Chapter FIFTY-THREE
Isabela dragged Aria to Hightown while Merrill bounded cheerfully in tow. They went to the most posh dress shop in the city and the rogue pirate captain forced Aria into purchasing a floor-length bright silver gown, trimmed in emerald. It had a modest train off the full skirt and a fitted bodice with a mostly open back, save for the glittering silver lace overlay where the heavy fabric stopped and her bared skin began. The sleeves were three-quarter length and opened wide at the elbow, with the fabric draping nearly a foot long in glittering emerald lace covered beauty. Merrill picked out some shimmery green, strappy, wedge open-toes for Aria to complete the look. Aria refused a veil or headdress. She hated them, and the whole "unveiling the bride" thing creeped her out, to be perfectly honest.
From the dress shop, Isabela dragged Aria to one of the more high-end salons in the city. By then the whole city was abuzz with the rumour of the Champion finally tying the knot with her long-time elven lover. As soon as Aria sat down in the chair, three of the stylists rushed over and cooed over the ring. One of them was an elf, and she voiced her ecstatic opinion.
"It really gives us hope. Someone like you marrying an elf when so many shems look down on us as if we're lesser beings," the elven girl said as she started combing out Aria's hair. Aria noted the Dalish tattoos on her face and smiled.
"He's no ordinary elf," one of the other human girls scoffed. "Have you seen him? He's more gorgeous than any human man I've ever seen. No offense, Champion."
"Oh, none taken," Aria beamed. "I get to marry him."
The stylists all squealed girlishly at this and went back to work with renewed vigor. By the time Aria, Merrill, and Isabela emerged, hardly any of them were recognizable. Merrill's hair was the same, though its shine had been enhanced with product from the salon, but she wore a subtle amount of makeup that dramatically enhanced her eyes and high cheek bones.
Isabela's hair had been swept up loosely on the top of her head in a mess of luxurious, dark chocolate curls. A number of tendrils escaped the updo, framing her exotic face. Her makeup was far more dramatic and made her look every bit the fiery, fierce woman she was.
Both Isabela and Merrill gasped when the stylists turned Aria around to face them. Aria had told the stylists she wanted a natural look, something that was fresh and not too gaudy. The elven stylist had said it would be easy, as Aria's skin had a natural glow and she was already radiant. Her cheeks were graced with a soft light pink blush. Her eyes had a slightly glittery, soft green shadow on the lids with darkened to emerald green in the corners and crease. Her lashes had been curled and darkened with thick, black, muted mascara. They'd trimmed and plucked her brows into perfect dark arches. Her lips glistened with a natural light pink gloss. Half her hair cascaded down her back in lustrous silvery-white waves while the top half was swept up on the top of her head in a beautiful, intricate bun. Wispy curls framed her face and there were green and white gems sparkling all throughout the 'do.
"Is it that bad?" Aria laughed uncomfortably when Isabela and Merrill just gaped at her in shock.
"Bad? Oh... Oh no," Merrill chimed, stepping forward.
"You're going to give that elf a heart attack when he sees you again," Isabela purred.
They rented a carriage to take them discretely back to Hawke's estate to finish getting ready. They dressed in their respective gowns, Orana joining the fray at Aria's insistence. Just as they were getting set to leave, Aveline came to the door. She had gone to a salon as well; hardly recognizable as the staunch, dour Guard-Captain as she entered the foyer. Aria couldn't ever remember a time she'd seen Aveline in anything but armour—she'd even been married in it. Tonight, however, she wore a simple, beautiful moss green sundress that was sleeveless and had a cape. Her trademark orange hair was curled and hung loosely around her shoulders and she'd had her makeup professionally done—he eyes looked especially fierce. She still wore her sword belt, and she had knee length black boots on, but the look was... Stunning.
"Look at you!" Aveline gushed as Aria strode into the foyer.
Orana beamed at her mistress, tears in her eyes, as she closed the door behind the Guard-Captain. Outside, the din of a crowd could be heard. Aria groaned inwardly at this. Couldn't she do anything without a damn audience anymore?
