Guest: Yes it was a little sappy XD I thought that they deserved that at least. For the moment. Mwhahahaha

Chapter 12

'Strange and more strange,' Hawke said to himself and looked down at his Mabari who licked her jowls in reply. 'If he's not here I don't know where he is,' he adds as he unlocks the door to the mansion. He walks in making a fair bit of noise as he did so, just in case Amelie wasn't awake. She soon would be. Maybe she knew where he was. Hawke rubbed his beard and wandered to the kitchen, maybe Fenris was in the garden practising. But when he stuck his head around the door, he could see through the window that the garden was empty. He sighed and looked down at Jess, 'where is he?' He asked the hound. She yapped and sat down, content to be in the kitchen. 'Still here huh?' He asks raising a brow. Trusting his dog he faffed around making tea. Might as well be comfortable while he's waiting.

Fenris sat up, sort of. One arm was trapped under Amelie. He tilted his head, he had heard something downstairs. Swearing under his breath he took a moment to slowly slide his arm out from beneath her. He didn't want to wake her up, he wasn't in the mood for complications. Wincing in the sunlight that streamed in the window he moved awkwardly out the bed. It wasn't normal for him to be up after sunrise, he rubbed his eyes for a brief second before he heard more noise. There was definitely someone in the mansion. Baring his teeth he got up and and grabbed his sword, not bothering to put a top on. He didn't want to have to wash blood off it later.

Hawke raised a brow again as he heard movement from upstairs, the room above him. Which he knew was Amelie's room having put her there last night. He hoped that she had some idea where Fenris was. So he was rather surprised when he saw the white headed elf appear around the corner sword first. Hawke was impressed, he hadn't even heard him come down the stairs. 'Good afternoon,' he said jokingly as he sipped his tea, 'did you sleep well?'

Fenris merely rolled his eyes and put down his sword, leaning against the counter. 'What are you doing here?' He asks simply. Jess would normally be bouncing around, but she's learnt that with Fenris she was best to simply be put.

'Well, seeing as it's just gone past ten, you look like you slept well. I've never known you to sleep so long, normally you're the last one to go to bed and the first up,' Garrett says pointedly, 'and you're normally up before the sun even rises, I thought that you would be at the Hanged man, seeing as today is the day of the week we usually meet up. Yet, I find you here, with bed head,' he teases lightly. 'It suits you,' he adds. Fenris scowls and leans back to look into his reflection in the pans that hung from the wall. He gave his hair a cursory run through with his hand watching it settle into it's normal waves.

'What do you want?' Fenris asks rolling a shoulder.

'Well, like I said, no one knew where you were and we were a little worried. Seeing as what happened last night. But I was really hoping that you would come to the Qunari compound with me,' he says grinning lightly. 'Well, Hanged man first, then the compound. We'll be waiting on Sebastian,' he says drinking. Fenris bared his teeth a little at the mention of last night but thought quickly. There was something that he did want to ask about, but it was going to be an awkward conversation topic. He would have to make it so that it came up naturally, if Varric was around it would be easy enough. He sighs and nods.

'Very well. I will go get changed,' he says simply as he walks out the kitchen. Hawke grins and listens carefully as he was trying to hear where Fenris was going. Sure enough after about fifteen minutes; he heard very, very light footsteps in Amelie's room, her door squealing ever so lightly. Garrett chuckled to himself and finished his tea as the elf returned to the kitchen, fully armoured and equipped once he picked up his sword. Hawke waited until they were outside and past Hightown before he began to speak.

'So Amelie still asleep?' He asks with a grin. Fenris doesn't say anything for a good minute, he merely looked at the ground as he did when he felt a little uncomfortable. But Garrett noticed the tell-tale signs he'd learnt. The elf's ears were ever so slightly red and he avoided eye contact.

'Yes,' he says simply and with elaboration. Garrett clearly knew that he had been in her room. Truth was, he couldn't leave without making sure that she was still peacefully sleeping. She had merely rolled into the slight dip he had left in the small bed, and pulled the covers around her shoulders. She was going to sleep for a while it seemed. The exertion from the day before, her great use of mana seemed to really take a toll on her physically. She was vulnerable. Something that he hadn't seen often in a mage, allowing themselves to be that worn. He wasn't going to think about the way that he could still smell the rose soap on his own skin thanks to her contact. He had woken up in the middle of the night, slightly panicked and far too warm. Pulling off his tunic had helped, but it was Amelie's sleepy hand touching his back gently that brought his pulse back down. He had simply fallen back into bed and drifted off again without much hassle.

