Hawke made her way through the docks towards Smetty's Fish Guttery. The day had turned to evening without her even realising as the remains of the sun hid themselves behind the dark rain clouds overhead. Lana felt bad about running out on her plans with Gamlen but couldn't resist. The Gem he mentioned had peaked her interest, not so much as a valuable but as something to explain her uncle's lack of coin since she had known him. Clearly he had given everything trying to find it and had done a fair bit of investigating too if he had a location. That was enough to make Lana curious as to what it was. That, and the fact that the information was stuffed behind a wallop mallet, as though it was some kind of secret. And secrets wherever Gamlen was concerned were never good. He's too sneaky for his own good.
As Lana made her way through the alleyways towards the docks, she couldn't help but think about Isabela. Guilt snaked through her like a poison. No matter what had happened between them she had still turned her back on a friend (for want of a better word.) Seems like I'm making a habit of turning my back on those I care about...What's happening to me? Hawke frowned as she considered the question. Maybe I'm the one who is changing...She had been so focused on Isabela and Bethany actions she had not noticed the flaws in her own. I'm ignoring my own sister...I rejected a request for help from a person I love (however reluctantly.) Lana bit her lip, still lost in thought. A few years ago she would have never dreamed of doing that to someone she knew. But they turned their backs on me first...And you of all people know how that feels...I deserve some time to myself...True, but not when others are seemingly in danger...Lana shook her head, wishing to The Maker that she would just stop having these debates inside her head. They were driving her even crazier than she already was. Seeing Isabela break like that in front of her seemed to have got her re-thinking the past few years. Had she been too hard on her and Bethany? Or were her actions just? Hawke sighed. Maybe a bit of both.
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted. She heard a strange noise in the distance and pulled back behind a nearby building, fully aware of how dangerous the docks could be when darkness was starting to fall. Pausing for a second, she strained her ears, listening. There was laughter coming from near one of the warehouses on the end of the docks. It was the biggest and most intimidating looking one of them all, possibly belonging to an armada of sorts. Hawke only recognized it because Isabela used to disappear whenever their travels took her past it. She would suddenly remember she had to be somewhere, or she knew someone in the distance and they wouldn't see her until later in the day, usually nursing a pint at The Hanged Man, ashen-faced and rather pale (which was saying a lot considering her tan skin.)
Curious, Hawke peered out from around the closest building and glanced over to the entrance. She observed a crowd of men, seemingly pirates of some kind who were crowded around something being dragged on the ground, apparently amusing. Leading the men was a tall, Antivan-looking man with shiny armor and a long brown beard and pony tail. He unlocked and opened a large bolt on the warehouse door and turned to his men, who were kicking what Lana realised, shocked, was a person. She could only make out the immobile hand through the numerous legs which were swinging painful blows from all angles. There was a sickening sound as the heavy boots connected with the victim's body, and jeers of the men inflicting them.
Hawke watched as the tallest man bent over and started to drag the unconscious form into the warehouse. She still couldn't get a decent look who it was but saw a thin trail of blood streak across the ground. The jeering men followed their leader inside.
"I get first pickings!" one of the yelled in an Antivan accent, to raucous laughter from the others. The heavy door closed shut behind them, blocking the laughter, and whatever else would follow, from listening ears.
"Poor sod," Lana said to herself, wondering what that could have been about. She was tempted to help, taking a few paces forwards before stopping suddenly. I'm in enough shit as it is, she reminded herself, No point getting into more by butting into other people's business...Whoever that was more than likely deserved it anyway.
Still caught in two minds, Hawke turned away before she done something stupid and continued towards Smetty's Fish Guttery, reminding herself that she had her own business to attend to. She didn't always have to play the hero. Let the City Guard earn their coin for a change. Aveline could probably use some action you know. Sitting behind a desk for years has helped her pile on the pounds. Chuckling to herself at the scene she had walked in on a few days ago (Aveline trying to squeeze into a pair of greaves which were too big for her and falling on her ass), Lana finally reached the door to Smetty's Guttery and entered.
