Judy: Thank you for your review. I'm glad they're still up to standards.


Chapter 33 – Baby steps

'Ah Miss Isabela, I am not sure that Lady Lorias is awake yet,' Orana said as she opened the front door. Isabela grinned and gave her a look as she took in the demeanour of the young elf.

'Does she like you calling her that?' The Pirate smirked watching as Orana's face flushed in embarrassment. Orana stepped to one side so that Isabela could enter the house and shut the door behind her gently.

'No...' she says quietly. 'She asked that I just call her ….Katza, it doesn't feel right,' Orana says in almost a whine. 'I don't want to get in trouble.'

Isabela takes pity on her, she was thrown from one extreme of life to the other. She doubts that Hawke would care if Orana literally just lived there instead of serving. Certainly nobody was asking her to do things she simply did what she thought was expected of her. Maybe in a few years she would relax a little. 'How about calling her Miss Katza?' Isabela suggested. 'It's still polite and you definitely wouldn't get into trouble if anyone heard,' she assured. Orana looked at her and smiled brightly.

'Yes, I think that would work. Thank you, Miss Isabela,' Orana said with happiness beaming through. 'She will be in her bedroom if she is awake, I've not seen her come down.'

'Don't worry I won't disturb her,' Isabela smiles a little in return to the elf's enthusiasm. Isabela made her way up the stairs and knocked on her friend's bedroom door. 'Katza?' She called through the wood. She heard a reply but it sounded a little muffled, curiosity peaked she opened the door and wandered into the room. Makatza wasn't anywhere to be seen but then Isabela saw the curls of steam creeping out of the bathroom. 'Katza?' She repeated.

'In the bath,' she called back.

Isabela shrugged a shoulder and walked into the bathroom seeing Makatza lounging in the large ceramic tub. 'Ooh cosy,' she says as she starts to take her boots off. Makatza leaned over the side brushing some of her wet hair out her eyes, she had been soothing the aching muscles from the day before. 'Plenty of bubbles,' Isabela commented as she stripped and without ceremony got into the opposite end of the bath and sunk into the warm water. Makatza grinned and poked her in the shoulder with a toe.

'Usually baths only require one person,' she laughs lightly. Go back six or seven months and she wouldn't have dreamed that she would have ever felt comfortable bathing completely naked with another woman. Living with Isabela, who had no shame whatsoever had rubbed off on her a bit. 'Good morning, it's early for you,' she said as she sat up a little and brushed her long curls out the way.

'Yes well, Hawke got back and he was so excited we stayed up pretty much all night,' she laughs lightly. Isabela catches the look Katza was sending at her, 'don't worry I had a wash before I came up, I'm not a complete animal,' she grins. 'I wanted to ask you about yesterday been a while since we caught up,' she says flicking water with her finger at her friend.

Makatza sighed and laid back in the water resting her head on the edge of the bath. 'Where do I begin? First went hunting, had my ass chewed by a couple of wyverns, demons and ghasts? I think they're called. Then went back to the Chataeu and met some rather unpleasant nobility,' she starts ticking the points off her fingers. 'Got trapped in the vault thing, escaped, went through the actual vault then through some caves where we were attacked by insane mages. Then to top it off we fought an entire mountainside of Tal Vashoth, found out the guy we were actually after was at the bottom of the mountain, ran our asses down there like they were on fire just in time to be attacked by another Wyvern. This one was a damn pet. Set off a trap, then got pulled off the side of the cliff and then had to ride home,' she says in a huff. 'So all in all a really great family day out,' she adds sarcastically. 'Turns out Tallis was an Qunari, an assassin and lying to us the entire time,' Katza gave her a thumbs up.

'Wow...that was boring. You know for a fact that I wasn't asking about that,' Isabela says poking her in the stomach with a painted toe. 'I was asking about a certain elf. A very certain male elf before you start prattling on about Tallis again.'

