Part 6 More consequences ...

Let's rewind the clock to the moment Hawke and Fenris were squatting on the kitchen floor next to the shattered plate, lingering in various stages of anger and indignation and sudden angst while staring at the broken off piece of Isabela's choker.

Here we go ...

All kinds of emotions and thoughts were raging through Fenris's mind, most of them tending towards naked panic. If Isabela had got access this easily, so could have more dangerous predators, like slavers. Or even ... he didn't want to think that one through. His first impulse, driven by some kind of primal instinct, was to jump up and flee and only with the greatest exertion he managed to stay motionless and keep his reaction in check. He tried to fight against the devastating terror with all his might and took a few deep breaths to steady himself and regain his common sense. No, fleeing would be the most stupid thing he could do, he told himself sternly. Not only would it be no solution whatsoever, only a worthless shifting of the problem – again – but even more important he could impossibly leave Marian. He loved her too much to do that. His life had taken an abrupt and unexpected turn and because of her the odds had tilted to the good side of the balance. So he must not give in to his fears but without question something had to be done. Wallowing in warm bliss and happiness was all good and well but if his enemies caught up with him and overwhelmed him in his own mansion there wouldn't be much happiness to wallow in after. It was time for drastic measurements. More harshly than he intended he said, 'This shows everyone could have walked in just like that without me noticing. I've been careless and have neglected my safety. Damn it, I let down my guard, I cannot let that happen again.'

'What are you trying to tell me?'

Through the haze of his own disquiet Fenris caught the frightened and strained tone of Hawke's voice and got alarmed. He replayed his reaction to the unpleasant discovery in his head and suddenly realized what she must be thinking. He wanted to smack himself; he didn't doubt she was as upset as he about this unwelcome surprise and he hadn't set her mind at ease with his words. On the contrary; he had made it worse. With a pang of remorse he discarded his anxiety. He took her hand and squeezed gently. 'I'm sorry, love,' he said ruefully, 'I should have expressed myself better instead of scaring the living daylight out off you.' He gave her a brittle smile. 'You really believed I was going to run away, didn't you?'

On a first whim Hawke wanted to deny vehemently but immediately thought the better of it. Not only didn't she want to lie to him but he'd look right through her. As a matter of fact he already had. 'Well, I, er, yes,' she confessed, 'for a moment I did but can you blame me? It wouldn't be the first time you got that stupid idea!'

He brought her fingers to his lips and softly grazed her knuckles. 'That was days ago ...' he frowned thoughtfully. Days? Really, only days ..? '... or a week or perhaps you better call it a lifetime, since in my perception it happened in a different life. Yes, a short while ago I would certainly have fled, I suppose, but not anymore.'

Marian contemplated this for a moment. He was right of course, he had changed. Like she had realized this very morning when she woke in an empty bed, he wouldn't take off just like that. At least not without her. That feeling was merely due to her raw primitive fear trying to get the best of her. And then she noticed a sudden sparkle in his eyes. 'I'm addicted to you, remember?' he said, 'one usually doesn't run away from one's addiction.'

'I'm not quite sure if I should take that as a compliment, as a reassurance or should start to worry in earnest about your sanity,' Marian grimaced, in truth sagging with relief.

He drew her into his arms which is always a risky movement while sitting on one's haunches. And thus, according to all physical laws, they fell clumsily backwards and landed in a heap on the tiles. But it broke the tension and Hawke started to laugh, be it still somewhat shakily.

'Pick the compliment, you can't go wrong with that,' Fenris recommended. He took the advantage to cup her face and kiss her. 'What I, by the way, in fact was trying to tell you is we have work to do. A lot of work.'

'Work?' Marian echoed confused, 'what work?' She was still recovering from all the disturbing ripples life had dealt her with this morning and her brain didn't operate as fast as usual. But then comprehension dawned. 'Ah. Work. Of course. Work. Like in making this house pirate-proof.'

'Something like that,' Fenris nodded, 'though I was thinking about making it any kind of intruder-proof. What?' Because out of the blue she got that far away look in her eyes he didn't completely trust. It was evident her brain was in full swing once more and Maker knew what it had come up with.

'I'm totally with you but could all that hard work wait for a few days?' The faraway look had turned into a mischievous glint by now.

'I suppose so,' he said hesitantly, 'why?'

