:D Well I hope you liked the action between Fenris and Katza, it was about time I think almost 50 chapters or so? Girl can only wait so long. Also received DA Origins and DA2 for christmas so i'm pretty much geeking out. Couldn't be happier. Just a little note there's no way this chapter is going to be as long as the other sorry!

Chapter 52 – Compromise.

Garrett looked between them both his eyebrow raising, before he could say anything or come to any conclusion, Makatza bounced off the bed and ran up to him giving him a hug. The force of her tackling embrace knocked him into the hallway. 'Garrett! You're back! We have a lot of news,' she chattered happily. Fenris get off the damn bed and into a new position for fucks sake! I can only keep him distracted for so long! Oh and Garrett? You are so dead. This internal monologue flittered past in moments. When she let him go and she turned around Fenris was indeed standing by the fire looking as nothing had happened. Hawke gave him a look but must have thought his mind was playing up because all suspicion disappeared. Fenris bowed his head in greeting.

'Who else is here?' He asked.

Makatza was still clung to Garrett when he answered, 'Isabela, Sebastian, Merrill went home; she was very tired, and Varric. Aveline went back to the barracks, but we are in serious trouble. I'll bring everyone up,' he squeezed Makatza back and unwound her arms. Giving her a light kiss he chuckled, 'nice to see you too little sister.' Kissing her again he returned back into the bar. Makatza's ego went into overdrive, thanks to her wolf senses that she now carried she heard the growl that broke from Fenris' lips when Garrett kissed her, smiling Makatza walked back into the room and shut the door. No sooner did the door click into place she felt Fenris' presence behind her. Turning to face him she began to giggle. 'Fenris there's no need to get jealo-'

'Katza,' he said deeply, his fingers trailed up the side of her throat resting under her jaw, he dipped his head and pressed his forehead against hers. For a moment they simply stared at each other, she could feel the rough callouses on the palms of his hand as he stroked her cheek, she smelt a light oak ash fragrance where the barrel had exploded near him, her heart panged at the memory. 'Katza, what is this?' He asked tentatively, almost like he didn't want to hear the answer. Makatza frowned for a moment. What is this? I don't know! You started it! This could be what ever the hell you want it to be! Fuck.

'What do you want from me?' She said quietly her hand holding his as she lent into his palm. 'I'm just as new at this as you are,' she admitted. She was trying to hurry him, she could hear footsteps across the hall where they were making their way up the stairs. There was no way she was going to be able to talk to him after the rest of them where in the room. There was a bang and Isabela's sultry laugh filtered in from the corridor. Fenris looked up knowing that his time was short. Taking a deep breath he spoke four words, hoping that what he was feeling would be voiced.

'I want you Katza.'

She opened her mouth to say something to say anything but he cut her off.

'I want, I want you, only for me, I don't like the way Garrett and Sebastian treat you, I want you to be mine. Only mine.' He said quickly.

Okay so he has some boundary and jealously issues, not that I didn't know that, but I, it's Fenris, I want him. You don't know if you don't try. She thought logically.

'I won't change the way I am with people,' she said, he sighed pressing his forehead back against hers and closing his eyes. 'But I want to be with you Fenris, isn't that enough?' Fear bubbled in her stomach, regretting what she had just said. Slowly, he nodded.

'Yes it is more than enough. More than what I had hoped.'

Makatza felt the door handle twist behind her, Fenris pulled her forward kissing her, crushing her lips beneath his, a low moan deep in his chest before reluctantly letting her go and in two quick strides he was halfway across the room, Makatza spun around and grabbed the handle yanking it open. Isabela was jerked forward.

'Fuck! Maker Katza you damn near ripped my arm off!' She rubbed her shoulder.

'Sorry, it's not my fault you were taking so bloody long,' she breathed heavily hoping that none of them would notice how flustered she was, wish you could have taken longer personally, if everyone in this city a damn cock-block? 'At least tell me you brought some drinks?' Garrett laughed and told her that they were on their way, the motley crew bundled into Varric's room settling around the table and making themselves comfortable. Fenris stood by the fireplace watching as Makatza hugged Sebastian and giving him a kiss on the cheek, she laughed at something he said and Fenris scowled. It was bad enough that Garrett got away with what he did, now he was going to be forced to watch her act like around other people. Deep down he knew that it was unfair to ask her to treat their friends differently but it didn't stop the coil of jealously that wound in his stomach. As much as he wanted to cross the room and let everyone know that she was his, he couldn't. It was a burden he was going to have to bear, just like she would have to bear his. Which for some reason he couldn't fathom she did quite willingly. Garrett turned to talk to him.

'So what's this news that you two have?' He smirked, winking cheekily.

