Chapter 9
Fenris and Hawke were sitting in an awkward silence as they waited for food to be brought over. Olivia refused to let Hawke help out in the kitchen, stating that she would be worked to the bone tomorrow, so there was no need to tire her out tonight. Noah had brought over another ale for Fenris and a small glass of wine for Hawke, she sipped it sparingly, she wasn't particularly used to alcohol and she felt the blush rise across her cheeks. Thankfully the others in the bar didn't seem to be bothered about their presence at all and it was reassuring that none of them had even spared her a second glance. Hawke mentally berated herself, she had been in the company of men before, this shouldn't be any different. 'How is the ale?' She asked simply as she turned to look at him from where she had been watching the door and windows.
Fenris raised a brow, a little surprised at her sudden outburst but it had amused him as well. 'It is tolerable,' he says a little bluntly. 'To be totally truthful, I've always preferred wine to ale,' he admits, wondering why he was telling her, but at least they were having a conversation now. She laughs a little, tilting her head at him.
'Well, this wine is very sweet,' Hawke says sliding the glass over to him. 'Let's swap,' she suggests. He's a little confused at her suggestion but does as she asks, sliding his mug towards her, careful not to slop the pale ale over his fingers as he does so. Hawke grins as she picks it up, she felt like a teenager stealing their first taste of alcohol and trying not to be too excited about it. It wasn't what she expected, it seemed to be an acquired taste and her facial expression showed it, making Fenris chuckle as he watched her expectantly.
'Ah gel, that'll put hairs on your chest if ya drink too much,' Noah laughs as he brings two laden plates to their table. Hawke blushes a little as she puts the mug down. 'Though I can't say too much about Elves,' he adds putting down a plate in front of Fenris, 'seeing as ya lot don't even grow beards,' he muses. 'Had us a dwarf in here, hairy little bugger already. Ya could barely see him when he left,' Noah joked making Hawke grin greatly as she suppressed a laugh. 'Now eat up, y'hear? She'll have me guts for garters if ya don't clear ya plates,' he says drawing his finger across his throat dramatically. 'Eat up, this'll stick to ya lungs, put some more meat on ya bones.'
'Thank you, Noah,' Hawke smiles as she nods. 'It looks wonderful,' she said honestly. Noah left with a grin and taking Fenris' empty mug away with him as he returned to the bar. The food looked filling and hot, some type of meat covered in a rich gravy, rough cut vegetables and a suet pudding on the side. Hawke didn't wait for Fenris and dug right in, it had been a few months since she had a meal that tasted as good, she wasn't a messy eater but she didn't spare any decorum. 'So good,' she mumbled through her mouth of food. Fenris didn't reply, but simply nodded as he dove into his own plateful. The previous awkward silence became more comfortable as they cleared their plates, their stomachs overcoming any hesitation. 'One day I hope I can cook as well as that,' she sighed, full to the brim she slid her plate away, only a smidge of gravy left.
'You don't cook?' Fenris asked as he finished his own meal.
Hawke grinned. 'No, I burn,' she laughs shrugging a shoulder. 'It took a long time for me to learn how to cook on the road, I can smoulder a rabbit like no-one's business,' Hawke mused half to herself. Fenris raised a brow, she didn't start off with any survival skills, which slaves learnt from their mothers, how to cook and make food from anything was passed down. Which meant that she wasn't an escaped slave, the idea of her being a Magister's daughter became more possible. Coupled with the fact that she could read seemed to solidify that idea in his mind. The scarring on her skin was confusing, he couldn't think of any reason how she would have come by them. He looked at her carefully as she glanced around the bar, taking into mind the new occupants that crowded the bar.
'May I ask...' he starts, before stopping. He shouldn't get too familiar with this woman, no matter how she dogged him on the journey before and how she was on his mind. A curiosity for sure, but one that he shouldn't solve. She turned and gave him her full attention, her braid slipping over her shoulder.
'What is it?' She asked as he had faltered into silence.
He took the coward's way out, 'I wanted to know why you told them that we were getting married,' he says a little stiffly. Hawke blushed and then grinned.
'Because it's what they assumed. If I contradicted it, it would have added more questions as to why we're travelling together. If they have made the assumption that we're a couple, others will as well. Which means the other details about us will become blurred. They won't remember a scarred woman and tattooed elf,' at the mention of his tattoos he automatically sat up straighter and his mouth thinned, but Hawke didn't make any comment towards it. 'They'll remember the sweet, shy couple that were travelling to Ferelden to get married. That's what will stick in their mind and it might give us a little bit of space between anyone who wished to track us.' Fenris observed her for a moment, it was clever that was for sure and he did understand that it was the bigger details that people tended to remember. Having something that was bigger than your appearance, be it personality or situation, that's what they focused on. In a few days, if they kept up the charade, their scars or tattoos wouldn't mean anything to these people.
'Very well, I wish you had given me some warning beforehand,' he says a little grumpily. Hawke snorted and rolled her eyes, making him regret the decision.
'You don't seem like much of an actor Fenris, believe me when I say, I'm used to this sort of thing,' she shrugged again. Her casual turn of words made Fenris wonder what she meant by it, but he let it lie, he was determined not to be dragged into this woman's past. He had to admit she seemed to put on a facade depending on whom she was talking to at the time, with Olivia and Noah, it was the demure daughter, with Zevran, she was fiery and coy, when they were alone... she was well, all of those, and more. It made him wonder if she was playing him all along. It was a thought he put to one side.
'Shall we go?' He says standing up, they had decided to walk around the village after all. Hawke stood up with him and smiled, gathering their plates together and placing them on the bar and letting Noah that they were going for a wander. The large man smiled broadly and nodded, before catching Fenris' eye and giving him what he probably thought was a sly look. Fenris tried to hide his grimace with a half smile before walking out the Inn. Hawke followed, her limp barely visible any more, she breathed in deeply as she walked in front of Fenris over to the stables, she petted the mare who was happily chewing on her bedding. Hawke revelled in the cool evening, the air heavy with rose scent and the smell of dew. 'Where would you like to go?' He asked as he stood and rubbed Delicae between the ears.
'We should probably check the surrounding areas, forests and such, if we can see nearby towns, any useful storage or hiding places,' she says half to herself. 'Anywhere with water,' she adds as an afterthought.
'Looks like it'll be a clear night tonight, a lot of light from the moon,' he says looking at the sky. 'Maybe a full one tomorrow. If we weren't stuck here then I would suggest travelling by night,' Fenris says petting the mare one last time before walking over to Hawke.
'Well, we're here for a day or two, if needs be we'll split up and keep moving on our own to meet up later if it becomes too much,' she suggests before choosing a random direction and beginning to walk along the path. The suggestion shocked Fenris for a second, they had spoken about leaving if they felt it wasn't working, but to purposely split and then rejoin? That required a lot of trust on either side. He bit his lip but began to follow her, before they went any further, some questions had to be answered.
Only a short one I'm afraid, if you would like me to continue, please let me know
