Chapter 5 – The Captain and The Mage

The days passed by slowly. Isabela started joining Hawke and the others for adventures once more, but only after Aisha had assured her that she didn't mind being left alone. The former tranquil still hadn't left the Hanged Man and she only very reluctantly left her room at all. The world outside still scared her. Merrill had started bringing her books that Aisha read most eagerly and she had had visits from Anders telling her techniques for protecting herself against possession. Aisha listened with one ear, not really sure if she would be able to resist if a demon came for her, but she didn't say that.

Isabela didn't talk with her. They shared pleasantries and spoke of things such as food but neither of them discussed the past or the future, or how Aisha had winded up in Isabela's care, or even why Isabela had cared for her. Sometimes when being unable to sleep Aisha would find herself wishing that she was still a tranquil, still deep in sleep and not having to worry. At other times, she would look over at Isabela sleeping in the other bed and almost feel grateful that she was back to life. Isabela confused her, the women was not the same girl that Aisha had grown up with. She was still evading, mysterious, always joking, and still so unbearably beautiful but there was something missing, she had hardened in a way; Aisha couldn't put a finger on what.

The door opened and the girl looked up. She was sitting on one of the beds with a large book resting on her crossed legs. It was boring her and she was both thankful and surprised to see her pirate friend walking through the door.

"Hey," Isabela said, "I want you to come with me outside." Aisha looked at her and Isabela saw that her words had startled her friend.

"I don't want to," Aisha replied quickly. The world outside was messy, with angry, happy, sad, worried, ecstatic, depressed people – too many emotions. Sometimes just the sounds from the tavern were too much for the former tranquil.

Isabela nodded and lay, first throwing her daggers down on the floor, on the other bed, putting her arms under her head and crossing her legs.

"I'm so tired," she said, "Hawke had us fight dragonlings, dragonlings! Well, I'm never bored, that's for sure."

"Are you never scared?" Aisha asked, putting her book down and looked up at the pirate. The pirate laughed.

"Nope, never. Why should I be scared? Either I manage or I die and if I die, I'm dead and that's that."

Isabela closed her eyes as if preparing to sleep and Aisha felt panic rising, there were some questions she just had to have answered.

"Nai.. Isabela," she tried and one amber eye opened, looking at her, "why did you help me?"

Isabela sighed.

"I promised you, didn't I?"

"That's not good enough and you know that." But Isabela didn't answer. It was Aisha's turn to sigh and she opened her book again.

"You were gone," Isabela suddenly said, "when I came back to get you. You were gone. It took me over seven years to find what had even happened to you, and then I had to locate you and…"

Aisha couldn't mistake the clear hurt that was so evident in Isabela's voice and it warmed her heart to know that her friend hadn't abandoned her as Aisha had thought for so many years. It was the mage's turn to talk. There were too many things unsaid.

"I was sold to Henry," she said in a small voice and Isabela spit at the mentioning of his name.

"I knew that's what Luis was planning; I can't believe he was enough of a bastard to sell his own daughter!"

"Do I need to remind you that your own mother did the same?" Aisha said, but then continued, "I… wasn't what he wanted, in more than one way. He… beat me. He wasn't like dad was to you. He let his friends have their way with me."

This was the first time Isabela had heard this and she had to clench her fists. She couldn't help but feel responsible.

"He found another girl that he wanted to marry, she was older than me. More mature and probably more fun. She complained about me eventually, wanting to marry him and have me gone. I'm not sure how it went about but one day I was drugged and when I woke up, there were some mages performing what I think was the rite of tranquility. I'm not sure what happened after that, I don't remember everything. I remember a chantry sister telling me to come with her, and I remember a long boat ride and more importantly, I remember you picking me up by the docks. I was still a tranquil but I could have sworn that I felt… happy."

"They sold you, to what I believe was some corrupt chantry people. They performed the rite of tranquility to have you as their servant," Isabela added through gritted teeth.

Aisha nodded.

"How did you find me?"

"That chantry sister you mentioned," Isabela said, "I had a run-in with her at a tavern called The Pearl. She told me about a beautiful Rivaini tranquil and how she had never seen anything like it. After a bit of talking, it became clear that you were that tranquil. I didn't know how you had become a tranquil, or what I would do with you but eventually the sister, Leliana I think her name was, sent word that she had managed to get you away from the chantry where you were living. I don't know how she found me, or how she knew it was the right thing to do but before I knew it, you were on a boat to here."

"Thank you," Aisha said quietly, "thank you for everything."

"Don't worry about it, sweet thing," Isabela said, the pirate closed her eyes once more hoping to get a few hours of sleep. She would be heading to the Blooming Rose later and wanted to get some rest first. Her plans were about to be changed though.

"Isabela," a small voice said, "I think I'm ready to go out now."

…

Aisha was wearing a green tunic, black trousers and boots. But just like her fellow Rivaini she had a taste for jewelry and she wore a big gold necklace and two big earrings. However, now when she went outside the Hanged Man she took a big shawl and wrapped it around her head and shoulders as if wanting it to protect her.

Isabela rolled her eyes at Aisha's shawl but took her hand and led her to the docks. Aisha kept her head down as they were walking, not wanting to see more than she had to. It was like she could feel every emotion that the people around her were carrying, and it was too much. Too much, too soon. When Isabela finally reached her goal, tears were falling down the mage's cheeks and it wasn't just because of the unfamiliar sunlight. Isabela turned suddenly and walked through an alley reaching a small bridge which had a small dingy tied to it.

Isabela stopped and jumped down, agile as ever, into it.

"Come on," she said to Aisha and lent her a hand to the girl but the mage didn't take it but rather sat down on the bridge before calmly sliding down into the dingy.

"Are we going far?" She asked the pirate as Isabela grabbed the oars and started rowing with quick swift movements. Isabela just shook her head but didn't reply. Instead she took deep breaths enjoying the salty sea air, and the soft movements of the boat over the water. When they had reached far enough that the houses in Kirkwall looked like toys, she stopped rowing and simply sat, letting the waves gently rock the boat.

The women sat in silence, enjoying the peace and Aisha was in particular enjoying the lack of constant emotion that clung to the air in town, she found it easier to breathe than she had since being brought back.

"How did you know this was just what I needed?" She asked Isabela with a smile.

Isabela scoffed.

"What do you mean sweetness?" She asked with mockery in her voice, "I did this for me, there is nothing like the open sea. Even if it is just for a few hours."

Aisha giggled and then clasped her hand over her mouth at the unfamiliar sensation. She quietly wondered how many years she had spent as a tranquil; how many years had it been since she had laughed or giggled? Then she moved her hand and smiled a broad smile. It was nice out at sea.