"Alright Aveline, what's the problem?"
Hawke entered the barracks to find Aveline looking more serious than usual. She was sitting in the mess hall alone, her head leaning on her hand, face contorted as though deep in thought. There was a plate of untouched food in front of her. Something was clearly bothering the woman. She looked up relieved to see Hawke and got to her feet as she approached with Isabela and Bethany in tow.
"Hawke there's something I-What happened to your head?" Aveline blurted out, interrupting herself. She was staring at the Hawke concerned, her eyes scanning her newest injury. It hadn't been there yesterday. Lana reached up and felt the massive welt on her forehead again from where she had head-butted the top bunk this morning. It was still throbbing painfully.
"Oh...Rude awakening," she said, turning to Isabela pointedly. The pirate chuckled, her mind flashing back to that recent piece of entertainment. Aveline glanced at them both confused. Then her face turned to disgust.
"Oh Hawke you didn't!" she exclaimed, throwing her a look of disbelief. Now it was Hawke's turn to be confused.
"What?" she asked. Aveline glared at Isabela with more dislike than usual. Then her meaning became clear. "Wait, No! Are you kidding me? Of course not!"
Isabela's mouth fell open. "Uh hello! I'm standing right here!" Clearly she had gotten Aveline's meaning as well.
Hawke chuckled. "Sorry." She hadn't meant to sound so appalled at the idea.
Aveline relaxed. "Thank The Maker! You almost made me vomit."
Isabela rolled her eyes. "Uh again, I'm right here!"
Hawke laughed again. "No offence Bela."
The look Aveline was giving the pirate said otherwise. It was the same mix of irritation and disapproval. Bethany didn't know whether to laugh or not. The guardswoman didn't look like she was in any mood for humour. Though when was she ever really?
"That true Big Girl?" Isabela asked. "Not that I care what you think... I am curious though. You see a huge bump on Hawke's head and automatically jump to 'She must have slept with Isabela'?" She chuckled, "I'm flattered. I do like it rough Aveline but a whack around the forehead isn't my idea of kinkiness."
Unable to stop themselves, Lana and Bethany burst out laughing as Isabela smirked slyly at the guardswoman, waiting for her retort. Aveline looked furious. Maker she really couldn't understand why Hawke associated herself with this slattern.
"Well you seemed to get a thrill out of it last night, Whore. Next time I see you break a bottle over someone's head, being thrown in the brig will be the least of your worries."
Isabela's smirk slid off her face. She moved closer to Aveline. "Watch who you threaten, Prig."
Hawke jumped in between them before it got out of hand and forced them apart. "Alright, jokes over," she said, "What do you need Aveline?"
"I need your opinion," she said, throwing Isabela one last glare before turning back to Lana.
"On what? How to get laid?" Isabela joked.
"I could just go to you for that. You've had plenty of practice after all," Aveline replied angrily, glaring at the Rivaini again.
"Ha!" Isabela retorted, "Contrary to popular belief, I do have standards Big Girl, and you just don't cut it. Hawke on the other hand..."
Aveline threw up her hands in frustration. "Ugh can we just get through one conversation where you two don't talk about sex. Damn it Hawke!"
What did I do?" Lana protested innocently. Isabela laughed. Irritating Aveline was almost as fun as trying to seduce Hawke. The guardswoman was wound so tight that it was all too easy to pass up. Two types of pleasurable entertainment at her fingertips (and fingertips were always good for pleasure).
"You brought her with you!" Aveline replied, pointing to the pirate.
"Sorry!" Hawke replied, taken aback by Aveline's temper.
"Anyway..."Aveline continued, her voice lowering to its normal level. "I have something to tell you. After we saved Guardsman Donnic-"
"Oooo Guardsman Donnic," Isabela interrupted again. "The rugged, handsome, sex of a man who brings warmth to your loins and-"
"SHUT UP!" Aveline yelled, her irritation getting the better of her now. Isabela laughed again, enjoying herself now. Hawke shook her head, trying not to laugh herself. It would only annoy Aveline further. Isabela didn't know when to quit. Well, she did, but when did that ever stop her?
"As I was saying," Aveline continued through gritted teeth. "After we saved Guardsman Donnic..."
