"Isabela..."
The pirate smiled that familiar, cheeky smirk that Hawke had come to associate with her, as she climbed over the dead Qunari warrior at her feet and made her way towards Lana and the Arishok. Hawke had never been happier to see her, and had never been as angry at her since the years she had known her. There was something different in the Rivaini's eyes though as she stared at her. Fear? The Arishok's a big, ugly-looking brute, Lana thought to herself, or maybe its guilt? She did stab me in the back after I agreed to help her. Whispering broke out among the surrounding nobles and Hawke's companions as Isabela entered the middle of the large circle of people who had formed round Lana and the Qunari leader.
"Sorry I'm late," she said calmly, to stunned crowd, as though they were all simply waiting to start dinner or something. "I would have gotten here sooner if not for all the fighting going on everywhere."
The pirate stopped in front of a furious looking Arishok. Apparently Isabela seemed to have that effect on everyone, though this time it was definitely warranted. She looked from the Qunari to Hawke, whose face was just as impassive. What did I expect? A slobbering kiss of forgiveness?, the Rivaini thought to herself, I'm just surprised she hasn't hit me yet .Taking a deep breath, Isabela turned back to the menacing Arishok and held out his beloved Tome of Koslun. He accepted, taking the book in his hands and examining the cover with reverence.
"I'm sure you'll find it mostly undamaged," she said, still smirking. She glanced at Hawke then, feeling pleased with herself. "And you thought you'd never see me again," she joked, her smile getting wider. Lana didn't flinch.
"Actually I hoped I wouldn't," she replied sourly before turning back to the Arishok. Isabela's smile faltered. Hawke's harsh words hurt her deeply. Ok, maybe I deserved that, but still...As the Arishok was distracted, Isabela leaned in closer to Lana, not wanting the rest of the crowd to hear their conversation.
"Look, Hawke-"
"Save it, Bela," Lana interrupted shaking her head bitterly. She turned to Isabela then."...Though I am curious as to why you're here. Shouldn't you be making sweet love to Castillon right about now? After all, we both know now that your little 'friendship' with him was worth far more than ours ever was."
"Oh, don't be like that," Isabela pled in an urgent whisper, "I was half way to Ostwick to meet him before I knew I had to turn back. Your damned influence is the reason I'm here, if you must know. I could have been away with that bloody relic, but now here I am, giving up my only chance of saving my own neck...It's pathetic."
Hawke snorted, "Heroic acts of sacrifice? What will people say?" she asked sarcastically. "Don't think you're getting into my good books that easily...Though I am glad you decided to return the Tome. At least now I won't have to fight this horn-headed maniac."
Isabela chuckled. "Well, in that case, you're welcome."
"I should bloody hope so," Hawke replied angrily. "Do you know what a day I've had because of you?" Isabela stopped laughing at once. She could tell she had a lot of making up to do, but this was the first time in her life that she was prepared to do it. She had run all the way here for this woman, and she hadn't done it half-heartedly.
The Arishok handed the Tome of Koslun to one of his Karashok. The nobles watched as the soldier took it carefully and bowed his horned head, before backing away from his leader. A collective wave of relief washed over them all as the Arishok turned to address Hawke once more.
"The Tome of Koslun has been recovered," he said in his deep, menacing voice, "I am now free to return to Par Vollen...with the thief."
Isabela almost shat herself. "What!?" she exclaimed, staring at him wide-eyed. She turned to Lana who looked just as shocked. Suddenly Aveline jumped in.
"Oh, no, no, no," she said loudly, "If anyone kicks that bitches ass, it's going to be me!"
The Arishok balanced one of his giant axes on his shoulder, "She stole the Tome of Koslun. She must return with us."
"Sounds like you have something very specific in mind," Hawke said, at hint of a joke in her tone.
"She will submit to the Qun and the Ben-Hassrath. More than that, I will not say," the Arishok answered.
"That sounds like a good punishment," Hawke replied. Isabela's mouth fell open.
"WHAT!?" she said, louder this time. She couldn't believe her ears. The woman she loved was about to hand her over to the Qunari?
"On the other hand," Hawke continued, after taking in her fair share of seeing Isabela look horrified, "As fun as that would be to see...You got what you came for and this pirate whore owes me a drink...or fifty. So I'm afraid she has to stay here."
Isabela exhaled with relief. Maker's Breath, perfect time for a joke. I almost soiled my...Hey wait, I don't wear any underwear. The Arishok's eyes narrowed.