'Are her woun-' Garrett began.

'Sewn and healing,' Fenris' curt reply cut in. He didn't want to think about it. 'She is reckless and... impulsive,' he mutters a little bitter.

'Well don't worry, Cat is going to see her later. Take her shopping or something. I'm tired of that woman stealing my clothing and Amelie needs to stop dressing out a Magister's closet.' He laughs lightly. 'They'll be back late from what I gathered.' He smiles and risks touching Fenris on the shoulder to get his real attention. 'Hey, I was thinking of setting Catherine and Amelie up in a house somewhere, I mean, I don't want Catherine to feel obliged to stay with me, you know, just because we're sleeping together. It would mean that Amelie would be out your hair.' He adds watching the elf's reaction carefully.

Fenris raised a brow and tilted his head slightly. 'If you think that is best. I am sure the Smith will keep an eye on her,' he says devoid of emotion. 'Is your relationship with her that... casual?' He asks curiously. Garrett shrugs a shoulder and takes his hand away.

'I enjoy being with her, I just don't want her to feel trapped. I mean, if she doesn't want to leave then that's fine with me. I don't want Amelie to be on her own though, especially if she's going to run off. So if Cat doesn't want to move into her own place, then I am afraid you're uh, well nothing would change,' Garrett says apologetically. He didn't want to say that he was going to be ''stuck'' with Amelie. Fenris simply nodded and continued to walk on, heading towards the Hanged man, and hopefully some answers.

…

Catherine sat there and poked, Amelie was being stubborn and didn't want to wake up. She poked her on the forehead and on the shoulders, getting progressively harder each time. Amelie complained and rolled over, covering herself in the quilt. Catherine growled under her breath and grabbed a corner, yanking hard. Amelie woke with a squeal and felt the cold rush of air over her body. She sat up, rubbing an eye. 'Catherine?' She said in a doze. 'Wha-' She looked to the other side of the bed and saw that it was empty. She relaxed a little but there were still thoughts.

'It's like half eleven. Get your lazy arse up!' Catherine says dumping the blanket on her head. 'Come on, we're going out. We're going to terrorise Hightown,' she grinned. She looked at Amelie's half awake face and attacked. 'So, how did you and Fenris sleep?' She said throwing the first blow.

'Hmm? I don't know, well?' Amelie said in defence. 'Why are you asking? I was out like a candle in the wind last night, he probably fell asleep in his chair,' she lied, desperately trying to not blush and keep a straight face. Catherine's expression said that she wasn't buying it. She moved over to the bed and sat on it next to Amelie.

'Uh huh,' she said slowly. 'So that's why his tunic is on the end of the bedpost, where it looked like it was thrown?' She grinned watching Amelie, the mage turned her head and shrugged.

'So what? It's his house. He can put his clothes where he likes,' Amelie blagged. Fuck this woman and her annoying eye for details, Amelie mentally swore. 'What's your point?' She added with a look. Catherine leant over to the pillow that was squished on the mattress.

'Well, y'see I changed the bed yesterday. These black sheets are Hawkes,' Catherine said conversationally, Amelie's brain sent up a red flag. This wasn't going to be good. 'I thought that black would hide any blood from your injuries and save a lot of horrendous washing. It also helps certain things show up. White things,' she grinned. Amelie pulled a face and slapped her arm.

'Ew, Catherine do you have to be so crude?' She grimaced. Catherine laughed and hook her head.

'I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about this,' she clarifies leaning over and picking up a white hair from the pillow. 'This isn't yours, unless you're going grey and your hair has gotten a lot shorter,' she points out in triumph. Amelie took the hair and gave her best friend a very unamused expression.

'So there's a white hair, so what?' Amelie asks. 'I don't get your point or what you're trying to insinuate. I'm not going to tumble into bed with any man. Also, Fenris? Really? Of all the improbable men, you picked the most unlikely.' Amelie said with a straight face.

