Okay...I thought I would start this chapter with a little curve, and having nothing to do with the actual story line...making it up. It turned out to be a really good set up for the closing of the relationship conversations that Zev would have...and I think it turned out well. Still crossing fingers about that. Now I was going to end this a little later in the actual story line but when scrolling through my page I realized I had way too much and I wasn't giving enough for that last home stretch. I want to end the main story of this with a little bit of a sad, and yet happy ending full of complications...and questions (probably more for the characters than the readers).
As for continuing to Awakening story line...I am really tempted but I don't know if I want to put it into this story as well. I want a little bit of time in between Origins and Awakening...
To all my readers, you have made this really fun for me. I didn't know that I would have so many readers and hits over the world. That took me back and made me shed a tear or two out of overwhelming feelings. Thanks guys!
She woke in a strange room feeling really cold and wet. She jerked up and sat there for a few moments before bringing her hand up to her face.
"Ugh, how long have I been out," she muttered to herself.
She slinked off the table she had been put on and heard a terrible scream from behind her before she whipped around and saw a serving girl turn around and run up the stairs. She headed towards the noise of shouts and other mayhem before slowly moving around and checking out her surroundings...was she in a wine cellar? She went to the stairs and climbed them wondering what the hell happened and why she was naked, in a wine cellar, and why she smelled like Oghren after the time he fell in the lake ended up getting clean somehow...but after his three ales. She climbed up the stairs into the kitchen, where apparently the whole staff was cleared out, and grabbed a nearby apron to cover herself. While dressing she noticed her wounds had been burnt to try and stop the bleeding and she would scar, some were already healed while others looked like the bleeding had stopped. A solider burst through the door with a sword raised in the air before rushing at her.
"Die evil demon!," he yelled before slashing down at the elf in front of him.
Kara just side stepped out of the blades range, grabbed his arm, broke his wrist and elbow to disarm him and then finished him off by snapping his neck. She could have been captured by Loghain but why she would be in a wine cellar instead of a cell she had no clue. She picked up the sword he had, though she wanted the armor it was too heavy, and went on her way. As she kept walking things started to look familiar and she found her way into a armory, picking up some leather armor, hating she didn't have any undergarments, putting it on and grabbing another sword. After the armory she passed by another familiar room, the mess hall, pretending to be a solider she made her way down the hallway. If I am where I think I am this turn should lead me to the...hey the stairs! I am at Emmons! Where is everyone?
Before she could get through the door she heard some footsteps behind her and jumped onto the stairs and hid herself from a near by patrol, then mentally kicked herself for doing that, they weren't her enemies. Although she could learn of why she was in the cellar. She followed the patrol into the room where she first met Connar. Looking around for anyone she could recognize she listened to idle rumors. Learning some captain was messing around with a maid, how Emmon had gone to Denerim, and how her friends had brought her body here after the shriek attack. Okay so she was believed dead, things were not looking good. Great do all the work just to break your friends spirits when you die...Wonder how long I have been dead? Why did I not instantly come back like I did last time Wynne preformed that spell on me? Okay headache, time to get the Denerim before something goes really wrong.
She snuck out of the castle, just in case another maid recognized her, stole a horse and made her way to Denerim. She rode day and night, as long as the horse was able, and only stopped to water him, and let him graze. It wasn't too much longer before she reached the capital. Asking around town she was able to find where Emmon was staying and she made her way there, sneaking about before she was caught by a guard.
"You there! I don't recognize you. State your business," he shouted at her,
Putting on her best, just hit puberty, man voice, hoping he was too stupid to actually regard her height she said, "I am Ser...Redcross, John Redcross from Redcliffe. I come with a message for Arl Emmon."
Please let him be an idiot. I don't want to explain why Emmon has to get a new Captain of the Guard.
"How old are you boy?" he questioned.
"Fifteen summers sir! I am the last of my friends to be able to join..." she said putting on her best performance.
"Ah good that you joined the fine ranks of Redcliffe, your father a mercenary, Thomas Redcross, I knew him back at my academy days," the captain droned on before Kara gave up and knocked him out with his own shield she slipped off him.
Long winded and stupid. Heh, ah well at least he is alive. Now where would the rooms be. Down the hall to the left... she thought walking through the door. No one was around so she decided to walk around and explore the place. While wondering she discovered a dining room, library, some large room that divided the two halves of the house, a large room with a fire going, another with an empty look about it, and one with a locked door. Listening in she could hear murmmers of her companions squabbling about what to do. Some wanted Alistair to take charge, others wanted to go back to Redcliffe and give Kara a decent burial, and the rest she tuned out. Grabbing the door knob she opened the door slowly, and entered but when she got in, a battalion of knights could have entered and no one would have noticed. All of them were intent with the arguments and the important ones had their backs turned.
