Hawke and his Princess: Ch. 40

Ostagar

"Hawke, I have something for you, I don't know if you'll use it, but it would make me feel better, especially where we'll be heading today." She pulled him inside where she had laid out a set of armor on their makeshift cot. Crafted from supple leather dyed in deep shades of black and deep blue, every piece bore an elegant pattern reminiscent of intertwining leaves. The cuirass stood out with its blend of smoothly arched plates and overlapping leather bands, its front and back pieces fastened securely by a series of sturdy straps and gleaming buckles. Alongside it, matching pauldrons, bracers, and hand guards completed the set, each displaying the exquisite finesse and graceful design that marked elven craftsmanship.

"Wow, this is beautiful, Elayne." He said quietly before giving her an embarrassed look, "Would you mind helping me? I have no idea how this stuff is supposed to go on."

After she helped him put everything on, he went outside to do his forms, knowing this would take some getting used to. By the time he was done, all he had left on was the cuirass and the hand guards. He looked over at her sheepishly, "I will wear the cuirass, but I don't feel comfortable with the other items. I like the freedom of not having anything encumbering me. Would that work for you?"

She nodded, she could live with that, something was better than nothing. He pulled her close to him after removing the cuirass, "I love it, Elayne, all of it. I'm just not used to it, but I will try."

"Thank you, Hawke," she laid her head against his chest.

"Speaking of armor, I notice your new set. You look absolutely ravishing in it, my sexy warrior goddess." She blushed, and he chuckled, tilting her head up, looking into her eyes. "I love you, Elayne," he whispered before putting his mouth to hers, his hands roaming down her body.

"Hawke," she moaned, "as much as I enjoy your hands on me," she said in his head.

He growled as he removed his mouth from hers, pulling her close to him. "I know, baby, we have to get going," he sighed. "Come on. The sooner we get this done, the quicker we can get back." He grinned down at her, "on the bright side, depending on when we get back, it should be time for our three-day getaway."

"Or better yet, my love, they tell us we're done, and we can go home."

He helped her on Snowball, "That does sound good, doesn't it?" His smile disappeared, his expression became serious as he took her hand in his, his eyes penetrating hers. "I still don't feel right about you coming. I still feel you should stay here, but..." He shook his head in frustration, "Elayne, no matter what, stay beside me, please."

She put her other hand on the side of his face, "I will, Hawke, I promise baby." He stood there watching her, he started to say something but shook his head. Instead, he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. He finally let her go and got on Midnight. They headed to the camp where Duncan and Aldon were waiting for them, with a couple of pack horses.

Hawke looked at the elf, who nodded to them. "We've never properly been introduced, but I'm Aldon, I've been part of yours and lady Elayne's sparring partners. I volunteered for this mission to help you out however I can."

Hawke stuck out his hand, "I remember you, and I appreciate it, Aldon, and thank you. I hope I didn't hurt you to bad sparring, I know I can get a bit aggressive at times."

Aldon laughed, taking Hawke's hand, "think nothing of it. In fact, it was a good learning experience."

Duncan came up to them, looking at Hawke, "That's a mighty fine war horse you got there, Hawke." he went to pat Midnight, but Midnight turned his head, showing his teeth and tossing his head.

Hawke soothed Midnight, as he cautioned Duncan. "Midnight is not a tame horse. He won't let others touch him except for one other person," he said, looking over at Elayne.

"I understand. How did you get him anyway."

"I won him in a competition a few years back in Denerim, I've raised him since he was a colt."

Duncan looked at him more closely as they took off. He shook his head a couple of times, as if torn between conflicting thoughts. Hawke sighed but didn't say anything, and Elayne giggled on his other side. "Seems whether you want it or not, your reputation of that day follows you, husband."

Hawke watched Duncan, waiting until he finally quit arguing with himself and looked at him. "Are you saying that you're the same young man that had Denerim in an uproar a few years back? I heard that even the King had men out looking for you."

Hawke grimaced, "I know, he already told me. He was looking for me to see if I wanted to be part of his army. Yes, Duncan, that was me."

"Wait, you've met and talked to King Cailan personally?" Hawke nodded, keeping his eyes averted from Duncan.

"Who are you? It's a big honor to talk to him. He doesn't usually have an audience with just anyone."

Hawke sighed, "it's a long story. To make it short, Cailan and I made an arrangement. And that's all you need to know."

"How old were you when you entered?"

Hawke found himself growing increasingly annoyed by the constant inquiries about his age. It was as if no one could understand that a younger contender might actually triumph, their surprise bordering on disbelief. Besides for all he knew, it had probably been a fluke that he had won.

"Just days before I turned nineteen, I found myself entering the competition on a whim, driven solely by curiosity on whether my teachers--Caleb among them--were right about my abilities. And before you ask, I'm twenty-one, and it has been almost seven years since I first took up the sword."

"You were so young then, and according to you, you had only had three years experience since you first picked the sword up. You're still too young to be called a master, but Caleb calls you one. I've sparred with you, and I even have to agree that you're good. Very good, in fact, but you're too young," Duncan said, bewildered. "If you don't mind my asking, why did you pick up the sword. You're a mage, not too many, if any, will use a sword. They prefer using their magic."

"Boredom," he said as he watched Duncan, who looked at him curiously.

"It's true," Hawke grinned at him. "I was bored one day, my brother was being trained, and I decided to pick up the sword. It felt right when I held it in my hand, and after my first lesson, I found out how easy it was. I mastered every lesson with ease before the lessons were over. It wasn't until I started training with Caleb that I realized what I was; I'm a battlemage."

"That's not possible," Duncan muttered to himself, but Hawke heard. Duncan looked back up at him, "Are you sure you don't want to be a Grey Warden? We could definitely use you in the ranks, especially here in Ferelden."

"I already told you, I have no interest, I've got a family that relies on me. Since my fathers passing, the responsibility of my family is in my hands, and soon, I'll start having a family of my own." He felt Elayne in his head, her love for him literally bursting with joy when he mentioned them starting their own family. "I love you, baby," she said in his head.

