This story has been revised and edited by the author in 2018.

Chapter 1

The Sun had just about reached its highest point in the sky. It shone its golden rays with great vigor at all things that found itself beneath its glaring heat. The road to the Wounded Coast was a rocky uphill slope, which wound its crooked path along steep cliffs and at the bottom of which there was the raging water of the Waking Sea foaming furiously.

The merry band of misfits had begun their trek uphill around mid-morning and no one had uttered more than two words since their journey began. Usually they would share stories or jokes or even just nonsensical chit chat about essentially nothing. Even Varric was uncharacteristically quiet as he walked behind Hawke and Isabela, but at pace with Merrill and Aveline.

Well, Varric couldn't keep quiet for too long "So…" He began "Do we know where to find these slavers?" He looked up at the back of Hawke's head from where he walked a few paces behind. He quickly continued to get to his point "I mean, the Wounded Coast isn't exactly a small place is it? It's an entire bloody coast and I don't reckon the slavers are likely to have a sign put up, pointing us to their camp." He finished with a smirk.

Hawke turned her head in his direction and gave him a knowing smile before turning back to face the road "Don't worry Varric. You'll make it back in time for the Wicked Grace tournament at the Hanged Man" she said with a snicker.

Varric chuckled before his expression turned somber "It's not that… It's just…" He scratched his chin thoughtfully before he continued "Well, this just doesn't feel right". Merrill and Aveline both looked curiously at Varric.

Hawke responded with a smile "Don't worry so much, it's just a few slavers begging to have a meet and greet with the Maker" she gave a small chuckle "Business as usual" Hawke proceeded to give Aveline a quick look intended for the Captain to back her up in this statement for it was Aveline who had gotten the report on a slaver band hiding out at the Wounded Coast. Kidnapping whoever was unfortunate or, dumb enough to be walking by without protection, and selling them into slavery.

Aveline gave a curt nod "Of course, it shouldn't be a problem. As reported, there have been two disappearances in the past week. Since they are hiding here and not making themselves more prominent, like the larger and more dominant slavers, we have reason to believe that they may lack in that area" She finished as Isabela gave a light smirk

"Lacking you say? Even I didn't have their potency come to mind. You seem to be making progress, Big Girl" Isabela said with a wink.

Aveline narrowed her eyes in Isabela's direction "I don't think you should be worrying about me being anywhere near competition to you, Whore"

Isabela continued, completely ignoring Aveline "Remind me to thank Donnic later".

"Shut up" Aveline replied trough gritted teeth.

Hawke gave Isabela a stern look, but restrained amusement was evident on her features. "Bela…" Hawke tried but Isabela simply replied with an innocent "What?"

"I don't get it…" Merrill piped up from the back.

The group continued their walk and soon arrived at the Wounded Coast. They stood at a small hill from where they could get a fair view of the road ahead. The white sandy pathway stretched and curved and then disappeared behind dark rocks in the distance.

"Well then, the sooner the better" Varric said cheerfully and began to walk ahead.

They walked and searched for any clues as to the whereabouts of the band of slavers until late afternoon came around. Hawke raised an armored hand to signal everyone to stop.

"Alright" she called with a sigh "We should set camp for the night. Get some rest. We'll continue our search in the morning… It won't do any good if we're falling apart from fatigue anyway". Varric was right, no bloody sign of them.

She watched as Aveline and Merrill set down their backpacks and begun unpacking bedrolls and other items they needed for the night. "I'll take first watch" Hawke finished and walked a short distance away to stand at a foothill overlooking the rolling sea. Varric mumbled something about "firewood" as he took off in the other direction.

Hawke stood gazing at the setting Sun as its last rays extended across the sea in a desperate attempt to hold on to the Earth, setting the sea and heavens aglow with hues of purple, red and orange. Hawke folded her arms across her chest and sighed. This was getting tiring. She had wanted to have found the slavers by now and given them all what they deserved, which was her dagger to the gut.

The more time it took to find them, the more time they would have to gather reinforcements, or move location or gotten out of the Wounded Coast altogether, not to mention the time to kidnap more civilians and -…

"You think too much." Hawke shot out of her reverie and was about to turn when she felt two arms circle around her waist and their hands clasp together at her stomach. Hawke gave a slight smile and melted into the warm body behind her. She could smell the familiar scent of grass and fresh rain as she felt a head lean against her shoulder.

"I didn't think that was a bad thing" Hawke said good-naturedly.

"It's not…" Isabela replied "… Not when you're thinking about sex" Hawke laughed. There was a smile on Isabela's lips before she continued "Well, sex with me that is…" She gave a sultry laugh and began nipping at Hawke's ear.

