"Are you avoiding me?"

Isabela entered the bedroom she had purchased for the night in The Perfumed Spring, closing the door tightly behind her to block out the noise of the rowdy tavern below. Silence fell over the dark and dank room, with only a faint hint of moonlight shining in through the window, casting a shadow of its metal bars on the ground. Hawke was leaning against the left of the window frame, her back to Isabela, staring down into the darkness of the Antivan streets below. She heard the pirate's footsteps and the creaking of the bed as she sat down, her eyes upon her.

"I'm just making it easier for you to avoid me," Lana answered simply, continuing to gaze out the window. She had been quiet for most of the night, letting the other joke and laugh, still tortured by what Claudio had said to her back at the Archives. Isabela sighed, her face falling.

"Why would I want to do that, Hawke?" she asked, taking a pipe out of the chest of drawers beside her and beginning to stuff it with tobacco. Lana still hadn't looked at her yet.

"You know, I ask myself that very question, Bela," she replied, a note of hurt in her voice.

The pirate stopped and looked up at her then. Oh, no...She placed the pipe down on the bedside table and walked towards her, leaning on the right side of the window and following her gaze towards the street below. The two of them stood side by side.

"Hawke, don't do this," she said quietly, hating being responsible for making her feel bad.

"Do what?" Lana asked coldly, a muscle in her jaw twitching.

"You know what!" Isabela replied, her voice raising a little, beyond her control. She exhaled, trying to calm herself and keep her temper in check. Shouting isn't going to get us anywhere. "Sorry..."

Hawke began to run her fingers along the dusty bars of the open window, determinedly not looking at her. She wanted to avoid another argument, preferring to go to bed early rather than force Isabela into a confrontation that she didn't want to have. The pirate had pursued her relentlessly however, as though trying to make her crack on purpose.

"You just took off without saying a word," Isabela said gently, looking at her sideward. It was a very odd sight to see Lana Hawke leave a table full of liquor for others to drink, especially leaving her two best friends in the world having only just been reunited. That definitely meant something was wrong, and Isabela already knew what it was.

Hawke swallowed noisily. "I didn't feel like drinking," she replied, concentrating hard on the little ball of dust she had made on the bars of the window. Isabela snorted.

"You always feel like drinking."

"Well, now I don't alright!?" Hawke snapped, matching Isabela's temper earlier. She grimaced, running a hand over her face and walked away from her. Shit! The Rivaini watched her stand in the middle of the floor, once again with her back to her. She pushed off the window frame and walked towards her.

"Hawke," she said gently, placing a hand on her arm. Lana didn't turn, ignoring her. "Andraste's Ass, will you bloody look at me!?"

She spun her around against her will, feeling Hawke put up a fight. The two women glared at each other then, amber eyes piercing chocolate brown ones which were full of reproach.

"Don't let that grease-ball bastard do this to us," Isabela begged, her jaw clenched. "Don't you dare!"

"It wasn't him that got between us, Bela," Hawke answered, shaking her head. "Knowing you have a coloured past is one thing...but knowing you blatantly lied to me is another."

"I didn't...lie!" Isabela replied, still holding her by the arm. She sighed. "I mean...not exactly."

"Claudio didn't seem to think so," Lana said, remembering the Antivan Prince's face. "I'd know a look of revenge in any man's eye, Isabela. Call it my area of expertise...Either he's extremely convinced you killed your husband, or you really did. Which is it?"

"I thought we weren't going to do this here!" Isabela snapped evasively, looking away from her, furious now.

"Why can't you just answer me?" Hawke shouted, seeing she was holding something back. It was beginning to annoy her now. Isabela released her and walked to the door, Hawke staring after her. "I can see it in your eyes, Bela...Stop lying to me!"

"I'm not lying!" Isabela snarled, her hand resting on the door knob. "Zevran killed my husband."

"By coincidence?" Lana pressed, her heart beat quickening with anticipation, "Or because you asked him to?"

The pirate spun round. "Why does this even matter!?" she yelled, holding her hands out in fury.

"It matters to me!" Hawke shouted, her temper matching the Rivaini's. She took a few steps towards her. "Damn it, Isabela! You don't tell me anything. What am I supposed to think? Even now you can't even look me in the eye and tell me the truth. I have to find out from some jumped up asshole after I defended you in front of everyone!"

