Thanks Lyna! I'm so glad that people enjoy my writing. I was very nervous about sharing it, I'm am uber critical of myself LOL. Next chapter of Rose is in the works...should be finished this week!
The Rose of the Alienage: Chapter 19 is up 11/8/2010 :)
Débuté par
VioletTheirin
, mai 02 2010 03:49
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#77
Posté 12 juillet 2010 - 06:39
Lynn01
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Don't worry about sharing it. Obviously we're all very excited to see your next chapter! My fingers were itching when I saw this thread was updated to scroll down and see the new chapter! haha. But, I can wait for a few more days 
#78
Posté 13 juillet 2010 - 07:32
Lynn01
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Right.. I was bored and I'm not saying this is good, but I made this inspired by your story 
#79
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 12:32
VioletTheirin
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Oh my gosh Lynn! That is beautiful! I am so touched that you like my story that much. I am smiling ear to ear and crying at the same time, you are a WONDERFUL artist. Thank you so much for sharing this with me!!
#80
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 12:33
ladyames
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Beautifully done for a beautiful story!
#81
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 12:36
Gilgamesh1138
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That is so wonderful, the art and the story! Nicely done both of you ladies.
#82
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 05:19
VioletTheirin
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Chapter 14~ Antivan Lullaby ~
Leliana stood at the edge of her house, watching the scene between father and daughter as it unfolded in the garden in front of her. While she was happy that Rose finally had her father in her life, and that Alistair was beginning to come around, she found herself worrying about Zevran. He loved Rose as he would if she were his own and of course wanted the best for her; but Leliana could tell that the assassin’s heart was breaking at the prospect of losing his “benedicion” as he called her.
“I should probably make sure he is alright.” She thought to herself as she turned and walked through the side door. Upon entering the room she noticed Oghren and Nathaniel standing near the front door, packing up the last of Oghren’s things to leave for Amaranthine. Felsi stood nearby trying to comfort a visibly upset Slade.
Leliana then glanced toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the house and noticed Morrigan and Anders having what seemed to be a bit of a heated discussion. She decided to quietly listen in.
“Tis not a good idea to lie to me husband for I will eventually find out what you were hiding.”
“Mor, we weren’t hiding anything I swear. Nathaniel did not feel well.”
“Well then it must speak volumes about my ability that he became miraculously better upon me merely casting a sensing spell to see what was wrong.”
Just then the door closed and upon seeing the figure that stepped through Morrigan’s mouth dropped. “It all makes sense now...Alistair.”
“Um....hello.....” Alistair hesitantly stepped into the sitting room behind Rose. “I uh...come in peace....please don’t toad me...”
Morrigan turned to Anders. “You did lie to me...you lied to me to protect ... THAT!”
“I....um....you see the thing is....”
Morrigan’s glare then shot to Nathaniel as he was slowly making his way backward toward the door. “And you! You actually allowed him to put you up to this?”
Leliana quickly stepped in. “Morrigan, Anders and Nathaniel were merely trying to give Alistair the opportunity to speak to Zevran. Think about it, everyone knows he is scared to death of you!”
Alistair folded his arms in front of his chest. “Heeeyyy!”
Morrigan glared at Alistair as she began to grab for the staff that was strapped to her back.
“Right...point taken...” Alistair unfolded his arms and backed away in surrender.
“We shall talk about this later.” Morrigan snapped at Anders as she turned and stormed up the stairs.
Anders shook his head. “Looks like I’m in the dog house tonight.”
Nathaniel laughed. “Yep, you are definitely in big trouble.”
“No really, I’m sleeping in the dog house...much safer there.”
Leliana laughed as she gave Anders a friendly pat on the back. “So what are you all doing down here? Throwing a party to which I wasn’t invited?”
“Gettin’ ready to pull out...headin’ back to Amaranthine.” Oghren began looking around the room. “Now where’s Schmooples...I want a snack for the road.”
Leliana smacked the dwarf up the backside of his head. “You do not touch my Schmooples!”
Oghren chuckled as Leliana turned to face Felsi. “Does this mean that you and Slade will be leaving us too?”
Felsi nodded “Aye, we’ll be heading back to Lake Calenhad this afternoon; I’ll be expected back to work at the Spoiled Princess in the next few days.”
Leliana gave the dwarf a friendly smile. “You will be missed Felsi. It was a delight having you here as always.”
“Oh we’ll be back soon enough I’m sure.” Felsi smiled back and gave the bard a friendly hug. “Slade, are you going to come say goodbye to Leli and your friends?”
The boy crossed his arms and turned his head toward the wall. “No.”
Leliana stuck out her lower lip and pouted. “Aww, I don’t get even a little goodbye?”
Felsi sighed. “He’s been acting like this all day.”
“Come here lad, let’s take a walk.” Oghren clasped his hand on the boy’s shoulder and led him out the door to the garden.
“It gets harder every time Oghren has to go back to Amaranthine. I offered to move Slade and myself there to be closer to him; he just won’t hear it.” Annoyance dripped from Felsi’s voice as she shook her head.
Leliana put a reassuring hand on Felsi’s shoulder. “He’ll come around one day.”
“I’ll have you know that you and Slade are all that he talks about at the keep.” Nathaniel gave Felsi a kind smile.
Felsi nodded and returned a small smile to him. “Thank you for telling me Nate, it is good to hear.”
Nate felt something bump into his leg just then. Turning, he found Rose standing beside him. Kneeling down in front of her, he brushed back a stray hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “I must say Alistair, you certainly have a beautiful daughter. You will have to keep an eye on her when she gets older.”
Rose’s cheeks turned a deep pink as she tried to hide behind her father. “Thank you,” she whispered as she stared at her shoes.
Alistair noted the shy expression of “puppy love” that spread across his daughter’s young face. He smiled as he thought back to his first fleeting feelings of childhood love, the way it made his heart race and his mind think a million thoughts all at once. Alistair placed a supportive arm around his daughter and pulled her into an embrace at his side.
He smiled at Nate. “Thank you, I’m just glad she was blessed with her mother’s looks rather than mine.”
Nate stood and held out a hand toward Alistair. “I don’t think we were ever properly introduced. I am Nathaniel Howe.”
Alistair cocked an eyebrow in the young man’s direction. “Howe? Are you any relation to Rendon Howe?”
Nathaniel sighed as he shook his head. “Yes, he was my father and I apologize for the problems that he caused you during The Blight, I’ve come to realize what a cowardly snake he always was.”
Alistair smiled at Nate as he clasped his arm and gave him a warriors handshake. “No, no apology necessary, you should not have to pay for the sins of your father. It is in the past.”
Nathaniel nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry to cut this short but I really must gather Oghren and get on the road. It’s a long trek to Amaranthine and I’d rather get it over with.” Nathaniel once again smiled at Rose as he placed a kiss on her cheek. “My lady...” He then hugged the rest of the group, picked up his pack and waved as he walked out the door.
Alistair glanced at his daughter who was frozen in place, a Cheshire smile spread across her pretty face. By Andraste she looks SO much like her mother. he thought to himself, remembering that same smile gracing the lips of Eruthiawen so many years ago.
Within the commotion Leliana quietly slipped up the stairs unnoticed, on her way to find Zevran.
She gently pushed open the door of the guest room that he had been staying in to find him sitting in the middle of the floor, head in hands amongst scattered overturned furniture.
“Just leave me be Leliana.” He muttered without so much as raising his face.
Leliana slowly took two more steps in the assassins direction. “Look Zevran, I know you are hurting.”
“You know nothing. Leave me alone.”
Upon reaching the center of the room Leliana placed a hand on his shoulder. “Zevran I...”
Before Leliana could say more Zevran had her by the wrist and using it’s pressure points pulled her down to meet him at face level. “Now is not the time, I am not in need of a friend or any kind of camaraderie. Just leave.”
Leliana looked into Zev’s amber eyes but instead of seeing the loving friend that she had gotten to know so well over the past nine years all that she saw was a void. Though pain seared up the bard’s arm she was determined not to leave her friend in his lachrymose state. She thought back to her bardic training and reached for a spot along Zevran’s collar bone, the closest accessible pressure point with her free hand and squeezed.
“Two can play at this game Zevran Aranai and I have some skills that you have never seen before.” She kept her focus on the burning pools of amber that stared back at her. “Now let me go.”
Zevran knew that while he was a gifted assassin, Leliana did possess many of the same talents as he due to her training as a bard so many years previously and he was sure that what she said was true, there was much that she still probably hid within the back of her mind. He relented, letting go of her wrist but never taking his eyes from hers.
Leliana too loosened her grip and pulled her hand back from the elf’s tense form; but like Zevran she never lifted her eyes from his icy gaze. She was reading, evaluating, trying to find the “****** in his armor” the weakness that she could use and exploit to make his wall of anger and hurt crumble at his feet.
