Cat wasn't the only one on lookout. The entire crew had just gotten through a fight with a Sten, his warriors, and a bunch of elves that were supporters of the Qun. She hadn't enjoyed fighting with the elves, and had used the hilts of her daggers whenever possible to simply knock them out. She couldn't blame them for siding with people that they thought cared for and valued them.
Knowing firsthand the strength and constitution of the qunari warriors, Hawke's crew walked carefully, and quietly up the stairs into Hightown, looking all around them for any that may hinder their progress.
Varric stopped near a tree, and gestured to his right, causing the rest of the crew to stop and peer over, spotting the three qunari that were standing nearby.
"We can't avoid them," Hawke muttered. Varric was the first to react, using his rhyming triplet while they had the element of surprise, and one of the warriors fell over with three bolts stuck close together in his chest.
"Vashedan!" The others shouted. "Vinek Kathas!" Cat puzzled for a moment, wondering why they were shouting about killing them, seeing that they were outnumbered, and were easily defeated. She had just remembered the Saraabas that would be here when a spell knocked the entire crew off their feet.
She looked up, her vision still slightly blurred, seeing the large qunari mage striding forward, lightning magic swelling in both of his palms. She looked around, seeing the others trying to get up, and she moved forward to block them as best she could.
The magic in his hands disappeared suddenly, and the mage looked confused for a single moment before the large blade burst from his chest. Cat watched as an armored woman pulled back her sword, and swinging widely, decapitated the mage in one smooth stroke.
Her sense of wonder vanished quickly, as the mage's body fell directly at her. She moved, barely missing being squished, but the large amounts of blood fountaining from the corpse doused her.
"You have got to be kidding me," she said in disgust, wiping her face, and looking down, her arms outstretched from her body. It wasn't like she was soaked in it, but felt like she had just had a bucket of paint thrown at her.
"Catarina," the blonde woman said, her eyes lit with dark amusement at her discomfort.
"Meredith," Cat replied in the same tone, and Meredith glared at her lack of respect.
"Address me properly, or not at all," the older woman snapped, and then turned away. Cat had been through this several times with Meredith. There were times speaking with the Knight Commander was unavoidable when visiting with Cullen, and the templar leader would simply ignore what she deemed annoying or unworthy of her time- of which Cast was constantly considered both.
"I am Knight Commander Meredith," she introduced herself to Hawke, as she put away her sword. She put out her hand, offering it to him, and Hawke grabbed it as she pulled him up to stand.
"Garrett Hawke, though most simply call me Hawke," he replied, rifling through his pockets and throwing a folded piece of fabric at Cat, that she snagged before it hit her face. She looked at it, and then him in question, and he smirked. "You have a little something, right here," he said pointing at his cheek.
She chuckled, and dabbed at the small spot, turning to Anders. "Did I get it?" she asked, and the group laughed at the one now clean spot on her face.
"Let me help," Anders offered, pulling out his small water skein.
"The name Hawke has been in my reports many times," Meredith said, curiously looking at Hawke. "Too many, in fact."
Aveline stepped forward, drawing her attention. "It's good you came Knight Commander. The Qunari are-"
"It's obvious what they are doing," Meredith interrupted dismissively. "They are gathering in the keep, and may already be in control."
"We'll help where we can," Hawke said confidently, and Meredith appraised him again.
"Very well. I will… overlook, your own use of magic… for the moment." She moved aside, and started walking away. "I will gather more of my men. These creatures must be made an example of."
Without waiting for a response, she continued striding away, and Hawke watched until she was out of sight. He then turned back to Cat. "You seem familiar with the templar leader," he said, his voice asking for details.
"Ugh, yeah," she replied, standing still as Anders had finally grabbed the cloth from her, and was wiping her face, since she had merely smeared it around. "I met her when I was visiting Cullen. She's disliked me from the first moment."
"Now how is that possible, little dove?" Varric asked with a laugh. "You're so loveable, after all."
