Well like I said not the most thrilling chapter but this one has promise I hope... my fingers get effected by tangents...

Chapter 20 – Honestly didn't think I'd get this far.

'Mother? We're home,' Hawke charged in the front door, he ran to greet Bubble who was already barking and bouncing around the door.

'Argh mutt what'cha' got?' He tackled the bounding mabari and they play wrestled on the floor. Bubble nipped his hands and licked his face, Hawke grabbed him around the middle and threw him off laughing. Makatza watched with interest, she liked dogs but she was never able to have one, not with so many children and duties around. Maybe now she lived here she would consider asking Garrett and Leandra if it was ok if she got a puppy.

'Ahh Makatza, Garrett, welcome home, good night?' Leandra walked in looking beautiful and calm as ever, she waved Bubble away and hugged her son.

'Makatza,' she held her hands out, Makatza smiled sheepishly and took them, she looked at her with close scrutiny. 'Garrett didn't tell me how he got you back but I'm so happy you are, I'm guessing he told you of my little idea?' Makatza nodded. 'Oh good, you look completely fine, he told me about the arrow incident and I was worried.'

Sandal ran over 'doggie!'

Bubble barked a reply. Leandra smiled at the scene, 'oh Aveline and Sebastian brought your gifts and most of your belongings, it was a strange bag, but I put it in your room,' she ran her hand down Makatza's cheek. She patted her, changing the subject.

'Time for your name-day present, now I didn't know what to get you but I thought I would get you something practical, Garrett told me about you training in Isabela's style. I still think that she should wear at least some better protection, I had to guess most bits but follow me,' she walked into the study and held the door open.

Makatza glanced at Hawke who grinned and placed his hands on her shoulders pushing her forward. She stumbled slightly but walked into the study. She gasped.

Inside stood a manikin of her size, covered in beautiful leather armour. Thigh high boots with metal plates on the shins and around the ankles, move up to a studded leather skirt, a leather vest which had no metal on, good seeing as she would be bending her body most the time, shoulder braces and studded vambraces, Avelines gauntlets should fit nicely over the top.

'Oh, oh, it's, I mean, Garrett look at it!' She bounced on her toes, 'Oh thank you mother!' She held her hand up to her mouth, 'I'm sorry I mean, I, it just slipped out.'

Leandra had tears in her eyes, 'oh darling it's ok, you can call me mother, you are a daughter of mine now,' she said firmly. She lead her to the manikin, 'do you like it?'

'It's perfect! I can't wait to try it on! Can I wear it now?'

'Of course. Garrett go help Bohdan or something, shut the door behind you,' Hawke pouted but did as she asked. Makatza clapped her hands and stared at the armour her eyes glittering.

'What do I do first?'

'First strip into your underclothes, you can put the blouse on again later. I have some foot covers, they'll stop blisters slip those on, that's right. Good.' She undone the ties on the skirt, 'step into this.'

Makatza pulled the skirt up, it sat nicely on her hips and ended a couple of inches above her knees, the metal studs were cold. She shivered. 'Oh that's cold.'

Leandra laughed, 'they'll warm up. You have such wonderful tattoos, not something that I would have thought you would have, I certainly didn't let Bethany have any but Carver and Garrett didn't listen. Yours do suit you, so lovely.' She traced the one that ended on her wrist, 'oh a little wolf,' she smiled. 'Full of surprises!'

Leandra took off the leather vest but Makatza held up her hand, 'wait I have something I want to wear under that,' she rummaged in the blouse and took out her chain mail corset, Leandra raised an eyebrow.

'Fenris bought it for me, it's so I don't get hurt by any more arrows, and it's discrete enough that I can wear it under anything without anyone knowing,' she explained.

'Such a thoughtful man, I think he's a bit troubled but a good soul at heart,' she helped tighten the leather straps, it felt so much more comfortable when it was done up properly.

The rest of the armour was assembled quickly, a few bits were loose on the vest so she opted to leave it off, she would be protected enough with her chain mail. She slipped on her boots they went higher then her skirt so most of her skin was covered. Leandra had thought to include a small pair of leather shorts to wear underneath, Makatza was thankful especially if she was put in the situation of doing the splits.

