Bound in the Fade

by alexmancerx

The spirits of the Fade had always been drawn to Kayden, even when he was awake. Many treated him as a demon and the other apprentices were often scared of him. Then Duncan came, and so many things left unanswered; why were the spirits drawn to him, why Greagoir wished him tranquil? And how could he handle the Blight, the Fade and an Antivan assassin without losing himself?

11. Chapter 10: The Reunion

Kayden Amell is off for training as a Jedi as an apprentice under the tutelage of Jedi Knight Kael Oscen! Revka is sad to see her son go, but this means he will no longer be a slave! He promises to come back one day to free her and take her to the safety of the planet Coruscant. The entire planet is one big city!

Wait… I think I got that wrong somewhere, let me start over.

Trivia: Kael is named after Cael from Irish myth. Cael is said to have won the heart of Credhe through the use of poetry. He is later drowned during battle.

Sorry for the huge wait on this chapter. This one is much longer than my others to sorta make up for that. Happy holidays to everyone! Please enjoy the long chapter!

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"It's not safe for either of you here," his mother said. Her voice sounded sad and he thought he could hear her weeping. He was already terrified, but knowing, hearing, his mother scared made things somehow worse. He didn't understand why she was telling that to a grown up. Grown ups could take care of themselves.

"We have to get him out of Kirkwall tonight," the Templar confirmed.

The candlelight cast shadows upon the blue and green woolen blankets of his bed, the doorway only slightly ajar as he listened to the hushed conversation between his mother and the Templar. There was nothing that could be done for his tangled mess of white hair as he shrugged on a travel cloak, his lyrium gaze shifting back toward his window as he heard shouting in the streets.

He couldn't tell what was going on, but he was sure if he listened he'd be able to find out.

Soon, he heard footsteps in the hall, his heart pounding. He knew then it was time to leave as his mother entered the room once more, pulling him close. There was no denying that she'd been crying, she wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

"You'll be safe in Ferelden," She told him.

"Why aren't you coming with us?" He asked. If it was so dangerous here, why did they have to leave her here alone?

She stared at him for a moment, and then her eyes dropped. He wasn't sure if that meant she didn't know, or if it was because it was one of those things grown-ups just didn't tell kids. He hated that. He could handle anything she had to say. Her face softened a bit, but the worry in her brows remained there as she turned away, not answering.

"Will I ever see you again?"

"What does your heart tell you?"

A tear rolled down his cheek, giving her a slight nod, "Yes… I guess."

"Then we'll see each other again."

"I will come back for you," he said.

There was almost a smile on her face. A small glimmer of hope. That was encouragement enough. He'd find a way to one day come back and bring her to safety too.

She kissed him and combed her fingers through his hair, seemingly determined to straighten it out. If he'd wanted that, he would have done it himself, but he didn't complain as she led him back out into the hall, his travel pack in hand. They made their way down the staircase to the entrance hall of their small home in Hightown. Small only by Hightown standards.

The Templar stood by the door, waiting. A growing sense of dread clawed at the pit of his stomach, ready to tear him open. If he wasn't going to the Gallows, why was a Templar taking him away?

There was no one in the streets when the stepped out into the night air, and yet he could still hear the yelling, shouting and clash of steel. The Templar had taken him by the hand and lead him through the shadows, keeping his distance from the street lamps.

Stranger still, the narrow steps leading to Lowtown were empty.

Panic seized him then, and for a moment he feared where the man might be taking him. The boy grabbed the Templar's arm then, clinging tightly to him. "Please!" He pleaded, "Don't take me to the Gallows!"

The man stopped and looked down at him through the slotted openings of the helmet he wore. "I'm not taking you to the Gallows."

"Then where are we going…"

"The docks. We need to make our way to the docks. Now," he knelt down before Kayden then. "You must promise me you will be brave. For you mother. We will make our way there as quietly as possible so we don't draw attention from the bad people."

"Bad people?"

"Yes, many men wish to hurt us tonight, and we don't want them to find us."

It was then that a name came to his head, one he'd overheard while the Templar and his mother had been talking. He made the connection, but still didn't understand. What was a riot anyway?

"Who is Viss… viss… Vissycant Perry?"

"Viscount," the man had corrected him. "Don't worry about such things. You will never need to worry about him." It was a promise, but what it meant, the boy was unsure. It was hard not to worry when his mother had been crying on their way out. He wished she could be with them right now. If things weren't safe…

It was then that he noticed a shimmer of white, fine hair, slightly falling out of the helmet. Hair like his own. The boy finally nodded, suddenly feeling like he would be able to trust this man. After all, his mother did, right?

They crept down the steps and through the streets of Lowtown. More than once, he found himself raising his arm to cover his face with his overlarge sleeves to mask himself from the foul smells that rose to reach his nose; as if Uncle Damion had left out a damp pair of socks in the sun for a few days… or months even. He made a wrinkled his nose at the thought. No wonder people always complained about the smell!

"You see that building over there?" The man finally asked, pointing to a small, wooden shack at the end of the road. "We're going there. I have to change out of my armor."

"Why?"

"I'll be less noticeable."

The boy nodded. That seemed like a good idea, he thought as they slowly made their way toward the shack.

"I would have expected this from the rookie Lars, but from you?" Came a voice from behind them. The two of them turned to see another man dressed in the same Templar uniform. He didn't seem to be threatening them, but the boy could see a shift in the newcomer's stance that could easily enough lend itself to defending or fighting if need be.

"You brought a kid out here? A mage too? What's going on?"

The Templar grabbed the other man by the arm and dragged them toward the shack. He told the boy to sit down and wait. He could hear the two arguing and yet the first man never let his voice rise above a hushed whisper.

"You're crazy!" he could hear the other man say. "What about your orders? They plan on attacking the Gallows, they plan on expelling the entire Templar Order from Kirkwall. Are you really that much of a coward that you plan to desert the Order now?"

"I'm not deserting the Order, I'm taking him to Kinloch." The man sounded calm, he couldn't help but wonder how someone could stay so calm when someone was being so mean to him! More than anything, he wanted to get up and move toward them, and defend the nice man from the mean Templar, but he'd been told to sit and wait. And his mother… she'd said to be good. She'd said to listen, and so he would.

The room beyond was silent for a moment, and finally the first Templar spoke again. "It's because of what's happening that I have to get him out of here. If he were at the Gallows when that man… I… I would never be able to forgive myself."

"Why? The boy's a mage, that's where mages here go. Anyway, there's no way we'll let the Order fall. It..."

The second man was cut short as the first Templar looked at him again, "He's my son."

"The… fuck? You really are crazy! What about your vows?"

"The boy is eight, I hadn't taken my vows yet."

The mean Templar turned to look the boy's way, and he tried his best to look convincingly like he wasn't paying any attention to the two of them. Like he hadn't heard the last few things they said.

I'm… his son?

o ~ O ~ o

"Kade?" Came a voice, finally snapping him out of the dream.

He looked down, seeing a pale hand stretched out before him. His hand, as he continued to watch the closed door of the shop. It was as if time would stand still for him now and there was nothing beyond this alley. There never was.

Kayden's hand dropped to the side, and he turned to see the rather concerned looking face of Alistair.

"Are you alright?" The man asked. "For a moment you seemed… far away."

Kayden didn't answer at first, instead, he turned to look back at the entrance of the Wonders of Thedas, half expecting the door to open again. When it didn't, he finally nodded and looked back to Alistair. "Did you… perhaps see the man that walked into the shop just now?"

"I didn't get a good look at him," Alistair replied, confusion in his voice. "Was there something important about him?"

"I know, it sounds silly, doesn't it? I've been living in a Tower for well over ten years, I really shouldn't know much of anyone out here. And yet… he looked so familiar."

"I don't really think that's very silly. Even if it's all a misunderstanding, why don't you go talk to him and clear things up? I'm sure it will make you feel better."