"I love you too, angel."

"So since you're entering the competition in a few months, does that mean you'll be joining the Kings army if you win? Why not the Wardens, we don't care if you're a mage. In fact, mage Wardens are given great respect and importance in the Order. And with your warrior skills, you could be moved up in the ranks in the Order quickly. Thanks to the Chantry laws, battlemages are rare. And that's a shame. Not only can you wield magic, but your warrior skills are extraordinary, and you've had personal training from Duncan, who's an arcane warrior, which makes you even rarer." Duncan paused for a minute as he studied Hawke before continuing. "I sometimes wonder if the Chantry's many laws regarding magic are even necessary. Darkspawn are a greater threat than blood mages, even abominations. It takes decades for the world to recover from a Blight."

"No, it doesn't mean that. I won't be part of his army or yours. I have my reasons for doing what I'm doing, that's all you need to know." Hawke was getting tired of answering questions. He rode closer to Snowball and brought Elayne over on his lap on Midnight, hopefully ending the conversation.

Duncan let them be when he sensed Hawke's irritation. Instead, he contemplated Hawke's words.

"Why is everyone so shocked when I tell them how old I am and was. A lot of people must be able to..."

"No, Hawke, you won in a competition that had men older with more experience than you. You did it with only three years of sword training. I bet you were only halfway through your training with Caleb when you entered. Maybe it was a fluke like you keep saying, but what about now, all of your sparring lessons. You defeated our General, and you can single-handedly take out twelve very well-trained elven warriors. Just yesterday, you took out seasoned fighters who, in their own way, are master's. The Grey Wardens themselves are deadly fighters. They have to be to do what they need to do. I watched the fight in your mind, not one blade touched you, and you had never seen Duncan fight before, but you were able to counter every move. You may be only twenty-one, but you fight as if you were someone much older and experienced. That's why people are shocked."

She leaned back against him, letting him contemplate what she had said. He failed to recognize the rarity of his skills, abilities that distinguished him from others. While most soldiers labored for months, if not years, to perfect their skills, he seemed to grasp complex concepts in mere days, or perhaps even less. This remarkable gift of his was an extraordinary boon for someone of his age, yet he remained unaware of its true importance.

When they got to the main road, she recognized where they were. The trail to Hawke's farm was just ahead. They would have to reach the crossroads outside Lothering and go down on what was called the Imperial Highway to reach Ostagar.

"Do you have everything you need, you have enough warm clothes, a jacket if you need it?"

"I'm fine, Hawke, between Caleb and Miya, I have what I need." She turned around looking at him, "quit worrying about me, Hawke. I'll be fine."

"It's my job to make sure your needs are being met in every way possible. That way, I don't have to worry about you."

She sighed, laying her head against him. She knew it was much more than that. He still didn't like that she was going with him into possible danger, and no matter what she said, it didn't matter to him. As far as he was concerned, she was putting herself in a position that could possibly be dangerous, not only for her but for him also. But there was no way she was going to sit back watching, feeling him being in danger if there was a way to help him in any way possible.

He pulled her closer to him, "What am I going to do with you, baby? I appreciate why you think you need to do this, but didn't you say earlier that I was capable of taking care of myself?"

"Yes, you're very much capable of taking care of yourself, but what happens if you have to use your power, and you overextend yourself? Yes, you have your blades to draw from, but what if you drain those, or you forget about them. I will not watch and feel you go through that again, I can not Arik."

He cursed himself for that day for so many reasons. He knew he had scared her, but he didn't realize how much it had affected her, was still affecting her. He could remove that memory, but he knew he wouldn't, couldn't, for the same reasons he couldn't do it to Rose. Not only could it cause problems down the future, but there would be a blank space where that memory was. Yes, he could put something else in place, but how long would it last? It would be a false memory. But most importantly, it went against everything he believed in. To go in tampering with someone's mind like that, it felt dishonest. So because of that day, they would both have to suffer for his stupidity. Not for the first time, he wished he could take it back. He did the only thing he could even if he didn't like it.

"Elayne, look at me please," he whispered to her, lifting her chin up, seeing her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I apologize, I ask for your forgiveness, and I love you more for you wanting to look out for me. I am honored to have my beautiful wife with me on this journey we're taking together, no matter the danger we might face. We'll watch out for each other, okay?"

He waited for her to nod before seeing her relax a little. He brought his mouth down to hers, "I love you, Elayne," he whispered before claiming her mouth. After a few minutes, she sighed as her body and mind finally relaxed, and she put her arms around him, putting everything they felt, their love for each other into the kiss.

It was late afternoon when they made it to the crossroads and turned off, heading to Ostagar. They were going to go as far as they could before stopping for the night. Aldon passed out rations, so they didn't have to stop and eat. The quicker they got there, the better. Hawke knew that if it was just Midnight and him, they would be a lot further, but they weren't alone, and they had the pack horses to worry about.

He looked over at Elayne and noticed her nodding off. He chuckled while he brought her horse to his and picked her up, cradling her in his lap. He pulled out a blanket from his saddlebags and put it around her as she put her hand in his shirt, snuggling into him before sleep completely took her.

Duncan looked over at them, "we can stop here for the night if you need to, but I'd rather continue on further if we can."

"That won't be necessary. She sleeps in my arms a lot on long trips. Let us continue. We're both fine." Duncan nodded before moving further ahead with Aldon staying between them.

Finally, late into the night, Duncan pulled off the road, and they found a place to stop and rest. After Elayne was as comfortable as he could make her, he let her sleep while he walked around the camp, securing it with wards even though Duncan set up watches, so if anything happened to come near, they'd know about it. But Hawke wasn't going to take any chances, especially with Elayne being with them.

Hawke took first watch, needing to clear his mind. He sat there, his senses on full alert as he took out his belt knife and, using a trickle of his power, he started carving on a piece of wood he had found. When Aldon came for his shift, Hawke had the beginnings of a design forming in the wood. He hoped Elayne would love it once finished.

"Thank you, Aldon. It's been quiet. Hopefully, it will stay that way." Hawke went over to where Elayne was still sleeping and laid down, pulling her close to him, bringing the blanket up closer to her before he closed his eyes.

