Author's Note:
The first in a long series of short one-shots that fall between the main chapters of Well-Woven Net - hence, "stray strands". :) I'll be posting these in the order that they were written, rather than chronological order, to maintain consistency in writing style and all that. ^^;
This piece was written for Valentine's Day 2010, hence the theme. XD Timeline-wise, this falls perhaps the day before Well-Woven Net 14, once the Wardens' party has returned to Denerim for the Landsmeet.
"I brought you something," Zevran announced as he strode out of Denerim's market square.
Alessar looked at the other elf curiously, wondering what he'd found this time. The man was almost as bad as a real, feathered crow, Alessar thought with amusement. He was constantly finding little trinkets or such things and showing them, or outright giving them, to his lover. Sometimes he bought them, if they caught his eye in a marketplace; most times they were things found in the course of exploration. Either way, the Antivan seemed to enjoy surprising him with these small gifts every so often.
The Warden tried not to let his expectations rise as Zevran made his way over to where he waited for the rest of the group, but it was hard not to look forward to one of the Antivan's presents. Even the smallest were usually worth a smile or a laugh.
"I had wondered if I'd ever see this in Ferelden," Zevran said conversationally as he joined Alessar in the shade of an awning. "It's common enough in Antiva, but that is a long way from here, no?" As he spoke, he drew a small, paper-wrapped packet from his belt pouch.
"Some sort of food?" the Warden asked curiously. This was the first time Zevran had brought back such a thing.
"Oh, but so much more than just 'food', cielo," Zevran chuckled as he opened the bundle. Nestled in the wrappings were several dark brown squares, slightly smaller than the palm of an elf's hand. They looked smooth to the touch, and had a slight sheen to them. "When the qunari came to Thedas, they brought these peculiar seeds that they use to make a drink. Dreadful concoction," the assassin said with a comical grimace. "But in Antiva, they use the seeds to make this. Chocolate." The complex word rolled off his tongue with his distinctive accent.
Alessar caught the aroma of the stuff; it seemed sweet and heavy, somehow, and he reached to pick up a square. It was firm and slightly cool. "A confection, then?" He glanced up at the other elf; Zevran was quite well-versed in poisons, and while Alessar certainly wasn't worried about the Antivan trying to kill him anymore, he wasn't sure if some sort of harmless, but potentially embarrassing, prank was out of the question.
"Yes, I suppose you could call it that," Zevran replied, "although I think it leaves other such things far behind." He flashed his best "dare you to" smile. "Try it, hmm?"
Perhaps Alessar should have been more concerned about the assassin's apparent eagerness, but the scent of the chocolate was too much to resist. He gingerly bit into a corner of the square; the stuff broke away without much difficulty and began to melt into a smooth, rich cream on his tongue.
"Oh," was all he could say for a moment. The chocolate had just a hint of bitterness to it, but that only served to enhance its sweetness. The flavor was so rich that he could only describe it as decadent, and it utterly defied comparison to anything he was familiar with. It was strangely... sensual, and as he realized that, he glanced at Zevran warily, wondering for a moment if he had, in fact, just been drugged.
"Divine, isn't it?" the assassin said with a knowing grin. He deftly nicked the square that Alessar was holding, and bit off a corner for himself before handing it back. "Mmm. Possibly worth killing for," he sighed happily.
"It is," the Warden agreed fervently, feeling safer about savoring the taste now that Zevran had eaten some of the stuff himself. "Divine, I mean."
Zevran pressed the packet into his hand. "Perhaps you'd best save it," he chuckled. "It is apparently very hard to come by here, at least for now."
Alessar wondered how much the chocolate had cost, if it had come all the way from Antiva, or elsewhere abroad. Regardless of the price, though, it was a remarkable gift. "Thank you," he said, feeling self-conscious as he always did when gifts like this were given to him. What had he done, after all, to merit that sort of thing?
"You are most welcome, my dear Warden," Zevran replied warmly. "It is good to be able to share a small piece of my home."
The Warden broke off the untouched half of the square he still held, and wrapped it back up with the rest of the chocolate before tucking the packet away. The corner-bitten piece, he broke in half again, and offered a portion to Zevran.
"Hmm? Thank you," the assassin said in mild surprise. At first, Alessar wondered if he'd offended the other elf by offering him his own gift, but Zevran's sudden grin erased that thought.
"Of course you wouldn't know this, but a gift of chocolate is usually given for specific reasons in Antiva," he began to explain as he took another bite of the stuff.
"I can understand why," Alessar murmured. Had there been a "specific reason", here? But Zevran had just said that he wouldn't expect the Warden to know... "It seems rather..." he searched for a milder word than the first one that came to mind, but that was precisely the one that the Antivan elf chose to use.
"Intimate? Yes." Zevran gave him a coy sidelong glance. "Some even claim that it is an aphrodisiac."
Alessar froze, having just taken another bite of chocolate. He looked at the assassin, startled.
"Oh, that is just old wives' tales," the other elf said airily, waving a hand. The mischievous glint in his eyes proved that he was enjoying Alessar's discomfiture, however. "Perhaps the supposed... effect... is just gratitude, no? But, yes, as I was saying, chocolate is often reserved for special occasions... or at least, special acquaintances."
Well... they were certainly on the level of "special acquaintances", although to what degree was still under silent debate. But despite Zevran's almost offhand explanation, the Warden was almost positive that the gift of chocolate had been quite deliberately given.
Alessar looked up, meeting the other elf's gaze. He wished he had more of a gift for words. "I... I'll appreciate it all the more, then," he managed to say, feeling a little foolish, but happy.
"Oh?" Zevran looked surprised for a fraction of a moment, then recovered, giving the Grey Warden his trademark roguish grin. The look in his eyes, however, was one of... relief? "I am most pleased to hear it." He seemed about to say more, but there was a sound of rapid footsteps behind him — Leliana was approaching, carrying several parcels and looking exultant. She's found some fancy pair of shoes, surely, Alessar thought distractedly.
"Always with these interruptions!" Zevran said under his breath, in a mixture of humor and exasperation. He pinned Alessar with a look that promised further discussion — or something like — later.
The Warden nodded slightly in reply, trying, as Leliana began to show off her purchases, not to let his mind dwell too much on where that later conversation might lead.