A Hawke and his Princess Ch. 01-05

She opened her eyes, to see him regarding her with desire darkened eyes gleaming with need, and she heard him groan. She felt the lightest brush of his fingers on her face and she found herself leaning into it. How did he do that? It was the lightest caress, but she felt it all throughout her body, right down to her toes. His blue eyes touched her face, thoughtful, unmistakably possessive. His eyes and his touch made her feel as if she belonged to him.

"I want to go back Hawke." She worked to keep her voice under control. She wasn't sure what she wanted, but she knew, felt there was a pull between them that was so strong she could hardly think straight.

"Princess," his voice was a soft inquiry. A gentle soothing caress of reassurance. "You are safe with me, Elayne. I will not allow anyone or anything to harm you!"

She swallowed nervously. "Just you," she said quietly.

She pushed at the wall of his chest, but found her hands trapped against the heat of his skin. He merely tightened his hold, amusement spreading warmth across his handsome features. "You can't fight me, little one."

"Please Hawke, it's late, I need to get back to the Inn." She could hear the pounding of her heart. What was it she wanted from him? She didn't know, only that this was the most beautiful, perfect, frighteningly night of her life. She wanted to see him again, wanted to feel his touch and lips on her again. He was utterly motionless, unbelievably beautiful standing there watching her. She waited breathlessly. Fear was suffocating her, sending tremors through her slender form. Fear he wouldn't let her go, but at the same time fear that he would let her go. She drew air into her lungs.

"Hawke," she pleaded with him again. "I don't know what you want, Makers Breath, I don't even know what I want." And she didn't know what she wanted. By the end she could hear the fear and need she was feeling coming out in her voice.

He looked so proud, so strong, yet his eyes burned over her with hungry need. He didn't answer her, didn't try to persuade her, he simply stood in silence, watching her with those eyes.

She was frightened, he could read it in her trembling body, a wild thing wanting to trust him yet unable to, cornered, but still willing to fight with her last breath. He could see it in her eyes, but there was something else he saw there, something deeper, she wanted him almost as much as he needed and wanted her. But he knew he had to wait, she would come to him when she was ready.

He bowed slightly from the waist, took her arm in his and they both walked back to the Inn. Once inside he walked her to her room and simply stood there watching her without blinking. He was sinfully sexy, the way his gaze moved hungrily over her. His eyes made her feel as if she belonged to him. His gaze had the ability to make a woman feel as if she was the only woman in the world. The only one he saw, needed, wanted. Her breath caught in her throat as he touched her cheek, he leaned down and touched his lips lightly to hers. "Sleep well, my angel," he breathed against her mouth and walked off to his room.

When his hand had cupped her face she couldn't help but lean into it, needing and wanting his touch. There was seduction in his voice, his eyes. When he pulled away she couldn't help but feel bereft of his touch, she ached with his departure and almost called him back. She wouldn't allow herself to think of how her body had come alive at the touch of his fingers. How it had burned, needed, wanted. The seduction was beyond physical, it was deeper, more elemental, something she couldn't precisely put her finger on. Like he had touched the inside of her very soul.

Laying down on the bed after getting undressed she put her fingers to her mouth as if she could still feel his lips on hers and examined everything that had happened tonight. The feelings and questions that he had inspired within her, why was she reacting this way to him? What was the pull between them, a pull that she felt deep down inside her to her core? Why her body responded the way it did when he looked at and touched her? Why was he affecting her this way? These questions and more had her laying there restless until she couldn't lay there anymore.

Needing some air she quickly got up and threw on some pants and a shirt and headed to the common room and was out the door before anyone noticed. She walked towards the Inns stables and found herself hurriedly moving out of the way before she got trampled by a magnificent black beast that was rushing past her. She barely had time to register that it was Hawke who was looking back at her before both horse and rider were past the gates and they disappeared.

'Looks like I'm not the only one that can't sleep,' she mused to herself. She walked towards where her fathers men were and saw a few soldiers along with her brother talking around a fire pit, and she walked over to them.

