The meagre lot of Skyhold's tavern suddenly seemed more welcoming to Hawke somehow. Maybe the last few weeks of waiting here twiddling her thumbs had helped her settle in. Maybe it was the warmness she felt inside after having enjoyed a long-lost bottle of The Hanged Man's finest whiskey in the Keep with her friend and dearest love. Or maybe it was the current sight of Isabela undressing in her rented room, back from the rigors of travel. It had been months they'd spent apart, torturous and lonely, but Hawke couldn't remember her having ever looked so beautiful. She closed the door behind her and smiled as she gazed upon the woman's naked flesh. Isabela spun round, and found Hawke already inches away from her, impatient and seductive. She gave a faint chuckle and allowed Lana to press her backwards onto the tavern bed, relishing the first contact she'd had in a long time.

"I love you," Hawke muttered between kisses.

"Shut up and get on with it," Isabela begged breathlessly.

Lana had to laugh. She has a point. There'll be time for more talking later. Grinning, she obliged, pressing her weight down upon Isabela fully, bringing her hands up over the pirate's full, pointed nipples. With a groan of longing, Isabela kicked off the bed and rolled over until she was on top. Evidently she was too impatient for Hawke's teasing pace. She bit down on Lana's lip so hard in her eagerness that Lana sampled the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. She traced the damage with her tongue before Isabela claimed its attention once more. Lana moaned loudly, as Isabela's finger slipped inside of her unexpectedly. She thrust her hips upwards almost unseating the pirate, as Isabela straddled her relentlessly, tightening her grip with her legs and curling her fingers inside of Hawke over and over, sending her into oblivion.

"Bela?"

"Shut it, Hawke."

"Bela...I..."

Isabela stopped and exhaled in frustration. "What? What is up with you tonight?" she groaned, stopping momentarily. "You're normally not this talkative when we're having sex...At least not before you've came that is."

"I.." Hawke bit her bottom lip as she stared up at her guiltily. "I have something to tell you."

Isabela pursed her lips and stared at her for a second before speaking. Oh balls. "If this is bad news then it'll have to wait, Sweetness. I'm so horny I could finger the crack of dawn right now."

Lana sniggered, then stopped herself. This was serious. She had to tell her now before they went any further.

"I know, and I'm so sorry, but I have to get this out," Hawke replied, psyching herself up. Isabela breathed out furiously and in frustration, then reluctantly climbed off her and sat herself down on the bed.

"Out with it then," she sighed, "What have you done now? I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"Well," Hawke began awkwardly, sitting up beside her. "It's more of a question of who I almost done."

Isabela's amber eyes glared at her then. "Please don't tell me you're talking about who I think you are. Hawke, I swear on Andraste's tits..."

"That depends. Who are you thinking of?"

"Don't play games with me, Sweetness. And don't play dumb either," Isabela warned. "If I've come all this way to see you and you've been sleeping with Leliana behind my back I'm going to bloody murder you."

"Technically I didn't sleep with her," Hawke said quickly, as Isabela jumped up and began to pace angrily.

So I was right then, she fumed. Why am I not surprised?

"What did you do then?" the pirate demanded, "Explain it to me, Hawke. For someone who wanted to talk before, you've being awfully coy now. It's infuriating."

"We kissed once night a few weeks ago," Lana admitted quickly, "A lot. And I touched her for a moment, but that was it."

"No sex?" Isabela asked suspiciously, folding her arms under her massive breasts and glaring at Lana who was cowering in shame.

"No," Hawke replied. "No sex. I was drunk and emotional and when I realised what I was doing I stopped it before it really began. I'm sorry."

"That's not like you," Isabela accused, "Why did you stop? If you're as sexually-deprived as I am then that was quite a feat."

"I only tried to seduce her because I didn't know how to tell her about the Hero of Ferelden still being alive."

Isabela faltered. She couldn't fault Hawke's actions then. She'd have most likely done the same in her position. Sex was a great distraction, one that she had used many, many times. She was still angry with her though.

Why did she have to tell me this tonight? Maker's bloody balls, I've been waiting months to see her and now she drops this bombshell on me?

"You knew each other, didn't you?" Lana asked then, watching Isabela from the bed. "The Hero of Ferelden?"

"I knew her as well as Zevran did," Isabela said, "Skin deep, that is. After the four of us slept together in the Pearl, we pretty much parted ways. I haven't seen her since."

"I'm curious," Hawke began, her face lined with confusion. "How did that foursome come about exactly? From what I've heard about Navarre Mahariel, and from what I saw in her letter to Leliana, she doesn't seem to like humans very much. How in all of Thedas did you seduce her?"

