Promises: Chapter Thirty-Eight

Disclaimer: Dragon Age and all assorted characters/places/etc belong to Bioware, not me.

Lady Elsa was quick to shoo Fenris away after he escorted the lady and Hawke back to the mageling's bedroom. He obeyed that order readily enough. Staying to watch wasn't an option given that they were now amongst noble society, and what was more, having to watch Hawke strip without being able to touch her or taste her would be akin to torture at the moment.

As he entered his bedroom, he spied a fresh set of clothing laid out on his bed. He checked the closet and found a few more outfits hanging within. The message being conveyed was clear. Armor was not suitable attire in the castle, especially not for formal events such as dinner. While he was tempted to disobey and ignore the clothing, he knew that the best course of action was to comply. If he tried to argue the point, he could only lose given his status as a mere bodyguard.

With a grimace, Fenris carefully placed his sword at the foot of the bed before tossing the slip of paper that Hawke had given him on to a nearby table. He shucked off his armor and put it to one side of the room, noting absently that it needed mending in addition to cleaning. There was no bath waiting for him tonight so it took a matter of minutes for him to get changed. He put on first the soft trousers and then the long tunic that had been left for him. Though old, the clothes were finer than any he had ever had before. Their colors also were reminiscent of his armor as they were a dark brown that was practically black. Though the clothing was nice, Fenris much preferred his armor. Not only was it more practical in a fight, his armor also did not rub against his lyrium brands the way these clothes did.

Maybe he should have encouraged Hawke and her outrageous attempt to have him suffer through a fitting like hers. Then he might have had a chance to get the clothing more tailored to his frame. Fenris mentally shrugged his shoulders. He would just have to see how tonight went. If it was too unbearable, he could always seek out the services of a seamstress. He did need to go to the alienage eventually to seek out leads as to Carrow's criminal contacts, and that could be the perfect excuse to visit there initially. A human tailor or seamstress was unlikely to take on an elven client after all.

Once he was dressed, Fenris wandered over to the table where he had left Hawke's note. He opened it curiously so that he could study it. There were a few lines scrawled across it. It was frustrating, not being able to understand what was written there. Maybe she was scolding him for not coming to her rescue. Maybe she was telling him that she missed being with him. He simply did not know. For that matter, Hawke could have written both those items down along with others. Though most of the page was blank, perhaps only a few lines were needed to convey multiple sentiments. He had never hated being unable to read as much as he did now when it kept him from understanding Hawke's thoughts.

A knock on the door was the only warning he had that he was about to have company. Out of reflex, Fenris snatched the note up to hide under the pillow. He wouldn't put it past Hawke to have written down something steamy, and he did not want to have to explain such an occurrence away. Fortunately not only was he able to hide the note in time, but the person entering his room was only Nathaniel.

The archer walked in, projecting confidence with every step. He surveyed Fenris from head to toe. "Good," he said. "I'm glad that I won't have the same sort of trouble getting you into proper clothing that Lady Elsa is having with my cousin."

"It seems to me that the mere idea of Hawke being unhappy makes you jubilant," Fenris remarked.

"I would not go that far. I would rather that dearest Alfonsine understand that it is really high time for her to become a lady and be introduced formally at court," was the archer's ready reply. "It would make things much easier, don't you think?"

Nathaniel went on without waiting for Fenris' response. "Alas such things are not to be. But that's not why I'm here. Since you are already ready to go, I suppose I should warn you what will occur tonight."

That did not sound good. "Are you expecting trouble?" Fenris asked.

"Of a sort. While Lady Elsa has told me that Alfonsine isn't fit to be presented to any of the notables dining at the high table, she still believes it would be good for her education to meet anyone requests a formal introduction. It will give Alfonsine a chance to proper her manners," Nathaniel explained.

"I see." That he did. In his mind's eye, Fenris could picture his mageling surrounded by slavering squires, all clamoring for her attention. Suddenly he wished that he hadn't acquiesced so readily to the demand he leave his armor behind tonight because it might indeed come in handy.

"I am sure you do. In my opinion, not all the other men here are worthy of meeting my cousin…particularly since there are a few who get too familiar right away."

"Ah. Shall I remove the hand of any groper?"

Nathaniel gave him a look. "If that's your idea of a joke, then I think that your sense of humor needs work."

"I wasn't joking." Fenris allowed himself a vicious grin.