"I figured you'd already be asleep by now sister, what's wrong, guy problems?" he snickered. She abruptly turned around and started stalking away when he came up behind her and put his arm over her shoulder. "I'm sorry sis, I didn't mean to tease you."

"Yes you did, or you wouldn't of said it, jerk," she growled angrily as she pushed him away from her, but then she sighed. "I didn't realize it was that obvious but your right, though it feels strange coming to my brother about this, mothers asleep, and I could only imagine her comments if I told her."

"Sis, I see the way you both look at each other, especially tonight, you two couldn't keep your eyes off each other. I'm not sure how much help I can be to you sis, but I have an ear if you need someone to talk to."

"That's just it, I don't know what to say or ask, you are a guy after all." She sat down on a bench in front of the small river that flowed through Lothering. "When you met Oriana, how did you know?"

"Know what, that she was the one I wanted to spend my life with? Almost the minute I laid eyes on her, but it took her a long time to acknowledge me," he chuckled. "Don't get angry at me for asking this but have you ever been interested in a guy before? I've seen a few try to get your attention but have you ever been interested back?"

She shook her head, "no, he would be the first. I feel strange being around him, it's not like when I'm sparing with the soldiers or other guys. I have no interest, their just friends or acquaintances. And after he kissed me tonight, before he did it, I found I had wanted him too and it really confused me. I find myself attracted to him. I feel drawn to him, but that can't be, it's only been a few days since we bloody met."

She put her elbow on her leg and her hand on her chin as she contemplated her feelings. "Since our first encounter, I have been drawn to him, I feel a tingling weakness with need for him. Even now I want to see him again, want to feel his touch, his arms around me and his lips on mine again, it feels like I belong with him. I want to see that look that makes my insides heat up, my heart and belly warm and fuzzy. I don't understand why I have this reaction, and it scares me, but at the same time I want more of it."

After a while she looked over at Fergus who was showing both amusement and concern. "I believe someone has captured my sister's heart but be careful and take it slow. I don't want to see you hurt and definitely be careful on what you tell father, even mother."

Elayne looked at him in astonishment, "you approve?"

"You're my sister, I'm not going to stand in your way, you are eighteen after all. But I want you to be cautious, I also want you happy. Yes this is sudden but who am I to say no to what the heart wants. Like I said, with Oriana, I knew almost instantly. And I've seen the way he looks at you, it's not lust in his eyes, he's got true genuine feelings for you too little sister."

"So you're saying I should explore this, that I should pursue these feelings?"

"I think these are genuine feelings and I think you might regret it if you don't." He stood up from the bench, "I'm going to go back to the men for a little longer, do you want me to walk you back to the Inn?"

"No, I'm not able to sleep right now, I'll just sit here for a little while, I need to think, and I'm capable of getting back to the Inn by myself."

Without saying anything more to her, Fergus went back to the soldiers while she contemplated her feelings for one Arik Hawke.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Unaware of the conversation that had transpired between Elayne and her brother, Hawke finally rode back to Lothering with his mind and emotions still in turmoil. He should never have kissed her, he should have had more control of himself. The more he was around her the stronger his emotions were becoming and to be honest he wanted to be around her. Especially now after their kiss, he wanted more, he wanted to taste more of her, he found himself craving her.

He wanted to know everything about her, her hopes and dreams and everything in between. So much so that he was contemplating asking her to come with him when he took the wagon back home. He just needed to figure out how to do that.

He was brushing Midnight down when he felt a presence coming towards him then he smelt the perfume she was wearing as she got closer, and he found himself wanting to bury his head in her hair again, but he wouldn't allow himself to acknowledge her right away.

"He's beautiful Hawke, how did you come across a battle charger?"

"I won him in a competition a few years back," he said quietly as he kept brushing Midnight down. She started to put her hand out to pet the horse but Hawke stopped her. "I wouldn't do that princess, he's got a bit of a temperament around people he doesn't know." Instead of dropping her hand she kept it in front of her but didn't move any closer. Instead, Midnight reached out his head to her hand and after sniffing it a little he let her pet him briefly before pulling away, then Midnight looked at Hawke and bobbed his head up and down and whickered before putting his head on Hawke's shoulder.

