Dragon Age: One Shots

Fenris x Female Mage Hawke- Comfort

(Art by: @wifihunters on DeviantArt)

She sat on the bed, slowly sliding to the floor, pointing an empty stare at the bouncing amber colors of the fire. He didn't understand the pain she felt, but he knew how extensive it was. She was alone, and it was his fault.

She was overwhelmed by the crushing reality that she was the last Hawke. She could no longer playfully pummel Carver for his idiotic banter, nor could she see the gleaming smile settle across Bethany's face when she mentioned one of the chantry boys.

He broke her from her thoughts and she flinched at the presence of a warm hand at her shoulder. She had every right to be angry with him, but when she felt the cold metal of his gauntlets against her skin, all was forgotten; he was the only one she had ever cared for this deeply. As if his touch brought up a million painful memories, she finally broke. She allowed herself to be vulnerable for the first time in years. She was prepared for him to reject her at that very moment, to leave her there ruined as he did before. But when she saw the furrow of his brow through her tears, as if pained by her sobs, she knew he cared.

She understood why he had left, but sometimes she doubted herself, 'perhaps he had lied to avoid hurting her feelings.'

'Maybe she was unattractive, maybe she had said something wrong, or maybe it was simply because she was a mage.'

She reminisced on how painful it was to remain passive as she let out another wrenched sob. He slinked down to the floor beside her and wiped the tears from her hot face. He quickly turned his gaze away and rested her head in his lap. He was afraid; not afraid of her, but afraid he wouldn't be able to resist her touch much longer. Her eyes were his favorite poison, and soon he would succumb to the hazy blue and silver that he used to wade in.

She choked back her sobs and breaking the silence, let out a stuttered whisper of: "I am alone".

In response, he pushed her soft black hair away from her forehead as if to say: "I am here".

She was exhausted. The mountain of trauma constantly pushing down on her shoulders and pulling her apart would be enough to kill a weak man, but she would get through this.

She whispered again: "Everyone has left me. Mother, Carver, Bethany..." She searched for his glowing eyes and when she found them she let her pain overflow. "You."

He wasn't sure if she knew he would always love her, but he did not want today to be the day she found out.

He finally forced his lips to move, forming an "I will always be here". It had no effect.

She couldn't decide whether he felt obligated to be friendly because he was sorry for hurting her, or if he missed her equally. The warmth of a soothing hand on her cheek proved it to be the latter, and she smiled through her tears.

They sat there for an hour, Hawke crying into his lap while he ran his fingers across the length of her shoulders. She fell asleep after some time, leaving him conflicted. He didn't know whether to leave her there as he had the last time they were alone together, or care for her like he had always wanted to. It would be so simple to run and give her closure, and yet it was the more painful option. When he pushed the hair from her tear-stained cheek, revealing softly pursed lips and gentle curled eyelashes, he had his answer.

He picked her up and cradled her head in the crevice of his arm. Her body folded comfortably in his grasp and yet, she did not stir, this made her exhaustion become apparent. He sat her on the bed and covered her in a thin sheet. When he finally gained the strength he looked towards the door and prepared himself to leave. That was when he felt her hand intertwined with his, brushing against the red silk sash that he had tied around his wrist that night. He fell down onto the bed behind her, rubbing his thumb against the back of her soft hands and enveloping her in his arms once more. Though he could not see it, a smile jumped to her face, which, in return, moved to his.

She would wake tomorrow in the comfort of his embrace, knowing that it wasn't over, knowing that it wasn't her fault, and knowing that he would never let her go again. Before he drifted unto the fade, he took in her scent and released a whisper from his lips, "I am yours." He would forever keep this promise.