Part 26: we travel on from a concerned and slightly relieved Grand Cleric, along a still highly affronted dwarf to an abrupt decision. Which decision is anyone's guess.

It had taken Elthina all kinds of elusive maneuvers and sneaking around the most obscure parts of the Chantry to avoid Sister Geofride's persistent clutches. It had been exhausting. Almost as exhausting as listening to her unrelentingly nagging about Sebastian's, apparently numerous, flaws. By now she wondered if Sebastian had eloped solely because of that woman's tiresome existence. She couldn't blame him if he had. The woman was insufferable in her one-sided righteousness that leaned dangerously close to bigotry. Maker forbid she ever would rise to the rank of Mother.

This afternoon she had told her second in command she would go out, and after that had literally locked herself in her study. It was the only way to find some hours of peace and quiet. Of course she worried about Sebastian but she could safely state that, in her case, it was genuine worry; not some foul gossip and prejudice dressed up like worry.

And then she caught him from the corner of her eye, standing on the balcony, making urgent gestures. Abruptly she stood up to open the glass doors and ushered him hastily in to shield him from Geofride's view. Maybe she was getting paranoid, but the woman had eyes everywhere. Almost literally, with that small intelligence army of orphans under her command – wings, she corrected herself in a hurry.

Before Sebastian even had the chance to open the negotiations, she quite brusquely asked, 'Care to explain what is going on?' Despite all the one-sided righteousness, bigotry and paranoia Elthina tried to fend off, Sister Geofride's boisterous accusations had worked havoc on her nerves. But she backed down when she saw his expression. A whole pallet of emotions was showing on his face. Remorse, excitement, embarrassment, and, above all, utmost happiness.

'I'm in love,' he simply said.

Elthina closed her eyes for a moment. 'Please, take a seat,' she said, sitting down herself, if only because she didn't trust her legs after that straightforward declaration.

'And I know you don't agree,' Sebastian went on, ignoring her invitation, 'but this is the real thing.'

She opened her eyes again and after some hefty deliberation decided that bursting into a rant was not a solution in this particular challenging situation. Especially not since his face oozed nothing but plain honesty and sincere happiness. It could very well be true what he so boldly stated. In any case he looked like it.

'And what makes you think so?' she nevertheless informed with all the calm she could muster. To her annoyance her voice sounded rather shrill and wavering.

Sebastian sent her a smile the like she had never seen on his face before. It was a smile that came directly from his heart. She feared even more he spoke the truth. And would that be so bad? she chastised herself. It could be the best that ever happened to him. If he is sincere. And for that very reason, because there was still doubt in her heart, despite that smile, she almost lost her nerves. What if it turns out to be another whim? What if – Her panicky train of thoughts was brought to an abrupt halt by his next words.

'Because she touched my soul,' he said silently.

For a moment Elthina sat speechless. It was a phrase she only had heard uttered by people who had found sudden but blissful peace after they had embraced Andraste. She wanted to tell him harshly that this was near to blasphemy and that she wouldn't tolerate such words in relation to a fling, but he beat her to it.

'I know what you want to say. But this is how I feel it. She touched my soul and set my heart alight. It came so unexpectedly, I never imagined something like this to happen.' If possible, his smile became even more heavenly. And pensively. 'I never experienced something like this in my life. Not even when I finally accepted the quiet Chantry life.' His expression suddenly became emotional, almost pained. 'And speaking of the Chantry: Andraste wasn't a virgin. So why doesn't the Chantry allow sexual relationships?'

Elthina suppressed a tormented groan. This was what she had feared; now he sounded like a little stubborn boy who didn't get his way. At least in her ears he did. She wanted to berate him but caught just in time his infectiously shining eyes. So, instead she stood up again, walked around the desk, took his hand and led him to the chair opposite her bureau and forced him gently down. 'Is this what it's all about? Sex?' She knew that couldn't be true, not after seeing his face, glowing with bliss.

'No!'Sebastian vehemently cried out. 'It's not! It's something she said and I can't stop thinking about. She pointed out Andraste was married and had children and that she couldn't understand why the Chantry Sisters and Brothers have to be chaste. I always swallowed it as the one and only way, as the inevitable truth that came with dedicating yourself to the Chantry, but she made me see how silly that is. She made me see there is not a one and only and ultimate truth.'

