Chapter 27 – No rest for the wicked

A few weeks later Aisha was coming down the stairs in the mansion when she noticed Isabela and Hawke talking. She couldn't help but giggle when she heard Hawke's words.

"Look who's here. It's time to change the locks again."

"I knocked this time. Bodahn let me in," was Isabela reply, but she didn't look up from where she was standing; looking at Hawke's private papers. Aisha didn't know why the pirate was so nosey; she could still remember the first time she had found a sixteen-year-old Naishe going through her things.

"Guess what?" Isabela continued, greeting Aisha with a nod as the mage continued down the stairs and joined them, "Castillion is in town, and I'm not waiting around for him to stick a knife in my vitals. We're going to get him before he gets me."

"We're going to surprise Castillion?" Hawke answer in an amused tone, "I do love surprises."

"Unfortunately," Isabela replied, "Castillion is held up somewhere in Kirkwall, and for once I haven't been able to find him. I do know where Velasco is, however. That's his right hand. We just have to make him tell us where Castillion is... somehow." Isabela looked down now, and Aisha's heart sank when she realised that her brave pirate was actually scared. She looked up at Hawke who gave her a reassuring smile; of course they were going to help Isabela. But Hawke couldn't help but tease the pirate a bit first.

"What a plan! Your scheming ability puts me to shame."

"Well, I haven't worked out all the kinks," Isabela snapped, a little bit irritated. She was worried, a feeling she was not used to having and she did not enjoy being teased when she was trying to remain serious.

"Castillion wants you," Hawke suggested, "why not let Velasco bring you to him?"

"And... you follow me? Oh that is clever," Isabela said and smiled. But Aisha disagreed and for once she was not going to remain quiet about it.

"Use you as bait?" She said to Isabela, "no! That's not going to happen."

Isabela sighed.

"Rather he kill me in my sleep, sweet thing?" Aisha put her head down, trying to calm her worried heart. If Isabela was set on doing this, she wouldn't be able to stop her.

"There must be a better way..." she tried but found to her dismay that both Hawke and Isabela were ignoring her. Instead they started discussing when they were going to do it. After deciding that there was no time like the present, Hawke went to get ready while Isabela and Aisha waited.

"Don't be so sour, sweetness," Isabela said, "I'll be fine. Hawke will make sure nothing happens to me."

Aisha nodded but didn't feel relieved or reassured. All she felt was fear that Isabela would be ripped from her yet again.

Hawke came back with her staff, proper clothes and Merrill behind her, and off they went to the Blooming Rose.

…

Soon they found themselves standing outside Velasco's supposed room at the Blooming Rose. There were grunting noises coming from the room that disgusted Aisha and she tried to seek comfort by holding Merrill's hand. The elf suspected what Aisha was feeling and squeezed it, both of them remaining quiet while Hawke and Isabela talked.

"You need to make this believable," Isabela said, "even hit me if needed. If you flinch, Velasco will see it."

"I don't know if I'm comfortable hitting a friend..." Hawke said but smirked as she said it.

"Oh, don't tell me you've never wanted to hit me," Isabela said and winked, "not even a little."

"I wouldn't say never..." Hawke said and smiled as Aisha said "yes" in the exact same time. Then she and Merrill went to the corner as Hawke and Isabela approached the door.

Hawke quickly kicked the door open and went inside it with Isabela behind her. The man called Velasco looked up while the elf whore he had been towering over yelped a bit in surprise, the elf then immidiately ran away, looking relieved that an interupption had got her a way of escaping.

"Skittish bitch," Velasco muttered to himself before taking a good look at his sudden guests. Isabela tried to look calm as she met his gaze; she couldn't believe that she had once willingly worked with the likes of him.

"I have a present for Castillion," Hawke said and made a gesture towards Isabela. Here goes, the pirate thought and then she pulled a surprised face.

"Present for – what?" She said, sounding shocked.

"I just want you out of the way," Hawke said, rolling her eyes and turning from Isabela with disdain, "a coin for my troubles?" She asked Valesco instead.

He threw her a coin and then quickly tied Isabela's hands.

"Off we go," he said and chuckled darkly, "somebody has been dying to see you."

He pulled a struggling Isabela out of the room, and down the stairs. Aisha saw them and turned away, not able to watch without doing nothing. Hawke soon came out of the room as well and immidiately saw the worry on the mage's face.

"Oh, come here," she said and gave Aisha a reassuring hug, "let's go and save her, okay?"

…

While walking through High Town, Low Town and eventually the docks, Aisha couldn't stop worrying. She wanted Hawke and Merrill to walk faster even though they kept telling her that it was important that they didn't move so fast that they caught up with Isabela and her captor. It didn't matter, Aisha wanted to catch up. She wanted to catch up so that Isabela never had to face Castillion; Aisha could kill him in his sleep instead. Anything so that the pirate didn't have to be in more danger than was necessary.

