The plan was a nice, quiet, intimate dinner with Cullen. Solona had used some of Hawke's perfume for her bathwater, had soaked for a solid hour until her fingers wrinkled, and then spent another hour getting ready. She hadn't brought much in the way of fancy or even casual clothing, so Solona had Bodahn run to the tailor and find anything in her size that would do. He returned with a dress of lavender color with silver laced trim along the bottom. While it wasn't up to nobility standards, it was nicer than anything Cullen had seen her in. The only problem was he hadn't arrived yet.

Carver came home. Solona hadn't planned on him being there, though she couldn't recall why she had expected him not to; it was his estate after all. He was more than overjoyed at the delicious aroma permeating the estate from the kitchen, and Solona had Bodahn place another setting at the table for him. It would be another half hour before the meal was ready, so she and Carver nibbled on cheese and drank wine. It was then Carver informed her that there would be two more guests for dinner.

Varric and Isabela arrived through the vault entrance. Carver thought it best they weren't seen entering the estate; nobles were always in his business lately he said. Carver introduced the two of them to Solona. Varric had opened his mouth to say something, but Isabela interrupted him.

"Oh we need no introductions, do we sweet thing," Isabela purred to Solona.

Happy to see a familiar face, Solona embraced Isabela. "The years have been kind to you it seems," she said taking a step back to soak in Isabela's new look. "Less clothes, more hair, and dare I say your chest has doubled in size!"

Isabela tossed her head back with a hearty laugh while Varric smirked and Carver tried to look anywhere but at the pirate's breasts. "Amazing what a few years on the ocean can do for you," Isabela winked as she sat down, lifting her legs and resting them on the table. "You must tell us what you're doing in Kirkwall. It's the oddest coincidence you being here."

Solona sat next to the pirate. "Coincidence? What do you mean?"

"It seems almost your entire entourage has visited Kirkwall since I've been here," Isabela informed her. "Alistair, Zevran, Leliana...and now you."

"Don't forget Anders, Nathaniel, Flemeth, and Justice," Varric chimed in. "A pleasure to meet you by the way."

Solona nodded to the dwarf and then turned back to Isabela. "I had heard Anders was here from obvious rumors," she said. "But I am surprised to hear about everyone else. When was Leliana here?"

"Few months ago," Isabela answered. "Said something about the Divine asking her to investigate a rebellion."

A heavy sigh escaped Solona's lips as she looked at Carver. "If she's working for the Divine, she's probably assisting the Seekers."

"Is that a problem?" Carver asked.

"I don't know," she answered. "If I could talk to her I might be able to find out of she's still an ally, but if she's travelling with the Seekers I won't be able to get near her."

"I could do it," Isabela offered. "Carver says they are on their way here right? If so I'll just snoop around when they get here and see if she's with them. If she is, we'll talk."

Varric shook his head. "If you're going to stick your neck out Rivaini, maybe we should know a little more about what's going on first. No offense," he said to Solona. "It usually helps when we know what we're up against and exactly what you want from us."

"The Knight-Commander requested you be brought in on this," Carver replied to Varric. "We need as much notice as possible before the Seekers arrived and he suggested you in particular would have enough contacts to know pretty much anything."

"Hold on Junior, you're telling me that Cullen is involved in this too? Are you shitting me?" Varric couldn't believe what he was hearing. It sounded more mysterious than any fable he could come up with. He set his gaze on Solona. "Just what is it about you that has the Seekers and the Divine coming after you? And the Knight-Commander of Kirkwall protecting you?"

"Don't answer that," Cullen said from the doorway to the dining room. "The less you know the better."

Solona tried to remember there were others in the room when she caught a glimpse of him. In all the time she had known him she had never seen him without his templar uniform on. Dressed in gray trousers and black long-sleeved shirt with a high collar, pristine black boots and gray overcoat, Cullen was more stunning than she could've ever imagined. His hair was perfect as always, so much so that she had an overwhelming desire to run her fingers through it just to mess it up a little. It was clear he was purposefully avoiding her gaze since they had an audience, so Solona bit her lower lip and turned her attention back to the dwarf.

