A week later

In the days following Cullen's proposal to Olisa, the couple found themselves on the end of far too many congratulatory drinks and festivities than they were comfortable with. Olisa was beyond happy that her friends took so well to the news. Well, except for Anders. Although the world would probably stop spinning the day the man was happy about anything involving a Templar.

Cullen did give her a ring the day following, sealing his proposal to her. The golden band had a square-cut ruby flanked by rounded, smaller white opals and golden cat's-eyes. Olisa knew the ring likely cost Cullen at least half a year's pay. She felt guilty later, when she was alone after they celebrated together, that he felt he needed to give her something so extravagant. Marianna reminded her sister that she was worth much more than that ring to Cullen, and if he wanted to spoil her when she would've been happy with a plain band, then she ought to let him.

Charade had easily integrated herself with the rest of the group on the days that she would visit. She still had her own life, however, and didn't visit as frequently as the Hawke sisters probably would have liked. Being that they were used to seeing several of their friends at least once a day. Charade did write almost constantly in the days following the proposal, and stopped by Marianna's post when she was on duty if she saw her.

Charade had sent a message later the previous night, detailing that when she visited her father, men arrived at the home demanding coin. Apparently Gamlen has a ever-growing debt at the Blooming Rose, and the proprietor to which he had borrowed coin for the Rose's services was threatening his life if he did not pay the fifteen sovereigns he owed. Fifteen sovereigns was nothing to the now rich Hawke sisters, but it was more than enough coin to take someone's life over in Kirkwall. And so, with grim resignation, Olisa headed to the Rose to pay off her uncle's debt, and to give a little extra to make sure no one decided to send a message to her grubby uncle with a fist. All the effort purely so Charade wouldn't have to mourn another parent so soon.

Coming out of the Rose, and praying that no one recognized her with her cloak drawn, Olisa headed out of the Red Lantern District with quick steps. But before she exited, she was stopped by an Antivan noble. Maker's flaming balls! Please don't recognize me. Please don't ask why 'the newly engaged Champion' is visiting the Rose like Madam Lusine.

A handful of hours later, and Isabela, Marianna, and Anders were trekking up Sundermount on the heels of Olisa. Olisa was exhausted as they continued to make their way through the winding cave that the assassin was to be hiding in. She hadn't made the trip up the mountain since she refused to aid Merrill with her mirror. And that was ages ago! One would think I wouldn't be this exhausted with all those blasted stairs everywhere!

And then there was a varterral. Blighted Void!

Olisa quickly dashed behind a boulder, and wedged herself in between the rock and the wall where she could get off shots in relative safety. She had shouted orders as she ran, instructing Marianna to bait it as she and Anders picked it off from afar, and Isabela sneaked around the creature to attack its vulnerable joints and legs. The varterral was like nothing she had ever seen. As tall as an ogre, probably taller she was never good at guessing these things, and wide despite its thin, powerful legs.

Once the alarmingly tall ancient creature was defeated, a broad-shouldered, well-built blond elf emerged from a smaller cave behind the creature.

"Now you, I wasn't expecting." His accent was heavily rich with the typical melodious sounds of the natives of Antiva.

They spoke for a bit, exchanging banter, including with Isabela, before he asked what she was going to do about Nuncio. Turn him in, or not. Olisa thought about it before she answered. Zevran was suave, blatantly so, and she didn't think he was showing all his cards, so to speak. He was hiding behind a facade of indifference, but he obviously was worried about the Antivans on his tail. And if what he said about Nuncio was true, well... she did not like being played. And she told him as much, and he laughed a rich laugh in answer.

He's also a friend of Isabela, she reasoned. She decided to let him go, and pay the puppeteer a well deserved visit.

Quicker than she would've thought, Olisa was pulling her spent arrows from Nuncio and his men. The battle had been tough, but once Anders managed to cast several rejuvenation spells on his comrades, the battle went better. Much better. Olisa enjoyed the chance to use her assassin skills she learned during her year of servitude to their extent against professionals of the trade. Invigorated with adrenaline and creation magic, Olisa caught up with Zevran near Nuncio's corpse.

"Excellent! Killing my former brothers-in-arms is oddly satisfying." After giving Olisa a dagger as payment for her aid, the assassin directed his attention to the Rivaini pirate. "My dear Isabela, it has been a delight to see you again. You travel in fine company."

Isabela pouted a little, "That's it? You're just going to leave after we did all the killing?"

Zevran laughed a chest-rattling laugh, "Oh, I would never leave without a proper goodbye, my dear pirata." He winked, the insinuation made clear.

Isabela sighed dramatically and crossed her arms over her chest. "I happen to be in a mostly monogamous relationship with a sweet elven girl, you know" the pirate said with a cheeky smile she wasn't quite able to contain.

Olisa raised her brow, "'Mostly monogamous'? Wait. I don't want to know."

Zevran smirked broadly at Isabela, "I would love to meet your cariña mi pirata. Shall we return to the City of Chains?"

…...

Note: Be sad guys! This may be the last chapter until I graduate! :( Roughly two more weeks, however, – so it's not forever! :) Also, I've just put up a poll on my profile (so please vote) – it's on whether you'd like to see Olisa get miraculously healed if an opportunity arises (I can work in a super-Anders healing towards the end of act III). Please note that whether or not she gets her womb healed will affect future chapters post-act III (if she's not healed, then adoption. If she is healed, then Cullen & Olisa baby). Let me know what you think! :D

P.S. I hope no one minds the changes to canon here. Also, I've decided to use Spanish for Antivan, since I've taken Spanish for years and almost minored in it. Here's the translations:

Pirata: Pirate

...cariña mi pirata: ...darling my pirate.