spirited \ˈspir-ə-təd\ a: (theology) the influence of God or divine things upon the soul.

Fenris felt-

The emotion was so foreign he'd almost forgotten it. Years of running and a lifetime of being on edge had made him callous, hardened and unyielding as a means of survival. And yet with Hawke, all of his walls crumbled.

Fenris felt-

The Friday tutoring sessions were his favorite. She stayed longer because she didn't have anywhere else to be. She implied once, even, that she lingered because she simply enjoyed his presence and asked for nothing more of him than his time. Hawke was a serious, driven student but this day she had been more relaxed than he'd ever seen her; it was the last Friday of school before winter break, and with Carver and Gamlen both out of town she had high hopes that the weekend would be quiet and restful, two words which did not often fit into Hawke's life.

Fenris recalled the way she had smiled and looked out over the sunset framed by craggy cliffs earlier that day, talking easily of how nice it would be to have peace in her uncle's house, if only for a few days. They had joked together, laughed, and something inside of him long buried- long dead, he had thought- rose slowly with each soft smile and laugh he elicited from her.

Fenris felt-

Fenris felt happy.

As Friday came, a huge sense of lightness washed over Hawke. Aveline had spirited Carver away for a wrestling tournament in the next town over, and Gamlen had been missing in action for the past day or so (more likely pissing his check away at the Blooming Rose Strip Club than not).

Hawke had no responsibility, no hassle, and no obligation. For three days. The thought was unbelievable, and she practically skipped toward her Saab in the back lot of the academy.

It felt like ages since she had come back from Italy, her life had been nothing but a whirlwind of local press interviews, chaos induced by all her friends in Latin, and the obvious uproar caused by her family in the light of her new fortune.

Meanwhile, Fenris had his own purse and media circus to deal with- and since his triumphant return, her teacher seemed to gain quite the following among the underclassmen. It was part disturbing and hilarious to watch sixteen year olds wait outside the Latin classroom to talk to a teacher of a subject they couldn't take about things they didn't understand.

And their uniforms seemed to get shorter and shorter.

But none of that mattered, because it was Friday, and Hawke's family was gone, and Hawke knew for a fact Fenris was going to be at the lighthouse (after their session today she'd had a biotech club meeting but promised to come straight after), and she was armed with a batch I Merrill's best snickerdoodles...

And she was more than ready to show Fenris just how she could outdo a couple of sophomore girls.

The day was both surprisingly clear and bright, and the combination served to heighten Fenris' mood that much further. The day was beautiful, he had two days of freshman-free quiet, and best of all Hawke was coming tonight.

He was on the balcony of the lighthouse when he heard her Saab struggling up the hill and he raced down the stairs heart pounding to meet her. Finally, time alone with her, with his Hawke-

He opened the door just as she was knocking and he smiled immediately, a smile of true pleasure.

"Hawke," he breathed, and watched the cloud of mist fall into the space between them. Looking down he added, "You brought cookies."

Hawke blew a hank if her brown hair from her eyes before answering. "I won't take credit for Merrill and her snickerdoodles. They are legendary. It's so cold today, isn't it? At least it isn't raining-"

She felt a jolt of sensation as Fenris brushed her fingers, liberating them of snickerdoodles. His hands were warm, rough, all the tattoos matching her memory perfectly.

It felt like an age since the last time she saw him so close up.

Hawke cleared her throat and stepped inside. "Besides, if I don't feed you who knows how you'd sustain yourself. Wine isn't a food group, you know. You could starve in a supermarket."

Fenris chuckled and stepped through the threshold with Hawke. Her hip brushed his and something tightened with him. Setting the cookies on the counter he broke one on half and offered it to Hawke.

"Have you heard from your brother or Aveline?"

Hawke took the proffered cookie, letting her books thud to the floor with the satisfying ring of 'it's break, and I won't open another thing with pages until the next Sunday before school.

"No, thank God. I hope they're doing well and everything but I'm really enjoying the radio silence so far." She bit into her cookie, watching Fenris start on his half. "It's a nice change of pace."

Fenris nodded, watching her closely as pain flashed though her eyes, followed by relief.

It was this same strength in Hawke he had always admired, and it always took him back to their earlier days together.

