A Court of Trickery and Salvation

Chapter Two

I wake up in my tent, curled up underneath my thin blanket as confusion ripples through me. Last thing I remember is staring out into the night filled woods on watch, I must've fallen asleep. Panic fills my veins as I quickly sit up, checking to see if my clothes are still intact.

"Relax, you're okay Kayla." Hawke's soothing voice eases the tightness in my chest as he walks over to kneel next to my cot. "You were asleep when I came to check on you." He tilts his head as his intense eyes study me closely, to the rapid rise and fall of my chest to the way my hands clutch at the side of the cot. "What's going on?"

"Nightmares." I shrug and climb out of the bed, moving away from Hawke who continues to stare at me. "Stop staring Hawke, I'm fine." I tell him before poking my head out of the flap of my tent, closing my eyes as I prepare for my 'morning routine'. "Don't you have patrol?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" He says gruffly from behind me but I ignore him and push the rest of the way out of my tent. Suddenly I become acutely aware of how this would look, Hawke and I coming out of my tent together.

"Stay in there for a few minutes. Make sure no one sees you." I hiss before walking away towards Crighton's tent to report last nights watch as uneventful, hopefully Hawke didn't tell him about me falling asleep.

"You're late." He says as he looks through papers scattering the table in his tent, not even bothering to look up at me. "Did Hawke keep you up all night?" The venom in which his spat out Hawke's name had me tensing up. Finally Crighton's steely blue eyes raised to mine, icy rage burned there.

"It wasn't like that. I fell asleep on watch and he carried me back to my tent. That's it Crighton." I stay by the entrance of his tent as he stands up and slowly rounds the desk. He takes slow predatory steps closer to me until he is directly in front of me then his hand is tangled in the back of my hair, yanking my head back.

"You're mine Kayla. Don't let Hawke's protection make you forget that. He can't protect you from me." His grip on my hair tightens so much that an involuntary whimper slips past my lips making him smile. That smile is probably what ignites the smartass in me.

"Is that why you wait until he's on patrol?" I sneer, a big mistake on my part. Crighton's smile turns feral as he shoves me towards the desk by my hair. My heart lodged in my throat when I hear the click of his belt behind me.

"Hawke Flynn doesn't scare me besides, he's going to be leaving for Masadonia soon." Crighton growls close to my ear as he presses his chest to my back, pressing his crotch closer to my ass. I grip the edge of the table, bracing for the inevitable consequences of my comment.

"General Crighton?" Someone calls from the other side of the tents flap and I tense underneath him as I recognize Hawke's voice.

'Shit shit shit. Please Hawke, don't come in here." My mind races even more when I feel Crighton press harder on the back of my head, shoving my cheek harder into the wood.

"What is it Flynn?" Crighton snaps. "Shouldn't you be on patrol?" Even if Hawke walked in, he wouldn't be able to see my face from behind Crighton's back. He wouldn't let him either, not when he's obviously scared of Hawke enough to keep his touches innocent in front of him.

"I was then the mail got delivered and I saw a letter for Kayla. I can't find her anywhere." Hawke answers coldly and to anyone else, anyone who didn't know Hawke Flynn, they wouldn't have heard the concern lacing his words.

"I sent her into the town to get a sleeping draft. I heard about her nightmares from another one of the soldiers and thought it would help." I wanted to die right there, of course Crighton would know about my nightmares. He's the star of almost every single one of them.

"How considerate." Hawke says in a tone that shows just how he really feels about the lie. Crighton tightens his grip on my hair and presses his crotch even closer to me, marking his territory even though Hawke can't see. One of Crighton's hands unbutton my pants and pulls them down. I clutch the table harder as embarrassment floods my body and tears prick my eyes. He pushes against me and I move my other hand to cover my mouth when he enters me fully.

"I am very considerate but my consideration only goes so far. I am currently in the middle of something important so go pine after Kayla somewhere else." He says evenly as he slowly moves in and out of me, I can feel him holding back so I don't make a sound. Tears slip down my cheeks as my emotions war with each other, the desperation of wanting Hawke to walk in and help me and the embarrassment if he were to come in and see me this way.

"I'm holding onto her letter until I find her. If you see her before I do then let her know."

"Last I checked I am your superior." Crighton growls as he snaps his hips harder against me, probably punishing Hawke in his mind. A small yelp leaves my lips as my hips hit the edge of the table. Crighton stills a second when Hawke's retreating footsteps stop.

"What was that?" Hawke growls and I grip the desk harder, silently wishing he would just leave so this can end already.

"I told you I am in the middle of something important." Crighton looks down at me, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Unless you want to join, I'm sure my friend wouldn't mind." Crighton sneers as he continues his slow pace, snapping his hips against my ass when he feels like it. Each snap earns a yelp from me.

"I'll decline. Just let Kayla know I have her letter." Hawke finally walks away from the tent, allowing Crighton do finally drop the restraint he had on himself.