2nd story! I hope it goes as well as my first. (Frost.) Please leave your opinion in the reviews and let me know what you think. If you've got criticism, I'll happily hear it. And with that, I shall disclaim.

I don't own the characters (save Valko) or the names mentioned or anything in this story. It is purely fan made. Enjoy.

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Something to Protect

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Fenris

He had always been ready. Always fighting and always running. But Hawke was a different matter. He had left her once and regretted it dearly. But he didn't expect this when he came back to her. He wasn't expecting her to drop the news on him right after her duel with the Arishok. He wasn't expecting any of this. He wasn't prepared for parenthood.

A wail pierced his thoughts and he heard Hawke spring up from the bed. He admired that woman with the greatest respect he's ever felt for anyone. Not only did she forgive him for being a coward, but she could deal with the filth the Nobles of Hightown spat at her for bearing an elven child. He had give her credit, she hasn't killed any of them. Yet.

But that little boy was something he didn't expect. His hair was white from the Lyrium and the child adopted the trait. He hoped none of his marking would show up on him. He wasn't sure how that worked. But he could tell from first holding the baby it would be a mage. Magic tainted his family, but he didn't care. He would teach him to be a warrior. Hawke had already agreed it would be better.

But she would still teach him the basics and the dangers of Demons.

It was the name that bugged him too. Their baby didn't have a name yet. When the child was born Isabela offered "Rien". Neither he or Hawke cared for it. Sebastian tried "Callahan," which was somewhat fitting. But with a name that's "devoted to the church" Varric teased he'd never be much of a fighter. Avaline offered "Terrel," in honor of Hawke. Hawke only laughed a prayed her son wouldn't be as stubborn as her. Anders, who had helped deliver the baby, (much to Fenris's distaste,) said the baby needed a bold name, something hard to pronounce. Fenris disagreed, saying he wished for a name, not a title. They thought about Leto, but neither of them wanted the boy to ask about its origin.

But he did like something Varric had said. Valko. It meant Wolf, like his own name. But a strong, independent wolf. One who could easily lead or follow. He liked it. But Hawke was so tired of hearing possible names; he thought he'd tell her it later.

The wailing of the child ceased and Hawke came back. She leaned on the doorway, her hair messy and bags circled her eyes. If he could bribe the baby for a full night's sleep he would.

He sat up and motioned Hawke over. She sighed and came over, sitting in his lap on the bed. His arms encircled her waist and she leaned on to his chest. Her hair smelt of lilies.

"Hawke, you need to rest." His low voice rumbled and he felt her relax in his embrace. She had been serious about enjoying him talk.

"Why? I killed the Arishok ten months ago. I'm sure the next crisis I have to deal with won't happen for at least five years."Her laughter made him smile. It was true; he hadn't known she was with child when he offered the duel. If he had he would have never. Isabela damn neared killed him for it too, and he almost let her.

But now the baby was born, and sleep was a precious resource.

"You know there will be people demanding you take the seat of the Viscount."

"Oh," She flipped her wrist as if this was nothing. "Let them demand till they start another Qun for all I care. I have my family to take care of." She nuzzled his chest and he laughed, silently cursing her for knowing he was ticklish.

"Hmm. Still, you need your rest Hawke." He glanced at the window. The damned sun was starting to come up.

"Nope." She followed his gaze. "Rodger will be up soon."

"Rodger?"

"Just trying out different names. I don't like it either."

They both laughed and he gave her a gentle squeeze. They might as well get up and ready before the little one does.

A shriek from the next room made the both of them groan.

"I'll see to him." Hawke slid off his lap to let him up. She giggled, knowing it would be a cloth changing. She could tell by the way his nose scrunched up and him mentally debating whether or not to make her do it.

"Alright, have fun! You can handle your son," She winked at him and he blinked. He wasn't used to that.

My son… I'm a father, Hawke the mother… He rubbed the sides of his face. The Maker had it out for him, to give him a son with his looks but Hawke's personality.

