Moonpriestess30: Sounds like you're reading across the board, if you ever wish to talk to me just drop a PM. Thankfully it's the ones I quite like. She has given up, finally!

Judy: I aim to please!


Chapter 41 – Adante, Adante

'This was yer mother's,' Silvanus says softly as he opens a small box and takes out a necklace, it had a delicate silver chain and a sweet oval frame which held a glittering amethyst, the frame looked like leaves around the stone. 'I made it fer her on our first date,' he says a little shy. 'She refuse to sell it even in our darkes' days,' he says reminiscing. 'I have some of her dairies, an' more of her jewellery,' he adds. Makatza smiles as she takes the necklace and turns it over in her hands.

'Do you have any more pictures?' She asks, she had put the puppies in her tent and she was pretty confident that she would hear them if needs be. The camp was celebrating, they didn't need much of an excuse to break out the wine and after the last couple years they were happy to take anything they could get. Fenris was sitting with them at the fire and content to simply watch them bond, he had tried to excuse himself but neither of them were having any of it.

'Aye, I have many, even a wedding portrait,' he says nodding. 'Here,' he looks for the right painting in the large chest that he had brought out. It was relatively large and done with great care.

'Oh my goodness,' Makatza gasps as she looks at her mother dressed in what she could only guess to be traditional Dalish wedding attire. Her hair was braided and covered in flowers, tiny jewels and crystals decorated the circlet that adorned her forehead and her hands were clasped in Silvanus', he too was dressed in wedding attire but there were a lot less flowers and more furs around his shoulders. 'Don't you look young,' she teases her father lightly, 'less greys.'

'Aye well havin' a lass like yourself is sure ta make one grey around the ears,' he jokes lightly as he takes out another box. 'This be her wedding dress an' jewels,' he says taking back the picture and passing the box to her. Makatza opened it carefully and smiled, she could feel tears coming but she didn't want to ruin the moment. 'Try it on,' Silvanus suggests, picking out the circlet. Makatza blushes and smiles.

'Are you sure?' She asks as she carefully takes it from him.

'Aye,' he says as he moves around and takes out the hair pin keeping her hair back, 'just slide it ova yer ears,' he instructs with a smile, Makatza feels a little silly but she does as she's told. It balances perfectly and rests across her forehead she smiles brightly and turns her head this way and that, Silvanus kisses her hands. 'You look jus' like ya mother,' he says with a tear in his eye.

Makatza goes pink and smiles at him, 'I look that nice?' She says brushing a curl over her ear.

Fenris clears his throat as he sips on his beer, 'beautiful,' he speaks for the first time that evening. Makatza's face lights up and she can't help but express her emotions in her smile. Silvanus looks between the two, there was something there even if they hadn't realised it yet. Makatza thanks him for the compliment and gently removes the circlet placing it back into the box. A couple of elves came over with more beer and food handing it out to everyone.

'Silvanus! This be the daughter ya hidin' away?' A tall elf asked, he had piercing blue eyes and brushed back, greying hair. He winked at Makatza who giggled and rolled her eyes.

'Ahh! Juner!' Silvanus laughs as he stands up to greet the man. 'This is be clan artist, he does our tattoos,' he explains to Makatza who waved a hello at him. 'My daughter is nay fer an option to the likes of yer!' He jokes with seriousness.

Juner acts if greatly wounded and claps Silvanus on the shoulder. 'Ah well, can I at least teach the lass to dance?' He asks holding out a hand to Makatza. She beams and jumps up without a second thought the idea of learning new steps called to her suppressed dancer. She bounced off with Juner and there was a whoop from the crowd as she joined their dance circle that was going around the largest fire in the camp. Silvanus picks up his drink and sips some before looking at Fenris, he raised a brow to see the man's calm demeanour.

'She is dancin' with others an' ya do not seem ta mind,' he comments making Fenris look over at him.

'She loves to dance,' Fenris states, he looks over at her and can't help but feel a little jealous with the reactions she was getting from other but it wasn't his place. He makes eye contact with her father and sighs, 'you do not like me,' he says bluntly.