"Or make me look like a fool. 'Hey! I think I know you!' Watch the man turn around just for me to realize this is definitely not the person I thought he was and then I'd have to apologize to him for wasting his time. Yeah, I really want to do that right now." Kayden let out a deep sigh.

"You're right. It's a bad idea. Forget I mentioned it," Alistair said dryly, but continued moving on towards the shop again.

Kayden watched him for a moment before finally following. He stopped as Alistair entered the building, determined to wait, to lag behind as he tried to memorize the individual grains of wood on the door. After a moment, he finally gathered his courage, took a deep breath and pushed the door open. It was now or never, right?

The dimly lit shop was much bigger and even more impressive than he ever thought it would be. There were rows and rows of shelves covered in books and various displays of enchanted arms and armor and various charms, potions and other items. Kayden could see that Alistair was already looking at stuffed toys near a desk with a tranquil talking to the man he'd noticed entering the shop only a few moments ago.

He hadn't been seeing things. He wasn't wearing armor, nor the rich maroon robes Kayden had remembered. Instead he was wearing blue. He wondered if blue meant something different, or if he really did have the wrong guy. But something about him, the way he moved, the way he stood, and even the clothes just seemed so familiar.

Regardless, the mage found himself straightening out his tunic, as if it would really make a difference now. If the man wasn't who he thought he was, he'd probably think Kayden was crazy, and it didn't really matter if his tunic was straight or disheveled. Though he figured had it been disheveled it might make him look more crazy. There was always that possibility of course.

"Thanks for running off on me, Alistair…" he mumbled under his breath. It hadn't really occurred to him that he hadn't actually asked for Alistair's support, or that he could still ask. Instead, all he could think of was the silver-haired man that still had his back to Kayden.

My… father. Maybe.

Finally, he summoned the courage to step forward, but he didn't make it to the desk. He stopped about half-way to turn to one of the nearby bookshelves to examine a random book as the man had turned around. Maybe he won't notice me… Kayden thought. He didn't want to be wrong, and even if he was right, what kind of person was his father? Would he be everything Kayden thought he would be? Would he be everything his father thought he would be?

"Hi, how are you?" He heard Alistair say ahead of him. He let the book he was holding drop for a moment to look around the shelf that stood between him and the men standing at the counter. The almost-templar was now engaging the silver-haired man in conversation. Delightful. "My name is Alistair, I'm a Grey Warden. I was training to be a Templar here in Denerim not too long ago. I was just wondering if you were new to the area?"

The man let out a laugh, it wasn't a malicious one by the sound of it. "To the area? Not really, though I do I tend to travel a lot, I don't really like being stationed in one place for too long. I am Knight-Captain Kael Oscen, by the way. It's nice to meet a Grey Warden. Were you at Ostagar then?"

Why did you tell him you're a Grey Warden? Kayden wanted to ask, mentally screaming at Alistair in his head from the other side of the room. Didn't he realize that Loghain had called them traitors? That they were wanted men now? That they had been blamed for the death of the king?

"Yes, I wasn't on the main field with the other Wardens, however," Alistair said, the tone of his voice turning a bit grave for a moment, though it seemed like he was trying his best to keep the conversation light.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss," Kael said. "This Blight… I stood there at Ostagar. I saw what happened. This Blight is far worse than people realize."

He watched as Alistair gave a slow nod, his eyebrow raised a bit. That had been what Flemeth had said, though she hadn't gone into detail. Having seen it first-hand, he knew it was true.

"I am here with a fellow of mine that was with me at Ostagar," Alistair finally said, turning to look at Kayden, beckoning him over. Kael's gaze turned to follow Alistair's then, lyrium eyes falling upon his own.

It's him… Kayden thought, recognizing the face instantly. It was, admittedly a lot like his and an emotion he couldn't quite recognize crossed the man's face. Did he also recognize Kayden then? He was just a child when he'd been left at the Tower.

"Kayden... ?" The man was already crossing the store and before Kayden could say anything the other was hugging him tightly.

He was confused as he stared back at Alistair for a moment. Alistair shrugged and turned back to the Tranquil behind the counter to inquire about the stuffed toys.

"Father?"

The man nodded, "Yes?"

"You haven't… aged a day since last I saw you."

Kael laughed, and Kayden finally returned the hug, letting himself be lost in the moment. For now. He was allowed this much, was he not?

I knew it all along…

They stayed like that for a bit longer, until Kael finally pulled away. "We have a lot of catching up to do. You received the gift for your Harrowing?"

Kayden nodded, "Thank you."

"A Grey Warden now?" The man smiled. "I have something else for you, it should be ready in a day or so."

"Huh?"

"You'll see, get your friend. I hear Wardens have rather extensive appetites, so perhaps we can talk over lunch. My treat."

"Right… Now?"

"Unless you have other plans, why not?"

"Um… We have plans, however we plan on being here for a few days, it can wait until after lunch at least."

Kael nodded as Kayden gestured for Alistair to join them once more. "Are you hungry?"

"What kind of question is that?" Alistair asked with a roll of the eyes. Kayden shook his his head, trying his best not to grin.

With that, the small group made their way back out the shop and toward the Gnawed Noble Tavern. Kayden figured he'd get a chance to return to the Wonders of Thedas later for some more exploration.

As soon as they stepped outside, the party was greeted by a huff and a wet nose thoroughly exploring the new stranger. Vulfson's tail wagged a moment later when he deemed Kael 'safe' and quirked his head to the side, expecting to have his ears scratched.

"And who might you be?" The man asked, a hint of amusement in his voice as he fulfilled he dog's unspoken request.

The mabari gave a deep woof in response, and Kayden smiled, also giving him a pat on the head. "This is my mabari, Vulfson. He was sick while we were at Ostagar, but after I brought him medicine, he seemed to have taken a liking to me."

Kael shot him a grin, his pride easily displayed in his own lyrium-colored eyes. "He's a fine hound."

Vulfson woofed again in approval.

They were still in the alley when Kayden noticed a shifting in the shadows. If the other's noticed anything, they didn't mention it.

"Who might this be? You never mentioned a handsome brother," came a familiar voice beside him.

Kayden shook his head, he should have guessed Zevran had been watching. He could tell the other man was smirking, though he remained silent, leaving Kayden to explain himself. "This, Zevran, is my father."

Zevran looked around Kayden to get a better look at the other man. "Father? I find that hard to believe, my dear Warden. He looks no more than a few years older than yourself."

Kayden ignored the question, and instead, stepped back away from the group, pulling Zevran with him him. "Hurry on ahead, I need to talk to Zevran for a minute." Kayden said, watching the others walk away.

When they were out of sight, he pushed Zevran against a nearby wall. "Why are you stalking me from the shadows? Still waiting for just the right time to strike? Finish off your contract? I don't have time for games, Zevran. One of my best friends was just killed, my father appeared of nowhere, and Alistair has a leech of a sister that will rob him blind if given the opportunity. I'm in no mood for this."

He couldn't tell what the look on Zevran's face meant then. It seemed more than one. Confusion? Surprise? Anger?

"I do not know where you are getting at, Kayden," Zevran said, deliberately avoiding the mage's title, "As if you didn't know, you are considered a criminal at the moment and there are many that wish to see you met with an unfortunate accident as it were. I was watching from the shadows, looking for threats that may have led to such an accident. If I had still wished you dead, the deed would have already been done, this I can assure you."

Kayden opened his mouth, as if ready to speak again, but the words didn't come. He wanted to be angry, but couldn't find a reason to still be. After all, Zevran had shown that he could be trusted... a little. And right now the assassin seemed... insulted? That was what it seemed like, and Kayden just didn't know how to respond to that.

Taking a deep breath, Kayden turned his head, looking back down to the end of the alley where Alistair and his father had disappeared. "How does one kill ice?" He finally asked, not turning back to look at Zevran.