"Rivaini, you might want to move a bit this way," Varric said worriedly.
"Then you leave me no choice," he said, staring at Lana who was beginning to sweat now, "I challenge you, Hawke. You and I will do battle to the death with her as the prize."
"What!? No!" Isabela shouted before Lana could respond. This hadn't gone at all the way she'd planned. She imagined the Qunari would leave and she would get to share a passionate kiss with Lana for saving the day, everything being forgiven. "If you're going to duel anyone, duel me!"
The Arishok looked at her in disgust. "You are not Basalit-An. You have proved yourself to be nothing more than a common thief. You are not worthy."
Hawke wiped the sweat from her brow. "Why not just leave?" she asked hopefully.
"We do not suffer thieves," the Arishok replied, turning back to her, "She cannot walk away from this insult."
Oh shit! Hawke's heart was beating so fast she wouldn't be surprised if that killed her before the Arishok could even raise an axe. She swallowed hard, glancing from Isabela's white face to the giant beast who was threatening to take her.
"If you object, duty demands we fight," the Arishok growled, with a deadly finality in his voice.
Hawke looked at Isabela once more. I can't let him take her...She betrayed you...But, she came back...To save her own skin, not yours!...Oh, balls...Let her go, Lana...No...That bastard ox-man will kill you...But I love her...She doesn't deserve it, let him take her!...NO!
"Alright," she agreed reluctantly, turning back to the Arishok, her jaw tightening. "Let's dance."
"MARAVAS! SO SHALL IT BE!" he yelled, swinging both axes in triumph. Lana couldn't help but notice how one of his arms was the same size as her body. Holy Maker, he could crush my skull in one hand!
The crowed backed away at once, including Hawke's companions. All except for Isabela. She grabbed Lana's arm.
"Hawke, don't do this!" she pled, "Please...not for me! I won't let you!"
Hawke shook out of her grasp and stared at her angrily. "You make the mess, Bela. I clean it up. That's how it's always been, right? That's the only reason you've been with me all these years," she said bitterly. Isabela could see the genuine hurt and fear in the woman's eyes. She had never felt so ashamed of herself for everything she had done to her. Hawke was the most loyal person she had ever known. Maybe my being in love with her would never be enough.
"Not this time," Isabela replied, shaking her head, "It's too much..."
Hawke sighed, "Oh, don't worry your pretty little head, Precious... I'm used to it by now."
With one final shove, Lana pushed Isabela back towards the rest of the crowd, unable to look at her face anymore. The pirate struggled against Fenris and Aveline who had grabbed her, making sure she couldn't run off again or intervene. She had caused enough trouble as it was. I can't ask her to do this for me! It should be me fighting this duel!
Hawke scanned the surrounding crowd, picking out Bethany's face. Her sister looked beside herself with worry. I guess she doesn't totally hate me, Lana thought to herself. The notion gave her a small amount of comfort as she withdrew her daggers and turned her gaze to the giant Qunari leader before her. Her weapons looked like nothing more than tiny, little toothpicks in comparison to the giant, double-sided axes the Arishok was swinging in either hand. They both began to circle the playing field then, the eyes of the crowd fixed firmly upon them, holding their breaths as they watched in shock and horror.
Suddenly, without warning, the Arishok charged. Lana had no time to react as the horn of the beast's head came soaring directly towards her. She felt the full force of the Arishok's weight as he knocked her back, lifting her completely off the ground and into the air. She felt his horn tear at her ribs, breaking open the skin in one excruciatingly painful movement.
Hawke landed on the ground hard, flat on her back a few feet away, hearing the cries from the surrounding crowd. Well that wasn't a good start! One of her daggers fell from her hand and slid across the floor. She looked down at her side to see it pouring with blood. Finding it difficult to breathe, she brought her arm across her midsection, covering the wound with right her hand. I think he broke a few ribs. Before Lana had time to stand, the Arishok was upon her once more. He slammed his axe down hard, forcing her to roll to the side to avoid it, the ground cracking to pieces behind her. He repeated the attack three more times, following Hawke as she rolled across the floor, before finally using that momentum to get back to her feet.
With her one remaining dagger, Hawke blocked the Arishok's swing, feeling the sheer brute force he was exerting. She dodged to the side then, her lightening-quick reflexes kicking in, and lunged with her dagger towards the Arishok as he made to collect his breath from his heavy swing. The tiny blade cut into his skin, barely making more than a scratch. The crowd cheered as they saw it connect. Lana knew that she would have to do more than that though.
