Judy: I knew I could depend on you to reassure me *hug*


Chapter 66 - Tough decisions

'Don't give me that look, it's just too dangerous for you to be going to social gatherings while for some reason the Carta are intent on getting your blood or something?' Garrett says as Makatza glares at him. She had emerged from the bedroom with Fenris after a couple of hours and it was now getting quite late into the evening, Fenris was playing cards with Varric and trying to ignore Isabela. The pirate kept whispering things into his ear and it was only because she was Katza's best friend that she was unharmed. 'Leave him alone,' Garrett said to Isabela as she came past, he grabbed her and pulled her into his lap in an attempt to lighten Makatza's look at him.

'You have no right to tell me what to do,' Makatza says finally. 'I am going to that party, whether you like it or not. Auntie will be devastated, she's had the dress made, told everyone that I'm going. What's going to be worse? Me going to the ball or me not going and having people speculate to why, and when they find out it's the Carta having rumours spread about,' Makatza ticks off each point on her fingers. 'I don't really want to go I'll admit but this is really important to your mother.'

Garrett pinches the bridge of his nose, 'Katza, I'm just trying to keep you safe. We have no idea why they're after you and now this Lord Bavent has taken an interest in you, there's going to be a lot of alcohol and loose inhibitions,' he mutters. 'I can't promise that I'll be able to keep an eye on you and keep you safe.'

'There is no need to be concerned,' Fenris said simply from where he was playing cards with Varric. He puts down his hand making the dwarf swear heavily as he wins the round. He gets out of his seat and moves over to where Makatza was sitting, 'I have already said that I will escort her.'

Silence swept over them, 'you have?' Garrett says after a moment.

'Yes, I am well suited to the task and I will be able to deter any unscrupulous attention,' he says simply as he folds his arms. He didn't mention that he hated the idea of seeing men fawn over her all night, he hadn't seen her dress but he knew it was going to be flattering. Right now she was wearing a pair of trakkies and one of Varric's tops and she looked stunning and turned heads when she went down to the bar.

'See, problem solved, right I'm going to bed, I'm tired, it's been a really long night and I just want an easy day tomorrow. I've got a lesson with Sebastian-'

'You have?' Fenris asks raising a brow, his possessiveness appearing almost instantly. Makatza doesn't rise to it and simply stands up and places a finger against his lips.

'Sshhh. I have an archery lesson with Sebastian and I'm going to bed. Are you coming with me or coming to bed later?' She asks simply as she looks at him. He frowns not happy but motions with his head that he would be joining her. 'Good night guys,' she says to the room as she takes his hand. He liked that she didn't hesitate to show affection in public but he was still a little uneasy about it with his own shyness. They all bid them goodbye and then share a unanimous look between themselves as the door shuts.

-x-

The arrow thunked into the target and she sighed, she still wasn't doing well enough. 'That was good, you're really not far from the centre,' Sebastian says softly as he looks at her, she looked tense and stiff. 'What's the matter, Katza?' He asks placing a hand on her shoulder as she lowered her bow. She forced a smile at him and then it broke as he gave her a look. 'You said that you would talk to me about things and that we would remain close. I know you and Fenris are in a relationship but we are friends and I care about you,' he says giving her shoulder a squeeze.

'I know. I know,' she nods as she puts her bow into the stand and then turns to hug him. 'There's just a lot of shit going on that's all. Carta stuff and my father hates Fenris, then I've got this damn ball, I just feel really stressed out,' she admits. He hugs her tightly and drops a chaste kiss on her head.

'Maybe learning your bow isn't the best thing for you right now. If you're up for it we could go somewhere relaxing? I could take you out the city to a place you'll feel better, we could take Bubble and the wolves?' He suggests. She tilts her head and thinks for a moment, what would be the harm in that? The Carta don't operate outside the city and it would clear my head, she thinks briefly. She nods and smiles at him genuinely.

