Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2/3."
Author's notes: It's on. Read on, my lovelies.
CharlieBarrow and all those reading, thanks for the past words. I hope you read on.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter thirty-seven "Leaving"
Months passed. Sparrow and Magpie were getting bigger and the twins were downright tall. Hawke sighed as she ducked beneath the palm trees. She opened the door of the newly built shed behind the captain's house. Silently she closed the door behind her.
Hawke pulled a tarp back as she hunkered in the shed. It housed tools, and anything et cetra the sailors didn't need at the moment. It was also where she'd hidden her armor, leather jerkin and traveling tools. A small satchel that held dried meat, a packet of tea, fire starter, two hunting knives and a few small cooking pots.
She had slowly compiled bits of her old armor. The breastplate was recognizable by shape as the Champion's. Hawke had originally thought to leave it in the family room of the house. Her pups could look at it…and hopefully recall the sire that loved them. Hawke swallowed. No. She needed all of her armor. Breastplate. There was the recognizable insignia on the gauntlets, greaves or other pieces. She'd have to wear a cloak over it all while she was on the road. Hawke touched her Champion's helm and decided she may leave it. She usually went without a helm in battle and it would be lighter traveling without that anyway.
A couple of tunics and trousers were wrapped and waiting in her travel satchel. Hawke sighed as she counted and recounted the dried foodstuffs. Tonight, she should try and hide abit more. When the time would draw nigh, she would grab up as much fruit from the kitchen as she could.
Hawke sighed as she drew the tarp over her escape pack. She hated thinking of it that way. The captain of the Dim Horizon was planning on taking expedition to the main continent in a month or two. She had promised Hawke to keep her departure date quiet and didn't ask when Hawke had whispered not to mention to Captain Isabela. The captain had, thankfully, not asked why.
"Hawke! Where'd you go?" Merrill's voice rang out. Hawke quickly ducked out of the shed and shut the door behind her. She shielded her eyes with one hand, smiling. Merrill was holding onto Magpie's hand and both smiled to see her.
"Merrill." Hawke strode forward and kissed her. The small hand curling behind her neck was soft. "Where are the rest of the pups?"
"Bela's sparring with the twins. Mel has Sparrow," Merrill assured her even as Hawke's eyes darted about for the baby. Magpie tightened her grip on her mamae's hand at the mention of the baby. Hawke smiled and bent to pick her up.
"Well then, let's go find them," she suggested. Magpie smiled and Hawke's heart tugged as Merrill slung an arm around her waist. With her daughter in her other arm, she felt whole. Her heart thundered dangerously, riddled with guilt. They may not love her again after….
Loud shouts and curses rang from the beach. Hawke grinned to see Lark facing off against his mother, the tall slim pre-teen almost a direct reflection of the pirate. Isabela had a pair of wooden daggers and was circling her son, teasing him with bandied words. Lark followed her path, daggers raised. Isabela feigned right and Lark met her strike with both of his. They clashed and circled. Lark darted in and Isabela cried out in triumph. She darted back as her sailors cheered encouragement. Lark was grinning, his black bangs falling into his eyes.
A clash of strikes and Isabela knocked one of Lark's daggers out of his hand. He evaded, darting behind his mother to pin one of her arms behind her back. She laughed and when he let go, wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed his brow. Lark grinned at the affection and ambled back to his brother, the sailors laughing. He had won that one, so Falcon punched his shoulder. He had yet to best her, Hawke knew, and maybe one day, it would be soon.
"Hawke!" Isabela called. Hawke eyed Mel who was holding Sparrow to her shoulder. The baby was actually sleeping, and in someone else's arms. Hawke nodded to herself and met her mate. Isabela kissed her.
"Good job, Larkie," Hawke called. Her son grinned.
"Did you see? He's getting faster," Isabela purred. Hawke nodded.
"Amp up their training? They'll best us," Hawke said. Isabela nodded, her eyes shining.
"Shouldn't that be the aim, sweet thing? When they're captaining their own ships, they won't need us to protect them," Isabela said idly, and Hawke's heart turned over at the thought. She nodded, swallowing back her parental fears. And that was if they had the luxury of growing with all three parents….
"Yes. You're thinking ahead for them, Bela," Hawke said. The kiss she received filled her with guilt.
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Hawke tensed in the hallway. She leaned against the wall, but one leg was pushed in front of her, tensing her frame. She heard a familiar wail in Magpie's bedroom and wanted to rush in. But she told herself to calm. She had asked for this. Inside, Merrill was telling Magpie a story. Her daughter was tucked in and being good. But Sparrow was wailing, as Isabela rocked her and tried to shush her.