Retching with the stench of rotting fish, Hawke covered her mouth and proceeded into the warehouse. There were crates upon crates stacked up to the ceiling and spread out all over the Guttery. She sighed, feeling disheartened. She immediately regretted not bringing anyone with her. Damn it, this could take a while.
Cautiously Lana began to make her way through then all, repeating the number she was looking for in her head. Crate 1023...1023...Come on...Where are you?...1019...1020...
After ten minutes or so a noise nearby distracted her. She froze, casting her gaze through the semi-darkness, sure she had just seen something move in the corner. Her hand lingered on the hilt of her dagger, ready, waiting. Come on, give me something to kill. There was a dripping sound of water leaking from the roof above. It must have just been the rain I heard, Lana convinced herself. She loosened up a little and retracted her hand from her weapon, continuing with her crate counting.
1021...1022...Still seeing nothing, Lana made her way to the upper level. Crate number 1023 was sitting suspiciously on the balcony, overlooking the entire warehouse. Lana felt suddenly exposed as she approached it. Something doesn't feel right.
No sooner had the thought entered her head when she was surrounded. It's a trap! Mercenaries poured out of the shadows and ambushed her.
Isabela opened her eyes slowly. There was a pulsing pain in her head and she could feel a stream of blood streaking across her face from a deep gash on her temple. The rough, dusty ground below her gave off a foul stench of dried blood and raw fish. We must be at the docks, she thought to herself. The warehouse around her blurred into focus and she gazed into the shadows, looking for any sign of Castillon and his men. It appeared to be deserted. Isabela stirred a little and heaved herself on to her knees, pausing on all fours as her head began to spin.
Suddenly an armoured elbow struck the small of her back, hard.
"Argh", she groaned, wincing as she hit the ground again. So I'm not alone after all. Seething, and breathing rather heavily, she looked up from where she lay as the person standing over her from behind came into view.
"Ah, Isabela...So you finally reawaken." It was Velasco. Around fifteen of the Felicisima Armada were also scattered throughout the warehouse, standing guard.
Isabela glared up at him as he stroked his beard. "And you're about to die," she replied, throwing him a smile.
Velasco laughed, amused. "Who's going to kill me? You? Pah! You won't be around long enough to try Bela Princesa."
"It's Queen actually," she reminded him, "There is no Princess of the Eastern Seas. I killed her."
"I know," Velasco growled, "She was my sister."
Isabela chuckled. She would never have guessed. "Woopsie," she replied, staring up at him uncaringly. Maybe if he hadn't whacked me with his sword I might have been a bit more sympathetic...Actually no, I wouldn't.
"No matter," Velasco continued, spitting on her where she lay. "You will be dead soon...Castillon will see to that."
Isabela shivered. Castillon would be here soon. She wasn't afraid of him, but she didn't particularly like the idea of him finally catching up with her like this, not while she was in such a vulnerable position. Velasco seemed to sense her discomfort at this thought. As did many of the others. A few of them chuckled smugly. Velasco smiled, folding his arms as her stared down at her.
"Do I see a flicker of fear in the so-called "Pirate Queen?" he teased, pleased that his words had their desired effect. The guards laughed even more, mocking and jeering her as she lay on the ground. Isabela snorted into the dust.
"Hardly," she groaned indifferent, staring up at him defiantly, "There's no way he'd beat me in a duel. No one can. You should know that of all people, Velasco. How's the shoulder?"
Velasco sneered, unfazed by the memory of losing their last duel in front of many of the Armada. He lost a lot of respect that day and Isabela gained much. But now was not the time for revenge. She would get what was coming to her. And Castillon would make it painful.
