It had been three months since their first night together. Alistair was a changed man once he let go of most of the fears instilled in him by the Chantry. Zevran taught him how to love and accept himself and stop fearing the Maker for every little perceived transgression.

Zevran still couldn't believe that he and Alistair were actually together now, and he didn't care who knew. Not everyone in Rivain was accepting of two men in a relationship, but for the most part people kept their opinions to themselves. So the two of them settled into a few months of domestic bliss as their relationship blossomed. They had enough coin from the contract they'd completed, so they remained at the inn and just spent their days wandering the countryside, enjoying each other's company.

Alistair was still recovering and he and Zevran would often spar together in the afternoons, working on improving his fitness and sword skills so he wouldn't accidentally knock Zevran unconscious again if they found themselves in another fight.

Alistair also seemed to have a need to make up for lost time, and Zevran found himself making love to the warrior frequently. Very frequently. They enjoyed heated, passionate lovemaking each night and sleepy, slow lovemaking each morning. Alistair was definitely demonstrating to Zevran what that famous Grey Warden stamina really was and the elf felt hard pressed to keep up some days.

Not that Zevran minded. He hadn't had someone to warm his bed for months before running into Alistair in Kirkwall and Alistair was proving to be a very eager partner, now that he'd gotten past the worst of his Chantry-bred brainwashing.

One evening they were back in their room, kissing passionately. Alistair was already trying to remove Zevran's clothing, desperate again to feel the elf's skin against his own.

"Always so eager, mi amor," Zevran purred.

Alistair paused, blushing. It was immediately clear that he had something in mind that he was struggling to put into words.

"What is it, mi amor? What do you desire?" Zevran asked seductively.

Alistair blushed even more and then said. "You."

"Ah, but you already have me, yes?" Zevran teased. "In fact you have me more than once each day, as I recall."

"No. You have me," Alistair shook his head. "Tonight, I'd like to try having you."

Zevran now understood his meaning and smiled lasciviously.

"I thought you'd never ask, mi amor," Zevran growled removing the rest of his clothing quickly.

Alistair laughed. "Now who's eager?"

Soon they were both naked and Alistair picked up the smaller elf in his arms, kissing him as he walked him over to their shared bed and laid him down gently. Alistair laid down next to Zevran and continued to kiss and caress the elf in the way Zevran always took care of him.

Zevran practically purred at the attention, letting Alistair have his way with him.

Alistair began kissing his way down Zevran's chest and abdomen, keeping eye contact with Zevran, with a wicked grin playing across his lips. Soon he was face-to-face with Zevran's very erect cock and he licked his lips at the sight.

Alistair had never done this before but he had watched Zevran intently when he performed it on him. He tentatively licked the tip of Zevran's cock, causing the elf to groan a bit in pleasure. The taste of the pre-cum was salty on his tongue, encouraging the warrior to take more of Zevran's length into his mouth.

"Oh, si, mi amor. That is good." Zevran said encouragingly.

Alistair swallowed as much of the elf's erection as he dared and then slid his mouth and tongue back up.

"Suck a little on the upstroke, mi amor, it will make it more pleasurable," Zevran almost moaned.

Alistair tried again, descending and then sucking on the way up, and was pleasantly surprised at Zevran bucking his hips up in response.

Alistair's lips stretched into a smile around his lover's cock as he continued his oral ministrations for a few more minutes, before reaching out and grabbing the vial of slick they had been using. He slicked his fingers and slowly massaged Zevran's entrance, slowly pushing in a finger. He continued to suck and lick Zevran's erection as he slowly stretched and prepared the elf.

Alistair was truly relishing the taste of Zevran, enjoying the heavy weight against his tongue, while his fingers explored the assassin's hot passage. All these new, erotic sensations had him rock hard and wanting.

Once Alistair had slid 3 fingers into his lover, Zevran was dangerously close to coming. "Mi amor, please. I am ready. Please, fuck me."

Alistair looked up at Zevran as he slid his mouth off of the elf's cock. "No."

Zevran's eyes went wide, not understanding for a moment. Alistair shifted so he knelt between Zevran's legs, using his large hands to slowly push them apart so he could get better access. He then lined up his own aching erection and slowly sank into Zevran, as he leaned down to capture the elf's lips in a passionate kiss.

"I will not fuck you tonight, Love," Alistair said, full of newfound confidence, a sultry grin forming on his face. "I will make slow, sweet love to you, until you're seeing stars and crying my name to the Maker himself."

