Overprotective

"I don't want you spending time with him."

"Excuse me?" Marian responded incredulously. She stared at Anders, waiting for him to explain himself or make a joke, but he stood solid, holding Elizabeth as she started to drift off against his feathered shoulder.

"I don't want you spending time with that elf. Fenris. I can't stop you, but that's my thoughts on it. The fact that you brought Liz with you... you're unbelievable, Marian."

"I'm unbelievable? Really?! You're trying to control who I can be friends with. I thought you were better than that." She snapped at him, then turned her attention back to the clothes she was mending, not wanting to lose her cool and disturb Liz.

"I respect your decisions, but he's openly anti-mage. Spending time with him by yourself is concerning enough, but bringing our baby? What if he'd been attacked again? What if he decided to turn on you? What if there were Templars there? You endangered our baby!" He hissed quietly, not wanting to wake said baby.

"I endangered our baby? How...How dare you? I was armed the entire time, it was broad daylight, I was dressed in plain clothes, someone not worth robbing. I took precautions. Furthermore, Anders, I trust Fenris."

"How?! How can you trust him? From what Carver told me, he-"

"Carver is a tit! Think about how he judged you! You don't think that maybe, just maybe, he's not a good judge of character?"

"He told me about what you fought, what he told you about his history and why he was being hunted, and that he has lyrium in his skin to give him the power to grab a man's heart. And on top of that power he hates mages."

"Yeah, he hates mages, because his only experience of mages has been the Magisters who abused him his entire life! While I was with him, he was nothing but kind towards me, and very respectful. Even after I told him I didn't care about modesty, he made a point of never looking past my face while I fed Liz. He was very gentle and sweet with her, and she liked him immediately. You always trust babies and dogs when it comes to judging a person."

"You fed her in front of him? A man you barely knew, alone and vulnerable, and you exposed yourself?"

"You really do know how to miss the point, don't you?" She sighed and set aside the mending, because she clearly wouldn't be getting much done. She took Liz from Anders and put her into her crib, then stepped outside. Anders followed.

"I'm sorry, I just-"

"I know, Anders. You just want to keep us safe. You'd make a deal with an Archdemon before you let anyone hurt us. I know." She stressed the final words, and Anders bit back his retort, "I simply wish you wouldn't treat me like I'm some delicate flower. I know I got hurt, I know you have nightmares, I know you've had a terrible life. I understand your reasons, but I need you to understand me. I always wanted freedom, adventure, adrenaline. I can have that now, I have to balance it with Motherhood, but I can finally determine what I do with my life. If I want to visit a friend while out running errands, you can't take that away from me!"

"I'm sorry, Marian. I just want what's best for you; for us as a family."

"I know, love. Our family is best served if I am happy, and we are seeing eye to eye. If you get to know Fenris you might just be able to understand. Maybe he could understand you too. You both have so much to learn from eachother."

After a long pause Anders sighed, and ran his hand over his face. "You really are far better than I deserve."

"Perhaps." She teased, closing the distance between them to press a quick kiss to his lips. "But, I'm going to the Hanged Man. Mama needs some time to be just Marian. Liz ate not long ago, she'll be fine while I'm gone."

"Do you want me to go with you? The Hanged Man is rather...notorious."

"I'll be fine. I was planning on taking my drinks in Varric's suite, maybe play some cards with the little bastard."

"Cards with Varric? That's almost worse." Anders chuckled and gave her a soft kiss before going back inside.

Marian quickly made her way to the Hanged Man, getting two pints of ale and heading up to Varric's suite. She was surprised to see Fenris seated with her dwarf.

"Hey Shiny, get lost on the way home?"

"Shiny? Here I was thinking of calling him Broody." Varric interrupted before Fenris could respond.

"I don't brood." He said pointedly to Varric.

"Elf, if your brooding was anymore impressive, women would swoon as you passed. They'd have little broody babies in your honor!" Varric declared with a laugh.

"I don't see it. He was perfectly pleasant in my company, nary a brood nor a smoulder in sight." Marian teased, sitting down with her two pints of ale.

