"I am here to see Lady Manhands for the tenth time!" I yell at the silly guard who seems more interested in staring at my cleavage than actually helping me.

"Like I've said before...ahem...Miss...we have no one here by that name!" the poor guy is able to finally get out.

"I know she works here she is your BOSS!" I finally yell back nearly causing the poor guy to cringe.

"My boss? Do you mean Captain Aveline?" he replies really confused.

"Aveline...Lady Manhands...tomayto...tomaato whatever." I answer trying not to laugh.

It finally hits him that I am talking about Aveline and he tries not to smile at my nickname for her. Eventually he says, "Yea, she is up the stairs to the left."

"See love..that wasn't so hard was it? Oh wait" Looking at his crotch I say, "Or maybe it is?"

Clearly embarrassed he is now totally ignoring me. I laugh like hell as I walk up the stairs making sure to swing my hips just enough to make him blush...again.

Aveline is behind her desk, deep in thought, so she doesn't notice me when I walk in.

"AH! Lady Manhands!" I cheerfully say with maybe too much emphasis on the Manhands bit.

Without looking up from her desk she calmly replies, "I told you not to call me that whore."

"Oooo...we are touchy today eh?" I come right back ignoring her barb.

Deeply sighing and finally looking up she asks, "What do you want Isabela?"

"No you started it. Why so tense today?"

"Because your lover is cutting a path through Kirkwall that is so wide every time she steps out her front door I am getting complaints." she tersely replies.

"My lover? Oh Ave you know I only have eyes for you!" I say as swarthy as possible.

She literally shuddered and quickly replied, "Oh that's a frightening thought."

Like she could do better, I think before I finally get serious.

"Actually I wanted to talk to you about our trip up to Sundermount a few weeks back. When we went with Amber to drop off that doodad to the Eleven Heeper."

Shaking her head and laughing Aveline replies, "Its KEEPER you silly twat. Heeper? Really? That's what you though she was called? Really?"

She was obviously having way too much fun with this.

"Phhtt! Why I am supposed to keep track of these things? I'm not an Elf." I reply as dryly as possible.

"And you wonder why Elves don't like you. Anyway, yes I remember that day. What about it?" Aveline asks.

I feel myself blush a bit but I manage to ask, "You remember when we first met that crazy Elf chick Merrill?"

Blinking at me she replies, "Sure and?"

I am having a hard time talking now...I don't know why. I have to clear my head before I continue. Finally, I softly ask, "Was there some type of chemistry going on between her and Amber?"

Cocking her head at me in understanding she replies, "Merrill and Amber? No way! Amber is totally smitten by you for some unexplainable, illogical, unfathomable reason."

Surprisingly I had been holding my breath waiting for her answer. I close my eyes for a moment before speaking again, "Well...not that it matters or anything. I was just curious."

"Uh-huh." She curtly replies.

"Well then I suppose I should be going then." I say looking for an easy escape route.

"Hmm..yes..yes you should." Lady Manhands pipes back completely un-amused.

I walk over to Amber's house but she was out on business or at least that is what Orana said between disapproving glares. I can't help but laugh to myself knowing how much I annoy her.

So I decide to go catch up with Varric at the Hanged Man.

I enter the pub and it takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I see Varric setting at a booth all alone. Whoot! I practically run to his booth and am soon across from him.

"So how is my favourite hairy-chested Dwarf doing today?" I ask with a grin.

"Oh I can't complain. You just missed Amber by the way she was here less than ten minutes ago. Can you believe she found my family's signet ring at a dealer here in Lowtown and then she actually bought for me as a gift?" he cheerfully replied.

"Sounds like something she would do. She actually found a ship in a bottle for me the other day. It's really cute." I replied.

"Yea? Hmmm...I swear she treats getting gifts for her friends like some type of personal quest or something." Varric quickly retorts.

"Funny how that is huh?" Is all I can come up with.

We make small talk for an hour and so and I notice the weird little elf Merrill come in. She looks over at us and Varric invites her over...swell.

"Daisy! How are you today?" Varric enthusiastically quips.

Daisy? I think to myself. Must be one of Varric's pet names. The shy Elf decides to sit on my side of the booth. Her woody perfume catches my attention. She is so small. I'd break her if we ever...whoa! What the hell am I thinking!

"Hi Varric! Hi Isabella! I'm so happy you both are here!" Merrill squeals.

Varric and I stare at her waiting for her to explain why she was happy we were there but she just looks at us as if she was waiting for us to do a Orlesian jig or something.

"So Merrill, how are you finding it in Kirkwall?" I ask just to break the silence.

"It's so confusing and so big! Sometimes I get lost for hours!" she quickly replies.

"But I gave you that string Daisy? Doesn't that help?" Varric asks.

Looking mousy Merrill replies, "I forget to bring it sometimes and even when I do it gets all crisscrossed and I end up wasting time trying to get all the knots out." she answered.

Oh brother...we are clearly dealing with a genius here but she is kind of cute. Her pretty green eyes can be quite inviting when she isn't looking bat-shit crazy. I then notice her top is cut lower than usual and I catch myself checking out her cleavage. What the hell?

With a bit of noise we all notice Amber come in the door. Oh shit...this ought to be good.

Amber first notices me which of course makes me smile despite myself. Then her eyes drift to Merrill sitting next to me and a quick shot of annoyance flashes across her face then quickly back to normal. She takes a seat next to Varric.

As soon as she sits she speaks to me, "Hi lover.." Then she stretches over the table to give me a quick kiss. My god she is marking her territory.

"Hi lover." I reply. Varric is usually quiet. Maybe he wants to avoid a possible cat fight. Smart lad.

Merrill cuts in, "Um maybe I should go?"

Surprisingly before Varric or I can answer, Amber quickly says, "No! I mean...um..no, stay a while we haven't got to talk much since you moved here."

Merrill blushes and squirms. Amber pretends not to notice. My pulse slightly increases.

"So how about those Templars?" Varric cuts in.

We all look at each other and laugh breaking the previous thick tension. After an hour or so of polite conversation we decide to order something to eat, which at the Hanged Man means vegetable stew or grey mystery meat stew. We went with the vegetable stew.

I can't help but notice Merrill eating like she is starved then it hits me she might be having a hard time affording food now. It makes me a bit sad.

Eventually we finish eating and Amber and I decide it's time to go back to her place. As we are saying our goodbyes, I notice when Merrill and Amber exchange a small hug, Amber places a few gold pieces in her hand. It annoys me for some reason then I feel a bit embarrassed after all I am the one going home with Amber and Merrill really needs the dosh. Still...still...I'm quiet the whole way to Amber's place but more strangely...so is Amber.