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“That Chantry boy came calling again,” Mother says, not bothering to look up from the sock she’s darning.
Elena makes a face at the mention of Sebastian. “What did he want?”
Apparently she doesn’t do a good enough job of hiding her contempt for the man because now her mother does look up and gives her a sharp look. “He came to invite you to tomorrow’s mass. It’d do you good to act more interested when a handsome gentleman such as himself comes calling. We’re nobility now and yet you spend all your days traipsing around Kirkwall with your gang of misfits. How am I supposed to find a suitable husband for you if you keep this up?”
“Trust me, Mother. He’s not coming calling to try to court me. He’s just trying to save my damned soul. I laughed too hard at Anders’ joke about his codpiece. He stopped coming to The Hanged Man after that, thank the Maker.”
Sometimes Elena wishes that Mother had never reinstated their nobility. Sure, it’s nice to have a big fancy home but at heart Elena Hawke is still just the little farm girl that spent much of her youth working the fields with her siblings. She has to constantly remind herself to be happy for her mother, especially when she starts talking about dinner parties or finding her a suitor.
The dinner parties might be the worst part about their new noble status. Hawke is forced to wear elegant dresses with gaudy jewelry and her hair down from its usual ponytail. Apparently noble ladies don’t wear breeches, it’s too “mannish”. Noble ladies also aren’t supposed to get drunk and sing bawdy tavern songs, but nobody had given Elena that memo before Mother’s house warming party when they first got the estate back.
It’s nice to not have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from but if Mother mentions grandkids one more time she might just start screaming. Not to mention it’s been 3 years and she still only has eyes for Anders. If anything her infatuation with him has only gotten worse.
Her attempts to court him are pitiful. Sometimes she swears he wants her but then when she flirts he acts oblivious. Hawke has tried to pretend it isn’t crushing every time he blinks owlishly at her when she tries to seduce him.
“You really ought to invite Sebastian back to the Hanged Man sometime. Having a little more of the Maker in your life could do you all some good, especially that pirate.” Mother grimaces when she mentions Isabela.
“Of course, Mother,” Elena deadpans.
She doesn’t like most of Elena’s friends but she particularly hates Isabela. To be fair though, Isabela hasn’t done anything to endear herself to Leandra. She was caught by Bodhan once rifling through Leandra’s undergarments. Ever since then she’s no longer been allowed in the manor, but that doesn’t stop her from sneaking in Hawke’s window at all hours of the day.
And as if on cue, when Elena goes to her room she finds Isabela lounging on the bed. “My mother would have a fit if she knew you snuck in again.”
“I ought to visit her bedroom sometime,” Isabela drawls. “Maybe loosen her up a bit, if you know what I mean.”
“Might want to dust in there first.” Elena begins peeling off layers of her clothing. It's pouring outside and she’s soaked to the bone. “I think the last person who dusted her bedroom was Father, and he’s been dead since 9:27.”
“You’re a dirty girl, Hawke. Stripping for me while we discuss your mother’s sex life?”
“Shut up,” Elena laughs and throws a wet sock at Isabela, who knocks it aside easily. “Now move over, I’m cold and getting under the covers.”
Isabela scoots to the side of the large bed and even lifts the quilt for her. Elena slides underneath, naked as the day she was born. Isabela remains lounged on top of the sheets though. She claims Rivani blood runs hot and that’s why she’s rarely ever cold.
Once, when they were several pints in at the Hanged Man she’d tweaked Hawke’s nose and smirked. “You sure you don’t have any Rivani in you?” She asked. “Copper skin, dark hair, big nose…”
“My father and his parents were all born in Ferelden. If we have any Rivani in us it’s a long way back.”
“Do you want to have a Rivani inside you?” Isabela had asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Hawke presently asks.
“I was bored,” Isabela shrugs. “I tried to get Fenris to have some fun with me but he’s piss drunk right now. I don’t think he’d perform well.”
“Ah, so I’m a second choice.” Elena burrows herself deeper into the sheets until just her chin pokes out.
“Oh shut up. You know you’d be my first choice if you’d have me. I’m still holding out hope you give up on Anders and let me show you a good time.”
“You’re too much woman for me, Bela. You know that.”
They lay in companionable silence until Hawke falls asleep. When she wakes the rain has stopped and Isabela is gone.