Wicked Graces

Chapter Ten

Hawke had been to many high society gatherings since reclaiming the Amell family home and making herself a prominent figure in Kirkwall. Even before she was the Champion, people seemed to know who she was, and they were always inviting her attend functions and festivities. She always dreaded going, as she more often than not wound up leaving covered in someone else's blood, ruining a perfectly good outfit. Sebastian teasingly made her promise from the top of the stairs before descending into the party not to kill anyone, but as he winked over at her she was sure there was an actual hint of pleading in his eyes. He'd been to several of those parties with her—he knew what to expect.

"Oh stop," she waved him off, "I'm not going to kill anyone. Not anyone important, anyway."

"Hawke," he warned as the herald announced their entry.

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs they didn't have much opportunity for private conversation with one another as guest after guest made their way into the royal couple's graces to offer congratulations, well-wishes, advice, and a couple of times she swore they were extending strange warnings. There'd been a target on her back so long, she expected it, but marrying up in station was certainly going to make that target a hell of a lot bigger. Let them come for her, let them try to tear her and Sebastian apart. Let them threaten her family... she dared them all to try.

It went on for hours, Hawke tuning back into each conversation at precisely the right moment, pretending to ignore the neglected looks from her husband as he realized she wasn't actually standing beside him, but longing to be huddled in the corner with Varric making fun of people and their funny hats.

"Some of them are wearing very funny hats," she managed to whisper, making him chortle a cough into his shoulder before scanning the room quickly and returning his attention to Lord Yves Montilyet of Antiva, who'd been talking about his eldest daughter... was it Jessamine? Jasmine? Something with a J. She didn't know; she hadn't been paying attention. She was more interested in the collection of Grey Wardens surrounding King Alistair and Varric as they traded stories that were no doubt far more interesting than Lord Montilyet's heir.

The Hero of Ferelden looked utterly fascinated, interjecting once or twice to either agree or correct her king's exaggerations while Nathaniel stood completely rigid with arms crossed, his guard up, and a pained expression marring his handsome features. She only just managed to tune back into her own conversation in time to agree wholeheartedly that it was a delight to meet the Antivan noble, and she would very much like to visit his family estate in Rialto to taste of the wine they were moderately famous for producing. As Lord Montilyet departed, Sebastian drew her aside before someone else had a chance to slip into the Antivan's place.

"You've been amazing tonight," he praised her, "but even I can see you can't hold out much longer. You're fidgeting like a child. Go," he urged, "introduce yourself to the Hero of Ferelden and tell Varric to stop exaggerating about the size of that dragon in the Bone Pit."

"It was a very large dragon," she corrected.

"Well then, go over there and make sure he gets the details right." He kissed the corner of her mouth, adding, "I'll find you later."

"Are you sure you'll be all right without me? They won't eat you alive?"

"You forget I grew up in this world, love," he winked. "I know exactly how to handle these people. Watch." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before turning into the crowd and calling out to a Lord Raibart Tulach, before inserting himself into conversation with a group of men he'd apparently grown up with.

Hawke moved casually through the crowd, smiling, nodding—two things she was exceptionally good at—until she arrived just behind the Grey Wardens in time to hear the tail end of Varric's retelling of her duel with the Arishok. He always made the whole thing sound ridiculous to the point of comedic, and swore if they ever made a play out of his Tale of the Champion once it was finished that scene would be pure slapstick complete with silly music while a horned giant chased this little slip of a woman with two really sharp blades around Viscount's Keep until she finally managed to glide in behind him and stab both daggers into his immense back.