Since Hawke had been avoiding reading her mail for a number of weeks, she and her companions had little time to respond to the party request at Chateau Haine and get themselves ready. The invitation had come from an Orlesian noble named Duke Prosper Du Montfort, who had taken up the seat as head of his powerful dynasty, that of Ser Gaston du Montfort, a chevalier who had risen to prominence during the Fourth Blight. The invitation had originally been for Leandra Hawke née Amell, who had obviously been doing some mingling amongst the highborn after Lana re-purchased the Estate in Hightown for them, gaining back the respect the Amells once held in Kirkwall. However, seeing as her children were also addressed, Lana couldn't see any reason why she shouldn't represent her family at such a social event, seeing a she was the only one left capable of doing so. Although she didn't feel like a party much, Aveline had coaxed her into it to try to break her out of her current state of despair. A few days after Lana had reluctantly told Aveline she would go, they were finally on their way, though not without trouble (obviously).

"Why are we here again?" Lana asked, staring around the dark, desolate streets of Hightown. Something didn't feel right about this. She could feel it in her gut.

"All I know is it had something to do with you and nobles..." Varric said, almost apologetically. They had been standing waiting on an unknown contact for a few minutes along with Merrill and Aveline, and everyone was feeling a little twitchy.

"And yet there's no one..." Lana replied, leaning against the wall, her arms folded. "Why am I not surprised? This is looking more and more like an ambush by the second."

As though on cue, Hawke and her companions all glanced around nervously, waiting for someone to jump out of the shadows and attack them.

"Maybe...he got lost?" Merrill asked innocently, "I'm always getting lost in Kirkwall. It's so confusing. All the buildings look the same."

Hawke groaned. "Oh, Merrill," she said, rolling her eyes along with the others. How did the little elf survive this long in a city as dangerous as Kirkwall? So was so naive. Lana suspected Varric had something to do with it. He was forever using his contacts to look out for his friends, mostly behind their backs. The dwarf's numerous dealings were normally very reliable. This particular deal though seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. Lana was convinced they were being set up.

"Look Hawke," Varric began, defensively, "Things don't always have to be an ambush, you know. Maybe we're just a little early..."

As soon as the word's left Varric's mouth, the four of them were surrounded. They dropped from the buildings around them, popped out from behind numerous hiding places, pointed arrows at them from a nearby staircase and withdrew swords from scabbards until there was absolutely no way out for their prey. The dwarf cursed loudly.

"You were saying?" Lana hissed at him. He smiled back sheepishly.

"All right, maybe sometimes they are ambushes," he replied, mirroring Hawke and readying his own weapon in order to play.

Hawke eyed the numerous mercenaries who were raining down on them. Their faces were covered with masks as usual, all except one, a tall blonde figure who seemed to be the leader. Lana watched him closely as he approached, holding her daggers in her sweating hands ready to use them if need be. As the man moved into the moonlight, Hawke realised he was smiling at her, satisfied.

"Ah, there is the Champion of Kirkwall," he said, his Antivan accent breaking the tense silence that had filled the night air around them.

"Congratulations," Lana replied sarcastically, clapping her daggers together in mock praise. "You appear at last. Poor Merrill here was worried you'd gotten lost...It seems you're not as stupid as you look."

The man laughed, "Enjoy your little joke, pretty thing. It will be your last. You die...Today!"

Hawke braced herself, ready to fight. She needn't have. All of a sudden a dagger whizzed past her head and lodged itself in the man's shoulder. He yelled out in pain. Everyone in the square looked up in surprise to see a flash of red and green as a red-headed elf jump from a nearby roof and slit the nearest archer's throat with a quick swipe through the air. Using his body as a shield she moved swiftly throughout the courtyard, tossing numerous daggers in all directions, each of them connecting with the surrounding mercenaries. One by one they fell to the ground, dead. Then, moving with a speed and agility which came with years of training, the elf flipped and dived through the air, avoiding arrows and blades, killing as she went before running straight past a stunned Hawke until she came face to face with the blonde leader. He was still desperately trying to pull the tiny dagger from his arm. The elf held her blade to his throat, winking impishly.

"KILL HER!" the man yelled to his remaining soldiers, "KILL ALL OF TH-"

Before he could finish his last order, the red-head slit his throat, showering them all with a rain of blood. She turned to Lana, who whipped a drop from her forehead and stared back.