'I would like that,' she nods. 'I'll grab the pups and some food and we can make an afternoon of it.' He agrees to meet her by the stable and she walks back to the estate to gather everything. She's in the kitchen when she hears Garrett come in talking to Fenris. She walks out with her bag of food and her pups at her feet. 'Hey!' She says happily as she sees them both, she kisses Fenris on the cheek in greeting and looks at Garrett. 'I'm going out the city with Sebastian, is it okay if I take Bubble for his run?'

'Sure, though don't stay out too late as the Cart-'

'The Carta prefer to operate at night,' she finishes for him with a roll of her eyes. Garrett grins and hugs her tightly before going to get what he needed from his study. She turns to see a sour look on her lover's face. 'What's wrong?'

'You are going out with Sebastian? Outside the city?' He says simply folding his arms. He had promised to help Garrett at the coast, he was sure the Qunari were involved and his knowledge of them made him invaluable to the task.

Makatza was ready for this and simply nods, 'yeah, I wasn't doing so great in my lesson and so he suggested that we go out and clear my head, have some lunch and chat,' she says holding up her bag of food. 'We're meeting at the stables in a little while so I can't dally,' Katza apologises. Fenris' expression darkens and she knows that he's not happy about this at all. 'Fenris... I said I wouldn't change the way I act around people, you need to accept that.'

'I do not like it, I cannot stop you,' he states coldly.

'Don't be like that. I won't feel guilty for hanging out with a friend-'

'He wants more than to just be friends,' Fenris snaps.

'Does that mean he gets to be? I thought you said you trusted me,' Makatza says calmly not allowing herself to become upset or angry. She knew that he was going to act this way and took it in her stride; she reaches up and touches his cheek. 'You trust me, yes?'

He sighs and nods, 'yes, of course I do,' he mumbles placing his hand over hers. Her mana wrapped around him in a comforting cocoon and he feels his pain numb with her touch.

'Then that's all that matters,' she says softly as she kisses him. 'Be safe and I'll see you tonight,' she promises as she lets him go. He watches her leave the estate with a wave of her hand as the canines bounce around her happy to be going out. Fenris sighs heavily and winces a little as the pain returns with a sharp sting and the burning ache that he was used to where he wore his armour.

Garrett returns with a book that he was looking up plants in and pulls a face, 'that was hard to watch. I know you worry but Katza has made her choice and she wouldn't hurt you like that,' he assures. Fenris inhales deeply and simply nods at the man not wishing to discuss it, he takes the book from Garrett and flicks through the pages finding the right flower that Hawke had hoped to find while up the coast and completing two tasks on one journey. 'Oh brilliant, thanks, okay I'll grab my staff and we'll go.'

Makatza wanders to the stables and spots Sebastian standing next to a gorgeous bay stallion, her heart jumped at the height of the horse. She swallowed her fear, she had been riding a fair bit but she was still not used to it. 'He looks... tall.' Makatza said clutching her bag.

Sebastian smiles and nods, 'he's a powerful beast and needs a good run. We'll be going to a place that I used to visit when I was little. I haven't been there in many years and I never fails to make me feel better.' She nods and steps closer and after he checks the saddle, she uses the step and manages to mount the horse gripping his reins tightly. 'Okay, I'm taking my bow but I seriously doubt we'll need it,' he says as he mounts behind her and wraps one arm around her waist to hold her steady. Okay, relax you're an untrained rider, he's just trying to ensure you're okay, she thinks to herself and doesn't make an issue of it.

When they're on the outskirts of the city and the wolves and Bubble are running around happily he offers her the reins. Makatza smiles and takes them, the stallion responds to her touch easily and doesn't attempt to pull at her. Sebastian rests his hands on her hips and guides her through the trails until they reach a lovely looking expanse of grass surrounded by trees. 'We're here?' She asks him as he pulls back on the reins lightly until the horse stops. He slides off the saddle and holds out his hands for her to get down.

'We're here,' he smiles as he takes her lightly and puts her down, 'feeling better?' He asks as he notices her hair had begun to sway with pulses of mana. She blushes lightly and brushes her hair down in a vain attempt to hide her clear happiness.

