Chapter FORTY-NINE
Aria received a letter that Bodahn had brought to Fenris's mansion when she failed to return home for nearly a week. Throughout the past few years together, both of them had accumulated items at one another's homes. Since their reunion after the painful vacation to the southern lands, Fenris and Aria were rarely seen in Kirkwall proper anymore. When they were seen, it was almost always together.
She read the letter while standing in the foyer, wearing only a robe of Fenris's. Hubert was worried about losing the mine completely when all of the workers failed to come home one night. That had apparently happened five days ago, at least. Aria sighed and handed the letter back to Bodahn. She rubbed at her temples and squeezed her eyes closed.
"What is it?" Fenris said then, lightly bounding down the stairs in only his customary leggings. His hair was sleep tousled, his voice more crushed diamond than velvet.
"Something terrible has happened at the mine, I think," Aria replied, turning to him. She motioned for Bodahn to give Fenris the letter.
Fenris read it quickly. "Why can't he send the Coterie?" Fenris rasped, handing the letter back to Bodahn once more. He looked at Aria, his eyes shifting for just a split second to her belly before returning to meet her gaze.
"If it's... Serious, I have to go," she said softly.
"Send someone else. I'll go. With Aveline, Anders, and Varric. Or Isabela. Or Merrill. Or all of us. We can handle it."
Aria sighed. Bodahn shifted uncomfortably. "Bodahn, you may return home now. We'll hash this out and get it taken care of."
He looked absolutely relieved and didn't need to be told twice. When he was gone, Fenris took Aria gently by the shoulders. "Stay to the background. No taking on anything by yourself," Fenris said softly, though sternly.
"Of course," Aria replied in the same tone.
"Well, let's rally the troops," Fenris grunted, turning to go upstairs.
Aria followed, and they quickly donned their armour and their implements. They jogged together down to Lowtown to fetch Varric from the Hanged Man. When they arrived, Norah and Corff both informed them that Varric had received an urgent summons and left last night. He had yet to return.
They went to Darktown and met with Anders, who was happy to oblige. But he had a favour to ask of Aria.
"I'm going to be trying something, and I thought you'd want to be part of it," he started once Aria had asked what the favour was. "We've both been wrong. What I did with Justice was unnatural. It should never have happened."
"Anders, you can't change what happened. Unless... Is there some way to undo it?" Aria asked, taking a seat at his table.
"I've spent the past three years researching the methods of Tevinter Magisters..."
Fenris scoffed at this and his hand shot up to cover his forehead as he groaned, "Why am I not surprised?"
Anders continued, unperturbed by Fenris's interruption. "They're the only ones who have thought to reverse spirit possession, not just behead the victims," he said, then a smile washed over his face and he suddenly looked years younger. "I believe I have a formula for a potion that can separate Justice from me. Without killing either."
Aria chanced a look at Fenris, who had crossed his arms over his chest as he looked back expectantly at her, his vibrant green eyes flashing dangerously. He did not approve, but he knew she'd help Anders. She always helped Anders. Aria sighed. This was never going to completely stop, was it? Not until one of them was dead, at least.
"Is it dangerous?" Aria wearily asked.
"There are always dangers with magic," Anders hedged, and Fenris scoffed again. "But I believe this will be worth the cost."
"So what are we talking here, demons and blood mages dangerous? Or small group of drunk highway men dangerous?" Aria queried with an uncharacteristic note of worry.
"Probably more the latter," Anders confidently stated. "Maybe even less."
"Well alright then, we'll see what we can do," Aria amicably replied.
Fenris punched the support beam upon which he had just been leaning. "Venhedis!" He stormed out of the clinic but stopped just outside the door and began pacing.
"I knew you'd stand behind me in this," Anders almost whispered. "Even if..."
When he'd failed to finish that sentence, a shiver of dread slowly crept up her spine. She grimaced. "Even if?" she prodded after another moment.
"Nothing," he said all too quickly. "I've gathered most of what I need," he also continued too quickly. "But there are some outlandish ingredients I was hoping you'd help me collect. A powder the Tevinters call sela petrae and a small amount of drakestone."
"Is it just a potion?" Aria asked, turning in her seat as Fenris returned, his demeanor that of a wolf caged in a prison far too small to contain it comfortably. "Is there anything more to this...ritual?"
