XxXxXxXx

Theresa's head was pounding. The last thing she remembers is an elf, then a mine shaft, then a weird looking thing.

"Have I ever told you that I find tattoos on women to be incredibly attractive?"

"Have I ever told you that I find most human to be physically and morally repulsive?"

"…Good to know." Theresa opened her eyes. It was dark, and moist, and smelled funny. Anders was sitting across from her. "Commander." He said with a smile. "Thess, get up." Theresa was lying face down on stone. She tried to reach up but her hands were stuck. She heard the familiar rattle of chains. Anxiety rose in her stomach. She felt the cool metal against her wrist. She took a deep breath and reached for her boot…where are her boots. And breeches…and armor…fuck, where's my tunic.

She lifted herself up and looked around the room.

Glad to see that she wasn't the only one invited to the birthday party. The birthday suite party! Smalls were however optional. Theresa tried to be discreet in noticing, but is hard to do so when Justice has a huge hole in chest and you find yourself gaping at it.

"Psst." Theresa turned to Anders who was trying to get her attention. "Shows over here!" he said with a wink.

Theresa rolled her eyes. She looked at Nathaniel. HIS FACE, pervs. "I don't suppose you have your lock pick kit do you?"

Nathaniel blinked three times. "Actually I do. I just like being handcuffed in a strange place, surrounded by what I can only assume to be dark spawn, next to a rotting corpse." In case you're wondering, he wasn't talking about Justice.

"Umm…can I have it please?" He snarled. She turned her attention to Anders. "Well, let's go escape artist."

He smiled. "Let me get right on that. Oh, wait, glyphed cuffs. Eh, sorry, the amazing Anders can't perform today. Sorry folks, maybe next week." Theresa looked around the cell for things that she could use. A sword, too far away. Bones, requires time that she doesn't have to make work. "So, we were just discussing our last time in cell, Theresa, what was yours?"

She continued to scan the cell. "My last or my favorite?"

"You humans and your fetishes." Velanna said.

"hey," Anders said with a shrug. "don't knock it till you tried it. So, you're favorite, go."

"Well, I just killed Rendon," Nathaniel huffed, "and 'saved' the queen when…what's her face, says I'm kidnapping her, she sends me and Alistair to Fort Draken. Knocks us out, I wake up in my smalls, like this, disoriented and confused. Alistair and I try to come up with a plan to escape without talking about the elephant in the room. Finally we decide that the elephant was the perfect distraction. So he has me against the bars, pinned, when…Velana, how many hair pins do you have?"

"Not enough." She said quickly.

Theresa tired to see her wrist but couldn't see well enough from behind and her tits were too big. "I only need one, maybe two."

"I only have four."

Theresa waited for her to say 'please take them'…. "yes, we wouldn't want you to have bad hair when we die. Your right." Theresa began to whistle and wait for death.

She sighed, "And what do you propose we do?"

"Well, you're sitting next to a Rouge. I'm sure he can pick the lock and get the rest of us out. Shot in the dark."

Velanna looked Nathaniel over and instantly looked up when her eyes traveled too far. He gave a satisfied smirk. "How is he supposed to get them?"

"I'm sure he can use his imagination." Theresa shot.

Nathaniel got onto his knees and leaned toward her. She moved back. He tried again, but she resisted. "Stop moving, Velanna." She sat still while he used his teeth to remove a single hair pin. He bent at the waist and leaned in to her face. She backed off again. Nathaniel rolled his eyes.

"Velanna, he needs you to hold the pins." Velanna gave Nathaniel a disgusted look. "Just hold them. We won't tell anyone that you had to play suck and blow with a shem." Velanna looked between her and Nathaniel. "Or, we can die. Here. That's cool too. I often wondered what my afterlife was like given all the choices I've made."

She slowly leaned forward and used her teeth to take the pin from Nathaniel. He smiled and got another and placed it in Velanna's mouth. "Put them in my hands." He said as he turned. Velanna bent over and dropped them in his hands. Nathaniel soon got to work.

"So," Anders said, "then what happened?" He asked Theresa with a smile.

"Oh, uh, I thought Oghren was a guard, and tried to kill him." She smiled. "Then Sten said, 'The irony of this situation is not wasted on me.'" She sighed. "I miss my Qun."

Anders pouted that Theresa didn't explain any graphic details and Velanna watched Nathaniel work. "So not only did you give up on killing the warden who murdered your father but you also joined the order, as well?"

Nathaniel stopped working and slowly turned his head to look at her. "Are you trying to pick a fight, Velanna? Baiting me like this is juvenile." And stared to work on the lock again.

"I just wanted to know how you felt." She sounded indifferent.

"How you do fell knowing you murdered all those people because you were too arrogant to check your facts?" He snapped back with force.

