Promises: Chapter Twenty-Six

Disclaimer: Dragon Age and all assorted characters/places/etc belong to Bioware, not me.


Fenris rose late the next morning, tired from staying up too late the night before listening to Hawke talk to him. His mageling had been practically bouncing with joy when they had left dinner that night, and Fenris couldn't help but feel the same. He wasn't all that good at being comforting and so the fact that he was able to turn Hawke's grumpy mood around so completely lifted his spirits too. So he had indulged his mageling and her need for conversation, which led to them both being slow to wake up the next morn.

"What time is it?" Hawke asked. She stretched her arms out as she sat up in her bed. It sometimes got stuffy in their room at night, and so his mageling had taken to wearing a thin gown to bed rather than her usual robes. Her gown was hanging down around one of her shoulders, and by stretching, she unintentionally gave Fenris a peek at her breasts. Blushing furiously, Fenris turned to face the wall. It wasn't right for him to take advantage of her sleepiness to admire her, he chided himself, no matter how much he wanted to let his gaze linger.

"I don't know," Fenris replied as he struggled to fight down his arousal. "I can only tell the time on this blasted ship when we're in the galley looking at the clock or when the ship's bells ring."

"Me too," Hawke admitted. "Which means I guess the only way we'll figure out whether there's anything left of breakfast is for us to go to the galley ourselves."

The two of them got dressed quickly with Fenris making sure to avert his eyes as Hawke changed into her green mage robes. Side by side, they strolled over to the galley. As expected, there wasn't much food left when they arrived due to the lateness of the hour. However, there was the gruel Hawke and Bart insisted was porridge along with a couple of oranges that looked as though they had seen better days. It wasn't the most appetizing meal Fenris had ever eaten, but then again, it also wasn't the least.

Hawke hung around the galley after they had finished breakfast, her thoughts clearly on the promise Bart had made to her the day before. However, the cook had no qualms in kicking them out. "You should go out on deck again," he all but commanded them. "The both of you need more sun."

"But you said—"

The ship's cook shot her an annoyed look. "I've not forgotten what I said, girl. I'll show you how to cook my famous potato soup, don't you worry your pretty little head about that. I'm not going to start cooking dinner now though so you don't need to hang around here. I'll start prepping for dinner in the early afternoon so come back before then."

So it was Hawke and Fenris found themselves climbing the stairs up to the deck once more. Fenris found that he was happy to be outside. After spending the better part of the day yesterday enjoyed sunshine and fresh air, he was beginning to feel as though the walls were closing in on him when they were waiting around in the galley. A morning out in the sun was just what he needed to combat such issues.

As it had been on previous times, the deck was full of activity. Fenris had never appreciated before just how much work went into sailing a ship; the previous times he had been on a ship he had other worries to occupy his time. Isabela was in her usual spot by the ship's wheel, consulting her compass to check their direction while keeping an eye on the work her raiders did. Fenris and Hawke did their best to keep out of the way with the mageling picking out a spot on the rail near the back of the boat.

The sun seemed to do Hawke as much good as it did Fenris. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he could swear that he could see the color returning to her cheeks as she stood, her hands clutching he rail, and watched as the ship cut its way through the ocean. His mageling was especially enchanted when they were suddenly surrounded by a school of fish though Fenris could not bring himself to share in her excitement.

The elven warrior was even less pleased when a fishing pole was shoved into his hands by none other than the captain herself. "If you're going to stand there, you might as well see what you can catch," she told them. "Any fish you can reel in will be a welcome addition to our dinner."

Hawke gave Isabela a cheeky grin. "Not by Fenris, I fear. I would say he hates fish, but I'm afraid that would be understating his feelings towards them."

"More for us who appreciate the ocean's bounty then," was the lady pirate's ready reply. She glared at Fenris. "Don't even think about sabotaging these poles are any others," she said sharply, gesturing with one hand towards the crew members she had on fishing duty. "I'll catch you if you do, and you will not like the consequences."