Simultaneously the assassin and bard lifted themselves from the floor, never breaking their locked stares, reading each other; trying to gain the advantage.
“Leliana, you do not want to pick a fight with me.” The corners of Zevran’s eyes crimped into a glare, his voice cold. “I do not want to hurt you but I will if you push me.”
“Oh so now we deign ourselves to threats and intimidation hmm?” Leliana inched herself closer to the assassin that glared back at her. “Then what, you wound me; kill me? Please Zevran, I know you better than that.”
“You know nothing of me Leliana, that is who I am...I am a murderer; I kill without remorse, without looking back.”
“That you died a long time ago; Eruthiawen killed him along the Imperial Highway some nine years ago.”
“I never should have taken that mission, I never should have sold my soul to the only woman that I ever wanted but could not have.” Zevran’s voice lowered to nearly a growl. “Of course, what can I expect; I tried to kill her I did not deserve the mercy she gave to me so I suppose I should just be grateful that I breathe. No? I don’t deserve happiness or a family or love, no matter how many good deeds I do to try to atone, I am beyond salvation.”
Leliana shook her head finally breaking her gaze from his. “You’re right Zevran, you are irredeemable; so I suppose I will just go downstairs and tell those two children who think you are their night, day and everything in between just what a horrible and evil person you are; perhaps I’ll hand each of them a dagger and they can put an end to your pathetic existence. What do you think?”
Zevran’s face turned crimson as his anger pooled beneath his skin; his hands instinctively lowered to the belt where his two daggers normally rested but instead of his trusty blades Zevran’s hand grasped a small swatch of cloth that Nelaros carried around with him for comfort. Zevran had stuffed it in his belt when he had cleaned Nelaros off from his breakfast and had forgotten it was there. Upon touching the soft piece of cloth Zevran broke down. Suddenly he let out a scream that startled Leliana, causing her to jump back toward the door.
Zevran turned and began grabbing anything he could get his hands on and began hurling the objects at the wall, all the while screaming; tears falling from his face and to the floor.
Leliana backed out the door but stayed peeking just around the corner. She closed her eyes and thought back to her training as a bard. She was taught that no matter who the “target” was everyone had their song and when sung just right it could pull them from the abyss or shatter them to pieces. The trick was simply knowing a little bit about the person, their background, their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. After only a moment’s thought Leliana knew the perfect melody to captivate the assassin; an Antivan lullaby that she had heard many years before.
Quietly, at almost a whisper she began to sing.
“Duerme mi niño, apoyar la cabeza sobre almohadas lanoso, el crepúsculo se ha roto y la madre está ausente. Padre está aquí, seca tus ojos, no llores, tu padre te protege.”
{Sleep my child, rest your head upon downy pillows, twilight has broken and mother is away. Father is here, dry your eyes, do not cry, your father will protect you}
Leliana watched as Zevran’s face began to relax. He began to look around the room and the chaos that surrounded him. With a deep sigh he began righting the furniture he overturned and gathered any salvageable items which had been hurled against the wall; placing them upon the bed.
Leliana drew in a deep breath, knowing that the worst of the storm was over. “Now is time to let him reflect.” she thought to herself as she turned and headed back toward the stairs.
Leliana decided that after that ordeal she could use some time of her own to reflect; so she made her way to the garden of Andraste’s Grace along the side of her house. Upon opening the door she came upon Morrigan who sat upon a stump just outside the door, looking visibly ill; staring at Anders and Alistair as they chatted near the apple tree Rose had climbed just hours earlier.
“Morrigan, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
Morrigan looked up at the bard and snapped. “Tis because I am not well; in fact well is the furthest thing from what I am!” Morrigan stood and thrust her arm in the direction of her husband and Alistair. “They are nearly twins! Just look at them!” Suddenly she threw her hands over her mouth and began to run to the back of the house, in the direction of the outhouse. “I’m going to be sick.”
Leliana shook her head and laughed as she mused to herself. “I was wondering how long it would take for her to notice; Oghren SO owes me five sovereigns!”
Leliana stood at the edge of her house, watching the scene between father and daughter as it unfolded in the garden in front of her. While she was happy that Rose finally had her father in her life, and that Alistair was beginning to come around, she found herself worrying about Zevran. He loved Rose as he would if she were his own and of course wanted the best for her; but Leliana could tell that the assassin’s heart was breaking at the prospect of losing his “benedicion” as he called her.
“I should probably make sure he is alright.” She thought to herself as she turned and walked through the side door. Upon entering the room she noticed Oghren and Nathaniel standing near the front door, packing up the last of Oghren’s things to leave for Amaranthine. Felsi stood nearby trying to comfort a visibly upset Slade.
Leliana then glanced toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the house and noticed Morrigan and Anders having what seemed to be a bit of a heated discussion. She decided to quietly listen in.
“Tis not a good idea to lie to me husband for I will eventually find out what you were hiding.”
“Mor, we weren’t hiding anything I swear. Nathaniel did not feel well.”
“Well then it must speak volumes about my ability that he became miraculously better upon me merely casting a sensing spell to see what was wrong.”
Just then the door closed and upon seeing the figure that stepped through Morrigan’s mouth dropped. “It all makes sense now...Alistair.”
“Um....hello.....” Alistair hesitantly stepped into the sitting room behind Rose. “I uh...come in peace....please don’t toad me...”
Morrigan turned to Anders. “You did lie to me...you lied to me to protect ... THAT!”
“I....um....you see the thing is....”
Morrigan’s glare then shot to Nathaniel as he was slowly making his way backward toward the door. “And you! You actually allowed him to put you up to this?”
Leliana quickly stepped in. “Morrigan, Anders and Nathaniel were merely trying to give Alistair the opportunity to speak to Zevran. Think about it, everyone knows he is scared to death of you!”
Alistair folded his arms in front of his chest. “Heeeyyy!”
Morrigan glared at Alistair as she began to grab for the staff that was strapped to her back.
“Right...point taken...” Alistair unfolded his arms and backed away in surrender.
“We shall talk about this later.” Morrigan snapped at Anders as she turned and stormed up the stairs.
Anders shook his head. “Looks like I’m in the dog house tonight.”
Nathaniel laughed. “Yep, you are definitely in big trouble.”
“No really, I’m sleeping in the dog house...much safer there.”
Leliana laughed as she gave Anders a friendly pat on the back. “So what are you all doing down here? Throwing a party to which I wasn’t invited?”
“Gettin’ ready to pull out...headin’ back to Amaranthine.” Oghren began looking around the room. “Now where’s Schmooples...I want a snack for the road.”
Leliana smacked the dwarf up the backside of his head. “You do not touch my Schmooples!”
Oghren chuckled as Leliana turned to face Felsi. “Does this mean that you and Slade will be leaving us too?”
Felsi nodded “Aye, we’ll be heading back to Lake Calenhad this afternoon; I’ll be expected back to work at the Spoiled Princess in the next few days.”
Leliana gave the dwarf a friendly smile. “You will be missed Felsi. It was a delight having you here as always.”
“Oh we’ll be back soon enough I’m sure.” Felsi smiled back and gave the bard a friendly hug. “Slade, are you going to come say goodbye to Leli and your friends?”
The boy crossed his arms and turned his head toward the wall. “No.”
Leliana stuck out her lower lip and pouted. “Aww, I don’t get even a little goodbye?”
Felsi sighed. “He’s been acting like this all day.”
“Come here lad, let’s take a walk.” Oghren clasped his hand on the boy’s shoulder and led him out the door to the garden.
“It gets harder every time Oghren has to go back to Amaranthine. I offered to move Slade and myself there to be closer to him; he just won’t hear it.” Annoyance dripped from Felsi’s voice as she shook her head.
Leliana put a reassuring hand on Felsi’s shoulder. “He’ll come around one day.”
“I’ll have you know that you and Slade are all that he talks about at the keep.” Nathaniel gave Felsi a kind smile.
Felsi nodded and returned a small smile to him. “Thank you for telling me Nate, it is good to hear.”
Nate felt something bump into his leg just then. Turning, he found Rose standing beside him. Kneeling down in front of her, he brushed back a stray hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “I must say Alistair, you certainly have a beautiful daughter. You will have to keep an eye on her when she gets older.”
Rose’s cheeks turned a deep pink as she tried to hide behind her father. “Thank you,” she whispered as she stared at her shoes.
Alistair noted the shy expression of “puppy love” that spread across his daughter’s young face. He smiled as he thought back to his first fleeting feelings of childhood love, the way it made his heart race and his mind think a million thoughts all at once. Alistair placed a supportive arm around his daughter and pulled her into an embrace at his side.
He smiled at Nate. “Thank you, I’m just glad she was blessed with her mother’s looks rather than mine.”
Nate stood and held out a hand toward Alistair. “I don’t think we were ever properly introduced. I am Nathaniel Howe.”