"A flame, I would think," Zevran responded.

Kayden let out a soft laugh then. "It is a good thing that you are not a mage then."

"Oh? I'm sure I could melt ice without magic, though I think in this case melting that ice might be a good thing, no?"

Kayden finally looked back toward Zevran then, an eyebrow raised.

"You are tense, my friend. I think I know what you need."

"Besides sleep? And a hot meal. A few hot meals actually. Enough to feed more than a few men. Alistair and my father will be waiting for us at the tavern after all. Like... Right now, as in this very minute."

"Mmm, I'm thinking more drastic measures are called for, in fact," Zevran started, placing a hand under his chin as he looked over Kayden a bit. "My thought is this; tonight when we retire, the two of us go to your room and I show you the sort of massage skills that one only learns growing up in an Antivan whorehouse."

Zevran ran a hand over the other man's chest then, emphasizing his point. For a moment, Kayden wished he had been wearing his armor. He'd been wearing it a lot the past few weeks, and while it would still take more time to get fully used to moving in something so heavy, it did feel a bit strange to be able to feel Zevran's hand through the thin cloth of the tunic he was now wearing. He reached a hand up, taking Zevran by the wrist. "Are you... suggesting what I think you are?"

Zevran smirked a bit, looking up into Kayden's lyrium eyes. "If you mean to ask whether or not there might be more than a massage involved, allow me simply to say that you won't be disappointed with any of the techniques I've picked up over the years."

Kayden closed his eyes then, giving the wrist he held a soft squeeze. "Tonight's not good really. My father and I have a lot of catching up to do, and I'm sure we'll be talking a lot tonight." It was a convenient excuse, too convenient he knew. But... He'd heard Zevran offer similar... services to the others. To Leliana, to Morrigan, and on occasion to Alistair and even Jowan. With everything going on that wasn't the type of companionship he wanted. Yet he did want it. Craved it in fact, and that thought made him all the more confused. What did he need? What did he really want?

"Not tonight," the mage repeated, his voice soft. Kayden ran his thumb over Zevran's hand then, and before he could think otherwise, brought it to his lips. He might have been reading too much into it, but when he looked back at Zevran then, he noticed the other staring. Not the way he usually did, with that grin on his face when he was flirting, but instead his face seemed unreadable. What was the other man thinking right now? Had Kayden crossed some line then?

Awkwardly, he let Zevran's hand drop then. "Uh... anyway, we should meet up with the others now. They're probably wondering what's taking us so long." Kayden didn't wait for a response, instead turning to walk toward the end of the alley and on to the tavern.

He didn't turn back to look at Zevran as they walked in silence, and when they reached the tavern, he held the door open, not meeting the elf's eyes. Ignoring the rising voices in his head telling him that he'd missed his chance, he looked across the main room for his father and Alistair. He tilted his head to the side a bit when he didn't see them, wondering how they could have made it first.

"Are you Kayden?" one of the waitresses asked.

"Uh, yeah. That's me."

"Ser Kael is waiting for you in a private room. Follow me," she said, stopping to stare at Zevran for a moment. "The elf with you?"

Kayden gave her a confused look for a moment, before remembering how elves were generally treated out of the Tower. He narrowed his eyes a bit as he turned back to the woman. "He came in with me, did he not?"

"My mistake," she apologized, bowing her head to Kayden a bit before ushering them toward a hall at the back of the building. "Follow me please, sers."

The room was fairly small, but the table was large enough to seat the four of them. Kael and Alistair were sitting next to each other, already engaged in conversation about Ostagar with Vulfson sitting off to the side, already digging into a thick piece of meat.

Kayden and Zevran sat down opposite the others and ordered drinks. It took another glare from Kayden for the woman to take Zevran's order. Once she had finally left the room, closing the door behind her, Kayden joined into the conversation. It had died down a bit with the woman in there, which was good considering he didn't need a random tavern worker in on their business. Fade knew gossip would get around quickly enough anyway, and he found himself wondering if it would get around just as quickly as it had at the Tower.

"So, the two of you are now using the treaties to build up an army?" Kael asked.

Kayden nodded, "But Alistair says we will likely need the support of Arl Eamon at the Landsmeet."

"Right, he's popular with the nobles. We need to make sure that civil war doesn't break out while we are trying to end the Blight," Alistair added.

"I've heard the Arl has fallen ill as of late, have you been to see him yet?" Kael asked.

Alistair frowned. "Yes, we have. His wife sent some of Redcliffe's knights away in search of Andraste's Sacred Ashes. He had been poisoned and is comatose. They believe that only a pinch of her ashes will restore him to full health."

"Andraste's ashes?" Kael said, returning the frown. He turned to look at the table for a moment, and Kayden could only assume he was thinking over what he'd just heard. "I've heard that it has incredible healing powers, but whether or not it actually exists is up to debate. Do you have any leads on the location?"

"We were told that a Brother Genitivi had been researching the urn. He was supposed to be living here in Denerim, which is why we are here now," Kayden provided. "We should be here for a few days as well, gathering supplies, and then we'll set off again after we've had a chance to figure out where he has headed. It seems his research has led him in search of the ashes as well. Perhaps a servant or apprentice remains at this home that can give us directions, or provide us with at least another clue."

"Genitivi…" Kael repeated. "I met him once, not too long ago. I can't say I know him well, but I do know where his home is. Perhaps after lunch I can take you there. That is, if you don't have any other plans for today."

Kayden's mood brightened a bit then and he sat up a bit more straight. "You could? That would be incredibly helpful!"

Kael chuckled, "Well don't get too excited yet; as you mentioned, he's not home at the moment. We'll figure out what we can while we're there, but in the meantime—"

Kael was cut off as the door opened again. The same woman entered the room with more cups and a pitcher, mentioning that the stew only needed a little longer. As she exited the room once more, another woman had followed her in with a small basket of bread and cheese.

The second woman eyed Alistair as she placed the basket down. "I hear Wardens have quite an appetite." She gave him a grin and winked a bit, "Figured I'd bring in something to tide you over before the stew was ready."

Kayden raised an eyebrow, looking back at the woman with a bit of a smirk as he noticed Alistair's cheeks beginning to color. He didn't even ask how the woman knew they were Wardens. Everyone seemed to realize without them bringing it up.

Kayden shook his head, reaching to take a piece of bread for himself. "I'm not sure where you heard that, but there are no Wardens here."

Her gaze met Kayden's then, and she was taken aback, albeit briefly. The mage rolled his eyes. "I'm alive, in case you're wondering. Not a ghost in the least.

"I, um… I'm going to check on the stew," she said, quickly turning away and exiting the room and closing the door softly behind her.

It was Kael's turn to raise an eyebrow this time.

"What?" Kayden asked, "It was popular back at the tower for the other apprentices to refer to me by their favored nickname, 'Spook'. I thought I might save her the trouble by telling her I'm not before she got any wrong ideas."

The group laughed at the explanation, though Kael seemed a little concerned by it. He figured no one liked to hear about their kids being teased. It wasn't a big deal anymore really; not only was Kayden an adult now, he was no longer at the Tower and didn't have to deal with those apprentices any longer. Not all of them were even apprentices anymore, he reminded himself.

"Anyway," Kael said, reaching into a pouch strapped to his belt, "As I was about to say before the bread came," he paused, placing a large parchment onto the table. It appeared to be ripped a bit at the top, as if he'd pulled it down. A poster, perhaps.

Kayden read it over, his eyes narrowing a bit as he wondered what this could possibly mean before turning it to Alistair so he could get a better look at it.

"Don't believe the lies! Friends of the Grey Wardens assemble.

The hidden pearl holds the key to griffons will rise again!"

Zevran frowned, "Someone is looking for Grey Warden supporters. This is a trap, I'm certain," he said, "but I can tell you where the 'hidden pearl' is."

