#evil anabel

Sebastian stayed where he was, and didn’t say anything more.

She tried to ignore the vague disappointment she felt, telling herself not to be silly, theirs was a business arrangement. A business arrangement with mind-blowing sex and the eventual founding of a dynasty. Nothing more. But that was more than enough. And it came with what she was certain would be a fairly impressive piece of jewelry. She weighed the velvet box in the palm of her hand. Heavier than she thought. She’d been wondering for days now (months if she were honest) what sort of ring he’d pick out for her. Everyone knew his taste was exquisite, his knowledge of gems impressive, and of course the fact he was one of the wealthiest men in Thedas could only help with the choice.  

But still, for him to just sit there like that.  

She looked at him expectantly, but he simply smiled that deceptively serene smile that he’d mastered since his return to respectability.  

Was he expecting her to ask if she could open the box?

Like hell she was going to ask. 

She arched an eyebrow at him, giving him one last chance to say something. 

Still smiling he took a sip of his coffee. And didn’t say a thing.

With a scowl that she didn’t try to hide, she opened the box.

And temporarily forgot how to breathe. 

When she finally remembered how to, she spoke, surprised at how shaky her voice sounded. “That’s the Aeducan Pink.”

“I thought you might recognize it.”  Sebastian sounded entirely unconcerned. 

The Aeducan Pink. Fifty-six carats. Sold at auction three months ago, to an anonymous buyer for…

“Eighty-four million.” She said faintly.

It had set a record. A completely flawless vivid pink diamond. She’d read about it, seen pictures, but nothing had prepared her for the sight of it, the almost shocking pink color of it and the size. It looked unreal, like something you might find glued in a plastic tiara in a child’s princess dress-up chest. Or would have, if your grandfather had ever let you indulge in anything as mundane as dress-up. But that gem would never have sparkled the way this one did, the lights from the crystal chandelier above bouncing of the facets so brightly that she actually had to blink. 

Wow. She bit her lower lip to keep from saying it out loud. Wow. 

Sebastian rose from the table, laying his napkin beside his plate, and walked to her side. He took the box from her hand, removed the ring and slipped it onto her finger. The stone reached past her knuckle. The fit was a bit loose, and the weight of the rock made it slip to one side.  

Anabel stared at it without speaking.

“Anabel?” Sebastian prompted.

She didn’t raise her eyes. “Mmm?” She murmured. She seemed mesmerized.

The corner of Sebastian’s mouth twitched. “Do you like it?”

“I...I…” She stopped, but finally raised her eyes to his, giving him a sweet smile. “I think it’s possibly the most vulgar piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen.”  

Sebastian burst out laughing. He’d thought she’d see through his joke, but had also thought she’d be a bit more...gentle in her opinion. He should have known better.

She was looking at him expectantly. “Where’s the real ring?” she demanded but her eyes were dancing merrily now.

Still laughing, he pulled the ‘most vulgar piece of jewelry she’d ever seen’ off her finger, and placed it back in the box, before reaching into his other pocket, and pulling out a slightly smaller box. He opened it, holding it for her to see.

Her breath caught again, in a slightly different way than before. 

It was beautiful. Delicate somehow: not that the stone itself was small (though any stone would look small after the Aeducan Pink). Like other ring, the diamond was pink, though a less vivid pink, and it flanked by two much smaller white diamonds.

It was pretty. That seemed a strange word to use for such a gem, but that was what kept repeating in her mind. It was just the sort of ring that she would have picked out for herself, and she wondered that Sebastian had known that. 

To her alarm she found herself blinking back tears. “Much better.”  She said, hoping he hadn’t noticed the tears. 

If he had he didn’t comment on them. “I’m glad you like it.”  

“8 carats?” she guessed.

“Almost.” She frowned and for just a moment he thought it was displeasure at the size, but then realized she was displeased that she’d guessed incorrectly.  “7.97 carats.” He told her and the smile was back.

“It’s beautiful. Tell me about it.” 

“7.97 carats, cushion cut, pure vivid pink but rare in that the skillfulness of the cut causes it to reflect an almost orange light. I was told that there was some debate about whether to classify it as a red diamond rather than pink because of that, but the pink classification prevailed. I thought the peachy tone would compliment your coloring.”

She’d expected him to choose carefully, but she’d thought he’d be picking for the impression it would make on Thedas, not on her. When she looked at him he was watching her carefully. “What’s its history? Who owned it before? Does it have a name?” The questions came out too quickly as she tried to ignore the emotions that realization had caused.

“It’s from Orzammar, from a recently discovered or rather rediscovered mine, a week below the surface.”

“From an Aeducan mine?” She asked. The best diamonds usually were.