"I know!" Cat agreed vehemently, and the others chuckled.
"She is rather stern," Aveline said diplomatically. "But her first inclination is to protect the people, which I can support."
"Dragon lady," Cat muttered, before Anders passed the cloth over her face again. She opened her eyes again, seeing them all looking at her with varying degrees of concern. "Sorry," she said with a sigh. "But the dislike is mutual."
"Why?" Hawke asked curiously.
"Mostly attitude," Cat answered, taking the fabric from Anders, folding it and putting it in her own pocket so she could wash it. "The need to be in control, in addition to the natural arrogance of a leader."
"Wait, what?" Hawke asked, taken by surprise. "Did you just call me arrogant?" he asked with a frown.
"Of course," she replied, looking around, and seeing everyone ready. "Should we continue?"
"You think I'm arrogant?" Hawke asked again, planting his feet and crossing his arms with a scowl on his face.
"Do you think you aren't?" Cat asked, confused, and Hawke spluttered. "Every leader is, to an extent, they have to be."
"Because they are in charge?" Varric suggested with a smirk, enjoying Hawke's squirming.
"Basically," Cat replied, looking over at the dwarf. "Giving orders, expecting them to be obeyed without question. Assessing situations in a moment, making the difficult decisions, and being able to live with the consequences. Not everyone can do it, and the successful ones are successful because of their confidence in their abilities, aka arrogance."
"A-k-a?" Varric asked.
"Oh… uh, also known as," Cat replied. "It's abbreviated."
"Uh huh," he replied.
"Well, now that that is all explained, perhaps we get back to the task at hand?" Fenris asked drolly.
"Please," Cat muttered.
"Let's go," Hawke said, then turned to Cat with a smirk. "If that's okay?" he asked, and she rolled her eyes.
Cat glanced back, seeing the stoic expressions on both the Knight Commander and the Grand Enchanter. Hawke had enjoyed his little joke, but as soon as those two started squabbling, he stated that he was going to the keep, and if they wanted to come, they would defer to him.
She smiled again as she faced forward. She had seen Grand Enchanter Orsino before, but had never met or spoken directly to him, so she wasn't sure what type of leader he was. Meredith however, she knew would be grinding her teeth at following another, even in such a small instance.
Hawke led them quietly off the the side, keeping out of the sight of the qunari warriors that stood outside the great doors to the Viscount's keep.
The group stopped, and Meredith sneered. "Do you even have a plan?" she asked quietly.
Orsino rolled his eyes, and turned to Hawke also. "So tell us, Hawke, what is our course of action?" he asked politely.
"Not getting killed is step one," Hawke replied, still looking up at the doors.
"Good choice," Varric murmured.
"Step two, is finding out what they are up to."
"We don't have much time, before the killing will start, if it has not already," Fenris warned Hawke.
"Then we need to get you in there," Orsino added, looking at Hawke and his crew. "I believe I can create a sufficient distraction, and lure them away from the doors."
"That will take too long," Meredith disagreed. "We have the numbers, we should simply attack them."
"They have hostages!" Orsino said in shock at her words.
"I agree," Hawke replied. He turned to Orsino. "We'll go with the enchanter's plan, and lure them away."
"Lure them away how?" Meredith asked, the distaste apparent on her face.
Orsino nodded to Hawke, and stepped out away from the group, pulling out his staff. "Have confidence Knight Commander," he said, walking towards the gate.
"Get ready," Hawke said. "We move in as soon as the Qunari are past us." He turned to the templars. "Meredith, you and your men close in behind them and cut them off once we move." She obviously didn't like it, but she nodded to him.
Hawke turned back in time to see Orsino throw a fire ball. "You won't take our city without a fight!"
"Bas saarabas! Vinek Kathas!" the responding shouts rang out, and Cat watched as Orsino backed up and began running, even while throwing fire balls. She was surprised that none of the guards had stayed at the doors, but with a powerful mage on the loose, she supposed their duty was clear to each of them.
