Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2 or 3."
Author's notes: Well I find myself not having much to say. As the spring starts and it starts getting hotter out, my mood gets sour. Good thoughts, though, for all you lovelies reading. Any story bits that got in here were also co-created by CharlieBarrow during many talks. Enjoy.
CharlieBarrow: thanks for the good words.
Guest on FF: I hope you were okay with a few more weeks of lag! Its up.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter fifty "Three become One"
Isabela wished Hawke's wound didn't look so grim.
She helped Merrill clean and bind her stump every two days, and Merrill seemed satisfied with the healing bits of flesh that still held after the sutures had been pulled out. Isabela left her to the healing herbs, and a memory of Merrill holding her cool during Hawke's horrible fever some years prior came crashing back. Merrill's Dalish clan had let her do some of the community's healing, which was helping them all the more now.
Now, Merrill was winding a new roll of clean bandage around the stump and Hawke leaned back on her palms, gritting her teeth openly. Isabela wanted to soothe her mate now, so she slid close to kiss her cheek.
"Deep breaths, Hawke. It'll be over soon," she encouraged. The look Hawke gave her was one of agony. She was marshalling her strength.
"You don't know how much it hurts. Every time I push it against something or lean down against it when I'm sitting…. It's like a lightning bolt every time."
Isabela took her lips in a soft kiss. The look of surprise on her mate's face and sharp intake of breath was satisfying. "Better?"
Hawke huffed out an exhale, surprise all over her features still. "Yes."
"Good." Merrill put her herbs back in her supply basket and rose up to get her own kiss. Isabela stroked her cheek affectionately as she leaned back from Hawke's lips. "We need you in as whole a shape as we can get."
Hawke's grin was wry as she accepted her crutch and stood up on her left leg.
"I'm trying, loves."
Trying to move the crutch through the sand was slow. But Hawke was determined to make it to the blacksmith's forge. He cleared a stump for her to sit on and Hawke sank down, sighing with relief. The blacksmith was carving a solid chunk of wood. He compared the length to Hawke's good leg and asked her to stand, leaning on him. Hawke grunted, and then sank back down on the stump, sighing with relief when he was done.
"The trick is to make a workable knee for your wooden leg. But I think I have the parts to help with that," the bearded man said. Hawke watched him mess with some metal pieces on his forge, measuring with the end of the wooden leg. The twins sat on the sand beside her, watching the burly man work. "It'll take some time, Messere Hawke. But I pray it works well for your needs."
"My thanks," Isabela purred, winking at the man. The blacksmith grinned, showing a few cracked teeth and went back to work. Hawke sighed and lifted up, to lean on the crutch.
"Hopefully I'll be done with this thing."
"Hopefully," Falcon agreed. Hawke gave him a soft smile. Hawke watched her children spread out across the sand and play. Falcon and Lark took turns picking up Sparrow and swinging her in their arms. The toddler squealed happily. Magpie was kneeling on the sand and Merrill sat next to her, weaving a stream of magic for her to follow.
Hawke sighed. Isabela knelt in the sand before her, and perched on her left thigh, chin against her hip. "Doing okay?" she asked. Hawke nodded, though blood had pooled to more interesting areas. She smiled beneath the sun.
"Getting there."
"Good." Isabela looked like she was plotting, and Hawke was happy to see this side of her resurface. Usually it involved pleasurable activities. She seemed to be getting used to the fact Hawke was home and wasn't going anywhere. Hawke had taken great efforts to show her this. So, when Merrill helped Isabela lead her over the sand back towards the pathways, Merrill gave a smile and left the two of them alone. The wooden pathway led up to a hidden waterfall and rocky cliffs. A blue inviting pool lay beneath the falls, giving a calming effect to the area. Isabela knew Craven and Mel liked to use this place privately, as did many of the pirates that had paired off did.
But right now, the pool and falls were for the captain's use. Hawke watched her mate curiously as she was led to sit on some moss near the pool's edge, the green giving a cushion to sit on. Hawke leaned back against a large fallen tree stump that gave a good support for her back. Isabela leaned against her, her long leg stretching out beside Hawke's stump. She sighed in her head, noticing the comparison. But then Isabela's clever hands were running up and down her form and she was leaning in for a kiss. It turned heated, their tongues stroking, and Hawke was happy her desire for her mate was stoked up so easily. She cupped Isabela's face in her palms and kissed her again, sweeter this time.