"I am telling you I am a bad leader," yelled Alistair at Emmon and Wynne.
"I swear if Kara were to see us like this she would have all of our heads," said Leliana.
"Yes, it was most efficient at taking heads, and helping me with birds," said Shale.
Karasu had had enough and she tried to get their attention by clearing her throat, but it failed to work. When she got tired of being ignored she cut the straps holding Alistair's shield on his back, which he didn't notice the weight shift, and then threw it on the ground and began wailing on the shield with her blades making a large ruckus. The noise caused everyone to turn around and stare at her like she was nuts.
"What in the Maker's name has gotten into you," said Leliana.
"If you don't mind we are busy, come back later soldier," said Emmon.
"Look at you, all of you. Squabbling like children! After everything you would have learned something by now. I swear I won't leave until this is finished and I chew out all of you individually," said Kara taking off her helmet.
Everyone stared at her. Some drew weapons, others just couldn't budge. Nobody could come to grips with the fact Kara was alive and standing in front of them. Alistiar finally went forward with his hand out muttering something she really didn't care to try and understand. When his hand reached her face, he smiled and jerked her into his arms, hugging her far too tightly for her liking.
"Your alive. I thought-we thought. When we found you, you were so badly torn up we didn't think you would make it. You spent days under Wynne's healing magic and looked like you were coming back to us before a few days ago you died. Now you are hear, non undead too! you are undead aren't you?" Alistair said pulling her away from himself.
"Yes I am not undead. I guess I could be like Wynne but when I went to the Fade it was dark this time. I heard Wynne's voice calling to me but I couldn't run fast enough. I kept trying until I fell, after I fell I panicked. Then the ground whooshed up at me and I jolted away smelling like a brewery and finding out you guys were here," she said, "I don't know what happened but here I am."
"Your spirit must have gotten trapped in the Fade, someone didn't want you getting out," said Wynne, "Who would go through so much trouble to keep you lost. Who would know something like that, unless it is Jowan."
"No Jowan wouldn't do something like that, not after I spared his life," she said getting all business like,"Has Loghain came here yet?"
"No he hasn't. I am not sure if word got out to him of your death, but he hasn't came here, or sent anyone here," said Emmon, "Kara, it is good to see you are alive."
Everyone gathered around her, all but Zevran. She saw him slip out the door and head down in the hallway. When she greeted everyone, answered their questions, and got her gear back, she went looking for him. He was outside sparring with a couple of Emmon's men, trying to teach some of the newer recruits how to fight. She stood there and watched him, biding her time and then trying to form answers in her head and how she was going to go about all of this. When he went three on one, Kara laughed to herself and decided to get into the spar to start the conversation, knocking out the first recruit that he parried away and jumping in his place. Soon it was just him and her, with his back towards her, she went in for the strike and he nimbly ducked and came up for a stab. She parried his blows, and he the same, before they were at a stalemate.
"Everyone dismissed," he said grimly, while walking away from her.
"Zev," she said catching up to him, trying to read his cold expression, "I know this is weird but I am back."
"Yes you are," his voice losing all emotion, his face going blank, his Crow training, "Now why have you come for me. Trying to tell me my debt to you has been paid? Hm, I wonder. Telling me since you are were dead I could go back to the Crows?"
"Well you could, but that is not why I am here," she stopped him in the courtyard," I wanted to know what happened...where this leaves..."
"Oh see where this is going," his voice went from cool, to 'you will get frostbite because this is so cold' cold," You want to know where this leaves us. I don't know. When you died all I could think was how I failed you. Just like my last mission. Everything felt the same, only this time it was you..."
"Zevran," she stopped him and held onto his arm, fighting back tears " I did not die and come back just for someone I love to talk to me like this! I am sorry I left you, but what was I to do? I was bleeding badly, but at least my death isn't permanent. I could still be back there in the wine cellar, right not I kida wish I was still there...you are tearing me to pieces more than Tamlen, the thing that attacked me, ever could."
Kara stomped off finding Morrigan and was told where her room was. She went into her room, with Morrigan trailing her heels, and leaped onto the bed. She jerked up a pillow and screamed into it before they were replaced by sobs. She did have to see it from Zev's side, she did die. But at least he could say he missed her or something. All I could think of how I failed you? Come on, I love you and you are thinking of your oath...you sorry son of a bitch. No...that would insult Abraxies...okay fine son of a brood mother!
"Love," said Morrigan, "And this is why I am glad I never knew it. Look at yourself, you look just like he did all teary and mopey. Next thing you are going to do is compare him to someone else. I swear for an hour he sat with Oghren and drank himself silly! Then he muttered something about love and women and..."
"Wh-wha-did you-sa-say?" Kara sniffled.
