Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's note: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Sorry it took so long.
Never Let Me Go: Chapter 2
Isabela walked back to High Town fully intending to get her things and leave. To leave and never look back, it was getting too intense too fast and she wasn't sure if she could deal with it now, but she ran into Merrill on the way back to Hawke's estate.
"Isabela!" Merrill shouted excitedly running up to the Pirate.
"Hey Kitten. Nice to see you out and about so early." Isabela said warmly greeting the elf.
Merrill blushed; she was always intimidated by Isabela's sexual energy even if they weren't lovers or in a situation like that. Isabela had a way of making her feel comfortable and at ease. Which was a new feeling for the young mage, she was always so used to being an outcast, even within her own clan.
"I never see you out this early, why are you barefoot?" Merrill asked looking the Pirate up and down.
"I um…I am staying with Amara…I just went down to the beach for a little bit, but I am heading out as soon as I get my stuff…I have a lot to do today." Isabela replied a little uncomfortably.
Merrill's radar went off. She knew that Isabela was going to run.
"Can I buy you a drink at the Hanged Man? You look like you need to talk." Merrill asked.
"Sure Kitten, let me go get my stuff yeah?" Isabela replied walking in the direction of the Hawke estate.
Merrill and Isabela walked back to Amara's estate in silence. Amara wasn't home so Isabela quickly ran up the stairs, put on her boots, tied her bandana around her tousled hair and picked up her swords, but left her rucksack behind. If this wasn't a clear indication of her intentions she didn't know what was.
Once she was ready the two women walked down into Low Town and into the Hanged Man. Merrill bought the drinks and they sat down at a table in the corner away from eavesdroppers.
"So are you going to tell me what this is all about?" Isabela asked breaking the awkward silence that had settled between them.
Merrill blushed and took a long swig of her whiskey, looking away from Isabela's intense amber eyes.
"I…I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't be afraid of your feelings for Amara…that you should embrace them…" Merrill blurted out before she could stop herself.
Isabela choked on her whiskey and stared wide eyed at the Mage. She hadn't realized that it was so obvious. Sure they flirted and all that, but Isabela flirted with everyone.
"What…the…oh Maker help me…" Isabela whispered putting her head in her hands.
Merrill got up from her spot across the table and sat next to Isabela, putting a thin arm around her shaking shoulders. Isabela had started to cry again.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to make you upset…Oh Maker, I am such an idiot." Merrill said.
"No Kitten…I am the idiot. You just told me the truth is all." Isabela said recovering, wiping the tears from her amber eyes as she met the jade eyes of the Dalish Mage.
"Sometimes I have a habit of pointing out the obvious, it tends to get me into trouble most of the time." Merrill said softly.
"And it is a gift that shouldn't be underestimated. Sometimes people need to hear the truth even if it does hurt their feelings." Isabela said seriously.
Merrill smiled and took her arm back, finishing her drink; she sat back across from Isabela, a glum expression on her thin face.
"But you really should tell her…Amara…she…I can see it, I haven't known any of you very long but I can tell how much you two love one another. Even if it started out as casual sex…" Merrill said.
"Casual…it is anything but casual now…" Isabela muttered into her whiskey.
Merrill blushed. She knew that the Rivaini was a competent lover, from all the stories she had heard from Isabela herself, but of course she could have been exaggerating a little. Amara had let a thing or two slip from time to time, and Merrill guessed that most of the stories were true. After all Isabela had been brought up in a brothel.
"Well it seems serious. I mean I have had very few lovers…so I can't say much on the subject. But I have been in love before, and this is love." Merrill said.
"Come on Kitten, I doubt you have had very few lovers." Isabela said genuinely surprised.
"Oh it's true. I was too disciplined in learning my magic that I didn't go through all those teenage hormones and such. Maker knows that I should have just gone with them instead of ignoring them…my first time was horrible." Merrill said.
Isabela chuckled in her husky voice, smiling at the elf, who in turn, blushed profusely.
"Do tell!" Isabela exclaimed leaning forward.
"Well…It was with the Keeper's son…" Merrill started.
"What?! You shagged the Keeper's son?! Your teacher?!" Isabela exclaimed.
Merrill blushed. She had never talked about this to anyone before, she never had any friends.
"Yes…" Merrill replied.
Isabel laughed and thumped the table with her fist. Merrill blushed even harder.
"Stop it Isabela!" Merrill shrieked.
"I'm sorry Kitten, but I can just imagine it!" Isabela said sobering a little.
"Well we were just too caught up in the moment to realize that we had an audience in the woods…Maker they never let me live it down. Apparently my face as I orgasm is hilarious." Merrill said trying to gloss over the awkward recollection.
"I'd like to see that." Isabela said smiling.
"Oh stop it…you're with Amara." Merrill said blushing.
"Yes, I suppose I am…but it's just casual…" Isabela said shrugging.
Merrill put down her goblet and looked at Isabela disapprovingly.
"You have to stay true to her." Merrill said quietly.
"I know Kitten, believe me I know." Isabela replied standing.
"Where are you going?" Merrill asked.
"No where, thanks for the drink Kitten." Isabela said standing.
Merrill didn't know what to make of Isabela's departure. She was flirty in the beginning, but once she mentioned monogamy Isabela became uncomfortable. Merrill figured that was a demon that the Pirate queen had to over come before she could fully commit to Amara.
"Hey Daisy." A man's voice said from behind the elf.
"Oh, hey Varric." Merrill said.
"What's up? Why are you sitting all alone?" He asked sitting down across from her.
"I was having a drink with Isabela, but I think I made her uncomfortable, and she left." Merrill replied.
"You make the Rivaini uncomfortable?" Varric asked in stunned disbelief.
"Yeah, we were talking about her and Amara…and well I mentioned the subject of monogamy and I think that made her uncomfortable." Merrill replied.
"Ah, I see, well I can see why she left, it's a pretty touchy subject for her…I have heard stories from men and women at the Blooming Rose…" Varric said.
"You visit the Blooming Rose? I thought that you and Bianca…were exclusive?" Merrill asked raising an eyebrow.
"Ah well, sometimes I stray…but she knows that I will always put her first." He said patting his crossbow affectionately.
Merrill laughed.
"I should get going; I have to meet Anders in Dark Town." Merrill said standing.
"See you around Daisy." Varric said raising a hand in farewell.
Merrill waved and made her way out of the Hanged Man and down the street towards Dark Town.