Chapter 40
"The mistress is not yet awake! You can't go in there!" Orana's voice dragged Aria from her slumber. Fenris jumped up and donned the pair of breeches that had been laid out for him. He threw the bolt on Aria's bedroom door so that none could enter.
Aria lay on her side, her head turned towards the door. Fenris laced the breeches and quirked his wicked half smile at her. She giggled and sat up, then groaned. Every muscle in her body was tense and sore. Her stomach roiled momentarily and she fought the sudden violent urged to vomit. Cold sweat beaded her skin. But, almost as quickly as the wave of illness hit her, it was gone.
She took in her surroundings quickly, the whole episode having taken but a minute or less. It was dark outside. Rain fell steadily and pinged against her window pane. The door handle jiggled then, and when it wouldn't open, someone pounded on it.
"Hawke! Time to get up!" Aveline's voice sounded.
"In my own bloody time!" Aria yelled back, leaning forward as another wave of nausea quickly ripped through her, then subsided just as swiftly as it had onset.
"Come on, you're the guest of honor!" Aveline replied, and Aria could hear her boots tromp away from the door, down the stairs.
"Makers breath, I thought Donnic would be a better influence on that woman," Aria moaned, her head in her hands. She felt like she could sleep for at least another day or so.
"I see someone went to my estate," Fenris monotoned, holding up a tunic, underwear, undershirt, and a pair of fine boots and gloves. The tunic was primarily black, with two emerald green stripes that ran from the shoulders down, and in the center it was quilted gold brocade. Lining the stripes was bright silver thread. The sleeves had silver vines embroidered down them. It was a handsome shirt. The gloves were a soft, rich, black leather, and the boots were nearly knee high, also black leather. His undershirt was a white sleeveless, and the undershorts were emerald green.
"I've never seen you wear those," Aria curiously stated. She stood and stretched, her shoulders and knees popping with the effort and her muscles almost audibly groaned in protest. Her stomach seemed to have settled and she was grateful. Aria abhorred vomiting, for any reason.
Fenris chuckled and slipped back out of the breeches, intending to don the undershorts now. Aria went to the closet, rifling through clothes to wear. Fenris's voice stopped her.
"Seriously?" he snorted, pointing to the wardrobe across the room.
On the outside of it hung a stunning black gown with emerald green lacing all up the sleeves, silver flowers sewn into the lace. The neckline hung off the shoulders, with a cowl around it of black lace. The skirt seemed to be form fitting through the hip and thigh, but flowed out at the knee. The right leg of the skirt had a slit nearly to mid-thigh. Strappy wedges sat on the floor in front, and there was a mini slip hung over the chair. On the seat of the chair someone had laid out black and green lace lingerie, embroidered with silver.
"Am I really awake? This is a bad joke. I mean it's a beautiful dress, but…we'll practically match," Aria said with mild disgust. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"They're trying to make a statement, I think. They think we're…civilized," Fenris dubiously stated. "I'm stuck wearing this. You've got a wardrobe full of clothes to choose from."
Aria looked over at the desk and saw Fenris's armour. It had been mostly repaired and painstakingly cleaned. Then Aria looked over at the mannequin where she normally hung her own armour. It too had been largely repaired and meticulously cleaned.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Fenris asked as he sidled up next to her, his eyes going from her armour to his.
"Maker, yes!" Aria replied.
"Done," Fenris almost purred. He donned the undershirt and shorts and the breeches. Then he set to work pulling on his armour.
Aria put on the underwear that had been laid out for her, but struggled to clasp the brassiere, as her shoulders were painfully stiff and uncooperative. Fenris strode up behind her and did the clasps, but then his hands held her shoulders. Aria turned to look at him, then froze when his lips feathered the side of her neck.
"We need to go on holiday," he huskily said. "And you need to don that armour before I rip all this off you."
Aria giggled and padded over to her dresser, where she pulled out her standard black camisole and breeches to wear under her armour.
"Hawke! I know it doesn't take that long to get dressed!" Aveline's voice came from just down the stairs.
"Some days, I just don't feel like slaying dragons," Aria angrily muttered, garnering a chuckle from Fenris. She finished suiting up quickly, then ran her brush through her hair. She started to put it up, but the look Fenris gave her in the mirror made her stop. "What?"
"You really should leave your hair down more often," he quietly stated, tightening his sword belt. "It's beautiful."