As he creaked the door open, he heard the ungodly racket his "Broody Baby", as Varric called him, made. But when Fenris walked toward him, he saw the child's stark white hair stand out in the dark room. The baby was screaming as he gently picked it up. The dwarven servants offered to do this but Hawke insisted the child be raised by its parents, shortly after demanding he move in with her. When he held the child the way Hawke taught him, his squealing died down. The bastard fell back asleep. Fenris wanted to groan, knowing full when the second he put him down the crying would continue. He was glad for Orana aid when they left. They couldn't take a baby with them on missions. Fenris gently rubbed the baby's bare back and the room let up a soft blue. Startled, he looked at his marking. He wasn't glowing, neither was the child's body. He pulled him back and looked at his face. The glowing stopped and he noticed the child's eyes were shut. Fenris softly blew air onto his face and it scrunched up, ready to cry. He eased his big round eyes open and he saw they were dark, like Hawke's.

"You I was not trained for." He spoke softly. The baby smiled and kicked his legs. His dark eyes lit a soft blue. Fenris's heart sank. The Lyrium had become a part of his family. It had dug its way into his child's body, and worse, in his eyes?

How was that possible?

But the baby wasn't crying out from pain. He would tell Hawke and they would have to wait and see how this affected the baby's life.

"Daaaa," The child said happily. He smiled. Babies shouldn't talk at such a young age. He had Hawke's will.

Hawke

It was a few weeks before Avaline had her wedding. She asked Hawke, Merill, and Isabela be her bride's maids. Hawke had to admit she didn't expect her to ask Isabela. But for all those two women argued they were still friends. For better or worse. Donnic asked Cullen to be his best man. Hawke's Mabari was going to be the ring bearer. Avaline said after all the training the dog has done for them it was the least she could do. The dog barked happily.

Fenris asked the elven servant girl to please watch the child. He paid her six gold coins, far more than needed but Hawke insisted she be paid very generously. Partly because she had been a slave, and partly because Hawke was no fool. She knew Orana would be leaving their home soon for a home of her own. Hawke noticed a golden ring on her finger, so she wanted Orana to have plenty of coin for a family should she start one. The elf girl almost had enough for a house in the Alienage.

She gasped at the coin and said she would watch her mistress's son very well. Fenris and Hawke tried to get her to address them by her name, but Orana already thought it insane the two dwarves did not address them as such.

"And when he glows we're guessing he's happy," Fenris said before departing. The elf woman assumed he was joking.

Avaline's wedding was pleasant. She had it in the Keep. Isabela teased it was just so she could skip the Honeymoon and go straight to work. Hawk had to say that sounded like her. It was weird, seeing her in a dress that wasn't robes. And Avaline in a white dress was a shock. Merill asked her if that was their tradition.

"Do human brides dress in white all the time? Does this mean your armor will be white? There are a lot of unmarried women in Kirkwall, I think you'd be the first." Her serious and innocent voice made the women laugh.

"No Merill, it's just what you were during the ceremony. You can tell if a woman is married by a ring on her finger." Avaline held out her left hand, showing a ring with a small gem on it. Merill admired it in awe.

"What do you do for elves?" Hawke asked. She didn't know any Dalish traditions.

"Oh well," Merill smiled sheepishly. "Much like yours, in fact. But we don't exchange rings. If they're a hunter and a Dalish woman, the woman gives the hunter a pendent to wear into battle. The woman also gets a tattoo to show which hunter she belongs to." Merill's face was a little pink.

Isabela was on her like a cat on a mouse.

"Kitten…" She purred. "Which hunter do you belong to?" She poked Merill's forehead. Hawke realized Merill's face had tattoos. The women all leaned in, as if about to be told some secret.

"None," She laughed nervously. "My tattoos mean I would be a Keeper, not available for marriage or joining."

Isabela's cat like face deflated and she leaned back, pouting. Avaline laughed and Hawke smiled. It was nice to have girl friends like this. You wouldn't be able to guess the bride could rip you in half, or two of the maids could set you on fire while the third could stab you in fifteen different places before you could blink. These were deadly women.

