Fenris
"I'm still a man, Abby. I have weaknesses too." I said quietly.
"What? The fact you run if something gets uncomfortable? I can't think of another weakness. You only have one emotion and that's anger. Maybe two. Anger and rage. You don't let emotions or other things stop you. You didn't even let the fact you have a sister out there change your course." She snapped. She then hung her head. "I'm sorry, Fenris. I feel very vulnerable and exposed right now. I don't want to fight with you. I just want some clothes and to forget this ever happened."
"Abby, I have emotions. I just have been trained to suppress them. Years of the life of a slave can't be undone in a short time. And yes, I run. That is a huge weakness. One that has cost me so much. Even the chance at happiness. But I told you before and I meant it, I'm not running again. I'm not leaving you again."
"Don't. I can't have that discussion while I'm naked."
"Abby, we need to talk. I didn't know you were scared about the Arishok. I didn't know that you wanted me to protect you. I never would have suggested the battle if I hadn't known you could handle him."
"Don't, Fenris. You are not allowed to use anything that child said. She didn't understand things. I do." I moved closer to her and she backed up. "Please don't do this to me now. I'm not going to argue with you without clothes on. Please go and get me something to wear."
"No. This will keep you from being able to run from me. We are going to talk like we should have long ago. When I'm finished if you want me to leave, I will. I'll never bother you again, but I have to say this."
"Fine, I'll just leave in this!" She snapped and started for the door.
"Won't that make great gossip for Kirkwall? The Champion slinking home after a night with her elven slave wrapped in nothing but his sheet."
"You are not a slave, Fenris. Not mine, not anyone's!" She snapped turning to glare at me over her shoulder. "If you would stop thinking of yourself as such, you might be able to find that life you are so worried about starting." She took a breath. "Sorry. That was a low blow. Please, Fenris. Don't do this to me. It's hard enough to know that you saw me like that." She leaned her head against the doorframe.
"You're right. I've been too scared to try anything new. Scared I would mess it up. Or I would lose it. I've even clung to this falling apart mansion because it was a tie to the past. I didn't think I deserved more than this. I was sure if I tried to have anything, Danarius would show up and destroy it. So I shoved everything and everyone away. Keeping you at arms length when I wanted you in my arms." I reached up and began undoing the clasp on my tunic. I dropped it to the ground and reached for the laces on my pants. She turned to me and her eyes widened. Her eyes traced my lyrium markings on my chest for a moment before looking up into my eyes.
"What are you doing?" She demanded.
"Making things even. If we're both naked, neither of us can run."
"This is stupid, Fenris. She was stupid and weak. I'm not. Let it go."
"She wasn't and I can't. Abby, you mean too much to me to let you think that I think you're anything other than the amazing woman you are." I dropped my pants and reached for the cover to wrap around me. "Now then, we're even in being vulnerable. Come and sit with me."
"Fenris…" She shook her head.
"If you run, I'll just catch you. And since I'm stronger and faster than you, I'll just have to carry you back up here. And in the process, covers and sheets would be lost. I'm not opposed to that, but I would imagine you don't want to have this conversation fully exposed so, come and sit with me." I patted the bed and then arched my brow as she continued to be resistant. "Unless you are too scared to come sit with me." She narrowed her eyes at me and tossed her hair back. She stalked towards me and sat in the chair.
"So talk." She snapped.
"I never should have run from you. When I kissed you." She looked up at me and then away. "I was scared, Abby. Scared you wouldn't want me. Scared you would. I don't know how to be anything other than this. I'm a weapon, a killer, a slave. You know what I did to the Fog Warriors when Danarius came for me. The thought of hurting you…" I trailed off and hung my head. "It would kill me."
"Fenris, you wouldn't hurt me. You didn't know better then. You were confused." She said and moved to sit next to me. Even though she was embarrassed and angry, she was still willing to comfort me. She reached up and pushed my hair back from my face, her hand lingered a moment before she pulled back. "Oh, Fenris! I've been clinging to you, touching you. I'm so sorry. Have I hurt you badly?"
I caught her hand as she started to move. I traced her palm with my thumb. "I let you believe it was the pain of the markings that made me not want to be touched. They do hurt some. But that's not it. I was…tortured as a slave. The things he did to me…" I trailed off and shook my head. "Needless to say, touch to me has only meant one thing. I was scared to let you touch me. But that kiss has haunted me every night since it happened. I have longed for you." I said and looked at her. She didn't shift back as I moved closer. "I have no right to ask it of you. I have no right to expect that you could still care, but…"
"Fenris, you don't have to pretend that you care about me. I'm sorry that I said all those things to you. Both as a child and just now." She glanced away from me.
"Why don't you believe I could actually care about you?"
"Because no one actually cares about me. I'm a tool to be used. It's all I'm good for."
"Abby, that's not true." I said and wrapped my arm around her waist as she started to move away. "You are a wonderful, kind, thoughtful, generous, and strong woman. We are all in awe of you. And yes, we need you, but as more than just a protector. We need you to guide us, to help us, to comfort us. You give us strength and courage. You make us better. We all want to be better because of you. Abby, we all…care about you a great deal." I said and shifted my eyes away as she looked back at me. I was too afraid to admit my feelings. What if she didn't care about me as I did her? What would I do if she wanted to shove me away?
"Do you really not think less of me because of the child?" She asked and bit her lip.
"I rather liked getting to know more about you. Especially that you wanted to be a princess and you wanted me to be your knight." I smiled at her. She rolled her eyes and blushed. "Why didn't you tell me it was you making me the cookies?"