"No, no ritual. Just mix the ingredients up and... Boom! Justice and I are free," Anders replied, "And we can take our rightful place among free mages."
"What is drakestone?" Aria queried, his last statement sending the hairs up on the back of her neck. She didn't like being lied to, but she was deciding to play along—for now. When would he ever learn that he didn't have to lie to her to get her help?
"The Tevinters used to mine it for their apothecaries. There should still be deposits in the Bone Pit, which is where we're already going. The trip can be doubly fruitful."
Aria looked at Fenris, who was glaring coldly at Anders. She turned back to the mage. "And where would we find sela petrae?"
"It's a crystal that forms from concentrated manure. And urine," he distastefully answered, his nose wrinkling for effect.
"Seriously?" she asked in disbelief, one eyebrow arching comically. "We can't just...buy it somewhere?"
"It's not used by mages here," Anders answered. "There's no reason for any merchant to stock it. I suggest we search the sewers when we return from the Bone Pit. There's an entrance hidden not far from here in Darktown."
Now that she'd let him push his pawns, Aria decided to check him. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Oh, many things I'm sure," he glibly replied with a wink. Aria heard Fenris rumble low in his chest, much like a creature of his namesake might. "Did I tell you of the dream I had where the Grand Cleric was completely naked except for her mitre? And there was this giant glowing cheesewheel..."
"Okay, enough! I'll bloody help you. Come on, we have to go get Aveline. The best entrance to the Bone Pit is in Hightown anyway. I really wish Kirkwall would invest more in horses. The people here are too slow," Aria conceded, then stood and stretched. "Let's go."
The three of them took the shortcut to Aria's estate and accessed Hightown via the sewers. Along the way they collected a deposit of the sela petrae. Anders seemed buoyant and effervescent as they strolled through the Keep's doors, despite the somber shift in decorum. Aria tried to find his change in demeanor pleasant, but something was off.
The mood in the Keep had changed drastically while Aria had been on hiatus. There were templars everywhere, guarding choke points, offering solemn blessings of the Maker as they passed. Some of them glared at Aria, others smiled and nodded politely. All of them seemed to keep a watchful eye on Anders. Aria fought a shudder. They knew; they just hadn't been able to get him yet. Here he was, jabbing them in eye.
Aveline was talking to her guardsmen when they walked in, the whole lot of them crowded into her office. She motioned them all out when she saw Hawke, Fenris, and Anders in the door way. The companions waited while the guards filed out, each of them smiling or nodding at Aria's company before they went back to the barracks. Donnic stayed to greet each of them personally before he joined the rest of the guards. He cast one longing, sweet gaze back at Aveline and the Guard-Captain actually giggled.
"Things seem to be going...well," Aria chimed as Anders closed the office door.
"Indeed. I've been meaning to tell you...all of you... We have decided to get married. Next month. I'd like you all to be there, and pass on the invitation, if you please," Aveline said with uncharacteristic girlishness.
"Well, congratulations," Anders crooned. "I was beginning to wonder if it was just a rumour."
"Quiet, apostate, if you value your freedom," Aveline snarkily replied. Anders only chuckled in response, though his eyes bespoke fear.
"Yes, congratulations. But, I fear I have to ask for your assistance. Hubert has informed me of some trouble at the Bone Pit-" Aria started to say, but Aveline cut in.
"Ah yes, the miners' families have reported them missing. I was going to send some guards, after I reconnoitered the area first. Hawke, you've been shirking your duties, and I fear those miners paid the price."
"She has shirked nothing. Hubert is ultimately responsible for the mines-" Fenris interjected venomously, but Aveline cut him off too.
"And Hawke is the hired muscle set with the task of defending them. You honestly think Hubert is going to be able to wield anything more than his mouth?"
"Shut up. We didn't come here to argue," Aria snapped. "Get your gear, Captain. We're going hunting." Aria didn't wait for a response and turned on her heel. She immediately strode away and didn't look back until she had exited the doors of the Keep and stood on the first bank of steps below the templar guards.
"I still don't want you to go," Fenris rasped so that only Aria could hear.
"You heard her. This is my responsibility," Aria snapped back.
"We can handle this," Anders chimed in, for once siding with Fenris.
It was then that they saw Varric jogging towards them. Fenris breathed a sigh of relief. "See? Here comes reinforcements now."
"I have to go," Aria stated flatly.