"I won't," Fenris replied shortly. While it was true that he detested the slimy things, he was practical enough to realize that passing up a fresh source of protein wasn't a viable option when at sea. Though Isabela had bought more than enough provisions to last their journey, there was always the chance that the ship would be becalmed for some unexpected reason and that they would need to extend their food stores. Besides the elf had no intention of eating the nasty stuff unless there was no other option; if served in a soup or stew, he could always pick the fish out.

His mageling was more than eager to get started on the task Isabela had given them. It didn't take her long at all to bait her hook and cast the line. She hummed to herself as Fenris struggled with his fishing rod. Hawke had already reeled in several fish when she glanced over in his direction.

"You haven't even baited your hook yet?" she said, looking utterly aghast at the trouble he was having. She placed the last fish she had caught in the bucket beside her and then put her pole down to help him. It was help that Fenris could have done without. Having his mageling so near to him—her soft hands brushed up against his as she showed him the best way to bait a hook and if he looked down just so, he could see down her robes—was torture. In any other situation, he would have put an end to such torture by claiming her lips as his own, to see if maybe she felt something more than just friendship for him. However, given that they were surrounded by fish, his stomach was not entirely settled. He did not want to risk a repeat of their first day aboard the ship, only with their roles reversed.

It seemed that a small eternity passed—an awful one filled with the smell of fish intermixed with the sound of Hawke's laughs—before Isabela finally declared that it was noon with the help of her sextant. That was their signal to start cleaning up so that they could return to the galley. Fenris had never before been so happy to have Hawke cook or rather help with cooking. While he was not entirely looking forward to having to eat something Hawke had a hand in preparing, it was still much better than the alternative of having to spend the rest of the day fishing.

Unfortunately for him, they wound up having to lug the current catch back to the kitchen. The cook's eyes lit up when he saw their haul. "Fresh fish? Well that is a bit of luck," he proclaimed. "We'll grill half of it to serve tonight and salt the rest to save for later. They'll have to be cleaned first." He motioned for Fenris to move towards the sink. "You clean the fish, elf, while the girl can start peeling the potatoes."

Fenris thought that he kept his face blank and none of his dismay at the prospect of cleaning fish for the rest of the afternoon shone through. However, it appeared that his mageling discerned his true feelings about such an assignment. "Actually I'll take care of the fish while Fenris can start off with the potatoes," Hawke chipped in. "I've done that many times before, with my father, and so I think I can get the job done faster than Fenris."

"Makes no difference to me who does what so long as the job gets done," Bart replied with a shrug of his shoulders. Fenris helped Hawke carry the fish over to the sink. After his mageling was situated properly, he was directed over to a barrel of potatoes, of which he was supposed to peel around half. He took a seat on a nearby stool and started the task, tossing each potato into a large pot filled with water after he had finished peeling it with a small paring knife.

Fenris made good progress with peeling the potatoes. His skill with a blade made him an able kitchen helper. However Hawke was faster with the fish, and so she came over to help him after she was done. Fenris wrinkled his nose as she pushed a stool next to him and then sat down. He wouldn't say as much but his mageling didn't smell too appealing right now.

"Something tells me you think I stink," she noted wryly.

"I can still smell the fish on you," he admitted. "Perhaps if you wash your hands—"

"I did. Twice. Nothing's going to help except a bath," she said. "Don't worry. I'll take one later after we're finished here," she added quickly when Fenris' expression turned sour. "You won't be able to sleep tonight unless I do, right?"

"Thank you," he replied simply. The work went faster with Hawke by his side, despite how awful she currently smelled. Once they were done, Hawke called Bart over and all but demanded that he explain his potato soup to her. Frankly the cook's explanation made little sense to Fenris. Supposedly one had to boil all the ingredients forever in order to properly develop their flavors. Hawke nodded her head as if she agreed with that notion, but all Fenris could think was that the Fereldan method of cooking ensured that not only was everything in a dish dull and flavorless but also had the same mushy texture.