"Hey, shouldn't one of those be for your friends?" Varric griped, gesturing to her ale.

"Oh, it would have been, but since Fenris is here I'd have to choose which friend I like more, or worse, give both of you the ale I bought. So instead I shall have both and you can buy the rest oh-illustrious-Messere-Tethras." She teased and Varric laughed in response, acquiescing to her whim. Fenris watched the display of friendship between the two, bemused.

"You mentioned that I did not 'smoulder,' Marian, but I'm afraid I don't know what that is in this context. Unless you literally meant that I did not catch fire and burn away." He asked once there was a pause in the back-and-forth.

"Oh. I suppose that would make sense to be confused about. Smouldering is... Oh, how do I put it. Maybe it's best done with an example? Varric, smoulder for us."

"Hawke if I smoulder you'll fall hopelessly in love with me, and my conscience can't handle another broken heart."

"Fine, I'll smoulder, but if either of you fall in love with me, Anders may combust. I do mean that as catch fire and burn away, Fenris." She smiled at him. She then cleared her throat before getting into character, leaning forward onto the table, her cleavage pushed up onto display. She bit her lip and made deep eye contact with Varric first, who whistled at the sight, then turned her gaze to Fenris.

-

His heart skipped a beat when those predatory eyes met his. He had always been the wolf, the hunter, but now he felt like prey under the sexual gaze of this woman. His cheeks flushed lightly and he cleared his throat, turning his head away.

"Aw, I never took you for the bashful type, Fenris. That would explain why you didn't try to sneak a peak when I was feeding Liz." Marian had returned to her normal self, seemingly satisfied with her display.

"It's not... I simply wouldn't want to give you the wrong idea of my intentions. Slaves must always be very mindful of where they are looking, one wrong glance and..."

"Say no more, Fenris. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." She reached out and set a comforting hand on the small, exposed area of his arm. He wanted to pull away, his instinct being to flee, but she went no further, simply giving his bicep a gentle squeeze before returning to drinks and merriment.

Drinks went on and soon all cheeks were flushed.

"You know what really pissed me off?" Marian slurred only slightly as she slammed her hand on the table, pulling attention to the fact that this was Serious Gossip time and not just Idle Gossip time.

"My money is on Carver. Or maybe Gamlen." Varric didn't even look up, instead pondering the foam of his beer.

"Then you would be a losing man, Varric. Anders! I came home from a perfectly lovely day and he accused me of endangering Elizabeth!"

"Why would he accuse you of that?" Varric looked up at this, genuinely surprised.

"Because he doesn't trust Fenris! I had a nice day with a friend, and happened to have the baby with me, and he goes on about how I shouldn't trust the elf and how could I be so reckless as to bring Liz around him. He only spoke to him for, like, two minutes!" She huffed, crossing her arms under her breasts, unintentionally pushing them up and displaying her cleavage again.

"I knew he was upset. I just figured it was jealousy, seeing another man with his wife."

"Wife? Ha! He said himself the only way we're getting married is if I find us a ship captain to do it. We're partners, because courting doesn't usually involve raising a baby together." She snorted dismissively, downing the rest of her drink. Then she set it down and sighed, looking at the empty glass. "I don't mean to make things sound bad, they aren't really. He's just so paranoid about Templars that he never fully lets his guard down. He's been through so much pain, that I don't know that he can ever truly enjoy his happiness. How stupid is that? I... I need to use the privy. Don't start any bar fights without me." She stood and left the room, heading for the public privy rather than using Varric's chamber-pot in his bedroom.

"She sounds disappointed at how things have turned out with him." Fenris stated, mostly to himself.

"Blondie is a good man, mostly. But he's also a Grey Warden abomination who spent his childhood as a prisoner to the Circle. It can be hard to live with that much baggage, I imagine it's probably just as hard to love someone like that."

"Yes, I suppose... Wait, did you say abomination?"

"Not in the traditional sense, don't worry. It's a spirit of Justice, it wants to do good things."

"How can she possibly trust an abomination?"