"Hawke! Corff said you were looking for me?" Varric huffed as he met them.
"Yes, we've got to head to the Bone Pit. Apparently something killed the miners," Aria answered before Fenris or Anders could intervene.
"I'd love to Hawke, but I can't. When you guys get back, meet me at the Hanged Man. We have to talk. It's...urgent," Varric apologetically said.
"Ah, well then. That settles it. We'll come seek you out when we return," Aria quickly stated.
"Blondie, Elf," Varric said before he turned and bounded back down the steps.
Fenris and Anders both glared at her. Aveline stormed through the door then, sparing Aria any further rebuff from the two. They headed to the outskirts of Kirkwall and climbed for several hours up the steep, rocky path to the mine.
"So, Aveline, how long have you been planning for this wedding? And when did Donnic propose? How did he propose?" Aria finally said, unable to bear the uncomfortable silence directed almost exclusively at her.
"While you were gallivanting around Orlais is when he asked me and my best friend wasn't even here to share the news," Aveline coldly replied.
Aria sighed. "Why do I even bother?"
"We used to be friends once. Now, no one ever sees you except when you're with that damned elf!" Aveline groused.
"That damned elf is standing right here," Fenris snarled.
"Good! Then maybe you two can stop being so selfish already and help! These miners are most likely dead. There has been an upswing in crime and poverty in Lowtown, and the bloody templars are walking around like they've taken over. And they all but have! Hawke, you've got to do something. I can't. My bloody hands are tied!"
"Hasn't she given enough for this city?" Anders said, stepping up so that he walked between Aria and Aveline.
"She's the Champion!" Aveline bellowed.
"And she's still a person, with her own life, and her own desires. She's sworn no oaths. She holds no offices," Anders barked back.
"Just stop it already," Aria snapped, striding ahead of them all. "Just...stop."
"Aria—this city needs you," Aveline almost desperately stated. "Things are rapidly deteriorating without a Viscount. There will be civil uprisings soon. I've read troubling reports about Orlais and the push to re-annex Ferelden, and they're also eyeing the Free Marches."
"So what now? I'm supposed to fight all of Orlais for everyone?" Aria snarkily replied over her shoulder.
"That's not what I'm saying!" Aveline called back, jogging to keep up with the shorter rogue's swifter pace.
"That's sure what it sounds like. I'm sorry, Aveline. I'm sorry I failed to keep a mine safe because I needed some fucking time to myself for a change. I'm sorry I fought for Ferelden, lost, and ended up getting shipped here. I'm sorry I braved the Deep Roads and rose above my lowly station—Maker forbid I have any sort of success. I'm sorry I fail at bearing children..." Aria rapid-fire spat back at Aveline. Tears of rage, frustration, and sorrow streamed down Aria's cheeks then and she coughed on the sob that threatened to choke her.
"What?" Aveline gasped, grabbing Aria's shoulders to stop her. She spun the rogue to face her and for the first time in a very, very long time, Aveline looked at her—really studied her. Aria was as sinewy and thin as she'd ever been. Her cheeks had become more gaunt, her normally cajoling, bright amber eyes held nothing of that mirthful, spiteful light they'd had once. They were lit with desperation. "Failing at bearing children?"
Fenris stepped between them and pulled Aria away from the warrior. He glared at Aveline, his eyes shooting cold, green daggers. He turned and they continued on up the path a ways before Aveline and Anders followed. Aveline shook her head and fought her own tears.
"What did she mean?" she asked Anders when Aria and Fenris disappeared over the next rise.
Anders shook his head. "She doesn't want a lot of people knowing."
"Well I already have an idea and it came from her mouth. Out with the rest," Aveline barked.
"When they were in Ferelden, Aria had a miscarriage," Anders softly replied.
"Why didn't she tell me!?" Aveline incredulously asked.
"Not many people know. Just her, Fenris, Varric, and myself. Well, and you, now," Anders grudgingly replied.
"That's why she's been... Oh Maker, I've really bolloxed this up big time," Aveline said, shaking her head and rubbing at her temple with her hand.
"Fenris has been trying to keep her...safe. And unfortunately for Kirkwall, that means not fighting," Anders continued. "It was not a pleasant experience and for all I know, they could be trying again. He's been trying to get her to stay in Kirkwall and let us handle these things. Aria doesn't listen. Especially when she's being shamed into it." The accusation was glaringly apparent and Aveline shook her head.
