A Pirate's Proposal

Chapter 14: Dark Come Soon

Author's Note: I've been absent for quite some time! Apologies times a thousand… but guys Dragon Age Inquisition is out and there's so much to do (Collect meat and other strange materials, patch up little rifts in the sky, find tinyass shards, claim sites, etc, etc.) Anyways, I'm back and ready to sum up my little escapade between these two lovely women. I'm not saying this is my last chapter or anything, but I will be nearing the end soon.

P.S. This chapter makes some references to my other fanfic called Origins that deals with Hawke's childhood. I need to upload some chapters on there.

P.S.S You know what I thought was hilarious? My partner said I could technically say that I get paid to write since I do most of my writing while working at the office. Onwards to the story!

The weight of the mages head on her shoulder was comforting, but she felt trapped by it as well. She was almost sure Hawke had rejected her unintended confession of love, but her voice had quivered as she asked her to stay. She felt her pulse quicken as Hawke's lips brushed against her neck. She had felt them before in far more sensitive areas, so why in all of Thedas was she getting so excited for?

"You know it's not like I came here to confess to you or anything." Isabela's voice started off shaky but was stable by the end. "I just wanted to show you the tome we plundered from the cave." Isabela took the intricately covered book from her satchel.

Hawke eyed the tome and that same sense of familiarity overcame her. Flashbacks of the Korcari Wilds and a black wolf flittered by. Had this come from Ferelden? She lightly grazed the cover with her fingertips- every indent that made up the tree forlorn of leaves caused those images to flicker by. It was the same sensation she felt when she had first looked into Flemeth's burning yellow eyes as her family was escaping the darkspawn.

"That's right… my wolf had those same eyes." Hawke muttered softly while she continued to lightly trace the cover.

"Your wolf?" Isabela wasn't following Hawke's somewhat trance-like speech. Did Fereldans keep wolves as well as Mabaris?

Isabela's words never reached Hawke as her time in the Korcari Wilds became more vivid than the reality before her. She saw two girls ahead and a Mabari sitting on a cliff overlooking the lake. Hawke recognized herself and Feros, but could not recall ever knowing a girl with pale skin and dark hair. She walked closer to the two girls.

"Please, please, it's so soft!" Her younger self was pleading with the pale-skinned girl.

"No, tis not a trick I do for your enjoyment." The pale girl was stern and she seemed a bit older than her younger self.

The younger Hawke's lips turned into a pout and she never broke eye contact with her friend. The other girl groaned and looked away from Hawke's begging face. She had no idea why Hawke insisted on making that ridiculous face, but she couldn't deny its effects on her.

"Oh fine! Just stop making that ridiculous face!"

Hawke almost felt her knees buckle as she witnessed the young girl turn into a black wolf. Her younger self pulled the wolf in for a hug and nestled in its fur.

"Morrigan I love you!" Her younger self exclaimed as she hugged the wolf tighter. The wolf lightly growled but made no movement to separate herself from the human girl. Before Hawke could fathom what was going on between her younger self and the stranger, the girl transformed back into a human.

"Is it harder saying that when I look like this?" Morrigan asked whilst her friend was still latched and nuzzling her neck.

"Of course not! I love you in your entirety!"

The answer seemed to befuddle the other girl, and a slight blush made its way to her cheeks. Hawke felt a warmth in her heart resonate as she saw the two girls hug. Although Morrigan seemed slightly annoyed by her younger self's affectionate manner, she still looked happy. Why couldn't she remember this friendship? Hawke felt a sharp pain in her chest as she searched for the answer to that question.

"Marian!" A bellowing voice startled the girls.

"Father!" Hawke knew she was in trouble; she wasn't supposed to be playing out in the Wilds.

"What is the meaning of this?" Malcolm eyed the pale skinned girl warily.

"Me and Feros were just playing with our friend, Morrigan." She tried to sound as mature as possible; she was sure her father wouldn't be too mad if she just explained herself reasonably.

"Get away from that girl." His command was absolute but Marian refused to follow.

"Father there's no reason to-" Marian grasped Morrigan's hand, but was cut off by the appearance of another.

"Mother!" Morrigan quickly stood but refused to let go of Marian's hand regardless of how foolish she would seem to Flemeth.

