Moonpriestess30: Yes, it's back, I do love the short haired version. A light hearted chapter before the inevitable. Plus, I'm up to chapter six in my new one. Haven't posted it yet, I'll probably wait until I've finished this one.

A/N: I'm sorry about the late update, a little family drama this morning. Nothing to be concerned about. Enjoy!


Chapter 190 - Admission

Makatza had been talking to a guard and turns around to squeal happily as Fenris stood up brushing hair from his chest. The woman that Katza had been speaking to went a little pink in the cheeks as she noticed him. 'Eeee! It's like three years ago!' Makatza laughs as she runs over to him and begins to play with the short cropped waves.

'And the rest,' Fenris states simply rolling his eyes and trying to move his face out of reach of her grabby hands.'Woman, please,' he says as he can feel the hair on his skin. Makatza laughs and tries to dust him off, knowing that was bothering him.

She tilts his head, 'doesn't look like it's going to go anywhere. Hmm, oh I know, come out into the yard,' she grins as she looks around the room. Her father had a fair bit of hair down him as well and Makatza huffs. 'You too, papa,' she says simply as she leads them outside. 'Stand still,' Katza grins. Fenris and Silvanus look at each other nervously and then her father has to grab hold of the Tevinter elf as a strong, powerful breeze threatens to topple him. It lasts for a good few minutes and then dies down. Makatza grins as she walks over, 'better?' She asks.

Both Fenris and Silvanus look a little stunned. His newly cut hair was sticking up at all angles and her father's hair had been completely tangled. 'Aye, Lethallan, I feel ya be a wee bit enthusiastic,' he says having finally regained his balance. Fenris clears his throat and nods in agreement, 'but aye, all the hair be gone,' he said as he managed to clear his face from his braids. Seneschal Bran comes out and speaks a few words to Makatza who's expression darkens.

'I'll be in my office, Fenris, once you're dressed could you please meet me there? This won't take long, papa, I promise,' Makatza says simply as her expression darkens. Fenris could tell by the way that she spoke and her body language that she needed to make a statement. He nodded at her and she walked away with her aide. Fenris sighs and takes Silvanus back into the barracks.

'Lethallin, everythin' well?' Silvanus asks as Fenris asks a guard to make him comfortable with some refreshments. Unfortunately he didn't realise that the guard he had asked was the rather young woman who had gone pink before. He thought he might have scared her with the way she quickly disappeared but it was really due to her embarrassment. He hoped that she would do as he asked as Makatza needed him.

Fenris nodded as he got dressed into his clothes that he had left on a rack. 'Yes, she simply wishes to make a statement,' he assures. 'I really do not believe it will take long,' Fenris adds as he grabs his sword and straps the leather across his chest. 'If you wish for something, you need only ask a guard,' he instructs the older elf who was sorting out his braids. Silvanus nods and Fenris leaves him in the barracks making his way up to Makatza's office where he could hear raised voices.

'This is disgraceful. The first Council meeting and it's going to be filled with... degenerates!'

'The city is being turned into a circus!'

'I cannot and will not abide by this-'

Fenris opens the door to find Makatza being harangued by three nobles, who's names eluded him and he didn't care to correct the situation. Makatza was perched on the edge of her desk and had put on her circlet for this meeting. She doesn't smile as he comes in and her arms are crossed as she simply lets them bicker at her. They pause as the elf enters and walks over to her side, standing slightly behind her. Makatza drums her fingers on her arm and tilts her head as she addresses them. 'I see, and you feel that this was important enough to simply barge into my office and ask, nay, demand my time?' She snaps.

The eldest noble huffed and shook his head, 'this city is being brought to ruin-'

'Actually,' Makatza interrupts as she holds out her hand and Seneschal Bran hands her a few relevant pieces of paper. 'Our economy has never been better. Trade routes to Ferelden and Orzammar have been established, even to the Ferelden Dalish. The City's coffers are happily being just as filled as they're being emptied,' she begins to read off a few of the reports. 'Guard Captain Aveline reports that there is less organised gang activity. Even the Carta are avoiding our walls, though I do feel that is a more personal issue more than anything,' she says simply.