Hawke saw Isabela open her mouth again to make another sexual retort. Before the pirate could interrupt once more, Lana reached out and covered the woman's mouth with her hand, trying not to giggle. Aveline continued, ignoring the pair of them as Isabela chuckled silently into Hawke's hand, trying to pry it away to get her words out.
"...So when Captain Jevon was fired and you went home...Hawke they offered me the position of Guard Captain!"
"What!" Hawke exclaimed. Isabela stopped laughing then and Lana released her.
"YOU! CAPTAIN!" The Rivaini exclaimed as soon as she was free. Aveline ignored her, focusing on Hawke.
"That's wonderful Aveline," Bethany said smiling at her. Aveline's smile managed to fight through her current state of indecision and annoyance.
"Thank you," she said proudly, "I need your opinion on whether or not to take it."
"Of course you should!" Bethany said. "What do you think Lana?"
Hawke still hadn't recovered from the shock. Isabela looked like she had regretted winding Aveline up earlier. The woman becoming Guard Captain would cause her a lot more problems than she already did as a simple Guardswoman. Both she and Hawke broke more laws than they kept and Aveline knew it. Hawke seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
"I...yeah, I mean...If you think that's best!" she said. Aveline nodded uncertainly.
"I do," she said exhaling, "It means I will no longer have the time to follow you around as much though."
"Oh balls, what are we going to do without you?" Isabela said sarcastically, unable to stop herself. Aveline turned to her.
"One of these days, I swear..." she threatened, squaring up to the pirate again. Curse Hawke for bringing her along! Aveline had been forced to listen to her all night in the brig and she'd had just about enough of her fill today.
"Don't worry about it Aveline," Hawke said, "I should have enough coin for The Deep Road's expedition soon anyway. We have a job lined up later on today. Congratulations. I'm proud of you."
Aveline turned back to her and smiled. "Thank you Hawke. This wouldn't have been possible without your help. I owe you."
"You can buy me a drink later," Hawke joked. Aveline rolled her eyes.
"Maker's Breath! Is that all you ever think about?"
Hawke laughed. "Come on Av! You should be celebrating. Let your hair down for one night at least. You won't get a chance too again when you become Captain."
"I'll think about it," she relented.
"Great!" Hawke said cheerfully.
"Well I must get to the Seneschal Bran and let him know my decision," Aveline said. "He's with the Viscount."
They exited the barracks and left Aveline at the bottom of the marble staircase which led to the Viscount's office. Aveline turned and hugged Bethany and Hawke. "I'll see you both later. Take care."
"Bye," They called after her. As they made to leave Hawke turned back and watched Aveline ascend the stairs, feeling pleased that at least one Ferelden refuge was making good for herself in Kirkwall. It hurt to see her people festering in Darktown with nothing but the clothes of their backs. She and Bethany on the other hand had been forced into smuggling, stealing, killing and Maker knows what else to survive. As they exited the Keep into the blinding sunshine outside, Lana glanced at her little sister. This was no life for a nineteen year old. She deserved so much more. Being the eldest, the burden fell on Hawke to help her family towards a better life. She couldn't help but feel she was failing dismally. Hopefully that would change after the Deep Roads though. Lana took a deep breath as the three of them went to collect Varric from The Hanged Man and head off on another dangerous quest together. Hawke hoped this one would be the last. It was too late for her, but there was still a chance to save Bethany. It had to happen soon, before it was too late.
"Well that was a bloody waste of time!"
Hawke and Bethany sat around the table with their mother, eating the stew she had prepared for them for dinner this evening. Gamlen was no doubt "eating" at The Blooming Rose tonight, using hard-earned coin he had once again stolen from Hawke's saving's under her bed. They had just returned from a procurement mission that had brought up nothing more than a few empty chests and an old boot. Gamlen and the quest combined had left Hawke with less money at the end of the day than when she started it. Her mood had turned drastically sour. So much that Isabela's witty one-liners couldn't even cheer her up. The pirate had taken off with Varric to The Hanged Man when they returned empty-handed.
"Come on Lana, at least we tried," Bethany said sadly. She stared at her older sister who had barely even eaten anything and was now playing with her food. The pressure Lana felt was starting to show again. Bethany wished there was something she could do to cheer her up.
