As Hawke left the Hanged Man he couldn't help but wonder what would become of Emile. The boy was harmless. Meredith was sure to disagree, but Hawke couldn't care less what Meredith thought. Now, onto the alienage and the final name on Hawke's list of rogue mages to track down. Huon. Meredith's tranquil, had told him Huon had a wife in the alienage, so he figured he'd start there. After hearing Nyssa's story, Hawke couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the poor woman. His usual facade of sarcasm and light-heartedness he maintained to keep his companions' spirits up gave way. He sincerely promised Nyssa he'd be back later to make sure she was safe and to try and talk some sense into Huon.
Hawke looked toward the horizon through the smog that filled the air in Lowtown. The sky burned an orange-red. Sundown was approaching. He turned to Varric and Fenris. "Meet me back here ohhh let's say an hour or so past sundown. Hopefully this crazy apostate won't have raised an army of undead to conquer the city by then." "As you wish." Fenris replied before turning and walking off towards Hightown. Varric simply chuckled and said "I'll be in the Hanged Man if you need me." That left Merrill. She turned and smiled at Hawke. "Come on. While we're here I've got something I want to show you." She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her old house. Hawke didn't like that she spent so much time here. He felt as if there was something he was doing wrong. 3 years they'd been together and she still didn't feel at home with him in Hightown. All she'd moved into his mansion was a lily in a vase she left on the desk in the bedroom and some clothes.
He knew it was the mirror that drew her back here. Her people's history and culture she hoped to unlock with this ancient relic. He could understand that lure. Regaining things you'd lost. Carver. Mother. He'd go to the ends of the world if he thought it might bring them back. But he knew better. They were gone and for all his might and skill, he couldn't bring them back. Merrill, however, had a chance. She could uncover the mysteries within this mirror. He believed in her. He loved her, how could he not? He was only worried for her safety. Between blood magic and the demon she first spoke with to begin work on the mirror, Hawke couldn't help thinking that all of this was bound to end badly. He was there as a safety net though. As long as he drew breath, he would allow no harm to come to his Merrill.
"Look!" Merrill said with that adorable accent of hers. Hawke loved her accent. The Eluvian stood tall in the corner of her bedroom. Hawke hadn't seen it in a few weeks. He'd been so busy with politics and entertaining all the nobles so intent on the "Champion of Kirkwall" attending their parties. He'd grown rather sick of it all. Bunch of snobs rubbing their gold in each other's faces as far as he was concerned. He hadn't had much time to spend coming to the alienage with Merrill as he would have liked. Even though it usually just meant him sitting around making sarcastic comments about how the mirror was evil and how disappointed Marethari would be. That usually got a giggle or two from Merrill. He noticed the surface of the mirror was still rough, but far less cracked than it had been. He also saw how polished the engraved wooden tendrils that reached up and encircled the mirror were. It looked quite nice to be honest.
"Wow that looks great. Would look even better in the study don't you think?"
Merrill's smile faded. "Hawke...you know I can't do that. I can't put you and Bodahn and Sandal at risk like that. Whatever would I do if something awful came of it? Remember what I told you about Tamlen? I can't let that happen to any of you."
The concern in her eyes pulled at Hawke's heart. "I know. It's just that I'd rather you be there so I can keep an eye on you. So I can keep you safe. Who's going to protect you if this thing goes bad while you're here? I might not be here. I'd never know in time. Merrill I couldn't live with that. I can't lose you too."
Hawke's head fell, staring at the dirt floor.
Merrill drew close and put her arms around Hawke's neck and rested her head on his chest. He pulled her in and laid his cheek on her head. "You will never lose me Ma Vhenan. You will never lose me."
Hawke grinned and pulled his head back looking into his love's beautiful green eyes. "You've never told me what that means."
Merrill thought for a second. "No, I suppose I haven't. I'm so sorry! I hope you haven't been thinking I've been calling you a bad name or something. I would never do that."
Hawke just smiled at her. He loved it when she rambled like this. She was so adorable when she was flustered.
She stopped and smiled back. "It means 'my heart'. The reason I live. My life. My love." She pulled him tighter into her embrace. Hawke turned his head and put his lips to hers. His arms wrapped all the way around her. He held her as close as he could. She was on her tiptoes, her body pressed against his, locked in a passionate embrace.
She could feel his muscles ripple through his shirt as he lifted her off her feet. She giggled and wrapped her legs around his waist. He backed towards the bed, still holding her up. Her mouth locked to his. As he sat on the corner of the bed, she pushed aside the paintings she'd left there. He sat straight, holding her close as she kneeled over him, caressing his face. She played with his beard a little then playfully shoved him onto his back. He grabbed her hands and pulled her down with him. His fingers intertwined with hers as she pushed his arms up over his head and lowered her lips to his. He brought his arms down and wrapped them around her hips as he rolled to his side, bringing her down next to him.
His arms came up her back. He began searching blindly for the laces on the back of the thin mail she wore. He could never find them. She reared her head and giggled at him before guiding his hands to the laces. As he slowly untied them, she reached for the lace on the front of his shirt, loosening it playfully. They slid out of their clothes and under the covers. Bodies held together tightly by the bonds of love.
Merrill still made Hawke's heart race.
Their relationship had only blossomed since that night 3 years ago. He still remembered the nervous look on her face when she came through the door. To be honest, he had been nervous too. She never would have known though. He'd maintained his mask of calm and cool.
Now, as they lay in each other's arms, they felt belonging, purpose, love. Neither ever felt more comfortable, more safe than when they were together. Hawke still remembered the time they investigated the disappearance of those Templar recruits.
He'd almost been killed by that blood mage in the Blooming Rose. He didn't know what had come over him, but she'd gotten inside his head somehow. A shadow creeping in around the edges of his vision. Clouding his mind like a choking smog. Oppressive in every sense. He'd never felt so vulnerable. He was a warrior. He dealt in physical battle. This though. His mind was in a blender. Going in a million directions at once. Then, just when the darkness was about to swallow him...clarity. A piercing light punched through and obliterated the shadow. Merrill. In that moment he felt her. Her mind. Her soul. She guarded his mind with her own. Redirected the magic into a physical wave. And like that Hawke was free. Free to drive his blade into that treacherous witch's gut.
But that moment. That intervention. He'd felt a connection. He was no expert on magic, but he'd felt something more. A warmth. Somewhere back there. He knew she felt it too. That was love. He didn't know then, but its meaning became apparent a few short days later. He felt it again that night. And he felt it now. The warmth that bound them.
They lay beneath the covers, exhausted, gazing into each other's eyes. "Your eyes are so pretty Hawke." Merrill cooed.
Hawke laughed "Well, I'd use something a little more masculine than 'pretty' but thank you Merrill."
"They're like a bolt of lightning. I've never seen that shade of blue in anyone's eyes before." she continued.
Hawke smiled at her. "And yours are as deep and beautiful a green as the Brecillian Forest."
Merrill closed her eyes and smiled, remembering the forest and all the beautiful life within it. "Ma Vhenan" Merrill said quietly as she fell asleep in Hawke's arms. He kissed her forehead and stared at her lovingly as he too fell into a deep sleep.
...blissfully ignorant to the horrible act they would witness later that very night.