"Well?" the elf said expectantly, "What are you waiting for?"

A huge, cheeky grin appeared on Lana's face.

"Just admiring the view," she joked, scanning the woman's body in one sweep.

The fighting erupted once more after a momentary pause. Hawke and her companions happily cut down the rest of the mercenaries, assisting the unknown woman who was adding to her tally. It only took them a few minutes to clean up the entire square, the majority of the mercenaries who remained clearly having just been there as a scare tactic, rather than to actually make a fighting difference. Lana shoved her dagger into the last man's heart, watching the life leave his eyes before taking it out and wiping the blood on his shirt. She let him go and watched as he fell to the ground in a heap, blood oozing out of the wound and staining the ground below.

"Who in The Maker's name is that?" Aveline whispered beside Hawke. They all looked up at the elf that they had fought alongside. She was pulling her daggers out of her victims and cleaning them on her leg.

"My next conquest," Lana joked. Aveline groaned as Varric chuckled at her response. Hawke never gave a straight answer on anything.

"I have a feeling we're going to find out," Varric answered, as the elf turned and began to walk towards them.

"Sloppy..." the woman began, looking around at the dead bodies strewn across the square, "You'd think the Crows would be better at this."

"Interesting entrance," Hawke said with a cheeky smirk, "You have some fine moves..."

"Oh Maker's Breath!" Aveline blurted out, shaking her head.

"I do, don't I?" the woman responded, "My name is Tallis...and I've been looking for you."

"I'll bet," Hawke replied, making Tallis smile.

"Well, looking for someone with an invitation to Chateau Haine to be more specific," the elf replied.

Varric started to laughed, "Ouch, shut down early," he muttered to Lana. She chuckled too and threw him a wink.

"Kill me... now..." Aveline drawled, holding her head in her hands in embarrassment. Hawke and Varric burst into sniggers once again. They loved winding the Iron Lady up. She was so easy to annoy and everyone knew she was uncomfortable with flirting.

"Anyway," Varric continued, "This must have been what Edge was on about. Something to do with a hunt. Remember? Duke Prosper was one of the many who fawned all over you at the Champion of Kirkwall banquet. You know, the Orlesian grease ball with the funny hat who talked endlessly about Wyverns or some shit?"

Recognition struck Lana around the face. Her jaw dropped. "That's who Duke Prosper is? I thought I'd never met him before...though I was half-cut at that party because of Isa...Anyway, a hunt doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in. Why do you need to get into Chateau Haine, Tallis?"

Hawke's companions shifted uncomfortable, noticing her swift shift in conversation. Since seeing the pirate again unexpectedly in The Hanged Man a few nights ago, anytime her name was brought up in conversation, Hawke zoned out. As much as she wanted to though, she couldn't stop thinking about her. It was driving her insane. The woman has a talent for driving people insane.

"Well, I was hoping you would reconsider," Tallis continued, noticing nothing unusual, "The Duke's gatherings are very entertaining...or so I've heard."

"And you sought me out to what?...Ask for my arm at this gathering?" Lana joked. Tallis considered it.

"In a matter of speaking," she replied, "I need to relieve him of something he has no right to possess."

"Those horrible hats?" Hawke asked jokingly, "No one should ever have the right to possess those."

Even Aveline managed to chuckle at that one. They had all witnessed the Duke at the Champion's Banquet. He looked completely and utterly ridiculous. Tallis rolled her eyes.

"Do you always make jokes like this?" she asked, disappointed at Hawke's stalling of the conversation.

"Uhm...sometimes," Lana replied, smirking.

"ALL THE TIME!" Aveline corrected her, irritated.

"Without fail," Varric added, chuckling in agreement.

"Sometimes she makes me laugh so much I almost pee my pants," Merrill chimed in. Everyone turned to stare at her, making her face flush red. Her head dropped and she scuffed the ground with her feet, embarrassed.

"Anyway..." Tallis continued, after the awkward silence, "I can't do this alone. I need your help."

"You want to rob him?" Lana asked.

"This isn't the way I imagined asking but...yeah."

Hawke frowned, "What makes you think I steal things just because people ask me to? I'm not just somebody's puppet."

"Uh-oh," Varric sang, exchanging a nervous glance with Aveline over the anger forming in Hawke's tone.

