Beauty and the Ox-man
F!hawke / Arishok pairing. What if when the Arishok asked for Isabella for her theft, Hawke offers herself instead of dueling him? Starting at black powder promise , some in game retelling but mostly stuff I made up. Game, characters and places (apart from a few) all owned by Bioware, I just enjoy the tale and wanted more options! R&R! (read and rate.) Much love, Katie.
Chapter 1 : Qunari magic and ignorant dwarves.
Hawke stopped before the gates of the Qunari compound, her eyes traveling over the massive gates before shifting to the large Qunari that stood outside with his arms crossed. Only now in arms reach of the Ox-man, did Hawke realize just how tiny she really was compared to them. "I have business with a Dwarf he said to come here and speak with your leader." Hawke spoke with a firm authoritative voice, one she had perfected somewhere within the past three years of leading her merry band of misfits across the free marches.
"Yes, the short mouth, enter if you must Baas." The Qunari spoke without even looking at her, Hawke bit her tongue knowing arguing with the guard would just make her unwelcome, and the promise of coin had made her stay her hand.
Walking into the compound she was flanked by Varric and Fenris, Isabella had hurried to scurry off down to the docks saying that now as she had the chance she would see the boats.
"Ah there she is now, my partner. " the dwarf spoke hurriedly as Hawke approached, she bit down on her tongue once more, some part of her wanted to punch him in his face.
With a slight bow she looked up at the massive hulking form that would be the leader of the compound, her eyes wandered over his face down to his shoulders to the warpaint on his chest. A hum of appreciation left her lips before she could stop it, a chuckle from Varric made her clear her throat and look up to the giant Ox-man who was now looking at her curiously.
"The Dwarf fantasized the deal between us." the Qunari spoke his eyes never leaving Hawkes as he spoke.
"Any advice?" Hawke turned hr head to Fenris but her eyes stayed glued to those of the Arishok, she had no intention of losing this staring contest , or whatever it was that was going on between them.
"The Qunari do not abandon a debt.." Fenris spoke loud enough for the Arishok to hear "I humbly request clarification from the Arishok."
"The Qun from an elf, I have a growing lack of disgust for you. There is no coin to be had here, leave. " The Arishok spoke, he was interested in this woman who stood defiant before him, where many had trembled in fear. His eyes wandered over her petite frame, even in her steel armor she was barely as wide or as tall as one of his legs, his eyes traveled to the weapon of her choosing, and interesting choice for a woman. A massive two handed sword, it glimmered in the suns rays even tho the wear on the handle had shown it had seen its fair share of battle.
"The we have wrongfully inserted ourselves in your affairs, would you have us kill this dwarf?" as Fenris spoke the dwarf cowered, the Arishok dismissed the death of the Dwarf, his death was meaningless.
"Not so fast Javaris." Hawke all but growled grabbing the small Dwarf by his collar "You made promises to me, a sum of money." A glimmer passed the Arishoks eye, one none could read as he watched Hawke threaten the dwarf, he decided now to interfere.
"Dwarf you made imaginary bargains on my behalf, you shall pay on my behalf!" as he roared and his men stood the Arishok expected to see a flicker of fear in Hawke, even the smallest amount would have sufficed, but what he got was unexpected.
With his qunari senses much more enhanced than that of a human, as he growled at the Dwarf the scent of woman arousal his his nose, his eyes traveled to Hawke, she stood with the slight tint of red in her cheeks, pulse pounding near her throat.
Oddly this pleased the Arishok, he watched as she subtly took deep breaths in and out of her nose to calm herself, sitting back in his chair he relaxed and looked up at the three oddly paired people before him "There is no more coin to be had here, Panahadan."
xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxox
"Arishok, the woman you had us track is not in the city, according to many she has left on an expedition into the deep roads, to seek fortune." Asaad spoke standing before him in his tent, the Arishok nodded and waved his hand in dismissal.
The woman known as Hawke had plagued his mind, and the little information he had managed to gather on her was not enough, she was as close to a sell-sword as a person could get in this city, but even tho she was seeking coin she did not accept it everywhere. Rumors flew of her giving money to the young hungry Urchins on the street, or how she always could be heard arguing with her mother telling her that no man was going to tame her.
