Chapter 2
"It'll be fun!" Isabela exclaimed leaning across the table and sliding the map across the table towards Varric giving him a full view of her particular assets. "Imagine the possibilities. Gold, jewels, exotic beauties," The pirate cooed. "All those lovelies just waiting to be plucked."
"Have you gone daft?" Varric asked sitting back and observing the pirate with a keen eye. He wasn't a fool. Isabel had just gotten a new ship. She wanted to test it out. He could see it in the pirate's eye as she talked about treasure and sailing, Isabel was getting stir crazy. She was tired of waiting around Kirkwall for adventure to find them. This time she wanted to be in control of her own course for once.
"No, I haven't gone mad. I'm bored." Pouted the pirate. She sat back and drained her mug of ale. "I'm bored and I have a ship and crew again."
"You only have that crew and ship thanks to Hawke." Fenris pointed out as he sat down at the table.
Isabel shot him a winning smile. "Oh, I know I owe Hawke a lot. This would be a great way to pay her back. Don't you think?"
"What do you mean?" The white haired elf asked, crossing his arms over his armored chest.
"Well, Hawke's done so much for us wouldn't it be nice to give something back to her?" purred Isabel.
"What are you driving at? Hawke has plenty of money, she doesn't want nor need anymore." Fenris supplied.
"Yes, well, that's not the point. Wouldn't it be fun to get her something unique? Something she doesn't already own? Something she can't buy at the market or from a stall vendor. Think on it. Is all I'm saying," Isabel winked at the elf.
Fenris sighed and shook his shaggy head. "I might be in, but not to repay Hawke. I have my own expenses to take care of."
Varric didn't miss the hint of anger in the elf's voice. "What's wrong, elf?"
Fenris fixed his eyes on Varric and rolled them turning his head he raised an arm to signal the bar wench.
"Oh, he's mad at Hawke for flirting with Zevran." Isabel supplied leaning to rest her booted feet on the table.
Fenris shot her a glare that would have frozen blood of the nearest rage demon. "Hey, don't get all bent out of shape about it. It isn't like you two are together and Zevran's like that." Isabel stated folding her hands on her stomach. "He's a flirt. Besides you saw he turned her and me down."
"Wait," Varric held up a hand, "Back up, Izzy, what are you talking about?"
Isabela shrugged and regaled him with the tale of how Hawke had enlisted her, Merrill, and Fenris into helping out an old 'friend' of hers. Varric listened intently. During the story the bar wench brought Fenris his order and the elf drained the mug just as Isabel was getting to the part about Hawke teasing and flirting with the elven assassin.
Once Isabel was finished she stretched her arms above her head and yawned. "And that's that. Zevran went back to the Dalish camp and we came back to Kirkwall."
"So you and this Zevran had relations, Rivanni?"
The pirate nodded and dropped her arms down. "Oh, we had more than that. He helped me kill my bastard husband and take over his ship. Oh, those were the good old days."
"Is there anyone you having had relations with?" Fenris teased her.
"Well, the two of you sitting here." She smiled at both of them.
Fenris eyed the pirate up and down taking in her bountiful chest and long legs. Varric rolled his eyes. "Don't even be tempted, elf. Hawke would burn you to a crisp."
"Hawke, doesn't care." Fenris snapped at the dwarf.
"Probably because you don't seem too." Varric lashed back. He wasn't about to watch either one of his friends hurt the other especially over simple words. "You know Hawke, she likes to flirt, but she's never acted on any of those thoughts."
"How do you know?"
"Because Hawke just isn't that kind of person. She's sensible and it's obivious to everyone at this table that Hawke's been waiting for you to make the next move. There are not too many people in this world that would wait on some one for three years to make up their minds. Hawke is one of the few." Varric spat and looked over to the barkeep. He raised his hand to him and the bar keep nodded. He needed a drink.
Fenris sat in brooding silence. Varric knew the elf had no words. Because he knew it was true. Hawke was waiting on him. It was his own fault if he was too stubborn or stupid to figure it out.
"Uhh, is this a bad time." A quiet chirpy voice asked. Varric glanced up to see Merrill standing there watching with her wide red rimmed eyes. Her face was pale and she was twisting her fingers into knots.
"No, Daisy, not at all. Fenris was being Fenris." Varric kicked a chair out for her. "Sit down. Have a drink, it's on me."
"Okay, thanks, Varric." Merrill sat down between him and Isabel. She looked upset like she had been crying.
"What's the matter, sweet thing?" Isabel asked as the bar wench brought over Varric and Fenris' drinks then went to go get one for Merrill.
"I've done something horrible. My Clan…" tears burst from her eyes and she covered her face with her hands, heavy sobs wracking her lithe frame.
Isabel sat up dropping her feet from the table. The pirate placed an arm around the elven blood mage. "Hey, it can't be that bad." The pirate cooed.