"Mama?" Hawke heard Magpie's small voice. She bit her lip. She wanted to rush in and help. But her mates had agreed with her. It would help to have Sparrow used to others putting her down. She had latched onto Hawke so much to do everything. And deep in her heart, Hawke knew it would help. When she did leave….. Guilt panged her heart and Hawke pressed a palm over her breast, grimacing to herself.
"The hunting song?" Merrill asked. Isabela sighed in agreement. Hawke heard shuffling and peeked in. Merrill had taken the baby and rocked her to her shoulder, singing softly in elvish. The melodious words coaxed the ear to relax and Magpie yawned in her bed. Isabela ran a hand over her daughter's hair. She stood beside Merrill gazing into Sparrow's worried face. Her wide green eyes were wide, darting from her to Merrill but the elven melody lulled her to relax. She yawned widely finally. Merrill smiled and passed Sparrow into her crib. Isabela leaned to put an arm around the thin Dalish.
"Good job," Isabela complimented. Merrill agreed. In the hallway, Hawke sighed with relief. For a change, not seeing her had gone over well. If they kept this up, she could be put down by anyone. Especially when she wouldn't be there. Dammit, don't think about that right now!
When her mates exited the back bedroom, they smiled to see her waiting. Hawke pushed off the wall and put an arm around both of them. They peeked into the twin's room, calling another goodnight, and then retired to the captain's bedroom.
"You did a great job," Hawke said. She leaned to kiss Merrill softly. Merrill purred.
"Young mothers in the clan sang that song. I thought…it would help."
"You're a young mother too," Isabela teased. "How're Mag's lessons going?"
"She retains lessons so well," Merrill admitted. Hawke smiled as her mates bantered. She climbed into the bed after them.
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A few more weeks passed. It was a quiet night and Hawke found herself alone with Isabela as Merrill took up the option of putting Sparrow down. She was going down easier now. She didn't need to wait in the hallway and Sparrow didn't cry so much anymore. She only cried once or twice, and Merrill or Isabela could soothe her to sleep.
Isabela stretched out on her belly on the master large bed, huffing. "Lark's going to get the better of me. His dagger strikes are getting better. Should I be alarmed or pleased about that?"
Hawke intended it to just be a quiet night. Merrill was tucking Sparrow and Magpie in and the twins had already said goodnight. She had purposefully insisted on her mates being the ones to put Sparrow down in the past few months. How she had cried at first, she was so Papa's little girl it hurt Hawke's heart. But now she was getting used to it and went quietly with Merrill tonight. But Isabela stretched on her side, night shirt riding high up on her thighs and offering a flash of what was between her legs. At night, Isabela didn't bother with smallclothes. Hawke sighed somewhere inside as her clit began to extend and swell, her cock forming. She cupped the base and tugged, helping it along.
"I don't know. I say it's a blessing. Our sons will protect us," Hawke suggested. She sat back on her knees as her cock throbbed between her legs. Isabela rolled on her side and shoulder and got an eyeful.
"Well, I'm the luckiest mate there is. You're always offering, aren't ya?" Isabela laughed. She rolled closer to touch her and Hawke let her. The door was closed, Merrill was occupied. Then Hawke's attention was drawn to her mate's large brown eyes, her curved lips, the jewelry still in her ears and lip. Her bandana was off, and her black hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her throat was bare, and Hawke could see her mating mark clearly from this position. She had given it from behind after all. That spurned Hawke to surge over Isabela's back, helping her shed her shift quickly. Hawke pushed her urgently to lean on her arms and slid into position behind her, pausing to shuck her night shirt off quickly. Isabela's giggles rang in her ears and then a long moan as Hawke gently pushed in. She latched her mouth over her mating bite from behind, sucking along the teeth imprints urgently. Isabela's thighs widened and her wet cave drew Hawke in.
"Ooooh, you sweet thing…." Isabela moaned. Hawke smiled around her neck and shoulder, her hips thrusting forward firmly. Lust pushed her on, but love kept her thrusts firm and long. Compared to past joinings, it was far more tender. Isabela just basked under her attention, whining and keening with each thrust. As the moments passed, melancholy threatened to dampen the scene. Hawke was happy, inside her mate who was arching to meet her thrusts, moving trustingly under her. Was it the last time? Before she left? Ever, if she was able to return? Hawke faltered and Isabela aimed a look over her bare shoulder.
"Get out of your head and fuck me," she murmured, panting. Hawke swallowed and tried to give a roguish grin. She could only be glad there weren't any mind sex powers on Thedas. She leaned to press a kiss to Isabela's lips, no matter how it cricked their necks.
"Sorry, Bela…." She purred. Hawke's hips gave a sharp thrust and Isabela gasped beneath her. Smiling again, Hawke focused on the tide of lust prepared to push her over the edge. Isabela squirmed under her but was pinned under Hawke's thrusts, only able to take what she could give. She whined highly as she came and Hawke kept going, gripped in clinging silken walls.
