This story is slowly but surely going to be going through some rewrites. When it is complete I will add a chapter to let you all know it is finished that way anyone who is subscribed to it will know. Nothing huge is going to be changing, the story line will be remaining the same, but there are going to be some conversation changes, and maybe one or two added chapters. There shouldn't be anything that would stop anyone from reading it while I am working on it though.
I really love this story, and I have been wanting to go in and play around with it for awhile now, so I hope everyone likes the new changes!
Zan
Hawke watched the blonde elf toss a goodbye over his shoulder as he started to walk away before turning to see Isabela, Merrill, and Anders all scowling at her. Frowning at the expressions, because she knew exactly what they meant, she let out a sigh and turned back to look at retreating elf.
"Zevran! Wait!"
He paused, sending her a tilted smile that stated he knew exactly what was about to come. "Yes, Champion?"
"Why not stay the night in Kirkwall and head out in the morning? I know Isabela would like to catch up with you, in a completely platonic kind of way," she stated, sending a pointed glance to the pirate, "and from the bouncing that Merrill is doing I'd say she has a few questions for you as well about the Warden."
Zevran studied them all a moment, his smile widening as he turned his gaze to Anders. "And do you have questions as well?"
Somehow Anders managed to look smug and completely embarrassed at the same time, which was rather impressive when she thought about it, and gave a small shrug. "I saw the Commander not too long ago, but I am always interested in learning how she is doing."
Zevran laughed, a rich sound that made Hawke want to smile with him. "Oh, I am sure you are, guapo."
She wanted to ask what they were talking about, and when exactly Anders had seen the Warden since she had heard nothing about it, but those questions were sidetracked by Zevran looking off towards the setting sun, and then moving back to join their group. "I would never turn down the request of a beautiful and strong woman who allowed me my freedom only an hour ago. I am in your debt, yes?"
He laughed again when she raised a brow. "At least allow me the pleasure of buying you a drink, it is the least I can do."
He fell into step beside Anders as they made their way towards the city in the distance, and Hawke listened with half an ear as Merrill stumbled over herself to ask how her former clan member was doing, and Zevran did his best to give evasive answers that only filled the elven mage with more questions.
It was funny to think that when she got the request to hunt down an Antivan assassin that morning she had thought that it would be a straight forward search and return. She should have known better, nothing in this city was ever straight forward or easy.
So here she was, nearly twelve hours later, and the group that had originally sought her help was dead, and her target was walking with her group back to the city in order to get a drink and pacify her friends' curiosity.
She really needed to reevaluate her life.
She crossed a small, dilapidated, foot bridge and then stood to the side so the others could follow; taking the time it gave her to study their new addition. She would readily admit he was handsome, though her thinking so wasn't saying much since she had a known soft spot for elves, and she could see why Isabela would want to sleep with him. Not that it wasn't glaringly obvious that they had spent a fair amount of time doing… recreational…activities together already.
As he crossed the bridge the setting sun caught his blonde hair at just the right angle to turn it a burnished gold that contrasted nicely with his dark skin. When he reached her he offered a wink with a brandy colored eye that was framed by a black tattoo, and smiled in a way that said he knew exactly what she had been thinking even though there was no way he could.
She wondered if he had practiced that look in a mirror, working to get the tilt of his head and lips just right.
She also wondered if he used that look on the Hero of Fereldan.
She wouldn't have believed that he actually knew her if it hadn't been from Isabela and Anders stating that it was true, and she especially wouldn't have believed them to be a couple if not for the fact the he turned Isabela down when she, rather blatantly, asked him why they couldn't have sex.
A strangled noise behind her drew her from her thoughts, and she looked back to see a choked look on Merrill's face and Zevrin laughing loudly. Hawke slowed to a stop as Merrill struggled to form words. "Lyna Mahariel was a noble member of our clan! She would not… would NOT help to run…" she trailed off and waved her hands a moment. "an… an assassin's guild." Her voice had been a strained rush and her eyes flashed, daring the still laughing man to disagree with her.
"Ah," he sucked in a breath and patted her shoulder in a friendly gesture that he quickly stopped when her face darkened. "If it helps, they were not really a guild of assassins. They were a group of ex assassins who used to be part of a guild and who she only lead for a little while."
When Merrill's face only darkened more, he reached out and patted her shoulder again. "I am afraid your clan member has done many things in the time since she left you all that you and your clan would not approve of. A Grey Warden's life is filled with hard decisions."
"I didn't realize leading a group of ex assassins was Warden business," Hawke interjected then turned to Anders. "You really should have told me that. Assassins would have been very helpful over the years."
The mage sent her a shrug, and blandly stated,"It never came up."
When she smiled, Merrill fell into an annoyed silence and Isabela laughed. "I am not surprised you talked her into it, Zev. You've always been good at charming people."
