Zevran ached.
Alone, in a vast mountain cave outside of the city of Kirkwall he exhaustedly set up camp.
Zevran's body burned from the days flight, for days he had been running from Antiva with next to no rest, a tactical retreat from assassinating the Crow Master of Ansburg.
Laying out his bedroll upon the cold hard damp ground, he sat cross legged upon it and started to build a fire from the wood in his pack. Zevran's lithe elvan arms ached as he tried to light the fire with flint and kindling, his body starting to shiver in the damp air of the cave reminding him of cold Fereldan so far away.
How easy it would be if Leelou was here, he thought as the image of her playing with her mabari Fluke at their camp filled his mind, her kind but teasing smile turning towards him as he had struggled to light the fire, the lazy flick of her hand making the fire jump to life, heat spilling into his face. The kiss she had blown towards him before sauntering off into the darkness to find more firewood, her faithful friend trotting at her side.
As if reacting to his thoughts of his beloved mage, the kinder finally started to splutter to life, the fire giving a small glow to Zevran's face, his golden locket glowing in the dim light, hanging freely next to his heart. Zevran clasped his fingers around the metal, the locket warming his hand.
The thought of his lover so far away made the assassins chest ache with an empty hollowness, a feeling he hadn't felt since the night of Rinna's death, but this seemed more real, more harsh, the hole more deep, just from the sheer fact that he allowed himself to feel it, to feel alone.
It was such sweet cruelty being taught to love.
Leelou had offered to come with him and he refused, this was his private war and the darkspawn had once more reared their ugly heads, again making themselves unwelcome guests of Fereldan and it was his Grifone's job to make sure they left the surface permanently.
Zevran had spent one more night in Leelou's arms after she had offered to help, offered to follow and he had disappeared into the darkness before she awoke, leaving nothing but a note.
Zevran allowed himself to lay down upon his bedroll, safe in the knowledge of the maze of traps and a very large angry Varterral was guarding his camp, he allowed sleep to drag him under, the image of Leelou naked and breathless in his arms his only comfort and his only torture.
Leelou was on a merchants boat, bound to Antiva City. She stood at the rail, her head back and eyes closed soaking in the sun and spray on her face. The calm on her features was only betrayed by the way her nails dug into the wood turning her knuckles white as she tried to stay on her feet in what the sailors considered a calm sea.
The Wardens had given her leave to pursue her own goals, not that they had had much choice after offering her any reward within their power to give. Leelou had simply asked for her freedom to do as she wished, and they had granted it.
"Remember, Leelou Amell, you can no more stop being a Grey Warden than you can stop being a mage." had been the head commanders written departing words.
Leelou took a deep breath feeling the salt sting her nostrils, grateful for the fact that even though she couldn't walk on this boat without falling over, at least she wasn't sea sick.
A throaty chuckle came from behind her.
"Heheh. You'll soon get your sea legs Warden. It'll be dry land that will make your head spin after a time at sea." A large muscled man sidled up beside her, Samuel, the captains son and first mate gave her a wide grin, his tanned young face showing sun lines around his features, the creases too many for his age causing a map of a life at sea to be drawn on his face.
"Hello Sam." Leelou nodded at him, only to suddenly hold on to the rail as the boat went over a large swell, her feet threatening to leave the deck.
Sam burst out laughing. "The hero of Fereldan, on my pa's ship, terrified of a few waves." Leelou glowered at him out of the corner of her eye, unable to not notice the fact that he stood there so casually. It just wasn't fair.
"Is there something I can help you with Sam?" Leelou bit off sarcastically.
"You're hounds not faring to well below deck, thought you best check on him honey." Leelou nodded at him gritting her teeth as another wave bounced her. It would just be too embarrassing to end up falling on top of Samuel again.
"Oh, and Pa wants you to know we be making our first dock at Kirkwall soon but we may need to stay longer than expected, he just got a message pigeon from our supplier, something's gone wrong with the stock." Samuel said running his rough hands through his dark hair almost apologetic.
"Great." Leelou used her staff as a walking stick back to her cabin, hoping to occupy her mind with helping Fluke. She hoped she would get to Zevran in time to help.