50

They made it as far as Kirkwall Harbour before they finally spoke.

Isabela took a breath. "So… You decided to go back to men. Fair enough. But of all the bloody men in Kirkwall that you could've bonked, you go for the Templar's second in command? Was that really the best way you could think of to stay free?"

Hawke frowned. "It wasn't like that. He wasn't a templar when he was with me. He was just… Cullen."

Isabela hazarded a look at Hawke's face. It was covered in dried blood, tears, and confusion. "You know that he's in love with you, right?"

Hawke nodded. "Yes, I've known that for a long time. Isabela… I need to tell you something."

Isabela rolled her eyes. "Andraste's tits Hawke, I don't think I can take much more."

Hawke cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, I know should have told you this years ago. Cullen and I… We didn't meet in Kirkwall. We knew each other from before. He was the boy from Lothering…"

"What?!"

Hawke nodded slowly. "He was stationed at our chantry. He caught Bethany and I practicing spells in the woods one day. Bethany got away, but he caught me. He should have arrested me or executed me, but he just told me to be more careful, and let me go. He was… different to the other templars, and he already knew what I was. He was the first person outside of my family that I could be myself around. We saw each other in secret for a year before the Blight came."

Isabela felt the colour draining out of her face. Another lie? "You told me that he died at Ostagar?"

"I thought he did. He got sent out to watch the Circle mages that had joined the King's Army. When he never came back, I assumed the worst. I didn't know that he got sent straight to the Fereldan Circle Tower, and he didn't know that I escaped the destruction of Lothering. We didn't even realise that we were both alive and in Kirkwall until I'd been living here for three years, and I'd just started seeing you, so nothing happened until after you left."

Isabela tried to reconcile her feelings. "I knew it. I knew there was something between you two, that day at the Gallows. Why did you lie to me about it?"

Hawke shrugged. "Did it matter? You wanted nothing of meaning from me. I didn't think that my past was any of your business. I was always loyal to you, even though you were still sharing yourself with others."

Isabela tried not to feel betrayed. She looked at Hawke's face, determined to spot a lie. "Do you love him back? Because if that's what you want, then I'll step aside. I'll smuggle you both to Tevinter to live happily ever after. Just tell me now."

Hawke shook her head and gave Isabela's hand a squeeze. "He was an important part of my life, Isabela, and I'm sorry if that hurts you, but no, I'm not in love with him. I've only ever felt that way about one person."

Isabela gave a terse nod. "Well, at least that's something… I swear to the Maker, if you ever do any of that self-sacrificing shit again, so help me Hawke…"

Hawke stopped walking. "I'm sorry that you saw that. I'd hoped that you'd be halfway to Rivain by the time you realised…"

"I know you, Hawke. Of course your damned principles would make you honour-bound to protect the Circle. Never again. I mean it. Not when we've only just found each other."

Hawke sighed. "What type of a person would I have been if I had left them to pay for my crime?"

Isabela bit her lip, an uncomfortable truth resting upon her shoulders. "Me. If you had left them, you would have been no better than I was when I left you to deal with the Qunari."

Hawke dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry, that's not how I meant it."

"I know, but it's true, isn't it? That's exactly what I did to you."

Hawke's hand unconsciously rose to her nose and rubbed her scar. "I've forgiven you for that, and I hope that one day, you'll forgive yourself. I did try to warn you that it was a bad time in my life for… entanglement. It was selfish of me to become involved with you again."

"No, it wasn't. Now let's get out of here, before lover-boy decides to revoke his mercy." Isabela pulled Hawke's hand towards the ship, but Hawke held her ground.

"You can't take me with you, Bela. After what I've done here, I'll be hunted. You'll never be safe as long as you're with me."

Isabela turned around, exasperated. "I don't know if you've noticed this, Hawke, but I'm a fucking pirate. I smuggle illegal things, I rob people, I just murdered the Knight-Commander of Kirkwall, for Maker's sake. I'm not exactly after a quiet life full of peace and contemplation. If we need to run, we'll run. If we need to fight, we'll fight. If you want to go and start another revolution, I'll be standing right beside you. Now get your arse on the boat, or I swear, I will carry you."

Hawke looked at her hesitantly. "Are you sure? I don't want to ruin your life."

Isabela pulled her in and kissed her lips. "I've never been sure about anything, but I'm sure about you. Now, come with me. Let's start our life together."

A small smile touched Hawke's lips. "I like the sound of that."

3 months later

Isabela entered her cabin. Hawke was sprawled out on their bed, asleep on her stomach, naked except for her tiny purple undergarments. Her skin was a red blaze, showing off the lines where her low-backed dress had sat.