"And that was what I was afraid of." The archer covered his face with one hand, somehow managing to look put upon. Fenris did not feel sorry for the man, not with the way Nathaniel always seemed to interrupt him when he was alone with Hawke.

Nathaniel shook his head before continuing with his train of thought. "I think it's best that I am perfectly clear about what's acceptable and what's not acceptable. Lopping off someone's hand for simply touching my cousin definitely falls into the not acceptable category."

"I said grope. That implies more than just a casual touch," Fenris pointed out.

"Something tells me that your definition of groping is different than mine when it comes to Hawke," the archer muttered. "How about I put it this way? Unless my dear cousin's life is in imminent danger, you should avoid bloodshed of any sort."

Fenris snorted. He could continue this conversation and argue for a flexible interpretation of what it meant for Hawke's life to be in imminent danger, but that would be pointless. Ultimately the only thing that would make him feel better was to finish this stupid job and leave the blasted castle behind. He hated to admit it, but Hawke had been right to look upon Nathaniel's offer of employment with suspicion. One hundred sovereigns wasn't worth the constant interruptions he had been suffering from as of late.

"Now that we have that settled, let us check to see how the ladies are coming along with their preparations," said Nathaniel.

The elf's eyebrows both shot straight up. "You think they're done already?" he asked.

"No, not really, especially not if Alfonsine is feeling bothersome," Nathaniel said, a fierce grin appearing on his face when he mentioned the name he had saddled Hawke with again. Fenris reflected the archer seemed to be particularly pleased with the one victory he could claim over the mageling.

"However, after years of experience of waiting for my mother and my sister to finish getting ready for dinner," the archer went on, "I have learned that is best to start sooner rather than later when it comes to pressing the ladies to hurry up. If we don't start bothering them now, I doubt that we will ever make it to dinner."

"Somehow I cannot see Lady Elsa allowing that to happen," Fenris pointed out. "She seems remarkably efficient."

"Fine. I was exaggerating a bit there, but I would rather not have to sit around here with you waiting for them any longer than I have to. You seem to be even grumpier than usual."

"I can't imagine why you might think that," Fenris muttered under his breath. His comment was ignored by Nathaniel, who instead strolled out of the room and started knocking at Hawke's door. Fenris followed his lead and arrived in time to hear one of the maids tell the archer that they still needed more time to get Hawke presentable for dinner.

Ultimately they wound up lounging outside of Hawke's room for just under half an hour before the door swung open. A pair of maids scurried out first, and one of them informed the two men that they could enter. Fenris waited for Nathaniel to go in to the room, like any good bodyguard would, and followed close upon the archer's heels. He instinctively sought out Hawke, but when he laid eyes on her, he almost forgot to breathe.

It was astounding what a difference clothes made. Hawke was lovely enough in her plain robes, and she had always managed to turn heads wherever they went. However now that the mageling was decked out in a fine gown, with her hair artfully arranged and light make-up on her face, she was simply a vision. Fenris gulped nervously. He could tell that it was going to be a hard night. He looked quickly away from Hawke before temptation became too strong and he gave into his baser urges.

"I think your mother would cry right now," Nathaniel said, cooling apprising Hawke, "to see you looking so much like a lady."

"For once, you're right," Hawke replied, sniffing haughtily and tossing her head. "Though that hardly qualifies as a compliment. I thought you came to the Free Marches to acquire a bit of polish. You will never keep a lady happy with an attitude like yours."

Fenris inwardly winced. Hawke had hit Nathaniel at his sore point, for by now it had become clear to them both that the man recently had suffered a setback in the romance department. Despite Nathaniel's aggravating tendency to interrupt them at the worst moments, Fenris still felt a pang of sympathy for the man. Though he had only known Hawke for a few months, already he couldn't imagine his life without her. He couldn't imagine how Nathaniel must feel given as from what Fenris had gathered, the archer had been sweet on the lady who had left him for years.

The elf had little time to sympathize with Nathaniel, however, for Hawke turned her attention to him. "Well since my cousin is incapable of putting together a decent compliment, it seems as though I will have to turn to my bodyguard," she announced to the room at large. Fenris felt rather than saw both Lady Elsa and Nathaniel roll their eyes as Hawke said that. The mageling dipped into a curtsey, with a grace that she didn't have the day before, and gave the poor elf an eyeful when it came to a pair of her loveliest assets. "Well what do you think?" Hawke asked him directly.