'You know very well Andraste became the Maker's bride,' Elthina started an old lesson, because she couldn't think of anything else to put forward, but got cut off at the same moment.

'So what? The Maker is so inhumane he doesn't allow perfectly normal feelings and urges? Is that what you want to say?' Sebastian all but shouted. He jumped up, agitatedly waving his hand around. 'That he doesn't understand one bit of whom and what we are and we have to suffer for those shortcomings? Or is he just too jealous to share? Which would be very human!' he added passionately. He drew back his hand and rubbed his face with it. 'Forgive me,' he said meekly. 'I'm rather shaken.'

'So I notice,' Elthina mumbled, feeling shaken herself. She smiled faintly. 'Please, take that seat again and we can talk about the girl you claim to love.' She still couldn't fully get her head around it and kept feeling rather dazed. She went back to her own chair and slowly sat down. 'I'm afraid I can't offer you any apple tart. I had to use it as bait to remove Sister Geofride from my office.' The remark didn't make any sense at all in the current circumstances and she had to suppress a nervous giggle.

'I do love her,' Sebastian said with earnest emphasis. He didn't even react to the name of the orphans' guardian, which left Elthina even more befuddled. 'And yes, I made love to her but it was not out of lust.' He caught her eye and had the decency to blush. 'Well, of course there was lust,' he murmured and then put up courage again. 'But that was not the main reason. The main reason was I couldn't resist her because I care so much for her. Because she's not only beautiful, but lovely and gentle as well. And because she listens to me and put things in a whole, bright new perspective. She opened my eyes and with that she opened my heart.'

After this heated and firm avowal, his eyes became dreamily, Elthina noticed. She was touched by his words. He has caught a bad case of infatuation, she thought. I suppose that, at least, is one good thing about this troubling situation. Better an infatuation than murderous revenge. She realised all too well this didn't do any credit to Sebastian's sincere affirmation of the deep and honest love he carried for this girl she didn't even know, but she felt confused and rattled. 'And now?' she asked weakly. 'What are you planning to do?'

He looked at her with such lost puppy eyes that she almost wanted to put her arms around him. 'I honestly don't know,' he said. 'I want to stay with her for the rest of my life, and I'm fairly sure she feels the same, but that means I'll have to leave the Chantry. That is a big step.' He added, almost apologetically, 'I didn't want to burden you. But you've been like a mother to me from the moment I set foot in this Chantry, and I needed you to know how I feel.'

I really, really hope the girl is worth it, she thought. At least I don't have to explain this to his parents, came a second thought. She immediately felt ashamed, but, well, she was only human, after all. And all the things Sebastian had thrown at her over the last few minutes made the foundations of her beliefs, even of her very existence, tremble as if an earthquake had hit them. She let out a wholehearted sigh.

'You don't have to make that decision overnight. Please take your time to think about it, don't do anything impulsive.' At the same moment she realised he had made that decision already and she simply had to deal with it. And was that really so bad? Yes, he had been some kind of personal project, from the moment his father had dumped him, kicking and screaming, in her Chantry. He had grown since then. Had grown from a rebellious youth into a steady, devotional and caring man. But if that care and devotion brought him into the arms of a woman who appreciated such personality, and, most of all, made him radiate pure happiness, who was she to protest? Geofride could go and suck an egg with her short-minded attitude, she thought defiantly and not at all "Your Grace" like.

Almost to Sebastian's dread there appeared a sudden twinkle in Elthina's eyes and she nearly grinned when she added, 'Although "Impulsive" is as good as your middle name, isn't it? A shame I didn't get the opportunity to christen you. I suppose you intend to go back to her right now?'

Sebastian swallowed with difficulty. 'If you really oppose ...' He straitened his back. 'No. I don't ask for your blessing, or even permission. This is my decision and I am more than happy with it. But I wanted you to know about it,' he boldly stated. 'That much you deserve.' He had wanted to plainly tell her he was here to renounce his vows, but at the last moment that had proved to be too difficult. Although, regarding the near mischievous look she gave him, she already knew and was fine with it. As long as he was sincere. Which he was.

