Judy: I'm glad you liked it
Chapter 205 - Howl and horn
Lavellan had tried to get Solas to tell her what it all meant but there was very little he could actually explain. 'I am sorry, ma vehnan,' he whispers. 'We met once in the fade. She is a very powerful, very old spirit, born into a vessel. She is a real person, not like Cole. Normally the Bellarnaris Elgar die young, but her half human heritage has made her stronger,' he says simply. 'She knows of me simply because we have met before, she was surprised to see me here.' It wasn't the answer he knew that she was looking for but it was the best he could give her.
'I don't like this Solas, there are no tears in the fade around here. What if it's because she's a larger threat than anything we've faced,' she says quietly aware that the clan was around her. 'She has children! She took down a dragon as if it was nothing. This woman is dangerous-'
'And also has excellent hearing,' Makatza smiles softly as she walks over to the pair who were talking in hushed voices. The Inquisitor looked at her in shock and surprise, guilt on her face. 'Don't worry, I'm only a threat to those who wish to hurt the ones I love. I don't bite, unless he asks for it,' she says giving her a wink and making Lavellan's face flush. 'So, Solas, you've finally decided to come say hello?' She teases.
'I'm sorry, I don't mean to seem rude but... you are aware of what's happening in the world, yes?' Lavellan says simply as she comes between Solas and this woman. Who was nothing like she expected, she had long curly, dark hair, brightly different coloured eyes, with a small waist and scars that adorned one of her arms completely and covered her back. Dressed in very simply slightly Dalish styled clothing, she certainly didn't look very intimidating.
Makatza smiles at the woman, she seemed to be of a similar age. 'Oh yeah, I'm aware. More than you know,' she adds. 'Look, I spent years and years cleaning up after other people in a city that was determined to tear me to shreds. I am happy now and my husband...,' she looks over at Fenris where he was playing with Mari while holding Leto now that he had cleaned himself up and gotten changed. 'He has everything he never allowed himself to dream of. We have already done our fighting to change the world. I'm sorry, but the only thing I can give you is advice and knowledge.'
'Our people-'
'Everyone,' Makatza corrects. 'Everyone is in this fight together,' she looks over at Solas. 'It is often the ones you love the most that will hurt you. Not the monster that you see in front of you. Do not let your guard down, Inquisitor. Ever,' Makatza looks at the woman. 'You have a hard job and I do not envy you at all. Corypheus is one of the most dangerous creatures you will face. Do not underestimate him. I almost lost my life to him.'
Lavellan looks at her in surprise, 'what? I thought you killed him!'
'I did, I tore him to shreds with my own jaws,' she replies simply. 'Not before his followers skinned me and slit my wrists to break the seal that was holding him.' Makatza lifted her hands to reveal her scars. 'I will not see that creature again in this lifetime. I will not risk my family. My children, my husband. If you find a way to kill him, Inquisitor, take it. No matter the cost.'
'What did it cost you?' She asks quietly.
Makatza took pity on her and sighed, 'for a moment? My life. My father's life and …. the love of a good man.'
'Was it worth it?' Solas asked making Makatza smile as she gives him a look, she can see the turmoil in his heart. It was a redeeming feature. One of the only reasons that Makatza hadn't taken matters into her own ... jaws.
She nods. 'Yes, it was. I was lucky. His love brought me back, I brought my father back and then after a while, we were both able to heal enough to be with one another again. It worked out in the end, but life isn't such a fairytale. We still have our troubles and worries. This is just another one.'
Garrett interrupted the trio by running over and picking up Makatza spinning her around. 'AH! There she is! My baby Hawke!' He teases making her laugh and try to bat him away as he kissed her face. 'By the Maker it's been too long since I saw your face,' he growls making her roll her eyes. 'Years and years you harlot! Playing forest elves with your man!' Solas and the Inquisitor shared an amused look and Solas shook his head. The Champion had no idea who his cousin truly was.
'Put me down you great, big bloody fool!' She laughs as he slings her over his shoulder. She waves a weak goodbye to them as he drags her deeper into camp.
'Where's the Keeper? You've not introduced me yet!' Garrett says locating Silvanus, Varric and Fenris. They were around a fire and Fenris was feeding Leto some pear, Silvanus cutting it into small pieces for the boy. Mari was being told a story by Varric and holding his, thankfully disarmed crossbow. He puts her down and Makatza laughs brushing her hair over her shoulders.
'I am the Keeper, you idiot,' she says giving him a look.
'You're- You're the Keeper? Oh, wow!' He laughs giving her a hug. 'And this is Uncle's original clan?'
'Aye, many people here ken Makatza as a babe, an' her mother,' Silvanus says from his perch. 'Tis good to be amongst family again.' Leto let out a squeal of unhappiness and Fenris stood up to pass their baby over to his mother who cooed.
'He wants feeding,' Makatza says softly to Fenris who nods and kisses her temple as she excuses herself to wander into the tent that had been set up for them. Fenris looks at Garrett who beamed at him. He raises a brow, it was good to see Hawke after all these years and he had changed though he was loathed to admit it. Having children was the best thing that ever happened to him and he had no idea how incomplete his life had been until they came.
'Taking down dragons is a common occurrence then?' Garrett teases.
Fenris coughs into his hand and shrugs a shoulder. 'Fourth or fifth,' he admits. 'We use the skins and bones to improve weapons and the Aravels,' he explains. 'If they get too close to the clan Makatza and I deal with it, if we cannot encourage them to leave we do what we must.'
