A/N: After several rewrites due to indecision between tame and smut AND general slacking, here's the final chapter. Despite what I've said, do not hesitate to mob me, I deserve it (/ ;3;)/! Thank you for sticking around! An Act One piece is being written as I'm uploading this.
Addendum: I must thank th1nm1nt for proofing and editing!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, EA and Bioware does. Derivative work is, however, mine.
Hawke was hunched over the table in her estate's study, reading 'The Pursuit of Knowledge' by Brother Genitivi. It was at least interesting and helped pass her time while waiting for whoever had to pick up the package left by her mother. Why did Leandra have to give both dwarves the day off while she took Orana out with an errand? Hawke only begrudgingly agreed because it was a late afternoon and hence, Merrill's alone time with the eluvian. She assured herself that the chances of Merrill visiting the mansion during these hours were nil. Hawke stared at the page, frowning, when the words suddenly failed to make sense. When was the last time she saw Merrill in private, anyway? Hawke rubbed the ridge of her brows as she recalled:
Not since she brought pastries.
Hawke longed for Merrill's private company. Either in the alienage while the elf read her texts or while awkwardly sipping tea in the study after tending the estate's garden. Or anywhere, for that matter. Hawke loved distracting the elf from whatever she was doing with her wily ways. Distraction which lasted only until her fingers got tangled in Merrill's chainmail. Hawke swore that the protective steel acted like a chastity belt. Merrill being Merrill, always apologized profusely but never once seemed to think that the bothersome article got in the way; and Hawke being Hawke, never asked Merrill to take it off either. "What a wonderful plan, Hawke, keep busy," she muttered to herself as she turned a page. "Now it's more awkward then ever."
Blue eyes landed on the large bundle across the table. It was carefully wrapped in brown parchment and was bound by a thin cord that was secured into a neat ribbon on top. Hawke slumped her chin on her palm and yawned. She wished whoever was going to pick up the thing would show up soon. The quiet and cozy warmth made her sleepy. Hawke had almost drifted into slumber when an incessant rapping interrupted her rest.
"Finally," Hawke yawned again as she got up from her seat and dragged herself to the door. The visitor kept on rapping at the heavy door, making Hawke grumble an irritated "Coming!" That immediately halted the noise. She was rubbing sleep from her eyes when she opened the estate's main door and was greeted by the sight of Merrill. Any drowsiness left in Hawke was immediately wiped away.
The pair stood speechless in each others' gaze before awkwardness took over. Hawke stared mutely at the elf, clad in an extravagant-looking white wool cloak that reached down to her ankles. She wondered what Merrill was doing with such luxurious clothing. Merrill had always struck her as more inclined to blow her hard-earned coin on books and materials for the eluvian rather than food. Thus was the reason she obliged herself to supply the elf with food, even before they became a couple. Looking back, Hawke should have supplied her with clothes as well.
Merrill's presence was suddenly lost upon Hawke as she wondered what clothes she would have supplied.
"Uh, Hawke, may I come in? It's getting chilly here. I promise I won't be a bother, I'll be gone after I get the package."
Hawke shook her head and noticed that the elf was already shivering in the late autumn wind, despite the fur hood covering her head. "Ah, of course! I'm sorry, Merrill. Don't be a stranger, come in, come in." Hawke fussed over the smaller woman, unconsciously placing a hand on Merrill's shoulder as she led her into the estate. The touch visibly made Merrill flinch, making Hawke feel like she had just been punched on the nose. She immediately withdrew her hand and tried to lighten the mood with a smile. "So the package is yours?"
Merrill nodded as she pulled down the hood covering her head then crouched down on a knee to pet the mabari hopping around her feet. "Yes, I went to pick it up at the store but the shopkeep said he sent it here at Leandra's request. He was really polite about it too, apologizing for the misunderstanding." Merrill tilted her head, looking thoughtful while she rubbed both of the eager dog's ears. "Not that it was their fault, I'm the one who forgot I'm supposed to pick it up with Leandra here, in the estate. I even forgot it was due out today. Where is she any...oh!" The elf shot up and offered a sheepish smile, leaving the dog disappointed from the lack of further petting. "Pardon me, here I am rambling when it's been a while since we've been alone like this."
