She then went to work. She took her time to scout the building, she observed, the locks were changed randomly twice a day. She picked the lock and went inside to have a look around. Alexis found that it was empty of inhabitants, she also noted there was a lot of places for archers to hide on the second story. She searched the area and was surprised to find a hidden entrance behind the large fireplace in the room that was off to the side of the main clearing. This would be handy, she could pick the locks just after they are changed and slip in through the concealed entrance. She theorized that the target would most definitely be using this entrance and that the guards and locks were a distraction. She would still need to open the door for her employer though, seeing as they most likely had no idea this little extra entrance existed.

Seeing as she would be in combat she decided to take her pack that slotted on the back of her belt. Alexis carried an assortment of potions and poultices. She didn't want a repeat of what happened with the slavers. As successful as she was, that was no excuse for being reckless. Seeing as her employer was rather scant about the information he would provide her with. One can never be too prepared. Fully armed, armored and ready she headed to the safe house. She got there early. Using the opportunity twilight gave her for visibility she assessed the situation. She observed there were only a few patrolling guards. Soon as she was satisfied that the locks had been changed she picked the lock and slipped into the building through the secret entrance. She then layed in waiting behind a crate on the top story till the time came. She noticed one of Giorgio's men arriving and settling near her crate. Judging by the fact that it was just 2 of them Giorgio did not expect there to be much resistance. While they waited for Giorgio to spring the trap she moved to get a better position. She took out her bow and got an arrow ready. She coated it with a particularly potent poison. And settled it between her finger tips and the bowstring. She leaned over the crate just enough to get a good view of the clearing below them. She nodded to herself that she was ready and looked over to the other archer. He had his arrow drawn back, ready to release it.

She trailed her eyes back to the clearing. She heard a thud that sounded like the trap door she had emerged from. She then drew her arrow back in her bow. A group of people entered the clearing, talking in hushed tones. As they appeared in her field of vision.

She almost released the arrow in her bow when she saw who their target was. The blood drained from her face. It was Zevran. He was walking into a trap. A trap she had helped set up...Shit! She had too act fast. Just as she realized that her lover was about too be killed, Alexis heard Giorgio enter. She then acted. With one swift movement she turned her bow on the other archer, killing him. Unfortunately he released his arrow and it hit Zevran shallow in the shoulder. Time seemed to slow to a stop. The next few moments were crucial.

She drew Lyric and Aria, and vaulted over the crate. She threw herself off the edge of the second story and into the clearing. As she landed she sank her blades into Azzo, as he was trying to close the distance between him and Zevran. She rolled a few times with the dead man caught in her momentum. She sprang up and faced Giorgio in the middle of the clearing, separating them from Zevran and his guards.

Giorgio looked at Azzo and then anger crossed his face.

"What are you doing wench!? You are supposed to back us up, not them. Have you lost your mind!? He is toobe disposed of not to be protected!" She could feel the tension in the air, confusion on everyone's face and she could feel the hesitation at her back, even from Zevran who was armed and ready despite the arrow lodged in his shoulder.

She paced a few steps, reaching in her pack for a potion vial. Still maintaining her composure, she spoke to Giorgio.

"Ah Giorgio. Had I known who you meant to kill when you gave me this assignment, I would have told you back then where to go. But seeing as we are here, I might as well tell you now." She pulled the stopper out of the vial and downed it's contents. As the potion started to take effect she said in a thick Fereldan accent. Twirling her weapons.

"The only way you will claim this man's life, is over my cold, dead, corpse." Her disguise started to melt away, her eyes went deep violet, and her hair went white again. Her complexion faded to ivory. She glanced back at Zevran and smiled. She could see he was completely speechless at what just happened. She stood in a ready stance and beckoned Giorgio with her dagger to bring it. Without a moment longer she jumped into the fray. Using this as a sign to attack everyone else engaged one another.

