Chapter 54

Fenris lay quietly watching the snow falling outside the bedroom window. In the two months since Varric's visit, life on the farm had settled into a comfortable routine. He'd also seen his first serious snow fall. That storm had left them with over a foot of the cold stuff. He'd built his first snowman, had his first snowball fight, and learned just how difficult it was to find sufficient game. He was very glad Gavin had had the foresight to smoke and cure a hefty amount of wild game, and to build a small storage shed into the ground to keep it.

Now here came the snow again, and according to the signs Gavin had seen, this one was shaping up to be almost equal to the first one. And the cold! He wasn't used to such cold temperatures. So he was beyond pleased that Gavin had made him a warm fur cloak and fur lined boots for his feet. He had never had anyone be so considerate of him and his feelings. And he'd certainly never realized how self sufficient his mage really was. All that Gavin had done had been with his own hands, no magic involved. Proof, as if more were needed, that Gavin was unique amongst mages. He was also living proof that just because one had magic at their fingertips did not mean that they needed to use it in their everyday lives.

He felt the change in Gavin's breathing that indicated he was waking up. This was followed shortly by the mage's arms tightening around him. "It's snowing again," he said softly.

"Mmm, good sleeping weather," Gavin growled, pressing closer to the elf. "How 'bout we stay in bed and play."

"What did you have in mind?" Fenris asked, his voice filled with quiet amusement.

"Oh, whatever comes up," Gavin snickered.

Whatever ideas he had were disturbed by a knock on the door. "Serrah Hawke, are you awake yet? Breakfast is almost ready," Orana called through to them.

"We'll be out shortly," Fenris replied, stifling his laughter at his mage's groan of dismay. "You don't want to disappoint her do you? She'd end up crying and Jethann would be irritable for a week."

"Maker forbid!" Gavin gasped in mock horror, throwing back the covers and hastily grabbing his long johns and pulling them on. The fireplace in the master bedroom at the estate was the one thing he truly missed about the place. A wood house, no matter how well built, just didn't hold heat well.

"Should have built a fireplace in here," Fenris stuttered as he too dressed in his warm woolens.

"We can snuggle under the covers after breakfast," Gavin leered at him.

"Hmm, a day like this would be a good one to lie in bed and read," Fenris mused. Seeing his mage's face contort in dismay had him biting his tongue not to laugh.

"Sure, if that's what you really want to do," Gavin's voice was resigned.

Fenris walked up to him, wrapped his arms around the mage's waist and pulled him close. "Even I can't make love all day and night. And I was never one to sit around and make small talk."

"Well, when you put it that way," Gavin smiled impishly.

"Come on," Fenris said. "A hearty breakfast will give us plenty of fuel for bedroom activities."

They walked out to the main room to the dining table. The layout of the house was simple, yet cozy. The main room was divided into a sitting area with a rocking chair, two highbacked chairs with footstools and a comfortable chaise set before the large fireplace. Slender built-in bookcases, one on each side, provided seperation from the dining area. This was set up with six foot table with benches on either side. A smaller fireplace for cooking was situated against the far wall with a small wash basin on one side and a narrow credenza on the other.

Fenris still had a hard time believing that all of it had been created by Gavin. The only exception had been the chaise, which had been purchased in Amaranthine. He'd helped a little of course, as did Jethann, but it was all supervised by the mage. And unlike him and the other two elves, Gavin seemed to belong in the house. He felt like he was finally seeing the real Gavin, a simple farmer happy to work the land. Still, he sometimes missed the cushy armchairs and numerous fireplaces of the estate. But, those fancy things would have been out of place here and so had been left behind.

"Our supply of dry goods is starting to run low," Orana informed them as they sat down. "This is the second storm this year and from what you said it won't be the last. If we don't go to town soon, we may not make it at all and we'll run out. Can't make bread without flour."

"We can go today can't we? I mean, it's not coming down as hard as the last storm," Jethann asked, showing how little he knew about winter storms.

"Not if we don't want to be stuck in Lothering," Gavin shook his head. "Snow storms are unpredictable and can turn to blizzards in a matter of minutes. It's best to wait until it's over and then make our way in."

A soft whine had Fenris looking down to find Fang sitting and staring keenly at him. "Sausage is not appropriate food for dogs, even smart dogs such as you." Fang whined plaintively and then woofed softly.

"He disagrees," Gavin snickered. Plucking a sausage of his plate, he held it out, "Here boy, come get it."

Fang looked over his shoulder briefly before looking back up at Fenris and barking once. Fenris sighed and took a piece off his plate. "This is all I've got for you." He looked up at Gavin to see an expression of complete consternation on the mage's face. "What?"

"He's never refused food from me," Gavin shook his head before placing the sausage back on his plate with a frown.

"Don't worry, he's just hedging his bets," Jethann reassured him. "He knows you're a guaranteed source of free food. He wants to see how his powers of persuasion work on others." Seeing the skeptical looks on their faces, he laughed. "It's something you have to learn if you want to make a good living as a courtesan. I recognize the behavior, having employed it myself."

"This was before you met Gavin?" Fenris asked.

"Yeah," Jethann looked at the mage. "Who would have thought that meeting you would have changed my life so much."

"You helped me as much as I helped you," Gavin pointed out. "Without your insight, Fenris and I might not be together now."

"But, it was through you that I met the love of my life," Jethann smiled at Orana as he picked up her hand and kissed the back of her fingers, causing her to blush becomingly.

