A week afterward, Hawke started receiving gifts.

It was simple at first; an unmarked box, given to her by a clueless Bodahn, which held a simple bracelet inside.

There were no clues as to who it was from. There was no note, and the box could have been gotten anywhere. It was strange, and Hawke was so suspicious of it she didn't ever wear it.

A couple days later, however, she received a kind of lotion. When she opened the jar, she was met with the scent of something sweet yet spicy, something she couldn't identify. There still was no note, but she just had to try it.

It left her skin the softest it had ever been, and left her smelling of that sweet spice.

Then the gifts started coming more frequently. The next day, she was given a lovely red silk scarf.

And the morning after that, she found pastries in her kitchen.

That afternoon, Bodahn handed her a box with a forest green blouse. And for the first time, it had a note:

To bring out your eyes.

~A secret admirer

It really did go with her eyes well, she had to admit. It was a lace up short-sleeved top, good for the heat, and she started wearing it when she wasn't fighting.

Isabela started insisting she wear it with the pair of pants that she'd been given when Isa spilled wine on her robes.

Which, she had to admit, looked damn good on her.

Good enough to make Sebastian look at her...

She shoved that thought away as soon as it came. Sebastian had no interest in her, she told herself. He was probably only wondering how she could bear to go out that way.

As time went on, the presents became more and more... intimate.

Fine perfumes, scandalous nightgowns, and lacy underclothes being among them.

But eh, what the hell, she thought. If she had them, she might as well use them. And to her surprise, when she wore them she started walking less like a scared mage and more like... like... Isabela.

She felt like she knew something no one else did. It made her smirk and bite her lip every time the lace brushed her skin. It made her feel sexy. She moved with less awkwardness and more grace. She felt powerful in a completely new way.

And more eyes followed her when she moved.

She only wished she could be happier about it.

Isabela and Varric sat across from each other at the table in the Hanged Man, each looking slyly over their hand of cards.

The entire group came there at least once a week for Wicked Grace, even Sebastian, thought he chose not to play.

Something Isabela decided to take advantage of.

And with both a pirate captain and a master storyteller, it was too easy to make the game go their way.

"This is ridiculous," Hawke complained. "I've never lost all my money so early. I don't want to go home yet."

"Then don't." Isabela smirked. "Money's not the only thing you can bet with, kitten."

Hawke flushed red with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "But-"

"What's the matter, Hawke?" Varric drawled, raising an eyebrow at her. "The Champion of Kirkwall would never back down from a challenge."

She narrowed her eyes, and for a moment it almost looked as if she might get up and leave right then.

But she threw in her cards, motioning to Isabela to give her another hand.

Varric hid his smirk.

And Hawke wasn't the only one who ended up without coin. Fenris was out not long afterward, and refused to continue. When Anders's pockets ran dry, he merely shrugged and offered his socks.

First, Hawke lost a bracelet. Anders lost a belt. The next round Anders folded; Hawke lost a boot.

Sebastian was shaking his head. "I don't think it's wise to bet your shoes, Hawke."

She flashed him a smile. "Nonsense; if Fenris and Merrill can walk without shoes, so can I."

The next round, she lost the other. She didn't mind; she didn't really want to hop home anyway.

Anders lost a bracer, and Hawke lost her shirt.

She had her bindings on underneath it, though, keeping her chest hidden from view.

She shifted nervously. Since she'd taken to wearing her gifts, she knew her breasts would be more eye-catching than usual. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest.

"There's still time to back out, Hawke," Varric told her, a sly smile playing on his lips.

He knew just how to play her.

She narrowed her eyes. "Deal again."

"Hawke," Sebastian cautioned.

She lost, of course. she shed her trousers, slightly sad that she had to lose such comfy pants.

Isabela rubbed her hands together evilly.

"That's enough."

Startled, everyone looked up at the finality in Sebastian's tone. He stood, undid the fastenings on his chainmail coat, and put it over Hawke's shoulders, urging her to her feet.

"You'll take no more from her tonight."

And he led Hawke out the door by her hand, almost everyone staring after them.

Anders frowned. "That's not fair..."

Varric and Isabela shared a knowing smile.

Isabela knew it wouldn't be happening tonight, though.

Sebastian was far too noble. Hawke had been drinking, and randy as a goat or no, Sebastian would never want her drunk.

But it would be soon.