I'm so so so sorry I haven't been writing! I promise this week there will be 3 chapters out. I've been having an extremely tough time at home and I've just managed to recover from them.

Well, there are two parts to this chapter that I've dedicated to two people: the Carver/Merrill section is dedicated to MusicalRain, because without her, I probably wouldn't have even put Carver in the story! The Hawke/Fenris section is dedicated to my boyfriend, who has been there for me for the past couple of weeks and to be honest, would have probably perished without him. So mushy stuff over with, here's Chapter 37. :)

Reviews are nice.

~Carver/Merrill~

Carver could still not believe his luck. It had been one month to this very day when he and Merrill became an item, and now they were sharing a hammock in one of the cabins. The gentle swaying of the ship made him drift in and out of consciousness, thanking the Maker that Merrill had finally found her sea-legs.

"Carver?" Merrill's sweet tone spoke softly, "Can I ask you something?"

The Warden opened his eyes and looked down at the elf that was lying beside him, her pale green eyes staring up at him curiously from where her head laid on his chest. Merrill's arm was draped over Carver's muscular frame, their hands tangled together.

"Sure."

"When will Fenris and Hawke get married? I keep seeing Fenris fiddling with this ring he has when no one thinks they are looking and-"

"Wait, what?" Carver's eyes almost popped out of his skull. Fenris had a soft side? The most broodiest bastard, who pretty much longed to live a life on the run, wanted to settle down with Hawke, his sister? The thought of the hardened warrior being a hopeless romantic caused Carver to start roaring with laughter.

Merrill frowned in confusion, "What's so funny, ma vhenan'ara? Have I missed something again?" she sighed, "I always miss something."

His laughter slowly subsided and Carver planted a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"It's nothing, my love. I just find it hard to imagine Fenris being soft, that is all."

"Fenris isn't a golem Carver, he has feelings too, even if he is grumpy most of the time."

Carver chuckled at his lover's innocence as he pulled her close to his body, wrapping his arms around her in a strong, loving embrace. Suddenly, he realised what he was going to do tonight and sat upright quickly.

"Carver what's-"

Merrill squealed as the hammock twisted and the both of them landed on the floor with an almighty thud in a pile of tangled limbs.

"Merrill! Are you okay?" Carver helped her up, continuing to hold her hand even after assisting her.

"I'm fine, ma vhenan'ara, what made you sit up so suddenly? Is Ambre in here again? She may have clawed your behind and-"

Carver placed a finger to her lips, causing them Merrill's mouth to form a perfect 'o' and her eyes widened as Carver dropped down onto one knee and began fumbling for something in his pocket.

"Carver what is this-?"

But Carver interrupted her before she continued her rambling, "Please Merrill, let me speak," he spoke calmly, his cheeks blushing as he looked up into his lover's confused eyes. Merrill opened her mouth to speak but clamped her lips tightly shut to allow Carver to speak.

"I'm not used to speaking what comes from my heart, because I use my head mostly, but here goes: I never thought I would ever meet someone like you, Merrill. You're the most kind, sweet, caring and honest person I have ever met. I'll admit, I usually go for women such as…Isabella, but you have awoken something from the depths of my heart that I never even knew existed."

His hands started to shake with nerves as he fumbled for the small, black velvet box from his pocket. Merrill gasped and her jaw dropped open, her eyes widening in shock when Carver slowly opened the box.

Inside the box was a small ring, a perfect fit for Merrill's long, slender hands. She instantly recognised it as sylvanwood, which had elven carvings and patterns along it. Set in the centre of the ring was a small, flower-shaped diamond with two small sapphires either side that matched the shade of Carver's eyes perfectly. Merrill chuckled; Varric must have helped with the design.

"Carver…" Merrill's eyes flooded with tears of happiness and a shocked smile tugged at her lips before her hands covered her mouth.

"Will you m-marry me, Merrill?"

Her heart soared to the heavens as she heard those words leave his lips. She squealed with delight as tears of happiness poured down her face. Never in all her years being alone and outcaste from her clan, would she ever find a man such as Carver. Merrill thanked the Creators every day she awoke in his loving arms.