Alistair cocked an eyebrow in the young man’s direction. “Howe? Are you any relation to Rendon Howe?”
Nathaniel sighed as he shook his head. “Yes, he was my father and I apologize for the problems that he caused you during The Blight, I’ve come to realize what a cowardly snake he always was.”
Alistair smiled at Nate as he clasped his arm and gave him a warriors handshake. “No, no apology necessary, you should not have to pay for the sins of your father. It is in the past.”
Nathaniel nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry to cut this short but I really must gather Oghren and get on the road. It’s a long trek to Amaranthine and I’d rather get it over with.” Nathaniel once again smiled at Rose as he placed a kiss on her cheek. “My lady...” He then hugged the rest of the group, picked up his pack and waved as he walked out the door.
Alistair glanced at his daughter who was frozen in place, a Cheshire smile spread across her pretty face. By Andraste she looks SO much like her mother. he thought to himself, remembering that same smile gracing the lips of Eruthiawen so many years ago.
Within the commotion Leliana quietly slipped up the stairs unnoticed, on her way to find Zevran.
She gently pushed open the door of the guest room that he had been staying in to find him sitting in the middle of the floor, head in hands amongst scattered overturned furniture.
“Just leave me be Leliana.” He muttered without so much as raising his face.
Leliana slowly took two more steps in the assassins direction. “Look Zevran, I know you are hurting.”
“You know nothing. Leave me alone.”
Upon reaching the center of the room Leliana placed a hand on his shoulder. “Zevran I...”
Before Leliana could say more Zevran had her by the wrist and using it’s pressure points pulled her down to meet him at face level. “Now is not the time, I am not in need of a friend or any kind of camaraderie. Just leave.”
Leliana looked into Zev’s amber eyes but instead of seeing the loving friend that she had gotten to know so well over the past nine years all that she saw was a void. Though pain seared up the bard’s arm she was determined not to leave her friend in his lachrymose state. She thought back to her bardic training and reached for a spot along Zevran’s collar bone, the closest accessible pressure point with her free hand and squeezed.
“Two can play at this game Zevran Aranai and I have some skills that you have never seen before.” She kept her focus on the burning pools of amber that stared back at her. “Now let me go.”
Zevran knew that while he was a gifted assassin, Leliana did possess many of the same talents as he due to her training as a bard so many years previously and he was sure that what she said was true, there was much that she still probably hid within the back of her mind. He relented, letting go of her wrist but never taking his eyes from hers.
Leliana too loosened her grip and pulled her hand back from the elf’s tense form; but like Zevran she never lifted her eyes from his icy gaze. She was reading, evaluating, trying to find the “****** in his armor” the weakness that she could use and exploit to make his wall of anger and hurt crumble at his feet.
Simultaneously the assassin and bard lifted themselves from the floor, never breaking their locked stares, reading each other; trying to gain the advantage.
“Leliana, you do not want to pick a fight with me.” The corners of Zevran’s eyes crimped into a glare, his voice cold. “I do not want to hurt you but I will if you push me.”
“Oh so now we deign ourselves to threats and intimidation hmm?” Leliana inched herself closer to the assassin that glared back at her. “Then what, you wound me; kill me? Please Zevran, I know you better than that.”
“You know nothing of me Leliana, that is who I am...I am a murderer; I kill without remorse, without looking back.”
“That you died a long time ago; Eruthiawen killed him along the Imperial Highway some nine years ago.”
“I never should have taken that mission, I never should have sold my soul to the only woman that I ever wanted but could not have.” Zevran’s voice lowered to nearly a growl. “Of course, what can I expect; I tried to kill her I did not deserve the mercy she gave to me so I suppose I should just be grateful that I breathe. No? I don’t deserve happiness or a family or love, no matter how many good deeds I do to try to atone, I am beyond salvation.”
Leliana shook her head finally breaking her gaze from his. “You’re right Zevran, you are irredeemable; so I suppose I will just go downstairs and tell those two children who think you are their night, day and everything in between just what a horrible and evil person you are; perhaps I’ll hand each of them a dagger and they can put an end to your pathetic existence. What do you think?”
Zevran’s face turned crimson as his anger pooled beneath his skin; his hands instinctively lowered to the belt where his two daggers normally rested but instead of his trusty blades Zevran’s hand grasped a small swatch of cloth that Nelaros carried around with him for comfort. Zevran had stuffed it in his belt when he had cleaned Nelaros off from his breakfast and had forgotten it was there. Upon touching the soft piece of cloth Zevran broke down. Suddenly he let out a scream that startled Leliana, causing her to jump back toward the door.
Zevran turned and began grabbing anything he could get his hands on and began hurling the objects at the wall, all the while screaming; tears falling from his face and to the floor.
Leliana backed out the door but stayed peeking just around the corner. She closed her eyes and thought back to her training as a bard. She was taught that no matter who the “target” was everyone had their song and when sung just right it could pull them from the abyss or shatter them to pieces. The trick was simply knowing a little bit about the person, their background, their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. After only a moment’s thought Leliana knew the perfect melody to captivate the assassin; an Antivan lullaby that she had heard many years before.
Quietly, at almost a whisper she began to sing.
“Duerme mi niño, apoyar la cabeza sobre almohadas lanoso, el crepúsculo se ha roto y la madre está ausente. Padre está aquí, seca tus ojos, no llores, tu padre te protege.”
{Sleep my child, rest your head upon downy pillows, twilight has broken and mother is away. Father is here, dry your eyes, do not cry, your father will protect you}
Leliana watched as Zevran’s face began to relax. He began to look around the room and the chaos that surrounded him. With a deep sigh he began righting the furniture he overturned and gathered any salvageable items which had been hurled against the wall; placing them upon the bed.
Leliana drew in a deep breath, knowing that the worst of the storm was over. “Now is time to let him reflect.” she thought to herself as she turned and headed back toward the stairs.
Leliana decided that after that ordeal she could use some time of her own to reflect; so she made her way to the garden of Andraste’s Grace along the side of her house. Upon opening the door she came upon Morrigan who sat upon a stump just outside the door, looking visibly ill; staring at Anders and Alistair as they chatted near the apple tree Rose had climbed just hours earlier.
“Morrigan, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
Morrigan looked up at the bard and snapped. “Tis because I am not well; in fact well is the furthest thing from what I am!” Morrigan stood and thrust her arm in the direction of her husband and Alistair. “They are nearly twins! Just look at them!” Suddenly she threw her hands over her mouth and began to run to the back of the house, in the direction of the outhouse. “I’m going to be sick.”
Leliana shook her head and laughed as she mused to herself. “I was wondering how long it would take for her to notice; Oghren SO owes me five sovereigns!”
#83
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 05:30
Gilgamesh1138
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OMG I love that Morri revelation so very much! Heheh Morri loved Ali all along. ROFL! I knew it! mY heart for heart hurts for Zev too. Lovely lullaby. YAY!
#84
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 05:33
VioletTheirin
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Thank you my lady! I'm glad that you enjoyed my/Zevs bipolar escapade. MUAHs
#85
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 06:37
Lynn01
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I love this again 
well written! And I'm glad you like my drawing!
well written! And I'm glad you like my drawing!
#86
Posté 14 juillet 2010 - 06:32
ladyames
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He he he .. Morrigan! I'm surprised that Anders and Nate managed to pull it off for as long as they did! Poor Zev! Lovely lullaby! Fabulously done as always!
#87
Posté 15 juillet 2010 - 02:40
Lyna357
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ladyames wrote...
He he he .. Morrigan! I'm surprised that Anders and Nate managed to pull it off for as long as they did! Poor Zev! Lovely lullaby! Fabulously done as always!
My sentiments exactly.
#88
Posté 15 juillet 2010 - 04:30
VioletTheirin
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Thank you very much ladies! I am honored and hope you will stay tuned for both the remainder of this story and it's SEQUEL...
#89
Posté 19 juillet 2010 - 02:21
VioletTheirin
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Chapter 15~ All For Her
Once Morrigan was a safe distance away Alistair made his way over to Leliana who was standing near the side door, leaning upon the house and laughing.
"Anders and I heard a lot of yelling upstairs so we decided it was probably best for us to keep the children outside." Alistair sat upon the stump that Morrigan had just vacated. "Is everything okay? Anders said that there had been a commotion before you and I came into the house as well."
Leliana shook her head and Alistair could recognize the unmistakable sign of concern in her eyes. "This is very hard for him Alistair, Rose and Nelaros are Zevran's everything."
"But I'm not going to take her away from him; not right away anyway!" Alistair stood from the stump and held his hands out to his sides. "Look at me Leli, I'm in no shape to take care of a child, I have barely been able to take care of myself for the last eight years. I know how much they mean to each other. When Rose got the slightest inkling that something was wrong with her Uncle Zev she was ready to run up the stairs and 'make him better'. Anders and I had to drag her kicking and screaming outside."