She just smiled. "Warm and fuzzy."

Nathaniel scowled and twisted his shoulders. "You're a terrible person." Nathaniel freed a wrist. "And your ears are clownish." He turned to start the other wrist, his back to the elf, but Theresa could see the smile on his face.

"What! Whose juvenile now?" she whined and then remained silent.

Nathaniel freed his other wrist. He stood and his joints popped. He strode over to Anders and released him while Velanna, who apparently thought he was going to work in a circle, huffed.

Anders smiled at Theresa while Nathaniel worked on Velanna's cuffs. Anders squatted down in front of Theresa and leaned into her ear. "So I get to save the Princess, hmm?" he asked as he froze the metal chains that connected the manacles.

"You should be saving Justice."

"I thought saving justice was your job." Theresa gave him a look that said 'I'm still chained up weirdo.' "That was a pun."

"Oh." She gave a sheepish smile as he broke the chains. She looked at her hands. "Get the door will you?" Anders nodded as Nathaniel worked on Justice. Anders was building a fireball when Theresa felt the familiar pulse in the back of her head. But it was different somehow. "Everyone sit down, look cuffed. Velanna, Anders, when necessary, use a fire ball when they enter."

Velanna and Anders nodded and waited for the door to open.

A blonde elf ran into the room, wearing split mail armor, looking suspicious.

"Serini!" Velanna said standing. Theresa wanted to stab her. She's a ghoul, she'll tell the others we've freed ourselves. Theresa shot Anders a warning look. He gave a slight nod. Velanna gave a shudder. "What have they done to you?"

"They haven't done anything. I'm fine Velanna." She frowned. "It's not me he wants. I have to get you out before something bad happens. I don't want anyone else to be hurt." Theresa raised an eyebrow at the 'else.'

Velanna sighed. "Alright. Let me out and I'll take you home."

Serini shook her head. "The dark spawn have your things. You can get it all back if your careful and cleaver." Theresa stood as the pressure was building again. The girl looked over her shoulder and confirmed what she felt. "They're going to come back and check on you. You have to hurry."

"Wait, please, tell me what you know." Theresa said quickly.

She shook her head again. "I don't know anything. Please, take this key. It opens a chest in the emmisarys room. Maybe you'll find some answers there." She gave the key to Theresa. "You have to leave."

Velanna said, "We can't just leave you…" the girl ran out of the room. "Serini. Wait!"

Theresa was focused on the door that the girl entered from. "Anders, how much magic can you summon in here?"

He stood behind her with a questioning look. "A bit, why?"

"I want you and Velanna to take turns using fireball or whatever you want to knock them down and buy us time."

Anders wanted to question what was going on, but soon realized that two hurlocks saw them out of their chains and ran towards them. Velanna shot off a lightning first while Anders built up a fireball. Nathaniel quickly started to pick the lock on the door. Anders released his fire ball and the hurlocks fell. Velanna used grease to slow their movements before building her own fire. Anders saw the glenlock too late. It fired its arrow. Theresa moved to dodge it, but she was too slow. Velanna used a fireball on the hurlocks but Anders cast blizzard on the glenlock, canceling out her fireball effects. The arrow was lodged in Theresa's chest. She screamed as it punctured her skin and lung. The door clicked open and Justice ran out. With complete disregard for his body, he disarmed one hurlock, keeping its sword, decapitating the other, and distracting the glenlock while Velanna gave it a strong shock.

Anders ran to Theresa's side. Anders ordered for someone to check the arrows. He sat her down in his lap and broke the arrow tail. She hissed at the pain and clawed his back. He forced the arrow into her mouth for something for her to bite. Nathaniel gave the head nod that it was safe to proceed, it not being a barbed nor poisoned. Anders pushed her close to his chest and pushed the arrow through her back. She screamed at the pain. Anders quickly pulled it from her back and started to heal her body.

The blue warmth from his hands sent her into a state of shock. Her head lulled forward and rested on his shoulder while he worked to close the wound. The other three waited for Anders to heal her.

She chuckled. "I hope Alistair doesn't send someone else to try to assassinate me."

"Shut up." Anders was serious but she just smirked again.

"You shut up." She chuckled. Anders furrowed his brow. Trying to ignore her. She grinned and hung herself off his shoulders. "You're warm." He ignored her, focusing on the healing. She hugged his neck.

"Stop moving."

"Like it matters?" She said with a smile. "As long as I'm here, we're gonna die."

"What do you mean?" Nathaniel was keeping watch at the door.

Theresa turned as far as Anders would allow her. "As long as I'm here, they can sense me." She was swaying as she said it, with a smirk and heavy eyes. "If I can sense them, they can sense me." She paused. "I'm delirious." She chuckled at herself. "With as much blood that I lost, I'm useless to you."

