Just a reminder, all Marian chapters are written by JenniferHawke (ie. this one). Please keep that in mind when leaving your reviews, and please take a moment to check out her work. She has the Shinkshinkshink seal of approval. :)
Marian
It was barely dawn when Marian awoke. She sat upright in her bed, rubbing her eyes. She got no more than a few hours of sleep that night, her mind unwilling to let her rest. Her thoughts kept drifting to that strange elf Fenris - but why? Sure, he was handsome, and those eyes - oh she could be lost in them forever. But he was a stranger, she knew nothing of him or his life, or even why he was in Lothering. He was reluctant to even give her his name, if in fact, Fenris was his real name. She was worried for him, though. Something about him told her that he had a very rough life, and he was in need of a friend. The money she paid for his room would be up in the morning, and she doubted he had somewhere to go after that. She needed to check on him, and make sure he would be alright.
Marian stretched her legs before standing up. She quickly got dressed and ran a brush through her disheveled locks. She tiptoed quietly as to not wake the rest of her family, then she opened the front door and went to check on Acorn.
The air was slightly cool this morning, but Marian knew it would not stay that way for long. They were having a stiflingly hot summer, almost to the point of being unbearable. She grabbed a pail and walked a minute away to a stream to fetch some fresh water for her beloved horse. She knelt down, allowing the water to fill the bucket. The water ran through her hands and she brought them up to splash the last bit of sleep off of her face. Drops of water fell from her face, and she dried herself off with the sleeves of her worn shirt. Really, she should have spent that last coin of hers on new clothes, as these were tattered from working on the farm, but she figured Fenris needed the shelter more than she needed a more stylish outfit. Marian grabbed the now full pail and made her way to the stable.
Acorn whinnied when she saw her favorite person coming her way. Marian set the pail down and let the horse drink. She patted her on the head. "There you go girl, some nice fresh water to start your day."
As she spoke, she heard a quick rustling in the hayloft above. Marian stepped back, afraid for a moment, realising that there was a potential intruder in her stable. What in the world would someone be doing up on the hayloft, she wondered to herself. Acorn began to whinny again, and stomped her feet.
"Easy, girl. I know," Marian spoke in a calm voice. She debated running inside and grabbing her father, but by then the intruder could flee, and she wanted answers. She ever-so-quietly made her way to the ladder, so her movements would go undetected. She felt magic stirring in her veins, she would use it to protect herself if need be - she was not some defenseless maiden as she may have looked. In her twenty years, her father trained her well in the arts of magic, and if she or her family were in harm, she could cause some real damage.
She steadied herself and grabbed hold of the wooden ladder. Before any sudden movements could be made, she jumped up on the ladder, and pulled herself up. The sight before her took her by surprise.
"Fenris?" The elf sat upright, staring at her with saucer eyes. He looked frightened - alarmed - almost as much as she was. "Whatever are you doing here?" Fenris stared at Marian intently before speaking in a quiet matter.
"I followed you here."
"You followed me?" she repeated his words, and he faintly nodded. Marian let her tense shoulders drop and her body relax. She sat down, taking a seat close to him.
"Do you have somewhere to go?" she asked, a calmness to her voice.
"I will find somewhere. I never stay in one place long."
"But why? Don't you have family? Friends?" Marian wasn't trying to pry into this man's personal affairs, but she wanted to help him. That was just how Marian was raised, to look out for her fellow man. She had always been a great judge of character, and for some reason, something about Fenris told her that he was no threat to her or her family. Just a man trying to get by.
Fenris simply remained silent, and that was more than she needed to gain an answer. He was alone, and the sad look in his eyes when she first spoke to him in that inn was now explained to her. Marian could hear her family in the distance. Her mother was surely making breakfast now, and Carver and Bethany were arguing at a distance. She sucked in a deep breath. "Could you wait here a minute? I have an idea. Please, don't go." she went to place her hand over his in reassurance, but he quickly pulled away as if her touch would burn him. It didn't offend her, although it made her wonder what was done to him to make him so afraid of physical contact. Marian climbed down the ladder, and went off to talk to her Father. She had a question she had to ask him.
