Night and Day

Well, since I am easily coerced into writing more than one chapter (by my first reviewer, pathetically, I am so weak... XD) for my fanfiction, I might as well. Even though my third game is calling to me... ;-; Zevraaaaaaan... (I have 100 points with him, but he still only "adores" me. I think I need to kill Taliesen for him to love me... huh... funny, that.)

This chapter is focusing a little more on what the rest of the party does about Lerein's loss, than any romance... but there will be a little at the end, and a little at the beginning. :3 Or you know, maybe in the process of writing, I started listening to Enrique Iglasias, and his beautiful (Spanish accented) voice reminded me too much of Zevran, and forced me to write a lot on him...

Warnings: Hey, look! Some more ANGST! WOOT. Bah, that's pretty much it. Oh, and the terrible writing. I blame Enrique. He made me write more romance than angst. Doesn't he know I can't write romance without angst first?! Well, then again...


"Thank you, Irving." Lerein said, pulling open the great doors to the Circle of Magi. The First Enchanter smiled warmly, and replied, "Of course, child. Next time you visit, I'm sure we'll be back on our feet, sure enough."

Outside, and in Kester's boat, Alistair glanced back at the Circle Tower before looking back to his leader. 'Their leader. Their leader, Alistair. Since when did you start getting so possessive?' The blonde Grey Warden shrugged off the thought, knowing if he pondered on it too much he'd end up staying awake all night. They were close to the docks, and Zevran was the first to climb out of the boat, Wynne following, then Alistair. Lerein stayed in the craft, much to the confusion of his party members.

"Um, Lerein?" Alistair tried to catch Lerein's attention. The other warrior broke out of his trance, and made a small 'oh' sound, and moved to get out. However, he easily lost his seemingly non-existent balance, and fell into the water. "Woah!"

Alistair stood there, thinking he would break the surface, and spit out lake water, laughing about how he was so clumsy, but instead, Zevran jumped in. He came up ten seconds or so later, holding onto Lerein as best he could, pulling him to the shore. Wynne and Alistair ran to them, the mage with concern on her face, and Alistair with confusion.

Lerein was unconscious. He coughed out water when Zevran rolled him on his side. "Why did he..?" Alistair's question died at the long serious stare the Antivan gave him. "He told me, once, that he was always scared on boats since his armor is always so heavy. He said he felt faint around it. He had a friend that died because he had heavy human armor on, and he was always scared of it," he explained. Lerein started breathing normally, and Kester, who had left, came back with a call to the inn.

Alistair (being the only one with the strength to) carried the elf to a room within, looking away from the shady patron inside. That guy just creeped him out.


Once the elf was out of his armor (thank you, Zevran), and sleeping comfortably in the bed, Wynne sighed. "It's bad enough his friend died so recently. It must have been bothering him..."

Alistair bit his lip. He hadn't told everyone Lerein loved Tamlen. How he and Tamlen... loved each other. He was never told not to tell anyone, but it was an... intimate conversation. A definitely private one. And, he may have been wrong but, he felt it was something Lerein only wanted to tell him. Or, who knows, maybe it was the alcohol talking.

Zevran was uncharacteristically silent. He watched the Warden intently, not looking even when Alistair and Wynne left with some silver to buy a meal for themselves. 'There's something wrong. Something he wasn't telling me. What could it be? He... usually confides in me.' He shook his head. 'No, I can't worry about him. Didn't I learn not to get attached? Did I learn nothing as a Crow?' Zevran morosely bent over, and rested on his crossed arms on the bed, close to Lerein. 'How weak... Face it, Zevran, you've lost. You've fallen for him.'


"Look, Warden. I understand you lost a friend, and while that's really sad and all, you need to cheer up. You're ruining the mood more than that giant ass over there!" Oghren pointed crossedly at Sten who ignored the conversation altogether. Leliana, Wynne, and Alistair stared at the dwarf as if he'd just done with most stupid thing in the world. Lerein's eyebrows rose, and he apologized, "I-I'm sorry, Oghren, I'll try to cheer up."