"I figured it might be," Kayden said, "Even so, I'll have to deal with this. I'll go tomorrow."

"I'm coming with you," Zevran said, his tone making it clear that that was not a request.

Before Kayden could protest, his father lifted a hand, silencing him. "Going with a group would only draw attention, that much is true," he said leaving Kayden to wonder if the man could read minds before he continued, "But I think it's too risky for you to go on your own, and this one…"

Kael paused again looking over Zevran, "You are… a Crow, are you not?"

"Ah, did I give myself away already?" Zevran said, a grin on his face. He pointed to Kayden, "He hadn't even heard of the Crows before he met me."

"I had. I read about Crows, I just never thought I'd actually meet one…"

"Of course, my dear Warden." Zevran grinned.

The look in Kael's eyes told Kayden that the man disapproved, however he didn't mention it. "You are good at assessing threats then?"

"Of course, you can trust my judgement, no harm will come to our Warden under my watchful eye. I made a pledge after all. I did not make it lightly."

Alistair rolled his eyes this time.

Kayden half expected his father to question Zevran further about his pledge, he half expected Alistair to bring up the fact that Zevran had once tried to kill him—them—before. It didn't matter much that he and Alistair had talked about it already, fully, multiple times. By this point, Kayden was sick of having to have the same conversation over and over again. But to his surprise, and likely Alistair's as well, the older man did not pursue the issue further. Kayden had a nagging feeling in his gut that the conversation was not over yet, that there would still be time later to continue it.

He almost let out a sigh of relief when Kael continued on, seemingly ignoring Zevran's final comment. "Fine, go with him," but Kayden was sure there was a veiled threat in the way the next came out, "but be careful."

"I am always careful," Zevran assured the man.

Lunch couldn't have come at a better time, Kayden thought as the door to their room opened again with the serving girls bringing in their bowls of stew. He almost let out a sigh of relief as the tension in the room seemed to lessen.

Kayden ignored the second girl as she continued trying to get Alistair's attention. The other Warden didn't really seem to know what to do with the attention anyway, but it was amusing to see the blush appear on his cheeks again.

They talked for a bit longer as they ate their meal, keeping the topics light for now. They mainly discussed other plans for the next few days, what shops they would visit, and the like. They told Kael about their other companions, about their time at Ostagar and Lothering, about the Tower..

Kael was relieved to learn that the First Enchanter and the Knight Commander both survived the ordeal. The Tower might have been devastated, but enough survived for them to rebuild.

Kayden was certain they had spent at least an hour's time, maybe longer, as they made their way back outside again. He stretched a bit as the sun met his pale skin

It was hot. Uncomfortably so, and he regretted a bit not having worn gloves or a hat on the way out this morning. He decided to stick to the shadows as Kael led them down the street and into another area of the the market district. The house itself wasn't really far from the tavern.

Kael opened the gate and led them through the small yard. Kayden looked over the neatly tended garden where it seemed the scholar was growing various alchemical ingredients on one side, and vegetables on the other. Genitivi must have had a gardener taking care of it while he was away.

His eyes moved back toward the front of the group when he heard the knock on the door. They waited for a few moments before a young servant woman opened the door. He listened as his father greeted the woman, explaining to her that they were looking for Genitivi.

The woman shook her head before he could continue, "Brother Genitivi isn't home."

"I know," Kael said, "We were hoping that he had an assistant around that we could speak to. Perhaps someone might know where we could look?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, looking around Kael and at the group behind him. Finally, she nodded and opened the door a little more. "His steward, Weyland is home. He might be able to give you the information you need," She said, leading them through the entryway and into a sizable dining hall.

She instructed them to wait there while she went to fetch Weyland. Kayden paced a bit, wondering how long it would take. "Have you met Weyland before?" He asked his father after a few minutes.

Kael shook his head, "No. He was mentioned, but I've never met him."

"It seems the man you are looking for has interesting taste in literature," Zevran commented then, pulling Kayden's attention away from his father then.

"Oh yeah?" He asked, circling around the long table then, moving toward a book the assassin was gesturing to. It sat on the table there, green cover calling to Kayden to open it and take a look at the information it contained.

"Flame and Scale, huh?" Alistair said, reading the cover over Kayden's shoulder. "A book on dragon cults? I wonder if this has anything to do with the old gods?"

"Perhaps?" Kayden said, lifting the book from the table and thumbing through the pages. "Hm… I wonder if you really can gain increased strength from drinking a dragon's blood."

"Are you considering trying?" Alistair asked, making a strange face.

"It can't be any worse than…" Kayden trailed off then, deciding it best not to finish the sentence. Alistair probably could figure what line of thought he was on anyway, Kayden only having joined the Warden ranks a few weeks previous and he was pretty sure someone had mentioned that the Joining ritual was supposed to be a secret.

That had been awful; the smell and taste had been rancid and of course there were unpleasant aftereffects that felt like your brain was being ripped out of your skull while a voice continued to whisper relentlessly in your ears. "On second thought, I'd rather not even try. It could be just as bad."

"I wonder why a book on dragon cults would just be lying out in the open," Zevran said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kayden and Alistair looked to him then. It was Kayden who spoke next, "Well it is a book by another Chantry scholar, perhaps a friend of his."

"Perhaps," Zevran started, "Or perhaps it has something to do with his current research project."

"Why do you think it would still be out even though he's been away?" Kayden asked, placing the tome back on the dining table.

"There could be a few reasons; it was overlooked, or his house staff decided to leave things tidy, but how he left it." Zevran shrugged.

"Maybe they are expecting him to be home soon?" Alistair suggested.

"Not really," Came a voice from the door the maid had gone. "We haven't seen or heard from brother Genitivi in weeks."

Kayden looked up from the table then, ignoring the book for now as he crossed to the other side of the room toward the newcomer. "You're Genitivi's steward I take it?"

The man nodded, "Yes, I am Weyland."

"I am Kayden Amell, and these are my companions, Alistair, Zevran and my father, Kael."

The man looked over the group for a moment, then nodded, "As I said, I haven't seen or heard from Brother Genitivi for weeks. I fear he is in danger. About a week or so ago a few knights came looking for him. I thought they might be able to help, so I sent them in the direction he said he was going."

"Were they also in search of the Sacred ashes?" Alistair asked.

"I… yes. They were knights from Redcliffe. I've heard the arl there has fallen ill?" Weyland asked.

Alistair nodded gravely, "That's why we're here as well. It's very urgent that we can find Brother Genitivi."

"You should abandon your search then!" Weyland said. "If he is in danger… The knights they also disappeared..."

"How do you know?" Kayden asked.

"They've been gone a while, and haven't sent word." Weyland's words came quickly, nervously. Kayden wondered if he really was worried about their well being, or if he was hiding something.

"And why would they send word back here if they were to return to Redcliffe with the ashes if found?" Kael finally asked, stepping closer to Wyland. "Were you close to the knights?"

Weyland sighed and shook his head. "Don't ask me where they went, I'm not sending the rest of you into danger if something happened. Not again. With Genitivi missing, I couldn't help but think of the worst. Perhaps I am a pessimist. I do hope I'm wrong, but I cannot risk sending more out."

"If they are lost," Kayden said, looking down at the floor for a moment, then back up to Weyland, "We need to find them."

"No, no! I can't do that! This search for the ashes, it is a curse! A curse on all of us! Some things are just not meant to be found! I know this now, and I'm not making that mistake again. Abandon this quest of yours and see to the arl some other way."

Before anyone could continue on, Vulfson whined, clawing at one of the doors at the end of the hall. Everyone went silent as they turned to look at the mabari.

"What is it, boy?" Kayden asked, standing up straighter to look to the other side of the room. The dog barked and Kayden crossed to the other side of the room to pat the dog on the head. "Smell something?"