"Marian! Now!" Her father gripped the hilt of his blade.

"Now, now, Malcolm, surely there's no need for that." Flemeth smirked and stood by the two girls. "There are children in our presence, we should be more civilized, wouldn't you agree?"

Malcolm grit his teeth but knew he would be wise to follow the witch's instruction. Hawke watched with an intense curiosity- Flemeth had mentioned she had a daughter the day she had saved them from the darkspawn. Then was their meeting fate, or sheer coincidence? She continued to watch the scene unfurl.

"You were to keep to your own until the time came." Hawke's father spoke calmly but his voice still filled the atmosphere. "This breaches our contract."

"I did keep to my own; these Wilds are home to me and my daughter. Your daughter is the one who could not keep out. You're a curious one, aren't you?" Flemeth smiled and chuckled at Marian. "I had no idea Morrigan would ever find a friend such as you."

"Mother, I am capable of making friends if I so wish it."

"Bah! If only it were that easy my dear!" Flemeth's laughter cackled as she pulled back a strand of hair. "I do not approve of this pairing anymore than you do Malcolm, though for very different reasons I am sure." Flemeth's wily smile wore off as a discreet frown took its place. "My daughter is destined for another path than the one your Marian must walk. This was never meant to happen, I'm afraid."

Malcolm was about to place his hand on his sword hilt once more but Flemeth's eyes followed his movements.

"So quick we are to resort to violence, aren't we? I don't mean your child any harm. I propose another solution. I take from your daughter and mine equally- the memories that they have had together must be taken and placed where neither of them has access to."

"I'll never forget her." Marian stood defiant; she could feel her friend slightly trembling beside her. "No matter what I won't forget you." She flashed a charming smile which set Morrigan at peace.

"Your daughter shows promise of fulfilling her destiny already, I see. So defiant is she in the face of powers so much larger than she is." Malcolm sighed at Flemeth's words; he had entrusted the fate of his daughter to forces beyond his control.

"Do what must be done, and we will speak no further." Malcolm looked away as Flemeth raised her hand over the children's heads.

Hawke tried to push Flemeth away but her hand went through Flemeth's image as if she were a ghost. A tear rolled down her cheek as she knelt by her younger counterpart who was still bravely smiling, and heard her whisper to Morrigan "I'll find you again." Darkness flooded her mind as she was transported back to her estate in Hightown. Isabela was gripping her shoulders and calling out her name.

"Isabela?"

"Andraste's tits, Hawke, what happened?" Isabela searched Hawke's dazed eyes for an answer.

"I… I'm not sure. I think I just remembered something very important." Hawke's words came out slow. "I forgot who I was…. and I've found me again." the mage smiled at a bewildered rogue.

Hawke laughed and it was devoid of cynicism or pain. It had been ages since Isabela had heard the melodical laughter of her mage lover. Hawke remembered her time spent roaming the Wilds with Morrigan, and felt the warmth of her youth rush back into her aching bones. She had forgotten something important back then, and by chance (or fate), Isabela had bought it back to her in an unexpected form.

"Isabela! Thank you!" Hawke pulled the rogue in for a hug, but couldn't resist the call of the pirate's lips. She joined them with hers and could not help but smile into the kiss as Isabela leaned in. Although it was a playful kiss, it was a kiss of passion nonetheless. The softness of Hawke's lips caressed Isabela's and the pirate felt the heartfelt pull that had been absent as of late.

"Hawke you…" Isabela slowly broke away from the kiss. "You haven't done that in quite some time, sweet thing." She murmured as she lost herself in a gaze that was not unfamiliar to the pirate, but it had almost been forgotten- Hawke's eyes danced with light and energy. It seemed her spirited mage lover may have returned from the depthless darkness she had lost herself in so long ago. Hawke flashed her boyish grin to Isabela; there was still turmoil to overcome, but the mage no longer felt like she was falling in perpetual shadows of the past.

Before the two could explore their emotions a loud knock at the door caused them both to snap out of their reverie, Hawke hadn't been expecting anyone today, and her friends didn't usually knock, so she had no idea who would be calling for her. She quickly made herself decent and Isabela followed. Her shoulders felt lighter than they had in a while, and she couldn't help but smile as she neared her front door. She opened it and met with a pair of familiar, lilac eyes.

"