When they finally made it to Lothering, Elayne said her goodbyes to her dad and brother and Hawke said his to Carver. Bryce and his group continued on down the road while Hawke and Elayne went into Lothering. Hawke told the soldiers, the same one's from last time, if they wanted to go to Dane's they could. This time one stayed with Hawke and Elayne the other two went to the Inn. Hawke looked at Elayne, "so what first? I need shirts, you want, need anything?"
"Hmm, how about some more of that wine we had last night, that was good."
"You're wish is my command, my beautiful little wife." He chuckled when he saw her face warm. "So how does it feel?" he asked and she showed him in his mind. He stopped abruptly, looked down at her, grabbed her and kissed her right there in the middle of the street. After a few minutes they both started walking again hand in hand with grins on their faces. Elayne wanted to go see the shop where he got her jewelry at. When they walked in and Bart looked up, it took him a minute for him to recognize Hawke but when he did, he smiled and walked over and shook his hand.
Hawke introduced Elayne to Bart. "Bart, this is Elayne, my wife," Elayne beamed at him when he introduced her as his wife. Bart went to shake her hand, but she gave him a quick hug and told him thank you. Bart looked from Elayne to Hawke in confusion and back to her, he noticed the jewelry set she was wearing and then he understood.
"Ahh, so you're the one that was meant for, it looks good on you. No need to thank me little lady. I was just hanging on to it until your man here came to pick it up."
"That's why I'm thanking you, you didn't have to hang onto it. This set is beyond priceless, and you could have gotten a lot of money for it. You're a good man Mr. Bart and I wanted to thank you." Again she hugged him.
Bart looked embarrassed with the attention. "It wouldn't of been right, little lady, I would never dishonor my shop or name with something that despicable."
"That's why you're a good man, sir. We'll leave you be, I just wanted to say thank you." She grabbed Hawke's hand and headed out the door. She looked up at Hawke who was staring at her, his eyes full of love for her.
"You're an amazing woman, Elayne. You just made his day."
She flushed, and they walked to a clothing shop. When they went in she went over to the men's shirts with him right behind her. As she was deciding for him, which he found amusing, a store clerk came over to them asking if she could help them.
When he turned around, she whistled, "my you're a tall one aren't you, handsome?" She got bold and ran a hand down his chest, "wow, feels like you've got some muscle under here. Tell me good sir, you wouldn't by any chance be available, would you, I could use a tall handsome strapping man like you beside me?"
Before he could open his mouth Elayne slapped the woman's hand off his chest and stepped in between them. She glared at the other woman, "No he's not," she seethed. Hawke could hear her anger in her voice, "I'd kindly appreciate you keeping your hands off my husband." By the time Elayne was done shouting, the few patrons were looking over at them.
Hawke was amused, standing there with his arms crossed. 'My, my,' he thought, grinning, 'my little wildcat has claws and teeth out of bed also.' Elayne turned to him, took his arm and marched out of the store. The soldier who was with them saw the look on Elayne's face when they came out. He tensed up looking around and Hawke shook his head. "She didn't like the customer service in there." Hawke said with a chuckle. The soldier looked hesitant but when nothing happened from the store as they walked away he shrugged and followed them. Elayne turned on Hawke, "you just stood there, why didn't you say anything you big lummox," she replied testily before she flushed.
Hawke, still amused, stood there with his arms crossed and cocked an eyebrow at her, giving her a look that said, 'Really?'
She suddenly stopped, looked at him ashamed. "I'm sorry Hawke, I don't know what came over me. Just seeing that, that hussy with her hand on you, I lost control. Please forgive me, that wasn't very lady like of me. I'll go back and apologize if you want me too." She started to go back but he grabbed her arm and brought his mouth to hers.
When he lifted his head, "no need my love, there are other stores." He bent down to her ear, "I found that extremely hot and sexy, my little wildcat," he whispered in her ear.
She looked up at him her face burning, "you would, you ass." but he heard the amusement in her voice. He bust out laughing.
She glared at him and started to stalked off, but he grabbed her again, "I love you Elayne," he said. But she refused to look at him, her face still flushed. "Elayne, look at me for a minute," when she did his gaze captured hers. "Just remember who I'm going home with, who I share my bed with, who I'm married too, who I adore and worship the ground she walks on. There's only one woman in the world for me and I waited my whole life for her, she's standing right in front of me." He leaned in, his lips inches away. He was so bloody intoxicating. She closed the gap, initiating contact. Their kiss deepened. She felt light-headed and tingly. Their passion ignited and was soon fully ablaze until they realized where they were and they both broke away from each other. Her longing was reflected in his depths.
"I love you too Hawke," she said breathlessly. "Now let's go get you some shirts."
He was relieved to see that the next store had male sales people. After multiple shirts, different colors and styles later, they walked out of there with him having a dozen shirts and at least three pairs of pants. "Seriously Elayne, I don't need this many and some of the colors are not me. I prefer dark colors, not baby blue." She walked on ignoring him. He groaned, maybe this was payback for something.
As they walked by a store window display Hawke saw something that caught his attention. He looked at it, wondering how she would look in it. But how did he go about acquiring it without her knowing about it? After they went and grabbed a couple of bottles of wine, he looked up at the sky. It was getting late, and they needed to be getting back soon but not before grabbing something to eat. They headed back to the Inn and went to the table where the other two soldiers where sitting.
Hawke and his group sat down, and he asked the others if they were hungry, when Danal came to the table he ordered a pitcher of mead and five bowls of the stew. Danal started to walk away and Hawke had an idea. He asked Danal to wait a moment and Hawke went to him asking a for a piece of paper and something to write with. When Danal handed the items to him, he wrote some directions down, took some coins out of his pocket, hoping it was enough and asked Danal if one of his daughters could get that for him for Elayne. He handed the note and coins to Danal who nodded. Hawke went back to his table and Elayne looked at him, but he brushed it off. He saw one of the girls exit from the back looking over at Hawke and Elayne. Danal brought over their food and drinks.
By the time the group was done, Danal's daughter was back with the package. She brought it over to Hawke, and she gave him his change. He still had quit a bit left, and gave the girl a gold coin and told her thank-you. She looked at Hawke in shock, curtsied to him, beaming and went back to the kitchen. Everyone was looking to him, but he ignored them and put the package away. They finished up and he asked Danal if he owed anything for the soldiers and paid the bill.
They left Lothering and headed home. It was dusk by the time they got to the farm. He thanked the soldiers and Elayne and him went to the main house. Eleanor had moved her stuff from the guest house to the main house since they had the extra rooms thanks to his insight when they had first moved to the farm.
"There's no point in me staying in that big place by myself and I know Elayne has other sleeping arrangements," she said when Hawke inquired. Elayne blushed furiously which made him chuckle and in turn he received a glare for it from her.
The other women laughed, "poor Hawke," Bethany snickered during bouts of giggles. Hawke growled at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him.