I'm sorry for taking forever to update, my sister had surgery and I had to be her caretaker. Therefore, this story has been the last thing on my mind. I thank all of you who have been patiently waiting for me to update and giving me your support. Sadly though, I am back in school so I will try to update often but it will be difficult being in highschool and all. Without further ado, I give you chapter 7.
My morning had been hectic, with everyone excited about the fair it was almost impossible to find the last minute supplies we needed. I had not seen Fenris yet which was odd, even for him.
I weaved through the crowd and finally reached our humble, but temporary, abode. I had started packing our things, we had lingered in this town far too long.
As I packed my clothes, I heard the soft footfalls of a certain elf. He was dressed normally, a simple black tunic that reached the middle of his thighs and his skin tight black pants. He wasn't even wearing a cloak. I eyed him cautiously, "What's the occasion Fenris?"
He scoffed, "You really believe I would forget your birthday so soon Roxanne?"
By the maker, I forgot my own birthday between the excitement of the town and the urgency of leaving. My expression softened and I smiled, "I don't know what I'd do without you Fenris and your amazing memory." He chuckled and waved off the comment, instead taking my hand and leading me outside.
"Fenris where are we going, we need to pack and leave!"
"Without a proper celebration? I think not."
He lead me to the town fair, a wondrous sight. Torches were blazing, decorations and color everywhere. Food stands and preformers as far as the eye can see, music playing loudly and bards singing. I felt like a child in the huge crowd, so many had gathered to honor those who lost their lives at ogstagar. In Lothering, very few believed Logain's claim that the wardens had betrayed us. I turned to Fenris who had been watching me with an amused expression, "But Fenris we need to leave before someone recognizes us." He simply smirked at me and handed me a mask with white wings on the side and blue detailing that covered only the upper half of my face while putting on his wolf mask, "Quit worrying and enjoy yourself, they can't recognize what they don't see." I sigh and he simply grins, knowing he has won.
We wander about eating the delicious, but expensive, food and watching different performers pull off amazing tricks. Fenris pulled me into a dancing crowd where the music was the loudest. He bowed and took my hand, "May I have this dance?" I smile and accept, swaying to the music and letting myself relax. I look at Fenris suspiciously, "I thought you couldn't dance and hated it." "I never said I couldn't. True, I grew to hate it due to Danarius, but men have gone to greater extents for a beautiful lady." The blood rushed to my face and I was suddenly glad that night had come with the darkness and a gentle breeze. The shock had rendered me speechless as I looked away. He had never said such things to me before.
The song came to an end and he unexpectedly dipped me, looking seemingly into my soul as his face came closer to mine. I took off his mask and let my eyes flutter closed and his lips molded against mine, soft and tender, in a gentle kiss. I was shocked when it felt like sparks were flying between our lips. I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around his neck, every area of skin to skin contact felt like an electric storm. All too soon we had seperated, both panting.
He looked at me steadily, but seemingly having an internal battle with himself. After minutes of silence, he ran his hand down my arm. "Do you feel the sparks?" I nod, I was confused but I needed answers. "You feel that because we have a special connection and I feel it too." He took a second, bracing himself. He looked so vunerable, something I had never seen in him. "This may be hard to take, but I need you to hear me out. Theese feelings we have, this special connection we have, it's because we're mates." I gasped I knew what mates were, I didn't want to get my hopes up with him. The signs were obvious, but there was only one true test for my kind and I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. Fenris grabs my shoulders, looks me in the eyes and says, "I don't want to freak you out and I will show you proof. I'm a w-"
A scream pierces the air, followed by more screams and thuds. I look around to see chaos, dead bodies littered around and darkspawn. I pull Fenris towards the house, sprinting. We get in and grab our things, Fenris pulling out his greatsword and leading me out again. I pull out my daggers(Yes she is a warrior, but her carrying around a greatsword would arose suspicion. While Fenris can carry one because he looks like her bodyguard) and start cutting a path through darkspawn with Fenris.
We make it to the outskirts and start heading towards the Kocari Wilds. We come to bridge that crosses a large gorge, we switch weapons because the bridge could only take one person at a time and I was lighter so I took the heavier weapon. I start to cross, the bridge swaying and creeking. I hear roaring and what seems like a million sets of feet thundering towards us. I get across and watch in horror as the darkspawn reach the bridge and start cutting the rope. Fenris is only halfway across, but picks up the pace. C'mon a few more steps... SNAP.
Fenris jumps and I grab his wrist. He dangles off the side and I start to pull him up. I gasp as a arrow hits my shoulder and suddenly my arm feels like it's going to pop out of the socket. I try to pull him up, but my efforts are in vain. He starts to slip and I hear the darkspawn chortle in amusement across the gorge. "Roxy, you have to let me go. My weight on your injured shoulder will only make it worse."
"No! I refuse to leave you, we've come this far, I won't abandon you now!"