There wasn't much else to do for the soup, however, after the large pot was placed on the fire. Bart all but kicked them out of his kitchen, insisting that he could handle the rest by himself. Thankfully Hawke did not protest and instead made a beeline for their room, where she collected a few items for her bath. Fenris stood watch outside the washroom as Hawke cleaned up, eyeing any sailor who dared venture too close while his mageling was inside.

Despite Fenris' reservations, dinner wasn't a complete loss. He studiously avoided the fish, settling for a large bowl of soup and along with some hard bread. His mageling was about to do the same, conscious as she was of his sensibilities, but he wasn't about to have that. "Take some fish," he told her in a no-nonsense tone. "You still need to regain your strength after being sick so long."

"But won't that bother you later tonight?" she asked, concern writ all over her face.

"No," he replied. Hawke still took a cup of ginger tea before dinner each night, and Fenris knew he could count on that spicy scent to wipe away any remaining odor from Hawke's dinner. His mageling followed his advice and took a generous serving of fish along with her soup and bread. As Fenris had done ever since Hawke felt well enough to take meals with the crew, Fenris arranged to sit so that Hawke was against a wall while he was right next to her. While he didn't think he would have to cause to protect her on the ship, the elf still felt that it was a good habit for him to develop.

The pair of them retired to their room after dinner for another boring night in. There was nothing to do on the ship at night. Fenris' armor and weapons were in pristine condition, and he simply did not feel like wasting time cleaning them again when they did not need it. It was odd but he found himself missing traveling through Antiva. At least there, he could occupy his nights by planning out possible escape routes. Fenris had long ago figured out their avenues of escape from the ship, and none of them were promising.

"Are you bored?" Hawke asked from her spot on her bed. "Because I am."

"There does appear to be a lack of entertainment on this vessel," Fenris agreed. His traitorous mind suggested one way of passing the time by following up on his aborted kiss from all those weeks ago. He flushed at such thoughts. It was one thing to be brave when Hawke was practically pressed up against him; it was quite another thing to do so when there was an entire room separating the two of them.

"We could go up on deck," Hawke suggested, "and see the stars. I imagine the view must be something else."

That idea did have its appeal for more than one reason. It would be another chance to get closer to Hawke and see if her lips were as soft as they looked, but on the other hand, they would undoubtedly have an audience, if only the night crew. Before Fenris could formulate a response to his mageling's suggestion, a knock sounded upon the door.

"I wonder who that could be," said Hawke as she jumped up from her seat and ambled over to the door. The mageling opened the door to reveal the ship captain, smiling at the both of them.

"Oh good," said Isabela. "You're both still up. You fled the galley so quickly that I thought maybe you were already in bed…doing Maker knows what," she concluded with a leer.

Hawke was too flustered by that suggestion to respond to the lady pirate, and Fenris wasn't in much better condition. Isabela took advantage of that fact to push her way past Hawke and into their room. "Hmm, it looks cozy in here. Don't tell me that the two of you are just going to sleep?" she demanded.

Hawke and Fenris exchanged sheepish glances for that had been their plan for the evening. "It's not as though there's much to do," Hawke said defensively.

"That shows a lack of imagination on your part, love," was the pirate's airy response. However, to Fenris' surprise, the next words out of her mouth weren't filled with innuendo. "Tell me, didn't one of you think to bring a deck of cards."

The glances Hawke and Fenris exchanged this time around were confused. "Um…no," Hawke said slowly.

"Figured as much. Good thing that I always have plenty. They're back in my cabin though so let's head there. I've not played a game of Wicked Grace since we've left shore. It's not very wise of a captain to play with her crew, you see, as sailors tend to get disgruntled if you beat them too badly." She paused to look at Hawke. "Please tell me you've heard of the game before, kitten."

"Heard of it, yes. Played it, never," Hawke replied promptly.

Isabela whipped her head around to look at Fenris. "How about you?"