Silvanus chuckles. 'When I first met ya, yer were drippin' wet an' said that I be a stranger an' ya didnae need more of those,' he says simply as he sits down. 'Jus' pulled my Lethallan from the water an' I told ya that I wouldnae trust ya to look after my daughter, that ya did nothin' to further our people.'

'Yes, I remember,' Fenris replied a little cold.

'I called ya a stranger an' it were your fault that she was in that situation,' he points out. 'Ya ask if I like yer. No. I cannae say I do. Tis not for the reason ya think though. Tis not because yer are sweet on my Lethallan- Ah, dinnae try to deny it,' he says as Fenris opens his mouth. 'Tis not because of that, tis not the way ya are, or who ya are. Tis yer past. Everythin' I 'ave tried to protect her from, everythin' her mother died for, it be chasing yer. Every day, they be getting' closer to yer,' he sighs as he leans back with resign.

Fenris looked inside his mug, the old elf was right. The Tevinter Imperium wouldn't stop hunting her if they knew she existed and Danarius wouldn't stop hunting him either. 'I have promised myself that she will come to no harm,' he admits to her father. 'I... did not promise it lightly.'

'I dinnae doubt it. Can ye tell me that ya would go back to the Imperium, fer her? To keep her safe?' Silvanus asks cruelly. 'Till ya can say that yer would sacrifice everythin' fer my Lethallan I willnae like that yer sweet on her, an' I will ask ya to keep yer distance.'

Fenris frowns a little, 'with all due respect, Silvanus. That is not your choice to make,' he states. 'It is not mine either,' he adds before he gets the wrong idea. 'It is hers and hers alone.' Makatza's father frowns in annoyance, Fenris was right but that didn't stop him from not liking his answer. A tense silence descended over them until Makatza came bounding over her face flushed from the fire.

'Dance?' She asked them. 'Fenris do you know the steps? Father? Coming?'

'I will pass for tonight,' Fenris says softly, 'you can teach me tomorrow,' he doesn't want to dance in front of all the people around them especially with the conversation that he's just had with Silvanus. Makatza understands and doesn't pressure him any further, she had flowers in her hair and brightly smiled as she grabs her father's hand dragging him towards the crowd. Fenris returns her smile and ignores the Ferelden elf and his glare as he's pulled away. He honestly thought any conversation with Silvanus was going to be a lot more confrontational than what it was so he relieved that it went smoothly...ish. Deep down he knew that the elf was right and he should be keeping his distance, like he had been telling himself for almost a month now but he just selfishly wanted not to. For the first time since he could remember there was a little bit of light in his life and his heart skipped when she smiled at him, he wanted to grab onto it and hide it away. He knew that he would never be able to truly act on what he was feeling, that this was all going to be taken from him. He would eventually have to push her away for her own safety and no doubt she'd turn to others for comfort and they'd be able to give her everything she desired, the Prince appearing in his mind at that moment. With a heavy sigh he got up from his seat, the crowds and noise was proving to be too much for him. Fenris knew of a small lake that was nearby and it would be quiet enough for him to get some needed head space.

Makatza danced until her feet were sore and then she danced some more, only briefly stopping to sort out her puppies who awoke for a little while. Coming out the tent after she checked on them; they were snoozing away on her bedroll, she looked around. Silvanus was laughing and playing a game with Juner and a couple other friends, she looked for Fenris and couldn't see him anywhere. She figured that he wanted some space so she'd not disturb him. 'Makatza!' Ameretta ran over and grabbed her hands. 'Your father says ya sing! Sing fer us!' She says bubbly and clearly a wee bit tipsy.

Makatza laughed and shook her head, 'I don't know any of this world's songs! I mean, I could sing you something but it wouldn't have any music,' she said as she was yanked over to where the band was playing. There was a small platform for the singer to stand on so they were above the crowd.

'Please! Silvanus says ya have a beautiful voice, please, please, please,' she begged as she squeezed Makatza's hands.