She turned and poked Anders in the nose with hers. "And Anders here is using up too much mana to heal me, so he's useless."

His eyes were still closed, focusing on the wound. "Please stop moving."

Theresa ignored him. "Velanna over there is a self go getter so you can't rely on her to keep us safe unless it benefits her somehow. Justice has no idea how to be tactful, let alone sneaky. So guess what, Howe, as ironic as it seems, all of Ferelden is relying on you right now." Theresa gave a goofy smile in his general direction. "They can't sense you yet, which is good for you. However, you can't sense them either. Which is normal, I suppose." She chuckled again with a dreamy grin. "Now, go be a good little scout, and see what's ahead of us, how many there are, what they got, and what it's gonna take to defeat them. Don't worry, we're not going anywhere." She turned back to Anders. "Are you done yet?"

He slumped forward, resting his head on her chest, breathing deeply. Theresa giggled. "Buy me dinner first."

Anders grunted. Too tired to give a witty retort.

Nathaniel picked up the quiver and longbow that belonged to the glenlock. "I'm coming with you." Velanna said.

He gave her a quick look over. "Are you light footed."

She crossed her arms. "I'm elvish."

He picked up the leather armor and donned it quickly. He looked back at Velanna. "Do what I say, when I say it. Understood?" Velanna nodded as they went through the back into an odd looking room.

Theresa slumped forward on Anders. Her heavy lids falling closed. Anders lifted his head in time to wake her up. "If you fall asleep, you might not wake up. You have to stay awake."

She nuzzled the hallow of his neck. "so sleepy." She mumbled.

He gently shook her. "Tell me a story, sing a song, just do something to keep awake." Her breathing was getting shallow. "Hum, do something."

Theresa lifted a hand to gently clutch his hair. She hummed the only song that came to mind. She heard it in Antiva. It was a song that made her think of love. It's high legato notes at first made her happy, then the tempo slowed and the notes dropped an octave, giving a feeling of a sad, trying time, only to pick up again and ended on a staccato happy note.

"Rouse?" Velanna screeched. Followed by a distinct 'shhh'. Theresa smiled and listened to Anders heart beat. It was steady, smooth, hypotonic.

He started to heal her again. He was only able to scab it over, and now he need to reconnect the veins and artierits. He pushed her away slightly so that he could heal. Theresa gave a disgruntled frown as she was forced away from his warmth and heart. She felt so cold now. The only warmth coming from his hands.

Nathaniel returned with a shield for Justice. And headed through the door was warded a moment ago. Theresa blinked and he returned with a new set of black armor that looked kind of like hers. He and Velanna set out again through the furthest door with Justice to guard Theresa and Anders.

Theresa was about to be lulled to sleep again when she heard a huge crash followed by a crackling of fire. She flopped her head back to Anders chest. The steady beat of his heart was wonderful.

He pinched her cheek and pulled. "Wake up."

She shook her head gently.

Nathaniel appeared at the door again. "Anders, we are going to need your help."

"I can't leave her." He grumbled.

"We need you."

"Take Justice. "

Theresa leaned back. She almost fell but Anders caught her. "Just go, they need you more than I do."

"You're hurt. I can…"

"Go." Theresa pushed herself off of him and tried to stand. She swayed and leaned against a wall for support. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But…"

"That's an order, Warden." He gave a defiant look. "As long as I'm here, they will think that you all are here too. Just go with Nathaniel and get me later on. Justice, you're going with them." He gave a nod and walked out the door. Theresa slid down the wall. "I'll be fine. Just go."

Anders turned his gaze from her and walked out of the cell. "Nathaniel," he gave her a raised brow. "lock the door." He nodded as they left her alone. Theresa leaned her head against the wall and felt her eyes get heavy again. She felt the weight of the world being lifted off her shoulders. The memories of the past were washing away. Alistair's screams of betrayal were growing silent. She felt the coolness of the stones beneath her. She felt like she was on the rooftops of Antiva again. The silence at night, the cool breeze lifting her hair off her neck. The darkness of the new moon. Theresa let herself be transported back to Antiva. Back to blissful ignorance and grace.

She was rudely woken up in what felt like moments of peace. Anders was looking over her, taking off his top of his robes and putting them around her shoulders. Mumbling something about healing attributes. Nathaniel was behind her, holding her up. Anders turned and held her to his back. He pulled her arms around his shoulders and carried her.

Theresa felt the healing powers of the robes take effect. She could breathe again. Anders carried her out of the runis and only let her down when she demanded it with a harsh tone. "Now, give me back my armor."

