Mommyof2...- Ah yes, of course! Hawke is an independent woman; she's got things to do! (The first little bit will be focused on Sebastian, but Hawke will come back later.)

I'm keeping Hawkes' name and appearance vague, but making her a diplomatic person for reasons of helping me get her character properly written.


A Story Past

Chapter 2

Taking a steady pace, Sebastian led his horse down the road for a third day in a row since he saw Hawke. Outside of Kirkwall, there are patches of forest one would encounter on the common path between it and Starkhaven. Once the patches of forest began to hit the edges of farm land one could be reassured that they were out of the Vimmark Mountains and reaching the boarders of Starkhaven. The pretentious city where his family had rules for centuries, Starkhaven was no different than Kirkwall, as Sebastian found out quite early upon joining the Chantry there.

Thieves, Templars, royalty, Mages, pirates, Elves, and merchants, they were all the same folk in the land of the Free Marches, no matter what city you were in. The only thing that made his home different was that it put on a very nice show. To name a few qualities there was elaborate stone work, many a variety of shops, and old royal estates were much more aesthetically friendly to the common folk and travelers then the run down former slave city of Kirkwall.

Sebastian could remember a time where he would have nothing better to do as he sat in his families' estate; bored out of his mind from his royal duties, it was not unknown that he was rebellious as he grew from a child to a young man.

It was also no secret that he was popular with the ladies, even without them knowing of his royal blood line. His looks and charm won him a fair few stolen moments with beautiful girls of all kinds. Ravini, Ferelden, whores; it was at a point for him where it did not matter. However as his royalty taught him, upon meeting a gentleman always asks for a ladies name and has a short pleasant conversation with her, even if it is before they spend the night together in passionately mindless sex.

Remembering when he broke the news to Isabella that he was as wild as her, he believed without a doubt that if they had met before he joined the Chantry, they would have done many things together in the solace of a locked room.

A shiver made Sebastian take notice to the change in temperature. Pulling up his hood and closing his cloak, he spotted an Inn in the distance past the farmlands and forest. The road was becoming more stable and better kept, and the appearance of signs on the edge of the road marked travelers toward Starkhaven. The Inn would suffice until he could contact his supporters on the inside. It is unwise to reclaim an entire throne when you are just one man with a bow on his back. For all he knew, people may have preferred Goran as Prince. Or maybe all those who support his family have been removed from service to prevent attacks against Goran and the Harimann's.

The rumours Sebastian collected were from distant travelers, the sources of their information could easily be exaggerated or misunderstood. He came to gather that the people of Starkhaven were afraid after his families' murder, and fear brings force and shame. Quietly they talk to others of the problems that have arisen since the shift in power, but when confronted or when in public, they act as if everything is as it always has been. This told Sebastian that the people were facing problems with the shift of power, but because they are too afraid to admit it, the problem only continue and worsen. It is said that the peasants and the nobles are all unhappy with Goran.

This was troubling news for him. If he were to become Prince, he would need to pick up the pieces. Dismounting his mare he led her to the stalls behind the Inn and safely put her in one of the stalls for the night. Unsaddling her and removing his equipment, he left for the Inn. Moonrise Inn was a suitable substitute for Sebastian to sleep and collect his bearings. It was also unlikely that his enemy's would seek a Chantry brother in a place like this outside of Starkhaven's city walls.

A handful of people were using the Inn, some men sat at tables with ale while the wenches kept their beer glasses full. Sebastian headed to the bartender who appeared to be in charge. He paid for a room and the stable for the night, and then took his seat in the far corner.

When the lass approached him, he quickly denied any beer she recommended, and instead settled on a light meal to settle his stomach.


Hawke made her way into the docking area at Ostwick, the smell of fish and grime was thick in the air. After being on the road for the past few days, the lack of fresh air was present the moment she stepped into the fisher's city.

It took her a long time to leave Sebastian alone in the tent. Waking up she felt at peace, his warm body was better then she had imagined. Lying with him as the sun rose, she had gathered her things quietly, kissed Sebastian goodbye, and sadly left him. She found the path and made her way through Markham, picking up some essential items and then continuing her journey to reach Ferelden. Ostwick was the closest port that was almost directly above the capital Amaranthine.