"I'm sorry, that room is not for guests. It's full of Genitivi's research. Books, papers, it shouldn't be disturbed," Weyland said, his words sounding frantic right now.

Kayden raised an eyebrow and looked back at him, "If his research is in there, it might help us find him, since you obviously aren't being helpful."

"Kayden," his father warned.

The mage turned to look at his father for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and scratching the back of his head. "I apologize, that was rude of me. It is urgent that we find Brother Genitivi as soon as possible. Even if you think the ashes are a cursed quest, I have to find him."

Weyland finally let out a slow nod. "Before… Genitivi left, he mentioned he would be staying at an inn near Lake Calenhad. He had a lead and planned to investigate there first, but that is all I know. Perhaps you can go to the inn and ask around to see if anyone has seen him?"

"Near Lake Calenhad? Where?" Kayden asked.

"The inn is called the Spoiled Princess, and is near the docks that ferry to and from Kinloch Hold."

Kayden turned to give a questioning look to Alistair. The other man shrugged, "It's as good a lead as any. We can head back to the docks again after we've finished getting our supplies together."

Kayden lifted his hand to his shoulder, pulling the strap of his backpack a bit, subconsciously shifting the weight upward as he thought about it. It would still be a few days yet considering, but Alistair was probably right. Back to the docks. Again. And here he thought he'd have a chance to be away from that black spire for even a small amount of time. Every path seemed to always lead him back there.

Every eye in the room seemed to be on him for the moment, and he wished he could just sink in the floor and disappear. Why were all the decisions left for him? Save for the mabari, he was probably the youngest and least experienced one there, so why?

There was another whine and Kayden turned to see Vulfson clawing at the same door again. The dog was starting to leave deep marks on the door. "Shit, I'm so sorry! I'll pay for the damage he's doing," Kayden said, moving to grab the dog by the collar. "Vulfson, stop!" he ordered, trying to pull the mabari away from the door, but it was too late as the door pushed open.

Everything was silent for a moment as the smell of rot and decay entered the room, permeating the air around them. A smell not too different from the walking corpses they had encountered in Redcliffe.

Before Kayden could turn back to Weyland, the man attacked in a blur. Blood was already in the air, mingling with the scent of decay. Zevran had a knife in the man's back before he could do any real damage though, but even that didn't buy enough time before the maid and a few other house staff lept from the shadows to attack as well.

Something changed in the air again as everything seemed to fall silent. Kayden could tell there were shouts, maybe… He could see their lips moving, he could see the battle raging around him. The shredded tapestries, the plates flying into the air. What a mess Genitivi would have to come back to later. And for what? Who were these people, and why were they attacking now? Were they really part of the house staff at all?

When the moment finally passed and things returned to calm, four or five dead bodies lay on the floor, covered in blood. At least one of them had been a blood mage, but they had still been no match for the group.

"I'm not cleaning this mess," Kayden informed the others, throwing up his arms as if he were at knife-point.

They barely had a moment to catch their breath before Vulson bounded past the open door and into the room beyond. He stopped and pressed his nose to the ground then looked back at the group once more. Letting out a deep 'woof', he continued on, disappearing around a corner.

Kayden looked at the others and shrugged before following the mabari into the room. The walls were lined with shelves full of books, every table and chair seemed to also be covered in books. That was when the smell hit him again, stronger than before.

On the far side of the room, tucked away between the foot of the bed and a wardrobe, they group found the cause of the smell. The silhouette of a body lay there upon the ground, wrapped in a blood-crusted sheet, amidst the buzzing of flies.

Vulfson growled, his ears pressing back against his skull as Kael approached the body. Unsheathing his sword once more, he used it to pull the sheet back.

"Not Genitivi," Kael confirmed. "It's possible this man was a member of the house staff."

"We should alert the guard," Alistair suggested. "Something needs to be done about the body."

"I wonder who he was," Kayden said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If the three of you are done staring at the dead body, perhaps you may be interested in this," Zevran said. The three turned back to look at Zevran, a leather bound journal in his hands. "The research notes of one 'Brother Genitivi'," Zevran began, making sure to really emphasize the name, "His notes might be useful in learning his location, no?"

Kayden grinned, taking the journal as it was offered to him. "I'll look over this as soon as we get back to the inn." He quirked an eyebrow in the direction of his father than. See, the former crow is useful, he thought.

Alistair nodded then, "We'll need to alert the city guard about what happened here and have the house cleaned up." He looked to Kael then, scratching behind his head, "Perhaps you could do that, seeing as Kade and I are wanted men at the moment…"

"Of course," Kael started, "I just need to know what inn you are staying at so I can find you later."

"We're staying at The Narrow Sign," Alistair said.

Kael nodded, "I have a few errands to run in the mean time. I'l see the guard and meet you back at your inn."

"And I think we have been standing around here long enough, no?" Zevran said. "We should see ourselves out, better sooner rather than later."

o ~ O ~ o

Someone was pounding on the door. He didn't care. He liked it being locked. It was better that way for now. He needed it to be quiet while he was reading through Genitivi's research. And Kayden wasn't just scanning the pages, he was reading it word for word, front to back.

He didn't really need to read it all, he didn't even really care about some lost relic from a religion he didn't really care much for. The Chantry had never really cared much for him, otherwise they wouldn't have taken him away from his home, from his mother, and kept his father from coming to visit him. Sure, life at the tower hadn't been all that bad, the Templar weren't as bad as some people liked to think. No, it was the other students that were bad. Some of the Enchanters maybe. Though usually the Enchanters had just seemed to pity him.

For the longest time, he just couldn't understand why. Though it was clear just looking at them, and seeing himself in a looking glass. He was different. People were scared of things that were different, things they didn't understand, and very few people took the time to try to understand.

"Kade! Let me in!" A voice called through the door. Jowan's, he realized, but Kayden didn't budge. He didn't want to deal with the other mage, not right now.

"I'm busy! Come back later!" Kayden finally yelled back. He'd eventually become annoyed with the knocking anyway, but he didn't want to give in. Perhaps Jowan would finally give up and go back to the common room with the others. There wasn't really much reason for him to be up here in the room right now anyway.

After all, Kayden needed peace and quiet to continue reading the notes. He had a bloody Blight to stop, and Maker forbid he didn't help every single person in the entire damn country to get support against the darkspawn. Sure, Eamon was sort of family to Alistair, and sure, Alistair was a friend, but from the sound of it, he hadn't had such a great time growing up in Eamon's house. Was all this really worth it? And would the ashes really help?

He'd already even figured out a while ago where Genitivi was heading. Haven, a small village in the mountains, one that wasn't even on the map. And yet... the man had detailed directions on how to get there. The man didn't seem sure what he would find there, but he suspected the urn itself was there.

Kayden had found exactly what he'd been looking for, and yet, he continued to stay locked in the little room at the inn that he was to be sharing with Jowan. It was really just an excuse to be alone. To get away from everyone else right now. He'd considered talking to Morrigan. Fade, he'd even considered talking to Leliana. But Morrigan, he wasn't sure would care, or even understand given her relationship with Flemeth. And Leliana? He didn't think she'd really be much help either. None of them would get it, none of them were like him.

"None of them are abominations either," Mouse pointed out.

Kayden dismissively waved a hand in the air. "I'm not an abomination."

"Oh really? Then what are you? Anyone who really knew about me would consider you to be one. It's inevitable considering how the Chantry rules."

"Shut up, I'm busy."

"You haven't been busy for nearly an hour," the demon insisted. "Go be with your friends, you need a distraction."

"They aren't my friends. Not really."

