A/N: constructive feedback and reviews are welcome.
CHAPTER 3 - FINDINGS
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Hawke awoke with sharp throbbing pain in her head. She tried to move but she was firmly tied to a thick wooden pillar. Glancing around to search for weapons or another object to release herself, she saw lying meters away, the bodies of the men who attacked her, their blood had been used. It made sense the Mage had chosen such place, blood magic was usually casted in secrecy, away from anyone's knowledge.
Examining the rope again, she recognized some intricate seamen's knots, and a mental image of Isabela was formed, with it shattered feelings, obscured by the pirate's last words. Memories she had to repress, to focus on her surroundings, if Isabela didn't care, others did, and she had people to fight for. Again she began struggling against the knots trying to get free.
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Not very far, Isabela's eyes glinted in the darkness of the tunnels like if ready to discover an Orlesian treasure. And there was some truth on it, someone had an immense value. The only problem was the large rock obstructing the pathway, completely blocking one of the doors. There must be another tunnel. Frustrated she was about to return, when a deformed metal protruding from the ground, partially covered by a tick leather shroud, caught her attention. The leather was so dirty, purred with layers of dust. A less attentive eyes would think of it as just another rock. Pulling the mantle, it revealed a rusty iron skeleton rising from a fissure, leading straight to an area bellow. While studding the passage, Isabela heard faint, hushed voices floating up to her. Though not exactly a ladder it would suit just as good.
She leaped downward, stopping when the banter got louder. Ducking herself in a rung, protected by the partial darkness, she waited, watching two thugs approach, completely unaware she was perched few meters above their heads.
"Bou, walk faster! We need to send word to the Knigh'Commanda! Yer seen what tha'Mage did to tha' others? If we don't obey him we die!"
"Shhh...wait, yer hear that?" Asked the short man, freezing on his tracks.
"Hear what?" He stopped, then began again, "Shut yer trap! 'Tis nothing! Now move!"
When both walked farther pass her position, Isabela jumped behind them, causing the startled men to whirl, and almost loose balance. The taller barely had time to draw his sword, when a powerful kick tossed him unconscious to the ground. The other however, drew his axes, deftly advancing against her in heavy strikes. Swinging both daggers, Isabela blocked the blows, shifting her weight, and with incredible speed, she moved behind him, hitting the handle on his head. Like a drunk, he swayed, and fell on the ground. "Sweet dreams."
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Few steps from there, in a main cave, a sight made Isabela's heart jump. Bodies of gathered in one spot, and Hawke tied, with a terrible stain of blood at her side, her chest rising and falling in rapid successions, as she contorted herself, struggling to find release.
She wanted to run to her, but being a sea rover, she knew it seemed very much like a trap. Moving furtively in a shadowed area, she approached in light steps, staying right behind Hawke. "Stay still and silent. I'm getting you out of here" she whispered into the Champion's ear, squeezing her gloved hand gently. Hawke immediately froze, feeling the knots being cut by sharp blades. Slowly, quietly, Hawke struggled to stand, immediately being assaulted by a slight dizziness. "Easy..." Isabela reached her out in time, feeling Hawke stiffen with her touch.
"I can handle." She said dismissively, but there wasn't the time for discussions.
"Stop that, you barely standing!" Grabbing Hawke's arm and pulling around her neck to sustain her weight, both quickly moved to a narrower corner. Tired she grunted and gestured Isabela to stop sitting heavily in a rock. Isabela stood before her, examining the wound. "Are you in pain?"
"I'm fine." She uttered, Isabela recognizing her own stubbornness. Stepping back, glancing around concerned, she knew they were not yet safe, but couldn't stop the feeling of being consumed by passion. Life was too short to be wasted with resistance. Ah balls! In a sudden move, but gently clinging Hawke's neck, she lifted her face, kissing her as she had begged to. The kiss was sweet and warm at first quickly escalating to a more demanding and intense one. "No fighting please! I need to get you out..." she breathed into the warrior's mouth.
"Isabela..." Hawke warned, clenching her jaw, exhaustion clear in her voice. The pirate searched her face with uncertainty, as Hawke's pale features and tired eyes announced pain and dizziness. In seconds she blacked out.
"Hawke? Hawke!" Isabela stood there, holding her gently. "Not now, don't you dare!" Her panic and loud whispers, distracting her from the menace emerging from the darkness.
"Your attempt to rescue her, is as pathetic as your hope of leaving this place alive." The voice of the Mage echoed through the cave. "I was expecting the Knight Commander, not some petty thief. You should vanish when things does not concerns you, like a good coward would."
Isabela was furious, Aveline or Varric could accuse or mock her, but a stranger and kidnaper was beyond limits. Cautiously accommodating Hawke in the ground, Isabela moved from the hidden corner to the larger area. "I will show you who's the coward!" She hissed.
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Meters away, Aveline, Varric and Merril, crossed the fields, illuminated by slashes of lightening slicing the sky. Varric leaded the way, remembering the directions of the parchment he had given to Isabela. "That's the one," he announce, pointing to an entrance, its stonewalls glowing by the light of the torches. "Isabela should be somewhere inside".
"Oohhh...I have a bad feeling, really, really bad," began Merrill.
"I also have the feeling this will be another bloodbath!" Added Aveline.
"As usually is!" Mocked Varric, while descending the large wooden stair. "Hope I can keep my coat clean..."
"I hope to keep my feet clean, I don't know where I'm stepping..." complained Merrill, suspicious of the shadows caused by the flickering fire.
