Investigation

Leliana had been speaking with Zevran when she noticed Annika descend the stairs. Zevran followed the bard's eyes and sighed, seeing the look of distress on Annika's face.

"Hush, Zevran, do not start," Leliana rushed to say before their friend arrived, "Annika already knows how you feel about Alistair, and she does not need to hear anything else about it."

Zevran nodded his head in agreement and stood to greet the Warden as she arrived at the table.

"Good morning," she offered as she joined them, "I was hoping to catch you Zevran, before you left for the day. I want to go out with you, and see if we cannot learn more about this Jogrian."

Leliana had suspected that her dear friend would do this, as knowing more about their potential adversary could help prepare them for their meeting. The kitchen girl approached and Annika placed a meager order, at least compared to her usual size, which concerned Leliana. No appetite combined with the look that Annika still wore, had her anxious for Zevran to depart, so she could find out what had happened.

After agreeing to a plan, Zevran stood up from the table, and excused himself.

"Finally, I thought he would never go," Leliana said to Annika. "Now, what happened?"

"Nothing happened, Lil, I haven't even eaten yet," answered her friend. "The day has just begun."

Leliana pinned Annika with a look of genuine annoyance, "Oh, no you don't. I am no fool, and I know you very well, so do not play dumb. You and Alistair had all night alone in your room, and something happened."

Annika would not meet her eyes; she seemed to focus on a spot on her plate, but said nothing.

"Annie, please." Leliana whispered, "I want to help. I have already gathered it was not a happy night."

Leliana watched in horror as Annika's chin wobbled. In the two years she had been friends with Annika, she had only seen her cry once, and that had been at her family's memorial service at Highever. "Oh my, sweetie, please tell me!"

"Lil, it's alright," she said already regaining control, "I made a mistake, that's all."

"What kind of mistake?" Leliana prompted.

Annika looked hesitant but answered, "I was so tired, and he was asleep from the mage's spell, well, I slept in the bed too," she said quietly, "He was, well, when he woke, and he, uh, we began to make love."

"Is that not a good thing, making love with Alistair?" Leliana asked, "Is that not something you want?"

"Of course it is! It's just, I knew where I was, I knew it was real and I think, maybe, he thought it was a dream, because when…"her face turned red and her eyes looked down again, "Once he looked at me, it was as though he was surprised it was real, and he pushed me away, he was angry. He accused me of…something awful."

Leliana was hurt for Annika, but did not comment, knowing that it was not going to help her friend at that moment. Instead, she stayed quiet and waited for Annika to speak.

Clearing her throat, Annika raised her eyes to meet hers, "I let him know about his injuries, and that he was staying put. He is less than thrilled, but I do not think he will try to leave, at least not right now. I can tell he is in pain, and I reminded him that he really did not have a safe place to go at the moment." Leliana nodded in understanding and Annika continued, "I am going to give him the day, some space. I would be very grateful if you would sit with him, if you can. Maybe take him his meals?"

Leliana thought this through. She was angry and wanted nothing more than to march up the stairs and flay Alistair over his ignorant mistreatment of her friend. However, her training as a bard reminded her that she could learn quite a lot about how Alistair's mind was working these days, if she granted Annika's request, and so assured her friend she would look after him while Annika tracked down more information with Zevran.

The kitchen girl returned from the back with Annika's food, and then Annika ordered several dishes, requesting that they be sent up to her room in a half of an hour.

Leliana visited with Annika while she ate, discussing the previous evenings brawl, and what their next steps should be. Zevran returned and sat next to Annika, and again, Leliana noticed how carefully he tried to hide his affection for her. In truth, she was disappointed in herself that she had not seen it sooner, but chalked it up to a rather large Archdemon trying to kill them all.

Soon, Annika and Zevran departed and Leliana rose from the table. A servant appeared in the doorway carrying a large tray of food and Leliana followed her up the stairs and into the hall. Arriving at the door of the room, Leliana soundly knocked twice and opened the door. Alistair was sitting up in bed, awake, and their eyes met as she led the servant into the room.

"Good morning, Alistair! It is so nice to see you awake, and feeling a bit better, I hope?" Leliana chirped as she directed that the tray be placed at the bedside. Alistair watched her impassively. Leliana walked with the servant to the doorway and thanked her, closing the door behind her.