'Ugh,' Makatza threw her hands up spraying water everywhere. 'Can I have one day where I don't have to talk about him?' Isabela's look said it all and Katza cursed the deity above and rolled her eyes. 'Okay. Okay, I give in, what do you want to know?' She asks as she grabs the shampoo bottle to distract herself with washing her hair, 'I know you have a list of questions.'

'Hawke said you danced,' she said almost immediately.

Makatza pffted a bit of her fringe as she gave Isabela a stern expression, 'sometimes a dance is just a dance,' she said simply and slowly. 'It was so I could avoid having to talk to people and help my idiot cousin blend in,' Katza says.

'Your blush could heat the bath water,' Isabela smirked. 'Okay, boring then. Hawke also said that you flirted with a noble?'

'I had to get a key, next?'

'You got trapped in vault security?'

'I was boosted onto a wall bracket and then ran along the beams to a window and unlocked it from outside. Boring,' she smiles as she lathers up some bubbles. 'You're losing your touch Izzy,' she teases.

'Okay, okay, let's see... the ride home,' she said slyly.

Makatza's face blanched a little as she piled her hair on top of her head, she would need to rinse it off by having it sit there for a moment wasn't going to do any harm. 'What... what about it?' Makatza said quietly as she looked over the edge of the bath in an effort to act nonchalant. Isabela's silence was damning and accusing, not to mention that her smile threatened to take the top of her head off. 'I'm guessing you've heard it all from Garrett so why ask me?'

'Cause Hawke doesn't blush like you and he always seems to leave out the best bits. Don't forget that you owe me after not telling me about Sebastian and your party,' she points out as she grabs a sponge and starts to run it down her arms.

Makatza blew bubbles in the water as she sunk in reluctant acceptance. 'Ugh. Fine. Fine, though there's really not much to tell-'

Yesterday:

Makatza froze as she got closer to the horse, it was all well and good that someone was going to be riding with her but it didn't stop the creature from being incredibly tall. 'Oh god,' she whispered as she looked at the saddle, how was she even supposed to get up there?

'Do you require assistance mounting?' Fenris said simply as he waited, Garrett had already mounted his horse and was waiting on them to catch up. 'We had best not linger, we will become suspects for the Baron's disappearance if we are not already.'

'Okay, okay, I get it. How do I even start?' She says frustrated she's being rushed. Fenris explained how to hold onto the pommel and place her foot into the stirrup and swing her leg over. 'You'll catch me if I fall right?' She asks quietly.

'Have no doubt,' he says with a playful smirk, amused at her innocence. Makatza gave him a look to remember then attempted to do as she was instructed but the stallion moved in impatience as she lifted herself up, scaring her and making her flinch and fall back. Fenris caught her around the waist as she cursed at the creature with language he had only previously heard from Isabela.

'-Turn you into glue,' was the only bit he could translate and it made him chuckle.

'Good try but in the sake of actually reaching Kirkwall before the sun sets,' he says as he tightens his grip on her waist and simply lifts her up onto the saddle ignoring her protests and name calling. She sat stiffly and gripped the pommel so hard her fingers were white at the knuckles. Fenris sheathed his sword to a saddle bag and then with deceptive grace jumped into the saddle behind her. 'Are you comfortable?' He asks as he leans forward, arms either side of her as he grabs the reins.

'Far from it!' Makatza says a little shrill.

'Come on, before we lose the light and the spiders come out to play,' Garrett says as he turns his horse by them and then urges the beast into a canter. Fenris felt Makatza's pulse jump for many reasons and he clicked his tongue to prompt the horse into moving.

'!' Makatza swears as the jolt of the stallion throws her back a little into Fenris' chest. She risked letting go of the pommel with one hand so that she could cover her eyes. 'Oh dear god, maker above,' she said in a stream. The stallion sped up until it was running next to it's stall mate and Fenris could feel the pulse in her mana pick up with the speed. The wind was getting harsh and he was glad that her hair was braided and the whiplash was minimal. After about half an hour they had left the country side and the sea was coming into view now that the hills had dropped.