"Well...I assumed...," Tallis replied, surprised by Hawke's sudden flare of rage. She glanced at Varric who made a face.

"I...uh...I may have talked you up a bit," he said apologetically. "Well, a lot actually..."

Lana placed a hand on her forehead, trying to calm herself. She moved towards Tallis, who looked taken aback.

"Let me get one thing straight," Lana snarled, glaring at the red-head, "I am nobody's puppet. I'm not going to do your dirty work while you sit around sipping champagne and fraternizing with nobles all night."

"Look," Tallis replied, "All I've heard is that you get things done. I'm hoping it's true. Otherwise I'm wasting my time."

"So if we did this it would be together?" Hawke asked, "You're not going to make me shovel the shit while you smell like roses?"

"That's right," Tallis said with a firm nod. Lana considered her for a second. She exhaled.

"So tell me then...what exactly is it you want to steal?"

"It's a...jewel...called the Heart of the Many. The Duke thinks its valuable...and it is...just not in the way he believes," Tallis stated, beginning to pace up and down as she recounted the details. "Come with me the Chateau Haine and I'll explain along the way. If, nothing else, you will still get fine wine and fancy company...but I hope you want more than that..."

"I know I do," came a voice from the shadows.

The five of them turned around in surprise, none more so than Lana. Isabela was strolling towards them, a smirk on her face.

"Maker's Breath, about bloody time you showed up!" Aveline scolded her. The pirate gave her a wink.

"What's she doing here?" Lana asked, her voice full of bitterness. Isabela gave her a small smile.

"The Big Girl invited me," she replied gently, "A few days ago..."

If looks could kill, Aveline would have been joining the mercenaries around her and have begun her journey to meet The Maker. Lana glared at her fiercely, furious with the Guardswoman for the situation she had put her in.

"Was this your plan all along?" she yelled at her in disbelief, "Trick me into letting my hair down after months of stress only to bring along the one person I really didn't want to see?"

The guard captain hesitated, guilt apparent on her face. Hawke's jaw tightened and she shook her head in disgust, glancing to Isabela and back again.

"Nice try Av. Maker's Breath, I thought you were my friend... I'm going home. Screw this shit..."

Lana turned and headed in the direction of her Estate, absolutely fuming. She heard calling and heavy footsteps behind her, trying to catch up. Someone grabbed her arm.

"Hawke stop!" Aveline yelled, "STOP!" Hawke turned and glared at her, waiting for her explanation, "Look I...I'm sorry, alright... I only had your best interests at heart, believe me."

Lana shook her off roughly. "My 'best interests'?" she repeated, "My best interests would be to never let me see that woman again. Do you have any idea how much she hurt me? But instead you invite her along on a bloody field trip and expect me to accept it without question...If you thought that was in my best interests Av, then you don't really know me at all."

"I thought it would give you two some time to talk," Aveline countered, "...You know, work things out between you."

"We've done our talking," Lana shouted, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "She played me for a fool, Aveline. She used me, manipulated me then left me to clean up the mess...And why am I even explaining this to you, of all people? Andraste's Ass, you can't even stand her yourself!"

"It's not about me," Aveline hissed, lowering her voice as the others watched from afar. "It's about you, Hawke...I know you love her, but you're too stubborn to admit it."

Lana took a deep breath and shook her head. "You're wrong," she said, lowering her voice.

"Then prove it," Aveline challenged, "If you really believe that, then prove it to yourself. Let her come with us. You don't want to talk then fine...at least you'll know for certain how you feel...and I'll let it drop or good this time."

Hawke continued to glare at her, swallowing over the lump in her throat. She fought against the tears which were threatening to fall down her face and betray how she really felt. Her eyes glanced over at Isabela, who was watching along with the others. The pirate's face was impassive, impossible for Lana to make out what she was thinking. But her eyes were sad. Is that regret? She clearly hadn't expected Hawke to react the way she did. Well, what did she think I was going to do? Agree wholeheartedly? Welcome her with open arms?...I did that before and look where it got me.

"Fine," Hawke relented, looking back at Aveline, who was watching her, "She can come...But don't expect me to play nice."

"Do I ever?" Aveline replied, giving her a proud smile and a comforting pat on the shoulder. Lana glared at her and gritted her teeth as she rejoined the party, purposely avoiding Isabela's amber eyes which were staring after her as she led them out of Kirkwall.

