Okay, after a long break, I've finally got the oomph back for this story. I apologise for the long hiatus there. Late 2013-2014 wasn't kind. But, life is beginning to work itself out and I'm updating again. Whooo. Apologies if this chapter seems a little meh, I'm still getting into the swing of things. There's gonna be a few replies to the reviews I've received, some for earlier chapters, but hopefully when they get this far they'll remember XD
AimeeCakes: Thank you. My talent has let me down however and so I fear that I'm not as all that. I'm hoping that this story will still hold some of it's silliness and humour as well as romance even though I'm almost 90 chapters in.
Jinxx: It's been a pleasure to write this and I'll be sad when it finishes.
MrVemom10: Thank you XD
Aluriea: I have no idea what happens next! I'm literally writing it as I go. I love the awkwardness between Violet and Fenris. That was so fun to write.
Dame LeeLee: My sincerest apologies for the wait. I hope this chapter reaches your standards.
Sea biscuit: Any day for you ;P I am planning a sexy chapter in the future, just for you.
-Sorry for the massive author's note XD I thought I would thank you all personally and I will do it from now on. Mwhahahaaa.
Chapter 88 – Mine.
Makatza laughed as Garrett spun her around. The music was loud and smooth, the atmosphere cheerful and full of joy. He picked her up, causing her light green dress to flare out, the lightly embroidered bodice catching the sun. It was three quarter length sleeves to allow for the summer day. Her hair tied into a bun with matching ribbons trailing from the base. She was Aveline's only bridesmaid, and filled the part perfectly. The wedding had gone off without a hitch and they were all now at Makatza's county estate, the grounds massive and more than enough for the humble gathering. Makatza had spared no expense and hired caterers, a very well known band and decorated the garden with marigolds, much to Aveline's embarrassment. There was a large paved square next to the house, where the guests were currently dancing. It was becoming late afternoon and the sun was slowly setting, the servants lighting small lanterns that were dotted around the garden for this purpose. Makatza giggles as she's passed to Sebastian, dressed in his royal attire for the evening. Garrett moving to Isabela; who had been forced into a dress. Navy blue, corset bust and skirt, slit up to the thigh, she looked like a true pirate princess, her dark curls tamed and pinned back from her eyes.
Aveline, dressed in ivory, her hair down and trailing over her shoulders. Her fringe brushed from her face with a pearl clip. The dress was simple, a square neckline, cut under the bust with a small embroidered ribbon adding a dash of colour. She stood with Donnic, sharing a drink with Leandra who is wearing a darker colour dress to Makatza, having been the maid of honour. Merrill was running around with some of the children that the other guests had brought, wearing a light floating gown, which was now muddied and torn at the bottom hem, from climbing trees. Anders had unfortunately been called to the clinic but he had been there for the ceremony and congratulated them both. Varric was sitting at a table, near the house, Fenris standing next to him, drink in hand. He watched as Makatza danced and laughed. A small smile playing around his lips. He was in a similar suit to the one that he wore for the ball, but a little darker in tone, leaning towards the green, to match Makatza's dress.
'Why aren't you dancing with her?' Varric asks simply out the blue.
'I do not dance,' Fenris says in reply. He knows all the steps, but he doesn't like the attention nor the contact. Makatza knew this and accepted it without a seconds annoyance or disappointment. 'I am quite comfortable without the attention.' He adds taking a mouthful of wine, Varric raises a brow and smirks to himself.
'You know, Broody, you had better think about marrying her,' Varric chuckles as he writes in his notepad. Fenris chokes a little on the sip of wine he had just taken. The dwarf smiles and after checking that his friend wasn't actually choking carries on talking. 'There's a rumour that she's going to be asked to take the Viscount's seat. Seeing as she's kept her little secret about her powers incredibly quiet, the Queen of Ferelden helping with that as well. Meredith would be able to keep an eye on her. They think she's the perfect candidate. And the fact she's just inherited a lot of land and money from that bastard,' he says conversationally.
'So I should marry her simply because she is going to be offered a seat in power?' Fenris says dryly. He doesn't like the idea of Makatza going into office. That would make her a target. For assassins and men alike. There were also rumours of their relationship which when asked by people, Makatza merely smiles and says that her business is her own. He didn't mind that, it meant that no-one was trying to pry into their private life.
'You know I didn't mean that, elf,' Varric chuckles taking a sip of his beer. 'But your relationship is simply hints and rumours, there are a lot of men that think that she's available. Even being a widow, that doesn't matter. She's pretty and now has a lot of material wealth. I'm just saying that maybe you should think about it before she starts getting all the offers again. Danarius is dead and so you won't have to worry about that threat any more.' He points out. Fenris gives him a look but the dwarf returns it with perfect innocence. 'Have you not thought about it?' He asks simply.