"Oh, he's not going to duel you, Isabela," he replied in his thick Antivan accent, bending down towards her. He grabbed her face roughly in one hand, digging his finger nails into her cheeks and turning her to look at him. "He's going to end you...And I'm going to enjoy watching him break your pretty face in two."
Isabela whacked his hand away and got to her feet gingerly as Velasco stood up and began to pace. She leaned on a nearby stack of crates for support and held her lower back, cursing her plan with Varric. She hadn't expected to pass out while leaving the trail from The Blooming Rose. But she took so many welts on the way here that she just couldn't stay conscious. Antivan bastards, I'll make them all pay. She held the gash on her head, trying to stem the flow of blood. Her head was light. She glared around the warehouse at the heavily armed Armada. They outnumbered her. There was no way she could win this fight on her own, but she was done running. And now Varric probably won't know where I ended up, she thought worriedly, Hawke is the tracker, not him. The woman could pick up a trail almost as well as mabari hound. Lana's face appeared in the pirate's thoughts then, along with a whole new type of bitterness. Bitch, I should never have depended on her like that. Feeling ashamed of herself for everhaving gotten that close to anyone in the first place, she cursed silently under her breath, pushing thoughts of Hawke to the back of her mind. She's not coming...Ever.
Velasco continued to pace, impatient now. Isabela had a way of getting under people's skin. She folded her arms under her massive chest and leaned on the crate, her legs crossed. Silence filled the warehouse as they both waited for the imminent arrival of Castillon.
Hawke was out of breath as she climbed up the Wounded Coast towards a cave at the top. It turned out the mercenaries who ambushed her in Smetty's Guttery were actually waiting to capture Gamlen and bring him here. They weren't very skilled fighters however, and after the initial shock of being pounced upon, Lana quickly killed them with ease and found a note on the so-called Commander telling him where to bring Gamlen.
As Lana climbed, holding the stitch in her side, she worried about what her Uncle had gotten himself into. If someone was looking to capture him, then this all didn't add up. This whole charade was supposed to be about the Gem of Keroshak. Why would someone be paid to take him alive? Confused, Lana finally reached the top of the coast and entered the cavern, wondering what in all of Thedas she was going to uncover.
Varric had been hanging about The Blooming Rose for around an hour. Isabela told him that Velasco was smart, that he would leave someone behind to spy on him, making sure he didn't follow her to wherever they were taking her. He stood with his arms folded, hoping that he would be able to track her. Otherwise Isabela didn't stand a chance. Even if the plan did work their chances were still slim without Hawke.
As the dwarf finally decided it was safe to exit The Blooming Rose he was caught in two minds. Isabela's trail was pretty obvious at first, blood marks on the ground, a blue bandana mysteriously hanging from some nearby bushes. He picked it up as he went along, scanning the surrounding area for more clues. Surprising himself he managed to track her all the way to Lowtown, where the trail suddenly disappeared.
"Shit," he muttered to himself, looking around for any sign of her. The rain had washed away most of the blood by now and he didn't get further than a few footsteps. Varric cursed Isabela for not telling Hawke about all this. She was so stubborn sometimes. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that if Hawke knew about Castillon she would help. She loved Isabela, and despite the pirate's protests, the others had seen her show her own love in ways as well. Not in a loving way, but in an Isabela kind of way. The dwarf shook his head, wondering how thing had gotten so complicated between them, leaving him in the middle.
Panicking now as the trail had gone cold, Varric made up his mind. Whether Isabela liked it or not she needed Hawke's help. Her life depended on it, and the dwarf had lost too many drinking partners over the years to lose another. This was silly. Surely Hawke would help, wouldn't she?
"I'm surprised at you, Isabela," Velasco said, finally breaking the silence once more. "How could you be caught by a trivial dwarf."
More laughing filled the room. Isabela smirked.
"How could you be caught with your pants around your ankles and a telescope propped up your ass?" she joked. "Did you pay that whore? Or did she do it for free?"
