The broody Hero of Fereldan and his drunken dwarf had been on the road for almost two weeks without solving their problem with finding more companions for the dark roads expedition. They were just one days travel from Denerim and Ohgren was making the camp fire, and supposedly later on was to make the food.

Surana always had doubts about what that dwarf called food, but it was a pride thing with Oghren nowadays, so the elf endured. He, in the meantime was on 'guard duty'. He spent his guard duty peering over notes and trying to pre-plan as much as he could before reaching Denerim. They were going there to fetch supplies, and possibly some grunts for their expedition.

Ohgren was loudly protesting his Commanders urge to go down to the thaig without strong people with shovels coming with them. Something about him not wanting to do all the digging.

The snap of a twig alerted the Commander that something was afoot, but by then it was too late. A faint smell of leather came over him and he was pulled down on the ground hearing almost like a soft purr being whispered in his ear.

"What are the infamous Warden-Commander doing out in the woods?" the velvety voice of his assailant mumbled and Surana grunted, trying to subdue a giggle.

He was the Warden-Commander of Fereldan, the Hero that ended the Blight, an infamous blood mage and the father of an old God. He refused to giggle.

"Zevran Arainai, let go of me" he grumbled instead and tried to push the assassin away.

Zevran was not a man who liked being pushed away, but loved to tease. He nibbled Suranas ear before rising and lending his friend a hand.

"They are looking for you," Zevran said eyes glittering with amusement while Surana tried to wipe the dirt of his clothes

"Who? The Crows?"

"No no, they tried and failed to kill you before. They do not wish to lose another of their stars to your wicked charm. The Inqusition. Leliana sent me a letter, asking where you were,"

"How kind of her. What did you say?"

"I said I didn't know, and I didn't. But I got curious, because all the Wardens are disappearing, and then I thought maybe you would need me to swoop in and save you,"

"How thoughtful of you,"

"Also I heard Morrigan was at court in Orlais, so your bedroll must be very cold. I am a very helpful friend, not wanting you to get killed, or cold,"

Surana smirked, he couldn't help it. Zevran was possibly the most flirtatious and flap-mouthed person he had met and enjoyed the company of.

"I suspected as much. You are a very predictable person, Zevran,"

"Only to those who know me," the elf mused "I smell our trusted dwarven drunk, are you letting him cook?"

"I am. Do you know what this Inquisition want with me? I imagine Leliana would be pleased to find me, if only my head got severed from my body,"

"Oh, she does not want to kill you. She dislikes you, not as forgiving and charming as she used to be. But then again, not all are as wonderful as you that befriend those failing to kill you,"

"Just once. Most who try and kill me end up dead, as you know,"

"It was my charm was it not? You are always so weak for my charm,"

Surana rolled his eyes and picked his maps and plans of the ground walking back towards Oghren.

"Zevran will join us for dinner," he said to the dwarf who just scoffed;

"I heard him. I didn't want to interrupt you two being all... happy to see each other again,"

"Have you missed me too, my ale-stinking stout dwarf?" Zevran asked the dwarf as he leaned over the pot trying to decipher what was for dinner.

"Like I miss rashes in my arse," the dwarf answered with a hidden smile "Don't turn your nose up on my food, it is nug-stew. Good stuff,"

"Exhilarating," Surana mumbled "If she doesn't want me dead, what does she want?"

"Still on about our Chantry friend?" Zevran chuckled "Maybe she wants tips on how to do her hair, or they need someone to lead their Inquisition and save the world? You do have experience leading things and saving the world, so I assume you are a natural candidate, even though you cut her head off,"

"She started it,"

Oghren rolled his eyes at them and concentrated on his stew. Zevran was still grinning and sat down beside Surana.

"So, were are we heading?"

"We?"

"Oh please, I am coming with you. Somebody needs to make sure you come home to Morrigan in one piece, and there is always so much fun where you are heading. Never a dull moment,"

"Fine, we are heading down to the deep roads," Surana smiled, glad to have his friend with him.

Zevran had a talent for taking Suranas mind off things, a talent that the Warden felt might be more needed now then ever.