Elthina suppressed a chuckle; she recognised his stubborn determination. She reached over the desk and, like Hawke before her, she patted his hand. 'I will have to meet the girl before there will be any blessing,' she said. 'But, as a friendly advice, buy her some flowers.'

He looked pensively at her. 'Odd,' he mumbled, 'you're the second one to mention that. As if I'm not capable to come up with that idea myself.'

She stood to bid him farewell and to her surprise he kissed her cheek, before his took his leave along the balcony.

She lowered herself in her chair again, a little unsteadily. The boy is in love, she thought and was astonished at the tender feelings it stirred up. He said I'm like a mother to him. She smiled. And like every mother I worry for him. And want him to be happy.

She leant back and let out a deep sigh.

Sebastian returned to the alley where Merrill was anxiously waiting for him. It had been her idea to talk to Elthina, or at least she had urged him on to do so. Had pushed him over the threshold, so to speak. 'You have to put her mind at rest. And yours, evidently,' she had stated with those bright shining eyes of hers. And with that she had touched his only still drifting concern and at the same time had relieved it. She had known what troubled him, deep down. Of course she had. And he loved her even more for it.

'How did it go?' she asked with bated breath. 'Was she very disappointed?'

'I don't think so,' Sebastian answered, a little pensively and still a little off balance. But just the sight of her brought his stability back. He was touched by her choice of word; she could have used "angry", or "desolated". Instead she said "disappointed", which exactly laid bare the fear he had felt for the confrontation with Elthina. Because disappointment would have been so much worse than anger.

He laid a hand upon her face and tenderly rubbed her cheekbone with his thumb. 'I've been honest with her, as honest as possible. I told her this is about love, real love. Because that's the truth, isn't it?' A sudden panicky look appeared in his eyes.

Merrill giggled softly and affectionately touched the fingers lingering upon her cheek. 'It's all very strange and confusing but I think you're right.' She smiled brightly and whispered conspiratorially, 'This morning I danced in my kitchen.'

He had to laugh at that. 'With a wreath of flowers in your hair, I bet.'

'There don't grow flowers in the Alienage, sadly,' she answered and then the words "flowers" and "bet" triggered a memory. In shock she covered her mouth with her hand. 'Oh! We've all forgotten about Hawke's and Fenris's marriage! That was today, wasn't it?!'

Sebastian frowned, trying to do the maths. 'I ... yes. I think you're right.' His face crunched. 'I'm afraid we missed it. Oh damn, how stupid!'

At once he felt guilty. He didn't even got aware of the small curse that had slipped his mouth. He had run to Fenris to spill his happiness that had gone hand in hand with anxiety and utter confusion, causing a massive commotion, and at the moment his friend pledged his love and loyalty to his woman, he was conspicuous by his absence. He groaned out loud.

Merrill rose to her toes to kiss him. 'I believe they throw a party this night. It's not too late to tell Fenris you're happy for him.'

He drew her close, thinking again how remarkable it was she could read him so well. He smiled in her hair that smelled of lavender. 'Then let's go and dress for the occasion,' he said. 'It's the least we can do.' And he added, smirking, 'I'll buy you some flowers so you can wear a wreath tonight. You'll look more lovely than the bride.'

There hung a strange atmosphere in the Viscount's office. The five people still present lingered about as if they didn't know what to do next, now the not-bride-and-groom and the Viscount himself had taken their leave and they were stuck in the aftermath of the unforeseen events.

Outside on the landing the Guard of Honour were visibly at a loss. Most of them had hastily raised their swords when Hawke and Fenris came running through the door. For naught, they realised in frustration, not moments later. But now they merely milled confused about, their strict order ruined. Nothing had gone in the way they had expected it would. And, atop of that, they were curious about the alarming sounds that had come from the Viscount's office. Most of them still strained their ears, hoping to catch something juicy to gossip about. Even guards can be human.

'I told you so,' Varric grumbled morosely in the meantime. 'I told you they were planning something devilish but would you listen? No!'

