Originally I had planned an epic, long chapter for a finale but it turned out to be too long :P So here's part 1...The final part will be upload within the next 24 hours. Enjoy :)
Hawke and her companions gradually made their way through the streets of Lowtown, becoming bogged down at every turn by either abominations or Templars. The world had gone mad after Meredith's invoking of the Rite of Annulment. This was the beginning of the end, but for the mages or the Templars it was too early to tell. Kirkwall was no more. The city was in ruins, smoke bellowing from almost every building with a thunderstorm raging overhead. Lightening streaked across the night sky as the heavy rain poured relentlessly down upon the devastation below. What was once civilisation had become a battleground. The bodies of men, women and children littered the ground, while some lay gravely injured, crying hysterically and pleading for some forsaken Prophet and her Maker to come and save them. It was complete and utter chaos.
"Av, look out!"
Lana dived to the side, tackling Aveline out of the way as a fireball narrowly missed her head. Without time for a 'thanks' the Guardswoman hauled both herself and Hawke back to their feet instantly as a crowd of Rage Demons slithered towards them, cutting them off from the others. Sparks from flames began to fly as Hawke slashed at the fiends with her daggers, taking chunks of the demons apart.
"It's not working!" Aveline yelled from somewhere beside her, swinging her own sword like crazy, cutting through the lashing rain as she struck, and soaking Hawke even more than she already was. The Guardswoman shield-bashed one of the demons back as they began to surround them, showering them with sparks once more. "They're closing in!"
Suddenly a blizzard of cold appeared from nowhere, cutting past them in an icy wind and blowing the Rage Demons to smithereens, sending them back beneath the ground once more. Hawke and Aveline doubled over, trying to catch their breaths. They had been fighting for over an hour now and had not yet even made it far from where they had begun. Bethany ran through the battlefield towards her sister and grabbed her by the soaking-wet sleeve.
"Come on, Lana! We have to keep moving!" she shouted over the uproar, both of them ducking down as another fireball soared towards them, crashing into the building nearby and covering them in rubble. Aveline shoved them onwards, carrying up the rear, fighting off what seemed like the hundredth Templar they had seen today.
"Where's Bela!?" Hawke yelled back, squinting through the smoke and rain as she tried to make out the pirate amidst the anarchy around them. She was nowhere to be found.
"I...I don't know!" Bethany cried, dragging her towards a nearby alleyway, "She and Merrill got separated from us. Varric and Fenris are missing too. I think they went this way though. Keep moving!"
Dread rose within Hawke then. Had she just condemned her friends to death with her decision to fight against Meredith? But it was the right thing to do...Wasn't it? Lana glanced over at her sister as they ran. She had done this for her. There was no way she could have sat by and allowed the Knight-Commander to slay her sister for the simple fact that she was a mage. Bethany would never succumb to Bloodmagic, no matter what the situation. Of that I am certain. Isabela's face burned in her mind then. What if she was already dead? Don't think like that! she scolded inwardly, Isabela can handle herself...So can the others for that matter. They'll be fine.
The two of them halted at the end of the alleyway, temporarily safe from harm, and waited for Aveline to catch up. They watched the Guard-Captain withdraw her blade from where it was embedded in a Templar's heart (if Templars did in fact have one) and saw her turn and race towards them, covered in fresh blood, her face roaring as red as her hair. She skidded to a halt on a piece of rubble beside them, Hawke reaching out a hand and steadying her before she lost her footing. Aveline doubled over, leaning her hands on her knees and panting hard under her heavy armor.
"I don't know...about you two, ladies," she wheezed, glaring up at them, "But I...could definitely go for...a drink."
Hawke chuckled a little, wiping the sweat and soot from her forehead and patting her friend on her metal shoulder. "Aveline suggesting we sit down and have a drink? My, my, what has the world come to?"
Bethany smiled as best she could. Even with the world seemingly at an end, her sister always found the time for a joke or sarcastic comment. She really needed to work on her timing. From hanging around with Isabela for so long she had actually gotten worse (if that was at all possible), but it was in fact times like this that Bethany found she needed some light-heartedness most, especially when it seemed like life as they had known it had just been shattered into smithereens.
