Teeth nipping the skin of his pectoral muscle woke Nathaniel. He kept his eyes closed, a tiny grin tugging the corners of his lips.
"Ow," he said, pretending injury from the bite. Hale's snickering confirmed the culprit, still resting in his bed. Her naked body sprawled on his; her body heat complementing his own. Sleepy eyes fluttered open to find the woman grinning at him, her chin resting on her hands pressed against his chest. The sporadic flicker of nearly spent candlelight cast out from the lantern on his desk filling the dark room with long, evening shadows.
Tucking her hair behind her ear, he met her eyes with quiet admiration, appreciating that she hadn't left before he woke. The pair had drifted in and out of sleep and dazed cuddling through the afternoon. Hale stared back, respecting the silence in the intimate moment, observing Nate's features as his groggy thoughts sharpened. A subtle frown and distant eyes communicated contemplative worry. She waited for him to voice his concern.
"What happens now?" He asked.
Rolling onto her back, Hale stretched alongside him, yawning as she spoke. "What d'you want to happen?" Coming to lay on her side, she propped her elbow to support her head with her hand as she waited for his answer.
Nate rolled on his side to face her, he exhaled forming the appropriate words to answer her casual question. "I want you to stay with me."
Rainfall echoed the statement as it sank in. Cheeks flushed, the distinct pounding of her heart suddenly vibrated in her chest. But a thought surfaced, pulling her attention, and causing a faint furrow in her forehead. "People probly heard us. What if they found out it was me?"
As she understood, her status as a junior Warden infringed upon Nathaniel's credibility as Warden Commander. All too aware of his commitment to responsibility and certain a clandestine relationship with a defector would be equally frowned upon for the Commander, she did not wish to repeat the painful events of their previous liaisons.
"They already know about us." His hand slid down her side as he smirked. "Most of them anyway. They all knew about Caoilainn too. In fact, the other scouts from our mission despised me so much for letting you go, they made me suffer for it. They'll be glad to know you're back, my lady ." He shrugged, looking away in amused thought. "That is if they don't already."
"So, I can be a Warden again?" Hale's timid inquiry voiced insecurities, expecting consequences for deserting the order. Declarative words continued to flow, opposing any dispute before it started. "The Keep is my home. The Wardens and you, Nate, you're my family. This's where I'm suppose to be." A defiant glare faced Nathaniel, ready to challenge any consequences.
The corners of his eyes wrinkled, smiling at her confession, understanding family and home as foreign concepts to the wayfaring orphan. The young woman's vulnerability a rare occurrence, her frantic declarations resonated with his experience of the Grey Wardens. "Listen to me, Hale." Nate's even tone eased her sharp nerves. A hand found the back of her neck, keeping her gaze locked with his. "You never stopped being a Warden. Not in my eyes. This is where you belong if that's what you choose."
Hale's fear faded, and her frown transformed to a wide grin. Another question arose, but it did not reduce her smile. "What if some bastards don't like it?" Her fellow scout, Isenam, had expressed disapproval of Hale's closeness with Nate on multiple occasions.
Nathaniel shook his head to brush away the question. "If they have strong enough opinions against me being with you, they'll report me to the First Warden. If the First Warden doesn't like it, I will be ordered to leave." His expression remained neutral, unreactive to the information he provided.
"But where would you go?" The inquiry mumbled with intrigue.
"I haven't thought that far ahead," he admitted, smiling at the young woman's thoughtful question. "But I suppose I will figure that out if it happens."
"I'd go with you," she said, barely more than a whisper. Her gaze locked with his. "Nate, I'd fucking follow you anywhere."
The twinkle in her eyes as she announced her commitment warmed him. But the declaration contradicted the young woman's open views toward relationships, an aspect of their reunion he had pondered. Unsure how to broach the exclusivity of their relationship, he instead informed Hale of the illness impacting Wardens, including Damia, and inquired about Hale's dreams.
With questions answered and immediate worries resolved, they realized mutual and tangible hunger unrelated to libido after the day's events. The smell of hot food permeated from the kitchen downstairs. With more discussion, they agreed on a plan for Nate to fetch plates of food for them while Hale went to check on Damia in the infirmary, meeting back in Nate's room to dine together before Hale rejoined her comrades the next day.
