Satinalia in Hightown

Marian Hawke had spent the last couple months fighting with bureaucrats and contractors as she got the Amell Estate back into her family's name. Then there was the matter or repairs and refurnishing for the estate. She would visit her friends only rarely, finding herself too drained by the politics of the Hightown elite she would now be neighbors with. There were days where her time at home overlapped with Anders visiting, and she tried to forge a new path of friendship with him, but she could always see the earnest longing behind those honey-gold eyes.

Once the estate was finally fixed and furnished, the Hawke women moved out of Gamlen's hovel and into the estate. Within hours of the move Bodahn Feddic and his son, Sandal, showed up at her door, offering to work for her and help her manage the estate. She welcomed them gladly, thankful to have some of the burdens of nobility lifted from her shoulders.

Elizabeth did not enjoy the change of scenery, often becoming overwhelmed by the vastness of the place compared to tiny home she had known. Now that she was nine months old, she was able to crawl around with ease, and would end up lost and sobbing for her family to rescue her. She liked Bodahn well enough, he let her pull his beard and would sing happy little songs to her. She was apprehensive of Sandal, who was in equal turn apprehensive of her.

"You know what we should do? After all the work you've put in to get us here, we should have a party. Satinalia is in just two weeks, after all." Leandra had suggested one morning over tea and scones.

"Mother I don't want to throw some grand affair for neighbors who don't respect me."

"Not a high society party, darling. I was thinking you could invite your friends, Gamlen and Carver could come over, and we could just have a proper family party."

"Oh...Well, that does sound nice. And maybe seeing this place crowded up like Gamlen's will help Liz settle in." She smiled softly down at her daughter, who was stacking wooden blocks on the floor nearby.

"Oh wonderful! I'll need to get some decorations, I have gifts picked for family already but I should get some things for your friends too. Maybe I should just get them each a bottle of wine. A nice red wine perhaps; with gold ribbons... Yes, I think that'll work just perfectly." She beamed, and Marian was struck by how long it had been since she'd seen her Mother so excited. "Perhaps we should have a family portrait done as well? This is Liz's first Satinalia, after all."

"I don't know if I'm up for that so soon, but perhaps for her birthday. Commemorate her first year with a portrait of the three generations of Hawke women?"

"We simply must have a portrait done of her and her parents as well, then. I know you and Anders may never go back to how you were, but someday he will be gone, probably sooner rather than later. She deserves to have something to remember him by."

"I... You're right, mother. I've let the awkwardness we're in blind me to how she sees him, and will see him all her life. We'll need to buy him something nice to wear."

"Don't worry about that, I'll take him to Filipe's to get something tailored. You know, I knew the current owner as a boy, his father was Felipe, and now it has been passed down to him. So strange how everything is so much as I remember it, yet so different..." Leandra trailed off, lost in her own thoughts. Marian simply chuckled and gave her a loving pat on the hand before getting down onto the floor with Liz to play with her, tickling her and making silly faces and noises.

-

Leandra had a messenger sent to request Anders' at his earliest convenience, and went about her shopping. She returned home and set to preparing the gifts she had gotten, and had just finished when Bodahn called out into the vast open visiting room.

"A ser Anders here to see you, Lady Leandra!"

She practically bounded down the stairs, smiling at the man she would always see as her son-in-law, despite the lack of marriage plans.

"Leandra, I got your message. Why do you need me? Are you unwell?" Anders looked her over with concern, and she hushed him gently.

"Rest easy, I have urgent business with you, but there is no danger." She hooked her arm around Anders and pulled him out of the estate with her.

"Where are we going? If you're wanting to get me blessed by the Grand Cleric I'll have to decline the...honor."

"No, no clerics today, grand or otherwise." She smiled at him. "I'm taking you to the best tailor in Hightown."

"I mend my own clothes, you really needn't concern yourself."

"We're going to get you a suit, something that compliments you. I'm thinking a nice deep, rich blue." Leandra spoke happily, already imagining what it would look like.

"Why do I need a suit?" Anders asked, confused.

"Oh! I probably should have started with that. I want to get a portrait done of you three. All the old portraits of my parents were removed by the slavers, I have nothing to remember their faces except distant memories. I don't want the same for Liz. I figured that if we got you measured now, then there would be plenty of time to get the desired fabrics and make it. We're going to have one done of just us ladies as well."

"Marian agreed to this?"

"I reminded her that while you and her may be... on less than ideal terms right now, that doesn't change that you are Elizabeth's father, and will always be her father. With everything that you are, everything you do, there is a good chance that you will be gone while she is a young woman. She deserves to have something to remember your face. Something she can compare her son's features to, something she can point to when telling stories of her childhood to her grandchildren..." Leandra said a little wistfully. Anders removed his arm from hers and instead pulled her into a gentle hug.