They ate, Zevran chatted away and Surana felt more at ease as he watched his two companions banter the night away. He stayed out of it, writing list of items they needed to acquire in Denerim and studying his maps, and didn't really engage in the conversations until Zevran poked him on his shoulder and purred;

"I am getting sleepy, which is your tent? I would hate to go and sleep with the dwarf and drive you insane with jealousy,"

"It is the one on the right. With the map cases within. Please keep some clothing on, Morrigan still has a deep fear of you stealing me away from her, and you know how feisty she gets when she feels threatened"

"She is not here, no?" Zevran winked at him and Surana rolled his eyes with a smile

"No, but I do not keep secrets from her. Especially if they would make her angry,"

"She is hot when she is angry," the assassin agreed and strutted of to Suranas tent.

Their tent now, Surana suspected.

"You are not going to … do stuff, are you?" Oghren mumbled looking uncomfortable.

Surana chuckled, and for a moment pondered the idea of saying that they were going to do a lot of things just to tease the dwarf, but ended up shaking his head underlining a few words on his list.

"No. He is just teasing you. I do not have the time to dally around with things like that right now,"

"Well good," the dwarf mumbled and took a mouthful of ale "I'm going tie in as well. Or do you want me to take first watch?"

"No, I'll take first watch. I'll wake you up in a few hours,"

"Wake the elf instead. I made dinner,"

"Fine,"

And such the dwarf wandered off to his own tent and Surana was again alone, guarding their little camp. He turned his eyes to the sky, breathing in the calm of the night and imagining Morrigan frowning and disapproving of Zevran being there. He liked her when she was jealous. She knew better then to fear anyone coming between them, but that did not mean that she enjoyed the thought of that, as she put it, 'whorish assassin' being all over Surana. Not if she was to be left out of the fun anyway.

Zevran joined him after an hour, not long after Oghrens snores was loud enough to scare off any wild life that would have thought of coming near.

The tanned blond elf slid down beside Surana with his head cocked to the side and mumbled softly;

"How are you?"

"Good," Surana was a bit confused over the seriousness of Zevrans tone "What is wrong?"

"... She sent me here you know. She worries, and if she worries so much that she asks me to come and babysit you then something is very wrong,"

Surana sighed and stared into the fire.

"It is nothing. She is being a mother hen, that is all,"

"You look skinny, and pale. Paler then usual. And you are out and about so it is not a lack of sun,"

"I'm fine,"

"Nathaniel said Avernus is dead. That you lost your cool, and that the other Wardens left to go with some Orleisan Warden,"

Surana felt a soft hand stroke his back as Zevran spoke. He felt his guard go up. He didn't want to feel weak and out of control.

"It is just... people. They are idiots. I wish I could just... You know me. I get frustrated with idiots,"

"Not everybody can be as charming and overly talented and competent as you and I, that is the way of the world," Zevran replied making Surana roll his eyes.

"Sadly. The worst part is them being idiots and putting themselves in my way because they don't get what I'm doing or why. They think they are so smart and really they are just being stuck up morons and hindering real work to be done that could save so many..."

"Well.. I guess it is the blood. People are very squeamish about blood, I know, I make it run out of people too. Just with a blade, not just by... my will. But you are avoiding telling me what is really wrong. Why you look so sick,"

"It is the Calling. It has changed, and is stronger,"

"Is that why we are going down in the Deep Roads? Is that not a dumb idea if you are hearing that? Is this a suicide mission. She will flay me if I help you with anything like that, and I enjoy my skin. It is practical and pretty,"

"I'm going to end the Calling. Forever. Cure it. I just need... more information. About what it is. How it works. If...if those fanatics called Templars had not killed Avernus then maybe I wouldn't need to but... I need this to stop. I need to know I will be here,"

He glanced at Zevran and frowned when he saw a soft surprised smile on his friends lips.

"Being a father really changed you, I like this change," Zevran concluded "The Surana I tried to kill a decade ago would if anything have snarled that he wanted it gone because it was annoying. Not that he needed to have it gone to be able to look after anyone but himself,"

"I didn't say it wasn't like that," the Warden muttered defensively making Zevran laugh out loud

"Your body speaks more then your words. The way you don't stop fiddling with the ring, that worried parent look on your face when you think about your condition. Is Keiran well?"

"He is. They are in Orlais, I... miss them. But I need to get well, and I guess after that I will have to sort out the hole in the sky,"

Zevran chuckled and fiddled with his hair;

"You are a hero, even though you are so nasty to people"

"I...what ever... I'm tired, can you take the night watch?"

"I will guard you and the dwarf vigilantly!"

Surana didn't give any response, he just smirked and walked away to the tent.