'Hey, just piecing together the evidence. Y'know. Empty wine bottles, clothing, stray hairs where there shouldn't be. Something happened, be it innocent or not,' she replied with a leer. Amelie rolled her eyes and got up, dropping the hair on the floor. She stretched a little stiffly and looked back at her friend.

'We shared a bed. That's it. We were both exhausted and it's the only bed in the house that's not broken. I didn't want him to sleep in his chair. It's not good for him,' she revealed watching Catherine's face spilt into two with her smile. 'Why are you so excited? It's not a big deal and you don't even like him,' she adds. Amelie watched at Catherine's expression became more ridiculous. 'Oh enough, I'm going for a wash,' she says dismissively as she wanders into the bathroom and firmly shuts the door. She inhaled deeply and rubbed her eyes in stress. It was not the typeof thing that she needed this morning. She was feeling a lot better than last night in terms of physically. Mentally, that was another nug pit all together. She didn't dwell on it and busied herself with getting washed.

'Oh I brought you some clothes over, save you from searching through all those dusty closets. Also, we're gonna update your wardrobe as well, Hawke practically threw money at me. I think that he's fed up of me being a thief and wearing his stuff,' Catherine laughs. 'You're not getting any mage like dresses that's for sure. You're not gonna be fighting anymore-'

Amelie stuck her head around the door. 'What in the fade do you mean not fighting anymore?' She asks with a pouting face. Catherine raises a brow and throws clothing at her, watching it hit her in the face. She smiled as Amelie grumbled picking it up and disappearing behind the door again.

'Well, you're not the Hawke of this world are you? So why are you going to be fighting? You can't really without giving anything away about the future. I know you want to protect people, but you didn't want to interfere. You hypocrite,' Catherine adds, talking about last night.

'That was a completely different situation and you know it. Besides what am I supposed to do otherwise? I'm not exactly skilled in normal professions, unlike you,' Amelie replies as she walks out the bathroom dressed in a blouse, leather under-bust corset, and skirt. Catherine nods in approval. 'I'm not suited to just being stuck in a house. In Ferelden we had to look after animals and such, but the city is completely different,' she sighs pulling her hair over her shoulder to braid it. 'I mean what am I supposed to do? Lounge around the house and wait for the men to come home?' She says sarcastically.

'Well maybe we can have a look today, see if there's anything to catch your interest. I mean you're still young. Unless you want to learn to smith from me?' Catherine offers.

'That's kind of you, but I'm not that kind of mage. Fire makes me a little uneasy. Working with an element is going to be a sure way to get me caught by a Templar,' she smiles. 'Magic and elements go in hand, let's not risk it,' she laughs. She plonks onto the bed where Catherine passes her a pair of boots and some socks. She tugs them on while Catherine thinks.

'Well didn't you have horses in Ferelden?' She asks in thought. Amelie grunts a yes as she fights with the boot. It was just about the knee and she was struggling with the amount of ties and buckles. She stuck her tongue out as she tried to figure them out. 'Well, why don't you ask Aveline if you can work in the stables? Training the horses for duty,' she said musing. 'The stables aren't in Templar eyes and it would be satisfying. They are in real need of some decent horse trainers.'

'Hmm,' Amelie said finally getting the boot on. 'That's an idea at least. I mean I do like horses and it was my job to train them when we where at Ferelden. Being the eldest and all. But how would the Wardens think?' She asks talking about Fenris and Garrett. 'I mean Garrett has gotta be pretty pissed at me leaving the city last night,' she winced.

'Well, he was until I explained things. Only the details he needed mind you. He seemed to understand,' she reassures. 'Come on, get that other boot on and lets get going. Oh we're going to stop at the Hanged man first, I want to ask Varric something,' she says grinning. Amelie sighed and pulled on the other torturous shoe.

…

Fenris sips his foul tasting beer that he was given. He wasn't in the mood to drink but Garrett was unusually chirpy around him. Small little jibes had been thrown his way all morning from everyone present about his late sleep in. He ignored them all and only spoke up to threaten Varric. 'Do not even think about it Dwarf,' he states as he watches Varric lick the end of his pencil. There was silence, Fenris was sitting only a couple of seats away from him. Garrett and Aveline watched with baited breath as Fenris kept his eyes firmly fixed on the pencil and pad. Varric oblivious to the danger, grinned and looked Fenris straight in the eye as he spoke. 'Tell me Hawke, how was Broody's hair this morning? Would you say sexually dishevelled or more rebelliously tousled?' He asks with a smirk.

