❛   𝒏𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒂   .   .   .   ❜   she   slips   from   his   grasp   but ,   despite   his   injuries ,   his   hands   easily   wrap   around   her   wrists   again.   this   time ,   he   tugs   a   little   harder ,   pulling   her   up   for   their   eyes   to   be   level ,   her   hands   far   away   from   his   wound.   he   feels   a   small   amount   of   blood   pool   around   the   newly   cut   up   skin   on   his   thighs   but   he   doesn’t   care   ⸺   he’s   survived   this   far ,   he   won’t   collapse   now.   ❛   𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑   𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 .   there’s   no   cause   less   worthy   than   me   to   strain   yourself   for .   i’m   not   about   to   die .   if   i   was ,   i   would’ve   done   so   already .   ❜   gently ,   he   lets   his   arm   wrap   around   her   waist   to   keep   her   in   place ,   right   there   between   his   legs   and   against   his   chest.   if   he   were   to   die ,   𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡   𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟   𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒   𝑎𝑛𝑑   𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒   𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛   𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡   𝑛𝑜𝑤   𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ   ℎ𝑒𝑟   𝑠𝑜   𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒   𝑡𝑜   ℎ𝑖𝑚   ?

❛   i   don’t   want   you   straining   yourself   like   that .   these   injuries   are   minor   ⸺   i   can   clean   myself   up   with   a   cloth   then   bandage   myself   after   my   bath .   ❜   he’s   unsure   how   strong   she   is.   she   looks   mostly   healed ,   acted   like   it   too   but   he’d   been   there   while   she   was   comatose.   he’d   seen   just   how   affected   she’d   been   by   her   fight   with   the   arishok   and   he   knew   from   experience ,   no   matter   how   much   you   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 ,   you   don’t   just   heal   so   easily   from   such   a   state   ⸺   even   when   you   look   like   you’ve   entirely   recovered ,   𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟   𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦   𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙   𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠   𝑡ℎ𝑒   𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑒   𝑎𝑛𝑑   𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛   𝑤𝑎𝑦   𝑏𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑑   𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡   𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡.   and   he   knows   all   too   well   noora   is   the   first   to   push   past   her   limits.   his   eyes   meet   hers   again ,   emotions   bare   for   her   to   see   (   when   did   he   become   so   open   ?   ) .   ❛   don’t   lie   to   me   about   how   you   feel ,   ❜   he   begs.

finally,   she   listens.   the   glow   in   her   hands   turns   to   a   dull   yellow   and   then   goes   out   completely,   and   her   hands   rest   against   his   bare   thighs.   she   wants   to   heal   him   completely.   she   wants   to   take   away   every   ounce   of   pain,   absorb   it   through   her   healing   magic   and   make   him   as   good   as   new.   but   for   now,   she   rests.   sadly,   he   was   right.   she   can   put   on   a   show   like   everything   is   fine,   but   she   knows   she’s   not   completely   healed.   the   deep   gashes   in   his   leg   and   side   had   taken   more   of   a   toll   on   her   than   she   was   willing   to   admit.   she’s   thankful   that   he   knows   her   better   than   he   knows   herself.

she   watches   the   cogs   turn   and   for   a   second ,   she   thinks   about   slapping   her   around   the   head   for   questioning   her   morality.   lee’s   never   met   someone   as   good   as   noora   and   she’s   been   around.   gently ,   a   hand   comes   to   comfortingly   tap   noora’s   head.   ❛   noor …   it’s   not   on   you   to   save   this   guy.   it’s   good   you   want   to   help   and   all   but   you   can’t   feel   bad   for   not   being   all   up   in   his   business   especially   when   he’s   clearly   trying   to   keep   you   out   of   it.   ❜   she   switches   chair   and   lays   her   head   on   the   table   so   they’re   looking   at   each   other   again.   ❛   but   if   what   you   think   is   happening   is   happening   then   take   it   from   someone   who’s   kinda   been   there :   the   best   thing   you   can   do   is   offer   an   ear   and   some   time.   friendship ,   i   guess.   anything   else   isn’t   on   you.   ❜

she   tries   to   believe   her   friend   ——   but   it’s   hard.    “   i’ve   tried   my   hardest,   lee   .   .   .   the   other   day,   we   were   studying   together,   and   she   just   showed   up   at   the   library.   she   was   all   over   him,   and   i   ended   up   leaving   early   because   i   couldn’t   bear   it   anymore.   i’d   get   that   level   of   jealousy   if   i   was   all   over   him,   but   we   were   studying   parametrized   curves.   and   the   way   she   looked   at   him   and   looked   at   me   .   .   .   it’s   like   she   sees   him   as   a   toy   and   i’m   interrupting   play   time.   ”    noora   shakes   her   head,   fingers   tapping   against   the   table.    “   he   doesn’t   even   want   to   talk   about   it.   i’ve   tried.   maybe   it’s   just   best   if   i   give   up.   ”

