Another year. Gone.
Marion was smiling at her friends. Somehow, they had even managed to drag Aveline out of her office...probably by chasing Isabela for the beating Aveline was dying to give the pirate. She nodded as the bartender looked to her and Isabela turned pleading eyes that seemed to say 'just one more round'.
Isabela walked back over to the table the way only Isabela could walk and Merrill, once again, asked for instructions on how to walk like that. Aveline quickly attempted to discourage the elf from listening to anything Isabela said. Varric had Anders cornered, careful to not let the mage escape, and prodding him for more stories of blackmarshes and lost kittens. As much as she hated to even think it, she didn't even miss Carver's presence and then guilt flooded her at the unwanted thought.
She hadn't heard from him, but they had just returned and the Wardens likely had little time to pen notes to big sister's they could only half stand. She sighed and wished she had gotten her mother to come out, but that would mean inviting Gamlen too and she didn't think she could afford to put him on her tap. Another wave of guilt at the unpleasant thought washed over her.
"Why aren't you joining in?" Fenris's voice sounded behind her, strong, sure, even in a question. She jumped at the sudden intrusion into her moment and would have fallen into the drunken "Prince of Felderan" if Fenris's hand hadn't caught her waist. Heat filled her normally pale complexion.
"Maker, Fenris, you scared me." Scaring her was the least of her problems around him. His very presence seemed to make simple thought impossible.
"Evidently." Fenris responded dryly, but his hands remained on her waist, despite the fact that she was no longer in danger of falling. She looked down and he blinked once before he released her; almost as if he hadn't noticed he was still holding her.
Silence. She hated silence. Growing up with the twins, silence had never met anything good. She remembered the one time she had a silent afternoon and then a tiny toddler scream splitting the air. Bethany had set one of the chickens on fire by accident…or caused a tiny bit of burnt feathers. She was just a toddler after all. It had taken the whole afternoon to calm her down…and then the rest of the night to calm down Carver who suddenly thought Bethany would light the whole house on fire.
"I'm sorry." Fenris blurted out, his voice so amazingly lacking its usual surety that it would have caught her attention no matter what he said. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking at anywhere but her, actually. "You aided me when I need it and I failed to protect your brother when you needed it."
Carver. He was feeling guilty that he had been there when the Blight had nearly taken Carver. "You did exactly what I needed you to do, Fenris. We all took the risk when we went down there; whatever debt you owed me for getting you an empty mansion is paid…and what happened to Carver. Well, thank the Maker Anders was there." Fenris made the expected noise at her comment about Anders but she continued talking over it to stop that argument from happening…again. "Besides, maybe it's the Maker's will. Certainly Carver can't blame my shadow for anything now. He'll have the chance to make Hawke his name now too."
"A chance he always had and failed to do anything about." Fenris responded with his usual straight to the point bluntness. She smiled despite his words and he looked away. "You say my debt to you is settled."
It was meant to be a question; it just didn't sound anything like a question. She shifted nervously, wishing he would look at her, wishing she could follow his train of thought before it took her somewhere she didn't want to go. "Um…yeah…yes. I mean, yes. Wh…why?" She felt Anders eyes on her from his corner and gave him a nervous shrug at his questioning gaze.
"You no longer need me then?" He still didn't have that Fenris surety, but there was a hardness, a coldness to the question that reminded her of him. Anders gave her a reassuring smile that gave her renewed confidence until she turned and met his big green eyes. Why had she wanted him to look at her?
"I need you." The words were out of her mouth before she had a chance to realize what she was saying. She didn't miss that look of shock then the Fenris she remembered was back fully, that slightly arrogant look locked on her quickly flaming face. "I mean, we need you. We're a team, right? I certainly don't imagine Varric is going to let this be the end to our story. Who's happy with a happy ending anymore? It's the six of us…"
"Seven. You forgot yourself again." Varric called from the corner and she wondered how the dwarf had even heard her ramblings in the crowded Hanged Man.
"Right. Seven. How does he do that?" She wondered out loud, this time letting her inner thought out on purpose.