"We should check on Gamlen," she said suddenly, remembering that her uncle lived nearby. It had been so long since she was out in the open, having been imprisoned in the Circle for more than she cared to remember. Even though she was freezing cold, the rain actually felt quite pleasant on her face, making her feel alive again. A lump formed in her throat as she fought back memories of the last time she had been in Lowtown, when her sister had fought so bravely to keep her from Templar hands. It was the first time that Lana had ever failed to save her, and even though she knew there was nothing she could have done, Bethany had just found it so hard to believe. Her sister had been her hero for as long as she had known her. It was so difficult to comprehend that she couldn't always save the day like she had done up until that point. Yet here she was, almost eight years to the day since Bethany had been taken, and after everything that had happened between them Lana was still willing to fight for her until the last. A surge of warmth soared through Bethany then as she stared at her elder sister, who was busy poking her head out of the alleyway, seeing if the coast was clear so they could continue.
"I bet he's already gone," Hawke replied, turning to her left then, feeling her sister's eyes on her as Bethany became lost in nostalgia. "But we can check if you like. I'm sure Charade has gotten them both to safety. She can handle herself...though I assume she got that ability from her mother more so than our dear uncle. "
"Charade?" Bethany asked, confused. Hawke snorted.
"Oh, yes, did I not mention we have a cousin?" she asked, grinning at her cheekily. Bethany's eyes lit up at the news.
"It must have slipped your mind, Sister, what with all this earth-shattering business we have to attend to," she replied, smirking.
"Good point," Hawke said, serious now, "On that note, let's get going. Gamlen's house isn't too far away. We should at least see if he's still there."
The three of them took one last look to see if the danger had indeed momentarily passed, then sprinted from their hiding place towards Gamlen's shack. Hawke took a reflexive glance to her right towards The Hanged Man. Her mouth fell open. Her favourite tavern was almost completely demolished, the body hanging from the rafters by its ankle pretty much the only thing left standing (so to speak). Aw shit! Now I'm really pissed! she thought angrily. Shaking her head she turned into Gamlen's district only to find them over run with Bloodmages once more.
"Here we go again!" she yelled, swinging her daggers skilfully. "Maker, I hate mages...Sorry, Bethany."
Her sister let out a nervous laugh before swinging her staff and casting a shield around them all as she and Aveline charged. Hawke threw one of her daggers at the nearest mage, seeing it pierce him through the eyeball and embed itself in his head. He collapsed, instantly dead. She held up her other one, blocking the next mage's staff that was about to strike her, slicing it clean in two before spinning around and aiming a round-house kick at his jaw before he could cast his spell. There was a sickening crunch as her foot connected with the Bloodmage's face and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
As Aveline battled three mages at a time, Hawke rushed back to Bethany's side pushing her towards the steps of Gamlen's house, ushering her up out of harm's way. Bethany cast a healing spell over the Guard-Captain, seeing Lana throw her remaining dagger through the air with amazing accuracy, killing one of her foes before rushing to collect her other one from the dead mage nearby. Aveline swung her sword in one last swipe, cutting the remaining two in half in a sea of blood. She bent down and tugged Lana's blade from the skull of one of the corpses beside her and ran back towards the Hawke sisters.
"Nice shot," she said, handing the dagger back to Lana.
"You sound surprised," Hawke teased, placing it on her back and brushing her wet hair out of her face. Aveline rolled her eyes.
"You're too cocky for your own good sometimes," she replied, "Why do I even bother to compliment you?"
"Because you know I like to hear how amazing I am," Lana teased. Bethany chuckled at the look on Aveline's face and led them up the steps towards Gamlen's front door. She hesitated.
"Should I knock?"
Hawke burst out laughing. "Only you would show courtesy in the middle of a war, Bethany. Watch out."
Without further ado she kicked open the rotting, wooden door and led the way inside, closing it swiftly behind them, blocking out the noise of the raging war in the distance.
