my big sister again.." Apparently, By saying big sister in her mind Melissa was thinking for Morrigan, but it was obvious by the weird expression she got from the elf that he was confused. It was okay though, because Melissa like confusing Volke, it made a smile appear on her face.

She giggled a bit as she looked towards the elf, Knowing very well her next statement was going to make the elf's skin crawl. "There is one catch though elfy boy, I have to make contact for the spell to work." As the words slipped from her mouth you could almost see the agony of hate in the elves eyes almost as though he guess that, but was hoping he was wrong.

After conversing back and forth a few times over the subject, Melissa took the lyrium from the elf and drank half of it only to throw it back at Volke, thankfully the quick Elf reflexes Volke had helped him catch it before it hit the floor. "That half is for you, I know how Templars are with their lyrium withdraws"

She giggled and place her hand into the elves hand, Gripping it tight. Wait.. Was Melissa blushing? She was, though she was in quick denial of it, her mind coming up with various reasons of why her face would be red. Such excuses as fatigue, or the cave being hot, or tons of other ridiculous and almost childish reasons.

Soon enough, the Foxkin mustered up enough energy, and shortly after she quickly casted the spell, the bodies of the two completely vanishing to the naked eye without a trace.. Melissa quickly spoke up and giggled, looking to the other elf. "As you can probably tell, Those in the spell can see those who are cloaked, This spell was actually made for Scouting information for armies, back when mages weren't hunted.. "

She smiled and looked towards the door that had been keeping themselves. "Though once we get outside we must be quiet, This spell does not mask sounds louder than footsteps." She tugged on the elf's arm gently as if excited to leave. "Come on Volke lets go already, I have to use the 24 hours to run away as far as I can before the big bad elf comes after me. "

It wasn't long after Melissa had spoken about spell and its history that Volke shot her down by telling her not to hope for change to the old ways. It made her heart heavy at first, but as the usual Melissa it didn't take long for her to change her attitude to a positive one.

"I would like to think that someday, Mages and Templars could maybe get along, I remember in the circle, that there were several groups of Templar who treated us well and loves us, as we loved them.. One of them was my father Olaf, but they are gone now I guess, Maybe your right.. Maybe we have no hope.."

A single tear dropped down her face onto the ground and it was then that made things apparent that Melissa wasn't changing emotions quickly.. No, She was masking the sad truth with playful lies, She was always sad, always scared and always alone.. Masking her feelings with false hope and happiness was the only thing that kept her sane.. Well.. As sane as Melissa could possible be..

She almost wanted to frown when Volke had informed her he had no intention of hunting her down, For some reason she found his company, As threatening and mean as he was, She found it, Comforting. Quickly the foxkin shook the thought from her mind and spouted off a quick remark, trying to mask the compliment within it. "Well, Since you are the best Templar around I guess I won't have to worry about getting caught, Considering the other options are meager at best."

A giggled escaped her throat after throwing out the smart mouth, As they stepped out into the open, Melissa dragging Volke behind her, there were Darkspawn as far as%e wasn't going to show it to Volke. Her arms became sweaty, and all she could do was pray to who ever she could that her father would save her.. Ya right...

Before she knew it they were by the dead bodies of the Fallen Templar and within a safe hiding distance from the Dark spawn horde, She decided that in order to save her magic, this would be a good time to drop the spell and so she did. "Well, Volke, It was nice meeting you.. Maybe we will meet up some day, Not as enemies but acquaintances"

The Foxkin smiled and turned around letting go of the others hands, Beginning to walk away, but only after a few steps she was stopped by the Templars voice. He had thrown to her a bag of gold, and made a witty remark towards her. It took all the effort in her body to resist from crying in tears of joy. She could finally have some food.. "Thank you Volke, This was so nice of you, I will repay you some day.."

Melissa bowed in appreciation, She bent over to the one Templar that had died from the arrow in his throat and pulled a small short sword from his waist. "Becareful, and don't let any mage kill you while you are a Templar, If anything that's my job." She giggled and without another word walked away disappearing in a near by forest patch.

A while had past, and over her shoulder she could no longer see the image of the Templar walking away towards who knows where, It was cold, the sun still deciding whether or not it wanted to set made Melissa think it was time to start building a fire. She wondered about the woods collecting fire wood and a place to sleep, A cry of despair left her lungs as she stumbled on a cave.. No, not just any cave, but the same cav20cave.. No, not just any cave, but the same cavtes of the squeal escaped her throat, A large group of Dark spawn head fled towards her direction spouting things in there language that didn't sound to helpful to the foxkin.. In panic the women ran, flailing through the forest like a lost child. Again, she prayed to her father, Hell, she even prayed to Volke, Hoping that something would come and help her...