Isabela was blushing darkly when they parted. Her next words were hard, but her eyes held a flash of fire. "Sometimes I hate that I love you."
Hawke understood though. She stroked Isabela's cheek with her calloused fingertips. She was reminded of their conversation after their first tumble, that hard and sudden joining Isabela had insisted on, hopping on her waist and forcing her to carry them back toward her bedchamber in Kirkwall.
"It's not a weakness, Bela. It's not." Hawke soothed. Isabela caught her hand and kissed her fingers.
"But I do. I do love you. And you've proven a good sire. Inquisition mess aside." Isabela cupped between her legs. Hawke had shifted and she cupped the bulge with knowing fingers. Hawke leaned back, groaning. "What about this? Were you good to us still or did you give this to someone else?"
Hawke swallowed. Many soldiers took advantage of being around new companions or camp followers. Her heart was glad she could say: "No. Never."
"Are you sure?" Isabela began to unlace her, hand reaching in. The first touch of her fingers on her shaft had Hawke bucking already. Isabela looked surprised but pleased. "You didn't thrust into some pretty thing, giving her everything?"
Hawke's thoughts of love for her mate were swiftly turning carnal. "NO. I couldn't…."
Isabela stroked her, her movements remembered in the way as she grasped her. Hawke sighed. "Why?"
Hawke's eyes flashed with concern. "You know why. I love you, Bela…."
"Love," Isabela scoffed. "Love isn't for everyone."
"It is for you," Hawke insisted. Her hand moved over her mate's chest, watching her breasts bob as she freed them from her tunic. "It is for us, And Merrill." Their lips pressed together, and they kissed hotly, Hawke growing harder in Isabela's fist. She Isabela parted and moved her lips further down her torso. Hawke spread her knees as Isabela descended up on her head, lapping at the slit, then taking her fully in her mouth. Hawke gasped sharply. When she didn't move to grab her, Isabela took Hawke's hand and tangled her fingers in her hair.
"Hold on. Just don't push."
"I wouldn't…"
"Good." Then Isabela lowered her head and Hawke fell onto her back, gasping. She was pushed to orgasm swiftly, moved by the heat of her mate's clever mouth. Isabela leaned up, watching Hawke's chest rise and fall dramatically. "I suppose I should be flattered," she couldn't help teasing.
"You….should?" Hawke's brain functions weren't moving quite there yet. She gasped for breath. "Sorry that was so short…"
"Nah, we'll just need to build your stamina back up." Hawke was thrilled the teasing was back in Isabela's voice.
"Whu did you…have in mind?" Hawke's hands went down on Isabela's hips, as she straddled her. She'd loosened her corset, and her breasts swayed out of her tunic top. Hawke's eyes went down to them as Isabela sat against her. Isabela noticed and leaned down so her breasts were against her mouth. Hawke gladly took a nipple into her mouth. And soon Isabela was taking her in. Hawke lay on her back, staring up at the sun slanting through the trees and over the cliffs above her mate's smiling face.
Afterward, Isabela kept her inside, and leaned down to press kisses across her face. Hawke grinned as she felt cold sweat bead at her temples. She leaned up on her elbow to capture her lips.
"Well, that was something," Isabela panted above her. Hawke fell on her back, holding both hands up to cradle Isabela's face. She leaned up for a kiss.
"My love….Bela…." How she'd longed for this, to come home and be welcomed. Isabela kissed her back and they twined that way on the moss by the fallen tree trunk. The cascading falls rushed beyond them, a light babbling of noise to cancel out their sighs.
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
When Merrill saw Hawke and Isabela return back from the forest and falls, she knew what had happened. Hawke put an arm around her waist and stole a kiss from her and Isabela latched onto her other side.
"Should I be asking for my turn?" Merrill asked. Isabela kissed her cheek and ruffled her hair affectionately. Hawke stole another kiss from her lips.
"Oh you'll get it….whenever is up to your asking, my love," Hawke murmured. Isabela played with the ends of Merrill's hair lovingly.
"Both of us, if you'll still have me."
The look of apprehension on Isabela's face panged Merrill's heart. She leaned to kiss the pirate on the cheek and hugged Hawke about the neck, holding on. Hawke's right arm went round her waist, as she leaned on her crutch. "I do! I will…."
"Well, good," Isabela drawled. "You'll have your hands full, Kitten."