The shack was just as dirty and unkempt as Bethany remembered it, lit only by the dying embers of a fire in the grate. There was a wheel of cheese sitting in the exact same place as before. She wouldn't have been surprised if it was the same one from all those years ago. She smiled in spite of herself, remembering what life here had been like for them all. Things had been very difficult back then, cramped. Not that they weren't hard now, but just in a different way. Countless memories filled her mind then, remembering all the arguments, all the times Lana's had stood up for her, all the awkward suppers with their mother, all the nights she had cried herself asleep in front of the fire only to wake up in bed with her sister's arms wrapped around her protectively the next morning. She knew it was Lana who had carried her into their bedroom and tucked her in, yet never once did she mention it to her, or even thank her for that matter. There was just so much that her sister did for her, so many little things that she never once asked credit for. Bethany never realised it until she had been imprisoned in the Circle, completely alone for the first time in her life just how much she was looked after. She had missed her sister so much during those years that she had been lost to her, so much so that she had become bitter and started to blame her for things which were out of her control...but it all came back to just how much she loved her. There always was a thin line between love and hate, and the coldness she felt towards Lana during those years was only because it hurt so much being away from her.
"Remember it, Little Sis?" Hawke asked, turning to her with a small smile. Bethany smiled back.
"As though it were only yesterday," she replied, overwhelmed. "It looks exactly the same. I can't believe he still hasn't cleaned it."
"OY!"
The three of them jumped as Uncle Gamlen appeared from the other room, limping heavily, Charade behind him, looking worried.
"You're still here!" Hawke said, chuckling, "By the looks of the place we thought it was already abandoned."
Her Uncle ignored the joke. He was staring at Bethany with wide eyes, having only just realised who he had scolded. His mouth fell open.
"B...Bethany?" he whispered. She smiled shyly at him.
"Uncle..."
Gamlen approached her slowly. They realised he was badly injured. There was blood pouring from his forehead and he could barely walk. He raised a shaking hand and touched her cheek, awkwardly.
"It's...good to see you again, my girl," he said hoarsely, scarcely believing his eyes. Bethany touched his hand in return.
"I think this is the first time I can safely say the same," she replied, chuckling slightly. Her Uncle joined her, knowing he had been a pain in their asses for longer than he cared to remember. He pulled his hand away from her face then, not used to that type of closeness.
"You've grown up," he remarked, scanning her outfit. She was no longer the vulnerable, little teenager who had been taken all those years ago by the Templars. Standing before him now was a mature woman, having seen and done much in the years she had been away.
"So have you," she replied, glancing to Charade, "I'd never have thought it, Uncle...I believe you have a daughter."
Charade held out her hand, "Charade," she said with a smile, "It's so nice to finally meet you, Bethany. I've heard so much about you."
Bethany shook it, smiling at her. She found, like Lana, that she liked Charade instantly. "All bad I bet...I haven't exactly been the best sister in the world in recent years," she replied, embarrassed. Lana placed a hand on her shoulder then.
"All that's forgotten, Sister...We're family," she said kindly, squeezing her gently.
Aveline watched the four of them, knowing this was probably the first and last time that they would all be together. She was so pleased for Hawke, who had craved her family back for the years she had known her. Now she finally had one, only for it to be stripped away again. The irony was all too much.
"Charade had just about convinced me to come looking for you," Gamlen said, staring at Lana. "I kept telling her you'd get here first. I had a feeling you'd be among the fighting. You always were a bloody troublemaker, girl. Too nosy for your own good!"
Lana laughed, "Gee, thanks Uncle. Is that really what you want your last words to be to me?" she teased. They all laughed.
"Oh, Maker's Breath, come here you little pests," Gamlen blurted, in spite of himself. He pulled a stunned Bethany and Hawke towards him and hugged them both simultaneously as best he could. "I'm...proud of you both," he said, kissing each of them awkwardly on the cheek in turn. "I know I didn't say it much, but...Well there you have it..."
"Ouch, Gamlen! You're strangling us!" Hawke exclaimed, chuckling as she pretended to wriggle away.
