Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 6: Long Way From Home

"We could have taken the same ship as Varric." Hawke complained as she and Fenris strode away from the docks in Gwaren. She could remember well the first time she set foot on these docks. It was the day they left Lothering, the day Bethany died. She couldn't think about that now though. Fenris smiled a mischievous smile and took her hand gingerly. "Why? So we could listen to him tell awfully over exaggerated stories and make snide remarks about us?" He asked sarcastically. She supposed he was right. Varric did do those things but if he didn't, he wouldn't be the Varric they know and love.

She laughed a little to herself as they entered the city, bags in hand, weapons on back. "I just mean that if we had, maybe the trip wouldn't have felt as long." She pointed out, shrugging as they walked. Fenris looked on and searched the streets before them for the quartermaster. He turned to her then with a bit of a grin. "You don't have to tell me you gave poor taste in company, Hawke." He said slyly with slight condescension in his voice. She shook her head with a feigned angry face. "You know that's not what I meant. There's no one I'd rather be here with." She smiled as he blushed nervously under her gaze. His markings seemed to spark ever so slightly when he got nervous. It was adorable in her opinion.

They'd been traveling by sea for a day. They were on their way to Lothering. After the way she left it so many tears ago she thought she ought to go back and see it again. She owed her home that much. She recalled a conversation she had with Fenris the night they met. He asked about going home to Lothering. It only took her twenty years to realize how dearly she missed it. She arranged to meet old friends there, stay for the day, and then venture onward. Lothering was not their only destination. Once they reached the city they'd spend the night and see some old sights then they'd be on their way to Halamshiral. Everyone was meeting there as a celebration to defeating Corypheus. Ten years was a long time and this was a milestone for them all.

Fenris owed much to the Inquisition, to the Warden Stroud in particular. Were it not for his sacrifice, Fenris would not have the woman he loved standing beside him, staring up at him and giving him compliments as he fidgeted like a nervous fool. It was early in the day. The sun was just starting to rise and the air was brisk. It tickled his Lyrium burned skin as he looked down at her with fondness and adoration in his eyes. He suddenly let all pretense leave him and stepped closer to her, allowing his hands to pull her by the hips to him. His lips crashed against hers in a quick, hard kiss. It was like the starting of a fire in his gut. It grew and flamed with all the fury of his love for this woman. The kiss, while not long in length, was powerful and motivating.

"What was that for?" Hawke asked with a bright pink blush on her cheeks and sparkle in her blue eyes. Fenris' breath was limited. She took all of it right out of him. He loved the rush he felt being so near and intimate with her. He pressed his lips together in a firm line as their foreheads touched. It was as if he was trying to restrain himself. "We should find the quartermaster." He let out in a husky voice. She could hear it then. The desire that laced his tone and mixed with his features was unmistakable. "It'd be best if we got to the inn at Lothering soon." She muttered and a grin spread across Fenris' lips without his permission. His brain told him to do one thing and his body did the opposite. He couldn't control it.

He took her by the hand then and led her down the path upon realizing they'd just shown affection in such a public place and many were staring. This was not something Fenris enjoyed. He didn't like people in his normal business. To have them see him do something that made him vulnerable, something intimate, made him angry. Fenris kept his head about him though as they walked down the path to the quartermaster. It was a short walk. Gwaren was a major city but nowhere near as big as Hightown in Kirkwall or Denerim. The quartermaster's home and stables were on a large piece of land just inside the borders of the village. The gate and city sign could be seen from his front door.