"Well now that I know, I will do my best to keep Aria out of such matters. Come on. We better catch up. Fenris will never forgive me if anything happens to her because of my...accusations," Aveline conceded, her expression horrified.
They reached the Bone Pit an hour later, and the scene before them was grisly to an extent Aria had never before seen. Bodies lay all around, some in pieces. All were scorched. The mining camp was in shambles. They were all fairly silent as they picked over the camp, looking for clues. They did satisfy Anders's need for the drakestone deposits, and they ventured down the well-used mine trail to the gully that led to an abandoned mine shaft.
And then, an enormous shadow flew over them and Aria's stomach fell. Perched on a tall butte to their right was the most massive dragon Aria had ever seen. Even bigger than Flemeth's rendition. Aria knew, to her absolute horror, it was a High Dragon. She barely rolled out of the way in time to avoid the scorching ball of fire the dragon spat at her.
"Aria! Get back!" Fenris screamed at her, the timbre of his voice one she had never heard. It was terror and rage in equal measure; his voice cracked with the ferocity of his emotions.
She glanced back at the escape route up the trail they'd come down, and saw that the dragon had set it ablaze. Maker damn the clever beast! They were trapped. Aria whirled to check where the dragon was, just in time. It launched another fireball at her, and this time, it grazed her left shoulder as it crackled swiftly past. She rolled out of the way and fought the scream of agony that threatened to steal her breath. Her armour was thoroughly cooked on her entire left arm and the noxious scent of burned flesh filled her nostrils. She snagged a health potion and downed it, thankful for the cooling relief as it repaired her charred skin.
The dragon swooped down in front of them and Aveline and Fenris started attacking. Aria's heart leaped into her throat when it snatched Fenris by the leg and viciously shook him. Fenris landed several devastating strikes to the beast's muzzle for its trouble, and it threw him to the ground. Aria lunged in and slashed many poison-laced blows to the monstrous animal's left hind leg, but it kicked and sent her a good twenty feet into a boulder. She snagged another healing potion and a stamina vial and quickly downed them, her eyes tracking both Fenris and the dragon. Anders was frantically chanting, healing Fenris all the while launching ranged ice and electricity attacks. Aveline managed to hack an impressive wound into the dragon's left foreleg before it flapped its tremendous wings and knocked her to the ground.
The beast retreated to the cliff once more, and roared tremendously. The sheer power of its scream had all of them clutching their ears in excruciating pain. It was while they were down that Aria saw the dragonlings and juvenile dragons emerging from the abandoned shafts. The High Dragon was calling them to battle.
She launched into action, her head still ringing. Fenris and Aveline appeared beside her almost immediately, and they both drove her behind them. Frustrated, Aria did a back flip and started assaulting from the small herd's right flank. She heard Anders call out for help then, and turned to find him.
He was being swarmed by another gaggle of the creatures. Aria raced over to him and they annihilated the hatchlings together. But even as the last youth fell, the High Dragon was once more upon them, and it seemed to have marked Aria as its preferred prey. She ran and dodged the flames it spat at her, listening to Fenris's and Aveline's screams for her to get out of the way.
Aria smashed a chameleon potion and disappeared in the fog. The dragon stopped dead in its tracks and looked around, confused. Aria silently thanked Isabela for the set of the potions the pirate had gifted her. They had literally just saved her life. She tiptoed past the dragon while Aveline and Fenris flanked it. Anders still bombarded the creature with his ranged attacks, managing to stun the monster for a moment. But he was being flanked by several dragonlings that had emerged once more from the abandoned shafts.
It was now or never, Aria realized, having the upper hand. Fenris and Aveline assaulted the dragon still, their attacks further stunning the monster. Aria lunged, taking advantage of the fact that Aveline and Fenris had staggered the great beast. She caught one of the spikes on the dragon's cheek, ignoring the screams of warning coming from all three of her companions as the chameleon potion wore off and she became visible again. The dragon snapped its massive jaws at her and she planted a solid, hard kick to its snout while she clung to one of its horns.
It roared and tossed its great head, giving her the upward momentum she needed to swing up onto the back of its skull. She buried one of her daggers hard and deep into the creature's brain. The dragon screamed and plummeted to the ground, tossing Aria violently down the cliff edge where they'd cornered it. She hit the perilously steep incline hard, landing on her right side and rolling at devastating speed down the cliff face away from her companions.