Much to Nate's surprise, incessant questions about Caoilainn or insults from the scouts did not impede his quest. Fewer in number with many still in the infirmary, the Wardens appeared content. To Nate's surprise, most of the scouts gave him a cheerful wave from where they congregated at a dinner table. Nate chuckled to himself and rolled his eyes, certain news of Hale's return had already circulated. But as he ventured to the kitchen, a confused Gunnar approached.
"Uh, Commander," Gunnar muttered, his brow twisting with puzzled humor. "Someone's arrived a few minutes ago asking for you. I brought him a towel so he could dry off by the fireplace and rest in the common area. I told him you were busy until morning... he uh, he winked, sir, and said he would wait."
Nate cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the nameless man's response to Nate's unavailability. The Commander kept walking while Gunnar strode alongside. "Did he say what he wanted? His name, even?"
The pair neared the mess hall and Nate grabbed two plates. Gunnar chuckled; baffled by the information he was delivering. "He has information for you about Weisshaupt. It's Garrett Hawke, sir."
Appetite abandoned, Nathaniel remembered the mention of Garrett Hawke in Alanna's letter as we walked to the common room, but news of the notorious man arriving at Vigil's Keep came as a surprise, particularly when the Champion was supposed to be in Weisshaupt. The man stood drenched at the fire pit in the common area, his back turned and his hands stretched over the heat, a damp towel around his neck. Water dripped from his coat, a small puddle forming on the floor beneath him.
"Garrett Hawke?" Nathaniel voiced to the man's back as he walked into the common area, noticing the mage's staff resting on the wall nearby.
The man's head tilted over his shoulder, palms not moving from their place over the fire pit. "That is my name, but you can call me Garrett… or Hawke." He returned his gaze to the flames, the crackling fire filling in the silence as Nate walked beside him. Wet, messy hair and unkempt beard covered his face, the infamous red stripe over his nose. Before Nate could say more the mage side-eyed the Commander and kept talking, "It's good to see you're awake,"
Irritated by the subtle hints of humor underlying Hawke's tone, Nate spoke lowly to suggest their conversation not be overheard. "What did you find at Weisshaupt?"
Hawke pursed his lips in a frown and looked down his wet gambeson. "I've just traveled from Skyhold to Weisshaupt to Amaranthine. Offer me a drink before you interrogate me."
"Right," Nate sighed, staying his concerns and focusing on his guest. "Of course. I'll send for a meal and dry clothes. We can talk more in my office."
"Don't forget the drink." Hawke winked as Nate turned his back.
Grateful the mage missed his eye roll, Nate led Hawke up the stairs to the Warden Commander's office giving an order to a junior Warden to fetch the needed items for Garrett at the top of the stairs.
Nathaniel followed behind Hawke into the room at the end of the hallway, remembering the disheveled state of his room after the day's events with Hale only after entering. His bed unmade, blankets strewn from the mattress to the floor, a crooked painting hung on the wall near the bookshelf, filled with rows of leaning books; a lone book splayed on the floor in front. Trying to ignore the amused look on Hawke's face, Nate rushed to his desk, desperately organizing the messy pile of papers littered across it, and picking up those that had fallen to the floor around the workspace. He gathered a bottle of liquor and two short glasses from a nearby cabinet and passed them over the desk to Hawke as Nate kept cleaning.
"Looks like you need this more than I do," Hawke snickered, pouring himself a glass of the golden-brown liquid and sitting down across from Nate's work area. The Commander ignored the comment, not investing in the man's annoying commentary.
"S'this about?" A familiar voice inquired from the doorway as Nate gathered a ledger from the floor. His eyes spotted boots and followed the view up the long legs of the Huntress.
Shit. Before Nathaniel could explain the arrival of another person to his office to Hawke, or the guest's appearance to Hale, the mage made his own assumptions.
Staring at Hale, a wide grin spread over Hawke's face. He turned to look at Nate. "I think I like your idea of 'busy,' Commander."
"The fuck d'you think-" Hale took a large step into the room, her nose wrinkling, lip curling; temper ignited by the stranger's unwelcome glances and innuendo.
"Hale," Nate's firm voice interrupted, his eyes sharpening on the young woman, "this is Garrett Hawke. Garrett Hawke, this is my…" He fumbled to find a way to best explain their relationship and her appearance in his room, "companion." Companion? Come on, Nate, he chastised himself for the choice of words.
