Author's Note: Special thanks to my beta, 'varelishawt' on dreamwidth-dot-com. I decided to edit and add content to make the character's history and motivations more apparent earlier in the story. Since the chapters became quite long, each former "part" of the first release has now been separated into two chapters. Feedback is welcome. Thanks for reading, and thank you to all who've previously reveiwed.
Rating: Overall story is AO, some sections NSFW. This chapter rated AO. Warning for m/slash and flashback to Zevran performing services for a client.
Word Count: ~3700
Summary (AU): After Tenniel Cousland lets everyone know how she feels about Zevran, he reminisces about his life before he met the Warden.

Chapter Four

Zevran looked up at the cold, moonless night sky with its myriad of twinkling stars. Like diamonds on a black sand beach. What the hell am I doing? I should leave now, before I get used to this feeling. So much had changed in the span of just one day. He couldn't believe he was really here doing this – pursuing the affections of a woman who was trying to woo him just as eagerly. An hour and a few sips of rum later, Wynne climbed out of her tent and stretched, rubbing her neck and shoulders again.

"You seem to be feeling a bit worse for wear, my dear mage. Perhaps you could use a massage, no?" The former Crow asked her.

"A what? Ohhh…no, no, no." She shook her finger at him, scolding the elf as if he were a mere child. "You keep your murderous little paws to yourself, you."

Zevran walked closer to the enchanter to reassure her. "No, I mean this in all seriousness. Tsk, tsk. Look how tense your shoulders are. All the healing in Thedas will do you no good if you cannot relax. Come, let Zevran show you how this is done. You can even keep your clothes on, if you do not trust me."

"Of all the….! I most certainly will never be removing any of my garments around you." She stared at him, exasperated for a moment, and then decided to relent when he just stood there with a patient smile. "Fine, then, since you're volunteering your services. But that's all it will be – a healing massage, right?" She followed him to where he'd been sitting in front of his and the Warden's tents.

"Yes, yes, yes, of course. Almost a shame, though. With a wonderful bosom such as yours." He removed his new gloves and gave her a devious smirk.

"Don't make me rethink this," Wynne mumbled as she lay down on the assassin's wolf pelts. He took off her cowl and placed it under her head, and she closed her eyes as he kneaded the muscles in her back with practiced ease. Soon, the elderly woman was sighing and moaning contentedly.

"Mmm… oh… that was wonderful! I feel… that was amazing, Zev!" she exclaimed several minutes later when he finally stopped.

"Oh, that was nothing. Are you sure you don't want the whole body treatment?" He was trying his best not to laugh at her as he remembered a time in a much warmer land a few months ago, where a woman had told him the exact same thing…

"Zev, did you even hear what Master Zapata said before he left? We have to woo that Carlini woman!" Taliesen gestured emphatically towards the portrait of a rotund and outlandishly dressed woman that was hanging on the wall across from a deep crimson leather couch. "She's got nine grown kids, several teenaged grandchildren, and that bearded whale of a hag has to weigh at least 400 pounds. Do you have any idea how horrible this assignment is going to be?"

"What? Whoa, Taliesen, exactly what are we supposed to be doing?" Zevran had just finished taking a bath and his hair was still slightly damp. He looked up at his human friend and fellow assassin from where he sat on the edge of the bed on top of a silken coverlet the color of warm caramel. A cool breeze was blowing through the open window, and vanilla-scented candles were burning slowly. The two assassins had already had a meal and gone through a bottle of red wine.

"Manuel Carlini. You know, the man who paid us to kill the King's brother today, the one whose guest house we're living in... he's offered to pay the Crows double if we can give his wife a good time for her birthday."

"Ah ha. And what exactly does that entail?" He ran his fingers through his hair, played with his earring, and watched as Taliesen eyed him with barely disguised lust.

"Hahaha, as if you have to ask! Apparently, news of both your skill and sexual prowess have reached the ears of even the highest nobility. And you owe me a favor for letting you sleep with that scrawny little elf-bitch last night. So guess which one of us is taking this job?"

"Oh, merciful Maker, not Lady Mariella! She's fucking enormous." He eyed a painting of the woman wearing a brightly-colored feathered hat and shuddered with disgust. "Brasca! I'll need some liquid courage for this one, my friend."

Zevran wasn't about to argue with the human. He had broken a rule last night by allowing Rinna to sleep with him after their lovemaking. She wasn't even a member of their cell, yet. There was no doubt that he would have to pay dearly for his slip-up, but he just didn't have the heart to wake her up and send her away; the tiny woman had looked so young, sweet and innocent as she slept.