As soon as the Qunari ran past them, Hawke led his crew forward, sneaking into the keep, and Meredith, and her templars fanned out into position. Cat wondered momentarily how Orsino got away from his pursuers.
The keep itself was eerily quiet as they entered, and several qunari moved forward to glare at them from behind the railing above them.
Cat could hear the instructions Hawke was muttering to the others, small things like who would be fighting with who, and which direction to take.
"Cat, try to get up there as quickly and safely as you can. We need to know if there are more waiting."
"Got it," she replied, readying herself and pulling out her sickly daggers. These warriors were huge, and she needed every advantage. She smiled as she heard Sten's voice in her head, his daily lectures about fighting warriors larger than herself coming back in memory.
Her grin turned feral as she spotted the single quari on the left side of the staircase. As Hawke sent out a spell, she moved, hopping on top of a table, jumping to a bookcase, and over the banister on the stairs. She had easily avoided most of the warriors, and was now in front of her prey.
She silently thanked Sten, easily dispatching her enemy and glancing around the higher floor. Looking down, she jumped over to slide down the banister, crashing into and stabbing the quanri that had cornered Merrill.
"Thanks Cat!" Merrill called, using a spell on another that was trying to harm Anders. He grinned, and used his spell on the next, gaining a glare from Fenris as his sword crashed through a frozen qunari.
"I had him," Fenris growled. "Help someone else."
"You're welcome," Anders replied with a roll of his eyes. "SO ungrateful," he said in mock whisper to Merrill, who giggled.
Hawke finished with his own opponent, and Cat called to him. "Three more at the doors at the end of the hall, at least, I only saw three," she said and he nodded.
"Ranged fighters, get an attack ready. Fenris, Aveline…" he looked at Cat but didn't include her. "Rush at them, but once near, turn to either side in case there are more. We'll hit the ones we can see with spells." Varric cleared his throat, and Hawke amended his words. "And arrows," he said. Cat cleared her throat as well, and Hawke glanced at her, his smirk wide. "And perhaps a dagger, or two?" he suggested, and Cat nodded with a smile. "Then let's go," he said, leading towards the stairs.
Hawke stood in front of the large doors, giving himself a breather before reaching for the handle. He stopped, looking behind him at his people. "Moment of truth," he said with a small smile. "I wouldn't choose anyone else to be beside me," he said in an uncommon show of affection for them. He glanced over at Fenris and Anders, seeing Cat between them, and well hidden by their larger bodies. He nodded to her. "Stay hidden," he cautioned, then turned back and opened the large doors, and stepped inside.
Cat couldn't believe how many people were crammed into the throne room. Sure the room could hold a lot, but with all of the nobles, and hundred or so qunari, it felt fairly crowded.
"But we have guests," the deep voice of the Arishok rumbled throughout the room, as they followed Hawke into the room. "Shanedan, Hawke."
"There's no way we can fight them all," she practically whispered, knowing Fenris' would be able to hear her regardless.
"For all your might," the Arishok continued, walking down the steps to be face to face with Hawke. "You are no different than these bas," he said in derision, gesturing to the crying and frightened nobles around them. "You do not see."
"We can still work this out," Hawke suggested. "Just let them go."
Cat flinched as the Arishok seemed to look right at her, as she peeked around Fenris's shoulder. He moved back to look at Hawke without reaction, replying, "perhaps." Cat breathed a sigh a relief. He must not have noticed her.
The Arishok's eyebrow went up, as if amused. "Prove yourself basra, or kneel with your brethren." He turned to walk up several stairs, just as a few warriors came forward. The rest of the crew backed up, at Fenris' direction, leaving plenty of room for Hawke and the four warriors.
They attacked him separately, but he maintained the distance he needed from each of them to attack with his spells. He was doing well, and Cat glanced over to see the Arishok watching in interest, and she suddenly felt as if this test was merely a way for him to see if Hawke was a worthy opponent to fight himself.
