Bec Note: Once again, sorry for the wait!

Chapter 4: Smooth Talker

For the hundredth time that day, Carver cursed himself and his sister. He was in the Hanged Man with Merrill and Varric. Varric was telling stories, and Merrill was completely mesmerized. She was so cute, leaning towards the dwarf as if his story would fly away at any moment. Carver liked Merrill. Women were usually just fun to him, but Merrill was different. She was naïve and innocent. Carver wanted nothing more than just protect her, and he saw that Rosewyne felt the same, though she probably didn't want to pull the little mage into her lap and wrap her arms around her. Carver cursed himself again. His sister surprised him when she helped Merrill settle in. Well, she made him do it. He knew what his sister was up to. She was a complete idiot when it came to herself but when concerned others… She saw things as if life were a play and she the director.

"Can't you tell another, Varric? Pleeeeeeeease?" Merrill all but jumped up and down. Carver smirked.

"After another round, Daisy." Varric said with a smile.

"Oooo, I'll get it!" Merrill was up and out of Carver's reach before he could stop her.

"You can let her out of your sight for five seconds, Carver." Varric chuckled.

"Right, cause she won't get into trouble—"

Merrill's scream cut him off.

oOo

"Watch out!" Isabella lunged forward, punching the buffoon to the ground. The little elven girl screamed again. Ignoring her, Isabella focused on the idiots who threatened her. One grabbed her from behind. She kicked the man in front of her, then stomped the toe of the one holding her. A glint of metal caught her eye. The third man had a small knife, but before Isabella could take care of it, the little elf did. She smashed him on the head with a half empty bottle of bourbon. He fell to the ground. Isabella quickly dispatched the others. She had Lucky at the tip of her blade. Lucky for Lucky, Isabella was feeling merciful today. She let him go, with a warning.

Isabella sheathed her blades and turned to the elf. She was protectively hidden by the arms of a dark haired boy, a warrior by the looks of him. Not bad looking either. A beardless dwarf stood close by.

Isabella smiled, "Thanks for your help there, sweetness."

The little elf squired out of the warrior's arms, "You're welcome. I'm rather surprised I actually did help. Usually I just make a mess of things. Or miss things. Or break things."

Isabella laughed, "Well, I'm happy you broke that bottle over his head. Tell me, sweetness, what's your name?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I'm being rude again, my name is Merrill."

"Well Merrill, who's your handsome friend?" Isabella winked at the warrior.

The dwarf stepped forward, "I assume you're talking about me. The name is Varric Tethras, and my young friend here is Carver."

The warrior bowed, "How do you do, miss?"

Isabella couldn't help but chuckle at the warrior's manners. It had been a long time since someone called her 'miss'. A quick exchange of pleasantries finally led to where Isabella was hoping: her little problem. The dwarf claimed to know this Hawke everyone was so fascinated with. He even went as far to say that the warrior, Carver, was Hawke's brother. Isabella was skeptical at best with this strange group. The dwarf certainly was a smooth talker, though that was game Isabella could play. He wasn't lying about anything he said and Isabella couldn't help but sigh with relief when he agreed to help and offered Hawke's hand as well. The ex-captain had to admit, she was quite curious about Hawke. They agreed to meet that night and for once Isabella was hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, her little problem would go away.

oOo

"So, who is this woman you so freely offered my help to again?" Hawke asked as she, Varric, Carver and Aveline they made their way to the meeting spot. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a tad bit annoyed with Varric. She had no idea who this Isabella was and all either man could say about her was that she showed a lot of skin.

"Her name is Isabella. She was a captain of her own ship, but was wrecked here by that hurricane that screwed the Qunari. She needs our help."

"Help with…?"

Carver grunted, "Does it really matter? You've helped every person who asks without even a thought… including that abomination."

"And a bloodmage." Varric added with a wink. "One that you seem to be quite smitten with, I might add."

Rosewyne chuckled, but Carver had a point. She could at least give this Isabella a chance, but once she saw her… She understood why the men had such a hard time focusing on her talking. Isabella was quite the looker, if you were into that sort of thing. She wore just enough clothing to draw a second look, and she sweet talked everyone. Rosewyne wasn't too fond of the way she looked at her, or Carver. She sized her up in seconds. Isabella was a fibber, a backstabber, a lush, and-

"Whore." Aveline interrupted her train of thought.

"Aveline!" Rosewyne chided quietly as she followed Isabella to the meeting place.

Aveline shrugged, "What? Look at what she's wearing. And she way she talked to you and looked you up and down. She's a whor-"

Rosewyne smacked the Captain's arm before she finished the sentence. "Shhhhh, Aveline. I am fully aware of what she's wearing and what she did."

"Then no doubt you picked up on her lying to us about why we're really here."

Rosewyne smirked, she wasn't she only one not fooled by the smooth talking pirate. "She didn't lie, not outright. She just didn't tell all the truth… Look, I know what she is. Not exactly the type of person I want to get tangled with, but… There's something else. I don't want to write her off just yet."