"Look at me? Look at you!" Aria cried as the bigger woman engulfed her in a hug.
"Oh this old thing?" Aveline nervously laughed, looking down at her dress.
"Shut up. I've never seen you without armour on. You should dress up more often. You look gorgeous!" Aria said.
"And I've seen you in dresses hundreds of times but never... Never like this. Your elven husband-to-be is going to have a heart attack."
"Hey, big girl. That's what I said," Isabela crooned, taking Aria's arm. "We should go. It sounds as though the crowd might hinder our passage."
Little more was said as the entourage piled into the large four-hourse carriage waiting for them. Bodahn and Sandal rode behind on Aria's horse, while the five women, Aria, Isabela, Merrill, Aveline, and Orana, rode in the carriage. It took them little more than thirty minutes to reach the Hanged Man.
Aria was absolutely speechless when she exited the carriage last. Corff had decorated the tavern inside and out, with white, purple, and green streamers and flowers everywhere. Gamlen was standing on the top step while a crowd of people surrounded the entrance. They parted and made a path for Aria, and she realized Corff had rolled out a white carpet for the occasion.
"I'm your only relative here, so it's only fitting that I give you away," Gamlen said as she reached him. He took her arm and she smiled at him.
"I wish Bethany could be here. I didn't have time to arrange for it and I doubt Meredith would let her come," Aria sadly stated, noting that there were a number of templars in attendance. One was the knight-captain, Cullen. She nodded at him and he bowed slightly in response.
"You're probably right," Gamlen sadly stated. "But you do look lovely, my dear. Absolutely lovely. Your mother would have been so happy to see this."
Aria squeezed his arm. "She is seeing this. And Papa. And Carver."
Gamlen stiffened at this and pulled himself together. He cleared his throat. "Well then. Let's go get you married."
The door opened and Gamlen ushered Aria inside. Her friends were the only ones in the tavern and Varric stood on the steps that led up to his room, one of the Chantry's officiating books in his hands. Fenris stood there waiting next to him. He wore his traditional armour, though it had been repaired and cleaned meticulously to mint condition. His eyes widened when he saw her.
Gamlen walked her slowly up to the makeshift altar on the steps and when they reached Fenris and Varric, he handed her off to the elf.
"You look... Amazing," he whispered to her.
Aria beamed at him. "You're as dashing as ever."
"As a state official of the Free City of Kirkwall, I am here to join these two souls in legal and holy matrimony," Varric said then, and their friends took their seats. Aria noticed Anders was not present, and she felt a twinge of guilt within her gut. "You all are here to bear witness to the joining of Fenris and Aria Hawke. Given you two are about the least traditional people in existence, how you say your vows is up to you. Fenris, you start."
Fenris held both of her hands and looked her in the eyes. He nervously cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "It took me a long time to finally admit it to myself, but I've loved you almost from the instant I first saw you. You never gave up on me. You gave me hope when I thought all was lost. You've taught me the value of perseverance, of family, and of love. You are my reason for breathing, my justification for existing. Everything I am, everything I have, is yours and yours alone, until my eyes close forever and I breathe no longer."
Tears welled in Aria's eyes and she fought them. Isabela would kill her if she ruined her make up this early in the ceremony. Aria squeezed his hands, a radiant smile lighting her visage, and Varric turned to her.
"He has proclaimed his vows and sworn his unconditional love to you. It's your turn," Varric solemnly stated.
Aria sniffled and nervously laughed before she pulled her racing thoughts and emotions together. "I knew you had greatness in you. I knew you were the most amazing, strong, dynamic person I'd ever meet in my life. And we've...we've had some tough times. I never would have made it through any of them without you. And I'm humbled..." she swallowed the sob, "I'm humbled that you would choose me to live with and love the rest of your life. I fell for you almost the moment I first saw you, too, and I've watched you grow. I'm proud of you. I love you. Everything I am, everything I have, is yours and yours alone, until my eyes close forever and I breathe no longer."
