Two for the price of one! Since these two chapters are short :) Next one is longer so it'll be up in a few days after these two get a little time on here

CHAPTER: 15 THE CALM BEFORE

We all had a silent agreement, never to mention what had happened that day nearly a month ago. Life just returned to as normal as it could get. Garrett had been furious when I returned though, but I blew him off as I headed straight for bed. It had been a long day then.

Everyday I looked forward to Fenris' and my reading lessons. Even though I wanted to, I never teased him about what was said and done that day either.

Fenris read aloud from a book on the history of Kirkwall. His speech was getting much better, and he wasn't struggling to figure out pronunciations. Every so often he needed help on words he hadn't seen before, but other than that he was doing wonderfully.

So at some point during our reading sessions, Fenris kept inching his way closer to where ever I sat. At first I didn't notice, but in the end it's kind of hard not to notice an elf laying right on top of you. I can't say I was adverse to it at all.

Eventually though his voice began to quiet into a soft whisper, and he fell asleep all together.

I leaned over trying not to move to much, and found he was already asleep. I tried, really tried, not to laugh at how cute he looked. Like a big puppy all curled up safely by his best friend. I leaned back against the evil armrest, for once it wasn't so evil, and absentmindedly began running my fingers through Fenris' hair. I heard the book fall from his hand and land beside the chair with a light thunk, and his arms circled around my waist. He mumbled something into my stomach and snored softly.

"Oh what have we here?" My eyes snapped open to find Isabela leaning casually against the door.

I gasp trying not to make a sound, but it happened anyway. "Shush!" Was the only slightly intelligible sound to come out. She grinned impishly rocking side to side folding her arms. I mouthed a 'what are you doing here! What do you want!'

"Oh I was just making sure you were alright. But I guess you're doing a bit more than 'alright'." She chuckled. Which in turn caused Fenris to stir awake. He leaned up enough to let me get free, and I charged after that pain in the ass. She took off cackling like a maniac, wait that's her default setting, and slid down the railing of the stairs.

"I'm going to kill you Isabela!"

"Save your energy pet, you'll need it for that sexy elf you've bagged." She threw the door open and it slammed against the wall loudly echoing in the almost empty house. And just like that we left Fenris behind to stare blankly from the lounge chair.

"Get back here!" I yelled after her throwing it open again letting it bang against the wall, and slam shut.

I eventually lost sight of Isabela when we got to the market, I could still hear her chicken like cackle bouncing around from one direction to another.

"I know where you live!" I shouted into the crowd finally fed up with trying to find her. I didn't hear her shout anything back. "What!" I shouted at the group of staring pedestrians. They didn't even bother to look away and continued to stare at me make a fool of myself.

What else could I do. I couldn't go back to Fenris now, not after the scene Isabela had made. I swear sometimes I just want to kick her ass so hard she won't want to move from her bed for the next year. Bitch.

x-x-x-x

Days later the entire group spread out across the beach. Each person searched through the tall grass for rare blooms. Anders had requested only a few help him, but was surprised when everyone turned up. Even the ever busy Aveline.

Merrill popped out from the tall grass. "I found..." She studied the random weed in her fingers. She tossed it aside, most not even bothering to pay attention to her outburst. Garrett watched her from the corner of his eyes, trying to keep his grin hidden in the shadow of his beard.

It wasn't long before Valerie lost her attention with hunting the bloom, and ran to the ocean throwing her boots off in the process. "Merrill come on!" She waved to the elven girl. Merrill stood up again pondering if she should go. Isabela walked across the beach and ran at Valerie, tackling her into the surf.

The two women popped up gasping for breath a few seconds later. Valerie called the pirate woman a few choice names before slapping water in the womans direction. Valerie jumped up giving a battle cry and pounced on the other woman.

Fenris watched from the rocks with a mild expression of amusement. Those two had to be the strangest pair he'd ever seen. If they weren't fighting and causing a small war, the two acted like the closest of sisters. From behind him he heard a giggle.

He turned sharply to face Merrill. She had a wide grin on her face as she rocked on the balls of her bare feet. Fenris gave her a distrusting stare, and not only because she was a mage. She was up to something with that look, there was no denying it, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Why are you looking at me like that..." He didn't trust why she kept that oh so innocent stare.

She smiled and clap her hands together going into another mad fit of giggles. "You're in love." Fenris took a step back as though he had been struck.

"I am not!" He defended himself. He felt his face drain of blood and hands became clammy. He couldn't meet the Dalish elves eyes. Merrill didn't buy his blatant lie. The fact that he was near stuttering and stumbling over himself added to her suspensions.

She covered her mouth giving another little laugh. She nodded her head at the small figures of Isabela and Valerie. The two had managed to drag Anders into the ocean against his will.

"Every time she looks away, you look at Valerie with those sad puppy eyes."

"There are no puppy eyes!" He spat the word out as if it were bitter. His heart hammered in his chest not allowing him to calm down. Merrill shook her head but her smile remained happy.

"It's not so bad. Even you can be happy once and awhile." She spun around on her heel clasping her hands behind herself. "But do be careful though, your face might crack if you smile." She all but skipped off leaving Fenris to stare at the ground at his feet.

He didn't love Valerie! There was no way. He turned slightly to see the growing number of occupants in the ocean, whether willing by this point or not he didn't know.

Valerie looked up waving an arm in the air and cupped a hand around her mouth. "Fenris!" She waved wildly before her feet were knocked from under her by a rogue wave. Fenris could barely hear the yelp and see the shock pass across her face. He stared off at her form bobbing around in the current and could hear laughter from all of those who had been on the beach. A smile tugged at his lips as his eyes softened while he shook his head.

He knew something was there, but was to afraid to admit it to anyone; especially himself.