The next day
Olisa was up early, well she didn't get much sleep the night before. She knew she had to be strong, be the pillar that everyone leaned on – that her sister leaned on, so she took it upon herself to get ready for her mother's cremation ceremony. She dressed in a gown of purple satin, so dark that you could only see the violet hues in the gown when the light shown directly on it, wrapped her shoulders in a black fur shawl, donned deep red elbow-length gloves, and black leather heeled boots. She secured a miniature shield engraved with the Amell family crest on a wide black leather belt, and wrapped a silk red ribbon, the same red of the family's crest, around the ponytail of her hair.
Cullen had promised to come to the estate early, so she headed downstairs to force herself to have a sweetroll and some tea, and await her favored Templar's arrival. Cullen had been amazingly understanding since... since the incident, but he has been so understanding, so caring, that Olisa found herself shrinking away from him. She found herself not being honest about her feelings with him, at times. She found herself shying away from difficult topics, ones that she just knew that Cullen would want to discuss, to make better, but she didn't want to. She didn't want to focus on the hurt. She knew that that was no way to fix what she was feeling, but maybe she was just a little bit a coward. Maybe she was just being selfish, not letting the man she loves, and who loves her, help her.
So consumed with her thoughts, Olisa didn't notice her younger sister was already downstairs, dressed, and having tea with Orana until she was standing right next to them. A little surprised, and still a little saddened, Olisa merely nodded at the two women in greeting. Orana stood, and insisted on getting a teacup for her, so Olisa awaited Orana's return by looking at her sister in slight concern. Marianna was also lost in her own mind as she sipped her tea. Her sister's reddish hair seemed lighter and shinier, cleaner than it has been since she's resumed her Guard duty, and was pinned behind one of her ears with a clip wrapped in the same red ribbon that Olisa had tied in her hair. Marianna was wearing a heavy black woolen sweater, one that was just loosely woven to allow the cool air of the season to touch her skin, and a trice-layered black velvet skirt that touched the ground even as she sat, and shinned silver in the fire's reflection. Her sister had gloveless hands, and a reddish-brown belt layered over the hem of her skirt with the Amell family shield laying on her hip. Olisa noticed distantly, that despite the melancholy colors and choice of clothes, her sister looked noble, poised with her teacup and sipping the hot liquid carefully. She would've made the transition well into the noble circle, had things been different, had Seamus lived and they married.
Orana returned with Olisa's teacup and had it filled at the same time that they heard a knock on the estate's front door. Bodan answered it, and admitted Cullen and Gamlen. They had run into each other on their way to the estate, for Gamlen was asked to be at the estate early to make sure that he did not dishonor their mother's memory by arriving drunk, or late. They had still not heard back from Lizbeth, but couldn't hold off the ceremony any longer. They sent another note to Amaranthine informing their Grey Warden sister of that.
Cullen kissed Olisa's cheek in greeting, and she led him over to the table in the foyer that Orana had set up earlier with Bodan's assistance. Each of the family's close friends and servants were asked to wear red ribbons and the Amell family crest shields in honor of Leandra. There were two fewer sets of ribbons and shields than Olisa would've liked, but for the safety of Merrill and Anders, they were asked not to attend. There will be other Templars, besides Cullen, at the Chantry.
Cullen wrapped the red ribbon around the hilt of his sword, he didn't part with his weapons since the public will regard him only as a Templar and expect that he be armed and armored, and he pinned the shield to his burgundy-red sash. Gamlen, dressed in mostly cleaned clothes of dark colors and reds, pinned his shield to his belt and wrapped his ribbon beside it.
One-by-one the rest of the Hawke sisters' closest friends arrived at the estate. Aveline and Donnic came dressed in their parade armor, and Varric managed to drag Isabela away from the tavern; both dressed in the nicest clothes they owned, which for the pirate was her usual tunic with pants and a vest. Fenris arrived just seconds before Varric and Isabela. The lyrium-marked warrior wore his normal black armor, but had left behind his sword. Fenris attached the red ribbon around one gauntlet, and placed the shield on his hip. He smiled just faintly at Marianna as he finished, and she smirked fleetingly back in acknowledgement. Sebastian was the last to arrive, for he was to lead the group to the Chantry for the ceremony.
Marianna, Olisa, and Gamlen walked side-by-side behind Sebastian towards the Chantry. The rest of their companions filed behind them, with Cullen and Aveline at the front of them, since both Cullen and Aveline had been quite close with Leandra. When they stepped through the Chantry's doors, they noticed that many of the same people that had been there for Seamus' ceremony were there for Leandra's. The Viscount was in attendance with his own Guards, friends of Marianna's from the Guard were there, a few Templars that were acquainted with the family were standing about, like Keran and his sister, and as were nobles whose status and familiarity demanded their presence at another noble's funeral.
People mumbled their condolences to the family before the Grand Cleric made her entrance, and spoke the same hushed words as she had at Seamus' ceremony. Those gathered filed out the Chantry's doors in the bitter wind, and the sisters crossed the same stone towards the same heavy dais that they had just a short time ago. The sisters gripped each other's hands in a shared pain as their mother's deceased form came into view. Leandra's body was wrapped in white silk, since the state of her corpse would be too disturbing for many in attendance to gaze upon. Cullen had reached forward and held Olisa's hand, and placed his other on Marianna's elbow, as the Grand Cleric began her recitation of the solemn holy words, since both sisters were trying to stem their grief. The rose tradition for the deceased began, and Cullen watched as first Gamlen, then Leandra's daughters together placed their roses beside the timber their mother laid upon. Olisa's steps faltered just slightly as they went to return to their places, and Marianna's eyes were downcast for the remainder of the rose laying. Once everyone had placed roses on the dais in Leandra's honor, the timber was lit, and Leandra's body slowly returned to the Maker in ash. All of the family's closet companions stayed with them until the last of the embers turned dark. The day was at its height by the time they left the Chantry's grounds to part ways.
Varric, Fenris, Aveline and Cullen returned to the estate with Olisa, Marianna, Orana, Bodan, and Sandal. Dagger greeted them at the door, but did not offer his normal happy bark. Most of them went to the library, where everyone was silent as glasses of wine and whiskey were poured. Conversation was started about menial topics, like duty rosters, weather, and wine varieties. Soon Orana brought them light pastries and fruits, and everyone began to tell tales of noteworthy memories of the late Leandra. It was late in the evening before people started to leave. Marianna was passed out on the floor before the fire using Dagger as a pillow, and Olisa couldn't find it in her to wake her. Cullen carried her to her bed as the hound followed, not eager to leave his mistress' sister alone. When Cullen arrived in Olisa's bedchambers, the rogue was already fast asleep clutching her pillow in her hands as freshly shed tears stained her cheeks.
…...
Note: So the next update might be delayed, since my classes are about to start up and I already have an exam Friday. :/ To make up for that, I got into a drawing mood, and made some pictures for One More Hawke. I made three cartoonish 2D pictures of the Hawke siblings, and digital paintings of Marianna, Lizbeth, Olisa, Fenris and Cullen (I still haven't painted Nathaniel). I'm quite proud of the paintings. They're all posted on my deviantart Musicalrain0. The link to my account is on my profile. Take a look if you want :D And thanks for reading and everything :)