Eiris: I'm so happy to hear that you think they're cute together.
Moonpriestess30: Omph I remember that time, can't blame him for staying put, it's cold!
Chapter 13 - Reality
Fenris had tuned out and was just sitting on a bed pallet while Isabela and Garrett went around to see Evelyn. He wasn't even listening to hear if she was mentally sound, all he could hear was his heart thundering in his chest and the anxiety that was steadily growing. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why this was causing him so much stress and the more he stared at his hands the more the answer deluded him. Treacherously his mind flickered back to the moment Cornelius had revealed Evelyn as his pawn, the fear and sadness in her eyes and when she gained a moment, the first thing she signed to him. 'Everything was real for me.'
He had half expected her to apologise, maybe something more tangible, explaining her actions but no. She drew his attention to the kiss that they had shared and the raw moment between them. Fenris could tell that at that moment she didn't care what happened to her, she just wanted him to know that it was real. No acting, no orders, no two sided plan. Just them, in that brief action of vulnerability, taking comfort in one another. He rubbed his hand over his face as time seemed to be dragging on. Fenris was shaken out his reverie by a gentle touch on his shoulder making him jolt sharply. It was Garrett, 'hey,' he says softly as he looks at him. 'If you promise you're not going to... if you control your temper, you're welcome to see her,' he rephrases after a pause.
'You think that I would be cruel?' Fenris states, unamused by the assumption.
Hawke gives him a look, 'I think that you're hurting and you haven't got the best track record of processing those emotions,' he corrects as he gives Fenris a knowing look.
The Tevinter elf stands and has to give the Champion his due, 'a fair point,' he nods begrudgingly. Hawke holds out his hand for his sword to which Fenris passes over without a fuss. 'May we have some privacy?' He asks.
'Of course, I'll tell you what, Anders wants to go trawling for something in the sewers anyway. How about we go do that and leave you two... to just... well, sort things out? We'll be about an hour at most,' Garrett suggests as he puts the sword under the pallet. Fenris had always stood by his word and Hawke could see that he was more upset than angry so he didn't fear for Evee's safety.
'Thank you, Hawke,' Fenris said nodding his head as the rogue smiles in reply and walks over to where Isabela and Anders were waiting. Fenris pauses until they make their departure before breathing in deeply and trying to centre himself for the coming meeting. With a heavy sigh he rubs his eyes and walks around the partition to see her. Evelyn was sitting on a bed and reading a book, she looks up and spots him; her face lighting up before falling quickly.
Slowly she closed her book and raised her hands, 'hello,' she signs carefully and shyly.
Fenris tilts his head as he takes a step closer and perches on the end of the pallet. 'I thought you would be able to speak now that your master is dead,' he said honestly.
'My voice is getting there. As the spell was broken because of a violent death..' she pauses and bites her lip, 'because I stabbed him... breaking my vows as an Intended, it's going to take a while for me to regain it properly.' She explains.
'I see,' Fenris nods. An silence descended around them and he took the plunge as it was becoming awkward. 'How are you feeling? Now that you have woken?'
Evelyn fiddles with her fingers and tilted her head from side to side, 'Surreal,' she motions. 'I am glad you've come,' she admits.
He nods and looks at his hands once more. 'I was not sure that I should. I do not know how I feel at this moment,' he replies. 'To find out that you were... bait. I feel foolish and annoyed at myself. To think that Danarius would be the only one hunting me was naïve.'
Evelyn moves a little closer down the bed and raises her hand, pausing for a second before placing it on his arm. Fenris tenses but looks at her, surprised to see tears in her eyes. 'I'm sorry,' she croaks, her voice harsh and broken. Clearing her throat, she attempts to speak more, 'I didn't want to.'
Fenris moves slowly and places his hand on hers, 'I know,' he admits.
Signing with one hand, 'I am sorry for hurting you. I understand if you don't want me to be around any more-'
'No, that is not what I want,' Fenris cuts in shaking his head. 'I have done terrible things as a slave. Killed people I cared about and that did nothing but help me. Hypocrisy has found me in many ways since I have become free but I do not want this to be one of those times.' She squeezes his fingers gently and smiles weakly.