Zevran's breath hitched at the words. "Oh my," was all he could say as Alistair began to move, slow and surprisingly graceful. Alistair kept kissing Zevran, slow and sweet as he moved in and out of his lover in the same agonizing pace, relishing the tight heat around his cock.

"Maker Zev, you feel so good, so hot and tight" Alistair breathed as he trailed his kissing along the elf's jawline, over to his sensitive ear. "I never imagined how good this could feel…"

Zevran's hips began to move, arching into each of his lover's thrusts, trying to take him deeper.

"Si, and you feel so good filling me. Please, mi amor, please touch me," Zevran practically begged.

Alistair angled his body higher and reached down to grab Zevran's length in his large hand, stroking it in time with his slow thrusts while suckling on Zevran's earlobe, making the elf keen in ecstasy.

"Love you, Zev," Alistair said softly as he captured the elf's mouth again.

They were both close to the edge, getting closer in agonizing degrees with the slow pace set by the warrior. Alistair broke their kiss and rested his forehead against Zevran's, looking into the elf's honey brown eyes, full blown with desire.

Zevran begged. "Faster. Please."

Alistair couldn't deny his plea, and began to speed up, both his thrusts and his strokes on Zevran's cock, until he felt the elf arch his back and scream his name, hot cum splattering all over his hand. As Alistair felt the clench around his own cock his thrusts began to stutter and he roared his release as he spilled his seed deep within his lover.

Afterwards, Zevran was the first to get up and clean them both off with a wet cloth as Alistair lay there, reeling. He'd had some pretty amazing orgasms over the past few months with Zevran, but this one was…mind blowing.

Zevran curled up into Alistair's embrace, kissing him softly. "Mi amor, you are welcome to make love to me like that any time. You are an amazing lover."

Alistair smiled sleepily at Zevran. "I had an excellent teacher."

The next morning the two awoke in each other's arms and they had sleepy morning sex, Alistair taking Zevran again. They then wended their way down into the inn for lunch. While Alistair still suffered from his cravings, Zevran was working with him on trying to be around others drinking without having a relapse.

After breakfast they decided to go for their now daily stroll, wearing their armor and weapons in case they decided to spar later. They walked hand-in-hand down the dusty lane that led out of town, enjoying the gentle sea breeze blowing in from the nearby docks.

All of a sudden Zevran stopped, his sensitive elven ears twitching. "Be still, mi amor," he warned with a whisper. Alistair immediately became wary, his hand reaching for his sword when almost without warning they were surrounded as an entire band of assassins unstealthed around them.

"Brasca," Zevran swore when he realized the men attacking them were Crows.

"You're getting soft, Zevran," the senior of the Crows sneered at him. "You should have moved on from here months ago."

Zevran knew he was right. All this domestic bliss with Alistair had made him go soft. He should have known the Crows would be back.

Zevran was glad that he and Alistair had been sparring regularly, as Alistair's moves were much more like they had been in the old days, his newfound self-confidence actually making him an even more effective fighter.

There were ten of them this time. Zevran didn't like the odds, but he wasn't going down without a fight. He stealthed and appeared behind their leader, quickly stabbing one knife into the man's kidney while slicing deeply into his throat with the other.

One he'd cut the head off the snake, as it were, the fight felt much more favorable. It was clear some of the Crows they faced were green, perhaps out on their very first mission. It was almost a shame it would also be their last.

As Zevran began dispatching one Crow after another, Alistair was holding his own, slicing and thrusting with his sword, while blocking with his shield. He managed to fell three of his opponents before one of them got through an opening in his defenses, and was perilously close to sinking his blade into Alistair's side when Zevran intervened and that Crow breathed his last breath.

Looking up they realized that all the Crows had been routed and they stood surrounded by blood and death. Sheathing their weapons they leaned on each other for a moment, catching their breaths.

Zevran grabbed Alistair's wrist and urgently pulled the dazed warrior back towards the inn. "Come, mi amor. We must go back to the inn and pack. We shouldn't linger here any longer," Zevran announced.

Alistair nodded. He knew Zevran was right. It was too much to hope for a peaceful life as long as the Crows were hunting Zevran. On the way back towards the inn, Alistair asked. "Why don't we go after them? They have kept you on the run for years now, right? Why not take the fight to them? Convince them it's not worth hunting you anymore?"

Zevran contemplated Alistair's words. He had been on the run for so long now, and being alone thought nothing of it. Now that he had Alistair in his life, the thought of being able to settle in one place seemed more appealing.

"You may be right, mi amor," Zevran agreed. "It may be time to stop running and bring the fight to them."

