Chapter 2 : Betrayal

The Deep Roads trip proved to be hard fought with the betrayal of Bartrand being most difficult, but it was very profitable. Hawke ran home to tell Bethany and Mother the good news. Only to find Bethany being taken away by the Templars and his mother distressed.

"Take care of Mother and Isabella, I will be alright" Bethany said as she left.

Hawke spent the next couple of weeks sorting out buying the estate, getting Mother settled in and trying to get an audience with Bethany at the Tower. What had she meant about taking care of Isabella? He couldn't understand. Bethany disliked Isabella when he had left. At the start of the third week Hawke was suddenly awoken by movement in his new bed at the estate. He turned onto his back.

"Hello Isabella" he said as she straddled him already naked.

"Why have you been ignoring me? Isabella asked.

"I have been busy. How did you ge…" the rest of Hawke's words were stopped by Isabella's mouth over his. He responded by pulling her close and kissing her. Their kiss.

Hawke's hand went to her breasts and started caressing and pinching her nipple. A low moan issued from Isabella. She pulled apart and moved down is body until she placed his stiff instrument inside her.

"I have missed this" Isabella said whilst bouncing.

Hawke smiled, so had he.

"You didn't go to the Blooming Rose then?" Hawke asked trying to concentrate on what he was doing as well as talking.

"A couple of times, but no one is as good as you" Isabella said breathlessly.

In one quick smooth movement Hawke was on top of her. "You mean to say I was risking my life while you were having fun" he said grinning.

"What can I say" she replied.

"Don't say anything" Hawke said melding into her body.

Afterwards, Isabella lay on Hawkes chest.

"So is this how it is to be?" Hawke asked.

She looked up at him "You're not thinking of bringing feelings into this, are you?"

"What about love?" Hawke asked.

"Love is not for me?" Isabella giggled "We are rutting. It has nothing to do with love."

"I am sorry you feel that way" Hawke said softly.

"Why? I'm not" she replied.

Isabella told Hawke about being sold by her mother to a man who married her, but had no love. He died at the hands of an assassin called Zeveran. She had loved someone after that, but ran away when he asked to marry her and it killed the man. Hawke started to understand Isabella a bit more and wished he could help her, he gentle held her shoulders.

"You're not afraid of being hurt, you're just afraid of hurting someone else."

"NO, no. Err…. It's just easier this way." Isabella said flippantly.

"How did you get this" she asked running her finger down the large scar across his chest and changing the subject.

"Darkspawn leader in Deep Roads" Hawke replied flinching slightly at her touch.

"I am sorry about Bethany being taken" Isabella said softly.

In the morning Isabella was gone. He knew that this time Isabella would be coming to him. Hawke offered her a key the next time she came, but Isabella said she needed the practice to open locks.

Isabella was creeping down the stairs finishing tying up her bodice, ready to go out into the early morning light. She had stayed longer than she usual did.

"Hello, dear" a voice said from the dining room "Care to join me for breakfast?"

After the initial shock Isabella looked into the dining room, to see an older women sitting at the table smiling at her.

"Please do come and join me" she said "I am Leandra, Garrett's mother. You must be Isabella"

"Er, yes I am" Isabella stammered as she walked into the room.

Hawke arose to what he thought was laughter from down stairs, he quickly put on his robe and went to look. In the dining room he saw Isabella and his Mother laughing and giggling.

"Ah Hawke your mother has been telling me some stories about when you were young" Isabella said crossing to him with a broad grin. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her tight to his body.

"Well, I have got things to do" Leandra said getting up from the table. "Very nice meeting you Isabella, do come round and talk again" she said leaving the room.

Isabella writhed against the lower part of his body sending them into the door, whilst they were kissing. She soon found him hardening under his flimsy robe.

"I think we can do better than that" Hawke said when they had parted for air. He scooped her up and whisked up to the bedroom.

"What were you talking about to my mother?" Hawke said softly kissing Isabella's neck as she lay on top of him after sex.

She giggled "Your mother is sweet. She told me about some of things Bethany, Carver and you got up to as children".

Hawke smiled "Well, she seemed to like you, that's good".

Isabella smiled back. She wasn't going to tell Hawke the rest of the conversation. That Leandra believed that Hawke loved her and that Isabella was good for him. She couldn't tell Leandra that she felt that she was no good for her son and one day would probably leave him.

But…

She could have left on a number of occasions before, but then found some reason to stay. She couldn't understand why…. It couldn't be love, she was not capable of love... Lust, now that was different and that is what she convinced herself it was. The lust for Hawke.