If her beam got any broader her face would split in two; a battalion of lovely evil ideas were marching through her head, the one even better than the other. 'Because I want to let our revenge taste as sweet as possible.' She scrambled onto her feet and swayed to the table where she took a sip of the cooling mug of coffee. 'I better fetch a pencil and some paper. Make that lots of paper. When we're done with them they wished they'd never heard of the word betting.'

Pensively Fenris gazed after her when she hastened out of the kitchen, hitching up her makeshift gown with two hands. He didn't know what she was planning but he feared seriously for the wellbeing of their friends.

... And back again in the present time ...

Isabela loomed over Varric's head, which wasn't very hard to do, and stared incredulously at the two persons sitting relaxed at the table in the dwarf's suite, smiling insufferably. She was fervently searching for appropriate words but didn't get further than: 'What, how, you ... you bloody bastards!' She wanted to get angry but failed splendidly; this was simply too good a prank to get angry. Instead she burst out laughing. 'You wicked witch! This was all your idea, wasn't it? The joke is totally on us! What a hoot!' She pushed Varric aside and staggered into the room, falling into the first chair she came across, holding on to her belly while the tears began to flow down her cheeks.

Varric had started to applaud with an appreciating smile plastered on his face. 'Well played, brilliantly played I must say. I'm impressed. I myself couldn't have come up with a better plan for vengeance. I take a deep bow.' And he did.

'Don't give me all the credits,' Hawke said with a wide gesture at Fenris, 'he is as much to praise as I am. For starters, he invented the dramatic text to confront you with. To be honest I was afraid I'd overdone my little show,' Hawke giggled, 'you know I'm not a good liar and even a less actress. I could only hope you bought the crap I fed you. I had a hard time to stay serious; you should have seen your faces!'

'Without a doubt it must have been the best performance of your life,' the dwarf smirked. He made a beeline for his liquor cabinet and poured himself a strong one, 'I was deeply moved. In fact you scared me to death.'

'Thank you,' Hawke said, 'I appreciate it. Before I forget, you owe me five sovereigns.'

Varric's brows shot into his hair. If he had had a beard it would have bristled. 'Five – what for?!'

'For bribing the harbour master. I had to persuade him to send you to Ostwick and money always does the trick.'

'He played his role with verve, I must give him that, he fooled me completely,' Isabela said, wiping the tears from her eyes, 'oh come on, Varric, pay the two scallywags, they've deserved it. And besides that, with all the profit you made on their account you can miss a few lousy sovereigns.'

Varric pondered that. 'Alright,' he finally gave in, 'you have a fair point. But before I let myself separate from my well-won money, tell me where you have been holed up. It can't be in the mansion, Rivaini has turned the place upside down.'

'Indeed I have,' Isabela agreed, 'and while we're at it, Hawke, I didn't buy your nice act.'

'Yes you did,' Varric contradicted her, 'you were just too stubborn to believe it. That's something entirely different and exactly the reason why you didn't find our elf.'

Our elf. Well well, that is nothing less than an honorific and no mistake, Fenris thought amused. He reached for the bottle of wine and refilled Hawke's and his glass. His eyes were shining with merriment. 'That's the prerogative of having a relation with a woman owning her own property: there's always another house to hide in.'

Isabela's eyes grew wide. 'Why didn't I think of that!'

'Because, Rivaini, like I mentioned not a minute ago, you did believe the perfectly played sob story. You just didn't want to.'

Fenris picked up his glass. 'In a way you did us a favour; you don't know half how busy we've been after I apprehended how exposed we were. Not only to your prying eyes but also to possible slavers and other scum. We badly needed those two weeks of your absence.'

Both the dwarf and the pirate looked incomprehensively at him. 'Meaning ..?' Varric said.

Hawke smiled smugly. 'We've repaired the roof, replaced the broken windows, changed the locks, bolted the entrance to the cellar and hung heavy curtains. Very heavy curtains.' She winked at Isabela. 'No way will you be able to peep through the windows any longer. Or climb over the fence for that matter, unless you want to rip your skin open on the very sharp shards of glass. We finished the works just in time to witness your glorious arrival in the harbour.'

And we've done so much more than that, Fenris thought in the privacy of his mind, you'll find out soon enough.

Varric shook his head. 'It sounds like you've made a fortified and impregnable love nest out of the sad rubble. So, tell us, when can we expect the big news?'