Hawke stiffened as she met Merrill's eyes that asked an unuttered question. "Mhmm, quite a while." She raised a hand to touch the elf's cheek, but stopped, not quite trusting what she would do if she touched the bare skin. "I'm so sorry, Love. I've just been...busy." Hawke ended as she fought the uncomfortable urge building within her, not even having the energy to dwell on her mother's obvious intervention. She chuckled nervously as she brushed aside the hair over her eyes. "And mother took you shopping? That explains what you're wearing, odd she never mentioned it."
"You mean this?" Merrill looked down at herself, smiling. "She got me this, among other things. Your mother has great taste, you take after her." The elf caught herself and shuffled her hands from beneath the cloak. "I mean in clothing. Not in lovers." Merrill cast her eyes downward and watched the mabari retreat to the inner halls. "That's a bit assuming for me, if so."
The inevitable blush and bashful look on Merrill's face almost made Hawke a criminal, in her own mind at least. She took a large step backwards and away from the other woman. Hawke wracked her brains, thinking how she should tackle the dilemma that was Virgin Merrill. She was fully cognizant that keeping busy wouldn't cut it anymore, but her lover did not seem any more receptive now than when they first became an item. Neither was Hawke willing to seduce Merrill, even if that was the only way she had ever gotten to bed with anyone in the first place. Was it really so hard to bed out of love or was she just being an idiot? Hawke sighed inwardly. Back to square one was the only plausible answer for her at the moment. Hawke put on her most charming smile, pointing in the direction of the study. "Uh, so! Your package is waiting, but...if you're not in a hurry," her eyes trailed to the side as she scratched the side of an eyebrow. "Everyone's out for the evening. Would you like to join me for supper?"
Merrill's eyes widened with surprise but promptly made a nod in assent. "I...I'd love to."
Hawke spun on her heels, only to turn back to Merrill before reaching the main hall. "Maker, where are my manners?" She held a hand out to the elf, still smiling. "Want me to hang that cloak of yours?"
"Oh, yes please." The elf unlaced the knot securing the heavy cloak draped upon her dainty figure and offered it to her host.
Hawke transitioned from stunned upon catching a glimpse beneath the cloak to completely blank when Merrill held out her shed clothing. The elf was showing far too much skin in the white chestpiece with its complex blue sash and it suggested far too well the lithe figure that was beneath. Her slender arms were bare except for the bracers on each forearm. The neckline dropped far below the sake of modesty, narrowing to a point below Merrill's breasts, the entirety of her meager cleavage visible to prying eyes. The corollary skirt likewise offered little cover; heavy embroidered fabric at the center looked like a loincloth as it parted from either side and only reached midway down the hips. The ascent on each side of the centerpiece, however, revealed slivers of Merrill's inner thighs. Hawke was both relieved and disappointed when her eyes reached downwards, seeing that the calves were covered by conservative dark leather and steel guards. The metal pauldrons and the matching leg and armguards belied the outfit's protective purpose, but as it was a well-placed arrow could maim and mar the wonderfully smooth skin of Merrill's elegant neck, wherein Hawke's gaze lingered.
Hawke swallowed and realized her mouth had gone dry. She snatched the cloak away from the elf and let half a year of repressed feelings take over.
Merrill's arm almost hurt when Hawke tore the cloak away from her hand. She could see her lover was affected by her outfit, given how long the woman was staring with her mouth agape. If Hawke was impressed or shocked, Merrill could not tell, so she decided to ask.
"What..."
The question never made it out of her mouth as it was captured with Hawke's own. As surprised as she was Merrill's senses failed to register that she was pushed to the estate's main door until she felt it against her back when Hawke pinned her close. Merrill's cloak must have been discarded somewhere as both of Hawke's hands were upon the elf; one was upon the bare crook of Merrill's neck and kept her pinned while the other hand greedily pulled a slender hip to her side, allowing the taller woman to press herself closer to her lover's center. The urgency in Hawke's hands were mirrored in her lips. Amidst the haze of sensations, the proper lady in Merrill willed to break contact and insist that if any bedding was to be had, it should be after dinner, a romantic talk, and the right atmosphere. She may be weaned on random sex through Isabela's books but she was not about to...
"Ah!" Merrill gasped as the hand on her thigh moved beneath the fabric, grabbed her behind and on its way grazed her sex. The slight brush, even through the elf's smallclothes, sent a shiver through her body. The proper lady was decisively crushed.
Hawke, however, suddenly withdrew. Merrill's eyes flung open and saw the guilty look on the others' face. "Maker's breath, I'm sorry Merrill!" Hawke blurted, her hair mussed, robes disheveled and red-faced from the activity. Merrill found herself captivated by the sight. "It's just...you looked so..." Hawke's usually eloquent self stumbled for words when she stole a glance at the elf and just as quickly, turned her head away. "...something." She sighed and began walking towards the inner room. "I'll get your package."
