Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age. All I own is this storyline.

After some time I've finally made up my mind

She is the girl and I really want to make her mine

I'm searching everywhere to find her again

To tell her I love her

And I'm sorry 'bout the things I've done

I find her standing in front of the church

The only place in town where I didn't search

She looks so happy in her wedding dress

But she's crying while she's saying this:

Boy I missed your kisses all the time but this is

Twenty five minutes too late

Though you travelled so far boy I'm sorry you are

Twenty five minutes too late

25 Minutes – Michael Learns to Rock

She was nervous. The reason she was nervous was because she had been forced to wait and she hated waiting. The leaves rustled in the wind, which carried a scent of roses. Why she had decided to meet out here, she wasn't sure. But she knew now that she regretted it. The sounds and shadows that grew along the walls made her even more nervous. The wind shifted and carried with it a scent of leather and exotic spices. She heard a faint crackle behind her and spun around instantly.

"Zevran! Don't sneak up on me like that."

The elven assassin grinned widely.

"But my dear Queen, it is too much fun not to."

"It's Celia, Zev," she sighed. "We're friends, remember?"

"As you will, your Majesty," he mocked and bowed.

"Gah, you're impossible," she groaned, waving her arms at him.

"Am I? People usually find me irresistible."

He flashed her another smirk.

"Well I didn't summon you to talk about your capability to charm people. I..."

She hesitated. This was something needed to be done, but for all that was holy, it was something she absolutely didn't want to do. She searched her mind for another solution, but she knew there was none. She had gone over every other possibility and in the end it had come down to the question of trust. There was no one else that she could trust would get the job done. No one else was capable of doing what she was planning for Zevran. And yet so much was still not decided. There was a possibility that she would still have to find someone else, but she was afraid that there would be no one else as able as him. She noticed Zevran looking at her, and snapped back to the present.

"I would like you to join the Grey Wardens."

There, she had said it. She closed her eyes and wished that he would accept. She wished he wouldn't protest or even question her decision. As much as she didn't want to ask this of him, she didn't want to force it either. Though in truth, forcing him was what she was doing. There was no other way and no matter how much she hated it, she had to do it.

"Now there's an interesting offer," Zevran said with a smirk. Then his face turned cold. "but what makes you think I want to swear allegiance to a new group, now that I'm free from the crows?"

"Please, Zev. Please don't make me force the Right of Conscription on you. I don't want to do that. Please, Zev."

"Then don't."

"I have to."

"Why?" He squinted his eyes. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"Lies. You're usually a better liar then that, my dear warden." He circled her. "But you woke my curiosity. Maybe if I did as you ask, you will tell me of your plan."

The air seemed to thicken as they looked at each other, waiting for the other one to talk first. Zevran looked straight into her eyes, but there was nothing that gave her away. She was a marvel, this one woman that could make her do whatever she asked of him. He sometimes regretted that he hadn't run away from her once Taliesen had been defeated. But he suspected that her hold on him had already been too strong back then. As much as he hated to admit it, this woman had a hold on his heart that was so strong he couldn't see any way out if it. He decided to play along and smirked at her.

"Well it's not likely that I will get away from here in any other way then to accept your offer. You sure have made sure to trap me, like a rat. And I fell for it. Congratulations, dear Warden."

"What are you talking about, Zev?"

"Oh don't play the innocent. We both know this was a trap and there is no way you will let me go without me accepting your offer. The guards have tripled these last days, preparing. Escape routes have been closed off and if I know you as well as I would like to believe I do, there might even be one or two assassins out there, ready to pin me down if I should even try to escape. You have planned this very masterfully and you are not going to let me escape this trap of your. Yes there is a great chance that I still might make it, running away. But what would be the point. You would hunt me down and since the Crows never could stop you, I fear that it will not be something I would be able to do. I honestly don't know what would be harder to escape. You or the crows. Without your protection I'm going to be pinned between your order and the Crows."

"Zevran, I'm so sorry."

He held up a hand to stop her pleads.

"Don't, my Grey Warden. We both know that is a lie. And I have already surrendered to your will."

"You make it sound like you have no choice."

"Well, do I?"

She bit her lip. No, in truth he didn't. She needed him and he had to become a Grey Warden. It felt like a thousand needles pierced her heart. Once again she hated herself for choosing this path. More than ever she wanted to go back and change it all. But while she felt this strong regret, she still knew that the worst was yet to come. There were still events on the horizon that she knew would make her regret this decision even more than she did now. This was simple the first steps in a tangle of lies she had been spinning since she had woke up that morning fully aware of the child she was carrying.

"See, my dear Warden. There is no choice for me."

"I'm sorry, Zev. I really am. I really wish there was another way."

"I would lie if I said that this mystery didn't intrigue me. But I can't help but feeling that I am the one who has everything to lose in this arrangement."

Celia could feel tears building up. No, it still wasn't time to cry, she had to stay strong.

"I too, have a lot to lose on this arrangement."

"Whatever is making you take these drastic measures, must be worth a lot to you, if you're willing to risqué our friendship."

"There is so much more a risk, than our friendship, I'm afraid. As important as our friendship is to me, Zevran, there are plenty of things that are equally important and there are many reasons why I must gamble it all on this path. Know that I will tell you in due time. Know that you will be the only person who will know everything, the only person I will be able to trust."