They bristle at her words and Fenris looks at each of them. Old, rich men, they have no care for anyone but their wallets. 'There's damn elves, dwarves and I even saw one of those horned ones! They're flooding the city.'

'And bringing their businesses and wealth with them. More workers means more trade which means more money, gentleman. Your complaints are fruitless as they're derived from nothing but racism and misogyny. I have been notified of your petition to have me removed from Office and while I applaud your feeble attempts, I am not going anywhere,' she states simply. 'Fenris, my love,' Makatza says noticing that one of them even winced at her words.

He tilts his head to demonstrate that he had heard her, 'what do you wish?' He asks softly.

'May I have the trinket I got for my father?' Makatza asks softly holding out her hand as she stands up straight. Fenris nods and opens up his pouch as she turned back to the nobles. 'This morning I went out with my cousin,' Makatza says simply, 'it was a normal family outing. A hunt. You do know how a wolf likes to hunt things,' she says. Elgon and Ciere who were lying in front of the fire lifted their heads and the men's attention was drawn to them. Fenris can't resist a half smile as he places the larger of the two teeth into her fingers. He hadn't had a chance to clean it yet and could see the brief moment of disgust in her eyes as she clears her throat to regain their attention. 'Do you know what this is?' She asks as she holds it up.

There was silence as they all looked at it as she began to pull off the remnants of gum and flicking them towards the fire. 'It is a tooth,' one of them ventures.

Makatza smiles wickedly, baring a little fang. 'Oh, yes it is,' she smiles. 'Fenris, from which beast's jaw did you pry this from?'

He looks at the nobles who were looking at a little uneasy, 'a High Dragon,' he replies simply.

'A High Dragon, yes that's right. How could I have forgotten? We killed it only this morning. Such a powerful creature of beauty and danger. Yet, with a blow of your sword you brought it down,' she says smiling at Fenris. 'Makes it seem like any other threat is of no importance.' Without warning she brings the tooth down onto her desk, point first splintering the wood and making it shudder as it stands upright. She steps forward towards the men of higher birth and invades their personal boundaries. 'This is my city. If any of you threaten it again I will make sure that it is dealt with. If you are so disgusted by dwarves, elves or any other species, feel free to leave. I will take great joy in holding the door open for you.'

There is silence and nothing more is said. Her point was made quite clear. Seneschal Bran walks over, 'my Lady, your father is waiting,' he says simply.

'Yes, yes. I will be there in just a moment,' she says as she easily pulls the tooth out the desk and gives it to Fenris who hadn't taken his eyes off from the nobles. 'Gentlemen. I will see you at the Council meeting and not before. Maker help you if I have to see you before,' she states simply as she walks past them, her wolves slowly rising and following her out the room.

Fenris places the tooth in his pouch and one of the men speak. 'The Crows-'

He's silenced quickly by one of the others who was aware that Fenris was still in the room. The elf rolled his shoulders and went to walk past before reaching out and grabbing the one that spoke by the collar and pulling him close; his brands lit up and his features dark. 'If you even think about hurting her, I will come to your home, I will tear you from your wife's grasp and I will hurt you. In ways that you never knew possible,' he states as he speaks lowly and feels the man shaking in his grasp. 'They will never find your body, your wife will burn an empty casket and your children will weep unknowing of the fate that became of their father.'

'Unhand me,' the man stuttered as he glared at the gall of this elf.

Fenris bared his teeth and allowed himself a smile, 'what are you going to do to make me?' He states simply. Seneschal Bran had returned to escort the nobles out the Keep and cleared his throat to make Fenris aware that he now had an audience. Fenris let the man go and breathed in heavily, 'choose your words more carefully, human. Elves hear more than you could ever imagine,' he said with threat implied before leaving the room.

He didn't care what happened once he left the room, he had made his point. His hands shook with rage at the audacity of these men. Makatza had been caught by an attendant asking her to sign for a few things and he assumed that Elgon and Ciere had gone on ahead as they weren't around. Fenris didn't wait for her to be done, usually he was quite patient when it came to her duties but right now he refused to be. Grabbing her by the arm he simply pulled her away. Makatza apologised to the attendant as she suddenly vanished and found herself in an empty side room. 'Fenris, what's the matter-?'