Leliana sighed as she let out a slight giggle. "To be completely honest I think that Rose probably could have gotten through to him better than even I could; but I would not want her to see him like this."
"So what happened?"
Leliana nodded in the direction of the garden. "Let's take a walk; shall we?"
Upon entering the garden Leliana drew in a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent of Andraste's Grace that lingered in the air. She then sat down upon the stone bench and motioned for Alistair to join her.
"Well? What happened?"
"Zevran scared me today Alistair." Leliana let out a heavy sigh. "When I looked into his eyes there was nothing there…nothing. He was so angry and no matter what I did I just could not snap him out of it; he even threatened to hurt or kill me if I didn't drop the issue."
Alistair stood abruptly from the bench. "He did what?"
Leliana grabbed Alistair's arm and beckoned him to sit. "No Alistair, sit down. I was able to get him past that; thank the Maker that I was trained as a bard and therefore know how to hide my nerves. I got him to let me go and after I left the room I sang what the bards call a 'captivating song' that seemed to calm him quite a bit."
Alistair's expression calmed some. "So what do we do now. I didn't want to cause any more trouble for anyone but it seems where one problem is solved six more are created."
"Well, I guess what I need to know is what you intend to do?" Leliana placed a hand upon Alistair's leg. "You said that you are in no shape to take care of Rose, so how do you intend on getting yourself to the point that you need to be at? Once you get yourself to that point, then what? If you were to take Rose to live with you would you stay here or move elsewhere? What about Zevran, will he still be a part of her life?"
Alistair placed his hand over his mouth as he drew in a heavy sigh. "Wow…I guess I hadn't really thought about it. I wasn't really expecting for Rose to find anything out so quickly."
Leliana laughed. "Children have a way of throwing a kink into even the best laid plans." Leliana gave Alistair a big smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "That is parenthood lesson number one my friend. Okay so as not to overwhelm you, let us take this one question at a time." Leliana crossed her legs and clutched her topmost knee with both hands. "How do you intend to transform yourself from this…to a father?"
Alistair thought deeply for a moment. He knew that he wanted to be the best father he could be for her; but how would he do it? There had been a few occasions already where the temptation of the bottle almost got the better of him (a couple of times it did get the better of him). "I suppose some time away would do me some good, maybe go to Redcliffe and visit Eamon. He never did take any nonsense from me, I doubt that will have changed in the past few years."
Leliana nodded. "I think that might be a good idea."
Alistair shook his head. "But I promised Rose that I would never leave her again. I cannot go back on my word; we are on thin ice as it is."
"It might be a tough one to explain, but I'm sure she will come around when you explain to her that it is only going to be for a short time. And you will of course write to her every day while you are gone." Leliana reached up and gently picked up Alistair's mother's amulet from his shirt. "And maybe leaving something important behind might convince her that you will come back to retrieve it?"
Alistair glanced down at the amulet. He had not taken it off for more than a moment since Ruthi gave it back to him when they were camped outside of Redcliffe some nine years ago. He nodded, "I can try that I suppose. She seems sensible enough, and very smart for her age."
Leliana smiled. "Oh yes, very smart, and deadly accurate when throwing fruit in anger."
Alistair chuckled "You saw that, did you?"
"I probably should have warned you about her propensity to throw things. She is a sweet girl but has a bit of her mother's temper." Leliana gave Alistair a sly smile. "Okay so I suppose the next question would be what you intend to do once you come back from your sabbatical in Redcliffe?
Are you going to take her right away?"
Alistair shook his head. "No, no I wouldn't do that. I suppose she will need to get to know me better, and I her."
She gave him an approving nod and a smile. "Then what? Once she has grown accustomed to you will you stay in Denerim? If not where will you go?"
"I'd rather like to move to Rainesfere, I always enjoyed it there, it is quiet, there are places to go hunting and fishing; plus Teagan was always good to me, I'm sure he would help me out if I had any questions."
"Alright, so the big one...when all is said and done, what about Zev?"
"I…I don't know Leliana." Alistair shook his head. "I mean I want him to stay a part of her life, more than anything. But I can't see us staying in Denerim and I can't see him living in Rainesfere; though he would be more than welcome to. I guess that is something that I will have to work out with Zev. Besides, that will be quite some time down the road."
"Now here comes the fun part." Leliana looked at him shyly. "I think that you should go tell him…without me."
"Maker no; I can't do that!" Alistair stood quickly from the stone bench and took thee large steps backward. "You said yourself that he threatened to kill you…imagine what he would do to me!"
Leliana shook her head as she stood from the bench and walked over to where Alistair was standing. "I am the last person he is going to want to see and anything that I say on the matter he will take as me merely trying to make him feel better. If he hears it from you, he will believe it. I know your intentions are pure and I'm sure Zevran will see that too and will calm down. Then the three of us can discuss what needs to be done and then tackle trying to explain it all to Rose. THAT is the conversation that you should truly be worried about."
Alistair glanced up at the second floor of Leliana's house and drew a heavy sigh. "I suppose, if you think it is best….by Andraste I hope you are right."
"I think I am. I'll keep an ear out for trouble but I think that if you talked to him as you just did me, he will understand." Leliana squeezed Alistair's arm as a small gesture of support.
As he walked out of the garden and to the house Alistair glanced over to a large tree around the back of the house where the kids were playing on a wooden swing. "This is for her; all for her." He thought to himself as he took one more deep breath and walked through the door.
Once Morrigan was a safe distance away Alistair made his way over to Leliana who was standing near the side door, leaning upon the house and laughing.
"Anders and I heard a lot of yelling upstairs so we decided it was probably best for us to keep the children outside." Alistair sat upon the stump that Morrigan had just vacated. "Is everything okay? Anders said that there had been a commotion before you and I came into the house as well."
Leliana shook her head and Alistair could recognize the unmistakable sign of concern in her eyes. "This is very hard for him Alistair, Rose and Nelaros are Zevran's everything."
"But I'm not going to take her away from him; not right away anyway!" Alistair stood from the stump and held his hands out to his sides. "Look at me Leli, I'm in no shape to take care of a child, I have barely been able to take care of myself for the last eight years. I know how much they mean to each other. When Rose got the slightest inkling that something was wrong with her Uncle Zev she was ready to run up the stairs and 'make him better'. Anders and I had to drag her kicking and screaming outside."
Leliana sighed as she let out a slight giggle. "To be completely honest I think that Rose probably could have gotten through to him better than even I could; but I would not want her to see him like this."
"So what happened?"
Leliana nodded in the direction of the garden. "Let's take a walk; shall we?"
Upon entering the garden Leliana drew in a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent of Andraste's Grace that lingered in the air. She then sat down upon the stone bench and motioned for Alistair to join her.
"Well? What happened?"
"Zevran scared me today Alistair." Leliana let out a heavy sigh. "When I looked into his eyes there was nothing there…nothing. He was so angry and no matter what I did I just could not snap him out of it; he even threatened to hurt or kill me if I didn't drop the issue."
Alistair stood abruptly from the bench. "He did what?"
Leliana grabbed Alistair's arm and beckoned him to sit. "No Alistair, sit down. I was able to get him past that; thank the Maker that I was trained as a bard and therefore know how to hide my nerves. I got him to let me go and after I left the room I sang what the bards call a 'captivating song' that seemed to calm him quite a bit."
Alistair's expression calmed some. "So what do we do now. I didn't want to cause any more trouble for anyone but it seems where one problem is solved six more are created."
"Well, I guess what I need to know is what you intend to do?" Leliana placed a hand upon Alistair's leg. "You said that you are in no shape to take care of Rose, so how do you intend on getting yourself to the point that you need to be at? Once you get yourself to that point, then what? If you were to take Rose to live with you would you stay here or move elsewhere? What about Zevran, will he still be a part of her life?"
Alistair placed his hand over his mouth as he drew in a heavy sigh. "Wow…I guess I hadn't really thought about it. I wasn't really expecting for Rose to find anything out so quickly."
Leliana laughed. "Children have a way of throwing a kink into even the best laid plans." Leliana gave Alistair a big smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "That is parenthood lesson number one my friend. Okay so as not to overwhelm you, let us take this one question at a time." Leliana crossed her legs and clutched her topmost knee with both hands. "How do you intend to transform yourself from this…to a father?"
Alistair thought deeply for a moment. He knew that he wanted to be the best father he could be for her; but how would he do it? There had been a few occasions already where the temptation of the bottle almost got the better of him (a couple of times it did get the better of him). "I suppose some time away would do me some good, maybe go to Redcliffe and visit Eamon. He never did take any nonsense from me, I doubt that will have changed in the past few years."
Leliana nodded. "I think that might be a good idea."