That thought pleased the Arishok, the thought that this Hawke had not mated. He growled lowly in his throat, he should not care if this human had mated, but he did. His eyes traveled to the horizon, his thoughts on Par-Vollen , but somehow they always returned to her. She was in the deep roads, could she be injured? would she even come back alive? It worried the Arishok that he felt the urge to go drag her back to the city, the urge to keep her under a watchful eye.
Days turned into weeks, the longer she was gone the more worried the Arishok became, he paced the compound now and then before setting into his normal seat. The Arishok knew his men thought he was angry over their stolen tome, in part he was, but it was mainly fear because Hawke had not yet returned.
It was late one evening when the Arishok sat in the shadow along the wall watching out over the sea, no humans below would see him here, they couldn't. A small sound , a choking sound caught his ears, turning and straining his eyes he saw her there, by herself on her knees. This was the first time he had seen Hawke in over two months, the first time he had seen her without her armor.
In her hands was a decorated box, the choking sound he heard were sobs leaving her lips. The Arishok growled as his chest tightened , he wanted to tear out the throat of whomever did this to her. Creeping down the walkpath from the wall to the dock he put his back against a rock close enough to hear her.
"I did not protect you sister, my dearest Bethany I am so sorry.." her words were spoke softly as another sob left her lips "I should not have taken you down there, I should have left you home with mother." Peering around the rock the Arishok watched as her hands left the box and she picked up a book, she took a deep breath before she opened the old warn pages and began to speak, what he heard stopped his heart and made him wonder more about the mystery that was hawk.
"Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun." (Struggle is an illusion. The tide rises, the tide falls, but the sea is changeless. There is nothing to struggle against. Victory is in the Qun.) Hawke took a deep breath before she spoke again.
"Bethany you were Ben-Hassrath even if you were Saarebas.." she bowed her head as she opened the box standing on the edge of the dock " Ebost to the Aban.." she lifted the box in the air allowin the wind to carry Bethany off to the sea. (aban: Sea , Ebost: Return, Ben-hassrath : heart of many. Sarebas: mage.)
The Arishok watched as she fell to her knees, the proud woman who knew held the Qunari book of prayers close to her heart as she wept, there was no sign of her companions which meant she had wished to suffer in silence, the true heart of a warrior.
xoxoxoxoxo
Hawke growled at people like a rabid beast the next day, whispering apologies that they didnt mean, none of them knew her sister to throw around her name in such a way. She had secured her secret book inside of the chest in her room, before heading out to meet with the Arishok, she had recieved a letter speaking on a matter of the black powder he had refused to sell.
She had decided to bring Fenris, Varric and Sebastian with her today, the prince had his head too far up the makers ass to breath, but he was a great shot with his bow should the need arise.
When she approached the compound her noticed two things differently, one was the guards actually nodded at her as she passed them, two they readily opened the gates for her as she walked up the steps.
"Who died?" she whispered to Fenris who chuckled slightly in response.
"They have a greater respect for you now, why I do not pretend to know." Hawke groaned and punched Fenris in the arm lightly before walking up the massive stone steps towards the Arishok. She had put her feelings about Bethanys death to the back of her mind, she had sent her off with a warriors grace and that was all she could do.
"Hawke, when we last met I did not know your name, i did not care to." The Arishok spoke before leaning forward on his chair , his eyes boring into hers with interest "But you have changed your fortune, and the Qunari have not." Once again the Arishok shifted so he was sitting back, folding his massive arms across his chest. Hawke eyed the rippling in his muscles, the way every movement made them flex and roll, she hummed slightly but covered it by clearing her throat.
"You wished to speak with me.." her voice came out more husky than she had hoped, Varric began to whisper to Fenris about writing this in his book, Sebastian was holding back a chuckle at the two.
A small smirk graced the Ox-mans face, it pleased him to know he still had this affect on her, the way none of her other male counterparts had. "A thief came under darkness to steal what he thought was the formula for the black-powder, he has wrong it was a formula for Gentlaak, a.." The Airshok was not sure whether to be upset or proud when she interrupted him.
"It is a powerful Qunari poison." Hawke turned her head to Varric beside her "Go, find what you can on Javaris we will search for him in the morning." She turned back to the Arishok her expression unreadable "What would you have me do when i catch the thief, am I to kill him on sight, or bring him to meet the demands on the Qun?"
