Whew! It's been a couple of weeks! I'm glad I finally updated though :) Thank you so much to everyone who faved/followed and even reviewed! I am honored that my story is worth your time!

I wanted to mention that this story may not follow quests chronologically, and it may not be entirely cannon. I hope that doesn't bother anyone! Also, if there would be someone kind enough to beta this story, that'd be fabulous. Drop by and review, I'll greatly appreciate it.

Dragon Age belongs to me, well in my mind anyway. Dammit Bioware.

"Can we talk?" asked Isabela, though her nonchalant demeanor said that it was not a request. It had been a few days since he had last spoken to Hawke, and he was since then the diametrical counterpart of his meticulous self. Fenris composed himself, being snapped from his reverie as he was staring into the dancing flames in the hearth. He hadn't noticed the pirate entering the room in his inebriated state. A foolish thing to do, he thought Such a careless perforation in your defenses would terminate your freedom much too easily.

"Why are you here?" his words slurred slightly as the intoxication had began settling in.

"Well, my request was to talk. We can pass the time in more... entertaining ways if you wish." Isabela winked at him. Fenris felt a vague sense of anger built within himself, and his displeasure marred his visage.

"Alright big boy, no need to be so serious. I think that what I have to say is of interest to you." She casually sauntered in front of him, momentarily blocking the hearth fire, and settling herself in a seat not too far from his on, crossing and plopping her legs over the small table in front of them.

"Speak if you must." Usually, her familiar behavior would not have bothered him, but today was different. He was in a vulnerable state, something he would prefer to not show anyone. The pirate was in his home in this inopportune time, infringing his privacy and he did not appreciate it.

"It's about Hawke." Though Fenris did well in keeping his interested from showing in his face, his ears perked slightly, a little flutter which would have been easily missed if one weren't paying close attention. However, the cunning pirate did not fail to miss it, and she smirked.

"Thought that would catch your attention." She said as she leaned back on the chair.

"Get to it, whore."

"I know you confessed to Hawke." said Isabela, though not mockingly.

Fenris suddenly felt even more vulnerable and insecure as Hawke's rejection reemerged in his mind and disquieted his heart.

"I do not know what you speak of."

"You know Hawke does not like men."

"I am... aware."

"You're a strange elf, and I'm not speaking only about those delicious markings of yours." Isabela licked her lips seductively, but Fenris ignored her sexual gesture.

"Well, indulge me then. Do you know how to halt a bleeding heart?" Fenris said in an annoyed, yet forlorn tone.

"Actually... that's what I'm here for." Fenris looked at her in bewilderment.

"What? I was not aware that you had experience in matters of the heart."

"Ha! I knew you were smitten with Hawke." Fenris glared at her as a blush emerged on the tips of his ears.

"You sound as if that is a good thing for you."

"And I was married once you know." Isabela said, ignoring his remark. For the moment, this will require a looooong explanation, longer than Jethan's-

"Not out of your own accord, or so a little bird told me." Fenris said letting his slight blush subside and interrupting Isabela's trail of thought.

"Hawke told you huh?"

"That is of no concern at the moment. Why do wish to help me? Hawke is your lover, is she not? If this is an attempt to get me to bed you, my answer is no." Although with Hawke... No, you know she would not allow that.

"Whoa! Slow down. One thing at the time!" Isabela exclaimed and then paused, "it will be long story. And I usually like it long, but this time it's going to hurt a little."

"You have made innuendos an artistry."

"Thank you, I try. But to begin to explain this... mess, let me start with my relic. Do you know about it?"

"Yes, I remember. Hawke and I met you when you were looking for information regarding that relic. What of it?"

"Well, then you must also know that I am being hunted for it and Hawke has helped fend off Castillon's minions."

"Yes."

"Also, that blasted book is worth my weight in gold, hence why my life is worth little in comparison."

"Ye- hold. Had you not told Hawke that you did not know what the relic was?"

Isabela slightly furrowed her eyebrows "About that... You're getting in-advance knowledge. This is also part of the reason I'm here. Oh, don't glare at me like that, this will benefit you."

"Proceed."

"Well, I found a really good lead on its whereabouts. It is practically in my hands now."

"I do not see how that is to my benefit. It also does not explain why you are encouraging me to take your lover."

"Shush! I'm getting there!" Isabela suddenly stood up and began pacing, avoiding eye contact with Fenris. She ran a hand through her hair, and Fenris noticed this distressed behavior was too bizarre for the pirate.

"This doesn't get out of this room, you hear?"

"...Understood." Fenris felt uneasy; whatever the wench was about to tell him, it involved Hawke, and Fenris did not feel good about keeping a secret of this magnitude from the person he trusted the most. "Hawke has been establishing ties with the Qunari."

"I know, Hawke often brings me along to aid with the deals." A growing impatience was beginning to settle within Fenris, "I fail to see the connection."

"Do you ever wonder why I never enter the Qunari compound?" Fenris had indeed wondered this before. The pirate always made a lame excuse to run away when the party went to the docks. Fenris simply nodded his head, and the gesture was enough for Isabela to continue.

"Well... You see... My relic may have to do with the Qunari's unfortunate landing in Kirkwall."