'Oh just shut up, you old bore,' bitched Isabela. 'How was I suppose to know they would sink so low?!' Glumly she shook her flask, hoping against hope there would be a drop of rum left.

'Well,' Aveline chipped in, 'you're already sounding like an old married couple. I suppose you'll be getting the hang of it in no time.' With all her might she suppressed an upcoming giggle.

'I told you so,' Varric repeated.

'Yes, you already mentioned that,' said Isabela, as snarky as she could manage. In the meantime she wondered if she'd got a chance to break open the Viscount's liquor cabinet without Aveline pouncing upon her with plain, boring righteousness. After all, she could put forward this was an emergency. And this emergency in particular screamed for a soothing dose of alcohol. More doses of alcohol. As much alcohol, in fact, as her system could handle, and more. She'd happily pass out to forget about the rotten situation for a few blissful hours. She didn't doubt for one second the Viscount himself was, right at this very moment, gulping down generous amounts of whisky or brandy. One didn't cope with a furious dwarf attack just like that.

'I warned you,' Varric grumbled mulishly on, 'I warned you I'd say "I told you so" till your ears would bleed if things would go wrong. I don't see them bleed yet. So: I told you so I told you so I told-'

'Shut up!' thundered Aveline, beyond the urge to giggle right now and dangerously fast moving into Annoyance Lane. And no-one could thunder like her. 'Get yourself together, man!'

'Dwarf,' mumbled Varric defiantly.

Aveline, pretending not to have heard, turned to Anders. 'And you, stop sulking! You have nothing to sulk about. Maker! You remind me of Fenris in his bad days! Just go home, the three of you, and get dressed properly for tonight's party.'

The "you remind me of Fenris" part stung heavily but Anders couldn't muster the courage to waylay the Guard Captain. He slumped and involuntarily started thinking about any attire he owned that would be appropriate for the evening to come. Halfway his contemplations he brightened up. Aveline was right; he had nothing to sulk about. Hawke hadn't married the rabid dog. He straightened his shoulders. There was still hope. He knew very well this was mostly the whisky talking but he wished to ignore that. Justice remained silent. That, at least, was something to savour.

'Party!' groused Varric. He still couldn't believe Hawke and Fenris had gone this far to get back to them. It was like looping around a volcano and give the mountain a evil nudge to explode. Moreover, he couldn't believe they had talked the Viscount into it and that the man had had the guts to agree.

'At least there will be alcohol,' mused Isabela, cheering up at the prospect.

'See,' said Aveline, 'there's the silver lining. Come on, Donnic, let's head back to the Barracks to get changed ourselves.' Before I get another fit of laughter, she thought, and make a complete fool of myself in front of all my men.

She should have known better, with a half-drunk and revengeful pirate whore around.

'Don't forget to bend her over a basin!' Isabela yelled after them with wicked glee, not a heartbeat after they had passed the doorstep to the hall, so she could be certain all of the guardsmen heard her words. 'I think she needs a serious tumble!' There was no ignoring that, not even for the ones that fervently tried, red ears and all.

Aveline stiffened. Gods! I'll strangle you for this, you piece of shit! Instead she took her anger out on her innocent guardsmen. What now, innocent?! She'd strangle them too, if they had the heart to utter one wrong word.

'What are you doing here?' she growled hotly at the lingering about, now sneakily sniggering Guard of Honour. 'Get back to your duties! Right now!'

Without thinking Donnic caught her arm, unless she'd do something impulsive and totally inappropriate. Like storming back into the Viscount's office and knocking the pirate queen flat out in front of all the witnessing eyes of the present guardsmen. 'Perhaps we better share a glass of brandy, before, er, changing,' he said soothingly, and gently started to lead her to the barracks.

To her own surprise Aveline let him.

Without knowing Donnic, at that very moment, won the everlasting admiration of all the Guard.

Fenris sat on the table in the library of the Amell Estate, a glass of wine in his hand and with his feet resting on a chair. He stared at the dark blue leather shoes that clad his feet; an uncommon and even confusing sight. But for her sake he had decided he'd wear them through the evening of activities she had planned. Just as he still wore the outfit she had bought for him.

Although...