Hawke backed away at once, still holding the pain in her side, as the Arishok made a wild, sweeping swing towards her, enraged that she had even got a hit in. The only way I'm going to have a chance is if I flank him, she thought to herself. Suddenly the Qunari charged again. This time Lana was ready though. She gracefully sidestepped the horned head as the giant flamed towards her faster than she had ever seen anything move. Without hesitating, Hawke stabbed the Arishok in the back with all the force she could muster. This time, she felt her blade sink a few inches into the think skin of the Qunari leader and heard him growl in fury.
The battle seemed to go on for hours as Lana slowly began to chip away at the Arishok's muscled body, using the same tactics of backstabbing him after her charged at her. By now her energy was almost gone and she was loosing blood rapidly from the gaping wound in her side. All of a sudden, the Arishok caught her unawares as she went to stab him for what seemed like the millionth time. His axe connected with her dagger, sheering it clean in half with a clang of metal on metal. The broken piece fell to the ground as though in slow motion, the eyes of every single person in the room on it. Well, at least it's not my neck, Lana joked. Just as the thought entered her head, the heavily armored shoulder of the Arishok caught her across the forehead as he lashed out empty-handed, in berserker rage, his axe having embedded itself in the floor. Lana hit the ground hard, dazed, a pain like she had never known gushing through her head. The room began to spin, the faces of the surrounding crowd blurring into one. She could hear her companions yell and scream at her to get to her feet, could make out Isabela calling her name frantically as the Arishok approached. But she had nothing left. Her strength had gone.
Hawke stared up, into the unforgiving eyes of the Arishok. She held her broken dagger in her sweaty grasp, trying to find one last bit of energy to raise it and defend herself. The Arishok's torso was dripping blood from the numerous stab wounds she had made, but it had done little to stop him, only slowing him down slightly. He smiled down at her, grabbing his remaining axe in both hands. Hawke watched as he raised it slowly over his head, knowing this moment was going to be her last.
With a cry of pain she raised herself off the blood-stained floor with a last-ditch attempt and thrust the jagged edge of her broken dagger into the stomach of the Arishok's unprotected body. The crowd fell silent as the Arishok's axe fell behind him and clattered to the ground loudly. He looked down in shock, seeing the broken dagger lodged in his midsection all the way up to the hilt. Lana held it tightly, twisting the blade in the wound with everything she had. The giant beast fell to his knees, blood beginning to pour from the corner of his mouth. He and Lana were now face to face. They stared painfully into each others eyes. Hawke gritted her teeth as she managed to manoeuvre herself onto her knees, continuing to push the dagger into his midsection. She could hear the ragged breaths of the Arishok as he clung to life.
"We...We will...return," he threatened hoarsely, "...One day..."
Lana shook her head, breathing heavily.
"But not today," she replied. With one final ounce of strength she pulled the broken dagger out of the Arishok and made a swift circular swipe in the air. The blade sliced through the think neck of the Arishok with one powerful, fluid motion and his horned head toppled to the ground. After several seconds of stunned silence, the headless body fell the floor in a heap...and so did Hawke.
The crowd of nobles erupted into cheers as the Beresaad moved out of the Keep, realising their master was defeated and they no longer had any purpose here. Hawke's companions ran towards her where she lay unconscious, none as fast as Isabela. The pirate bolted towards where she lay as fast as she could and fell to her knees beside her. Don't be dead, she thought, Please don't be dead! She slid a hand under Hawke's head, laying it on her knees gently.
"Someone get her healing magic!" the pirate shouted. I'll not have anyone dying for me. Bethany fought her way through the surrounding crowd and fell to her knees beside her older sister. She placed her hands over the horrible, gaping wound on Lana's side and began to knit her broken bones together with magic.
"Everybody get back!" Aveline shouted, ushering the crowd back away from the scene. Fenris, Anders and a few of the surrounding Templars began to force the crowd of people backwards a few paces to give Bethany more room to work. Everyone was staring down a Lana worriedly.
Isabela ran her hands through Lana's blood-matted hair, her hands shaking. I can't believe she did that for me. I didn't deserve it after everything I've done.
"Anders, can you help?" Bethany asked, "The spell will be much more effective with two, and this is a big wound."
