Chapter 29

This was a foolish venture, Fenris was sure of it. Hawke throwing some housewarming party because Eve had moved in with him, it could only go wrong.

He remembered hearing it off of Varric first when the dwarf had come over to the mansion, his hands had dug in to the table in blind jealousy as he first believed Eve had moved in with Hawke to be in to his bed, his arms, until Varric told him to calm down and explained it wasn't like that at all, she had what was to be Carver's room before he had died in the Deep Roads, that it was tonight at eight, and he should bring a housewarming gift.

Now it was gone nine and he stood awkwardly outside Hawke's home with a bottle of wine and a gift for Eve he'd picked out from the market. He wasn't even sure if he'd give it to her, she would probably just throw it back in his face.
"You shouldn't loiter in doorways you know, people will think you're up to something." He turned round to see Isabela standing behind him, a grin on her face.
"I'd thought you'd be in there already." He replied.
"I was... busy, people to see, people to lay... you know how it is, sweet thing." She purred.
"Not really." He said dryly. "I thought you and Hawke were... together?"
"Sometimes. He's definitely a tiger between the sheets, but I'm not letting my account at the Blooming Rose go to waste. I'm paid up for the rest of the year!" She stepped beside him and knocked on the door sharply.
"I imagine Hawke isn't happy about that." Fenris knew the mage wasn't the kind of man who slept around, he was what Varric described as a romantic.
"He knows how it is between us. I'm no ones property." She told him, before the door opened revealing Bodahn who ushered them both in with a pleasant smile.
"Please come in Messere's. The rest of your companions are here already. There is food and drink, I hope you have good evening." Bodahn told them.

Fenris trailed Isabela in to the hall. Hawke was sat on a bench with Merrill as the blood mage was talking excitedly about something, her arms flailing wildly, while Hawke listened with a soft smile on his face. Why he put up with Merrill's' ramblings Fenris didn't know. Isabela quickly spotted Hawke and sashayed over to him before she plonked herself in his lap, kissing him quite thoroughly as the Dalish elf turned bright pink.
Anders and Varric were sat by the fireplace, both laughing hysterically, probably discussing macabre ways of killing Knight-Commander Meredith, again. Sebastian was sat close by, shaking his head disapprovingly at them. He spotted Eve finally, sat with Aveline, talking quietly, both with serious expressions on their faces.

Maker, seeing Eve always made him remember their night together. Her nude form, her soft battle scarred skin, the way her eye lids went heavy with lust, the sounds that came from her mouth. It was torture to see her and know he could not have her. She now pretended nothing had passed between them and Fenris did the same, it was what she wanted and he did not discuss his private affairs anyway. But he missed their talks, sharing wine, being close to her. Now she never said anything to him, drank hard liquor, did not visit him, did not sit near him. It almost made him regret having laid with her.

He walked slowly towards Eve and Aveline. The Guard-Captain was in her usual attire, but Eve was dressed in tight fitting black leather trousers, a blue shirt and a black corset, so that her breasts were pushed high and together, immediately bringing the memory of him cutting apart her black brassiere to spill her ample breasts in to view, and how he had suckled and bit those hardened rosy peaks as she writhed and moaned in pleasure. He growled low in his throat as he felt his arousal harden painfully. This was a terrible idea.

"... So if you could teach some of my guards anything useful, I would be truly grateful, especially when you've had experience of training different skillsets." Aveline finished.
"I'll be there the day after next. Hope you don't mind if they end up bruised and sore?" Eve said, sipping on some amber liquid in her glass. Looked like Hawke was fool enough to get out the good crystal.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Aveline smiled, before catching Fenris's eye. "Oh, Fenris, you're here. Varric didn't think you'd turn up, guess he lost that bet."
"I guess so." He replied, his eyes shifting quickly to Eve who remained expressionless.
"Eve has just agreed to help train some of my guards, she's going to be a great help."
"She will." He agreed.
"Well, as much as I like awkward conversation, I'm going to chat with Sebastian, apparently the Chantry has trouble at night with ruffians." She turned to Eve, "I'm glad you got out of that hole at the Hanged Man, you deserved better than that."
"Thank you Aveline." Eve nodded.
"Fenris." The Guard-Captain bid him as she walked away.