"Oh, Hawke," Isabela panted. She squeezed deliberately over her and Hawke grunted as her first shot exploded inside her mate. She kept going, riding her thrusts, pumping her hips against Isabela's ample round rear. She leaned on one arm over her mate's back, groaning. Her breasts dragged along the pirate's back as she tried not to crush her. Isabela's feet twitched beneath her and she purred. But she didn't push Hawke off. "And all I had to do was lay here to get your attention."
Isabela was giggling but a moment of panic reverberated with the guilt that lay at the bottom of Hawke's heart. She moved a sheaf of her mate's dark hair aside so she could kiss and suck the back of her neck. Isabela squirmed where her mouth laved over her mating bite. "Hawke?"
"S'okay," Hawke murmured. She planted a series of kisses across the back of her mate's shoulder. She pulled back and off Isabela's back, and to the side. Isabela rolled to her side to face her. Her thighs fell open and Hawke eyed the drops of her seed that jostled out of her pussy with the movement. "I just wanted to…."
"Aye, I've got you where I want you," Isabela grinned, happy. She laid her head against Hawke's torso. Her fingertips traced over the bite mark over her breast. Hawke's heart panged. She leaned to kiss the grinning pirate.
The door opened and before Hawke could pull the covers up, she saw it wasn't any of the children, but her second mate. Merrill pushed in, shoulder-length hair unfastened. She gave the sight of her naked mate a look and a smile to Isabela who waved her in. "She's down. Both girls," she said.
Isabela rolled over and gave Merrill room into the bed. "Good job. I'll do Sparrow tomorrow night," she said.
"Your turn if she wakes before morning," Merrill offered. Hawke's heart panged.
"I'll take night shift if you want."
Merrill agreed. "Sure!"
"Sparrow can't handle it if she doesn't see you ever," Isabela reflected. Hawke dearly hoped that weren't true.
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Falcon opened his eyes and looked around the bedroom. Good, Lark was still asleep, snoring loudly in his narrow bed. He pushed the covers off and stealthily padded to the door. Carefully opening it, Falcon slid out into the hallway. There weren't any happy shouts coming from his parent's bedroom and his sisters were quiet as well.
That meant the cookies were all his.
The broad-shouldered boy made his way to the kitchen, bare feet decisively picking out the quiet paths on the hardwood floors of the main room. He pushed open the kitchen door and slid in. Only to almost trip over himself when he noted his papa lounging at the small square table beside the stove, plate of cookies unwrapped before her.
"Papa!" Falcon said. But Hawke gave a grin and patted the table opposite her. Falcon took a seat, his nightshirt riding up. "I was just…."
"Wanted a spot of something sweet too, eh? Don't worry, I'll tell your mothers one of the sailors took the rest," she offered. Falcon grinned as he took a large cookie with icing smeared over the top. The cookies were a new recipe from Mel and the icing was made with coconuts picked from the island trees. It was really good, even cold as it were. He took a large bite.
Falcon swallowed the bite of cookie, as Hawke seemed to study him. "What is it, Papa?"
"I should have your new practice sword ready," Hawke murmured almost to herself. She cleared her throat "Your arms are getting stronger, aren't they?"
Falcon nodded happily. He made a muscle. "I'll be as strong as you."
The look that darted across his papa's face was strange and almost pained. "I think you will be. Stronger too. But that's not for many years, right?" Hawke made herself smile to put her child at ease. "Is a two-handed practice weapon okay with you, pup?"
Falcon nodded. He felt abit odd having to retire his wooden shield, but two-handed fighting was what Papa specialized in. He'd get more fighting expertise from her. "Yes!"
"Good." Hawke poured fresh milk for the both of them in ceramic mugs. Falcon felt important and grown-up when Papa clicked her mug against his. "Cheers, Fal."
"Thanks, Papa," Falcon said happily. Between the two of them, they finished all the cookies and Hawke took care of cleaning the plate. He giggled as he helped clean the mugs. The evidence of their subterfuge was wrapped up. Hawke ruffled his dark hair as they made their way to the back bedrooms to wake up his twin and sisters.
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Hawke opened her eyes slowly. It was still dark out and dawn was a good hour or two away. The darkness of the night was limned with a subtle grey light that would erupt with the sun's rising. When she'd gotten up in the night to pee, she'd opted to take up the last spot on the edge of the bed. She'd done this the past few nights so as not to arouse suspicion from either mate. As she carefully climbed out of bed and into her trousers, toeing on socks and boots, Hawke's eyes swept over her sleeping mates. Guilt twined through her chest and belly, threatening to choke her. Isabela looked happy, hair flung across her pillow as she slept on her back, one hand reaching for her. Merrill was tucked into her side, face pressed to the pirate's shoulder trustingly.
