"Wanna come exploring?" Megan shot a hopeful glance at her roommate.
The snooty-looking brunette with the killer eyeshadow had introduced herself as Morrigan when they'd first met earlier today. Yeah, sure, that's what your parents called you, right? Megan didn't believe that for a moment. Either way, Morrigan didn't even deign to reply to her question. Instead, she yawned and curled up on her narrow bed with a hefty volume titled Witches and Warrior Women – Female Empowerment in the Dark Ages. Fully engrossed in her book, she ignored Megan completely.
Well, maybe she had a point. Lothering was not much to write home about. The youth hostel was old and dingy, the town itself boring and provincial. As a matter of fact, Megan wouldn't have chosen to hang around longer than she had to, but there were no trains south for the next two days, so for the time being, she was stuck.
And yet, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If there was one thing her road-trip around Ferelden had taught her in the past four weeks, it was that the really interesting things tended to happen at unexpected times and in weird places. Which was why she set out on her own, ready for anything life might throw at her.
Half an hour later, Megan's enthusiasm had dampened considerably. The shops along the main street were the usual assortment to be found in any small town across Ferelden: the cinema had long since closed down, and the roadside cafés were full of old ladies shovelling down cake with single-minded focus and harassed-looking young mothers with screaming toddlers in tow.
Spotting a group of teenagers in what passed for fashionable clothing out here, she decided to follow them, and that turned out to be the right call. They led her down a narrow lane to a square filled with booths and the sound of excited haggling. A jumble sale! She didn't actually need more clothes, since she preferred to travel light, but she loved poking around the stalls for a good bargain. Besides, with autumn about to begin, it might be a good idea to look for a warmer jacket… With a happy sigh, she dove in.
She knew she had to have it the moment she set eyes on it. Soft, brown leather, well-worn and supple, a teensy bit too big for her, but that would only make it more comfy. Going up on tiptoes, she was about to disentangle it from the surrounding jackets when she felt an answering pull from the other side of the clothes rack.
"Hey, that's mine!" She pulled harder, determined not to let go of her catch.
"Not yet, I think." The voice from behind the rack was deep and mellifluous, the words laced with a strong accent she couldn't immediately place. And the glimpse she caught of the stranger's hand and arm showed bare, golden-brown skin, with an intriguing pattern of tattoos snaking around his wrist. Definitely a guy. Maybe she could appeal to his chivalrous nature.
"Oh, please." She let a note of helpless pleading sneak into her voice. "I really need something warm to wear. And this is perfect."
"It certainly is." He let go of the jacket, but before she could grab it and run, he had already slipped through a gap in the racks and was blocking her way.
He wasn't much taller than her, but he looked fit and strong, his chest well-muscled under the thin t-shirt he wore. Not much older than her either, in his early twenties maybe. And yes, he had golden skin, smooth and lovely. Golden-brown eyes, too, which made for an exotic contrast with his long, blond hair. And he had another tattoo on his face, two flowing lines all the way down from his temple to his left cheek. His full lips were drawn up in a smile just this side of provocative, and he had crossed his arms in a gesture that managed to look both confident and graceful.
"So… What shall we do about this little conflict of interest?" He looked her over from head to toe with undisguised appreciation. "I'm Zevran. And you…"
"Megan." She blushed a little under his intense scrutiny. "Look, I know it's a lot to ask, but I've really fallen in love with this jacket. I've got to have it."
Zevran raised an eyebrow at her choice of words, his lip twitching briefly, but he didn't reply.
"Please. I'll buy you a beer, if you want to." She gave him her best puppy-eyed look. "Pretty please."
He made a face. "Eugh. No beer, thank you. But I'll settle for a soda and a nice chat, if it's all the same to you."
Zevran waited patiently while she paid for the jacket, smiling indulgently at her happy expression. It was a friendly smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, and Megan felt a tinge of apprehension. He was a stranger, after all, and a damnably attractive one at that. What if he thought this had all been just a plot to get his attention? What if he thought she was hitting on him? She racked her brain for a way to clarify things while they wandered over to a street café and got their drinks.
When they'd settled down in the shade of a tree, he took a deep, grateful draught and leaned back, regarding her through thick, blond lashes. "You're not from around here."
"No, I'm travelling." She fiddled with a loose thread on her jeans. "I wanted to see more of the world before uni, have some interesting experiences, go exploring, you know?"
"On your own?" There was just the tiniest hint of concern in his tone, and more than a little curiosity.
Megan sighed. She was beginning to get sick of this particular question. "Yes. Why not?"
"No offense." He raised both palms in apology. "I'm just surprised. With a girl as pretty as you are, I'd have expected a boyfriend lurking around the corner. Or a girlfriend," he added with a cheeky grin.
Ah, here we go. Megan took a moment to answer. She didn't want to sound bitchy, but she really didn't want him to get the wrong idea. He seemed nice, but the last thing she needed right now was more heartbreak.