Anders dropped to his knees immediately and the entire Keep watched in anticipation as the two mages worked simultaneously to try to mesh the torn skin together. After several minutes the only thing that remained on Lana's body for her troubles was a dark scar running from the length of her left side. Bethany slid up towards her head then, seeming not to care that she was kneeling in a pool of deep red blood. She placed a shaking hand over her sister's head and conjured a ball of blue light in her hand. Isabela watched as the light began to seep into Lana's body, slowly beginning to revive her. After a few torturous minutes, Hawke's eyes finally opened.
Lana looked around, confused at the numerous faces all staring down at her in amazement: Her companions, the nobles, Knight-Commander Meredith, Orsino and numerous Templars and City Guard. Her head felt like she had a terrible hangover, like the kind where you wake up lying face down in a ditch, wearing nothing but your underwear and don't remember how you got there. After a day like today, that sounded like something she might like to do actually. That's if The Hanged Man was still standing.
One face in the crowd stood out above all the others.
"Bethany...?" she asked confused, recognising her sister first. For one wild moment she thought they were back in Lothering. That was until her eyes found Isabela's. The pirates face was upside down as she hovered over her, a huge grin on her face, mixed with sheer relief. Lana could feel something soft under her head and realised she was laying across the pirate's lap. Isabela stroked Lana's cheek with her hand, not caring that the others were watching nearby.
"You had me worried there," she said jokingly, her grin turning into a cheeky smirk as it so often did when she spoke to Lana.
" Why?" Hawke asked, as though it was nothing, "Cleaning up your mess is what I do best. Didn't I tell you I'm used to it by now?"
The surrounding crowd laughed at the joke, feeling the tense moment become diffused, but Isabela found that she couldn't anymore. The grin fell off her face as she stared down at the hurt in Hawke's eyes. Lana wasn't smiling either. I'm an idiot for not realising what I had, when I had it Isabela, thought to herself regretfully...I had to go and mess things up as usual...and now I'm beginning to wonder if any of this is enough. Maybe I should have continued on towards Ostwick.
After the laughter had died out, the nobles began to applaud and cheer as Isabela and Bethany helped Hawke to her feet.
"The city has been saved!" people began to shout with glee.
Knight Commander Meredith grabbed Lana's left hand and raised it into the air, declaring her Champion of Kirkwall. The nobles cheered louder then and began to move in to get a good look at their hero. Lana smiled at them as best she could, accepting their handshakes, pats on the back, kisses on her head, ruffles of her hair and words of gratitude. Yeah, that's right, this waste of space has saved you all even after you treated her like shit. To be honest, the only thing Lana really wanted to do was to fall asleep in the arms of either Isabela or Bethany who were supporting her on either side and walking her out of the Keep.
As soon as they got out into the early morning sun, the cheering crowd waiting outside overwhelmed them. Lana felt Isabela slip from her grasp, ushered to the side by the men and women around them. Hawke looked to her left, reaching out her hand, trying to see where she went. Suddenly Aveline moved in beside her and took the pirate's place, wrapping Lana's arm around her shoulder. Hawke was barely listening as the people of Kirkwall continuously thanked her and wished her well. She became lost in thought about Isabela, who was no where insight. Did she release me? She wondered, Or was she pulled away by someone else? Hawke glanced over at Aveline, wondering if she anything to do with the Rivaini's sudden disappearance. No...Why would she?
Turning to her right then, Lana's eyes found Bethany's. Her little sister gave her a strained smile. It was clear there were a lot of things they needed to talk about. Four years had come and gone with little contact and a lot had happened in that time. She knew it hadn't been easy of her little sister to be locked up in the Gallows, but the last four years hadn't exactly been a walk in the park for her either.
Lana opened her mouth to speak but before she could utter a sound, Bethany shook her head.
"Not here, Sister," she said quietly, as the crowd continued to shout excitedly around them. Lana closed her mouth then and forced a smile on her face. She was right. Now wasn't the time. This was supposed to be a good moment, a time to celebrate. She had just singlehandedly defeated the Arishok and forced the Qunari out of Kirkwall after years of not budging from their compound. Kirkwall was in her debt and they all knew it. Pushing Isabela and Bethany from her mind she tried to enjoy the moment, ignoring the pain overwhelming her entire body. She found it ironic that the people months ago who were shouting abuse at her after that disastrous dinner party were now the same people who were congratulating her and inviting her to social functions (which she had no intention of going to).
