"It's a little ridiculous," Isabela raised her tankard to her lips.
"A little?" Fenris arched an eyebrow.
"He has a point." Anders put his elbows on the small table they'd claimed at the tavern in a small town. A little bit of liquor had put some color back in his face, a welcome change from the mage's normal pale and gray haggard look. Isabela was welcoming the sight of his original sexy tortured look. She was tired of seriousness.
But then again, she could leave whenever she wanted.
She did not look at Fenris.
Blast him and his….attractiveness. If she was so attached to him, his 'loyalty' and 'morals' and 'concern' could keep him to Hawke, and she could have been gone by now. But as it was, he was that pretty and she was that addicted.
And Hawke was that miserable.
It had been four years since they'd…well, since she had left, and she knew Hawke. He wasn't moping about her. No, something else was nagging at him. They just couldn't figure out what was hurting him the most.
"I still say we should tie him down somewhere until he comes to his senses." Isabela shrugged.
"An entirely unlikely scenario." Fenris was still using that dry tone of his. "Hawke would overpower us."
"Couldn't you just…do that lyrium thing?"
Oh, and there went those smoldering eyes – and not the good kind (though this smolder was just as marvelously appealing). "No."
"So, neither of you will hurt him, even for his own good, and he won't tell any of us what he's thinking or planning, which leads me to believe he doesn't have a plan. He doesn't even know what he wants to do." She pointed out, setting her tankard firmly back on the table, leaning forward to stare at them intently. "Wonderful plan. Have any more suggestions of useless things to keep us in this hole?"
Fenris sighed. "You're insufferable, Isabela."
"Especially when you're drinking." Anders made no attempt to take away her ale. "But she has a point. We have to do something."
"Glad to see you've rejoined us, Anders. Had enough brooding and self-deprecation?" She said acidly, taking another large swig of ale.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Isabela."
She shrugged and stood, keeping her hand on the back of her chair. "This all right and dandy, but it doesn't help Hawke. Unless you two have any more suggestions, I'm going to go see about some rope."
She sauntered away. Fenris growled under his breath. "Nice pick, that one." Anders rolled his eyes.
"I know. I'm marvelous." Isabela winked and grabbed her tankard, swallowing the final amount. "I'm going to refill this and take it to Hawke. Even if we don't tie him down, I'm tired of him sober."
"One drink isn't going to sway him, Isabela." Anders pointed out.
"It might persuade him to come down here and have another." She winked again. "Later, boys."
Fenris and Anders sighed.
The sound of breaking glass greeted them when they arrived back at camp.
Isabela actually seemed rather sheepish. "Ale wasn't such a good idea."