Zevran and Alexis fought back too back. She passed him a poultice for the pain between fighting. They dodged, blocked and parried. Zevran took down 3 by himself, while Alexis engaged the enraged guild master. They were dueling with everything that they had. Alexis was faster, but Giorgio had power. Alexis wore him down, taking hits from the Crow, but avoiding any fatal blows. Mostly flesh wounds. Lyric's reach gave her an advantage. But even with this advantage he was a worthy opponent. Her motivation though, was bolstered by the fact that she had finally found Zev, he was injured and she was the only thing standing in between him and certain death. As long as it took, she would not succumb too exhaustion. She has faced far worse and survived, this man was nothing.

Zevran

"Promise me you won't follow me when I go." He had said too her all that time ago, before he set out on his mission.

"Promise me." He held her hands, she had the most suffering expression on her face he had ever seen. She said she understood why he needed to go, though she begged him not to leave her. It was the hardest thing he's ever had to do. He wiped a stray tear rolling down her cheek.

She looked up at him. Forcing herself to smile.

"Hurry back my love. Don't make me wait to long, because make no mistake. Once I am done with my business in Fereldan, I will come after you." He kissed her goodbye, not knowing when he would hear her sweet voice or see her beautiful face again. He left her there, trying to keep the Crows away from her. Everyday he missed her, thought of her, and wondered what she was doing and now she was standing in front of him. Once again, fighting for him, it didn't seem real.

The pain in his shoulder was excruciating, but it didn't matter, he just stood there in shock. All he could see was his warden, in all her glorious fury. Making such a dramatic entrance and such a show of affection for him. He watched her fighting the guild master, her movements practiced, familiar if not sharper. She wore the guild master down. Both their breathing was labored. But she was not showing any sign of slowing down, the fire in her eyes took his breath away. He knew it was only a matter of time. For what Evaine lacked in power, she made up for in stamina and endurance. Giorgio finally over extended to compensate for his lack of reach.

Alexis took advantage of the opening by sending him off balance with a blow to his kidneys, and then drove her dagger in an upwards angle through his throat, killing the man instantly.

By the time she had killed Giorgio everyone was ready to jump in and assist her. Zevran just shook his head, she had a steady pace, and anyone interfering now would just get in her way. He took in the sight of her, her skin tight armor was very flattering to her figure. It hugged and caressed all the right curves. Her hair was a lot longer than when he had last seen it. Her skin looked as soft and inviting as he remembered it. Shoulder be damned he couldn't wait to have her in his arms again.

Evaine

All the Crows were confused at the sudden change in her appearance, but she payed them little attention. She looked up too see Zevran slowly making his way to her, clutching his shoulder. She sheathed her weapons and approached him.

Zevran had a welcoming smile on his face. If it wasn't for the fact that she was still completely and utterly pissed at him, she would have melted under his smoldering gaze. She slowly reached him and as he went to speak, she slapped him across the face.

"Ouch" He said dazed. A confused expression crossed his lips.

"Zevran Aranai!...How...dare you...make me wait this long!" She then kissed him. Now understanding why she slapped him, returning it in earnest.

"Maestro, who is this?" She heard someone say behind her, he released her lips reluctantly and she turned to face them.

"Ah yes I believe introductions are in order. Everyone, I would like to introduce too you, Evaine Mahariel, The Hero of Fereldan." She grimaced when he said the last part.

"You know I hate that title" She complained. He grinned at her and kissed her cheek.

"I was aiming for impact, my dear, can you blame me for wanting to show you off a little?" She noticed Castelle and Varro among Zevran's guards and smiled at them. Varro had a sullen expression on his face. Castelle just patted him on the back.

"At least you aim high my friend" Varro snorted at his friend's half hearted comfort.

With the help of one of the other Crows, Evaine helped Zevran up, wincing at her own cuts.

"Let's leave this place, and get too safety." Zevran proclaimed. Even though she was in pain she didn't care, all she had wanted and sought was back in her arms. Wounded, but alive and she was so very grateful for that. They made it back too Zevran's place. He dismissed his guards, assuring them he would be fine.

Zevran immediately went too hold Evaine, she kissed him once and then pried herself away.

"Ah you are so cruel amora..." Zevran complained.