Isabela grinned cheekily. "Who knows?" she replied smugly. "The details on that night are foggy at best. Leliana will tell you it happened during the Blight, but I'm pretty sure it was after the Archdemon was slain. I couldn't tell you. I've slept with so many people since then."

Lana rolled her eyes. "Don't I know," she groaned.

"Hey! Don't turn this around on me!" Isabela snapped, riling up again. "While I've been off ruling the Eastern Seas and touching myself every which way, you've been dreaming up fantasies with your long lost love, Leliana."

"I'm sorry!" Hawke implored, "And it wasn't like that, I promise!"

"I'm not in the mood to talk about this now," Isabela snapped, "I've got the female equivalent of blue balls, and I didn't travel to Skyhold's frozen peak to argue with you, Hawke. Just take off your bloody clothes so we can get this over with and I can be angry with you in the morning."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Hawke tore off the remainder of her clothes rather unceremoniously, and stood ready, naked and full of attitude, offering herself up to Isabela's demands. "Is this what you want?" Lana yelled, holding out her hands. The Admiral stormed towards her and grabbed her roughly in response, shoving her up against the wall and grabbing her neck with one hand. As Lana's lips found hers for a moment, she pushed her back hard.

"Don't even think about kissing me," Isabela snarled, her eyes glaring into Lana's chocolate0brown ones. "I can't even look at you right now."

"Then don't," Hawke countered in a low voice.

Obliging, Isabela spun her around until they were both facing the wall and wrapped her arms around her from behind, sliding one down in between her legs, while the other cupped one of Lana's breasts. She felt Hawke's head fall back onto her shoulder and began to bite her way along the exposed skin on the woman's neck. Lana's soft moans became heavy breaths as Isabela's fingers drove her wild with desire. Something about the roughness of it all turned her on even more. Before she knew it she was holding the wall for support, feeling her body fall backwards into Isabela's, totally at her mercy. Her legs began to shake as she climaxed over and over and Isabela was the only thing keeping her upright.

"Maker!" she gasped, feeling the pirate's teeth break the skin on her shoulder. The pain was searing and pleasuring at the same time. She pushed her off with all her strength and turned around, seeing the fierce passion in Isabela's amber eyes, and knowing she wasn't out of the woods just yet. The Admiral reached into her pack by the foot of the bed and produced a familiar-looking sexual weapon of her choice. Lana remembered it being used on her once before, and watched warily and breathlessly as Isabela strapped it on. She then found herself backed up into the wall again, her legs lifted off the floor in one sweep and held high by Isabela's muscular arms. It was then that she felt it inside of her.

"Oh," she gasped, her eyes fleetingly rolling into the back of her head.

Each thrust of Isabela's hips sent her thudding painfully against the cold stone wall. There would be bruising tomorrow, she was sure of it. She could hear their flesh pounding together, sending her mind into spirals. She could feel the tense ripples cascading through her it all became too much to bear. The pirate's mouth found her neck again and began sucking along her collar bone, and Lana couldn't control herself any longer. It was magical, satisfying beyond belief to have Isabela back, doing what she did best. Angry sex wasn't exactly new for them, but it shattered every reunion she had fantasised between them the last six months they'd spent apart. She knew Isabela would still be angry with her in the morning, but right now, they were the only things that existed. Tomorrow would come when it did, but such mind-blowing sex would last all night, and that, Lana thought to herself, was as pleasurably torturous as she could ever have imagined.

##

The next morning Hawke opened her eyes sleepily, blinded by the early sun streaming in the open window and feeling like she could have slept for another few hours. A familiar sight, Isabela's black hair and bare back, greeted her, and she smiled. Her heart warmed, despite the night before, and she was relieved that when she slipped her arm around her, Isabela didn't throw it off. Sighing with contentment, Lana buried her face in the pirate's hair and inhaled her gorgeous wild scent. Isabela responded by reached back, stroking the arm that Hawke had lain across her midsection.

"Good morning, Sweetness," she greeted her, as both of them stared out the window together, hearing the birds chirping somewhere outside.

"Morning," Lana breathed in her ear, placing a kiss on her head, her voice rather hoarse from the amount of screaming she'd done the night before. "Still mad at me?"

"I'm always mad at you," Isabela joked.

Lana chuckled and held her tighter. "I think you got your own back on me last night," she teased, "I'm covered in bruises and my back's aching."

"Good. Then maybe you'll think twice about betraying me like that."

