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A Chance Encounter (sorry, I stink at titles)
For Cherith
Bethany/Teagan
MotA spoilers for those that haven’t played it yet.Alrighty, this is my last gift as a relief elf for the DA Fandom Holiday Gift exchange. I wanted to write Cherith a story with Teagan, because I loves the Bann of Rainesfere. I also liked the idea of creating a world where Circle!Bethany gets some non-templar romancing. I hope you enjoy!
Isolde was going on about something or other, her voice sounded shrill to Teagan’s ears, even though he normally didn’t mind his sister-in-law. She had a big heart, was a kind, pious woman and deeply devoted his brother and their son. But after traveling with her to the remote stretch of the Vimmark Mountains to Chateau Haine, he needed a small break from her.
He missed Rainesfere, the craggy red land, abutted by the mountains with snowy white tops glistening in the distance, the wind whistling through the walls of the modest house he called home. Teagan was the Bann, but Rainesfere was a remote, desolate stretch of land near the Frostbacks, and many people preferred the comforts of nearby Redcliffe. He didn’t mind, the few people that inhabited Rainesfere were a particular sort of hardy and he liked them, while they in turn, adored him, for he treated them as fairly as possible.
During their travels to the Chateau, where they were to, of all things, participate in a wyvern hunt, Isolde had briefed him on everyone that she knew would be in attendance. It was an exhausting list, and he’d listened in silence as she rattled off all the various offenses the Comtess Dulci de Launcet had committed against her over the years. The two women had a legendary rivalry, but he didn’t actually know or care how it had begun.
“Teagan, are you even listening to me?” Isolde’s voice gouged into his thoughts, the accusation too much for him to take.
“I can assure you I am not.” Teagan replied, and Isolde blanched at his frankness, unaccustomed to it, though she’d known Teagan for half her life. “But by all means, keep talking.” He said. “I find it too quiet when you aren’t.”The hunt itself was of little consequence, he heard the nobles talking about someone that had already bought the honors, and he wondered why they even bothered to come if one could buy the right to kill a wyvern. The whole trip was starting to feel like an incredible waste of time but he did meet another Fereldan, a young man named Hawke. Apparently his mother was some kind of nobility in Kirkwall, but he’d lived in Ferelden until the Blight. Isolde interrupted their conversation to tell him of something Dulci de Launcet said yet again, and Teagan looked for the first chance to escape or drown himself in the fountain. Maybe he’d just try eating that cheese from the Anderfels that tasted of despair, it couldn’t possibly be worse than his mood.
He wound up in the far part of the garden hidden by a row of bushes, sitting alone, away from the crowd. Though he saw no one, after a few moments alone he heard voices whispering. More Orlesians probably, they always had so many damned secrets.
But the girl that came around the corner wasn’t dressed for a party. She was pretty, young and didn’t seem like she belonged here either.
“Excuse me, serah.” She said when she was Teagan sitting on the bench. “I didn’t think anyone was here.”
“It’s quite alright.” Teagan said, standing up. “I’m Bann Teagan. Are you Fereldan too?” Another one. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a dismal event after all.
“Yes, I grew up there, near Lothering. I’m Bethany Hawke.” She said, introducing herself.
“I think I just met your brother.”
“You probably did, he’s out there trying to pretend like he doesn’t hate parties or nobles.” Bethany laughed and then looked suddenly stricken. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean you.”
“No offense taken, my lady.” Teagan laughed away her apology. She was charming and certainly much more pleasing than anyone else he’d met at this pestilential affair.
“So tell me something,” she said, settling down next to where he’d been sitting on the bench. “Why are you out here, Bann Teagan of Ferelden?” She smiled at him when she said his name, her face crinkling with amusement at the idea of two people from Ferelden meeting outside of Orlais.
“This hunt isn’t exactly my idea of fun.” He answered honestly, sitting back down.
‘What is?” Her eyes sparkled as she asked and Teagan realized she was flirting with him.
“We’re off to a good start.” Teagan replied and was reward with her melodic chuckles.
“Teagan, Dulci has been at it again! Where is that man?” Isolde screeched in his general direction, her voice floating over the din of the party. He was going to put those two in separate corners of Chateau Haine just to get some peace.
“Your wife is calling for you serah.” Bethany said solemnly. Teagan made a face at her.
“She’s not my wife, she’s my brother Eamon’s. He’s been…well he isn’t up to traveling long distances anymore and asked me to accompany her. A favor which, though she is a bit demanding,” Bethany coughed, trying to disguise her laughter with no success, “I am glad I accepted, at least I had the chance to meet you.” Teagan finished.