Before the fight was over, the Arishok yelled out, "Pasharra!" and the warriors back away, two of them dragging the other two back as well.
The Arishok seemed almost friendly, as he returned to the bottom of the stairs to speak with Hawke.
"You are basalit-an after all," he announced. "Now, tell me, how would you suggest we resolve this conflict?"
Hawke stepped forward. "Isabela stole the tome. We find her, and you will be able to leave Kirkwall, for good."
"Is this not one of your companions?" the Arishok asked derisively. "One I suspect you aided."
"The plan was to get the tome, and give it to you," Hawke defended himself, even as the Arishok looked warily at him, uncertain whether he wanted to believe him or not.
"Admirable, but pointless," he replied. "For I still do not have it." He looked at Hawke then, the amusement shining through. "Do you know the punishment for such a crime?" he asked, and Hawke shook his head. "It is very unpleasant, I am told, though effective enough so that the thief spends the rest of their days atoning for their crime among those they have wronged."
"So basically slavery instead of death then," Hawke muttered, and the Arishok smiled eerily.
"As the leader, it falls to you, Hawke." Hawke looked up in confusion, before the understanding dawned, and his eyes narrowed. "Their offence is yours. You will answer for the crimes of those that serve you."
Cat could tell that Hawke was thinking furiously, but when his shoulders squared, she felt her heart would stop if he accepted the Arishok's words.
She moved away quickly, and the tenseness of the moment was the only reason she was abe to catch Fenris off guard. "NO!" she shouted, moving to Hawke. "It's my punishment, not his!"
Hawke turned in shock, holding her from moving to the Arishok. "That's not true," he countered, holding her back, even as Fenris stepped forward to take her.
She felt frozen, the fear coursing through her as the hulking form of the Arishok stood over her. She remembered the worry she had of Sten deciding to kill her when he thought her useless, the fear of the memories causing her to shake.
Hawke pulled her back, and stepped in front of her. "He is right. As the one in charge, I must accept the consequences."
"I helped Isabela steal the tome!" Cat cried desperately, trying to get away from the two of them that held her still.
"Why are you doing this?!" Hawke hissed at her.
"Arishokost!" Fenris suddenly let go of her, and she fell into Hawke's arms at the sudden movement. "Qun-anaam ebra-toh! You have granted this man basalit-an. By this admission, he now has the right to challenge you."
His large axe on his shoulder, the Arishok looked knowingly at Fenris. "You know our ways," he spoke with a nod.
"I know that respect is hard won, but it also earns privilege."
"What say you, Hawke?" the Arishok asked. "Will you challenge me?" he smirked as if knowing what Hawke would say.
Hawke gave Cat back to Fenris, ensuring that she could not push past them again. "What are the rules?" he asked calmly.
"No!" Cat cried out again.
"We fight to the death, you and I. Alone. Kill me, and the duty that binds me here is ended. The others will return to Par Vollen."
Hawke thought this over, and asked, "and if you kill me?"
The Arishok smiled again, and Cat shivered. "Then you are dead."
The commotion at the door turned their attention there. The doors were kicked open, and Cat fell down in relief and gratitude. "Issy," she whispered.
"I believe this is what you are arguing about?" she spoke dryly, moving forward to Hawke. He looked at her sternly, but they could all see the relief in his face.
"You're late," he groused at her, and she rolled her eyes, before stepping up to the nearest qunari and handing him the book.
"The tome of Koslun," the Arishok said reverently.
"I think you'll find it mostly in one piece," Isabela said over her shoulder as she made her way to Cat, helping her stand.
"Issy," Cat started, tears forming in her eyes.
"Kitty," Isabela said softly with a small smile. "You know this is your damned influence, don't you? I was halfway to Ostwick before I knew I had to turn round."