She watched as Hawke looked at her curiously while he scratched the horse, whispered in his ear and gave him a carrot. Once he was done he offered her his arm, "would my lady like to go for a walk or does she desire going back to the Inn for the night?" She looked at his arm hesitantly before looking into his deep blue eyes which seemed to be drawing her in, but they were unreadable at the moment.

"I'm not ready to go back to the Inn yet," she said softly as she put her hand on his arm, deciding to take her brother's advice, at the same time she failed to see the triumphant look that quickly flashed across his face.

He took her almost back to the same spot that she had previously been, but they walked further down from where her fathers men had made camp, which took them further away from anyone. After sitting her down on the bench he went closer to the water and stood there with his back to her for a minute before turning back around looking at her as he leaned against a tree with his arms crossed.

"I didn't mean to frighten you earlier when I kissed you. I know I might have come off a little too strong, and I apologize for that. I'm not used to this, to you, to the feelings I've been having, all of it is completely new to me. And if their new to me then I assume the same for you and because of that I apologize. But I won't apologize for the kiss itself, I can't because I wanted to, more than you'll ever know."

He moved away from the tree and started pacing as he ran his hand through his hair. "Elayne, I want to get to know you more, I feel drawn to you and I can't deny the attraction I feel for you. But I have to take the supplies needed for my family back home the day after tomorrow, I was wondering if you and your family would like to come visit for a day. My mother hasn't been the same since our father died last year and since your mother and mine are old friends I think it would do mine some good to see yours." He suddenly stopped and looked at her before coming to stand in front of her, "would you like to come with me to my family home, so we can have time to get to know each other more?"

She patted the side of the bench, so he could sit down before she said anything, she could see the nervousness in him, just like it was in her. Once he was sitting down she turned to him and took one of his hands in hers. "I would like that Arik Hawke, I would like that very much. And you're right, this is all new to me too so let's experience this together. As far as the kiss goes, even though I was scared when you said you were going to kiss me, I wanted you too at the same time," she paused, looking down before going on. If she was going to do this she might as well continue, "just like I want you to again now," she whispered as she felt her face flush.

"Elayne," she heard his soft husky voice while she felt his hand under her chin, lifting her head up tenderly to his, her gaze captured his. Her longing was reflected in his depths. He leaned in, his mouth a hairsbreadth away. His breath was intoxicating. She closed the gap, initiating contact. Once again their lips met, she felt heat spread erotically and sinfully through her body. Their kiss deepened. She felt light-headed and tingly. The passion ignited and was soon fully ablaze, an inferno out of control. His tongue moved against hers, a slow teasing of senses, awakening her some more to that world of sensuality. She moaned at the sensation and opened up completely to him as she closed her eyes, put her arms around his neck and surrendered herself to him as he wrapped her up in his arms and put her on his lap and the world once again fell away around them.

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The mage fight:

"Mom, when was the last time you saw Leandra, Hawke's mother," Elayne asked her mother the next morning.

"Oh wow," Eleanor mused. "It's been at least over twenty years, maybe."

"Were the two of you close?"

Elayne saw her mom smile as she reminisced about the question, "close, yeah we use to be really close when we were younger, we were best friends, but then that changed. I wrote her a couple of times, but she never wrote back. I later found out that she had a falling out with her family and left Kirkwall rather quickly with Malcolm Hawke."

"Would you like to see her again?"

"Of course I would love to see her again," her mother looked at her closely, "Elayne, what's with these questions?"

"Hawke has to go back home tomorrow, and he's asked if we'd like to go with him. He thinks seeing an old friend might help his mother who hasn't been the same since his father passed. I told him I'd talk to you and father both."