Now it was Hawke's turn to look incomprehensively. 'What big news?'

'About the date of your marriage of course,' the dwarf clarified straight-faced. Fenris choked on his sip and started to spray wine all over the table. 'If you're interested, I know an address that sells the most beautiful wedding rings for a fair price,' Varric pressed on with evil delight.

Hawke glared coldly at him. 'Don't push it.'

'No,' Fenris managed between two bouts of coughing, 'that's just his way of taking revenge on our vengeance.'

'And again I take a bow,' Varric said with much approval, 'you know me well.'

'Do you consider the idea of marriage that repulsive?' Hawke asked while they were ambling back home through the peaceful Kirkwall evening. With care she put up her most neutral voice.

A bit tense Fenris fastened his hold on her shoulder. 'No. It just took me completely by surprise,' he replied tentatively, anxious he had offended her with his strong, be it involuntarily, reaction.

'Oh, good. I can understand that.'

'Remember slaves aren't supposed to marry; I'm not familiar with the concept.'

'So you're not against it?'

'Not as such. Why? You want to get married?' Immediately he sensed this was a totally wrong if not disastrous way to approach the subject. And this time he couldn't put forward the wine had just chosen the wrong way down his throat.

Marian stopped at once and put a hand over her heart. ´My, that´s by far the most romantic phrase I´ve ever heard in my entire life,´ she exclaimed dramatically, 'you certainly do know how to win a girl over! I'm astounded they're not lining up by the dozens right now!'

'I do apologise,' Fenris spoke rather stiffly, feeling more than a little hurt, 'but I'm afraid marriages are not my area of expertise.'

'Apparently not,' Hawke sniggered, 'but don't worry, neither are they mine. And you know many other ways to let me melt,' she added with a naughty and at the same time sultry tinkle in her voice. She took his hand and started walking again. 'To be honest I never gave the concept of marriage a real thought except for what ways I could invent to avoid the wretched issue. Mother ardently tried to push me into the matrimony department; she threatened to find me a suitable husband and dragged me to all sorts of boring parties with even more boring candidates. And thus I rejected the idea as a good rebellious daughter should.' She laughed this time. 'Perhaps it's better to getting used to living together first, considering the turmoil we stirred up by even doing that!'

'I suppose you're right,' Fenris agreed, relieved she took it this easy. Deciding to stay with the woman he loved despite the havoc his memories played on his mind, was remarkable enough. Carelessly plunging into marriage was still miles off.

They had reached the mansion and he opened the new lock with the new shining key. To her astonishment he scooped her up and carried her over the threshold. 'We can however at least practise,' he said with his irresistible lopsided smile.

'So they changed the locks,' Isabela ruminated, staring absentmindedly at the closed door through which the two lovebirds had disappeared, 'hmm, new locks. I like a challenge.'

'I would lay low for a while if I were you, Rivaini. Maker knows what they will come up with next time,' Varric replied. He hadn't felt entirely comfortable with the glimmer in Hawke's eyes.

'Pft,' Isabela huffed nonchalantly, 'they already gave it their best shot, and they had their fun. What more tricks could they possibly have up their sleeves?'

The pirate queen would find out soon enough; came morning she discovered it didn't take changing a lock as per se to lock someone up. And locking up pirates was a real nasty thing to do; they treasured their freedom above all. Corff brushed his hands after wedging the lead pipe between the door handle and the floor. 'Easiest sovereign I've ever earned,' he murmured. Satisfied he went off to bed.

With growing frenzy Isabela spent the whole morning screaming her lungs out and bruising her fists on the unyielding door, especially after she had found out the window-shutters where nailed up from the outside and there was no way she could escape. But the patrons downstairs didn't pay the mayhem any attention, Corff pretended he didn't hear, the mumbling man kept on mumbling, as always oblivious of what occurred around him and Varric was too occupied with handling his own tribulations to come to her rescue. When she finally was released, many hours later, steam was coming out of her ears. But she wasn't the only one.

Next time: a lot of reckonings and distressed people.

Thank you for reading!

(Um, by the way, is there anybody out there who is reading this story? My traffic stats, as a matter of fact all of my stats, have completely gone blanc since yesterday and I don't know how to remedy that. Any suggestions? Thanks up forehand!)