Chapter Text
Elissa Cousland and Maxwell Trevelyan had known each other since birth, Max was older, by three months, he made sure to never let her forget it. Their mothers were best friends growing up, in fact, Max and Elie had been betrothed to each other since they were 10.
Their parents vacationed in Denerim together every summer, they had cottages beside each other on the amaranthine coast. It was because of Max that Elie started bard training with him, at the boarding school they both went too in south reach. To say they were well acquainted, was an understatement
Their romance started to bud around their 15th year that summer. The shift from best friends too… well more, was easy for them. The opposite sex seemed far less gross than they had in the past. It became a summer of first shy kisses and promises of futures. They had always been each other's best friend, that summer they became inseparable.
They each found their calling in bard training, the theatrical displays their courts were subjected to, were the envy of even Val Royeaux. The invitations to the grand game arrived at a shocking rate, individually they were very good at what they did.
Together… they were deadly.
Their talents had them on the fast roads to being spymasters for very influential people.
Some say that's what spurred the attack on the Cousland family, others say it was a coincidence Elissa happened to be in residence that week. Whatever the cause, the effect was crippling.
The Trevelyan’s were devastated by the news of the entire Cousland family, their dear friends being murdered.
Max felt like he had lost part of himself, his other half, they had been each other's first everything …. Their wedding was set for that summer, both of them would be 19, ready to begin their lives together. She was supposed to be his wife, his partner, they were supposed to grow old together. She was his rudder without her, he had no direction, no purpose, no future.
He floundered in a downward spiral of anger and hate, mad at the world, for putting everything he ever wanted just within reach, only to have it snatched away, in some cruel joke.
Then the blight hit, devastation rolled through the country, like a putrid green tidal wave swathing a path of devastation in its wake. Tales of the Wardens and “The Hero of Ferelden” were being tossed about, but he didn't care. As a third son, second youngest he was allotted much more freedom than his two older brothers. After losing Elissa, his parents turned a blind eye to his escapades. He joined a mercenary band for a while, then became an Antivan crow traveling all over Thedas.
The youngest Trevelyan, Aria was just a small child when Max left home. His little sister had an uncanny way of tracking him down, she kept him informed on the news of his family, at the same time easing his mother's mind with the knowledge that he was in fact still alive.
So, he knew Aria had been sent to the Ostwick circle, she wrote him long letters of her studies, he wasn't very good at answering back. In fact, he probably wrote her one letter for every 5 she wrote, and even then it was usually only a couple sentences, a page at most.
He kept each one of hers with him like they were a single spider web filament clinging to what was left of his humanity. When things started to go sideways between mages and templars he took notice and had already decided to make his way home.
When he received an impassioned letter from Aria, pleading that he comes home because needed his help, he was already on his way.
She had been chosen by the Ostwick circle, to attend the conclave, being held by the Divine Justinia at the temple of sacred ashes. The honor of being chosen, to have a voice in such an important matter, was once in a lifetime. However, her parents wouldn't let her go unless someone they trusted went with her.
Everything was fine, until that fated morning.
Max had spent too much time in the tavern the night before in Haven, he slept through breakfast, his sister had already left for the temple and he needed to find her.
Being forced to search room by room was getting frustrating, too many people were converged on the temple, to make asking anyone if they had seen her a moot point. When he heard the panicked cries of the divine, he flung open the door and the rest is... The rest is a blank.
Varric stopped reading out loud, “So have I got that pretty much right, twinkle toes?”
Max nodded, not looking up at varric as he paced his quarters, like a caged animal. He hated reliving the heartbreak of losing his love, and baby sister over again. Along with the frustration of not remembering what he saw, on the other side of the fucking door.
The Champion of Kirkwall had arrived a week before. They had a plan to meet up with her Grey Warden contact, the famed Hero of Ferelden. They were just waiting on confirmation of her location before they set out. Hopefully, she could shed some light on what was going on with the wardens.
Marian Hawke had caught the inquisitor's eye the moment she entered Skyhold, Varric was none too subtle in his attempts to pair them together. That was made abundantly evident the night before, during a game of wicked grace. This morning she surprised him as he was training in one of the lower unused banquet rooms of Skyhold.
Leaning against the doorway, she watched in awe, as his lithe form leaped and jumped in intricate steps, each move deadlier than the last. He was only in a pair of tight shorts, bare feet, and no shirt, an untrained eye would only see graceful fluid movements of a very impassioned dancer. Marian, however, saw the calculation of every movement.
Catching a glimpse of her in the doorway, he spun himself, leaping to her side and pulling her into his dance. She was graceful, and it shocked him how easily she adapted to his movements, her body reading his.
For a warrior, she was very light on her feet, especially as she was now, out of her armor in simple clothes.