Her blush grew as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I was afraid you wouldn't want them. It was a way for me to give you something you wanted. Every time I try to give you a gift or something, you seem offended or indifferent. I knew you liked the cookies."
"Abby, I do like the cookies, but the best part of them was that you always brought them over."
"Did you mean what you said to me? Or was it that I was a frightened child?" She asked watching me with those eyes I loved so much.
"I meant everything I said to you."
"Even the part of not leaving me?"
"Especially that part. I won't leave you unless you ask me to. And even then, I can just follow you around using my markings." I smiled at her. She shifted slightly so she was leaned against me.
"And you didn't mind protecting me? You didn't think me weak and a burden?"
I reached up and cupped her cheek, sliding my thumb across it. "I liked getting to protect you for once. I respect that you are strong, but it was nice to be needed for once. I could get used to having to save you every now and then except that would mean you were in danger."
"Hmm." She said watching me as I moved a bit closer. "Oh, crap!" She said suddenly.
"What?" I asked pulling back. Had I misread her?
"Varric's going to turn this into a story, isn't he?"
"I'm sure he's embellishing it even now. All he needs is an ending." I said smiling at her as she leaned back into my arms.
"If this was one of his stories the restored maiden would need to reward her dutiful knight." She said as she ran her fingers lightly over my markings on my wrist.
"I suppose she would." I said, my breath catching at the exquisite pleasure that her touch invoked. She jumped up and moved over to the chest Isabela had put her child things in. "What are you doing?" I asked.
She came back with a red ribbon. "Giving you a token. I would give you the purple ribbon, but I figured you would never want to wear the purple one."
"You aren't going to expect me to wear it in my hair again, are you?" I asked worriedly. Her eyes lit up and she laughed.
"No. I still can't believe you let me get away with half of the stuff you did. You really were worried."
"I really do care." I corrected. Her eyes warmed as she wrapped the ribbon around my wrist.
"There. A token for my knight." She smiled at me shyly.
"Is that all your knight gets?" I asked moving closer to her. "He did take out a bunch of templars for you, put out two fires, and saved you from a suit of armor."
"If it was Varric's tale, no. He would get much more than just a token if he declared himself." She said raising her brow at me.
"What if he was afraid?" I asked pausing just a fraction from her mouth.
"What does he have to be afraid of?" She whispered, her eyes daring me.
"What if the maiden doesn't feel the same?"
"Then she would be a fool."
I kissed her quickly. She wrapped her arms around my neck and molded herself to me. "From now on, all fights we have must be done without clothing." I said as I shifted her back in the bed.
"Why?" She asked giving me a puzzled look.
"Because it will make for easy making up."
"Hmm. Well there is that." She said pulling me closer. I kissed her as I worked the covers and sheets off of us. "Expecting us to fight often?"
"Well, two people who are both so strong willed coming together? We are bound to disagree from time to time."
"Take that to mean you are going to stick around."
"You aren't going to be able to get rid of me now." I promised and kissed her. I ran my hands over her body as she arched up into them. "This is what you want, right?" I asked suddenly fearful.
She opened her eyes and hugged me to her. "I want you, Fenris." I kissed her and resumed exploring her.
"Abby?" I whispered as I pressed against her. "I love you."
She tightened her arms around me. "I love you, too." I wanted to take my time. I wanted to make it special and meaningful, but I needed to be in her. She seemed to be of the same mind as she wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me closer. "We have all the rest of our lives, Fenris." She promised as I started to protest.
She was right. This wasn't going to be a one time thing. She was mine now. My strong and heroic princess, and I her glowing knight. Wow, Varric really rubs off on a person. It was a line that would be perfect in one of his stories.
I pressed into her and rested my head against her forehead. Savoring the union of us. She watched me with those green eyes. We both gasped at the sensation as I shifted slightly. I wasn't going to last long. She was too perfect. It felt too right. I held still as she shifted against me. Playfully and slowly rolling her hips. I closed my eyes against the overwhelming sensations.
"Abby…I'm not…going…to last." I panted trying to resist the flood of pleasure that was spiraling through me. Begging me to take control and drive into her. This slow pace was torturous.
"We'll just have to do it again then. Practice does make perfect." She teased as she thrust her hips against mine. I shifted my weight a bit and was able to change the angle, making her gasp and then whimper as I began driving into her.
"Am I hurting you?" I asked going still. She tightened her legs around me and arched her body.
"Don't stop." She begged. I grinned feeling smug then and started the motions again.
Her body tightened and arched as her breathing became ragged. I prayed I could hold on just a little longer. The feel of her was fantastic and the noises she was making driving me insane. My name was on her lips as I drove her into the abyss. I followed after her, thankful I had managed to hold out. I lowered myself to her and kissed her as we pressed together a couple more times, easing down from the aftershocks.
As we finished I twisted, pulling her into my arms. She cuddled into my chest and wrapped her arms around me. I laughed as I ran my fingers through her hair. She lifted her head up and frowned at me.
"What is so funny?"
"I was just thinking that something good finally came from magic."
"What?" She asked puzzled.
"This. Us. If you hadn't been turned into a child, you would have never told me what I needed to hear to give me the courage to tell you how I felt."
"Aw! I like this soft side of you." She teased and nipped at my shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't tell Merrill you were making puppy eyes at me again."
"And I won't tell anyone how much you enjoy my making puppy eyes." I said twisting us back over. "Now what was that about practice?"