As she approached a small embankment, the sound of a Familiar voice filled the air.. "Melissa, My child, I am here come to me take my hand.." Within seconds tears of joyed filled her eyes, She turned to see what in her mind was her Templar Father Olaf, Standing in The high Golden Templar armor that only the most respected Templars received, Little did the women know that, The man was a trick set in her mind by a fade demon, The demon had twisted her mind and her mind only to see what she wanted the most... Her father...

"Father, Is it really you? Daddy..?" Tears dropped heavily from her face, so much that she could have created a new river with them, She slowly walked closer and closer to the demon. As it coaxed her to come closer and closer. "Yes, My little Beautiful baby girl, It is me. Come, Come to my side, and I shall protect you forever more.."

Melissa's steps became lighter and faster, closer and closer she did come to the creature that had twisted her mind, She wanted desperately to be by her fathers side once more, She wanted to be back in the circle.. She wanted a safe and happy life..
Things quickly went from good to hideously bad as she reached arm length of the beast. It quickly grabbed her and slammed her into a tree.

"YOU MAGE CHILD! YOU WILL LET ME IN! OR I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND..." At first, the women was confused, I mean anyone in her situation would be, Though it didn't take her long to figure out that this was a trick induced by a demon from the fade, she cringed as it demanded to posses her in exchange for her life. Without thought without emotion the women quickly struck back with a line of rage.

"Listen to me and listen well, I will NEVER let one of you in, I would rather die, NO! scratch that I would rather be slain by a Templar where I stand than fall to your temptation's, So kill me, Kill me now where I stand, No one will miss me and, the dark spawn will have my body for fodder, What will that get you? NOTHING!"

Melissa struggle under the grip of the beast as she flailed and tried to kick the beast off of her, but to no avail, she couldn't. It wasn't long before she began gasping for air as the demon gripped its grimy claws around her neck squeezing for the intent to kill. "Fool... You will die here for your idiocy.."

With the last of her breathe, Melissa simply muttered the words. "Then so be it.." Her eyesight became black as she became closer and closer to death thoughts of disappointment and things she had yet to do filled her mind, and before to long the consciousness of the women slowly fadded under the grip of the demon.. Was this the end?

As the color faded from her eyes and her consciousness slipped away, Melissa thought of many things, She though about her life, About her 'sister' Morrigan and how she would never see her again.. She though of how disappointed her father would be, And for some odd reason..

She thought of Volke and how what he would say if she for being slain like this.. It would probably be something like. "You beat for Templars and a horde of Dark spawn and were a big pain in my neck! Yet you get beat by a demon!?! How pathetic" It almost saddened her in her last moments that she would never see or hear the elf again..

Suddenly, the sound of a accented voice filled the air, it was oddly familiar but who the hell was it, Before she knew it, The arm that was holding her was quickly severed her body flying to the ground with a hard 'Thud' as she made contact with the dirt. The Pain was horrid as air quickly flooded into her lungs, Melissa quickly gasped for air.

Her vision become more and more clear as she heard the sounds of battle around her and when she could finally see it was an elf... Wait.. No.. It couldn't be? Volke?!! AGAIN!?! Melissa was confused on what to feel, she didn't know whether to feel happy to see him, or pissed off that she saved her life AGAIN.

As the man walked forward to her and spoke, all Melissa could think of where the events that lead to this situation, Her emotions had overwhelmed her, and the demon fooled her into thinking.. Wait a minute.. Could it be?! NO, Volke left and went back to the Templars, and on further inspection this "Volke" Wasn't even wearing Templar armor.. No.. This was a trick...

Melissa stood up acting casual and friendly at first, She slowly reached behind her back and without another word cast an ice spell around the man's feet and placed the short sword she had gotten earlier from the Templar against "Volke's" neck. With fury and anger she yelled at the "thing".

"Alright, I may have fallen for your tricks once but not again! How many more are there! How long have you been following me, and most importantly! How do you know Volke?!?" Melissa blue sea eyes were almost red with rage she wanted answers and she needed them now..

Sure he was expecting her to be shook up a bit, odds are she had never come that close to being killed by a demon. Maybe even being that close to a demon for that matter. He didn't really blame her for that. Of course he wasn't expecting her to all but attack either. Maybe he should have. He wasn't in uniform, of course he had a reason for this. Not one she might trust but one none the less. As she seemed to breath easier for a moment he assumed she was ok.

Though that was a poor assumption as the next thing he knew there was a ice spell keeping his feet and legs in place as he was forced to stay kneeling as he was. He was a mere second from standing seeing as she had done so. Well apparently that was out of the question, this was quite the day he was having. At this rate he was debating on taking his chances in town at one of the taverns or something. Least then if something happened he might not be sober enough to remember it happened.

Right away she started spouting out things and accusing him of being in with the other demon and such. The blade to the neck was a little unsettling with how riled up she was currently. "Do I look like a bloody fade demon?" He said right away as he felt the blade press against his neck. Oh fantastic he was going to die to a mage using a sword.. oh that would be swell now wouldn't it? "Don't you know how demons work? They appear as your inner thoughts or things you want to see or desire or miss. Last I knew I was the last person you wanted to see again." He had a valid point or he thought he did. Why would she be thinking about him anyway.