"Yes Uncle, this feels rather...out of your depth," Bethany teased, sniggering.
Gamlen released them and pulled Charade closer, angling the three women into the faint light. He looked at them all, taking in their faces with wide eyes.
"It's a damn shame it's come to this," he said grimly, staring into each of their eyes. There was a resounding bang from outside as the fighting raged closer once more. The house shook a little. Gamlen gazed at them. "My three girls," he said, giving them the most sincere smile, one they never knew he possessed. "At least I got to see you all together just this once...Now you've got to get out of here."
"What?" Charade cried, "Father..."
"I'm an old man, Charade," he said grimly, "I won't make it through this...I'm not leaving with you, I'll only slow you down."
"Gamlen, don't do this!" Lana said, frowning, "We'll get you to safety! Bethany can heal you! You'll be fine."
There was another explosion outside, ever closer this time. The roof was starting to cave in. Gamlen almost fell over. Charade and Bethany reached out and grabbed his arms.
"No," he continued, shaking his head. He grabbed the front of Hawke's jacket. "This is the only home I've ever known. I'm too old to start life somewhere new...Lana, you know I'm right." He peered into her eyes. "I never did have the same strength you possess. I may be weak, but this is the first selfless thing I have ever done in my life...I won't make it out of the city alive. But I'm begging you, dear girl, make sure my daughter does!"
As Hawke stared into his eyes she felt tears rise in her own. Her uncle, who had been a weasel for so long, had finally become a man. She swallowed hard over the lump in her throat and nodded slowly, seeing what he was trying to do. He was trying to regain his honour. Charade let out a cry and threw her arms over him.
"Father," she whimpered, holding him tightly, "Don't do this...I've only just found you..."
Gamlen patted her head weakly. "Don't cry, dear girl...Finding you gave me purpose...I can die peacefully knowing that I didn't completely mess everything up."
The house shook more violently this time, breaking them apart as slates began to fall dangerously from the roof. Gamlen shoved Charade to Hawke's outstretched arms, getting her out of harm's way.
"NOW GO!" he yelled at them, as the house crumbled into bits before their eyes. "GET OUT OF HERE!"
Hawke pushed a reluctant Charade towards the door, seeing Bethany and Aveline drag her out with them. Lana took one last look back at her uncle, who had fallen to the floor. Their eyes met. He looked different somehow in this light, more fulfilled. A pang of sadness filled her then.
"I love you, Uncle," she whispered for the first time in her life. A single tear fell down Gamlen's face.
"I... I love you too, girl...You always made me proud..."
A thunderous explosion overhead brought Lana back to her senses and she tore her gaze away, shielding her head and running out of the shack as it crumbled to pieces behind her, burying the only remaining member of the Amell family beneath it. She lunged out of the doorway just in time and rolled across the wet ground, hearing the last of the building collapse, along with many more beside it.
A terrible cry filled the night. Charade broke free of Aveline and Bethany's grasp and ran towards what remained of Gamlen's home. She fell to her knees beside Lana in defeat.
"Father..."
Hawke straightened up beside her and wrapped her arms around her tightly, kissing her head.
"I'm sorry, Charade" she said gently, knowing that nothing she could say would help, "He did right by you in the end, Cousin...Let's not let it be in vain."
Carefully she pulled the woman to her feet and wiped her tears away with her thumb. Charade took a deep breath to steady herself and stared into Hawke's chocolate-brown eyes, getting strength from them.
"You're right," she said, nodding, "I...I just wish I had of had more time with him."
Hawke gave her a small smile, "I know," she said, squeezing her shoulder, "But it's what he wanted. We'll never forget him. We must keep moving though. The others need us to be strong for them."
Charade nodded once more and took one last look back at the remains.
"Let's take the fight to these bastards," she said, steeling herself and becoming businesslike at once. Lana grinned at her approvingly.
"That's what I like to hear," she said proudly, clapping her on the shoulder.
She took her cousin by the hand then and they walked back towards the others, beginning another trek through the war-ravaged streets of Lowtown towards the docks.