How that trust would quickly evaporate with what she had to do! Hawke swallowed as she blinked stray cobwebs of sleep from her eyes. She ran a hand through her tousled black hair and pulled a tunic on. She carefully opened the master bedroom door and slunk out, shutting it soundlessly. Hawke knew which floorboards creaked in the main room, so she left by the back door. Hawke eyed the painted ceramic mugs her pups had made for themselves, lined up from the previous night's dish washing.
She couldn't help feeling bad as her boots sank into the sand. Dawn was still two hours away. Hawke pushed under the palm tree branches around the shed and pushed in. She uncovered her pack, and quickly pulled on the leather jerkin that was waiting. Breastplate, greaves, gauntlets were clasped into place. Hawke tossed a cloak over one shoulder as she shouldered her pack. Her long sword hilt was tied over one shoulder and she ducked out of the shed, one eye on her house.
No one was up. She didn't have to sneak but Hawke couldn't slinking under the branches toward the far side of the beach. She avoided the Stormy Lover's crew and their more permanent houses. The captain of the Dim Horizon was going over inventory with one of her sailors.
"Are you ready?" she asked. Hawke nodded.
"Yes."
"Are you certain you want to go?" the captain asked. "Did you say goodbye to your kids?"
Hawke's shoulders slumped under the weight of her pack and breastplate. She pushed her cloak into place. "Yes…."
"Alright, let's move!"
As the sailors of the Dim Horizon finished carrying packs of supplies up the gangplank, Hawke followed with her own gear. As the sailors unfastened lines and unfurled sails, she went below deck. She couldn't even leave a proper note… she didn't know how she was going to help the Inquisition with such a bad foot forward.
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"Papa….where's Papa?"
Isabela's eyes opened to find her bed half empty. Merrill was there and was waking as well, confused by the children's cries. She sat up and pulled her shift on.
"Merrill. Wake up, kitten," Isabela yawned. The elf sat up, rubbing a fist in her eye.
"What is it?" she asked. Isabela shrugged and pushed her hair over one shoulder.
Both women were used to waking with Hawke haven't gotten up to handle one or more of the children, so they saw no reason for concern as they exited the master bedroom. Falcon had Sparrow raised to one shoulder, a panicked look on his face.
Lark was tossing books and other items in the main room. Isabela sighed as she noticed Magpie watching her brother, a worried look on her face. "What is going on here?" she asked loudly, using her captain's voice. Lark looked up, guilty.
"Ma," Falcon gulped, rocking Sparrow against him. He held one hand out, a crumpled piece of parchment in it. Isabela took it, raising her eyebrow then fear and confusion fell like a stone in her belly. It was in Hawke's hand and didn't make much sense. Many words were crossed out with splotches of ink, and what was there made fear rise in the pirate.
'I received the call to help….Varric, the Inqusiition…. Corypheus has returned….I am sorry.'
Isabela bit her lip as she turned the parchment over, looking for more. There wasn't any. "What is this?!" she demanded. Falcon gulped.
"I don't know. But Papa's gone," he said miserably. Isabela shared a look with Merrill. They moved through the main room.
"Her sword's gone. But she could be hunting in the woods," Merrill said sensibly. The twins exchanged a look.
"Her armor's gone. She left the helm but…." Lark said, holding out the Champion's helm like an offering. Isabela's hands shook as she accepted the helm. Hawke didn't like wearing it even to battle. She depended on her skill to keep that item of armor from being a necessity.
"Search the island," Isabela commanded. Merrill gulped. Both of them darted out of the captain's house. The sailors up and doing small tasks didn't mark anything wrong. Even with the captain and Merrill in their night shirts.
"Where's Hawke?"
"I duno, Cap'n!"
"Wait, the Champion's missing?"
"Not missing. Gone!" Isabela growled. She and Merrill rushed to the huts housing the temporary residents. Sailors of the Kraken were up and having breakfast at their communal firepit. Isabela stalked past to their captain.
"Well, I am blessed today," the bearded man teased Isabela, eyeing her bare thighs. Isabela punched him. She needed an outlet to her anger and fear, and it felt good.
"Shut up! Where the hell is the other crew?"
"The Dim Horizon? They pulled anchor a few hours ago. Could be your mate went with them?" the captain rubbed his jaw, glowering. That was going to leave a mark.
Isabela's thoughts whirled. The other ship was truly gone and hours ago. She hadn't touched based with their captain to where they'd be heading first. And Hawke thought she was going to give them the slip?!
"Ready the Stormy Lover," Isabela snapped to Mel. She and Craven had run up to help. Mel was holding Magpie's hand. "I'm going after her."
"Why would she go?" Merrill gave a cry beside her. Isabela flashed a look of hurt with the elf.
"I don't know, kitten. But she'll regret it."
End for now
End notes: And its on! Leave a review if you liked. Stay strong, lovelies.
Pen 8/10/2019