Hawke sat on his mother's bed looking at some of her things. He had been there for several days feeling lost and alone. She was dead and he felt guilty that he could not have saved her.

His companions had come and visited him, even Isabella, to try and cheer him up, but he couldn't get pass the guilt. The funeral had been a large affair, she was well liked. Bethany had been allowed to attend, but went straight back afterwards. He felt alone again.

He looked up and saw through the window that it was night time and raining. He got up, went to the door looked around for the last time and locked it. He wouldn't disturb her again, he thought. He went into his bedroom and saw Isabella standing there fully clothed.

He looked dreadful Isabella thought. Hair messed up, red eyes and his shoulders drooped. Tears started to flow down his face, Isabella guided him gentle to the bed. Her heart skipped a beat when he readily hugged her and cried into her bosom. There were no need for words as they lay there fully clothed hugging each other. He woke up still on Isabella's chest and both of them still fully clothed.

"Hello, sweet thing, are you liking the pillow" Isabella said softly stroking his hair.

"I'm sorry" Hawke said lifting his head.

"I'm not" Isabella replied gently kissing his lips.

This was the first time he had known her to be gentle and he enjoyed it.

"Leandra was a great lady, but now you have to let go" Isabella said holding his head in her hands.

"I failed her, I failed Carver and Bethany" Hawke said tears welling up in his eyes.

"I don't know about Carver, but Leandra was proud of you. You got back the estate, righted the wrongs and helped your friends. Bethany is safe were she is and just because of a madman choses to kill those women including Leandra you haven't failed anyone" Isabella said, gently kissing his mouth again.

Hawke got up and looked out the window, it was morning and sunny. He felt rested, he looked at Isabella sitting on the bed watching him. He realised that this was the first time he had been in bed with Isabella without having sex and he was grateful to her for that.

"Come on then, I am sure we can find something to kill" Hawke said smiling at Isabella.

"You better get changed you look awful" she said smiling back.

At last Hawke had a visit with Bethany at the Tower for a few minutes.

"What did you mean when you asked me to look after Isabella? Hawke asked.

Bethany grinned "We had plenty of time to get to know each other when you went to the Deep Roads. She is a woman of the world with a heart of gold, but she is scared of love".

Hawke enjoyed seeing his sister, but not everything she told him. He went straight home to wait for Isabella. Soon after Hawke went to bed Isabella appeared and straddled him. Hawke pushed her off and got out of bed.

"You took my sister to the Blooming Rose" Hawke said coldly his eyes fiercely piercing Isabella.

Bethany wanted to try it" Isabella said quietly.

"You let her have sex" Hawke yelled angrily.

"It was her idea Hawke. She wanted to have sex in case she got caught. It was the only safe place for her, I made sure of that" Isabella replied.

"Am I supposed to thank you for that much" Hawke said sarcastically.

"Well, Bethany did" Isabella said quietly.

"You didn't think to tell me" Hawke shouted.

"You weren't here" Isabella shouted back, she regretted it as soon as she had said it.

Hawk glared at Isabella with anger in his eyes that scared her.

"Get out" Hawke yelled furiously.

Isabella quickly dressed and left. She walked to The Hanged Man tears rolling down her face. She stopped and wiped them puzzled. She went in, sat down next to Varric and ordered a drink.

"What's wrong Rivaini?" Varric asked.

"Nothing" Isabella replied

"Well, are these tears of joy then?" Varric said gently looking at her red eyes.

"Hawke and I had a row over Bethany" Isabella said tears still running down her face. "Why am I crying?"

"Ah, the first lover's row is always hard" Varric replied.

"I don't do love" Isabella said casually.

"You and Hawke have been doing the love dance for months. All of us have noticed, even Daisy, except for you" Varric said purposely

Isabella stared at Varric. Was he right? No that couldn't be right. A quiver went down her spine. Her, the Pirate Queen in love!

Hawke wasn't sure what he was angry at the most, Isabella taking his sister to the whore house or Isabella reminding him that he had failed Bethany. He sat on the bed looking around the room. All this wealth, but at such a cost. Carver dead, Mother dead and Bethany in the Tower. He would swap it all to have his family back. Hawke couldn't sleep, so walked around the house most of the night. Bodhan found Hawke in a chair in the study asleep the next morning.

Aveline visited mid-morning, but Hawke was still asleep. Just as she was leaving Isabella turned up. Hawke awoke to the two women arguing in the hall, and went to see what was going on.

His dishevelled look shocked both of them, but Hawke soon got dressed and was ready to address the Quanari problem.