A few of the Armada pirates tried to hide their laughter. They had heard about that story a few years back and it had been spread through the sailing world like wild fire. Velasco was known to have cut off a pirate's head for simply mentioning it one day in his company. He was fuming now. He look very much as though he was about to kill her right there and then. Seemingly thinking better of it and reluctant to get on the wrong side of Castillon, he instead reached out and back-handed Isabela across the face with all his strength. The chuckling stopped at once as she hit the floor hard, spouting blood and feeling her eyes water. She looked up at him, grimacing.
"Sore spot?" she teased, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the already bloody ground. Luckily her teeth still seemed to be intact. Where in The Maker's name is Varric? She thought desperately, trying to catch her breath. I don't know how much longer it will be before Castillon gets here.
Velasco wore a dangerous look on his face. He wouldn't be able to restrain himself much longer.
"Where is your friend?" he asked instead, pacing up and down like a raging ogre. "The pretty one who helped you kill Hayder?"
Isabela's breath caught. He was talking about Hawke. Her face fell. After several seconds Velasco stared down at her, realising she wasn't going to answer.
"Aww," he crooned, "Is she dead? You should hope so, because if Castillon catches up with her she's going to be."
"Leave her out of this!" Isabela spat, angrily. "It's me you want!"
Velasco laughed, seeing he had hit his mark. He leaned down, grabbing her face again and showering her with saliva. "And I'll have you," he promised threateningly, gazing down her cleavage and smirking, "Before this day is out, Isabela. Mark my words. I've waited a long time for your company."
Isabela spat blood into his face. He wiped his face in disgust and shoved her backwards. She landed painfully on her already aching spine.
"You always did like it dirty," he teased. "That mouth of yours will be put to good use, don't worry...and then...I'll have your friend too."
"She's not my friend," Isabela replied, unfazed by his threats. She had been around pirates long enough to know what they did to their female prisoners. But Velasco knew that if he touched her without consent, weapon or no, she would break him easily. He was no match for her.
"I know," he said, grinning, "She's more than that. Did you really think that I was not watching you Isabela?"
"So why not capture me sooner?" she asked, steering the conversation away from Hawke. It still hurt to even think about her. Velasco's grin widened.
"Because I knew eventually someone would bring you to me," he replied, "I was the one who told Lucky that Castillon was in town."
Isabela's blood boiled. She had been led into a trap. I'll kill that bastard Lucky the next time I see him!
"Aww, you didn't know?" he mocked, pleased with himself, "Lucky was spying on you from the very beginning. He's a filthy human being, easy to manipulate with gold. I knew if he told you where I was that you would come looking for me. You might have succeeded had your dwarf from not turned on you."
Isabela said nothing. She couldn't believe that all these years someone as worthless as Lucky had been manipulating her. No wonder he knew so much about the Armada and the Tome of Koslun. At least Velasco didn't know one part of the plan though. Andraste's tits where is Varric!?
"I should have known Gamlen wouldn't have come. I had a feeling he'd send you instead, Cousin."
Hawke almost jumped out of her skin as a voice spoke from the shadows. She turned to her left after killing yet more, dumb mercenaries to find a woman, around the same age as herself step into the clearing.
"Cousin?" Lana repeated, as though she had heard wrong. "Who are you?"
The woman looked confused. "Gamlen never told you?" she asked in disbelief," I...of course he didn't. Why would he?"
"Why did you pay these men to kill me?" Hawke asked angrily. The woman looked taken aback.
"I didn't," she exclaimed, "They were only supposed to hand over the notes. I should have known they would read them. They were stupid to go up against someone like you for a Gem."
"You know me?" Hawke asked, playing catch up. She had never seen this woman before in her life.
"My name is Charade. I'm...well...I'm Gamlen's daughter...for all the good it did me..."
"I have a cousin?" Lana asked, surprised. She hadn't really registered the word earlier. Charade nodded.
