Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2". Nada.
Author's notes: And on the open sea! It's a pirate life for me. Certain lines and suggestions like whiskey rations came from CharlieBarrow.
Guest: I couldn't decide either :P I romanced Isabela and did the bedroom scene with Merrill, but reloaded an earlier save to keep Isabela :P
Tautiana: Thank you for the kind words, I hope you stay tuned for more ^_^ And don't be afraid to write reviews.
CharlieBarrow: Thanks for the review. More plot coming soon!
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter twenty-three "Pirate's life"
Hawke barely got any sleep. She knew her small family fared no better. When she opened her eyes, Hawke was shocked to see Isabela gone. She shouldn't be surprised, she WAS captain, but after their flight from a flaming Kirkwall, Hawke was understandably on edge.
Merrill was hugging onto the pups, both boys wrapped up in her arms. Her tired eyes lit up when Hawke stirred. Hawke leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips and on the boy's heads. Falcon and Lark stirred, calling out to her and looking for their mama.
"I'll go look for Mama. She's probably at the wheel or….checking on everyone," Hawke gave. Merrill smiled tentatively. Hawke stroked her cheek and kissed her again. "Are you well, love?"
"I'll be fine as long as we're all together," Merrill whispered. Hawke smiled lovingly at her. She gave her a softer kiss. Merrill for her part was so glad to have woken up in the wide bed Isabela had fashioned and crafted for her captain's quarters. It was like having a piece of home floating with them.
Hawke tugged her undertunic on, hoisting her trousers up over her smallclothes. She found her boots at the foot of the bed and tugged them off, running a quick hand through her tousled bed hair as she went in search of her mate. She could hear the twins clambering to follow and gave them a sharp shake of the head.
"Stay with Mamae a moment. Then I'll take you to the galley," she ordered. Falcon nodded, and Lark flopped down on the bed, sighing with childish exasperation. Merrill knelt up and reached for a comb on the bedside table to settle their dark hair.
Long-term thoughts crowded the edges of Hawke's quick mind, were they going to live on the ship now? Where was the new baby's crib going to go? Was Kirkwall completely gone? Could they ever go back to see? When she climbed up on deck, a bright cheery sky greeted her, but Hawke moved with single-minded purpose. She faltered and had to catch her footing as the ship rocked. One of the women sailors hopped over a line of rope, giggling at her misfortune, for she was as sure-footed as a ship's cat.
Hawke laughed, going to her knees to hug her mabari by the ruff as he bounded up to her. "Well, boy, aren't you enjoying all this?" she asked. The mabari whined and leaped to lick her cheek.
"Aye, that one will leave a mess all over deck," one of the sailors grumbled. He had possession of a dust pail and broom as if to confirm his new position. Hawke tried not to smile as she made her way to the wheel. Craven was beside it, speaking to the smaller figure steering and Hawke was glad to recognize her mate confidently at the helm. Isabela's eyes were tired, but she grinned when Hawke stepped up the small staircase to the wheel. She was wearing a large hat, complete with tall plumage. It was cocked at a jaunty angle and completed her establishment as ship's captain.
"Get any sleep?" Isabela asked. Hawke ignored Craven who stood at attention and leaned to kiss Isabela's cheek lovingly.
"Some. To make sure the boys relaxed. Are you okay?" she asked. Isabela nodded.
"You'll get used to the odd shifts the longer we're out here."
"Two ships off in the horizon since dawn," Craven said suddenly, pointing. Isabela craned her eyes to the distance.
"Could be merchants running from Kirkwall. If it's pirates, we'll be ready for a fight," Isabela declared. Craven nodded. He padded the machete slung at his belt.
"Aye, Captain."
"I'll protect you and your crew, but need we fight every ship?" Hawke wondered. Under the bright sun beating over the ocean, she wondered if her path as Champion were well and truly over. Isabela didn't take it to heart, leaving the wheel to Craven's large capable hands as she turned to snug her arms around Hawke's waist.
"You knew my pirating ways when you first met me," Isabela said. Hawke nodded. She leaned down, and their mouths met in a proper kiss. "We'll take what we need or can profit from, but I'll not have us being boarded. We fight ruffians and merchants, but not innocents. I can't stand innocents being claimed."
Hawke knew she was referring to the slaves she had once freed. She nodded seriously. "I know your heart is good, Captain Isabela."
"Oh, you sweet thing," Isabela smiled, placated.
"Are we safe now?" Hawke's eyes softened and one of her hands settled on Isabela's belly. Too soon, she would have to stop wearing her corsets and wear bigger tunics. Damn Hawke and her potent seed. But as Hawke caressed her belly, she found herself not caring.