"There was a boyfriend." Two actually, but he didn't need to know that. "It's over, though, and it was… complicated."
"And you don't want that kind of complication right now." Zevran smiled at her stunned face. "Hey, it's fine. I don't mind. Plenty of other fish in the sea, as you say here in Ferelden."
"Where are you from?" She cursed herself for sounding so blunt, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Antiva." There was a hint of wistfulness in the way he said the word.
"Really?" Megan's interest was caught. "You must miss the warm weather then. Is it really as beautiful as they all say? I want to go there so badly." Next year, perhaps, if she could come up with the money…
Zevran laughed softly. "It is very beautiful, yes. And much warmer and drier than your Ferelden." He finished his drink with a wink at her. "You really ought to have let me keep the jacket, you know."
"Not a chance." Megan shook her head. "But I might help you find another one. What do you say?"
He got to his feet with a laugh, taking her hand to help her up. His grip was firm and his skin dry and warm. "Deal. Are you staying at the hostel, too?"
"Yup." Megan felt a wave of sheer joy bubble up inside her.
She was so glad to have met him.
Zevran happily inhaled the scent of his new leather jacket. It wasn't quite as perfect as Megan's, but it felt good, nicely worn in without being scruffy. It looked good on him, too, judging from the looks he got from the local girls as they made their way back to the hostel.
After their shopping trip, they had found a tiny Rivaini restaurant down by the river and had stuffed themselves on cheap but delicious seafood stew. He hoped they wouldn't end up with food poisoning, but then again, it would almost be worth it. The house wine had been decent, too, and the desserts divine. It had almost been a taste of home.
Besides, he enjoyed hanging out with Megan. She was a bit young, maybe, fresh out of school from what she'd told him. Just about legal. But since she wasn't interested in more than friendship anyway, her age hardly mattered. On the contrary, she might actually be safer in his company. He wondered why her parents had allowed her to travel on her own. But then, on second thought, she probably wasn't the type to ask for their permission.
"Where are you headed next?" Megan interrupted his thoughts, flashing him a quick, mischievous smile. "East or west? Denerim or Redcliffe?"
"Neither." He shook his head. "I was thinking of going to Gwaren, actually. I have a friend there whom I haven't seen in a long time. And you?"
"Ostagar. There's a music festival there, starting next weekend, and it sounds like fun. I'm going to take the train the day after tomorrow." Megan made a vague gesture in the direction of the train station. "Morrigan is going there, too. My roommate," she added by way of explanation.
"A music festival…" Zevran made a big show of considering her words, but to be honest he was already sold on the idea. "Is she pretty?" His exaggerated leering face drew a laugh from Megan.
"Who, Morrigan?" He wasn't sure whether she sounded amused or worried. "I guess so, yes. A bit prickly, though."
"Hmm." Again, he pretended to hesitate. "It's a bit out of my way, but I'm not really in a hurry. I could come with you for a few days, I guess."
"Oh yes, please do." Megan sounded excited. "It's going to be much more fun with you there. You can tell me some more stories about Antiva. And maybe teach me how to play Wicked Grace."
Zevran made a non-committal noise, but secretly he was flattered. It was nice to be appreciated for his conversational skills for a change. And he enjoyed talking to Megan, too. She was funny and clever, and she looked at the world with a refreshing lack of prejudice, eager to make up her own mind.
"Well, you have time enough to decide." She shrugged, but he wasn't fooled. She'd be disappointed if he said no.
They walked the rest of the way in companionable silence. When they entered the hostel, the reception area was quiet and empty, filled with the characteristic stale smell of backpackers' gear in need of a laundromat.
Megan hesitated at the foot of the stairs, but then she turned and breathed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Night, Zevran. This was fun."
"It certainly was." He hugged her briefly, then watched her skip up the stairs. She was cute.
With a sigh, he turned toward the reception desk. He had a vague notion of inquiring about the nightlife, but changed his mind when his eyes fell on the young man who had appeared behind the desk. He'd been greeted by a middle-aged lady earlier today, and the change was definitely an improvement in his book.
The new receptionist was pale and looked a little tired, but he had beautiful blue-grey eyes and fine black hair that just begged to be tousled. And he was really rocking that unshaved look. Instinctively, Zevran stood up a little straighter, tilting his head to show off his tattoo.
"Hey." The guy smiled tentatively at him. "I'm Jowan. Anything you need?"
Oh, you have no idea. Putting on his most winning smile, Zevran headed for the desk. "As a matter of fact, yes. You see, I was wondering…"
Gigantic hugs and thanks to my wonderful, amazing beta suilven. You're the best! :)
If any of you would like to know more about Megan's adventures before she met Zevran, you could check out my AO3 account for my story "It's Complicated", featuring Megan, Nathaniel Howe and Carver Hawke.