Nathaniel did so quickly as she dressed and Anders put his top back on. It was decided unamiously that Velanna was to join the Grey Wardens.

XxXxXxXx

Theresa had third shift of watch. But had been awake since Nathaniel and Velanna had been on theirs. She found it cute that they were flirting. Well, Nathaniel was, Velanna was unaware that he was even trying.

"Judging from your glairs, you do not appericacate my presence?" he said as he slid his blade across a whet stone.

"I'm just wondering how your kind can call themselves 'noble.'"

"We like irony. And it rolls off the tongue better than 'oppressors.'"

"Ah" Velanna said with distaste. "a funny human I see."

"Not I" Theresa could hear his smile in his tone, "I wouldn't dare lighten your mood, my lady."

"'My lady,' that's such a human thing to say."

"It's a term of respect. And I think that you are due some respect. So I call you, a lady."

Velanna flustered. "well…stop it."

Theresa had to bite her knuckle to stop her from giggling too loud. They were just so cute. The slient, broody male with family issues with the vocal, in your face female with family issues. They were perfect. Theresa was coming up with a plan to get them together forever. He liked the normal, run of the mill stuff. But what about Velanna? What does she like.

Nathaniel rudely kicked her foot for her shift. "I know you're awake," he whispered.

"Then why did you kick me?" she spat back in a whisper. It was useless, elfs had heightend hearing.

"Because it's rude to listen in on conversations, Cousland."

Theresa rolled onto her back and looked up at Nathaniel. "But it was so cute, I couldn't help myself."

He just gave a dead "humph" and went to his own bed roll for the night.

Theresa streached and sat down on the log that was used as a seat. She heard the some jingling behind her. She watched over her shoulder Anders dressing in the red robes. The rings were hitting each other. She smiled. His hair was down and framing his face perfectly. STOP IT, NOW. Theresa looked away in shame as she screamed at her self in her head. She looked off into the darkened forest, waiting for her shift to be over. He sat down next to her. "Get undressed."

Theresa looked at him like he was crazy. "Hey, my virtue does not equal the price of my life."

He furrowed and furrowed his brows. "I'm sure I don't know what that means. But in any case, I said get undressed, not naked." She scooted away from him on the log. He rolled his eyes. "I want to check your wound." She gave him a suspicious look. "Please." He wasn't smiling or any mirth. She undid the shoulder straps and buckles at her sides. He lifted the thin tunic underneath and inspected the wound on her back. He put a small amount of healing poultice on the wound. Without warning, he stuck a hand down the front of her tunic. Theresa was so shocked at his boldness, she forgot how to move. He moved his hand in a small circle…on the wound. Theresa found a new respect for him. Anders, the womanizing escape healer, was an inch away from her nipple, and he was focused on healing her. She turned her head to look at him again with a confused expression.

He caught on and raised a brow. "I can be an adult when I want to." Then the 'taint' set in. he gave a malicious grin and lowered his hand to the curve of her left breast and traced the line. Theresa leaned forward to get more leverage, forgetting the fact that it pushed her breast into his hand, moved to hit him the face with her elbow.

Anders winked and she was trapped in a paraliysis glyph. He retrieved his hand and closed the flask. He sat down beside her and waited for the glyph to wear off. Without delay, she punched him in the arm, causing him to smile only more. He ignored her ranting about personal space and what not and was the diligent one on watch. A few minutes passed and he noticed the silence. He turned to look at her. She had her arms crossed, legs crossed, and was pouting. Grant it, she'd never admit to it, call it her 'i'm so fucking pissed off at you' look, but he grinned at her.

Theresa was still pissed at him for paralyzing her. She turned to give him another good tounge lashing but stopped. He was playing with a wisp. The same gentle smile that he usually held for Ser Pounce A lot was on his face. He was turning it into different forms of animals: a bear, a cat, a dog, a cow, a wolf… He noticed her watching. He turned the wisp into a butterfly and gently floated it to her. Theresa watched it with mild amusement as it flittered around her. Anders made it land on the tip of her nose. The contact sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel the intense magic in the small, delicate form.

She blew the wisp off her nose and it disappeared in a cloud of smoke. She gave a Anders a brow rasie of zero amusement. His hair was down and partially covering his face. He wasn't beautiful, more like… Sex god attractive. She felt her core warm and her stomach clinch. Maker be damned, what did I fucking tell you. Let him go! Theresa looked back over the darkened forest with a sullen mind set. She grew impatient as the seconds ticked by. This shift was taking forever. She looked up at the moon. It hadn't moved since the last time she looked up. She tapped her foot.