After several hours of crowd playing, Lana managed to shake off her newfound admirers. Bethany was taken back to the Circle along with Orsino by Knight-Commander Meredith, who promised Hawke she could have a special visit with her little sister the next day as a gift for saving the city. Lana waved goodbye to her, pleased that they would finally get to talk tomorrow and maybe work things out. She had no desire to lose the one Hawke family member she had left. They had been close once before, and Lana was determined that they would be again. She missed Bethany everyday she had been gone.
"I'm sure it felt good cutting off that bastard's head," Aveline said to Hawke as they walked towards a nearby wall to sit down and catch their breath. Lana shrugged.
"To be honest I didn't feel anything," she admitted, shrugging, "He hadn't done anything to me personally. I was just trying to save the city."
"And Isabela?" the Guardswoman pressed curiously. Hawke's jaw clenched.
"Yes...," she admitted, "And Isabela..."
Lana eased herself onto the wall with Aveline's help and the others sat down beside her, Varric and Aveline choosing to stay on their feet. Hawke could tell the Guard Captain hadn't finished talking about the pirate and was glad when Varric intervened.
"Well, Hawke," Varric began, "I can't say that travelling with you has ever been dull..."
The others chuckled in agreement. Lana giggled a little herself.
"I need a vacation," she droned, making them laugh even more. "Why is it that wherever I go, the resident idiot heads straight for me?"
"You're a magnet for idiots," Fenris replied, "Dangerous idiots at that."
Hawke chuckled. Truer words were never spoken.
"That was definitely the biggest one though," Merril squeaked, "I've never see you try to fight anyone that scary before."
"Well when choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before," Lana joked, "And the other Qunari were just too regular sized for me."
Hawke's companions laughed, none more so than Merrill. Hawke looked up at Aveline about to ask her something, when all of a sudden her eyes caught sight of a pirate in the distance. Isabela. Lana got to her feet, using Merrill's skinny shoulder as leverage and squeezed through Aveline and Varric, feeling the questioning stares of everyone at her sudden movement. All eyes found Isabela then, who had stopped walking as she saw Lana limping towards her. The others watched from a distance as the two approached each other and began to talk.
"Feeling better?" Isabela asked concerned. Just as she said the words Lana almost doubled over in pain in front of her eyes, the effort of walking without support making her unstable. Isabela reached out her arms and caught her, "Guess you're lucky I'm here," she joked, steering her over to a low wall much like to one the others were sitting on opposite them, a short distance away.
"For once," Lana replied unemotionally as the pirate sat herself down beside her. The two women sat in silence. They both looked at each other simultaneously, neither knowing where to begin.
"I'm sorry," Isabela said finally, unable to hold it in any longer. She had to make her see how much she regretted leaving her in the lurch like that. Lana didn't soften at her apology.
"I've heard that before," she said, staring into the pirate's amber eyes painfully. Isabela exhaled.
"I mean it this time," she said sincerely, placing a hand on Lana's thigh. "I made a mistake leaving you like that, Hawke, probably the biggest one I've ever made in my entire life."
"Even compared to stealing from the Qunari?" Lana joked before she could stop herself. Isabela snorted a laugh. She gazed at Lana for several seconds before nodding.
"Even bigger than that," she replied, serious once more. Hawke swallowed hard, surprised by the effusiveness of Isabela's words. What is she saying?
"I...I don't think I can ever trust you again after what you did," Hawke said sadly. She had given the pirate her trust blindly and look what had happened. The woman had betrayed her and took off, leaving only a note as a goodbye after everything they had been through together. Isabela frowned.
"And you would be a fool to," the pirate agreed, "I used you...I manipulated you...and you fell for it, hook, line and sinker..."
Isabela saw tears build in Lana's chocolate-brown eyes. Hawke swallowed over the lump in her throat, feeling like a complete idiot. She had known that Isabela had been playing her, ever since the woman ran off with the relic, abandoning her in the middle of a Qunari uprising. But it still hurt to hear the words come directly from her mouth.
"You really hurt me, Bela," Hawke said painfully, dropping her head and staring at the ground. She felt Isabela's hand tighten on her thigh.
"I know," she replied softly, "And I am so sorry for that...Hawke look at me..."
When Lana didn't move, Isabela reached out with her other hand and touched her cheek, turning her to face her. "I don't think you know how difficult this is for me to say but...I...do trust you," the pirate said, finally answering the question Lana had asked, after being afraid to before. Hawke's eyes widened with surprise. She sighed.