"Bela, look at me," Hawke said, leaning up on her arm. "Look at me!" She grabbed Isabela's shoulder and pulled her over, until the pirate was reluctantly on her back and staring up at her. "I'm sorry," she apologised again, caressing Isabela's tanned cheek softly. "I'm really sorry, love. It was a mistake, and Leliana and I have sorted it out already. There's nothing between us anymore, especially now that Navarre is back from the dead. We were both simply confused by the moment. You're the only one I love, I promise. You're the only one I'll ever love until the day The Maker comes for me."

"Oh, stop it, Hawke. You're making me want to vomit," Isabela grinned, "But...for the record, I'm glad. Just don't say anything that sappy to me ever again, got it? There are still some areas of you that I haven't bruised."

"Got it," Hawke chuckled. "So am I forgiven then?"

"For now."

"Maker, you've gotten so bossy since you became an Admiral!"

"I was always bossy in the bedroom, Hawke. You knew that," Isabela teased, her eyes twinkling.

"True," Hawke admitted, "But last night you were on an entirely different level."

"Six months, sweet thing," Isabela replied, "Six months...Just thank your lucky stars it wasn't a year. I wouldn't even have said 'hello' first."

Hawke laughed, and they both settled onto the pillow together once more. "Maker, I missed you," Lana whispered.

"I missed you too," Isabela sighed, "That's why I came to get you, sweet thing. I have some business back on the Eastern Seas that I could use your help with. We can take over together."

At this Hawke faltered. "I...I'm staying here, Isabela. I thought you knew that."

Isabela sat up and Hawke's arm fell away from her then. "What?" she asked, as Lana sat up beside her. "I thought you were done here."

"Truth be told, I've barely started. Corypheus is still out there, and now Bethany's arrived to help. Donnic is waiting for us in The Western Approach and the Inquisitor has arranged for us to leave tomorrow after a banquet in the Keep with nobles, who are helping our cause."

"What? Tomorrow!?" Isabela exclaimed, her face wrecked with disappointment. "Do you have to go? I mean, you don't have to keep playing the bloody hero, Hawke. They have the Inquisitor for that," she chuckled, "You've done your bit , now let's get out of here and as far away as possible."

"I wasn't trying to be a hero," Hawke replied angrily, flinging back the covers and getting out of bed. She walked to the table in the corner and began to pour herself water from the pewter jug. "I was trying to atone for a mistake. It's my fault that Corypheus is still alive. All of this leads back to me. The Mages, the rebellion. All of it!"

"No, it doesn't!" Isabela countered sharply, getting up as well then and following her. "You already killed Corypheus once...Or thought you did. Same difference. This is not your fight. I'm begging you. Let the Inquisitor handle this crap. I can't lose you now, not after I only got you back. Not after all that we've been through together."

"You're not going to lose me," Hawke reassured her, placing a hand on either of Isabela's shoulders. The Rivaini snorted and waved her off, knocking Hawke's mug of water all over the floor.

"Oh please, you already tried to give your life away for stupid causes. Do you have a bloody death wish or something, Sweetness? Is my company not worth hanging around for?"

"Don't be silly," said Hawke, "How can you even ask me something like that? I love you, Isabela. More than anything!"

"Then start bloody acting like it!" Isabela yelled, holding Hawke's face. "Stop being so selfless for a world that doesn't give a damn about you! Start doing things for yourself! For us! Andraste's tits, why does it always feel like I'm competing against all of Thedas for you?"

"What?" Hawke breathed, trying to brush her off. "What in The Maker's name are you on about? You're not competing with anyone."

"Then why do I feel this way?" Isabela asked, releasing Hawke and beginning to pace. "Why is there always something new for you to do, some noble quest or some grand occasion? You don't even invite me to them anymore."

"Isabela, the last grand occasion we were both at you began fingering me under the table!"

"And you liked it!"

"I...know I did. But that's not the point. You were clearly bored! Why would I invite you to another one? I know you hate nobles."

"So do you!" Isabela challenged.

"I bloody detest them!" Hawke admitted, "But I still have to work with them to get what I want sometimes. We can't all be infamous raiders, controlling the Eastern Seas with a hundred men at our disposal."

"You were for a while," Isabela replied, "What, is that life not good enough for you now? My life?"

"You and I both know that's not true!" Hawke scolded, pointing a finger of warning at Isabela before she overstepped the mark.

"Then stop this, Hawke. The constant heroics, the needless risk-taking? Aren't our lives risky enough without you throwing yourself at the feet of an Old God for the sake of humanity?"