"Now.. if you don't mind.. would ye remove this blade from my neck before ye get all over emotional up there." She seemed to pull the blade back a little, just enough as he quickly dispelled the ice holding him in place as he stood grumbling a bit to himself. "today's been fun.. can't wait for tomorrow.. maybe I'll try befriending the witch of the wilds next and see how that bloody well goes." Oh yes he was thrilled, wanted for murder and everything. Even all of that was yet to sink in just yet really. Too much happening too quickly to say the least.

"If ye didn't want any help you could 'ave just said so instead of trying to run me through with a sword." With that he moved to take a few steps back before shaking his head a bit. "Honestly, I swear I'll keep my word the next time your in trouble I'm walking the other way and acting like I didn't see a bloody thing." At this point he meant it even if it was a empty threat.

It wasn't long at all after the Foxkin placed a blade against the elf's neck that he began spouting out in anger. Yep, This was definitely a fade demon, the Volke she knew was calm and collect, She had never seen him over react, The real Volke would have seen that coming..

With that decided Melissa pressed the blade tighter against the 'things' neck, Melissa took the time to listen to every single word that /It/ Had said as it began to spout of more things, Melissa was confused at first, She wasn't sure who to trust..

But she did know that Fade demons didn't over explain things, They usually tried to get to the point quickly.. Fade demons also know your true inner thoughts and this Volke clearly did not know how she felt about him, that she actually missed him. "Idiot, Ofcourse I missed you..."

The women had hoped she had whispered that low enough for him not to hear, but, She most likely didn't. Her mood lightened soon as he started making remarks about how he wanted to befriend her big sister and you know Melissa she had to make a remark..

"Well, I am sure I could put a good word in for you! She wouldn't kill you! Maybe just rough you up a little, and as for your inquiry about you looking like a fade demon, you sure are ugly enough to look like one" Melissa giggled but only for a moment before being interrupted by more of Volke's anger rambling.

Melissa walked eye to eye with the man, her eyes teary and her smile huge. "Thank you so much for saving me, Please, Don't take me attack you the wrong way, I was just scared and so confused.." The foxkin was sad and confused, even still, the events that had recently taken place still had her emotionally strung.. She had though that the gods had actually gifted her with the privileged of having her dad back..

All the emotions of the day just suddenly hit her at once, and without a second though she grabbed Volke into a hug and buried her face into his chest plate her tears falling faster and faster. For some reason she felt comforted around him and she was going to take advantage of it while she could..

" I am so sorry, Volke.. I am.. so sorry" The apologizing went on and on as if for hours on end though only a few minutes, and then out of the blue, The women shut up and looked up to him. "Volke, Why are you not in your Templar uniform, What is going on, what happened after you left?"

Melissa eyed the elf weirdly as he shrugged acting if the problems of the day meant nothing to him, yet in his eyes you could see sadness, Was he hiding it, Or possibly could it have been that the issues from the current day had yet to sink in to his mind?

Either way, It wasn't soon after the conversation that the elven man made his way to the door of the cave. Acting as if he was going to leave, and of course Melissa being her nosey self she had to know. "Where are you going, Its getting late, You shoul-" Before she could finish the elf quickly cut her off by telling her that he knew the terrain quite well. Melissa couldn't help but to think it wouldn't have mattered had a swarm of dark spawn found him. It was his choice though, there wasn't much she could do but to wave back and hope to see him again later.

As the cave door closed, it got suddenly deafly quite, The room was creepy and agonizing on Melissa's mind, she never liked the quite. She always slept out side, or in a shelter near a river bank, so that the sounds could keep her comforted, Hell, The snoring of the other mages in the circle even made her feel comforted as loud as they were...

What felt like hours went by as the women waited and waited in that agonizing silence before the women finally got fed up and stood, She had to do something, Even if Volke didn't come back she had to find someway to contribute to the current situation. Melissa quickly made her way to the cave door prying it open and silently making her way outside, quickly casting a cloaking spell on herself.

She looked to the sky then the forest near her, using the stars as a compass she guided herself to the nearby mage camp that she had told Volke about, On approach the mages held their staffs up as in a violent reaction to the sounds of leaves crumbling beneath Melissa feet, She quickly undid the spell that concealed her body and held her hands to the air.

After a second or two one of the mages grumbled something to the effect that she was okay, even said her name, Wow was she really this well known amongst the mages nowadays? Nevertheless, the women walked past the guards and into the village and was soon greeted by the leader of the camp. "Ahh, Melissa, So good to see that you are still alive, Is there a particular reason you are here to visit us tonight? Not that we don't enjoy your company, You just always seem to have a purpose."