Aria felt the blush creep through her cheeks and ears and grabbed the pewter combs Bethany had gifted her what felt like eons ago. She pinned up the sides of her hair, then secured the rest of it in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck with a pretty, scarlet ribbon. Satisfied that she was presentable, she unbolted the door. She then turned to Fenris.
"Ready?"
"I remain at your side," he huskily replied, offering her his arm.
She smiled and took it, and together, they walked out onto the landing. Cheers erupted as they reached the stairs. Aria gasped at the decorations. Streamers and candles were littered everywhere. Tables had been brought into the great hall beneath them, and were adorned with black and green table cloths. Casks of mead and ale and wine sat on them, along with an enormous amount of different foods. Aria's stomach rumbled. She still felt like she could eat a dragon.
"There they are!" Varric hooted. "Hawke, get your ass down here and help me drink this mead! The elf can wait!"
Laughter filled the hall at this and Aria and Fenris quickly descended. Many familiar faces filled the space. People they'd helped. People they'd befriended. Gamlen stood next to Hubert, Lady Elegant and her Lord husband, and the man whose wife had been one of the first victims of the murderer that killed Leandra. Orana straightened the edible arrangements to her liking. Sandal flipped a rune stone in the air and caught it, over and over. Bodahn, Varric, Anders, and Isabela dragged chairs around the tables. Merrill followed Orana, asking questions about the food. Ser Kerran and his sister were present, along with a couple other young templars with whom Aria had become acquainted. Lirene from Lowtown, the shopkeeper at Fereldan Imports, stood off to the side with Arianni, the elf whose son Aria had rescued from the Fade. Aveline and Donnic made their rounds together. A few nobles with whom Mother had been acquainted were also in attendance, mingling throughout the vastly different people in the crowd.
Mother. A pang of guilt hit her then, and she realized it hadn't even been a week yet since the matriarch was murdered. She hadn't given grief any chance to set in, and she thought then, that she was actually ok with it. Mother would have wanted her to celebrate and enjoy life. Maker knew at this point, Aria had earned it.
And then Aria's gaze met a teary, doe-eyed one and she cried out. "Bethany!" Aria raced over to her and embraced her tightly.
"Mother would have been so proud!" the mage tearily stated when she pulled away to look into Aria's eyes.
Aria fought her own tears and hugged her sister again. "I'm so very glad you're safe. When I saw Orsino and the other mages… I feared the worst had happened."
"The Knight-Commander wouldn't let me go," Bethany said in a hushed tone near Aria's ear. "For once, I'm glad of something she did."
"Indeed," Aria replied, pulling away again to look down at her sister. "I'm so happy you're here!"
"You aren't wearing the clothes I picked out for you," Bethany pouted. "You two would have been adorable!"
Aria laughed at this. "Fenris said someone was trying to make a statement. We aren't civilized folk, you know. We're savages. But we're useful when things like the Arishok happen, so the nobility tolerate us."
"You were afraid of matching?" Bethany said then.
"In essence. Yes," Aria quickly replied.
"Did you happen to look in a mirror beside each other before you came down?" Bethany asked then, pointing to Fenris's garb, and then to Aria's.
Their armour matched, Aria realized. She busted out laughing and shook her head. "I hadn't even thought of that."
Fenris was engaged in conversation with Gamlen, Varric, Donnic, Anders, and Hubert. It warmed Aria's heart to see them accept him so. Gamlen seemed genuinely interested in what the elf had to say. No doubt he was recapping the details of their many battles yesterday.
"People are talking," Bethany said then, drawing Aria's attention back to her.
"People never shut up," Aria groused, dragging her sister over to the long line of tables. She snatched a goblet and filled it with ale.
Bethany also took a goblet but filled hers with wine. She looked at her sister appraisingly, as if trying to decide something.
"What?" Aria asked, jarred by the sudden queasiness she had felt earlier. She set the ale down and took a glass filled with warm milk instead.
"When will the wedding happen?"
Aria's brows shot up in surprise and the people around them, Lady Elegant and her husband, Aveline, Merrill, and Isabela, stopped conversing to listen in on this juicy tidbit of gossip. "I love you, Bethany. But you're still a wretch," Aria replied, taking another swig of the milk.
"I just want you to be happy," Bethany giggled, then drastically lowered her voice, "With as much time as you two apparently spend in bed together, rumors have spread that you're with child."
Aria looked at her sister in absolute shock. "We don't… Not that often… And why is it anyone's business?" Aria sputtered.