"If they aren't, it's because you're the one pushing them away now. So used to how you were treated at the tower that it must be impossible for you to actually make friends. That Alistair fellow, he seems to like you. Thinks of you as a brother. Morrigan. Hmm... She's not entirely sure what to make of you, but she does seem to be curious of you. Leliana has a high opinion of you. A very high one considering how often she teases you. Sten's respect for you is growing each time he sees you fight, as you continue to train with that sword of yours. The one you broke, by the way. Good going. You know how he said the Qunari treat their swords. Said his was made for his hand and all. I suspect he's not too happy about how you treated that one. And Zevran... Well... I'll leave that one alone. He's a complicated man. You're quite complicated yourself. Stop beating yourself up and actually try."

"Would you quit that?" Kayden asked, letting out a sigh as he put down the notebook. "Where is he?"

There was a pause. The silence lasted for a few minutes before the demon finally spoke again. "In the market. Not completely sure exactly where, but he seems to be doing what he said he would. With all the dead bodies, I suspect he needs to give a full report or something. Whatever it is Templar and guards do. I don't know."

He almost smirked when he realized Jowan had given up on the door. Predictable as always. Though Jowan would be back later. Reluctantly, Kayden pulled himself up, discarding the notebook on a nearby table as he stretched. With all the moving they'd been doing, sitting for long periods of time was starting to feel strange.

Kayden began pacing, ignoring the demon for now. Mouse continued trying to pull him out of his sulk anyway. Kayden wasn't having it. Not yet at least.

Eventually, he made his way over to the door and unlocked it, stretching again as he did so. Perhaps he could actually use some fresh air. Strange, considering he wasn't all that used to being outside at all before the Blight. It was a wonder he hadn't gotten sick at least once even, or overly warm. He didn't like it when it was overly warm, which by Ferelden standards was hardly at all.

He pulled on his boots on as he hopped toward the door, half tripping on his socks on the way. Kayden braced himself on the door as the second one was in put into place. With a lead already on the whereabouts of Genitivi, it seemed that the end of the week couldn't come any sooner. The group needed to resupply and repair gear. Those things took time, time they could barely afford. And while he was itching to get out and back on the road again, he dreaded the walk, wondering if he'd ever get used to being on the move all the time.

When he finally pulled the door open, Jowan fell in.

"Why were you leaning against the door?" Kayden said, raising an eyebrow as he helped the other man straighten up.

"You realize we are sharing this room right? Do you understand what sharing means?" Jowan asked, poking Kayden in the chest.

Kayden stared at the door for a moment. "This is the first time I've ever been able to lock a door behind me. I just needed some time alone."

Jowan glared at him for a moment, long enough for Kayden's shoulders to shift to a slump. Without even saying anything, Kayden knew what Jowan was thinking. And he was right, neither of them had had that luxury back at the Tower, they had been in one of the large dorms on the main floor, between rows of bunks. Lots of other apprentices shared the room.

Finally, Jowan looked back to Kayden. "We're… still friends right? If you need someone to talk to, I'll lend my ear, as I always have."

Kayden sighed and closed the door behind him. He crossed the room back to one of the beds and fell back into it, his legs hanging over the side of the bed as he stared at the ceiling for a moment.

"I just… had a bit of a family reunion. I don't remember if I mentioned my father being a Templar."

"I think so."

"Yeah, I guess I did. Well, he's here in Denerim. We met him between shopping and looking for Brother Genitivi's house. Had lunch, showed us around a bit. Barely even had any time to look in that one shop we were talking about."

"You don't seem excited to see your father again," Jowan pointed out, sitting on the other bed.

"Hmm… I should be, shouldn't I? But I don't know. I'm not sure how to feel. He sent me letters, for some reason they gave me those, but we weren't allowed visitors. I'd always wondered if he'd abandoned me when it took longer and longer for him to send. I mean… It wasn't his fault or anything, but how should I feel?"

"You're asking me to tell you how to feel?" Jowan considered the question for a moment though, when his response finally came, it was soft, hesitant, "My parents... hated me. They used to fight about me after I manifested. Finally wore my father out and I ended up on the doorstep of our local Chantry… I don't think I'd really want to ever see them again, and if I did well…" Jowan shrugged as he trailed off.

Kayden blinked and looked up from his spot on the other bed. "Really? You never mentioned that before…"

"It's always been hard to talk about," Jowan said softly.

Kayden shifted his position and pulled himself up, moving to sit next to Jowan. He wrapped an arm around the other man's shoulders, giving him a tight squeeze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

Jowan shifted a bit on the bed, turning to face Kayden for a moment to return the hug. "It's in the past. I try not to think about it much."

"Yeah..." Kayden muttered, unsure of what to say next. It was then that he heard a sound behind them. The door, he realized, pushing away from Jowan to sit near the end of the bed.

"Did I come at a bad time?" Kael asked, from his place in the doorway.

"No!" Kayden said, quickly moving back to his own bed then. "We were just talking. I was about to go out for a walk though."

Kael raised an eyebrow, but didn't question that line further. "I can go with you then. I wanted to follow-up on what I found."

"Um..." Jowan started, drawing their attention back to him then. "Would it be alright if I came too? I could use some air."

Kael stared at Jowan for a moment. Kayden wondered for a moment why Jowan would want to go with them, then stood back up and moved over to the other bed, pulling Jowan up by the arm and over toward Kael. He could always ask later. Or perhaps forget about it entirely. The matter probably wasn't incredibly important. "Introductions then. Dad, this is Jowan, one of my friends from the Tower. Conscripted now, but not fully a Warden yet. Jowan, this is my father."

"You know you don't need to drag me around, Kade. I'm perfectly capable of getting up on my own," Jowan protested, but still held out a hand for Kael to shake.

"Kael," the templar said simply.

"Nice to meet you," Jowan replied as Kayden turned to give him an apologetic look. He hoped they could continue talking later without someone interrupting them.

Kayden looked back to Kael then, "You don't mind if he comes, do you? He probably could use the… air." Kayden had wanted to say something different, which he was sure Jowan picked up on, considering the push to his arm that came afterwards.

The Templar nodded, face remaining straight now as he led them back out of the room and into the hall.

o ~ O ~ o

He had a headache. It was still too early in the day to really be at a bar, Kayden knew, even if he wasn't drinking. His head rested on the wooden surface before him, arms tucked under it.

Why had they come so early anyway? He wondered with a groan, turning his head to the side to watch Zevran for a moment. Flirting with a woman in such a familiar way, Kayden was certain they'd met before. Perhaps they'd even been lovers.

Another groan and he turned away again. The poster had pointed to this location, The Pearl. A brothel and bar. A place with a long, wooden bar that Kayden was now becoming intimately familiar with, and a place he never would have found himself in otherwise.

He'd learned from his father last night that the man left dead in the backroom was actually Weyland, Genitivi's steward. So the man they'd talked to was actually an imposter. If that was the case, he was sure Genitivi himself really must be in some sort of danger.

It was really urgent now that they get a move on, but there were still things in Denerim that kept them from leaving, yet Kayden was still considering going on his own. Probably wasn't a wise decision, however. Someone would likely scold him for it. Actually… he could imagine everyone in his group scolding him for doing such a thing. And so here he was, with a headache, sitting at a bar and definitely not jealous of the woman that currently held Zevran's attention. Not. At. All.

The bartender had been nice. Kept offering him a drink, even the woman running the place had come over a few times to ask him if he needed anything. The longer he spent at the bar though, the more he considered her offer.

Finally, he couldn't wait for Zevran any longer. Sanga was her name, Kayden remembered as he pushed himself out of his seat and walked over to her. He was getting impatient. "I'm actually here to meet someone. He's supposed to be in a back room."

The woman looked around nervously for a moment. "Oh, that room. I'll have someone show you the way," she said, gesturing for one of the bouncers to move to the side so he could make his way into the hall beyond the bar-room.

The hall was dimly lit and lined with many closed doors, each of which seemed to be occupied judging by the sounds of pleasure coming from beyond them. Kayden wrinkled his nose a bit at it, despite having considered taking Sanga up on the offer earlier. His Warden funds were probably a bit too low at this point to seriously consider it anyway.