"Mmm. If it isn't my favorite…", Isabela was almost purring as she pressed again Fenris's back, "glowing elf." Merrill was beside her, trying to balance the tray of drinks Isabela had dumped on her at seeing Fenris. Marion quickly took pity on her and the people around her and grabbed the tray before it spilled its contents onto everyone around them. She then turned and walked back to the table where Aveline waited, carefully keeping her eyes off the attempted seduction. Aveline gave her a pitying look and then looked past her and smirked.
She couldn't stop herself from turning at Aveline's smirk. Whatever his words were, Fenris gently pushed Isabela an arm's distance from him then stalked to the table, carefully positioning himself between Aveline and her to force Isabela to keep her distance.
She was smiling again. Isabela caught it and she knew it was only a matter of time before her friend would demand answers; that light sparked in those dark eyes and was stored away for a time when she could get her answers was a clear indication that Isabella hadn't missed her relief this time.
"Hawke? Are you okay?" Merrill's innocent concern brought her attention back to the here and now and she handed out the drinks, nodding at Varric and Anders who finally joined the table. "Your face has been red, you aren't feeling ill, are you? Fenris didn't do anything, did he? It only started when he came in." Innocent concern and just a little paranoid about how far Fenris would take his words.
Fenris glared at the accusation. Merrill looked torn between wanting to glare and not knowing if she should. Anders frowned. Isabela and Varric erupted into laughter, even Aveline was attempting hide her laughter. "Oh. There it goes again." Merrill stated and looked confused. This time Aveline didn't attempt to hide her laughter, even Fenris's lips curled slightly upward. Anders continued to frown, his eyes darting between her and Fenris. Merrill was smiling now, her concern alleviated, she was beginning to enjoy not being the one embarrassed.
"Right. How about a toast to friends?" Marion interjected awkwardly as she held up her cup.
"Especially to those with deep pockets now, my friend." Isabela's voice rang out honey smooth and she winked at her in a way that let her know just how much that door was still open, as she had suggested so long ago in the middle of the Chantry. The Chantry, for Maker's sake… Even the horrid stuff the Hanged Man called ale tasted good at that moment.
At some point, Gamlen showed up and she was forced to shut down her free night of drinks before Isabela and her uncle drank her out of her recently acquired wealth. In the end, she still managed to have to half carry her uncle home, even as he complained about the ale and demanded she take him to the Blooming Rose for "better drinks". He nearly fell on top of her as she got his arm around her shoulder. She saw Fenris stand instantly, Isabela's hand dropping off his thigh, but it was Anders who was under Gamlen's other shoulder. "Why don't I help you with this?", he suggested as Gamlen complained about apostates.
"Thanks." She answered and rolled her eyes as Gamlen continued his complaining about mages in general now. She eyed the small doorway wearily and then it was opened for her. She blinked and then saw Fenris on the opposite side, holding the door as they maneuvered their three person long train through it. How had he gotten outside already? She smiled and thanked him.
"Right. Thanks. See you tomorrow." Anders chimed in quickly.
"Going home?" Fenris had those big green eyes locked on her. She was acutely aware of Anders' eyes searching her face.
"As quickly as possible." She blurted out.
"I'll make sure no one bothers you then. You three scream 'easy target' right now." Fenris stated in the usual sure, calm, bluntness, but his eyes were on Anders, challenging.
"Oh, isn't that thoughtful?" Anders answered with false sweetness, "but I think us vipers can handle a few thugs, even with a drunk on our shoulders, thanks."
"True, I should worry about demons with you, but it isn't as if you can be possessed twice, is it?" Fenris spat back and they glared at each other.
"D…demons? Possessed?" Gamlen had entirely different concerns now and looked as if he might throw himself away from both shoulders.
"Right. Great. Thanks for all the help, you two." She muttered as Gamlen apparently decided she was safe and put his entire weight on her while eyeing Anders as if he were going to turn into a two headed monster at any moment. He instantly started reminding her why the Amell name lacked respect, which apparently had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her parents. She shook her head as she struggled to keep him moving and ignored the two quiet men behind her, even after they stopped the thugs from the easy target she and her uncle represented. She stopped in the doorway, both to make sure they were okay and to shoot them a glare for the argument she knew would start if something didn't force them apart. They shut their open mouths as they noticed her and then went their separate ways, one to Hightown and one to Darktown. She shook her head as she shut the door. Stupid men.