"Oh piss off, Hawke!" Isabela spat, turning around and marching towards the door. She yanked it open a tiny crack before Lana slammed it shut again having followed after her. The pirate turned around and found her face inches away from her love, who was still leaning against the door with one hand to make sure that she couldn't escape an honest confrontation.

"Why are you making this so difficult for me?" Lana whispered, all trace of anger now gone. Isabela could see the betrayal in her eyes, mixed with the love she felt for her. She reached up a hand and caressed the woman's cheek gently.

"...Because it's just too damn hard, Hawke," she breathed, feeling weak as her eyes darted from either one of Lana's. "Admitting to this would...would mean that I lied to you all those years ago back in Kirkwall..."

Hawke let out a sad chuckle, her head dropping at her words. "I guess I have my answer then..."

Isabela frowned, seeing the woman shake her head in disbelief. She knew what she was thinking. Sooner or later people always let Hawke down along the line. The pirate cursed inwardly. And I'm the bloody worst for it.

"I paid Zevran to do it," she admitted finally. Lana looked up at her, staring deep into her eyes again. Isabela faltered under her gaze. "I-I didn't plan it...it just sort of...happened."

"Paid him with what?" Lana asked hoarsely, even though she already knowing the answer. Isabela bit her bottom lip, meeting her eyes.

"Now that part I didn't lie to you about," she said, having already told her how she 'thanked' Zevran after that disastrous dinner party all those years ago. "Balls, Hawke you already know that I'm no saint."

"Neither am I, Isabela...Far from it in fact," Hawke answered, shaking her head, "But after having known you for over ten years and been with you for two of them...I just hoped you would learn to confide in me a bit more. You know I'm not going to go anywhere."

Isabela sighed, "I'm not very good at making friends, Hawke," she said sadly. "I never was. I can be as friendly as I want to be, but there's always a certain point that I never want to cross with people...But you're different." She stroked her cheek with the palm of her hand and glanced down at her lips. "I'm breaking a lot of my own morals to be with you, Hawke. I swore I would never fall in love again, but you won in the end."

"I don't feel much like a winner right now, Isabela," Lana said gently, "There's always someone who seems to know more about you than I do. To me that's just wrong, considering I share a bed with you every night and we see each other every day. I hate always feeling like I'm in the dark."

Isabela sighed. "I know, sweetness...And I'm trying...But the only woman I ever trusted in this world before you abandoned me and I never saw her again."

Hawke blanched. "I thought you said she sold you?" she asked, confused. Isabela hesitated, having let slip something she shouldn't have. Lana's eyes narrowed, observing her closely. "Didn't you say that Luis saw you in the market with your mother and just 'had to have you'?"

Without answering Isabela leaned in and placed a light kiss on her lips, trying to distract her. She pushed off the door and wrapped her arms around Hawke's neck tightly, backing her towards the double bed behind them, their tongues pressed together. Before they could reach it Lana pulled away.

"No," she said firmly, shaking her head, her expression frosty. "Not tonight, Bela."

Isabela frowned, "What do you mean?" she asked, hurt by her rejection. "We're alone aren't we? Isn't this what we've been waiting for, to have some alone time together without constant interruptions?"

Hawke looked angry then. "I'm just not in the mood, Isabela. I'm not going to be used like that so you can avoid being honest with me! That's not how this relationship works."

Fuming, she walked away and began to undress, ready to get into bed. Isabela felt her temper rising.

"Well maybe it doesn't bloody work at all!" she yelled recklessly, her fists clenched by her sides.

Lana froze and glared up at her as she made to get under the covers. She snorted. "Just go have a drink downstairs with the others, Bela," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't have the time or energy for your bullshit tonight."

Without another word she lay down, facing the opposite direction and exhaling in fury. Isabela stared at her for several seconds, wanting nothing more than to curl up beside her and be forgiven, but she was a stubborn as a mule. Livid, she turned away and stormed out of the room, slamming the door loudly behind her.


A few hours later Isabela stumbled drunkenly into the bedroom. Hawke was out cold, breathing deeply as she slept naked on her stomach, her right arm stretched out behind her over Isabela's pillow. Shit, I really screwed up this time, the pirate thought miserably, feeling bad for how she had acted earlier as she stared at the back of Lana's head, her brown hair flowing wildly over her pillow. She had ever right to be angry with me. Both of us have trusting issues, but she does make it a lot easier for me than I do for her. Sighing, Isabela began to undress quietly. She lifted Hawke's arm from her pillow carefully (rather the wrapping it around her as she would have normally done), trying not to wake her, and slipped under the covers on the right side of the bed. Back to back with Hawke, Isabela tried not to brush up against her, felling more distant from her than they had been in years. As soon as the pirate closed her eyes she fell into a deep, restless sleep...