Hawke's jaw clenched as she stared into Isabela's amber eyes. "That's who I am, Isabela. That's who I'll always be. Don't try to change me...Because we both know I never tried to change you."

Deciding that their argument was done, Hawke threw on the clothes nearest to her and stormed out of their living-quarters, slamming the door behind her. Isabela grabbed fistfuls of her hair then lashed out, knocking the jug of water against the wall and watching its contents spill everywhere.

##

"Ah, Rivaini, you two never change, do you?" Varric laughed, grinning up at his friend.

"She's as stubborn as the first day I met her," Isabela chuckled, "And I'm worse."

"She'll come around," Bethany offered, leaning on the ramparts beside the pirate and giving her a sympathetic pat on her arm. "I'm sure you didn't offend her that much. Maker knows, I'd rather she left with you and sailing far away from all this, but my sister never was one to take a back seat when there was adventure to be had."

"Likewise, Bethany. But even I know this is a fight that can't be won," Isabela said miserably, "She's going to die, and there's nothing I can do to save her."

"You could go with us," Varric suggested hopefully. "I know for a fact Hawke fights better with you by her side. She's so competitive sometimes."

Isabela chuckled. "I know," she replied fondly, "But I'm no hero, Varric. I don't get the same joy out of it that she does. I'd prefer to kill my old nemesis Lachlan Poole and take his fleet, than fight fade monsters and tainted Gods. Much more rewarding!"

Varric wheezed with laughter. "True!" he agreed, "Remind me why Hawke's staying here again? The last I checked she loved raiding with you."

"And Maker she was good at it," Isabela laughed.

"For the same reason that I am," Bethany said, bringing the conversation tone back to a serious one. "I was there," she told them, "I saw Corypheus fall. The Inquisition needs us. We all played our part in this destruction. It's time to help, for real this time."

Neither Varric nor Isabela could argue with her there. Their gallivanting in Kirkwall had set this entire situation into motion. They couldn't sit idly by and watch the world go to ruin around them. And besides, what good would a fleet be with no one to raid and pillage if they all die in the war? Isabela thought to herself.

"I guess you're right," she relented, giving in finally, "I may as well stay and lend a hand. If Hawke's willing to die here, then I'd rather be at her side...Because I tell you now, when the final blow comes, I'm going too. This world isn't worth living in without her."

"Morbid," Varric teased, "I feel like I should pull you away from the ramparts in case you throw yourself over into the snow."

Isabela chuckled. "Don't worry, Varric, I'm much too selfish for that."

The three of them laughed and began to walk back along the wall, making their way towards the Keep.

"Where do you think Hawke's gone?" Isabela asked. "I should probably tell her the good newds. She always did know how to emotionally blackmail me into fighting for the greater good."

Bethany and Varric laughed.

"She's probably in my room," Bethany revealed, "I'm staying in the Keep. Sister Leliana found me a chamber before the recently arrived nobles snatched all of them up."

"Joy of joys," Isabela groaned, "I guess should pay Leliana a visit before I try to find her. Maker knows I owe her one."

"Try to leave her in once piece," Varric snorted. "We need our Spymaster."

"I'm just going to see an old friend," Isabela teased, "Trust me."

Neither Varric nor Bethany looked placated.

Suddenly a boy with dirty-blonde hair and a massive hat appeared in the distance.

"Who's that?" Isabela asked, straining her eyes to get a good look at him.

"That's Cole," Varric informed her, glancing at a piece of paper her pulled from his pocket with the young man's description. "Nice kid. He's...well, a little bit odd. And he has the power to just...make you forget him. That's why I wrote it all down, to remember him and remind myself that we already met."

"He's some kind of...Spirit," Bethany informed Isabela, consciously rubbing her wrist. "I don't know exactly what, but I can sense him when he's near. The Inquisitor recruited him after he saved their lives in Haven. She's the only one who doesn't have much problem remembering him. Maybe because he lets her."

"What's the deal with his hat?" Isabela asked, grinning at the sight. "I thought it was only me who wore oversized ones, and this man is no Admiral. He's too small for one."

"You'll have to ask him," Varric laughed, "Maybe it shields him from the voices in his head."

"Who are you talking about?" Isabela asked, confused.

"That boy over there." He pointed to the wall where Cole had been sitting to find it devoid of life. In Isabela's eyes he was evidently gone.

"What boy?" Isabela laughed, staring at Varric like he was seeing things. Varric rolled his eyes. It seemed the pirate had forgotten Cole already.

"One day," he muttered, more to himself than the others, "I'm going to begin to understand what that kid really is."