Fic: Duel
So got the Arishok battle done with a bit more fluff for Anders and Hawke, and found Isabela surprisingly easy to write for. Granted I would appreciate feedback there, I'm still nervous about writing NPCs in case I make a mess of it.
Title: Duel
Fandom: Dragon Age 2
Characters: M!Hawke, Anders, Isabela
Summary: Hawke will fight for his friends, even against overwhelming odds and even when they're less than grateful for it.
Part 1: Wounded.
Undoubtedly, what August Hawke will be remembered for, is taking on the Arishok of the Qunari alone. Whether it's remembered in a favourable way or not, it would depend on who was asked.
Ask the people of Kirkwall and they'll call him a hero, deserved of his title of Champion. Ask Anders and he'll call him a damn fool.
It is chaos when he enters the Viscount's keep. The Viscount is dead, his severed head a gory trophy lying in the middle of the floor. The Arishok stands at the stairs, his Qunari filling the room, the people terrified and huddle together. Hawke pushes the doors open, strides in, trying to appear unafraid when all he wants to do is run. A room full of Qunari, an angry Arishok and no relic to hand over. As if it can't get any worse than this.
They all look at him, the people in the room, like he's going to save them. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know what to say that will pacify the Arishok, he can't just wave his staff and make everything better. He wishes he could. He'd have sent the Qunari packing long before it got to this stage.
He faces the Arishok, looks him in the eye. The Arishok walks down the stairs, stands in front of him and tells him to prove himself. He curses silently when four of the Qunari step forward and draw their weapons. He draws his staff, takes a step back toward the rest of the group then fires at the nearest Qunari.
The battle is short, frantic. Anders is by his side, Aveline attacks head on while Varric sends a shower of arrows raining down on them. He takes what chances he can, getting into the middle of the fight, barely dodging the Qunari, and freezes them, creating opportunities for Aveline. The last one falls and he keeps his staff drawn, returns to the Arishok. He stares up at him, eyes narrowed and does a quick head count. Maker, can they really take on that many?
The Arishok asks him just how to resolve this with the relic missing. He doesn't know. He can't see any way of resolving anything unless it comes to a fight. He doesn't want to say this, doesn't want to get into another fight, especially with the Arishok. He's about to answer, make up some bullshit excuses from the top of his head, he's normally good at that, when the doors open again, the Qunari guard knocked to the floor.
"I believe I can answer that."
He's hearing things, has to be. Yet there is Isabela, marching into the keep, Tome of Koslun, tucked under her arm. She hands it over, stands with him and he finally gathers enough wits to actually say something.
"I thought we'd seen the last of you," he says, if rather harshly.
"No such luck, sweet thing," she answers, "It's your own fault anyway. This is your damned influence, I would've been gone if it hadn't been for that."
"You can thank me later then."
"Oh you bet I will."
He lets a half smile appear on his face for a moment. "As long as Anders can join in."
She snorts. "Of course. The more the merrier."
Anders hits him lightly over the head with his staff and nods to the Arishok. By now he's passed the Tome of Koslun to another Qunari and is glaring in their direction. Bad time to have a banter with Isabela then.
"The relic is reclaimed. I am now free to return to Par Vollen," he tells them. "With the thief."
All amusement vanishes and he feels Isabela stiffen beside him. He puts one hand on her arm, gently pushes her behind him and stands between her and the Arishok, fixing him with a fierce glare.
"Not happening. She stays here, with us," he snaps.
"She stole the Tome of Koslun, she must return with us," the Arishok answers. His axe is drawn and resting on his shoulder. Hawke can't take his eyes off it.
"She is going nowhere with you."
"I challenge you then, Hawke. You and I will battle to the death, with her as the prize."
He's pushed out the way by Isabela. "No! If you're going to duel anyone, duel me!" she demands, one hand already on the daggers on her back.
"You are not basalit-an. You are unworthy," the Arishok states.
"All right. I accept your challenge."
He hears Anders suck in a sharp breath and he steps back, lets the Arishok walk into the middle of the room and he goes to follow. Isabela catches his arm and stops him.
"Don't do this," she says, pleading almost.
"I'm not losing anyone else Isabela. I'm not letting him take you."
He walks into the middle of the room, paces back and forth. The rest of the group are up on the balcony, out of the way, much to Hawke's relief, and they watch from there. He turns his attention to the Arishok, readies his staff then moves out of the way swiftly when the Arishok charges at him. He spins around, fires off a few spells then moves quickly again. For one so big, the Arishok is fast. It's something else that goes against him, he's always relied on his speed too.