"I feel the sunset will be particularly beautiful tonight. Would you like to join me on the balcony?"

Hawke smiled warmly. She knew that the balcony was Fenris' favorite place in the whole world; the expanse of the sea stretched out before him have him a sense of freedom, and solace.

"How could I refuse?" she murmured, taking his hand gently in hers.

It was the first touch they had shared in almost three weeks.

His skin sung at her touch, his tattoos seeming to shoot the sensation all across his body.

They walked hand in hand up the painfully winding staircase till they reached the balcony drenched in the golden light of sunset.

Hawke sighed and leaned into him as he rested his hip against the balcony, committing this day- this moment- to memory lest he forget how it felt to be this wonderfully happy.

Fenris never knew he had been so empty, to be so full.

They watched the colors shift and dance atop the ocean as they birds cried in the distance. Perhaps it was the scene, or perhaps it was the company, but he was convinced this was the most spectacular sunset he'd seen since coming to Kirkwall.

"Can I ask you something?" Hawke said quietly, head on his shoulder.

Fenris felt a spike of anxiety at the ambiguity question, but for Hawke and for this moment he would answer anything truthfully.

"Of course."

"Do you believe in God? Or a god-like figure or anything?"

There was something in her voice, a strange and sudden vulnerability, which gave Fenris pause.

Hawke's face shifted to look up at him, her dark lashes framing bright eye.

"Sebastian asked me something similar not too long ago."

It had been an odd conversation, and Fenris was wary to partake in it since the boy was far too intuitive for him to feel comfortable saying anything to close to the truth.

"Are you religious, Fenris?" He has asked after class one day as the students filed away.

Fenris looked up and took in the boy's stance, open but more confident than usual. Odd.

"If I say no, will you attempt to convert me?"

Sebastian smiled and shook his head slightly. "I'm merely curious."

"My faith was never strong," he replied, voice tight and controlled. "It's difficult for people like me to have faith in someone who abandoned them.

"The Lord didn't cause your troubles, Fenris."

"He didn't help me much, either."

"And yet you stand here today. Perhaps He helped you more than you think."

Fenris had gaped slightly but before he could rightly respond Sebastian had nodded politely and taken his leave.

The next day as the class was leaving Fenris called Sebastian up to his desk with a curt gesture.

"Your god didn't save me." Fenris said quietly.

"I see you've been thinking about what I said."

"I freed myself. If God did anything, He watched. Why should I thank Him for that?" Fenris shot back.

Sebastian stepped closer and his voice lowered with something Fenris could only call compassion. "Is it so hard to believe the Lord cares for you? Maybe He gave you the opportunity to change your life."

Fenris was concerned by how close Sebastian's comment came to the truth of his situation.

"It doesn't feel like God cares for me... or anyone."

"Bye guys! See you tomorrow," Hawke's voice and bright smile brought them both back to reality.

"Till tomorrow, Hawke" Sebastian offered.

As her eyes flickered to Fenris he smiled just a little, their secret smile, and her face lit up.

Sebastian watched the encounter and when he caught Fenris' gaze again Fenris realized that the boy saw more than any of his other students.

"We all make our own choices, to do good as well as evil." It was not quite a warning, but Fenris bristled all the same. "That is our doing, not the God's."

Sebastian looked at him with serious blue eyes, but Fenris found no open admonishment or judgment there.

"Some people find God in nature, in art, in music, in the Word or in a thousand other ways. But some, a very lucky few, find God in people." Fenris felt his ears burn and his heart pump harder. "It's never too late to let his spirit into your heart."

Drawn firmly back to the present by a chilling wind, Fenris snaked an arm around Hawke and puller her closer to him. He pressed his lips against her hair and felt her melt into him, contentment radiating off her and into him as well.

"But to answer your question, Hawke: yes."

He felt more than saw her smile, and the world narrowed to her, the fading light, and a fire within him no wind could snuff out.

A/N: Merry holidays everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates, but in the spirit of the season I'll be uploading a few Fawke vignettes from now till New Year's so stay tuned! This will likely be three parts and doesn't quite follow the timeline of Kirwall Academy so these little in between moments can really stand by themselves.

Hope all is well!