Alistair shook his head. "But I promised Rose that I would never leave her again. I cannot go back on my word; we are on thin ice as it is."
"It might be a tough one to explain, but I'm sure she will come around when you explain to her that it is only going to be for a short time. And you will of course write to her every day while you are gone." Leliana reached up and gently picked up Alistair's mother's amulet from his shirt. "And maybe leaving something important behind might convince her that you will come back to retrieve it?"
Alistair glanced down at the amulet. He had not taken it off for more than a moment since Ruthi gave it back to him when they were camped outside of Redcliffe some nine years ago. He nodded, "I can try that I suppose. She seems sensible enough, and very smart for her age."
Leliana smiled. "Oh yes, very smart, and deadly accurate when throwing fruit in anger."
Alistair chuckled "You saw that, did you?"
"I probably should have warned you about her propensity to throw things. She is a sweet girl but has a bit of her mother's temper." Leliana gave Alistair a sly smile. "Okay so I suppose the next question would be what you intend to do once you come back from your sabbatical in Redcliffe?
Are you going to take her right away?"
Alistair shook his head. "No, no I wouldn't do that. I suppose she will need to get to know me better, and I her."
She gave him an approving nod and a smile. "Then what? Once she has grown accustomed to you will you stay in Denerim? If not where will you go?"
"I'd rather like to move to Rainesfere, I always enjoyed it there, it is quiet, there are places to go hunting and fishing; plus Teagan was always good to me, I'm sure he would help me out if I had any questions."
"Alright, so the big one...when all is said and done, what about Zev?"
"I…I don't know Leliana." Alistair shook his head. "I mean I want him to stay a part of her life, more than anything. But I can't see us staying in Denerim and I can't see him living in Rainesfere; though he would be more than welcome to. I guess that is something that I will have to work out with Zev. Besides, that will be quite some time down the road."
"Now here comes the fun part." Leliana looked at him shyly. "I think that you should go tell him…without me."
"Maker no; I can't do that!" Alistair stood quickly from the stone bench and took thee large steps backward. "You said yourself that he threatened to kill you…imagine what he would do to me!"
Leliana shook her head as she stood from the bench and walked over to where Alistair was standing. "I am the last person he is going to want to see and anything that I say on the matter he will take as me merely trying to make him feel better. If he hears it from you, he will believe it. I know your intentions are pure and I'm sure Zevran will see that too and will calm down. Then the three of us can discuss what needs to be done and then tackle trying to explain it all to Rose. THAT is the conversation that you should truly be worried about."
Alistair glanced up at the second floor of Leliana's house and drew a heavy sigh. "I suppose, if you think it is best….by Andraste I hope you are right."
"I think I am. I'll keep an ear out for trouble but I think that if you talked to him as you just did me, he will understand." Leliana squeezed Alistair's arm as a small gesture of support.
As he walked out of the garden and to the house Alistair glanced over to a large tree around the back of the house where the kids were playing on a wooden swing. "This is for her; all for her." He thought to himself as he took one more deep breath and walked through the door.
#90
Posté 19 juillet 2010 - 06:05
Gilgamesh1138
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I reviewed on FF.net, but I love that Ali is growing up! Nice convo between him and Leli.
#91
Posté 19 juillet 2010 - 06:44
VioletTheirin
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Awww....thanks Gil....I know you like it and I luv ya!!!!
#92
Posté 20 juillet 2010 - 02:21
Lyna357
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"Children have a way of throwing a kink into even the best laid plans." Isn't that the truth! A great chapter I really enjoyed reading, Violet.
#93
Posté 20 juillet 2010 - 03:59
VioletTheirin
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LOL Lyna...as a mother of three boys, kinks in plans have become a way of life for me! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter
#94
Posté 22 juillet 2010 - 12:34
DrunkenMonkey
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this is epic. can you write the story for da 2 please?
#95
Posté 22 juillet 2010 - 04:04
VioletTheirin
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If the wonderful folks at Bioware would allow it, SURE!! Thanks for reading!!
#96
Posté 23 juillet 2010 - 09:53
DrunkenMonkey
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just one thing isnt soris married to 'the mouse' as he calls her or did i miss somthing?
#97
Posté 23 juillet 2010 - 12:08
VioletTheirin
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The "mouse" is taken by the Tevinters during the trouble in the Alienage. In the end game thing it says that he marries a human woman and has a bunch of kids with her
#98
Posté 23 juillet 2010 - 12:18
DrunkenMonkey
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Ok my game glitched so it frozed just after the achie fight on my city elf..
#100
Posté 18 août 2010 - 06:11
VioletTheirin
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Chapter 16 ~The Crow's Final Flight~
After picking up the fragments of broken furniture and
placing them in the corner of the room, Zevran lay down upon the bed and shut
his eyes tightly. The emotions from moment ago still raged within the back
of his mind, making him grow weary until he succumbed to sleep.
The gentle brush of fingertips upon his hairline made Zevran snap from his
slumber. He looked up to find a sympathetic pair of emerald eyes staring
back at him. “Eruthiawen?”
She smiled. “Yes Zev.”
Zevran looked around to find that he was back in Ruthi’s camp within The
Fade. “How is this possible? Rose said that you told her we could only
find you when our thoughts were happy and not tormented. Is this not the
case?”
“Well first off it is I that finds you and it is easier for me to do so when
you think of me and are happy. However, when you are especially tormented
it sends out a different…signal if you will. I knew you needed me and
here I am.” Ruthi sat down beside her husband and took his hand in hers.
“Talk to me Zev.”
“I’m losing her, mi amore.” Zevran replied without looking up; trying his
best to hide the hurt that was radiating from his face. “My heart is so
torn, I am happy that Alistair has returned and that she will have the father
that she deserves, but there is this selfish part of me that feels like it is
just too easy. I have spent eight years raising his daughter, being there
when she was sick, when she was scared, being her Father; only to no longer be
needed the second he arrives in her life. And it is that part of me
wishes he would just disappear again!”
“Zevran, Rose still needs you and will continue to need you more than you
know.” Ruthi used her free hand to turn his face to look at hers.
“Forgive me if I find that impossible to believe,” he muttered bitterly.
“Alistair has returned and Rose will not require my presence any longer.
What else is there to say?”
Ruthi giggled lightly. “Zevran have you ever known me to tell you a
lie or to sugar coat the truth?”
“Well, no...but how could you possibly kno...”
“Just call it a mother’s instinct; intuition if you will, but you have to
trust me Zevran. You are doing the right thing and I love you for it.”
“Why then, mi amore, does it seem terribly wrong?” Zevran could feel
the touch of her skin fading from his grasp. “Mi amore?”
“You have to trust me Zevran….trust me…”
______________________________________________________________
Zevran awoke to the feeling of a wet tongue licking at his hand. He
rolled over to see Emaba staring at him with a look of doggy concern.
Zevran grinned as he scratched the hound behind the ears.
At that moment Alistair peeked into the room from the hallway. “I figured
it would be best for me to let Emaba wake you up.” Alistair stepped into
the room and slid a chair from the corner toward the center of the room and sat
down. “I thought that maybe we should talk.”
Zevran sat the rest of the way up and moved to the edge of the bed.
“There is nothing to talk about Alistair.”
“But you are upset Zevran, I didn’t want to turn anyone’s life upside down.”
Zevran lightly chuckled. “Ah but Alistair change is inevitable; and with
change comes chaos, it is the nature of the beast.”
“I…I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”
Zevran held out a hand and interrupted Alistair mid sentence. “No,
Alistair…you should not be sorry. I reacted like a child and for that it
should be me that apologizes to you. You are Rose’s father and you
have every right to be a part of her life. She deserves to have a
father.”
This time it was Alistair that interrupted. “She has a father Zevran, YOU
are her father. To Rose I am just a man that wandered into her life, it
is you who was there for her for the past eight…almost nine years. And I
must say this, I pray to the Maker that I can be even half the father that you
didn’t have to be.”
“The fact that you feel that way touches me, truly. Thank you Alistair.”
Zevran gave his former companion a kind smile. “But I am afraid I
must beg the question; what now? What are your plans for Rose now that
you are back in her life and within these plans is there any room for me?”
“Of course there is Zevran, I would not dream of just tearing her away from
you…however.”
“Ah, the infamous ‘catch’ is it?” Zevran chuckled lightly. “Well
out with it Alistair…however what?”
Alistair nervously cleared his throat. “However, once Rose has gotten to
know me better and my life is straightened out some I think it would be a good
idea that she and I move from Denerim; possibly to Rainesfere, and work on becoming
a family.” Alistair flinched slightly, as if subconsciously he was
expecting to be punched.
Zevran however felt as if someone knocked the wind out of him. While he
knew that this was eventually going to come, hearing the words stung a lot more
than he anticipated. The elf took a deep breath in an attempt to keep his
emotions at bay. Once he felt he was in control of himself he replied
quietly. “Where does that leave me?”