"Lovely day for a hunt, don't you agree?"

Lana stared up at the giant, imposing man wielding a battle-axe before her and wasn't at all surprised to see her joke didn't go down well. They had finally made it to the Chateau in the mountains where the party was to take place.

"Umm...very...outdoorsy," she continued nervously, swaying back and forward on the balls of her feet.

"AH! The Champion of Kirkwall!"

Hawke was saved the displeasure of decorating the giant man's blade with her blood as he was ushered aside and replaced by a smaller, greasy-haired man with a ridiculous hat on his head and multi-coloured clothes which just screamed Orlesian. Lana fought the urge to laugh.

"Duke Prosper," she said with a bow in her best noble voice.

"These are honoured guests," the Duke said to the menacing man beside him, "A pleasure to see you again, my Lady. Please excuse my bodyguard...But I must admit, I am surprised to see you, considering the Amells, or rather the Hawke's, are already represented here by another."

"What?" Hawke exclaimed, surprised, "Who?"

"Sister..."

Lana's heart warmed at the sound of a delicate voice to her right. Her jaw dropped as her chocolate-brown eyes met those of her little sister.

"Bethany...?"

Hawke's companions were just as stunned as she was (well, maybe not quite as much).

"Sunshine!" Varric exclaimed, smiling widely.

"Perhaps you should join forces," the Duke continued, "To avoid any appearance of collision between parties."

Hawke was pretty sure the Duke had no idea about the collisions amongst this party. Lana's words were lost as she set eyes on her little sister for the first time since that day in Kirkwall all those years ago when she had thought they would be reunited. Aveline struck up a conversation with the Duke about the hunt that they would take part in, drawing his attention away from the Hawke sisters as they made their way towards each other. The others followed her tact and left Lana and Bethany with some privacy.

"You're the last person in the world I expected to see here," Lana said at last, still not believing her eyes, "I was beginning to think you were no longer alive. I've been so worried!"

"Is that why you never came to see me after the battle?" Bethany replied, in the same harsh tone she had used all those years ago. "Or was it because you had become the most important person in Kirkwall and no longer had any need for a sister in the Circle who brought shame on the family name?"

Lana frowned, "What are you talking about?" she asked, confused, "I didn't say that...I would never say that about you."

"Don't lie to me, Lana," Bethany argued, "The Knight-Commander told me in person..." Her face fell and tears began to build in her eyes, "I was waiting you know...I was sitting in her office waiting for you to appear, Lana..." A tear fell down her cheek as she stared into her sisters eyes, "...but you never came...You promised you would come, but you didn't..."

"I did come!" Hawke exclaimed, her heart breaking as it did every time she saw her little sister cry. She reached out and held her arms, looking down into her face. "I did come for you!...I came as soon as I could, Bethany..."

"Don't lie to me, Lana," Bethany repeated, crying openly now and staring at the ground in defeat.

"Look at me, Sister," she said, shaking her a little, "Bethany...?"The youngest Hawke stared up at her sister, gazing into her eyes through her tears. "I came for you...I promise..."

As Bethany looked into her sisters eyes, she saw there was no lie there. Lana was telling the truth. But it didn't make sense. "Then what happened?" she asked, puzzled. "How come I didn't get to see you?"

"Meredith happened," Lana stated angrily, cursing the bitch for the millionth time, "I didn't know she had gotten to you as well...I should have bloody known." When Bethany still looked confused, Hawke continued. "I was sitting waiting in that exact same office Bethany, waiting eagerly to see you a few days after the battle when I had recovered. The Knight-Commander told me you had changed your mind...That you refused to see me and had instead passed on a message."

"What message?" Bethany asked, not believing her ears, "I didn't send anything!"

Lana made a face. "Well, that was Meredith's work as well," she informed her, "She told me... you blamed me for mother's death and you never wanted to see me again...or something to that effect."

"What!?" Bethany exclaimed, "That bitch! I though she was being nice when she comforted me when you never appeared! What a manipulative shrew!"

Lana was fuming even more now. "Ughh, you don't know the half of it, Sister," she said, exhaling, "She's had me in her pocket ever since that day...I'm the reason you have survived this long under her care."

A flash of recognition flashed across Bethany's face. "There have been...looks thrown my way," she told her sister, "By Templars and Mages...only different. The Mages look at me as though they know something I don't, and the Templars are more threatening than ever."

