Zevran screamed with pain, the flames seared his skin. He winced his eyes shut, throwing his arm up instinctively to protect his face, but far too sickening smell of burnt flesh filled his nostrils, his flesh... he fought the urge to vomit. He heard the wet thud of yet another abomination hitting the ground and realized - they exploded when they were killed!

He forced his eyes open despite the pain. His seared eyes were blind, and he hurriedly tried to recall the layout of the room. He needed cover. There was a clank, a unfeminine grunt, and he heard the unmistakable hiss of another dead abomination about to explode. He dropped to the ground, covering his head with his arms. Fear gripped him, and an inadvertent whimper escaped his lips.

He hated fire, he hated magic. He hated this infernal tower and it's damn abominations. As he buried his face in his hands, the leather scent of his gloves recalled his childhood. The stench of the tanneries.

"Morrigan, get Zev first."

"Get up and stop your blubbering elf, let me see your face." Morrigan's voice cut through those pleasant memories like a knife.

He reluctantly took his hands away from his burnt face, struggling to open his eyes. He felt the warm glow of her healing magic on his face. He blinked, his vision restored. A booted foot, clad in red iron was the first thing he saw. He followed the leg up, to the woman that crouched behind her shield. He saw the scorch marks on the stones to either side of him, forming a perfect cone around his prone body.

He realized what had happened. She had leapt between him and the blast when he had dropped to the ground. Crouching behind her shield to shelter him from the fire burst - she looked no better than he did. Scorch marks all over her red iron armor, a bleeding cut on her forehead, her hair was still smouldering.

"Thank you, Tanis."

She looked down, her face hard. "Don't fucking do that. I swear..." Tanis snarled, pure rage contorting her features. She grabbed him, none too gently, by the swordbelt that hung across his chest. He winced his eyes shut once again, fearful that she was about to hit him. Instead, she pulled him closer, hissing in his ear.

"I thought you were dead." Her angry voice growled.

She dropped him, he flopped back down on his rear with a painful thud. Zevran sat there, leaning back on his hands. His face confused as the warrior turned away and strode away from him angrily.

Had that been a tear in her eye?