MoonPriestess30: Yeah they are pretty cute regardless of what they're doing. Hope you are well!

Judy: You're always a reassuring word that I need


Chapter 69 – Four hours?

'Katza! She's here!' Leandra called up the stairs, Makatza sighed and swung her legs out of bed from where she had been reading, she had delayed getting up this morning and wished that today was already over. She poked Fenris who grumbled and swatted a hand at her as he rolled over.

'I'll be down in a moment! Getting dressed!' She said loudly. 'Come on,' she said to Fenris shaking him a little. 'I've got to put my bracelet on while Elaine is here and I don't want you around while I get ready, you're distracting enough,' she teases as she gets up and pulls the blanket off the bed as she does so. Fenris sits up with serious bed head and glares at her, 'since you've been getting more sleep you're really not a morning person, huh,' she continues to tease as she begins to pull out clothing for the day.

He gets up reluctantly and wanders into the en suite, he had been staying at hers more often than not and it was only the odd occasion that she went around to his place, the hole in the wall had been repaired but it was just easier to come to the estate. She looks into the mirror and begins to heal the marks from last night, Makatza would be the first to admit that it took practically no force to bruise her and they tended to get a little passionate, especially if she let her inner wolf play for the evening. Fenris comes out dressed in clean clothes and smelling of her soap which made her smile. 'You should leave one,' Fenris says softly as he walks up behind her and kisses her neck.

'Oh, don't be silly,' Makatza laughs as she shakes her head, she turns her body to look at her side and notices one on the outside of her breast near her ribs, 'ah hah, I knew I had one more lurking around,' she grins as she raises her hand to heal herself.

Fenris gently takes her fingers, 'no,' he says simply. 'Not that one.'

'Why is it important that I leave one? You've never been bothered before,' she says raising a brow at his actions. His fingers run over her bare skin, up the side of her waist and then across her mark.

'I wish to know that it is there tonight,' he murmurs as he kisses her shoulder. 'Will it show through your dress?'

'No, it would be covered,' she says as she looks at it carefully.

'Then, please, leave it. So I know that it is there and that your body belongs to me no matter how many are longing for you tonight,' he whispers. Makatza feels the heat in her navel inflame with his words and she pouts at him in annoyance, why now? Why couldn't he have woken a couple hours earlier and we could have scratched this itch! She laughs in her mind. 'You are mine and knowing it is there will make me feel-'

'Smug?' Makatza suggests making him chuckle lightly, she smiles at him and nods, 'fine, for you,' she says as if it was a big deal. 'Right, let me get dressed then,' she says playfully batting him away. 'What are you going to do while I get ready and the insane amount of hours it's going to take me?'

'Hawke wishes to pick up a few things from the town and I have to meet with Varric about tonight, I need to know if there have been any more stirrings from the Carta regarding you,' Fenris says kissing her temple before passing her her leggings. 'I will not see you again until I come over to pick you up for tonight.'

'So you'll see the before and after?' She smiles to herself knowing that he doesn't understand the reference. Pulling on her top she pulls her hair out of her collar. 'Okay, would you mind taking Elgon and Ciere with you? They could do with the outing and I don't want them under Elaine's and Auntie's feet all day as we're running around getting prepared,' she asks as she strokes them both as they hear their names and wander over for attention. He agrees and holds open the bedroom door for her and the wolves as they leave the bedroom finally dressed, she pauses in the doorway and manages to ruffle his hair out the bed head he was styling; he kisses her lightly in thanks. The wolves leap down the stairs happily and Makatza and Fenris follow at a less enthusiastic pace. Leandra was talking to a smart looking woman and they both turned around to greet Makatza as she arrived.

'Ah there you are darling, I thought you had gotten up earlier, I saw you in the kitchen with Orana,' Leandra says as she spots her lazy niece. 'This is Elaine, she will be doing your hair and make up today,' she introduces the sweet looking woman who had her pale blonde hair wrapped into a lovely looking bun. 'Elaine, this is my niece, Makatza Lorias.'