'Makatza,' Fenris said softly by her ear.

'Hmm?' She said having still not opened her eyes.

'Look to your right,' he says as he leans back a little and pulls on the reins so instead of a gallop they were moving at a gentle canter. Makatza shook her head and he chuckles lightly as he slows down their horse even more, 'you will like it, I promise.'

'Promise?' She said as she turned her head but didn't open her eyes.

'Yes,' he assures. Makatza smiles softly and slowly opens her eyes, she gasps and her entire face lights up. Before her was the cliff they were riding along and the setting sun against the sea, golds, pinks and oranges that no self respecting artist would ever paint. Garrett pulls alongside them and nods at Fenris in approval. 'If you keep your eyes closed you will miss a lot,' Fenris says as he leans over to a saddle bag and takes out a cloak. He could see the goosebumps along her shoulders and had spent most the journey trying not to stare at her tattoos. Gently he lifted her braid and placed the cloak over her back, she reached around and pulled it over her automatically revelling in the warmth.

'I'll scout ahead,' Garrett says quietly as he pulls out his staff, as nice as a sunset was it meant that they were running out of time before nasties came out.

'Oh god, it's just... gorgeous,' she says as she looks over the horizon. 'Oh! What was that?!' She said in shock as something broke the surf.

Fenris looked at the silhouette, 'looks to be a Cetus, a sea serpent,' he explains as they watch the serpent roil in the deep waves before disappearing into the darker waters. 'They are rare, they are not usually seen outside the Boeric ocean,' he muses. Makatza leaned to the side of the saddle almost trying to get a better look.

'This place really does have everything,' she laughs. 'An honest to god sea serpent.' Fenris smiles at her obvious joy and then flicks the reins so that they speed up from the trot they'd been sightseeing in. 'Did I miss anything else?' She asks him as she turns back in the saddle to look at him.

'No, just trees and such,' he says simply.

'Hmmm,' she says looking around in curiosity. The brief pause had taken away some of the fear that she had been feeling and now she was like a pup and wanting to explore.

'Would you like to hold the reins?' He offered. She bounced in the saddle a little and nodded, maybe when she was in control she'd feel a little better about it all. 'Place your hands where mine are, you should not need to steer him as we are on a straight,' he said as she took over. 'If you wish to speed up simply encourage him to do so.'

Makatza was feeling nervous but hid it well she thought, 'if only other males took direction so well,' she teased without thinking. Fenris rolled his eyes and chuckled making her heart jump. 'So,' she said as she made the decision to dive in head first. 'Is there anyone that scares you? I mean, I'm scared of heights and apparently horses. Spiders for sure, especially the ones here,' she conversed. 'What about you?'

Fenris tilted his head and shrugged a shoulder. 'Scares me? No. I cannot think of anyone. Not even Danarius scares me,' he admits. 'I have things I would feel fear to lose,' he says after a couple of minutes knowing that at base concept it was basically the same thing.

'Your freedom?' Makatza guesses. Fenris simply nods and doesn't say any more, 'can I say something? I think that you're a lot stronger than you think,' she says making him wear a facial expression of confusion. 'We all know that you're a warrior, highly skilled and dangerous. You have some PTSD, though I know you don't know what that means yet your mental strength is just... phenomenal. I wouldn't even insult you by saying that I know what you've been through, I just hope you know that you can talk to me if you need someone,' she said quietly. 'I do know what it's like to be alone while surrounded by people,' Makatza says wiping her cheek, she was trying to hide the tear that dropped.

Fenris was a little shocked the conversation had taken quite a turn and he wasn't expecting it. He leaned forward and placed his hands over hers as he took the reins and sped the horse up, he also rested his head on her shoulder as she moved back into him. 'I lied,' he admitted as he tilted his head against hers.