Fenris shook his head. "I too have never played it," he replied. He took care to keep his face blank. While it was true he hadn't played the game before, he had watched the game played many times back in the Imperium. If Isabela thought he was an easy mark, then so much the better for him.

"Lovely. Playing with a pair of virgins. Can't think of a better way to pass a night, really." Isabela all but rubbed her hands together in glee.

"Something tells me that you plan on robbing us blind," Hawke said. "Thanks but no thanks."

"Don't be like that kitten. It'll be fun to learn something new."

Hawke remained unmoved. She crossed her arms across her chest and lifted her chin up stubbornly. "I think I told you before we're not made of money. I would like to be able to eat once we're back on shore so I think we're going to have to refuse your kind invitation."

Isabela rolled her eyes. "My, you are a tough nut to crack. Look, you can't play Wicked Grace without betting something. It just wouldn't be the same."

Hawke looked unconvinced and so the lady pirate tried again. "That being said, we don't have to wager money per se. There are other options. I have fond memories of stripping down to my smalls during one game at the Blooming Rose—"

Now it was Fenris' turn to put his foot down. "No," he said. "Not interested."

"The two of you are a pair!" Isabela exclaimed with exasperation. "Fine. We'll play for bits, okay? And you can stop at any time you think you've lost too much. Will that do?"

Fenris looked over at his mageling to see what she thought of the matter. She gave him a small smile and nodded her head, indicating that she was up for it. That suited him just fine. It was boring to have nothing to do night after night, and a card game—even one with a tricksy lady pirate—would make for a nice break from that monotony.

Isabela ushered them over to her own private cabin, which was significantly larger than the room the two of them shared. There was a table in the middle of the room, and Isabela indicated that they should take a seat with a lazy wave of her hand. She offered them brandy before they started, with Fenris taking her up on that offer while Hawke refused, asking for water instead. After they were situated, with drinks in hand, Isabela took out an old deck of cards and started shuffling them.

Fenris, however, wasn't a complete novice. "Let me see those," he said sharply, plucking the cards out of Isabela's hand. He flipped through them, taking note of their rough edges and the faded patterns on their backs. "These are marked," he said accusingly.

Isabela's face betrayed no embarrassment at being caught out. "So you do know a little something about cards," she remarked. "All right then, we'll use a new deck. Will that do?" she asked, reaching for an unopened pack of cards.

Fenris motioned for her to hand those over to him as well. While the new deck of cards were uniform in their shape, something else was off about them. "These are weighted," he announced. "Though I don't see how that helps anyone," he added.

"Right again. Give me a set of weighted cards, and I'll make sure I'm dealt the perfect hand every time," Isabela explained. She sighed dramatically. "And here I thought I had a pair of easy marks for the evening. Looks like I'll have to actually work for my wins." The grin she gave them made it clear that she wasn't about to take it easy on a pair of novices, especially not after Fenris had caught her early attempts to cheat.

Whatever plans she had to rake them over the coals were not to be, however. Though Fenris had been telling the truth when he had said that he had never played the game—indeed he had never heard of Wicked Grace before—soon after Isabela began explaining the rules, he realized that it was very much like a favorite card game of magisters back in Tevinter. Cheating was an unofficial part of that game as well, and part of his duty as Danarius' bodyguard was to alert the magister when others around the table cheated. As such, he was well versed in all the ways a person could try to rig the game, which was a good thing since Isabela tried just about all of them.

It also helped that fortune was smiling on him that evening, delivering him the best hands frequently. The game didn't start in earnest until a couple of rounds in, with Isabela patiently explaining the rules to them more than once. After the game took off, it soon became evident who the night's big winner would be, and it was not Isabela.

That fact rather stuck in the pirate's graw. "Maker's balls!" the lady raider exclaimed. "You win again, elf. Are you sure you've never played this game before?"

"Positive," he replied succinctly. He reached across the table to collect his pot. It wasn't much, a mere fifty bits, but the disgruntled expression on Isabela's face more than made up for that.