The Arishok slashes his sword at him, he blocks it with his staff. He grits his teeth, leaps back, barely avoiding getting sliced open. He fires a spell, takes too long casting and the Arishok crashes into him. He's sent flying into a pillar, all breath knocked out of him. He uses his staff as a support, manages to get to his feet, despite they feel wobbly and like he's about to fall over again.
The Arishok is there, slashes at him without warning and cuts through both robe and skin. He turns fires a blast of ice at the large Qunari, then runs across the room. The Arishok follows, all the while, Hawke fires spells and finishes off freezing the Arishok frozen in place. It doesn't last nearly as long as what Hawke would've hoped and suddenly he's in the air, pain in his stomach and blood dripping onto the floor. It's his blood.
He's dropped to the ground again, the blood loss making him light-headed, the room spinning sickeningly. The Arishok is standing back, waiting to see if he really is down, if he's defeated. He glances to his companions. Isabela is gripping the railing, her lips moving, probably "Get your stupid arse up!"
Anders has got his eyes shut, Aveline is scowling and Varric is stony faced. That'll be one hell of an ending for his stories. His leading man, killed in the middle. Well, he can't have that.
He forces himself to get up, hopes adrenaline will kick in and he won't feel the wound. The Arishok grunts, mutters something about respect and begins a flurry of attacks. Hawke moves out of the way, rains fire down upon the Arishok and in the smoke, loses sight of him until he's knocked into a pillar again. He hisses, freezes the Arishok in place again, gives him enough time to get his breath back. He fires lightning, more fire at the Arishok, instantly melting his temporary ice prison. It's getting him nowhere, the running and hiding. It's only wearing him down, not the Arishok. Has to be a better way, has to be a way to land some proper blows against him.
The Arishok has recovered, burns mar his skin, his face is partly covered by a large burn, but still he keeps coming. Hawke stands his ground, an insane stupid idea in his head. He's going to get murdered if he survives this fight. Anders will kill him, Isabela will kill him. Maker, they'll be lining up outside his estate.
The Arishok brings his axe crashing down, Hawke blocks the attack, using his staff like a blade. There's a blade on his staff, he can surely use this to his advantage. So he hopes.
The Arishok continues his attack, using both blade and axe against him. He blocks, dodges, fires the odd spell and slashes the blade at the Arishok. He's drawing blood at least, wearing him down, and knowing this, Hawke takes his chance. He rains fire down in the Arishok once more, finishes with a large explosion. When the smoke clears, the Arishok is panting, leaning against a pillar, yet still has enough strength to charge him one more time.
He barely makes it out of the way in time and gets caught in the Arishok's last ditch attempt to defeat him. The Arishok spins both weapons around, slices at him, once more catching him. He's impaled through his shoulder and he resists the urge to shut his eyes. He swings his staff upwards, cutting open skin, blood dripping onto the ground. He repeats the action, cries out when the blade is removed from his shoulder as the Arishok stumbles back, falling down to the ground.
Hawke glares down at the Qunari, the Arishok gasping, struggling away from him. "One day, we shall return..." the Arishok tells him.
He says nothing.
He looks over to the Qunari, watches when he nods to his comrades and they begin to file out of the room. Hawke leans against the wall, his own companions rushing to his side. The doors open once more, he looks around, far too quickly as the world spins again. Knight Commander Meredith is there, as is Orsino. She scans the room, surveying the scene, the dead Qunari, the Arishok lying behind him. She faces him.
"Is it over?" she asks, hesitating, like she can't quite believe it.
He nods. "It's over."
"The city is saved!"
The cheers erupt around the room and Meredith names him Champion of Kirkwall. He tries to think of something to say, his mind feels like wool, he can't even muster up a 'thank you'. The floor rushes up to greet him. Oh, wait, that's not meant to happen. Vaguely he can hear Anders calling him, Isabela at his side, slinging his arm around her shoulders, telling him to stay the hell awake. It doesn't happen and she too is yelling for him. The world is black. A fine state to begin his tenure as Champion.
~~~
He awakens some time later. He's warm, comfortable and there's a ball of fur curled up on his legs. He blinks a few times, rubs his eyes and attempts sitting up.
