A Love Like No Other

Chapter 1. Running

I ran swiftly, making sure to keep a steady pace. I couldn't turn back, not now... I had come too far to make stupid choices. I turned to look over my shoulder. They were still hot on my trail. Crap. Why couldn't I have just been a normal girl? Why did I have to become the champion of Kirkwall? I guess the day I decided to help out, was the day I gave up the chances of having a normal life. With both Orsino and Meredith dead, I had thought that maybe, my life would have returned to, at least an easy one. I was wrong. So very wrong. Their death's, along with the death of the Viscount, caused me to replace him. Because of that, I'm constantly hunted. Usually by Tevinter recruits. Easy targets. I looked back once again to see who or what it was that was after me. I had been right in assuming that they were from Tevinter. From what I could make out, it seemed there were two guards. One looked to be a slaver, and the other was most likely a mage. I wasn't sure; most of the Tevinter recruits they sent after us were usually dressed in similar clothing and armor, so I never really needed to tell the difference. As I ran, I thought to myself casually. This almost felt like a game that I couldn't escape... I was trapped, forever in motion on this wheel that was life.

"I'm sure you can run faster than that! How would it look for an elf to outrun the champion of Kirkwall?" Fenris shouted with a smirk. He loved to be chased. To him, it was a game. Fenris, one of my few remaining companions, was much quicker than I. He was a man with a tormented past. Although he smiled more often, I was never certain it was a real smile. I do not blame him though. He had no family left, and any hopes of finding his past died with his sister, Varania. I cared for him, but I feared to let him know. He was a man with whose emotions I did not want to mess with. Isabella also had feelings for him, but she had eagerly made it obvious. I didn't know why I felt this way. In Lothering, the only people I had ever loved were my family. Of course I had loved my friends as well, but most of them seemed to get fed up with my sarcastic comments. With both Mother, and Carver gone, it seemed the only family I had left were Gamlen and Bethany. Even with them, I still felt as if I were all alone... With the circle destroyed, I took Bethany into my care. It probably wasn't right, but I couldn't bare to see her placed in another one after all that had happened. Gamlen had become a drunkard shortly after Mother passed. Every now and then, he would come to visit me in my estate, but it wasn't often, and his words were usually full of nonsense and sobbing. I still enjoyed that he had taken the time out of his miserable life to come and visit though. Suddenly Fenris stopped and I was snapped back to reality. We had met a dead end, which left us with two options. We could fight off the guards, a pretty simple task, or let the game continue and find a way around the small obstacle. I glanced towards Fenris. We had been running all day, and although it was fun to play, we finally decided to stop and face the fight. The game wasn't over, not just yet, but it was time for action. Fenris smirked towards me, signaling to begin the fight. The guards had not been warned of what they were up against. Fools. The lyruim in Fenris' veins began to glow a bright blue. Suddenly he phased his hand and stuck it through the guards head. Barely making his hand visible again, he grabbed hold of the guard and swung his body in the air. I threw my poison filled dagger, which landed in the guard's side. First guard down. Fenris quickly drew his blade, and forced it into the skull of the other guard who had cowered in fear. I wasn't a heartless woman, and I was helping Fenris adjust. We had come to the terms that if an enemy happened to surrender, we would allow it. And if they ever gathered the nerve to come back, second chances were not an option. The task was simple enough, and was ended quickly.

"When are they going to make the game harder?" Fenris asked in his attractive deep voice. I laughed slightly.

"Not sure, but it'd better be soon. I almost broke a nail this time!" I said sarcastically.

"These Tevinter recruits are a pathetic excuse. I'm surprised they haven't heard the tales," I said, peering down at the bodies.

"Well if they have, they certainly have courage, I'll give 'em that," Fenris smirked. In the distance we could hear the thudding of boots. I looked over to Fenris once again and smirked. "Well, I'm afraid it is time for us to take our leave..." Fenris said, and off we went. Although I was not as fast as Fenris, I was definitely lighter than him. He picked me up and hurtled me towards a window. My heart fluttered as I felt his strong hands around my slim waist. Now was not the time to get worked up. I clumsily landed through the window and into a kitchen. Fenris quickly followed. I heard an ear piercing scream and looked to see a frightened woman. Apparently it was uncommon to have people jump through your windows; who would have thought. I saw a loaf of bread that sat upon the counter. Fenris looked to me, and quickly grabbed it. The woman didn't dare to speak. Quickly, we both headed for the front door. I stopped dead in my tracks. I could hear many guards outside.