Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – A Promise Kept

 Zevran silently walked down the hall, tucking his dagger behind his back. He shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. The image of his son and a pregnant Ayu were still swimming before his eyes. He stopped, pushing the heels of his hands into his eyes. He stood there a moment, silently cursing himself. He removed his hands from his face and continued down the hall, a new determination in his walk.

He crept up to the top of the stairs and looked below, over the railing. Some of the tables had been abandoned, but several were still occupied. The drunken men were draped over the tables and chairs, most of them snoring loudly. Zevran snuck down the stairs, being careful not to brush up against any of the tables. He quietly made his way around the innkeeper's counter and to the door beyond. He knew from his last visit that this door led to the kitchen and the owner's quarters. Zevran pried the door open enough that he could slip in. The door remained ajar behind him, casting a thin trail of light along the wall. He took another few steps and found himself in front of the wide kitchen archway. There was no door to the kitchen and Zevran could see the cooking fire smoldering in the fireplace. No one was in the kitchen. Gliding passed the kitchen, Zevran moved down the hall a little further. He approached another door along the hall that he knew was the innkeeper's office. He deftly picked the lock and slowly pushed the door open. The innkeeper kept his strongbox of coin in his office, and that strongbox was Zevran's quarry. Moving behind the small filthy desk, Zevran pulled off the secret panel within the desk drawer and pulled the box out. He unlocked it quickly and emptied the coins into a pouch in his boot. He returned the box to its hiding place in the drawer. He remained still a moment to listen to the sounds of the inn around him, but he did not hear anyone else about. Standing, he quickly left the office and made his way to the kitchen once more. This time, he slipped inside hugging one of the walls around the room. He found the little dusty shelf that Lesha hid her coin stash on. He grabbed a few of the coins; the amount that the room and meal would cost, plus a little tip; and dropped them into her stash.

“Ah Ayu. What have you done to me?” he thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

He turned and made sure he was alone again. He still heard no other movement beside his own. He found a large platter and loaded it with meats, fruits and cheeses to take back to the room. He had decided to keep Ayu in the room when they were not wandering the village. This would serve as an adequate breakfast as far as Zevran was concerned. Taking his platter of spoils, Zevran left the kitchen and silently made his way back to the room.

 

Zevran closed the room door behind him and locked it again. Setting the platter of food down on the table, he turned and rearmed the trap. Ayu was still sleeping soundly, stretched out on the bed in all directions. Her hair piled in curls around her head and shoulders, a few curls falling across her face as she slept. Zevran walked over to her and knelt beside the bed. He had not heard or seen her sleep so soundly in many nights. A smile crossed his lips as he watched her a moment. He moved over to the window, leaning against the frame. It was still dark outside, but the horizon was starting to brighten with the rising sun. Snow was still gently falling from the thinning clouds above, coating the village in a great sheet of white. Zevran stood listening to sounds of Ayu's breathing and the crackle of the fire. He eventually moved to the couch and laid down, placing one arm behind his head. He laid there, lost in thought as the sky through the window began to lighten.