'Sorry, there's a lot of nature here,' she grins as she walks towards the trees, Sebastian smiles to himself as he notices that the flowers around her began to bloom as she walked past them, her mana clearly giving them a little boost. She spun around until she was dizzy before falling to the floor heavily with a satisfied omph.

Sebastian chuckles to himself as he goes over and sits next to her having sorted out the horse, he leans against the tree and looks at her as she lies on the grass. 'As long as you're happy, I don't mind what you do,' he assures. She sits up and flicks a leaf out her hair before pulling her bag around to her front and pulling out food. She hands him a paper wrapped sandwich and then bites into her own, she perks up looking around before settling. 'Are you okay?' Sebastian asks.

'I heard Ciere whimper but it's just because Elgon stole her squirrel,' she said a shrug of the shoulders. 'Anything on your mind? Aunt Leandra said that you had been arguing with the Grand Cleric lately,' she says softly as she places a hand on his knee. Sebastian leans against the tree and looks up into the canopy.

Whatever was preying on his mind seemed to be quite weighty, it took him a moment or two to structure his thoughts. 'I have to decide on whether becoming sworn into the Chantry or returning to Stark Haven and becoming king,' he says finally. Makatza's eyes widen, that's quite a predicament. 'I am confused, I just don't know what to do. I selfishly want to cast away all titles and the responsibilities of it all, yet I have a duty. I have a duty to my people. What do I do?'

Makatza thought for a while before answering. 'Would your kingdom be in better hands if you swear yourself to the Chantry?'

'It wouldn't be worse off,' he says as he rolls an apple in his hands.

'Would you worry about your people if you were in the Chantry?'

'….Yes, I would,' he admits.

'Then I think you know your answer. Only you can make this choice, Sebastian and sometimes the right choice is the hardest one and feels like you're sacrificing everything,' Makatza says quietly as she looks at the sky. 'My mother and father taught me that,' she mumbles. Sebastian shuffles over the grass and pulls her into a one armed hug, 'take your time to think about it Sebastian, I will support you whatever you want.'

'You could come with me...' he says softly making her pull away to look at him.

'What? What do you mean?'

'You could come with me to Stark Haven, I would be able to protect you from the Imperium and you would be able to live comfortably,' he says softly as he strokes her cheek and brushes her hair aside. 'I know you do not care for me like that but I would selfishly take all I could get. If you came with me, I would at least be able to see you and share words, even though you'd be in the arms of another.'

Makatza felt her eyes well up a little and she took his hand in hers, 'that wouldn't be fair on anyone. Especially you,' she says softly as she squeezes his fingers. 'You will always be a part of my life, Seb. I will always love you, I will always be here for you,' she smiles. 'Do not let me influence anything,' Makatza says firmly as she gives him another hug. He sighs and nods as he hugs her back tightly, 'anything else you want to tell me?' She asks in an attempt to lighten the sudden gloomy atmosphere.

'Can I say that I love you back?' He teases lightly making her laugh.

'No! Not in that way! You know I mean it in a different one! Don't be naughty or you'll get in trouble with everyone,' she said slapping him lightly and stealing his apple. 'I don't want arguments in the group, especially between people I care about,' she pokes him as she takes a bite. 'Behave!'

'I can't promise anything, you know how I feel-'

'And you know that I don't feel the same way-'

'Sooo, I can say what I want to feel better and know that you're not taking me seriously regardless,' he interrupts her back. She gives him a look and he laughs, 'I'm just playing, I wouldn't want to make things difficult for you.'

'I'm just thinking that if Fenris heard I would have a little bit of trouble stopping the fight that would break out. You'd both get hurt and I don't want that,' she says simply. Though my hormones might, she thinks with a mental sigh. 'You'll behave yes?'

'I swear,' he nods making her grin with his antics.

'You're an idiot,' Makatza laughs throwing her half eaten apple at him. 'A royal one.'