Melissa bit the edge of her lip, she knew she couldn't mention the Templar, or her situation, She knew she had to come up with a story quick, and being her after all it wasn't to difficult. "Well, You see there is a heard of dark spawn to the north, and I would rather like to be prepared incase of an ambush.." The women giggled as the leader nodded and guided her to the bazar area of the camp, There were merchants as far as the eye could see, It was a wondrous site for Melissa to see. "Anything you want tonight dear is on me, I miss seeing you around."

Oh, that man was going to regret those words, if there was one thing Melissa loved it was shopping, and she loved it even more when she wasn't paying, the women simply giggled and nodded waving the man off. Scanning around the camp site she quickly spotted a hefty decorated burlap sack with a shoulder strap attached. This was perfect, just what she needed to carry supplies in to help out at the cave.

Mel, swiftly grabbed it throwing it over her shoulders she moved to a nearby clothing store where the tailor had known her for quite some time. "Well, if it isn't my favorite skinny mage! What can I do for you today?" Melissa smiled and simply grabbed a few new black and red velvet clothes, Nice ones to, and proceeded to the dressing room and changed throwing her old tattered ones in the trash she smiled and waved to the tailor. "The old man has my tab today!" The tailor simply nodded and sent her on her way.

Next was the weapons department, mostly Staffs and small daggers filled this store. As Melissa walked in the first thing that caught her eye was an extravagant Whisper wood staff, Carved to look like a mighty dragon taking flight, Oh how pretty it was and how it caught her eye. Without a second thought she grabbed it and tossed it on her back, fitting it in the staff holsters that had came with her new outfit.

"Hmm, Maybe I should find something for Vol..." Before she could finish her eye caught the corner of a bow, This bow looked beautiful and durable, Not that she knew a lot about bows, It just had the feel to it, Melissa quickly piped up to the quarter-master "Excuse me, What kind of bow is this?" The man at the counter smiled, It seemed that she had picked out a good one by the tone and excitement in his voice. "Oh, That is quite the good bow that is, It is one of the finest bows your 'ver get a 'old 've. It's Dalish made, Its made out of iron bark, Extremely hard to find that is.. One of our scavengers pried it from a corpse nearby, figured they didn't need it."

Mel's eye grew with excitement it was like a kid in a candy shop, she just knew that the elf would like something like this, and hell it couldn't hurt to have an elf well equipped watching your back now could it? That's what she kept telling her self to deny the fact, that she really just wanted to get him something nice. Melissa spoke up and asked the man how much he wanted to sell it for, Although she knew she had whatever she wanted for free, this was special it needed to be bought.

The man at the counter shook his head and smiled, and with a joyus kind tone responded. "Oh, No charge love, I couldn't charge a lovely gentle women like yourself, go ahead and take it, as long as your promise to take care of it!" Melissa almost wanted to break out in laughter as the man called her gentle, Ya right, But nevertheless she smiled and thanked him grabbed the bow, hung it over her shoulder, and was on her way to her last stop.

The general goods tent, She didn't spend long there, just long enough to grab a bottle or two of lyrium, and what was needed for sleeping, two nice bed roll's and soft blanks, and some fire wood, which all somehow fit in her burlap sack, Except the bedroll that she simply carried in her arm. Soon enough the women once again preformed the cloak spell and made her way back to the cave, It didn't seem like much had changed since she left Volke must have been still out doing whatever he was doing.

Balancing the bedroll in one arm the women pried the cave door open once more and tossed the burlap sack inside along with the bedroll, closing the door behind her. She sat in the middle of the cave pulling from the sack the small amounts of fire wood she had gotten and carefully placing it in teepee style in the middle of the floor. Focusing her energy she shot off a small spark toward the woods, it quickly caught fire and the cave became warm.

Not to long after the women had settled in the sound of the cave door moving open broke the silence, out of reaction the women quickly reached for the new staff that was now holstered along her back, but she quickly let down her guard and smiled as volke came in with rabbits? She gave him a strange look, One that emotions couldn't quite describe, though she was most confused then anything. "I knew you were going to come back, sheesh, You can't get around anywhere during the day without my cloaking spell."

Ya, Even after all they had been through she was still acting smug, and not to long after that she go a well deserved crack back about her being a foxkin, she slightly giggled then reached into the dark behind her grabbing the Ironwood bow and throwing it at the elf. She almost fell to the floor laughing as he in a startled fit quickly grasped the bow.. It went silent for quite sometime, The man obvious knew the bow was Dalish or something, because he was joyful examining the bow, for a long time.. "So, do you like it or what?."

Volke didn't plan on spending that much time out. No the plan was something for the night and to be done with it. Though apparently all of the path avoiding and keeping away from the darkspawn took more then he planned. Plus for the extra measure he avoided the templar paths as well. Though he was sure that they knew of the darkspawn and wouldn't dare to face them in the dark. Either way he wasn't expecting the strange reaction he got from Melissa when he returned.

