AUTHORS NOTE: Happy new year everybody, forgive the fluff, but it is time to move Hawke and Anders relationship forward, plus we check in on Bethany and Fenris. Enjoy chapter 29!
Chapter 29: The First Move
Fenris had retired for the evening, the mansion was dark, and if you did not see the lit lanterns you might have mistakenly believed that the place was empty.
He sat before the great hearth, sharpening his blade, normally the cleaning and sharpening of his weapons calmed him, the rigid routine allowed him to focus on things that he could control.
Unlike Marian Hawke.
The Tevinter elf cursed under his breath, what would it take to show this woman his value, to get her into a position where it would be safe to speak his heart. Bethany told him once that he would need to let Marian know how he felt, but how could he do that, especially with the Abomination always there.
He wished Viper was here, he missed her visits, it seemed that she always knew how best for him to talk to her sister.
But she wasn't here; she was locked in the Gallows. Wasn't that for the best? Wasn't it not for the best that she was safe, no danger to herself or others?
Fenris missed his friend.
Why could it not have been the witch, she hid in her hovel playing with powers she did not truly understand. The abomination liked to think he had control of the thing inside him, but creatures of the fade were powerful things. One day he would not be able to stop himself, one day the thing within him would hurt some poor innocent.
Fenris feared it would be Hawke.
He would not let that happen, the Abomination would die before he hurt her, Fenris would rip his heart out!
The room brightened, the Tevinter elf's impotent anger fueled the lyrium in his skin.
She has chosen the Abomination, let it go.
The light of his markings faded, Fenris growled low, but did nothing more. He would rededicate himself to waiting for Danarius. His former master would come for him eventually. He should never have allowed himself to feel anything for the woman.
It was a lost cause.
The Tevinter elf sighed; he would have to be satisfied with being her companion, with fighting at her side.
It seemed that it was all he was meant to have.
He held up the blade, he found himself pleased with his work; his weapon was something he could understand.
Unlike Marian Hawke.
Fenris sighed heavily; he wished that Viper was here.
IOI
Bethany Hawke climbed the stairs back to her small room in the north tower. She felt pleased with the events of the day. Her students were progressing nicely in her studies. She had never realized how…rewarding it could be to teach others.
I'm a good teacher, she thought, who could have imagined that.
She smiled wistfully; the younger ones had all come to love Miss Bethy, as more than a few of them called her, they would always stay behind, eager for a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
The Templar guard in the hall would always glare at her for holding the students up, but Bethany did not care.
These children had a hard enough road to walk; she would not deny them a small bit of human affection.
Still she had to be careful, the Gallows was a tight rope, yet she walked it well. She had to be good enough to please her own instructors, but not too good, not enough to fuel the Templars paranoia.
Tobrius recognized what she was doing, but said nothing. He had lived in the Gallows his whole life, he recognized her Father's skill as a teacher, and at Bethany's growing talent for force magic.
You have surpassed your Father in this; Tobrius told her with a smile, he would be very proud of you.
Bethany liked to think so.
She was surprised to find Ser Thrask waiting for her at her door, she tensed nervously, had…had she done something wrong?
"Good Evening Mistress Bethany," Thrask said with a nod.
"Good evening Messere," she said with a curtsey.
"I have news of that blood mage prisoner that you have been trying to heal."
Bethany felt her heart sink, had Meredith finally killed Idunna, or made her tranquil?
"The woman has finally emerged from her catatonia," Thrask informed her, "We have tried questioning her about who… hurt her, but she won't respond to us, just whimpers and cowers in a corner of her cell. We were hoping that she might respond to you."
Bethany nodded; she would do what she could for the poor woman. She felt a little responsible for her; it had been Marian who had sent here after all.
Thrask led her downstairs, the guards did not question the senior Templar, though they did make it a point to purge Bethany of her mana, she staggered, but Thrask had held her up, she smiled gratefully to him.
Part of her wished Bradley were here, the Templar recruit had been a big help to her, but sadly he still had his own duties at the chantry, once he had completed his training he would move here permanently, he had told her what Templars she could trust to help her with this, there were not many, but Thrask was on the top of that list.
He felt grateful to Bethany and her sister; they had brought him his poor daughter's last letter, and hid the truth about her from Meredith.
Thrask would always be grateful for that.
They came to Idunna's cell, where she had been moved was not officially recorded here, Knight-Captain Cullen did not want those responsible for attacking the girl to come and finish her off.
He still desired to see the responsible parties punished for what they had done.
Thrask opened the cell, Bethany entered to find Idunna kneeling in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest for protection. The blood mage had not been harmed in months so she looked much like her old self, her pale skin and copper red hair were clean, her silver eyes however were now that of a broken animal, she did not look Bethany in the eye as she entered. A small whimper escaped the woman's throat.
"It is okay," Bethany purred, "No one is going to hurt you. I'm Bethany, you are Idunna, yes?"
The prisoner nodded. She looked on Bethany with nervous eyes.
"I…I…remember you," the woman stammered, "You…you put me…here. You and your sister."
Bethany winced, "You tried to kill us at the time."
Idunna nodded, her breathing quickened.
Bethany did her best to calm the poor woman; did she blame them for her fate here? It was possible, but Marian would no more agree what had happened here than Bethany did.