"I got you covered, man." Taliesen grabbed a crystal decanter of the finest Antivan brandy from his stash in the back of a cherry wood cupboard and half-filled two gold-rimmed, ornate glasses on a mirrored nightstand. He gulped down the contents of one glass, not even bothering to savor the exquisitely rare beverage. But he didn't swallow it all. The Crow bent down to kiss his partner and groaned as Zevran sipped it slowly from his mouth. He wrapped his arms around the elf and ran his hands over the man's tattooed, well-muscled body as their tongues met.

He broke their kiss, watching as the blond sipped from his glass and sprawled on the silk-covered bed, propped up on pillows, seductively tucking one arm behind his head so he was stretched out and on display for his benefit. "Such a shame, that you had to go and slip up for some skirt, eh, Zev? And now you're going to get plenty of it, tonight! Hahahaha!"

Taliesen gave a wicked laugh and nibbled on Zevran's earlobe as he took another sip of the auburn liquid. It went down smooth and left him feeling warm and relaxed. The perfect after-dinner treat, a delicious reward for a job well done. Almost as delicious as the sight of Zevran's sun-bronzed skin glistening in the candlelight.

"Yes, yes, so I'd better go and get this over with quickly then. Hit me again, will you? I need to be in the mood for this… this punishment." The elf mock-pouted.

"Oh, I'll get you in the mood, all right. Come here." He grabbed the crystal decanter again, filled his friend's glass to the top, dripped some of the bandy on the elf's body and began licking a trail that ran down from the hollow of Zevran's neck down to his left nipple. "Mmmm… yes. You get to be the young Crow while I relax and do nothing but live in the lap of luxury for once. Perfect night, for me."

He ran his fingers over the wicked-looking, curvy tattoos and kissed him again before moving his hands down the elf's thighs and perfectly sculpted calf muscles, lightly groping the man's hardness through his smallclothes. A smile came to his face as he rubbed his beard over his partner's crotch. "Mmm… already at attention for me?" He fondled the elf, roughly squeezing his balls as he freed his shaft from his smallclothes and teased the tip of his cock with his tongue.

Zevran smiled ruefully. Taliesen was a light-weight when it came to alcohol, and he was as quick and easy with sex as he was with killing. Easy to laugh with, easy to seduce, and easy to fool; or so it seemed. The chestnut-haired human was ruthless, uncomplicated, and enjoyed the finer things in life - a great partner to have around, even if he did seem to act a bit jealous at times. Too bad he can't take all of my cock down his throat, he thought. Not that there were many who could.

Taliesen licked the tip delicately at first, and kissed and suckled his balls as he stroked Zevran's shaft in his hands. The elf moaned encouragingly. Taliesen took more of the tip into his mouth and swirled his tongue around Zevran's head. "Oh, fuck, Zevran! You're fucking perfect!" He lifted the blond's legs up, kissed his thighs and tongued the area underneath his scrotum.

Zevran's hands ran over Taliesen's curly brown hair, but he resisted the temptation to push him further onto his massive, vein-mapped member. Blood throbbed to the head of his cock and he desperately hoped for Taliesen to open his lips and take him partway down his throat. Taliesen did not disappoint. He brought more and more of Zevran's prick into his warm mouth, his enthusiasm growing steadily with each lick and suck.

The taste of Zevran's hard, thick cock in his mouth was driving Taliesen wild. His own penis seemed in danger of bursting through his breeches. Suddenly, he stopped. The dark-haired Crow unlaced his pants and pulled both them and his smallclothes off with a flourish, kicking them carelessly across the room. He quickly reached down underneath the nightstand, hands fumbling to gather a slim glass bottle of massage oil. As he slathered some of the fragrant oil onto his member, he stroked himself a few times while he watched Zevran sip down more of the brandy.

"Now…. where were we?" Taliesen slurred his words and tittered giddily as Zevran sat up and downed the rest of his glass. "C'mere, killer." He reached for the elf again and resumed licking and sucking him, occasionally planting sloppy kisses over his well-muscled belly and upper thighs. Again, Zevran encouraged him, planting his feet on the bed and thrusting his body into the air at times. Taliesen finally started tonguing the entrance to his anus. "Yes! Gimme that ass… that sweet ass."

As the human positioned himself to enter Zevran, he placed his right foot firmly on the floor to the side of the bed… and promptly slipped on some oil he had spilled earlier. "Shit! No more brandy for me!" Taliesen had put his arm out at the last second and prevented himself from busting his head upon the hard marble floor. He sat on the cool tiles and shook his head a few times. The two laughed at his predicament before Zevran finally helped him up, stroking his cock a few times and smiling as he positioned the taller man underneath him on the bed.