"Well as we can be," Isabela whispered. She found pleasure in the way her mate's eyes lit up. After accepting a few kisses, Isabela turned her attention back to her first mate. "Have you gotten any sleep, sailor?"
"An hour or so, Captain. I had Mel take over for me in the middle of the night," he admitted. Isabela nodded.
"I'll write up the shifts. Good job for getting us out of there last night," she said. Craven's broad shoulders pulsed as he flexed with pleasure. Hawke found herself scowling at the large man. A sniff told her he was alpha, and her inner ego roared at the realization. Isabela carried her mating mark, and their child, but a properly motivated alpha could still be a threat. Hawke growled low in her throat. She stepped between the captain and the first mate, standing up to her full height. Even at her highest, without going on tiptoes, she didn't meet Craven's broad shoulder.
Craven stared at her in surprise and inclined his head politely, his old slave instincts kicking in. But he really did only respect his captain and would not intrude on her relationship with the once Champion of Kirkwall.
"I'll hand the wheel off to Mel soon. I haven't eaten," Craven offered a way out. Isabela nodded then strode down from the wheel platform to the main deck.
"Sailors!" She thundered. Hawke followed at her elbow, curious. The men and women lined up, or if they were unable to get down from the rigging, paid attention from on high. Isabela met their eyes and nodded, satisfied. "The Stormy Lover will be a tight-knit crew. My family and I are living on board with all of you. But should I see anyone, alpha, beta or omega, staring at my mate's ass, you'll be hung off the side feet first for an hour. Got that?"
Hawke wanted to laugh. But she noted a few of the women sailors, betas and omegas, had been staring at her bare arms. She settled a sure hand on her mate's waist, offering assurance.
"Aye, Captain!"
"And I'll be taking your whiskey rations," Isabela added. Hawke leaned to kiss her neck. She had to make due with the crook of her neck that met her shoulder, with her large choker in the way.
"Not while…"
"I'm pregnant, yes," Isabela huffed. She patted Hawke's hand. "We really should be getting you and the boys some more clothes. Kitten too."
Isabela turned in her mate's arm, nuzzling Hawke's neck and loving the purrs that came from her throat as she kissed her mating mark. Hawke knew it was to stake her claim in front of the beta and omega sailors, but she held onto Isabela with tightened arms. Hawke couldn't help yelping in surprise when Isabela's hand snuck down to her ass and swatted her hard.
"I think you know that's MY ass," Isabela purred. Hawke grinned.
"All yours," she promised.
The pair noted the elf moving cautiously on deck, trying to hold onto Falcon and Lark. Everyone was dressed in the outfits from the day before and the boys looked highly excited. The crew moved around them easily, going back to tasks.
"Boys!" Hawke took her turn to thunder her words. Falcon and Lark stopped in place. "You'll stay with either one of us or Orana on deck. Understand?"
"Yes, Papa."
"Good. I suppose we'll drill as the day starts….. like usual," Hawke said. Isabela nodded and ruffled her son's hair, moving down deck. Merrill stared after her. Hawke took the moment to put an arm around her second mate.
"Has anyone bothered you?" she asked suddenly. Isabela could handle herself. Merrill was much too shy.
"No, Hawke. Everyone has been respectful," Merrill said urgently. She blushed happily when Hawke leaned to kiss her.
"Tell me if I need to knock any heads," she said. Merrill giggled.
"A pirate already?" she asked. Hawke paused.
"If we can't go home…." To Kirkwall she meant. "Then yes."
Hawke and her small family made their way to the galley. The cook woke up, almost falling off his stool, and served a morning stew. The boys ate heartily, but Hawke found herself picking over the chunks of whole vegetables listlessly. Well, she'd best cast off her higher societal palette if she was going to get along with her mate's crew. Hawke made herself eat a chunk of spice-less potato to appease her sons and urge them to eat. Falcon grinned, a large mouthful of stew pooching his cheeks out. Bits of the liquid dribbled from his brother's mouth. Hawke's heart gave a sharp turn when Merrill reached to carefully wipe their faces with a cloth. Too easily she could have lost them or been lost and never see this sight again….
Hawke placed a hand against her ribs, taking a careful inhale. They still hurt terribly, and she took it slow. The worried look Merrill shot her put resolve in Hawke to heal up right. She couldn't do this to her mates.
Inside the captain's quarters, the small family went through the sacks, distributing possessions. Hawke was touched to see a few of her mother's necklaces. She bestowed a loving kiss to Isabela's cheek in thanks.
Hawke helped move the boy's possessions to the narrow room off of the captain's cabins that had been saved for the twins. A pair of hammocks waited, and she grunted, moving one of the sacks.