“Zevran, even if we left I would never take you out of her life completely; in
fact if you wanted to you could come with us though I did not think Rainesfere
would be a place that you would enjoy much.” Alistair stood up and walked
to the window that looked out over the gardens. “And it won’t be for a
while…a long while.”
Zevran walked across the room and leaned against the wall beside the window.
“So what do you see happening in the immediate future?”
“I was telling Leliana that I thought it might be a good idea for me to go to
Redcliffe for a while so that I can have the opportunity to get myself into a
position where I am able to even work on being a good father to her.”
Alistair turned away from the window to face Zevran.
“Then when I come back to Denerim I will have to work on she and I getting to
know one another and once we have done that and I am sure she would be
comfortable with it then we will begin planning on moving away.”
Zev felt a slight sense of relief wash over him. While he knew she still
would be leaving at least he would have ample time to prepare himself for the
eventual separation; and knowing that he would be able to stay as much of a
part of her life as he wanted made him feel that much better. He smiled
and nodded at Alistair.
Alistair smiled back. “Now comes the really fun part of all of this…”
Zevran raised one eyebrow quizzically in Alistair’s direction. “And what,
my dear Alistair, would that be?”
“Weeeell...I sort of promised Rose that now that I’m here I would not
leave again…” Alistair bit his lower lip nervously.
Zevran sniggered loudly…”Ah, now that is one bit of fun I do not think I shall
partake in…you think the apple to the head hurt; don’t be shocked if she tries
to hang you from the tree!”
“Thaaanks for your reassuring words Zevran, you are soooo much
help.”
Zevran smiled as he gave Alistair a friendly pat on the back.
Alistair took a deep breath. “Well….I suppose it’s now or never…”
Alistair walked out of the room but quickly stepped back in. “Oh, before
I forget…I think Leliana wanted to speak with you.”
Zevran could feel the blood drain from his face as he remembered the
confrontation that happened between them a little more than an hour earlier.
This time, it was Alistair’s turn to laugh as he noticed the assassin’s
changing demeanor. “You know that fun you mentioned earlier? Looks
like you will be partaking after all.”
The assassin groaned as he remembered the last time he angered Leliana and was
faced with the wrath of her Orlesian boots. He quickly grabbed a small
metal tray that held some coins and a key or two off of the table near the bed.
He dumped the contents out onto the table and gingerly slid the tray into
his trousers.
As he looked up he noticed Alistair was still standing in the doorway, now with
a completely bewildered look on his face. Zevran laughed “One never can
be too careful, no?”
Alistair quickly shook his head, trying to rid himself of any thought that had
attempted to enter his mind. “Nope…not going to touch that one...not with
a ten foot pole.” He then turned on heel and continued out the door
toward his original destination.
Zevran laughed and took a moment to compose himself, closing his eyes and
breathing deeply; trying to figure out what he would say to his friend who he
feared would no longer want anything to do with him. To his surprise when
he opened his eyes Leliana was standing in front of him smiling.
“I am very happy to see that you are feeling better, you had me quite worried
Zevran.” She said sweetly as she approached the elf.
“Oh my sweet Leliana…I am so sorry for…”
Leliana quickly placed a finger upon his mouth as she interrupted him.
“Stop…it is fine. You are much too hard on yourself Zevran.”
“But Leliana, I almost ki…” Zevran found that phrase…that word stuck in his
throat. “I almost hurt you.”
Leliana sat upon the floor with her back against the foot of the bed. She
then patted the floor beside her, beckoning for Zevran to join her.
Zevran began to comply but as he tried to sit he was abruptly reminded of his
makeshift shield. Though it was nearly unheard of for him to blush his cheeks
began to turn pink as he attempted to surreptitiously pull the tray from his
pants. His cheeks turned a dark crimson when he realized his attempt at
stealth was unsuccessful.
“Why in the Makers name…” Leliana found herself completely puzzled.
Zevran tossed the tray onto the bed and sat beside Leliana. “I thought
you were going to be a lot angrier than you are and after the last time I made
you mad…”
“Enough said.” Leliana replied quickly as she felt the warmth of a blush
approaching her own cheeks.
After taking a moment to push her urge to break out into laughter into the back
of her mind Leliana continued. “Zevran for as long as I have known you
and as much as you have changed in those years there is one thing that has
always stayed the same.”
“Ah…my devilishly good looks?”
Leliana glared as she found she was once again pushing back a laugh. “Be
serious Zevran! The one thing that has not changed about you is that for
all of your swaggering bravado deep down inside you truly don’t believe you are
deserving of anything.”
Zevran looked down and shrugged. “Should I believe any differently?
I am after all an assassin, I’ve killed many men without mercy and
without remorse. Or maybe the better question would be when have I ever
been given anything in order to feel unworthy of it?” He could feel the
anger and hurt beginning to bubble up inside of him once more. Again
Zevran closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, trying to dominate his
feelings before they got him into any more trouble.
“Zevran I know things did not work out with Ruthi the way that you wished that
they would, but that does not mean that you do not deserve happiness. And
to spite the fact that you don’t see it there are plenty of gifts that you have
been given and you frequently make it known that you feel that you are
undeserving of them.” Leliana insisted.
“Okay my dear woman, what exactly are these great and wonderful things, hmm?”
Zevran once again tried to bite down his anger.
“Nelaros.” Leliana replied plainly.
Ice cold chills fell down Zevran’s body as he bowed his head in submission,
unable to say a word in reply.
“Nelaros is your son, a son whom Ruthi bore to you as a way to show you the
love that she felt for you and the appreciation that she had for all that you
did for her…and for that matter what you are still doing for her.”
Leliana gently turned Zevran’s face to face her own. “And while
there is no doubt in my mind that you love him, it seems as though you have
never been able to fully accept that he is yours. You refuse to allow
yourself to have any sort of fatherly feelings toward him, instead you choose
to remind yourself how unworthy you are of having a family and love. You
shower love and affection upon him…and Rose for that matter but you never allow
yourself to enjoy the effects of that love because you don’t believe that you
deserve it.”
Zevran remained silent, unsure of what to say.
“You have got to stop living in the past Zevran!” Leliana raised her
voice. “We have all done things that we are not proud of…you seem to
forget that I lived a very similar life to yours when I was younger; yet I do
not deprive myself of happiness. I know that the person that I was back
then is not the person that I am now. So you see, Zevran the only one
that is preventing you from being happy is you.”
A great many thoughts crept into the assassins mind due to Leliana’s words, but
what she said next seemed to open a floodgate of sorts within his subconscious.
“Zevran the Crow is dead.”
He looked at her with questioning eyes as she continued.
“That Zevran was mortally wounded along the Imperial Highway and was finished
off in a back alley not 5 miles from where you are sitting right now.”
Leliana placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “It is time to
bury him and move on with life.”
The pair remained seated together in a long silence as Zevran allowed Leliana’s
words to really sink in. Ten minutes or so passed before Leliana spoke.
“Are you okay?”
“Si, mi querida.”
Zevran then turned and wrapped his arms around Leliana, hugging her tightly as
he buried his face in her shoulder. She returned the hug and gently
rubbed his back in an effort to soothe her friend who she knew without a doubt
was hurting deeply.
“Would you mind watching the children for just a little while?” Zevran
asked as he sat back up. “There is something I need to take care of; I
promise it won’t take long.”
“Do what you need to.” Leliana smiled sweetly. “As long as you’re
sure you are alright.”
He nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. “I will be…very soon.”
The sun was beginning to fall low in the sky as Zevran ducked into one of the
many alleyways that spurred off of the busy streets of Denerim. Though it
had been nearly nine years since he last was there, he was able to navigate his
way through the maze of alleys to get to his destination with ease. He
walked quickly with determination but stopped cold when a set of stairs came
into view; the stairs on which his best friend Taliesen stood as he tried to
convince Zevran to return to the Crows with him.
Zevran slowly approached the high stone steps, his heart racing and his stomach
turning.
“Leliana was right…this is where it all ended.” He thought to himself as
he looked down at the first step. Zevran knelt in front of it and
placed his hand against the cold stone. He closed his eyes and saw
Taliesen laying there, his head upon that very stone; staring back at Zevran
with empty eyes. Zevran’s memory then turned to the poisoned dagger that was sticking
out of Taliesen’s chest… Zevran’s dagger. He remembered the
sickening sound that it made as he pulled it from the chest of the man who was
the closest thing to a brother the assassin had ever known; he could see the
blood as it dripped off of it, staining the dirt beneath his feet.
Zevran stood up and began to walk away, unable to bear the memory but Leliana’s
words continued to ring in his ears. “Zevran the Crow is dead….it is time to
move on.”