Fenris looks away from his friend and over to where Makatza was still dancing. She laughs, tilting her head back lightly. A ringlet from her hair breaking free and trailing down her throat by her collarbone. He smiles properly as he watches her, she spun gracefully as she moved through the steps of the dance. 'Of course I have thought about it,' he admits. 'But I have nothing to offer her. I am simply an escaped elven slave. Who's master is now dead by his own hand and therefore, other slavers from the rest of the Magisters will try to capture,' he sighs. 'It would not be fair to ask her to tie herself to me,' he states simply.
'Maker,' Varric sighs. 'If you think she's with you because of …. well. Maker knows. The end of the story is that she loves you. As much as you refuse to see it. You should let her make that decision, if she found out that's what you thought. Put it this way, I wouldn't want to be you if she did find out.' Varric laughs. 'You'd be running for your life. Don't forget that she has dangerous secrets of her own, Fenris. Yet, you stay by her,' he adds. 'Anyway. I'm rambling now. Just think about what I've said,' he says finally.
The song finishes and Makatza curtseys to Sebastian, her face lightly flushed with the exertion of the dance. Fenris nods at the dwarf and moves away from the wall towards her, she lights up as she sees him come closer, she holds her dress up in one hand as she walks towards him, meeting him just off the dance floor. 'You looked beautiful,' he says quietly handing her his glass of wine. She blushes, her pink complexion darkening.
'Took me a month to learn the steps,' she laughs lightly. 'All for that one dance, so I wouldn't embarrass Aveline when someone asked her bridesmaid to dance,' she smiles. Fenris was uneasy with the public displays of affection, he still found it hard when there were others around. Especially as there were a lot of the guardsmen here, even a few nobles that Aveline had helped over the years. He was about to reply when one of the Noble's sons walked over. He bows deeply to Makatza, a tilt of the head to Fenris.
'Lady Bavent,' he says smiling.
'Lady Hawke, if you please,' Makatza replies with a slight eye twitch, she moves closer to Fenris subconsciously. She doesn't like strange men, a paranoia now fixed deep inside of her. The man didn't notice her apprehension and smiles with what he thinks is a subtle hint, as she's allowing him to call her by her unmarried name. Fenris felt his fists close and his palms itch with the presence of this man.
'My name is Bernard. Benard Kenneth,' he says with another bow. Makatza tilts her head and wears a fake smile, the year of mourning was almost at about nine months. Technically she would allow to be courted again.
'How may I help you, Lord Kenneth?' She replies politely. Fenris didn't hide his distaste for the man and let his lip curl in annoyance. Bernard looks at Fenris with a slight raised brow and turns his attention to Makatza who was waiting patiently.
'May I have this dance?' He asks simply as the music starts up again. Makatza opens her mouth to politely refuse but Fenris cuts in.
'No,' he says simply.
'Excuse me?' Bernard says shocked.
'No. You can not.' He says even more simply and bluntly. Makatza looks at him in utter surprise, her mouth slightly agape. He takes the wineglass from her hands and places it on the nearby table. She raises a brow with question and he ignores Kenneth, taking Makatza's hand and pulls her away from the lord. She stutters and tries to speak but is soon silenced as he leads her to the tiles where the guests had begun to dance. He pulls her close and takes her hand in his, wrapping his other arm around her waist.
'Fenris?' She says quietly. He merely gives her a soft smile and when the music starts begins to lead her in the steps gracefully.
'Do you not wish to dance with me?' He asks with a cheeky glint in his eye. Makatza blushes and giggles.
'Of course I want to dance with you,' she says gently. The crowd disperse a little as the guests begin to watch the couple dancing. Aveline rests her head on Donnic's shoulder, smiling as she watches her friend and partner move silently to the beat across the floor. Leandra looks at Garrett with happiness as her heart warms at the sight. Varric turns another page in his notebook and begins to write bullet points, a knowing grin on his face. Isabela simply busies herself with another drink, before moving over to Garrett and looping her arm through his.
Makatza smiles, the lantern light catching her skin turning it golden and showing the soft dusting of freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her bronze eye sparkles and the sapphire glitters, Fenris felt his heart clench as he looks at her. Feels her chest against his, her perfume of Jasmine and honey clings to his clothing. She was his idea of perfection, something that he never knew existed. He couldn't bear to let her go. Right now, in this moment, surrounded by strangers and the ones he came to call as family and friends, he wanted them all to know that she was his. The small crescent on her throat where he had bitten her, only known to a few of them; something that still embarrassed him.
'Makatza?' He says softly. She tilts her head and smiles brightly at him. He rarely calls her by her full name. He spins her gently before pulling her closer once more.