Sometime later, he was startled awake as he felt a disruption in one of his wards, accompanied by the eerie howls of distant wolves. Before setting out to investigate, he gently placed Elayne into a deeper sleep and surrounded her with a protective shield. With a quick gesture, he signaled Aldon to follow as he approached the ward. Drawing his sword, he crept toward the horses, where Midnight and the other horses were showing signs of agitation--stomping their hooves and breathing heavily.

While soothing Midnight and the other horses, Hawke remained alert, extending his senses to probe the surrounding area. The haunting howls echoed closer, but this time, something caught his attention--a flicker of movement at the edge of his vision. With sharpened focus, he discerned a group of at least five wolves stealthily closing in from behind the horses.

Reacting swiftly, he retrieved his belt knife and hurled it at the nearest wolf. Emerging from his hiding spot, he grasped both swords, ready for confrontation. Just as he engaged, an arrow whizzed past, striking one of the wolves. Casting a quick glance back, he acknowledged Aldon with a nod. Between the two of them, they had dispatched a total of seven wolves.

After gathering the lifeless bodies into a pile, Hawke reclaimed his belt knife and, channeling his power, incinerated the carcasses, leaving no trace behind.

"Well, that was exciting," Aldon said cheerfully, coming up to him as they headed back to camp after making sure the horses were calm again.

Hawke looked at him and shook his head, "I'm heading back to my wife. If anything more happens, I'll know." As he laid back down, he saw Duncan sit up and head to where Aldon was to relieve him of his watch. The details of their exchange remained a mystery to Hawke, who had already closed his eyes. The night passed quietly, allowing the group to wake early the next day. Well, everyone except Elayne, as she was asleep once again in his arms.

As Hawke rode alongside Duncan, he could sense the displeasure coming from him. "You should have woken me, Hawke. How did you even know there was trouble?" Duncan questioned, a frown etched on his face.

Hawke met Duncan's challenging gaze with unwavering steadiness. "After ensuring Elayne was sound asleep, I took the precautions of warding the camp. You might call me overly protective, but when it comes to my wife's safety, I won't take that chance. If anything had come too close, you would have been warned. Aldon and I handled the wolves; they were creeping toward the horses, likely hoping to startle them into a panic for an easy capture."

Duncan's attention shifted between Hawke and Elayne, who was now alert and watching the interaction. "In the future, kindly wake me." he replied, a note of annoyance creeping into his voice before he turned away and rode off again.

Elayne looked up at him, grinning, "Have a little fun last night, husband?"

"Nothing too exciting, just some wolves looking for food, they were easily taken care of." He looked down at her, "did you sleep ok?"

Stretching the best she could while being in his arms on the back of a horse, "I slept like a baby, which surprises me considering I've never slept outdoors before. Do I have you to thank for that?"

"Just doing what I can to make sure you're safe and comfortable."

She sat up looking at him while wrapping her arms around his neck, "thank you, Hawke," she whispered before putting her lips to his. She lost herself in their kiss as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.

Sighing contentedly, she finally pulled her mouth from his and laid back in his arms, looking up at him.

"Are you hungry," he asked her, looking down at her. She grinned as her hand went into his shirt, "Behave yourself, angel," he growled, handing her some food and a water skin.

"Fine, you're no fun," she pouted before sitting back up. "How much longer do you think it's going to be until we're there, I'm starting to get bored."

He chuckled, "we're going to a place that could quite possibly be dangerous, and you're bored?"

She shrugged, "Sorry, but we've been riding since early yesterday, and I feel restless. I'm used to doing something, even if it's sword training. At least you had a little fun last night while I slept," she pouted again.

"I'm sorry baby, hopefully it won't be too much longer, but let's find out." He urged Midnight ahead to talk to Duncan. "How much further do you think we have to go?"

"It will take a few more hours, most likely until mid-afternoon. Once we arrive, we'll pitch our tents and proceed from there. I understand that our journey has been longer than you're probably accustomed to, but we'll be reaching our destination soon. Just ahead, you'll begin to spot the towers of Ostagar, where we'll set up camp. It's a perfect opportunity to put your wards to good use."

"Thank you, Duncan, we'll leave you be." He started to let Midnight fall back, but he hesitated, "I want to apologize if I overstepped last night. I'm used to handling things on my own; when something requires attention, I make sure it gets done--especially when Elayne's safety is at stake." With that, he let Midnight retreat to the rear once more. He looked down at her, "At least you know as much as I do now."

Elayne watched him thoughtfully, sensing his discomfort with authority. "I gather you're not used to taking orders," Elayne asked quietly.

He shook his head, "No, I haven't been for quite some time--perhaps I never truly was. I would make a poor soldier; I couldn't tolerate standing around while someone dictates orders, telling me what to do or how to do it. Like I told him, if something needs to be done, then I get it done. I didn't see the point of waking him if I didn't need to. Aldon was with me, and trust me, if anything had gotten past us, he would have known. The inside ward would have let him know, giving him time to prepare."

"I think this trip promises to be exciting," she chuckled. "He's probably never met anyone like you before."

"So glad you'll be entertained, darling," he drawled as he grinned down at her.

Resting her head against his chest, she nestled closer, her thoughts drifting towards the upcoming wedding. Excitement filled her as she imagined the moment she would walk down the aisle in her wedding gown, heading towards him as he stood clad in his wedding attire. Curiosity nagged at her, though. He still hadn't shown her the color of his outfit.

She felt the gentle pressure of his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her head to look up at him. "Are you really eager to know?" he asked in a soft tone, gazing deeply into her eyes.

She nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. A sharp excited intake of breath escaped her lips as she saw the image of the two of them side by side; she in her exquisite white gown, and he in his wedding attire. His outfit consisted of black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a vest adorned with a striking royal blue fleur-de-lis pattern completed with an elegant black silk jacket.

"Hawke," she breathed softly, her emotions swirling as she gazed at the image in her mind. Tears threatened to spill as she marveled at the vision. "You look absolutely breathtaking, my love." Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned in to kiss him.

