Dragon Age One Shots

Broken Hope, Zevran

"Well, this is a surprise," Zevran emerged from the shadows his hands lightly clapping as if he'd only just arrived at this Vigil in the woods that the Wardens reclaimed. In truth, he'd been watching her for...longer than was strictly necessary. His intel had been good, though the person providing it was less so after Zevran left him.

Still, he wasn't certain that he wasn't walking into a trap laid by those crafty Crows until he saw her. The woman walking with head high, assured steps, and cold tone gave him pause until the winds shifted, and the scent of lavender and honey nearly threw him against the wall. It was her -- the Hero so much of this cold, turnip-filled country loved to call her. She was something else to Zevran, something so much more.

As those eyes that'd once melted in his vision honed from a razor glare to wide-open surprise, he tipped his head and grinned, "For you, having the opportunity to once against bask in the glow of my company." He tried to gaze past her, to take in the new ragtag team she adopted circling around her, but it was impossible. Even in the darkest of nights, Zev couldn't escape the glow of her firefly eyes. Being trapped in the recesses of his memory did little to diminish them.

"I see you still have the dwarf," he twisted his lips, trying to hold in a sigh at the flatulent beard rolling a war axe from one shoulder to another. In response, Oghren gave a burp loud enough to shake the Vigil's windows. Zevran merely sighed in response.

"Zev," her lips parted, her face white as a sheet. His dear Warden looked as if she'd seen a ghost. "What are you...?" Her head twisted around to her companions, three in total. It seemed as if she was hoping they would support her should the need arise. Or at least to make certain she hadn't lost all her senses with the appearance of an elf from her past. It seemed routine, but her eyes lingered upon a dark man standing a touch closer to her warm body than the others.

She tried to swallow down the shock, a smile rising in its place. It wasn't a truthful one, but he wasn't one to judge. He left her on a lie after all. "I did not receive word that you were planning a visit," his Warden answered.

"Yes, ex-assassins who are trying to keep from winding up on a Crow's blade are not fans of calling cards. Forgive me if I am interrupting anything..." he waved his hand around the men who were imperceptibly itching for weapons. All except the dwarf; he'd already wandered off towards a cask in the throne room.

"Ah," she touched her cheek, Zev's eyes following to watch a blush burning over her silken skin. "No, no," the Warden turned to take in her men. "Could you give me a minute with him?"

"If he starts stabbing, just scream. I'll probably come running," the tall blonde human in circle robes chuckled, trailing after the dwarf's imbibing. It was the dark one who remained, hovering over the Warden's shoulder like a protective spirit.

"Are you certain?" his voice rumbled in his gut, grey eyes cutting over the unimposing elf merely out for a stroll.

She winced, the tension so thick he doubted he could cut it with his dagger. Turning on her heel, she leaned closer to the dark man, her voice dipping low, "Yes, please trust me, Nathaniel."

"Very well," he smiled at her, but it snapped to a sneer as his eyes once against brandished against Zevran. The threat was clear. If he dared to lift a finger against the Warden, an army would land upon his head. As if Zevran could do anything to hurt her...again.

The two of them stood not close, but not apart either, watching the burly men wander away from their sight. "I see you're bringing in strays yet again," Zev said. "Is it a habit of the Wardens or only you in particular."

"Why are you here Zevran?" she whispered, her eyes shut tight. As if she couldn't look upon him. Not again. Not after how he left.

The sarcastic wit melted, its vinegar dripping down the back of Zev's throat. "Perdonami," he whispered, hoping she'd hear the sincerity in his voice. "I...I clashed with the Crows who yet had a contract on your head."