"No charm needed. My dear Warden is nothing if not helpful. She offered."
"And probably giggled with every Crow she killed," added Anders.
There was a sound of agreement from Zevran before they all started walking again. The rest of the trip was made in relative quiet since they were drawing closer to the city, and the sun was now low enough to cast most of the walkways into shadowy darkness. It didn't take long, once they were in the city proper, to reach the hanged man, and Hawke rolled her eyes as Zevran made a joke about liking to be hung himself then gave her an exaggerated bow before pulling open the door for everyone.
They stepped into silence.
It threw her off immediately since she couldn't remember a single time in all the years she had lived here that the bar had ever even been a little less loud. She reached for her sword out of habit even as she scanned the standing crowd. Everyone in the main room seemed to be focused on the bar, even Varric and Fenris who she saw standing at the top of the stairs with curious expressions on their faces.
"I don't think I heard you correctly, could you say that again."
The statement, low and steely, brought her focus to what everyone else seemed to be staring at. Near the bar there was a man and woman facing each other, and while she could only see the back of the woman's golden brown hair, she could easily make out the sneer on the man's face. She also noted that there was a man at their feet who was groaning and clutching his stomach, but no one seemed particularly interested in helping him.
The man seemed to be a member of one of the endless Lowtown gangs that were constantly trying to take over, and the woman was in fact a, very small, elf. She just barely reached the man's broad chest in height, and she had the willowy build that most elves were graced with, but she was wearing dark brown, leather armor and had a set of daggers and a bow and quiver strapped to her.
"I said, bitch, that I won't be taken off guard as easily as my friend. You best apologize to my man, and find a way to repay us or I'll be forced to do something about it, you knife-eared whore." The last word was said on a hiss, adding extra insult to what was already a tense situation. The elf's shoulders tensed, and her voice remained low, but Hawke was surprised by the reasoning in it when she spoke again. "He tried to shove his tongue down my throat. I would say I was the one who needed an apology. I'm willing to let you both walk away, after said apology of course."
"Is she insane? She's going to start a brawl." Hawke stated under her voice, and was surprised by an answering chuckle from Zevran. "Oh, I'm sure she's hoping for it." She glanced over to him and noted that his eyes had not strayed from the small woman, a smile stretching widely on his face.
The man had turned a dark red, and his hand lifted as if he was planning on striking the elf, but she held her hands up before he could follow through with the movement. Hawke could almost hear the smile on the elf's face when she spoke again. "Now now, ser. No need for that."
There was a beat where the man started to relax before Hawke saw the elf's hand bunch into a fist and slam directly into the man's face. He grabbed at the inevitable spout of blood, and the world seemed to explode.
Noise seemed to flood back into the room in a rush as people picked sides in the ensuing fight. Hawke had just decided to side with the woman when Zevran and her other companions shoved past her and into the tumble of bodies.
Hawke managed to shoulder and fight her way to the center of the fray where her group had dashed off to, and noticed Varric and Fenris on the other side of the room doing the same. She smashed two heads together as she stumbled up to Anders, who was gritting his teeth and shooting ice at the fighters around them.
It was over quickly, most everyone losing their drive once the elf woman toppled the man, her small form sitting on his as she pulled one of her daggers out of its sheath. Hawke sent a warning glance at the few stragglers and waited until they melted away before focusing on the people on the floor.
The elf straddled the man's chest, and leaned a forearm almost casually against his neck. She pressed the tip of her dagger against the underside of his jaw and tilted her face over his, her short hair falling forward just enough to cover her features.
"Apologize." The words were casual, but her position remained firm as she waited for a reply.
Being stupid, because Hawke had to assume he was, the man sneered up at her through the blood smeared on his face. He started to say something, but the woman lifted her arm from his neck long enough to grip his hair and smack his head against the floor before he could get it out.
"Apologize."
This time, he complied.
"There, that wasn't so hard was it?" She leaned back and practically beamed at him before standing and helping him up. She watched him walk to the door a moment before stating, "Well now that that is taken care of."
She turned and surveyed Hawke and the others behind her, opening her mouth to say something before her gaze locked on Zevran and she let out a triumphant "I found you!" Quick as a blink she had dropped her weapon and launched herself at him with a wordless sound of pleasure.
Zevran's arms locked around her waist, and he spun her in a laughing circle before crushing his mouth over hers.
Hawke stood with her companions in a sort of shielding half circle around the pair, and she angled her gaze to Isabela, who was watching them with a tired smile. "I'm taking it that is the Hero of Fereldan."
Isabela laughed and slung an arm over Hawke's shoulder. "Indeed. Introductions will need to be made before Anders and Merrill take over any time that Zevran might allow us with her." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she continued. "The two of you meeting? This should be interesting."
Hawke turned her attention back to the embracing couple, and gave a shake of her head before letting out her own laugh. "You know. I think you might be right."