He pulled her closer to him, savoring the feel of her in his arms. He wasn't quite sure why he had decided to show her that image, but he was glad he did. At least it would keep her mind occupied for a while. He could feel her excitement growing in her mind.

She pulled away from him, watching him, her hand going to his face. "Thank you, Hawke, I love it, baby," she whispered before laying her head back on his chest again.

When he finally spotted a tower in the distance, he knew they had to be getting closer to Ostagar. Not for the first time, he wondered why they were going there. Hawke knew Ostagar was uninhabited. There'd been no troops stationed there for centuries. He watched as the Tower slowly came closer, and he marveled at the size of it. That must be the Tower of Ishal that he had read about, he thought. It was dwarven built, and it had been used as a lookout post against the Chasind. For some odd reason, it had been abandoned after the first Blight, but from this distance, it still looked strong.

He looked down at Elayne as she stirred in his arms, whether it had been from boredom or something else she had dozed back off again. Moments later, she blinked awake, her gaze meeting his with a smile that brightened even the dimmest corners of his thoughts.

He grinned down at her, "I don't think we'll be much longer in the saddle, love, look."

She turned her head and looked at the tower up ahead of them. She looked back at him in wonderment. "That looks monstrous. What is that?"

"If I'm not mistaken, I believe that might be the Tower of Ishal. We'll have to ask Duncan later. If you look closely, you can see the walls coming into view. We're still a distance, though, at least another hour."

"Isn't the Tower of Ishal supposed to be a Dwarven construction?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

He nodded, looking down at her in amusement.

Noticing his gaze, she blushed slightly. "What?" she replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "I may not have cared much for history, but some things stuck with me--especially anything related to Dwarven craftsmanship. That always captured my interest. They say structures forged by them stand the test of time. If this truly is Ishal Tower, then perhaps the tales hold some truth."

As they approached the worn down fortress, it became increasingly clear just how rundown it was. She felt a tension radiating from Hawke that hinted at the uncertainties of the unknown territory they were entering--one that held secrets about Duncan's mission. The reason for their presence here remained a mystery, and she couldn't shake the question of whether Duncan even understood the purpose of their journey.

She looked up at Hawke, her hand on his chest, "At least one good thing to look forward to, it'll be nice to finally stretch our legs."

He looked down at her, his hand going to hers, "there is that," he said distractedly before he returned to looking to where they were about to enter. She sat up and turned around, with her back against him. He pulled her closer as she shivered from the chill in the air and wrapped the blanket back around her. As they neared the entrance, she felt his power through their bond, thrumming beneath the surface, extending like delicate tendrils, searching the area around them--an ability he called "delving."

Duncan looked back at them from his horse for a minute before guiding his horse into what appeared to have once been a fortress courtyard. They had finally arrived at a location that seemed to offer a strategic advantage. Three sides were fortified by a high stone wall, and towering cliffs loomed behind them, adding an extra layer of protection.

Dismounting, Duncan turned to them, "This is where we'll be setting up camp." His gaze rested on Hawke. "I trust this meets your approval?"

Hawke surveyed the surroundings and nodded. "It's absolutely perfect. Any threat will have to approach us head-on," he replied, "But I'm still going to ward the area, I already told you I won't take any chances with Elayne's safety," he said with a matter-of-fact tone as he helped her in getting down off Midnight.

Duncan nodded to him, "I apologize if I seemed a little rough or ungrateful. It's clear you're your own man, and I respect that you'll act according to your judgment, especially when it concerns her. However, I would appreciate it if you could notify me of any potential threats before you face them." He stuck his hand out to Hawke.

Hawke grasped Duncan's hand firmly and replied, "I can promise to do that. I'm also sorry for my part; I'm not accustomed to being accountable to anyone."

Duncan nodded before he added a warning. "I do ask that no one ventures into any of the buildings. They are very old and not only dangerous but very unstable." Duncan waited for them to acknowledge him before continuing, "good then, now let's set up camp."

Once the camp was up, everyone settled down for a quick meal--everyone except Hawke, who was tired of sitting. He needed to move around as he watched Duncan, waiting for him to finally let them know why they were there in this place.

Duncan, feeling the weight of Hawke's gaze, released a deep sigh and finally met his stare. The air between them crackled with tension. "You're curious about our purpose here, aren't you?" Without waiting for a reply, he pushed on, eager to get this conversation over with. "There are a couple of reasons why I'm here. First, there have been rumors circulating from the depths of the Wilds about mysterious creatures that have never been encountered before. They've been described as possibly being darkspawn."

As the words left Duncan's lips, he watched a sudden shift change in Hawke's expression. Anger surged within him, evident in the way his body began to tremble with fury. Caleb had cautioned Duncan about the risks of holding back the truth from Hawke, yet he had chosen to tread this dangerous path. The fire of rage he saw igniting in Hawke's eyes now filled him with regret as he braced himself for the whirlwind of emotions that was about to unfold.

Elayne felt her heart race as Hawke's anger washed over her like a tidal wave--intense and barely restrained. His gaze, smoldering with fury, bore down on Duncan. "Is this what they mean when they say a Grey Warden will do whatever it takes?" he spat, his voice low and charged. "Manipulating and scheming, ensnaring anyone necessary to eradicate the darkspawn threat? You brought me here with my wife, knowing..." He clenched his fists, the air around him crackling with barely contained rage. "You've endangered her life by withholding critical information," he said, his voice a low, lethal whisper.

"Arik Hawke, stop! Now please," she screamed, desperately rushing to him when he kept stalking Duncan. "Hawke, please, baby," she pleaded, putting her hand on his chest, stopping him from taking another step.