❛   look   li   ⸺   noora ,   are   you   trying   to   insult   me  ?   ❜   his   tone   is   lighthearted.   truthfully ,   he’s   not   sure   what   he   looks   like   if   he’s   honest.   not   great ,   probably.   his   face   worn   from   the   lack   of   sleep   and   lacking   its   usual   joviality   after   a   week   of   concern.   who   knows   what   she   saw   on   his   face   to   make   her   worry   so.   but   he   supposes   it’s   down   to   him   now   to   give   her   the   bad   news.   reaching   for   her   hand   and   wrapping   it   in   his ,   he   focuses   his   eyes   on   the   gentle   movement   of   his   thumb   caressing   her   skin.   ❛   i’m   not   sure   entirely   what   it   was.   they   had   a   fight   a   few   days   after   everything   happened.   it   ⸺   it   didn’t   go   well  ?   ❜   maker ,   he   wishes   he   didn’t   have   to   talk   about   this.   it   was   an   awkward   situation   already   and   his   position   with   everyone   didn’t   exactly   make   him   the   prime   choice   for   recounting   the   bad   news.   ❛   your   banister’s   broken.   ❜   he   offers   it   almost   as   a   joke ,   trying   to   avoid   having   to   go   into   further   details   even   if   he   knows   noora   will   ask.   a   fight   isn’t   new   for   them.   how   bad   could   it   be  ?

“   a   fight?   ”    not   entirely   foreign   to   them   ——   they’ve   had   their   fair   share   of   arguments,   but   none   that   were   worthy   of   banister - breaking.    “   a   broken   banister?   arthur,   please   tell   me   you’re   kidding.   ”    she’s   so   stressed   thinking   about   it   now   ——   she   doesn’t   want   to   have   to   pick   between   them.    “   well,   it   figures   this   would   happen   while   i   was   asleep.   ”    noora   sighs,   free   hand   resting   against   her   temple,   using   the   little   strength   she   has   to   squeeze   arthur’s   hand   with   her   own   ——   but   this   time,   it’s   for   her   comfort   rather   than   his.   while   she   was   asleep,   her   house   was   falling   apart   ——   metaphorically   and   literally.    “   will   they   be   okay,   arthur?   please,   be   honest   with   me.   ”

as   she   hides   into   him ,   he   holds   her   tighter ,   hoping   he   might   take   some   of   worries   away   by   merely   willing   them   to   come   into   him   instead.   he   can   only   imagine   how   tired   she   must   feel   over   this ,   how   guilty   she   feels   for   “ dragging   them   into   this ”   as   if   they   didn’t   all   make   the   choice   willingly   and   gladly.   he   leans   up   to   presses   a   kiss   to   the   top   of   her   head.   ❛   antiva   is   not   an   option ,   ❜   he’s   firm.   they   are   too   vulnerable   and   noora   too   known   for   a   place   crawling   with   some   of   the   best   assassins   the   world   has   ever   known.   𝐡𝐞’𝐥𝐥   𝐛𝐞   𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝   𝐢𝐟   𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲   𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞   𝐡𝐞𝐫   𝐭𝐨   𝐚   𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝   𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰.   ❛   absolutely   not ,   too   many   hired   hands   there.   and   par   vollen  ?   i’m   pretty   sure   they’ve   heard   of   the   arishok   slayer.   it   seems   like   a   dangerous   gamble   to   go   into   their   territory.   ❜

he   moves   slightly   so   his   back   can   lean   against   a   rock   and   he   can   pull   her   close   to   kiss   her   forehead.   they’d   find   a   way.   they’d   have   to.   ❛   i   know ,   ❜   his   voice   is   soft   and   content.   noora   said   it   all   the   time.   he’s   the   one   who   struggles   with   the   words ,   not   because   they   aren’t   true   but   because   they   seem   strange   on   his   tongue.   i   love   you   was   not   heard   in   the   pendragon   household.   with   a   soft   sigh ,   he   captures   her   lips   chastely.   ❛   i   love   you   too ,   and   we’ll   find   a   way.   ❜   his   mind   is   starting   to   hatch   a   plan.   surely   varric …   letting   the   people   who   are   after   them   find   them   feels   dangerous   but   if   varric   can   help   them   get   married …   maybe   it’s   worth   it.