"Anders' contacts most likely," Lana informed her, "I've been trying to keep an eye on you from the outside, but they are afraid to approach you or send any info for fear of bringing the Templar's gaze down upon themselves. We have had little contact but at least I know now they are doing their jobs."

Bethany exhaled, "Well, that's one worry off my mind at least," she said with relief. "I expect Meredith allowed me to come here to keep me out of the way. Of course she never anticipated that you would be here."

Lana shook her head. "Don't trust any of them," she warned, "Some could be working for Meredith as well. That wench is as slippery as they come."

Bethany gave her a small smile," Thanks Sister..."

An awkward silence passed between them. If this had of been years ago, there was no doubt they would have hugged. But they had been apart for so long that a distance had formed between them. A distance which only time would heal. And time was something they didn't have right now.

"Did...Did Meredith have it right, though?" Lana asked, hesitantly, thinking back to her words that day, "Did you...I mean...Was there a part of you that didn't want to see me because of mother?"

Bethany saw the sadness on her sister's face. She dreaded telling her the truth. But she owed it to her at least. They had always been honest with each other. She took a deep breath.

"Yes..."

Although Lana had guessed as much, her face fell and her breath caught in her throat. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and tried not to let herself fall apart. I always get the blame...For everything. And now Bethany blames me too.

"I'm sorry, Lana," Bethany whispered, wishing her answer could have been different. "Let's just...Let's just enjoy the party together, yes? I haven't been out of the Circle in so long...And it is good to see you again. Despite our differences, I've missed you."

"And I've missed you," Lana said hoarsely, pulling herself together, "But you're right...Now is not the time for this I suppose...Let's go."

Hawke and her companions made their way through the nearby forests of Chateau Haine, searching for 'the biggest Wyvern' which would undoubtedly get them into the social gathering inside and score them points with the Duke, lessening his suspicion over them as being something more than simply guests. It was a beautiful day in the Free Marches, the sun shining down on the grounds surrounding the Chateau and accentuating their evergreen beauty.

"So...what exactly does a Wyvern look like?" Isabela asked, from behind Hawke, as they walked together keeping an eye out for the so-called beast.

"Probably something like your last conquest, I imagine," Lana said bitterly. The pirate glared at her.

"Oh, really?" she asked, smirking, "How do you know my last conquest wasn't you?"

Lana snorted, "Three years without sex? How ever would you make your money?"

Bethany, Aveline, Tallis and Merrill all chuckled. Varric looked between his two friends, wishing to The Maker that he wasn't playing piggy in the middle.

"Ha, funny," the pirate replied sarcastically, "Coming from a woman who has no money left because it actually was spent on whores...and that worst part was that she didn't get to have sex with any of them. How is old Gamlen these days?"

More chuckling broke out amongst the travelling party. One a piece the scoreboard read. It appeared they had begun playing a different sort of game now. Hawke scowled, ready with a retort.

"Why don't you tell me?" she countered, throwing her a look, "After all you two have more in common than we ever did...Paying for sex because no one else will have you."

Isabela chuckled, unfazed by the insult. "Well what does that say about you?"

"I seem to remember throwing two sovereigns at you," Lana replied smugly, glad the pirate had taken the bait, "More than you were worth, believe me."

The look on Isabela's face told Lana she had won this round. Hawke stared straight ahead and smiled to herself, taking a grim satisfaction at beating the pirate at her own game. Tallis was looking from both women in amusement, realising that there was something more between them than what met the eye.

"I assume you two have a past?" she asked interestedly, glancing from a scowling Isabela to a gleeful Hawke.

"Well, we certainly don't have a future," Lana responded, trying to sound like she didn't care. The smile slid slowly from her face. Isabela stared at her back, her frown deepening. Damn it, Hawke...Like this isn't hard for me as well. Tallis caught the look on Isabela's face and decided to drop the issue. It wasn't really any of her business anyway, and she sensed that the past between the two women wasn't exactly a happy one.

"Look! A Wyvern!" she yelled, spotting one in the distance. It seemed to be chasing two hunters who were running for their lives, screaming comically at the top of their voices.

"That's our cue, people!" Hawke yelled, "Move it!"

The six of them ran forwards at once and engaged the beast in a duel, allowing the other scared hunters to escape. Suddenly it was apparent why they were running. There wasn't just one Wyvern, but four of them.