Bethany blushed at his bold words, a little moved by them. There weren’t many men that would risk the wrath of Garrett to compliment her, but her brother wasn’t around. Teagan was attractive, earnest, which she found intriguing and best of all, he had a sweet smile.
“Well, don’t I feel lucky then.” Bethany cooed at him, looking up from underneath her lashes.
She didn’t know why she was flirting with Bann Teagan, or even, why she’d sat down when she was meant to be looking for another entrance. Part of her knew that Tallis and her brother would find their way in without her help, and there was no harm in sitting with Teagan. There was something about him that drew her in, even when she knew nothing could come of it.
“My lady, I think luck is favoring me.” Teagan said, his voice deeper, richer than it had been before.
He reached a hand out to her, just thinking to touch her wrist, maybe to emphasize a point as they talked. There was an urge dictating his movements, a need to touch her, to make sure she was real, but she moved closer to him at the same moment. All Teagan could feel was heat rising within him, seeing her smile, the pretty eyes dancing with interest in him and he wrapped an arm her back, sweeping Bethany to his side and capturing her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Bethany was clutching at his chest, her fingers tangled around the top of his doublet, wanting to undo it, but aware that they weren’t truly alone. She snaked an arm around his neck, pushing her hand through his hair, pressing his lips closer to hers. Their kisses were hungry, and she bit his lip gently, her tongue pulsing against his when he opened his mouth to her. The surge of desire that fueled her was foreign, she’d never felt anything like it before and had she been standing, it would have brought her to her knees in the middle of Teagan’s kiss.
“Forgive me, my lady.” Teagan mumbled apologetically, backing away from her after his hands drifted too low. It was as if he’d been raised by the very wyverns they were here to hunt. This was no way to treat a beautiful woman, but he couldn’t deny that their single kiss was the most erotic thing he’d done in quite some time.
“No, Lord Teagan, not at all.” Bethany said, looking around to see if there was anyone who noticed their lapse of formality. Upon reassuring herself that they were still alone, she turned back to him. “There’s nothing to forgive.” Then she leaned forward and kissed him swiftly, brushing her lips against his, intending to pull away but instead letting herself get draw into another, longer kiss.
How long they stayed like that, kissing, tangled together on the bench, she didn’t know. All Bethany knew was that Teagan was eroding her control with every passing moment. He tasted earthy and masculine, a flavor as familiar as it was indescribable. She felt her hands roaming over his well-formed body, longing to touch the flesh beneath his clothes and his kissed dared lower, to her neck, her collarbone, the exposed flesh of her breasts.
“Teagan.” She whispered his name into his hair, all the while wondering why, why she was allowing him to kiss her like this. He was a near stranger and they were at a party full of nobles, thrown by an influential Duke.
From somewhere behind her Aveline cleared her throat pointedly. Yes, Bethany knew they had to get going, that she was to have been searching these rooms instead of spending time with Teagan, but she couldn’t help it, she liked him. Her attraction to the man was visceral, primal and it made her almost queasy when they parted.
“Another time, my lord.” Bethany nodded at him as they broke apart. His lips were reddened from kissing her and though he managed not to let his emotions show on his face, he had disappointed, frustrated air of someone that had been interrupted unwrapping a gift.
“I look forward to it.” He said hopefully. Maybe he’d see her again after dinner and instead of groping her like some desperate farmhand, would take her for a walk.
Their chance never came, Garrett pushing Duke Prosper off a cliff ended the party pretty quickly and they had to flee. Bethany often wondered about Teagan, especially after she went to the Circle. There were more nights than she could recall when she thought of him, the kisses they’d shared on that stone bench. Her mind imagined scenarios where they hadn’t been interrupted, with him leading her to his bedroom, an excited smile etched into his features.
The days in the Gallows were long, oftentimes painfully boring. She entertained herself with thoughts of him every so often, less as the years went by and her memories became hazier, thinking of the days when she’d been free, running the streets with Garrett, growing up in Ferelden. It all seemed so reckless now, but at the time she’d always been afraid of getting caught, her family moving house at the sight of templars. She’d give anything for that now, just a little bit more freedom, another chance to craft the life she wanted for herself.
Teagan came with King Alistair to Kirkwall, wanting to see if she was still here, if she’d come with her brother to meet them in the Viscount’s Keep. He hoped desperately that she remembered him, for he’d spent years dreaming of her. Of all the things he thought of, and he’d thought of her often, it was her laugh he remembered the most, the sound carried to him on the night wind as he lay alone in bed. The Champion spoke with Alistair, but his sister wasn’t among his companions. As Hawke turned to leave, Teagan asked about Bethany.
