Chapter 20 – Demands of the Qun

Aisha thought she was going to die when the Arishok announced that he would be taking Isabela with him back to Par Vollen. She was standing right next to the pirate and in panic grabbed her arm. They can't have you.

"What?" Isabela and Hawke asked in unison.

"She stole the Tome of Koslun," the Arishok continued, "she must return with us." Isabela sensed danger and pulled her arm from Aisha's grip and pushed her towards Anders and Merrill who grabbed her. If Isabela had to fight she didn't want Aisha to be in the way.

Hawke didn't look scared and just looked at the Arishok with calm eyes.

"It sounds like you have something very specific in mind?" She asked the large qunari.

"She will submit to the Qun and the Ben-Hasrath. More than that I will not say."

Isabela's cocky stance didn't change but Aisha could see that her friend was scared and she struggled a bit wanting to stand next to her but Anders kept a firm grip on her arm.

"Isabela will answer to our laws," Hawke tried but the Arishok was adamant.

"Then you leave me no choice," the Arishok said almost sadly, "I challenge you Hawke. You and I will battle until death."

At his words, Merrill gasped softly next to Aisha and Anders extended his other arm to take hold of her too; wanting neither of his friends to get into trouble. Aisha saw the worry in Merrill's eyes and grasped her hand.

"No," Isabela exclaimed, "if you're going to duel anyone, duel me." But Arishok pointed out that she wasn't worthy; only Hawke was and they quickly cleared the floor for the duel. Isabela just stood there, looking furious, for a few minutes but then she reluctantly went to stand next to Aisha who immidiately left Anders' side and put her arms around Isabela's waist. Isabela mindlessly put her arm around the mage's shoulder but then she looked guility at Merrill. It was after all her fault that Merrill's lover was now in a duel.

…

The duel was long and bloody and more than once Hawke was on the ground but every time she got up. She was victorious in the end, and as everyone cheered, Merrill ran forward to be by Hawke's side. Isabela however, didn't dare to move forward even though Aisha was pulling her arm.

"I don't think I should," the pirate said and Aisha felt like slapping her.

"This is your fault!" She snapped, "Hawke almost died for you. The least you can do is say thank you." But Isabela still didn't move.

"This was a mistake," she said, "I... I shouldn't have come back."

Aisha looked disgusted for one moment.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked, but didn't have enough strength to make her voice loud. Instead her words had been almost a whisper. She had loved Isabela for as long as she could remember, she had at times almost had a form of hero-worship for the pirate. Isabela had saved her life, had brought her back to the world. She was her first kiss, her first love, the first one to touch her. Aisha would always love her, she could not see a reality where her feelings would go away or even cool.

This did not change the fact that Isabela was a decieving, lying, back-stabbing pirate. And Aisha had had enough.

"This is who I am," Isabela said, "I know who I am. And I am not whatever nice illusion of me that you have created."

"I know exactly who you are," Aisha replied, still whispering, "I still love you."

The words hang between them in the air. Isabela didn't looked shocked or surprised, just tired. Every cell in her body told her to run, to get away. She didn't want to stand there, in front of the mage, her best friend, the one who loved her.

"I should go," Isabela said, "I don't think anything good will come of me staying."

Aisha sighed, wanting to cry.

"Yes," she said, her voice croaking a little, "just go. It's what you want to do anyway."

Isabela turned around and started walking, past all the cheering nobles and crying wives. Past Aveline who simply looked at her as she continued walking. Past Hawke and Merrill, crying from relief and holding each other. Probably telling each other how they love each other, Isabela thought in, somehow, both contempt and longing. She reached the gallows in very little time, staying clear of the fighting that was still going on. She looked at the different ships that were currently preparing for departure. One of them was heading for Antiva; yeah, that would do. She went on-board and asked for the captain, asking if you could pay her way by scrubbing decks or something. All men are the same, Isabela thought as the captain took one look at her body and then gladly agreed. She settled by the stem of the boat, watching Kirkwall become smaller and smaller in the distance; not knowing when or if she would see it again. I love you too.