"What the devil is in here?" she wondered. Looking at the twin's furtive shared glance, Hawke paused and looked inside the sack. Her face registered surprise as she pulled out her family crest shield. "You took this with us?"
Falcon scuffed his boot on the wooden floor. "If we can't go back….we knew you'd want it."
"It's our name on there," Lark added. Tears pricked Hawke's eyes. She knelt and held her arms out. The twins went into her arms, wondering as their papa hugged them tightly, sniffling back tears. "Papa?"
"It's okay…you did so good. In fact, you both should keep the shield in here and guard it for me."
Falcon and Lark beamed. "We won't let anyone touch it!"
"Good lads." Hawke ruffled the boy's hair and helped them prop the large shield against the wall of their small room. But when she went to adjust the hammocks, the boys retreated back to the captain's chambers.
Okay, in due time….. Fleeing their home from an attack had sufficiently frightened them all.
Merrill plucked at her tunic from the day before, trying to be cheery. "Isabela says we're drawing up to that small port. Not for long though."
Hawke went with her on deck, the twins in tow and gazed at the horizon. A small port town stood waiting and Isabela moved about the deck calling orders. This place looked far removed from the larger Antivan cities, but best to be on guard.
Hawke leaned against the railing beside her mate, watching the ship get pulled into dock. The boys giggled, pointing up at low-flying seagulls that cawed out in defiance. She flexed the muscles in her arms and grinned at Isabela when she eyed her.
One of the omega males passing by with a coil of rope almost tripped over his own feet seeing that. Hawke would have rushed to right him, but Isabela barked at him to get back to work.
"Or it's your ass over the side if you're looking at my mate's!"
"Yes, Cap'n!" the man winced and rushed off across deck.
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"I can shop for myself," Hawke said dryly. Isabela fussed with her under tunic and placed a firm palm against Hawke's sternum, pressing between her breasts. Hawke was stunned at the forceful blow but found herself grinning at her mate. Sometimes it WAS a turn on for her.
"Craven and Mel and Justin are going, not you. Stay, sweet thing," Isabela ordered. Hawke turned to lean against the ship's wheel, wrapping an arm around the captain's waist.
"Aye, Captain," she purred. The look Isabela gave her was coy, but she was glad Hawke was feeling abit more at ease after the events of the previous day.
When Craven returned from the small port town, he had a few outfits folded in brown paper and tied with string. The twin's outfits were simple affairs, without family crest or sigil, but serviceable. Same for Hawke's new outfit. She raised an eyebrow at the white shirt, pressed and starched by the merchant. The trousers were simple, and Isabela turned the garment over then scowled at her first mate.
"I thought I said no looking; do you need to be hung off the side of the ship?"
"Aye, no looking. It was what I could gather from first meeting the Champion," Craven admitted. Hawke held the trousers against her waist.
"Looks like they'll fit," she said.
Isabela still gave Craven a glare. "No looking at her ass."
"Yes, Cap'n."
Hawke turned to her mate with something that could be described as regret on her features. "Kirkwall really has fallen, hasn't it? I'm not Champion anymore."
Isabela swallowed. She trailed her fingers down her mate's cheek. "We can check on the city once the danger's gone. But…that could be so."
"Mother's home…." Hawke looked forlornly across the deck. One of the sailors was supervising the twins drilling with their wooden weapons. Isabela leaned her head on her mate's shoulder.
"I am sorry, Hawke. But you'll always be my champion. Our champion." Isabela kissed her mate's bare shoulder.
Hawke's eyes softened. She knew Isabela well enough to know she was trying to offer comfort when it did not come easily to her. She settled her hand on Isabela's waist, holding her against her. "Thanks, Bela."
The ship took off from the small port and back out to sea. The sun was arching toward the far side of the sky, dappling the horizon in shades of orange and red. Craven led the twins by the hand toward the wheel but thought of it when he saw how content the captain was, the Champion at her side. Isabela was "showing" Hawke how to properly man the wheel, and she was teasing her mate from behind, hands running up and down her under tunic and beneath, caressing the flesh beneath. Craven led the boys belowdecks and to the galley, as some of the crew went in for dinner.
Merrill and Orana rushed up to join them and took possession of the captain's sons. Craven let go of their hands and waited for the women to serve the boys first.
"Potato AND stew? Thanks, Cookie," Craven teased. The man gave a wink from his good eye. The other was covered by a scrap of cloth.
"What's that?" Lark asked one of the women sailors. She was pouring out a good amount of a white paste from a jar over her potato and lathered it about.
"It's hot, laddie. Just a dab?" she asked Merrill. Merrill nodded her head.
"Just a taste, Lark."
"Me too!" Falcon piped up.