Varric draped the red ribbon Fenris normally wore over his wrist over both their hands and tied it loosely. "The vows have been spoken. This marriage has been declared. These two souls are now legally and spiritually bound," he said, then untied the knot and handed the ribbon to Aria.
She re-tied the ribbon to his wrist where he normally wore it and Fenris actually smiled that rare, full smile at her. He then turned to Varric as did she.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Varric chuckled. "Kiss already! There's a party waiting to happen!"
Aria leaned forward into Fenris's embrace and they kissed for the hundred-thousandth time, but this time, everyone saw. This time, it was a promise—one they'd each keep until their last breath in this world. Their friends and family stood and cheered. When they pulled apart, Fenris tenderly thumbed the tears away from her eyes.
"I love you," he whispered, still holding her to him.
"I love you," Aria replied with a teary smile.
The doors to the tavern were opened and most of Kirkwall tried to cram in to see the newly weds. Many of the Lowtown regulars were excited to take advantage of the half-off drink specials Corff had set for the entire evening. Fenris and Aria greeted as many people as they could before the private party started in Varric's humble abode.
"So, how far along are you?" Gamlen asked once the doors to Varric's room had been officially closed. Aveline had two guards stationed outside the door to deter unwanted guests and ensure their privacy.
They all sat at Varric's table and tucked into the wedding feast. Aria and Fenris sat at the head of the table with Varric to Aria's right and Aveline on Fenris's left. Next to Varric was Isabela, then Gamlen, Bodahn, and Sandal. Next to Aveline was Donnic, naturally, then Merrill and Orana.
Aria blushed and Fenris squeezed her hand under the table. "Well Uncle, in roughly seven or eight months' time, give or take a month, you'll be a Great Uncle," she said at length.
Cheers erupted around the table and Isabela tapped her spoon against her glass. Several of their other companions mimicked her. Fenris and Aria kissed briefly, followed by more cheers. Varric stood after that and cleared his throat.
"You know, I always thought these two would end up together. And might I say, they're the second most perfect couple I've ever seen together!" the dwarf laughed, holding up his glass to them in salute.
"Then who is the most perfect couple?" Fenris rasped in challenge.
"Bianca and I, of course!"
Aveline stood then and lifted her glass to the newly weds. "I once asked them how they made it work. Aria said 'maybe we're not the best example'. Hawke, I have to say, on that instance, you were wrong. I've never seen two souls work harder to be together and sincerely love each other than the two of you."
"Here here!" Donnic seconded his wife's toast.
"So... You are pregnant?" Merrill chimed then, once they'd started eating.
"Yes, Merrill. But it's not something I want many people to know yet, for many reasons," Aria candidly replied to the Dale's query.
"It'll be the most beautiful baby ever born," Merrill laughed.
"That's only because Bianca can't bear children," Isabela chortled, elbowing Varric playfully,
He chuckled good-naturedly. "They'd better be thankful of that. Though, I did once tell Fenris that any children he and Birdie have together will eternally scare the piss out of me."
"Oh, why's that?" Aveline asked, seeing it as a slight against the newly weds.
"Think about it. Birdie and the elf? Kirkwall's two most lethal people? Any child they have is going to grow up with some serious natural combat ability," Varric glibly answered.
"Hopefully he'll never need combat skills," Aria said then.
"I'll drink to that," Aveline said, and they all toasted.
"Ok, seriously, enough baby talk. We just got married. Let's celebrate that," Aria laughed.
After a few hours of revelry and drinking, Fenris and Aria were escorted to their carriage from Varric's secret escape route. They went back to Hightown to Aria's estate. Bodahn, Sandal, and Orana had already returned home and done some decorating of their own. There were white rose petals leading up to Aria's bedroom, a bunch of new scented candles present throughout the home, and when Fenris carried her over the threshold into her room, she found more of the candles and rose petals. The bed's sheets had been turned down and was also covered with the flowers.
"I'll help Orana clean this up in the morning," Aria whispered as Fenris set her down.
He laughed quietly, a pleasing raspy rumble. "Just enjoy it, Aria."
"Did you set this up?" she asked as he began to undress her.