Finding a ship captain standing next to a suitable ship, Hawke approached the dark skinned man. He appeared to be either Antivan or Ravinian with his dark hair and eyes.

"Will you be making a voyage to Ferelden, good Captain?

The Captain looked up from his map, slightly unimpressed by her approach. "That depends, is there a profit to be made? We use valuable resources to journey the sea, and resources cost me." The Captain had a thick Antivan accent, and he could see by Hawke's armour that she has obviously had luck of fortune, whether that is by thievery or inheritance, he did not ask.

"Amaranthine is not a far journey, my friend. I can pay 10 gold to cover the costs of the journey."

"The cost to pay my men alone is at least 20 gold," He argued "Unless you can pay me double that, you will not find passage on my ship."

"A day's worth does not require much work; I have sailed on my fair share of ships and know how the crew must perform. They set sail and let the wind carry them, and the wind works its way south so we will meet no resistance to our speed."

Hawke bartered with the man, he was eager to counter any of Hawke's pleads, eventually they settled on a fair pay of 17 gold all upfront before she boarded the ship.

"The crew address me as Captain, but you may call me Respian. My name is old Antivan and is passed down through my family, it is a traditional name. And what shall I call you Miss, you are after all, our guest for the evening."

"Gwendoline Mence of the Free Marches, but you may call me Gwen."

Captain Respian escorted Hawke to board the ship as she handed him the gold. Together they boarded and she took rest in the quarters while the men began to ready the ship for Ferelden.


The room was small, a single bed with old sheets and a wooden night stand were to the left of Sebastian as he opened the door. A small shelf sat to the right with some random items not worth his attention. A book or two, but nothing worth a good quality read he suspected. It was common that the illiterate or simple educated men wandered on the outskirts of towns like Starkhaven. All of the furniture in the room is like the rest of inn, well used and worn by the coming and going of travellers and visitors. Setting his bag on the ground and his bow on the top of the shelf, Sebastian stripped his clothed and folded them to rest next to his bow. A candle lit the room on the nightstand, and a small window over the bed held webs and dust. Settling into the sheets after locking his door, it was refreshing to sleep on something solid, even if it was a despicable excuse of a clean bed.

Sebastian reached over and burned out the candle with his finger, letting his head plop down on the pillow as darkness filled the room.

"Oh Hawke, I hope the Maker is watching over you." Sebastian sighed; Hawke was officially on her own now. He was also alone, he realized, but to him loneliness was not a new feeling. Almost every night before he closes his eyes, loneliness creeps in and finds him.


Flash Back

Sebastian felt sick. His mind was scrambled, his gut was turning, and his body felt unclean. Coming too, he felt around in the bed, the sheets were soft, but also felt used and unclean. A night of drinking after he snuck away from his estate was becoming his routine. His large bed was luxurious compared to the bed he shared with the pretty lass last night.

The light was peeking through his windows, causing his confused mind to begin to throb. A headache was the least of his worries. Getting out of bed, he realized he was stark naked and continued to furiously close the curtains to block out the morning light. Crawling back into bed he smothered his head into the pillow, feeling his body ache as he brought himself back to sleep. Ignoring the morning breakfast he was expected to attend.

Last night was a blur, but he remembered going to a tavern he had not been to in awhile. It was important he switch drinking places to avoid anyone looking for him, and so far he had escaped the watchful eye of his parent's personal guard. They were always out looking for him whenever they saw him sneak off, and Sebastian felt it better to not bother his parent's with his ramblings in the night. He just wanted to go out to have a drink and please some women, and to Sebastian that was not worth causing a fuss over.

Drinking his ale, his world began to get choppy after the fourth pint. As he felt the pleasing drunk take over, he remembered spotting a beautiful, young server. She was around the age he liked, just mature enough to have a little fun with and not be overpowered. Naive women were his fancy, and the alcohol was not helping his urges. He himself was 17 years but he was not in any way naive to sexual experiences.

Giving a silent prayer to the Maker to win her affection, he waved her over for another drink. As she served him through the night, he kept her around him by talking to her. Too passive to deny him, she smiled and let him flirt.

Eventually she was laughing, and sitting next to him so long as he and his friend's drinks were full. She began to focus on Sebastian, even blushing when he moved his hand around her waist. It did not surprise him that his advancements were working; he was quite handsome as many had told him. Taking the blue eyes, sun kissed skin and hair from the Vales, he retained his mother's full lips and high cheekbones.