"Perhaps you should call it a night, eh?"

"Man, I am so wasted. But I want it. I wantsh you. Want you."

"Oh, really? Are you sure?" Zevran teased him for a moment, as if he were seriously contemplating leaving him when he was all hot and bothered. He liked messing with Taliesen when he was too inebriated to figure out what he was doing. It was the only time when the man really let his guard down, when he could take advantage of his vulnerability. And it was also the only time when he had ever gotten he man to take relax and take all of his cock up his own ass, since he usually balked at Zevran's large size. But their camaraderie wasn't faked. He trusted this man to watch his back, and he, in turn trusted Zevran with his life a well. They both knew he wouldn't do anything to damage him or his ability to fulfill their duty to the Crows.

"Yes! Please? Pleasshe, pleasshe, please?" The human looked up at Zevran's handsome face and begged him for release.

The elf sighed. It was almost pathetic. Almost, but not quite. He wanted it just as much, and the alcohol was definitely starting to work on him, too. Zevran turned around and positioned himself over the man's throbbing member. He relaxed his muscles as the man's girth slid in, then tightened them as he slowly moved up and down a few times.

"Oh, yes! Yes, yes, yes! Fuck me, Zev! Fuck me! Oh, Maker, I'm going to... aahh!" It was all over in just a few seconds, almost before it began. Zevran quickly moved off the other Crow, gripped the man's shaft and massaged his balls as he splashed his seed against his belly. That had to have been a record in timing, even for Taliesen.

"Great, now what am I supposed to do now, hmmm?" Zevran asked as he cleaned both himself and his partner off with a warm, damp cloth.

"Now you go gets some shuper-sized woman." Taliesen chuckled as he eyed the elf's huge cock and reached out to lick a drop of seed from his tip. He fell back and sprawled out on the bed with both arms underneath his head, looking tired, content and satiated. "Go have some fun and wake me up when you're done… tell me all about it."

"You sure we're secure here?" Zevran asked.

"Fine time to be asking a question like that now! But yes, of course we're secure. I checked the entire staff out… the premise is on lockdown. You can afford to let loose tonight, pretty boy. Speaking of loose… get ready for Mariella and have fun. Lanzar una salchicha por un pasillo." 4 Taliesen laughed derisively

"Fuck you! Thanks a lot, partner." The blond elf laughed, had a few more drinks, then walked out of their guestroom towards the main bedrooms of the estate. He swayed dangerously at one point and had to grab the wall to help him along.

A few moments later, Zevran entered the lady's bedchambers with a raging hard-on, and was nearly reeling from the strong vintage. The woman's servants had bathed her and rubbed her down with fragrant juniper oil, but he was still having trouble contemplating where his treasured parts would have to explore. Even with blessedly blurry vision, she still looked like a huge, walking white whale. The rolls of fat beneath her chest were even larger than her sagging breasts. Plump folds of flesh concealed what was between her legs, which looked more like short, pale, sturdy tree trunks bound with pillows from her thighs to the puffy feet waddling across the floor towards the huge bed. She had no ankles.

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh oooh! Just look at my birthday present! He's so pretty!" The large woman clapped her hands and rubbed them together with gleeful anticipation, flabby arms jiggling as she smiled at him from across the room. "Hello, there! Don't be shy, gorgeous. Come on over here and give mama Carlini some sugar! "

She beckoned him with one hand and started singing a silly little tune as her servants gathered up towels and toiletries and headed towards the door. "It's my birthday! My birthday! It's Mar - i - e - la's birthday!" She finally made it to the sturdy oak bed, the creaks of protest as she lowered her bulk onto the red velvet-covered mattress temporarily drowning out her coos of delight. "Oh! And he's happy to see me, too? Oh, joy of joys!"

Thank the Maker she's already drunk too, he thought. His cock was still rock-hard and he wanted release. An elven slave stared wide-eyed with open-mouthed astonishment at Zevran as he approached Lady Mariela, then closed the door and left the two alone.

The Crow was warm and tingly all over as he smiled down at the large woman sprawled out before him. If the Lady Mariela mistakenly thought he was pleased to see her, so be it. Thank the Maker Taliesen had prepared him. Oh, boy, Zevran – time for some deep sea fishing.

"Ooh, you little knife-eared bastard, you're so pretty it's a sin! Do you think I'm pretty too?"

"Yesh, you're pretty when I'm drunk. And I'm pretty fucking drunk." Zevran's vision was going blurry again, and when he closed his eyes, the room had started to spin. He shook his head a few times, trying to clear his senses.