'Forgive me?'Evelyn asks quietly looking down. Fenris can see a tear roll down her cheek and he reaches over and wipes it from her skin. He can't bring himself to say anything so he simply nods; they both know that it was going to take more time than what had passed but this was a beginning. Evelyn can't help herself, she moves closer and wraps her arms around his shoulders as she hugs him. He can feel and hear her crying and he gingerly rubs her back as he returns her embrace.
Fenris leans back against the wall the pallet was against and shifts a little so it was a little more comfortable for them both. They spent a while simply holding each other, Evelyn eventually settled and stopped crying. 'How much longer do you have to stay here?' He inquires ignoring the slight burning in his skin as he was enjoying her weight on his chest.
She had curled up next to him, his arms lightly around her. Talking had become quite painful so she resorted to signing once more. 'He wants to keep an eye on me for a couple of days, in case of infection.'
'Are you healing well?' Fenris asks as he looks at her. Evelyn straightens up and faces him, she was wearing a light coloured, loose blouse and leggings. With a slight blush she undoes a couple of buttons and pulls the collar to the left to show the wound she had received. It looked red and raw, the shiny skin slightly bruised. He reaches out and gently touches it, there was no heat which generally meant there was no infection but with the severity of the injury he could understand Anders' caution. 'You should not have risked yourself in such a way-'
Evelyn shook her head firmly and grabbed his hand, she mouths instead of signing, 'I wanted to,' she said firmly. Slowly she loosened her grip from his fingers and he reaches up, gently touching her cheek.
'It was foolish,' he scolds quietly. Evelyn wears a half smile, she knew that he wasn't being entirely serious. Nodding she relaxes into his touch. 'I guess then we are both fools,' Fenris murmurs. She giggles ever so lightly and to his surprise he actually heard the lilt of her voice. He can't help but smile in return. Fenris leans forward and softly catches her lips in his, savouring the feeling before moving away. Evelyn's blush had returned and her breathing was a little heavier than before. Time had passed faster than either of them had thought and they heard the doors to the clinic open and Isabela complaining about the grime she had tracked in. Fenris clears his throat and Evelyn bites her lip as she moves back a bit, aware of the position they were in.
'Knock, knock,' Hawke says politely as he comes around the partition, 'hey how are you both?' He asks as he looks between them. Evelyn smiles as Fenris stands up, 'everything okay?'
'Fine,' Fenris replies.
Garrett raises a brow and leans against the wall as he crosses his arms, 'you'll have to excuse the fact that I smell like a sewer,' he points out. 'Wading through the underbelly of this city will do that to you. So, Evee, Anders wants to keep you here for observations but the way I see it is that if you need medical help we can bring you here easily. If you want, you're welcome to stay with me for a couple of days until you're out of the danger zone. Now that your master is dead you can go where you wish, which means that if you wanted you could travel?'
Evelyn pulls a face and shakes her head, 'I'd rather keep working at the Tavern if I can and save up for a place to live,' she signs, Fenris translating for her.
'Cool, that's fine with me,' Hawke nods. 'Okay, sweetheart, we'll let you get some rest. I'll let Merrill know that you're awake and later on we'll grab you and you can stay with me for a bit,' he plans. Hawke waves goodbye and leaves Fenris to say his in private.
'You wish to stay in the city?' He asks her.
'I finally have someone who I want to be around and not because I have to be. If you're okay with me staying that is,' she signs already knowing that they had been over this. She stands up, a little shaky on her legs from the last couple of days and places her hand on his arm. 'I'll see you another day, stay safe,' she signs.
Fenris chuckles running his hand through his hair, 'I guess I will have to get used to seeing you around then,' he murmurs. Evelyn sticks her tongue out at him playfully and leans forward kissing his cheek before giving him a little shove towards the main part of the clinic.
'Go on, or you'll never leave,' she teases.
He wipes the smile off his face as he walks over to Hawke, Isabela and Anders. Garrett had already retrieved his sword and handed it over as Fenris came near. 'So you two okay?' Isabela asks carefully aware that the other two were listening.
He raises a brow and nods, 'we are sufficient,' he replies.
'You still feel angry and shit?' She asks.
'Feelings like that do not just vanish. It will take time. For the moment, things are satisfactory,' Fenris says knowing that they won't drop the subject until he's given them some sort of answer.
Isabela nods, 'she'll get her voice back in no time and then we can brush all this shit off the cliff,' she grins.