Cat threw her arms around her best friend, so glad that she had come. "You worried me," she whispered.
"Doubted me, did you?" Isabela replied, pulling back and giving Cat a smirk. "Me too."
Hawke smiled, turning to the Arishok. "Now you can return to Par Vollen?" he asked pointedly.
"Yes," the qunari leader replied, but didn't move, and Hawke frowned. The Arishok's slight smile was very unnerving. "With the thieves."
"They will be punished plenty, but here," Aveline said firmly.
"No chance in hell," Cat growled out, standing in front of Isabela, her arms out as if to block a blow.
"The Qun does not suffer thieves," the Arishok rumbled, almost… amused, Cat thought angrily.
"This is not for the Qun to decide," Hawke stated, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Take your tome, and go," he commanded.
"It seems we must duel after all," the Arishok said, stepping forward, to Hawke's shocked dismay.
"No! If you duel anyone, duel me!" Isabela called out, and the Arishok glanced at her in disdain.
"You are not basalit-an," he replied. "You are not worthy." He turned back to Hawke. "I have my duty. I will take them. If you object, then you must fight. Killing me, is the only way to stop me now."
"It doesn't have to be this way," Hawke tried to make him see. "We can both walk away!"
"I cannot," the Arishok said firmly.
Hawke glanced over at Cat and Isabela, and turned back to the qunari leader. "So be it. I will not let you have them."
"Meravas!" The Arishok shouted, ensuring that all his warriors heard him. "So shall it be!"
"No, wait!" Cat yelled, stepping over to Hawke quickly, with Isabela in tow. "Hawke," she said quietly under her breath, "you don't have to do this. Even if we go with them, we can escape. There's no need to fight him!" She moved closer, her face clouded with worry. "I know you're strong, but he's resistant to magic, and his armor has all sorts of runes on it," she said, biting down on her lip. "I mean, I know you can beat him, but what will it cost you?"
"Far less than watching him take you away from me," Hawke said solemnly, and Cat looked up at him in confusion. "It makes no sense to me either," he said as his hands came to the sides of her face, pulling her to him with ease, and fitting his mouth over hers.
All coherent thought flew from her mind, as she stiffened in response. Just at the moment that she would have surrendered, Hawke pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.
"He can't have you," he said softly, then straightened, and moved away.
"Just her?" Isabela teased him, and he glanced back with a smirk, but didn't correct himself. She laughed as she pulled Cat back and out of the way, to join the rest of the crew.
"I should have just threatened to sail off with you," she told Cat, laughing. "Would have been much easier, and you wouldn't have wasted all this time."
"Huh?" Cat asked, looking over at her, and seeing all the others looking at her with smiles. "Why aren't you more worried?!" she demanded of them, turning back to Hawke in concern.
"He's got a reason, a purpose," Anders said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder in support and comfort. "He'll win."
She didn't see the others nod, just felt better as they crowded around her, Fenris and Isabela each grabbing one of her hands, Aveline and Merrill's hands on her back and Varric in front of her. Her worry didn't go away, but their faith in Hawke helped to bolster her.
The fight started slowly, as Hawke and the Arishok circled each other, trying to gauge the strengths of the other. A strike here, a feint there, a small spell used to try to understand the runes on the qunari's armor.
Hawke kept a distance between them, keeping out of range of the large axe and sword the Arishok was swinging around with little difficulty. Hawke twirled his staff around, and Cat noticed something.
"When did Hawke get a staff blade?" she asked.
"Recently," Fenris answered, neither of them looking away from the two fighters as they spoke. "After his fight with Du Puis,he felt he wouldn't have gotten as injured if he had had one."
"Okay," she replied. It made sense after all.
They stayed there, quietly watching apprehensively as their friend and leader fought for them. They winced as the Arishok got in a few slashes, Hawke not backing away quickly enough to completely avoid them.