Hawke's simmering fury tested the boundaries of his control. His eyes locked onto hers, filled with a tumult of emotions. "Why, Elayne? Had he informed me back at the elven camp, you would have never set foot here, no matter how much you argued or pleaded. Now, because of his neglect to tell us the truth, you face a greater danger than before." His voice dropped to a whisper, thick with emotion. "He knows precisely what happens to women when they fall into their hands. I won't--can't--let anything happen to you." Elayne could feel the turmoil within him, the trembling of his body reflecting the storm of anger and fear swirling through him

"Hawke, please, I'm the one that insisted on coming here with you, and even if he had told us from the beginning, I would still have demanded to come. Just like you, I can not allow anything to happen to you. I can not lose you either, my love," she sobbed, her heart breaking as tears rushed down her face.

His heart shattered as he looked down at her. He picked her up, cradling her in his arms as she wrapped hers around him and buried her head in his chest, sobbing. He glared at Duncan, "we'll continue this later," he growled before taking Elayne to their tent on the other side of the courtyard.

Duncan sat there, unable to move for a minute, still not sure what just happened, but he was afraid that he had just escaped with his life. Aldon stood up angrily, "you should have told them from the beginning," he stormed off to his own tent. Before going in, he looked back at Duncan, "I suggest you tread carefully for a while. And remember, Duncan, you owe Lady Elayne your life; it was nearly lost due to you withholding vital information from Hawke."

Carrying her carefully inside, Hawke sealed their tent with his power, creating a sanctuary just for them. He settled onto their improvised bed, the only piece of furniture within, and held her close. Though his anger simmered beneath the surface, it was overshadowed compared to the torment he felt from her. For the moment, he pushed both feelings aside, focusing on only her, letting her cry, as he poured his heart and soul, his love into her.

His fingers caressed her hair as he whispered her name, while his other hand moved gently along her back. He kissed her softly on the top of her head, "I love you, baby," he said quietly.

Elayne's sobs intensified, her grip tightening around him as if she were afraid of losing him. They intertwined on an emotional level, his thoughts mingling with hers, a balm to her soul amidst the chaos as he sent waves of soothing warmth, a reminder of his unwavering love. He felt her reach out to him, needing him, his gentle touch.

"Look at me, sweetheart," he spoke softly, urging her to meet his gaze. Raising her chin with tender fingers, he wiped away the tears that were falling down her face. Lowering his head closer to hers, "I love you, Elayne," he quietly said before his mouth captured hers gently. He felt her slowly responding to him, her tears slowing, her body starting to relax as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

He laid down with her beside him, his mouth still on hers, his hand still running up and down her back. "Touch me, Arik, take the anger and pain away from both of us, make us whole again," she whispered in his head.

With a heavy heart, he shut his eyes, grappling with what she was asking. Her hand caressed his face gently as he replied, "Elayne, I can't. You have no idea what you're asking of me, what he's done. The danger he's put us in, especially you, it's not that easy, princess."

"Please, Hawke." Her plea pierced through his heart and the chaos. Finally, he allowed the anger and hurt to break free from the shield he had erected and let it go. She put her hand inside his shirt, rubbing his chest. "Thank you, baby. I love you, Arik."

She took her mouth from his and stood up, removing her clothing slowly, watching his eyes as they slid up and down hungrily over her naked flesh before she laid back down beside him. She undid his shirt, her hand going back to his chest before his mouth claimed hers again. She moaned when his fingers slid along her nipple before removing his mouth from hers and lowered it to her nipple taking it between his lips. As he rolled her onto her back, his hand traveled down her body, playfully teasing before reaching her most intimate spot as she opened her legs to him. She arched her hips, gasping as his fingers slipped inside her. "Hawke," she whimpered, each thrust of her hips meeting the rhythm of his movements.

The tight clench of her muscles around his fingers drove him to quicken his pace, responding to her eager thrusts. Breaking away from her breast, he murmured in her ear, his breath warm, urging her toward the edge. "Let go, my love." The sweet sounds of her body responding filled the air as she writhed, driven wild, desperately clutching him. His mouth returned to her nipple, playfully teasing it with his tongue and gently grazing it with his teeth.

"Hawke," she screamed as waves of pleasure coursed through her, her body thrumming against him as she surrendered to the pleasure, her cries igniting the air around them.

"Again," he murmured in her mind, urging for more, and she willingly submitted to the desires he urged from her. He lifted his head, capturing her mouth once again while his fingers continued their sensual dance in and out of her, pulling her deeper into pleasure.

His lips finally broke away from hers and traced a path to her ear, where he murmured hotly, "I want to taste you, to savor every sweet drop of you." A gasp escaped her as her hips instinctively pressed upward with urgency. She tightened around his fingers, lost in sensation, while he lowered his mouth between her legs. His tongue penetrated her, eliciting a scream from her as he savored the taste of her. Her hands tangled in his hair, urging him closer as her body writhed against him. With a growl of pleasure, he tasted the sweetness of her release.

"Makers breath, baby," he hissed. With urgency, he quickened the pace of his tongue pushing further, deeper, needing more of her. Whimpers poured from her as she moved in rhythm with him, the muscles of her sheath clenching tightly around his probing tongue. The climax was so intense that it washed over her, giving him more of her intoxicating essence until she fell back, completely spent.

Quickly shedding his pants, he replenished her energy before sliding himself into her warm, eager sheath. "So bloody good," he groaned, burying himself deep inside as she locked her arms and legs around him. In that moment, they became one--lost in each other, their lovemaking a sanctuary where they healed and soothed the tumult of their souls.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Duncan looked over when he heard Elayne giggling as she and Hawke walked over to him and Aldon. He watched as Hawke searched around for something. "Aldon, you want to help me move these logs over there, so we have something at least to sit on?" After the logs were brought over, Hawke settled down, bringing Elayne onto his lap with her arms encircling his neck. After a moment, he turned his gaze towards Duncan. "You mentioned there were two reasons. What's the second one?"

Duncan hesitated. "I'm trying to locate an old Grey Warden cache. We used to maintain an outpost holding Ancient Treaties here in the Wilds. The outpost has gone into ruin in recent years due to the decline of the Grey Wardens' influence. But that's not the priority right now. The real concern involves verifying if the rumors we've heard hold any truth."

Hawke's expression hardened. "And you want us to what, help you, after you kept something this important, this dangerous from us? What's to stop me from packing up and leaving you alone here by yourself? Why should I risk our lives to help you after what you did?"