who   would   have   guessed   little   noora   hawke   would   be   making   waves   in   her   whole   country?   it   felt   wrong.   but   still,   regardless   of   how   wrong   it   felt   to   her,   it   was   her   reality.   she   was   now   wanted   everywhere   and   would   be   for   the   rest   of   her   life,   even   though   the   crimes   put   against   her   were   not   true   in   the   slightest.   at   least   she   had   him.   she   had   him,   her   fiancé,   she   had   edmund,   her   closest   sibling,   she   had   leehra,   her   best   friend.   at   least   she   had   them.   if   she   didn’t,   she   didn’t   know   what   she’d   do.   turn   herself   in   to   the   templars,   maybe.   be   forced   to   join   the   circle,   or   worse,   be   made   tranquil.   a   fate   worse   than   death.   she’d   rather   be   an   abomination.

he   leans   back   in   his   chair   and   watches   her   sitting   on   his   desk ,   eyes   drinking   her   in.   his   mind   runs   wild   with   the   things   he   wants   to   do   to   her   on   any   desk   but ,   thankfully ,   he   gets   a   grasp   on   himself   fast   enough ,   swallowing   the   heat   he’s   starting   to   feel   and   offering   her   a   simple   smile.   this   crush   is   getting   out   of   control …   ❛   they   just   like   me   because   they   see   you   every day ,   that’s   all.   ❜   he   chuckles ,   pen   dancing   in   his   fingers   to   distract   him   from   the   forbidden   thoughts   threatening   to   spill   out   into   the   world.   an   eyebrow   arches.      ❛   really ,   you   too   ?   ❜   his   little   act   doesn’t   last   long   as   he   gives   a   small   laugh   and   shakes   his   head.   ❛   well ,   i   cancelled   my   date   so …   probably   just   watching   some   football ,   doing   some   grading   if   i   don’t   finish   tonight.   what   about   you ,   miss   sunshine  ?   ❜

“   i’m   sure   she’s   heartbroken.   ”    noora   grins,   glancing   down   at   her   lap   and   smoothing   a   wrinkle   in   her   dress.   lord   knows   she’d   be   heartbroken   in   that   situation.   but   this   was   a   crush,   something   so   juvenile   but   a   crush   nonetheless.    “   i’m   getting   some   things   for   a   little   game   we’re   playing   on   monday.   it’s   a   treat   for   them   being   so   well   behaved   lately.   ”    thankfully,   her   class   wasn’t   super   grade   heavy.   it   was   a   plus   side   to   her   class,   and   the   reason   arthur   walked   into   her   classroom   in   the   first   place.    “   football   sounds   exciting.   do   you   watch   it   with   friends   or   are   you   a   pub   guy?   ”

❛   we   can   only   hope   so.   now   that   everyone   has   seen   what   it   looks   like   when   the   city’s   all   fucked   up ,   they   won’t   want   another   war.   ❜   she’s   starting   to   get   annoyed   at   the   small   thread   hanging   from   her   wrist   and   finally   pulls   off   her   hand   wrap.   it   stings   to   take   the   little   part   of   ed   she’s   been   carrying   while   they’re   not   talking   away.   she   throws   the   mangled   piece   of   fabric   onto   the   table   before   snuggling   herself   into   the   sofa   corner ,   hugging   herself   in   hopes   of   finding   the   same   comfort.   ❛   i   don’t   know   if   it   will   teach   you   but   we’ve   been   basically   standing   guard   in   turns   to   tell   people   the   champion’s   not   to   be   disturbed   so …   it   might   have   taught   people   to   take   care   of   their   own   problems.   ❜

she   certainly   hoped   so   ——   curse   her   bleeding   heart.   maybe   it’s   because   she   had   an   unmistakable   urge   to   help   those   who   couldn’t   help   themselves.   maybe   it’s   because   she   knew   flemeth   helped   her   and   her   family   in   their   lowest   moment.   she   couldn’t   turn   her   back   on   someone   when   she   was   helped.   not   selflessly,   but   for   a   price,   just   like   noora   was   doing   now.    “   maybe   it’ll   take   people   not   coming   up   to   me   to   say   no.   although,   i   don’t   really   have   an   option   if   they’re   not   coming   up   to   me.   ”    she   laughs   softly,   attempting   not   to   jolt   her   irritated   shoulder.

