Bodahn poured the last bucket of steaming water into the secure tub by the fireplace. Hawke stood behind the screen in the far corner and was about to de-robe and get the bath when there was a gentle knock on the door. She popped her head around the corner of the screen and looked to see her mother, elegant and untouched, stood smiling gently. Behind her there was just a small amount of green and a stunning bright blue for Hawke to guess.

"Merrill, Isabela, hi," she said cheerfully as her mother stepped aside and walked away down the stairs, "What're you doing here?"

"Well, we thought we'd visit. It was the only thing that would stop kitten here from trying her first sip of alcohol out of sheer boredom and curiosity" Isabela explained staring at the innocent, bright eyed Merrill who stood, hands clasped together before her and shoulders raised in purity, gleaming at them both.

"Why not? You all do it but me" she replied her accent sharply defining her words beautifully and adding to her cuteness.

"It's besides the point," Isabela said, hands on hips and frowning, her words, too, slurring at the ends and exemplifying her smouldering, sexy look that appealed to men so frequently , "Do you know why I call you kitten, kitten? It's because you're the innocent one. I can't have you taking a sip, getting flat out drunk then setting someone alight with a spell unknowingly from your drunken state". Merrill sighed and Hawke stifled a laugh managing only to contain it with a glowing grin. Merrill glanced around and gasped when she saw the steaming bath.

"Oh! Were you going to have a bath? We're so sorry. We didn't mean to intrude. We'll go now if-"

"Oh no, I can wait. I don't mind at all. Please, stay" Hawke refused smiling gallantly. Isabela smiled and stepped in front of Hawke folding her arms.

"Well, unless Hawke is hiding something or embarrassed, she can have a bath while we're here. We're all women here besides, I want to see if the rumours are true" Isabela grinned eyeing Hawke.

"Oh- um, no. I couldn't. I just… Wait, rumours?!"

"Ooh! Let's call for two more baths and we'll have a girlie time. I've never done this before. It won't be so embarrassing then. Plus, Isabela kind of needs one" Merrill giggled as the pirate launched forth and grabbed at her playfully. The elf hurried out calling Bodahn for two extra tubs and Isabela leapt away to fetch several bottles of wine leaving Hawke still mumbling objections.

Several minutes later and Hawke stood over her bath with Isabela and Merrill at the ones in front of her. Isabela stood waiting for Hawke to de-robe refusing to herself until she'd fully examined Hawke to 'see if the rumours were true'. Hawke could only imagine what speculation was happening in Isabela's head as the dressing gown slipped off Hawke's soft skin and fell to the floor revealing in her in all her glory. She felt her cheeks burn as Isabela's teeth grinded together lustfully and Merrill's mouth dropped open.

"What? Is it ok?" she whispered her cheeks now aflame. Merrill used the moment of distraction to strip down and she slipped into the hot, steaming water. Isabela shamelessly undid one golden button on her shift and then, suddenly, her entire ensemble fell to the floor revealing everything but her hide leather boots as Hawke slid into the bath tub before her. Hawke sipped the wine bottle Isabela had given her as Isabela sat down. They relaxed for a while in the water to the sound of the fire. Until Merrill caught them off-guard.

"I met a young man the other day. A human, he was. I volunteer at Anders' clinic and he's an apprentice healer there. Anson his name is. He's Antivan but he came here when his family was murdered by the Antivan Crows. We worked together and then, yesterday, he took me to the Wounded Coast" Merrill said absentmindedly, "Did you know, there's a hidden cave along the base of the cliffs where a carved, stone bench sits. We had lunch there; I picked some wild herbs and fruit, he caught fish and I roasted it all with my fire spell. I really like him. I do". Hawke stared at Isabela in shock.

"So," Isabela started mischievously leaning on the side of the bath, the water dripping from her grainy, tanned skin, "Have you… you know," she asked. Merrill looked in confusion, "Have you jumped his bones, yet? Done the deed?"

