Waterfall

Sarah might have INTENTED to wash herself as soon as possible, but once she had started to move, her weakness and blood loss had made sure that she hadn’t gone anywhere. Instead, she had been swooning in Fenris' arms like a damsel in distress.

That was now 5 days ago. 5 days in which Fenris had taken care of her wounds, hunted food, cooked for her and defended a hungry mountain lion off. She had never felt safer and more cherished.

It was an odd feeling because it always had been herself take care of other people. On the other hand: Where had it let her? Her whole family was dead, no matter how hard she had tried to protect them, no matter how hard she had tried to keep them safe. Obviously she wasn’t the expert in taking care of others like she had always imagined to be…

Whenever she caught herself in falling into these dark and self-pitying thoughts, she remembered what Fenris had told her: That she had friends back in Kirkwall, people who cared for her. That she would be missed if she stayed away, especially by him.

Did she really want to turn her back to this life and flee?

No. Her friends were everything she had left.

A strangled sound let her look up, and she immediately knew where it came from: Fenris. She had taken over the watch two nights ago because he was clearly exhausted and learned that his sleep was light and regularly plagued by nightmares. Whenever they were travelling with their friends, he was sleeping offside and therefore she had not recognized. But here they had to stay close to each other and she could watch him while sleeping and dreaming.

She had not been so stupid to wake him up although it hurt her to see him like this. But she had started to speak to him when he was so anxious, and although feeling pathetic when doing it, she had the feeling that he calmed down a bit.

“Alright, Grumpy”, she started. “What is it now you are dreaming of: A bad blood mage? Anders offering you a drink?” Fenris frowned, and she had to hide a grin. Then she told him more seriously, like she always did: “We will kill Danarius, Fenris. I promise you. I won’t allow that you to live this kind of life until the end of your days. This bastard has no RIGHT ON YOU anymore!!”

Two hours later he was waking up and nodding into her direction.

“I go to the waterfall”, she told him. “And I am finally strong enough to stand UNDER it. So I will not only have a catlick, but a REAL shower.”

“I am glad that you told me, Hawke”, he commented dryly and started to prepare the food, like he did ever morning.

“Fenris?”

He was looking up, immediately willing to make sure that she was alright. “Yes?”

She held his gaze. “I will be under this waterfall. Naked. I am not weak anymore. And I decided to FACE this shitty life.” Making a step into his direction, she added: “So if you meant what you said… I would suggest that you follow me instead of playing housewife…” Turning her back to him, she left the clearage and followed the sound of water. Then she slipped out of her clothes and dived into the lake, swimming to the waterfall and lifting herself on the rocks below.

Feeling the water on her skin, although cool, was amazing and made her feel REALLY alive. She washed her hair and stroked over her skin, making sure that the last bit of dirt and blood which might still be there was washed away.

A sound let her open her closed eyes. On the other side of the lake, Fenris had appeared and watched her, his face betraying nothing.

She wondered what he was thinking. Was he angry because she had been so brazen? Was he annoyed that she had called him housewife? Or was he aroused…?

Well, thinking about how thin she was and how many bruises she had, she doubted that… Of course he WOULD be aroused when he came to her, but from the look on his face she could not say if he would do so…

Then he started to undress, and she was surprised. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but not that he would do it directly in front of her… and so slowly and deliberately that her mouth watered and her heart beat quickened.

Stroking the water out of her eyes, she let her eyes run over his body and admired every single inch of skin and muscles he revealed.

He wasn’t looking at her, which was good because she would not have been able to hide her admiration. On the other hand she was starting to get unsettled because she felt that he wasn’t as relaxed as he should be. Of course he was checking the wood to make sure that no enemy would take advantage of his vulnerable state, but there was more to his discomposure.

When he was fully undressed, their eyes met… and she understood.

He had given her a promise one week ago, and wanted to hold onto it: The promise to adopt his own advice and to face the things he was running away from, namely herself.

But like she, he wasn’t yet ready for it; at least not completely.

Slowly, she dived into the water and was swimming into his direction. He raised an eyebrow and then did the same, meeting her halfway in the lake.

“Fenris”, she welcomed him.

He hesitated and said: “Sarah.”

A shiver ran down her spine when she heard her name coming from his lips, and it had nothing to do with the coolness of the water.

“You know”, she eventually said, “maybe we should think about some kind of…graduated scheme…?”

Now he raised both eyebrows. “I… am not sure what you want to tell me, Hawke.”

Inwardly cursing, she changed her tactic. “Wager.”

“Wager?”

“Yes. We start with a kiss. Both of us have one try to make it as special as possible. The one who wins has a free wish.” She knew that her suggestion didn’t really make sense. But she also knew that she definitely did not want to make love to a man who was still half afraid of her. He needed more time, and this was the only idea she had. After all she was no expert herself when it came to relationships or… love.

“Agreed.”

Taken aback, she looked up … and was kissed.

Fenris did not start slow. Instead, he took full advantage of the fact that he had surprised her, opened her lips and let his tongue stroke against hers. She hadn’t even realized that they had been swimming back to the shore when they had been talking, but now she was thankful for it because it allowed them to stand and not to balance themselves in the water. And it also allowed her to wrap her arms around his neck…

At least she tried. When he captured her hands half way and pulled them on her back, she irritated opened her eyes.

“Only a kiss”, he said, his voice sounding even raspier than normal. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

Oh, this game two could play… She smiled challenging, and when his lips touched hers again, she opened her mouth and used every kissing skills she had to make sure that he WISHED for the touch of her hands. Licking over his tongue and nibbling on his soft lips, she evoked a low growl coming from his chest. Smiling confidently, she was already backing off when his tongue delved deep, kissing her so wet and demanding that heat shot right to her core…

“Shit!” Panting, she stared at him when he moved backwards.

“I am looking forward to your attempt, Sarah”, he said and made a short half bow. Then he left the water, put his trousers on and added: “May the best one win…”