An: I did not plan on two updates in one day, but here you go! I have to apologize for this chapter, I'm not used to describing threesomes, even if it is only vaguely described.

Enjoy!

Chapter 26 - New experiences

"Are you really leaving now?" Aisha asked, the two of them standing a bit away from the others.

Tallis chuckled and grasped her hand, wanting to always remember what Aisha's hands felt like.

"I don't think I would really fit in with Hawke's merry entourage.."

Isabela started chuckling behind them, interuppting their conversation.

"Let's see... are you possessed? Consorting with demons? A pathological liar?"

Aveline rolled her eyes.

"I am at least none of those things," she said and Isabela smirked at her words.

"Can you run five miles carrying a cow over your head?"

Tallis smiled at Isabela's words but hadn't taken her eyes of Aisha's face for one moment.

"I have six toes on my left foot."

"And a bunch of rather exquisite scars," Aisha added, despite a blush spreading on her cheeks.

"Eh, good enough," the elf and the mage heard the pirate say behind Aisha but neither of them payed attention to her.

"Do you have to go?" Aisha whispered one last time and Tallis nodded.

"This is better for the both of us," she said, "it would never have worked," she leaned in and whispered just next to Aisha's ear, "not while somebody else still loves you just as much as you love her." Aisha gasped a little but any words she had on her lips were silenced by Tallis' kiss.

"Trust me," the elf said and then she was gone.

Aisha hadn't wanted to talk to anyone, she didn't want to explain to Hawke that Tallis was the person she had spent all her time away with. She didn't want to answer all their unasked questions. She couldn't even be bothered to explore whether Hawke was mad at her for not telling the truth. She had been quiet during the journey home and then gone into Hawke's mansion and to her little room. She had laid down on her bed and gone to sleep.

S he had now been awake for more than a day but not felt like getting up; she didn't feel like seeing the others. She hadn't even gotten up to eat. Aisha was sad about Tallis, she was sad that the comfort she had known over the past year was gone; but she was conflicted about the pirate in a way that made her feel lightheaded and her chest heavy. She didn't know if she wanted her. She didn't know if she had the strength to just forgive her. She couldn't imagine a life without Isabela, she could barely remember a time when Isabela hadn't been part of her life in one way or another. Isabela had stormed into her life time after time, wild like a hurricane, Aisha couldn't help but drown. And the mage had to admit to herself that she didn't want to drown anymore; Tallis had let her breathe, being the calm after the storm. But she was gone now and Aisha was left to pick up the pieces.

There was a knock on the door.

"Aisha?" It was Merrill, "can I come in?" And then the elf continued to somebody next to her, "what? Aren't you supposed to knock? You said..." Whatever Hawke had said to Merrill Aisha never found out before her door was open and both Hawke and Merrill came in.

"Sorry," Hawke said, "we're all worried about you. We're on our way to kill some assassins, I was thinking that maybe it might cheer you up?"

Aisha sat up and rubbed her eyes. Despite her inner turmoil she found her interest spike. Assassins did sound interesting...

"What assassins?"

"Remember that elf from a few weeks ago? We located the camp of the Crows, the people who wanted him dead. We're going to take him out."

Aisha did remember Hawke mentioning something about it during breakfast during one of the days she had actually been in the estate instead of somewhere else, in Tallis' arms.

"Why bring me?"

Hawke smiled warmly at her.

"I find that a little killing always helps me when I'm in a bad mood."

Aisha nodded and Hawke and Merrill started leaving her room, satisfied that she was coming with them.

"Hawke," Hawke turned around and faced Aisha again, "I'm sorry for not... for not telling before." Aisha shrugged her shoulders, she didn't know what to say but couldn't bear the thought that Hawke was mad at her. Lucky for her Hawke only chuckled.

"Don't worry about it," she said, "besides, I'm getting used to Rivianis double-crossing me."

…

"Excellent," Zevran exclaimed as all his former friends lay dead at their feet, "killing my former brother at arms is oddly satisfying." Aisha couldn't help but gasp. This was the man who had killed her father.

"I don't have much reward to offer you, champion," Zevran continued, "but perhaps this will serve as a token of my thanks," he handed Hawke something. He then turned to Isabela but before reaching her, his eyes caught at Aisha.

"My dear," he said, "I swear I recognise you from somewhere."

"Yes," Isabela chimed in, "this is Luis' daughter." Zevran laughed.

"What a small world," he said, "no hard feelings I hope?" Aisha barely managed a strained smile. No, she wasn't angry wth him for killing her dad. She was angry with him for taking Isabela away from her.

"My dear Isabela," Zevran continued and actually bowed to the pirate, "it has been a delight to see you again. You travel in fine company." He then started turning to walk away.

"That's it?" Isabela asked loudly, "you're leaving? What about sex?"

"Ah, Isabela," Zevran laughed, "how I have missed you!"

Aisha's heart started pounding. Not again. Not the same shit again. Not the same heart ache, the same betrayal, the same stupid assassin. She didn't know what Isabela's reaction would be, but if everything she had heard about Zevran was true, he surely wouldn't mind.

"What about me?" Aisha tried, putting on a sly smile and ignoring the way Hawke and the others gasped behind her, "surely there is room for one more?"

Aisha could see that Isabela wondered what she was playing at; but the mage tried to look confident even if she wasn't sure at all. She just knew that she had to stop Isabela from going away with Zevran again.

Zevran however, was laughing and eyeing her with interest. He turned to Isabela.

"I'm game if you are."

"I..." Isabela seemed unsure for a moment, but then shrugged her shoulders, "the more the merrier."

…

Aisha hadn't been as awkward as she had hoped; next to Zevran and Isabela she was practically a blushing virgin.. They had been nice to her; kissing her, sometimes both of them in the same time, being gentle to her even if they weren't too gentle to each other.

Aisha had been nervous about being with a man again but quickly noticed that Zevran was just as skillful as Isabela had said. It did hurt a little when he pushed inside her, but it had felt good. And the mage had completely melted when Isabela had a little bit later pushed him away and claimed that Aisha's release was hers. It had been hers.

Afterwards Zevran had kissed Aisha quickly on the cheek, thanking her for her lovely company. Then he had kissed Isabela deeply and ran his fingers through her hair. It had made Aisha look away, not wanting to intrude on such an intimate moment, despite having laid with both of them.

"Good bye my sweet," Zevran had said and left them, leaving Aisha and Isabela picking up their clothes in the cave. Asha was lacing up her tunic and correcting her bandana with her back to Isabela, she felt a bit awkward and would rather not look at the pirate. Even if just moments ago, they had been looked in an affectionate embrace.

"Sweetness," Isabela's voice made her look up; the pirate looked... almost sad, "I told you Zevran was an artist, didn't I?"

Aisha tried to keep things light and chuckled.

"You kept most of his artistic skills to yourself you know," she said. Isabela smiled and made sure that her tunic was secure; picked up her knives.

"Let's go?"

They started walking back towards Kirkwall together; neither of them speaking. Isabela felt a bit melancholic, she always did after seeing Zevran. The bittersweet mix of great sex, unmeasurable gratitude (even after all these years) and sadness that even though their paths crossed again and again, one of them would one day be dead.

This time her feelings were mixed with the confusing presence of Aisha. She would never have imagined that the mage would actually think of joining them. Then, in the middle of it, Isabela had almost felt possessive towards Aisha, wanting to be the one to feel the mage's release on her tongue and fingers. The pirate didn't want to think about what that meant.