"Yeah...Well, no matter how hard I try I still seem to screw up," Lana replied grimly. Bethany reached her hand across the table and placed it over Hawke's.
"That's not true Sister and you know it!" she said, squeezing Lana's fingers in her own. "Tell her Mother."
Hawke looked up at Leandra then. Their mother hadn't opened her mouth from she sat down to eat. Her eyes met Hawke's. Bethany instantly wished she hadn't said anything. There was an awkward silence around the table as Leandra stared at her first-born. The look on her face said more than words ever could: She still hadn't forgiven Lana for Carver's death. The disappointment her mother's features reflected hurt Lana so much more than when she had screamed blame at her as Carver lay dead in her arms back in Lothering. Tomorrow would mark the second anniversary of his death. Two years on and Lana still hadn't been forgiven by her mother. She still hadn't forgiven herself.
"I have to go," Lana said getting to her feet. She slipped her hand out from under Bethany's and rushed to the door, unable to stare at her mother's pain any longer.
"What?" Bethany said, jumping up. "You've barely even eaten a thing! And we never get to have dinner as a family anymore."
Hawke grabbed her green buckled jacket from the coat hanger and threw it over head.
"I'll get something in The Hanged Man," she said. She turned back to Bethany regretfully. "Sorry Sis."
Bethany stood helplessly as she watched Lana open the front door and walk into the night. Leandra still hadn't uttered a word.
Lana made her way through the street's of Lowtown towards The Hanged Man. She knew the way so well by now she could have walked made it blindfolded. That was assuming she wouldn't be mugged or killed along the way by the oh-so sophisticated population of Kirkwall's slums. She shoved her hands in her pocket and kept her head low against the breeze, which brought with it the smell of shit and piss wafting its way through the nearby alleys. Hawke held her breath as she passed, taking only shallow breaths when she really needed to. Someone had clearly had too much to drink and had been caught short somewhere close-by. Maker's Breath what did they eat? It smelt like something had died. Actually maybe something had. Hawke covered her mouth and reached out to open the door of The Hanged Man.
Suddenly Corff the bartender burst through the door with a struggling Isabela in his arms.
"Get off me, Corff!" she yelled. Corff released her when they were successfully outside, away from the continuing brawl going on inside. He closed the door to The Hanged Man.
"I told you when you came in Isabela, one more brawl and you're barred!" he yelled, "I can't have you scaring away my customers!"
"Then tell them to keep their hands off my coin in future!" Isabela yelled back, "It'll save me the trouble of having to throw a chair at them. Scummy buggers!"
Corff rolled his eyes, "Look, I saw what happened Isabela. Any other night and I would have left you away with it. But after the ruckus you caused last night which involved no fewer than twenty people in a brawl which spread into the street, I have no choice."
"Maker's Breath! It was only a bit of fun Corff!" Isabela said innocently.
"Well the three men with broken bones didn't seem to think so!" Corff replied. He sighed and lowered his voice then. "Look, just spend the night somewhere else and I'll think about letting you back in tomorrow."
"This is bullshit!" Isabela exclaimed. She picked up her dagger from the ground and placed it on her back alongside the other. Corff shook his head. He turned to Lana then, who was watching the scene interestedly.
"You deal with this, Hawke. I've had enough trouble for one night." He turned around and went back inside, closing the door behind him.
Hawke folded her arms and shook her head at the pirate, a small smirk playing on the corner of her mouth. Isabela smirked back.
"Oh don't give me that look," she said, "Varric went to bed early. How else was I supposed to entertain myself?"
"Uh huh," Hawke said, "Are all pirates this much trouble?"
Isabela chuckled, "Only the very good ones."
Hawke laughed. "So I guess that's my plans ruined tonight."
"How come? You weren't barred."
"Well, I'm hardly going to go and drink alone. That's depressing," Hawke answered. "Where do you wanna go?"
"Blooming Rose?" Isabela suggested. Hawke made a face.
"So I can see Uncle Gamlen hit on younger women who are way out of his league, spending coin that I earned?"
Isabela laughed, "I guess that's a no."
The two women thought for a minute. There was no way Hawke was going back home. Suddenly she had an idea. "Wait here, I'll be back."