"Did you... steal from the Qunari?" Fenris asked, his eyebrows furrowed but his eyes wide.

"Maybe... A little." Isabela twiddled her fingers, a rather odd gesture coming from the pirate. Fenris sighed.

"I did always questioned your wits, or lack thereof. You do understand that once the Qunari know this, you will be running high risks, the least being becoming a slave to them?"

"Well, at least you're catching on. I know that. That is why I will be leaving the city soon."

"You... What? That would mean Hawke would be left to deal with the Qunari..." realization washed over like a wave over Fenri's mind. "You are planning on betraying Hawke?!" Fenris felt his temper flare, standing up and stalking towards her."

"It sounds so ugly when you say it that way. But yes. I will leave as soon as I have the relic."

"Give me one good reason why I should not tell Hawke of your corrupted plans!" Fenris said angrily grasping her wrist in a vice-like grip and Isabela narrowed her eyes.

"Because Castillon has dealt with Danarius before and your master could easily know your whereabouts from a reliable source." She tried to pull her wrist, but the furious elf before her did not budge, his gauntlet scraped her skin in the process and she hissed.

"You bluff!" Fenris knew that Isabela was no Andraste, however, her actions of having freed slaves and their past camaraderie had led him to be believe she actually had a good heart; if you dug deep enough for it. He had supposed Hawke had seen this in the pirate as well. Yet here he was, receiving the one of the worst threats he has ever received by someone he had called a friend. Isabela wasn't only turning her back on Hawke, she was turning it on all of her companions as well.

"I'm not! I'm already betraying my lover, letting her to deal with my mess with a bunch of giant-horned beasts! And Hawke has helped me through a lot. If I am doing this to Hawke, I can easily turn you in!"

A vile feeling rose up Fenris's throat, he had a new blooming disgust for the woman before him. He threw her wrist, and as soon as he let go, the pirate began rubbing her skin to ease the irritation he had caused. Fenris could not believe his ears, as keen as they were. However, he did notice the slight glistening look that had crossed the pirate's eyes, and he knew her remorse was great. Why does it matter? She's set on this path, as wrong as she knows it is. He thought, willing any sort of feeling resembling sympathy away.

"Leave. You are no longer welcomed here." Fenris said turning away from her.

"No."

"I will not hesitate to cut you down, whore."

"You have to listen to me first! Please, this is the least and last good I will ever do for the both of you, however twisted my means are." The voice saying these words had become so uncharacteristic from Isabela's, even cracking a bit at the end, and Fenris almost felt a twinge of pity tug at his heart. Almost. Fenris turned towards her once more and began pushing her out roughly, but Isabela was determined.

"Hawke confessed to me today. She told me she loved me." The warrior felt a blade stabbing and twisting his heart. However, hearing those words made Fenris even more furious at the pirate, he couldn't understand how she could discard what he would have greatly valued so effortlessly and so selfishly.

"What does that have to do with me?" Fenris simply kept pushing Isabela and they began walking down the steps outside his room. At least he's still talking to me. She thought.

"Hawke always talks about you. I swear, sometimes I have to plug my ears. She really cares about you."

"Hawke and I are- were close friends."

"No! You don't understand! The day you confessed to her, she avoided speaking about you completely." The blade imbedded in Fenris's heart turned once more.

"You are not making a good case for yourself."

"You are so bloody dense! Let me speak! Stop pushing me! When I asked her what had happened that night she blushed, and she has been distracted since then." Fenris remembered Hawke's beautiful blush blooming on her face, and how he had wondered if perhaps she... Fenris shook his head and attempted to clear his head.

"That does not mean anything."

"Don't you get it? Hawke only confessed to me she is insecure of the feelings you stirred in her. Hawke is only comfortable with me, but she does not love me. The fact that she hasted in telling me after you told her how you felt only proves it!" Isabela said and Fenris stopped pushing her as they neared the main exit.

"She acts and says otherwise."

"You must talk to her mother, and she will explain. Leandra knows how much Hawke cares about you and has been hoping for Hawke to bring you to their estate." Fenris took a moment to let this information sink in.

"How... Why would her mother care about bringing me to their home?" Isabela smiled sadly at Fenris.

"She said she wanted 'little pointy-eared, green-eyed grandchildren.'" Fenris felt his face warming up at the thought of Hawke's and his own children. Isabela took his reaction as encouragement and continued.

"She doesn't approve of me. Also she knows why Hawke began repelling men. I can't say much about it, it isn't my place to, but you must speak to her. This is my last request, and if you want a future with Hawke, you need to do this."

"I'll see. Now, go." Isabela opened the door and stepped outside.

"One more thing. Well, two." Fenris narrowed his eyes at Isabela.

"What?"

"I will know if you told on me about this. I will turn you in if you do that" Fenris snarled at her, and Isabela turned to leave

"And take care of her. Hawke has been through enough... and I'm not helping her with all this bloody crap. She's a good woman... The best, and I never deserved her. Cherish her, do for her what I couldn't do with my wretched self."

Fenris did not know how to respond, even if he followed what the pirate said, it wasn't certain that he could win Hawke over. He saw the pirate walk away, raising a hand to her face, and did a gesture closely resembling that of wiping tears.