'Do not even think about answering that, Hawke,' Fenris growled, his markings lighting a little. Hawke chuckled at the obvious tension and sipped his beer sharing a glance with Aveline. He cleared his throat and smiled, knowing he was far away enough for an escape.

'Well, I would say that it was more, lustfully- No wait, passionately tousled,' he laughs making Aveline snort into her beer. Varric grinned and put pencil to paper as Fenris' head whipped around to glare at Hawke, but his attention was brought back to Varric with the sound of writing.

'I warned you!' Fenris snarled as his markings glowed, he lunged across to the dwarf, who was only saved thanks to his skills as a rogue. He disappeared in a puff of smoke, Fenris reeling away from the stinging air with only Varric's pencil as a prize. The dwarf reappeared a few feet away. Fenris growled and without ceremony and making his point very clear, he snapped the pencil in half. He tries to calm down, he doesn't need this. Like he wasn't confused enough, he didn't need teasing. Garrett was laughing heartily and Aveline had gone pink in the cheeks and covered her mouth to hide her smile.

'Fenris, he's just picking on you. Ignore him and he'll get bored,' the Guard Captain reassures. Varric winked at the elf and out of nowhere produced another pencil, earning him a deathly growl from the frustrated party member. 'Where in Andraste's name did that come from?' Aveline says impressed at Varric's pencil trick.

'That's chapter three,' he replies with a wink and a dirty chuckle. He pulled his chair back upright and sat down, ignoring Fenris' glare at him. 'What's the matter Broody? You have trouble with love stories?' He asks raising a brow. The elf rolls his eyes and makes Varric feel a little concerned. 'Seriously? You don't believe in love?' He asks.

'The concept is real, but from what I have heard, in your stories, it is very unbelievable,' he says moodily, but inside he was glad they were talking about this. He did have a few questions regarding the subject. 'The women fall in love within a few days, and the men are head over heels at first sight,' he says snarkily. 'That is not love, it is not possible,' he replies finishing his drink. Garrett pulled a face and Aveline shook her head.

'That's not true Fenris, I mean, of course there's love at first sight,' she says quietly. 'Love comes in different forms. Whether it takes one day or a couple of years,' Aveline smiles looking at her drink. 'It's about whether you're brave enough to take it,' she stops talking realising that everyone was listening to her. 'Besides, it's about courtship,' she rallies. 'That's how you know.'

'Oh don't be silly,' Garrett laughs. 'You know if you're in love, it doesn't matter about time. Some love is all passion and burns out like a match, some love is slow burning like a forge and lasts for years. It's up to you what one it will be, courting has nothing to do with it,' he shrugs a shoulder. 'Doesn't matter how you got there or what started it, as long as you both want it,' Garrett says getting up. 'I need a beer, this talk is making me feel like I should be having my nails done,' he says sarcastically. He walks to the door and opens it to reveal Catherine and Amelie. 'Speaking of which, I thought you were both going shopping,' he says smiling as Catherine kisses his cheek.

'We will, all in good time we've got all day,' she says grinning. 'If you're going to the bar, I'll have a whiskey and she will have orange juice,' Catherine says clapping her hand over Amelie's protesting mouth. 'You drank enough last night,' she added watching Amelie's cheeks bloom in colour and the look she gave her. She shoved the mage into the room to avoid more protests and smiled at everyone in the room. Amelie was still blushing and thankfully no-one was paying attention to her. 'Ah there's Varric,' she said taking the seat next to the dwarf and leaving Amelie standing there like a fool. Well this isn't awkward at all, she thought in pure embarrassment. Very aware that Fenris was in the room she sat next to Aveline, an empty seat next to her and then the elf.

'H-How are you Aveline?' Amelie asks in a faint attempt to try and socialise. The Guard Captain smiles and opens her mouth to reply when a guard comes to the door.

