Please read and review. This chapter was originally too long so I've broken it down into two. Hope it's ok :)

...

"It's nearly time, you must be so relieved your friends have seen sense?" Ija offered, in a voice too sickly sweet to take seriously.

Isabella smirked, taking the opportunity to stretch her legs. She didn't know why the armoured woman had sent for her, but she knew there was something about her demeanour she didn't like. A cruelty that made Isabella wonder if she even needed the blades at her back. "To be honest I'm a little offended they didn't reply sooner."

"No doubt trying to work out some trick to rescue you… without giving the stone back, of course." Ija mused, pouring a measure of spirit in to two glasses. She offered the pirate one and drank down the contents of the other.

She was trying to get her to slip up, Isabella could tell that much. To blurt out something that would betray the groups intentions. Well, two could play at that game. "Perhaps." She gave the woman a thin smile, "I think it more likely that they'd be wanting to keep Sebastian rather than some stone though."

Ija's eyes widened, as if offended, but the Rivaini could see the glint of mocking. "I don't know what to say! We sent word to your friend Hawke that you are both to go free if…."

"I think we both know that's not what's going to happen."

Ija's pretence dropped, although Isabella wished it would come back when a deep, sardonic laugh rumbled from her chest. She was loathed to admit it, this woman, Ija, she frightened her. "Well beauty and brains… you remind me of myself."

"It's difficult not to take that as an insult." Isabella took another sip from her glass. Ija shrugged, that dagger like smirk still there, she gestured for the pirate to take a seat at the table with her, though Isabella noted that she remained standing. An attempt at intimidation, perhaps? The Rivaini shook her head. "I'd rather stand, thank you. I've spent quite enough time in your hospitality sitting down."

"Well let me be blunt then, pirate. I want to know what Hawke is planning."

Isabella's eyebrow arched, "And how am I supposed to help you with that? I've been enjoying the luxury of your cell for over a day."

"You seem like a smart woman. I'm sure you can give it a guess about what she's up to? What she's thinking?"

In truth, Isabella could think of a few avenues Hawke might take. Tricking Castillon's men in to doing the searching for them would probably be Varric's first suggestion. Then she would likely stage a rescue. She knew Fenris had eyes in Low Town and the docks so he was probably leaning on a few leads. Anders would be busy with Merrill and Aveline… well, she didn't much care what the grumpy sow did as long as she wasn't shouting at her. "Even if I did know anything, what makes you think I'd tell you?"

Ija pursed her lips as if to contain the smile that threatened to spread across her face. Shit! The woman obviously had some leverage and had been waiting to use it. The pirate cursed but tried to maintain her expression of steely indifference. "Why, indeed? Maybe because if you don't I can hurt you?"

The involuntary laugh from her own throat took Isabella by surprise, but it seemed to slightly chip away some of the smugness that clung to Ija. Good. "Oh Poor Sweet Thing," she choked out, "I've paid people to do worse to me than you ever could."

"I'm sure that Sebastian would not agr…"

"But you're not planning on giving him back now, are you? So what's in it for me? If anything it sounds like you're asking me to sabotage my own rescue." The Rivaini cut her off, eager to press on any unbalance she might have caused. It seemed to have worked. Although Ija was trying to keep her composure, anger now glinted where there had been mockery. The smirk was well and truly gone, as well, her jaw set as if she were clenching. The voice that came out next was more a feral growl than anything a human could produce. "And that little elf, what about her?"

In that instance, Isabella's bluster faded. And it must have shown.

"Yes, that little elf girl. I hear from my men she took a hit for you, such a shame when the people we love get hurt. Especially when we could have done something to stop it." Ija sent Isabella a pointed look, that sickening smile now back in full force. The pirate felt sick. Anders would be with Merril, and Hawke wouldn't risk leaving her unprotected. She knew these things, but still she felt her hands start to shake and her heart pound in her chest.

"If you touch her…" She threatened, she was surprised at her own breathlessness. Honestly all she wanted to do was jump across the table and snap the woman's neck… or beat her to a bloody pulp… if it hadn't been for the chains at her wrists… Rage was not an emotion Isabella often experienced, but now it seemed to have a hold of every inch of her body.

"Oh I'm not going to touch her… I'm going to make her wish she was dead, then I'm going to let her know it's you she has to thank for it… and then I'm going to kill her, while you watch."

"I will fucking destroy you." She rasped out.

Ija smiled. "We'll see. Now… are you going to tell me anything, or not?"

"Sure… Hawke's ten foot tall and shoots lightning from her eyes. And she will hurt you… but not nearly as much as I'm going to."

Ija languidly poured herself another drink, seemingly drinking in the pirate's rage and fear. Isabella stubbornly met her gaze, certain that the bitch was trying to mock her. "Such passionate words from a common criminal." She took a drink from her glass and put it back to rest on the table as she made her way around the table to where the Rivaini stood. "But I'll let you in on a little secret," she halted in front of Isabella and leaned in whispering in her ear, "you can't do a damn thing when you're dead."

….

"It seems you're on the way to making a full recovery, Merrill." Anders examined the wound on the mage's back. He applied another dressing and began pressing. Although he had only applied a small amount of pressure, Merrill jolted in agony.

The elf hissed her pain, though she didn't pull away. "Thank you, Anders."

"Don't thank me… It's Hawke who's letting you stay here." The healer took a swift look around the opulent settings of Hawke's room… and briefly wondered how she managed to create such a mess with so few belongings… He laughed lightly to himself, organised chaos- two words that seemed to sum up the swordswoman perfectly.