It felt as though she rolled forever, the landscape flying by at all sorts of odd angles. Aria focused on tucking her limbs close to her body to minimize injury in this dangerous method of descent. She hit several rocks and took out a few saplings before finally coming to a jarring halt. She slammed against a large boulder; her left shoulder, ribs, and hip made horrid cracking noises with the impact.
The pain raged through her entire body, stealing away any and all rationale with its enormity. She struggled to breathe, struggled to move, struggled to think. High above, she heard the call of the carrion crows. She tried to move again, but the pain was so great that it rendered her instantly unconscious.
Aria didn't know how long she lay there, but when she came to, stars soared above her and her body was numb with cold. She tried to move, but pain ravaged her entire being. A wolf howled somewhere off to her left, far enough away to not be an immediate threat, but close enough that she knew she'd have to get moving. She gritted her teeth and disentangled herself from the brush and boulder. Aria was not admitting defeat this night. She didn't just put the screws to a High Dragon only to be eaten alive by wolves. Grimacing and biting back the scream of pain, she sat up and looked around.
"Aria!" she heard in the distance—farther away than the wolves. It sounded like Anders.
She tried to yell, but her throat was so parched that no sound came. Her hand flew instinctively to her belt and thankfully there was one little vial of health potion that had survived her tumultuous descent down the cliff side. Aria quickly downed it, then gingerly got to her feet. Her hip threatened to buckle and she stumbled against a large sapling for support.
"Over here!" she yelled, searching the ground for a weapon. Her favourite dagger was still lodged in the dragon's skull, no doubt. But she was certain that her other one should be somewhere close.
"Aria!" someone else called, barely fifty yards to her left.
Her heart sang. Fenris was here!
"Fenris!" she called out, limping over to another boulder where her peripherals caught the glint of metal in the pale starlight. She grinned widely, wincing as her lips cracked with the gesture, and snatched the dagger up with her less-injured right hand. She leaned against the boulder, her breath coming in hard gasps. All this movement was doing nothing to help her badly cracked ribs.
"Aria!" he called again, and she could hear his footfalls as he ran to close the distance.
"Over here," she gasped, fumbling for another health vial, but to no avail.
"Aria!" he yelled, racing up to her. "Oh, thank the Maker!" He cupped her face in his hands, checking her head for injury. "Are you hurt?" he asked, ascertaining her neck and shoulders with his free hand. He clutched his longsword in the other.
She nodded through gritted teeth, unable to speak anymore. He snagged a potion from his belt and tipped the little vial to her lips. She swallowed it, grateful for the momentary reprieve from the pain.
"Aria!" Aveline called from several yards off to their right.
"Over here!" Fenris called back, dropping his sword and feeling along Aria's ribcage. "Where are you injured?"
"Everywhere," Aria managed. "My left hip, ribs, and shoulder are broken."
He growled low in his throat. "That was a damn fool thing you did. You could have been killed! What the Void were you thinking?"
"Oh, Fenris. Not now," Aria groaned weakly, leaning against the boulder again.
"Yes, now," he snapped back, touching her shoulder again and feeling for breaks. "Please... Just..." His tone was one of fear and pleading.
"The dragon is dead. I'm alive. Mission accomplished," she said, coughing and swatting his hands away with her good hand. "And I'm pretty sure, if I'm me plus one right now, it's too small to have come to any harm."
"Why must you always be so reckless and stubborn?" he ground out, holding her by the shoulders none too gently.
She simultaneously winced and cried out with the sudden pain he inflicted upon her with his actions.
"Hold still," he growled, grabbing her left forearm and bending it at the elbow. "This is really going to hurt, but afterward you'll be fine."
Before Aria could respond, he yanked on her shoulder, then popped it back into place. She cried out and slumped forward against him. He held her to him for a moment, then gently pushed her back so that he could look at her. Aria was still fighting to breathe and the sudden jarring of her shoulder did nothing but exacerbate this matter.
"The use of my arm means nothing if I can't breathe," she airily wheezed, clutching her left side and collapsing against him.
"Damn it," he cursed, easing her to the ground. "How bad is it?"
"Have you another health vial?" she managed.
"Yes," he softly replied, immediately tipping the blessed red liquid to her lips.
"Thank you," she gasped, resting her head against his chest.