Finally, his guide stopped at a door and pointed to it, not saying anything else before turning and moving back toward the bar. The room really was pretty much as far from the bar as it could be. If he wasn't already aware of this being a trap, he might have grown suspicious now.

Kayden took a deep breath. His father hadn't wanted him to come alone, but he couldn't wait any longer. He brought his hand up to the door and gave a quick, hard knock, one that echoed down the hallway, more than enough to announce his presence.

The voice that answered him was gruff, slow, carefully annunciating his words as if whoever was on the other side might not be able to understand otherwise. "What's the password," he asked.

Kayden rolled his eyes. "What is this, some sort of top-secret assassins' guild? Am I not being asked what life's greatest mystery is?" He wondered allowed.

Instead of saying some affronted response like 'you are not worthy!' the man only said, "Piss off." No appreciation of humor, that one.

Kayden could hear shuffling behind the door and then everything went silent. He frowned, planting his feet firmly in front of the door and finally knocking again a few minutes later. Louder this time.

"What's the password?" the same voice asked again. He sounded annoyed this time, though he didn't sound as annoyed as Kayden felt.

"The griffons will rise again," Kayden responded, his voice sounding bored, and just a bit pissed off. They were no fun anyway.

There was a click from the lock and the door flew open, revealing a small group within as the man who opened the door gestured for him to come in.

Something tugged at his senses then, brushing up beside him and off to the side. He looked around, but noticed nothing particularly out of the ordinary, but the sense was familiar enough for him to recognize.

He almost grinned as he greeted the armored woman on the other side of the room. An elven lass with light hair, Kayden didn't fail to notice the sword that he thought seemed too big for her. The group was already talking amongst themselves that they'd 'caught' another Grey Warden supporter.

"You idiots," she said, "That's not a supporter, that's a Grey Warden!"

The men around her looked shocked. He almost wanted to call all of them idiots as well, but his own words didn't come out exactly as intended. "Looks like you fucked up this time! Bagging a Grey Warden! I bet your employer would be ever so pleased."

"Of course not, we can get the bounty on your head now, it's pretty high you know," she stated, matter-of-factly.

"Oh really? And if I said I didn't kill the king?"

"Wouldn't matter to me, we're only here for the money anyway."

Kayden raised an eyebrow then. "Really now? And here I was considering letting you live. Well that's just too bad. Guess we can't all get what we want, huh?"

The door slammed shut behind him. A pathetic attempt to try to intimidate him. Last mistake they'd ever make. He cracked his knuckles then, making sure to draw it out as he looked over each of them. It would be over soon enough anyway.

As if to emphasize his point, they attacked before he could finish. The room was cramped, far too cramped for a battle, let alone a small skirmish. He skirted to the side, moving much more quickly than he could have in heavy armor, though still wishing he had brought it anyway. Kael had insisted it would draw too much attention to himself though. He had no weapon either, no noticeable one at least. Must have made him look like an easy target to the little group there.

He dodged the first blade easily enough, a large, two-handed weapon was slow enough anyway, but none of them expected ice to sprout at their feet, freezing one into place, while the other smashed his way out of his own little prison, pressing onward toward Kayden. He drew up an ice wall, blocking the next blade as he moved back away from them, and stepped to the side as he shaped his magic into a blade of his own.

This time he blocked with a sword made of ice, the chilled blade cracked and almost shattered on impact, but it more than served its purpose. There was a surprised gasp from the man as the ice plunged deeply into his side, cutting between his ribs. He dropped it then, moving back to reform another.

The man let out a surprised scream, one that was all but ignored by Kayden as he moved on to the next target, his new blade of ice ready to defend. The next attacker got him this time, throwing him back with a heavy blow from his shield. Kayden hit the wall behind him just as an arrow whizzed by his head. It was only then that he realized he'd gone into a fight without thinking about the odds being stacked against him. There were too many of them in such a small room, with a lot of room for error. Fatal errors.

The world spun around him when a gauntlet-clad fist hit him in the chin, knocking his head back against the wall again. His concentration dropped along with the icy blade he'd been holding. He wondered for a moment if their orders had been to bring him in alive, but the hope for that even faded as something sharp made its way into his side.

Kayden cried out, hands bawling into fists as he clawed at the man in front of him. Magic came again, without thought, the ice spread around him, freezing the man in place, still clutching the sword before he could pull it out.

Mouse tried to let out a warning then, but it went unheard as Kayden lashed out blindly, ice building up around them, covering all surfaces with a blanket of frost that continued to spread and then shoot out in spikes. It came from the ceiling, from the ground, from the walls. It impaled, shattered and spread more until only the elven lady was left standing in the middle of the room.

Kayden panted, watching her. Time seemed to be moving slowly as she made her way toward him. It seemed like an eternity between the two of them. She stopped just in front of him, raising her blade for a killing blow. She said something, but the words escaped him as she collapsed. A confused look appeared on his face as he watched Zevran pull a dagger from her back. He wasn't sure when he'd finally decided to start helping, but he wasn't going to argue now. Later maybe. No. Later definitely. A lot of arguing later.

His head was still swimming when he finally realized the fight was over. The entire room was a mess of bodies, ruined furniture and blood. The tab was going to be high.

"You, my friend, are not so subtle. You would make a terrible assassin."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment," Kayden replied, trying to catch his breath as he was finally able to pull the sword from his side. He screamed again as blood gushed out of it. Too much blood maybe, but he was too drained to really say for certain. He fumbled through his pack, groping for poultices.

Zevran grabbed his hand then. "Stop moving," He scolded, snatching Kayden's pack from him, amber eyes looking over the other disapprovingly as he tore the blood-stained shirt away from Kayden.

Kayden's eyes widened as he watched the other man, "What are you doing? I liked that shirt!"

"It was already torn. Stop moving." The assassin swatted Kayden's hands away as he examined the wound. "This is going to need stitches," he informed the mage, "and will probably scar. Too bad we don't have a healer to take care of this for you."

"You… know what you're doing?" Kayden asked, a little surprised really.

"I know some first aid, but not much beyond that I'm afraid. It's a good skill to pick up, perhaps you should learn as well, that is, if you wish to continue your plan of being a one-Warden army."

"I... huh?" Kayden didn't understand why Zevran was acting this way. What to say eluded him at this point as well as Zevran began tearing up what was left of the shirt and pressing pieces of cloth against Kayden's side to try to stop the blood flow. Kayden watched Zevran's hands then, only now really noticing the severity of the injury. He'd need stitches, Zevran had said. How bad did that mean it was?

"But who am I to object to the mighty Warden should he wish to run headlong into a trap without arms, armor or backup? Our fearless leader is invincible after all."

"Zevran..." Kayden started, just as the elf shushed him.

"Here, hold this," Zevran said, motioning with his head toward the cloth held against Kayden's side. Kayden obeyed... for now as Zevran pulled a red vial from a belt pouch. "Drink this," he instructed, uncorking it and holding it to Kayden's lips. After that, he moved to the other side of the room to a small wash bin that, through some miracle, seemed to be the only thing that hadn't been knocked over during their little skirmish.

Zevran dragged it back toward the bed, and helped Kayden back onto what remained of the torn sheets. At least the mattress seemed to be in one piece. Mostly.

It didn't take Zevran long to find what he needed and begin the process of stitching up Kayden's wound. The mage stared at the ground for a while, not saying a word, and feeling more than a little bit like a child waiting for a parent to come and scold him for something wrong he'd done. Fade... Zevran had already scolded him for it anyway.

"Zev?" Kayden started, his voice soft. "I... sensed you entering the room. Why didn't you help right away?"

Zevran didn't look up, focused as he was on finishing stitching up Kayden's side. "I was helping the entire fight. Did you not notice?"

"You were?"