"… you know what I mean." She offered meekly, settling back on to the bed and accepting the vial of potion offered to her.

"I do know what you mean." He said softly, "but the rest is up to you now. Get some rest. Call if you need me." The mage stood after making sure she was settled. He paused, however, when he felt her fingers grasp at his sleeve.

He turned to face the elf, and he could tell from the way her eye lids flickered that she was resisting sleep already, the potion so quickly working its magic. But there was a sadness and a worry upon her pale features that was impossible to miss. "What's wrong, Merrill?"

"You are going with them, aren't you Anders?" She mumbled.

"Tonight? Yes, I will be there."

"Will you… will you promise me you will keep them safe? I'm afraid… afraid something is going to happen."

"Nothing bad is going to happen."

"Promise…me…." Sleep overcame the elf, and Anders gently placed her arm back on to the bed.

He frowned as he looked down on her. He couldn't lie, he shared her sentiments. There was something so… different about the entire situation. Something that hung over him like a heavy shadow. There were so many different facets to the plan that he didn't understand. Why try and bait Sebastian after all this time? What was the true nature of the stone? If the Starkhaven Prince was the focus of it all, why not just take it and run? What had made Merrill, of all people, take it in the first place? He couldn't ask her in this state, the medication he was giving her for the pain made her barely comprehensible most of the time.

So many questions he didn't have the answers to, and their time was running out.

Anders made his way downstairs once he was certain the Dalish was asleep and was met with concerned and worried faces sitting around Hawke's large table.

"Anders, how is she?" Hawke stirred from her reverie.

"She's improving, but it will take time. He sat in the chair beside the blonde and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. It was with some satisfaction he heard Fenris grunt in irritation from across the table. "Anyway, she's sleeping now. So, what's our strategy?"

Varric leaned forward in his sitting position, his chin resting wearily in his cupped hands. "My source from Castillon's reprobates came through… by the way, Hawke… Dylan asked if you'd reconsidered his… proposal?" The replying glare from the swordswoman made the merchant chuckle. "Fair enough, promised him I'd ask. Anyway, their base is in the docks, and Fenris's source has confirmed that's where Rivaini and Choirboy are. The Elf and myself will be going in to retrieve our impatient friends, while the lovely Hawke and Aveline go and meet these fine fellows and distract them. We take away their leverage…"

"I kick the shit out of them…" Aveline interjected.

"We get back our people and don't lose the stone." Hawke finished. "Then we can try and work out what the hell that thing is."

"What could go wrong?!" Varric chimed cheerily.

"And me?" Anders turned to Hawke. "Where do you want me?"

He immediately didn't like her expression, lips pursed, her green eyes wide. "You're staying here. I need you to protect everyone here if it goes wrong."

His stomach lurched. He didn't like this one bit. The thought of any of them falling was always a worry… but the thought of her falling and him not being there to help her back to her feet… he suddenly felt sick. "But who's going to protect you?!" He choked out, sounding angrier than he meant to. He wasn't angry.

The blonde's expression changed, to one of annoyance. Yet he could see it for the concern and worry that it was. "Are you saying that I need you to protect me."

"No." His tone softened, his hand once again went to her shoulder to offer reassurance. "I'm saying that I want to help you."

That worked, her eyes now wide again, betraying the apprehension she felt. He had never been as physically close to her as Fenris, that much was true. But that didn't mean he didn't see her for what she was. Know her for who she was. He didn't need to have broken her heart to love the way she tucked away that strand of hair near her face when she was nervous. Or chewed at her nails when she was thinking about something too much.

She was currently doing both.

"Blondie, they're only going to be in the square outside. You'll be able to see everything. But we need someone good in a fight to stay here… preferably one they don't see coming. You're our 'ace in the hole' if you will." Varric cut in, his trademark smile on his lips.

Anders looked back to Hawke. "Just outside?" He queried.

"Just outside." She nodded. That eased him somewhat. Knowing that he would be close enough to provide aid if needed was a great comfort.

"Close enough to the Barracks that I have men close by should civilians become involved." Aveline nodded. It's business as usual with her, Anders thought drily.

Varric twisted in his chair to look to the window, the light now starting to fade. "Almost time." He observed, turning back to his drink.

"Indeed." Fenris sighed, looking toward the glass panes wistfully. "Drink up, merchant, we'd best leave. Lest we meet more hindrances by night."

It didn't take Varric long to empty the tankard. Within moments the dwarf had hefted Bianca to his back and was making his way towards the door. Hawke was walking with them, Anders supposed out of habit more than anything. She opened the door and smiled at them both. "Now I want you two on your best behaviour." Anders smirked. "We don't want any 'low blows'… that's not very sporting. Broken noses, on the other hand, are fine… in fact, they are encouraged."

"See you later, Hawke." Varric chuckled, pushing himself passed her and in to the square.

Fenris, on the other hand, lingered. Anders felt an old irritation flare. He could imagine the doe-eyed look the elf was currently giving her, pulling at her heart strings again like he hadn't already done enough damage. "Hawke." He said softly, in a voice so quiet that Anders only heard it because he was listening in. "Please be careful?"

She seemed surprised. "You too." She smiled.

The ex-slave turned and followed his dwarven comrade into the fading sunlight.

Anders fought the scowl, so much so that he still wore it when Hawke returned to her seat. "Something on your mind?" She asked, though there was a hardness in her tone that let Anders know she already knew exactly what he was thinking.

He grunted, taking up his cup. "Nothing I've not already told you before." He doesn't deserve you.

…...