Blarg blarg blarg. Mixed and matched responses. Blarg blarg blarg. Long day.

Enjoy! :)

She was enjoying the talk with Leliana. The both of them stumbling over each other to get out what had happened, curious on both ends about how it could be used. It was her own fault for missing the signs, and causing the others to miss them as well with her distraction. She had been too sure of their safety now that they were in the city proper.

Almost back to Eamonn's estate.

When the gate slammed behind them she and Leliana both jumped, and reflex had them pulling out their bows as the group spun in tight circles, searching for the attack.

There was nothing.

She saw Alistair and Zevran pull their weapons from their backs out of the corner of her eye, and when they were ready she motioned with her head for everyone to follow her.

Making their way up the slopped curve of the street, she kept her arrow pointed forward, moving slowly until finally they stood before a raised dais of wood. She stopped and stared at the man standing in the center of it, surrounded by a loose ring of fighters, a smirk on his face. She frowned at him, seeing something familiar in the expression, and kept her arrow trained on him as he took a step forward. The others came up behind her, weapons drawn, and at the ready.

"And so here is the mighty Grey Warden at long last. The Crows send their greetings, once again."

She knew then why his expression seemed familiar. Sly and judging, and a little too slick. It was the same look Zevran had given her right before he had yelled for her death. Her frown deepened, her brows pulling down, but before she could reply Zevran stepped up and around her, his hands dropping to his side as he called up to the man.

"So they sent you, Taliesen. Or did you volunteer for the job?" He kept his posture relaxed, but she noted the way he moved in front of her. It almost made her smile. Did he think she needed protecting? She lifted her bow so the arrow pointed just over his shoulder, and directly at Taliesen's head. She also made sure to keep her scowl in place.

The Crow sent him an easy smile, and waved his hand. "I volunteered of course. When I heard that the great Zevran had gone rouge, I simply had to see it for myself."

"Is that so? Well here I am, in the flesh."

She watched as Taliesen let his posture relax, matching Zevran's. He studied the elf for a few moments and then his expression turned friendly. His voice was cajoling when he spoke again. "You can return with me, Zevran. I know why you did this, and I don't blame you. It's not too late. Come back and we'll make up a story. Anyone can make a mistake."

She watched as the two stared at each other, the air stone still and silent around them. The look Taliesen had on his face, and the fact that Zevran did not reply right away. Creators, had they been lovers? If so, this man clearly had a longer and stronger relationship to pull on then she did. There was a ringing in her ears, and she felt like she was drowning. What if he decided to leave? What if he decided to fight with the Crows in what surely was going to turn into a "kill the Warden" fight? There was no way the Crows were going to let her stay alive.

She couldn't fight him. Not him. She definitely couldn't kill him.

It hit her like a punch in the gut. Creators, she was in love with him. Completely and stupidly in love with him. It was just there, as if it had been for a long time, which, she supposed, it had. She wasn't sure when it had happened, but there she was.

This was a disaster.

"Of course I'd need to be dead first, would I not?" Her voice sounded like it was coming from a long way off, the ringing still a high shrill on her brain, and she shook her head to clear it.

Her voice seemed to break whatever spell had fallen over them, and she saw Zevran jerk and look back at her, eyes blinking. His gaze searched hers, and he gave a shake of his head. "And, I'm not about to let that happen."

Overhearing, Taliesen's face clouded, anger lacing his words. "What? You've gone soft!"

Zevran looked back up to him, his face set, though his voice was filled with something she thought was very close to sadness. "I'm sorry, my old friend, but the answer is no. I'm not coming back... and you should have stayed in Antiva." They all watched as Taliesen tightened his grip on his sword, face reddening in fury. He spat out something in Antivan that had Zevran shaking his head again. "You're going to lose Taliesen. You're going to lose badly. You don't have to do this. You have a choice."

In response, Taliesen growled out one word, traitor, then raised his arm, and the group attacked.

It was over quickly, more quickly then she would have thought with the number they were up against, but she supposed she couldn't complain. Now she stood, shoulder to shoulder with Zevran as they stood over the fallen body of his friend. She placed a hand on his arm, and stood silently while he stared down at the lifeless face. She didn't know what to say, how did you thank someone for choosing to kill a friend over you, so she let eyes wandering over to watch as Alistair and Leliana rooted through the other bodies in search of coin.

"And there it is. Taliesen is dead, and I am free of the Crows."

She turned her attention back to Zevran, his conversational tone at odds with the carefully blank look on his face. "They will assume that I am dead along with Taliesen. So long as I do not make my presence known to them, they will not seek me out."

She wasn't sure what to say to that. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, so very sorry that this had happened, that she had never wanted to make him choose between her and anyone else, but it all seemed self serving in the face of what had happened. Nothing she could say would make anything better. "Isn't that a good thing?" She said it lamely, settling for not mentioning Taliesen at all.

He looked over to her, his expression softening some as he reached up a hand to smooth back the hair that fell in her face. "A very good thing. It is, in fact, what I hoped for ever sense you decided not to kill me." He dropped his hand and turned to face her more fully. "I suppose it would be possible for me to leave now, if I wished. I could go somewhere far away, somewhere where the Crows would never find me." She bit her lip to stop from saying anything, and he smiled at the sight. "I think, however, that I could also stay here, I made an oath to help you after all, and saving the world seems a worthy task to see though to the end, yes?"

She thought of her dream, her worries about him staying only because of some misplaced idea that he was sworn to it. A throwback to his life as a Crow.

She did not want him there out of duty. She hadn't in a long time. She forced herself to keep her tone light, her face clear. "If you want to go, you should go. You have to know I would never hold you to an oath, especially one you made when you thought I might kill you."

He let out a short laugh, running a hand over his face, and looking off to the side. "But that is what I am asking you. Do you want me to go? Do you need me here?"

She wanted to shout yes, that she did need him here. She loved him, and the very idea of never seeing him again was like a dagger in her heart. Instead she rubbed a hand over his arm, and forced a smile. "I want you to do what's best for you."

His expression turned quizzical, and he laughed again. "I... am not sure how to respond to that. I mean, normally, these things are decided by others."

"I'm not the Crows, Zevran. You are your own person. You have to decide what you want."

"Err..." For the first time since she had met him he seemed genuinely confused. "Then I suppose I shall... stay? Is that... good?"

She felt her smile widen, and couldn't help the response she gave. "It would be hard to kiss you if you left."

He gave a low laugh, and moved closer to her, dipping his head so his lips were just barely brushing hers. "You know... that is so very true." He captured her mouth then, the kiss gentle and searching. Wrapping her arms around his neck she returned it happily, her heart lifting.

They stayed wrapped together until Leliana gave a discreet cough. She pulled away, blushing, and avoided the gaze of their other companions, not wanting to see what they thought of the display. Instead she cleared her throat and scrubbed a hand through her hair, the tie long lost. Mumbling something purposefully unintelligible under her breathe, she moved to leave the alley, the others falling into step behind her.