She didn't get to finish her sentence as he pushed her against the door they had come in through and wound his fingers through her hair, dislodging her circlet. He was breathing heavily and she rested her hands on his hips. 'My Katza,' he says quietly. 'I am ….. scared for you,' he admits.

'What? Why? Because of those men?' She asks as she leans forward and presses her forehead against his. 'Don't be. They're windbags. Ancient ones at that-' He cuts her off with a kiss, his lips catching hers, desperately, hungrily. She responded in kind, unleashing the repressed want she had been fighting with while in Office. Only when he bit her lip and slipped his hand up her blouse did she pull away reluctantly. 'My father is waiting,' she said with flushed cheeks.

Honestly, Fenris wanted to say damn the man but he knew that Makatza had promised to spend time with him. Also, it wasn't as if this couldn't be put on the back burner for a while. 'Till later then,' Fenris promises making her smile in a goofy way. Makatza kisses him softly once more before taking his hand gently and leading him out the room once she was sure that the corridor was clear. They found Silvanus in the Barracks still, Elgon and Ciere pining for his attention like giant puppies.

He looks up at them from where he was sitting with a smile on his face, 'all be well, I trust?' He asks as he stands up. Makatza grins and assures him not to worry, to which his expression said otherwise. 'Are ya joinin', lad?' Silvanus asks Fenris who was visibly surprised.

'Of course,' Makatza answers for him. 'Oh, do you want to eat out or cook? If we cook I can make Shephard's pie! I found my recipe book in my old bag from... the other world,' she says grinning. 'Or if we eat out there's that new place which just opened, specialises in some dwarven foods-'

'I think you have become far too excited,' Fenris says putting his hands on her shoulders as her mana had started to manifest and swirl around them. He understood, it had been a while since she spent genuine time with her father and she was keen. Elgon and Ciere began to bounce around so he abandons his attempt to calm Makatza to grab their collars so they don't knock Silvanus over.

'Eatin' at home, da'len, less chance of people botherin' ya,' her father says as he wraps an arm over her shoulders to steady himself as well as keep her in one place. Makatza claps her hands and they begin to take the steps up and out the barracks. She noticed that he found it hard to keep a steady pace while taking the slight of stairs and gently allows her mana to wash over him, providing a small amount of comfort. They spend the entire afternoon cooking and laughing together, they then play cards at the Hanged man with their friends. It's not until Makatza is getting ready for bed that Fenris finds a good time to bring up what he had been thinking.

'You are worried for him,' Fenris says sitting on the edge of the bed watching her brush her hair.

Makatza sighs, 'everything seems to be difficult for him at the moment,' she mumbles. Putting her brush down she walks over to him and stands in-between his legs, feeling his hands rest on her lower back. 'I know he's not dying but I hate that in a few years he's gone from a strong, skilled man to one that's now having to use a damn walking stick.'

Fenris relaxes as she begins to run her hands through his now cropped hair. 'Such is the way of our lives, my Katza. It only takes one injury,' he said quietly. 'To be perfectly honest this shoulder that keeps dislocating will more than likely be the the reason I have to stop.'

'I don't think I would complain if you stopped,' Makatza teases making him feel a little better about his admission of weakness. He chuckles lightly and moans happily as her nails rake across his scalp, his grip on her waist tightening. 'Should we pick up from where we left off earlier?' Makatza said with a slight tug of his hair.

Fenris lifts his head to look at her and smiles genuinely, 'as you wish,' he says as he literally pulls her onto the bed making her squeal in a little fear as she's lifted.

'Careful, I don't want you to put your back ouuuut!' She squeaks in laughter as the look on his face and physical reaction became torturous as he began to mercilessly tickle her. He pins her down and they both breathe heavily as the look at each other, 'okay, okay, point made,' she laughs. 'Now, you were saying something about doing what I wish?'