"A watched pot doesn't boil." She gave him an aggravated growl and contuined to watch the forest. "What do you call a fish with no eyes?" Theresa groaned and held her head on her hand. "Fsh." Theresa smiled but refused to chuckle. "So a bear walks into a tavern and says 'I'll have a wiskey and a…...ale.' the bartender says, 'what's with the large pause?' and the bear says , 'oh, I've had them all my life." Theresa snorted and covered her face with her hands so that he couldn't see her smiling. However, her shaking shoulders were a dead give away. Anders moved closer to her. "So, are you done being mad at me?"

Theresa raised a brow. "I was never mad."

"Really?" he smirked. "the air is practically sizzling in your discomfort."

"I'm not mad."

"So the fact that you're uncomfortable around me has nothing to do with it?" She opened her mouth to deny. "you keep checking the time, refuse to look at me, nor talk to me but all that means absolutely nothing?" she gave him a confused look. "Geeze, see if I ever save your life again."

I think you're hot. I think you're the personification of everything a fermale is looking for in a male. I think you'd give Alistair a run for his money. I think if you spent half your time convencing me that you'd never cheat instead of chasing skirts, I would have fucked you long time ago. If I weren't afraid of the pain, I would've thrown caution to the wind and say that being your commander is just a perk . "Thank you." He lifted a brow at her but kept his smirk. "For everything. For your healing, magic, words of wisdom. Thank you. You're an excellent addition to the Wardens. I wish I could've had you during the blight. You would've made the time more bearable." His smirk faded to seriousness. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Theresa smiled and gave a small nod as she returned her gaze back out into the forest. Her stomach clinhed and she felt herself wetten in her smalls. She sighed to herself in agation. Alistair was getting horny again. She waited. Perhaps it was just a sexy woman who accidnelt brushed against him and….her muscles tightend and her breath caught in her throat. She fisted her hands and stood quickly.

"You okay?"

"I gotta go." She said as she sprinted toward an area that felt like it was damn near the other side of the Arling. Her muscles tightened again and she held onto a tree for support. Her breathing was coming in pants and whezzes. She felt her core become wet again. She dropped to her knees. She bit her nails into palm. She could damn near hear Alistair chuckling in her ear at her pain. Her body spasamed and she fell forward onto her hands. She began to shake. Her breath was in breathless pants as she felt her self get closer and closer to the edge. She found herself thinking 'a little more' or 'faster' as if Alistair could hear her request. The cold air cooled her skin as her core heated more and more. Her muscles coiled and in a berath, she released and her climax ripped her apart. She bit her lip to silence her scream but a moan escacped either way. Theresa couldn't breathe for a moment.

She pushed herself back onto her rear and leaned against the tree while she focused on slowing her heart rate. She looked up at the stars. I have to end this some how. She wipped a hand down her face.

Theresa returned to camp to see Anders cooking. She noticed that her pack was open and rifled through. She walked up behind him silently and waited. Thankfully, his taint hadn't set in yet so he couldn't sense her behind him. It made suprising him more entertaining. An evil smile was on her face as she waited for him to turn.

He began to hum a small tune to himself. He had an open bottle of brandy, cheese and smoked jerkey sitting beside him as he boiled potatoes in the brandy. He checked the potatoes with a fork as he looked around on watch. "Oh im not angry," he said to himself in a high mocking tone, "I'm just going to run away and never come back." He gave a half hearted humph and rested his head on a his hand.

Theresa smiled and decided that if she watches him any longer, she boarders on the creepy stalker. She leaned down to his ear, "when did I say that?"

He jumped at the sound of her voice so close. He stood instantly and stormed off muttering something about "fucking rouges." Theresa watched him leave with a smile on her face. She took his seat and went back on watch. Checking on his potatoes, she tasted them. Theresa was shocked that they were actually good. The alchol had evaporated and left brandy tasting potatoes. She mashed them and added the jerky and the cheese that he took from her pack. Anders returned in time to tsk her as she lifted the first spoon full to her mouth. Theresa gave a sheepish smile while still holding the spoon, mouth open.

"can I have some?"

He shook his head in shame at her as he retook his seat next to her. He took her spoon and put it into the pan and held it away from her. She frowned. But he smirked and scooped some potatoes out with his fingers and held them out to her to have.

She looked between the food on his fingers and his face. Show some class and look away, or play around and get some food…. Her stomach growled. His impish grin became a victory smile. And we have a winner. Theresa gently took his wrist and brought his fingers to her lips. She gently caressed his fingertips with her lips before taking them into her mouth. His eyes glazed over with lust as he watched her suck the food from his fingers. She circled her tounge over the tips, her roughish eyes never leaving his. Then she smiled. He raised a brow, wondering what had happened to make her happy. She interwined his hand with one of hers and she leaned in close to him. Anders felt his heart race but kept his mask securely in place. She was inches from his lips. Her hand grazed his chest, going over the straps that were there. He leaned toward her and closed his eyes in anticaption.