What Fenris thought was that he wanted to ravish her on the spot, but he couldn't very well say that. He coughed once, buying time with the hope that someone would intervene and save him, but he had no luck. Finally he settled on saying, "I think that the lady will have no shortage of compliments tonight."

Evidently that was the right note to strike for Hawke beamed up at him with one of the brightest smiles he had seen from her in a long time. "Thank you, Fenris," she told him, a light blush dusting her cheeks.

"I suppose I should be grateful that you at least know how to respond to a compliment," Lady Elsa put in, "although I see that I must remind you again that a true lady does not fish for them."

Hawke shrugged her shoulders. "Understood. Have no fear, Lady Elsa. I won't trouble anyone else with similar questions tonight." Hawke's eyes cut briefly over to Fenris, silently telling him that his good opinion was the only one she wanted. The sentiment in that fleeting glance reassured him and gave him the strength he needed to persevere that evening.

While dinner had been mercifully short the night before, tonight it dragged on and on. Fenris laid the blame solely on the introductions. As soon as they arrived, they were beset by greeters. Gossip spread very quickly throughout the castle, and it seemed as though everyone had learned that Nathaniel's lovely little cousin was very much available.

Thankfully the first wave consisted mostly of Nathaniel's friends amongst the squires. There was a bit of jostling as all the young men insisted on personally being introduced to Hawke. Fenris was tempted more than once to intervene when a squire let his eyes linger too long on any of Hawke's assets, but he managed to refrain from doing so. Knowing that Hawke didn't want any of these young popinjays helped rein in his battle instincts.

Nathaniel's friends lingered around them even after the introductions were finished. It didn't take long for Fenris to suss out the reason for such behavior. The other squires had basically formed an impenetrable ring around them. No one else could get through, and those that tried were soundly ignored by the boisterous lot. The behavior continued on when they went to the dinner table. Hawke was seated firmly between Fenris and Nathaniel while the other squires took up residence in the remaining nearby seats.

Unfortunately the event that was that night's dinner did not stop at the meal. After everyone had eaten, there was another round of impromptu socializing. This time, however, Nathaniel's friends couldn't prevent other men from seeking out an introduction to Hawke, not when Lady Elsa herself led the charge. The lady dropped by with a Lord Raven—who to Fenris' eye appeared old enough to be Hawke's father—in her wake. The mageling was less than enthusiastic to meet the old man. As she dropped into a maidenly curtsey, the lady took the time to have a few words with Nathaniel. Fenris winced as he caught wind of them. The lady was none too pleased at Nathaniel's attempts to insulate the mageling from the rest of the court.

"I am afraid we have our marching orders," Nathaniel noted as an aside to Fenris as Lady Elsa departed, dragging the older man along with her. "She noted that unless I want my cousin to wind up with a man old enough to be her father, that I had better stop interfering with her plans to find Alfonsine a good match."

Fenris winced. "I don't suppose you mentioned that the lady's charge does not wish for any matchmaking," he asked.

"Didn't see the point of saying as much. That would have only earned me another lecture, and you know it." Nathaniel gave Fenris a sharp glance. "Not that you have anything to worry about," he added in a much lower voice.

Fenris inclined his head briefly, the only indication he gave that he understood what the archer was referring to. Hawke was his, and none of the men here would take his mageling away from him. That fact alone made the evening bearable.

Lady Elsa's point made, many of Nathaniel's friends drifted away, allowing others to greet the trio. More than one lady stopped by, some of them mentioning sons while still others spoke to Nathaniel about their daughters. Noble life here in the Free Marches had a remarkable resemblance to that in Tevinter. Fenris remembered many an evening spent at a gala or a ball where magisters would congregate and seek out strong alliances through marriage. However, in Tevinter, one of the things a magister looked for in a bride was strong magical ability in addition to beauty. If Hawke had grown up in Minrathous, her family would have had no trouble finding her a match, not with her looks and magical aptitude.

Of course, that would be assuming that her family was willing to overlook the use of blood magic. From Hawke's descriptions of her father, Fenris thought that the man would not. From his knowledge of Hawke, Fenris knew that she despised blood magic and so would never accept being tied to one. That was probably why it was so easy for him to trust his Hawke so whole-heartedly.

A hiss of indrawn breath accompanied by the slight snap of a spine straightening up from Nathaniel brought Fenris out of his thoughts and back into the present. He followed the direction of the archer's gaze and saw that a tall, blond man was now bowing ever so gracefully over Hawke's hand. Nathaniel's reaction was more than enough to tell that the blond man was none other than the squire who had arranged for his kidnapping, Ian Carrow.