Fenris stood before Eve in silence for a few moments, not knowing what to say, and she made no move to say anything either.
"I... have bought you something." He held out the bottle of wine. "Varric said it was custom to bring a gift." He explained as her icy grey eyes met his green ones. She had lined them heavily in black kohl so they were nothing short of bewitching.
"Thanks." She took the bottle, he noticed she was careful not to brush his fingers, and sat it down on the bench beside her.
"And this." He held out the parcel in his other hand, his heart pounding with trepidation. It was foolish of him to have bothered with such a gift as the one she now took from him, a confused look on her face.
"You didn't have to..." She grumbled, turning over the gift in her hand, before she carefully unwrapped it. Finally she held the black glittering orb in her palm.
"It's a..."
"Skyball. Yes, I know." She gave Fenris a puzzled look, as if she didn't know why he would purchase her such a thing.
"I remember you told me how you missed the night sky. That when you camped during the Blight you would lie under the stars and in Kirkwall you can never see it. I thought you'd like this. It has the correct constellations on it."
"I didn't think you'd remember that." She told him quietly.
"Venhedis. Of course I would." He growled irritably. "If you don't like it just throw it out." He knew it was a foolish gift.
"No." She told him suddenly, bringing the orb to her chest protectively. "I like it very much. I had one back at Vigils Keep but had to leave it there. This is... a very thoughtful gift. Thank you, Fenris. You didn't have to." She told him.
"You are... most welcome." His voice was quiet, relieved.
"I'm going to put it somewhere safe." She said rising from her seat. "This too." She picked up the wine. For a moment she stepped towards him, to touch him in gratitude maybe? But she apparently thought better of it and turned without another word and up the stairway. He watched her go, feeling despair at how much he wanted her touch, no matter how brief.

His thoughts were interrupted by a deep voice beside him.
"I need to talk to you." It was Hawke, he sounded and looked annoyed.
"About what?" Fenris asked.
"You slept with her didn't you?" He accused. Fenris knew he meant Eve, but he wasn't going to play in to Hawke's feeble trap of admission.
"Her? You'll have to be more specific." The elf ground out.
"What the...?" He looked confused, as if Fenris sleeping with anyone but Eve was incomprehensible. "Eve! I'm talking about, Eve!"
"Has she said anything to you?"
"Well no..."
"Then there is nothing to say."
"Something happened between the two of you, don't pretend it didn't, I walked in on you both remember!" How could he forget that.
"I do not know what you speak of." Fenris told him sternly.
"She's become all... cold again, miserable. What did you do to her?"
Fenris scowled at the man. "It was her decision. She left. It is done." Not true, not completely. He hadn't stopped Eve from leaving, he hadn't told her how he felt, about the memories, about how he... cared for her. How he felt less than worthless, just a slave, nowhere near good enough for her. It was better she thought he didn't care.
"She left you?" Hawke sounded surprised.
"It is done. Leave it alone." Fenris warned him.
"Fine." He grumbled. "But forgive me if I don't entirely believe you."
"Forgive me if I don't entirely care." He shot back then strode off to get a drink. Fasta vass, he didn't need this!

The rest of the night he settled himself in to a lonely corner of the room, nursing one bottle of wine. He could have left, he suspected no one would have stopped him, least of all Hawke and Eve, but then he wouldn't be able to watch her, hear her voice when she occasionally spoke. It was as if he was torturing himself, especially so when she ended up in the company of the damned abomination.

Anders had approached her some time ago. He sat too close, smiled too much. He wanted to pull the abominations head from his shoulders.
"So, I bet that bed seems awfully big and lonely?" Anders said smiling. Fenris felt his grip tighten around the bottle of wine in his hand.
"Not particularly." She said coolly.
"Cold though, right?"
"I run hot enough." Eve replied. Was she... flirting?! Of course not! She had never been quiet on her lack of attraction she felt for the healer and she was too straight forward for flirting.
"That you do." Anders told her, shifting closer and tucking a tendril of hair behind her ear. "I see your hair is getting long again. I like it long."
Suddenly the bottle of wine in Fenris's hand cracked and broke in his furious grip. Wine spilled over the stone floor and glass pierced his palm.
"Shit." He heard Eve curse, and looked up to see she had stood up and was walking towards him. "Are you alright?" He looked at her, then around the room to see everyone had turned to him.
"I'm fine." He growled through gritted teeth.
"No. You're bleeding." She said looking at his left hand.
"Andraste's knickers, you're clumsy." Anders approached at Eve's shoulder, smirking.
"I'll be fine." He told them both.
"Let me at least bandage it for you." Eve suggested.
"No. It is not necessary."
"Stop being so stubborn, Fenris." Her voice started to rise in anger.
"Oh leave him be, Eve. If he wants to suffer, let him." Anders said. The fact he didn't offer to heal him did not go unnoticed by Fenris, not that he would have accepted.
Eve gave Anders a scathing look before turning back to Fenris. "I just want to help." She told him.
"I do not need, nor want, any help from you." He snarled at her. Why was he being so cruel? He was angry, hurt that she hadn't thrown off Anders touch. Was she trying to make him jealous? It was working!
He saw her wince at his words. "Fine." She turned around, grabbing Anders hand. "Come on sparkle fingers," she told him dragging him with her, "we're getting fucking drunk."
"Yay! Now it's a party!" Isabela hollered.

Fenris was shaking with rage. He couldn't watch her with that abomination. He wouldn't. He left as quickly as he could, trembling with fury.
Damn her! Damn her for getting under his skin! Damn her for leaving that night without an argument! Damn her for making him care!
He hoped he would run in to some foolish gangs out for a fight so that he could take his anger out on them, but he doubted he would be that lucky.