Author's note:
Just want to say thank you everyone that's reading about Hawke and Elayne. It is and was a pleasure writing this story, and I'm glad that others are liking it. It means a lot.
Elayne
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Chapter 9: Last night
"Elayne, let me gather everything up and let's take this back to my place. I still have something to give you and if you have any questions we can warm up by the fire and drink the wine I forgot to open," he said with a grin. She nodded her head, and he gave her a blanket to warm up in. He threw on his pants and started gathering everything in the basket. After shaking the rose petals off the blanket, he folded it up, grabbed the rest of their clothes and the basket, but before they walked back to his house he closed his eyes and the lights went out.
He set their stuff by the door, grabbed the wine and glasses and set them on the table along with the box. She sat down on the couch, and he rushed to get a fire going when he saw her shiver before going to his room and grabbing one of his shirts since she loved wearing them and handed it to her. She took it, threw the blanket off long enough to put the shirt on and wrapped the blanket back around her before sitting back down. He grabbed the box and sat down beside her, as she was gazing at the fire.
"Elayne," he said quietly, getting her attention as he turned her head towards him so their eyes met. "Is there something wrong?"
She shook her head, "no, everything is perfect. I'm just trying to gather in everything that happened tonight." She turned her whole body towards him. "What did happen tonight? Are we married? And what happened afterwards, did you feel anything? Why do I feel...." She hesitated, looking at him in confusion. "Hawke why do I feel you, like your literally inside me, but you're sitting in front of me," she whispered.
"Are you having second thoughts," he asked worriedly, panic starting to set in. "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it first, I know we both talked about not wanting to wait a year and with you leaving tomorrow, I just needed to completely make you mine. If this isn't what you..."
Before he could say more she put her finger to his mouth shaking her head. "No I am not having second thoughts and I don't regret it. I cherish it if that's what happened, but that's what I want to know, did it happen?"
He looked down at her, his heart had started back up when she said she didn't regret it, he had been so afraid she would try and fight it. "First I got a question for you, do you still feel the pull towards me?"
"Yes and no, I feel like I'm complete, my heart and soul are complete but there's a different kind of pull towards you. Its more of a deeper pull. Does that make sense?"
"I feel the same way with you. This union was blessed, that's why you felt what you're feeling. It was meant to happen, our souls, hearts became one. Let me show you something, but before I do, I have to give you the rest of your gift," he said as he grabbed the box off the table. "This is meant for you and you alone, it was made for you," he handed the box to her. "Open it."
When she opened the box, she gasped, "Hawke this is beautiful," she said breathlessly. "What do you mean it was made for me, how did you get it? When did you get it?"
"I got it today when we went to town. I had no idea of its existence until I went into the second jewelry store. I had wanted to get you something special, something that I could enchant with a protection spell for when I can't be with you. Then when we got engaged, and we talked about having to wait the year I had tonight's idea in my head. So when we went to town today I was on a mission of finding that perfect ring. I went into one store but didn't see what I was looking for. To be honest I didn't know what I was looking for, I knew it had to be a ring and I knew it had to be a very special ring. But I didn't know if I wanted a blue or purple stone. I've seen you favor both those colors," he said with a chuckle.
"When I went into the second store, I was pursuing the ring case waiting for something to jump out at me, when that ring right there called to me. I asked the shop owner about it, and he let me look at it. I felt a pull from the stone, and after I checked its quality and noticed it was enchanted for me to find, all the while Bart, the store owners name, watched me. When I decided to purchase it, then he started telling me this story about how someone had come into the store with a very unusual request."
Hawke took a deep breath and put her hand in his and sat there looking at her. The time for secrets was over with, especially this one if Caleb was asking him to leave his family and meet with him. Elayne and her family needed to know, he hoped Caleb understood.
"Before I go any further there's some things I need to tell you, yes your father figured it out the other day but I need to clarify it. Caleb is an elf, he's my teacher, not only in my magic but he also trained me a little about the arcane warrior skills. Not all but some along with some other skills because of my thirst for the blade. I'm considered a battlemage; I am someone who is both trained in magic and combat, both a scholar and a warrior, I can use both magic and weapons simultaneously. I prefer using two swords then a shield and sword, I channel my power through my body and my swords whether I have them in hand or not. Walking around with a staff would be too dangerous for me so my swords became my staff. My swords are enchanted to deter others who can sense a mage from trying to probe me even though I can hide my magic. But I'm getting away from the main reason for me telling you about Caleb."
"Bart started telling me about this customer who had a cloak on with his hood up, but Bart was able to catch a quick glance, and he had seen his ears that marked him for an elf. Caleb told him that someone would come in looking for a particular ring and when that person asked about your ring then I was the one that he had been waiting for. But first he had to make sure I was the right one. So he asked certain questions. The ring was enchanted specifically for me to find it, Bart said that everyone who would look for rings always skipped yours.
"When Bart said Caleb's name something in my posture changed, and he knew the person he was waiting for was me. He went to the back and brought out that box with that jewelry in it."
Elayne looked at him curiously, "but how did Caleb know you would be looking for a ring?"
He ran his hand through his hair as he paced back and forth in front of her. "I honestly can't answer that question, I have an idea, but that's all I have." He went to the box and lifted the bottom up, pulling out the note and handed it to her.
"Here, I want to read you something. Just read the first part to where it talks about your jewelry."
While she was reading it he poured two glasses of wine, picked them both up, handing her one. He then started pacing again waiting for her. When she finally looked up from the letter, she watched him. She still didn't understand how someone could know, but then she remembered an old elven story she had heard as a kid. About some of them being able to see into the future, but she never paid attention to that. It was a history lesson, and she was a young kid then, and besides she'd never seen an elf before. For all she had known, elves were a fairy tale.
"Hawke, stop moving around for a minute." When he didn't respond to her, she reached her hand up to his and he jumped. When his head turned to hers and his eyes focused on her, she continued on. "Hawke, did you study history?"
He nodded to her, "It was another part of my studies that my father had me learn and I found I enjoyed."