"Somehow that makes me feel happy and anxious at the same time. What are you planning, dear Warden?"

"All in due time, Zev. Please just..." Her voice broke off. This was getting harder for every minute that passed. "Maker forgive me," she whispered under her breath.

Zevran raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She took the opportunity in this newly sett silence and handed him a letter.

"Take this to the Grey Warden keep, and give this to the commander. You will be tested with other potentials."

"Tested?"

"Nothing you won't able to handle. The first test you will handle with ease."

The second test you might not, she added in her mind. As she realized the possibility that he might not survive the taint, tears starter to fall on her cheeks. She had just sentenced one of her dearest friends to death. Whether it was to be quick or slowly by the taint, was yet to see. But she was the one who had sentenced him, and yet she knew there were still worse things to come. Quickly she turned to walk back into the castle, determined not to show Zevran her tears. Just as she thought that he hadn't notice and was about to let her leave, she felt him grab her arm.

"Why the tears, my dear Warden."

"It's nothing, Zev."

He pulled her close and spun her around. Gently he placed his hand on her cheek and wiped a tear away. She closed her eyes. This was dangerous. Once she had felt his hand just like this on her cheek and it had been followed by a kiss. In her heart she had never really turned him down, even though she had chosen someone else. But all the feelings she had for him were still there. That's why she kept her distance from him. She feared that her feelings would one day betray her and that she would betray her husband.

"These tears don't look like nothing to me."

The smell of him filled her lungs and she shivered. This was bad.

"Zevran," she whispered. "Please. If anyone... sees us..."

"You mean if Alistair sees us."

He let go of her arm and took one step backward, turning his head away. She remained where he had left her, still shaking, still wishing that he had kissed her. Even though she knew that it was better this way, it hurt. She loved Alistair, but she could not deny it. She loved Zevran too.

"Very well, dear Warden. I will go to the Wardens now. I will join, as I have promised to do."

"Thank you, Zev," she whispered. "May the Maker have mercy on our souls."

Without looking at him she turned and went back into the castle. Zevran watched her leave, his body aching to chase her and kiss her. He had been so close. Her scent had almost made him forget the fact that she wasn't his to have. Tonight he wished that it wasn't so. At this moment he wished that she was his, if only for that one kiss. He disappeared into the night, again the next step in his journey chosen by someone else. But for once he felt less forced, even though the chains that pulled him was stronger than ever before.

There had been seven at the start. They had lost 2 in the deep roads and another 3 to the taint. Only one had survived and now the turn had come for Zevran. Celia watched with horror as Zevran raised the chalice to his lips and drank the poison that would kill him. Fast or slow. Tears fled from her eyes and she chanted under her breath.

"Maker forgive me. Maker have mercy."

She repeated the words over and over, as she watched Zevran hand back the chalice and then he felt to his knees, clutching his throat.

"Maker preserve us. Maker protect us."

Zevran opened his mouth as to scream, but no sound came over his lips. His eyes turned white and then his back bent over in a most unnatural way and a painful whimper came over his lips. Then he collapsed and it was over. He was gasping for air. Celia fell to her knees next to him and flung her arms around his neck.

"Oh, thank the Maker," she cried. "Oh, Zevran I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

Zevran gently pushed her away, afraid of what he would do if this embrace lasted any longer. He feared that his emotions would betray him any second now. He gathered his strength and smirked as he faced her.

"My dear Warden, have you forgotten who you are. I would think it not to wise of you to express your feelings so openly."

Celia blushed and turned her eyes from his.

"I am a Grey Warden first, and you are one of my most trusted friends. Let me at least be happy you are not dead. Yet."

"Wow, that sounded... reassuring."

He stood up and helped Celia to her feet. Again they found themselves only inches from each other and Celia felt herself wanting more than she could ever have. Zevran hissed under his breath and stepped away quickly. If the others next to them suspected anything, they didn't say so. Celia cleared her throat.

"Welcome brother," she said as formally as she could to Zevran and the turned to the other survivor, an elven woman from the Alienage of Denerim. "And welcome, sister." Then she turned to the Grey Warden that had conducted the ritual. "Two more, Evan."

"And so, slowly our numbers are increasing."

They shared a smile that was filled with joy and sadness at the same time.

"Yes," she turned back to Zevran and the elven woman. "One last thing." She held out a pendant each to them. "A reminder of the others who gave their lives today and who have given their lives over the ages, a sacrifice for the greater good."

"Nice necklace," smirked Zevran. "Always wanted to ask where you've gotten yours."

"You could've asked, Zev."

"And miss out on this surprise?"

Celia sighed.

"It contains a few drops of the blood you've drank tonight and it will remind you of the sacrifice we all have made." She turned to Evan. "I trust that everything is under control here at the keep. I can take my leave again?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Here, Evan, I am only a Grey Warden, your sister through the tainted blood. And I would appreciate if you would treat me such," she said and smiled softly.

"Yes, sister," he smiled.

"Well, then I should probably return, before my husband sends his armies to find me." She placed her hand on her still growing stomach. "And I think that there has been enough excitement for the heir tonight."

"Let me accompany you back to Denerim," Zevran said behind her.

She turned and narrowed her eyes.

"You just want to torment Alistair, don't you?"

"Well I won't lie, the thought has crossed my mind."

"Dear Maker."

End of chapter 4