Garrett looks at him before pulling him close for a hug, 'Maker, it's good to see you doing so well, my friend. I'm so happy that you're... living life,' he says quietly. Fenris feels a well of emotion ball up in his chest and he clears his throat and pats Hawke on the back. 'You're happy?'
Fenris pulls away and clears his throat again as he nods, 'yes... more than I ever thought possible,' he says quietly. Makatza returns, she speaks to her father letting him know that Leto was asleep in the tent. 'That was quick,' Fenris says honestly.
'He was just tired, once he had a good few minutes cuddled up and eating he fell asleep,' she explains as she comes up to them and leans her head on Fenris' arm, to which he moves and drapes over her shoulders. 'So, introduce me to the big bastard with the horns,' Makatza grins as she looks back at her family, Mari still being entertained and her father looking in on her son.
Garrett grins and leads them over to Iron Bull who was talking to a few of the elves who were curious about him in general. 'this is the Iron Bull, he runs a mercenary group,' he says as they get close enough.
Bull stands up and nods at Fenris, 'saw how you took down that big bastard. I'm gonna be reliving that fight in my mind for a few nights yet. Where's the wolf? The big one, not these strangely, domesticated ones that I swear lick me one more time and I'll make a crotch pouch out of,' he snaps as a wolf licks his elbow. He jerks his arm away and growls at the wolf, it was only a young one and Makatza smiles nodding with her head for him to leave the Qunari alone. 'You said it was your wife... were you being metaphorical? I ain't good with those,' he admits as he leans down to speak to Fenris, who's arm was still loosely around Makatza's waist.
Fenris looks at him with a blank expression, 'no, she is my wife,' he replies simply.
He looked over his face and tuts, 'damn you're good. Either you really believe it or you're a hell of a liar,' he says trying to get a low down on the elf.
Makatza grins. 'Hi, I'm Katza,' she says deciding to break up this little showdown.
Bull looks at her and tilts his head. 'Sparky little thing, ain't ya. Half elf. Not common in Dalish camps. What are you? Sister? No, complexion is too different. Hold on, the kids, the sprogs looked like they share your... no? Mistress maybe?'
'I believe the word you're looking for is... wife?' Makatza says perkily as she gets him to the realisation. 'Could be because I'm his wife? Those are our children and yeah... make sense yet?' She teases.
'But he said he was married to the great big bloody wolf,' Bull says giving her a look. 'You're a Saarebas?'
'Pretty much, but also totally wrong,' Makatza grins.
'You turn into that great big beast and take down dragons? Oh! Oh! We've got to keep you! Boss! Boss! Can we take this one back home?! I promise I'll clean out her kennel,' he says excitedly as he runs over to the Inquisitor and Solas who had rejoined the main area of the clan. 'Come on!' They hear him whine. 'I could ride her into battle! Imagine it! Qunari and wolf, horn and tooth against a high dragon! Taarsidath-an halsaam!'
Fenris shakes his head and his grip gets a little tighter on Makatza. 'It has been years and yet I still have to worry about you attracting trouble,' he says softly to her. Makatza smiles and moves so that she's hugging him.
Leaning up to kiss him gently she grins, 'I'll make it up to you later, if I'm not dragged off in a kennel,' she teases. There's a peaceful moment before Makatza hears a horn. 'Oh! Oh!' She says excitedly. 'That's the rest of them!'
'Rest of them? Whom are you talking about? We are all here?' Fenris asks as he's dragged to the edge of the camp. Makatza bounced and let out a loud howl making Fenris wince. Elgon and Ceire come trotting down from the forest and she speaks with them a moment getting more excited by the moment.
Garrett jogs over, Dalish flower chains draped over him, 'what's going on? The entire camp is buzzing.'
'There's a reason I wanted to be near the ocean!' Makatza grins as she looks over at him. Ceire and Elgon return with confirmation and Makatza squeals in glee. She shifts into her wolf shape, hearing Bull swear heavily in the camp as he caught sight of it. Fenris sighs and climbs onto her back as usual. Makatza leans down and picks up Garrett in her mouth who screams in fear and surprise.
'No, no, no! Katza! Put me down!' Garrett screams as he kicks but she had grabbed him around the middle gently. Ignoring him she begins to lope towards the coast, she was excited to say the least and it showed. Varric and Silvanus caught up with the edge of the camp where Bull, Solas and Lavellan watch in confusion. Solas inquires about the children and Silvanus assures that they were being looked after by his sister in law. They all agree to follow though it was clear that they weren't going to be up to speed.
They find the wolf waiting at the edge of the coast, spray covering it's coat lightly. It's cousin still struggling in it's jaws. 'Uh, Bellarnaris Elgar?' Lavellan calls up to the creature. 'Perhaps you should let Lord Hawke go?' She suggests with a smile. It was clear he was being held gently but didn't appreciate it.
Fenris laughs and pats her neck, agreeing with the Inquisitor. He had seen what they were waiting for, the extra height on Makatza's back had allowed him to see over the rocks that created the bay. 'Come, my Katza, put him down,' he agrees as he slides off her back to steady her cousin as she let him fall out her jaws.
'Don't bloody well do that again! I think you took years off my life!' He swears being held up by Fenris. 'Why are we here?' He asks annoyed.
'This is Makatza's present to you,' Fenris says simply as he looks up and sees a ship pull into the bay. Garrett looks up and his face falls into disbelief. He has to confirm it with Fenris who nods and he runs forward to the edge of the land, waiting, impatiently for his pirate to dock.