Zevran was missing, Morrigan was asleep, and the merchant dwarves were off having "father-son week" in Denerim. What bothered Lerein the most was everyone else was either being too nice ("Oh, dear, why don't you rest? I can cook tonight.") or completely avoiding him ("Uh, sorry, I have business to do... err, over there!"). Lerein sighed, and retired to his tent. He vaguely wondered where his fellow elf had gone. This was hardly like him, to disappear. And, now that he thought about it, Zevran had hardly been like himself at all, since... a couple days after Tamlen died.

Lerein pushed the tent flap out of the way, and crawled in. He looked around for candle he bought from the Wonders of Thedas that lit itself with a heatless flame. 'Let's see, knife, a statuette, an empty bottle of wine... wait why is that in here? Whatever. Oh, there it is!'

He whispered the activation words, and it lit a warm yellow fire that lit the whole tent. It was then that the elf noticed he was not the only one in there. "Zevran?" The addressee's ear twitched, and his brown eyes opened blearily. "Ah, hello, my dear Warden. You took longer than I thought and I guess, I just," a yawn interrupted him, "I guess I just fell asleep. I was waiting for you."

"You were? Why?"

Zevran looked to the side, an anxious air washing away his sleepiness. "I know... you're hiding something from me. There is something that has made you sad, and is making you despaired, and you haven't told me. And I know it's not about Tamlen. I promised to be your confidant, Lerein. You can tell me."

"I can't, Zevran. This is the one time I can't tell you."

"Surely it cannot be so bad?"

"I'm sorry Zevran. Not this time." Zevran looked at Lerein, a little surprised. Every time he'd tried to coerce Lerein into telling him something, he was successful. Why not this time? Could it be that just maybe..?

"Do you love someone?" Zevran asked without thinking. Lerein's cheeks darkened a little, giving himself away. "I see." Lerein lay down next to him, like always. "Look, it's not what you think. Don't bother yourself with it. Really." They lay there in silence for a while.

"Zevran, I don't love anyone."

"... I believe you," Zevran sighed. He stretched, (much like a cat, to Lerein's amusement) and placed his left hand on the other's right. He slipped it under, and pulled Lerein's hand up to his mouth, kissing the back of it. Then they heard a gasp. Lerein turned to look at the door flap, and saw Alistair staring at them, face red (and in the purple and yellow Templar tunic/pants he had gotten from some town that had been destroyed). Lerein jerked his hand back, and stuttered, "A-Alistair, what are you d-doing here?"

"E-Er, nothing, I was just going to, ah, ask you a question, but i-it can wait until tomorrow!" And with that, he left. And for some reason, Lerein felt guilty. He looked to Zevran to see him staring at the place where Alistair had been with disdain. His curiousness gave him the perfect chance to run away from the almost inevitable confession of why he was so depressed lately, and he gladly took it.

"Zevran, I'm going to go see what was wrong with Alistair. Is that alright?" The elf looked back at him, and sighed once more. "Lerein, I've told you before. I don't own you, do as you wish."

"Thank you."


Alistair was... hurt, to say the least. He walked to his tent, completely welcome to going to sleep, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Lerein staring up at him, "What was it you were going to say, Alistair?"

It was then Alistair remembered what he was going to ask. 'Could I ever repla–?' no. He could never ask that. He didn't even know why he had almost tried. Lerein squeezed his shoulder and coaxed him to the fire. "Come on, tell me." (Anything to keep away from Zevran. It's not that he didn't like the assassin, it's just that he didn't want to talk to him.)

"I-I.. forgot." Best excuse in the book.

"Liar." Until it doesn't work.

Lerein frowned in disappointment. Somehow, he was wielding guilt as well as the Revered Mother back in Ostagar was, Alistair noticed. "Look, Lerein, it's not an easy question... I... was thinking and I was wondering if... if I could ever... replace Tamlen."

And as soon as he asked, Alistair regretted it. And then ran away. Lerein's expression was one of shocked blankness.


To be continued.

Oh my god, this chapter sucks ass. So badly... DX I'm sorry, you guys. You were probably expecting better. And it's shorter than the last one, too. =sighs, slaps self=

Well, for the people who did like it, eh heh... Alistair seems to have sorted out his feelings for Lerein, and Zevran is sad, I-love-you-so-I-have-to-let-you-go thing and all. Or will he? Maybe he'll fight him for it? XD Suggestions?

-nx.