“Have to let go…” Zevran took a deep breath as he pulled a pack
that he had been carrying off of his back. From within he pulled two
daggers; the same daggers that he wielded when he tried to kill Eruthiawen…the
same daggers that he used to kill Taliesen.
Zevran walked past the side of the stairs to a grassy area beneath a tree.
He dumped out the contents of the pack upon the ground; two large white
pieces of cloth, a skin of water, a small vial filled with a dark purple
liquid, and two small bowls. He placed the bowls in front of him pouring
the water equally into both. He then poured the purple liquid out of the
vial into one of the bowls. Zev then picked up the two daggers and placed
them in the bowl with the purple liquid. “I doubt there is any
residual poison on these but it never hurts to be careful.”
As he allowed the daggers to soak, Zevran took a moment to reflect; letting his
mind take him back to his earliest memories of being a child of a ****house,
to the torture that he suffered at the hands of The Crows. Zevran
bit back tears that burned at his eyes as the smiling face of his beloved Rinna
came into focus only to be replaced with the memory of her begging for her
life.
Then came Ruthi and the mercy that she showed him when she allowed him to live
after he was determined to kill her; then Taliesen came to the forefront of his
thoughts. Zevran could still hear his fellow Crow as he begged to be
allowed to help Zevran finish the contract; kill Ruthi and return home to
Antiva. Then finally, Zevran remembered plunging his dagger into Taliesen’s
heart.
One more deep breath then Zevran picked up the daggers from out of the
solution. He carefully wiped them dry, making sure he got up every last
bit of liquid. He laid out the cloth and placed one of the daggers on top
of it.
Zevran closed his eyes as he whispered “Mi sangre en la memoria de la sangre
que he derramado.” {My blood in memory of the blood I have spilled.} With
one last deep breath Zevran plunged the dagger into his hand allowing his blood
to stain the blade. He set the blade down with the other one and
used the bowl of clean water to wash his wounded hand and used the clean cloth
to wrap it in.
Once his hand was bandaged Zevran folded the daggers up in the cloth they were
laying upon.
He dumped out the water and used the bowl to dig in the dirt beside the
staircase. When he was satisfied with the hole he created he picked up
the daggers and after saying a silent prayer he placed a kiss upon them and
laid them down in the hole. Zevran covered the blades with dirt and
gathered his things; stealing one final glance at the alleyway as the last rays
of sun faded from the sky.
After picking up the fragments of broken furniture and
placing them in the corner of the room, Zevran lay down upon the bed and shut
his eyes tightly. The emotions from moment ago still raged within the back
of his mind, making him grow weary until he succumbed to sleep.
The gentle brush of fingertips upon his hairline made Zevran snap from his
slumber. He looked up to find a sympathetic pair of emerald eyes staring
back at him. “Eruthiawen?”
She smiled. “Yes Zev.”
Zevran looked around to find that he was back in Ruthi’s camp within The
Fade. “How is this possible? Rose said that you told her we could only
find you when our thoughts were happy and not tormented. Is this not the
case?”
“Well first off it is I that finds you and it is easier for me to do so when
you think of me and are happy. However, when you are especially tormented
it sends out a different…signal if you will. I knew you needed me and
here I am.” Ruthi sat down beside her husband and took his hand in hers.
“Talk to me Zev.”
“I’m losing her, mi amore.” Zevran replied without looking up; trying his
best to hide the hurt that was radiating from his face. “My heart is so
torn, I am happy that Alistair has returned and that she will have the father
that she deserves, but there is this selfish part of me that feels like it is
just too easy. I have spent eight years raising his daughter, being there
when she was sick, when she was scared, being her Father; only to no longer be
needed the second he arrives in her life. And it is that part of me
wishes he would just disappear again!”
“Zevran, Rose still needs you and will continue to need you more than you
know.” Ruthi used her free hand to turn his face to look at hers.
“Forgive me if I find that impossible to believe,” he muttered bitterly.
“Alistair has returned and Rose will not require my presence any longer.
What else is there to say?”
Ruthi giggled lightly. “Zevran have you ever known me to tell you a
lie or to sugar coat the truth?”
“Well, no...but how could you possibly kno...”
“Just call it a mother’s instinct; intuition if you will, but you have to
trust me Zevran. You are doing the right thing and I love you for it.”
“Why then, mi amore, does it seem terribly wrong?” Zevran could feel
the touch of her skin fading from his grasp. “Mi amore?”
“You have to trust me Zevran….trust me…”
______________________________________________________________
Zevran awoke to the feeling of a wet tongue licking at his hand. He
rolled over to see Emaba staring at him with a look of doggy concern.
Zevran grinned as he scratched the hound behind the ears.
At that moment Alistair peeked into the room from the hallway. “I figured
it would be best for me to let Emaba wake you up.” Alistair stepped into
the room and slid a chair from the corner toward the center of the room and sat
down. “I thought that maybe we should talk.”
Zevran sat the rest of the way up and moved to the edge of the bed.
“There is nothing to talk about Alistair.”
“But you are upset Zevran, I didn’t want to turn anyone’s life upside down.”
Zevran lightly chuckled. “Ah but Alistair change is inevitable; and with
change comes chaos, it is the nature of the beast.”
“I…I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”
Zevran held out a hand and interrupted Alistair mid sentence. “No,
Alistair…you should not be sorry. I reacted like a child and for that it
should be me that apologizes to you. You are Rose’s father and you
have every right to be a part of her life. She deserves to have a
father.”
This time it was Alistair that interrupted. “She has a father Zevran, YOU
are her father. To Rose I am just a man that wandered into her life, it
is you who was there for her for the past eight…almost nine years. And I
must say this, I pray to the Maker that I can be even half the father that you
didn’t have to be.”
“The fact that you feel that way touches me, truly. Thank you Alistair.”
Zevran gave his former companion a kind smile. “But I am afraid I
must beg the question; what now? What are your plans for Rose now that
you are back in her life and within these plans is there any room for me?”
“Of course there is Zevran, I would not dream of just tearing her away from
you…however.”
“Ah, the infamous ‘catch’ is it?” Zevran chuckled lightly. “Well
out with it Alistair…however what?”
Alistair nervously cleared his throat. “However, once Rose has gotten to
know me better and my life is straightened out some I think it would be a good
idea that she and I move from Denerim; possibly to Rainesfere, and work on becoming
a family.” Alistair flinched slightly, as if subconsciously he was
expecting to be punched.
Zevran however felt as if someone knocked the wind out of him. While he
knew that this was eventually going to come, hearing the words stung a lot more
than he anticipated. The elf took a deep breath in an attempt to keep his
emotions at bay. Once he felt he was in control of himself he replied
quietly. “Where does that leave me?”
“Zevran, even if we left I would never take you out of her life completely; in
fact if you wanted to you could come with us though I did not think Rainesfere
would be a place that you would enjoy much.” Alistair stood up and walked
to the window that looked out over the gardens. “And it won’t be for a
while…a long while.”
Zevran walked across the room and leaned against the wall beside the window.
“So what do you see happening in the immediate future?”
“I was telling Leliana that I thought it might be a good idea for me to go to
Redcliffe for a while so that I can have the opportunity to get myself into a
position where I am able to even work on being a good father to her.”
Alistair turned away from the window to face Zevran.
“Then when I come back to Denerim I will have to work on she and I getting to
know one another and once we have done that and I am sure she would be
comfortable with it then we will begin planning on moving away.”
Zev felt a slight sense of relief wash over him. While he knew she still
would be leaving at least he would have ample time to prepare himself for the
eventual separation; and knowing that he would be able to stay as much of a
part of her life as he wanted made him feel that much better. He smiled
and nodded at Alistair.
Alistair smiled back. “Now comes the really fun part of all of this…”
Zevran raised one eyebrow quizzically in Alistair’s direction. “And what,
my dear Alistair, would that be?”
“Weeeell...I sort of promised Rose that now that I’m here I would not
leave again…” Alistair bit his lower lip nervously.
Zevran sniggered loudly…”Ah, now that is one bit of fun I do not think I shall
partake in…you think the apple to the head hurt; don’t be shocked if she tries
to hang you from the tree!”
“Thaaanks for your reassuring words Zevran, you are soooo much
help.”
Zevran smiled as he gave Alistair a friendly pat on the back.
Alistair took a deep breath. “Well….I suppose it’s now or never…”
Alistair walked out of the room but quickly stepped back in. “Oh, before
I forget…I think Leliana wanted to speak with you.”
Zevran could feel the blood drain from his face as he remembered the
confrontation that happened between them a little more than an hour earlier.
This time, it was Alistair’s turn to laugh as he noticed the assassin’s
changing demeanor. “You know that fun you mentioned earlier? Looks
like you will be partaking after all.”
The assassin groaned as he remembered the last time he angered Leliana and was
faced with the wrath of her Orlesian boots. He quickly grabbed a small
metal tray that held some coins and a key or two off of the table near the bed.