'It is not what you think,' even though it was, 'the Carta attacked us as well, on our way here.' Fenris said gravely his eyes not moving from where Sebastian was showing Makatza a gouge on his bow. She clapped her hands to her mouth in shock, then she touched his arm and followed a shallow graze down the side of his neck with her other hand, Fenris swallowed his bubble of sudden hate toward Sebastian and tore his gaze from them settling on Hawke.

'What!? Maker, we hoped to get back before anything like this happened,' Garrett rubbed his eyes, 'did she get hurt?'

'Physically no. But there was a storm and it shook her quite a bit. Emotionally she was very scared.' Fenris sighed, wishing that he could have helped her more, next time he would know what to do.

'Yeah we caught the arse end of that just outside Kirkwall, that's when it happened. We better talk to find out what in the fade is going on.' Garrett called her over and plonked her into a seat, he took the one next to her and motioned for everyone else to sit down. 'Well I've just spoken to Fenris and he says that they were attacked by the Carta as well. We have a serious problem people.'

'Did the dwarves that attacked you say anything?' Makatza asked resting her hand on his arm. Fenris sat the other side of her, she sent a small private smile in his direction and touched his toes with hers. He made a half smile, which made her grin. Isabela sat opposite him next to Sebastian and answered Makatza's question.

'Damn little buggers just kept saying, 'blood of the Hawke,' and 'the Master asks, he will receive,' honestly that was the creepiest shit ever, won't mind never seeing them again.' She shuddered. Makatza looked at Fenris and he nodded slightly.

'Well our ones said something along the same lines, but a little different. They said 'daughter of Malcom Hawke,' and they wouldn't hurt me. It was like they were trying to capture me not kill me. Have you been able to speak to Carver?' Sebastian reached over the table and took her hand.

'You are not hurt are you?' He asked concern in every word, Makatza smiled and shook her head, she patted his hand and then pulled hers from his.

'No I'm fine thanks Seb.'

'I've sent a message to him, Varric said that he would try and find out why or what they want with us until then we have to stay vigilant. They could attack again, Katza you are going to have to start carrying your weapons, and you can't go to the ball tomorrow night. I don't know what they want with father but I would rather not find out.'

Makatza gaped at him. 'What the hell do you mean 'I can't go' you can't tell me what to do! Besides mother has been looking forward to this for weeks, you can't just make a decision like that!'

'Katza, it is common knowledge that you are attending, the Carta could set something up, it's too risky, you could get hurt.' Garrett said logically.

'No fucking way.' She pushed him angrily. 'Meredith is expecting me to be there. She specifically asked to meet me. How would that look if I suddenly don't turn up! Real suspicious, that's what! I can't afford not to go.' Tears swam in her eyes. She was so angry and she could feel the hair on her arms rise, her teeth began to ache at the same time. The inner wolf riled.

'She is right Hawke, Meredith is a greater threat than the Carta,' Fenris backed her up, she gave him a grateful look. The drinks arrived which settled the atmosphere slightly. Varric sat cleaning Bianca, simply watching. Fenris casually rested one of his hands on his lap, after a few minutes and when he knew that no-one was watching him, he slid his hand over and squeezed Makatza's leg, she didn't give any indication that she felt it, simply sipped her drink shooting angry looks at Garrett. She moved her spare hand under the table and gripped his fingers tightly. It brought a comfort to her that she didn't even realise she wanted.

Isabela raised a brow, there was something going on in the background, she could feel the tension of something but she couldn't place her finger on it. She looked carefully at her friends. She would find out.

'Katza, the Carta is a big deal, until we know what the hell they want you are in the most danger, you'll have to have constant protection, we can't provide that if you're prancing around with nobles at parties.' Garrett muttered, Varric nodding next to him at the end of the table.

'You're supposed to be going as well you prick! And by the by, I'm going for mother! Well Meredith as well now, so don't act like I'm being a spoilt little princess, I'm not going to hide away!' She spat at him. Typical bloke behaviour. Isabela laughed loudly when Makatza swore at him, even Varric and Sebastian gave a little chuckle. Fenris held her hand tightly forcing her to stay in her seat. It was getting to the point where normally he would have to let go his skin was beginning to become irritated, but he held on, knowing it was in his head. Mostly anyway.

'I won't be able to protect you! Or mother! Magic is not the way to do this, if Meredith is really going and we get ambushed or attacked, using magic will be a death sentence if she catches wind.' Garrett argued. Makatza sighed heavily, there was nothing she could say, it made sense of course. Which she hated.

'Fine, but you're telling mother not me.' She said defeated, she slid her hand out of Fenris' grasp and rubbed her temples in an annoyed fashion. Hawke nodded, glad that the argument had been settled.

'There is another way,' Fenris said an idea sparking in his mind.