“Yes,” He confirmed. “I’ve had some dealings with Bhelen Aeducan in the past. I phoned and he invited me to come and see his personal collection and was kind enough to let me have my choice.”

She gave a small snort. “For a hefty price, I’m sure. How much did…”

He cut her off. “I am not telling you how much your engagement ring cost me.”

“When did you go to Orzammar?” He hadn’t said anything about it.

“I made a slight detour during my trip to Jader last month.” 

Had he wanted to surprise her? And what did that mean? “Does it have a name? I’ve always liked the idea of naming stones. It makes them more unique.” She was starting to babble, never a good sign.

“It does.”

She looked at him expectantly.

“Anabel’s Blush.” He told her and smiled as her cheeks turned a pink almost identical to the rich pink of the diamond.

She put her hands to her cheeks to cool them, silently cursing her fair skin that showed every blush so readily. He’d gone all the way to Orzammar to find stone for her ring and named it after her. Anabel’s Blush. It pleased her more than it should. Stop it, she told herself, it probably has little to do with you. There was a reason to everything Sebastian did, it was one of the things she liked about him, and she suspected she knew the real reason for this. “The press will love that.” She said looking up at him with a smile that felt a bit forced. 

Something flickered in those blue eyes, and was gone before she could identify it. “Yes. It should prove quite the morsel during tomorrow’s press conference.”

“Yes.” She agreed. It would. The press and the royal watchers would eat it up, because Maker (and Sebastian apparently) knew she would blush all over again when he told the press the name of the stone. 

Anabel’s Blush. He’d chosen it and named it for her. 

“Sebastian?”  Her voice sounded small, uncertain somehow. She looked up at him, and from the puzzled look on his face she knew he had heard it too. The words came tumbling out before she could stop them. “I love it. Truly. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. Thank you.” Shit. She shouldn’t have gushed like that. 

But when she looked at him he was giving her a smile that was different from any she’d received from him before, and she found her self returning it.

For a moment they just smiled at each other. Sebastian came to his senses before she did. 

“Well, then we’d best settle this matter.” He turned her chair slightly, so that it faced away from the table, and went down on one knee in front of her.

Or maybe he hadn’t.

Her eyes widened in surprise.There was no one else here. No one to see it. No one to impress. 

He’d gone down on one knee.

He took her hand in his. “Anabel Esme Amell-Hawke, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that for a moment she was worried he would hear it. 

“Yes.” She told him. Maker help her. 

She watched as he took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger.

It fit perfectly. And he was right: it did compliment her coloring. 

She slid forward so she was actually sitting on his knee, and kissed him. Softly, almost chastely at first, and then as he slid his arms around her she ran her tongue over his lips and the kiss became something else. When it ended they were both breathing heavily. 

She rested her forehead against his.“The reporters are waiting outside the restaurant?” she asked. 

“Yes,” he confirmed. 

“Once they get a picture of the ring, how soon until they descend on the Amell manse?” 

“Twenty minutes?” He suggested. He turned his head pressing his lips to the side of her neck. 

She bent her head to the side so he had easier access. “And perhaps another twenty after that before they start looking for you to leave? I’d be a poor hostess if I didn’t offer my escort coffee, or brandy.  Or something else?” 

He pulled his head back to find her giving him a look so hopeful that he couldn’t help laughing. “After accounting for travel that doesn’t give us much time,” he pointed out.

“Plenty of time if you don’t insist on a bed. Up against a wall or bent over a sofa would hardly take any time at all.” 

He didn’t answer, but after a brief pause set her on her feet and stood himself. 

She was already reapplying her lipstick. 

She handed him a tissue, and he wiped his mouth clean of the traces of pink, and then reached over and scooped up both jewelry boxes.

She smiled as he slipped them back into the pocket of his jacket. “I imagine the owner of that rock will be relieved to get it back.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think it belongs to someone else.? 

Eighty-four million. “What are you going to do with it?” She couldn’t help asking the question.

“Oh, I’ve a few thoughts. It would make a spectacular pendant.” 

She pictured it in her mind. “Yes. Yes it would.” And one could hardly blame her if she sounded a bit breathless. “Any thoughts as to who the recipient of this necklace might be?” 

He leaned down and kissed her again. “I thought I might give it to my wife on the occasion of the birth of our first child.” 

Wow. “I’m certain she would appreciate such a gift.” She said closing her clutch. She transferred it to her left hand, holding it so that the ring would be impossible to miss. 

He took her other hand, tucking it into the crook of his arm. “I don’t know. I hear she considers large stones vulgar.”

She pretended to consider the matter. “Perhaps you’ll be able to persuade her otherwise by the time this child makes an appearance.” 

“I’ll certainly make every effort to do so.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob, and smiled down at her. His eyes went briefly to the ring on her finger. “Are you ready?”