"I find that hard to believe," Isabela grumbled. "Beginner's luck can't explain all the hands you've been getting."

"That's because whatever luck I should have as a beginner, he's taken too," Hawke said lightly. She shot a look over at Fenris. "Though I must say I doubt you ever expected that you would be unable to pull one over on Fenris, Isabela. If I had a bit every time Fenris caught you cheating…why I imagine my pile would be larger than his by now."

"And you've only won two hands," Fenris agreed.

That remark only earned him glares from both women. "Way to make a girl feel better," Hawke muttered, wrinkling her nose at him.

"He could use some improvement with his comforting skills, couldn't he?" the lady pirate noted. "Although I noticed you didn't complain when he took care of you while you were sick."

Hawke ducked her head, but not before Fenris could see a faint blush covering her cheeks. "Yes, well, Fenris took very good care of me. I've no cause for complaints."

Fenris winced at her choice of words. The lady pirate was sure to leap all over them and make them into something dirty. Unfortunately for his peace of mind, Isabela did not disappoint.

"Is that so?" Isabela looked at him through her lashes and then licked her lips. "Well I can certainly see why. Fenris here is scrumptious, isn't he?"

Now it was Fenris' turn to duck his head to hide his blush. He could feel the tips of his ears burning in response to Isabela's suggestion of how they spent that time alone in their cabin. His blasted imagination was no help, offering up image after image of how his mageling would look in his bed.

"Isabela!" Hawke exclaimed, her jaw dropping open. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Oh? So you weren't referring to his bedside manner?" The grin the lady pirate offered up was nothing short of wicked.

"I was but…no, not in the way you're thinking," Hawke replied, her cheeks a bright red once more. "Are your thoughts always in the gutter?" she asked.

"Usually," Isabela replied with a shrug of her shoulders, "and sometimes I even join them in the gutter. That's when you know I've had a good time."

"Ew." Hawke pulled a face at that mental image. "That doesn't sound pleasant."

"You speak like someone who has never been there. Don't knock it until you've tried it," Isabela replied. She leaned forward towards Hawke. "You really are an innocent, aren't you, kitten?"

Hawke looked to the side, not willing to meet the pirate's eyes. "I imagine that compared to you most people are," was her dissembling response.

"Hmm…that's what I thought." The lady pirate tilted her head to one side, considering the mageling.

Fenris felt a shudder run down his spine. He didn't like that glint in Isabela's eyes. He just knew that he wouldn't like whatever mad scheme she was now considering.

"Why don't we stop this game?" Isabela asked. She didn't wait for a response to toss her cards. "It's getting boring, anyway, with the elf winning all the time, and I can show you something new."

The lady pirate leaned back in her seat, balancing her chair on its back legs. She glanced over at Fenris and licked her lips again before continuing. "You've never been with a man before, have you kitten," she said. "And it's a bit scary, isn't it, not knowing what to do? I'll tell you what. Why don't I show you how to pleasure a man by going down on Fenris here? You can take notes on the proper technique and after I'm done, you can have a go. I promise you he'll be up for it. The lean, lanky ones always have the most stamina."

Hawke could only gape in shock at such an offer, and Fenris found himself similarly unable to respond. He couldn't quite believe that the lady raider had the gall to suggest such a thing. He thought that he had made it clear that he had no interest in partaking in her talents. More than that, there was no way he wanted the lady pirate to teach his mageling anything of such an intimate nature, especially not with him as a sort of practice dummy.

"No response?" Isabela asked, looking coy. She flicked her gaze over at Fenris. "Your elf isn't saying no, Hawke, so I'm guessing that he's more than willing."

That got a reaction out of Fenris, though not the one Isabela was expecting. "I am not the mage's elf!" he roared, his lyrium brands flaring to life. Suddenly full of anger and rage, he leapt up, knocking his chair to the ground, and stalked out the door without a single backwards glance at his mageling.


Author's note: My thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Again, I'm sorry for the wait but it seems like the next couple updates will just be once a week.