"You're currently the most eligible bachelorette in the Free Marches, Aria," Bethany quietly giggled. "I've already overheard many plots to gain your affection."
"Well the plotters can piss off," Aria groused. "I'm taken."
"That is sad to hear indeed," someone said from behind them. Aria recognized the guard as Perrin, the one Aveline had tried to pair her up with once before.
Aria smiled at him and extended her hand. "Ser Perrin. Glad to see you survived that whole mess."
"Likewise, Serah Hawke. Or is it just Champion now?" he charmingly stated, taking her hand and kissing it before releasing her.
"Please. All I'll ever be is just Aria," she laughed. "And what's all this 'champion' talk anyway?"
Bethany chuckled. "Thank the Maker for that. I don't know if Kirkwall could survive if you developed an ego problem."
Aria lightly thumped her on the shoulder. "Be nice to me. I'm the Champion."
Bethany guffawed at this and Aria couldn't help but laugh. The bell pull sounded then and Aria watched Bodahn and Orana answer the summons. The Knight-Commander strode in with a few of the higher ranking nobles, Seneschal Brann included. The room grew silent. Aria stifled the laugh she would have burst with when she saw Anders skitter for cover. It shouldn't have been funny, but at the same time it was. Aria chided herself for her morbid sense of humour.
"I am here to deliver a message," Knight-Commander Meredith barked, holding a roll of parchment in her hand. She untied the red ribbon and unrolled it. "The Council of Kirkwall, The Chantry and Grand Cleric Elthina, The Circle of Magi, and the Templar Order do hereby decree that Serah Aria Hawke is henceforth granted the prestigious title of Champion of Kirkwall, and all benefits fitting of this title shall therefor apply. We humbly thank you for your service, and offer you these gifts as thanks. We are aware that no monetary value can possibly hope to pay the extraordinary debt this city owes you, but we hope these gifts will be used wisely and for the betterment of all," Meredith read from the scroll. She motioned the two templars forward who carried an enormous chest.
Aria strode up to the Knight-Commander and grasped her forearm. "'Twas my pleasure," Aria graciously replied, then turned her attention to the chest. But it wasn't all. Another couple of templars came forward, their arms laden with packages and parcels of many different shapes and sizes.
"What's…what's all this?" Aria asked the Knight-Commander.
She smiled almost too sweetly. "Gifts from your adoring fellow Kirkwallers, Champion. I expect to see you at the next council meeting in two weeks' time. Do enjoy your evening. Please have Miss Bethany back by sunset tomorrow."
Aria nodded and bowed, the Knight-Commander did the same, and she took her leave. Bethany strode up to Aria and took her arm.
"Look at all this! Meredith is positively furious," Bethany gushed, warily watching as the Knight-Commander disappeared out the door.
"She…didn't seem furious?" Aria puzzled, opening the chest. Everyone gathered around to see what was inside.
"You're more important than she is now. Of course she's furious," Anders said, materializing next to Aria.
"As long as she doesn't grow horns on her head, I think I can manage her," Aria glibly stated, and several onlookers chuckled. Inside the chest was at least 500 gold sovereigns, several enchanted rings, a few enchanted amulets, gem stones of every size, shape, and color, and a pair of enchanted gauntlets. Aria swatted the tawny hand that reached for a particularly eye-catching gem of bright green.
Everyone around laughed as Isabela jumped back. "I was just looking!" the rogue pirate captain weakly defended, giggling and bumping shoulders with Bethany.
"I know how you 'just look', wench," Aria good-naturedly giggled and Isabela burst with laughter.
"Well Hawke, I think it's official. You are now the wealthiest, and most lethal, person in Kirkwall," Varric said on a low whistle.
"Bodahn, Sandal, would you be so kind as to take this chest upstairs to the vault, please?" Aria gently asked of her menservants. "Take ten sovereigns each for your troubles. Thank you," she said as they hauled it away. "Now, I'll get to all that other stuff later, but let's eat. I'm famished!"
Aria sat at the head of the giant row of tables and had Fenris on her right. They tucked into the meal with gusto, and the drinks poured freely. It was one of the happiest gatherings of which Hawke had been a part. She was content to let others do the talking; Varric took the reins of course. He regaled them with grand tellings of the battles he'd seen with Aria, and saved the battle with the Arishok for last. He stood on the table to mimic the Arishok, holding two ears of corn on his head. It was quite a bit more colorful the way Varric told it, but Aria didn't mind.
"You kissed Isabela?" Bethany cried when Varric got to that part.
