45

"I think they're clean, Hawke…" Isabela said, looking down at her soaped up breasts.

"I think they were clean about five minutes ago…" Hawke said with an impish smile, as she rubbed Isabela's slippery chest.

Hawke leaned in for a kiss, and then splashed some water lightly over Isabela, washing the suds away.

Hawke sat back in her enormous bathtub and cocked her head. "I just can't believe you're here. I never thought I could be this… happy."

Isabela smiled. She hadn't left the Hawke Estate for over a week. Actually, she'd barely left Hawke's bedroom in that time, except for meals and their evening bath. They slept, ate, talked and made love, all within those four walls. Hawke seemed happier, lighter. Isabela saw more and more glimpses of the old Hawke shining through.

"I'd better go back to the Hanged Man today, to get some clean clothes" Isabela said.

"You know you can always borrow my clothes and save yourself the walk."

"Somehow, I don't think that we're the same clothes size, sweet thing" she said, looking pointedly at Hawke's breasts.

Hawke looked down and self consciously covered the scar under her right breast. "Hmm… you're probably right. Well, I won't complain if you just want to walk around naked…"

Isabela reached out and gently removed Hawke's hand. "Don't hide your scars from me."

Hawke looked down at her chest. "Why not? They're ugly."

Isabela traced the line of the chest scar with her thumb, and brought her lips up to the scar on Hawke's nose for a quick kiss. "They are not ugly, they're sexy."

Hawke rolled her eyes. "You have some curious standards."

Isabela gave Hawke a kick in the leg, and then laid back, wincing as the hot water hit the fresh scratches on her shoulders.

Hawke leaned forward. "Did I hurt you? Turn around and I'll heal you. I didn't mean it, it was just when you did that thing last night…"

Isabela laughed. "No no no, get away from me with your magical hands. Consider it proof that I can still make the great Champion of Kirkwall squeal."

Hawke gave her another splash. "I seem to recall that you were the one that woke Sandal up."

Isabela chuckled. "Let's call it a team effort. Poor bugger, we probably scared him."

"At least Bodahn was clever enough to intercept him before he walked into our room. If the boy had seen what you were doing, I think he would've been ruined."

"Hmm… I'm surprised he wasn't used to it. Or was your gift-giving friend not as vocal as me?"

Hawke looked deeply uncomfortable, but held Isabela's gaze. "Nobody's as vocal as you. And… in any case, we didn't get many opportunities to use my bed. It was… complicated."

"So I've heard. I hope the Viscount's desk didn't bruise your back. You've got such sensitive skin."

Hawke's eyes widened. "Fucking Aveline…"

"So it's true then. I'm actually pretty impressed, Hawke. Did you fall in love this time?"

Hawke dropped her gaze. "I… don't know. Maybe. He is… a wonderful man."

"A he, was it? That's interesting…"

Hawke leaned in and started kissing Isabela's neck. "You know you're the only woman for me, Isabela."

"Of course I am. So, why didn't you marry him if he was so wonderful?"

Hawke sat back, her moment of lust temporarily forgotten. "He was there for me during a terrible time in my life, but marriage... was not an option. He is who he is, and I am who I am. It never could've worked out."

"And who is he?"

Hawke crinkled her nose. "I forgot that you get jealous. I'm putting an end to this conversation."

"I don't get jealous Hawke, I'm just interested…"

Hawke laughed. "Oh, of course you don't get jealous, how silly of me. I don't either. I was actually hoping to get the full list of names and physical descriptions of each and every conquest you had while you were away."

"I didn't get many names Hawke..."

Hawke rubbed her forehead. "Sarcasm, Bela, ever heard of it? We're not talking about this topic. We're both here now, let us focus on that."

Hawke lay back and wet her hair, starting her daily ritual of washing it. Isabela watched with fascination. She'd never known anyone with such an obsession with cleanliness. No wonder she always smelled and tasted so good.

Hawke washed the soap off her head and sat up, a new look of purpose on her face. "I've been thinking…" she announced, "You have Castillion's ship now. And you have… me. And I have coin. Would you like to go away together? We can hire a crew and sail away from Kirkwall, to wherever you'd like."

"Are you serious?" Isabela asked, surprise tempering her tone.

Hawke nodded. "I'm always serious, remember? I haven't waited five years to get you, just so that I can turn you into a bored Hightown housewife. You need to be on the ocean, and I need to be with you."

Isabela's heart went into a flurry of excitement. Her and Hawke out on the high seas. She'd never even dared to imagine it. "Are you sure, Hawke? I mean, it would be a smuggling vessel…"

Hawke shifted position, her face lost in thought. "I'm… okay with that. As long as it's not slaves?"

Isabela frowned. "As if I'd get myself into that again! Remember how this entire Castillion mess started?"

Hawke nodded. "Okay then. A smuggling vessel. I can live with that."

"Think carefully, Lady Hawke. A life out at sea isn't easy. There are no porcelain tubs for you to bathe in twice a day."

"I'll go swimming then."

Isabela paused. "Lothering is landlocked. How did you learn to swim?"

"I can't swim. My beautiful girlfriend is going to teach me how to."

Isabela cocked her head and inclined an eyebrow. "Girlfriend?"

A small look of panic touched Hawke's features. "I'm sorry. That just slipped out. That was too soon, wasn't it?"

Isabela stroked Hawke's leg reassuringly. "No, it wasn't too soon. I… liked it."

Hawke smiled. "Good. Then let's do it. We have nothing tying us here, and I've always wanted to see more of the world. Plus, I am going to need to get away from the Knight-Commander very, very soon."

Isabela couldn't argue the logic. The Knight-Commander ran one of the strictest Templar Orders in Thedas. The fact that the most infamous apostate in Kirkwall's history was still allowed her freedom was a miracle in itself. Hawke had never been a part of a Circle, or passed a Harrowing, or received formal training. One day, Meredith would turn on Hawke, and if she didn't execute her on the spot, she would force her into The Circle of Magi.

"Yes! I'm game. Where should we sail to first? Actually, we should probably stop by Orlais, and I'll try and pay the Crows their 50 sovereigns back…"

Hawke cleared her throat. "You needn't worry about that. The Crows have been… neutralised…"

Isabela frowned suspiciously. "How so?"

"I… went for a little trip across borders, right after Castillion was killed. I met with your friend Nuncio, and it's all been resolved. You're free."

Isabela looked at her lover's face. Still can't tell a lie to save her life, I see. "How was it resolved?"

Hawke shifted uncomfortably. "Umm… I implored… violent methods."

"Balls… If you've killed Nuncio, there will be reprisals," Isabela murmured.

Hawke shook her head. "I'm not a fool. I took out the entire Orlesian branch. I burned their warehouse and office to the ground. There's no record of you, or your failed hit. They won't come after you, they don't even know who you are."

Isabela sat back. "You took out an entire guild of assassins? Did you rally an army while I wasn't looking?"

Hawke laughed. "No army necessary. It wasn't very hard. I was a little disappointed, actually."

Isabela looked at her lover in amazement. "You didn't have to do that Hawke. I could've handled it."

Hawke leaned forward and kissed the tip of Isabela's nose. "I know you could've. But I made you a promise, and I wasn't going to break it. Can we please stop talking about it now?"

Isabela let her hands travel under the water. "Yes, we can stop talking. It seems I owe you a reward, anyway."