This was my entry for a Fenris fanfiction contest on Tumblr. I'm pleased to say that I won!

It was based on a piece of artwork, that I unfortunately cannot figure out how to link here, which depicted Sebastian dressing Fenris in his white armor.


"You are a peculiar man," said Fenris.

Sebastian buckled the gleaming white guard into place around his arm, seemingly unbothered by this assessment. "So I've heard."

"Is it necessary to wear your armor to learn to shoot?"

"Your armor would be impossible. The gauntlets alone, and the shoulders - No, this is better." He cinched the fabric tighter across the elf's back.

Of course the tall prince's armor was too big for him, but not unmanageably so. Clearly Sebastian had made adjustments. The jacket hung off his narrow frame where it had hugged Sebastian's barrel chest, but it would suffice.

"Armor is not necessary for training," he protested half-heartedly. It felt strange to be wearing another man's clothes. Especially clothing so… bright.

"Give me my fun." Sebastian stepped back to look him over and smiled approvingly. "Splendid. I should have a full set made for you like this. You could wear it to Starkhaven…"

"I haven't agreed to that," Fenris reminded him.

"Or you should keep this and I make myself another. I think it suits you better."

Fenris grimaced and looked at the ground. "I doubt it," he said quietly.

Most everything suited Sebastian well. Unlike Fenris, who was stiff and awkward in his own clothes, sometimes especially so around his easygoing, attractive friend.

Fenris did look forward to acquiring a new skill. Archery was one area of combat he had no experience in, and the ability could prove useful one day. As Sebastian was one of very few people he could imagine willingly taking direction from, when he offered lessons Fenris readily agreed, turning him down only once beforehand.

Sebastian dressed in loose clothing that Fenris had never seen before. Oddly enough, he looked much larger and ganglier without his gear. He whistled cheerfully as he brought out the targets. Sebastian had always enjoyed teaching, and he was a fine instructor, patient and thorough. But Fenris could tell that these lessons would have their difficulties.

For one thing, he did not remember his sword training to be nearly so.. intriguing.

"First: the arrow. My arrows are a very light wood, and on the long side. But the shaft - the wooden length of it - is very firm. I like a good spine to them, so they are a little more stiff than most other arrows."

Fenris cleared his throat. "Are they?"

"Yes." The arrow slid between his deft fingers until the sharp tip of it rested in his hand. "The head is typically a fine steel. Since we are here for target practice, we will use a blunt. A lesser metal, and less sharp, but still quite potent. The arrows I use in combat are sharper and barbed, to make them harder to remove. This arrow, though, will enter the target smoothly and pull out easily."

"Mmm-hmm." Fenris observed the arrowhead sliding in and out of the archer's fist, an illustration of his point about smooth entry, and felt himself start to flush.

"The fletchings are quail feathers, and help the arrow fly true. They are taken from the same bird, to give equal shape and smoothness. They are quite soft."

Sebastian suddenly seized the elf's hand, the one that was not currently encased in a leather glove, and lifted it to feel the quail feathers that lined the end of the arrow. They were indeed soft, and very smooth. They would sail in the air like the bird himself once had.

Sebastian's hands were also very soft.

"And then here, here is the nock." He guided Fenris's fingers to the notch in the end of the arrow, where it would sit against the bowstring.

He stood dumbly staring at the arrow until Sebastian returned with a bow. "Hold your left arm out in front of you," he instructed Fenris.

Sebastian placed a bow in his hand, arranging his fingers in the most correct hold. "You are free to invent your own technique once you have mastered mine," he said. He then came around behind Fenris to lift his other arm, which still held the arrow.

"Now we will nock the arrow. Hold the cock facing away from you."

"The- the what?" Fenris stuttered, thoroughly flustered.

"The middle feather, the white one."

Oh. On the arrow.

"There, see how the nock is now aligned to the bowstring? Set it on the string."

To the elf's further distraction, Sebastian followed his arm to the bowstring with his own very long right arm, while his left held his bow arm straight. There were arms all around him, in other words, and a long torso against his back.

Sebastian's gentle rolling accent came to him from just above his own head. Why was he so blasted tall? Even most humans weren't this tall. It was disconcerting.

"Now, pull back the arrow."

The bowstring tensed as he flexed it back, Sebastian guiding his hand. "Keep this arm parallel to the ground. Steady the arrow, wait for stillness before you release. Keep your fingers well away from the guide, the fletchings are sharp in flight."

The guiding hands at his arms retreated, and Fenris was holding his shot at the ready. The bow quivered, faintly, with the potential energy of its notched arrow.

He could not stop himself from gasping when Sebastian's hands landed on each side of his waist, and his mouth came to his ear to whisper:

"shoot"

He released the arrow, and it flew… right over the target, and into the distance.

Fenris bristled immediately, and even moreso when Sebastian let go of him. The archer was laughing, a musical laugh, backing away with a bright and merry look that made Fenris wish for lightning to incinerate him on the spot and spare him this embarassment.

Fenris threw the bow on the ground. "I am terrible at this. We're done."

"Oh no, no no!" Sebastian stopped laughing immediately. "I'm sorry, it — it was a fine shot, in everything but aim. Forgive me."

The elf glowered. First he had made him dress in this… ridiculous armor, and then encouraged him to make a fool of himself. "If you're finished, I will take my leave."

"Fenris. It was only your first shot! I would not expect you to hit the target on your first try. We hadn't even covered how to aim yet!"

Still suspicious, Fenris relented. "All right. I will try it again."

This time the archer stood opposite to advise and correct his form, which made it easier to concentrate. When he released this time, the arrow struck the edge of the target.

"Good!" Sebastian sounded pleased.

"Better, at least."

They repeated the process until Fenris was striking the target on a regular basis, if nowhere near the center of it just yet. But he had forgotten to pay attention to the felching feathers, and one of them slit open his left thumb upon release.

Fenris shook his hand distractedly, looking for his arrow. It had missed the target again.

"Did you cut yourself? Let me see!" Sebastian grabbed at his hand, and he felt the human take his hand in both of his and draw it near to his face, examining the wound. Fenris looked over just in time to watch him bring the thumb to his mouth and put his lips around it, in a kind of suckling kiss.

Fenris startled, yanking back his hand in an elaborate flinch.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

"It was bleeding," Sebastian said resolutely, and his eyes were strange and bright. Then he apologized. "I forgot myself, I am sorry."

"It is fine," Fenris answered quickly. "I do not mean to be ungrateful. You have given me your time… and even your armor…"

The archer seemed eager to hurry them back to a more comfortable subject. "Is it comfortable?"

"Fine. The fur collar is unnecessary."

"You haven't experienced a Starkhaven winter. I think you'll find it very necessary, should you accompany me. As my commander, this would be your uniform."

Fenris shifted uncomfortably. "Surely this can be eliminated," he said, grasping the small bust of Andraste situated at his waist.

Sebastian grinned. "It's my emblem. I'm afraid it has to stay."

Fenris grumbled, "It would make more sense to have your face there." Then he realized what he had said and wished to die on the spot.

"Goodness no, I'm not nearly that vain."

Fenris decided he had best flee the area before Sebastian could notice what he had said, or before he could humiliate himself any further. "Oh look," he said quickly, "the sun is much lower than it was before I should go."

Sebastian looked at him quizzically. "We have at least another hour of daylight." Then he called after him, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

He certainly was, but would not realize it until the door closed upon him in his manor and he saw the ivory guard still on his wrist.

He had taken Sebastian's armor, and left his own at the Chantry.