'Okay, okay, but I can't sing very well, I'll warn you now,' she laughs, not compared to the Dalish women that were singing tonight, god damn they're amazing. Makatza climbs up onto the platform and smiles, waving at Ameretta as she jumped up and down clapping her hands. A band player walked over and asked her what song she was going to perform. 'Uh it's not a traditional one, if you just play this melody-' she hummed a few lines, 'then it should go well,' she explained. The man nodded and went back to his place and told the others who were playing instruments the tune that Makatza needed. Hmm, he has a good ear, she thinks as they start to play the swaying melody. There was a wave of quiet that swept over the crowd as they waited, Makatza swallowed her fear and began to sing:

'Take it easy with me, please,
Touch me gently like a summer evening breeze.
Take your time, make it slow.
Andante, andante, just let the feeling grow.'

She moved from side to side as she sang, there were a couple of gasps and light claps as she looked over the crowd. The feeling of joy filled her soul, it had been years since she sang properly and she was loving every moment. Ameretta had begun to dance with a young lad and soon the elves had all coupled up, mothers with daughters, young love, her father smiling as he watched her.

'Make your fingers soft and light.
Let your body be the velvet of the night.
Touch my soul, you know how.
Andante, andante, go slowly with me now.'

Makatza would be the first to admit that this probably wasn't the best song to sing as it implied a lot of things but she loved the tune and it made her happy. Mari used to sing it when she was working and it had a special place in her heart. The band seemed to have gotten into the swing of it and flourished as they sensed that she was coming up to the chorus.

'I'm your music.
I'm your song.
Play me time and time again and make me strong.
Make me sing, make me sound.
Andante, andante, tread lightly on my ground.
Andante, andante, oh, please don't let me down'

She couldn't help but giggle at the start of the chorus, the band picking up the beat had thrown her off a little. She smiled brightly and clapped her hands. She looked over the crowd and there she saw him, leaning against a tree he had reappeared from wherever he had wandered off to. Makatza felt her pulse pick up and her hair swirl in her mana as she sang, she kept her eyes on him as he was staring at her intently.

'There's a shimmer in your eyes.
Like the feeling of a thousand butterflies.
Please don't talk, go on, play.
Andante, andante, and let me float away.'

She finished singing and the elves around her began to cheer and clap as she got down. Ameretta hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek as she was passed over to her father. 'Oh ma Lethallan,' he says softly as he embraced her. 'That was a wonderful song,' he praises.

'Mari used to sing it,' Makatza says swallowing a ball of emotion.

'She raised ya perfectly,' he nods as he kisses her temple. 'Go dance, dinnae let me keep ya,' he chuckles as she's pulled through the crowd by those who had had a little too much to drink. Makatza laughs and nods, hugging those who hug her and being kissed on the cheeks and forehead more times than she could count. She was in the middle of a group who were singing parts of her song when she felt a tight, strong grip around her wrist as she was less than gently pulled away.

Makatza yelped in surprise more than pain as she found herself behind a tree faster than she could think. It was Fenris. She giggles, 'thanks for saving me,' she smiles as she brushes her hair back.

'You looked like you needed it,' he admitted, plus it was a good excuse to get her alone.

'Did you hear me sing?' She asked a little nervously. 'I was so scared! It's been so long since I did something like that,' she had begun to babble and Fenris merely raised a brow at her while giving her a half smile.

'It was beautiful, though you have more than likely heard that many times tonight,' he says as he motions with his head for her to follow him. She does so without a second thought and he takes her to the lake where he was before he heard her voice. 'This place seems to be peaceful,' Fenris says picking up a stone and skimming it across the water.

'It's a welcome change from the noise,' Makatza agrees as she too picks up a stone and attempts to do the same but it just plops into the water with a gloop. She shrugs a shoulder, ah well. Looking over at Fenris an idea hits her. 'Remember when we were playing the piano?' She asks as she moves a little closer. He looks at he and nods, 'well I still remember what you owe me,' she teases as his face instantly erupts at the memory which makes her laugh more.

'I would advise you not to, it is a ….trigger,' he says carefully.

'A bad trigger or a good trigger?' She continues to tease as she was aware of how it felt when he touched her ears.

He laughs and gives her a look, 'that depends if you want what happens after you touch them,' he points out. Makatza grins, she had never seen him so relaxed, the mixture of alcohol and being away from the city and other people seemed to ease tension from him.

'What if I do?' She said without thinking.

He fumbles the throw he was making and looks at her properly. 'Do you?'