That's How You Know (Enchanted) – Merrill, Varric and Fenris

"There are no puppy eyes," grunted Fenris as the bright-eyed Dalish girl skipped around him.

Merrill giggled. "It's alright, you know. Even you can be happy once in a while, it won't kill you." There was a pregnant pause as her small mouth twisted into a smirk. "But your face might crack if you smile," she quipped. "So be careful."

Fenris rolled his eyes and tried to move away, thankful that Hawke had retired to her mansion early, but Merrill had slipped a skinny arm through his. Varric gave them a strange look before glaring a warning at the taller elf. "Are you good to Hawke, Fenris?" she asked, suddenly.

Fenris fumed silently. She knew as well as the rest of them what he'd done three years ago, and he vividly remembered that she had made at least three of the muttered threats he'd received afterward. Merrill sighed, tugging on his arm lightly. "You know what I mean… Do you… you know…" Fenris looked sidelong at her, slightly unnerved that the naïve little elf was bringing that up in conversation even without Hawke there. He hadn't imagined that she even knew how that even –

"You know, do couple things?" Fenris let out the breath he'd been holding before frowning.

"Couple things?"

Merrill nodded. "Take her out to nice places? Give her little presents? Prove your worth as a hunter to her?"

Fenris shook his head.

She looked aghast. "But… But then…" Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. Varric was now watching them interestedly, and Fenris shook his head imploringly. The dwarf smirked. "How does she know you love her?" breathed Merrill, shocked. "How does she know she's yours?"

"How does she know that you love her?" repeated Varric, the mirth in his hazel eyes almost teary as Fenris seethed.

"How do you show her you love her?" asked Merrill, delighted at her friend's participation.

"How does she know that you really, really, truly love her?" they chorused, turning to face Fenris head on. "How does she know that you love her? How do you show her you love her? How does she know that you really, really, truly love her?"

The dark elf went to respond, something terse that would keep the pair quiet so he could leave, but Merrill leapt in to steal the chance from him. The eyes of the Bazaar were starting to be drawn to their little scene, and Fenris felt his face begin to heat.

"It's not enough to take the one you love for granted," admonished Merrill, taking his arm again. "You must remind her or she'll be inclined to say – how do I know he loves me? How do I know he's mine?"

Fenris was sure that Varric was wheedling to himself in the background, but it was Merrill clinging onto him like an over excited mabari pup.

"Well, does he leave a little note to tell you, you are on his mind?" she asked, dancing over to Lady Elegant's stall. "Send you yellow flowers when the sky is grey?" The potions merchant seemed to think about it for a while before nodding, cheeks tinged slightly. Women, fumed Fenris, trying to turn away but finding his way blocked by onlookers.

"He'll find a new way to show you, a little bit every day," Merrill nodded, widening her eyes at Fenris and crossing her arms. "That's how you know – that's how you know he's your love!"

"There is no need for this," growled the taller elf, rooted to the spot with embarrassment. It was bad enough when the pirate started asking questions about their bedroom activities, never mind the dizzy maleficar broadcasting his romantic incompetencies around Lowtown. Varric barked a laugh, slapping his back and leading him away from the crowd.

"You got to show her you need her," he shrugged. "Don't treat her like a mind reader! Each day do something to lead her to believe you love her…"

"Everybody wants to live happily ever after," sighed Merrill, popping up on his other side. "Everybody wants to know their true love is true…"

Fenris began to wonder. They were both good friends of Hawke's. Maybe they knew something she wasn't telling him. Varric had found a group of dock workers willing to join his chant, and there was no stopping Merrill. "How do you know he loves you?" she sang, dancing toward a group of Fereldan-looking girls in the square."How do you know he's yours?"

She burrowed into their midst, smiling widely. "Well, does he take you out dancing, just so he can hold you close?" she asked, as the ladies shook their heads sadly. "Dedicate a song with words meant just for you?" At that, one piped up, and Merrill beamed. "He'll find his own way to tell you, with the little things he'll do!" they chorused together. "That's how you know – that's how you know he's your love!" The ladies giggled as the dock workers made their way over, and Merrill dashed away. "He's your love," she sighed again.

"That's how you know he loves you!" she cried as the Bazaar danced around her to her tune. Fenris wondered if she'd forgotten about him and started looking for an escape. "That's how you know it's true!"

The elf girl squatted down next to the washerwomen outside Lirene's shop. "Because he'll wear your favourite colour just so he can match your eyes," she gushed, throwing a meaningful look at the fabric wrapped around Fenris' gauntlet. "Rent a private picnic by the fire's glow…"

The women smiled cheerily at her as they joined her tune. "His heart will be yours forever," they sang together, "something every day will show! That's how you know…That's how you know…"

The entirety of Lowtown seemed to be singing with Merrill by now, her grassy eyes so wide they appeared like saucers. "That's how you know…" they sang. "That's how you know… That's how you know… That's how you know – "

"He's your love," sighed Merrill dreamily.

"That's how she knows that you love her!" chanted Varric and his new cronies as Fenris stood, stock still and scarlet faced. "That's how you show her you love her!"

"That's how you know…"

"You've got to show her you need her! Don't treat her like a mind reader!"

"That's how you know…"

"That's how she knows that you love her!" boomed the crowd, couples twirling and merchants clapping behind their stalls. "That's how you know that you love her! It's not enough to take the one you love for granted!"

"He's your love!" finished Merrill, beaming wildly into the air.

A hundred, much-cheered eyes watched Fenris as he stomped moodily out of Lowtown that afternoon, muttering about buying flowers.

-0-0-0-0-0-

New poll up on my profile! It's occurred to me that I've left all the love songs out - and I have literally no Zev-centric ficlets - so which would you guys prefer?

- If I Never Knew You (Hawke/Anders)
- Strangers Like Me (Zevran/Warden)
- So This Is Love (Isabela/Hawke)
- Love Will Find A Way (?)
- A Whole New World (?)
- Beauty and the Beast (?)

Up Next: This one's his one last hope.