A/N: I apologize for the long delay. Finals kept me busy, but now I back to writing. Another exciting chapter coming up.
Fenris held the giggling girl over his face. Lowering her he would kiss her cheeks and neck, taking great satisfaction in her squeals of delight. He never thought he would ever be a father, he hadn't desired it. Meeting Hawke had changed everything forcing him to rethink everything he thought he knew about mages, people, and life in general. He heard the front door open. Bringing the girl to his chest he sat up.
"Momma's home." He told her then she stuck her fist in her mouth. "Say hello to…" his smile faded when Anders walked through the door. He stood there staring at the mage with a well practiced scowl.
The girl sensing her father's irritation wiped her freshly slimed hand on his cheek and neck. It was just gross enough to distract him from the mage, which gave Anders a chance to move further into the room allowing Theresa to come in.
"Claandra." Fenris said wiping the baby slime off "uh, that's gross."
"Oh did she get you?" Theresa asked coming up and saying hello to her daughter.
"Yes. You may have her." He handed the child to her mother going to the basin to wash his face off, the mage temporarily forgotten. That was until he heard Anders talking. He glared back at the mage still stopped over the basin. He slowly reached for a towel. "Why is he here?" Fenris asked.
"Giving the girls a check up." She said nonchalantly bouncing Claandra on her hip "Then once Orana and Bodhan get back mommy and daddy get to go out." she told her daughter.
After drying his face off Fenris moved to the doorway separating their bedroom from the nursery, leaning against the door frame he watched both his wife and the mage, who was checking on his daughters.
"You know Fenris I am not going to eat your children." He said giving Hera an affectionate pat.
He looked Fenris in eyes when he stood up to take Claandra. Fenris stood silent, his arms crossed over his chest just watching the mage. It made Anders uncomfortable, reminding him of how the Templars would watch him at the circle.
"You two stop it." Theresa said handing Claandra to Anders.
"I have not said anything unkind to the mage." Fenris said in a diplomatic tone that held an undertone of irritation.
"No, you just stare at me like a Templar." Anders stated taking the child.
Fenris remained silent. He saw his wife's frown from where he was, but he was more interested with how his daddy's girl would respond to the mages prodding.
"Uh!" Anders exclaimed when she spit up all over him.
Fenris could hardly hold back his snicker when she released her breakfast on the mage. Silently he encouraged his daughter. Even Theresa snickered when it happened.
"Oh Anders, I'm sorry. "She said taking the girl from him.
"I got her." Fenris tried to keep the amusement from his tone but some still made it through making the mage scowl more. Pushing off the wall he took his girl from her mother, disappearing into their bedroom to wash her off and change her clothing. "Good girl." He whispered and she began giggling.
Theresa handed Anders a damp cloth. "Here." She gave him a sheepish smile.
"I can't say I miss that." He replied with sarcasm.
"You've had babies pit up on you before?" she asked.
"Just one other. The Warden-Commanders boy, Brendan. "He thought about it after cleaning off his face and the best he could out of his robe "He'd be four now."
"You sound like you miss them." Theresa rinsed out the cloth and handed it back to him.
"I do." He sighed "She was what made being a Warden palatable. I fear I have failed her, though."
"Why do you say that?" Theresa asked "From what I have heard she is an honorable woman."
"She is and that is the problem." He paused holding the cloth "She once told me that you can never stop being a Warden. No matter where you choose to go you will always be a Warden and that we will all end up in the Deep Roads in the end. I left because it was too much like the Circle."
Theresa was quiet. Her body language saying she was listening if he wished to continue. She reached out and squeezed his shoulder.
"I'm sure she would forgive you."
"I know she would, after she gave me a tongue lashing I no doubt deserve." He finished with a laugh "you two would have gotten along great. I hope someday you can meet her."
"I'd like too. The Hero of Ferelden. You are lucky to have been able to call her friend, Anders." Theresa told him, squeezing his shoulder again. Before rising to tend to her other daughter.
"I was beginning to think I would never see you again." Varric said when Hawke and Fenris entered "Elf, you need to bring her in here more."
Fenris shrugged. "Have you tried making her do anything?" He asked in a playful jest to his wife "she'd turn me into a toad."
"Eee" Varric made a face at that comment.
Theresa narrowed her eyes at Fenris. "It's not too late yet."
"No toads in my suite." Varric said tossing the cards out "Cards yes, beer yes, toads no."
"You are lucky, husband." She told Fenris giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"More than I'll ever rightly know." He replied taking his seat.
"You owe me five sovereigns, elf." Varric stated shuffling the deck.
"I'm good for it." He said opening the bottle of wine he brought with him; he poured himself and Theresa a glass. He handed her a glass of dark red wine.
"Here." Theresa smiled giving him a pouch and taking her glass.
"What's this?" He asked looking at her.
"Ten sovereigns." She smirked at him and winked at Varric.
"Point taken. Next time ask Hawke." Seeing the frowning elf only made Varric start laughing out loud.
"Shut up and deal, Dwarf." He snapped, though it was hard to remain angry considering he was actually in a good mood and the teasing didn't really bother him.
"How did you manage to end up what all the money, elf?" Varric asked throwing his cards down "Have you been practicing?"
Fenris snickered as he pulled the pile of money towards his lap. Varric grunted at him.
"I may have been teaching him to be able to better play against you." Theresa told him.
"You mean you been teaching him to cheat?"
She only shrugged.
"Good on you Elf." He said "Now get out before I lose my clothes too."