"Uh—no, I'm fairly certain she kissed me," Aria answered the query.
"I've had better!" Isabela boomed, holding up her tankard to Hawke.
"So have I!" Aria chortled back, standing and leaning forward to clink rims with Isabela.
"Now now, we can't all have broody elves," Varric glibly stated, climbing off the table to take his seat to the left of Aria.
Aria laughed at this and Fenris chuckled low in his throat. She worried that all of this attention and invasion of their privacy might put him off, but he seemed to take it in stride. His demeanor was far less pensive and cold, and the light in his eyes was happy. Aria hoped against hope that perhaps he had at last conquered his inner struggles with the destructive hatred he held for Danarius. For the evening, at least, he seemed to be much enjoying himself. He was being treated as an equal, his own impressive accomplishments lauded alongside Aria's.
"So you're part of the Council now. What's next, Viscount Hawke?" Aveline jested from down the table. Donnic chuckled next to her.
"Maker, no," Aria said, taking a drink of her milk to wash down the bite of meat pie she'd just taken. "You saw what happened to the last one."
"Seriously, Hawke. You would do well in politics, I think," Donnic chimed in, his dark eyes lit merrily.
"You won't be so easily…deposed," Aveline supported Donnic's statement.
"Perhaps. The only reason I'd do it is so you would have to quit bossing me around," Aria laughed. "Besides, I doubt the Knight-Commander would allow that to happen."
"I think you're correct," Fenris said, and several others nodded in agreement.
"Well, what's next then?" Varric asked, draining his tankard and refilling it from the cask conveniently located in front of him.
"Dessert. And more sleep," Aria replied, her response drawing more laughter from around the table.
"Touché," Varric countered on a chuckle.
When the meal ended, many of the people of less acquaintance took their leave. It had grown very late, well after midnight, and many of the others present had actually slept the night before. Bethany took her leave and went to bed, but only after Aria insisted she have a bath first. They planned to go shopping in the morning, so that Bethany had more creature comforts to take back with her to the Gallows. Aveline and Donnic left with most of the earlier departees, no doubt to enjoy each other's company back at the barracks.
Anders used the cellar exit as was his usual, and he took Merrill with him. Aria felt bad; she hadn't gotten to spend much time with the Dalish elf as of late, and she rather enjoyed the wacky, innocent presence Merrill possessed. Then she remembered Merrill was still very angry at her for keeping the arulin'holm. Isabela, Varric, Gamlen, and Bodahn cleared the tables and started a game of Wicked Grace. Sandal went to bed before the nobles had left. With the party winding down, Aria and Fenris stole outside to the garden.
It was raining still, but the night air was pleasant, laden with the sweet and earthy scents of the flowers around them. The heat inside had Aria feeling queasy again and this was a most welcome reprieve. They sat on one of the low benches beneath a vine-covered awning and just listened to the rain for a while, content with this companionable silence.
"Where in Ferelden would you like to go?" Fenris asked after a few moments had passed.
She turned to look at him, lacing her fingers with his. "I wish we could visit Lothering, but it is lost."
"Why not Denerim? Or Gwaren?"
Aria laughed at this. "I see you've been looking at the maps."
He chuckled. "I read anything I can get my hands on. Unless it's written by Isabela."
"She's more into drawing pictures than writing anyway," Aria said, leaning forward slightly, her head resting in her hands, her elbows perched on her knees. Her body hurt all over, especially her lower back and hips.
"Even worse," he chuckled again, leaning back against the bench, his hand smoothing down her back, his fingers combing through her hair. "Bethany mentioned rumors she'd heard earlier," he said, his voice carefully neutral.
"Do you hear everything!?" Aria gasped, turning abruptly to face him, her brows shot up in surprise.
At this, Fenris burst out laughing, the full bodied laugh only she had ever heard from him. Aria giggled and leaned against him, punching him lightly on the thigh. He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, then twined his fingers with hers and rested their hands on his leg.
"Is this what it's like to be…in love?" he asked softly after a few moments.
Aria turned to look up at him from where her head rested on his shoulder. "Is that what this is?"
"You have to ask?" Fenris queried, his tone reflecting hurt.
"I love you," she whispered.
He quirked his half smile and kissed the top of her head. "I love you." His fingers combed through her hair again, and he deftly untied the ribbon that held it. He gently released her hand and wrapped the ribbon around his wrist. Aria met his gaze, her own questioning.
