Perhaps it's fate that brings Isabela to the Hanged Man instead of one of the dozens of other filthy taverns that dot Lowtown. It's Lucky who picks it for their meeting, but it's she who falls in love with it, even before she has to wipe the floor with him and his goons. And when she looks up after giving him one last just-in-case kick, she catches the eye of the capable-looking woman with the patched-together armor and the gleaming daggers, and she realizes that the perfect backup just dropped into her lap.
That night, they're ambushed as they move through Hightown, and Hawke instinctively shifts so they're fighting back-to-back. Turns out, their styles are complimentary. When a knife comes at Isabela's blind spot, Hawke reaches out to parry it. When Hawke sweeps a raider's feet out from under him, Isabela ducks to land the killing blow. It's a bit of a relief, in a way. For once, she doesn't have to cover all the angles.
Hawke is an appropriate name, Isabela thinks. Sleek, inscrutable, but still a bird of prey, wielding her blades like talons. Hawke moves with less grace than Isabela does, but she's no less ruthlessly efficient. Isabela makes a mental note to teach her a few duelist's tricks, once they get Hayder sorted out.
A week later, Hawke asks for her help clearing out a warehouse full of thugs. A few days after that, they're hiking up Sundermount searching for herbs. When Isabela finds a lead on the relic, it's only natural that she should ask Hawke to support her. Little by little, she grows used to having an extra fighter or three by her side. It's something she's never had before, but she's come to depend on.
It's not that she didn't trust her old crew, you wouldn't get far on the sea if you didn't, but they were only as loyal as the next share of plunder. This is different: a certainty, deep in her gut, that if she makes a mistake, if she drops her guard, Hawke will be there to pick her up.
She doesn't believe in fate, or much of anything, really. But whether it was destiny or the Maker or just plain luck that brought them together, she'll always be thankful for it. No matter what the future holds in store.