She squeezed Fenris' hand as she felt him stiffen as Hawke put his hand to the latest cut, and looked at the blood on his hand. Hawke glared up at the Arishok, and steeled himself before launching into a counter attack.
They became more hopeful as Hawke's plan became apparent. He did everything he could to antagonize the Arishok, causing him to strike out in anger. It was like shipping away at a mountain, dodging attack after attack, running around the room, sliding behind pillars- to work his way to a single attack once the Arishok was angry.
Cat nodded, as Hawke once again had the Arishok flailing to strike him in fury, and he used a lightning spell to stun the qunari, sliding the staff blade in between his armor plates. Then he was off again, as the Qunari roared in pain, and struck out to get Hawke away. Hawke's breathing was heavy, as he started the process over again.
Cat could hear the commotion behind the door, as the templars finally made it to the hall, and were trying to reopen the doors. But, she couldn't tear her eyes away from Hawke, seeing him gather his mana to him wrapping a spell in a barrier, and flinging it out to the side. The Arishok glanced over, but continued after Hawke, sure that he had simply missed or dropped what he had meant to attack with.
Cat worried her lip between her teeth, seeing Hawke's strategy, and hoping it worked. After several more trips back and forth in the hall, keeping the Arishok from being aware of where the spell was in relation to themselves, Hawke led the large warrior to the center of the hall, and turned to fight.
The Arishok roared as he sent both blades to Hawke, who used his staff to block them from his skin, and with a twist, pulled the Arishok closer, as he tried to hold on. The gasps were heard as Hawke was head-butted, and fell back, dizzily.
The qunari stood over him in triumph, and Hawke backed away, scuttling over the floor. The Arishok moved forward, his blades over his head to strike, as Hawke reached over and grabbed the barrier wrapped spell, tossing it toward the Arishok and hitting the barrier with magic to dissipate it.
The massive spirit bolt, now freed from its cage, seemed to roar to life, striking the Arishok in the chest, and moving through him. He shook his head, trying to clear it, and looked down, in shock, seeing Hawke glaring at him, the blade from his staff up to the hilt in his midsection.
Hawke's face didn't change as he moved his arms, snapping the blade off from his staff, leaving it in the Arishok. He got to his feet, as the Arishok dropped his blades, and crumpled at the foot of the stairs.
The Qunari pointed at Hawke. "One day… we shall… re..turn…" he got out, before succumbing to the injury, his body going lax as he died.
"Is it… over?" Cat heard behind her, and the group of them turned to see Meredith and her templars, swords out and at the ready.
"It's over," Hawke replied from where he stood at the front of the room. "The Qunari will leave in peace," he stated, as the warriors had already started to file towards the doors.
The templars looked to their leader who nodded, and they split aside to let the qunari pass by them. Several followed after them, wanting to ensure it wasn't some sort of trick.
Hawke stood still, looking over at his crew, his emotions raw, and wanting to simply burst from his chest. He had almost lost them…. he had almost lost her twice now, just tonight. He hadn't meant to be so crass as to kiss her in front of everyone, but if he had lost, he would have very much regretted it if he hadn't kissed her.
He focused in on Cat, as the nobles around him were cheering, though he didn't hear them. He could see she was crying, but ignoring the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
She looked up, and her eyes met his, and he gave her a half smile, which grew as he could see the color tinting her cheeks. He ignored those around him that were trying to shake his hand, or pat his back, and he moved toward her.
"It seems the city has a new Champion," he heard a voice proclaim loudly, and he saw Meredith step in front of him.
His eyebrow rose at her expression, it was obvious that she didn't agree with the cheering people, in fact, she looked very unhappy about the idea.
She stepped close, and he kept himself from stepping back, even as she made him uncomfortable. "Champion," she said snidely. "Until you show your true colors, mage. Then you will follow my lead."
"I'll be sure to avoid that, Knight Commander," he stated, moving past her, looking for his friends.
"Champion!" the people began crowding around him again. "Champion!" "Champion!"
