Hawke
I groaned as I opened my eyes and stared at the red canopy of my bed. I frowned in confusion. The last thing I remembered was being in the Chantry.
"Take it easy, Hawke. You've had a nasty spill." Sebastian's voice said from beside me.
"Sebastian? What are you doing here? What happened?" I asked as I sat up slowly.
"You were leaving the Chantry. Witnesses said it looked as if you got dizzy. You tumbled down the stairs. Erin healed you, but you will be sore for quite sometime I'm afraid." He said as he sat on the bed beside me.
"Erin?" I asked confused. That name seemed familiar.
"She is one of the sisters at the Chantry. She went in to see Ethina while you were there." He explained. He gently pushed my hair back from my forehead. "You gave me quite a scare, Hawke."
"I don't know what happened." I said wishing he wasn't sitting here in my room. On my bed. Touching me. I was going to burn in the Void for sure.
"I need to talk with you. I have to tell you something." He started, but the door burst open and the rest of our companions poured in.
"Are you alright? What happened?" Fenris asked moving closer. Anders shoved him aside and hurried to me.
"Let me examine you." He said quickly.
"No." Sebastian ordered. "She has already been seen to by a healer."
"I'm better than that Chantry healer." Anders frowned at him.
"Both of you stop it. I would like for Anders to examine me. I'm sure it's nothing, but my head hurts. Anders always makes it better. All of you please give us some privacy." Sebastian looked worried but shooed the others out of the room. Fenris paused and eyed Anders.
"I'll be right out here if you need me." He promised. They had only gotten worse with each other after Vengeance had manifested and nearly killed a mage we were trying to save. I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
Anders waited until they were all gone and turned to me with worried eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I haven't felt right in a while now. And I've been having weird dreams. And I'm exhausted all the time. This dizzy spell wasn't the first one." I answered.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't think it was a big deal. I've been under a lot of stress. But now…well, I can't keep falling down stairs." I shrugged. "Anders?" I asked worriedly.
"Hmm?" He asked as he dug in the pack he carried.
"Do you think I could be possessed?"
"You didn't make a deal with a demon, did you?" He asked.
"Don't be stupid, Anders. I'm serious. After the things we've seen…do you think it possible?"
"No. Let me examine you and then I'll test you if you want me to. Want to tell me why you think you're possessed?" He asked as he began to glow and run his hands over me.
"The dreams…they seem so real. Sometimes I can still smell him when I…" I trailed off feeling my cheeks heat up. I had said too much. Anders paused and looked at me.
"He who?" He asked giving me a teasing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "If you say it's that broody mage hating beast, I may never speak to you again."
"It's not. And don't call him a beast. I don't let him call you an abomination." I frowned at him.
"Fine. So who is it?"
"I'm not telling you. You don't need to know that."
"Andraste's dimpled butt cheeks! It's the preachy prince!" Anders laughed as I slugged him. He rubbed his arm and shook his head. "Aren't you a naughty girl!"
"Anders, shut up!" I snapped.
"Just giving you trouble." He said and went back to examining me. He gasped and stood up quickly.
"What?" I asked fearfully. "Am I possessed?"
He shook his head and looked confused. "Hawke, have you…I mean…this really isn't my place, but…"
"Just spit it out, Anders!"
"Have you ever…been with anyone? I mean, the way you act and all I assumed you were a virgin." He was as red cheeked as I felt.
"Why in the Maker's name is that your business?"
"Because I need to know."
"Why?" I snapped. He sat down and looked at me with worried eyes.
"Because you're pregnant, sweetheart."
I looked at him dumbfounded. There was no way I could be pregnant. I had never been with a man before. It wasn't possible. "You're wrong. I can't be." I shook my head.
"Sweetheart, you are. I take it you haven't been with anyone." He shifted so he was sitting against my pillows with me and allowed me to curl into his arms.
"Maybe it's a demon." I protested trying to make my mind wrap around this.
"Afraid not, love. It will be alright. The baby is strong and healthy. Close to two months if I wagered a guess."
"Anders, I can't be pregnant. I've never…" I froze in horror. "The slavers."
"You think they…"
"It's the only time I've been held before. I was unconscious most of the time. Maybe…" I choked back a sob as I thought it. Anders tightened his arm around me.
"I'm so sorry, Hawke. We should have been quicker. We shouldn't have let you go without more of us."
I clung to his jacket and cried. "What am I going to do?"
"We'll figure it out. Somehow. Sweetheart, you won't be alone in this." He promised and kissed my head.
"How am I going to explain it to the others? Oh, Maker! Fenris!" I sobbed as I thought of how this was going to effect him. He had been the one to insist we go after the slavers who were in the caves. I had gone alone with him because the others were angry about it. He had run off after one of them who he knew worked for Danarius, leaving me alone with the rest. I had been caught and held for a day before the others came for me.
"He touched you!" Anders yelled and I saw the telling blue light in his eyes.
"No, Anders. Calm down. Fenris would never hurt me. He's going to be upset about this."
"Good. It's his fault."
"Don't."
"But…"
"I said don't."
"Fine. Do you want me to talk to the others?"
"So you can tell it cruelly to Fenris?"
"I won't. I don't want to hurt you."
I sighed. "Thank you for that, but I think it needs to come from me. Help me up. No time like the present."
"It will be alright." He promised as he helped me stand. Casting healing and strengthening spells as I swayed. I nodded thanks to him and then we headed to my study to speak with the others.