"Are you here to kill me," Idunna asked.
"Of course not," Bethany replied, we are trying to help you."
Idunna paused considering this.
"You…you want to help me," the prisoner asked.
Bethany nodded.
"Then kill me…please," Idunna begged, "please…I don't want to be here anymore. They will find me. They will…do things to me. I don't want to be here anymore. Kill me please."
Bethany was shocked, she had not expected this.
"Please," Idunna grasped her hands, tears rolled down the blood mage's cheeks, "do this one thing for me. I'll…I'll do anything…I don't want to be here anymore…please…just…kill…kill."
The prisoner fell sobbing into her arms, Bethany held her, there was nothing else she could do. She wished that she could take the girls pain away, but she would not kill her. Even in the Gallows, there could be hope; men like Bradley, Thrask, and Cullen made it so.
Thrask watched silently, Bethany held the girl until she had cried herself to sleep. Then he had placed her back on her small cot. The two of them left then, leaving the girl to rest.
Bethany was silent, she…she did not expect that reaction, had the girl's suffering been so bad that death seemed the only way out?
"You may not be able to help her," Thrask informed her.
"Never the less I will try," Bethany replied, Marian would not give up when it came to helping someone…
And neither would she.
IOI
Anders doused the lantern in his clinic in darktown, he had done what he could for the people here for today, but now it was time to find his own rest, or at least attempt to anyway.
Her words still haunted him; they spun through his head like a hurricane.
Anders…come back to me.
Hawke had never spoken to him like that before, so gentle, so…warm, it…it was like nothing he had felt before. Her words had drew him back from Justice's grip, a warm beacon drawing him back to humanity.
Come back to me.
He sighed heavily, this was a mistake, he would hurt her if they started this, and yet, he could no longer deny what was in his heart. This wasn't lust; well…it was not entirely lust, not anymore. He had come to yearn for her, to desire her smallest glance, to crave her gentlest touch.
He had not encouraged her, Maker save him, he had done everything to not encourage her, but she pursued him anyway.
He was both terrified and excited by that.
Love was dangerous, it made you do stupid things, in the circle it was a trap, if the Templars knew that you loved someone that was leverage, they would use it, no…love was dangerous.
We have more important things to worry about; justice must be brought to the Templars!
He knew in his head that Justice was right, but…Andraste guide him, he wanted her. As he lay on his cot in the wee hours of the morning he thought about her, wanted her, to smell her hair, to taste her lips, to feel the warmth of her bare skin against his.
Anders shuddered…he had to let this go…for both their sakes.
Anders…come back to me.
The mage shuddered; she was such a wonderful torture.
There was the sound of booted footsteps outside his door, followed by a quiet knock.
She comes, Justice purred.
"Anders," Her voice was sweet music in the darkness, "Anders, are you in there."
Yes," he called back, "enter…please."
Then she was there, she wore her heavy plate, her sword at her back, Jester ambled in behind her, hunting some smell or another, he was glad she had not come alone. The undercity was dangerous at night.
The look in her blue eyes haunted him, he…he knew he should turn away, but…he…just…couldn't.
"I'm sorry for what happened with that blood mage earlier," he said mournfully, "just the thought of a mage…a mage selling one of our own."
"I know," Hawke murmured; she approached him, part of him wanted to back away, to hide behind a quip, or his duty to his patients, to the wardens, to…anything.
She is a distraction…she will get us both killed, send her away.
I can't!
You can…YOU MUST!
No.
Justice must be served!
NO!
"Anders," Hawke asked.
She was so close to him now, he could smell her hair, the smell of sword oil, and armor polish, but beneath that…the wonderful scent that was her…
His beautiful Hawke, his wondrous, glorious Marian.
"Hawke," he whimpered, "We…we shouldn't…"
"Shouldn't what," she purred, she leaned closer still, he could feel her warm breath against his skin. His stomach twisted wonderfully.
"Hawke…Mari," his voice became a moan of surrender.
She closed her eyes and leaned closer still.
Their lips touched.
His head spun, his heart exploded in his chest. Justice fell silent…they were both lost in this one wonderful moment.
She licked his lip playfully, causing him to open his mouth; his tongue found hers, a moan of desire escaped her lips.
Anders was burning, lost in the fires of desire and need. He…he wanted more. He nibbled her ear and kissed her neck, she groaned loudly, enjoying his touch.
Yet, he still wanted more, he wanted her…all of her, he wanted her free of this armor, he wanted her writhing atop him, he wanted to feel stars explode before his eyes.
Then, just when he thought he could no longer resist it was over.
Hawke backed away from him, her eyes dark with passion, her breath came in excited gasps.
Part of him wanted to stop her, to pull her back into his arms.
He hungered for her…needed her.
"I have made the first move," she purred grinning wickedly, "The next is yours Messere."
She motioned for Jester to come, the Mabari bounded after her.
He was alone again; the taste of her on his lips, her lingering scent still teased his senses.
Finally Justice spoke again.
That was…different, nothing like Aura.
Ander chuckled, did that mean that Justice approved or disapproved.
His friend had once again fallen silent.
So, the next move was his?
He would have to consider it carefully.
Yes, very carefully indeed.