Isabela watched as she entered The Hanged Man alone. Moments later she came back out with a bottle of whiskey. Isabela smiled widely.
"Nice choice!" she said approvingly, holding out her hand. Hawke took a swig from the bottle and handed it to her. She watched the pirate take a few mouthfuls. Isabela wiped her mouth and handed Hawke back the bottle before they both began to walk. The pirate then led them through a series of back alleys. Hawke had no idea where they were going. Her mother's face appeared in her mind once more and she could feel the sadness build in her. Isabela glanced at her, wondering why she wasn't as chatty as usual.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to ask?"
Hawke sighed. "You don't wanna know my problems, Bela."
"You're right, I don't, but anything beats walking in silence. Spill!"
Hawke chuckled. Isabela was always brutally honest. Her face fell once more. "Mother still blames me for Carver's death."
Isabela immediately felt like shit. Her earlier retort seemed a bit harsher now. She turned to Hawke who was staring at the ground gloomily as she walked.
"Oh," the pirate replied. "That's a shame."
"Tell me about it," Hawke muttered. Isabela didn't really know where to take the conversation from there. She wasn't very good at talking about emotional stuff. Or rather, she just preferred not to. She hated how she sounded giving life advice to others. Who was she to tell others how they should feel?
"What does Bethany think?" Isabela asked. Hawke smiled then.
"She still sees me as a hero," Lana said, "I don't think I could ever do anything wrong in her eyes."
Isabela smiled too. "She's a sweet girl. You're lucky."
"I know," Hawke replied. "Speaking of Bethany..." Hawke suddenly remembered the conversation she'd had with her little sister last night. "I had an interesting conversation with her yesterday."
"Really?" Isabela asked, glad they had moved on to another topic.
"Mmm, thanks to a certain someone my sister is now questioning me on my sexual preferences and asking how woman have sex!"
Isabela burst out laughing at Hawke's blaming tone. "Good on her! She's clearly trying to pick up tips from the best. Well, one of the best."
Hawke laughed. "Yeah, well I told her to ask you next time."
Isabela chuckled and took the whiskey from Hawke, swigging another sip from the bottle. Before either of them could continue the conversation they rounded another alley way and were greeted with a surprise.
"Oh, how creative!" Isabela exclaimed amused. Hawke felt like she should have shielded her eyes but she had froze on the spot. A man and woman were in the middle of having sex against a wall in the most intriguing of positions. Isabela tilted her head to the side for a better look, unashamed. Hawke had to admit, she herself was curious. The couple looked up at Isabela's retort, realising they were no longer alone.
"Oh Maker!" the woman exclaimed. She pushed the man away from her at once and pulled her dress down before running the length of the alley. The man threw one look of embarrassment back at Hawke and Isabela before running after her, pulling up his pants as he did so. They heard him call after her in the distance.
When the man's calls had died out and the couple were no longer to be seen, Lana and Isabela turned to look at each other. They both started to laugh.
"I hope you weren't planning to take me here to do that!" Lana exclaimed.
"Oh Hawke, don't be silly," she replied. "I've got better plans than a back alley for you when you eventually decide to give it up."
"I guess you're not into 'back alleys' then?" Hawke joked, chuckling. This made Isabela laugh even harder.
"Nice pun! Why didn't I think of that?" she asked. The two women began to walk again, still recovering from the scene they had just walked into. They strolled through the alley for several minutes in silence, sharing the bottle of whiskey as they went.
"So what did you say to Bethany when she asked?" Isabela asked, breaking the silence. Hawke looked confused.
"Asked what?"
Isabela threw her a smirk. "About your sexual preferences."
Hawke snorted, "I don't think so, Bela."
"What?" the pirate asked innocently, her smile widening. "You can at least give me that."
Hawke exhaled and shook her head. She stared straight ahead of her and said nothing.
"Oh come on!" Isabela exclaimed, the anticipation getting the better of her. "Which is it? Men? Women? Both?"