"I see a dark shadow in your future. You will suffer a great deal in the years to come. The Qun will guide you though. You must convert and see the error of your ways. There you will find purpose..."

Naishe snorted in derision and rolled her eyes. She was leaning against a wall of a dark alleyway, arms folded, while her mother plied her trade, making coin off her "fortune-telling" skills. They both knew she was full of shit, but that didn't stop gullible customers lining up to hear what their lives supposedly had in store for them. Seers were very common in Rivain and her mother used this to her advantage. She threw her daughter an angry, silencing glare before continuing.

"Fear not, child. You will be saved and exact vengeance on those who have wronged you...I have foreseen it!"

Naishe stared at her mother's latest willing victim, waiting for her reaction. She was a slightly haggard looking woman from Antiva, who possessed a lot of coin but no common sense it seemed. She clearly had no idea she was being scammed. Naishe tried hard not to laugh at the look on the young woman's face as she gobbled up the so-called Seer's premonitions. How stupid could you be? It wasn't as though she had a choice though. Refuse a fortune teller in Rivain and they'd all but run you out of town. It was a dangerous place to live, full of raiders, Antivan Crows, thieves and pirates, but in Naishe's opinion that just added to the excitement. Apart from the Qunari influence she rather liked the constant threat of life on the streets. She felt free, free from the repression of social classes and standings. If only I didn't have to listen to my mother's bullshit all day.

The satisfied customer placed a handful of gold coins into her mother's eager hands and thanked her before going on her way. Her mother smirked to herself as she counted to coin, proud of her hustling abilities. If there was one thing Naishe admired about her mother, it was her ability to talk people into parting with their coin. Now that's a trick worth learning!

"Are we done yet, woman?" Naishe complained. Her mother scowled up at her from where she sat around her little stall, pocketing the coin she'd made as she did so.

"Stop your whining! I need a couple more customers. The Qun demands it!"

Naishe groaned. Her mother was a devout follower of the crap the Qunari spouted in order to brainwash and control the population. She couldn't stand it. The woman hadn't actually joined up yet, but it was only a matter of time before she did. And what's going to happen to me? Naishe hated when people tried to tell her what to do. She had already refused it many of times. Who had the right to tell her how to live her life, even if she was only in her late teens? What made her even angrier was when they attempted it through religion. Thankfully, religion wasn't as popular in Rivain as it was in other countries. Nevertheless, there was always some idiot who appeared once in a while screaming abominations and scripture. Naishe rolled her eyes at her mother's response.

"Whatever," she said, used to her misled beliefs, "Hand me some coin before I starve to death at least."

She might as well have asked for one of her mother's limbs. The look she got was one of loathing. "What do you think I am, Naishe? You have to earn your own coin around here. The last time I gave you a sovereign I didn't see you for three days. Who's going to reign in my customers for me?"

"Exactly," Naishe answered. She had hated her mother's company these past few years. Whatever happened to the caring mother she had known when she was little? It's those damn Qunari bastards, brainwashing her with their crap! It was clear her mother had no desire for her company now, seeing that she was resisting her attempts at conversion. She only used her to get what she wanted it seemed. "Any minute spent away from you is a minute well spent, Mother."

Her mother smiled up at her, seemingly pleased with her answer.

"Well, we'll be parting ways soon enough, dear sweet daughter. As it happens, I've found you a husband!" she said smugly.

"You WHAT!?" Naishe shouted, her temper flaring. She straightened up off the wall and stared at her mother in astonishment. "You must be joking!"

Her mother cackled, seemingly satisfied with Naishe's anger. She loved enticing her. "Oh I never joke!" she laughed.

Naishe snorted. "True," she said, contradicting herself, "You always did have a large stick up your ass!"

Her mother stopped laughing immediately, her face going red with anger. "Don't speak to me like that you little heathen! I went to a lot of trouble to set this up. He's coming to collect you later."

Naishe couldn't believe her ears. "What trouble, Mother? Since when have you ever troubled yourself over me?"

"Since I found out a way to get rid of you," she replied, more spiteful than she had even been before. "You've been a thorn in my side since you were only a babe. You father had the right idea, running off. I'm converting to the Qun without you, Naishe. I may as well get some coin out of it in the mean time."