"Y-yes! Yes I will!" Merrill squealed in happiness, Carver smiled lovingly as he gently grabbed hold of her right hand, sliding the ring on her ring finger. She held out her hand for a moment, admiring the ring before she flung her arms around him.

"I love you, Carver Hawke!"

Carver laughed into her neck and wrapped his arms around his fiancée and met her lips with a tender, loving kiss.

~Fenris/Hawke~

Trinity awoke after feeling strangely cold. Ever since Fenris started to spend his nights in the same bed as her, he had always wrapped his arms around her in a vice-like grip as if she would leave his arms during the night. Like hell she would.

Her eyes snapped open and she bolted upright, seeing the space beside her in the bed completely empty. Her eyes darted around the room in panic, searching for her missing elf.

But as her eyes fell upon the massive glass window that overlooked the serene sea, Hawke's eyes almost popped out of her skull at the sight before her;

Fenris was lounged out on the large window seat, his back against the frame which he had placed pillows against. Ambre was lazily curled around his neck, purring quietly whilst Fenris read the book that he had found in the ship's hold earlier. His mouth quietly spoke to Ambre as he read the story:

"…and with defeating the high dragon, the brave warrior Godrick Lionheart rode on his gallant steed with Princess Alexandra into the sunset, but the battle was not yet over for the pair as they immediately rode into danger once more-"

Hawke grinned mischievously and accidentally chuckled too loudly as Fenris' head snapped in her direction, his gaze soft before he grew red with embarrassment, even the tips of his pointed ears blushed and the softened look on his face turned into his usual, hardened scowl.

"Did I wake you?"

"I just felt that you weren't there and panicked," Trinity smiled softly as she made her way over to Fenris.

His tunic that she had stolen from him came down to just above her knees. Hawke perched onto the other end of the window seat, sliding her legs alongside Fenris' as they become intertwined with one another. Her gaze turned back to Fenris.

Even in the dim moonlight, his markings seemed to irradiate light ever so slightly, as if they absorbed the moon's rays. His stark white hair was hiding his moss green eyes as he rested the book on his lap and looked out to the calm, deep blue sea before them.

"I would never leave you, Trinity. You know that."

"The nightmares woke you again, didn't they?"

Fenris turned his gaze towards her, his eyes intense and sparkling with emotion, although he kept his usual emotionless mask.

"They weren't the usual ones."

Hawke frowned in concern and moved herself so that she was kneeling right in front of him, in-between his legs. Fenris maintained his stare; he saw many questions forming in her head by just looking at her eyes, but he knew the one she would ultimately ask him.

"What were they about?"

Swallowing the lump of nerves that appeared in his throat, Fenris spoke:

"We had been captured by a group of mages, with the leader being…Anders. They had bound me to the wall with heavy chains of what appeared to be blood magic. I was being constricted by them as I was forced to watch each of the mages take turns in…having you."

Hawke gasped but Fenris maintained his blank mask, but his eyes told a completely different story, so he averted them from Hawke's own eyes and stared at the moon.

"Fenris…Fen? Maker dammit look at me, you stubborn elf!" Hawke cupped Fenris' face in her hands and turned his head so that he was forced to look at her.

"Nothing will keep me from you anymore. I am yours Fen, and I love you and only you," her thumbs gently stroked his cheeks, causing the pain to visibly drain from his face.

"Nothing could be worse than the thought of living without you," he answered quietly.

Ambre mewled as she managed to escape the force of Hawke crashing her lips against Fenris' own in a bruising kiss, their arms wrapped around each other in a loving embrace as their lips and tongues danced their usual, passionate dance.

Fenris quickly opened his eyes before closing them again, just making sure this was not a dream, and that he would soon awake in Danarius' mansion.

Someone had once told Fenris that there is always a small slice of paradise on Thedas for everyone. He smiled at those words as he buried his face into Hawke's neck.

"Thankyou…" he whispered quietly against her neck, thanking every god out there for allowing him to find his own slither of paradise, that he now held in his arms.

Trinity Hawke was his paradise on Thedas, and anyone who would dare take her away will receive more than just a hand through the chest.