It was a mix of her almost scolding him and then being worried all in one. Why though? Why be worried, he was still considered a mage hunter, a killer, after all. She should pray almost that something would happen. Then again he was out of a job about now and the last thing he needed to do was make more enemies. Let alone ones that would have the upper hand once the little bit of lyrium he had ran out. Oh he was not looking forward to that. He had heard the horror stories of lyrium withdraw.

"I did say I'd be back didn't I?" She still seemed unhappy with that. "Either way, obviously I'm back and nothing happened, not even a guard to be seen out there and the dark spawn seem to be scattering a bit." That was a good sign, by morning they could move again. Why was he thinking they? By morning the only they that should happen was them parting ways. He shook his head at that thought and hoped she didn't see that action, apparently she didn't as she didn't question him.

Barely managing to sit the two rabbits down before Melissa seemed to throw something at him. At first he wasn't sure what she was doing and he wasn't trusting in the least of her so of course he flinched a bit. It could have been a blade or some form of mage item, he had seen some items fixed up to do spell effects before. Though he seemed to settle after a second and after noticing that it was a bow. Where in the - she did speak of a mage camp and that she would go there. Was he really gone that long?

He started to question her on the bow but he knew right away what it was. The markings on it were the sign of the Dalish, and they were the only ones who knew how to craft a ironwood. To admit he hadn't seen one in a long time. His mother had one, of course she did she was a ranger. A master marksman in her time. He had lost her bow when she died. The noble she worked for more or less claimed anything they had back then after he refused to become a free slave more or less.

Volke was almost studying it for a few moments before Melissa spoke up. "So do you like it or what?" To admit it he flinched a little at the sudden words being a little caught up in his own thoughts. A mix of joy was there, these bows were beyond rare, though he didn't want to know the means in which she got a hold of one. Though at the same time it reminded him of a part of his past that he has forced himself to lock away for many years. Though to avoid further prodding he decided a answer was best thought up and quickly.

Nodding finally he spoke with it. "I do, though I'm not sure I want to know the means you came across it." Odds were a corpse, as much as he didn't like raiding the dead... it wasn't like the bow was doing them much good and it wasn't like the pair of them were overly equipped. "But I-" He cut himself off a little before shaking his head. About to come up with a excuse why he couldn't take it. No he wasn't that foolish, they both needed to be at their best if they were going to make it away from the darkspawn. It wasn't like they were grey wardens and the blood wouldn't effect them. "Thank you.. though you should have worried about yourself more"

Half being cut off at the end as she seemed to grin almost and held out the new staff she had. "Now I really don't want to know what you did while I was gone." Like he had room to talk, he sold templar armor to a merchant that was part of a ring that helped mages. It really was a gorgeous weapon though. The marking he seemed fascinated with the most was the crafters mark. It was the same one that his mother's bow had. So it was the same crafter. A unvoiced thought was that he wanted to meet this crafter, someday anyway.

Regaining his normal composure he cleared his throat a little. "Well... seems I owe you a few dinner's then to even start repaying you." Though he didn't mean it as dates to say the least. Sure he had given her some coin earlier but still. The price of one of these bows.. Really he was kind of surprised her curious nature didn't play in yet and question why a templar, let alone a city elf had any bow knowledge. Not exactly a common weapon for either. Plus with things settled down a little again he seemed to act like he knew what he was doing with preparing the rabbits.

Maybe not second nature but still there wasn't too much thought being put into it. A few skills he thanked his mother for and the rough patches they went through. Though he was personally glad Melissa wasn't questioning them. She wouldn't have gotten too much of a answer anyway.

It was strange really, some simple like a weapon could cause him to question a lot of things. As much as he hated to admit it the way out he had been looking for all of these years was right in front of him. A mage, something he had pretty much drilled into his head to hate, had provided one of the only means of leaving the templars next to death. The bow was just a cruel joke. A reminder of a past he had tried to forget and leave behind that seemed to find various ways to creep back up on him.

The answer wasn't one he expected from her, yet it was at the same time. Volke accepted what her tale was as the truth, but it really was more due to the fact that he really didn't want to think about how she came about the means or funds to get this. Her own staff being added to the mix, now he knew that she didn't just do a few magic tricks as payment for both objects. Granted from all of the years he was in the templars service his mind right away jumped to the thought of how much stronger her magic was with a well equipped staff in hand.

A dreaded thought that he silenced for now, if she had wanted him dead then she would have tried already. Right? Well that question wasn't going to help him sleep tonight. Promptly after putting the staff away again Melissa seemed to state he wasn't the only useful one. Well no he knew that. She wouldn't still have her freedom if she didn't have connections or skills. Though it was more of what she stated she had brought back. Why did she even bother getting supplies for him as well as herself? It wasn't like they were traveling together now or anything.. plus he had tried to turn her in multiple times during the previous day.