"You're a pretty good fighter. I wouldn't have taken you for a relation of Gamlen's at all if I hadn't already known. You're nothing like him."
Hawke smiled, relaxing into the woman's company. "Neither are you," she replied. "And thank The Maker for that! One of him is enough!"
"My mother Mara...she left Gamlen before I was born. He was so fixated on finding that stupid Gem. I doubt he even realised she was gone. She told me about him before she died. I guess I...I just wanted to see how far he would go for something that he really wanted...but he didn't even show up. He sent you instead," Charade said sadly.
"Actually," Lana said, "He didn't. I found one of your notes and decided to see what this was all about. He told me he lost everything searching for the Gem. I think he gave up on it."
"I baited him with the one thing I thought might get his attention. He obviously never cared about me," Charade said, her face falling. Lana felt a stab of pity for her. She knew perfectly well how it felt to be unloved by a parent. And Charade had never even got to meet hers. How could Gamlen have never even mentioned her before?
"Why don't you come with me?" she suggested, "Maybe Gamlen doesn't even know about you. And...well... he does have some good qualities... er...deep down."
Charade chuckled. "Why not?" she replied shrugging. "Having a cousin seems to have worked out ok, at least. Do you really think I should meet him?"
Hawke smiled at her. "I think you would regret it if you didn't. You clearly want to...and you already know he's a bit of a waste of space so there's going to be no nasty surprises there."
They both laughed.
"Ok then, lead the way. This cavern's making me shiver and I'm nervous enough as it is."
"How about we make a deal, huh?" Velasco asked, turning back to Isabela with a sly grin. Isabela looked up as he approached. She was leaning on the crates again, having got to her feet once more. She didn't want Castillon to find her cowering on all fours, pouring with blood. Her lip was still bleeding though after Velasco's last whack. Isabela was starting to think that Varric was never going to make it. The rain was pouring heavily outside, washing away any trace of her trail. By the looks of it he was never going to find her. She was trying desperately to think of a plan B which didn't involve being killed.
Velasco leaned in close to her, his putrid breath travelling across her bare neck as he breathed in her scent. She could hear him exhaling in her ear, almost daring him to try and kiss her to see what he would get in return. A shiver ran down her body. Velasco began to run his fingers through her dark hair, now flowing freely since she had left her bandana as a trail for Varric. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her temper in check. Velasco might just decide to kill her early and have done with it. She had to play along for a little while longer, buy more time for Varric to get here. The rest of the Felicisima Armada watched closely as their leader tried to take what he wanted from his prisoner.
"If the deal involves anything to do with your penis then you can forget it, Velasco. I do have standards, you know" she replied, disgusted at him touching her. The other men were goading him on. Isabela closed her eyes, wishing he would stop. I'll make him stop if he goes any further, I mean it...Hold it together, don't do anything rash. You've been in worse positions than this...I'm going to kill this bastard, I swear...But then the others will kill you immediately. Just stay calm...
Suddenly Velasco's hand began to trace up the inside of her thigh, making her almost heave with revulsion. Keeping her temper in check to avoid being killed was looking like an impossibility now.
"I suggest if you want to keep that hand," she spat in his ear, "That you remove it."
"I forgot," he continued, hissing in her ear, "You prefer a woman's touch down there don't you?...And not just any woman's."
He chuckled in her ear, his hand freezing just under her white shirt, dangerously close to where he wasn't permitted.
"Hawke means nothing to me," Isabela whispered bitterly in his ear, "She never did."
"Then what stopping you?" he asked, his beard grazing her face. "If you're good, I'll tell Castillon to go easy on you. What have you got to lose?"
Isabela swallowed hard as his hand began to travel further up her thigh.
"I mean it," she warned, her patience growing thin. "I'll kill you, Velasco, you son of a bitch."
Velasco chuckled evilly in her ear. "What are you going to do, Isabela? You're mine until Castillon comes. I own you...and you're going to do whatever I want."