"Oh, my! What a filthy little mouth! Come here and put that mouth to good use!" The woman lifted her massive arms and gripped the back of Zevran's head. He all but fell onto her crotch. After he recovered and pushed himself back up with his arms, he began the arduous task of pushing the woman's gigantic thighs apart enough to get at the moist, hairy center in between them. Well, time to get to work, Zevran. What was it that Fereldan fisherman once said..? Smells like fish, tastes like chicken, hold your nose and keep on lickin…

He nibbled and licked her clit a few times and started fingering her as she lay back and shut her eyes. First two fingers, then four, then he watched with morbid fascination as he was able to curl his fingers together and slowly wedge his entire hand into her cavernous hole. He fisted her for several minutes until his arm started getting tired. Her vaginal walls were tight, warm and wet as they gripped his hand and part of his wrist. He couldn't resist stroking his shaft with his free hand after a few minutes when she finally squealed and started muttering unintelligibly, panting heavily and encouraging him to do it harder.

After a few more minutes, he stuck his cock into her and started slamming himself onto her well-cushioned body until his balls finally tightened and he grunted with delight. Zevran slid out of her at the last second and leaned against the bed to splash his seed onto the floor a meter away from them. He was intoxicated, but not too inebriated to break the cardinal rule that any elven Crow learned if they wanted to keep living. Never, ever ejaculate into a human.

"That was... mmm… oh… that was wonderful! I feel… that was amazing!" Mariella shrieked with pleasure as Zevran finally opened the door and stumbled back to his room, where Taliesen awaited.

Another time, another place… Zevran remembered how it was that night less than six months ago. Before the influx of exorbitant gifts from noblemen and women, before his boasts about making the Crows' coffers burst with gold from all the missions he and Taliesen fulfilled. Before it all went to hell and he had been forced to realize that he couldn't protect anyone, especially not from themselves. Before he saw Rinna's beautifully thick raven hair lying lank and twisted in a pool of her own blood. Before he stared back at her dead eyes and lost the will to live. Yes, Zevran, it's all fun and games, until someone loses their head.

Wynne interrupted his reverie. "No, that's quite all right. But I'll be able to have a restful night's sleep now. Thank you, Zevran."

"Anytime, my dear enchantress!" he said enthusiastically. Zevran watched her go back into her tent and then got up to feed more logs to the fire. The elf started practicing fighting stances, exercising to keep the blood flowing. He walked around the camp and busied himself with odd chores, trying his best to keep warm for the next three hours until it was time to wake up Sten. The tired assassin watched Terri and the qunari wrestle for a few minutes before finally ducking into his own tent, and was shocked to discover all of his bedding and furs were missing.

"What the f….?" He noticed the back flap of his tent was open, and there was a barely discernible set of bootprints trailing from his temporary shelter to the Warden's. Curious, he crept to her tent and opened the front entrance. Light from the fire illuminated her comfortably sleeping form, where she lay curled up with his bedding.

"Tenniel," he whispered as he reached out to touch her sweet, soft face.

"Mmm… oh… is it my turn already?" She yawned, stretched her arms out and gestured for him to move inside. "Hey, I kept your bed warm for you." The Warden smiled up at him.

"I see that. And here I thought I would be the one warming your bed." With a deep, throaty laugh, he began taking off his boots and armor. She made to get up from underneath the covers, but he stopped her.

"No, your watch is over already. Sten is guarding the camp now. Go back to sleep." He took off everything but his smallclothes, closed the tent flap, and slipped underneath the covers beside her sleepy, naked form.

"Zevran! You tricked me. You shouldn't have done that. Now you're… going to be… too tired," she protested softly, fidgeting a little as his icy hands and feet touched her very warm body.

"Mmm… wonderful. Guilty as charged. Now hush. Do you think your assassin would balk at standing a mere four hours of watch? Please, I have had to endure much longer periods of sleep deprivation when I was amongst the Crows, Warden."

"Fine, fine." She kissed his forehead and repositioned herself so that she was underneath him, and he lay his head against her chest.

He wrapped his arms around her and felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he caressed her sides. Is this what it feels like to be happy? He felt as if he had finally come home after a long, weary journey, as if he belonged there with her all along. She was so hot, her skin felt almost feverish to his touch. Tenniel wiggled underneath him as he kissed her chest and caressed the scarred but soft skin of her waist and hips.

"Go 'sleep." she smiled and hugged him again

The Warden was already starting to doze off when she heard him whisper very softly to her. "Mmm… the most perfect pillows." Zevran sighed contentedly. "Gracias, mi Guardián. Thank you, Tenniel." He went to sleep with the sound of her heart beating steadily against his ear.

4 Throw a sausage down a hallway