A pang of panic and disappointment raced through Merrill. She did not know what made Hawke relent, but she knew and felt that leaving things as they were would be excruciatingly painful. She did not even know what she was missing and the unsatisfied need she had at the moment left her body reeling.
How much more for her very experienced and obviously horny lover?
Merrill took hold of Hawke's wrist before she could exit the waiting room. Hawke seemed surprised; she looked over her shoulder at the elf, wide-eyed with eyebrows raised.
"Merrill?"
The woman in question met Hawke's eyes and simply uttered her words as they formed in her head. "Hawke, let's get naked and have sex," she did not notice the shock that crossed the other's face. "I mean, you know, lovemaking." Merrill's fingers tightened around Hawke's wrist as she stared at the floor with the majority of her blood rushing to her head. "I don't even know what I should be doing and I know I can't make you feel as good as your touch makes me feel but I've been reading and-"
"My touch makes you feel good?"
"Yes!" Merrill cried and met Hawke's questioning gaze, scandalized by the question. As if her lover's touch could cause anything else in her. Words continued to spill from the elf's lips. "Well, not just that. Everything you do with me, really. I especially like it when you just look at me, smiling. Prob'ly because I love your eyes and-"
Merrill's rambling abruptly ended when the surprisingly physically-able mage scooped her up and was slung over a shoulder. The elf was stunned to speechlessness for several moments until it sunk in that she was being moved into the inner halls. She became flustered with confusion. From being near rid of her chastity to being left frustrated, and now being carried off like a sack, Merrill was thoroughly lost. The lithe woman managed to lift her back just enough to see the corner of her companion's face.
"Uhm, Hawke, what are you doing?"
Hawke did not even look at her, hardly heaving as she began jogging up the stairs. "Having you for supper," she simply said.
Merrill could swear she saw the smile through Hawke's tone. "Oh," she mumbled and became even more flustered. A sheepish smile of her own formed on Merrill's face as her lover threw the bedroom door open.
Release, or rather, releases, reduced the couple to a tangled mess of limbs and fabric upon the bed. Motionless except for their heaving chests, both women were catching their breaths as they stared at the dark canopy above them. Hawke was first to move, shifting herself up to Merrill. She fell on her stomach and draped an arm on the smaller woman's chest, drawing her lips near to a pointed ear.
"You sure you've never done this?" Hawke whispered. "Where in the Void did you learn that...that swirly thing?" Her voice was hoarse from earlier vocalizations.
"Isabela," Merrill wheezed and tilted her head to face Hawke, but the dying light from the fireplace was behind the woman, allowing only a view of a curvaceous silhouette. Still, she could faintly see the worried luminous orbs fixated upon her. Merrill could not help but swoon at the sight and took the hand of the arm upon her, giggling through a kiss planted on Hawke's lips. "I meant her books. Isabela's books." Her face suddenly became anxious. "I hope you don't mind that I've read things like that. I wanted to please you as well but I had no idea how and the only thing I'm any good at is reading."
"Can't say I'm unhappy with the results. Pity 'bout the sheets, though." Hawke droned, relaxing into a smile. She freed her hand from Merrill's and lazily caressed the bare skin of her lover's side. "I'm glad you've loosened up, Love."
Merrill grinned. "I could say the same thing about you, ma vhenan."
A raspy chuckle escaped from Hawke. "Well, we both have Mother to thank for this little development, don't we? Speaking of which, what's in the package anyway?"
"Chainmail, pure argent." Merrill piped, barely noticing the other woman stiffen beside her. "I suppose that's why it took a while to finish. It goes with the chestpiece," she prattled, quite excited at the thought of showing off her new raiment in its entirety.
"So much for easy access," Hawke grumbled.
Merrill lifted a curious brow. "Did you say something?"
"Nothing. Oh well," Hawke shrugged then bolted up from bed, eliciting a small yelp from the elf. Before Merrill could recover the noble had planted herself on the smaller woman's pelvis and had pinned both wrists to her sides. With a mischievous grin Hawke loomed closely above her lover's face. "Guess I'll have to help myself now."
Despite the fierce blush, Merrill responded with a grin of her own. "You said something dirty, didn't you?"
Hawke nipped the elf's inviting bottom lip. "You bet."