Isabela blushed as both women roamed wandering hands over her sides. She gave a sharp gasp. "Not right here! The children could see."
Hawke buried her face against Merrill's shoulder, giving a soft laugh.
"She's so shy," Isabela agreed with her mate. Merrill had her hands full with them and the three held hands, helping Hawke move across the sand toward the captain's house. Sailors waved to them and move about their tasks or lounged on the sand. Isabela stopped to check on her small distillery and brought a bottle with her as they entered the house.
"Newest batch of rum," she explained. Hawke moved toward the kitchen and the storage room.
"What about those bottles gifted me?" She wanted to know. Merrill caught Isabela's eye. The pirate had a slightly guilty look that bordered on nausea.
"Uhm…." Isabela was at a loss for words for once. Hawke pushed the door to the back room and surveyed the back shelves.
"Should I be surprised?" She teased the pirate. Isabela pouted.
"I was upset," she tried to explain. Hawke could clearly see in her mind's eye, Isabela drinking alone in the storage room, eyes red from crying where no one could see. She squeezed Isabela's hand.
"It's okay," she said softly. Isabela met her eyes almost shyly.
"Rum sounds even better than wine," Merrill chirped beside them and Hawke agreed. She gazed at her elven mate with loving eyes. Already she was planning in her mind how their first joining since she'd come back would be. Isabela seemed receptive to it. She'd already had her turn. Hawke licked her lower lip which had gone dry.
"Bela….. Merrill needs a little bit of time to get….reacclimated with me. Do you mind?" she asked shyly. Isabela kissed her then Merrill. The elf slung her arms around her neck.
"I don't mind. After you've joined, Kitten and I need to mark each other. Oh, think of the pleasure with two marks," Isabela wondered. Merrill shivered. She caught Hawke's amorous look and blushed. Her mate had to be still feeling bad about her body thanks to her missing leg. And she still looked somewhat haggard, even with trying to rest since coming back. Merrill wanted Hawke to look as carefree as she once did. She'd help her relax, and spirits, she needed it too….
"We'll be back for dinner," Merrill agreed, taking Hawke's arm. Her mate leaned on her somewhat as they left Isabela to care for the pups who wandered in and out at random intervals to get toys, apples for snacks, or whatever else they needed for their games.
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Hawke swallowed as Merrill shut the door to the captain's room and walked toward her. Her eyes wandered up and down her mate's lithe body, covered in her green tunic and leggings. She was still spritely thin, but her hips had a bit of a flare since having Magpie. Hawke liked it. Her mind suddenly went to dark places and she sat on the edge of the bed, moving the crutch aside. The end of her stump jarred against the mattress and she hissed abit at the pain.
A part of her was forever gone. Would she still stack up to her mate and how much she'd admired her? Merrill cupped Hawke's cheek in one hand and turned her gaze to her.
"Ma vhenan," Merrill purred. "I want you to relax. Can you do that for me?"
Hawke realized her fingers clenched in the sheets. She leaned back on her hands, sighing. "It's not you, Merrill. It's me. I feel so…incomplete sometimes."
"That's to be expected," Merrill said briskly. She wanted to help Hawke move past her moments of failure and help her focus on her and the family. "But you're still my Hawke. Still same dark hair, same scar across that adorable nose, same lips, same hands…"
"I've got my scars, I guess," Hawke said. She lifted a calloused hand and Merrill took it in hers, kissing her knuckles. "Merrill…"
"I want you, ma vhenan," Merrill said softly. Tears filled the corners of her eyes. "But more than that, I love you. You came back. For all our sakes."
"Merrill…" Hawke let herself be guided down onto the bed and she lay on her side, tugging Merrill against her front. They kissed and it was so sweet that Hawke was moved along. She tried to push onto Merrill, guiding her to her back, when her stump struck the mattress at her new positioning. Merrill was startled from the kiss as Hawke hissed and yelped in pain above her.
"Dammit!" She swore. She fell onto her back, trying to breathe as jagged shades of red lanced across her vision. Hawke groaned and tried to ride the surge of pain. Lessen….please…please, just stop hurting…. Her hand kept dipping down to rub her knee, but there was nothing there but a clump of bandaging. She hissed.