"Don't frighten me like that again," he softly admonished, his voice velvet over crushed diamonds. It was harsh but tender all in the same instant.
Aria chuckled, then coughed, a sickening, fracking, wet sound deep within her chest. "Assuming I survive this?"
"You're not permitted to perish here," he worriedly stated, drawing her closer to him for warmth. He lit up his lyrium brands and the heat surged through her.
"There you are!" Aveline cried in relief, having spotted the light emanated by Fenris. "Hawke, you had better be all right or I'll end you myself!" the warrioress shouted as she came upon them. Her green eyes flashed with fear and fury and she trembled with the depth of it.
"Where's Anders?" Fenris hastily asked her, alerting her to the severity of Aria's condition.
"Right here," the mage said, coming up behind them, out of breath from his frantic run to get to them. "Is she in one piece?"
"For now," Aveline tenderly snarled.
"I can't—breathe—" Aria whispered.
"Her ribs are broken and I fear damage has been done to her lungs. Potions only stave it off for a few minutes," Fenris answered for her.
"Lay her down," Anders ordered gently. "We must be quick. There is a pack of wolves fast upon us." He helped Fenris lay her down and knelt beside her. "Which side?" he asked her, undoing the lacing on her armour and freeing her from the confining garment.
She drew a ragged breath, thankful for the reprieve. "Left side is the worst," she wheezed.
Anders gently placed his hands on the left side of her rib cage and his body lit up as if a bright white light lived within him. Aria closed her eyes and felt the mage's presence within her, surging, soft head mending the shattered ribs and broken collarbone before moving to alleviate the pressure on her lungs and repaired them. Then, he tended to her shoulder. Next, his presence floated through her blood to her hip and he repaired that. She gasped when the healing sensation flowed through her lower belly. He sighed in relief. He coursed through her, thoroughly checking and mending every injury. Her left femur had a stress fracture. Her right foot was broken. Her right wrist was badly sprained.
When he was finished, he fell back and collapsed. Anders fumbled for a lyrium vial in his cloak and quickly drained it. He sat back up, heavily drained by the exertions needed to heal her. His eyes sought hers, dark and full of worry. It scared him, the amount of damage she'd sustained. Terrified him even. If he hadn't been here when he was, she would not have made it through the next 45, maybe 60 minutes. And she was not a plus one, much to his odd relief. He fought the pang of jealousy that ripped through him and decided to say nothing about it.
"Don't ever be that reckless again," he said to her, his chest heaving as the lyrium restored his mana. "You would not have made it another hour."
Aria groaned. "I had the perfect opportunity and I took it. You were being attacked by the dragonlings, Fenris and Aveline were all but spent, and the dragon was stunned," she said. "How was I to know it would toss me down the cliff?"
"You have a knack for taking it too close to the edge, Aria. One of these days, that cliff won't be so forgiving and you won't have the strength," Anders softly said, his eyes pleading.
Fenris's head snapped to the left then and he snatched up his sword. Aveline mimicked him, readying her shield and her own sword. Anders hopped up to his feet and twirled his staff menacingly.
"The wolves are close. We need to be going," Fenris admonished. "This way. It's the easiest climb up to the path."
They followed him and thankfully, the wolves maintained their distance. They trudged down the path for about an hour before they were exhausted. The fight and the search for Aria had left them thoroughly drained. Anders set about to creating a massive fire. Fenris and Aveline quickly made a makeshift camp. Aria managed to spear a large rabbit with a throwing knife and found a blackberry bush near the camp site.
The companions devoured the meager meal once it was cooked and then set about to getting as comfortable as they could. Anders sat propped against a tree, his hood drawn over his eyes. Within a few moments, he was snoring softly. Aria felt a pang of guilt at how badly it had cost him to heal her. He'd been absolutely exhausted.
Aveline sat against another tree, opposite from Anders, and her head was bowed. She too snored quietly. Aria lay on her side on a bed of pine needles, staring at the high flames of the roaring fire. It was big enough and bright enough to keep the wolves at bay, and they were close enough to Kirkwall that guard patrols would be passing through the area.
Aria jumped slightly when Fenris appeared before her, having conducted one last sweep of the area for any dangers. Satisfied that they were safe, he settled behind her, drawing her body to rest against his. He nuzzled her cheek as his brands flared, flooding her with warmth.
"You promised," he raspily whispered against her ear.