He heard the scrape of metal. She had her spoon in her mouth and enjoying the potatoes with a proud smirk. "delicious." She competly pulled away from him, retook her hand, and watched the forest again.

Anders gave her a look of disbelief with his half hard on. Really? Anders was really starting to hate this woman. He took out his own spoon and ate the potates in silence, brooding over what could have been.

"Who taught you how to cook?" He gave an agrivated growl. She just giggled. "You do worse things to me." He shot her a look that demanded a reason. "Like that time you fell asleep on my lap. Or the only way I could eat was from your hand." She gave him a quick look over and pursed lips only to smile again. "Who taught you?"

"Circle elves." He said as he took another bite.

Theresa took some as well. "Care to explain?"

He seemed lost in a memory for a moment. "They come up with rule. I like to think of it as 'Anders Law.' It says that for every day that a mage is out of the circle, they will do said time helping the elves. For every month, they will be in solitary confinement."

Thersa snorted. "I'm surprised you didn't just poisin the food."

"Oh, I tried that once." Theresa gave him a wide eyed look of shock. "But they blamed the elves." He grew silent for a moment. "Gregior yelled at them, and yet, they never turned me in." He swallowed hard and blinked the memory away. "Anyways, after that, I learned how to cook." He turned to look at her. "Why, are you shocked?"

She smiled. "Forgive me, the last group I traveled with, the males either didn't know how to cook, only excelled in posions, thought cooking was womans work, or lived on a booze diet. So seeing a man that can cook is a new experience for me."

Anders smirked. " I bet you're open to a lot of new experiences."

Theresa's modesty set in. she blushed and looked away, trying to hide her smile. Anders gave a smile of his own as he passed her the pan with the potatoes in it. Theresa took it and ate what was left. Anders chuckled. "You're a meat and potatoes kind of girl, aren't you?"

Theresa saw where this was going and looked to the heavens, and asked the maker one question. Why me?

XxXxXxXx

(A/N things written in () signify that it spoken in Antivan/Spanish. But I left it in English/ferledish for you.)

Its so hard to be a good Arlessa, especially when your covered in the peasants blood. She tried to calm them, honestly, but they want to riot and then attacked a group of people whose main job is to kill shit. Its so hard being a good Arlessa.

Theresa was feeling low when she entered the throne room. It seemed like everything was going to shit. Winter was approaching and apparently, wheat was growing thin. The soldiers that were supposed to protect the farms have become bullies and have been traded out with the city and vigils soldiers. Hopefully, that was calm some problems.

"Commander," Varel said, "Bann Esmeraled has requested an audience with you."

Theresa nodded and looked at Esmeraled. She raised a brow. Why is she in armor? Wow, she can use a two handed weapon? I never would have guessed that. "Yes, Bann Esmeraled?"

"I am here about the good Arl." She said. Theresa was about to calm her by saying, 'I'm fine, see, I'm still alive' but she finished her poetic line. "The good Arl you killed."

"You are still loyal to Howe?" Varel asked. Sneaking a glance at Nathaniel who seemed just as shocked.

"Rendon was good to us. Good to me." She said, giving Theresa and Nathaniel an icy glair.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "Oh, give me a break. I can only imagine how he scratched your back." She put her hands on her hips. "if he was such a good Arl, I wouldn't have had to kill him, now would I?"

(Few things in life can be solved with death.) a man said and stepped out from behind a column. He was wearing a light cloak, the hood covered most of his face. But he was smiling.

Theresa smirked. His smile, scared chin, and dark goatee she knew him. "Master Enzo."

He gave a nod. (The Crows send their regards.)

Her smirked turned into a smile. Theresa pushed Esmeraled out of her way and took a step toward Enzo. (How happy I am to receive it.) He just watched her. (I thought Zevran would've killed you by now.)

Enzo gave a guffaw of laughter before controlling himself. (I trained him. But unlike most, I did not teach him everything.)

Theresa reflected for a moment. (Wise move. However, useless.)

He took a step toward her. (you have killed twenty three of my men.)

Nathaniel shot off an arrow. A body hit the ground and Theresa smiled. (twenty four.) Enzo raised a brow at her. (What, he's on my team. It totally counts.)

He gave an exasperated sigh and signaled for the men to attack. Theresa called dibs as she ran toward Enzo. He may have been a master assassin, but she was a master of shadow. She was able to deflect his movements, hide in plain sight, and disarm him. She was about to deliver the final blow when he fell forward on her.

"Mine." A familiar voice said.

Theresa didn't have time to look around but contuied to look around and kill everything that wasn't one of her men. Bann Esmeraled was the first to fall. Theresa had to remember to dance on her grave when this was over.