'A pleasure to meet you Elaine,' Makatza says softly as Elaine gives her a curtsey. 'I'm just going to say goodbye to Fenris, Auntie,' she says with a smile, Leandra nods and pulls an amused face. Fenris had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs while Garrett mucked about in the study. 'Okay, looks like my day is about to begin,' Makatza says dryly as she reaches him. He holds up her bracelet and she sighs heavily. 'Are they really that noticeable?'

'You are nervous,' he explains. 'I think we both know it is for the best,' he assures as he takes her fingers and slips it onto her wrist. The effect is immediate and he buckles down on the wince that threatened to cross his face with the physical contact. Aware that there were other people including strangers in the room he can't bring himself to kiss her and instead kisses the back of her hand. 'Tuus sum,' he whispers.

Makatza blushes lightly and smiles brightly at him, Fenris had told her ''I am yours,'' in Arcanum, he had been teaching her the language which she was really enjoying. 'Tuus sum,' she replies making him grin. Garrett bounced out the study and gripped Makatza tightly in a hug. 'Okay, okay, I'll see you later tonight,' she laughs as she shoves him away. 'Is Isabela still pissed at you about not coming?'

'She didn't even want to come but when I said that it was probably for the best she got all arsey at me!' Garrett whined. 'I'm going to go pick up some things I know she wants and hopefully she'll drop this entire debacle. Come on, Fenris, let's go see a dwarf about some gold,' he grins giving Makatza one last squeeze. She waves goodbye to her cousin, and lover, watching the puppies trot out after the man that she loved. She turns back to Elaine and Leandra, Elaine had a blush across her cheeks at seeing Makatza and Fenris interact.

Makatza cleared her throat and smiles, 'so what's first?' She asked a little embarrassed.

'First thing is a bath and we'll have your hair washed and cut, then the styling will begin,' Leandra smiles. 'You sent back all those jewellery samples, did you find something else instead?'

'Ah, yes, I forgot to say. I'll be wearing my mother's jewellery tonight,' she says softly making Leandra smile brightly. Elaine was shown upstairs to the spare room which they had turned into a dressing room for the day. Makatza took herself to the bathroom and got thoroughly washed and dried, smirking at the mark on her body when she was near the mirror. She wandered into the spare room in her bathrobe and was directed to a chair.

'How short would you like your hair?' Elaine asks as she brushed.

'The minimum off please, I mean, I know you'll have to take an inch off but please, the bare minimum,' Makatza says a little concerned. She hated having her hair done and this wasn't making it any easier. She now appreciated her world's advancement in technology; it was going to take four hours to do her hair, four hours! Her patience was fraying, admittedly her hair was going to look amazing, like nothing she could have ever imagine. While she was being primped and prodded Leandra began to talk about behaviour and protocols, Makatza was quite well versed in the base expectations but Leandra was advising her about house tensions and arguments. Elaine was pleasant to talk to and helped the time fly past while she worked, whatever she was getting paid it wasn't enough. While she was putting the finishing touches to the complicated braided bun that she had designed, Leandra walked in with a pair of shoes that made Makatza pale. 'Dear god no,' she said as she saw the height of the heel.

'What's the matter?'

'If you expect me to do any walking you're gonna have to take at least two inches off those,' Katza replies. 'I'll snap my friggin' neck! I'll be as tall as Fenris!' She tried to shake her head only to be told off by Elaine who was pinning a couple loose strands. The hairdresser had allowed a couple of long curls to fall over her collarbone and draw attention to her neck and jaw. The fashion in Orlais was to have as many jewels woven into the hair as possible but Makatza had put her foot down, she didn't see the need to have anything in her hair.

'Darling, don't be so dramatic, the dancing will be minimal-'

'Please Auntie, I'll wear them, just ask Sandal to remove an inch or two,' Makatza pleaded. She had done everything that her Aunt had wanted so far, she just wanted to be comfortable.

'Very well,' Leandra said giving in. She called for Bodahn and gave him the boots for Sandal to adjust. 'Sounds like Garrett is back, finally,' she says as she hears thundering up the stairs, he pokes his head around the door.

'Hey! How's it going in here? Andraste, it's been hours and your hair isn't even done?' He says as he looks at Makatza in her chair that she had practically been chained to.