"Well, I see that Annika has selected my babysitter," Alistair grumbled sourly, "Is the whole group here together? Is Wynne next door knitting me some socks?"

Leliana frowned, "No, Alistair, she is not. Wynne died when we fought the Archdemon." There, chew on that. She was not disappointed; she could see her statement had hit its mark.

"How?" he asked quietly.

"How do you think?" she said with a small touch of sarcasm, "She was overwhelmed by several hurlocks. We were spread thin, as you know," she said. "It was a very difficult fight. Morrigan disappeared the night before, and Annie lost Lucifer as well, so all told we started out three less."

Alistair fell silent and Leliana thought it best to let him ponder her words. Crossing the room, she removed the covers from the plates of food, and arranged the silverware. Leaning over, she dropped a napkin in his lap, and placed the tray over it.

"I hope that you are hungry," she said. Alistair's hands took the tray, steadying it, and he looked at the food.

"Oh, I love those little sausages," he said as he picked up a fork, stabbing a link.

"Annika chose your food; she made the girl check that the sausage was fresh," she offered, "She must have remembered that you enjoyed them."

Leliana did not wait for a response, but enjoyed the conflicted look on his face. Turning from the bed, she walked over to the desk, and sat in the plush chair next to it. She stayed silent, watching him eat his food, humming a tune.

"Why are you all here, Leliana?" he asked eventually.

"Alistair, I would guess that is obvious," she said carefully, "You always played at being thick, but we both know you are not."

He looked at her, his eyes intense, "It's not that obvious, actually."

"So I suppose that means the rumors of your drinking are true? Is that how you have gone stupid?" Leliana snapped, "For stupidity is the only reason I can think of, if you truly cannot comprehend why Annika is here."

Alistair's eyes flashed with intense anger, but he did not answer her.

They sat in silence as he ate. Leliana eventually turned to the desk and wrote a few lyrics out on the parchment left on the desktop, her toe tapping the beat in her head.

"So, I'm a drunk, am I?" he asked, startling Leliana from her thoughts. He smiled a little at her slight jump.

"Those were the rumors, yes. You are a drunkard and a womanizer," she answered, amazed that he had chosen this topic to discuss. "Although, I must admit the womanizing is more troublesome than the drinking."

"Womanizing?" he scoffed, "Yes, well, I always was a complete and utter whore. Zevran was constantly chastising me for my behavior."

Leliana laughed, and was very pleased to see a small glimpse of the Alistair she had known before.

"Yes, well, no one truly knew where you had gone. Eventually, little trickles of information came in, here and there, but of course, all rumors," she said, "It was very worrisome."

"Worrisome, was I?" his words dripping with sarcasm, "Maker's breath, of all the things to cause you all, so sorry. "

"Alistair, dear, I hope you do not expect me to take the bait," Leliana told him, "You do not know what things were like after you left, and you do not know what truly happened. I think you should speak with Annika."

"I think you should mind your own business." Alistair replied.

Annoyed silence took over the room.

Eventually, Alistair finished eating and shifted in the bed, moving plates around. Leliana rose and took a small vial from the pocket in her dress, "All done?" she asked as sweetly as she could, approaching the bed. "I have a sleeping draught that the mage left, with the instructions that you are to drink three drops after you eat." Alistair looked at the vial suspiciously, "Oh come now, you were fairly beaten to mush, your kidney is still injured," but she saw that her assurances did not move him. "Oh really, do not be such a baby! Do you honestly think we would harm you?"

Alistair took the vial from her hand and opened it, sniffing it cautiously. He pulled out the dropper and looked at the liquid it contained. "Alright Leliana, but I'd better not wake up in bed with Zevran," and she smiled as he put, one, two, three drops onto his tongue, before handing it back to her.

"I promise, Alistair, no tricks," she said, as she put the vial back in her pocket and gathered up his tray. "Sleep well."

xXx

Zevran walked beside Annika as they navigated the lower streets of Llomerynn. His eyes were constantly moving, assessing their situation, watching for threats to her. It made him nervous, the attention she always drew. It made her a potential victim of all manner of things. He despised the way everyone noticed her, though he understood it, for she was impossible not to notice.

