Zevran was sitting next to his leader on a log, it was in the evening by a small fire. The dog was sleeping far off to the side
She still seemed to be trying to decide where to go. She had to tell Zathrian's clan about his death, give the head and heart to them. And then she had to find her camp of companions where they were. Of course she was reluctant about that.
Zevran was playing target practice with knives against a nearby tree. The woods were fall of threes. There was no target on the tree, probably a piece of bark. But he seemed to be aimless in throwing daggers against the trees. He found his leader's thoughtful silence to be somewhat annoying. When it was that she finally spoke after several hours of contemplating he was visually relieved.
"You know without use of my leg, I don't really have the uses that come with an archer." Mahariel spilled out her thoughts to him. This caused him to be most amused seeing as she never said a lot at once. He half smirked, his eyebrows raised as she spoke. "That is what I am. My only skill in fighting is running like a coward, standing back and shooting arrows. That is how my dog fell in my battle with the werewolves, that is how Zathrian and I fell. He was the one taking the damage and-"
"Hum. My dear why the sudden urge to speak so much?" Zevran was softly curious with his words.
"Sorry. Well then never mind. I suppose I should lock my thoughts away."
"No. No. I am just surprised, usually you are beautiful in your silence." He spoke. And then he clutched his chest and pretended to be wistful. "When you speak in a state of negative emotion, ah it tempts me."
"Hum." Her cheeks became hot slightly. Her eyes turned away when she got his meaning. "Yes well..." She wanted to change the subject.
"I don't see you as useless." He stated bluntly after a few moments of silence and seriously. "Far from it. I suppose though from a battle standpoint you could be useless.
'But then again there are so many different ways to kill a person, human or elf. Poison being one of my favorite ways."
"Yes." Her one word expressed her relief which showed in her eyes when she looked at him. "You told me about that some of your stories about your assassin life."
"Ah but we are talking about you aren't we? So you are saying what almost killed you, was a pack of werewolves. Who is this Zathrian again?"
"Zathrian... the Keeper of the Dalish clan I have yet to tell of his death."
"Oh that ugly fellow? With no well kept hair, and such a face!" Zevran expressed shallow disgust and distaste with the keeper.
"I don't really notice such things, of personal appearance."
"No I suppose you wouldn't."
"..." This confused Mahariel but she made no comment.
"I suppose you feel guilt then?" Zevran's brows furrowed in disapproval. "Of his death? Why feel guilt? Death happens, does it not?"
"I suppose. I should feel guilt, I should. The death of a brother. I feel more guilty about the fact I am alive, and it has little to do with him."
"You confuse me." Zevran wondered to why she felt guilt over not dying. "This is a bit dreary. Could we talk of something else?"
"I... alright." Mahariel was disappointed. It showed in her eyes. But she choose to pretend she was feeling nothing, her face turned deadpan.
"Now. You were saying you think you can't use your leg again? That's not entirely true. We could go back to the group, I am sure you could find them with those tracking skills of yours could you not?"
"Part of me doesn't want to find them. They abandoned me."
"Yes... but if you think about logically you could put Wynne to use to heal your leg."
"I don't know."
"Think about it this way." Zevran suggested.
His eyes and face, his body moving closer to her face. For a moment she moved backward but something drew her face toward his beautiful eyes. They both felt tempted to touch each other but did nothing. They shared a longing long glance but then he broke it by moving backward. "The Crows wish me dead. And as you said, with your leg being as was... and if they come and try to kill me..."
Mahariel's eyes drooped and she pondered for a moment of the logic of it, what he said. She still didn't want to return but then again. "Yes..." She sighed. "I suppose that's a good reason to return to them. I cannot protect you from the Crows being in the state I am."
The conversation seemed finished. So for a while Zevran went back to throwing daggers at random target on trees he imagined in his mind.
She looked up for a moment. "Zevran?" She addressed him. He had looked away but then he looked at her again, his eyebrows rose. He wondered about what she wanted. "Would you..." She paused. "Why are you with me then now? I am in no state to be a meat shield. And..."
"Yes... the Crows if were near they would be easily able to deal with you. Wouldn't they?"
"Yes... So then why did you save me? You said before that the Crows wouldn't be able to deal with a mighty Grey Warden. And they could easily get through me right now, then to you. I am in a useless state at the moment."
"Yes." Zevran paused. He frowned. She wondered about what he didn't want to explain. "Well, we would better get you healed then." His eyes turned away. It was her fingers that touched his face that drew his eyes near her again. He was still frowning.
"Why did you save me though?" She asked.
"Don't look into this too deeply Mahariel." He batted her fingers softly away before he said that. "I pledged my life to you yes? You saved me, I save you. It's nothing more than that. Right?"
Mahariel sighed but nodded glumly.
AN: Review please. Thank you for the six thousand hits and ten or so favs :D Even 'keep going' if you find yourself having a thought block, would be nice. Or even 'nice', would be nice. Or a random though. I like reviews.