"Oh, no! We've only known each other a few days. I wouldn't have… I've only thought… It was just a thought…" Merrill said her face reddening at the sheer mention of such a thing.

"Ooh, it seems like you need advice from the expert well-known as 'Stallion' to any who might entertain her whim," Isabela flaunted as Hawke snorted slightly sipping wine from the bottle, "and the 'Champion' who is obviously talented and any man is so very lucky to bed her". Hawke spat out the wine in shock and slight horror shaking her head and refusing that she just said that, "Aw, haven't had much in a while?"

"No, I just… I don't get that much that I could give hints"

"Is it really that bad?" Isabela asked cringing at the thought of a lonesome Hawke and a body like hers going to waste.

"Let's just say the view was much better in Lothering" she replied much to Merrill's laughter at the playful way they jested and teased each other endlessly. Isabela sat back and sighed closing her eyes, listening to the fire crackle and then… She sighed seeing the door silently close and the drapes along the wall to her left move ever so slightly.

"So," Isabela said curiously not ashamed to show anything but knowing Hawke would never agree, "There must someone. We spend time with such… interesting characters. Is there really no-one. Fenris?"

"Hmm… nah" Hawke shrugged reaching for the sponge in front of her floating on the water.

"Varric?"

"Oh, if only! Just imagine him, imagine! Hmm…" Hawke said dozily thinking of the small, strangely handsome dwarf, "I think it's the chest hair"

"Sebastian, perhaps? I mean, come on. That accent"

"By the Maker, imagine his reaction if you, you all people, the one woman in all of Thedas who could charm any man to bed and be done with it in 3 minutes flat, propositioned him. The look on his face would just be… Oh, I think he'd die" Hawke laughed and Merrill giggled as Isabela pictured before chuckling softly.

"Anders, then?"

"Ha, ah. Imagine if Justice got in the way. I wonder, would it make things better or worse for him to arrive?"

"Hmm…" Isabela pondered.

"Um, Hawke," Merrill said softly smiling gently but mischievously, "You may be able to make a dirty remark and change the topic with Isabela but I don't get dirty jokes so… um- you didn't say no to Anders". Isabela shot up and grinned seeing Hawke dive under the water and come up drenched in water. Her soft, black hair was dripping and the water ran down all the curves of her body. Isabela listened intently to a small sound;

"Careful, you might move the curtain," a low voice said, "You may not do it but you're, ah, 'boy' might. In fact, it's almost touching my face". Isabela chuckled and watched as Hawke stood up and revealed everything to the air around her. She stood for a while on the towel as the water slid of her body and her hair dripped down her back. She reached for a towel exposing the round, tautness of her buttocks. She sat on the bed in her robe and took the powder from a chest at the foot of the bed applying it to her skin. She put too much on her chest and rubbed it in vigorously making both breasts shake slightly. The powdered dust stuck to her and highlighted her. She put on a red tunic and a pair of black breaches. She was smoothing the water from her hair when she heard;

"Ok, boys, she'd dressed now. Show's over". Hawke shot up staring at Isabela.

"No," she said smiling. Then her smile turned angry and she started to shout, "No! Who? Who was it? Where are they?" Whilst she raged Anders and Varric slipped behind her and it was only when she noticed the open door in the full-length mirror did she give chase. She fled through the house seeing Varric in the hall and sprinted out into Hightown. She turned the corner but had, by now, lost sight of Varric. Instead, her gaze turned to a figure slinking away slowly. She jogged to the figure and saw the golden hair and feathered robe.

"Oh, um, Anders," she said awkwardly, "How-how long were you two there?" He turned and, out of the blue, pulled Hawke in by her hips, kissing her unexpectedly but she didn't resist. Afterwards, he let go and she stumbled back in slight shock and awe. He grinned watching the flash of Bianca golden frame in the setting sun and said quietly to Hawke;

"Just long enough"