"I might have had a hand in it," Fenris softly replied, planting kisses across her now bare shoulders.
Aria sighed. "It is lovely..."
He guided her hands in undoing his armour. "That's more like it."
ooooooo
"Good day, Champion," a templar said as Aria walked across the Lowtown Bazaar towards the Hanged Man. Aria nodded in greeting but hardly paid him any mind. She jumped when he grabbed her hand. "If I may, Captain Cullen asked me to give this to you."
Aria took the parchment, murmured her thanks, and hurried off. The nobles in Hightown had been going crazy ever since they weren't formally invited to her wedding and now there was talk of a baby shower, since the rumour was that she was pregnant. She knew at least 99% of them wouldn't dare follow her into the Hanged Man and the remaining 1% that would, Varric would never allow into his room. It was one of the few places Aria could go to escape.
Her pregnancy was getting harder to hide. Her armour no longer fit over her slightly protruding belly and wearing the breastplate even with the adjustments... It felt too confining and didn't let her move enough. She hated how tight and full her breasts felt and the fact that she suddenly had to pee every half an hour anymore. The midwife she'd found was another apostate, but given Aria's reputation with the underground, no one worried she would turn in the midwife to the templars. She met with the midwife, Brecinia, for checkups and potions—mostly vitamins and herbs to help keep both her and the baby healthy. Aria and Anders hadn't spoken but in polite greetings ever since his Justice incident when he realized she was with child. Whenever he tried to offer his help, Aria declined, gently.
The midwife said it was another boy, and that thus far, in her fifth month of pregnancy, the baby was very healthy. Aveline employed Aria to train the guardsmen in close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat while the more taxing things people asked of her were handled by Fenris, Varric, and whomever else they took with them.
They had retrieved several lost Qunari swords for the stragglers who still existed in the city. They had cleared out several bands of burgeoning crime guilds both in the city and on the Wounded Coast. They had even rescued some nobleman's daughter from a gang on the Wounded Coast, though Fenris said something about Feynriel being involved, which struck all of them as odd. Apparently he'd been accessing her dreams through the Fade and they were in love.
Aria bounded up the steps into the Hanged Man and headed straight for Varric's room, waving to those who greeted her in the tavern as she passed. Isabela was hot on her heels. They went in and closed the door. Varric was sitting at his table with a sprawl of several scrolls in front of him. He looked up from his work and sighed.
"I've almost got the contracts drawn up for taking half ownership of this place," he chortled, motioning for them to sit.
Aria took the time then to read the scroll handed to her by the templar. It was from Knight-Commander Meredith. She had lost track of three mages, reputed to be blood mages, imagine that. She was asking for Hawke's help in finding them. Aria groaned and tossed the parchment to Varric. Must be that the templars hadn't been able to find them all these months and now the Knight-Commander was asking for Aria's assistance.
"Rounding up three blood mages, hmm? How hard could it be?"
"Tell that to my husband," Aria groused, reaching for the pitcher of freshly squeezed pineapple, orange, and cherry juice Varric had taken to keeping on hand for her visits.
Isabela giggled at that. "I still haven't gotten used to you calling him your husband. Nor he calling you his wife." The pirate then took the liberty of smoothing her hand over Aria's belly. "What are you going to name him?"
"We haven't actually given it much thought yet," Aria grunted, situating herself in the chair more comfortably. She took a long, appreciative drink of the juice.
"There's still time, Rivaini. I have it on good authority his middle name will be Varric," Varric chuckled then.
Aria laughed at this. "Perhaps. But unlikely."
"So, we're going after blood mages. Probably should bring Blondie and Daisy then," Varric said as he read over the letter again.
Aria glowered. "Blood mages. I doubt all of them are," she said.
"You're probably correct there," Varric agreed.
"Just bring Anders. You haven't taken me with you on an adventure in forever," Isabela interjected.
"You want to deal with recapturing or killing blood mages?" Varric scoffed.
"If it means doing something other than sitting around this sodding tavern all day, yes," Isabela retorted.
Aria laughed at this. "Have you broken all of the available fingers?"