"Thank you. For thinking of her. For thinking of me... I feel unworthy."

Leandra squeezed him tightly, "That's what mothers do, they love their kids and do what's best for them."

Anders felt a few traitorous tears escape his eyes at that. He stayed in the hug a little longer, despite being taller than the woman, it still felt like the comfort of being at home, with his own Mother, all those years ago before his magic manifested.

Leandra cleared her throat and pulled away from him. "Come on, we still have to get you measured." Anders simply nodded, now feeling rather happy to be going clothes shopping with his new Mom Leandra.

-

Marian was completely blown away by how much her mother had decorated in such a short amount of time. She had left that morning to speak to the Viscount about the qunari, and now just a few hours after lunch there was all this. Grand red and gold silk bunting were hanging from the stairway railing and around doorframes. Sparkling strings of crystals hung from the chandelier. A stack of lovingly wrapped presents rested on the coffee table, joined also by several bottles of wine, each with a shimmering gold ribbon wrapped intricately around the bottle before coming to a bustling bow at the neck. There were bouquets of various winter flowers in red and gold trimmed vases placed here and there throughout the estate.

"Mother! When did you find the time to do all this?!" She asked, shocked as she beheld how the crystals twinkled with light from the fireplace.

"I hardly did it alone; Bodahn and Sandal helped. The lad was more than happy to climb up to the chandelier to hang the crystals. I was worried that he would fall, but he was steady as a statue. Bodahn said he's seen him hanging off of the chandelier for fun, so he wasn't concerned in the slightest. Sandal is a strange young man, but I do like him. He's very helpful for hanging decorations, at the very least." She chuckled.

"Yeah, somehow he froze an ogre in the deep roads while we were there. Strange can be very useful." She smiled softly. "So, are we ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes, I've already done the food shopping for what I will cook, and we'll be receiving our delivery from the bakery tonight. I could have insisted on a delivery for the day of, but I wouldn't want to force anyone to spend Satinalia working."

"Sounds like you've got it all under control then."

"I do. And I'm sure you'll be an excellent host."

"Wait, I'm the host? But this whole party was your idea!"

"Yes, and I only have two guests. But all the rest? They're your friends."

"Fine! Fair enough. I'm still going to get drunk though."

"Given the gifts I got for your friends, I'd be more surprised if every one stayed sober."

-

It was the day of the party, everyone gathering to the estate for supper at sundown, the shortened day having felt incredibly long for all the cooking Leandra had roped Marian into helping with. Varric arrived with Merrill, Isabela and Gamlen in tow, and Marian could not resist the opportunity to joke with her friend.

"You look like a tour guide, leading all these tall people around Hightown."

"You wound me. I am the hero of this party, Hawke. Without me Gamlen would have been mugged or gotten lost at the Rose. Daisy would have just gotten lost, and Rivaini here would been doing her due diligence checking every nook and cranny in the Rose for your dear uncle." Varric smiled, just a touch smug as he dusted off his shoulder, as if he had gone through terrible pains for her.

Gamlen was indignant at being called out for his love of the brothel, and pushed past to go inside and find anyone else to talk to. Isabela simply laughed and Merrill nodded her head, fully agreeing with his prediction of how the night could have gone.

"I apologize, Ser Tethras, I had no idea I was speaking to a hero." She said with mock awe, curtsying to the dwarf.

"You are forgiven, Now, tell me, where is that baby of mine?"

"Uhm, my baby is probably with Bodahn and Sandal."

"Alright fine, our baby." He grinned devilishly.

"Unless you plan on taking me to the Chantry tonight, she's my baby Varric." Marian stuck her tongue out at him as he sighed dramatically.

"You drive a hard bargain, Hawke. Fine. I'm going to go play with Liz, she's nicer to me, and I have a new toy for her." Varric walked past Marian. Merrill and Isabela simply giggled at the exchange, then once he was out of the way, Merrill went in for a tight hug with Marian.

"Thank you so much for inviting me, Hawke. I've never attended a human party before, and this is my first time celebrating Satinalia. I appreciate that you thought of me."

"Of course, Merrill, you're my friend. Now, both of you, come on in, have a seat, we'll be serving food once everyone is here." Merrill did as she was told, sitting on the plush sofa in the main room, looking around at the decorations in delight. Isabela followed her, sitting with her and putting an arm around her shoulders. Marian made a mental note to ask if there was something between them later.

Next to arrive was Anders. He always knocked with the same rhythm, a little tune his father brought with him from the Anderfels, he had once told her. Marian took a deep breath to steady herself before opening the door to let him in.

"Hello, Anders." She said softly, smiling at him gently.