it   feels   like   a   million   little   hands   are   reaching   into   him   and   burning   his   skin   but   at   least   he   knows   he’s   healing.   his   head   falls   back   with   a   groan   on   his   lips.   whoever   said   magic   healing   was   a   fast   and   easy   fix   lied.   it   is   painful ,   only   in   a   different   way.   “ all   that   matters   is   i’m   here   now. ”   he   agrees.   she   was   the   driving   force   for   him   to   come   back ,   the   call   back   to   the   shore.   while   he   doesn’t   speak ,   his   fingers   brush   against   her   skin   again ,   letting  them   do   the   talking.   when   she   finishes   on   his   side ,   he   sits   up   just   a   bit ,   gritting   his   teeth   as   the   pain   still   remains.   she’s   done   a   beautiful   job ,   almost   nothing   can   be   seen   now   but   he   can   still   feel   the   aching ,   like   a   bruise   buried   beneath   the   skin.   still ,   it’s   better   than   what   it   used   to   be.   he’s   thankful.

her   voice   echoes   in   his   brain.   ❛   cut   it   out  ?   ❜   he’s   a   little   bit   in   shock.   he   was   praying   that   it   would   not   come   to   that   and   yet …    ❛   cut   it   out ,   right.   ❜   he’s   barely   got   time   to   take   the   information   in   before   her   hand   transforms   in   an   atrocity   of   rock   and   sharp   edges ,   eyes   widening   at   the   display.   he   did   not   know   she   could   do   that.   “ you’ll   tell   me   if   it   hurts   too   much,   right  ? ”   the   voice   is   a   little   distant   as   he   stares   at   the   crude   instrument   she’s   about   to   use   on   him.   he   can   only   nod   before   he   sits   back   in   the   chair   and   closes   his   eyes   again.   just   don’t   think   about   it.   he   squares   his   shoulders   and   grips   onto   the   edge   of   the   filled   bath   as   she   starts   to   cut ,   the   kiss   to   the   hand   still   on   her   cheek   only   bringing   so   much   relief.   his   face   twists   in   a   grimace   of   pain   but   he   bites   back   any   and   all   sounds   that   threatens   to   spill   out.   she’s   finally   done   and   ,   by   the   time   he   finds   the   courage   to   open   his   eyes,   her   hands   are   glowing   again.   ❛   hold   on.   ❜   he   sits   straight   in   the   chair ,   hands   wrapping   around   her   wrists   and   gently   tugging   them   away   from   him.   ❛   are   you   sure   you’re   ok  ?   i   don’t   want   you   to   strain   yourself.   i   can   get   our   physician   to   help   for   anything   else.   ❜

she’s   so   focused   on   him,   the   sudden   tug   causes   noora   to   jump.   he’s   the   one   she   just   dug   an   arrowhead   from,   and   he’s   worried   about   her.   she’s   tired,   yes   ——   healing   in   any   capacity   tired   her,   especially   when   it   was   something   like   this   that   had   been   ignored   for   this   long.   she’d   been   tired   before   ——   she’d   been   strained.   what   better   cause   for   that   than   the   one   you   love?

“   i’ll   be   okay.   ”    noora   looks   up   at   him,   eyes   softening   the   longer   she   looks   at   him.   it   almost   makes   her   forget   the   things   she’d   done,   makes   her   forget   she’s   an   arishok   killer,   an   apostate   mage,   the   cause   of   most   of   the   bad   things   in   her   family.   he   made   her   feel   like   the   sun,   something   so   important   that   he   couldn’t   live   without   her.   the   sun   continued   burning,   giving   its   light   no   matter   how   long   it   worked,   and   so   would   she.    “   trust   me,   okay?   and   even   if   i   do   strain   myself,   it’s   for   you.   it’s   a   worthy   cause   to   me.   ”    her   wrist   breaks   free   from   his   hand   again,   but   this   time   it’s   more   gentle,   and   she   takes   his   hand   and   kisses   his   knuckles   tenderly.    “   if   i   feel   faint,   i’ll   stop.   i   promise.   ”    the   truth   of   it   was   that   she   would   go   into   a   week - long   coma   again   if   it   meant   he   could   be   fully   and   properly   healed.   she   wanted   him   to   be   well   and   happy.    “   are   you   feeling   better?   if   something   still   hurts,   i   can   work   on   it   more.   ”    she   murmurs,   hands   and   wrists   glowing   gold   again   as   she   works   at   the   cut   in   his   thigh.