Varric smiled from the shadows, he had told Hawke where to find Max, maybe he was shoving a little too hard, but after her tangle with Anders and how that turned out, Varric didn't trust her choice in men.
This… this was how it should be, his two best friends together. Varric had almost given himself away when the inquisitor tossed her in the air and caught her inches from the floor in a low dip.
Nothing existed outside the room, they moved fluidly together. Their eyes locked on each other, reading anticipating every movement.
Varric turned away just as Hawke pulled Max in for a kiss.
Laying her down on the mats he used for his bizarre routines, Max stretched out beside Hawke caressing the side of her face brushing the short stray hair from her piercing blue eyes. His voice held a reverent tone “hi” she smiled up at him bending a knee as her hands caressed his arm, “hi back.”
Leaning back he ran his hand through his damp hair, laughing a little “soo ah ya... You caught me in my guilty pleasure.” Her fingers traced his sharp jawline bringing his eyes back to hers as she spoke: “I thought it was beautiful, I can see why you are in such amazing shape, and I now understand Varric’s nickname for you.”
Max let his hand rest on her hip, his lips moving against hers as he spoke capturing them for another kiss, “I like your shape better.”
It's hard to say how long they were like that, his hands caressing her sides, as hers ran over his naked back, lips tasting each other, tongues colliding.
The clearing of a throat in the doorway, the second or possibly third time, is what drove them back to reality. Sitting up the inquisitor acknowledged the runner, who was quickly turning shades of red he had never seen before. “What is it, Eric?” Clearing his throat again, Eric began, “Ummm, Commander Cullen sent me to look for you, and …and Leliana has information on the Grey Warden.” Imparting his message and duty done, Eric all but turned and ran.
Max stood up offering Marian his hand he pulled her from the floor into his arms in a quick movement, her gasp of surprise was quickly cut off when he pressed his lips to hers.
Begrudgingly they pulled apart, and he put on his discarded shirt. Offering her his arm, they headed to the war room.
Leliana raised her eyebrow and smiled when the pair walked in. “Inquisitor, Champion we’ve gotten word to the Hero of Ferelden, and she is on her way here, she will arrive in about two days. She sent word of places for us to investigate, so we can be ready to move when she gets here.”
The keep was a flurry of activity, trying to keep the hero of Ferelden’s arrival under wraps was proving to be harder than they first thought. Max had heard the stories of her; nobleman's daughter conscripted by the grey wardens at the start of the fifth blight, one of two survivors at the battle of Ostagar, he had met the other survivor Alistair the king of Ferelden a couple of times, but never the hero.
Right now though his thoughts were drawn to another hero under his roof... The champion of Kirkwall, she had turned his head in a way he thought no longer possible. For the first time in a very long time, he felt … well, he just felt something.
Taking a deep breath he loved this time of night, everything was calm, almost serene, it was easy to forget the world was in peril once again. Skyhold had settled down into sleep, the courtyards were quiet save for the shuffle of a guard or two patrolling. Only at night could you take in the living, breathing entity that was their home, like a protective mother Skyhold held them tight in her protective arms.
The guards knew he didn't sleep much, oftentimes they would find him by the Commander's office sitting on the wall overlooking the courtyard, Cole liked to join him and they had some insightful talks. If Cullens lamps were still on, he sometimes played chess with his commander, while they had a nightcap, the two had become very good friends in the months of the inquisition. This time of night there were no demands no looming needs he got to just be Maxwell.
Tonight, Cullen had turned in early. The hero had rescued him from the tower, and her impending arrival was eating at him, making his headaches worse.
Cullen had told Max what happened there, and while he couldn't fathom what his friend had endured, he more than understood haunted dreams.
Tonight with everything, it was just too much for Cullen, the headache was all but was kicking his ass. Dorian had given him a special tea to help, knocking him out in the process.
Cole was occupied with Solas discussing the amulet he was searching for.
That left him, surprisingly alone. He heard her approach and could smell the unique soap she had just bathed with, a scent over the last week he had begun to associate as hers.
Marian stood behind him wrapping her arms around his shoulders, as she leaned into his back, his hands reached up and rubbed her's affectionately.
In one swift movement, he spun her into his lap. The surprise had her crying out, he managed to silence her with his lips before she could alarm the guards.
Holding her tightly to him, he smiled down at her shocked face, “I will never let you fall, Hawke.” She smiled up at him her hand clinging to his shoulder, her voice full of reverence. “I think it's too late, to stop me, inquisitor.”
She shifted in his lap so she was straddling him, her legs on the opposite side of the wall, her back to the courtyard below. Max’s hands pulled her shirt from her breeches as he crushed his lips to hers. His fingers running across her skin, hands cupping her ass through her breeches, pulling her against him.