“They took her to the Gallows, serah. She’s been there since I came back from the Deep Roads.” Garrett said mournfully, his sarcastic demeanor gone.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Teagan said, feeling very sorry indeed. Whenever she slid into his thoughts, he’d tortured himself with visions of her with someone else, but hadn’t given a thought to the circumstances of her life.
She’d been so bright and beautiful, he hadn’t realized she was a mage. When he thought back on it, he couldn’t remember her having a staff, though she must have, because her friend was armed. There was no magic in the Guerrin line until Connor, so he didn’t know what life was like for a mage. Mages had never really bothered him, he didn’t understand the point of locking people away for their Maker given gifts. Training them, yes, after what happened with Connor he believed fully in open, safe, reliable training for mages, but not keeping them from their families. Isolde suffered without her son and though his brother always mentioned how proud he was of the boy, he knew that he missed his presence in Redcliffe far more than he let on. Teagan himself missed his nephew and spent time writing long letters to him, hoping that he was safe.
He thought of her, locked away in the dreary looking Gallows with that nutter of Knight-Commander and hoped that she could leave one day. She was too wonderful to live and die in a dank, depressing former slave hold. With Bethany out of reach, Teagan didn’t know quite what to make of their brief encounter but relegated himself to thinking that it was just one of those things fate throws to people from time to time. It was more than nothing, but never fully matured into something.
After the battle in the Gallows, Bethany ran with Garrett and Isabela. Their group splintered, the whole of them far too identifiable if they stayed together. Varric was the first to turn around, making his way back to Kirkwall, followed shortly by Aveline and Fenris. Merrill took off on her own one day, deciding to try for Starkhaven, to keep an eye out for Sebastian. Anders left last, staying in Ostwick instead of returning to Ferelden, waving them off as they hastily boarded a boat, which happened to be heading to Denerim.
“King Alistair, I know he was a warden, but he wasn’t THE Warden.” Isabela said once they were on their hired ship.
“And you know the Warden very personally if I recall correctly.” Garrett said playfully, teasing his love. “Isn’t that how you introduced yourself to us, by telling me how you knew the Hero of Ferelden?”
“Well, yes, but there’s another Ferelden that I like much better, so don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.” Isabela clarified, giving Garrett a kiss and a squeeze that Bethany wished she hadn’t witnessed.
Bethany turned away and looked out at the sea, heaving a great sigh as she did, blowing out her breath through lonely lips. Teagan wasn’t the last man she’d kissed - she’d lost her virginity in the Gallows, but he was the one she thought about most. Even her limited sexual encounters paled in comparison to what she’d felt on that bench at Chateau Haine. Absently, she looked over at Isabela and Garrett, their legs laced into some intimate knot as they sat together, she wondered if she’d ever find that, experience excitement and passion with a lover.
When they made landfall in Denerim, they group went straight to the Royal Palace, Garrett leading the way.
“Hi, I’m the Champion of Kirkwall and I’m here to see your King.” He told the guard outside the castle in a jaunty, winning voice.
The man disappeared and they were led to a room to wait, probably for someone to interrogate them, to find out who they really were, Bethany realized. They were left alone in a small, cold room without a fire, Garrett cracking awful jokes while they waited for nearly twenty minutes before someone came in.
It was Teagan. When he saw her, he started, almost wanting to pinch himself at the sight of her, marveling at how she even looked the same after all these years. Beautiful, more luminous in person than she was in his dreams.
“Bethany.” He growled, rushing towards her with his arms outstretched. They kissed as if no time had passed between the two, as if they’d never been interrupted in Chateau Haine. Except that her brother was in the room and when she remembered it, broke apart from Teagan. Isabela was leaning forward in her chair, looking very interested and Bethany felt color rise in her cheeks. Her brother, however was sitting back, a look of amusement on his face, but a little brotherly anger was carefully hidden underneath it.
“So you two know each other, I take it?” Garrett asked, his voice light.
“We met at Chateau Haine.” Bethany explained.
“I hate to interrupt this reunion, but I killed that crazy Knight-Commander Meredith and I just thought King Alistair ought to know.” Garrett said, standing up. “Boy, was she insane. Just once, I’d like to meet a lyrium-addicted knight that isn’t crazy or stupid.” He shook his head, remembering their last battle.
“Yes, of course.” Teagan replied and led them out of the room.