"Don't do that! Lie back down!" someone orders immediately, and he's pushed back down onto the bed. Anders hovers above him, reaches out to cup his cheek and there's tears in Anders' eyes. "I thought I'd lost you..."
Hawke takes Anders' hand. "Not happening."
"This is payback for the Varterral, isn't it? I swear, full head of grey."
"I think it would suit you." Hawke grins at his lover, Anders unimpressed.
"I should let you heal yourself for that."
Anders moves away from the bed, out of sight once again. Serah Whiskers has finally awoken and pads up to Hawke, meowing all the way. Hawke gives her a pet, the cat sitting down beside him, within arm's reach and continues to let Hawke stroke her fur.
Anders returns and starts to unwrap the bandages around his middle and his shoulder. He pokes at the wound in his shoulder, gets his hand slapped for his efforts and he pouts, like a scolded child.
"It won't heal if you poke it," Anders tells him.
"But it's there. How can I leave it alone?" he answers.
"They'll be writing that on your headstone."
"Well at least I did more than just poke the Arishok. Thought I was done for a few times there..."
Anders frowns, clenches his fist for a moment, then adds quietly, "So did I..."
Hawke clears his throat. "So where's Isabela got to?"
"Where do you think? She's back propping up the bar at the Hanged Man," Anders tells him. "She has been visiting, see if you were awake yet."
He's surprised at that, he thought she might've left or would've avoided him completely for a while. He'll admit, he is glad she's still there, he would miss her. Even if she did teach his dog how to cheat at Diamondback, something he's yet to forgive her for and something she still denies.
"When am I allowed out of bed then?"
"When you're healed. Maker's breath, August. You somehow managed to fight with a gaping great hole in your stomach and one in your shoulder."
"Soo...Not for a few days at least."
"And then some."
"Anders..." He's whining now, he knows it. He's a terrible patient, as Anders has found out the few times he's been seriously hurt and confined to a bed.
"I'm not letting you out of bed early. Knowing you, you'll go chasing slavers. Or something." He rolls his eyes as he says it. "Besides, you've got Whiskers to keep you company." He gestures to the cat and kneels at the bed, reaching over to scratch her ears, "And you'll do a fine job of that, won't you girl? Yes, you will."
Maker save him, Anders is using the cat voice again. He groans.
"Oh you shush." Anders gets back up. "The point remains, you're staying in bed till I tell you you're fine."
Damn it.
~~~
Anders keeps to his word and Hawke is bed-ridden and going stir crazy after the first few days. Isabela however, hasn't visited, much as he hoped she would. For one it would help ease some of the monotony, and for another, he's wanted to speak to her anyway.
She finally appears a day later, right when Anders is changing his bandage. She waits at the door, unnoticed. It's Anders who does notice her and he does not look happy. Hawke on the other hand, is glad of her presence.
"Isabela! About time you got here," he says.
"Glad you think so," she answers and goes over to the bed. "Budge up."
"I can't. Anders will shout at me."
"Bloody right I will," Anders mutters, and gathers his things together, leaving the room.
Isabela looks him over, gaze lingering on the bandages. Hawke notices this immediately.
"They're really not that bad. Just a flesh wound," he tells her.
Isabela rolls her eyes. "Tch. Typical. Make light of everything."
"Of course." Not the time to be joking then. "I take it you're here for a reason, not just to drop off a get well fruit basket."
"Why did you do that? You could've been killed, you almost were killed." She looks away from him.
"I told you, I wasn't losing you. Hard to believe though it might be, I do consider you a friend, Isabela. And I wasn't letting the Arishok take you."
"I was halfway to Ostwick, I could've been gone."
"But you came back. You knew it was wrong to run and leave us to it."
She scowls and stands up from the bed, her arms folded in front of her. "You're making this out to be more than it is. And I could do without you acting as my bloody conscience."
Hawke sighs.
"I was an idiot to come back, look what happened."
"What happened was the city was saved, the Qunari are gone."
"And me with them almost!" She turns back to face him. "You're reading too much into this. You're trying to make me out to be a better person and I'm not. I'm really not."
"Isabela..."
She turns away and makes for the door. "See you around August."
With that, she's gone.
~~~
When Anders returns to check on him, he finds Hawke sullen and curled up in bed. He lies down on the other side of it, managing to pry Hawke out of some of the covers he's cocooned himself in.
"So what did Isabela say?" he asks.
Hawke shrugs.