The four of them fought their way through the old Qunari compound with great difficulty. It seemed that as they got closer to the Gallows there were even more shades and Rage Demons than before. The Circle mages had gone mad with desperation, shattering the veil to the fade in so many places that monsters were pouring out one after the other, without anything to hold them back now. Hawke wiped the congealed blood from her daggers after the latest encounter and placed them on her back once more. She reached out a hand and pulled Bethany to her feet, who had been knocked out momentarily during the fight.
"Are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, sister," Bethany replied. She glanced over at Charade who was talking quietly to Aveline. "Do you think she'll be alright?"
"She's stronger than she looks," Lana said sadly, "Are you ok?"
Bethany shrugged, "Gamlen and I were never really that close...but I still wouldn't have wished that on him. He really impressed me back there. I think that's how I would like to remember him, rather than the toad that spent all of our money on whores."
Lana smiled, "I knew there was a heart of gold in him somewhere. It's a good thing he didn't though otherwise he'd have dug it out and sold it before now."
Bethany chuckled, "Without doubt, sister...He seemed to have changed a lot though over the years I was gone. He'll be missed."
Hawke nodded sadly, "He will indeed... May The Maker watch over his soul."
The other two caught up with them then and they began to walk once more. Hawke's thoughts fell on Isabela then. Seeing Uncle Gamlen being taken from them like that right in front of her eyes made her even more concerned for the safety of the pirate and her friends. They still hadn't come across her or any of the others on their travels. It had taken them a few hours just to get to the docks from Lowtown what with all the fighting going on. Maker knows where the others were, or if they were even still alive.
"Stop worrying, sister," Bethany said, seeing Lana's face and knowing what she was thinking. "We'll find them, I promise."
"What if we don't?" she asked worriedly, turning to look at her little sister. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost Isabela now...after everything we've been through together..."
Bethany rubbed her arm comfortingly, "Isabela's a great duellist, sister. You know she'd tease you something shocking if she saw you fretting over her like this."
Hawke smiled then, "You're right, she'd never let me forget it...I don't care what happens to me though, I just want to make sure she's safe."
"Just try not to think about it all, alright? We're not leaving Kirkwall until we find them."
As they neared the harbour, all of a sudden the ground began to shake violently beneath their feet. Aveline reached out and held onto Hawke's arm, steadying herself. She turned to her.
"Earthquake?" she ventured, raising an eyebrow. Lana shook her head. She glanced something massive over Aveline's shoulder in the distance. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Something worse, Av," she said, open-mouthed, trying to make it out. "Andraste's Ass! What is that!?"
The other three spun around to see another massive wave of shades approach them with something gigantic following behind them.
"Maker's Mercy!" Charade exclaimed, backing away, scared.
A huge, monstrous Pride Demon was stampeding forwards, shaking the ground with every huge, thundering footstep it took. Hawke and her companions began to back away even more then, as the shades caught up with them again. They withdrew their weapons and began to fight them off, trying to stem the tides that were coming out of the woodwork from all angles.
Suddenly a familiar voice called out from the sea, echoing through the rain.
"HAWKE!"
The four of them turned in awe to see Isabela, hanging over the rail of her new ship which was now in motion on the open waters, just about to leave the docks. Varric and Fenris were onboard, also calling out to them frantically as they saw the Pride Demon approach. They threw the ramp on the side down, beckoning them all onboard, as the ship slowly but surely floated towards the horizon.
"Let's get out of here!" Aveline exclaimed, having no desire whatsoever to fight the massive Pride Demon. She backed away immediately, bringing the others with her, sweeping them away with an outstretched arm. Bethany nodded in agreement. She cast Cone of Cold at the last of the shades, freezing them in their tracks and turned around. The others ran on ahead, sprinting as fast as they could up the ramp of the ship, all except for Hawke. Bethany tugged on her sister's sleeve.
"Come on, Lana! We have to move!"
Hawke shook her head.
"You go on," she said calmly, eyeing up the Pride Demon.
"What!?" Bethany exclaimed, "Are you insane!?"