Lengthy steps carried Hale to Nate's bed but she stopped mid-stride when Nathaniel introduced her. She stared at him with narrowed eyes and mouthed 'companion?' with irritation. Nathaniel shrugged in response, having found no better word to describe her to the guest.
"Companion?" Hawke glanced from Nathaniel to Hale, who sat cross-legged on Nate's bed. "Yes, I've got one of those. At least one, actually." His lifted brow and small smirk remained as his eyes glazed, recalling memories.
Stop wasting my time. Nate interjected again, this time talking to Hale on the other side Hawke. "Hale, Garrett has just come from Weisshaupt. He was going to tell us what he found there."
A knock at the door announced another junior Warden with a large platter of food. Dry clothes hung over the Warden's shoulder. Directing Hawke to an empty room to change, Nathaniel set the food down on his desk and spotted Hale staring wide-eyed at the platter. The young woman licked her lips and Nate nodded for her to take what she wanted before Hawke returned. She sauntered to the food and selected the largest leg of meat, a piece of fruit, and tucked a bread roll under her chin.
"Huntress," Nathaniel spoke to her back as she climbed onto his bed to sit cross-legged. She glanced up with a cocked brow in time to see Nate throwing a dining cloth to her, a not so subtle hint for her to keep the food off his bed. With nothing but a smirk, she chewed off a piece of the bread roll and set it down on her knee.
Watching her eat made his mouth water, reminding Nate of the hunger pains stabbing inside his stomach. He made a generous plate for himself and Hawke returned to the room in dry clothes. In order to be polite, Nate waited on eating until Hawke joined him.
Hale wolfed down her meal on Nate's bed while Nathaniel ate at his desk. The guest, Garrett Hawke sat between them, closing his eyes as he chewed, apparently appreciative of the food. Questions riddled Nate's mind, wondering what news the man brought and eager for their meals to be done. But he remained silent out of respect, waiting for the mage to finish his meal before inquiring. After emptying his plate, Nate poured more of the golden liquor into two glasses and brought one to Hale. She took the glass and glanced at the contents, barely more than a few gulps if she drank it quickly.
Amused in his observance of Hale's confusion, he smiled and explained, "It's for sipping."
She sighed and slouched her shoulders, rolling her eyes at Nate. After scooting back to the headboard, she took a small sip of the drink and cradled the small glass in her hands and muttered, "shite on all the fun."
"No. She's definitely on to something. Drunk business meetings are much more entertaining," Hawke snickered, witnessing the dynamic between them and speaking to Hale as Nate returned to this chair. Hawke's gaze wandered Hale's body and he arched a brow. "The three of us can keep busy all night."
"Oy!" Offended at the newcomers overzealous flirting, she barked at Hawke. "Keep sodding staring at me and I'll put a few more marks on that ugly mug of yers."
Nate cleared his throat mid-motion of sitting down, trying to draw their attention to him. Close to his last nerve with Hawke's snark, but desperate to hear whatever information he carried, Nate attempted to smile.
But the other two paid him no mind. Hawke smirked and continued taunting. "Worth it. I like it rough and maybe you're due for a new," Hawke glanced at Nate. "What did you call it? - Companion. You can join too, Commander. Two's company, three's a party, I always say."
"Mother fucker!" Hale yelled, chugging the rest of her drink before leaping from the bed. She took large steps toward Hawke, screaming obscenities not noticing Nathaniel standing to intervene. "Shut yer bastard mouth, areshole... fucking whoreson. Stop smiling! Uglier than druffalo bollocks, you are. Manky fuck. Wouldn't plough you if my life depended on it. I said don't fucking look at me!"
Smirk intact, Hawke rose from his chair as the Huntress lunged at him. Weight leaning on one foot, she clenched her teeth, tightening her fist. Hawke stood over the young woman, amused with the elf's rage.
He's teasing her, Nate realized, uncertain if Hawke understood Hale's willingness to throw punches in anger. " Enough!" Nathaniel yelled, rushing around his desk to stop them. He stood between, his hands keeping Hale away. With a regretful glance to her, his tone lowered. "Hale, I'm sorry. I need you to leave."