Duncan shut his eyes briefly, feeling the weight of regret settle over him. "I should have listened to Caleb," he murmured before meeting Hawke's piercing blue gaze. "I'm not used to dealing with someone like you, Hawke. I apologize for not being open with you before we left. I..."

Hawke's reply cut through the air like a blade, cool and uncompromising. "Your apology means nothing to me. Whatever respect I once had for you is gone. Caleb was right; you should have been upfront from the start. If, and that's a big if, I choose to help you in this, know that once we're out of here, you and I are finished. Stay away from Elayne and me--I'll never offer you help again." As he began to rise, Elayne placed a gentle hand on his chest, urging him to look down at her. They sat there for a few moments before Hawke closed his eyes, inhaling deeply to regain his composure. When he finally met Duncan's gaze again, he spoke with a tempered tone. "Your apology is accepted, but tell me again--why should I offer my help to you?"

"As I told you the other day, for some reason, you can sense the taint. You said only if you're touching something, though. I saw what you showed me. Maybe if we do see any darkspawn, we can find where their coming from, and you might be able to help me collapse the entrance. It won't stop them, just slow them down, and if we can get more than one, well, that's even better. It would give more time for Cailan to build a stronger army and for more Grey Wardens to come and possibly find some recruits."

"I know you may not wish to help me. I could reach out to the mages at the Tower for support, but I doubt they would be able to provide the same assistance you can, not to mention that it would require considerable time to coordinate. I realize I have no right to make this request considering my past actions, but I'm asking you, Hawke, will you find it in your heart to help me?

With his gaze locked onto Duncan, Hawke's thoughts were already racing ahead. As Elayne moved off his lap, he rose to his feet and began to pace, feeling the weight of the situation. The possibility of darkspawn lurking nearby stirred a sense of urgency within him. Should he take on the responsibility and offer whatever help he could? Surely, there were others far more suited to tackle this. Beneath it all simmered a hatred toward Duncan for withholding crucial information, a hatred he couldn't shake off.

The terrifying vision of a darkspawn army ravaging Ferelden, with the dragon looming overhead, flashed in his mind again. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to shake off the dread before finally addressing Duncan. "Should you discover evidence of the darkspawn's presence, how much time could my assistance buy Ferelden?"

Duncan responded with a sense of urgency, "Should I find evidence of their presence and you assist me, we could gain at least a year--hopefully even longer. I'll also deploy scouts in the area to monitor the situation closely."

He looked over at Elayne. "That image again," she whispered, looking up at him as she shivered.

He turned to Duncan, "I'll help however I can."

"Thank you, Hawke. We'll begin our work in the morning." Duncan studied him closely, catching a fleeting glimpse of fear in Hawke's eyes before it vanished, leaving only a mask of composure. "If you don't mind me asking, what did you see? What was the image?"

A shadow flickered across Hawke's face as he responded. "I witnessed the potential devastation if the darkspawn are not stopped. And before you ask, I have no idea where that vision came from. Just know that I am committed to doing everything I can to help here. But after this..."

"I understand, Hawke."

Turning his gaze towards Elayne, Hawke watched as she approached and wrapped her arm around him. "We'll be back," he murmured absently as they began to walk away.

Once they were out of sight, he drew her close, his voice barely a whisper. "Elayne."

"I love you, Hawke," she responded, encircling his neck with her arms. "When this is over, we'll put our attention to our own lives. My father will be informed immediately if any trouble arises. But until then, my love, let's do this so we can get back to our own lives. We have a wedding to plan, and I can hardly wait to see you in your suit." Drawing him down to her, their lips met, and they lost themselves in each other.

After dinner, Hawke watched Elayne as she practiced her sparring lessons with Aldon. With his wards already in place and his saddlebags prepared, he could not help his thoughts dwelling on what awaited him the following day. To clear his mind, he focused on the piece of wood in his hands, carefully working it with his power and blade.

Eventually, his attention shifted to the object he had created, so engrossed in the details of his carving, he was unaware that Elayne had completed her sparring session until her voice broke through his concentration.

As she approached, she noticed him examining something in his palm. At first glance, it appeared to be just a simple piece of wood, but as she drew nearer, her heart filled with warmth upon seeing their emblem--a soaring hawk clutching a rose. "Arik," she breathed softly. He looked up at her, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "It's beautiful, Hawke."

As she settled beside him, he offered her the carved piece before wrapping an arm around her. "This is incredible, baby," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I've noticed other wooden carvings around your home and your mother's as well. Did you create those, too?"

With a slight shrug, he explained, "It's another means for me to find calmness. It also allows me to channel a bit of my power in a creative way. It's become sort of therapeutic." As he spoke, she felt a subtle surge in his power as his gaze remained fixed on the carving in her hands. Suddenly, she gasped as it lifted off her palm, circling her a few times before returning to rest, unmoving, in her hand.

Awe washed over her as she looked at him. "You never cease to amaze me, baby," she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Duncan's voice cut through the quiet night, calling out to Hawke. "Are you taking the first watch?"

With a nod, Hawke answered, "I am."

"Great, then I'll see you two in the morning," Duncan replied, before stepping into his tent. Shortly after, Aldon followed suit into his own tent, leaving Elayne and Hawke to enjoy the solitude of the evening.

Hawke gently pulled Elayne onto his lap, where she turned to face him with her legs on either side of his. He cupped her face in his hand, gently caressing her cheek with his thumb, captivated by the sheer beauty of the woman nestled close to him. "So, my lovely wife, will you keep me company for a bit longer?" he asked softly.

With her arms draped over his shoulders, she met his gaze and smiled. "You don't mind, do you? I find that I'm not tired yet."

"Not at all, my love. I really don't mind," he assured her, his eyes drifting down to her enticing lips before returning to meet her gaze. "Do you have any idea just how stunning you are?" he murmured, leaning closer.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as their mouths connected, his tongue seeking hers with a longing that consumed them both. She embraced him tightly, her arms wrapping around his neck as he drew her closer, his hand gliding tenderly over her back. As their kiss deepened, the world faded away. Eventually, he pulled back, his eyes locked on hers.