'Lady Lorias has very long hair,' Elaine says simply as she adds pins. 'It was always going to take a while to do.'

'Garrett,' Makatza states. 'How did your trip into town go?'

'Well. Better than in here at least. I mean with the rate you're going we should have started to get ready last week-' He yelped as the brush that Makatza threw hit him in the face. Leandra scolded her and grabbed Garrett shoving him out the room while shutting the door behind her. 'I think she broke my nose!' He complained through the wood making Makatza smirk. Elaine touched her up with some make up, both Leandra and Makatza agreed that less was more and so she simply had a little Kohl around her eyes, some form of mascara and a touch of rouge to her lips. Elaine announced that she was ready, with a happy clap of her hands.

Leandra re-entered muttering about her reckless children and stops as she sees Makatza, 'oh, oh, Elaine, look at her. Isn't she just sublime? Doesn't she just look so beautiful,' she says clasping her hands to her chest in glee. 'Now it's time for your dress! Can you just imagine it?' She says as she wheels over the gown, 'oh darling I can't wait for you to wear this!' Makatza laughs lightly and takes off her bathrobe, she wasn't particularly pleased about not wearing a bra but she had bigger worries than the fact that she would be smuggling peanuts all night, besides she would do anything for Leandra. Anything.

-x-

'Don't worry Orana, I've got it!' Garrett calls across the house as he adjusts a cuff while walking to the front door where Bubble was barking happily for whomever was on the other side. The wolves bounced around the Mabari creating a pretty impenetrable wall for him to get through. 'Come on mutts, out the way!' He complains as he leans over them and opens the door.

'Damn, Hawke, remind me never to hire you as a butler, could you have taken any longer?' Varric chuckles stepping in and brushing aside Bubble's attempts to cover him in drool. Fenris shook his head and followed the laughing dwarf inside and telling the pups to stay put as the last thing he needed was wolf fur over his clothes.

'Yeah, yeah get inside before I change my mind, they're upstairs getting ready, doing Maker knows what. All I know is that they've been up there for hours. The sooner this night is over the better,' Garrett shrugged petting Bubble behind the ears. They made their way into the study and made themselves comfortable. Garrett looked Fenris up and down, Varric had done wonders; he wore a smarter pair of his usual black leggings, a dark navy shirt and black waistcoat, a pair of gloves sat in his belt, clearly he was going to wear those in public. All apart from the markings on his throat and chin were covered, it even looked like Varric had managed to get a pair of scissors to his hair, trimming it at the back. 'Well, Fenris you scrub up nicely,' Garrett smirked.

Scowling, Fenris cast a critical eye over Hawke, he wearing a similar assemble but with a pair of trousers and a long jacket, he looked very uncomfortable out of his normal robes. Fenris wasn't feeling too great, the idea of being trapped in a room of nobles was becoming a reality. He'd even let Isabela trim his hair, technically Isabela cornered him and had a calculating look on her face that even he didn't dare with. 'Will they be much longer?' He asked instead of trying to think of a witty response.

Garrett shrugged his shoulders, 'your guess is as good as mine, I saw Sandal adjusting Katza's shoes as she kicked up quite a fuss about them. So I'm going to say that until they're ready we're gonna be staying put,' he sighs as he leans against the table. Varric offers him a cigar to which he happily takes. 'At least it's not going to be like that Château huh,' he says to Fenris who gives him an amused smirk. He lights his cigar with a flame and inhales deeply, 'you sticking around until we leave?' He asks Varric.

'Of course, Petal sounds like she's going to be quite the sight to see and I need new material for a book-'

'I am not sure I am comfortable with that idea,' Fenris says as he folds his arms.

'What's wrong with my books? The Lady and Lyrium Lover went down a storm,' Varric grins as Fenris glares at him in annoyance, 'calm down I'm joking, I'm joking,' he assures as Fenris sighs and looks away. Garrett catches Varric's eye and he shakes his head, 'not joking, it's been a best seller,' he whispers. 'Wanna place a bet?' He asks Hawke.

'Always.'