Isabella had food and wine sent to their cabin and the three men feasted for the first time in weeks.
When Zevran opened the bottle of Antivan Red and poured, he blushed openly at Fenris. When Fenris brought the wine to his lips he instantly recognized it and blushed just as much at Zevran. Dorian looked bemused at the entire scene.
"May I ask what all this blushing is about?" he asked.
"This is the same vintage of wine that Zevran brought each night when he visited me in Kirkwall," Fenris admitted, the taste of the wine bringing back the memory of that single, searing kiss he had shared with Zevran.
"Ah, yes. Well it's good to see some color back in your cheeks, my love," Dorian said, reaching out to take hold of Fenris' hand, Fenris pulling back, not yet ready to be touched. Dorian nodded, an understanding smile on his face.
"As I recall, it paired very well with that chocolate, did it not, mi querido?" Zevran said, with a wink "Ah yes, that rainy night in Kirkwall has been my fondest memory, even more so than the memory of the Hero of Ferelden sparing my life after my failed attempt to assassinate her."
...
They had been sailing for two weeks, and it would still be a few weeks before they reached Minrathous, Isabella's course not going directly there, so Dorian kept focused on continuing to heal Fenris, while Isabella seemed determined to fatten them all up, based on the lavish plates of food she kept sending to their cabin.
"I swear she's trying to murder us slowly by overfeeding us!" Zevran said with a laugh.
"No, Zevran, I'm just trying to make sure you all recover from whatever it was you were running from." Isabella said, as she came into their cabin. "Now I do believe you boys owe me a story!"
The three of them recounted the entire ordeal, from the time Zevran was alerted to the danger, all the way to their plan to sneak aboard a ship, any ship, heading to Minrathous.
"I must admit, I was quite happy to see a familiar face when we were going to stow away on your ship. With your help, Fenris will be fully recovered by the time we return to Minrathous. You have our sincerest thanks, Isabella," said Zevran with a bow of his head.
"I am a bit disappointed that you haven't come by my cabin yet, Zev," Isabella said with a pout. "Will you make it up to me tonight?" She began slinking her hand up his arm.
Zevran pull away, perhaps more quickly than he intended. "No, Isabella. You will not be enjoying the pleasure of my company in your cabin during this voyage, or any other. I fear my days of making love at every 'port in a storm' are over, mi belleza."
Isabella looked quite disappointed. "You were my favorite 'port in a storm' you know. Do you still remember that last time, in Denerim? Goodness that was well over 12 years ago now. It has been too long since I had you in my bed! Are you sure I can't entice you into one last tumble with me, sweet thing?"
"No, while you are just as enticing as ever, my heart now belongs to another," Zevran said with a blush. The other two men began to blush as well and Isabella began to guess the truth.
"Ah, I see, well then, have fun boys, just let me know if you'd ever be up for letting me watch!" she said with a wink, and then she pirouetted out of the cabin, closing the door tightly after her.
After Isabella left, Fenris began to fidget, and then got up and started pacing. The conversation with Isabella reminded him that he had yet to make a decision regarding the proposal Dorian and Zevran had presented him with back when he was still recovering in the caves.
The two men were being very patient with him, despite longing looks at both him and each other. They shared a bed, but always had Fenris sleep in the middle and were careful not to touch. They both understood he didn't like being touched unless he asked for it, due to his past enslavement, but also due to the more recent ordeal he'd been through. His body, mind and heart were all still healing and they were patient enough to wait for him to be ready.
"Dorian, Zevran, I've been considering your proposal since we were in the caves. I'm still not what I want, or with whom," he began, still pacing around the room like a caged animal. "However I have come up with a proposal of my own …"
"It's ok, love, you can take all the time you need," Dorian interrupted.
"Let me finish!" Fenris growled
Dorian put up his hands and gave an apologetic shrug.
"We've been stuck together, all three of us, since you rescued me. I think we each need some individual time together. That may help make this decision a lot easier, for all of us," he said, shifting uneasily, "I need to spend one night alone with each of you. Dorian and I need to … reacquaint ourselves with each other … and Zevran and I need to do the same. I also know that I need to learn to get past my ordeal and be happy in someone's arms again …"
He took in a deep breath and paused for a moment, looking at the two men, both of them looking at him with caring, concern and love.
"… and I also think the two of you need a night alone together as well," he began, noting how both men's eyes just flung wide at that suggestion. "We'll need to ask Isabella if we can make alternative sleeping arrangements for three nights so one of us can give the other two privacy."
Dorian gulped, his throat feeling dry, excited by the prospect of Fenris seriously considering their proposal. Also, he was pleasantly surprised that he was getting permission from his fiancé to spend a night alone with Zevran. How delicious!
Zevran spoke up first, "That sounds like an excellent idea, mi querido. Just tell us when and how you wish to proceed. As always, your wish is our desire."