"I hope you know… I'm bound to you," he whispered, his head down as he finished tying it. He took her hand again and leaned back once more against the bench. His eyes surveyed the gardens, a maelstrom of emotion present in those crystalline, kelly green depths.
"And I to you," Aria spoke in the same hushed tone as she turned his face towards her.
His eyes searched hers. Panic welled within him. This was uncharted territory, and it frightened him, humbled him, made him feel as though he was freefalling out of control. This sweet, sarcastic, quick-witted, lethal woman was his. All his. She made the rest of the world go away. She was his safe haven, his happy place. He never imagined that when he fled from Danarius, he would ever have met someone like her. Much less fall in love with, and be loved by her.
"What's wrong?" Aria asked then, cupping Fenris's face in her hands, her eyes searching his just as deeply as his did hers.
He lunged forward, his lips seizing hers almost violently. His arms crushed her to him. He wanted to get lost in her. He wanted to freeze this moment in time. The beauty of this victorious, rainy night. The way she felt in his arms, her passion equaling his with every move he made. The way her tongue greeted his. The soft moans that escaped her when his lips traveled down her neck. How she let him through her guard so openly, and welcomed his presence, his touch.
"Hawke!" Varric yelled from the other end of the garden then. "Are you out here?"
"Venhedis," Fenris softly snarled against the flesh of her neck, sending chills through her anew as his teeth gently brushed her skin.
"Elf! Fenris!" Varric called out again, and Aria heard the scrape of his boots against the wet stone as he entered the cobblestone pathway that would lead him to them.
"We could easily hide from him," Fenris rasped.
"Mmm, we could," Aria whispered in agreement.
"Aria! C'mon!" Varric shouted once more.
She groaned and stood. "What?" she called back.
"There you are!" Varric said, rounding the corner of the statue that had obscured them from his view. He walked over to them. "Gamlen just won 3 sovereigns, so we're all calling it a night. Let him keep his money for a change."
Aria chuckled at this and Fenris came to stand beside her. "Alright then. I'll come show you out."
They walked inside together and went to the front door, where Isabela and Gamlen waited. Aria nodded at all of them, then spoke to her uncle.
"Uncle, you're welcome to stay in the guest quarters. I heard much of Lowtown was…damaged in the Qunari attack," she said once they reached him.
"I had hoped you would say as much, but I didn't want to intrude," Gamlen replied, a quick nod of his head indicated Fenris.
"Don't be silly. Go to bed. I'll see you at breakfast," Aria stated, hugging him briefly. He nodded and bade them all good night, then walked off towards the servant and guest quarters of her estate. All of the guest rooms were well away from her master bedroom, and she was suddenly quite thankful of that.
"Shopping. Tomorrow," Isabela said, hugging Hawke. "I'll come find you and Bethany."
"Sounds like a plan," Aria replied. "Good night, Isabela."
"Good night, Aria," the dusky pirate captain said with a flourish.
"Well… I guess I'll see you around. Come find me if you think there might be a good fight to be had. Or if you just want to drink," Varric chuckled as Aria bent to hug him.
"Good night, Varric," Aria laughed.
"G'night, Hawke."
Aria showed them out, barred the door, then turned to Fenris. "Sadly, I think I could sleep an entire day or more right now."
Fenris tugged her toward the stairs by her hand. "I concur."
They walked up the stairs, hand in hand, and went back to Aria's room. Fenris barred the door once they were inside and he hastily removed his armour. Aria did the same, carefully hanging it on her mannequin. When she moved to take off her camisole, Fenris's hand stopped her. He turned her to face him, wearing nothing but his boxers.
"Indulge me," he whispered, drawing her into his embrace.
"You need but only ask," she replied huskily, tucking a strand of his reckless silvery hair behind his ear.
He slowly tugged the camisole over her head and tossed it next to the mannequin in one fluid, swift motion. Then his hands smoothed down her arms to her hips, sliding her breeches down her legs. Aria deftly stepped out of them and laughed when he lifted her in his arms. He took her to the bed, his body coming to rest above her. She caressed his cheek with the flat of her palm and fingertips, her eyes searching his once more.
"What would you do if the rumors Bethany said were true?" Fenris softly asked, his voice deep and raspy as he looked down into her eyes.
"Which ones?" Aria hedged, her own voice just as soft.
Fenris's hand slipped beneath her and in seconds, he had the clasps of her brassiere undone. "I think you know to which one I am referring."
"That I am…allegedly…with child?"