"Roxanne, you can't even pull me up. I want you to know that I l-" SNAP. An arrow lodges in his arm and he lets go. I try to grab him, but he falls into the gorge below and I am left there holding his wolf mask. "NO!" Tears spring to my eyes as his body hits the rocks and disappears into the water. I stand up and look at the darkspawn that dared to laugh at my lose. " YOU MOTHERFUCKERS! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Though my threats were empty, considering I had no long ranged weapon, I shouted them from the top of my lungs until my voice was gone. They spared me one last glance, laughed, and left. After what seemed like hours, I dried my tears and numbly got up. I started walking and I struck down any darkspawn in the path with HIS sword in HIS honor.
'When did I start caring so much?' I scoff at myself, 'when he became my mate. Even if he wasn't my mate, he was a noble man who just wanted freedom.' I shook my head, ridding myself of these thoughts. I had to focus on the task at hand.
I felt as if I had been walking for days when I stumbled upon a couple. Aveline Vallen and her husband Ser Wesley. He had abruptly become hostile about me being an apostate. I scoffed at him and told him I gave up magic long ago. He reluctantly accepted my answer and we trekked on. We slayed any creatures in our path, even faced an ogre head-on. Aveline exclaimed that I was far too reckless in that attack, but frankly I felt nothing. I did not fear death now, for I had nothing left to live for and soon Aveline would feel my pain. Her husband had the taint and she was forced to kill him.
Then, we met Flemeth better known as the witch of the wilds and got us on a ship to Gwaren and finally to Kirkwall.
*Timeskip*
I stood on the deck, gazing at the incoming docks. The sea air hitting my face and the sounds of desperate people hit my ears. "What? They're not letting anyone inside, look."
"Aveline darling, don't worry I have friends, if you can call them that, in high places." I flashed her a smirk and she groaned. This had become our regular routine, me fighting off my feelings with humor and her not appreciating it. We reached the man in charge who told us to bugger off. "There has got to be extra room for the pretty people," I flash him a flirtatious smile and I hear Aveline groan. The man scoffs and waves me off. I sigh, "Look, if you can find my mother, Lady Leandra Amell, you would have a few less refugees bothering you."
We stood around for hours. I poke Aveline, "I'm boooooooooored!" She frowns at me, "I am not your mother, entertain yourself." "You're right, you may not be my mother, but she is." I look in the direction of a noble woman in a flashy over-the-top dress adorned with jewels and too much jewelry with slightly greying hair. She walks over to me and squeezes the life out of me, "OH MY BABY!" I groan, "Mooooommm. I think I'm dying." She releases me and pinches my cheeks. Ugh. She was only putting on this act for Aveline and all the people watching, but one look at Aveline told me she saw through my mother's bullshit.
I enter the Amell estate and look around, it was so... flashy and huge. Aveline leaves and my mother turns to me, "I expect for you to pay back what you now owe me, I'll have no daughter of mine being a freeloader."
"Of course mother, I'll do a few jobs and you'll have it back in no time." She wags her finger at me, "And none of that mercenary business, you will give up fighting to become a lady. I won't have my daughter marrying some nobody mercenary, you will be courted and marry someone of nobility." I scoff, "Yeah, and look how your arranged marriage turned out." SLAP. I rubbed my now red cheek as my mother storms off. Now I remember why I stayed with dad.
I walked around the city looking for a suitable day job, there was no way I would give up being a mercenary. So I'll just have to be disguised. I found the Hanged Man, some local pointed me here for a good job with decent pay. I walk in and talk to the owner, "We have an opening as a server." Oh hell no," Do you have anything else?" He looks me up and down, "Well, we do need a new performer. If you can sing and dance, you've got yourself a job." I nod, not the worse job in the world. I'd rather be up on a stage where no one can touch me, than serving drinks and getting groped.
I walk into the house to find my absolute favorite person. "Look what the dog dragged in, my wretched sister."
"Why hello dearest Carter, oh how much I missed you! And my favorite companion! Come here Blaze!" My war hound jumps in my arms and licks my face mercilessly. My brother growls in irritation and leaves. I make the acquaintance of Bodahn and Sandal, then I'm off to find my new armor.
After viewing nearly a hundred armors, I finally find it. Shining silver warrior armor that hugged my body with clawed gauntlets and a blue velvet hooded cape that hides my hair, my heart clenched. the armor reminded me of Fenris' s. My face was still showing and that was a problem. Then it hit me, the hawk mask. I put it on and it completed my look. My reflection in the looking glass shows a fierce warrior with sadness in her eyes. I sigh, 'if only Fenris was hear to see it.'
So I think this was a pretty good chapter and was pretty long. I think it was pretty successful but I'd like to hear what you guys think. Hawke is also going to look different the next time we see her. nothing too drastic, but she is trying to be discreet. You know you wanna click your friend the review button. ;) Apologies for any grammatical errors, still updating on my phone.
Winged/Hawk Mask: art/Valkyrie-Mask-260393053
Wolf Mask: art/Ice-Wolf-Mask-268679632
Hawke's armor: art/Ardia-the-Leviathan-284060771
