Chapter 10

"Uh oh!" Varric shuffled his cards. "Someone is in trouble."

Fenris surveyed Varric's room. A smaller table had taken the place of the lengthy monstrosity that often pinned people to the wall when they tried to leave their seats. Tonight, Wicked Grace was the game of choice.

Besides the dwarf, Donnic and Anders were present. The mage was an unwelcome sight, one that Fenris greeted with mixed emotions. In the end, he decided to stay, if only to best his archenemy and feed his ego. It seemed cruel in a way, like taking candy from a baby, but his pure unadulterated hatred for the mage won over any senseless need to be nice.

"Were you speaking to me, dwarf?" Fenris pulled out a chair and took a seat next to Donnic. "Why must you think there is a problem?"

"Well, it's midweek and instead of cuddling up with Hawke in front of the fire, drinking your fancy champagne, you're consorting with three very hairy men in a vomit encrusted pub," he chortled. "Call me a naughty nug-humper, but I'd say something is wrong."

"I came to play cards," Fenris shrugged the comment away. "And we drink red, not white."

"You came here to brood, elf," said Varric.

"I could brood anywhere. Why else would I allow my thoughts to be troubled by your company?"

Varric and Donnic exchanged a knowing glance, the type shared by men who have endured a relationship or two. Anders remained unchanged.

"For that lie, I'm demoting you from ballsy back down to broody," Varric reshuffled the deck. "I've seen this type of domestic bliss a million times and if you don't believe me, ask Donnic why he is here."

"Donnic, why are you here?"

"Aveline and I... had a disagreement."

"Take note," Varric pointed at Donnic like a teacher would a book. "He admits to it like a broken man, Fenris."

"Not that it is any of your business, dwarf, but I am the one who has been wronged."

Varric gasped, "No, you don't say!" He placed the deck of cards on the table and folded his hands. "Hence, the brooding."

"She has been made aware that I am unhappy," Fenris leaned back into his stiff chair. He tried to ignore the inane looks of disbelief from his friends. "I expect there will be an apology."

"That was your first mistake, Fenris" Donnic took a swig of his ale. He appeared to be truly disappointed. "Have you learned nothing?"

"Apparently not."

"Oh this should be good," said Varric. "The elf is getting lessons in love."

Donnic ignored the comment like so many before. "Women are never wrong."

"That is ridiculous," said Fenris. "Hawke is not infallible." He took a sip of his cheap wine and grimaced. "She has often admitted to her mistakes."

"Oh... no no no," Varric waggled his finger. "That was before you were a couple. Things are different now, elf."

Donnic nodded in agreement. He looked like a man reliving a traumatic event. "I hate to admit it, but Varric is right. I can't remember the last time Aveline apologized to me and meant it."

"Is it even possible for the dwarf to be correct?" Fenris smirked. "Your words frighten me, my friend."

"Aw, broody made a funny," Varric motioned to the barmaid for another round of drinks. Norah walked away in a huff. "So, I've got to know, why are you angry with Hawke?"

"She was inconsiderate and that is all I will say."

Fenris twirled his wineglass between his fingers. Varric noted the extra dose of melancholy in his voice and thought about his earlier conversation with Hawke.

There is definitely something off about the elf, thought Varric. Two days ago he actually smiled and now he's willingly sitting here across from Anders. This isn't about Hawke.

"Well, she was considerate enough to take you back." Anders rolled his eyes. "It's nice to see you're putting her first."

"No one asked for your opinion, mage."

"I thought she had more sense." Anders looked as if he had just stepped in something vile. "I guess I was wrong."

"You are often wrong," said Fenris, "though you refuse to admit it."

Great, the pissing match has begun, thought Varric. Where's Norah with my drink?

Varric pointed towards Fenris and Anders "Donnic, meet the twins, bitch and moan."

"Who's bitch?" said Donnic.

"Do I really need to answer that?"

Donnic smiled. He ignored Fenris's scowl. "Lighten up, Fenris. Men come here to get drunk and forget about their problems not add to them. Maker, I know I do."

"You should listen to him, elf," said Varric. "After you leave here you've got plenty waiting for you at home."

Fenris eyed Bianca with a flicker of fake admiration. "I'm starting to see the appeal of a crossbow."

"Too bad, Bianca likes a man who knows how to pull her trigger." Varric looked lovingly at his aerodynamic weapon. "Besides, it's not like you'll be returning to some domineering dwarven lady with five ugly children, its Hawke. Half the men in Kirkwall would cut off one or both of their family jewels to be in your shoes."