They packed quickly, Zevran fearing a second group of Crows may still be out there lurking for them. Whenever the Crows had zeroed in on him, they often sent multiple groups in, because the first group always failed to capture or kill him. He's had to slip past their pathetic attempts to trap him, as the first group was mainly meant to wear him out. The Crows were still far too predictable, which had worked in Zevran's favor.

Zevran was still cursing himself for not moving on sooner. They could have been long gone weeks ago and they really had no reason to linger. It had just felt really nice to not be on the run, for once.

They settled up what they owed the innkeeper, including a substantial bribe to try and ensure his silence when the next group of Crows came looking for them. Then they left out the front door, hoods pulled over their heads. Slipping out the back would have been too predictable.

Zevran debated between heading towards the docks and getting onto a ship, or to make their way towards Antiva City on foot. Either choice was dangerous now that the Crows had found him again. A sea voyage would be faster, if they could find a ship headed to Antiva City, and the Crows may not expect him to be as bold as to head right into the heart of their operation. Yet if there were any Crows aboard ship (which undoubtedly there would be), it would make the voyage itself risky.

Zevran led Alistair into a shady alleyway so they could discuss their plans.

"Which do you think? By sea or on foot?" Zevran asked Alistair.

"Where are we going, and how long would it take?" Alistair asked.

"If we are to take on the Crows head on, we should go to Antiva City, the seat of their power. It would take a day-and-a-half by boat, but several weeks on foot," Zevran replied. "Either course is dangerous."

"I don't relish the idea of going back out to sea, but the faster we get this over with, the better," Alistair said.

Zevran nodded and agreed. He led the way out towards the docks and they hid themselves behind some shipping crates as they looked at the available ships currently docked. A smile broke out on Zevran's face when he recognized one of the captains on the dock. Pulling his hood closely over his face, he gestured for Alistair to do the same before stepping out from behind the crates and approaching the large man.

"Excuse me, Captain? Do you by chance sail for Antiva City?" Zevran whispered.

The man looked suspiciously at the two cloaked figures.

"Mayhaps I am, who's askin'?" the captain replied.

Zevran gestured for the man to bend a bit closer to him, before he pushed back his hood enough for the man to recognize him. The captain's eyes went wide in recognition and Zevran put a finger to his lips to indicate silence. Zevran whispered to the man. "Casavir, my old friend, I am in need to get back to Antiva City with all due haste and with the utmost discretion. May my friend and I book passage on your lovely vessel?"

Casavir nodded and straightened up while Zevran pulled his hood back down. The man waved over one of his crew. "Please escort these gentlemen to the VIP quarters."

"Aye, aye Captain! This way gentlemen," the crewman said, indicating the way.

Once Zevran and Alistair were settled in they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, how do you know this Captain Casavir, Love?" Alistair asked. "Not one of your former lovers, is he?"

"Why? Are you jealous mi amor?" Zevran smiled and shook his head. "I can't believe you don't remember Casavir. He was first mate to Captain Isabella. We met them at the Pearl back in Denerim during the last blight."

Alistair thought for a moment before recognition crossed his features. "Oh! Yes…I suppose I do recall. He introduced us to his erstwhile captain, didn't he? And then later you and Isabela disappeared for a while, as I recall…"

"Ah yes. I never was able to resist Isabela's many charms back in those days," Zevran said wistfully. "She's actually in Kirkwall now, following around that fellow they call Hawke. I saw her just before finding you in that stinking hole they called a tavern."

"Did you and she…erm?" Alistair asked.

"No. I no longer found her charms as alluring as I once did, and I turned down her rather pathetic advances," Zevran said. "Since what occurred in Denerim, I no longer desired quick trysts like that, although I will admit I did avail myself of a whorehouse or two over the years."

"Did you now?" Alistair teased. "Still needed a buxom whore to satisfy your need on occasion?"

Zevran blushed. "Ah, erm. No actually. I had something a bit more…specific…in mind."

"Oh, do tell," Alistair quirked an eyebrow. "Please, love?"

Zevran was blushing quite furiously now. "Well, I seemed to have developed a taste only for male whores."

Zevran began stalking towards Alistair as he began to describe in more detail. "They had to be tall. Strapping. Handsome. Strawberry blonde. Preferably looking a bit like the former King of Ferelden."

By the time Zevran stopped he was right in front of Alistair. Alistair swallowed visibly. "Oh, so you were having fantasies about my dead half-brother?" Alistair attempted to joke.

"No, mi amor," Zevran said. "I was having fantasies about you."