When the throne room was quite, she heard the voice again. "Tell them to put down their weapons."

She smiled. "And if I don't?"

It snorted. "My arrow is still trained upon you. Do it now."

Theresa shook her head and signaled for everyone to put away their weapons. She turned, with her hands on her hips.

A man jumped down from the rafters. Without needing time to recover from the twenty foot drop, stepped toward Theresa. His arms were wide and he was smiling.

"Zev!" Theresa said and ran to him. He tilited his head and raised a brow. Theresa threw her arms around him and jumped on him. "I missed you so much! What are you doing here? How are you." She got off of him and took a step back. "What did you do to your hair?"

It was still blonde but instead of the straight with braids, it was cropped and mopped. He pouted and put his hand over his heart, feigning pain. "You don't like it? You wound me so, little lady." He wagged a finger at her with a smile. "Perhaps I should cut out that offensive tongue yes? Or maybe, keep it occupied?" His lecherous smile returned and Theresa hugged him again. (How are you old friend?)

"Commander." Theresa turned to see Garavel and all his glory. "Varel has been hit." She nodded at Anders to get to work. "it is a glancing, but he'll live."

She put her commander mask back on. "See that he does." Theresa knelt down to and inspected the wound that Anders was healing. "Thank you, Varel. You saved all of us." He nodded as Anders finished healing him. "take him to the infirmary please." Anders helped Varel up and lead him out of the throne room.

"First a riot, and now this…" Garavel said. He shook his head. His eyes met with Zevrans, who smirked and raised a brow. "Bann Esmerald was leading this. I can't believe it."

"Well, no more conspiracy I suppose." Theresa crossed her arms at the dead corpse.

"I'll have trusted men clean this up. We'll keep this quiet for as long as we can."

Theresa furrowed her brow. "Nathaniel," he turned to her with a questionable look. "didn't you say something about heads and pikes in Amaranthine?"

He thought about it for a moment. "Yes?"

Theresa turned back to Garavel. "do that?"

Garavel lowered his brow while Zev chuckled. "Uhh…"

"Mostly because I like to gloat." She smiled at him and Garavel took a step back. He nodded and left to get the men. Theresa went back to Zevran. "so what are you doing here?" she asked as she set her pack down by the throne.

"Well, I was in Antiva all alone and thought, its been so long since I suffered a Ferelden winter, I should return. And here I am." Zevran walked to Enzo's body and removed his chains from his neck. He placed the ordainments on his own necklace before placing it under his armor again.

"How many more do you have left?"

"Five."

Theresa raised her brows at him. "Someone's been busy."

He gave a satisfied smile and walked toward her and cupped her chin. "I am able to move faster, now that I am no longer weighted." Theresa scowled at him and he laughed in mirth. "I jest, my friend. But yes. Because of my quickened pace, I seem to have a need to leave."

She raised a brow at him. "So you need a place to hide?"

Zevran seemed to be looking for the right word. "Yes." And gave a charming smile.

Theresa just nodded. "You will always be safe here, Zev."

"Grasias."

Theresa took him by the hand and lead him to meet her new companions. "This is Justice." He was removing his helm and Zevran raised a brow and took a step back. His face never showing surprise. "I know, it's a long story. But he's a warden and has decided to help us."

"How are you, friend?" Zevran asked. Mostly to be polite but intrigued that he looked dead and didn't want to eat the wardens.

"Well, I suppose. The commander spoke often of you." Zevran looked at Theresa with a raised brow and lowered lids. "She said you were an assassin? That you killed people for money?"

"Well, death occurs every day. And when there's money involved, death happens more frequently, yes?"

"What gives you the freedom to choose who lives and who dies?"

(He's worse than Wynne.) "Wouldn't the same question apply to you as well? As a Grey Warden, isn't the needs of the people more imposing than the sanity of one soul?"

"But you kill for money."

"A butcher kills cattle for money. A farmer kills wheat for money. I simply kill people who get in my way." Zevran smiled at the corpse as Justice thought it over. Justice knew Zevran was in the wrong but with that logic, it was hard to fight. Justice left with out another word.

Anders returned and filled Theresa in on Varels wound.

Zevran found Velanna and gave her a charming smile. "Mi amor, tu rostro se ve tan familiar." He said as he drew closer to her. "Dime, ¿hemos conocido antes? Tal vez es la cara que adorna la de retratos de Antiva. o es su cuerpo que las esculturas de tratar de reinventar." He took her hands into his own, never breaking eye contact. "¿O es que los ojos que parecen haber tomado el brillo de las estrellas en el cielo nocturno." He kissed one of her hands.

Anders leaned into Theresa. "What did he just say?"

