Noa Hawke ~ Firstfall 30th, 9:34 Dragon~When Fenris told Noa it was unnecessary for her to help him

Noa Hawke ~ Firstfall 30th, 9:34 Dragon~When Fenris told Noa it was unnecessary for her to help him unpack, she thought he was just being polite. As she looked at his things on the desk, she realized how naive she’d been. He’d brought a few changes of clothes, the book Noa had given him, a lute, a deck of cards, and a few belts, rings, and amulets, most of which had been gifts from Noa. “You didn’t want to bring anything else from the mansion?” she asked him. “Like what?” he asked. “Stolen furniture?—Do you need more furniture?” the last part was asked genuinely. It had barely been a year since Noa moved up from Lowtown, and some of the third floor bedrooms were still unfurnished, but mostly because Noa’s mother had insisted on ordering custom made pieces from Orlais. “No,” Noa said. “I don’t need anything, but don’t you want any of it?” “I never chose it,” Fenris said. “I like your furniture better.” She’d given him a bedroom on the second floor, in the southern wing, two doors down and just around the corner from their own room. Between them was the nursery. Their son was a week old now, and Mother was well over the shock and had moved on to being elated about being a grandmother. Noa had teased her about being a hot grandmother, and she had immediately dismissed the idea that she would date again. ‘My darling grandson is the only man for me in my old age,’ she said. She was pleased that this one would actually grow up around her. Israel had a child; something he’d neglected to mention when came to visit after Bethany was taken to the Gallows. He claimed that he hadn’t known the child then, though he’d known about its existence. Israel had arrived completely unannounced, as he always did, in the summer of last year. He’d walked into the Hawke estate with a dark-haired toddler in his arms and a woman who did not appear to want to be there trailing a few steps behind. He’d introduced them as Kieran and Morrigan, respectively. He’d stayed in Kirkwall for a week, then told Mother that he and 'his family'—a phrase that bothered Mother more than she let show—needed to disappear for a while. He hadn’t answered any follow-up questions. He never went back to Amaranthine. Noa had sent inquiries, and received a very polite reply from a woman named Sigrun, explaining that he had gone on a quest to find the witch called Morrigan and had never returned. Well, he found her. Noa had been able to tell Sigrun that, at least. Their family had been scattered to the winds for years, though, and life went on. Noa and Fenris had a one-night stand, and Noa ended up pregnant, with a child she had no intention of taking away from its grandmother. Caleb began to squirm and fuss in Noa’s arms. Noa began to rock him, but she saw the desire to help in Fenris’ eyes. “Would you like to take him?” she asked. “Yes,” Fenris said, after only a small hesitation. Fenris had little experience with babies, and still seemed afraid that he was going to break their son. He was trying, though. He’d moved into her mansion to be closer to Caleb, and a more active part of his infancy. He wasn’t ready to get back together with Noa—His wording, not hers. He wasn’t ready—but he’d never had a family before and wasn’t about to be an absentee father now. He’d offered to pay her rent, but she’d refused. He helped her more than enough when she took him out on dangerous quests, and she wanted him in her home as much as he wanted to be there. Fenris sat on his bed and rocked their son until he quieted, and then he smiled down at the newborn. “He does look like you,” Noa said. “It’s in the shape of the jaw, and the skin tone.”Fenris shook his head. “His skin is darker than yours, but otherwise he looks just like you.” Fenris pressed his lips to the child’s forehead. “Human. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”“Are you scared for him?” Noa asked, sitting down beside them. “The only elf-blood I’ve ever met was Feynriel.” Fenris sighed. “I’ve met a handful,” he said. “So far, I see nothing in Caleb’s physical features that marks him as an elf-blood. I find that comforting.” There was a long silence, in which Noa could tell that he was thinking about something, but struggling to express it. “Danarius…” he said after a long minute, “… will probably find out about him.” “I know,” Noa said. “That doesn’t worry you?”Noa shrugged. “Danarius will die the next time he sets foot in Kirkwall. What’s there to be worried about?” She meant it. She’d been thinking about it for months, and the solution was clear. Danarius had already destroyed Fenris’ family once. Noa would not let him do it again, especially now that Fenris’ family was also Noa’s family. Slowly, Fenris smiled. -- source link

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