Isabela stalked into the galley and the sailors lifted their mugs to her.
"Here you go, Cap'n!" the cook offered. Isabela raised her eyebrow at the large potato on her plate.
"We'll need to stock up salted pork or something," she decided. Hawke stuffed a huge bite of her potato into her mouth and chewed rapidly.
"Tell me we have something to drink," she asked her mate. Isabela winked.
"Well YOU have something to drink," she pouted. The cook handed a hot steaming cup of tea to the captain instead of whiskey.
"It's just a few more months," Hawke murmured. Isabela nodded.
"I'll be popping out. Help me," she muttered. Hawke gave her a rather wolfish smile.
"Anything you need," she promised.
"When's the baby coming?" Lark asked suddenly at their table. Merrill shared a smile with Isabela.
"Not 'til some more months, son."
"Can we help with the baby?" Falcon asked. Isabela nodded rapidly.
"YES, you can." But Hawke knew Isabela had taken good care of the twins as babes and would do okay here as well.
Hawke gave her mate a forlorn look. "We need to buy a cradle."
"We'll secure a cradle," Isabela said idly. She was thinking how she needed to have it nailed into the planks of the captain's quarters to prevent the babe from sliding around with any harsh ship rocking. Unless they secured a home elsewhere. But the ship WAS home right now. They could make it work.
When she leaned back at the table, Merrill laid her hand over hers and squeezed. Isabela accepted the doting, smiling gently at the elf. She'd been so protective over Merrill that now she was protective over her pregnancy. It was all very touching.
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Hawke was surprised by the strings of islands they passed through as they headed out towards the middle of the ocean. Isabela had one of Castillon's scrolls rolled up on the table in their quarters, and a map was laid beneath it. She was heading out here for a reason. But the current string of huts that lined one small island, that had sand as white as the moon, and water as blue as the sky, was where they set anchor for one afternoon. The crew happily clambered down to peruse the small stands available and take a few hours of shore leave.
Craven was left to guard the gangplank, and Isabela was surprised when Mel stayed with him. Her boots sank into the sand as she stepped off the dock onto the island. Hawke was dressed in her simple outfit, holding her hand in the crook of her arm.
The island's inhabitants wore light clothing, the better to work in the hot sun, and the boys took off their boots to run in the sand. Hawke kept a sharp eye on her progeny as Isabela looked over a merchant's stall. Her large hat marked her as someone of importance, and the tanned islander echoed his prices over a tray of jewelry. Hawke nodded as her mate picked out a pair of jade earrings. She reached into her pouch and paid for the earrings and Isabela clutched her arm.
Further in, Merrill latching onto her other arm, Hawke was surprised to see what had to be refugees.
"Did you come from Kirkwall?" she asked a man. He nodded, looking somewhat ill from travel.
"Aye, serah. The heads of the city are dead. There's some guardsmen about still, but many fled when chaos stayed."
Hawke sighed. Merrill looked sad. "I hope Aveline can turn things around."
"At least we know Old Girl has it covered. She could scare off the Blight itself," Isabela offered. Hawke was worried for her, and Donnic.
"No way of knowing," Hawke breathed. A search through the gaggle of refugees told her no Varric. There were a few dwarves, but none of them were her gregarious friend. Isabela knew she was worried and squeezed her hand.
"Varric's fine. Bet he's holed up with Red and her boring stick of a husband. Surrounded by guardsmen, that's the safest place in the city now I bet," she offered. Hawke smiled nervously.
"I hope so."
"Were I them, I'd claim the old Viscount's quarters," Merrill chirped. Hawke laughed.
"Good girl, I've taught you well," Isabela teased. Merrill blushed. Isabela didn't mind when her hand descended to pat her belly.
Hawke gave a few refugees coins from her pouch, taking in the news of smoke, fire and fleeing a city beset by templars and feuding mages. It was heartbreaking. She was certain her mother's estate was gone in the destruction. The forlorn thoughts were placed at bay when her mates hugged her arms on either side. Hawke sighed and clutched them close. They were all she had.
"And the Champion!"
Hawke stopped in her tracks at the mention of her title. Isabela tugged her arm urgently.
"The Chantry is right looking for her. I wonder where she went?"
"Boys!" Isabela yelled. Falcon and Lark scampered up to them, Craven close behind. Hawke gave him a nod. It was good of him to watch her sons while they were in an unfamiliar community. As they walked away from the town's inhabitants and refugees, Hawke felt clearer.
Her sons hugged her mates by the leg and Hawke smiled down at them.
Yes, they'd get by.
End for now
End notes: There will be more to come for Hawke and her family. Like it, drop a review and stay strong, lovelies.
Sincerely, pen
12/07/2018