She finished her outfit with Aveline's gauntlets, she placed her daggers on the small of her back horizontally and they sat in their binding quite happily, she practised removing them and she wasn't hindered at all, Leandra took out her bow and quiver and strapped them to her back.

Leandra stepped back, 'well you certainly look ready for anything.'

'It's heavy but not in a bad way,' she spun on her foot, 'well balanced, I can move easily.'

'Well that's one of the main things.'

… … …

They spent the rest of the afternoon practising with her new weapons, she wasn't as good as any of the companions but she was sufficient enough to keep herself protected. Garrett approved of her outfit and made her twirl to show it off, Makatza happily did as he asked and spun until she was dizzy. Leandra had braided her hair, it sat underneath her bow out the way.

They began walking down to Anders clinic at about half five. Makatza was really excited, it was strange how comfortable she felt in her new life and her new outfit. She almost wanted something to happen just to see what went on. She knew she would be utterly terrified like the last time but she couldn't help it.

'What?'

'What? Nothing.'

'You're smirking at me!'

'Am not! The audacity of it!'

'Garrett!'

'I can't help it you look so happy, it rubs off,' he held open the door to Anders clinic, pouting Makatza walked in. Anders was pacing inside, Varric sat on a bunk looking idly amused.

'See I told you Blondie they would turn up, and with Petal looking more thorny than usual, I better not piss you off,' Varric joked. Makatza gave a little curtsy.

'You look different Katza,' Anders commented.

'I'll take that in a good way,' she smiled at his discomfort.

'You wouldn't be able to tell that she was from a different reality huh,' Hawke helped Varric of the bunk, he motioned with his head, 'come on we are on a time limit here.'

Anders rolled his eyes and they left the clinic.

… … …

Anders led them to a series of tunnels, after a brief conversation with Hawke they all wandered down into the meandering pathways. Hawke and Varric scouted ahead leaving Anders and Makatza navigating behind.

'You look, I was going to say nice but it doesn't really mean anything, I mean you are very pretty but in your new armour it seems to enhance, well I just think that-'

'Anders?'

'Yes Katza?'

'Thank you,' she blushed, 'it's nice knowing you think I'm pretty.' Her hormones did a happy little dance inside their box, the metaphorical Makatza let them out, if they promised to behave.

He coughed, nervously. Hawke shouted from ahead, all trouble was let loose.

… … …

Well that could have gone better, I certainly didn't expect that, Makatza's hair fluttered in the wind, it had grown dark since their time in the tunnels, Hawke calling for help was only the beginning of it all. Lyrium smugglers swamped the cave network, Makatza only defended herself with swinging blows and she even managed to let off a few arrows. The big shock was when she killed someone up close, she had lost her dinner after wards. Hawke was very sympathetic, he rubbed her back and held back her hair. The others didn't see it as a weakness but merely nodded, they understood her feelings.

… … …

She said she would meet Hawke back at home and that she would fetch Anders. Her mind dragged her back.

… … …

Justice screaming in outrage at the young girl's accusation of being a demon, Makatza could still taste her own fear, Hawke tried to calm him but Anders had lost control. He raised his staff. Makatza did something that wasn't the most clever of actions. She pushed Anders to the side; his blow bounced off a stone, the girl ran from him crying. Justice grabbed Makatza and threw her on the floor, he blasted Hawke and Varric to the opposite wall, he then raised his staff again and brought it down toward her.

For the second time in a fortnight she felt a blade tearing through her skin, she cried out in pain, when she opened her eyes she saw that Anders had taken over his body at the last moment and had diverted the strike so it went through the side of her arm instead. He looked at her in horror.

'Katza.. I.'

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand but before she could reply he had ran.

… … …

She mopped up the blood that was dripping down her arm and opened the door to Anders' clinic, warm air rushed out to greet her. She could hear him muttering to himself. She smiled and reminded herself that it wasn't his fault, she breathed in and steadied her balance.

'Anders?'

He spun around dropping what he was holding, 'Katza what are you doing here?' Makatza could hear the disbelief in his voice.

'I came for you.'

I know I didn't dive into the quest very much but most of us have played it, maybe many a time and I didn't want to bore you with what would have been going on so I just tried to get the main point across. Please leave a review xx