Chapter 11 – The Confused and the Sweet thing

Aisha started ignoring the pirate; it was just easier that way. Even Isabela enjoyed the silence and the lack of confusion that always arose in her whenever the mage was near. Aisha started ignoring Sebastian. She couldn't be bothered and she found him just as boring as Isabela did. Instead she started spending more and more time in Anders' clinic; helping him with the healing and learning more. She had had to swear of blood magic but that wasn't a problem. She wasn't intending to use it again. Anders was happy to have her as a student, especially since both Hawke and Merrill never wanted his advice.

It was afternoon and Aisha was slowly walking up the stairs from Dark Town to Low Town. It was late and it wasn't the safest place but since she had her magic she didn't really worried. She was simply walking, minding her own business. Then she heard a chuckle behind her. She froze for a moment but then recognized the voice.

"Isabela," she said simply and turned around; true enough, there was the pirate leaning with her back to the wall, "are you following me?"

"No. Doesn't mean that's a good thing though. There is trouble up ahead, sweet thing, some qunaris are fighting. I would stay away if I were you."

Aisha sighed and took two steps in Isabela's direction.

"Does this mean we can't get home?"

The pirate shrugged her shoulders.

"We could try, but I think we should probably wait until morning."

Aisha groaned. The girl was tired and her feet hurt and even though her bed at the Hanged Man wasn't the most comfortable of beds, it was home. And it was a bed.

"Come on, I know where we can go," the pirate said when she saw her tired expression. Since it was getting really dark Isabela simply grabbed Aisha's hand and led her through the night.

She took Aisha to a little house where she paid the woman by the front door a few silvers for the knight and then they went to a small room. Aisha rolled her eyes when she saw that the room only had one bed. When Isabela saw her reaction she snorted.

"No, this is not my plan to get you into bed," she said, "if you find my side so repulsive you are welcome to use the floor."

Aisha just shook her head, she was so tired and instead she removed her jewelry, her bandana and boots and laid down on the bed. She was soon followed by Isabela. They settled side by side under the same blanket, the bed more than big enough for the both of them.

"What were you doing out so late?" Aisha suddenly asked.

"Looking for you," was Isabela's frank answer, "I knew you had spent time at Anders' clinic and when I heard there was trouble I wanted to find you. Make sure you were safe."

"You always make sure I am safe," Aisha whispered, "you have ever since the first time I met you."

"Ha!" Isabela exclaimed, "hardly. The first time I met you you were just an annoying brat. I hated your guts."

"Still," Aisha continued, "you saved me from being tranquil. You got slashed by an ogre for me and now you come and find me in the night because you heard there might be trouble."

"Oh please shush. You make me sound so…"

"Isabela," Aisha interrupted, "are we still going to find a boat and leave?"

"Of course, sweetness," Isabela's reply was sleepy now, "why would we stay longer in this shit hole than we must? No, one day we are going to sail into the horizon."

"I don't know anything about sailing," Aisha replied softly, "I'm not sure if I will be much help."

Isabela giggled softly, the sweet sound causing knots to form in the pit of Aisha's stomach.

"The ship is the best teacher," the pirate said, "she will guide you with her sighs… her shudders, her gentle swaying as she rides the crests of the waves."

Aisha swallowed; her mouth suddenly dry. She cursed the effect that Isabela still had on her. It was no use acting like a silly girl around the pirate; she had seen other girls act the same way and always pitied them. And here she was, pining for the woman herself. This would not do. Aisha was better than this, stronger than this.

Isabela looked at her, realizing almost immediately what was passing through the head of the mage. She felt bad then, bad that she had used her usual banter and that it had had an effect on Aisha. The pirate sighed.

"Oh you poor sweet thing," she said softly and patted Aisha's hair but Aisha pushed her hand away.

"Don't say that," she whispered irritably, "and please don't touch me."

Then she turned to her side giving Isabela her back. Isabela didn't move, her hand still raised in the air.

"And stop being mean to Sebastian," Aisha continued, "your misplaced jealousy is not his problem."

Isabela sat up.

"What do you mean my misplaced jealousy? I'm not jealous of anyone and especially not of Choir Boy."

Aisha laughed.

"Oh really?" she said, "either you are trying to fool me or you are fooling yourself, I don't know which is more pathetic."

"I don't care who pops your popcorn sweet thing, as long as no one harms you."

Aisha sat up as well, and turned to face Isabela.

"You don't care who pops my popcorn, do you?" She said in a mocking tone, "you don't care that somebody other than you touches my skin," she trailed her fingers across her shoulder, "and you don't care who gets to kiss my neck," she let her fingers trace her collar bone and up her neck and smiled inwardly as she saw that the pirate was following her hand with her eyes. Aisha hadn't dared to hope but since Isabela behavior had been so odd, especially around Sebastian Aisha had started to suspect that Isabela was not as unaffected by her as she pretended.

"And most of all," she said, "you don't care at all who gets to kiss me, do you?"

It was Isabela's turn to swallow.

"Jealousy is stupid," the pirate tried but there was no jest in her tone, "who needs it? Surely you have never felt it."

"Of course I have felt it," Aisha had now raised her voice and felt that she was almost screaming, "you have broken my heart over and over since you slept with that elf Zevran. But you know what? Since you seem to not care maybe I will go and find somebody to pop my popcorn. I'm pretty, I know that, shouldn't be too difficult to find."

Isabela didn't want to have this conversation. She did feel bad about leaving Aisha alone all those years ago but the pirate had never thought that Aisha had actually been jealous. Why would she? They had had fun; that was all, right? It hadn't meant more than that. It couldn't have. It shouldn't have had.

"Just keep your wits about you," she replied quickly, "to most men you are nothing but tits and arse."

"And on that note I'm going to sleep," Aisha said irritably and closed her eyes, lying back then. She was quiet for a few minutes but then she added, "good night… Naishe." She had by now understood that Isabela didn't like the sound of her old name. Isabela however just chuckled at Aisha's remark, the pirate just happy that they were no longer fighting.

"Good night, sweet thing."