'What is it?' Isabela asked sorting a pack of cards.

'A lyrium warrior.' He said simply looking at his hand. 'I could protect Makatza, and Lady Amell, Meredith can't object to that.'

Makatza gaped at him, that thought had never occurred to her, she wouldn't have liked to ask him, or assume for that matter.

'Fenris. You don't have to-' Garrett began.

'It makes sense, we could pretend that I am her bodyguard, I was trained for that very purpose, that way she is protected and you don't have to tell Lady Amell that she can't take her daughter to the ball that she has been planning for weeks.' Fenris stated, nailing the final bolt in the coffin lid.

'Would you mind?' Makatza asked looking at him through her fingers, 'it means having to be all hob-nobby with lords and ladies. I mean I don't want to go but I kinda have to,' she sighed. She knew why he was doing this, he was doing it for her, but she knew that he would hate it.

'I am well trained to deal with the high society of this city, and no I do not mind.' In truth he despised the idea of being trapped in a stuffy room full of people he neither cared about or gave a damn if they died, but if made Makatza happy, he would go. It would also give him the chance to see her in the dress that had been made, not that it swayed his decision at all. And no doubt the lords of the city would be swarming over her all night. A thought that made his lip curl in disgust.

'Thanks Fenris,' Makatza said quietly.

'Now this would make a great story,' Varric chipped in smirking. 'The lady and her lyrium bodyguard, it makes your pulse race just thinking about.' Fenris coughed on the sip of wine he had just swallowed. Isabela and Hawke cackled happily at his reaction.

'Don't even go there dwarf,' Makatza joked. 'Or it'll be the lady that kidnaps a crossbow and subjects said weapon to horrible torture,' she threatened. Varric gasped in mock horror and muttered sweet nothings to his beloved bow. She stuck her tongue out at him and drank her foul tasting ale. 'Ugh, what the hell is this stuff, it's nasty. No wonder you get drunk so quickly, I assume it's to forget the taste.' She grimaced pushing the tankard away.

'Well now that's all sorted, we can't do any more until the morning now, lets focus on drinking!' Isabela cheered. Hawke and Varric agreed lifting their mugs high. Sebastian stood up.

'I have to go, I must talk to Elthina, Hawke, Katza, be safe.' He nodded in goodbye, Makatza waved at him and Isabela slapped his arse as he left causing him to stumble. The chorus of goodbyes from everyone echoed as he opened and shut the door behind him. Garret and Varric moved around the table and Isabela started to hand out the cards she had been shuffling. Fenris drained his glass, and went to get refills, Isabela claimed Makatza's discarded mug.

'So Katza, you ok?' Isabela asked while Varric and Garrett talked about tomorrow's ball; how they would make it safe.

Makatza brushed her hair out of her eyes, 'yeah, why wouldn't I be?'

'Well the storm and everything, a lot has happened,' Isabela shrugged, Makatza knew what she was doing, Isabela was never any good at being subtle. Vocally anyway. She wanted to know everything.

'Oh that, well yeah.. I didn't cope well with that, as soon as it started I fell to pieces, just sorta sat on the ground and cried, tried to reassure myself, but I was a bit of a state. I just can't handle it. Got soaked through, hope you don't mind I borrowed one of your dresses,' she tugged at the rather flimsy material. Isabela waved off her doubts.

'Corse not. But what about Fenris? What did he do? I mean you must have been in an awkward situation, he probably didn't even know you're afraid of thunder an' that.'

And it begins, Makatza thought. 'No he didn't know, but he does now. He helped a lot actually. Just sorta kept me calm and brought me here as quickly as possible, minus the whole trying to be kidnapped thing.' She was trying to be vague on the details. Isabela seemed satisfied with her answer and grinned happily. Fenris returned with a tray, several mugs and a couple of bottles of wine teetered as he shut the door, he sat back down and handed everyone their drinks. He lent toward Makatza and passed a specific mug over, she looked puzzled but took it anyway. Gingerly taking a sip she realised that he hadn't brought her beer. It was a red wine that tasted faintly of cherries. Fenris picked up his cards without looking at her and they began to play. While Isabela and Garrett argued over the table about a royal flush she took the chance to lean close to him and whisper thanks into his ear. She gently let her lips touch the lobe of his ear as she spoke. Breathing heavily down his neck she returned to her seat, happy to see the tips of his ears flush a deep crimson.

She wasn't going to deny she was feeling smug. Things were definitely looking up. Now Fenris would be going to the ball tomorrow.

Oh. Fuck. This could be bad. Or really, really good.

:D well I hope you liked. I like writing Makatza and Fenris like this it's fun! Please drop a review and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (I know I'm saying it again!) Love you all xxx