"Would that be my nonexistent shoes?"

Varric took note of his 'I hate the world' demeanor and decided to say something else. "Alright, most men would love to be in your place."

"They would have to kill me first," said Fenris.

"That can be arranged," said Anders.

"That's a bit hasty, Blondie," said Varric. "If the elf dies it will ruin the plot for my new story. We can't have that."

"Marian and I are together, mage, whether you would accept it or not," Fenris folded his arms. "And I would prefer it if you refrained from offering your inept services to my lady."

"Could you stop saying her name, elf, otherwise I'll think Hawke actually has feelings and stuff. It will get... personal."

"And Hawke feels the same?"

"Let it be, Anders," said Donnic. "Will you deal, Varric?"

Thank the Maker for Donnic, thought Varric.

"Sure. Andraste is wild, minimum bet five silver."

Varric dealt the cards. The players watched the dwarf's hands closely for any signs of cheating. There was finally peace while they contemplated the game.

"So," a mischievous smirk sat easily on Varric's lips. "I once saw Hawke naked."

"Varric, your lies grow more extravagant the longer that I am acquainted with you," said Fenris. He upped the ante and continued to stare at his cards. Varric's words were preposterous.

"Oh yeah," Varric matched his bet. "She has a small mole just below her right shoulder blade and another just above..."

Fenris threw his cards onto the table. Donnic took a peak at them. "Dwarf! How do you know this?"

"Well, I guess if we're being picky it was half-naked." Varric refused to look at Fenris. His cards were more interesting and safer. "You know, the good thing about that half is that the other half doesn't know you've seen it."

Varric's aggravating smile broadened the more he reminisced.

"I'm not sure Aveline would approve of this, but I have to hear this story," said Donnic.

"So. Do. I." Fenris emphasized each word like a mother waiting to hear her child's naughty story told.

Varric thumbed towards Fenris. "This was before Hawke laid eyes on old pointy-ears and ruined everything."

"Very funny," said Fenris.

"Hawke, Carver, Aveline and I were headed back from Sundermount. Other than seeing Hawke naked, the whole trip had been a waste of time."

Fenris raised a disapproving eyebrow. His cheeks were flushed. Varric was only mildly worried, but he hurried along with the story just in case things turned ugly. It had been one of his less than great ideas.

"Anyway, we stopped off to make camp. Hawke decided, in the middle of bandit country, that she needed to be girly and went off to have a bath in a nearby pool. But she didn't tell anyone. So, as I came out of the bushes, there she stood naked. Maker's breath, that was a sight."

"And exactly how much of her did you see?"

"It was enough to know you are one lucky bastard and any other sane man would be home right now."

"Wait... Hawke never leaves camp without telling someone," Anders added in a thoughtful tone.

"I must have not heard her say, then," said Varric.

"Yeah right," Donnic smiled. "And why were you in the bushes again?"

"Hey, you're going to get me in trouble with the elf. Stop it."

"You are already in trouble with the elf," said Fenris.

"Oh get over it, broody. Besides, you get to see her naked whenever you want and she lets you touch her. Maker knows why," he mumbled. "The rest of us have to use our imaginations."

"I demand you imagine someone else," said Fenris.

"I'll just make a mental note of that," said Varric. "There's always Isabela but she doesn't leave much to the imagination. It's kind of a good time in reverse."

The three men continued to play cards with Fenris and Anders arguing on occasion. As the night progressed, Fenris became intoxicated to the point that it was necessary for Donnic to help him home. When they reached the mansion, Donnic patted him on the back.

"Why are you angry with Hawke?" Donnic propped Fenris up.

"I don't remember," said Fenris.

"That's probably for the best."

Donnic knocked on the door and waited for Bodhan to answer. But it was Hawke who stood before them.

"Ah," she smiled. "I see you found something of mine."

"Good evening," said Donnic. "I thought you might like it back."

He urged Fenris forward. Hawke wrapped her arm around Fenris's waist and balanced him upright.

"Thank you."

Donnic bowed his head, "Good evening, Serah."

Hawke closed the door with her foot. She guided her drunken lover upstairs and onto the bed. Fenris smiled in her general direction.

"Hawke," he croaked, "where am I?"

"Home," she whispered.

"And where is that?"

"With me."

"And what are you wearing, Marian?"

"Not much."

"I had hoped you would say that."

And with that, Fenris fell soundly asleep.