From this, Anders can gather that it didn't go well. He puts one arm around Hawke's shoulders, pulls him close, covers and all.
And now to sleep before someone finds me awake and posting fic.
Title: Duel
Fandom: Dragon Age 2
Characters: M!Hawke, Anders, Isabela
Summary: Hawke will fight for his friends, even against overwhelming odds and even when they're less than grateful for it.
Part 1: Wounded.
Undoubtedly, what August Hawke will be remembered for, is taking on the Arishok of the Qunari alone. Whether it's remembered in a favourable way or not, it would depend on who was asked.
Ask the people of Kirkwall and they'll call him a hero, deserved of his title of Champion. Ask Anders and he'll call him a damn fool.
It is chaos when he enters the Viscount's keep. The Viscount is dead, his severed head a gory trophy lying in the middle of the floor. The Arishok stands at the stairs, his Qunari filling the room, the people terrified and huddle together. Hawke pushes the doors open, strides in, trying to appear unafraid when all he wants to do is run. A room full of Qunari, an angry Arishok and no relic to hand over. As if it can't get any worse than this.
They all look at him, the people in the room, like he's going to save them. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know what to say that will pacify the Arishok, he can't just wave his staff and make everything better. He wishes he could. He'd have sent the Qunari packing long before it got to this stage.
He faces the Arishok, looks him in the eye. The Arishok walks down the stairs, stands in front of him and tells him to prove himself. He curses silently when four of the Qunari step forward and draw their weapons. He draws his staff, takes a step back toward the rest of the group then fires at the nearest Qunari.
The battle is short, frantic. Anders is by his side, Aveline attacks head on while Varric sends a shower of arrows raining down on them. He takes what chances he can, getting into the middle of the fight, barely dodging the Qunari, and freezes them, creating opportunities for Aveline. The last one falls and he keeps his staff drawn, returns to the Arishok. He stares up at him, eyes narrowed and does a quick head count. Maker, can they really take on that many?
The Arishok asks him just how to resolve this with the relic missing. He doesn't know. He can't see any way of resolving anything unless it comes to a fight. He doesn't want to say this, doesn't want to get into another fight, especially with the Arishok. He's about to answer, make up some bullshit excuses from the top of his head, he's normally good at that, when the doors open again, the Qunari guard knocked to the floor.
"I believe I can answer that."
He's hearing things, has to be. Yet there is Isabela, marching into the keep, Tome of Koslun, tucked under her arm. She hands it over, stands with him and he finally gathers enough wits to actually say something.
"I thought we'd seen the last of you," he says, if rather harshly.
"No such luck, sweet thing," she answers, "It's your own fault anyway. This is your damned influence, I would've been gone if it hadn't been for that."
"You can thank me later then."
"Oh you bet I will."
He lets a half smile appear on his face for a moment. "As long as Anders can join in."
She snorts. "Of course. The more the merrier."
Anders hits him lightly over the head with his staff and nods to the Arishok. By now he's passed the Tome of Koslun to another Qunari and is glaring in their direction. Bad time to have a banter with Isabela then.
"The relic is reclaimed. I am now free to return to Par Vollen," he tells them. "With the thief."
All amusement vanishes and he feels Isabela stiffen beside him. He puts one hand on her arm, gently pushes her behind him and stands between her and the Arishok, fixing him with a fierce glare.
"Not happening. She stays here, with us," he snaps.
"She stole the Tome of Koslun, she must return with us," the Arishok answers. His axe is drawn and resting on his shoulder. Hawke can't take his eyes off it.
"She is going nowhere with you."
"I challenge you then, Hawke. You and I will battle to the death, with her as the prize."
He's pushed out the way by Isabela. "No! If you're going to duel anyone, duel me!" she demands, one hand already on the daggers on her back.
"You are not basalit-an. You are unworthy," the Arishok states.
"All right. I accept your challenge."
He hears Anders suck in a sharp breath and he steps back, lets the Arishok walk into the middle of the room and he goes to follow. Isabela catches his arm and stops him.
"Don't do this," she says, pleading almost.
"I'm not losing anyone else Isabela. I'm not letting him take you."
He walks into the middle of the room, paces back and forth. The rest of the group are up on the balcony, out of the way, much to Hawke's relief, and they watch from there. He turns his attention to the Arishok, readies his staff then moves out of the way swiftly when the Arishok charges at him. He spins around, fires off a few spells then moves quickly again. For one so big, the Arishok is fast. It's something else that goes against him, he's always relied on his speed too.