"That's right, Daisy, what happened? You step on an ant on your way here." Varric asked patting the slender elf on her delicate shoulder.
Merrill shook her head. "No, no, no," She dropped her hands and sniffled wiping a hand across her eyes and nose. "That stupid mirror! Hawke was right, I should never have messed with it. I should have left it alone. But instead I…my Keeper is dead. I killed her." Merrill wailed and flung her arms and head down on the table.
Fenris shot her a withering look. "You seem surprised. Hawke warned you that your magic came with a price."
"I didn't think someone else would have to pay it." Isabel squeezed Merrill's shoulders.
"It's all right, kitten."
"No, you don't understand. The Clan hates me. They're leaving." She picked her head up and tried futilely to wipe her eyes again. "But that's not the worst of it. That elf that we helped, Isabel." Merrill became serious suddenly. "He knows Marahariel. I thought I saw her here in town the another day if Marahariel learns what I did…" Merrill shuddered and looked down at the ground.
"We won't let anything happen to you. I know the Warden, she isn't like that." Isabel stated coolly. "She isn't the cause bodily harm type."
Merrill was shaking her head. "You don't know her like I do. She used to get into trouble a lot. Her and Tamlen were constantly causing problems and fighting with others. Lyna's going to kill me. She liked the Keeper and the Keeper liked her for as much trouble as she got into."
"You don't know that." Varric tried to soothe her, be the upbeat elf seemed beyond consoling.
"Well, I have just the thing to cheer you up and to get you away from Kirkwall for awhile." Isabel stated wrapping an arm around the elf's slender shoulders.
Merrill removed her head from her hands and stared at the pirate. "What?"
"See, I have a map. It's a treasure map, sweet thing."
"Oh, Rivanni, right now isn't the best time," Varric started, but the pirate waved a hand at him.
"It's the best time, Varric. If she's worried about the Hero of Ferelden then leaving might be just what she needs." Isabel supplied.
"When has running ever worked for anyone at this table?" Varric voiced, glancing around at everyone. Merrill peeked up at him. Isabela pointed looked at Fenris. The elf shrugged, avoiding Varric's gaze as well. Varric snorted. "Thought as much." They all remembered to many times were running had put them in a worst dilemma than if they had just faced their problems. Varric was guilty of it himself.
"But what am I going to do?" Merrill squeaked as she wiped at the tear-streaks on her pale tattooed cheeks.
Sighing sat back and lifted his mug of ale to his lips. He took a long pull before setting it down. "Well, daisy, best that she hears it from you than her finding out on her own."
Merrill canted her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "She'll never forgive me."
"Maybe not, but that's part of the consequences of the choices you've made. We all have to face them sooner or later." Varric pointedly looked at the other elf sitting at the table. Fenris continued to watch the bar, but he noticed the elf's eye twitch at his words. Good, maybe he'll go talk to Hawke.
Merrill blinked, tears filling her eyes again. "I don't know that I can."
Varric sighed. "Well, daisy, that's up to you."
"Ah, come on, Varric, don't be that way." Isabel purred wrapping her arm around the elf girl's slender shoulders and squeezing. "She's devastated."
"You wouldn't have a problem telling Lyna, would you, Isabela? See that's something I've always admired about you. You're so confident and strong even in the face of despair." Merrill said wiping a hand across her eyes.
"Oh, kitten, I don't know that I could. I think of it this way, I also ran away from Hawke with the book to save my own skin all those years ago. I know what it's like to run away. I'm probably not the best person to give advice on this topic." The pirate stated slipping into her seat again. Her arm slid away from Merrill's shoulders.
Fenris snorted and turned to face the rest of the table. "You talk about facing this Hero of Ferelden like she is a high dragon."
Merrill looked at Fenris sharply as Isabela barked out a quick laugh. "You wouldn't be far from the truth. She did slay the Archdemon that led the Blight in Ferelden. She's a quick one. Not one I would want to meet in a dark back alley."
Merrill paled and then groaned. "She's worse than that. Did you know she use to get into fights with other hunters? She used to cause so many problems, but everyone loved her. She could be nice when she wanted to be."
"So maybe you don't have much to worry about." Varric adventured just as the elf shook her head.
"No, Lyna was loyal to the clan. She only left because of her sickness which caused her to join the Grey Wardens.' Merrill looked down at the table her hands slipped from her face. She picked at the wood grains with a finger.
"She's not really going to kill you." Varric said, guessing that the Hero of Ferelden wasn't that cold hearted.
"I don't know. She's been bedding an assassin. She might have picked up a few tricks and quirks we don't know about." Isabela teased winking at Merrill.
Merrill groaned again and rested her forehead on the table. "I'm a dead elf. That's it. I'm a dead elf."
Varric shot the pirate a pointed look. "Don't worry, daisy, I don't think it's going to be as bad as that."
Merrill shook her head. "I'm dead, so dead."