3/2/15

Bethany Hawke was actually pleased with being a Circle Mage most of the time, though she would hardly say that to anybody right now. Especially not the two men who cared for her beyond anything else in the world. One was her brother, down in his Hightown mansion from which he assuredly risked his life daily in hopes of making Kirkwall a little brighter. The other...

Bethany was sitting in a windowsill looking over the bay when the shuffle of feet was heard. A very familiar shuffle. A moment later she heard Cullen, the Templar who typically watched her when he could, shift away. Bethany turned, cautious; they were alone.

"Orsino," she whispered. "I thought..."

"I am going to talk, Bethany," the elf whispered with a light sigh. "You are going to listen, then nod your understanding."

Bethany nodded at that point, indicating she heard him.

"Your brother is concerned about the closure of the Circle here," Orsino explained, sitting on the windowsill beside Bethany and whispering. "He has reason to be scared. I can't say much more, but I thought you should know he is planning...something."

Carver and Orsino plotting something. "Enchanter..."

The elf took her hands, squeezing them close. "I will do anything for our mage brethren, Bethany. For you."

Bethany's breath hitches. She missed him these past few years, the strictness of Meredith forcing them apart. After finding him it was like she just lost him again. "I..."

"I love you." He was right at her ear, then pushed away quickly in case Cullen turned back. Bethany nodded, slow.

War was not her nature. It had never been, and likely never would be. It frightened her to think of both Carver and her Orsino in battle, yet...if it came down to it...

"I love you as well. I WILL have your back. Enchanter." She said the last with a slight wink, letting him know her heart.

Bethany knew well that their love was considered forbidden. At first it had been mutual friendship due to shared interests, but as their late-night studying got later and Templars started to leave them out of boredom, their affair had begun. Slowly, surely. Bethany held the memories fondly close to her heart. Likely he would be the only man she loved, this elven Enchanter, and that would be enough.

It had to be.

- Meanwhile, in Hightown... -

Isabella hardly knew why she was back in Carver's house. She'd been spending time with him and Merrill extensively yes, but their previous... arrangement was still unseen. Any time the pirate kissed one of them she felt too much hurt and longing, and it shot through her almost as badly as the year she thought Hawke was dead.

She didn't want it to go on like that.

"Bella?"

She hadn't even heard the door open, so lost in thought. Carver stood there, Merrill on his arm, both wide-eyes. Sober. Which meant she couldn't just leave and blame it on an inebriated imagining.

"I...came to say...I don't know. Thank you for my ship, I suppose."

Carver smiled warmly. "When do we get the grand tour?"

Merrill piped up. "Haven't we...oh, the ship. Right."

Bella laughed in spite of herself. "I have some redecorating to do. It's all yellow velvet if you believe that. Ghastly thing, though the ship seems sturdy enough." Talking about her new acquisition was calming, sweetly mind-numbing. "Once I replace the decorating, I'll let you come aboard. Have you two ever thought of leaving Kirkwall, though? For the high seas? I can always use a bit of ice to halt our enemies, Kitten, and a strong pair of hands at my helm."

Carver lifted a hand, brushing hair from Isabella's face. "I'm afraid I've no knowledge of sailing."

"The ship is the best teacher. She will guide you, with her sighs- her shudders- the gentle swaying as she crests on the waves..." Her voice slipped into a purr, her eyes desperately seeking his. The gentle caressing of her face became more demanding. Then Merrill was there too, kissing the opposite cheek and throwing her arms around the pirate,

"Is this the ship," the small elf asked, "or you?"

Isabella whimpered, emotions swelling. "Same difference."

Carver led the girls upstairs and closed the door. Isabella caught her breath, thinking of all the memories in this room.

"Isabella." Carver's voice was low, calm, yet also full of demands. He sat in one of the chairs, Merrill pulling the other woman to sit on the bed. "I need you to tell me how you feel. Truly, honestly. About us BOTH."

Steadying herself, Isabella turned to Merrill. "You are the sweetest thing I'd ever met. I wanted to test you, tease you, and find the limit. I thought it might be a challenge for me to get you into bed actually. Then you were kinder than anticipated, and not...quite as innocent as I'd feared. I

Found myself just wanting you, and then...wanting more. When you said... when we... I found myself wanting to say it back to you. And it scared me."

Merrill kissed Bella's cheek. "That's sweet, Izzy."

Carver nodded, trepidatious. Isabella loved Merrill, but where did that leave them? Unless...

"And you, Hawke. When I first met you I was curious, thought you adorable. Like some pup waiting to grow into its fangs before he sank them deep."

"Weren't you afraid to be on the receiving end?" Carver asked, finding his voice.

"Why do you think I pressed? Then I found that you knew those fangs well- just kept them in careful reserve. You became my distraction while I was landlocked."

Carver frowned. "So I was a diversion?" His heart ached, scared.

"Until you spoke for me, I'd have claimed so." At that, Isabella went quiet. When she continued, she let her words sound haunted ever so slightly. "But you are the reason I turned around. And I realized when I thought... let's just say I figured out I loved you at the worst possible time."

Merrill offered the pirate a hug, then a kiss. Soon Bella was returning the kiss, but reaching out. Carver heeded her request, coming to her and joining the embrace. Something changed in that moment, becoming more- and better- than any of the three could ever have hoped.