"I'm sorry," Solona apologized to Varric. "But Cullen's right. It would only put you in danger. You too Isabela," she said to her old friend. "I don't want you to do anything that would put you at risk."

"What we can tell you is this," Cullen began as he circled the table and sat opposite Solona and Isabela. "They are using her phylactery to track her. I know you have a way of getting your hands on things that don't belong to you," he said to Isabela. "Finding that would be very helpful."

Isabela removed her heels from the table and leaned forward with purpose. "My hands are very skilled with the forbidden," she flirted. "In fact I can barely keep them steady with you all…non-templary right now."

Solona almost choked on the wine she had sipped. The flush upon Cullen's cheeks only made him that much more desirable to her, but watching Isabela outright flirt with the man was stirring her jealousy.

Thankfully Varric interrupted. "Down Rivaini, play nice with the Knight-Commander."

"Oh I so would," Isabela said still staring at him.

Solona was never happier to see Bodahn as he entered the room carrying trays for dinner. She wasn't sure when he had the time to prepare more. Had he anticipated the intrusion? It was a welcome distraction and seemed to cool Isabela down as they ate.

Conversation was light as they ate, Solona catching brief smiles from Cullen across the table. Isabela had moved on to flirting with Carver and Varric remained oddly quiet for the dwarf, watching interactions and listening for the words that weren't being spoken. It wasn't until Solona began asking about Flemeth, Zevran, and the others that Varric perked up and went into storytelling mode, some tales even causing Cullen to raise a brow. It seemed as though over the years Marian Hawke had quite the adventures.

The rogues departed shortly after dessert, promising to begin reconnaissance on the Seekers to get an idea of how far out they were. Solona spent some time helping Bodahn clear the room of dishes while Cullen and Carver discussed escape strategy. She tried not to get annoyed with them, keeping her out of details she could probably assist with. She was still the same mage that killed the archdemon; she knew a few things about travel and escapes. But if Cullen wanted to play the rescuer she wasn't going to interrupt; in fact she found it quite endearing. Annoying and chauvinistic, but endearing.

Carver had excused himself for the evening, leaving Cullen alone when Solona returned. "Could it be? I finally have you alone?" she teased, circling the table to sit next to him.

A shy smile touched his lips. "It appears that way doesn't it," Cullen stated, taking the time to really look at her. "You look beautiful tonight. Forgive me for not saying so earlier."

His words brought a flush to her cheeks. "You're forgiven. I had never imagined you in clothes before," she said before she realized how it sounded. With an embarrassed giggle she corrected, "I mean, you know, in regular clothing and not your templar uniform. I'll shut up now."

Cullen brought his hand under her chin, allowing his thumb to brush over her lips. "Is it wrong for me to admit I have thought of nothing but you all day?"

Solona pressed her face into his palm as he brought it to her cheek. "If I hadn't done the same, then maybe," she replied. "But we aren't alone Cullen. Carver, Bodahn and Sandal could walk in at any moment and I know you are trying to keep us from them."

Cullen wasn't sure why, but her words stung. Almost as if she felt he were ashamed of her, which couldn't be further from the truth. Slowly he withdrew his hand and turned away from her, upset with himself for having made her think this way. "I'm not trying to keep…" he trailed off, unsure how to explain.

It made him feel worse when she took his hands in hers and supported his actions. "I understand," Solona said to him. "You're the knight-commander and I'm currently a wanted apostate. Our circumstances haven't changed much since the Circle. You're a templar, I'm a mage; I get it."

Cullen interlaced his fingers with hers. He never knew it was possible for him to hate his way of life so much before. Being a templar was always so clear to him, full of such purpose, but whenever it came to Solona Amell, she shattered that world for him. She made him wish he were nothing more than a simple farmer, lucky enough to have found her under different circumstances.

"Come on," Solona said as she stood, refusing to let go of his hands.

He looked up at her. "Where are we going?"

"Clearly we need to talk, and if we stay here you'll just continue to worry," she stated. "Come upstairs. We'll lock the door and finally have this conversation we've been avoiding for over a decade."