I claim to own nothing in regards to Dragon Age, it's lore or its characters. That right belongs to BIOWARE. I am just a fan.
I haven't been in a fight in too long. I am getting soft. I berated myself as I ran around the edges of the whole estate. Dorian helps a bit lobbing spells at me and summoning undead to spar with but it doesn't feel like enough. Isabella and Zevran both have bruised egos since I know their fighting styles so well that they never hold a chance of beating me. I am losing my mind. I focus on my breathing. The first week went by so quickly. I had been caught up in exploring the city and soaking it all in. Minrathous was a beautiful city but it got boring fairly quickly.
Even Isabella and Zevran were bored. Varric on the other hand was having the time of his life. "Come on now Hawke. I haven't been able to get this much writing done at once in so long." He said to me the last time I cracked open his door to make sure he was still breathing. It took forever to convince him to at least come out to the yard reminding him since he was surface born and that he knew the sun wasn't going to kill him.
"You going to run until you fall over again like yesterday?" He teased me from his table. I slowed myself to a walk and joined him.
"I would rather run till I fell over than try to figure out that insufferable dance again." I told him breathlessly pouring myself a glass of water and plopping down in a chair next to him. "I've checked out all the touristy stuff I can within the first few days. Now I don't feel right unless I am doing something. Unless you and Bianca want to spar?" I smile hoping he will say yes.
"I am getting so much writing done." He shakes his head. "Besides you don't want to be shot full of holes before your big dance debut." He laughs at me as I roll my eyes.
"Have you found out anything about Denarius? I know you already have your little urchin spy network up and running." His smile disappears so quickly it makes me uncomfortable. "Yeah, about that." With a pause he begins to stack up his papers and quills and I know he has something important to share with me.
"We lucked out in the Magister department." He begins. "According to the gossip Pavus is the odd duck in the group. He is the only one of the 7 who pays his staff while the others are slave owners." I nod. Knowing just how many elves were slaves around here made me sick. Occasionally I would come across human, dwarven and quanari slaves but more often than not, if there was an elf in this city, they belonged to someone.
"Denarius has made a name for himself in the spectacularly cruel way he treats his slaves. He makes his practice of blood magic no secret too." The disgust that dripped from his voice as a shiver crept down my spine.
"You know you will have to…." he pauses at a loss for words, "you will have to keep your shock and horror to a minimum. You will have to turn a blind eye for as long as you can." Pure concern shone in his eyes as he bore his hazel eyes into mine. "Do you think you can do that?"
"I guess we will see." The boredom I had just been complaining about vanished as the weight of the task I was soon to begin began to wash over me.
"Damnit woman pay attention!" Dorian snarled at me later that evening. This has to be the 100th time he's dropped me on my ass today trying to teach me this stupid dance. I brought my knees up and wrapped my arms around my legs looking up at him as he continued his rant.
"Dorian my friend. I don't think you know much about how to handle a woman like Hawke." Zevran's light hearted voice came out of the shadows behind us. It was enough to make Dorian stop in his tracks and turn to face the Crow. Crossing his arms over his chest he opened his mouth to say something then closed it. He raised a single eyebrow and finally said "Then maybe you would be better off giving her a lesson or two. She doesn't have to be perfect but she needs to know enough not to make a fool of herself." He stomped to the other edge of the main house's ball room and sat down watching.
A chuckle rumbled in the assassin's chest. "That boy is going to be that uptight until he finally accepts himself for who he is. And until that happens, he will always miss the most important part of these types of dances." Zevran said low enough that I was the only one that heard him and reached down a hand to pull me up to my feet. I look across the room to where Dorian still sits quietly lost in his own thoughts. If anyone would know it would be Zevran. I told myself. I've seen the men he and Isabella share sometimes and she gives me more than enough details. Usually against my will. I fight the blush rising in my cheeks. "What do you mean?"
One of his arms wraps around my waist at the same time his opposite hand grabbed mine and he pull me forcibly to himself. I gasped in surprise enticing a predatory grin from Zevran. "It always helps if there is at least a little a bit of sexual tension." Pure confidence drips from him as he begins to lead me through the steps.
"If there's any sexual tension between us it is solely on your side." I retort with all the sass I can muster. "I'll ask you again after this dance." He reply's cooly.
The pace speeds up. Zevran is such a skilled dancer that I don't feel in control of my body as he leads me through the steps. All I could think about was how close he was to me. How my breasts pressed up against him. How easily he manipulated my body and movements. Heat began to pool in my belly as I felt embarrassment burn across my cheeks. "There it is." He chuckled low and breathlessly near my ear. I didn't trust myself to speak and at the same time I was terrified of breaking away from him. I really didn't want to be dropped on my ass again. We continue to dance as I stare up at him.
"Are you ready?" he asks. The end of this dance is a twirl on the tips of my toes and being pushed backwards and caught before I hit the floor.
I gulp air down my parched throat and nod. He raises our clasped hands in the air and begins to spin me. Zevran won't drop you. Isabella would kill him if something happened to you. I reassured I knew it, I am staring up at the ceiling with one of Zevran's arms behind my waist and the other flared dramatically out behind him.
"Sometimes you have to let someone else take control Hawke." He whispers with a mischievous wink as he helps me stand. I take a step back. I still can't speak. Confusion washes over me as I try to gather my thoughts. My face, neck and chest burn in embarrassment. I can't bring myself to look at him anymore as I turn on my heal and walk from the room.
A few hours and a bath later I find myself in my night clothes sitting in my bed when Isabella walks in. "Hey don't you know how to knock? I could have been naked in here." I chastise her. "A girl can dream, can't she? Besides, I heard I missed quite the show between you and Zev earlier. Pity." She is also in her night clothes. If you can call that slip of silk clothes. She also has a small box in hand.
"I found these fabulous chocolates at market today. I want to share them with you. I also want to know if you need to talk about it."
"Talk about what?" my attempt to blow it off fails as she laughs at me.
"Zev is enough of a womanizer to know when he has one all worked up in his arms. In the entire time I've known you I have never seen you let anyone but me that close to you physically. Not unless you were impaling them on those wicked hooks of yours." She climbs up onto my bed with me and opens the box offering it to me. I pluck one out of the box and stuff it into my mouth. Anything for the excuse not to speak.
"You know even with all the teasing Zev and I would never hurt you." I nod. "Are you a virgin Hawke?"
The question catches me off guard and I choke on the delectable mouthful of chocolate I had been chewing.
"No!" I deny. She is silent a moment trying to read my face for a lie. "It was once. A very long time ago." I look down hiding my face as my hair falls forward. "You're right though. I do not let anyone that close and I had never been touched like that before." For once Bella seems at a loss for words.
A few more quiet days passed in relative harmony. I still couldn't look Zevran in the eye and he teased me relentlessly about it. Even Varric was teasing me about it.
We were set down to dinner when Magister Pavus walked in. "We finally have a date for the introduction masquerade." He announces. "Invitations have been sent out and it will be the event of the season." He passes Dorian a parchment. "I'll make the correct appointments for her." He assures his father. He tosses me the paper.
"One week" I muse out loud. "I will be ready."