"Fuck's sake, Nate." Gritting her teeth, she huffed and lifted her arms toward Hawke. "He's a daft cunt! Send him away!"
I wish I could. "I can't," Nathaniel admitted. Though his patience with the guest waned, the Warden Commander still needed to hear whatever information Hawke brought with him. He recognized Hawke would continue to taunt Hale as long as she stayed. "I need to have this meeting, Hale. We'll talk more later."
Pouting, Hale's glare intensified, now at Nate. "This is bollocks! You're still a prat, Nate." Her glare traveled back to Hawke, she pointed at him from around Nathaniel. "And you're a poxy wanker." She stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. The echo reverberated through the room until Hawke spoke up.
"A classy lady you've got there." Sitting back down in his chair, Hawke took a casual sip of his drink. "My kind of crazy. Funny story: that's not the first time I've been called a poxy wanker."
Nate stared at the doorway, concerned about the quarrel disrupting his reconciliation with Hale. "Somehow I don't find that hard to believe," Nate glanced at Hawke with his reply before finding his seat again behind his desk. "If you insult her again, I promise you will regret it."
"Calm down, Commander Howe. I was just having a bit of fun. It's not my fault your companion is so hot-headed." Hawke looked over the lid of his glass as he took another sip.
"Stop," Nathaniel's scratchy voice spoke low and clear. "Hale can land a punch better than most men I know and I'm not going to stop her the next time you piss her off. You are lucky it takes more to make me lose my temper. So, Garrett Hawke, if you're done having fun, please tell me what you found."
Hawke rolled his eyes, grinning. "I'm never done having fun, but fine." The mage took another sip of his drink and lifted it to Nate with a nod. "Nothing, I found nothing."
Pausing, brow furrowed, Nate stared at the mage. He tried to suspend his frustration, certain he must have missed the punchline of a joke. "So, you've come all the way from the Anderfels to tell me nothing?"
"Exactly." Hawke's eyes scanned Nate's reaction as he explained. "I thought you would want to know Weisshaupt is deserted."
Heavy silence filled the room and Nate's mouth dropped open, not processing what Hawke said. The man only took another sip of his drink.
"You're lying." Rooted in hope, Nathaniel blurted the accusation. A deserted Weisshaupt would explain the lack of communication, but it suggested a much larger problem than he anticipated. Having witness Hawke's nature to tease, Nathaniel wanted to disclaim the report. "Tell me the truth."
"I don't know how else to say it, Warden Commander. There wasn't anyone there." Leaning forward, Hawke shirked his shoulders again, his head shaking as he minimized Nathaniel's disbelief.
"I don't believe you." Sifting through papers, Nathaniel shook his head, ready to dismiss the guest out of frustration with the unhelpful news he brought. He felt his anger boiling, taunted by the mage just as Hawke had done to Hale. "I'm not here to play games, Hawke."
"Trust me. You'd know if I was playing a game. I mean what I said and I have proof." Hawke pulled a paper out of his pouch and dropped it on Nate's workspace. "I found it in the stronghold. It was already open."
"And how do I know you didn't make this up?" Glaring at Hawke and ignoring the letter, Nathaniel noticed his desperation to deny Hawke's story. It made too much sense, the possibility too real. But Hawke's cocky delivery of devastating information irked the Warden Commander. "We're done here. This meeting is over and you should leave. Now."
"Fine. Don't believe me." Standing from his chair, Hawke tapped on the folded letter resting on Nate's desk. "But read this. I'll be in Denerim for the next few days if you need me, Commander."
Not responding, Nathaniel stared at the paper as Hawke departed from the office. Filled with dread, Nathaniel studied the familiar Grey Warden symbol. A similar letterhead visible in the parchment's parted creases. A broken seal, the letter had met its recipient and had since been abandoned. The desire to ignore the letter, throw it away or burn it, removing its contents from existence pulled at him, opposing the need to know what it said in connection to the mage's claim.
He took a deep breath and opened it. Reading, and rereading multiple times. His heart grew heavy. The letter gave more questions than answers and Nate knew only one person could help him. Sitting back down at his desk, he took out a blank piece of parchment and dabbed his quill with ink in preparation to draft a much needed letter. He trusted the words to flow when the nib touched the paper.
Your Majesty,
I am afraid I am in need of your assistance.