Marian’s arms were wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers in his hair. The kisses became deeper, longer feral as the need to be closer consumed them, the resulting frustration of not being able to physically be any closer.
Lost in each other, their cries and whisper of need filling the night. They were startled when they heard the familiar sound of a throat being cleared. Max knew it was poor Eric again without even looking, “you know Eric, I'm really beginning to think, you hate me….”
Eric stammered his reply “I'm so very sorry to interrupt Ser, but ...umm the guards… They asked me to ask you, and well I would feel better too if you and the Champion… Well, if you would continue to undress each other, in the privacy of one of the many rooms Skyhold has to offer. It’s just we’re worried, you are going to fall off the wall, if you don't mind me adding Mistress Hawke may not want your entire night patrol to see her, Ummm. For the love of Andraste man, you're undressing her.”
Looking down Max realized he had pulled off Marian’s shirt, her breasts were spilling out over the band straining to contain them, added to that they were precariously close to the edge of the wall. Covering her up he lifted her to her feet, swung his legs over so he was standing next to her as he adjusted his clothing.
Relief washed over the young recruits face when he realized the Inquisitor wasn’t mad. Max wrapped the Champions arm over his like nothing had happened, and head out.
Turning they proceeded to stroll past the rest of his guards, it seemed like everyone on patrol that night was gathered in the space between Cullen’s quarters and the storage room. Marian giggled “best-protected spot in all of Skyhold, the Commander should sleep well tonight.”
Nodding to the six or seven men standing there, as they walked by, “gentlemen,” they had the decency to blush and nod back as they replied “Inquisitor, Champion.”
Max escorted Marian to her door. Leaning in to kiss her goodnight, she shook her head. “No way you are getting off that easily.” Grabbing ahold of his shirt, she pulled him into her room.
Pushing him onto her bed, Hawke began undressing him. Laughing he rolled with her pinning her under him, licking her lips playfully making her laugh with him.
Looking down at the beautiful woman pressed against him he was reminded of another time he was in a similar position. Shaking his head to clear it, she caressed the side of his face as Marian came back into focus.
Breaking the tension that suddenly gathered on his face, Marian ran her fingers down his forehead, over his nose, caressing his lips. Max opened his mouth and captured one, sucking it slowly, his eyes bore down into hers.
He heard the words tumble from his mouth, and wanted to slap himself. “Marian, I don’t think I can do this.”
She moved against him and ground against his hard cock “Your body tells me you can.”
He smiled and caressed the side of her face “I want to, Maker I want you. And if all you want is the physical, I will rip your smalls from your body and fuck you, till you can’t walk”
Pausing as he sat up taking her hand pulling her up with him “But, if… IF you want more...I need to know”
Falling back on the bed he covered his eyes “Andraste's tits I’m acting like a teenage girl. A beautiful woman wants to have sex with me, and I need to talk about my feelings… For the love of the Maker, what's wrong with me?!? Ignore all that, where were we oh yes right about … here.” Leaning over kissing her neck, biting playfully.
Laughing she pushed him back “oh no mister you don't get to drop stuff like that and then go back to making out…”
Pushing him back on the bed, Marian curled up into his side with her head on his chest.
As she spoke she drew patterns on his shirt outlining muscles anything to keep her hands busy. “Do I want more than just a quick fuck…sure… do I expect more… not really.” Resting her chin on her hand so she could look up at him. “We are both realistic people, I can see in your eyes the loss, and hell my last boyfriend blew up the fucking Chantry in Kirkwall.”
Counting things off on her fingers, “Let's see we have Corypheus doing maker knows what. Holes in the fade. Red Templars. Wardens Missing … and probably six other nasty things we don't even know about yet… Just one of those is enough to make someone pause, all of them together doesn't really instill a happily ever after. But I will say this… if at the end of all this crap were both standing, I could see a future with you.” He smiled and kissed the top of her head “me too, for the first time in a very long time… me too… Blew up the Chantry hu?” Hawke made an exploding sound and gesture with her hands, nodding as she answered him, “yup.”
Moving over top of him, he moaned as she ground her center against his still hard cock. Holding up her hand she continued “However, we don't have the luxury of a promise of tomorrows… so why let what we could have, should have, would have done be a regret? don't overthink this Max just feel.”
He knew she was right, pressing his forehead to hers panting, “I want you so bad, please baby I need you naked” she straddled his lap and pulled her shirt over her head, releasing her breast band, he moaned as they became free. Sitting up he captured a nipple in his mouth, as he flipped her onto her back.
Taking her hands in his, he pressed them over her head, kissing her lips he whispered: “keep them over your head.” She whimpered when he made short work of her breeches and smalls.