"You heard me and I am not going to repeat myself," scoffed Morrigan, "That and not that you are awake 'tis time you help me with my mother."
Kara jumped from the bed, wiped her eyes and nose, and sped down to find Zevran again. If she heard Morrigan correctly she said something about Zev and love and she had to find out about it. She turned the corner to end up running smack into him, colliding with his head. After pulling herself to her feet and helping him up she started frantically apologizing, and barely making room for her to breathe before he stopped her. There he looked awkward but he then went into the story of his last mission with Rinna and Talisian. After the story was told, Kara stepped back for a moment.
"When you meant I reminded me about your last mission, it was like I was Rinna wasn't it," Kara said heartbroken, "So I just brought up bad memories. I am sorry."
"You misunderstand, mi amor, it wasn't the person I was remembering. It was the feeling,"he said in an akward type way,"No that is not right, I mean I don't know what do say. I am all confused, what I was trained to think says what I feel is wrong, but I can't help it."
"So you are saying you...you love me," she said to him, "After all this time, you just say it now. After every time I have told you. I sat here thinking my feelings were never going to be returned, but here you are...Zev! I promise never to leave you again. This is my oath I swear."
After making out in the hall way to make up, they were interrupted by Alistair who was informing them of Loghain's entrance to the estate. After that Kara was charged with seeking out the Arls and Arlessas to convince them to get on her side. After cleaning up the streets, Kara returned to find out that Anora was being held captive and went to rescue her. Everything went well, they even found another Grey Warden Riordan and a few others able to help her against Loghain, until they were caught by guards and having Anora panic, sending Kara and Alistair to jail. After a few Antivian curses learned from Zevran she went quietly and found herself and Alistiar mostly naked in Fort Drakon. After being rescued by Morrigan and Zev they headed back to the estate where, when Kara first spotted Anora, Kara leaped at her only to be pulled off by Sten before she could rip out any of the queen's hair.
Before moving on to speak with the woman, Kara thought she would take her anger out on Flemmeth, and made her way down with Zev, Shale, and Wynne. Not having too much trouble, it was not very long before she returned with Flemmeth's real grimiroe and a new robe for Morrigan to wear. Emmon wanted Kara to convince Anora to turn against her father but Alistair thought it best to convince Emmon that she would need a while to cool off.
"I refuse to see that bitch. I will hang her by her skinny neck for what she did. After I save her from Rendon Howe, this is how she repays both me and Alistair, by throwing us in jail! I don't care if she sent word of what happened. I will hurt her," Kara said pacing in front of Emmon, who was growing pale at some of the more descriptive ways she vented about killing Anora.
"Sis, calm down. We need her. Alive. If she plays along we may have a shot at taking Loghain down, that and if you didn't rescue her, you wouldn't have gotten those other nobels to pledge against him," Alistiar said, careful not to get in arms reach, "Think it over, calm down for the night and in the morning you will speak with her."
"Alistiar, I refu-Oh no! Not the puppy eyes," Kara said trying not to look at Alistiar," No, I said no! And even if you manage to convince-this isn't working. Alright fine, you win."
Kara glared at her brother and he just smiled at her with the 'Ha! I won' look. She placed her hand on her forehead before shaking it and walking to her room. Going through her mind trying to figure out who she hadn't done anything for: Oghren, Leliana, Wynne, and Zev were left. She stopped at her door and then searched around for all of them asking them questions, especially Leliana who had assassins come after her while they were traveling to Denerim. Well after gathering the information she set out a plan, since she was in Denerim and it wasn't too late, she and Leliana went after Marjorlanne. They were ambushed at the door but it wasn't too hard to pick everyone off and then kill Marjorlanne herself. Feeling accomplished, but a bit bad for Leliana, she walked along the streets of Deneriem away from everyone. Sten, Leliana, and Wynne walked ahead while Kara stopped at a peculiar shop, there meeting someone named Cesar. After she traded for more recipes of the toxic kind she made her way back to Emmon's estate, only to be pulled away by a hooded character about her size.
"What is it Zev,"she asked him annoyed,"Were you following me?"
"Mi amor, I was walking to the local tavern to meet an old friend of min and to have my hand in stealing from the drunken upper class...Only to come out richer and wiser, and then to see you talking with Cesar," his voice at a whisper,"Look he is not the sort you should be messing with, trust me. I know you have the skills for it, but I refuse to let you do it!"
"He is working for the Crows and he is interested in me," she told him, "Look I just wanted to know what my options were. I don't want to join their kind. Look what it did to you, well besides sending you my way, nothing good came out of it. I am not going to risk losing you over something like that. Even if it is fun and...never mind you get my point."
"Mmm, seems you are informed well," he said, "How did you figure this out."