They had spoken to dozens of people today. Shopkeepers, vendors, barkeeps and even several street whores; all of whom confirmed Zevran's fears that this Jogrian was a very dangerous threat. Not one of the people they spoke to would say anything, but the fear in the eyes of each man or woman told him volumes. Jogrian was no small time thug, he was a boss, and Zevran knew that even his beautiful Warden would have a difficult fight if she chose to take him on. In fact, he had no doubt the man had already begun looking into her, which frayed his nerves to the end. His diligence would not waver until he got her out of this Maker forsaken city.

His blood boiled thinking about it, knowing how she still felt so much for a man who had proven himself so unworthy, and whose carelessness again placed her in very real danger. It had been difficult enough last night, to not finish the fool off, and he now considered it again. Zevran knew Annika did not see that side of him, the side that viewed killing as a very simple and highly effective means to an end. She had faith in him, that he would make choices that were good and honorable. It was one of the reasons he loved her, and why he struggled to behave.

He watched her from the corner of his eye, as he scanned the alleyway. She was charming some hapless street vendor, attempting to coax information from him. Her smile was almost genuine, he thought to himself, and he knew from the look on the man's face, that it was working. For a moment, Zevran felt very proud.

The man was chatting her up, thinking the exchange was genuine when Zevran noticed his hand snaking up to touch her. Zevran's eyes narrowed, his annoyance at the gall of the slob growing rapidly as he watched him run his hand up her arm and toss a lock of her hair behind her shoulder. Annika instinctively backed up closer to Zevran, and he felt a surge of possessive satisfaction. In turn, he stepped closer, his chest against her back as he made eye contact with the man, fixing him with an icy glare. The vendor immediately got the message and backed off, allowing Annika to thank him for his time. Zevran allowed Annika to pass by, gave the pathetic man one more stare, and followed her out into the street.

"Thanks, Zev, as always, you are my hero," she said, smiling at him.

"You forget yourself. These people are not used to kindness and charm." Zevran admonished her, "You must remember where you are."

"Zevran, he had some information that I don't think he would have given you," she defended, "Even if you batted your pretty lashes at him."

"So you bat yours instead?" he accused, "Do you have no concern for your own safety? How many times…" Zevran stopped, his eyes catching movement in the alley to their right. He heard Annika attempt to prod him on, but every alarm bell in him was screaming. His eyes zipped across the immediate area and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her against him. "Move, Annika, now!"

He was pleased she did not argue. Plastering herself to his side, she moved with him, her eyes frantically trying to identify the threat. Zevran moved her quickly into the thick of the crowd, hoping they would be safe, that the three men following them would not want a scene. He was wrong.

Suddenly, Annika was violently torn from his grip, as two of the men plowed into him, knocking him back against a wall. Zevran felt his head crack against the stone, but his panic for Annika overrode the pain. Surging forward, he pulled his shank from his side sheath and spun it in his fingers, launching it into the throat of one of his attackers. Blood burst from the wound with a spray and Zevran knew that man was no longer a threat. The other man caught Zevran in his stomach, again knocking him back, but Zevran was ready. He plunged his second dagger into the man's belly and dug in deep, forcing the blade up into the man's torso. He fell against Zevran who threw him aside. Onlookers were beginning to scream, but Zevran calmly walked over to the other man, jerked his blade from his throat, and pursued Annika.

Sprinting around a corner, he watched the crowd, looking for any sign of disturbance. Spotting a side alley, Zevran ran to it. Entering the dark narrow passage, he drew up short. His fear turned to relief as he saw her pulling her long sword out from the bastard, who was clearly dead at her feet. Her head snapped toward him, and she relaxed as she recognized him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "I thought I saw two men after you."

"Fine, my Warden," he chuckled, "I see you have taken care of your attacker."

"Yes, truly, he was no fighter. It was almost unfair, really," she said with a heavy sigh. "I think we have much to discuss with Leliana and Alistair, that is, if you agree it is reasonable to assume these are Jogrian's men?"

"Yes, I expect so. I suppose he did not appreciate our interference the other night, and I would wager he doesn't like us asking around about him." Zevran answered, watching her wipe blood from her brow.

"Well, then, perhaps he is more foolish than we thought, if this is what he throws at us," she smiled as she reached his side. "Well, I'm completely famished; shall we return to the inn?"

Zevran laughed and offered her his elbow.

Thank you Lisa! (Isn't she the best Beta? Seriously, you would not want to read this without her attacking it first!) Thank you all for the reviews, I value each one!