"She looks beautiful."

Velanna took her hands back from Zevran with vigor. "I don't know what you're going on about but…"

"You're Ferleden?" Zevran looked shocked. Almost genuinely so. Theresa saw his ploy and smiled into her hand. "I refuse to believe that. There is no way…"

"I've never left this country. Unlike you…"

"What I mean is your beauty is usually only found in Orlais or Antiva. It is difficult to believe that a woman as….velumpious, attractive, portrait like beauty that can only be described as royal, is rare in such a harsh place as Ferelden. You must be a very brave, tenatious, strong woman to survive here."

Velanna stuttered. "I well…"

"And dalish, as well. You must the very thing that makes men hearts beat, their knees weak, you are the kind of woman that men would slay dragons for single handily and think that they can succeed. There are poets in the world who think they have lived without seeing you. Aritsis who believe that the sunrise is the most beautiful, but even it pales in compression. I think that even the ancient gods must be envious you so. You, my love, are….everything."

Velanna looked at his smiling face with wonder and a shyness none of them have seen.

"Wow." Anders whispered. "I think I just found a new master."

Nathaniel huffed and said under his breath, 'damn Antivans.'

"Is there something wrong with Antivans, my dark, broodish friend?" Zevran asked without looking away from Velanna.

"I don't know who is worse, you or Anders." Nathaniel said.

Anders raised his hand. "I am. Without a doubt. Teach me!"

Zevran turned and gave Anders a questioning look with a smile. He put his hands behind his back and smiled at Nathaniel. "Allow me to introduce my self. Zevran Aranni. Former Antivan Crow and Hero of Ferelden."

Nathaniel looked the elf over. Theresa spoke for him. "Nathaiel Howe. Son of Rendon Howe, and Grey Warden."

Zevrans smile altered from friendly to malicious. (The same Howe that killed your family, kidnapped the queen, and tried to kill you?)

(The same.)

"Howe interesting."

"I take it you knew my father." Nathaniel asked in a dead pan.

Zevran thought about it for a split second. "Inside and out, one might say."

Theresa snorted and Anders clapped. "He is a pun genius. Where did you meet him?"

Theresa and Zevran gave Anders an odd look. "Never had a fan before." He said.

"That's Anders for you. All that circulated circle air must have gotten to him finally." Theresa said.

Zevran walked back to Theresa. "I take it this is the final recruit you have."

"Well, I have two more but this is Anders. Circle mage."

Anders held his hand out to shake. "Hello." He said with a smile.

Zevran shot a glance back at Theresa. "Is he always this…" Theresa nodded. "huh. You know, you could make a lot of money if you worked at a whore house with your uncanny resemblance to the king."

But Anders kept on smiling. "You know, you're not the first to say that. Though personally, I think I pull off the whole, smart thing better than he does."

Theresa snorted but Zevran smirked. "How patriotic." He looked back at Theresa. "You and your misfits. What ever will you do without them?" Theresa shrgged her shoulders. (I take it both men are up for grabs?)

She smirked "Why do you say that?"

(Well, one killed your family, one is too forward, and the other is dead.)

She smiled and took a step closer. "There is one more." Zevran raised a brow and Theresa jutted her chin behind him. Zevran turned and his smiled faded slightly.

(The grey warden standards have defiantly fallen.)

"Elf?" Oghren said. The fullness of his surprise auditable.

"Oghren. It hasn't been long enough."

"Well, shave my back and call me Nancy. What are you doing here?"

"I was just starting to miss you is all old friend."

Oghren raised a brow at the elf. "Keep your pants where I can see em"

Zevran nodded. "Of course."

Oghren laughed. "I bet skirt boy and dress man wouldn't mind your company though." He laughed again took a swig of his tankard.

Zevran turned a raised a brow at Anders. Anders sighed. "Sorry, must be a female to ride this ride."

Zevran looked at Theresa who face palmed herself. "Either way," he turned and went back to Velanna who was looking at him with enamored eyes, "I'd much rather have a conversation with this beauty. Come, will you tell me stories and lore of our lost ancestory?" Zevran held her hand and guied her out of the throne room for a walk outside. Nice move on his part, Theresa admitted.

Anders crossed his arms and looked at her. "What?"

He bent at the waist and met her gaze, "But I didn't do anything in Antiva." He said, mocking her high voice.

"I didn't."

"Riiiight." He said as he walked past her go to up the stairs.

Okay so they whole Spanish thing Zev said to Velanna was : My love, your face looks so familiar. Tell me, have we met before? Perhaps it is your face that graces the portraits of Antiva. or is it your body that the sculptures try to reinvent. Or is it your eyes that appear to have taken the twinkle of the stars in the night sky.