Merrill half lay across her torso and leaned to kiss her. Hawke was moved past the pain and Merrill kissed her again and again. Slowly she relaxed and let her hands start to roam. Merrill murmured with appreciation when Hawke's hand went low and caressed her hip and rear. Hawke lay there, blinking with surprise and passion as Merrill knelt up to undress. Her leggings took more shimmying, but Hawke swallowed as she saw all of Merrill's creamy flesh once more. Her breasts looked a little fuller, really, everything did after Magpie…. Hawke's hand slowly reached to caress her breast and Merrill sighed, pushing into her hand. Through the next few kisses, Hawke was fully relaxed and only smiled against her mate's lips when she felt Merrill pushing her tunic front up, caressing her belly and sides. Her old scars, she didn't mind if Merrill saw.
Then Merrill's hand went due south, stroking her through her trousers and Hawke saw a different kind of red. This one was more pleasurable, and she reveled in the pressure Merrill's hand provided, stroking the outline of her shaft through her clothes. She leaned up to help Merrill undress her. Naked against each other, Hawke liked the way Merrill's eyes kept drifting down between them, to eye her length. She wondered when Merrill had had time to compare notes with Isabela, for her mate seemed to pick up the best position to move her along without jarring her stump; Merrill straddled her and carefully leaned down, moving herself along the underside of her shaft.
Hawke gasped; she was so hard it hurt, and her hands roamed up and down Merrill's back and hips, urging her to mount up. When Merrill did, the sight was so beautiful, Hawke could only stare. Merrill's face was flushed, her bangs hung into her eyes and she bit her lip, moaning softly as she lowered herself onto her mate. Hawke may have worried for a moment; it had been too long, and her mate had been so tight before Magpie, but she was so wet that she began sliding down onto the head of her shaft almost cleanly. The loud cry Merrill gave was of pleasure, so Hawke smiled up at her, giving her hips a small nudge below her to help.
The smooth way Merrill slid down onto her, seating her inside, moved Hawke more than pleasurably. She aimed a glance where they were joined, thrilled that Merrill could take the last stubborn inch of her at last. She sighed, soaking in the sensation of warm gripping heat moving and fluttering up and down her shaft. Merrill cried out above her and Hawke twined their fingers together, giving her silent gestures of comfort as they ground against each other. She kissed Merrill's fingertips and groaned loudly when Merrill twined their other hands together and she urged Hawke's arms above her head, leaning low and riding her earnestly. Hawke was good and moved along and could only gasp and arch beneath her mate as she was ridden. It felt too good to try and roll on top and besides, Merrill was taking good care of her. She needn't try anything that could make her jar her stump again. Hawke wasn't ashamed to crest first, exploding beneath her elven mate. Her good leg tensed into the mattress beneath her as she thrust her hips upward in uneven jerks. Merrill cried out, coming hard, hips stuttering and her thighs gripping Hawke's hips tightly. Hawke sighed, reaching to smooth sweaty uneven hair out of her mate's eyes so she could see her eyes opening with glazed passion as she came.
"Oh, Hawke…." Merrill said and sighed something in elvish. Hawke only got half of her meaning but when she thrust beneath her again, Merrill cried out, tilting her head back. "Oh, more?"
"Yes, my love," Hawke rumbled. She gave a slow exhale as she and Merrill moved against each other again.
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Hawke was dozing lightly when the door to the bedroom opened and Isabela let herself in. Merrill was awake, head propped up with one hand watching her sleep apparently. She and Isabela exchanged a look then both turned their gaze to Hawke's languid body. She blinked as she woke, rubbing her eyes with a fist.
Her belly was still flat, but years in captivity had left their mark. There were pockets of flesh that seemed to sag, as if her musculature had deflated. Hawke's arms were still strong, but Isabela had pinched an area of flesh that hung loose that had made Hawke pout with disappointment. Hopefully drilling with their sons again would put her back into prime condition. But as was, Isabela and Merrill would take the haggard lines of exhaustion on her face, beneath her eyes and the somewhat furtive glances of her green eyes looking for danger. She had relaxed that look somewhat, but it was still there once in awhile.
At least right now, Hawke looked well and relaxed, and sated. She was shifting right now, cock forming between her legs at the sight of Isabela. The pirate was pleased her presence even fully clothed could elicit that kind of reaction now and she closed the door behind her, making her way to her naked mates. Well mate, and plus one soon.