Before Isabela could stop herself she brought her right knee up in between Velasco's legs, crushing his crown jewels with a sickening finality.
"Oof!" he groaned, buckling over and falling to the ground, clutching his groin, a painful grimace on his face. Isabela leaned back on the crate with her arms folded and chuckled, looking down at him as he lay in a heap, breathing heavily and glaring up at her.
"I should kill this bitch!" he spat, talking to himself.
"That was just a warning," Isabela informed him, smirking, "Touch me again and you're a dead man, got it?"
Unexpectedly, one of the surrounding guards shoved Isabela to the ground. She got to her feet immediately and swung a punch at him, feeling it connect with his jaw. Suddenly more joined the fray and Isabela, overcome by sheer numbers found herself on the ground once more. The boots came flying in from every side, bruising her all over as she held her head in her hands. All of a sudden, there was release.
She looked up. Velasco entered the circle his men had created around her. She could see him unbutton his pants. Then he was upon her before she could react. She struggled with him on the ground.
"I'll kill you, Velasco!"
"I already told you, Isabela," he growled, trying to pin her down, "That you're mine..."
"Get your hands off me or I'll slit your throat!"
She could hear the others laughing. It was infuriating her. She hated the feeling of not being able to save herself.
"Too bad you're not screwing Hawke anymore," Velasco teased, digging her in the ribcage to stop her squirming. "I guess she's the only one who could have saved you...And she's not even here."
"Oh yes she is!"
Velasco froze, still hovering over Isabela whose heart stopped. She couldn't believe that voice was real. There, standing behind the Felicisima Armada, was a terrifying Lana Hawke, Varric and Fenris by her side and an unknown woman she had never seen before. Isabela sighed in relief.
"About bloody time Varric!" she yelled.
"Sorry Rivaini," he replied, no tone of a joke in his voice. They had almost been too late. Hawke was shaking with fury at the scene she had just walked in on.
Velasco got to his feet and buttoned up his pants again. He was grinning at Hawke, who looked more dangerous than ever.
"Well, well, well, the Champion of Kirkwall," he said, withdrawing his sword and eyeing Lana's daggers warily. He wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight with her.
"I take it you're Velasco?" she asked through gritted teeth. The man bowed his head in greeting.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, "As you can see I was rather enjoying myself."
"You're going to wish you hadn't done that," she threatened. Isabela got to her feet and snatched one of Lana's daggers from her hand.
"I can take care of myself, Hawke. I don't need you," she said bitterly, not looking her. Hawke glared at her.
"Don't worry, Bela, "she said, "I'm not here for you. I'm here for Velasco...and Castillon."
Isabela sighed. So Varric told her then. She wished he hadn't.
"How about you just take Isabela and go, ah?" Velasco offered. "We'll forget this ever happened."
"I already told you I didn't come for her," Lana spat.
"Such a shame," he mocked, "Poor Isabela. Wanted by nobody..."
Isabela suddenly lunged without warning and stuck Hawke's dagger right through Velasco's armor. His eyes widened in surprise as he fell to the ground at her feet, dead. The fighting broke out at once between Lana's companions and the Armada. Hawke saw Isabela drop to the floor and repeatedly stab the already dead Velasco in a fit of rage. She began felling the enemies around them, protecting the already injured Rivaini from any further harm. Bitter though she was, Isabela looked terrible. She had been beaten badly during her captivity. I'm just glad I got here before Velasco had his way.
After a few minutes the Felicisima Armada guards were finally defeated. By the looks of it Charade could fight pretty well. She definitely doesn't take after Gamlen, Hawke thought to herself, impressed. They gathered round a broken Isabela who had staggered to her feet.
"Are you alright?" Hawke asked stiffly.
"What do you care?" was her response.
Lana glanced around at the others for help. They knew by now about the argument between Isabela and Hawke as Lana had informed them on the way here.