'About what?' Makatza said quietly.

'There is someone that scares me,' he says slowly not sure if he is going to regret it. Makatza didn't ask any further questions as she waited for him to speak, instead she turned her head and looked at him. 'When I say it like that... makes me feel embarrassed,' he confesses as he holds her with one arm around her waist, the other keeping the reins steady. They were only about ten minutes from the city so he wouldn't be in this awkward position for long. She giggles lightly in response.

'You can tell me,' she assures. 'I won't tell anyone, I'm good at keeping secrets,' she reminds him. He gives a non-committal noise in reply and is interrupted by Garrett who appears beside them.

'We're not far from the city,' he says smiling unaware of the moment that he had cantered into. 'Are you coming to the Hanged man? I promised Izzy that I would drop by before I went home,' he said s he rooted around in his bag for the necklace he wanted to give the pirate.

'No, I want to go home to eat my body weight in Orana's cooking and then sleep it off for sixteen hours,' Makatza says simply shaking her head in response.

'Fair enough, Fenris?' Garrett asks as he triumphantly finds what he's looking for. Makatza was a little jealous, he seemed to be a totally natural horseman and didn't even hold any concern for holding on to steady himself.

'No, I too wish to rest. I will take Makatza home,' he says simply feeling her mana skip which made him hide a smile.

'There should be a stable boy waiting at the estate to take the horse back so you can just ride up to the door without worries. I'll leave you here then, I'm going to go in the lower gates,' Garrett explains. They had slowed down to a trot and Hawke leaned over to give Makatza a chaste kiss on the cheek. 'Thank you, Katza, I'll see you at home. Be safe Fenris,' he says his goodbyes before splintering off down a different path. Makatza waved goodbye at him until they too trotted through the gates and into High town. Within a few minutes Makatza found herself outside the Hawke estate, Fenris got down and held out his hands to help her down before he removed the saddle bags and sword. There was indeed a lad that was waiting and after having a coin palmed into his hand swiftly rode the horse to the stables.

'Well, what a day,' Makatza said stretching. 'Are you sure you're going to be okay getting home?' She asks looking at the sky, the sun hadn't set just yet so he had some light.

'I will be fine,' came his usual reply.

'Oh, you didn't tell me who you were scared of,' she says as she turns to face him in front of her door. Slowly he put down the bags and his sword as he moved closer to her, he had been able to control himself all day though there were almost some slip ups. Makatza's breath stopped in anticipation as she leaned against the wood of the door.

'Do you really wish to know?' He asks as he placed a hand on her hip and reached up with the other to brush her fringe from her eyes. She didn't trust herself to speak and so she simply nodded ever so lightly, biting her lip and making Fenris' instincts howl. He moved closer until their bodies were pressed together as he dipped his head and whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her neck. 'You,' he murmured. 'I find you terrifying.'

Makatza couldn't stop her heart from beating faster at the revelation and she furiously attempted to keep her mana under control. The tension that burst from her being was palatable she was sure. 'Me?' She questioned as he moved his head so she could look up at him. The fact that he was a good foot taller than her made her hormones squeal in delight. The light from the sunset had dusted gold into his hair and his green eyes glittered with bronze.

'You,' he repeated. He looks away from her as he hears something from inside the house, not wanting to leave it at that he moved and gently kissed her on the cheek the corner of his lips catching hers. 'Good night, Katza,' he said softly before moving away. Makatza was jolted as she felt the door begin to open.

'G-Good night, Fenris,' she stuttered as he picked up the bags and his sword. Her attention was torn from him as she heard Orana greet her. 'Oh hello, Orana. Yes, I'm fine,' she said smiling before looking over her shoulder at the man who was leaving. 'Yes... I'm totally fine.'


These chapters have been a little Fenris heavy so we'll be entering a different angle in the next chapter with some girl bonding before getting back on track with the original. If you are enjoying the story, please let me know.