"You know you're not doing a very good job keeping watch my love," she giggled.

"I disagree, I think I'm doing a hell of a job. My focus is precisely where it should be--on the most precious thing in my life." His gaze remained locked with hers as he began to unbutton her top. Once the buttons were free, his hands slipped beneath, cradling her breasts as he lowered his gaze to them.

"Such exquisite perfection," he murmured. His thumbs brushed lightly against her nipples, prompting a quiet whimper from her as they responded to his touch. Arching her back eagerly, she entwined her fingers in his hair, urging him closer. She watched as he lowered his mouth to one of her nipples, savoring the warmth, and a soft moan escaped her lips.

She took hold of one of his hands, guiding it beneath her dress to the area between her legs. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he lifted his mouth from her nipple, his fingers exploring her. The sound of her moans filled the air, a melody of pleasure that spurred him on as he erected a shield around them before returning to her breast. He moved his fingers in and out, matched by the rhythm of her hips as they moved in harmony. Then he felt her tighten around him; her soft whimpers escalating into deeper moans urged him to increase his pace, driving them deeper into her. Her body responded eagerly, releasing a warm wave of wetness over his fingers. The sensation caused her to shudder and grip him even more tightly, and he continued his movements, bringing her to another peak.

In a moment of urgency, she reached down and unfastened the buttons of his pants, exposing him fully. He withdrew his fingers just as she lowered herself onto him, enveloping him completely. Together, soft moans filled the air as their mouths found each other. Rising and falling atop him, she set a rhythm, their bodies entwined as his hands found her hips, guiding her movements. Each time she tightened around him, he groaned, urging her to move faster. "Arik," she gasped, her breath hot against his skin as her arms encircled his neck. Her movements became more fervent, grinding harder and quicker against him, a wave of heat washing over them as her body enveloped him, her juices slicking him.

He kept his hands on her hips, kept her moving up and down him, his mouth left hers, and went to her breasts as he put her nipple back between his teeth. Her whimpers becoming faster and louder until she climaxed again and again, her screams buried deep in his head until he whispered in her ear for one more, needing to join her in her release as he thickened around her clutching body, his seed joining her juices deep inside her.

"Now that was relaxing, my love. I might have to do this every night that you have watch duty, " she whispered, grinning at him.

He held her close, wrapping his arms around her as he nodded in agreement. "I couldn't agree more, darling," he replied, capturing her lips with his in another kiss while his hips thrust upward, making it clear that he was still very much aroused.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Frustrated Hawke looked over at Duncan, "Is there a destination maybe, or are we just going to keep wandering around aimlessly, looking for something that may not be true."

He felt Elayne in his head trying to soothe him, but he was too tired and irritated. They'd been at this for four days and all that had happened was that he had collapsed some caves they came across after he had felt the same thing as he had in Highever but the filth and evil was much more stronger here.

Duncan turned around looking at him, "Hawke, I understand that you're tired, I couldn't imagine the amount of power it takes to do what you're doing but from what you've told me and shown me says there's activity going on, but we can't leave here until I know for sure."

"No, you couldn't possibly imagine or even understand," he said sarcastically. "Maybe we could split up, Elayne can go with you. That way, she can let you know if I come across something or run into any problems. She'd know exactly where I was. We could get this done a lot quicker."

"No, I won't let you go without me, Hawke," Elayne protested, but he saw Duncan contemplating it.

"We might have to do that, but let's give it a couple more days before we go that route. In the meantime, let's go ahead and head back to camp a little early."

Elayne rode over to him, "You can't be serious about doing this without me, Hawke?" she hissed angrily.

"I am, look Elayne if this gets us out of here faster than I have to do it. How many bloody caves have I collapsed in the last four days? Six, l

Elayne. I know you can feel the exhaustion, how tired I'm getting. If I don't get some rest, some real rest, I'm going to be absolutely worthless if you do need me. Do you remember how long I was out when I had to heal Carver after the cave incident earlier that day? My body was literally exhausted. It wasn't my mana that was the issue, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I was out for almost two days from magical exhaustion. If something had happened to you during that time, I wouldn't have been able to help you because I couldn't wake up. That could end up happening again, but it could be longer. My potions can only do so much. Do you understand what I'm saying, Elayne?"

She nodded, "I understand, and I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen to you." She rode off to ride beside Duncan, talking with him, or more like she was the one that was talking, demanding more like it, and he was sitting there listening to what she was saying. In the end, she gave him an ultimatum, Hawke would either get a days rest or they were leaving. Being in her head, he heard every word she said, and he couldn't help being even more proud of her, despite his irritation. Duncan looked back at him, really looked at him, and finally nodded to Elayne. Tomorrow, they would take the day to rest. He groaned, 'Great, another bloody day in this bloody hellhole.'

Elayne had a satisfied smile on her face when she rode back beside him. "I know it's not what you want, Hawke, but take it as a win."

"I appreciate what you did, Elayne. I really do, but you need to be aware of another issue. I know you made sure you brought extra potions besides what I did, but the longer we're here, and I keep bringing down caves, I'm going to keep consuming those potions. I have the ingredients to make more, but that will only last so far. Whether Duncan finds what he's looking for before I have to revert to making more, we're going to have to leave."

"I understand, Hawke, but the conversation of you going off on your own, we're not having again."

After they made it back to camp and the horses were taken care of, he headed to the tent to rest before his shift that night. He was out not long after his head hit the pillow.

Elayne felt when he passed out, and she made up her mind to take his shift for watch. He wouldn't be pleased, but she'd deal with that later. He was constantly making sure she was taken care of. Well, it was her turn to take care of him. After letting Duncan know, she went to change and check on Hawke.

Halfway through her shift, she felt him stirring in her head. She sent soothing thoughts to him until his mind quieted. Restless, she got up to walk around after checking on the horses, making sure they were comfortable and had what they needed. She kept walking around their camp until Aldon finally relieved her. Before heading to her tent, she asked him how he dealt with the boredom. She laughed when he pulled out a piece of wood and a knife from his pack. "I think maybe I should look into wood carving," she joked before thanking him and headed to the tent. After changing again, she laid down beside Hawke and put her arm around him before falling asleep.