"Maybe," Hawke replied, nodding. She turned to her sister then, "But If I don't kill that thing then a lot more people are going to die here, Bethany. Just like Gamlen did! I'm the only one who can stop it. Go! Tell Isabela to leave without me."
"I'm not leaving you!" she cried. "Don't do this, Lana. Please!"
"Get on the ship!" Hawke ordered, prying her little sister's hands from her sleeve and giving her a gentle shove. The Pride Demon was almost upon them. "'I'll hold it off...Now, Bethany! Do as I say!"
"No!"
"I said GO!" Hawke yelled, pushing her away again, more forcefully this time.
Bethany stared at the demon then back at her sister before reluctantly turning on her heel and running after the others. Lana watched after her, backing away as the demon gained on her to give her time to make sure her little sister made it to Isabela's ship. She saw the pirate ordering the others to hoist the sails, ready to take off towards the Gallows as Bethany tan aboard and pulled the ramp up. As the ship began to turn, Isabela looked out at the lonely figure that was Hawke, seeing her back away from the Pride Demon, swinging her daggers in her hand. The two women stared at each other.
"HAWKE!" Isabela called, waving her over frantically. What's she doing?
Hawke simply stood there, staring at her for one final moment. She wanted nothing more than to follow her onto that ship and leave, but her own morals wouldn't let her. That Pride Demon would wipe out all of Lowtown. She had to kill it. Leaving innocents to its rath did not sit well with her. Isabela frowned, wondering why Hawke still hadn't moved.
"COME ON!" she yelled, tearing her throat out. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?"
The woman still didn't run.
Suddenly the realisation came to the pirate. She shook her head in disbelief, seeing what Lana's intentions were.
"No..." she whispered, grabbing the wooden rail of the ship tightly, "Hawke, NO!"
Lana took a deep breath, then turned her back on her love and ran towards the approaching Pride Demon that had been about to attack, armed with nothing but two small daggers that looked like toothpicks in comparison. With one echoing war-cry, suddenly she disappeared, swallowed up in a cloud of black smoke, lost from view, possibly forever.
"HAAAWWKKKEEEE!"
The ship was gradually moving away from the harbour. Isabela ran to Fenris and shoved him aside, grabbing the rope of the sails he was holding and trying to readjust them. No! We have to go back! Aveline and Charade began to wrestle it from her, knowing she was turning them around.
"Leave it, Isabela! She's gone!" the Guardswoman yelled, her stomach in knots. She couldn't believe what she had just seen Hawke do.
"No!" the pirate exclaimed, struggling with the sails frantically. "Pull them down! We have to help her! We have to turn back!"
"She's made her choice, Isabela!" Charade cried helplessly, tears flowing down her face. "Let her go!... It's too late."
With the help of Fenris, the two women manage to pull the rope from the pirate's hands, burning her palms as it was torn from her. Isabela sank to the deck in defeat, her head hung. A heart-wrenching sob escaped her lips. The others looked down at her sadly, having never seen her fall apart before. Damn it, Hawke! Why do you always have to be the hero? Bethany crouched down beside her and placed a hand on her back, tears streaming down her own face.
"Bela...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry!"
The pirate slammed the deck with her fist in a rage.
"How could she do this to me?" she asked, breathing heavily. She felt tears slide down her cheeks as she stared down at the wooden planks below, seeing the rain water soak into them, feeling it patter on her back. She had never felt a pain like this in her life. It felt as though someone had stabbed her in the heart, gutting her beyond belief. The pirate clenched her fist and slammed it into the deck a few more times, beside herself with grief. "Hawke..." she cried, not caring who was watching. The only person she had ever cared about was gone.
The ship glided through the rough sea, finally leaving the harbour. Bethany pulled the pirate to her feet and walked her away from the others. Isabela leaned over the side-rail weakly, seeing the docks linger in the distance as they pulled away. Another tear slid down her face as she gazed after them, thinking of Hawke. What am I going to do without her?
"How...How could she do that to me, Bethany?" Isabela asked, turning to the youngest Hawke helplessly.
