Runaway Brides
The next several weeks became chaotic with Darkspawn and the Fifth Blight. Hawke was becoming intimately familiar with the Kocari Wilds on trips with her scouting party, the things she had seen seared permanently into her mind. What she cherished were the quiet moments in Anna's private quarters, they were a fragile warmth that she felt deep in her bones. She was flopped across the bed beside her lover, reading one of the few books she had purloined as Anna braided their hair together. The other woman hummed while she worked until Hawke leaned over and interrupted her with a kiss. "Did you see the new wardens?"
She nodded. "Arwen Tabris is the only one that survived the Joining. That's too bad. The others were experienced fighters; it seems a waste."
Hawke tapped her nose with the end of the braid. "Captain you may be, but not in this bed."
She smiled ruefully and curled herself around Hawke's side, naked bodies pressing together. "What if we don't make it? The king is convinced of our victory, but a Blight? It's taken years before. We don't have the numbers or the equipment. We're barely recovered from reclaiming the country."
Hawke rolled over and nestled against her. "We could run." She silenced her with a kiss. "I am rogue and thief, not a soldier. Living to love another day could be my motto. There are places we could go."
Anna nodded. "The Emerald Graves are lovely.”
Hawke shrugged. "Not a lot of work for a thief in the forest, sweets."
Anna chuckled. "Not for a soldier either." She leaned her forehead against hers. "It would be so easy to fall in love with you." Hawke blinked owlishly. "But I know you've had your heartbroken before."
She smiled and shook her head before kissing her softly, cutting off her words and tears falling softly from her lashes. "Do you know how much of it you have fixed?" She kissed her again, cradling her chin her hand and her chest feeling so tight and warm. "I love you."
Anna rolled her on to her back, tears mingling with hers and smiling. "I love you too, thief."
She ran her thumb along her chin. “How about Kirkwall? The Waking Sea between us and the Blight. I’ve dreamed of going there since I was a child. I have enough gold we could buy us a nice little place, I bet. You could get a job in the guard, maybe they need a translator. We could start over, just us.” Her breath caught a moment. “Find a captain to marry us on the way.” She smiled shyly at Anna’s wide eyes. “Well, that’s a little fast maybe. But you’re stuck with me, sweets.”
Anna’s voice cracked. “You would want to marry me?”
Hawke sat up, settling the taller woman in her lap with a tangle of limbs, their knuckles white as they held each other. “Captain Anna Lockart, I want nothing more in this world then to marry you if you will have me. I may steal the rings just to prove a point.”
“Do it or I won’t have you.” She laughed and kissed her hard, teeth knocking against lips making Hawke taste blood.