Disclaimer: Dragon Age II and all related names are owned by BioWare.


"Looks like I win again," Isabela gloated, reaching forward to claim her prize of several sovereigns and an intricately carved silver ring.

The man sitting across from her winced as the pirate reached forward. "Please," he appealed to her, "not the ring." He reached into his pockets and withdrew several more sovereigns, placing them on the table between him and the pirate. "Take my money, but not my ring."

Isabela regarded the man with a wicked smirk. "Never bet anything you're not willing to loose. The ring is mine," she said, pulling off her left glove and examining her free fingers, trying to decide which one to place her new trophy on. She looked up, realizing the man was still there. "You can go now. Unless you'd like to play another hand. Looks like you've still got some coin to loose." With a dejected sigh, the man gathered his offered sovereigns and left the table.

Kianna, who had been sitting several tables away, admiring Isabela's craft, approached the pirate with an amused smile on her face. "You're cruel," she said with a chuckle as she watched the man shuffle out of The Hanged Man.

"Admit it, it's what you love about me," Isabela said, returning her attention to choosing a finger for her new ring.

"Oh, I can think of a couple things I love about you," Kianna smiled. Her eyes traveled down to Isabela's exposed hand. "You always have gloves on. I don't think I even knew you had so many rings." She reached forward, taking Isabela's darker hand into her own. After turning the hand over several times more than necessary simply for the feel of it, she gently pulled up Isabela's ring finger. "I think the ring would fit best on this one," she said, picking the ring off the table and made to slide it onto Isabela's finger. But as the metal grew closer, Isabela yanked her hand free of the warriors gentle grasp, pulling it out of Kianna's reach.

"Don't," she said abruptly, slipping the glove back onto her hand. However, when she saw the confused, slightly hurt look on Kianna face, she reluctantly removed the glove from her other hand and presented it to her lover. "Here. Pick any finger you like."

With a hesitant look back up at Isabela's face, Kianna took hold of the proffered hand. She studied the three free fingers on it before deciding on her pointer, and sliding the silver ring down onto the digit. She looked back up once more, seeking the pirate's approval. Isabela simply nodded before gently retracting her hand and putting her glove back on.

After a moment of silence, Kianna gathered her courage. "So, why not on that finger," she gestured towards Isabela's left ring finger.

Isabela's expression grew distant. "No one will ever put a ring on that finger again."

"I think you're just waiting for the right person," Kianna said hopefully. "Or maybe just the most expensive ring," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

A small smile crept over Isabela's face but did not quite reach her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Kianna offered. "I didn't know."

The pirate just shook her head. "Yeah well, I'll see you around, Hawke," she said, pushing up from her seat at the table. Several seconds later, the tavern door slammed closed as Isabela made her exit.