"I think you and Gavin are even in that regard," Fenris smiled fondly at the mage.

A sharp bark drew their attention to Fang. The warhound was standing and wagging his tail at them. "All right, you can have the last of my sausage," Gavin tossed it to him. "But, that's it. Don't want you getting fat now that winter's here." The hound cocked his head with a disapproving whine before shuffling off to the fireplace in the front.

Orana began clearing the table with Jethann while Gavin and Fenris went and sat in the two chairs in the front. Now that there was very little outdoor work to be done, they'd taken to relaxing in the chairs, either talking or reading, sometimes dozing. Jethann liked to stretch out on the hearth with Fang and regale them with amusing stories from his time at The Blooming Rose, while Orana would sit in the rocker and knit. Her current project was a colorful throw for Gavin's bed.

"You know Hawke, when you told me about building a life here as a farmer, I thought you were crazy," Fenris said quietly.

"Really?" Gavin looked over in surprise. "You never said as much."

"No, because I knew how much you wanted this," the elf nodded. "But, I figured after being here for a few months you'd get bored, or I would, and we would head back to Kirkwall."

"Are you bored Fenris?" Gavin asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Surprisingly, I am not," Fenris frowned thoughtfully, as if just realizing it now. "I rather enjoy the quieter pace and the fact that I can relax and read whenever I wish. I don't miss fighting monsters, blood mages, thieves and thugs. I certainly don't miss the pretentiousness of the people in Kirkwall. The only thing that I really do miss is the wine."

"I remember you had several bottles of Tevinter wine at that crumbling mansion," Gavin nodded.

"That's the only thing about Tevinter that I liked," Fenris scowled. "But, there were many choices of fine wines in Kirkwall. Ones from Orlais, Rivain, and even Antiva. The last time we went to Lothering I enquired about where I might find such things and was told the only place in Ferelden that would have them is Denerim Market."

"That's a good week away," Gavin reminded him. "But, if you really want to, we can make a trip after this storm passes."

"But, how easy would the travelling be," Jethann had overheard them. "Surely the roads will be blocked."

"Actually, the Imperial Highway is regularly patrolled, seeing as how it is the major road between Lothering, Redcliff and Denerim," Gavin explained. "Even in winter, the king's messengers must be able to get through, and many merchants brave the roads to bring needed items to the people, at a premium price of course."

"So, what, they have soldiers out clearing the roads?" Fenris asked. "I heard that they do something similar in Anders."

"Yes," Gavin nodded. "They have some kind of modified ploughshare that they push along. I heard it takes three men to push it. Because of the importance of the road, each Bann and Arl are tasked with maintaining their section. And if they don't take care of it and the king's men can't get through, then the landowners are fined by the crown."

"Sounds like a dismal job, and a cold one," Jethann shuddered.

"Yes, well, new recruits don't get much choice in the matter," Gavin laughed. "Guess you won't be in any hurry to join."

"No way," Jethann shook his head. "I want to be farmer, like you, and live off the land."

Gavin felt a flush of pleasure wash through him at those words. His father had always told him to strive to be the kind of man that the common people could look upon and want to be like. To not be someone to be feared or shunned. And here was this former prostitute saying that he wanted to be like him. "There are worse things to be in life than a farmer," he agreed.

"At any rate, the trick will be reaching the main road," Fenris brought them back to the original discussion. "We're kind of out in the middle of the wilderness here."

"True," Gavin sighed. "While the location is ideal to keep the nosy locals at bay, it does present certain challenges otherwise. We'll just have to wait and see how much snow we get with this storm."

"Maybe we can fashion our own plough out of wood or something," Jethann said. "We do have the cart horse that we can probably use in some way."

"Remember that she's not a young horse and we need her to work the land come spring," Gavin cautioned. "If we can get to the main road and up to Denerim without using her, I would prefer it."

"Considering how much we paid for her, I would agree," Fenris snorted.

"And that was brought down from what the merchant originally wanted," Jethann chuckled. "Still, she was the only animal for sale at the time, so we didn't do too badly."

They fell silent for long enough that the men became a little drowsy. There wasn't much to do while cooped up waiting for the storm to end. After a while, Gavin got to his feet and went to select a book from the shelves. He glanced back at Fenris and winked as he headed to their bedroom.

Fenris smirked as he got to his feet, ignoring the knowing looks from Orana and Jethann. Those two would probably occupy themselves in a similar manner. As he picked out a book, he saw Fang get up and head to the bedroom. When he got there, he saw the dog sprawled at the foot of the bed and Gavin leaning against his pillows, the book open in his lap. "I see we're to have company," he sighed.

Fang rolled his head back and gave him a soppy doggy smile. "He'll not bother us," Gavin assured him.

"Well, good thing we planned to read today," Fenris climbed onto the bed and bunched his pillows behind him, opening up his book. "I don't relish having an audience for any other pursuits."

"I'm sure we can convince him to leave later," Gavin smiled and turned his attention to the book in his hands. The snow continued to fall outside, further hiding them from the world outside. It was all very cozy and domestic and it made him feel content as nothing else could. He hoped to spend the rest of his life just like this.

Fenris too felt content for the time being. But he couldn't help thinking about how Denarius was out there somewhere and still posed a threat to their happiness. There was also the issue with those dwarves Varric had mentioned. Instinct told him that they would cause a problem sometime in the future. But for now, there was just his mage, his book and the dog. And that was enough.