"Andraste's Ass!" Isabela exclaimed, "What do they feed these things?"

"Probably people, Rivaini," Varric shouted back, firing bolts from Bianca at the nearest beast. "Or vegetables, who knows?"

The pirate chuckled as she charged forwards with the rest of them, withdrawing her daggers and beginning to tear the Wyverns apart. She had missed Varric and his endless wit. Nothing ever seemed to faze him. He was fearless, just like the pirate's former crew on The Siren's Call had been. Poor buggers, she thought again, remembering their faces.

After several minutes the last of the Wyvern's were good and dead. Isabela placed her blades at her back once more, after wiping them clean. She glanced up, seeing Lana bending over a fallen Wyvern a short distance away. The pirate found herself in a daze, gazing after her longingly, against her will. It didn't help that she was moist under the scalding sun, a bead of water dropping from her brow a she fought to catch her breath. The pirate's mouth fell open as she watched Lana take a sip of water from her flask, a small dribble slide down her beautiful face and off the end of her chin.

Suddenly something moving behind Hawke in the distance caught the Rivaini's eye. It was a small, spiky-looking creature that she had never seen before in her life. Before she could react, Lana turned and noticed the creature about to attack her. She backed away, instinctively reaching for her dagger on her back. Before she could however, her foot caught a hole in the ground and she lost her balance, falling flat onto her back as the creature ascended.

"Hawke!" Isabela yelled, catching the attention of the others. The pirate ran towards her as fast as she could and managed to reach her just as the creature was about to lunge. Her silver blade swiped through the air and cut the weird-looking beast down, before it could harm a helpless Hawke.

After a moment of stunned silence, Lana looked up, surprised to see her saviour had been Isabela. She looked down and saw her foot was stuck in a tiny hole in the ground. Her ankle was soaring with pain. She must have twisted it when she fell. As Hawke pulled her leg out gingerly, a shadow formed over her. She looked up. Isabela was standing looking down at her with concern. She extended a hand, offering to help her to her feet. Lana looked at her face, then glanced down at her outstretched hand. After a seconds hesitation she dropped her head and got to her feet, ignoring the pirate's offer of assistance. Isabela's hand fell to her side in defeat as she watched Hawke walk away, limping slightly from her fall.

Of course Isabela had missed Hawke the whole time she was away. The woman was still angry with her though, and she had every right to be. But her bitterness was beginning to piss the pirate off a little. All she could do was apologize over and over, and she had done. She couldn't change the past and there was no way she was going to grovel at Hawke's feet if that's what the woman was expecting. I don't grovel to anyone, least of all Hawke. Let her play the game of insults...I can play dirty too. Exhaling, Isabela tore her gaze from Lana and joined the party, who were choosing which Wyvern to bring back.

"You alright Hawke?" Varric asked, "Damn Ghast holes."

Hawke burst out laughing, "A what hole?"

"A scholar might call it something else, but they don't know their ghasts from a hole in the ground."

Everyone laughed, bar Aveline.

"I'm going to hit him. I'll do it," she said, shaking her head. Lana rolled her eyes at the Guardswoman.

"Come on, let's get the biggest one and bring it back to the Chateau."

"These bastards tried to steal my rightful kill!"

Hawke stared angrily at the Orlesian who had been seen running from the Wyverns back in the forest.

"Last time I saw you, you were running from the beast and your pants were on fire," she retorted, as the Duke looked on, "I guess they still are...Liar."

"Now, Now!" Duke Prosper interrupted, staring at his Orlesian counterpart, "Is that any way to speak of the Champion of Kirkwall?"

His words seemed to make the man angrier. "This is your fault for inviting a stinking, turnip in the first place!" he yelled, "Your mother would be ashamed!"

Prosper just laughed. "Says the man whose mother has slept with half of Val Chevin," he replied. "My apologies, Champion. Now what would you have me do with this...idiot?"

"You don't mean..." Tallis blurted out. She turned to Lana, a desperate look in her eye. "Just let him go. He can't be more than he is. He's not worth your time, Hawke."

The Duke looked amused at Tallis' mercy. He turned to Hawke for her answer. She turned back to the Orlesian man and considered him. He was glaring at her with dislike.

"Ahh, what do I care?" she replied, "His blood probably smells worse than the Wyverns. Do with him what you will, Duke Prosper. I believe the fine wine in the Keep poses more of a threat to me than he does."