Hawke shivered as a current of arousal shot through her. Isabela nibbled lightly at the spot just below Hawke's earlobe before she started placing light, wet kisses on her neck. Hawke couldn't take it anymore and turned swiftly to face Isabela and claimed her lips with her own, kissing her with a fervor that would contend the setting Sun. The pirate answered in turn by biting lightly at her lower lip so the Fereldan could do naught but respond by letting Isabela's tongue enter and stroke her own.

Isabela broke the kiss and took the other woman's hand in her own and guided her down the foothill. They went around and continued onto a small platform on the other side of it. There was barely a meter to the ground before the cliff gave way to an extensive decent into the foamy waters below.

"Shit" Hawke murmured as she took a look down at the crashing waves below before Isabela tugged her back in, and pressed her into the side of the cliff behind them.

"Don't you be getting that subconscious urge to throw yourself off, Hawke" Hawke had a tenth of a second to wonder how Isabela could sound so sexy saying something like that before the pirate proceeded to crush her lips to Hawke's and began to tug at the straps of her armor "At least not until I'm done with you." She breathed.

Hawke slid her hand down to grip Isabela's hip as the other hand ran through her raven hair and placed itself on the side of the pirate's face, pulling her even closer. Isabela's tongue ran across Hawke's lower lip, seeking entrance and was admitted without hesitation before she moaned in delight.

The Rivaini slid her hands down Hawke's chest, went around her back and landed on her firm bottom. She gripped her buttocks and gave a hard squeeze. Hawke gave a small, muffled yelp before Isabela continued to pull at the leather straps and rid her of her trousers. Hawke began kissing and nibbling down her jaw. She then proceeded down her neck, making Isabela moan and reply by slipping a hand under the Fereldan's smallclothes. Hawke responded with a sharp hiss as she arched into Isabela's touch.

Aveline looked up from where she was crouched, poking the now healthy fireplace. "As much as I hate to say this" she took a few steps back and sat down on her bedroll "not that I don't care about Hawke, but because I'm afraid of what one might find if someone where to go look for them… Should we make sure they're not… Well, hurt?"

Varric shrugged and took a swig of his canteen "Hawke and Rivaini can handle themselves"

Merrill looked from Varric to Aveline "I'm sure they're fine and they're really great together! I mean, I cannot fathom how they manage to accomplish such a synchronized feel of the other. By the Creators, have you seen how they fight? It's like they know the others position and where she's heading and then… the other goes the other way and it's like they're reading from the same book and the…" Merrill stopped and looked sheepish "Sorry… I dunno-… I got carried away" she finished with a whisper.

Varric chuckled lightly "Don't worry about it, Daisy"

Aveline gave a short snort, unwrapped a small linen package and pulled out a piece of dried fruit "I don't know what she sees in the whore, really"

Merrill's eyebrows shot up in disbelief "She sees stuff in her! There's no cutting involved is there? By the Dread Wolf, I hope they're okay!" She finished and looked down at the ground in worry.

Varric and Aveline shared looks before they both broke out in laughter.

Isabela and Hawke were both panting as they leaned against one another, standing close and breathing in each other's scent. The Sun had now set entirely and they were engulfed in a midnight blue blanket. A crescent moon cast what little light it could manage, as it fought to outdo the darkness.

Isabela was the first to recover and pulled away "That was something, wasn't it?" She said with an appreciative smirk as she adjusted her clothing and Hawke did the same. Hawke looked up to meet Isabela's eyes but Isabela had her gaze elsewhere.

Hawke was almost getting used to things being this way. Isabela always tried to distance herself from her and she understood that the Rivaini was trying not to form any attachment to the Fereldan. Even when they slept together at the estate, Hawke would always wake up to an empty bed. She felt a sharp sting in her heart, like someone had stabbed her with a hot poker, even though she knew that with Isabela it was just sex. Nothing else. Maybe that was what made the sting in her heart that much stronger. Because, Maker help her, Hawke wanted more. She wanted the Pirate Queen all to herself and she couldn't help the need to look at her when she thought she wasn't looking, or touch her whenever opportunity presented itself. Maybe she was being selfish but the sex, no matter how mind blowing it was, wasn't enough. Not when she knew that Isabela would probably go off and do the same with some hairy, broad shouldered sailor from the Hanged Man.

Hawke sighed and looked down at the ground. Isabela looked briefly at Hawke before she quickly settled her gaze on the path back up to their companions instead.

"We should get back before Man Hands starts to worry and comes looking" She tried to sound as smooth as possible, even throwing in a smirk and started to head back before Hawke grabbed her wrist. Isabela stopped and looked up at the other woman.

"Hawke…" she said with a sigh "Don't-…"

Hawke interrupted her "I just wanted you to look at me" she said quietly before taking a step toward the pirate.

"I am looking at you, Hawke" Isabela replied, a little exasperated.

Hawke leaned in and gave Isabela a quick chaste kiss on her lips before the Rivaini had time to react and said "Yeah, right now"

Hawke walked past Isabela and headed back to camp. Isabela sighed to herself before she began the walk back too.