Isabela gave her a sly smile, "And more."
"You're rotten," Aria giggled.
"To the core, sweet thing," Isabela chortled, rubbing Aria's belly again. "You hear that, precious? Auntie Isabela is going to teach you a thing or two about the world."
"Just wait until he's of legal age, would you?" Aria jibed.
"Not those types of things!" Isabela cried, for a rare instant, horrified.
"You just said you're rotten to the core, I was just covering all the bases," Aria laughed.
"Your mother is just as rotten, you better believe it," Isabela said to Aria's belly, planting a kiss there. Aria swatted her away, laughing.
Varric covered his ears. "I'm not hearing any of this."
Isabela took her leave then while Aria and Varric hashed out details of where to start looking for the fugitives. They both agreed Darktown was a likely place, while the de Launcet mansion was another great start, as one of the rumoured blood mages was highborn and his family had an estate near Fenris's. Aria wondered idly if it was the same family to whom her mother was once promised.
"Birdie, we can handle this. Stop fretting so much," Varric chuckled as Aria launched into tactics and started mapping out choke points and blind areas on the maps in front of them.
Aria sighed and leaned back in her chair, then grunted as the being growing inside her moved slightly. She rubbed her belly absent-mindedly, her eyes darting over the maps for the hundredth time in the past half hour.
"I can't take this anymore," she softly said.
Varric laughed quietly. "You're just over halfway, and things are going to change even more when that child is born."
"If I survive childbirth," Aria darkly stated.
"You knock that off right now. Women give birth successfully all the time. You've got a great midwife and you're stronger than any other woman in the Free Marches. You'll be fine," Varric gently reprimanded her. He stood and put his hand on her shoulder. "You seriously haven't thought of a name yet?"
"I'm afraid I'm not all that creative. And Fenris doesn't want a Fenris or Leto junior. So there's that," Aria replied. "I honestly don't get all this celebration of pregnancy. You feel like crap. You get fat and your armour doesn't fit anymore. People treat you like you're made of...of...I don't know. Crusty, crumbly pastry that'll fall apart at any moment. You get mad for no reason, you cry for no reason..."
Varric laughed robustly at this and sat back down next to her. "I'll take your word for it. Just don't blame the elf entirely."
Aria sighed again. "I don't... Blame him. It's not about blame; it's about feeling like you're trapped in someone else's body and you can't do the things you want to or used to do."
There was a knock on the door then. Varric answered it, letting in Fenris, Aveline, Donnic, and Isabela. Fenris strode over to Aria immediately. He dropped to a knee next to her chair and placed a hand on her belly while taking possession of her mouth with his.
Aria hated and loved that about him—he could render her brains nothing more than hot jelly with his kisses. He pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. She caressed his cheek and smiled bashfully as his hand continued to circle over her belly. He kissed her soundly again, then bent to kiss the bump that was starting to show.
"Isabela said something about blood mages," Fenris said once he tore himself away from his pregnant new wife.
Aria rolled her eyes and deferred to Varric, who chuckled, then cleared his throat. "This came for Hawke today. Obviously she can't exactly tend to it," the dwarf said as he handed the letter to the elven warrior first, who read it and passed it on to Aveline.
"We should start in Darktown," Aveline said as she passed the letter to Donnic. She looked briefly at Hawke with something just shy of contempt. She'd been resentful of Aria lately and the rogue was growing quite sick of the ornery Guard-Captain.
Fenris sat next to Aria and drew one of her hands to rest in his on his thigh. "Obviously. The noble-born, we should check for in Hightown. How often do the templars think to ransack noblemen's houses?"
"Agreed. Emile de Launcet will most likely be there. His mother is a bit of a...twat," Aveline voiced her opinion. "Huon, the elf... He probably went to Darktown or even the alienage. I'm pretty sure he'd seek out his wife. I've seen his name before on past cases. The Fereldan, she's certainly got to be in Darktown with the other refugees."
"We need to get Anders in on this," Varric diplomatically stated.