Admiring her naked body Max sat back, spreading her thighs, she knew she was wet but she felt embarrassed at how wet. He leaned down and ran a finger through her slit, Marian cried out arching up. Looking up at her with a wicked smile “Oh baby this is going to be a lot of fun if you react like that to my simple touch.”
Moving off the bed, still between her legs he kneeled on the floor, sliding her ass to the edge placing her legs on his shoulders.
She felt like she had been struck by lightning when he pressed his tongue against her other entrance and ran it slowly up to her clit, sucking on her, holding the sensitive pearl with his teeth.
Softly Max assaulted it with his tongue while it was captured, his fingers slid into her and he moaned at how she gripped him.
His fingers fucked her pussy while his tongue lapped abusing her clit, drawing slow strong circles around it, as he found the spot with his fingers he needed. He wanted her to come because he didn't know how long he would last once inside her.
His fingers concentrating on one spot inside her, massaging it with his fingers she thought it felt odd at first, then it went from odd to oh fuck, then she was crying out as she was riding Max’s fingers and face, just as she was screaming “Maxwell now please” he raised over her, discarding the rest of his clothing and slammed home.
When she looked at him as he started thrusting into her, his eyes held such need, such possession. It scared, excited, and consumed her, making her cling to him.
Moving with him her hips bucking against him. His head dipped down to bite her ear “oh fuck baby you feel so good wrapped around me, your velvet channel is caressing my cock, Maker it’s amazing.” Bringing his lips to hers, she nipped his bottom one, whimpering against them unable to form a coherent thought. “Oh god Max! So deep. So fucking big. Yes!”
Feeling her clenching around him, his balls were burning with the need to come. He moved faster, her world exploded, thrashing under him screaming his name, clawing at him. Her body caressing him. Finally, he couldn’t hold out anymore, releasing his hold, moaning “oh Maker, Marian yes, baby take it all” His cock exploded deep inside her, he pumped his seed over and over into her. He had a brief thought about pulling out, but he didn't care. She was his, and he would let the fates decide what happened, he refused to relinquish this feeling.
When he slid out of her, pulling her close into his side, as she cuddled in. Both of them panting, his hands were caressing her body, just as hers were his.
Lifting her chin to meet his kiss, he was lost once more in her eyes “Thank you angel, that was amazing, and I intend to take you many, many more times tonight; he turned on his side and hooked her leg over his hip bringing her flush against him, capturing her lips, his tongue doing to her mouth, what his fingers were doing to her core.
Needing to touch him, taste him, feel him. Her hands caressed his chest as she moaned. Moving against him, his fingers felt so amazing, it had been far too long without this.
She could feel herself rising again, gripping his arms as she writhed against his naked body, pressing her hips against him, moving faster. His hardness was pressing against her thigh, and he was panting hard, as she exploded around his hand.
Laying back on the bed she felt empowered by the way he reacted to her, she pushed Max onto his back kissing her way down his chest, when she reached the object of her pleasure, he held his breath.
Looking up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief, Marian softly kissed the tip.
Letting her lips part, as she slowly worked her way down as far as she could. Tasting herself on him, slowly she drew back up his shaft. Her tongue caressing his swollen flesh, swirling around under the head pressing into the sensitive skin.
It took everything Max had, not to thrust his cock in her mouth, forcing her to take more than she was ready for.
She was having an amazing time, it was like being drunk on the power of his body's reaction to her touch. When he was close, he couldn't take it anymore. Pulling her up against his body, he picked her up and impaled himself in her, letting her ride him.
His thumb furiously stroking her pearl, as he thrust up inside her. When he felt the first tremors of her release, he let himself go, grabbing her hips he fucked her hard.
She fell forward and bit his shoulder, as he roared her name and pumped his seed deep into her over and over. Falling forward on top of him, they laid there panting trying to catch their breath. stroking her back he knew… He knew he needed them both to make it through this.
Her cheek pressed against his chest, she could hear his heart, as she caressed his arm…
When she got up, to go to use the bathroom, he was waiting like a hungry predator ready to pounce when she opened the door.
Pressing her face-first into the wall, as he slid his cock home. Pinning her hands above her head he claimed her body, taking her hard and fast against the wall, his fingers finding her clit, had them both tumbling over the edge, screaming their release together. His body was tense, with the need to possess her.
Hawke lost count how many ways he had her that night, the last taking hours as they were in more control, bodies moving together whispers of affection and hope. For both of them, this was the moment they would remember in the bidding relationship. The first time they made love, their bodies, lips all screamed the need for each other.
When she moaned his name for the last time, he whispered the word “mine.” His arms wrapping around her holding her tight as they slept.