It started as people trying to get his attention, and became a rallying call that made him feel somewhat nauseated. He kept turning, and turning, looking for the others, but unable to find them.
"And we are out here, why?" Isabela complained. "We can hardly celebrate my return without Hawke." She grinned and winked at Cat. "Besides, I'm sure he has a different celebration in mind."
Cat paled slightly, coughing to cover it up, and feeling her face heat as she noticed several people staring openly at her as they walked past.
"Why don't we go ahead and get started Rivaini?" Varric suggested. "The whole city will be celebrating, and we need to make sure we have a seat after all."
"Good idea, Varric!" Isabela exclaimed with a grin. "I'll worry about Castillon later. It will take time before he hears about this anyway."
"That's the spirit," Varric replied. "Who else?" he asked.
"There is much work to do," Aveline said quietly. "I need to account for my guardsmen." She turned to look at Varric. "Send any you see to the keep, will you?" she asked, and he nodded.
"Thank you, everyone," she said, and headed back inside.
"We should probably make sure Hawke's mother is still all right," Anders said, and Merrill nodded. "I'll help you," she said, giving Fenris a pointed look.
He ignored her. "I'll wait with Cat," he said, and the others all rolled their eyes at his apparent lack of romance.
"I… think I will head home and change?" she said uncertainly.
"Good idea, Kitty," Isabela said, looking over her. "You've got blood all over you."
"Not mine," Cat replied immediately, and Isabela smirked.
"Of course not,"she said. "Come to the Hanged Man when you can," she said with a pat to Cat's arm, and then they left.
"Shall we?" Fenris asked her, and Cat looked at him for a moment before nodding.
They walked slowly, which was not unusual, and silently, which was. Fenris wanted to say something, but was uncertain if Cat was upset, or simply deep in thought.
"Would the Qun have punished the Arishok if he returned with the tome and not us?" she asked suddenly.
He glanced at her, surprised at what she had been worrying about. "I am not certain, though I do not believe so," he replied.
"So he just wanted a fight?" she asked incredulously.
Fenris frowned. "I may not be able to explain it correctly," he started. "As the leader of all the Qun's military, he most likely has not fought in some time. Being waylaid here in Kirkwall, all because of a duty… I'm certain he was feeling caged."
He turned to glance at her. "That's not really an answer, I know, but is my impression."
"I think I get it," she replied, falling silent again.
A short while later, they walked into their home, separating to get cleaned up. He didn't take as long, knowing she had dried blood in her hair that would take some time to clean out. He went to the kitchen, rummaging for something for them to eat, especially since they would most likely be drinking the rest of the night away.
It wasn't fancy, but it was filling. Fenris glanced at Cat again in concern. She was being strangely quiet still, and it was unnerving.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, wanting to at least offer.
She looked up, meeting his eyes, and giving a shrug. "I guess so," she said softly. "When we kissed, way back when, do you remember how you felt?"
He nodded, though still uncertain of what the problem was. Obviously it had to do with Hawke kissing her… but? "It was good," he replied. "I felt warmth and care for you, though that was all."
"Me too," she said, looking down at her plate.
They sat in silence for several minutes before she looked up again. "Sorry," she said sheepishly, and he merely looked at her. "When Hawke, uh, kissed me…" she began, "there were none of those feelings," she said.
"None?" he asked in surprise. That was unexpected… he thought.
"Uh... or all?" she said. "It was unsettling."
"I can see that," he said dryly.
She smiled before her face dropped back to worry. "It wasn't warmth, it was a wild, burning fire. It wasn't care, it was like… like… something snarling, MINE …"
He frowned at that, not liking the possessiveness in the way she said it.
"Before with Steven," she said, looking at him again. "It was only the warmth, and the care. I thought it was love, but, now I'm not sure." He moved over to her, as she looked at him in panic. "I've never felt like this, Fen! It's scaring me... What do I do?" she asked desperately.