Ok so on the same note he saved her as well...let alone maybe the same reasoning he had for bothering to find enough food for the pair of them. There wasn't a good reason but there wasn't a point in trying to shun out company when you were surrounded by darkspawn either. Heck she had went far enough to even bring back lyrium, something he knew he'd be running into problems with sooner or later. The stuff was hardly commonplace in the markets, let alone cheap. He could have blown her off or said something else about how she managed to afford this but he didn't not instead he thanked her. He actually meant it to be completely honest. Eve though his ears seemed to lower back slightly like he regretted being in debt to her or something.

Though what was really odd was that Melissa seemed to all but shut up. This caused Volke to look at her only getting a slight hint of the deep shade of red her face seemed to be. Times like this he was glad that he was elven, even if it wasn't perfect night vision it still allowed for some things to be seen. Though he could have guessed the shade of her face by her voice. She seemed to almost stumble and fall upon her own words. Like she was lying but not at the same time or finding a excuse for her own actions to prove them to herself more then him. Though it was only a short lived stumble it seemed as Volke spoke up finally to kill the silence.

She seemed displeased with him saying he owed her, even if he never really said pay back. He merely mentioned food, something that would be needed during travels anyway. Though her actions to follow were hardly expected ones and honestly he couldn't remember the last time anyone had gotten that close. "Listen here pointy ears." She started as he barely got a chance to think on how many times he heard that insult. No the sudden tug on the ear that she grabbed made him flinch, though she seemed to release it just as quickly as he rubbed it with a bit of a glare towards her.

"Alright alright! Don't 'ave ta go pulling on someone's ear like that... tsk .. as bad as a shem I swear.." Though that last bit about the shem might have been more mumbled then anything. Apparently his accent really came into play when he wasn't in his usual calm state. Lack of thinking over each word probably did it. Though that voice was more fitting of him then the forced one he had grown use to over the years. Forcing himself to act as 'normal' as possible to keep from drawing attention to himself over the years. Lot of good that did.

Either way the food was done by now and he handed one off to her. Though she started eating it like it was some dainty candy or like she was trying to avoid getting messy. "Oh come off it... I doubt you've eaten from the last time we parted ways." More or less saying he knew she was hungry and to stop trying to act like she wasn't. This seemed to give her all the permission she needed as right away she started chowing down on the cooked meat. Well, that wasn't quite what he was expecting to be honest. Maybe he should have, she did state she was a foxkin after all.

He didn't give her too many looks, he had seen some of the temaplrs eat with worse manners. It was funny in a way at how she devoured it. Anyone who said that all women were proper or what not had never met this one. Maybe in a way he liked that about her, speaking her mind freely. What was he even going on about in his thoughts? Sooner or later silence seemed to be too much for Melissa as she asked a question, one he saw coming but he didn't want to answer. He had glanced at her as she stated asking it. All the way till the end when he seemed to glance back towards the fire instantly.

The new found silence was almost deafening to him. His company seemed to take that hint as she finished eating and started to get ready for bed. It wasn't a harmful question, just a simple honest one. After a moment or two she spoke good night and see him in the morning. Though it didn't stop there as he never replied right away. She asked if she would be seeing him in the morning. Well.. that was a odd question to ask, where was he going with the darkspawn about? Her little trick was the best bet to get away from here.

He breathed out finally before moving to lean his back against the cave wall. "Yeah.. see you in the morning." Glancing he noticed that this seemed to make Melissa smile. What was with her... he couldn't place his finger on her just yet. Normally he could guess people but not her. She started to turn to face the other way again but he spoke up about then. "To answer your question, no I don't." A answer to her family question. He could have added details.

Like the fact he didn't even remember his father, other then he was a city elf and was from here. His mother died when he was still young, old enough to fend for himself on the streets and to get a job in manual labor but still young. He shook his head finally before trying to settle enough to get some form of rest. "Good night." Though he wasn't sure what was good about it other then they both still had their breath.

morning seemed to come on swift wings. She had fallen asleep almost without a care in the world. Though why not? Full stomach, she had company, let alone company that wasn't going to try to kill her. Volke found himself waking up throughout the night. Like he expected her to be at his neck to do him in or something. Though by morning he was a little bit of a wreck. without waking her he had moved to the far end of the cave and was near about pacing it back and forth.

It probably finally did sink in over the night what situation he was in and it was bad. Here he was a city elf no less and now he was going to have his face plastered all across the city with the words dead or alive under it. Probably some bounty reward attached to it as well. Heck maybe even just the words dead on the poster. The mage he was with at the moment seemed tight on funds, she could easily turn him in if he didn't watch himself. On that note why was he still hanging round here?!

"Why .. why did I do that.. damn it all." He hissed under his breath before slamming a fist against the wall he was near and half leaning against the same wall afterwards with his head lowered a bit. He had given them all the reason the needed to find him guilty. He ran! Of all the stupid things to do he ran form the templar and the city guard! He tried to reason with himself to say they were going to kill him, he had no proof of it but surely he knew better then to think they were going to hear him out.