"The same way she trusts a glowing elf who said to her face that magic is a plague." Varric shrugged.

Fenris stared at his drink, feeling suddenly, horribly sober. This maddening woman with her beautiful spirit (and wonderful child), would bring about her own doom by trusting too freely. He wanted to protect her. Help her see the danger this Anders posed and get away before he could hurt her or the baby. He had seen many women and children sacrificed in the Imperium, their lives needlessly destroyed by dark magic. He could not allow that to happen here.

Marian returned a short while later, stumbling into the suite.

"I thinks... maybe I should goes home now." She slurred, then giggled breathlessly as she realized she misspoke. "Oh yeah, definitely time to go home."

"I'll walk you home, Marian." Fenris stood immediately.

"Awww, my Shiny Knight again? What will the neighbors think?" She giggled before losing her balance. Fenris swooped in and caught her before she could fall, and she smiled wide. "Wow, you really are fast. I hope they didn't do that too you in the bedroom too, huh?" She then snorted, cracking herself up at her joke. Fenris flushed.

"Fasta Kaffas..." He muttered under his breath.

"You be good, kids. I am not responsible for any shenanigans you get up to." Varric told them as sternly as he could before retiring to his bedroom.

Fenris tried to walk Marian out of the Hanged Man, but she kept either tripping or getting distracted, so eventually he just scooped her up.

"I'm a damsel in drunk-stress!" She giggled, looping her arms around Fenris' neck.

"A drunken damsel has a better ring to it." Fenris retorted dryly, speaking low so as to try and encourage her to bring her voice down as they finally made it to the door.

"Wow...You have a really nice voice. Did they do that with lyrium too?"

"As far as I know puberty gave me my voice, the lyrium was to enhance my physical capabilities. I doubt Danarius cared if I would be a pleasant public speaker."

"Huh... Well done puberty." She nuzzled into his neck, humming a song to herself.

Fenris walked slower than he normally would taking her home. He didn't know if Anders would still be there, or if that brother of hers would be there trying to pick a fight, and he'd really rather avoid it for as long as possible. The fact that she was now quietly singing in his ear, her hot breath tickling the sensitive flesh, surely had nothing to do with it.

"Hey you know what's funny?" She whispered huskily, and a shiver ran down his spine.

"No, what's funny Marian?" He responded slowly.

"I'm a girl, and you picked me up at the bar."

"I don't see where that becomes funny."

" 'Cuz usually picking a girl up at the bar means you're gonna fuck."

"I promise you, my intentions are nothing but pure." He responded quickly, flushing.

"I know, but anyone who sees us won't know that. Good for me though, if I really had bagged you. You're a hottie, Fenris. Maybe I should call you Hottie instead of Shiny." She giggled, leaning back to enjoy the feeling of the cool night breeze.

Fenris stammered, his mind scrambling to find words, in any language, to respond to that. But soon enough they were at Gamlen's stoop and she groaned.

"Hovel, Sweet Hovel... Thanks for carrying me home."

"Anytime, Marian."

"Anytime, huh? And what if I started asking to be carried just for the hell of it?"

"You'd have to pay me quite handsomely for that."

"Dammit, I'm too broke to ride you." She said sincerely, and looked at him in confusion when Fenris couldn't hold back a laugh.

"What? What did...Oh. OH! Oh Maker I'm a dolt." She joined in his laughing, and he set her down gently.

"You're fine, it happens to the best of us."

"Well, can I give you a hug before you go? It's the only payment I can afford."

Fenris smiled softly and held open his arms, allowing her to hug him around the middle, her head on his shoulder. He hugged her back lightly, and before he could think better of it, leaned down to whisper into her ear, his voice rich and husky.

"If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't charge you a coin for that kind of ride."

She gasped and squeezed him briefly, her whole body stiffening at his words.

"O-okay! Goodnight Fenris! See you later!" She pulled back quickly and stumbled towards her home, her cheeks red as a ripe tomato. He chuckled at the turn of events, but sincerely hoped that she wouldn't remember this last part of the evening. If she smouldered at him again and requested a 'ride' he might just die.