"You're quite sweet lass, what is your name? It must be something beautiful, because you are certainly a beautiful woman." Sebastian saw her smile and innocently look down, she was indeed a sweet girl.

"Lorane, serah. My name is Lorane. And what is yours if I may ask?"

"Funny thing, I'm trying to hide from some people, so if I tell you my real name, I may be in trouble!" Sebastian joked, she giggled at his playful lie. "But I believe a sweet one like you would never tell. You must have so many gents admiring you; it's hard to resist you myself!"

She was right next to him, their legs touching. She laughed some more at his drunk endeavours.

"Oh, wouldn't you believe it, mysterious man." She moved her hand to his leg, seductively drawing him in.

"So you're sweet and playful, but I don't think you're as playful as me, see. I know how to really have fun, sweet Lorane." His hand moved down to her buttocks, she did not seem to deny him as he squeezed.

Leaning in teasingly, she stroked his leg "So you're mysterious and handsome, hum?"

Oh, so she wasn't as naive as he expected. The drunkenness did not hide his arousal, none the less. His blood soon found its way to his privates as she moved her hand. Biting her lip, he could not stay any longer.

"Let's say you and I dump this place and get a room where we can find out who's really the master of playfulness"

In the room, he kissed her hardly. Grabbing her waist and pushing her against the door as soon as it closed. She opened her mouth and kissed back, their breathing and kissing continued as he moaned slowly. She snaked her hands down his abdomen and slowly slid them into his pants. He felt her smooth, warm skin above his cock, it was now fully hard and erect against her.

As they moved to the bed, she lay undressed under him; he kissed her body as she ran her fingers through his hair, letting him move to her breasts. Entering her, she lifted her legs around his hips as he began to thrust in a drunken frenzy. Moaning, he grinded and thrust as he felt his body tense and the pit of his stomach heated. She was thrashing under him, raking his back with her nails as he came.

Not caring if she came with him, he rolled off her and laid beside her, panting as she snuggled up in the crook of his arm.

She slept eventually, falling off under the covers as he lay awake letting the buzz of alcohol calm down. Feeling capable enough to sneak back into his own house, he grabbed his things and left the tavern.

Feeling quite proud of himself for winning over the lass, he wandered down the stone streets of Starkhaven to the Nobel's quarters. Keeping to the shadows he crept on the sidelines as he approached his families' property. It was an elaborate marble and stone mansion, with decorative stained glass windows and gold trim; it even had a grand entrance door way that was a masterpiece in itself. The door was carved wood with engraved symbols, and matching trim that pointed upward to the Maker. It was accompanied by a marble fence around the property, decorative gates, a fountain, and well kept gardens showed off the wealth of his family.

Using the servants quarters to enter the building, he crept past any guards and made his way to him and his brothers' sleeping quarters. His room was dark and the bed unmade from when he was there from just this night. He waited in his bed for the people to settle down so he could sneak out without being caught. And once everyone was settled in for the night no one would ever dare check up on a sleeping Prince for sake of awakening him.

Still retaining a small buzz, he quickly threw his clothes to the ground and plummeted into the soft sheets of his bed.

That's where he woke up. And now he was laying there with his eyes shut, aching and unwell, too exhausted to awake he was also too ill to sleep. The silence sat with him as he reminisced on the night, what did she look like, was her hair dark blonde, or a light brown? The young Sebastian could not remember. He did however remember in enough detail taking her in bed.

Those thoughts made the pain stop for a little in his mind, at least his privates felt satisfied.

Thud

The door handle shook but stayed shut, thanking himself subconsciously for having the right mind to lock it behind him before falling into bed drunk and naked.

"Sebastian, wake up. You've skipped out on the family breakfast again, and your mother is not pleased with you." It was Eylah, his mother's servant. She was great for nagging him when his own mother was too 'busy' to come and lecture Sebastian herself. A kind lady, but her age meant she was feisty and loud mouthed at times. Never disrespectful to him or his family, but she would carry out his mother's wishes without hesitation.

Thud thud thud "Sebastian, open this door! Put on something decent and let me in."

The thought of leaving the comfort of his room added to the ache he felt, groaning, he pushed himself out of bed to greet her. Ah well, so much for an easy morning.