The Arishok slashes his sword at him, he blocks it with his staff. He grits his teeth, leaps back, barely avoiding getting sliced open. He fires a spell, takes too long casting and the Arishok crashes into him. He's sent flying into a pillar, all breath knocked out of him. He uses his staff as a support, manages to get to his feet, despite they feel wobbly and like he's about to fall over again.
The Arishok is there, slashes at him without warning and cuts through both robe and skin. He turns fires a blast of ice at the large Qunari, then runs across the room. The Arishok follows, all the while, Hawke fires spells and finishes off freezing the Arishok frozen in place. It doesn't last nearly as long as what Hawke would've hoped and suddenly he's in the air, pain in his stomach and blood dripping onto the floor. It's his blood.
He's dropped to the ground again, the blood loss making him light-headed, the room spinning sickeningly. The Arishok is standing back, waiting to see if he really is down, if he's defeated. He glances to his companions. Isabela is gripping the railing, her lips moving, probably "Get your stupid arse up!"
Anders has got his eyes shut, Aveline is scowling and Varric is stony faced. That'll be one hell of an ending for his stories. His leading man, killed in the middle. Well, he can't have that.
He forces himself to get up, hopes adrenaline will kick in and he won't feel the wound. The Arishok grunts, mutters something about respect and begins a flurry of attacks. Hawke moves out of the way, rains fire down upon the Arishok and in the smoke, loses sight of him until he's knocked into a pillar again. He hisses, freezes the Arishok in place again, gives him enough time to get his breath back. He fires lightning, more fire at the Arishok, instantly melting his temporary ice prison. It's getting him nowhere, the running and hiding. It's only wearing him down, not the Arishok. Has to be a better way, has to be a way to land some proper blows against him.
The Arishok has recovered, burns mar his skin, his face is partly covered by a large burn, but still he keeps coming. Hawke stands his ground, an insane stupid idea in his head. He's going to get murdered if he survives this fight. Anders will kill him, Isabela will kill him. Maker, they'll be lining up outside his estate.
The Arishok brings his axe crashing down, Hawke blocks the attack, using his staff like a blade. There's a blade on his staff, he can surely use this to his advantage. So he hopes.
The Arishok continues his attack, using both blade and axe against him. He blocks, dodges, fires the odd spell and slashes the blade at the Arishok. He's drawing blood at least, wearing him down, and knowing this, Hawke takes his chance. He rains fire down in the Arishok once more, finishes with a large explosion. When the smoke clears, the Arishok is panting, leaning against a pillar, yet still has enough strength to charge him one more time.
He barely makes it out of the way in time and gets caught in the Arishok's last ditch attempt to defeat him. The Arishok spins both weapons around, slices at him, once more catching him. He's impaled through his shoulder and he resists the urge to shut his eyes. He swings his staff upwards, cutting open skin, blood dripping onto the ground. He repeats the action, cries out when the blade is removed from his shoulder as the Arishok stumbles back, falling down to the ground.
Hawke glares down at the Qunari, the Arishok gasping, struggling away from him. "One day, we shall return..." the Arishok tells him.
He says nothing.
He looks over to the Qunari, watches when he nods to his comrades and they begin to file out of the room. Hawke leans against the wall, his own companions rushing to his side. The doors open once more, he looks around, far too quickly as the world spins again. Knight Commander Meredith is there, as is Orsino. She scans the room, surveying the scene, the dead Qunari, the Arishok lying behind him. She faces him.
"Is it over?" she asks, hesitating, like she can't quite believe it.
He nods. "It's over."
"The city is saved!"
The cheers erupt around the room and Meredith names him Champion of Kirkwall. He tries to think of something to say, his mind feels like wool, he can't even muster up a 'thank you'. The floor rushes up to greet him. Oh, wait, that's not meant to happen. Vaguely he can hear Anders calling him, Isabela at his side, slinging his arm around her shoulders, telling him to stay the hell awake. It doesn't happen and she too is yelling for him. The world is black. A fine state to begin his tenure as Champion.
~~~
He awakens some time later. He's warm, comfortable and there's a ball of fur curled up on his legs. He blinks a few times, rubs his eyes and attempts sitting up.
"Don't do that! Lie back down!" someone orders immediately, and he's pushed back down onto the bed. Anders hovers above him, reaches out to cup his cheek and there's tears in Anders' eyes. "I thought I'd lost you..."