"She...You know how she is...S-she wanted to save as many people as she could," Bethany cried. "She's the Champion of Kirkwall, t-they need her."
"We need her!" Isabela said. She exhaled. "...I need her..."
Suddenly there was a giant black mass moving along the harbour. A massive horde of shades was approaching the water as though chasing something...No...Someone. At the head of the pack was a tiny figure, its hair flowing in the night-time wind, beating wildly against its face. Isabela's heart jumped into her mouth as she spotted it. She straightened up, staring at the figure, sprinting frantically towards them. The woman ran along the end of the docks as fast as her legs would take her, gradually running out of land.
"It's Lana!" Bethany yelled, her mouth falling open. "Maker's Breath, she's still alive!"
They watched in awe as Hawke jumped off the edge of the peer, dodging fireballs and other spells being thrown at her from the horde, and diving straight into the rough, icy-black waters of the Kirkwall bay. Isabela rushed the side of the ship and grabbed a thick rope, throwing it into the water as far out as she could, holding onto the end of it and tying it to the wooden rail. The others ran to the edge, watching with baited-breath as Hawke swam towards them, a tiny speck in a vast ocean of blackness, slowly getting closer, trying to fight against the weaker waves before the ship made it to the open sea.
"Come on!" Isabela egged, clutching the rope tightly in her hands, "Come on, Hawke! Swim!"
"She's not going to make it!" Varric said, his eyes wide with worry.
"Yes she will!" Isabela snapped. She fought the urge to jump in after her.
Suddenly Hawke disappeared from view, her head sinking under the water.
"Where'd she go?" Bethany gasped frantically, bringing a hand to her mouth. "I can't see her anymore."
"Come on, Hawke," Varric muttered, his eyes darting around, searching.
"THERE!"
Everyone looked to where Charade was pointing and saw Hawke appear from the depths and grab the end of the rope that Isabela had thrown far out to sea for her. The pirate began to pull it furiously, then.
"Pull!" she yelled at the others.
Fenris, Aveline and Bethany all ran to her, pulling the rope with all their strength, seeing it fill up on the deck behind them. Charade leaned over the edge.
"She's almost there!" she shouted, "Keep going!"
Isabela felt the muscles on her arms strain as Hawke was lifted from the water. The four of them pulled with all their might, fighting against the weight until Lana's head appeared over the rails of the ship. Isabela left the rope in the hands of the others and reached over the edge, grabbing a bloody, soaking-wet Hawke by the scruff and dragging her up over the side. They both collapsed backwards onto the deck in a pool of salty water, Hawke coughing her lungs up.
"Hawke, what in The Maker's name were you thinking?" Isabela cried, hugging her so tightly that she couldn't breathe, burying her face in her neck. Lana half laughed, half choked.
"Sorry...I'm...late," she teased breathlessly, holding the pirate close and resting her chin on her shoulder, closing her eyes. "I'm here now."
Suddenly Isabela lost it.
"DON'T. EVER. DO. THAT. TO. ME . . .AGAIN!" she shouted loudly, pulling back and punching every angle of her she could find now. "DO YOU HEAR ME!?...UGHH, YOU SON OF A BITCH, HAWKE! YOU COMPLETE AND UTTER ASS!"
"OUCH! Maker's Breath! Calm down, Bela! I'm sorry!" Lana groaned, massaging her arms and her head, glaring up at the pirate as she assaulted her body with an onslaught of punches. Isabela continued to slap her furiously where she lay, ignoring the numerous fresh cuts and bruises she had just picked up after her foray with the Pride Demon. "Argh, stop it!... Stop hitting me, you crazy bitch!"
Suddenly the pirate flattened herself on top of her on the deck, kissing her more deeply than she ever had before, taking her breath away. Lana wrapped her arms around her neck, reciprocating, grateful she had stopped punishing her now. The wetness of her clothes seeped into the Rivaini's, who seemed not to care. A soft groan of relief escaped her, grateful to have her love back in her arms again. She kissed her eagerly, never ever wanting to let go of her. The others chuckled nearby, watching the scene. Isabela tore her lips from Lana's then and rested her forehead against hers. She exhaled weakly, completely drained.