For days they stayed, Garrett and Alistair speaking in depth, Isabela at his side. It gave Bethany plenty of time to get to know Teagan, far better than she had the first time. He took her to the rebuilt Gnawed Noble Tavern in the market, sitting with her in the back in a dark booth. Everything she’d passed on the way here was either brand new or in the stages of being built. It made her heart ache. In Kirkwall there were those that doubted the Blight had really come, because it had been defeated so quickly. Those people obviously hadn’t seen Denerim.
“Forgive me for saying, but you aren’t much like your brother at all.” Teagan said as he sat down two ales in front of them.
“No, I suppose not.” Bethany mused.
“The two of you remind me of Aedan and Fergus.” When Bethany looked confused he corrected himself. “The Hero of Ferelden and his brother, the Teyrn of Highever. They are brothers, Fergus the elder of the two. His wife and child were murdered by Arl Howe when he took their castle before the Blight, when Aedan joined the Grey Wardens. But the two, they love each other but aren’t a lot alike. Fergus is solid, still maintains his family man attitude despite losing his and is a regimented military man. Aedan is,” Teagan laughed now, thinking of the times he’d spent with the man, “much more wild. He thrives on battle and seems to love trying anything at least twice.”
“Sounds a bit like my brother.” Bethany smiled into her ale.
“Aedan is quite, colorful. I think he’s acquainted with your brother’s pirate friend.” Teagan said.
“Isabela seems to tell it like that. Her, the Hero of Ferleden, a Chantry Sister from Lothering and an Antivan elf are all quite acquainted. I think my brother also was ahem, introduced to the same elf by Isabela.” Bethany said but didn’t know why she said it. It was hardly the thing to discuss in front of Teagan, but he threw his head back, his whole body shaking with laughter at her words.
“Then he is quite like Aedan after all.”
“That just leaves me then to play the brother. The family man.” Bethany said, looking up at Teagan.
“If that’s what you want. Your life is your own, it was just an observation.”
Bethany thought about it for a moment and then reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. She was a family person, it was Lothering that she thought of the most when she was locked away, she missed the life she’d had there. Being back in Ferelden made her feel more comfortable than she’d ever felt in Kirkwall.
“I missed you.” She admitted, dropping all pretense. “It’s been years and I still thought of you. But you know what I am, what my brother has done. Will you have me?”
“I’ve thought of no one but you since meeting you at Chateau Haine. We owe it to ourselves to see where this goes.” He replied. Bethany smiled at him, making warmth spread through his whole body.
In a few weeks she saw the signs, Garrett was getting uncomfortable, and news was coming from Kirkwall now, tales of things happening after Meredith’s rampage. It seemed to have gotten worse, not better in the City of Chains, and there were more than just templars looking for them now. When Garrett and Isabela made to leave, she took Teagan’s hand in hers, standing back as she broke the news to her brother.
“I’m going to stay here. King Alistair has offered me a place in his court, it will protect me.” Bethany said. It had actually been Teagan that made the offer, while they’d been in bed together, but she needn’t disclose that detail to Garrett.
He knew already that she wouldn’t leave with him. It was time for her to quit following him around, though he never saw her as a nuisance, just as family. There were nights he’d tossed and turned, not wanting to do the inevitable leaving. He’d seen Teagan with his little sister and though the man was bit old for her, it was her choice. Isabela kept telling him to let her go, that she’d only appreciate life if she got to make her own choices, to live it.
“Be good to my sister.” He advised Teagan who met his gaze calmly and nodded.
“I love you Bethany. I’ll be in touch when I can.” Garrett promised.
“I love you too, Brother. Take care of yourself, and Isabela.”
“Of course.” Garrett said, smiling at her. She watched the two of them walk out as she held onto Teagan’s hand, squeezing it when her brother was gone from her line of vision. She was alone, she thought, but only for a moment. From her left, he smiled at her.
“Did you miss Ferelden?” Teagan asked her.
“All the time. I missed everything, the dogs, the mud, even you, when I was locked up in the Gallows.”
“You don’t need to worry about that here. Alistair is a friend to mages, and you’re with me.”
“That’s the part I like best, the part when I’m with you.” Bethany said, smiling at Teagan. He put and arm around her waist, pulling her to him.
“That’s the part I like the most too.” He said, just before he placed a fluttery kiss on the corner of her mouth.
They turned around, walking slowly away from the door she’d just watched Garrett and Isabela leave through. It made her sad, all goodbyes were sad, but she was happy too. It was a new life, a place where she had a position, protection and love, back in a place that felt like home to her. It was more than she’d dared to hope for, but just what she needed.-
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cherith reblogged this from seeherwrite and added:
so adorable! Thank you!
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