"Shoulder first my love" she said firmly, gently planting a kiss on his lips. She examined his shoulder. Thankfully the tip passed straight through. She gave him a piece of leather too bite down on. She them snapped off the tip end. Zevran didn't make a sound. She checked to make sure he was still conscious. The only change she saw was his jaw tensed. She then continued, she moved back in front of him. Evaine took hold of the arrow and as swiftly as possible yanked the arrow out of his shoulder. Even with all his training Zevran grunted in pain. His skin was ashen and sweat beaded on his forehead. She gave him a Potent poultice for the pain and pulled out her needle and thread and stitched the wound shut. She cleaned and bandaged the wound. The poultice had helped bring some color back too his face and he relaxed a bit.

"You know mi amora, I never knew you had a flare for drama" She looked at him curiously.

"Oh, what do you mean?" Tying off the bandage and then washing her hands.

"Your entrance too the safe house." She looked at her lover.

"I didn't plan on it, when I saw you. I knew I had to move fast. I threw subtlety to the wind and improvised. I wasn't going to let them have you, It took me nearly 7 months to find you." He placed a hand on her face cradling her cheek.

"You had me in awe, you were amazing." She cocked her eyebrow and gave him a playful smile.

"Don't you mean ridiculously awesome?" Using her best Zevran impersonation. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in the crook of her neck. He pulled her into his lap, the pain vanished from the poultice he had taken.

"When your disguise melted into you original appearance and you stood there in front of Giorgio, angry and defiant. When I heard your voice...I have no words too describe it. I...missed you." He squeezed her gently, lovingly breathing in her scent. He took a clean damp cloth and started to wipe the dried blood from her cuts. She turned slightly to partially face him, she couldn't contain how happy she was. They were both exhausted and wounded. All she wanted to do was ravish him, kiss him and make up for the last two and a half years of missed contact with him, but she was having a hard time staying awake.

"I heard you stepped down from Warden Commander." She sighed

"Mmhmm" He kissed her shoulder.

"Your duty is done then?" She opened her eyes and her expression soured slightly.

"Had I really worried about my duty I would have sailed to Antiva with you despite your protests. I'd have left that place to it's own devices. Fereldan be damned, they would have every drop of my blood, sweat and tears and still demanded more...No, I washed my hands of that place as soon as I was content that it wouldn't come crashing down in a screaming heap as soon as I left." She turned her head to face him.

"I did tell you that I intended on coming to find you...Had it only been Ameranthine, I would have been here a year earlier, but there were...complications, Blight related." She touched his face.

"Had I discovered that there was another Blight approaching, it still wouldn't have kept me from your side. I abandoned everything in Fereldan to come find you. Not knowing if you still lived, but I still needed too know..."

Zevran didn't say anything for a while, he then kissed her neck and layed his forehead on the side of her face.

"I am sorry my sweet, for all the hurt and loneliness I have caused you. I don't have words to express just how sorry I truly am." She looked at him, a tear escaping the corner of her eye and running down her cheek.

"Then don't use words. I came here, not knowing what I would find. But I am still yours...if you will still have me."

He brushed the tear aside and traced the shell of her delicate ear. Smiling when he saw the earring he gave her dangling from her ear lobe. She sighed softly. He missed her sounds, her warmth and her softness.

"I would have no one else." She then turned around, and embraced him, kissing him sweetly. She was relieved that things didn't turn out for the worst. If she had found him dead or...with another. Well those thoughts were better left un-adressed. The relief was plain on her face when she broke their kiss. She couldn't hide the emotion that was flooding forward, and overwhelming her. It was raw and so very evident to whispered soothing, reassuring words in her ear.

"You are my heart's desire, my love. You need not fear me leaving your side. Like I said when we faced the Archdemon, I would storm the gates of the Black City by your side and even though we have been apart, I left my heart here with you. I love you." His words soothed her aching heart like warm silk. The way he stroked her hair and face was comforting. She curled into his chest, careful not too bump his shoulder. She sighed contently.

"I love you too Zev, more than anything." They both drifted off to sleep. Too tired to do anything else. And just like magic, Evaine didn't dream of anything. Blissful dreamless sleep.