"So why did you leave?" she asked, feeling a little angry now, pulling away from the pirate's hand on her face, "I was prepared to give you the relic to get Castillon off your back, prepared to fight the damn Qunari off just to save your life...And you went right around and stabbed me in the back anyway, making me look like a complete and utter fool!"
"Look, I'm sorry alright!?" Isabela replied, her own voice rising, "How many times do you want me to say it? I came back, didn't I? Surely that must be worth something to you!"
"I don't know what its worth," Hawke yelled. "You tell me!"
"Try to see it from my point of view!" Isabela yelled back.
Hawke snorted, "I'm trying to but can't seem to fit my head that far up my own ass!"
"Oh HA HA!" Isabela replied sarcastically. She ran her hand through her hair and got to her feet with a groan. Lana watched her pace as she wrestled with her thoughts. "This was probably the only time I wasn't thinking of myself...and it's your damn fault!"
"Well, I suppose this is the first selfless thing you've ever done," Hawke admitted, "These people owe you their lives."
"It was a stupid thing to do!" Isabela replied, "Now I'm probably going to wind up dead in some alley way with a blade of the Felicisima Armada lodged in my back."
"You saved Kirkwall by coming back," Lana said, getting to her feet with difficulty. She reached out a placed a hand on Isabela's arm, not wanting her to doubt the first selfless thing she had ever done.
"Bullshit!" she exclaimed, "The city couldn't have been saved without you. I'm just the pirate whore who started this whole mess as usual."
"Maybe," Hawke admitted, rubbing her arm and tucking a hand under her chin, "but at least this time you came back to try and clean it up."
Isabela stared into her eyes, seeing that same look there which had always confused her before. She understood now though, for she was looking at Lana the exact same way for the very first time.
"You saved these people, Bela," Hawke whispered, smiling at her.
Without another word, Isabela leaned in and placed her lips on Lana's. She knew the others were still watching but she hadn't come all this way for nothing. She wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her close, savouring every breathtaking moment. Lana's lips were soft and gentle against hers, their tongues moving together slow and tender, intoxicating and passionate. It was a feeling that neither of them could describe, a feeling that Isabela wanted to remember forever as she realised what she was going to do next. Something that would change everything.
After several seconds, the pirate pulled back. She pushed a bit of hair from Lana's face and tucked it behind her ear.
"I didn't do it for them, Hawke...," she said gently, "I did it for you...It was always about you..."
Without waiting for a response Isabela leaned in once more and placed a quick, firm kiss on Hawke's lips before releasing her and walking away.
Lana opened her eyes after the kiss, shocked to see Isabela's back to her.
"Bela, wait!" she called to her, limping after her as fast as she could. She finally reached out far enough to grab her arm and spin her around. "You can't just say something like that and walk away!"
Isabela pulled out of her grasp, avoiding her eyes. She wanted her more than anything, but a sudden realisation had come to her.
"I can't do this, Hawke, I thought I could but...I don't like the person I'm becoming around you," she said, finally looking into Hawke's confused eyes. "I'm not the type of person who changes to be like those around them."
Hawke frowned, "What...what does that mean?" she asked, shaking her head, puzzled.
"I'm tired of hurting you," Isabela continued, "I'm tired of being a constant disappointment. I'm not ever going to be this person that you want me to be, Hawke...the one who comes back and saves the day. It's just not me."
"That's not what I want!" Hawke replied, her frown deepening.
"Isn't it?" Isabela asked, "Are you saying you preferred when I stabbed you in the back then?" Lana said nothing. Isabela sighed, "I ran the whole way here you know...Half way to Ostwick and to saving my own skin and I ran back to be with you...I had this fool notion in my head, you see, that we would be good together...That I loved you..."
Hawke couldn't believe what she was hearing. She loved me? "Then... what's changed?" she asked, "Why are you walking away from me again?"
Isabela exhaled, "This is not me," she said sadly, "It was your damned influence which made me come back with that relic, nothing more...Your actions rubbing off onto me...and I don't want to change who I am, Hawke...So I think we...I think we should spend some time apart until I figure out what I do want..."
"What?" Hawke breathed, "But-"
"Don't try to follow me..." Isabela interrupted.
Lana stood speechless as she watched her go. She loves me, she couldn't help but thinking. She loves me, and she trusts me...but she thinks I'm changing her? Hawke couldn't make sense of it all.
"Isabela!" she called after her. She need more of an explanation than that, "Isabela, come back!... Please!"
The pirate continued walking as fast as she could, without looking back.