Some Lovers
A 100 prompts challenge on Fenris/LadyHawke by Marianne Bennet
002: Dim
The sun's glimmer against the massive statue of Andraste seemed to make all else in the Chantry appear darker in contrast. It did not completely eclipse all other light perhaps, but the glitter served to create dim areas across the tiles and carpeting between sunlight and shadow, spots of gray in a world that the Chant claimed was divided into black and white.
Hawke raised a hand up to her forehead, telling herself that she was shielding her face from the sun's glare and not hiding from the look Elthina was giving her. Sometimes –often actually –the grand cleric made Hawke feel about two inches tall. "Revenge against Lady Harimman will not grant anyone peace, Mistress Hawke. I beg you: use your influence with Sebastian to guide him away from this path as he will not heed my counsel."
"Revenge does usually make people feel better," said Hawke demurely in return and heard Fenris chuckle. "And it does help me make a lot of friends." Varric snorted at that.
Elthina shook her head feebly. "I am helpless in this matter as you well know. But at least try to keep Sebastian from succumbing to violet means."
"I am a talker by nature, your grace," she replied with a little half-bow. Elthina turned her eyes upward, perhaps privately asking for divine providence, and then retired up the stairs. The moment she was gone, Isabela started laughing.
"What a useless creature," the pirate said with a snort. "Tell me we're not listening to her, Hawke."
"We're definitely going to the Harimmans," she answered, turning away from the statues and moving toward the door. "Who can say what will happen when we're once there?"
"Can we be sneaky?" asked Isabela, a grin widening across her face. "Or maybe we should be dramatic. Can we be sneaky and then dramatic?"
"I'm sure I can think of a couple of good lines," she said and then glanced toward Varric, perplexed by the dwarf's lack of input. "You're being awfully quiet."
"What can I say?" Varric shrugged. "I don't like getting mixed up in all of this political-religious crap with Choir Boy."
Hawke pretended to pout. "But think of all of the lies and exaggerations you can tell about me when this is all said and done. I for one can't wait to hear them. Considering that I never would have actually done any of them."
"You'd be surprised. Every lie is best when built on a bit of truth. Historical context even will do it. But the audience has to be able to think back and say to themselves, 'Oh, I heard about something like that happening.' It's like alchemy: truth and falsehood in the right measures." Varric sighed. "Look, Hawke: I'll be here if you need me. Rivaini and I better get back to the Hanged Man before it gets too dark. I don't think you and Aveline flushed out all of those stupid mutt lords. You and Fenris make sure you get back to your respective palaces safe, alright?"
Hawke placed a hand over her heart. "I didn't know you cared."
"I am fluent in sarcasm, Hawke. So is Isabela, if she was paying attention."
"I am paying attention," she heard Isabela object as Varric guided the pirate out of the Chantry.
She watched the giant doors swing shut behind their exit and then turned around to catch sight of Fenris staring up at the huge statue, still glimmering in the last of the afternoon's light. His back was to her; she took a few steps toward him and asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Why?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
"I want to know. You always look like you're thinking of something but you don't ever say anything."
Fenris seemed to consider this and then he turned back toward the statue with a slight chuckle. "You say what's on your mind. I'll give you that."
"You've said that before." She took another step forward, slowly.
"Perhaps I am running out of things to say."
"You could ask any of our companions for suggestions," she replied with a laugh. "Isabela would surely be happy to help."
"Do you have something in mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"Can't I ask you for suggestions?" Fenris asked with a shrug before turning completely to face her. He bowed ever so slightly. "Tell me what you would like to hear from me, Hawke."
She was taken aback; she was used to playing with people, flirting with them on her own initiative, not used to having someone –never imagining Fenris of all people –flirting with her in return. "You don't have to call me 'Hawke,' for one thing."
"I like calling you 'Hawke.'"
"But it's what I want that matters now." She took a final step forward. "You asked me what I would like, after all."
She watched his eyes darken for a moment but then something in him seemed to stop. He broke eye contact, looked up at the statue, at the doors, maybe he even looked over at Sebastian standing beside the Revered Mother. What mattered was that he was looking anywhere but at her and Hawke felt herself take a step back in response.
"Fenris," she said suddenly, calling his attention back to her in the instant. "What I want to know is… why are you still here? I'm not asking you leave or anything –I don't want you to leave. But you don't seem particularly happy in Kirkwall and you could have moved on and yet you haven't. Why?" He didn't say anything. "I'd like to know."
A moment passed between them. He still didn't say anything; Hawke wished that she hadn't said anything to begin with. And then, evenly, he answered, "I enjoy following you."
Some young initiate was just beginning to recite the Chant of Light. Maybe she was practicing, maybe it was the real service; Hawke didn't know. What she did realize was just how beautiful the words seemed and how a sound so lovely could still mean nothing at all.
…
A/N: Again, I read "dim;" I think "Chantry." I couldn't go to sleep until I wrote this; that's the truth. Don't expect daily updates. You will be disappointed if you do.
EDIT: Some of you may notice that the beginning is different. When I wrote "014: Ignore", I realized I had had a lapse of logic. I wanted this one to be very close to the beginning of Act 2 so I swapped Petrice with Elthina and changed the subject from the qunari to the Harimmans. Now things flow much better. I need to make a timeline of all of this.