Chapter 10 – Five quiet minutes

After the Inquisition seized the Adamant Fortress, the organization fell into a spiraling vortex of events. Josephine went to great lengths to obtain invitations to Empress Celene's ball where peace talks between her and her usurping cousin would take place. While recapturing the Therinfal Redoubt from the demon's clutches, the Inquisitor learned that Corypheus planned to kill the Empress of Orlais, which would have plunged the country into total chaos. The actions taken at Adamant Fortress had greatly weakened the darkspawn's forces but Ayden was not naive enough to believe that the assassination had been crossed off the list.

Since returning to Skyhold, his entire time had been filled with receiving diplomats, arranging meetings in the War Room, and reviewing the reports from Leliana that had piled up on his desk at an alarming rate. He didn't even have a moment to speak with Hawke.

The darkness of the chamber was illuminated by candles, which were almost extinguished. The sun had long since hidden behind the snow-capped peaks, replaced by flickering dots in the dark blue sky. The Inquisitor however, was far from finished for the day. He sat at his desk reading another scroll. Scout Harding had written in it about the increased number of rifts around Dales. As if the ongoing civil war there hadn't brought enough tragedy to its inhabitants. He would have to go there and use the Anchor to close them. He sighed loudly and pressed his lips together. After a moment, he pulled the leather glove off his left hand and looked closely at the mark. The dark veins had already reached halfway up his forearm. The opening of the rift into the Fade combined with the closing of the one used by the Gray Wardens must have contributed to this. He hissed quietly and clenched his fist. How much longer would the Anchor work before the corruption consumed him? Time was literally slipping through his fingers. He closed his eyelids for a moment and, taking a deep breath, put the glove back on. He shifted his green eyes to the stack of reports. The pile won't be any smaller today or tomorrow no matter what he will do. He looked at his left hand again. He stood up briskly after a moment and left the room.

###

Sleep was not her good companion today. Absorbed by studying Logaine's notes on Corypheus, she hadn't even noticed it was so late. That damned darkspawn had to have some kind of weakness and she would do her best to find it. Time unfortunately was not their ally so she would not waste it on sleep. She would also try to dig out all the memories of her last encounter with this darkspawn. How did Corypheus manage to cheat death?

She took another scroll in her hand. It was a report on Calpernia, the main magician in Corypheus' service. She knew that her trail would have to be followed.

A sudden knock on the door made her wrinkled forehead in slight surprise. She vaguely knew what time was exactly but she guessed from the quiet noises outside that it must be late.

Instinct got the better of her and she grabbed the dagger that always lay within reach. Carefully she walked to the door and opened it slowly. When she saw the glimpse of copper hair and the bright green eyes she relaxed slightly. The dagger discreetly landed at a near table.

- May I come in? - asked the Inquisitor quietly.

Without saying anything, she indicated the interior with her hand. Ayden stopped his gaze for a moment on the pile of scrolls on her desk.

- I see that sleep is a luxury for both of us lately. - he stated bitterly.

- Coryphaeus will not wait for us to do something. - Hawke replied informatively and, grabbing a bottle of dark whiskey from between the reports, poured it into her glass. - Would you like to join? - she asked, raising her glass.

Ayden nodded negatively. She sighed and took a small sip.

- I still can't figure out how that bastard came back to life. - she said suddenly, flipping through some paper. - Unfortunately, Logain did not get to this information.

Ayden noticed her taking another sip in nervousness. He walked closer to her.

-Hawke. - he said calmly.

She sighed loudly and leaned her palms on the desk. Since the Fade, they had both unconsciously built up a slowly growing tension between them.

- Marian. - he spoke again. She responded with a slight turn of her head. - What had happened at Adamant was real.

She clenched her fists slightly.

- I know Ayden. - she whispered. After a moment she smiled bitterly. - The damn world doesn't even give us five quiet minutes.

- That's why I took it myself now. - he replied.

For the first time in a long time, she raised her blue eyes to his. She breathed heavily, feeling the tension building inside her needing an outlet. She approached him briskly and, grasping his face in her hands, gave him a savage kiss. His right hand hugged her waist and his left reached the soft curves under her blouse. She moaned delightfully without breaking the kiss. Her impatient fingers unbuttoned his vest and shirt, which quickly landed on the floor. Ayden pulled off the leather gloves and after a moment she felt him do the same with her blouse. He moved his soft lips around her breasts deftly working his tongue against her swollen nipples. Maker, she was about to go mad. Her breathing became heavy and her heart pounded as if it was about to jump out of her chest. Ayden grabbed her thighs and she wrapped them around his waist. He walked with her to the small bed and laid her on her back. A cascade of black waves spilled over the pillow. He stared at her for a moment with his glaring eyes filled with the color of spring leaves. His slight smile made her forcibly draw him to her. Lovely kisses brought their lips together again. Andraste, let this moment never end. A sweet shiver filled her body when she could feel him inside her. She moaned softly, once, then again, and again. When she touched his ribs she could feel his heart working underneath them pounding out an accelerated rhythm. He hugged her close giving them both wild pleasure. She squeezed his muscular back harder almost leaving nail marks on it. After a while, they both froze in a loving embrace giving in to the sweet release. They lay next to each other catching their breath. Marian cuddled her head into his neck. He embraced her tighter and kissed the hair on top of her head.