"Maker, I hate you!" she cried, feeling tears fall down her face once more. Hawke looked up at her, touching the wetness of her face, realising that for once in her life, Isabela had completely succumbed to her emotions.
"Bela..."she gasped, surprised, brushing the woman's hair from her face and staring up into those swimming amber eyes above her. "You're crying..."
"Oh, shut up!" the pirate snapped defensively, sniffing, "What did you expect me to do after you basically condemned yourself to death?"
Lana chuckled, caressing her face, "I'm sorry," she repeated, amazed, "I had to help though. I couldn't just leave that thing, Sweetness..."
"But you left me!" Isabela said angrily, more tears overcoming her, "Damn it, Hawke! I thought I'd lost you forever!"
Hawke felt her heart break over the pain she had caused her. She had never seen Isabela this emotional in her life. Well, everyone has their limits I suppose. The woman looked beside herself with worry. Without another word, Hawke pulled her into another tight embrace then, placing her head on her chest and kissing her on the top of the head, closing her eyes once more then lying her own head back on the deck.
"I love you, Isabela."
"I love you too," the pirate whimpered back, her voice slightly muffled in the woman's wet breasts. "You bastard..."
Hawke began to chuckle then and squeezed her tighter. She felt the pirate calm down and finally release her, getting to her feet and hauling her to her own. Lana leaned in to kiss Isabela once more, gentler this time, more caring and soft, apologising for how reckless she had just been. She hadn't wanted to do it, but felt it was her duty. As Isabela's tongue pressed against hers it felt like it was just the two of them, like nothing else in the world existed, not even the raging war around them.
"Maker's breath! Can't you two... do this when I'm not around?" Bethany asked embarrassed, still not used to seeing the two of them together.
"Run along and play, Bethany," Lana teased, winking at her, "I'll be a few more minutes."
She leaned in and kissed the pirate again, the two of them sniggering. Only when Varric cleared his throat did they break apart.
"When you two are finished..." he joked, "I think there's still a few more people here who want to beat the crap out of Hawke."
Everyone laughed. No sooner had Lana turned around than her sister threw herself at her, Charade following suit, almost knocking her over with the force.
"I can't believe you did that!" her cousin whispered in her ear.
"You're crazy, sister!" Bethany said in her other ear.
"You both already knew that," Lana joked, kissing them on the cheek. "I'm absolutely fine. Can we stop worrying now?"
She glanced over her sister's shoulder, scanning the faces of the others. Aveline nodding at her approvingly, Fenris observing her in awe, Varric grinning up at her cheekily There was one missing though. Her smile faded.
"Where's Merrill?"
Isabela sighed, berating herself for not being able to prevent it. "They took her, Hawke," she said sadly, "The mages I mean...She's hold up in the Gallows as we speak. There was nothing I could do..."
Lana's eyes flickered towards her, seeing the worry and regret on her face.
"Well, it's a good thing that's where we're headed then, isn't it?" she replied. "We'll get her back, Isabela, don't worry."
Bethany and Charade pulled back then. Seeing the numerous cuts on her sister's face, watery blood stemming from them, Bethany's face contorted in concern. "Are you alright?" she asked, observing her.
"It's just a few scratches. You should see the other guy," Hawke joked. Bethany chuckled, but summoned blue mana in her hands even so. She placed a gentle palm on her sister's face and healed her instantly. Lana smiled, surprised.
"Thanks," she said, "I almost forgot you could do that."
"Well, it's been a while hasn't it?"Bethany said. "And you'll need every ounce of your strength for what we're about to walk into."
At her words, all of them turned to see the ominous Gallows approach in the distance. Hawke swallowed over the lump in her throat, knowing that her little sister was right. Somewhere beyond those walls was a powerful Bloodmage and the Knight-Commander herself. This was it. There was no turning back. Not that any of them wanted to. This had gone on for too long. Uncle Gamlen was gone, but Lana promised herself that his death would not be in vain. It was time for payback. It was time to get even...