Volke was pacing at first, he was too caught up in his thoughts to notice that Melissa had moved. No that didn't come to light till the door suddenly slammed and he noticed that she wasn't in the cave still. Well that was odd, even for her. He had almost become use to her chattering all the time or making some smart ass reply to everything under the sun that for her to just up and leave seemed out of character. He had a thought to just let her run off but something told him that if he did then it might be the last time he saw her. Then he'd never get a answer as to why she darted off without a word.

Luckily she had dropped the cloaking spell she had up or she might have gotten to where she planned to go. At first he thought she was going to stop and talk to him, that thought quickly died as he noticed the tears already steaming on her face. Let alone the second he started to say something to her was when she moved and broke into a full fledged run. Where in the world... why was she running towards the city? That was like the last place that either of them needed to head towards at the moment.

Not that she got far, he didn't think twice on using a ability against her so he could catch up. It seemed the skill too effect as she stopped moving and seemed confused at first as to why she had stopped moving till she looked to see the arrow. Templars didn't have ranged attacks but he had perfected these little tricks. They came in handy from time to time. Even when he didn't really want to use a ability on her without good reason to at the moment.

Right away she started spouting off that she hated him and didn't want to be around him. Volke couldn't help the look he gave her before he walked closer. Yeah right, after last night he knew that was a lie. Something had happened somewhere between last night and now to bring this on. "Tsk, of all the damned times to try and lie to me you pick now? Even a fool could tell you are lying through your teeth." He said half crossing his arms and giving her a bit of a impenitent glare.

As he seemed to get no answer from Melissa he grew tired of waiting. No instead he spoke up asking her what she was thinking about or what had changed. Last night they got along well enough even if he did wake up every so often just to make sure he didn't have a dagger in his back or something. Waiting as she finally decided to open her mouth as she spoke. Though hardly a answer he was expecting.

He half looked at her like how did she come to that thought even. "When I- No I wasn't talking about you." He breathed out half stepping back before running a hand through his hair hastily. "whatever happened 'was hardly your fault. It's been coming. I .. this morning I was talking about how stupid it was to run from the templars and the guards." He seemed calm about this thought at first till he went on. "They aren't going to hesitate to put out some bounty on a rogue templar. Chantry and their secrets.. they don't like them being out of their sight." With that he moved back a little to take a few steps. Probably by now the skill he had used on her wore off.

"It was stupid... damned stupid. Well known fact the the templars control the lyrium trade. Getting enough to not suffer through withdraws requires a pretty hefty amount of gold." He seemed to laugh a little at this thought before he stopped walking a little. "Odds are I'll go mad in a few months time and even then thats if I'm lucky." He shook his head at that. He was hardly as calm as he was acting to be. That was probably easy to tell by how he seemed to fidget and pace.

Moving back to where she was still standing he placed a hand on her head before ruffling her hair a little. "You make for a poor lire you know that? Of all the things you could say and you say you want to go to the circle.. they'd kill you on sight in Kirkwall."

What was this? He gave her the strangest look as she seemed to offer to help him. Why would she... sure he spared her life, even saved it from the demon but why bother to help him? It was a losing battle and she had to know that. Even he knew that, you could only get so much lyrium on the streets even with knowing the right people. Not only that but if he did manage to keep the withdraws at bay the madness would still take over sooner or later...

What was that? Was she.. blushing? That was odd, why would she be? She was blabbing on about how they could team up like the warden and the king did or like that Hawke person that was making a name for themselves around Kirkwall. He seemed to watch her like he was trying to see if she was toying with him or something. She gave him no reason to think this but he was hardly use to anyone going out of their way to offer him help. No if anything they normally lead him astray sooner or later or when things started to become troublesome he would be on his own again.

She was... different. She actually so far had kept her word on everything. Not once had she offered to betray him even though she had been given a ton of chances to do so. After a few moments of deep thought he finally seemed to agree but not before putting forth a displeased look, probably the templar training kicking in as he muttered he couldn't believe he was doing this. "Fine.." He finally said aloud as he held his hand out towards her though his ears went back a little as he was annoyed he agreed to this. "Consider yourself lucky that I have no other options at the moment." Heartfelt words, well for him they might be as close to a thank you as she was getting at the moment.

Though the joy of this new partnership came to a sudden end as a strike he had seen before happened and right away his hand went to his blade that hung at his side. Though he paused knowing who was behind the mage as she fell. Fenris. The other elf saying how he expected this of others but not of Volke. Yes it was true the two had spent a lot of time together over the years. Trading off stories and over all just trying to escape their pasts. Though this was not how he wanted to meet the other. Apparently word of his desertion of the templars was around already.