Even though she hated her mother, her words still cut Naishe in half. Her father had abandoned them both before she was born. Apparently he wasn't worth knowing though, even for one night according to her mother. She was left to raise Naishe alone. Well, 'raise' wouldn't exactly be the right word. She brought her up on the streets, never exactly paying much attention to her apart from when she could exploit her to make some coin. That was all her mother cared about, having grown up poor herself.

"So who is he then? An ex-client of yours? Have you decided to whore out your daughter as well as yourself, Mother?" Naishe said with as much bitterness as she could muster. Her mother's nostrils flared.

"Curb your tongue, child!" she replied. "His name's Luis. He's a contact of the Antivan Crows and very wealthy to boot. I'm getting a lot of coin out of this...and a goat. It's a good match for you and your lavish lifestyle."

Naishe shook her head in disbelief, wanting nothing more than to throttle the woman who had brought her into this world. "Bitch! I bet you didn't even haggle over the price, did you!?"

Her mother laughed. "You're not worth that much, Naishe! It didn't take long to negotiate. I worked with what I had and took what I could get. This is what happens when you refuse to convert to the Qun... I had no choice, daughter."

Naishe opened her mouth to reply but her mother held up her hand. How could she do this to me?

"Be quiet! I see another potential customer...Oh, she's a rich one," she said, eyeing up a woman in a long purple dress made of fine silk. "Stay here and keep your mouth shut! I'll handle this one myself."

Naishe sunk to the ground against the wall as her mother made her way over to her next victim. She watched her go with nothing but hatred. Great, now I'm in a betrothal, she thought, cursing inwardly. The only up-side was that she would hopefully never have to see her mother again. I don't really mean that...Like it or not I still love her. She's the only person I've ever trusted enough to keep me safe... By selling me? Naishe pushed her conflicted feelings to the back of her head, only to have them replaced by nervousness.

She was anxious to meet the man her mother had sold her to. Maker only knows what he was like. An associate of the Antivan Crows meant he was probably trouble, not that that particularly bothered her. I'm the definition of trouble myself. He was apparently rich though. This little detail peaked Naishe's interest. To be honest, that was the only appealing thing that she could think of to sedate herself with, when she thought of being someone's wife. Even the thought of it made her feel like throwing up. I'm no bloody housewife! She glanced over at her mother once more. The woman was acting out her mystical persona, trying to entice the fancy woman to have her fortune told. Naishe snorted. If this marriage gets me away from that bitch then I'll gladly take it...It's not like she even wants me anymore anyway.

Unable to listen to another scam get underway, Naishe pulled herself up off the ground and went for a walk. As she passed a crowded market stall she swiped an orange and slid it into her pocket of her white smock that was caked with dirt, before walking towards the docks. The Rivaini people eyed her warily as she made her way through Llomeryn. She was used to their stares, always wary and suspicious, but she didn't give a damn what they thought. They don't know me, I know me. Anyone else's opinion didn't matter.

When Naishe reached the docks, she sat herself down on the edge of the harbour, overlooking the dark waters of the Rialto Bay as it crept out to join the sea. The sun beat down upon her already tan skin, causing a thin line of perspiration on her forehead. She peeled the orange she had stolen from the market with a small dagger she had found many years ago in Llomeryn and popped a piece of it into her mouth, feeling the juices run down her chin. It was the first thing she had eaten all day.

The docks below the cliff upon which she sat were full of ships of all shapes and sizes, their masts swaying slightly in the wind with a certain graceful beauty. She could overhear pirates banter, their crude voices echoing up from the outside taverns as they drank and smoked, arguing over women, gold and strangely enough, toast. Pirates are very touchy about their toast it seems. Naishe always laughed at their stories. She often wondered where they went on their travels, dreaming of going on adventures herself someday. They always seemed to have such amusing stories to tell. Sitting listening to their tales was a favourite pastime of hers. Any time she could escape her mother and the growing distance between them she would come down to the docks and relax. Gazing out at the sea as the scorching sun sparkled off its surface, Naishe then allowed her mind to wander, imagining the amazing things that Thedas offered, the numerous treasures that the unknown horizon held for her.

