Dame LeeLee: I hope this one makes your day as well.

Spazmoose: I have my plan and you'll hate it. There's going to be a lot more of angst XD

Krystylsky: I'm glad, thank you. I hope you like this.

Sorry about the late update.

Chapter 90 – The bitter sweet.

Being hit as your lover thrashes in her sleep and her body contorts in pain, was not on the top of Fenris' list of preferred ways to be woken up. He swears under his breath, her hand had caught him across the mouth, and already he could taste the blood. He sits up, his eyesight still blurry from sleep and grabs the arm that flailed past his nose. He was used to these night terrors, as in he knew what to do. But he would never be used to the sight and noise that she made. Her eyes were scrunched up and tears streamed down her cheeks. She had bitten her lip and the inside of her mouth, blood pooling at the corners of her lips. She had kicked the quilt away as she moved, the nightgown she wore, wound up around her waist. Makatza began to whimper and whine, sobs breaking from her lips as she moved. He could see the scratch marks over her thighs, the moonlight from the window casting shadows and light over her body. He had found the best way, was to restrain her from moving until she calmed, then wake her up. Fenris moved so that he was straddling her hips, that stopped her twisting and turning. He already had hold of one wrist, and in the dim light he managed to catch the other hand before it hit him in the chest. Slowly, without using too much pressure he held her arms against the mattress. She fought against him, she had gained strength over the months. Yet, compared to him, she was easy to restrain. Although it had been a long time since her traumatising kidnap and the forced marriage, mentally Makatza hadn't recovered. The night terrors were normally a rare occurrence, once a week at most. Lately, however, these last few days, it had been every night. Ever since that day in the Orchard.

'Katza,' Fenris says softly, placing his cheek against hers, she whimpered, murmuring his name. 'Shh, easy, Katza,' he holds her hands tightly but not enough to bruise. Swallowing the dry, metallic taste in his mouth he waits for her erratic breathing to calm before speaking again. He had to be careful, she would go limp and then lash out. He had been caught in the past by those moments and knew better by now. She whimpered and moaned, trying to turn her head. He could feel the fluttering of her eyelashes against his cheek. He winds his fingers through hers, he can feel her heart racing, the sweat on her skin causing a light sheen.

'Ciere,' she sobs, the tears flowing fresh. Fenris closes his own eyes as the pain tears at his heart. He feels her arms relax as her fingers tighten their grip around his, she was waking up. Slowly she moves her hands and wraps them around his torso. Hugging him tightly, she cries, he runs his hand through her hair, moving back onto the bad so he's no longer restraining her. Makatza holds him tightly, almost crushing the air out of his lungs, but he doesn't stop her. There's a scratching at the door before a large shadow slinks in. He gets onto the bed and nuzzles them.

'Elgon,' Fenris says quietly, the wolf whimpers and sits next to them. 'It is alright, lad. Katza is fine,' he says running his fingers over the dark fur. He whines and licks Fenris' cheek. 'I know, I miss her as well,' he says quietly. Makatza sniffs and pulls away wiping her eyes. She looks at Elgon, her eyes filled with unshed tears and looks at her hands which now lay in her lap.

'I couldn't save her,' she mumbles. 'After everything. I couldn't-'

'My Katza, stop. Do not do this to yourself,' Fenris says simply, but firmly. 'She was caught by a snare. No-one could have anticipated that,' he tilts her head to look at him. 'Elgon does not blame you, I do not blame you and Ciere, she did not blame you either.' Makatza looks away, pulling her chin from his fingers. When he found her that day in the Orchard, after hearing her scream, that turned into a howl. She had shifted into wolf form and was digging a snare out the ground, Elgon following her lead. He instantly dropped his sword and fell to his knees, Ciere whining and pulling at the snare. It had caught her around the throat, the sharp wire cutting deep into her fur and skin, the blood already matting her fur together. Her breathing was strained and pained, the snare had already done it's work. A yelp came from Elgon as he caught his mouth on the wood, Makatza ignoring her own pain from the splinters and eventually pulled the wooden pin from the ground. Fenris quickly loosened the snare, but in Ciere's frantic panicking she had twisted the wire around herself. He swore and began to untangle the snare, the blood making it incredibly difficult. Makatza had shifted into human, blood in her teeth, she tried to heal Ciere but her heart was slowing and her breathing almost non-existent. Ciere whined and licked her palm, her amber eyes growing dim. Fenris continued to work at the snare as Elgon pawed at his mouth trying to remove the sharp wood. Makatza's sharp sob, an anguished cry as Ciere's heart stopped beating. Fenris finally managed to pull the snare apart, cutting the inside of his fingers as he did so. Makatza pulled Ciere into her lap and fruitlessly tried to heal the wound. Fenris placed his hand against the wolf's ribs, there was no beating, no breathing. The trap had claimed her. Makatza had begged him to try and restart her heart like he had done for her, but wound was still there and Makatza's knowledge of wolf biology didn't allow her to heal such a drastic injury. For her sake he had tried, but it was no good. Ciere had gone.