Fenris spoke again saying he had a few seconds to explain himself though the weapon was already drawn as Volke seemed to follow this action with his own blade. "You don't want to do this. You of all people should know how the Shem twist things." He warned Fenris. He wasn't lying, the charges against him were false and there was nothing he could do to bring the dead back, let alone at the time there was little he could have done alone either. In fact if it weren't for Melissa he'd be dead along with them.

Though that was all he got out before Melissa seemed to regain enough of her strength to use a spell that forced Fenris to the ground on his back. Not a seconds notice and she was already at the other male. Blade against the others neck as she punched his face a few times before threatening the fallen elf further. Though she didn't get to finish that threat as Volke removed her from Fenris. She asked him what he had stopped her as he shook his head.

"Making more enemies is not going to help us." He warned her before Fenris sat up and seemed to try to regain his own composure. "As I was 'aying." That accent seemed to kick back in a little again with everything going on. "The charges against my name are false. You know this. If anyone were to understand why I fled it would be you." Fenris seemed to still be in shock over the fact a mage bested him like that or he might say something.

"What do the reports say? I killed four other templar? You know that isn't what happened, not with the dark spawn that have been thick in the area as of the past few days." Putting his sword back at his side he breathed out a little. "If I had stayed with the templars, the Shem. I'd be the next one hanging from the gallows for playing as their loyal pet." Words that he knew would ruffle a few feathers with Fenris but prove a point. It was often enough that Fenris brought up that Volke was just a slave no matter what he called his work for the templars. Even if Fenris agreed with what the chantry and templars did he couldn't say that the way they treated a non human was right either.

"Think ill if you must, next time I won't stop her and I won't give you a warning. I would rather fight everyday then roll over and die because I was told to do so." He waited to see what reaction he'd get, he half expected Fenris to still be against them. He didn't want to have to kill him but if it came to it then he would.

Volke had to give Melissa a bit of a odd look at the mentioning of cutting ears off and such. Even if the threat wasn't at him he still could imagine the pain that would come form it. One thing he did hate at times. Elven ears were sensitive to not only sound but touch as well. He remembered one time that he even nicked his ear doing something and that was enough to remind him to take better care. No he'd pass on getting on her bad side for that sake alone.

Standing there he crossed his arms listening to Fenris explain what he had been told. That Volke had killed the templars and let a mage go for money. Hardly the case, he owed the mage his life so he was offering a bit of help with the plans to part ways. Of course things did not go well now did they? Never the less he wasn't too surprised on the story, it wasn't too hard to believe. Heck they could have added in that maybe he had lost it and elven were weaker against the effects of lyrium then humans. Though it seems they didn't take the story that far.

Though before Volke could stand up further to say what really happened Melissa took that part over. Of course making up a bit of a grander tale then what actually happened but still. Volke had met one of Fenris' companions, that dwarf and Melissa would get along dandy. Not that Fenris didn't seem to catch onto this tall tale with that hint of a smile he gave. Though it was more or less what happened. What luck they had was Fenris seemed to believe the story. Most of it anyway.

Volke nodded a little as the other seemed to mention certain situations he had been involved in recently. It was with someone that Melissa had mentioned earlier. Not tat Volke personally knew the Hawke character but Fenris mentioned they a few times as well as a few other party members. Though the calm moment stopped as Melissa rushed to Fenris and hugged him. Volke almost laughing but he held it back as he knew that was coming. It was no wonder why the two were drinking buddies to say the least.

Though this also stopped as a few more words were exchanged and Volke decided it was better to step between the two as a sort of warning. Fenris was a good fighter but Volke was hardly a push over himself. After shooting a glance at Melissa to get her to stop for a moment was when the other spoke again. Saying that he would pass the word that Volke was dead. The words that followed Volke nodded at. "Yes I know. They'll not be happy till they have a body to go along with the claim. It'll give us a bit of a head start on them though." That was better then nothing to be honest.

Though there was more to this, a deal that Fenris would offer them aid till they got to the next town. Well that would really give them a head start. A well needed one. Volke agreed to this but Melissa seemed uneasy about the idea of another traveling with them. Even if Fenris seemed a bit hot tempered compared to Volke he still could be trusted to keep his word. Thats all they could ask for at the moment and any help was better then none. Plus a band of three was less likely to be bothered along the roads then a pair traveling.

The whole trip Melissa tried to get a rise from Fenris. Once the other asking how Volke dealt with it. He shrugged saying you learned to ignore her. This seemed to make Melissa huff hearing that. Though she knew Volke didn't ignore her. Then again she didn't commonly try to get under his skin either. The only reason she seemed to be bothering Fenris was because Volke was staying between the two of them. "Oh .. by the way."

Volke started to change the topic as they kept walking. "How is Hawke? Last you spoke about him things were pretty heated between the group. I don't remember any reports before .. well I went into a somewhat early retirement." The guard and templars both tried to keep tabs on the person stirring up things in Kirkwall.