Imagination didn't feed an empty stomach though. More often than not, she survived by cutting purses from rich Antivans, stealing from the market stalls or pick pocketing any other unfortunate inhabitant of Llomeryn who crossed her path. Life on the streets of Rivain was hard. You had to be strong to survive. And I am strong. The heavily tattooed inhabitants, masses of Antivan Crows, raiders and thieves made it one of the most dangerous places in all of Thedas. There was no Chantry here, only the Qun and the belief in natural order. Tattoos and piercings showed social standings and the markets were the favourite places for Seers to earn their coin. And that was exactly what Naishe's mother did, or rather pretended to do. The premonitions which left her mouth were nothing more than wild ideas which she had cooked up of the top of her head, then sold to her customer with an act of mysticism and wisdom she had perfected over the years.

Naishe finished the last of her orange and tossed the skin over the side of the cliff. She got to her feet, wiping her hands on her dress as she began the long walk back towards Llomeryn. As she made her way through Rivain she kept an eye out for bulging purses. Anyone who was stupid enough to leave their coin hanging off their belt was asking to have it stolen. Or so I believe anyway. Suddenly her eyes caught a man bending over a fruit kiosk, his purse strings dangling under the strain of the heavy bulge of what was sure to be gold coins. His clothes were rich in taste, jet black hair slicked back over his head while sporting a carefully trimmed beard and moustache. The man's brown eyes were scanning the market's wares for something in particular, distracting him from his surroundings and the potential exposure of his riches. Naishe smiled to herself. Target acquired!

She walked towards the man and banged up against him roughly from behind, her hand grabbing his purse as she did so. The man stumbled forwards slightly and Naishe felt the delicate strings of the purse snap under the pressure. She discreetly slipped it into her pocket before pulling back.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Maldición, I'm so clumsy at times!" she exclaimed in mock embarrassment.

To her surprise, a look of recognition crossed the man's face making her feel uncomfortable. She hadn't noticed before, but the man had a dangerous look about him. He wasn't just a mere shopper. She took a few steps back as her continued to stare at her as though he knew her. Balls! As she went to walk away the man caught up with her. He grabbed her arm roughly with his heavily tattooed one and spun her around to get a look at her.

"Do you think me stupid, puta? Empty out your pockets!" he growled in an Antivan accent, his face inches from hers. She smirked defiantly.

"Do you want to frisk me?" she replied, amused. She tried to pull her arm from the man's grasp but he held even tighter. All of a sudden the man smiled back at her, seemingly satisfied with her ballsy attitude. After a few seconds he slid his free hand into her pocket, finding his coin purse there.

"Nice to finally meet you, Naishe," he whispered smugly.

The smile slid Naishe's face.

"What?" she asked confused.

"I'm Luis, your new husband," he replied smirking dangerously at her.

It felt like a rock had slammed into her chest. Luis left go of her arm and Naishe took a few steps back. Suddenly she recognised his face too. She had seen him before in the market a few times with her mother. Occasionally she had caught him staring down the neckline of her smock or checking her out from across the square like a spider eyeing a fly. So this is the bastard my mother sold me to?

"I think we should take a walk, no? Your mother will be so pleased we have finally met, and I'm sure you'll want to say... goodbye," he teased.

Naishe laughed bitterly, trying not to betray her fear. "She'll more than likely try and wrangle more coin out of you."

Luis considered her words. "True. That whore would sell anything for a sovereign. She's got all that she's getting out of me though. We'll soon see if you're worth the cost...But I'm afraid the agreement cannot be made until she officially lets you come with me so let's go. I know where she went."

He dragged her across the market square with him roughly, exiting the city and walking along the wooden shacks built above the sea bed that Rivain was famous for. Her mother was standing on the outskirts of town in an area that was known to be Qunari territory. She was standing with two of the wretched ox-men giants, talking in their language.

"Naishe! What-?"

Her eyes caught Luis, recognition coming over her.

"I see you two are finally acquainted then?" she asked, "You are free to take her, Luis. I have successfully converted." She stared into her daughter's amber eyes, with only a flicker of regret there for her. Naishe could feel her own filling with tears. "I wish this could have ended differently, child."

"Don't do this, mother," Naishe begged, "Please...I don't want to marry this bastard!"

Luis laughed evilly. "You don't have a choice now, pretty thing. You're mine...and you're going to do whatever I want you to."

Naishe snorted, "You're as stupid as you look if you think that's going to happen." She turned back to her mother then. "Are you really going to choose the Qun over your own daughter?" she asked in disbelief.

