47

"To Hawke and Rivaini!" Varric announced as he lifted his pint of mead in the air.

"Hear hear!" Isabela said with a smile as she downed her sixth whiskey of the night.

Hawke took a small sip of her Nevarran wine as she perched on Isabela's lap, while Aveline, Donnic, Merrill, Fenris and Anders all raised their glasses.

"I'm going to miss you both" Merrill said quietly, her big, sad eyes flicking between Hawke and Isabela.

"Don't be sad, Merrill, we'll be back to visit" Hawke said softly.

Merrill sighed. "It won't be the same. Will you write to me? Do pirates write letters?"

Hawke giggled and gave Isabela's knee a squeeze.

"Badly. Hook hands make for terrible penmanship, Kitten" Isabela answered with a smirk.

Aveline caught Isabela's eye from across the table. "Although I can think of better things for someone of Hawke's disposition to be doing than slumming it on a pirate ship, I'm glad to see you haven't wasted your second chance, whore."

"Aveline…" Hawke chided.

Isabela gave the Guard-Captain a smug smile. "Ooh, it looks like I'm untouchable now, ball-crusher. Too bad, I bet you had some great last minute material to use."

"Ah-hem" Hawke said pointedly, "on my last night in Kirkwall, my girlfriend and best friend are going to get along. No personal digs about promiscuity or masculinity. Is everybody clear on the rules?"

Isabela chuckled as Aveline gave her a dark stare across the table.

"Well, I can control myself Hawke, I can't speak for that tramp and her loose lips though. She's always had a problem keeping them closed… both sets!"

"Aveline!"

Aveline chuckled with mirth. "Okay, okay. Sorry, that was the last one."

Isabela gave Hawke a small smack on the thigh. "I'm getting another round. Can I interest you in a second wine, precious?"

Hawke shook her head. "No thank you. And you'd better not get too drunk. I don't want to get stuck carrying you home."

"Are you saying I'm getting fat? I am reaching that age, aren't I? Is it my arse?"

Hawke chuckled and nuzzled Isabela's neck. "Your arse is divine, as is the rest of you, mi amado."

"Maker, you really know the way into my undergarments, don't you, Hawke? When did you learn how to speak Antivan?"

Hawke gave her a cheeky smile. "Dario might've taught me a few lines to woo you with."

Isabela leaned in and kissed Hawke's lips. "Sometimes you are so sweet, I could eat you for dessert."

"Feel free" Hawke said with a small wink.

Isabela headed to the bar, and had Varric pop up beside her.

"So, the Rivaini is settling down. I never thought I'd see the day" he said with a smug smile.

"If your version of settling down is taking to the high seas for adventure with a band of cut throat smugglers and a pretty little witch in my bed, then yes, consider me settled!"

His eyes twinkled as he looked up to her. "Don't make a mess of it, Rivaini. I've never seen either of you this happy."

She shook her head. "I'm not going to mess it up, Varric. I'm not letting her go unless she cuts both of my hands off."

He chuckled. "Good to hear. We both know she's completely useless with a blade, so I like your chances."

They returned to the table with drinks in hand, to find Hawke and Anders missing.

"The abomination dragged Hawke upstairs rather begrudgingly. I'm sure she'd appreciate your interference" Fenris grumbled quietly.

Isabela downed her two whiskeys, and headed up the stairs. The door to Varric's room was slightly ajar, and she could hear Hawke and Anders talking in hushed whispers.

"- you promised."

"Hawke, we need to work this out. You owe it to me."

"You can't be serious, Anders, I've given you the last three years of my life. I don't owe you anything. Tomorrow, I'm leaving with Isabela, and that's that. I can't do this with you anymore."

"You can sail off into the sunset with her tomorrow, but please, just give me tonight. That's all I ask."

"Ugh, fine. But keep it quiet. Isabela can never know about this. I'll sneak out when she's passed out from all that whiskey. I don't want her to know anything about this part of my life. The last few years are none of her concern."

Anders scoffed quietly. "As if she has any right to judge you and I, based on her past actions."

Hawke gave a frustrated sigh. "She's never pretended to be a paragon of honour and virtue. But she's trying, and I'm happy with her. Don't take that away from me. Please?"

"You and her... I just don't get it. Nearly every bachelor in the Free Marches has proposed to you at least once. You could've had anyone. And yet you settle for her? She's so beneath you, Hawke."

There was the sound of a glass being shattered, and then Hawke's voice, louder this time. "I'll come and meet you tonight. We've gone too far not to see this through together. But if you ever speak badly about Isabela in my presence again, Justice won't be able to save you from me. Are we clear?"

"I just worry for you, Hawke. I've seen the scars she left you with, and I'm not just talking about the ones on your body. She is going to break your heart again. There is no room in that woman for love."

"You let me worry about my heart, Anders."

Isabela sensed the end of the conversation coming, and she hastened down the stairs.

Hawke… and Anders?! That's who her lover was? Hawke is going to run out on me tonight, to sleep with Anders? She felt sick. The closest thing to a relationship she'd ever been in was her marriage, and when her husband had taken another woman to bed, Isabela had felt relieved to have a reprieve from his attentions. This was different. She looked down at the bracelet on her wrist, and swallowed back her anger. I've put Hawke through a lot of bollocks. If this is what she needs to do to get closure, then I'll let her get it out of her system. It's just sex, after all...

Hawke arrived back at the table a moment later, looking particularly flustered. She sat beside Isabela and put a hand on her thigh. "Can I buy you another drink, Bela?"

Isabela stiffened. "Go for it. I'm going to need a few."

Hawke opened the front door to her mansion, and hoisted Isabela through. Isabela trudged along, leaning her weight on her lover. After what felt like an hour, Hawke finally got her up the stairs and threw her down on the bed.

"I hope you don't get sea sick, Bela, because this hangover is going to be more than enough for you to contend with" Hawke murmured as she slid Isabela's boots off.

"You know I'm open, sexshually, right?" Isabela slurred as Hawke started undoing her tunic.

Hawke chuckled softly in dark. "Yes, I had picked up on that."

"I know that you normally like… men. Pee-nish, speshifically."

Hawke sniggered. "I've heard you have quite a fondness for penishes yourself…"

"Shtop laughing, Haaaawke. I'm being ser - seriouss. You don't have to mish out on that. Pee-nish, I mean. If you ever wan-na have a man again, we can work someshing out…"

Hawke stopped giggling, and pulled Isabela's tunic off. She lay beside Isabela on the bed, and gently undid her head scarf. "That's very thoughtful of you, Bela, but you know you're all that I want."

Isabela lunged on top of Hawke, their mouths colliding roughly as Isabela tasted the wine on Hawke's tongue. Hawke broke away from the kiss, and turned her face away.

"Don't, Bela. I don't feel right having sex with you when you're this drunk."

"Oh, of courshe. You need-a save your eneeergy, after all."

Hawke propped herself up. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" Isabela rolled over angrily.

She felt a soft hand stroke its way up and down her back. "Get some sleep, pretty girl, we have a big day tomorrow."

Isabela felt the prickling of tears as she closed her eyes.