"Sorry Rivaini," Varric began, "I lost your trail in Lowtown. I met Hawke and her cousin Charade coming back from The Wounded Coast...There was no other way."
"Cousin?" Isabela asked, looking up at Charade.
"That's right," she replied, nodding. "Long lost and all that."
"You were probably better off lost," Isabela replied, smiling at her, "Being friends with Hawke tends to make life more difficult."
The others laughed, taking this as a joke because of the danger Hawke tended to attract, but Lana knew that she was being serious. And like being friends with her isn't just as dangerous?
"Where's Castillon?" she demanded coldly, breaking up the laughter.
"Not here yet," Isabela replied. She still hadn't looked at her yet. "I want to look around before her gets here."
"Fine," Lana replied. "I'll wait here."
"Whatever," Isabela replied. "Fenris, can you help me?"
"Of course, Isabela. I'm very eager to find out what this slaver has been up to," the blond elf replied bitterly. Slavery was always a tough topic for him, considering he was one.
The three others watched them enter the office and heard them tear it apart. Charade turned to Lana.
"Why is so ungrateful?" she asked, confused at Isabela's hostility, "You just saved her life."
"It's a long story," Hawke replied, feeling no desire to go into it. Her face was stony as she watched the Rivaini pore over some documents she had found.
"Oh," Charade responded, surprised, "I sense this story is best left be."
"You're catching on already, Chestnut," Varric joked, chuckling.
"Chestnut?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Now it was Lana's turn to chuckle.
"It's Varric's story," she said, winking down at the dwarf. "Don't ask." He chuckled at the look of confusion on Charade's face.
The other two re-joined the group.
"Found something?" Hawke asked, staring at the documents in her hands.
Isabela ignored her.
"I guess there's nothing to do now but wait," Varric said, filling the awkward silence. The others shifted uncomfortably.
"Ah, and Velasco told me you were all tied up. A lovely present just waiting to be opened."
The five of them spun around. Finally after all these years, Castillon stood in front of them in the flesh. They had heard the stories countless times of course, and now it was time to end this once and for all. He walked towards them.
"Well, I guess he paid for that little mistake," he said, staring down at Velasco's mangled body, "What a pretty smear he makes. Well played Isabela."
"You want to talk?" she asked, "Maybe we should talk about these documents. Slavery in the Free Marches? They're not going to like that."
"And neither am I!" Fenris growled, his markings flaring as he flexed his muscles.
Castillon looked angry. "Get to the point," he said impatiently, eyeing Fenris with concern.
"Give me your ship and your word to leave me alone, and you can take the papers and go," Isabela said.
"Can you trust him? He trades people for money?" Lana asked, frowning.
"Shut up Hawke. This has nothing to do with you," she replied. "And don't ever talk to me about trust."
"If you want the damn ship we'll just kill him and take it!" Lana shouted, wondering how Isabela could be so stupid.
"Castillon's a business man and this is a business deal! You can't just kill a man and take a ship!" she yelled back. "How will he tell everyone how I bested him is he's dead?"
"And how will you sail a ship if you're dead?" Hawke asked, shaking her head.
"I see I wasn't the only one played today," Castillon said to Lana. She glared at him.
"Yes you were. I shouldn't even be here," she spat.
"Then why are you!?" Isabela yelled, throwing her daggers.
"Saving your life it seems!" Hawke shouted, "Before you do something insane...oh wait, something else insane. Your list is very long."
"Give me the documents and take the ship. You will never see me again," Castillon interrupted, desperate now.
"Swear it," Isabela demanded.
"I swear it on my mother's grave," he said with a bow. "Give me the documents!"
As Isabela made to hand them over Castillon's hand fell from his arm and dropped the floor. He screamed out in pain.
"ARRRRRGGGHH! What are you doing you bitch!" he yelled.
"HAWKE!" Isabela shouted angrily. She had just sliced his limb in half.
"Castillon dies! Today!" Lana said angrily.