Lana shook her head again and stayed silent, smiling as she stared ahead. They had reached the docks finally. Isabela continued to question her as they made their way to the water's edge and sat themselves down at the peer. The water crashed up against the rock beneath their feet, splashing them occasionally. Hawke deflected Isabela's questioning with simple answers as she gazed out along the harbour. She could see the Gallows in the distance, the statues of tortured slaves glistening in the moonlight. The ships docked along as far as the eyes could see, swayed gently in water, manipulated by the cool night's breeze as it swept throughout Kirkwall.
"Alright, you're boring me now," Isabela finally said. They had been sitting there for half an hour and Hawke still hadn't let anything out. Isabela got to her feet.
"Good," Hawke said, "Does that mean you'll finally stop questioning me now?" She sensed the pirate behind her. Suddenly Isabela's warm breath breathed into her ear, making her jump.
"Maybe," she whispered seductively, "Or maybe I've just thought of another way to extract the truth."
Hawke could feel the shape of Isabela's breasts as they pressed up against her back. She was in trouble now, she knew it. She closed her eyes, trying to ignore the pirate's skilful hands as they slowly made their way along her shoulders and reached down, resting along her chest. Isabela smiled to herself. She could hear Hawke's shaky breaths as she tried to control herself, trying not to give in to the situation she now found herself in. Isabela's breath was hot on her neck, trickling along it, making her quiver. Their game of lust had just become more advanced.
Unable to resist, Isabela nibbled Hawke's ear lobe playfully. The woman didn't respond. She hadn't moved since Isabela had decided to take more drastic measures to get what she wanted.
"Do you like that?" Isabela whispered in her ear. Hawke said nothing. Isabela smiled again. She was winning. They both knew it. Hawke was finding it hard to ignore her now. She hadn't had sex in almost a year. When she worked for Athenril there was always someone around looking for a quick screw to satisfy her urges. Working alongside her sister for the past year to get coin for the Deep Roads however, hadn't exactly left her any time or space to find a sexual partner. Every bone in her body was screaming out to turn around and ravage the busty pirate beauty behind her with everything she had. But yet she resisted.
Isabela ran her teeth along Lana's earlobe once more, allowing a small, eager groan to escape her. Still Hawke gave her nothing in return. She was good. Unwilling to lose the game after coming this far the pirate then decided to take things one step further. She placed her lips on Hawke's neck, running her tongue along it gently, tasting the sweetness of her skin. Hawke felt like she was about to explode. She held her eyes shut tight and tried to ignore the experienced tongue of Isabela as it massaged along her throat. Maker's Breath! Make it stop!
The hands hovering along her bosom them began to travel south. Hawke was in serious trouble now. She could feel the slender fingers of Isabela's slide down between her cleavage, brushing against her breasts through her top, then slowly edge their way down along her abdomen. The Rivaini was still kissing her neck. Hawke could feel herself becoming aroused against her will. The anticipation of Isabela's reach was becoming too much for her as the fingers slide past her naval, almost reaching their destination.
"Stop!" Hawke pleaded hoarsely, her breathing becoming heavy. Isabela didn't listen. She was almost there. "Please!" Hawke pled. She couldn't loose. Not now. Not like this.
Using all her will Hawke reached across and grabbed Isabela's hand, holding it from going any further down. Surprised, Isabela retracted her lips from Hawke's neck. Did she just get rejected? Hawke pulled the arms from around her neck then and Isabela released her. Lana opened her eyes and got to her feet. She began to walk away, unable to speak.
"Hawke wait!" Isabela called after her. Lana turned to look at her, her heart still thumping in her chest. There was a look of surprise on the pirate's face and little bit of awe. No one had ever been able to hold her off after she made it that far. Hawke really was something else. Isabela walked towards her. Suddenly a small smirk played on the corner of her mouth.
"Well played," she said, folding her arms across her chest. She could see Hawke beginning to mirror her smile.
"You too," Lana replied. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Isabela chuckled as she watched Lana walk back towards Lowtown by herself. She stared longingly after the woman, watching her work that seductive strut which Merril had so been jealous of. There was something about her, something special. Isabela wasn't sure what but Maker be damned did she want to find out! She ran her ringer along her lip, feeling the taste which the woman had left there. It was sweet. Strange, Isabela would have always considered her to be salty. Now that's she'd had a sample of the woman's goods however, she wanted more. Hawke had better watch out. She was coming for her now. One way or another, Isabela always got what she wanted.