He nodded slowly, sliding the undone garment off her shoulders. He tossed it to the pile of clothes by her mannequin. "Not just any child. My child."
Aria moaned when his lips seared her collarbone with soft, passionate kisses. She couldn't think when he touched her like this. She tried to focus on the question he'd asked, but it was difficult. His lips blazed a trail between her breasts and she arched against him when one hand slid up her side, then cupped her breast.
"That's…if all the battles didn't hurt it," Aria managed after a moment, her fingers combing through his hair as he showered her chest with kisses.
"That isn't what I'm asking," he growled, eliciting another gasp from her when he seized one of her nipples between his teeth.
"Do you even have to ask?" Aria replied, raking her nails gently down his back.
He positioned himself above her, his hands on either side of her head as he looked down into her eyes. His brows knit together in concentration as he studied her. Then, he lowered one side of his body so that he could slip a hand down her belly to the boyshorts she wore. He tugged them down to her knees, with a little assistance from her lifting her hips. Aria kicked them off the rest of the way and yanked his boxers down in much the same fashion. He easily removed them the rest of the way without leaving his position.
"I want to hear what your thoughts are on the matter, because however much either of us wants to deny it, there could be truth to that rumour," Fenris whispered, cupping her face with his hand.
Aria pulled him down onto her, her lips colliding sweetly with his. He groaned when her hand smoothed down his back, across his buttocks, and then to the engorged evidence of his arousal.
"You would raise it," he whispered against her mouth as her fingers incited him.
"We would raise him," Aria replied in the same fashion, sighing against his mouth when he sought to fuel the fire growing in her lower belly and spreading down her inner thighs.
"Him?" he chuckled, suckling her earlobe for a second.
"Of course. Him," Aria giggled, her hips bucking involuntarily against his teasing fingers.
"He would be a pariah," Fenris whispered, rolling so that she was above him, her hips straddling his. His hands sought the curve of her outer thighs just under her waist and he guided her in teasing him.
Aria leaned down and kissed him lightly, provokingly. She gasped when he pushed inside her and her back involuntarily arched. He uttered a foreign oath on a snarl, his hands seeking her breasts once more as pleasure ripped through her.
"He would be loved," she softly stated, looking down into his eyes as she set up a deep, slow, grinding rhythm with her hips.
"That's all that matters," Fenris quietly said, rolling her again so that he rested above her, their bodies still joined.
They made love for what seemed like days, oblivious to the world around them. Here was their secret garden. Here was the world made just for them, and they the only creatures in it. It felt…different…this time, Aria thought as she lay in the dark with her head on his chest. His fingers combed through her hair lethargically. It felt as though they'd reached a whole new level of intimacy. He'd made love to her as if she was the single most precious thing in his universe, and she'd responded in kind.
Aria slowly tilted her chin up so she could look at his face in the light of the dying hearth fire. Their eyes met and he cocked a slow, satisfied half smile. She grinned at him and slid up his body so that she was eye level with him. Her leg rested possessively over his hip. He turned to face her, using the crook of her knee for leverage to draw their hips more intimately together.
"Something's…changed," she hoarsely whispered.
"Yes," Fenris quietly rasped, touching his nose to hers and staring her in the eyes from a hair's breadth away. "I stopped denying what I've felt since the moment I saw you take out an entire battalion of Tevinter soldiers."
Aria giggled at this and playfully thumped him on the shoulder with her fist. "Don't lie."
Fenris chuckled. "I'm not lying. You better sleep soon. You've a full schedule as soon as the sun comes up."
She groaned and buried her face against his neck. "After I take Bethany back to the Gallows, we should go on that holiday."
"You still haven't said where you want to go," Fenris rasped.
"I'll let you decide, Mr. Map Reader," Aria airily stated, her eyelids drifting closed. She was beautifully exhausted and she couldn't remember the last time her entire body felt this good.
"Then, I do not wish to go to Ferelden," Fenris murmured, his hand caressing the small of her back.
"That is fine by me. So long as it isn't Orlais or Par Vollen."
"You'd make quite the interesting guest to Par Vollen," he playfully growled.
"You think they'd kill me on sight?" Aria wearily asked, though her voice bore the undertones of laughter.
"No doubt they'd try," he amusedly replied.
"Seheron?" Aria sleepily queried, stifling a yawn against his shoulder.
He adjusted the pillow behind his head, then enveloped her in his arms. "Seheron," he whispered in confirmation.
"I'll have Bodahn pack," Aria quietly said, her voice trailing off.