Fenris snarled silently and held Aria's hand tighter. She squeezed back and leaned over to whisper in his ear, "Please take him with you. You'll need him. And be merciful if you can."
The warrior straightened and nodded once at Aria. "Send for him. We start as soon as he gets here."
Varric rang for Norah and she sent one of the urchin boys up. Varric relayed the message and the boy ran down the stairs. Aveline and Donnic sat across from Aria and Fenris at the table, while Isabela took the other end. Aveline looked over the maps sprawled in front of Aria.
"You've been planning," the carrot-topped woman said after a moment.
"It's all I'm good for about now," Aria groused.
"It's only going to get worse," Aveline flatly stated.
"Love, what in the Maker's gotten into you?" Donnic reprimanded, his visage shocked. He looked apologetically at Aria, then glared at his wife.
Aria stood abruptly and kissed Fenris sweetly on the mouth before she made for the door. "Do be careful this evening," she said to all of them before she took her leave.
She walked down the stairs, not surprised in the slightest that Fenris quickly shadowed. He took her arm and they left the tavern together. He didn't say anything until they reached the Hightown steps.
"She's just jealous, you know," he rasped, his arm going about her waist as she climbed the steps.
"Is that what it is?" Aria quietly asked. "I'm so weary of her."
"Trust me... I know jealousy. And she is green with it."
Aria was quiet as they clambered up the steps. Well, she clambered. Or rather, lumbered, more like. In reality she'd only gained about ten pounds, but it was all in her belly and she hated how engorged she felt. Fenris was just as lethally lithe and graceful as ever beside her, and his visage was stern and worrisome. Aveline had been right; it was only going to get worse. But not in the ways the guard-captain had thought.
"I've always done right by that stubborn, uppity, prudish bitch. You think she'd give me a break. I've saved her rotten life countless times. She claims to be my friend, but when I really need one, she's nowhere to be found. Isabela's a far better friend, and that's saying something," Aria huffed once they cleared the top step and started across the Hightown bazaar.
Fenris chuckled. "It is indeed."
"Let's stop a moment. I need to...breathe," Aria implored.
He stood in front of her and his hand smoothed protectively over her belly. "She and Donnic have been trying to have a child since the night they were married. She's even been taking the fertility potions Anders concocts. All to no avail as yet."
Aria covered his hand with hers and looked into his eyes. "It's not like I haven't earned it. Any of it. I've cried, bled, and sweated for everything I have. I've... Lost more than she could ever understand. I'm not trying to compete. I'm not trying to...make myself sound better or worse. But she can take her spiteful jealousy and shove it."
Fenris drew her to him and lovingly took brief possession of her lips with his. He rested his forehead on hers, his fingers entangled in the hair at the nape of her neck, and he looked deeply into her eyes. "She doesn't matter. Don't let her get to you."
Aria laughed a short, bitter laugh. "When did you become so wise?"
He kissed her again, then said, "My wife had much to do with it."
"Don't you suck up to me," Aria giggled, slapping his shoulder playfully, minding the spikes of his armour.
He chuckled and they started walking towards Aria's mansion once more. People greeted them as they passed, several stopping them to inquire about Aria's obvious state of health. He led her to the door and Bodahn was there as soon as they opened it.
"Ah, the master and the mistress return!" the dwarven manservant cheerily said as he took Aria's cloak.
"Just the mistress for now," Fenris stated. He kissed Aria once more and turned for the door. She stood in the foyer and he read the longing for the fight in her eyes. "Soon enough, it'll be both of us going."
"Be careful. Don't kill Anders. I love you," Aria gently commanded.
"I can promise the first and the last thing, but the second thing... No promises," Fenris growled in response. "I love you. Rest. I'll be home as soon as I can."
Aria watched him disappear out the door and Bodahn threw the bolts in place to lock it. He turned to Aria and smiled. "You look weary, mistress. Orana has some venison and rabbit stew on. Should be ready any minute," the kindly dwarf said as he ushered her to the chair next to the hearth.
"That would be lovely. Thank you," she softly replied, checking the letters on the desk. Few things were of any import.