Eleanor watched her daughter as she started puttering with some of the makeup on her table and was amused when Elayne started to put a little color on her eyelids and then a little on her cheeks and then immediately wiped it off. "I need something lighter," Eleanor heard her mumbling.

"Elayne, why are you trying on makeup?" she asked with amusement.

"I might start wearing a little more," she said trying to keep her face neutral, but she failed when she started blushing.

"Elayne, what's going on, I've noticed you and Hawke have been spending time together, and you haven't told me how last night went."

Elayne shrugged, "there's nothing unusual about spending time with him is there, I like him. Isn't that what happens when you like someone, you start spending time with them? I think I want to go shopping today, before we leave, if we leave with Hawke. I think maybe a change in my clothes might be needed, you wouldn't mind helping me would you mother."

"Elayne Cousland, look at me," her mother said with amusement.

Elayne turned around on the chair she was sitting at and looked at her, "yes mother?"

"Would you like to talk?"

"Maybe, I talked to Fergus for a while last night, but it was weird talking to a guy." She got up and started walking around the room before suddenly stopping and looking back at her. "I don't want to be inside anymore, it's too stuffy. Let's get out of here to where we can get some fresh air and talk.

When they went downstairs a maid with a tray came over to Elayne and curtsied as she offered the tray, "a message for my lady."

Elayne thanked her and took the intertwined white and pink roses and the letter off the tray and headed outside without acknowledging her father or brother who were sitting at a table and started reading the note.

To my dearest angel,

I hope this morning found you well rested. I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful time I had with you last night. You are truly an amazingly beautiful woman and I look forward to getting to know you more. I would be honored if you would allow me the pleasure of your company this evening? Would you like to go somewhere tonight for dinner with me, just the two of us? Danal told me of a quiet place that would be perfect for us if it would be okay and maybe some drinks and dancing. I look forward to getting to know you better.

Arik Hawke

Elayne looked over at her mother with excitement. "We definitely have to go shopping now, Arik wants to take me out for dinner tonight." She took her moms arm in hers as they headed to a couple of clothing stores.

"Elayne, I'm curious, you said that you talked to your brother last night, about what exactly and what kind of advice did he give you?"

"We basically talked about how he knew that Oriana was the one and about the feelings I might be starting to have for Hawke, that I should pursue those feelings." Elayne saw the frown on her face, "mom, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you, but I couldn't sleep last night because of the emotions I was having, and I didn't want to wake you."

"Elayne sweetheart, I understand, and I'm glad your brother was there for you but about Arik. What do you mean by feelings?"

"From the day we met I have felt drawn to him, there's a pull between us that's so strong I can hardly think straight. I feel safe, secure and comfortable being around him, he makes my heart start beating faster, I get little flutters in my belly when I see him. I know we've only known each other a few days, and I'm new to relationships, I've never been in one, but he's the first man I've ever been interested in. I don't know what will happen, but I want to pursue this and see where this goes, and I want you and father to let me do this, please."

"You just turned eighteen, most girls your age are either in relationships, married with a child on the way but your also Bryce Cousland's daughter. You need to remember that and be careful that the man your interested in isn't interested because of your status."

"I'm very much aware of that, why do you think I've never shown an interest in the bloody pompous jackals that's always trying to get my attention back home," she said with heat. "I'm aware that some have even gone to father to ask for my hand in marriage. I want a man who wants and loves me for me, not for my name, who my family is and if that man happens to be a farmer named Arik Hawke, then that's who I bloody want." She realized where she was, and she lowered her voice, "but it's still too early yet to know. In the meantime I have a date I need to prepare for tonight, will you please help me?"

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Later that evening while Elayne was getting ready for her date Bryce and Eleanor were downstairs talking about a possible trip to Hawke's family farm.

"I think it might be a good idea, I would love to see Leandra again. It's been many years since I've seen her, I want to see how she's doing. According to Elayne, Arik says she hasn't been the same since her husband passed last year, which is understandable but maybe seeing an old friend might help. But you and I are both aware this isn't the only reason why both kids want this, I told you about the conversation Elayne and I had earlier today."