Zevran's hand reached up, the back of his palm resting against Kayden's forehead. It moved again, under his chin, against his neck. "You feel a little warmer than usual," Zevran said, his voice sounding a little uncertain, considering how cold Kayden usually was. "Besides this, how are you feeling?"

"Drained. I have a bit of a headache still. I can't… reach my mana."

Zevran nodded, but didn't comment. When the stitches were in place, he bid Kayden sit up, and wrapped fresh bandages around the wound. "I'll be right back," he said, slipping out of the room.

Kayden stared at the door, feeling a bit lost now, and more than a little scared. Would Zevran come back? Even as he panicked inwardly, he tried his best not to move too much, not wanting to open the wound again. He couldn't help, however, reaching into his pack for a blue vial. Lyrium was in short supply for the group right now, but he figured if he was burned out it would help take the edge off at least. Or reconnect him to his mana. He wondered what was scarier; that, or how long it was taking Zevran to get back.

Kayden felt like Zevran had been gone for an eternity when the assassin finally did slip back through the door. He tried his best not to cling to the other man then as Zevran gently tried to lead him to another room. A clean one. Kayden didn't protest as Zevran helped him into the new bed, locking the door behind them.

Zevran sat in a nearby chair then, amber eyes focused on the door. He was silent now. Unnaturally so, in Kayden's opinion. Zevran always had something to say about... well just about everything.

"Zev... are you mad at me?" He finally asked.

Zevran didn't answer at first, continuing to stare at the door. It took a few minutes before he finally sighed, but didn't avert his eyes. "You are currently one of two surviving Grey Wardens in Ferelden, and yet you continue to take unnecessary risks."

Unsure how to respond, Kayden studied Zevran's profile then. The man wasn't doing much to reveal what he was thinking, and Kayden wondered if that might be another part of his Crow training. One of the last surviving Grey Wardens…

He looked away again, head turning to face the wall. Again, someone bringing that up. Kayden had Alistair, he knew, but the way everyone talked about it, it seemed like he was alone in this. His thoughts again wandered toward that spot again, feeling all of a sudden lonely in his burdens. It seemed like all that mattered was the Blight, and when it was over, he wouldn't matter anymore. He really would be alone then.

"I'm… sorry," he finally managed to say, not looking away from the wall.

"Warden, you do not realize just how lucky you are. I may have been here this time, and last time with the wolf, but I might not always be around. What if I'm not there next time? What will you do then?"

Kayden turned to look back at Zevran then. Was he worried? The title had been formal, but the rest? What if I'm not there next time?

"You're right," Kayden finally said, his voice soft, barely above a whisper.

"Just... Take a moment to think about things before rushing in, yes?"

"I'm..." Kayden stopped then, realizing he was about to apologize. Again. He sighed a bit, sinking back against the pillow. "I will."

The silence stretched on for a time after that, Zevran returning his attention to the door. Kayden wondered for a while what was so intriguing about the door that it was able to hold the elven assassin's eyes.

"Zev?" Kayden called, trying to sit up in the bed. "Stop that," Zevran said, moving closer to push Kayden back down. "No moving, I'd be rather put off if I had to stitch you back up again."

"I... sorry," Kayden apologized again, laying back down again. He let his hand brush against Zevran's for a moment. "You just seemed... I don't know, are you waiting for something?"

"I sent for your father."

"You... what? Why would you do that?" Kayden yelled, trying to pull himself back up again, only for Zevran to push him back down.

"Kayden," Zevran warned, though his voice held no real edge to it. "I'll need help removing you from the Pearl once you've had a chance to recover some. Or am I to carry you out on my own?"

"I was expecting to walk," Kayden admitted.

Zevran shook his head. "Always so reckless. You need rest, but you can't stay at the Pearl. You shouldn't be moving, and so I sent for your father. I gave him my word, you know. I said, 'No harm will come to our dear Warden while I am around.' Can you imagine what he will say to me?"

Zevran sat at the edge of the bed now, his back to Kayden as he watched the room for a moment. Kayden reached out, placing a hand on Zevran's arm.

"Thank you… for being there… for staying with me now."

Zevran snickered. "Well at least you are polite. Most of the time."

He took Kayden's hand then, and set it down on the bed beside the mage as he shifted in his seat turning so they were facing one another. "One of my first jobs, I was sent to kill the twentieth cousin of a lesser merchant prince. He had supposedly been stealing money from his distant cousin. He wasn't from Antiva City, but he just so happened to be in the neighborhood as it were. Rented out a small villa just outside one of the market districts.

"He was a young man, only a little older than I was at the time. Dark hair, striking eyes, but I remember his hands the most. They were slim with the long, graceful fingers of an experienced artist, and soft from never having seen a bit of hard labor in his life." His amber gaze rested on Kayden's hands, "A little like yours, though not as pale nor as cold. I found myself imagining him using his hands on me."

Kayden rolled his eyes. "And you slept with him?"

"I would have liked to, but not this time," Zevran said, chuckling a bit, "He'd been tipped off somehow that his cousin had opened a contract on him. I was completely unaware, though I was prepared to blend in, having previously made arrangements to enter the villa under the guise of a shy servant. I'd even looked the part; covering up my tattoos with makeup, acquiring the right clothing. I may have walked into a trap, but they weren't sure where the attack was coming from.

"I'd spent a week or so getting to know the staff, integrating as best as I could. The young man was growing paranoid as the end of the second week was closing in. He started interrogating some of the newer servants, had guards posted at most of the doors, watching the cooks. I think even a few of the servants and guards ended up dead."

"And you were expecting to be interrogated as well?" Kayden asked.

"I was called to be," Zevran started, "I panicked at first, taking a knife from the kitchen and concealing it in my boot. Nothing actually happened during the interrogation, but later I realized I was running out of time. I found myself becoming rather intimate with the interior of a wardrobe in his private room. It was dark and when he finally came into the room, I must have been in there for a few hours at least. He was alone, or so I thought.

"I waited a bit for him to sleep and crept from the wardrobe and moved toward the bed. I had expected things to end quickly, seeing as it was just the two of us and he was sleeping. I hadn't noticed that one of his guards was waiting out on the balcony. The guard moved silently enough that I hadn't noticed him approaching behind me."

"And?"

"I killed them both of course. I had planned on it being a quick, clean kill. I would have preferred it to be so, but the guard was well trained and I ended up with a concussion, a broken tibia, and I needed stitches; not to mention my boots were ruined. I have a lot of bad luck when it comes to boots."

"Your boots?" Kayden asked.

"If you've never had a fine pair of Antivan leather boots, you wouldn't understand. They were nice boots," Zevran smiled, his gaze looking off into the distance.

Kayden almost laughed. "And what about your current pair? Not so nice?"

"Fereldan. Durable, comfortable, but not nearly as stylish," Zevran said, giving Kayden a teasing grin, "but not hard to be fond of, in the Fereldan way of things."

Kayden let out a soft laugh, lifting his hand again to caress Zevran's cheek. "Are you saying I'm not stylish? Regardless, I'm a Marcher, born in Kirkwall."

Kayden could see the glimmer of surprise in Zevran's eyes at Kayden's words, but the elf recovered quickly, "Ah, but you are a mage, so you must have lived in the Tower most of your life, yes?"

"I did," Kayden replied, his hand sinking into Zevran's hair then and resting at the base of the other man's skull. He pulled Zevran closer then. There were only a few inches separating them when there was a loud knock at the door.

Kayden let out an exasperated sigh, releasing Zevran then so he could get the door. The elven assassin surprised him then, however, closing the distance between their lips. The kiss didn't last very long, but Kayden could feel Zevran's tongue sliding between his lips. He was warm, and tasted a bit of plum and cinnamon. His eyes opened slowly as Zevran pulled away, watching the other man move toward the door.

He could hear Kael's voice after Zevran opened the door, but Kayden wasn't really paying attention to the things beings said.

You really want to melt the ice?