Hawke takes Anders' hand. "Not happening."
"This is payback for the Varterral, isn't it? I swear, full head of grey."
"I think it would suit you." Hawke grins at his lover, Anders unimpressed.
"I should let you heal yourself for that."
Anders moves away from the bed, out of sight once again. Serah Whiskers has finally awoken and pads up to Hawke, meowing all the way. Hawke gives her a pet, the cat sitting down beside him, within arm's reach and continues to let Hawke stroke her fur.
Anders returns and starts to unwrap the bandages around his middle and his shoulder. He pokes at the wound in his shoulder, gets his hand slapped for his efforts and he pouts, like a scolded child.
"It won't heal if you poke it," Anders tells him.
"But it's there. How can I leave it alone?" he answers.
"They'll be writing that on your headstone."
"Well at least I did more than just poke the Arishok. Thought I was done for a few times there..."
Anders frowns, clenches his fist for a moment, then adds quietly, "So did I..."
Hawke clears his throat. "So where's Isabela got to?"
"Where do you think? She's back propping up the bar at the Hanged Man," Anders tells him. "She has been visiting, see if you were awake yet."
He's surprised at that, he thought she might've left or would've avoided him completely for a while. He'll admit, he is glad she's still there, he would miss her. Even if she did teach his dog how to cheat at Diamondback, something he's yet to forgive her for and something she still denies.
"When am I allowed out of bed then?"
"When you're healed. Maker's breath, August. You somehow managed to fight with a gaping great hole in your stomach and one in your shoulder."
"Soo...Not for a few days at least."
"And then some."
"Anders..." He's whining now, he knows it. He's a terrible patient, as Anders has found out the few times he's been seriously hurt and confined to a bed.
"I'm not letting you out of bed early. Knowing you, you'll go chasing slavers. Or something." He rolls his eyes as he says it. "Besides, you've got Whiskers to keep you company." He gestures to the cat and kneels at the bed, reaching over to scratch her ears, "And you'll do a fine job of that, won't you girl? Yes, you will."
Maker save him, Anders is using the cat voice again. He groans.
"Oh you shush." Anders gets back up. "The point remains, you're staying in bed till I tell you you're fine."
Damn it.
~~~
Anders keeps to his word and Hawke is bed-ridden and going stir crazy after the first few days. Isabela however, hasn't visited, much as he hoped she would. For one it would help ease some of the monotony, and for another, he's wanted to speak to her anyway.
She finally appears a day later, right when Anders is changing his bandage. She waits at the door, unnoticed. It's Anders who does notice her and he does not look happy. Hawke on the other hand, is glad of her presence.
"Isabela! About time you got here," he says.
"Glad you think so," she answers and goes over to the bed. "Budge up."
"I can't. Anders will shout at me."
"Bloody right I will," Anders mutters, and gathers his things together, leaving the room.
Isabela looks him over, gaze lingering on the bandages. Hawke notices this immediately.
"They're really not that bad. Just a flesh wound," he tells her.
Isabela rolls her eyes. "Tch. Typical. Make light of everything."
"Of course." Not the time to be joking then. "I take it you're here for a reason, not just to drop off a get well fruit basket."
"Why did you do that? You could've been killed, you almost were killed." She looks away from him.
"I told you, I wasn't losing you. Hard to believe though it might be, I do consider you a friend, Isabela. And I wasn't letting the Arishok take you."
"I was halfway to Ostwick, I could've been gone."
"But you came back. You knew it was wrong to run and leave us to it."
She scowls and stands up from the bed, her arms folded in front of her. "You're making this out to be more than it is. And I could do without you acting as my bloody conscience."
Hawke sighs.
"I was an idiot to come back, look what happened."
"What happened was the city was saved, the Qunari are gone."
"And me with them almost!" She turns back to face him. "You're reading too much into this. You're trying to make me out to be a better person and I'm not. I'm really not."
"Isabela..."
She turns away and makes for the door. "See you around August."
With that, she's gone.
~~~
When Anders returns to check on him, he finds Hawke sullen and curled up in bed. He lies down on the other side of it, managing to pry Hawke out of some of the covers he's cocooned himself in.
"So what did Isabela say?" he asks.
Hawke shrugs.
From this, Anders can gather that it didn't go well. He puts one arm around Hawke's shoulders, pulls him close, covers and all.
And now to sleep before someone finds me awake and posting fic.