'Yes, my love?' She replies. The beat of the music increases into a more soft and swaying tune. He slows down their steps appropriately, holding her tighter. The dress covered her tattoos across her back, but he knew what was hidden under the silk. His fingers drifting over the base of her spine in remembrance. He rests his cheek against hers, whispering quietly into her ear. People begin to murmur, those who know nothing about the couple. Fenris doesn't care. Let them murmur.
'I have nothing to offer you. No lands nor riches,' he says quietly. They're swaying on the spot now, still in time with the music. 'No titles, no jewels,' he continues to speak in a hushed whisper, Makatza lets her fingers play with the hair at the base of his neck, wondering where this was going. 'I have only myself,' Fenris says feeling a small pool of fear in his chest. 'I know that will never be enough, yet, I hope that in your eyes it will be,' he says. 'You know that I love you, that you are my light and I cannot live without you.' Makatza smiles, her lips kissing his cheek slightly. She has no idea what has brought this on, nor where it is going to end. 'If...If I were to ask you to be bound to me... would you say yes?' He asks quietly. It's not a proper proposal, he is merely asking. Although her answer would be just as important. Makatza pulls back to look at him, slightly surprised. She smiles and bites her lip, Fenris looks incredibly worried at her reply. She can't help but giggle lightly. She pulls his hair gently as she frowns.
'What makes you say that you're not enough?' She scolds in a playful tone. 'You're all that I want. Now and forever,' she says simply. Her answer said more than enough. He smiles and a light blush hits his cheeks as he becomes embarrassed about his worry. Not giving a damn about the lords and ladies, guards and strangers that were watching, he pulls her close and captures her lips in his. Varric chuckles as he hears the shocked gasps from those who were in the dark about the relationship. The lord that had asked Makatza to dance had a sour look upon his face. Leandra sighs happily and takes a seat, overcome with the joy of the day. The kiss is long and slow, Makatza, surprised at the sudden display neither pushed him away nor stopped him. Simply pulled him closer as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The news of the kiss would spread like wildfire, quickly and quietly around the city. Fenris breaks away from her embrace as he hears the music stop and his cheeks darken a little more. Makatza giggles and simply takes him by the hand and leads him from the dance floor, ignoring the guests stares and whisperings. Aveline was grinning like a Cheshire cat and Garrett broke the awkward tension.
'It's time for the bride and groom's first dance!' He announces and stirs up the band into a more romantic beat than before. The attention was drawn from Fenris and Makatza as the couple walked into the centre. The dwarf passes them both on his way to get another drink and stops by Hawke, hand out. Makatza raises a brow as she sees her brother press a few coins into the rogue's hand unwillingly. She smiles softly to herself. That was to be expected really. The corner that they were standing in was relatively shrouded in shadow and she felt herself relax, Fenris wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing the inside of her throat before pulling away as a few guests crossed their path. The looks of blatant interest not curbed by their shame. Makatza takes Fenris' hand and pulls him deeper into the shadows, there was a gazebo type shelter further along the estate grounds. Lit by lanterns also. As she stands at the railings of the gazebo she turns and looks at him.
'It's been such a wonderful day,' she says simply with a happy sigh. Fenris is a few steps away from her, admiring the picture before him. Makatza, leaning slightly against the ivy covered pillars and railing. The lantern light catching her eyes and smile. He wished he could capture the image in a portrait or sketch. Instead of it simply becoming another memory. She blushes lightly at his intense gaze, biting her lip. 'What are you thinking?' She asks curiously.
'Simply how you are going to be mine forever more. How lucky a man I am, how I do not deserve you or your beauty,' he says quietly, moving forward and taking his gloves off. Makatza's blush deepens as he takes her hand and kisses the back of her fingers. 'Or your love.'
Makatza kisses him sweetly, nipping his bottom lip gently as she wraps her arms around his shoulders once more. 'It isn't about what you deserve,' she states simply. 'Neither of us deserved the bad things that happened. It is simply about the fact that I love you, and that you return my love.'
'I will always return your love,' he says softly.
'Then you shall always have it,' she replies as she kisses him once more.
Varric smiles to himself as he watches the pair embrace before turning away and giving them some privacy. The day had gone off without a hitch and everyone was happy. He had a deep foreboding feeling inside his gut which he was trying to ignore. He was concentrating on the fact that there might be more wedding bells in the future. About time, if anyone asked him. Yet, the feeling wouldn't disappear and merely deepened when he saw her.
Leandra.
Okay. I know. I know. I shouldn't ask, because of my shitty update time...but please review. This has been a long time writing and I'm actually really anxious to hear what you all think.