"He is dressed far too flamboyantly and well to be a simple foreign shopkeeper, and when I mentioned your name on purpose his stature changed," she told him,"So if you don't mind I want to go to bed...I have a ways to travel to help Oghren and Wynne. I am trying to avoid Alistair and Anora."
He laughed at her and followed her into her room where they played a game of pirates at the amusement of Zev. The morning brought her up early and down to breakfast. She ate very quickly and would have gotten away if it wasn't for the taint making her hungrier than normal, Alistair caught her trying to get out. He called her over to his side of the table where he reminded her about Anora, and then he chatted with her about the Grey Wardens and the changes that they went through.
"What do you mean larger appetite?" she asked him sarcastically.
"You just had six bowls of porridge, three helpings of eggs, and I think enough bacon to equal a rather large pig!" he told her laughing, "I am glad you get exercise on a daily basis, otherwise..."
"Ha ha," she spat out, "You don't need to tell me how much I eat...If I recall this is your fifth helping."
"Hey I am not denying it," he said tossing his hands up, "I am happy about myself. Except for the whole king thing."
After breakfast she grabbed Oghren and Wynne and made for the Dalish camp and asked about Aneirin who they found in the woods. Wynne thanked her with a few tears in her eyes when she was given Anerin's pendant. With a week's travel, they arrived at the lake where Ogheren asked Kara to be his wing man for Felsi. After a lot of absurd comments from Ogheren and a lot of help from Kara, Felsi decided to give him a second chance. Traveling back to Deneriem they were stopped by a civil war between Loghain and Emmon's men, along with some refugees escaping darkspawn. The trip back really had opened up Kara's eyes, she didn't like the woman but she had to stop this. If the civil war didn't kill everyone, the Blight would.
Returning to the estate Kara marched back to Anora's room and then talked to her about where she stood. She explained her position and by this Kara knew she wasn't going to give up her throne so easily, thus she had to make a really good plan. Using a lot of persuasion, she convinced Anora that her marrying Alistair would be very beneficial. She would remain on the throne and any chance of another uprising due to the fact Alistair was Meric's son would be avoided. This caused Alistair to get awkward, not only did he have to become king he had to marry the daughter of the man who left his brother and his superior to die. Gaining Anora's trust, Anora told them of the Alienage and how it might help them if they went and saw what the whole thing was about.
Arriving they were met by a rather stubborn elf who Kara admired a little. Everyone turned on her though due to a plague that was running rampant throughout the Alienage. Kara asked about it to one of the so called Cirlce mages and found him rather unbelievable. Sneaking around for a backdoor, Kara bribed the guard to let her in.
After much investigation, they found themselves challenged by Devera and after killing her. Through the door they came face to face with Caladrius, the slave trader. After given a choice Kara was forced to chose.
"So what is your decision?" asked Caladruis.
"I say you leave everything and escape with your life," she spoke pointing her bow directly at his chest.
"I am sorry it has come to this barbaric show of force, but I will not give up everything!" he yelled preparing to attack.
They began to charge but it was too late, Morrigan had already finished her Blizzard spell and Kara set her and Zev to each set of stairs to pick off anyone who did make it to them. After his forces were defeated he left everything and ran off leaving her all she needed against Loghain. She freed the remaining elves and made her way back to the Alienage where Shianni was very grateful to Kara and her friends. It seemed they had all they needed to bring Loghain, Kara hoped it would be enough. She returned to the estate where Emmon wanted them to proceed with the Landsmeet and Riordan told them about a Grey Warden's cache in Denerim, which Kara raided and found Duncan's shield and gave it to Alistair. Then they went to the castle, but unfortunately they were stopped by another rouge sent by the Antivan Crows.
"Really? Don't you people ever fucking give up? I am sick of you people coming after me! You are like termites, always in the woodwork, what the hell!," she yelled at the man.
"Actually I am looking for the man to your right, Zev. Come back with me anyone can make a mistake, we will make something up," said the man.
"Oh no, you can't have him," she said putting a hand on her hip, " I refuse to allow you to take him! Over my dead body!"
"That can be arranged...Zev for old time's sake," he said.
"I am sorry Taliesen, I am staying. You should have stayed in Antivia," he said turning to Kara smiling.
This made him call out a handful of assassins that tried to overpower them. Kara and Zev made a game out of it, recruits were two points, more experienced Crows were three and Taliesen was five. Kara found herself weaving in and out of the battle killing anyone who stepped in their path, after dropping two older Crow members she looked around for Zev. He disappeared in the fray and when she couldn't find him she knew if she stopped she would lose. When the battle was over she ended up killing five people and her and Zev killed Taliesen together, making it an even score for the both of them. Laughing they cleaned up as best they could and after a while, finally made it to the castle where the Landsmeet was being held.