Prosper laughed loudly, "Indeed," he said, "As you wish, Champion. Congratulations on your hunt once more. You may now enter the Chateau with your companions while I deal with this...stain upon my people."

Hawke bowed her head and led her companions towards the grand Chateau Haine. She was envious of the giant walls, wishing she possessed them around her own Estate to keep her numerous admirers from gazing in her windows or hovering around outside waiting to ambush her and pepper her with questions on her battle with the Arishok.

"You let him go?" Tallis asked in shock, walking alongside her, "That was merciful."

"That's Hawke," Isabela interrupted from Lana's other side, "Merciful."

"Obviously," Hawke replied, hearing the sarcasm in her voice, "You're still here."

Isabela snorted, "Your words stab more than your daggers, Hawke...but not nearly enough to wound me."

Hawke gritted her teeth and didn't reply.

They reached the Chateau and entered its grand gates for find the real party within. Hawke and her companions headed straight for the wine (well, it was Orlesian after all!) and began to enjoy themselves in the scorcher of a day. As Lana reached out for a glass, her hand covered Isabela's unexpectedly, who had reached for the same one simultaneously. They both looked at each other momentarily, before Hawke cleared her throat and let go, reaching for another one instead and trying to hide how flustered she was becoming. Isabela watched her, staring over the top of her glass as she took a sip of her wine. What was that all about? I thought she hated me now...She watched the woman take a drink of her own wine, seeing the sun glance off the sweat on her brow. Either Lana was lying to herself, or that brief moment between them had just been merely awkward for her. The pirate had a feeling she knew which it was. Realising this was good a chance as she was going to get to try and fix things between them, she placed her glass of wine back on the table and made her way towards Hawke, who had joined Aveline who was a few feet in front.

Suddenly out of nowhere, arms wrapped themselves around Isabela's waist from behind. She jumped, and turned in shock to find a familiar face before her.

"Thought you could slip in unnoticed, did you?" the woman asked with a grin.

"Elegant!" Isabela exclaimed, a sly grin appearing on her own face, "Look at you, mingling with the Highborn. People would actually think you belong here in a dress like that."

Lady Elegant laughed and held out her arms, giving the pirate a twirl.

A short distance away, Lana's eyes caught Isabela giving the woman an appraising look, a hunger on her face. It was similar to the way she used to look at her, only not a strong obviously. Hawke's glass hovered in front of her mouth as she froze, watching the scene, then slowly lowered as she lost her thirst. She placed the glass back on the table forcefully and shook her head, feeling angry once more.

"I can't take this anymore," she hissed to Aveline. The Guardswoman glanced over to where Hawke had been looking to see Lady Elegant all over Isabela. She cursed the pirate for wasting this chance she had granted her to make up with Hawke. Lana was fuming. She could feel herself starting to loose it. As Aveline reached out to comfort her she shook her off, her face fuming.

"Just leave me alone, Av," she said, still shaking her head. The Guardswoman could see tears forming in Lana's eyes as she backed away from her, "I told you I didn't want her to come...I can't..."

Not wanting to break down in front of them all, least of all Isabela, Hawke pushed her way blindly through the crowd of nobles, fighting to get as far away as possible. She glanced behind her, still walking, trying to see what Isabela was doing with Elegant, even though it would hurt her even more. Suddenly she walked into someone nearby and tripped up, her swollen ankle aching with pain once more. She hit the ground hard, the nobles scattering as she fell to the floor.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, feeling her hands scrape off the ground as she reached out to save herself. A few of the nearby nobles began to laugh at her misfortune. Suddenly someone spoke.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't see...Are you alright, Miss?"

Lana straightened to a sitting position and stared up at the second-hand that had reached out to pick her off the ground this day. She reached out reluctantly and allowed the woman to help her to her feet.

"Thanks," Lana muttered, embarrassed to look her in the eye. She turned and began to walk away once more when she realised the woman was still holding her hand. Hawke tried to pull out of her grasp, not wanting to mingle with any nobles, especially one she had just run into and when her eyes were ready to overflow with tears. Then the woman spoke.

"Lana...?"

Hawke turned around at once, hearing her first name being uttered by the complete stranger. Her eyes met the woman's then and both their mouths fell open. Andraste's Ass!

"Leliana...?"