Isabela crawled onto the bed and planted a kiss on Hawke's crimson cheek. She smelled different now. The flowers and soap had washed off her body on their first day away, and now she carried the scent of the sea; salt, sand and ocean air. It made Isabela love her even more, if that was even possible.

She reached for the healing balm on the bedside table. Hawke stirred, then woke with a start as Isabela started applying the cold cream to her hot skin.

"Oh sweet thing, you and your Fereldan skin. I knew those dresses you bought in Rivain were a bad idea. If you're going to insist on helping on deck, then we're going to have to find something to protect you against the sun."

Hawke moaned with relief as the cool ointment sunk into her skin. "Not everybody gets to be tanned and lovely like you. I just need to get used to it, that's all."

Isabela ran her hand over Hawke's unburnt lower back. "And have this beautiful, soft, deliciousness turn into tough, wrinkled, leather? I don't think so. We'll find another way, or I'll have to confine you to below decks as my bed slave."

Hawke chuckled and then rolled over, inhaling sharply as the sheets scratched her tender skin. Isabela was pleased to see that while the face, arms and neck were all burnt to a crisp, the breasts were untouched, still perfect handfuls. She cupped them affectionately.

"I thought I asked you not to sleep like this? Your speech to the crew about the removal of phalluses was very convincing, but I still don't know if I would trust a frustrated sailor who happens to walk in here while you're sleeping naked."

Hawke sat up. "We buy them a whore in every port. They have no reason for frustration."

Isabela laughed. "You are so cute sometimes. You really don't see the way they watch you, while you're swishing around in your little dresses and bathing suits? And then the poor blighters have to listen to the sounds you and I make through the walls at night, it must be torture. I almost feel sorry for them."

Hawke frowned. "You don't wear any more clothing than I do."

Isabela laughed. "Yes, but they've seen what you do to men that touch me. Poor One-Eared Bob, the unlucky sod was just trying to cop a feel."

"Exactly."

"Tsk tsk tsk, that temper of yours. Are you going to grant me my one request, or not?"

Hawke thought for a moment. "Hmm… okay. I'll enchant the locks when I go to sleep. Happy?"

Isabela leaned in and gave Hawke a long kiss. "Very."

Hawke started to unbutton Isabela's blouse. "I can probably manage something standing up if you'd like, but I'd rather not try rolling around in the bed…"

Isabela grabbed Hawke's hand and removed it from her top. "That's not what I woke you up for."

Hawke cocked her head, giving Isabela a worried look. "What's wrong? Is there another storm coming? I'm pretty tired, but I think I have enough energy to put some wind in the sails to get us out of the way."

Isabela stood and picked out a loose blouse from her trunk. "No, not that either. Something different. Put this on" she instructed, helping Hawke gingerly dress herself.

"What is this about?" Hawke asked as Isabela led her blindfolded up the stairs and onto the deck.

Isabela guided Hawke to the bow of the ship and pressed her into the railing, so that she was facing the ocean. Isabela stood behind her, her arms wrapped around the mage's waist.

She put her mouth to Hawke's ear and whispered "You mentioned once, that you'd like to see this. It's the first clear night we've had since we left Kirkwall, and I didn't want you to miss out…"

She reached up and removed the blindfold, and Hawke opened her eyes. The sky was full of thousands of stars, glittering like gems. The ocean was pitch black and calm, reflecting the sky above perfectly.

Hawke looked around, her eyes bright. "You remembered me saying that?" she murmured, taking in the sight.

Isabela sighed happily. "Yes, I did. I remember everything about you. But don't go spreading it around. "

Hawke spun around in Isabela's arms so that they were face to face. "Bela, this is beautiful… I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything sweet thing, just take in the view."

Hawke leaned in and kissed Isabela tenderly. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

Isabela chuckled. "No, you haven't, actually."

Hawke thought for a moment, and smiled. "Maker, I haven't either. I was always too worried that I'd frighten you off."

"And now…?"

Hawke smiled. "And now, I'm with Captain Isabela, nothing frightens me."

Isabela laughed softly, and brushed a long strand of loose hair behind Hawke's ears.

"I love you, Isabela" Hawke said quietly, leaning in and touching her lips to Isabela's. "Do you love me?"

Isabela tightened her embrace. "In my whole life, I've never loved anything more."

Hawke kissed Isabela deeply, letting the magic dance on her lips and fingertips. The pirate and the mage stood alone on the deck, surrounded by an infinite ocean of stars.

THE END