Hawke woke suddenly, unaware of what time it was, and when he reached out for Elayne, he saw her grabbing a bowl with stew in it. "Glad to see you awake baby, hang on, I'll grab you some food."

"How long have I been asleep?" he asked as he stepped outside and stretched.

She walked over to him and gave him the bowl, "You've been asleep since we got back yesterday. It's a little past noon now."

"Well, that would explain why I'm so hungry," he said, grinning and thanking her for the food as he sat down on a log outside their tent. "Hope the guys didn't mind my missing my shift last night."

She came up behind him and put her arms around him, "Don't worry hun, your shift was covered. How are you feeling?"

Finishing his stew, he set the bowl aside and grabbed her arm, pulling her onto his lap. "I feel good, almost back to normal, by tomorrow I'll be back to my usual self. Sorry if I was a little cranky yesterday. I know what we're doing is important, but I can't help feeling like we're wasting our time doing it Duncan's way."

"Do you have an idea, and don't even bring up the one of you going off on your own, that's not happening, Hawke."

Sighing, he looked down at her. "Elayne, I know you don't like it, but it may be the only option, or do you enjoy being here? Don't you want a real bath instead of the way you have been cleaning yourself, because I sure don't. I'd rather be back home with you in our bed, or watching you bathe in a real tub instead of washing yourself with a sponge bath or watching the excitement in your eyes as you're helping put our wedding together. There's a dozen reasons for us to be elsewhere instead of being here, baby."

She got up angrily, looking at him, "I already told you we will not be having this bloody conversation again, Arik Hawke. You will not be risking yourself by going out there alone," she emphasized by stabbing her finger into his chest with each word. She started to storm off but stopped when she felt him in her head, and he grabbed her arm. She turned back around, glaring at him.

He pulled her down in his lap again. She tried to push against him, but it was like pushing against a wall, neither would budge. Angry and frustrated, she crossed her arms and looked at anything but him. She hated this whole situation. He was bloody right, though, once again. She didn't want to be here any more than he did, but that didn't mean he had to put himself at risk by going out there by himself. They had no idea what was out there. So far, they had been lucky and hadn't come across anything yet, but that didn't mean it was safe out there.

He lifted her chin up, "Elayne, look at me, baby, please." She looked up at him and glared. "I know you don't want that to happen, but I need you to think about it, please, but only as a last resort. We can't be out here for long, I told you why yesterday. Please just think about it, Elayne," he whispered as his hand went to the side of her face.

She felt her anger disappearing as she looked up into his eyes, seeing his love for her in them, felt it in his hand gliding along her face as she leaned into it, watching as his head came slowly down to hers. "I love you, Elayne," he whispered against her lips before his mouth gently claimed hers. She sighed before wrapping her arms around him, losing herself in his love.

He stood up, cradling her, and carried her inside the tent where he laid down with her beside him. She lost herself as his hands and mouth gently ran across her body, leaving her aching, needing, and wanting. "Arik," she sighed as he made love to her, giving her what she needed and wanted with such passion and love, leaving her body completely content and satisfied.

He looked down at her, holding her close to him, "You don't fight fair, Arik Hawke," she whispered, looking up at him with such love and tenderness it made his heart ache.

He chuckled, "Who said we were fighting my love," he asked as his mouth claimed hers before she could say anything more.

"So, how did you enjoy watching last night," he asked later while eating more stew. He was already on his third bowl, feeling a lot better. All he needed was some more sleep, and he would be back to normal.

Suddenly, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, like someone was watching them, him in fact. But he hadn't felt his wards go off. He casually got up with his stew and started walking around, his senses on full alert. He felt Elayne in his head, but he told her to just act casual. Whatever it was didn't mean any harm. Not seeing anything, and after making sure his wards were still active, he went back towards the camp. The feeling of being watched was still there, though. Unsure why, but something told him to look up. When he did, he saw a bird sitting on a crumbled part of a wall. Birds weren't unusual, but there was something different about this one. For starters, it was following his movements and didn't seem scared of him as he got closer. When he tried to use his power to scan it, though, it suddenly flew off, like it knew what he was trying to do.

"Arik, it's just a silly bird," Elayne said in his head. Normally, he would agree, but he noticed that the hairs on his neck were no longer standing up once the bird had left. What was ironic about it was that it just happened to be a hawk. He heard Elayne giggle, "A hawk watching a Hawke, now that is amusing."

Back in camp, he sat there with his mind on the bird when Duncan came over to sit down on another log in front of him.

"How you feeling, Hawke, do you think that you'll be able to continue on tomorrow?"

Hawke groaned inwardly, but he looked over at Duncan, "I just need a little more sleep, and I'll be fine."

Elayne came over and sat down on his lap, looking over at Duncan, "and he's going to get that sleep because I will be taking his turn at watch duty tonight." She turned her head looking to him, daring him to say otherwise. He chuckled but didn't object.

He would know if anything came across his wards anyway. She started to say something else, but he stopped her, "Don't even think about it, Elayne," he growled in her head.

Not listening, she turned back to Duncan, "Hawke and I will be alternating shift nights. That way, he will be able to get more sleep."

Not aware of what was going on between the couple, Duncan agreed. "That sounds like a very good idea. Look, guys, I know this is hard. It's hard on everyone, but most especially to you, Hawke. I was not aware of how tired you were. You never said anything, but I realized today that I can't push so hard. I meant what I said, though. I can't leave without knowing for sure. This is too important. So get your rest, and we'll continue on tomorrow."

"I give you three more weeks," Hawke said. "After that, Elayne and I have to leave. I have no choice, I'll be out of my potions by then if we keep doing the same thing with the caves."

"Thank you Hawke, but hopefully we'll be out of here before then, in the meantime, get your rest and then tomorrow we'll go further in," Duncan said before returning to his tent.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

To be continued...