He dumped the contents out onto the table and gingerly slid the tray into
his trousers.
As he looked up he noticed Alistair was still standing in the doorway, now with
a completely bewildered look on his face. Zevran laughed “One never can
be too careful, no?”
Alistair quickly shook his head, trying to rid himself of any thought that had
attempted to enter his mind. “Nope…not going to touch that one...not with
a ten foot pole.” He then turned on heel and continued out the door
toward his original destination.
Zevran laughed and took a moment to compose himself, closing his eyes and
breathing deeply; trying to figure out what he would say to his friend who he
feared would no longer want anything to do with him. To his surprise when
he opened his eyes Leliana was standing in front of him smiling.
“I am very happy to see that you are feeling better, you had me quite worried
Zevran.” She said sweetly as she approached the elf.
“Oh my sweet Leliana…I am so sorry for…”
Leliana quickly placed a finger upon his mouth as she interrupted him.
“Stop…it is fine. You are much too hard on yourself Zevran.”
“But Leliana, I almost ki…” Zevran found that phrase…that word stuck in his
throat. “I almost hurt you.”
Leliana sat upon the floor with her back against the foot of the bed. She
then patted the floor beside her, beckoning for Zevran to join her.
Zevran began to comply but as he tried to sit he was abruptly reminded of his
makeshift shield. Though it was nearly unheard of for him to blush his cheeks
began to turn pink as he attempted to surreptitiously pull the tray from his
pants. His cheeks turned a dark crimson when he realized his attempt at
stealth was unsuccessful.
“Why in the Makers name…” Leliana found herself completely puzzled.
Zevran tossed the tray onto the bed and sat beside Leliana. “I thought
you were going to be a lot angrier than you are and after the last time I made
you mad…”
“Enough said.” Leliana replied quickly as she felt the warmth of a blush
approaching her own cheeks.
After taking a moment to push her urge to break out into laughter into the back
of her mind Leliana continued. “Zevran for as long as I have known you
and as much as you have changed in those years there is one thing that has
always stayed the same.”
“Ah…my devilishly good looks?”
Leliana glared as she found she was once again pushing back a laugh. “Be
serious Zevran! The one thing that has not changed about you is that for
all of your swaggering bravado deep down inside you truly don’t believe you are
deserving of anything.”
Zevran looked down and shrugged. “Should I believe any differently?
I am after all an assassin, I’ve killed many men without mercy and
without remorse. Or maybe the better question would be when have I ever
been given anything in order to feel unworthy of it?” He could feel the
anger and hurt beginning to bubble up inside of him once more. Again
Zevran closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath, trying to dominate his
feelings before they got him into any more trouble.
“Zevran I know things did not work out with Ruthi the way that you wished that
they would, but that does not mean that you do not deserve happiness. And
to spite the fact that you don’t see it there are plenty of gifts that you have
been given and you frequently make it known that you feel that you are
undeserving of them.” Leliana insisted.
“Okay my dear woman, what exactly are these great and wonderful things, hmm?”
Zevran once again tried to bite down his anger.
“Nelaros.” Leliana replied plainly.
Ice cold chills fell down Zevran’s body as he bowed his head in submission,
unable to say a word in reply.
“Nelaros is your son, a son whom Ruthi bore to you as a way to show you the
love that she felt for you and the appreciation that she had for all that you
did for her…and for that matter what you are still doing for her.”
Leliana gently turned Zevran’s face to face her own. “And while
there is no doubt in my mind that you love him, it seems as though you have
never been able to fully accept that he is yours. You refuse to allow
yourself to have any sort of fatherly feelings toward him, instead you choose
to remind yourself how unworthy you are of having a family and love. You
shower love and affection upon him…and Rose for that matter but you never allow
yourself to enjoy the effects of that love because you don’t believe that you
deserve it.”
Zevran remained silent, unsure of what to say.
“You have got to stop living in the past Zevran!” Leliana raised her
voice. “We have all done things that we are not proud of…you seem to
forget that I lived a very similar life to yours when I was younger; yet I do
not deprive myself of happiness. I know that the person that I was back
then is not the person that I am now. So you see, Zevran the only one
that is preventing you from being happy is you.”
A great many thoughts crept into the assassins mind due to Leliana’s words, but
what she said next seemed to open a floodgate of sorts within his subconscious.
“Zevran the Crow is dead.”
He looked at her with questioning eyes as she continued.
“That Zevran was mortally wounded along the Imperial Highway and was finished
off in a back alley not 5 miles from where you are sitting right now.”
Leliana placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “It is time to
bury him and move on with life.”
The pair remained seated together in a long silence as Zevran allowed Leliana’s
words to really sink in. Ten minutes or so passed before Leliana spoke.
“Are you okay?”
“Si, mi querida.”
Zevran then turned and wrapped his arms around Leliana, hugging her tightly as
he buried his face in her shoulder. She returned the hug and gently
rubbed his back in an effort to soothe her friend who she knew without a doubt
was hurting deeply.
“Would you mind watching the children for just a little while?” Zevran
asked as he sat back up. “There is something I need to take care of; I
promise it won’t take long.”
“Do what you need to.” Leliana smiled sweetly. “As long as you’re
sure you are alright.”
He nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. “I will be…very soon.”
The sun was beginning to fall low in the sky as Zevran ducked into one of the
many alleyways that spurred off of the busy streets of Denerim. Though it
had been nearly nine years since he last was there, he was able to navigate his
way through the maze of alleys to get to his destination with ease. He
walked quickly with determination but stopped cold when a set of stairs came
into view; the stairs on which his best friend Taliesen stood as he tried to
convince Zevran to return to the Crows with him.
Zevran slowly approached the high stone steps, his heart racing and his stomach
turning.
“Leliana was right…this is where it all ended.” He thought to himself as
he looked down at the first step. Zevran knelt in front of it and
placed his hand against the cold stone. He closed his eyes and saw
Taliesen laying there, his head upon that very stone; staring back at Zevran
with empty eyes. Zevran’s memory then turned to the poisoned dagger that was sticking
out of Taliesen’s chest… Zevran’s dagger. He remembered the
sickening sound that it made as he pulled it from the chest of the man who was
the closest thing to a brother the assassin had ever known; he could see the
blood as it dripped off of it, staining the dirt beneath his feet.
Zevran stood up and began to walk away, unable to bear the memory but Leliana’s
words continued to ring in his ears. “Zevran the Crow is dead….it is time to
move on.”
“Have to let go…” Zevran took a deep breath as he pulled a pack
that he had been carrying off of his back. From within he pulled two
daggers; the same daggers that he wielded when he tried to kill Eruthiawen…the
same daggers that he used to kill Taliesen.
Zevran walked past the side of the stairs to a grassy area beneath a tree.
He dumped out the contents of the pack upon the ground; two large white
pieces of cloth, a skin of water, a small vial filled with a dark purple
liquid, and two small bowls. He placed the bowls in front of him pouring
the water equally into both. He then poured the purple liquid out of the
vial into one of the bowls. Zev then picked up the two daggers and placed
them in the bowl with the purple liquid. “I doubt there is any
residual poison on these but it never hurts to be careful.”
As he allowed the daggers to soak, Zevran took a moment to reflect; letting his
mind take him back to his earliest memories of being a child of a ****house,
to the torture that he suffered at the hands of The Crows. Zevran
bit back tears that burned at his eyes as the smiling face of his beloved Rinna
came into focus only to be replaced with the memory of her begging for her
life.
Then came Ruthi and the mercy that she showed him when she allowed him to live
after he was determined to kill her; then Taliesen came to the forefront of his
thoughts. Zevran could still hear his fellow Crow as he begged to be
allowed to help Zevran finish the contract; kill Ruthi and return home to
Antiva. Then finally, Zevran remembered plunging his dagger into Taliesen’s
heart.
One more deep breath then Zevran picked up the daggers from out of the
solution. He carefully wiped them dry, making sure he got up every last
bit of liquid. He laid out the cloth and placed one of the daggers on top
of it.
Zevran closed his eyes as he whispered “Mi sangre en la memoria de la sangre
que he derramado.” {My blood in memory of the blood I have spilled.} With
one last deep breath Zevran plunged the dagger into his hand allowing his blood
to stain the blade. He set the blade down with the other one and
used the bowl of clean water to wash his wounded hand and used the clean cloth
to wrap it in.
Once his hand was bandaged Zevran folded the daggers up in the cloth they were
laying upon.
He dumped out the water and used the bowl to dig in the dirt beside the
staircase. When he was satisfied with the hole he created he picked up
the daggers and after saying a silent prayer he placed a kiss upon them and
laid them down in the hole. Zevran covered the blades with dirt and
gathered his things; stealing one final glance at the alleyway as the last rays
of sun faded from the sky.