Her mother stared back at her, swallowing hard. Naishe broke free from Luis' grip and ran towards her. She wrapped her arms around her and felt a tear slide down her face. Get close to her! A voice in her head told her, Make her remember how we used to be.

"Mother..." she said, desperate now. "I'm begging you..."

Her mother didn't hug her back. She stood still, trying to ignore the arms of her only daughter clinging to her tightly. "This is the end, Naishe," she whispered, "I'm sorry."

Two of the massive ox-men on either side of her dragged Naishe back then.

"Get off me!" she growled, trying to break free. "You horn-headed bastards! I'll kill you all!"

"Go, Naishe," her mother said, "You are not my daughter anymore. I am a member of the Qun now."

"I'll never forgive you for this!" Naishe screamed furiously, hurt more than she had ever been in her life. "I'll never forgive you! I hate you!"

She was threw back roughly, caught by Luis whose strong hands claimed her for their own then. Her mother was laid away by the Qunari, accepted into the fold without question. She walked away, turning her back on her daughter, not looking back.

"Mother?" Naishe called frantically, hearing Luis laugh evilly beside her. "MOTHER!"


Isabela woke suddenly and jumped up in the bed, breathing harshly. Her entire body was covered in cold sweat as she stared into the blackness of the bedroom. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest painfully. Her cheeks were wet as though she had been crying. Shit...What was I dreaming about? She glanced back at the figure on her right that was Hawke. The woman was still sleeping soundly, facing the opposite direction. Isabela felt a rush of regret for how she had treated her just a few hours ago. The pirate grabbed fistfuls of her hair then and buried her face in her knees, feeling the plot of her dream crash over her like a wave. I haven't dreamed about that day in years, she thought to herself, wondering why it had come back now. More tears fell down her cheeks. She heaved audibly, breaking down under the emotions she had repressed for decades.

Suddenly the bed shook a little beside her.

"Isabela...?"

Hawke had woken up, hearing her uncontrollably cry.

The pirate wiped her face and exhaled, trying to compose herself. She felt a warm hand pat her bare back, sliding up to the nape of her neck as Lana straightened up beside her.

"Are you alright?" she whispered with concern, not seeing her clearly in the darkness of the room. She could feel Isabela's heaving though, hear her shaky breaths and quiet whimpers.

"Fine," the pirate whispered back, not as convincing as she usually was. Her voice sounded strange. "Go back to sleep, Hawke."

Lana ran a hand through her black hair gently and sighed. "Bela..." she breathed, knowing there was clearly something wrong. The woman didn't respond. Sighing in defeat, Hawke retracted her hand and lay her head back down on the bed then. Maker, what's happening to us? she though miserably. She turned her back to Isabela once more and closed her eyes. She's impossible.

Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her in the darkness. Isabela's body pressed up against hers from behind and her lips brushed against her shoulder. Surprised, Lana rolled over, finding the pirate's face inches away in the darkness. She brought a hand up to caress the woman's cheek. It was wet.

"Isabela," Lana whispered, stunned. She never cries. Isabela touched the hand on her face, still saying nothing. Without another word Hawke leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her lips. She felt Isabela cling to her like she never had before, as though afraid she was going to up and leave. They broke apart then, staring at each other in the darkness. "I'm not going anywhere," Hawke whispered reassuringly, running her fingers through her hair to soothe her. She had never seen her this way before. It was unsettling.

Isabela lifted the woman's arm and turned her back to her, pulling it around her body. She felt Lana's warmth press against her back then and the faintest kiss on her neck as Hawke tightened her embrace, realising what the pirate wanted from her (and knowing she would never say it). Lana buried her face in the Isabela's hair, breathing in her scent and closing her eyes. Her warm breaths tickled along Isabela's neck as the pirate lay with her eyes open, not wanting to go back to sleep and relive the most painful day of her life again. She stroked Lana's arm that was wrapped protectively around her, never having appreciated it as much before this night. It was a nice feeling to have someone care about her again. She had forgotten the heartbreak she suffered when her mother had abandoned her all those years ago. The Rivaini exhaled then and closed her eyes, feeling contented with Hawke being so close. She concentrated on the woman's slow, even breaths, trying to fall asleep once more, but began to be tortured by one, guilty, nagging thought. There was one thing that dream had finally proved to Isabela. She suddenly felt as though she was betraying the woman she loved by keeping her in the dark all these years. Maker's Breath, there's just so much that she doesn't know...