Some Lovers

A 100 prompts challenge on Fenris/LadyHawke by Marianne Bennet

007: Hold

The moment Hawke turned away from the Arishok's steady gaze to gather her weapons and speak to her companions, Anders swooped down on her, saying, "Have you gone mad?" he demanded of her. "You're going to duel the Arishok in single combat? Just because Fenris seems to think it's a good idea…"

"I'm not doing this because Fenris suggested it," replied Hawke tartly as she yanked her outer robe over her head, revealing the lighter, more flexible chainmail underneath. She tossed the heavy material aside into Aveline's waiting hands, adding, "I'm doing this because it's the only way to keep the Qunari from slaughtering everyone in the building and keep Isabela with us."

"And Isabela had better be grateful for that," muttered Anders, glancing over his shoulder at where Isabela stood, cornered by Qunari soldiers.

"I would not have suggested it if I did not think Hawke could win," Fenris countered, glaring at the mage. "Believe it or not, I don't want her to die."

"Forgive me if I don't," said Anders in return. "We mages aren't really built for combat in close quarters. Those huge blades tend to go right through our robes and pierce our internal organs."

"I'm sure that's exactly what Hawke wants to hear right now–"

"What Hawke doesn't want to hear is any more arguing," she spoke up quickly, interrupting Fenris and not caring one bit. "Now, if the two of you are quite done, does anyone have any advice on getting out of this alive?"

"The Arishok thinks you will be an easy kill," Fenris spoke up first. "He would not have given you this time to prepare if he thought otherwise."

"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better," Hawke muttered in return as she buckled her sheathed knife around her upper arm.

"It means that he underestimates what you are capable of," the elf told her. "That is his mistake and a mistake that we will not correct until he lies dead before you."

"You've fought plenty of qunari before," said Anders when she looked to him. "I'm sure you've noticed that they don't do very well in the cold."

Hawke didn't crack a smile. "Right," she said very seriously. "Ice is my friend." Did Father say something like that to me before? I can't remember. Maybe I'll be able to ask him in a bit.

"The Arishok has a large blade and he must know how to use it," Aveline said to Hawke as the guard captain handed her friend a leather cord for her hair. "Keep out of his range otherwise you'll be in trouble. And no one here wants to see that happen to you."

"Why did I agree to this?" Hawke wanted to know as she pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail. "No one does duels anymore except for Orlesian fops."

"And Isabela," Anders pointed out.

"How fitting," said Aveline dryly in response.

"What advantage do you have over the Arishok?" Fenris asked.

Hawke scowled. "Is that a rhetorical question?" Probably should have been.

"If you think so, you are already lost."

"I have my magic," she answered with a slight sigh of exasperation. "And… I can run fast. I bet he can't do that so well when he's lugging that sword around."

"Good. Use that."

She glanced toward the improvised arena, noting the twin pillars and imagining looping figure-eights while the formidable Arishok spun about in the middle, trying to catch her an inopportune moment. "I'll look like a fool."

"Better a live fool than a dead one."

Her lips curved into an unwilling smile. "Good point."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked Anders quickly as the Arishok began to look over his shoulder at Hawke and her companions expectantly.

"I don't think so. Not unless you can discreetly mutter healing spells under your breath."

"Not a bad idea," said Aveline ironically. "But it's cheating of a sort and I wouldn't put it past the qunari to use it as an excuse to grab Isabela and kill the lot of us."

"No cheating then," said Hawke decisively.

"Right." There was a subtle tremor in Aveline's tone that betrayed her true anxiety. "Well… I'm going to go and see if I can't get a look out of a window, see how close Orsino and Meredith might've gotten."

"You do that." Maybe I'll only have to stay alive until they get here.

Fenris seemed to be looking at something over her left shoulder as Aveline left their side. "Are you alright, Hawke?"

"Do you need something more?" Anders asked but he wasn't looking at her at all.

"I don't know," she answered, staring at the holes in her gloves. Her thumbs always felt so cold when she wore fingerless gloves. What do I need? What do I want? I want someone to hold my hand before I go through this; tell me that they won't be able to live if I die. My mother is dead; who will do that for me now? And neither Anders nor Fenris really look at me anymore.

They weren't looking at her and yet they were. They stared through her as though she were a clear pane of Orlesian glass and all that mattered was what was on the other side. And both of them did this. And Hawke knew why and hated herself for it.

"Serah Hawke," the Arishok called out to her from across the room. "We cannot delay any longer. Come forward and meet my blade."

She nodded and took a step forward. Glancing over her shoulder back at her companions, she thought for a moment that a look of panic might have crossed Fenris's face. The skin around her eyes crinkled as she contemplated this. Anders was studying the tiling on the floor. She looked away, disappointed. Why had she ruined her relationship with every man who might have loved her?

…

A/N: Not too much Fenris/Hawke interaction in this one but I liked the idea of expanding the moments before the final battle with the Arishok. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it!