The Arishok felt pride swell in his chest , she wanted to know if the Qun wanted death or payment, he watched as a few of his men had began to give her lustful glances, he did not blame them, she was a fierce warrior and her children would be a great asset and power to the Qun, the beast within him was jealous, and wanted them not to look at what he had wished to claim.
"Kill the Thief, he signed his own death when he dared steal from us." the Arishok spoke as if it was a command, Hawke nodded once and spun around on her heel stopping only a few feet away.
"I will start in tomorrow Arishok, for my heart is in mourning this day, but I will find this thief for you Kadan." she spoke the last part quietly but every Qunari in the compound had heard as she walked away.
The Arishok sat for the first time in his life speechless, she always confused him but her words always rang true, no other would kill his men then come and tell him about it , no other would stand up to the viscount and demand he tell the Arishok the truth, and no other would call him Kadan. He looked around at his men in the compound as she walked down, each one bowed their head or nodded at her in respect as she passed, it seemed like yesterday she was nothing to them , and today she was all he heard whispers about.
"Ashaad." The Arishok commanded in a deep voice, three men instantly stood before him ready for his demands "Find that mercenary Mavaris, tell him to follow her tonight, I wish to know more about this woman who knows the Qun." The three men nodded before heading out from the compound on their mission, the Arishok once again sat on his perch his mind flooded with all things Hawke.
xoxoxoxoooxoxox
Hawke downed another gulp of her ale as she stared at her cards at their usual table in the hanged man , Varric, Fenris and Anders sat around with her in a friendly betting game of Wicked grace, Isabella had taken Merril to the blooming rose in hopes of breaking her of her innocent modesty.
"I'm out of coin damn it Hawke." Fenris growled as he dropped his cards on the table, a peel of laughter left Varrics lips as he watched the triumphant grin appear on Hawkes face.
"I know that grin... we are in for it now." Anders all but groaned, Fenris sat forward placing his elbows on the table as he interlaced his fingers.
"Alright then we make one final bet, If I win the next hand you have to run from here to the docks stark naked, then back here." Hawkes grin never left her face as she watched Fenris gulp.
"And if I win?" Fenris asked raising a brow.
"I will do the same." Hawke responded with a small shrug of her shoulder, the table errupted into hoots and hollers, as Varric dealt out the next hand only to Fenris and Hawke.
"This is going to be great, the only time I will ever see Hawke naked other than my dreams.." Anders huffed with a small smile on his lips. It was no secret he loved Hawke, he made it known and she had rejected him, Hawke held no love for the mages, the only one she ever cared for was Bethany, and she still did not see eye to eye with her on most things magic.
Hawke looked at her cards and wanted to stomp her feet and put a hole in the table, her hand was horrible not even a pair, looking up at Fenris she saw the smirk on his face as they counted to three both laying out their cards. "Royal flush." Fenris smirked as it was Hawkes turn to gulp, she nodded once before standing up slowly dropping her equipment on Varrics table.
"You are going to do it now?" Fenris asked raising a brow, Anders head shot up and his eyes fixed on Hawke, Varric chuckled watching her as well as he sipped his ale. The fates must have hated her because as she began to strip Merril and Isabella walked in behind her.
"Oh i miss the one night you play for clothes.." Isabella all but pouted until Varric took it upon himself to tell her of the bet, Isabella grinned widely and sat back on the table watching Hawke as she stripped.
Hawke stepped out of the hanged man, whistles and cat calls followed her as the brisk air hit her skin "Stupid bet.." she grumbled as she looked back at her companions, Anders was flush , Varric winked, Isabella blew her a kiss, and Merril buried her face in her hands. "Its now or never." she told herself as she sprinted off as fast as she could.
"Shes doing what?!" The Arishok said louder and angrier than he had meant to, the Mercenary had explained her bet with her partners, how she was going to be passing the compound soon with no clothing on her person. "Thank you, you can go." He dismissed the Mercenary quickly, once he was out of the compound the Arishok made his way up onto the wall, where he could see her but she could not see him and waited.