Fenris regarded the blond squire with a critical eye. The other squire carried himself with confidence, holding his head up high. Though his face was boyish, there was something hard about the man. This was no awkward boy sent to the court at Ansburg for some polish and an introduction to polite society. No, Fenris' instincts screamed at him that the other squire was not what he appeared to be. Something told him that Carrow was not new to the criminal underground and so his ties to it would be deep indeed. The archer was very lucky to have stumbled across them as allies, the elf reflected, because otherwise he undoubtedly would have been out of his league.

"I must say there is hardly any resemblance between you and Howe here," Carrow said cheerfully enough. "Perhaps this is somewhat forward of me, but I must confess that I prefer your nose to his."

Hawke tilted her head to one side and smiled charmingly up at Carrow. "I would agree with you and maybe even remark how I thank the Maker each day that I wasn't afflicted with the Howe nose, but that would be rude and unfitting of a lady." Hawke heaved a long sigh. "It adds character to my cousin's face, and that counts for something I guess," she went on in a light tone. "Though the fact that my cousin is a man of good character and honor more than makes up for his nose, don't you think?"

Though Hawke's tone remained light, her words were pointed. It was clear that the mageling had also picked up on the warning signs from the archer. Fenris was grateful for that, seeing how the other man hadn't even bothered to give his name yet. It was most likely a plot to catch Hawke, in her role as Nathaniel's innocent cousin, at unawares and therefore pry information out of her.

"I see that you are as feisty as you are beautiful," Carrow returned evenly. There was a wicked gleam in his eyes that Fenris did not appreciate. "Some may be taken aback, but I think that only adds to your charm. I suppose it's no surprise that Howe's cousin the sort of girl who needs to be tamed, who needs to be broken in," he added, allowing his gaze to trail up and down Hawke's body as a smirk twisted his lips.

The look the blasted man was giving Hawke was enough to make Fenris long to take action. It was positively indecent, to say the least, and he found himself taking a step forward without even thinking about the consequences of his actions. Nathaniel, however, acted quickly to intercede before Fenris and thus saved their charade.

"I see that you are as ill-mannered as ever, not that I ever expected otherwise from you. You are lucky that we are not in Ferelden for every man in my family would take issue with how forward you have been," the archer said sharply. He turned to Hawke. "Let us go, cousin. There is no one here worthy of your attention."

Nathaniel offered Hawke his arm, which she gracefully accepted. Before they could get away from the blighted squire, however, Carrow stepped forward again. "My apologies. I didn't mean to insult you," he said charmingly enough, directing his words towards Hawke. He sketched a bow before the mageling while conveniently blocking their escape route. "I should have given my name before all else. Let me rectify my error now. I am Ian Carrow, a squire who serves alongside your cousin."

Hawke snorted in disbelief at Carrow's false modesty. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Nathaniel jerking her arm and pulling her behind him. Carrow raised an eyebrow at the archer's actions. "Over-protective much?" he asked mildly.

Nathaniel didn't deign to answer that remark and instead glared coldly at the other man. "We will take our leave of you now," the archer said shortly.

"So soon? That is such a pity. Well I do look forward to seeing more of you, Alfonsine Howe," Carrow replied smoothly, utterly unaffected by the death glares being shot his way by both Nathaniel and Fenris. He then stepped aside, allowing the three of them to make their escape. The way that Carrow's eyes lingered on Hawke, paying special attention to the sway of her hips, as they departed made Fenris long to rip them out of the man's head. That would cure Carrow's staring problem when it came to Hawke. It would also put an end to whatever schemes the man had in place against Nathaniel, and so they would be able to put this blasted castle behind them sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately Fenris couldn't see Nathaniel seeing things that way. That was a pity. In the short time he had been in the other squire's presence, it had become clear to Fenris that Carrow was a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps he was jaded from the years he had spent as a magister's bodyguard, but Fenris was of the opinion that the only good enemy was a dead one. He would have to speak to the archer later and see if he could talk some sense into the man. Revenge was all well and good, but not when it put the lives of you and your allies at risk. They were times when a more practical approach was warranted, and Fenris felt that this was one of them.

Author's note: This update is a little overdue, but I hoped you liked it all the same. Hopefully I'll have a little something extra the next time I update. Anyway thanks for reading!