Laughing she helped Fenris clean up his winnings. "Good night Varric."
Together they enjoyed the walk back to Hightown. The night was clear and the stars bright. The city was quiet and calm. It would have been nice if not for the threatening undertone that pervaded everything. They were both quiet on the way home, holding hands and enjoying each other's company.
The house was quiet when they entered. Swiftrunner was sleeping on his rug in front to the hearth, he gave them a cursory glance before going back to sleep. Sandal was cuddled up beside him. Smiling and shaking her head she covered Sandal with a blanket before heading up with Fenris.
"It was nice seeing everyone again." She said pulling out her sleeping clothes.
"It was nice winning their money." Fenris corrected garnering a laugh from her.
"Well, it is nice seeing Varric lose every once and awhile."
"hmmm" he hummed kissing her neck.
She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. "Grab your book, we should do some reading before bed."
He kissed her again. Releasing her he went out into the hall to get the book they were reading together. He never thought that reading would be so important to him as it was now. Not that act of reading, but doing it with her. It was something they did together and he cherished their time together.
Setting the book on the bed he scooted in next to her getting comfortable. Theresa moved next to him and opened to where they left off. They took turns reading chapters to one another. It was her turn. He loved the sound of her voice, even if she was often hard to hear. It was a book of poems. He very much enjoyed lyrical works. They were appealing and sounded like songs. When it was his turn she smiled and handed him to the book.
"What are you smiling for?" He asked, "Have you read this chapter before?"
"Yes. It's my favorite."
"You can read it." He offered.
"No, I want to hear you read it." She replied.
Taking the book he read the title. "The Song of the Unicorn." He looked at her "What is a Unicorn?" he asked.
"A creature of great purity. According the legend they were the most graceful and beloved of the Maker's creatures on the earth. Creatures of power and healing." She explained "Go on read it."
Fenris began reading again.
"There was a proud and noble stag
In Shadow Wood was born,
And there he grew and there he met
And loved a unicorn.
He served her long; he served her well,
He served her, whole and part
Until one night in Shadow Glade
He told her with all his heart.
She did not mock, she did not laugh
But softly told him nay;
He did not grieve, but chose to leave
And plotted to betray."
He stopped reading and looked at Theresa.
"Keep reading." She urged him.
"He sought out King Paris's men:
His words were cold and blunt,
"Oh, sentry host, desert your posts:
I offer you a hunt."
King Paris's men were duty bound,
To guard the wood from fear.
The king, in pride, set sword aside,
To bargain with the deer."
He stopped again, thinking about what the Stag was doing. He kept his questions to himself until he finished the poem.
"There is no hunt for me," said he,
"Of any creature born,
Unless I could in Shadow Wood
Hunt down the unicorn."
"None knows so well where she may dwell
As I who did her will,
If you will heed, then I will lead,
And you may have your kill."
He paused again staring at the page. He was gripping to book tightly.
"Fenris are you alright?" she asked placing her hand on top of his "we can skip this chapter if you do not like it."
"No," he said relaxing his grip "it's fine. I just…it hits so close to home. Didn't this happen to Andraste?"
She nodded. Wrapped her arm around his she laced her fingers with his free hand. It was several minutes before he started reading again.
But one lone guard forewarned the king:
"This hunt is evil-starred;
For those with arms and potent charms
Against whom we must guard
No more will wait with eyes of hate
And souls and hearts of gall,
But to purge the wood of light and good,
And gods forgive us all."
Still Peris boasts, "Step down, my hosts,
And hear the hunting-horn,
Let men invade both wood and glade,
We hunt the unicorn."
The stag led on from night to dawn,
From sunrise into morn,
And in the shade of Shadow Glade
Betrayed the unicorn.
She spoke to him, her voice was grim:
"What have you down for pride?
You know and see your destiny
And yet you turn aside.
You would betray me to my death
And quite forsake your vow?
Then service lent without consent
Is all you do me now."
Fenris looked down at his sleeping wife. Normally if one fell asleep they would stop reading for the night, but he wanted to know how this poem ended. Turning the page he read the rest of the poem. She would forgive him.
She touched him once, she touched him twice,
She touched him three times with her horn;
And there he fell, and where he fell
He rose a unicorn.
The guards have fled; their trusting land
All undefended lies;
And through the wood invades ride
With darkness in their eyes.
Without alarms they practice charms
That drives away that light
And Shadow into Darken Wood
Is made that evil night.
And afterward, with sword and spear
And horse and horn and hound
They hunted down King Peris's men
And ran them all to ground.
The king was slain, his body lain
Among his dying men,
But they were told here, they were cold
To rise and hunt again.
"For every wraith who breaks his faith
Must wonder without cease
And perform what he did,
And never rest in peace.
So, every night the stag betrays
The love he could not keep
And king and host desert their post
To hunt and never sleep.
And so they shall betray and hunt,
Until the day they show
That they somehow fulfill the vow
They broke so very long ago."
"The shadows in the woods are plain
And mingle now with now with light;
They flow and play with sun by day
And dance with moon by night.
From Darken Wood has Shadow Wood
Been granted its release,
Those who were killed in vows fulfilled
Have there been granted peace."
Fenris slowly closed the book. He could see why it was her favorite poem. It had quickly become one of his. It touched him deeply. He didn't see an author attached to the poem, it was almost as if the poem was handwritten into the book at a later date. Strange he thought. Setting the book down and then settled in for sleep.