True to the word of the sell sword, the heavy quick pounding of feet could be heard in the distance, his breath ccaught in his throat as she ran past in the cool nights air. On her back was a tattoo , one of a giant iron bird , the symbol of her house, it was red like the warpaint those of the Qun would wear on their chest and faces. With her hair down she looked much more feminine, it swished about in the wind as her lith form stopped on the dock, he growled lowly in appreciation of her form, he committed this image of her to his memory.
xoxoxoxoxoxoox
The next morning Hawke set off to find the thief of the gentlok poison, it was not Javaris it was a crazy elven women who said it was not right that her people had abandoned the maker, but Hawke could not blame them for she too wished to convert to the Qun, for now she had read their writings and did as the books said she should.
When she approached the qunari compound she couldn't stop the blush that rose in her cheeks as a few of the Ox-men eyes her with hunger "Seems you gave quite a show last night." Fenris mused from beside her, she blushed even more, she had forgotten that she had ran by here stark naked, she had thought that maybe they would not have noticed her.
"So it seems I was wrong about our thief." The Arishok spoke as his eyes wandered over her form, he pictured what he had seen the night prior, he could not stop himself from wanting to see it again.
"So it seems, it was a zealot , she accused you of converting her people, she is dead." Hawke watched the hunger growing in the Arishoks eyes, she felt tiny under his gaze, she had never once felt tiny before. Before the Arishok could speak one of his soldiers approached whispering something in his ear, he nodded once turning back to Hawke with a sigh.
"IT seems your viscount has something to speak with you about, Panahedan Hawke." he watched as she retreated, watched the sway of her hips with a hunger that he had never felt before.
xoxoxoxooxox ( Skip to the night of the challenge) oxoxoxoxox
The Arishok stood there on top of the Viscounts dead body, his eyes roaming the crowd that had formed around him, he did not plan on it being this way, but they had not heeded his warnings, his people had been injured and killed for what? a war for their god.
When the doors opened he gripped his sword, he knew this day would come, but was he ready? Hawke strolled into the room her companions in tow, he watched her the way she watched him, examining each other, sizing each other up.
"I have expected this Hawke, you are Basalit-an, no other in this city commands such respect, but tell me where is the Tome?" He watched as she stepped out before him, telling her companions to hang back.
"One of my own took the Tome, we had went to retrieve it and she stole it for this I am sorry." She watched as the Arishok took a deep breath.
"Your partner has been known, your admission is welcome." he watched her , her hand stayed on her weapon, she was smart and ready, this was not the first time he had seen her as a warrior and not just a woman "Where is the tome now?"
The doors burst open and in walked a disgusting form of woman, the Arishok growled an angry growl "I can answer that." in her hands sat the tome , Isabella handed the tome to the Arishok and quickly retreated behind Hawke for protection "You will see that it is ... mostly undamaged."
"Isabella you came back?" Hawke questioned , eyes wide , the Arishok now realized she had not expected the scantly dressed woman to return.
"this is your damned influence Hawke.." Isabella replied with a huff, " I was halfway to the next city when i realized i had to turn around, then i had to get through all this damned fighting."
Hawke turned to the Arishok and watched him with calculating eyes "I will take the tome and the thief, and we shall leave kirkwall."
Gasps could be heard and Isabella looked to Hawke with fear in her eyes, never once had Hawke seen fear in the pirate, not in the past four years of knowing her.
"I can not let you have her." Hawke spoke like a true leader, she was willing to risk her life for her own, even if she had lied and stole, another thing the Arishok loved and hated about the woman before her.
"Perhaps you could duel for her." Fenris spoke up suddenly.
"You do not know the Qun as well as you think elf if you think I would duel a woman." The Arishok spoke , he watched as Hawkes grip tightened on her sword.
"It was you who called her Basalit-an, that means she is worthy." Fenris spoke again without question he was right, the Arishok cursed himself mentally for using the words on her, for calling her that before he knew the outcome.
"I could go in her place." Hawke spoke loud enough for the whole room to hear, everyone turned to look at her with wide eyes "Would you accept me in her place, I am surely a better gift to the Qun than a whore who steals."
The Arishok looked to the woman who had stolen their tome, he watched as she still cowered allowing her leader to take the fall for her actions, Hawke was correct she would be a greater asset to the Qun, but the Arishok had much more selfish reasons for accepting her, none that he would reveal just yet, and not to those unworthy.
"I accept." He reached out his hand and grabbed Hawked by the shoulder, he took her weapon carefully pushing her up to his guards , every one cleared a path as they walked thru, her companions were all yelling in the background but she didn't look back. She stood strong in the face of her adversary , even if that meant she was walking to death.