"No, absolutely not." Malcolm Hawke said in a stern voice, looking down at his eldest daughter.
"But Father, can't we give him a chance? Please.." she started.
"This isn't an inn. We have no room for some stranger. And just that, he's a stranger, Marian. I have a duty to this family to protect us - to protect you girls. What if he's one of them?"
"He hardly looks the part of a templar." Marian cut him off. "You taught me to be on guard, and you know I am not that gullible." She reminded him. Malcolm exhaled, and shook his head.
"And just what's so special about this one that you want to help him so much?"
"I can just tell...he needs help. I promise you, he won't be any trouble. You always taught me to help those in need, and you could use an extra hand around here, couldn't you?"
"Oh Malcolm, just let her invite her new friend over for breakfast at least. You can make your decision then." Leandra spoke softly, while she fried up some bacon and eggs for her family.
"Alright, alright. Go and get him. But I make no promises, if I don't like what I see, he's gone." he finally said, regretting the words as he spoke them.
"Thank you!" she said, kissing her father on the cheek as she left the room.
"You never could say no to her." Leandra chuckled.
Fenris sat at the opposite end of the table of Malcolm, looking completely out of his element. Marian sat to his left, and her younger sister Bethany to his right. Every now and then the younger Hawke sister glanced over at him in a subtle manner, but her twin brother Carver had no such grace.
"What in the blight are those markings for? They look odd." he said bluntly.
"Carver! Where are your manners?" Leandra scolded her only son, and he just smirked.
"What? They do." Marian looked over to Fenris, who was squirming uncomfortably in his seat.
"I'm sorry about my brother." she whispered to him, and he nodded.
"So, Fenris was it?" Malcolm finally asked the elf.
"Yes." Fenris spoke, nonchalantly.
"Well Fenris, Marian tells me you might be looking for somewhere to stay?" The elf's eyes darted over to Marian, and she looked at him hopefully.
"I do not have a home, if that is what you mean."
"That's so sad." piped up Bethany, who was only fifteen years old.
"I could use a hand on the farm." Malcolm directed at Fenris. "You look like you're a strong lad."
"I'm strong, too." mumbled Carver, clearly unhappy with the situation.
"I have never been on a farm before." Fenris said distantly, still not touching anything on the plate that lay before him. It was blatantly obvious that he was beyond uncomfortable.
"I could teach you what to do." Marian said softly.
"Marian, a word." Her father said, motioning for her to come into the other room. Leandra stood as well, and the two of them followed the head of the household into another room, leaving their guest with the twins. Once they were out of earshot, he spoke.
"I'm not sure this is wise. Look at the man, he has barely spoken a word. How do I know that I can trust him?"
"Don't you trust me?"
"Marian, don't give me that. This isn't about me trusting you. This is about a complete and total stranger in my house with my children."
"You said you could use the extra hands, and it's true. Please, just give him a chance." She pleaded, looking up into his blue eyes with her own.
"Just tell me, where is he going to sleep?"
"Well, there's space in my room. Bethany and Carver are already sharing - "
"No. Stop right there, young lady."
"Dad, I'm twenty years old." Marian turned to her mother. "Aren't you always going on that I'm perfect marrying age anyways?" she teased, clearly at an inappropriate time.
"Dear, I didn't mean-"
"And not in my house!" Malcolm exclaimed, a little louder than he meant.
"I was just joking."
"If he stays, you and Bethany will share a room. He can stay with your brother. That is my final offer."
"Thanks, Dad. He won't be any trouble. You'll see."
"He'd better not be." Malcolm said, as he left from the kitchen.
"Fenris, come with me." Malcolm motioned, and led the elf outside to the front porch, where he sat down. Fenris sat in a wooden chair, across from the older man.
"Now, if you're to stay here, there are some ground rules we need to discuss."