'Captain? There's a problem,' he says simply. Aveline apologises to Amelie and leaves the room leaving Amelie in the room with the one person she didn't want to have to talk to in public. Luckily Catherine was in deep conversation with Varric and so she busied herself with fiddling with her hair. Fenris tilted his head and looked at her, there was something different. Her clothing yes, it was fitting and suited her. Her hair was braided like usual over her shoulder, but it was her facial features that were drawing him in. That's when he realised, she was wearing make up. He looked over at Catherine who also was adorned in cosmetics. Amelie's eyes had a black khol around them, bringing out the gold in her iris, her lips were very subtly darker. It was a very pleasant effect, just one that he wasn't prepared for at all. Amelie bites her lip as she looks over at him and then quickly looks away, the blush on her cheeks getting deeper as she realised that she had been caught. It did mean that he was staring on the other hand. He coughed, clearing his throat and decided to break the silence.

'You slept well?' He asks quietly. Very aware that they were not alone. 'Are your wounds-'

'They're fine, the stitches are holding,' she cut in nervously. 'Thanks,' she adds. 'Oh and I slept well thank you again. I just needed a good rest,' Amelie mumbled looking at him shyly. 'D-Did you sleep well?' She asks in reply. See, nothing to it. Just having a normal conversation like two adults do... I am so fucked, she thought depressingly.

He gives her a small half smile, 'I did. Surprisingly,' he says half to himself. Amelie smiled properly and then used her fringe to cover her eyes as she turned away slightly to hide it. Fenris chuckled lightly and looked into his empty drink. Silence spread between them, but it was a comfortable emptiness. It was broken by Garrett re-entering the room with a tray. Slopping half the drinks over himself as the door swung back on him. Catherine and Amelie laughed in response and the mage stood up to help her alternate self into the room without drowning himself.

'Hey you should be a barmaid,' Varric teases as Amelie takes the tray. 'It suits you. Little delicate thing, serving all the men,' he grins. Amelie laughs and sticks out her tongue. Catherine snorts and walks past slapping Amelie's arse as she plonks onto Garrett's lap happily. Fenris on the other hand stiffened at the idea.

'I don't think so, I'd end up hurting someone if I got touched in a way I didn't like,' she said pointedly at Catherine who blew a kiss in reply. 'There's too many Templars here, I wouldn't risk it,' she adds giving them all their drinks and taking her orange juice into her hand as she sat down. 'Actually Catherine had a thought about me working in the Guard's stables, it would get me out the mansion, doesn't include fighting and there aren't any Templars around,' she says sipping her drink. Garrett looks at Catherine who nods enthusiastically.

'But, uh, the horse breed here in Kirkwall is, well, they're big and temperamental,' Garrett says softly taking into account that Amelie wasn't exactly large in stature. He swears as Catherine slaps him around the head.

'What has size got to do with it? Is it because she's a woman?' She asks with a deathly tone.

'What? No! I just don't want her to risk getting hurt!' Garrett says avoiding her as much as he could with her sitting on his lap. Fenris was glad that Hawke was saying exactly what he was thinking. Amelie laughs and rolls her eyes.

'Trust me when I say I will be just fine,' she grins. 'I'm not exactly new when it comes to handling horses. The ones in Ferelden weren't exactly cuddly,' she smiles. 'I'll tell you what. Watch me for half an hour with a horse in the stables, then decide,' she says softly. Catherine gives the men a look, Varric was strangely quite, but it was clear he was sneakily trying to write everything that was happening.

'Alright, fine, that's fair enough,' Garrett says simply trying to deflect any more blows. He looks over at Fenris who was suddenly put on the spot. 'Well what do you think?' He asks. Amelie looks at him with hope, she really wanted to show that she was more useful than just staying at the mansion.

'There is no harm as long as it is safe,' he said simply. 'We do not want trouble with Templars,' he states. Amelie clapped her hands and fielded the hug that Catherine threw her way almost knocking them both from the table.

'Well, we have to get Aveline and Sebastian now, so we'll walk you up there and kill some time while we wait for them,' Hawke says grinning as he looks at his friend. Something was going on, he was sure of it. It might take a while to get there, but it would come out in the open in the end.

Well about half the length of the last chapter but I do have a plan as to what will happen xD There's angst and blood in the future xD

Please drop a review so I know if you're enjoying the story.