"Marian." He responded quietly.

"I... I just want to say that I'm sorry for being...quite so harsh with you. I still care about you a great deal, your well-being, your successes and failures. I simply needed time to process it all. I'm not certain that I want to rush back into a relationship, but I am more open to the idea than I was."

"Oh, Marian... Thank you. I'll prove to you that I can be what you need."

"Not tonight. Tonight just relax and enjoy the party. Also, Varric is trying to steal Liz out from under us: You should go and make sure he's not buying her love with candies."

Anders sighed dramatically then chuckled. "I'll go make sure he's not spoiling her too much."

"Thank you dear- Anders! Dear, sweet, helpful Anders." She quickly tried to cover up the slip, but if the twinkle in Anders eyes was anything to go by, he had noticed.

"Anything for you and Elizabeth, my lady." He said tenderly, quickly brushing his fingers against Marian's cheek before rushing off to find Liz and Varric.

Aveline and Carver were next to arrive, both giving polite, if not slightly stiff, greetings before going inside to socialize.

Marian sat by the door waiting for Fenris for a while longer, but by then people were starting to complain about smelling delicious food and not eating it.

"Alright, let me go run over and see what's taking him, if I'm not back soon, you can start eating without me." She declared to the room, then quickly put on her boots and cloak and made her way to Fenris' mansion. She knocked on the door, and got no response. Sighing, she let herself in with the key Fenris had given her. (A gift she decidedly did not want to think about the meaning behind.)

"Fenris? Shiny! Hello?" She called out, and Fenris came out to stand at the door of his bedroom.

"Hawke..."

"You can call me that if you want, but I still say you should call me Marian."

"I...When you gave me that blessing before, I thought that we..."

"Is that why you haven't come to the party? Because I haven't been spending much time with you?"

"In part." He walked down the stairs and came to her. "I also saw your mother embracing him in the street. I thought that, perhaps you and him were..."

"We aren't, Fenris. And even if we were, I don't see why that would negate any feelings between us."

"You would go behind his back?" Fenris asked in astonishment, his eyes wide.

"No, I would tell him to his face that I've chosen to care for you both, and you're both very lucky men for it." She smiles and Fenris can't stop himself from chuckling. "Besides, i wasn't spending time with anyone these last couple months just Seneschal Bran and the men who were fixing up the estate, for the most part.

"Oh. I thought that maybe you regretted the kiss..." He says sheepishly. Marian sighs and shakes her head before bridging the gap between them, throwing her arms around Fenris' neck and kissing him deeply. He hummed happily in response, setting his hands on her waist. She broke the kiss, but did not pull away or remove her arms from his shoulders.

"Now, are you going to come to dinner with me or not? I told them they could start without us if we take too long."

"I'm coming." He responded shortly, and she snickered.

"Just from one kiss? How disappointing."

"Fasta kaffas, is that the only thing you think about?"

"Well, when there's a nice, bronze, muscular elf in front of me, it's hard to think of anything else." She teased, finally pulling away. "Now come on, there's food and wine to be had." He smiled and followed her.

=

After eating a fine feast and exchanging presents, everyone was mingling, drinking, laughing, and toasting to eachother's good health. Even Anders and Fenris managed to not get into any fights, instead simply never being in the same conversation together.

Marian scooped up a now exhausted Liz and went up to her nursery to put the little girl to bed. Anders followed them, wanting to join in on putting their girl to bed. He sang her a lullaby about the changing seasons and relishing life, and kissed her on each cheek before leaving the room with Marian. They stood on the balcony, watching over the party.

"So. Marian. I've noticed Fenris has gotten quite friendly with you."

"Indeed he has. He's opened up so much, it's really wonderful to see." She smiled, leaning against the railing.

"No, I meant... I meant that he seems to have feelings for you." Anders said with a little apprehension.

"Well, I seem to have feelings for him too, so that works out nicely."

"Y-You do? Then why... What you said earlier?" Anders felt crushed, desperately wishing Marian would take back those words, or reveal the grand joke he was missing.

"Caring for Fenris does not make it impossible for me to care about you too, Anders." She paused, considering, before quietly adding, "I'm not asking you to kiss him, just don't let Justice...deliver justice on me for kissing him." She avoided his gaze, obviously scared of what his reaction would be.

Anders sighed softly and cupped her cheeks in both hands, holding her face as he made her meet his eyes. "I'm really not in a position to complain about polyamory, what with my history in the circle. Just please make sure that Liz knows I'm Dada, not Fenris."

"I don't think that'll be a problem, but I'll keep it under advisement." She smiled and gave Anders a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It wasn't exactly what he wanted, but it was so much more than he deserved or thought he would ever have again, so he buried his desires and simply enjoyed what he had.