Secret of Rinna
Watched repeat vids of Zevran's last mission / most people=Antiva with Spanish
This dawn, I did not dream about how Fenris rescued me and my untamed powers, like I normally did. But someone talking about Rinna. The same voice had spooked me when we were having dinner but I thought it had been my hallucination. Sensual, feminine yet not completely… My dreams of the past are usually vivid, though I don't wake up screaming and in a sweat. So I'd never shared about these to stop them worrying. I couldn't see in the mists and called out who are you. The person paused and spidery fingers caressed my forehead.
She sobbed. I squinted but still could not see any solid person. Never tried talking in the Fade before, was it an evil demon? 'Who are you?'
Rinna
why have you not gone to the light yet?
Resounding silence. Spirits don't rest because they are seeking someone, I remembered a Chantry verse. 'Do you search for someone?' I immediately thought could be Fenris? But he would never consort with demons…
In the distance there was a crack of something against a cheek, plea for mercy, for love, and then her anguish as Rinna the spirit answered me.
What? I allowed my eyes to adjust to my familiar room and darkness. She had shown a bracelet of red petals and repeated his name… Then I was so tired that I went back to sleep again.
It was almost lunchtime when I walked by the weapons-room. The former Crow was examining them. I asked him who is Rinna harmlessly. It should have been.
Zevran stiffened. The sword he had been holding clattered loudly. "What? How did you know that?" Colour drained from his face so rapidly as he raised his voice. "I've never told anyone for years!" The elf snapped. His lashout was so defensive that I hesitated.
I was still bleary from sleep and didn't understand such strong emotion. He ran his shaking hand through his golden hair and crouched down beside the sword. Zevran did not gasp as he picked it by the blade. His red fluid ran freely but he was transfixed by something else and didn't even notice me calling the servants to grab a cloth.
They had told me he had a fiery temper but he had always kept it in check, always polite to us. Two servants came and spoke to him softly. Zevran had silent tears tracking down his cheeks. He let them clean up and I apologized, holding a cloth around his cut right hand.
"Zev? Want something warm to drink? Come on." He did not answer, and let me bring him to a room we usually reserved for guests. Oh shit what'd I caused now? Even though there were chairs, the Antivan did not move to sit and I continued keeping pressure on the wound. I guided him to a chair.
A warm cup of Kirkwall tea was set on the table.
Mary, one of the servants he always spoke to, called him until he finally looked up. She was a mousy half-elf without pointed ears and they usually spoke local dialect. I could only hear his name and the rest was that.
He shook his head and moved his hurt hand from my grip. Hair concealed his face as he clasped his hands on his lap. I bit my lip.
Mary and I looked at each other, and she whispered what's wrong. I shrugged and asked if there was any mail and did Fenris leave any messages? My guardian usually roused earlier than me even if he had no work, to train at a secluded location. The way Fenris shows he loves me is this personal space, he never interrupted my sleep and if there was anything urgent, he entrusted messages to Mary. We spoke for a while, wondering if Zev would recover his usual self.
In unison, we both laid our hands on his back. Zevran sighed deeply and huskily said, "I am… alright now. Thank you."
"Sure then I'll be going to do chores. Master Fenris says he will be back earlier today and to do homework." She chuckled. I smiled and moved to leave as well.
But he bade me to stay. "Sabriel. How, did you know about her?" His usually bright honey colored eyes were glassy and his voice was frail. Only Zev could still look graceful with undried tears.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea…"
"Stop!" he snapped, semblance of fragility broken. I slipped one hand to my belt where my spare knife was. He rubbed his forehead and said, "I mean, tell me how. Do not say sorry. Rinna… was someone very precious to me." Acute pain crossed his handsome features.
"I will. Drink this first. Please." I offered him the almost cold tea. Zevran smiled faintly and accepted. "I heard a voice. That day at dinner, but it could have been a mistake. And we were happy, I didn't want it ruined. Last night, or morning, I dreamt of her calling for you…"
"Did you see her?" Zevran interrupted. His shoulders slumped when I shook my head.
I went into as much detail as possible but it was not enough for him, not until I said, "Before I woke, she said your name again and there was this… red bracelet of petals. You're very angry. I shouldn't have…" I wrung my hands.
"Don't be sorry. I am not angry, just very mixed up. She's… was my lover. I gave my everything to her, we were friends. Did she say anything about Taliesen?"
Lover? It sounded as if Rinna had been highly important to him, not like the casual sex Zevran liked to discuss. For the first time, I noticed the bone weariness and acute pain lacing his voice, ageing the elf.
Zevran talked about this murder of Rinna that a man Taliesen had done in front of him. He did not build a picture of how she was like, but I was certain she must have been perfect in his world. They had been in the same Crow-cell, to go out on missions. "Although I had not cut her throat, I hadn't believed her. She did not accept a bribe. The source was wrong. And I listened to Taliesen, when I Shouldn't have! Ah I was such a fool, an idiot. I really wanted death, and I tried to… you are, crying?"
He frowned as I rubbed my eyes. "Don't die, Zev." Zevran's fingers traced my face.
Then I hugged him without shyness, without restraint. Maybe Rinna had wanted me to. "You're not a fool and it's not what she would have wanted. Nor what we would want, there are many many people who worry and care about you. How can you not see? " Now my weakness was gone and my no nonsense self emerged.
But I did not let go until Zevran coughed. "Ah, I appreciate the care, but… I can't "
I glared at him, Aveline would be proud. "You… cried. For me?" He said softly.
Zev was getting depressed. "A lot of the time, I'm not… seeing that. Everyone wants me to shut up, that I'm unfaithful, lurid, irritating, a pest, a sinner. Maker can't count how many have died by me. I tried to forget, to be cold and evil. Sometimes it helped, sometimes no."
"You will answer to my fist if you keep on like this. Stop… trashing yourself! It's Normal, because we're not without conscience, emotions. I care, coz you're my friend, even if the world does not! You're a Real dumbass douche bag if you actually hurt yourself dammit! Rinna would… be happy you helped to fight the darkspawn… It was heroic, and crazy but good. Worthy." I wound down my tirade, remembering some of their tales.
Zevran closed his mouth and scowled. "Hey hey! Why are you cussing so much? Don't waste my effort to coach you. I… I get it. Calm down. Are you seriously going to hit me, eres me mejor amiga ?"
I shoved my hand back in my dress pocket. "Maybe. What's the word?"
The sunlight was back in his face. "It means you're my beloved friend too. Thank you for telling me about Rinna. Will you tell me, again if she comes in the Fade? Please?"