He winced at the memory and the hours of mourning that came afterwards. When Makatza had finally fallen asleep that day, he took it upon himself to rid the estate of all traps, snares and bear traps. He gave strict orders to the grounds keeper, who assured Fenris that he used humane baits to keep the rabbits and foxes away. Not snares. There had always been trouble with poachers, it had been revealed. Now, Ciere was a memory, haunting Makatza like the others. He kisses her forehead as she stroked Elgon, her heartbeat finally settling. She would get little sleep tonight. The best she would do would be slumber.

'I miss her so much,' Makatza mumbles. Fenris nods and kisses her forehead again.

'I know, my love. I know,' he says softly. 'I miss her as well.'

'It's such a stupid reason,' she sighs brushing Elgon's fur.

'I know. It was. It is,' Fenris says fiddling with her hair, braiding a tiny plait into the waves. He smiles as she bites her lip, looking at him under her lashes. 'I love you, Elgon loves you, Ciere, she will always love you. We will never forget her.' He adds quietly, his fingers brushing over her cheek. Makatza nods, her eyes growing heavy with sleep, he smiles softly to himself. She had worn herself out. He pulls her into his chest and moves the blanket back up over them both. Elgon settles at her side, his head resting on her pillow. Makatza leans her weight into Fenris, her arms wrapped loosely around his chest as she slowly falls asleep.

'I love you,' she mumbles quietly. Fenris smiles properly and kisses her hair, earning himself a murmured half smile from her.

-Four months later-

Fenris runs his hands through his hair, he walks around the foyer. Pacing, some might say. He exhales heavily and runs his hands through his hair again. Isabela smirks and leans against the banister. She chuckles and Fenris sends her a dirty look.

'Do you have any reason to be here, woman?' He snaps, pausing in his agitated walking. Elgon lies in front of the fire and raises his head at Fenris' raised voice. Isabela laughs and continues to pick her nails with the dagger that she had pulled from her belt.

'Aye, I have a reason. Garrett told me what you were planning to do. I want to be here to see it happen,' she says simply. Fenris growls and continues to walk up and down the carpet.

'Of course that man told you. He can not keep any thing to himself,' he replies dryly. 'This is a private affair,' he adds looking at her bluntly. Isabela sticks out her tongue and he sighs in repressed anger. It's not as if he can throw her out, as much as he would like to. He had been planning this for months and asked Hawke to take Makatza out the house for a few hours. 'Wait. He has not told Makatza?' He asks panicked.

'Of course not you bloody idiot. That man can be dim at times, but he knows better than to open his mouth. That and I'll batter him senseless if I even thought he had said something,' Isabela smirks. Fenris sighs again and shakes his head.

'I am simply waiting for her to return home-'

'Like the loving little house-husband you'll be,' Isabela cuts in as she teases.

'I am warning you Isa-'

'Oh that's right, I do love it when you talk rough,' she continues, grinning.

'That is enough! I will not hesitate to thro-'

'Oh, Fenris, you don't understand what you're doing to me!' She cackles, holding her hand to her head in fake swoon. She leans against the banister and breathes in exaggerated gasps. 'Throw me, I beg of you,' she giggles, unable to keep up her act. 'Pin me down, bite me-'

'Venhedis! Damn you, woman!' Fenris curses, his hair skew wiff as he turns to face her. 'Enough!' He adds. Isabela laughs and blows him a mock kiss which only infuriates him more. He frowns and begins to walk towards her as she speaks again, intent on throwing her out, damn the consequences.

'Aww, you'll be such a cute husband, I can see it now-'

'See what now?' Makatza asks as she enters the door. Fenris stops in his tracks and turns to face her. It doesn't look like she had heard more than what she had already repeated. Isabela laughs and shakes her head as Makatza takes off her cloak and hangs it up. Garrett follows through the door, smiling and sending a wink at Fenris; who exhales and rubs his eyes in annoyance.

