#bitterpill

Fandom: Dragon Age

Pairing: Fenris & Orana

Rated: G more platonic

Modified prompts: Day 12 How does this help you?

Day 17  you’re not alone

Summary

When Fenris comes to Hawke’s mansion, he meets Orana. And there is a kind of shy bonding over Tevene commonality. This is roughly sometime after Orana escapes from the caves and to Kirkwall for a week or so. I adore trying my hand at making drabbles/ shortfics for rare pairs. Fenris’ pov

Coming Home

I dropped by Hawke’s home to return a book. She had given me a prior reading lesson, bade me take home this fiction. I found it too baffling. As I knocked on the door shyly, I caught a whiff of fragrant spices, like turmeric, cumin and coriander and some kind of meat. Venhedis, I’m ravenous.

I expected the dwarf to open the door, but it was the timid elf girl we had saved. Almost a week ago? She stared at me with bambi eyes, then averted her gaze to the floor.  “Hello Messere, Fenris is it?” Her voice was wobbly and high, like a bird’s.

I had come over in my usual spiky gear, oh no she must be in fear. I said, “Yes that’s right. Orana, you don’t have to call me messere now. Just Fenris. I’m here to visit Hawke.” I was looking at her bunned golden hair, she still bowed her head. I tried to soften my tone.

Orana tentatively looked up and stepped back. “Yes of course. Please come in and sit. Mistress is upstairs sleeping I think.” Coming into Hawke’s front room with the inviting couches, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I moved to the rack, disarming my weapons, breastplate and spiked gloves. I was wearing a moss-green cotton shirt and loose pants. The delicious food aromas were more acute as Orana was moving towards the kitchen.

My Lord Ravenwing,

I write you this evening still filthy from a day’s work and heavy of heart for this solemn news.  The Lady Acasia has implicated members of my sister’s house in a duplicitous coupe for her attention.  Regardless of the veracity of these claims, she is no longer comfortable with the classic-arrangement of our budding courtship.  I gather from a quite-difficult letter penned by her hand that it is her wish to seek the proximal comforts of physical companionship among the flesh on offer amidst my sister’s things.  I have -in this short season- come to regard your judgement for quality standards.  Therefore I assure you that through the course of this courtship, I have kept my word to you and will keep it still in prudence and respect.

Per the promise I made to you, I have returned her to your care, unassailed and with heart intact.  For by her admission she seeks after better company.  I am not her Lord, that I should forbid her - verily I say to you that I am Lord of none and only a master of one.

Therefore, I have chosen to accept her proposal and make my way in your midst as I had intended before this entangling began a gilded face and nothing more.  I have written her to confront these notions with as much clarity as I can master from myself.  Therefore please forgive me any vagary and ask not after clarity. for her confidence is still mine to keep.

Thus, I duly confess to having managed myself with fairness and respect in regards to your sister and her company.  I have carried myself in observation of the old-ways, nigh irreproachable and gentlemanly in demeanor until this very hour.  Nevertheless, if there is reason to insist upon the finding of fault in my way - I will not require the searching just to find.  I am no stranger to consequences and you are -for all your true greatness- still a man.  A better man perhaps, though still a man and subject to such things as men are.  So believe me my Lord when I tell you that I know my place and you are wise to put me from your mind, for I am beneath you like the boards at your feet.  Lest you make some reason to elevate me I would surely fade, only mistaken for dross against the sterling reputation of your House and Lordship.

Farewell my Lord and may only that which is good come unto you and always.

Your Humble Servant, Rhys Valtieri