"It was the only way," she softly replied, smoothing her hand down his forearm until their fingers met and entangled.
Fenris sighed resignedly. "You're never going to stop fighting, are you?"
Aria gingerly turned in his embrace to face him. She touched her forehead to his. "Until another Champion takes up the mantle-"
He kissed her, gently rolling so that his body covered hers. He pulled away after a moment and tucked an errant strand of her starstruck hair behind her ear. "We could go away. For good this time. We don't have to stay here."
Aria reached up and touched his cheek, her fingers tenderly following his strongly defined jawline. "Something would always drag me, or us back."
"Then we say no."
"With the things we get ourselves into, you honestly feel you could say no?"
He kissed her again, this time moving down her neck as much as her armour would allow. "If it meant keeping you...and our potential family safe? Absolutely."
Aria laughed airily at this and her fingers ran through the hair at the nape of his neck. "Is that what you want?"
"Only if it's what you want," Fenris whispered tenderly, kissing her sweetly on the lips for a brief moment.
"It is... Eventually. And only with you," she breathlessly replied.
"Then...please... Honour your promise. You don't have to do all the heavy lifting," he pleaded.
She sighed. "I will deign to exist with less effort."
Fenris chuckled throatily, her barb not lost on him. Once, he'd told Aveline he'd deign to exist with less offense when questioned about the state of his mansion, and was informed how the nobles were complaining. He rolled again, so that Aria lay partially above him. He hooked his hand at the crook of her knee and drew her thigh to rest across his hips. The stretch felt good on her recently repaired, too-taut muscles.
"Sleep, my love," he whispered, drawing her head to rest on his chest.
Aria smiled sleepily. "I love you."
"I love you," Fenris softly replied.
Several moments later, he listened as her breathing deepened and her body molded to his as she relaxed. Soon, she too emitted soft snores. He looked up at the stars above as he held her to him, uttering a silent prayer that the Maker would smile upon them, and give them a quieter, safer life.
His gaze shifted to the top of her silvery, sleeping head and he watched her lashes flutter while she dreamed. He smoothed her hair and allowed his thoughts to wander. He wanted to hold their children in his arms, watch her bloom with the evidence of his love for her. He wanted to exist with her, with their family, in a safe, quiet place away from the dangers of Thedas and its abhorrent magic.
He wanted to grow old with her, to watch her age with him. He wanted to die in her arms when at last the inevitable sought him out for the final time. He looked down at his arm, where the red ribbon she'd once worn in her hair was tied around his wrist. It was dirty and frayed, but still beautiful. And it was, to him, his promise. He'd always be hers. No one in this world would ever mean more to him than her.
ooooooo
Aria woke just as the first fingers of dawn began to pull at the deep purple horizon of retreating night. The fire was still burning high. Anders was still asleep, as was Aveline. She shifted slightly to look down at Fenris. He too was still sleeping soundly. Aria slowly disentangled herself from him and set out into the surrounding woods to raid the blackberry bush again.
Wolf tracks surrounded the camp, but none ever ventured closer than a hundred yards. The fire must have kept them away, she realized with dread. They could have been killed if the animals had been more brazen. But then, Aria also noted several sets of bare foot prints belonging to what could have only been elves. The Dalish must have been out last night too. She was thankful for their added protection and set a mental note to send something nice to Marethari when they returned to Kirkwall.
Aria returned to camp half an hour later and found everyone was still asleep. She gently shook Aveline awake, offering her a large handful of the blackberries she'd picked. The Guard-Captain gratefully took them and wolfed them down. Next she woke Anders, offering him the same. Fenris woke on his own and took a handful of the berries from her as well. When she did not eat any herself, Fenris offered her some of his.
"Oh, I'm okay. I ate my fill while I was picking them," Aria laughed.
Fenris mutely nodded and devoured the rest of the berries. They broke camp shortly thereafter and swiftly made the couple hour journey back to Kirkwall. Varric, Isabela, and Merrill waited for them at the gate, and interrogated them before they'd even finished crossing the threshold.
Aria and Fenris followed Isabela and Varric back to the Hanged Man, while Anders, Aveline, and Merrill returned to their respective homes. When they reached the tavern, Isabela went straight to her room for more sleep. Aria and Fenris followed Varric into his room. He shut the door.
"You might want to be sitting down when I tell you this," Varric said.
Aria groaned.