Hawke was rumbling and purring as Merrill gently traced the outline of her mating mark on the once Champion's throat. Her nipples stiffened as she arched her back languidly, enjoying the attention. Isabela climbed on the bed and traced careful fingers around the curve of her breast, tracing her own mark over the small mound of flesh. Hawke smiled widely, leg twitching. Her toes curled and uncurled as she basked in her mate's attention.
"You two keep giving each other eyes too," Hawke rumbled. "Do you want me there when you…."
Merrill leaned over and gave Isabela a kiss. Isabela kissed her back, darting a tongue across her lips. Merrill blushed as she looked back and down at Hawke lovingly.
"Of course, sweet thing. We do everything together," Isabela promised. Her heart felt better, lighter. Sweet Merrill would be hers too, as she was already imprinted on her heart. As deeply as Hawke….
Hawke sighed as she sat up. "So, when do you…."
"Later. Tonight. But we can't loll in bed all day," Merrill said. Hawke grinned sheepishly.
"Guess not. Where are the pups?" This she directed to Isabela.
Isabela laid her head on Hawke's shoulder. "The twins are jogging with the sailors. The girls are playing in the sand. Oh, you may want to help with their carving. The pups have commissioned Sparrow to be their archer as she gets older. The twins have the styles of swordplay handled and Magpie is a mage."
"Makes sense," Hawke said. How could she not have seen that. She pushed up and groaned as her stump pressed into the mattress. Both women helped her up. "Aw, sorry…"
"Don't be," Merrill said sweetly. She and Hawke got dressed as Isabela watched.
"Well then, let's find out where our young party went to," Hawke said. She grasped her crutch and stood. Together, the three made their way out to the main room and to the beach.
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
It seemed to take forever to get the girls to go to sleep after dinner. The twins were excited about their progress with carving wooden arrows fit for a small child, and they'd spoken of having enlisted Craven's help for Sparrow's bow. And Magpie had learned a few new tricks, eager to show Merrill.
Finally, Sparrow had yawned against Magpie's shoulder and Isabela took that cue to lift her to carry to bed and Merrill lifted Magpie, who was certainly getting too big to be carried. The twins said goodnight and ambled off to their room. Hawke waved to them then wen to the girl's room to help with putting them down. Magpie's eyes were fluttering as Merrill told her a clan story softly; Isabela sat on the girl's other side of the bed, stroking her long black hair. Sparrow was already asleep, light breathing noises filling the air.
Hawke crutched in carefully, so as not to wake her, and leaned to kiss Magpie. Then she was fluttering asleep and the three women left the room for their own chamber.
Inside the captain's bedchamber, Isabela dimmed the lanterns, leaving a few candles going. Hawke shivered with anticipation as her mates undressed. She shrugged out of her tunic and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to lose her loose trousers. Merrill helped her, but after a long deep kiss, Hawke let her go toward Isabela. Watching Merrill melt into Isabela's arms told Hawke this was right. Her mating marks tingled as she watched. When Isabela finally bit Merrill, it was on the other side of her throat, opposite her own mark, and Hawke smiled her appreciation. Merrill was lost in Isabela's touch, thighs spread by her hand, and arching beneath her slow thrusts.
When she came, Isabela leaned to kiss her mouth. "Didn't I tell you, I've got you, Kitten?" she murmured, but not so low Hawke couldn't hear. Hawke shivered as Merrill mewled beneath the pirate.
"Oh, Bela…."
Then it was Isabela's turned to be marked again, and her startled eyes flew above Merrill's dark head to meet Hawke's eyes as she arched with pleasure. Hawke moved toward them as they rested on the bed, panting. Her hand soothed down Isabela's dark side, roaming over her wide hip. The pirate laughed as she tried to catch her breath.
"And already Hawke wants her turn," she teased. Merrill lifted her head, grinning at their mate. Hawke was startled how aroused she was, hard and hurting as her mating marks tingled in response to their new ones. It was like a painting that was retraced, but not directly over what was there, but on the outlines, enhancing the image.
"Oh, Maker's ass I do," Hawke teased. Isabela slid against her, tongue teasing in her mouth. Hawke groaned as Merrill's hand dipped between her legs, stroking her stiffness. "Merrill does too."
"Yes," Merrill blushed as both her mates turned their attention on her. And the night passed along pleasurably for the three as their bodies twined in interesting and shared ways.
End for now
End notes: It's been smut-orama for awhile. Any suggestions? Like it, drop a review, and take care, my lovelies.
Pen 5/25/2020