- You are quite skilled for a templar. - she said teasingly.

- Clearly, I have a natural talent. - he bit back.

She laughed softly and snuggled more into his warm body.

- There in the Fade... - ...he began in a half-hearted voice. - Corypheus deprived you of your choice. That must have been painful for you.

For a moment she said nothing. Her fingertips only touched his naked skin. She sighed at last.

- It was. But he also did me a favor. - she concluded. - He revealed a card I would never have used on my own.

Ayden smiled hearing his analogy. Once again he kissed her head.

- Besides, Corypheus was wrong. - she continued. - Anders wanted for me to be happy. I could hear it in his prayers. I didn't want to admit it for a long time, but I think only death could truly free him.

- What was he like? - Ayden asked suddenly.

Hawke stopped drawing lines on his skin and raised her head. A surprise was painted in her eyes. Did he really want to know that? Now?

Ayden didn't have to wait for her to say it out loud.

- He was an important part of your life. - he explained.

Hawke sighed loudly and laid her head on his chest.

- Anders was...complicated. Some say he was a monster. Others have him as a hero and as usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. He wanted so badly to change the world, but seeing what was happening in Kirkwall at the time he knew he couldn't do it peacefully. When Justice was taking control over him, nothing mattered but the mission but when Anders kept him in check he was the best man I knew. In healing, he was second to none. He was able to save practically anyone who was still breathing, and there were times when he also plucked out the deaths of those who had already stopped.

- Varric had mentioned that he ran a clinic.

Hawke smiled warmly.

- Yes. When the Blight swept through Ferelden a lot of refugees came to Kirkwall. Many of them ended up in the Darktown. If you've ever seen an elven alienage then imagine even worse conditions. His clinic was the only light in this Maker-forsaken place.

With each sentence, she felt as if she was shedding pieces of her too heavy armor. She didn't think this conversation would be so incredibly therapeutic, but she was almost convinced that Ayden knew it before he even asked the first question.

- Apparently, you're going to the ball? - she asked suddenly with a little sarcasm in her voice.

He snorted quietly.

- Care to join me?

- Absolutely not! - she denied firmly.

- So you're going to leave me alone to be eaten by all those noble families?

- You're from a noble family yourself, and something tells me you can handle it.

He laughed quietly again.

- Besides, I would only be in the way. - she suddenly admitted. - Orlesian politic, that Great Game is not my cup of tea. I could unwittingly undermine your efforts. While you'll be entertaining the ladies of the court, I'll do the real work. - she snarled.

- Oh? - he got curious.

- Leliana's spies have provided interesting reports on Calpernia. Perhaps this thread will lead me to the knot.

- Calpernia is the right hand of Corypheus. - replied the Inquisitor thoughtfully. - If we could at least sow the seeds of discord between those two it would already be a small success.

Hawke raised her head and, supporting herself on the uncomfortable mattress with her right hand, fixed her blue eyes on his face.

- You really need to stop analyzing everything and give the others room to maneuver.

Ayden focused his green eyes on her but she could see that his thoughts were elsewhere. It took him a moment to come back from his inner wanderings. He smiled warmly and, reaching out with his right hand to touch her temple, placed a disheveled spring of raven hair behind her ear.

- I'm sorry. I trust your judgment, just wanted to toss out some options.

She sighed quietly and nodded her head in slight resignation.

- Are you never stop planning? - she asked.

- I... It comes by itself. - he replied as if in slight embarrassment. Maker, he hoped she didn't think his visit here was some kind of plan too. - It has been like this for as long as I can remember.

- Your siblings must have had a rough life with you. - she admitted. - You did your research and I did mine. - she added when she noticed the question in the green eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. - Are they all right? - she asked seriously after a moment.

- Yes. I haven't seen them since the Conclave but my oldest brother told me a little when he was here.

- Ambassador of Ostwick. - she said and he nodded. - I can see the resemblance between you two.

Ayden sighed quietly and his green eyes moved to the wooden ceiling. His thoughts drifted away again.

- You miss them. - it was not a question.

- Yes. - he admitted. - Recent events have not spoiled them either. Our family is very deeply connected to the Order and the Chantry so you can imagine what my title of Herald means to them and the fact that the Chantry has officially condemned the Inquisition. Besides, they had to hear the news of my death twice already.

Hawke looked at him with serious eyes then silently laid her head on his left side. She didn't want this day to end. The Inquisitor's left hand stroked her raven hair reassuringly and she closed her eyelids. Beating in a calm regular rhythm, his heart was like music.

- Ayden... - she muttered under her breath.

- Mmmm? - he replied in a similar tone.

- Your mark... is bigger, isn't it?

She only heard him sigh heavily. His left hand stopped stroking her hair for a moment but he didn't take it away. Nor did he answer the question. He didn't have to. She gripped his fingers gently.

-I will find a way to fix this. I swear. Your family won't get a third message.

He hugged her tighter and this time placed a kiss on her forehead. When she took her hand the reassuring stroking resumed. On Andraste's mercy, she will do anything to keep that vow or die trying.

Ayden stubbornly stared at the ceiling. After a moment he felt Marian's breathing become more regular and her muscles relax. Sleep had taken her mind. He turned his head carefully trying not to wake her. He stared at her bright peaceful face for a long time before his eyelids became too heavy as well. With his left hand still in her raven hair, the Inquisitor fell asleep as well.