Absently he waltzed the wine around in his glass while he went over an idea, or better: proposition that he had mentioned some time ago. He thought this was the right time to do something with it. Before it would be too late. He only hoped she still remembered and, more importantly, would agree.

'Is this the outcome you had hoped for?' he cautiously opened the negotiations.

Marian was listlessly perusing the spines on the bookshelves without really reading the titles and looked up startled. Her cheery mood had waned a while ago and only a faint strain in the muscles of her abdomen reminded of her shameless outburst of merriment. Right now that merriment had waned and she stood thinking about the consequences their deed could carry. She didn't feel that cheery anymore.

(Her deed. If she was completely honest, it was solely her deed. Fenris had little to do with it and she felt wretched about it. He had uttered his worries and misery and she had just brushed them aside without taking his feelings really into consideration. What a complete and utter twat she had been.)

She had come to the conclusion it would be nothing jolly. She had pictured a grovelling and feeling very sorry Varric and Isabela. The outcome had sooner been the opposite. The wretchedness increased.

'Not exactly,' she confessed meekly. 'I had anticipated they would be angry, of course, but not murderously angry. For a moment I feared there would be fatal casualties.' She left the books alone and walked over to him and almost absentmindedly started to draw her fingers through his silken white hair. Touching his hair always put her at ease. 'I was convinced this would be the end of it. That it would make them think twice about further repercussions, so that they'd leave us in peace at last. But now I'm not so sure anymore.' She let out a deep sorrowful sigh. 'You were right all along. This will never stop.' Pensively she bit her lip. 'And it's all my fault,' she added remorsefully. 'I should have put an end to it after our so clever thought through acts of revenge.'

She thought back at the unsavoury situation at the Chantry Square and shivered involuntarily. No, Varric certainly hadn't been aware of what he had caused her that afternoon. She couldn't blame the dwarf. And thus she should have laughed about it, shaken it off, although that would perhaps have been too difficult. But at least she should have been satisfied with what revenge they had come up with. But no, she had wanted to press on, to take it even further. And she had dragged Fenris into it with her. He was the one and only victim.

She was about to tell him that, when he looked up at her with that little enigmatic smile she could, in the meantime, read all too well. Her already opened mouth snapped shut. Whatever he was about to say, she was willing to go with it. Even if it would bring her to the end of the world. She wanted to drown her misery and feelings of guilt in that beautiful honey-brown, lopsidedly smiling face. In that silvery, impossible soft hair her fingers still lingered in.

'I told you before, more or less, you shouldn't feel guilty,' he said in that undoing warm and at the same time husky, rough velvet tone that made her shiver. 'I'm as much to blame as you are.'

He forestalled her predictable protest by letting his fingers touch her cheek and letting them travel along her face. To his satisfaction he felt her calm down. 'There is a solution, if we aim for peace and quiet.'

Confused Marian stared at him, until apprehension dawned. Indeed she remembered his words from many weeks earlier, uttered in the peaceful environment of his neglected garden. When they were sitting under the grown wild magnolia with a cooled bottle of white wine close at hand. When they were gloating upon all the payback and things were still so clear and simple. A bright smile started to unfold along her lips and suddenly her whole expression radiated noting but brilliant happiness.

'Are you thinking what I am thinking?' said Fenris tentatively, still caressing her face.

And then that face bloomed into a full and mischievous grin, making him inwardly sigh with relief...

'You bet I am,' Hawke beamed. 'It was the best idea you ever came up with! I should have heeded it back then. To be honest, I'm enormously looking forward to it. So stupid I didn't think about it myself.' She kissed him tenderly. 'I suppose I was too carried away. I simply needed you to guide me back on track. You're so wonderful!'

He blinked his eyes but before he could recuperate she breathlessly added, 'But we will need assistance.'

Suiting the action to her words, she turned around and yelled, excitedly, 'Bodahn!'

I must confess this story has totally got away with me. I wanted to add some more chapters to "It started with a Kiss" and look where it has brought me, twenty-three chapters later, and still not an end to it. That's what writing and imagination can do to you. I'm baffled. But, as long as you're reading my scribblings, and liking it, I'll soldier on.

Thanks for the kudos and comments! That's what's keeping this story alive. D: