She watched the way his eyes moved, the uncertainty in his gaze mirroring her own from earlier. A smile was on her lips without her knowledge, faint but genuine just the same, and it was still there when her lips met his. The intensity had faded for the moment, the second press much more gentle and exploratory in nature than anything else, but she could still hear the dull roar of her heartbeat in her ears.

Hawke stepped forward just enough to bring them toe-to-toe, the hands at her back a comfort just as his mouth was an enticement. It was a slow build, the realization finally dawning on her that this was mutual and not unwanted. And that was all it took to remove another shield for her.

She broke contact only a moment, eyes drifting up to his, and then she kissed him again briefly. Her smile was back, stronger, and the hand at his shoulder squeezed gently as if in reassurance. "Fenris," she whispered, and it came out reverently.