'Hello, sweetness,' Garrett grins as he moves past Fenris and hugs Isabela. One display of public affection coming up, Makatza thinks to herself dryly. Elgon gets up and trots over to greet his mother as she puts down the bag she had taken out with her. Fenris can feel his palms sweating, his chest tightening as he sees her. She was dressed in a light purple gown, simple cut, long sleeves and perfectly shaped to her body. She had braided her long hair, the plait swaying with every delicate movement she made. Garrett and Isabela were ignored as Fenris moved over to her. She was stroking Elgon softly.

'My, Katza,' Fenris says softly. 'Come with me, I have something I wish to show you,' he says quietly, nodding towards the door. Makatza raised a brow, but she nods. Elgon returns to his place by the fire, content to snooze. Garrett and Isabela neither notice nor when they realise that Fenris and Makatza have wandered off, make inclination to follow them. Fenris opens the door and leads her down to the small gazebo that they had found sanctuary in, at Aveline's wedding. Makatza laughs as she's pulled along the grounds.

'Fenris! What are you doing?' She laughs lightly. Fenris simply smiles and keeps leading her until he hears the gasp. He had spent the morning making the place look perfect. He had originally thought about using just flowers, her favourite. Until an idea hit him. Being a little sneaky he had taken her diary, the one she brought from her real world and read it from the beginning. Found out the little things that he would have never known about, the memories that she held, good and bad. Yes, he knew her better than most, the small things that made her smile. But he wanted to show that he loved everything about her, including her past life. At the back of the diary he had found a few pictures. Almost like paintings, but he couldn't see how they were put onto the shiny paper that they were made out of.

'There is something I want to ask you,' he says quietly as they get to the gazebo. Makatza looks around at the drawings of her mama, almost exact replicas of the photos she had in her diary. Other pictures of her and the pups. Books that she wanted to read or had read. Her favourite flowers, even her mama's favourite flowers that she had in the kitchen the day that they went to get her back. Almost as if he had gathered things from her mind and put them all in one place. The flowers decorated and framed the area perfectly.

'Fenris, what is this?' She asks confused, her eyes welling up a little as she sees a picture of Ciere licking her nose. She moves over and picks the picture from the seat and looks at it. When she turns around, Fenris is down on one knee. She feels her heart stop and she drops the picture. 'What-?'

'My, Katza,' he says softly, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. She holds her hand to her chest, not sure what was going on. She looks around, he must have spent hours doing all this. 'I asked you a few months ago, if you would, consider being bound to me,' he murmurs, his voice breaking a little as he spoke. Makatza felt her heart flutter, her breath shallow. He puts a hand into one of the pouches he had on his belt and pulled out a small velvet box. He had had it specially made for her. A silver ring, ivy engraved around the band. Two flowers were engraved on the front of the band, a small sapphire and an bronze cats-eye stone set in the middle of the flowers. Incredibly delicate and beautifully made. He looks at her as he opens the box to show the ring. 'W-Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?' He asks, his voice shaking and he clears his throat as he waits for her answer nervously. Makatza looks frozen, then without warning she jumps on him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

Garrett grins and wraps his arm around Isabela's shoulders as they watch from the house. They could hear Makatza's scream of happiness from there. They saw her jump on her elf and knock them both to the floor. 'I'm guessing that's a yes.' Garrett laughs lightly as he kisses Isabela's temple.

'This time I get to be a bridesmaid. Also, her maiden night is going to be awesome,' she grins. She laughs more as she hears Makatza laughing across the grounds. 'I can't guarentee that she'll make the wedding though,' she adds. Garrett smiles and shakes his head.

'You can't kidnap the bride on her maiden night. My mother would go insane,' he says smiling. 'Which is one of the reasons that the maiden night will take place at least a month before the wedding,' he says simply.

'Party pooper,' she smiles. Her smile widens as she sees Fenris picks Makatza up and spins her around, her screams attract Elgon's attention who bounds out the door. His ears perked and snout high. He relaxes as he sees that it's only Fenris. He huffs through his nose and returns to the fire. 'Well. The next few months are going to be fun,' Isabela says softly.

'Oh aye. Wait until our wedding,' Garrett grins.

Isabela looks at him before bursting into laughter. 'Yeah! Good fucking luck trying to get me down an aisle,' she cackles and turns around walking back into the house.

'Oh Isabela! Come one!' Garrett says following her. 'That's not fair.'

'Like I said, good luck,' she calls back.

If you liked it, please review. Thanks my lovelies.