it   was   hard   work   to   be   as   good   as   they   are.   hours   of   training ,   blood   and ,   if   he   were   a   more   emotionally   open   man ,   tears   but   they   were   all   worth   it   for   the   thrill   of   being   on   the   ice   in   front   of   an   audience ,   hearing   their   reactions ,   losing   yourself   in   the   choreography …   it   isn’t   where   arthur   thought   he   would   end   up   but   he   would   not   change   a   thing.   they   finally   get   to   sit   for   their   points   to   be   awarded   and   he   smiles   wide   at   her.   ❛   you   were   amazing.   ❜   he   hopes   the   adoration   isn’t   too   apparent   in   his   voice.   she   was   amazing ,   she   is   amazing ,   but   the   deeply   burrowed   feelings   hiding   in   his   heart   don’t   need   to   come   out.   clearing   his   throat ,   he   lets   his   hand   come   rest   on   her   knee   for   a   moment.   ❛   if   we   don’t   win   with   what   we   did   today …   ❜

she’s   painfully   aware   of   his   touch   on   her   knee,   the   heat   from   his   hand   obvious   against   the   cool   climate   of   the   rink.   they   were   the   last   to   go,   the   way   the   judging   went   is   what   would   determine   the   way   everything   happened   from   here   on   out.   the   direction   of   their   careers,   any   routine   they   did   in   the   future   .   .   .   she   hears   the   judge   adjust   his   microphone   and   it   nearly   causes   her   to   jump.   though   she   tries,   she   can   barely   pay   attention.   she’s   so   nervous.   she’s   never   been   this   nervous.

.   .   .   and,   with   125.9,   pendragon   and   hawke   take   first   place.

first!   her   heart   soars   as   she   hears   it.    “   oh   my   god.   ”   she’s   smiling   so   big   ——   she   turns   to   arthur,   pulling   him   into   a   tight   hug,   not   unlike   any   they’ve   ever   given   each   other   before.   this   time,   however,   she   does   something   different.   as   they   pull   back,   she   catches   herself   looking   at   his   lips.   this   was   not   unlike   anything   she’d   ever   done   ——   but   this   time,   she   leans   in,   catching   his   lips   in   a   kiss.

he’s   leaned   with   his   head   on   his   hand ,   elbow   on   his   desk ,   his   eyes   glued   to   the   copy   he’s   grading.   “ my   class   loved   having   you   over   today. ”   he   jumps ,   not   expecting   anyone   to   walk   into   his   classroom.   he   doesn’t   know   if   she   waited   for   him   to   have   his   pen   off   the   copy   to   talk   but   he’s   grateful   he   didn’t   rip   through   his   poor   students’   test   (   though   considering   the   responses ,   the   student   might   have   preferred   it   ).   looking   up   with   the   brightest   smile   his   tired   self   can   muster ,   he   watches   as   she   sips   at   her   tea.   ❛   𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 ,   who   would   like   mister   grumpy   more   than   miss   sunshine  ?   ❜   he’s   still   not   sure   if   it’s   the   kids   or   the   faculty   members   that   started   those   nicknames.   he   strongly   suspects   gwaine   might   be   the   one   who   first   used   mr.   grumpy.

she   feels   bad   watching   him   jump   ——   but   the   smile   he   gives   her   makes   her   smile   in   response   as   she   walks   into   his   classroom,   eventually   sitting   on   his   desk,   blue   green   eyes   falling   on   the   test   he’s   grading.    “   my   students.   after   you   left,   they   asked   me   when   you   were   coming   back.   ”    her   hands   fold   in   her   lap,   she   looks   back   up   at   him   with   a   smile.    “   so,   mister   grumpy.   any   fun   plans   this   weekend?   ”    not   that   she’d   ever   act   on   the   little   crush   that   was   developing   .   .   .   plus,   she’s   curious.   maybe   she   wants   to   see   what   her   chances   are.