Hawke left the giggling women to sit by Fenris. He was dressed in his same armor but wore a green necktie. She had to laugh. This was how he looked formal. The bookmark from their first book was tied around his wrist. The red fabric clashing with the green tie, but Hawke didn't mind if Avaline didn't. She fidgeted in her dress. Avaline said they could wear anything they liked as long as it was…appropriate. That last part was directed at Isabela. Isabela wore a bay colored dress that came down to her knee, but the slit in the side came past her him and there wasn't as should on the right side. Her snake necklace was on and she had a similar belt. Merill wore a deep green Dalish dress. The fabric was soft and strong. The embroidery was pretty, as long as you didn't ask her about it. It apparently told another story of the Dread Wolf. Hawke's own gown was a soft green with a darker green sash. There was embroidery on both of her long sleeves, done by Merill. Merill told her it was needed, since Hawke didn't want a tattoo.

The left arm told her story with Fenris. The easing into one another's heart, the betrayal of him leaving so soon after they… to the duel with the Arishok and then the birth of their son. Hawke couldn't understand the stitching but she got a few respectful nods from the Dalish men present. Avaline had invited some of Merill's clan out of respect for their Keeper. Merill was fine, as long as she wasn't alone with them.

The right arm told her son. The stitching was his birth date, his white hair, his sleepless nights, and his parents. Hawke didn't understand this one either, but the Dalish women made faces like they were looking at newborn kittens. Merill didn't tell her what the rest meant. Hawke shrugged.

Fenris refused any embroideries. Merill said that was alright, men didn't typically have it.

As the wedding party came to an end, Fenris and Hawke took their leave. Avaline understood, but before they left she beckoned Fenris over.

"You better take good care of her, Fenris. I don't mind gutting you if you dare leave her again." The woman was frightening, but Fenris had seen worse. Still, to humor her, he shivered and nodded frantically. She rolled her eyes. "Smart ass. When do you plan on actually being a family?"

The question caught him off guard. "What do you mean?"

Avaline smacked her fore head and he blinked. Why didn't Hawke make normal companions?

"This, Fenris." She gestured to the party. Realization dawned on him and she nodded, encouraging the thought.

"I-I don't know." Hawke called for him and he gave the Guard Capitan a small bow. "Congratulations Avaline." She nodded and waved the two off. She thought Merill was the only dense elf, but she supposed it was just the elves Hawke befriended. She wondered what they'd name the little elf.

Fenris

When they returned home, they saw the elf girl rush down the stairs. The baby in her arms and sleeping. The two dwarves were laid out in the foyer. Both looking drained. Even Sandle, who had frozen and ogre, was tired. Orana looked truly upset.

"I am sorry Mistress! I did not know your little one would be so difficult to take care of," she stammered. She held out the sleeping babe and Hawke gently took him. "When you left I thought he might be hungry but he started crying and I didn't know why. I changed his cloth and tried to feed him and I tried to put him to sleep and give him a bath but nothing worked." Tears filled the poor girl's eyes. Fenris patted her head gently.

"It's fine, no harm done. He is like his mother," He smirked. "Difficult."

"Oh no I wouldn't say that Ser," Fear made her voice squeak and Hawke laughed.

"Its fine, don't worry about it," She smiled and Orana relaxed a little.

"But My Lady, your little boy…his eyes got very bright and I don't know how to…" she pointed at the room that had been her mother's. After much grieving, Hawke had turned it into a nursery for the baby. Fenris motioned for her to stop and he walked up the stairs. Glancing in, he saw ice covering the floor and his baby bed was in the air, supported by plants. He sighed. This was what a magical child with Lyrium eyes could do. He shut the door and turned back, looking at Hawke from the stairs.

"I believe it's your turn to clean up after little Valko." They both sighed.

Hawke paid Orana extra for the trouble, making the elf girl almost cry. She thought she had failed in her duties and she was still being rewarded. She wasn't used to it. She thanked them both and apologized, saying she will clean the child's room immediately. Fenris gently stopped her and told her it could wait until tomorrow. The girl nodded and thanked them both. His heart went out to the poor girl.

"Well, I like that." Hawke said. He raised an eye brow at her. "Valko, I mean. I like that name. It sounds serious, like you." She kissed him on the cheek and they both let out a long sigh.

No, he wasn't prepared for parenthood.

Especially when his son was…special.

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Okay, first chapter. I don't know how long this will be. But I think it'll be nice to see how Fenris can deal with a child of the thing he hates most. (Magic). This might make a little more sense if you read my first story Frost, but it is not necessary. Please review! I'll happily take any criticism or ideas. Thank you in advance ^_^