They were by the docks when they heard a surprised yell and the sound of a tumble. It didn't matter that Hawke called her name, Aisha ran forward, not caring. Isabela, Isabela, Isabela, Naishe, Naishe, Naishe. With her heart in her throat, the young mage ran around the corner, just in time to see Isabela free, pushing her dagger through Velasco's throat and then pushing him over the edge into the water.

"Isabela!" Isabela turned around and Aisha couldn't help herself, she darted forward towards the pirate. Isabela opened her arms and Aisha practically ran into her embrace, pulling her arms tight around Isabela's waist and burying the side of her face in Isabela's bosom. She felt the other woman gently stroke the top of her hair but it only made her hold on tighter. She felt tears behind her eyelids but refused to let them out. She just wanted to stay where she was, in the arms of Isabela, wrapped in her scent and her warmth.

"I love you," Aisha whispered, "I was worried, I..." She moved her head from its comfortable position and looked up. Isabela was looking down at her, somehow looking happy and sad in the same time.

"I know sweetheart," she said gently. They looked at each other in silence for a moment, then Aisha gathered all the courage she had, stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips against Isabela's. Their kiss was different, almost chaste at first with closed mouths. Isabela sighed in content and pulled Aisha closer, running her tongue over Aisha's lips, asking for entry; something Aisha provided gladly. For a moment, nothing else existed except them. Then Hawke's uncomfortable coughing made them stop. Aisha finally let go of Isabela's waist and took a step backwards, looking rather embarrassed; Isabela on the other hand, looked absolutely gleeful and more or less proud. Aisha couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Should we go inside?" Hawke asked.

"Yes," Isabela said and nodded, "Valesco told me about their plans for slavery in the Free Marches. I also found these documents on his body. I think I finally have the leverage on Castillion that I've always wanted."

…

Castillion was waiting for them inside. He seemed both amused and annoyed when Isabela came in.

"And Valesco told me that you were all tied up," he said, "a lovely present just waiting to be opened. I see he must have paid for that little mistake. Well played, Isabela. Crossed and double-crossed."

"You want to talk?" Isabela said, "Maybe we should talk about these documents. Slavery in the Free Marches? They're not going to like that."

Castillion immidiately sensed what Isabela was after.

"Get to the point," he barked and put his chin up. Isabela smiled; she had won.

"Give me your ship," she said, "and your word to leave me alone, and you can take these papers and go."

"If you want the ship," Hawke interuppted, "can't we just kill him and take it?"

"You don't just kill a man and take his ship. That's crude and amateurish!" Aisha coulnt't help but snicker at the words, even her pirate had standards.

"Also," Isabela continued, "how will he tell everyone I bested him if he is dead? I am still getting rid of him, just through peaceful means."

"Coming from her," Castillion added, "this is quite priceless."

Isabela smiled, going in for the kill.

"I saw the ship docked in the harbor, Castillion. She is splendid, I want her." Isabela acted confident but inside she was almost quivering. She was so close to getting a ship.

"Give me the documents," Castillion replied immidiately, not even needing any time to think, "and you can have the ship. And you will never hear from me again."

"Swear it," Isabela commanded.

"I swear it on my mother's grave," Castillion said and bowed, "give me the documents." Isabela could hardly breathe as she walked up to the man with confident steps and handed him the documents.

"The ship is yours," Castillion said as soon as he had the documents in his hand," let me say, my dear, that you would make a remarkable ally for any man able to tame you."

Isabela just scoffed at his words and folded her arms over her chest, waiting for him to leave.

"Our business is hereby concluded," Castillion said and bowed once more, "Forever. Be well, Isabela." And then he left.

Hawke looked at Isabela with a strange annoyance in her eyes.

"That man didn't deserve to walk free," she said.

"He'll get what's coming to him, someday." Isabela replied with a shrug, "doesn't need to be at my hand." Almost by reflex she put her arm around Aisha, who had drawn nearer since Castillion had left.

Hawke eventually smiled.

"How does it feel to have finally gotten a ship?" She asked. "The ship of your dreams nontheless?"

Isabela chuckled.

"Better than... three greased up sailors. The feeling that I could leave whenever I want? There really is nothing better... but I don't know. I have taken a shine to Kirkwall and some people in it. I'll probably stick around for a bit more. Won't be forever though." She looked down at Aisha.

"Should we go and look at our ship then?"

Was going to finish the story this week. (Just a few chapters left after all.) But I got an insane schedule for next week (I start at 6.30 on Tuesday) so I don't think I'll manage. Next chapter should have smut though!