Using other tunnels and passages ahead, Varric halted, hearing a familiar voice "Sshh! Listen."
"- I'll show you who's the coward!"
Looking at each other and back to a passage, the group advanced farther, witnessing the Mage laughing, while Isabela stood still, daggers in hand, muscles contracted to attack.
"What is going on in here?" Blurted out Aveline from behind, making everyone jump in surprise.
"Maker!" Isabela's eyes blinked in shock. "About time!"
"I don't see Hawke, here is she?" Merrill interrupted questioning in a low voice.
"Over there, she's safe for now, we should concern ourselves with him..."
"We know." Varric forged on, loading his crossbow Bianca, "I told Aveline what happened," waving his head to the Guard-Captain, who stepped forward roughly, foreseeing the inevitable. "So this is the Mage that owns you silvers?"
Merrill eyed her curious, "Do you think he will pay?"
"Enough! I'm the keeper of the underworld creatures, and your sacrifice will serve to my army, it is time to release their power over your world!" The Mage announced, rising the staff and enchanting words. A strong blast in a purple flash, sent a sensation of vapor and flame, slamming the group to the sandy ground. When the shock wave dissipated, they saw a large group of skeletons thugs, drawing out their swords to attack. "Now what?" Asked Isabela to the others who barely had time to get up.
"Now we fight!" Proclaimed Aveline, yelling with sword and shield in hand. There was no other way but immerse into the nightmare, and defend themselves.
Amidst continuous discharges of magic from Merrill trying to dissipate the Mage's barrier, Isabela without missing a beat, flipped through the air, swinging sideways, knocking skeletons off their feet. Aveline in her iron grip, jabbed her sword through one's head and another, while at the other corner, Varric mastered his crossbow Bianca, sending powerful arrows. However when one skeleton was defeated, fading into smoke, another appeared in a different place. The smaller group began feeling fatigued, and even the healing energy portions, were not enough to fortify them.
"This isn't helping!" shouted Varric, to his friends in a moment fewer thugs were surrounding them. "I keep accounts of my scores and I swear I nailed the same one four times! What's happening?"
"It is repentance rune," explained Merrill, "it re-spawns demons from beyond the Veil! If one of us die, the blood will increase their number. We need to damage his staff, I'm getting really tired!"
"I've an idea." Isabela ventured, while Varric went back shooting two approaching skeletons. "Aim to that wood pillar on the Mage's side, it's supporting the ceiling."
"Are you insane!? The whole place will cave in, we're going to die!" Interjected Aveline, kicking another hideous thug to the ground.
"Only the middle, trust me! We can't fight forever. Have a better idea freckles?"
Aveline growled, "Alright!" She looked at Varric and Merrill, who agreed nodding. When the elf windswept a gesture, sending a bolt of magic stunning the thugs momentarily, the others coordinated their attacks on the pillar, with flashes of arrows and swords strokes. In seconds, a loud crack was heard, the ceiling beginning to shed powder. Didn't take long to small rocks to crumble down, more wood split, followed by larger pieces. "It's working!" Merrill shouted over the trembling noise.
"The Mage lost his concentration, now it's our chance!" Isabela waved for them to follow, running back to the passage Hawke was laying. As they crossed the tunnels hurryingly, dragging the unconscious warrior, the echo of slamming rocks made clear the Mage was no longer a menace. Nothing was worse than a collapsing cave, dust chocking the air, darkness consuming space...
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In safe ground, the storm apparently had dissipated, only light drops of rain falling in steady lines along the way.
Hawke's body was rested close to a rock in a half upright position. Isabela fell down on her knees at her side, Merrill with her, both checking the warrior's condition.
"Now...will never know...who's behind the plan..." Complained Aveline panting.
Holding his crossbow over his shoulder, Varric shrugged. "I wouldn't bet a sovereign on that, something tells me we will. Good part is, I had no stains on my coat."
Aveline rolled her eyes "Maker..."
"Ooh Hawke's waking up!" Merrill blurted, turning their attention to the warrior.
"Give me the health potion Kitten." Isabela asked, promptly sliding an arm around to steady Hawke. Raising the leather bottle to her lips, "won't be enough to cure, but it will make you feel better."
Still faint, Hawke blinked up, her weary slate blue orbs meeting amber gaze. Isabela wanted some privacy, but first and foremost, nothing was more important than her health. It was obvious she had been beaten, and was also emotionally shaken.
"H-how did you find me?" She inquired groggily.
Isabela rested one finger in her lips, not caring to discuss details. "Not now. We need to get you back to Kirkwall" She offered sweetly, uncommon to her usual behavior. She tried reaching for her hand, but Hawke didn't let her hold it.
"I should h-have said...where...there wasn't time..." she began but a racking cough followed, making her wince and shut her eyes, her muscles bunching tight, the gash in her lips reopening.
"Tell me where it hurts," she inquired, sweeping Hawke's silky dark hair off her brow.
"It's not hurting..." she lied in her stoical resolve. Isabela tried to read her thinking, but all she could see was the suffering in her feverishly eyes.
"Let's go back to Hightown, she needs rest." Said Aveline tersely, and Isabela didn't mind the interruption. She never dreamed their re-encounter would be so unfamiliar, hardly exchanging any smile. But then Hawke wasn't in her best, and before the awkwardness increased, she helped her to stand, the others offering assistance, as they walked back to the shore.
A/N: The Smuggler's Cut was a cave area outside of Kirkwall, accessible only during the Blackpowder Courtesy quest. I think this chapter was..meh, but again just a practice :)