"You're call, Hawke." Aveline sighed with frustration. "I'm not even sure why you brought me on this shady excursion. You do know I'm the Captain of the Guard, right?"

Hawke smiled, "I want you with me Aveline, especially on the shady excursions." Aveline nodded in response.

Isabella may be a liar, but there was something else about her that Rosewyne couldn't place. Something good. And as she watched her handle the ambush they walked right into, she saw other complimenting attributes. The pirate moved like water, fast and unyielding. She cut through the ambushers with ease, leaving little for Aveline to slice.

"Come on, Hayder's waiting at the Chantry. I say we pay him a visit." Isabella winked at Hawke before she ran off, expecting her to follow.

Hawke shook her head. She didn't like how casually the pirate approached this. She was putting Carver, Aveline, and Varric's life in danger and it didn't seem to bother her.

"The whore cuts everyone down before I even get a chance then runs off expecting us to follow like we're her lackeys." Aveline complained as they ran to the Chantry.

"Jealous of the captain, Captain?" Varric teased in reply.

Aveline huffed, "Yea, along with all the rashes she probably gets from sleeping around."

Carver laughed, "That's harsh, Aveline. Even for you."

Hawke smiled, "Stay focused people. There's probably another ambush waiting for us in the Chantry."

oOo

Isabella was beyond frustrated by the time they reached the Chantry. Not only was this Hawke everything the dwarf said she was, but she was even more: beautiful, dangerous, calculating, smart, and a mage. That last bit had surprised Isabella, but she had no qualms with it. Mages were useful, and Rosewyne Hawke was the most powerful mage she had ever seen. But she was cunning. Something in her face told Isabella she wasn't fooled by her smooth talking. It made the pirate nervous, but that would have to wait. Right now she just wanted Hayder dealt with.

Her smooth talking failed again. Hayder made her reveal a lot more than Isabella wanted Hawke to know. She would have to explain that later, right now, her dagger was itching to do some damage. Hayder had set up yet another ambush, but the pirate was confident it was nothing she couldn't handle, especially with Hawke at her back.

Hawke rushed forward, pushing herself up with her staff and kicking Hayder in his jaw. When she landed on her feet, she twirled her staff around and slashed him in his arm using the bladed end of it. She followed the cut with a lightning bolt to his chest that sent him flying backwards against a wall. Isabella was speechless. Not only was she a powerful mage, but she was a strong fighter. The mage then turned her attention to the other ambushers, gesturing to Isabella it was her turn with Hayder. A ball of fire appeared in her hand as she ran to aid the dwarf, the manly guardswoman, and her brother, leaving Isabella to finish off Hayder. He was coughing up blood, but still moving for his sword. Good, she thought. She didn't want this to be too easy. Where would be the fun in that?

"Well, well, well… I bet this isn't how you thought things would go." Isabella chided the dying man playfully.

Hayder coughed, "I'll make that pretty thing pay once I'm done with you."

"You'll do nothing of the sort. Now get up and fight me like a man. Or would you rather me just end it for you now?"

Hayder lunged forward clumsily, Isabella simply stepped to the side and laughed.

"Come on, Hayder! You can do better than that!"

He lunged forward again. Isabella rewarded him with a slash to his face and another mocking laugh.

Hayder roared and came running at her fast. He tackled her to the ground, but Isabella was quick. She rolled him over, avoiding his sword with ease. She straddled him now, looming over with a sly smile.

"You know, I bet this is what you always wanted." She said, gesturing toward her hips on top of his. She brought her dagger down to his neck, pressing it just enough to draw blood. "You should have just let me walk away…"

"Isabella!" Hawke screamed just in time for the pirate to see a man rushing toward her. Isabella rolled off of Hayder, pushing herself up, daggers ready. She danced around the man, enjoying a fight with a real opponent. Eventually she dispatched him. She watched him fall to the ground, then turned her attentions back to Hayder, but he wasn't on the ground.

Isabella gasped as Varric sent Hayder flying back with a pinning arrow. Hayder's eyes rolled back, and he dropped to small dagger that had almost been in her gut.

"You would have seen him if you wouldn't have been showing off." Man-hands said gruffly.

Isabella smiled to cover her momentary loss of focus. She turned around to face the group. The guardswoman was eyeing her harshly. The dwarf was examining his crossbow, while the warrior stood with his arms crossed in silence. Hawke was watching her too, but with curiosity. Isabella wasn't going to get out of this one without explaining some things.

"I had it under control, but that's for the tip." She said.

Hawke strode forward, "Was taunting a dying man really necessary?"

Isabella smirked, "What can I say, I'm a pirate… I like to have fun." She winked. Hawke was unimpressed.

"So, you're pirate who likes to fight dirty and have fun… and release slaves?" Hawke's brown eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Isabella smiled to cover her worry. She talked slowly, choosing words as carefully as she could, but something told her Hawke didn't believe her, at least not fully. However, the pretty thing did believe her enough to offer her protection until the relic was found. Maybe my smooth talking did some good after all, she thought.

The group turned to leave, except Hawke who cleared her throat, "Oh, and by the way… I don't like being lied to."

Or not.