"WAIT!" Isabela exclaimed desperately.
Before anyone could stop her though she swung her dagger forwards and embedded it in Castillon's skull. Time seemed to stand still they watched him die, the shock still registered on his face. He fell to the ground with a definitive thud.
A moment of silence filled the warehouse as the five of them stared down at Castillon, pouring with blood. Isabela turned to Hawke in sheer disbelief.
"After everything we've been through together how could you do that to me!?" she exclaimed, wide eyed.
"You were making a mistake, Isabela. He would have come after you and this would have all started all over again!" Lana replied. "You got your ship. Why do you care?"
"This was my fight, Hawke. Not yours," Isabela spat angrily.
"Bullshit! You involved me in this! I did what I had to, to stop you from screwing up like you always do!"
Isabela punched Hawke across the face with everything she had. Charade gasped and caught Lana as she staggered. Hawke raised a hand to her stinging face, glaring at the pirate, who was completely out of control now.
"Did that make you feel better!?" Hawke yelled, enraged."Huh!? I just saved your damn life, Isabela."
"I could have done it on my own!" she shouted.
"Oh yes, it looked really convincing back there. Velasco was touching you all over!" Hawke replied, disgusted.
"I don't need you fighting my battles!" she retorted. "Andraste's tits, Hawke!"
"Is that why you didn't tell me it was Castillon?" Hawke asked, "What were you trying to prove, Isabela?"
"What was I trying to prove?"
"Yes!" Hawke bellowed, "Why did you play those games with me instead of just telling me straight that Castillon was back? What did it prove to you?"
"That you didn't love me anymore!" Isabela screamed recklessly. She suddenly felt self-conscious, saying the 'L' word in front of the others. But she had come too far to stop now. "That you didn't care anymore, Hawke...And I was right, wasn't I?"
"How can you say that!?" Lana asked in disbelief. "I'm here aren't I? I just did the one thing you had wanted me to from the beginning: Killed Castillon and got you a ship back!"
"Then why couldn't you just say 'yes' when I asked you for help in the beginning?" Isabela demanded.
"Because I was mad at you! Not because I stopped loving you!"
Isabela's breath caught. Both women stared at each other. The others had frozen solid, knowing this wasn't particularly an argument that either Lana or Isabela wanted them to hear. But they were both out of control. Charade looked on, more confused than the rest. Isabela swallowed hard over the lump in her throat as she stared into Lana's chocolate brown eyes.
"You still love me?" she asked, breathing heavily.
Lana simply stared at her. She wasn't going to open that door again.
"Hawke?" she demanded, waiting for an answer.
Again Lana said nothing. None of this made any difference in the end. Isabela would leave on her ship as soon as possible, and Hawke would be left with yet another broken heart.
"Fine," Isabela said, helplessly, "I guess...I guess this is goodbye then..."
"You have your ship," Lana said hoarsely, "What more use am I to you?"
Isabela could feel tears build in her eyes. There was no question of her leaving now. Lana didn't want her anymore and she had been the only thing worth staying in Kirkwall for. She still didn't know how Isabela felt, but now she never would. The pirate couldn't do it, she just couldn't.
"See you, Hawke," Isabela whispered.
She turned and walked away, carrying with her the burden of love that she held for Lana and could never once find the courage to tell her about. It seemed strange that with this warmth in her heart the only thing she had left her with was a punch in the face.
The warehouse door closed and Lana Hawke flinched as it slammed shut. A tear fell down her face and she sunk to her knees, defeated. Charade bent over beside her, and pulled her into an embrace, not expecting to see the Champion of Kirkwall so vulnerable. Fenris and Varric exchanged grim looks, knowing that, now Isabela had her ship, it wouldn't be long before she left them all for good. But it just didn't seem like she and Hawke could ever sort themselves out. Timing was just never on their side. When it came to the point of total honesty, they were both just as bad as each other.