Thank you Dani. 777 for your input and words of encouragement. This next chapter may punch you in the heart. I also hope everyone else reading this is enjoying the good with the bad. You know what they say things get worst before they get better.
~Zevran has spent the last 2 weeks on the road.~
~Zevran
Rain pounds on my head and shoulders. I am chilled to the bone. My cloak is soaked and weighing me down. I climb over a hillside. I slip in the mud Falling forward on a large rock. Pain shoots up my elbow, to my shoulder, and into my spine. I feel my arm, one of the bones may be fractured. I tear the bottom of my cloak off to make a sling. Ignoring the pain I pick myself up. I trip in the mud again but I maintain my composure. I press on keeping my injured arm close to my chest.
Just one more hill, just one more hill. I remind myself of what is at stake. What is waiting for me. The fractured arm is worth my prize. My plan has to work. It worked before, it can work again. I claw at the grass with my free arm. Getting over the last hill, I see the outline of Denerim buildings. First things first. Find a healer!
~Outside a castle window~
The window, 10 stories up, opens easily. The sun is in full sunrise. I close the window quietly behind me. I creep down a hall seeking my bounty. I find the chamber of the royal family. After 20 minutes of searching through dressers and armoirs, I start to get angry. I should probably find Leliana and ask her. But I don't want to alert King dumass of my presence. I continue to rifle through baskets. "You know you could ask me. I may not know what you want, I may not have what you need. But I will give you anything for information." I stand up slowly.
We both laugh as I turn to a welcoming smile. Leliana rocks forward several times. She fianlly gives up and sighs. Instead I lean in and hug her. I take a seat next to her. I laugh even harder when she starts to knit. I recieve a deserved slap. "Is this going to be a regular thing? Slapping me everytime we meet?" I ask. "If you are going to mock me, then yes. Expect a slap for every visit. Now to the task at hand. What are you looking for? You are lucky my husband is away." She points out. "Your husband is lucky I didn't find him here. What information do you need?" I stare at her stuck. I didn't want to give anything if I would not recieve anything. And I desperately need what I came for.
"What else Zevran? Josephine? How is she? Are you back together? Are you happy about the baby? Did you discuss names? Are you going to get married? When will you bring them here? Answer all of my questions and in order!" Such a bossy thing.
I think on her words. Even if she doesn't have it, I will give her this. "Okay give me a moment. I need to organize my answers. Mmmm, I choose to answer the first last." She nods in agreement. I take a deep breath. "We are back together. It took awhile but we sorted it out. She also slapped me, deservedly. I am over joyed about the baby. We decided on names. Consequesntly, names of loves we had to kill. Tamlen for a boy, Rinna for a girl. We did not get married per say. But we have been bonded in a Dalish ceremony. We are mated for life. She is wearing the ring I bought." I pause the next part is very hard for me. A tear breaks free. Leliana gasps. I hold up my hand to stop her from speaking.
"Soon after our ceremony she has fallen ill. At first we thought the morning sickness might have returned. But then she experienced cramping. We feared a miscarriage. Thankfully Wynne arrived to help the Keeper with Josephine. After quite a bit of talking, the solution was to put her in a deep slumber. She no longer feels pain and the baby is safe for now. Once the pain was gone, they found the issue. It's the taint Leliana. The Grey Warden taint! It's trying to get to the baby. They put a barrier around the baby to protect it. I didn't know what to do to save them. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing. It is my job to keep them safe. How can I protect them from her body?" I sob into leliana's arms.
She pulls out a handkerchief and wipes my tears. "I know what you are searching for. But Zevran, how do you know it will work? The taint is incurable. That's why Wardens die 30 years after the joining." She explains. "But I need to try. I need to see if I might be right or wrong. I need to try for her." Leliana tries desperately to get up again. I give her a hand this time. She moves to a cradle near the massive bed.
Then she waddles back to me and hands me a pouch. I kiss her cheek and rub her belly. She looks like she is about to pop. I head out the same way I came in.
Not so easy once the sun is up and the guards are doubled. But being such an expert, I make it out undetected. The rain seems to be staying away. The sun is bright and shining. Things may be looking up for us. "I'm coming Josephine. Just hang on." I whisper a prayer. I carry the pouch as fiercely as I can. I refuse to be robbed or lose it. My hope is that the ashes will work like they did for Eamon. If they can cure the taint, maybe I can have Josephine longer than 30 years. Fingers crossed!
I pass through a village trying not to draw attention. I stop at a tavern for a last meal and rest before getting home. I get a room and head upstairs. I get the door closed. I put my things on the bed. The pouch is shoved into the bottom of my bag. I wander over to the window and peer through the curtains. And everything went black.
I awoke to a splitting headache. I am tied to a chiar. I take in my surroundings. I am still in the room I rented. I test my bindings. I'm too weak to pull on them. My voice isn't getting out because I have been gagged. I look for my captor. More importantly I need to make sure my things aren't stolen. They are still on the bed. Thank God I am facing the bed. I smile, knowing the pouch is safe. I glance at the ropes. They have been thrown over a rafter and tied off around the leg of a nearby table. I don't know what she has palnned for me, but this doesn't look good. A door opens and closes behind me. "Ah good, you're awake. Now the fun can begin!" Out from the shadows a woman reveals herself.
"Hello Zevran. Did you miss your sweet Oline?" She purs at me.
~Leliana
Pacing back and forth isn't helping me sleep or my back. Josephine is on my mind. Zevran looked exhausted and scared. There is still hope in his eyes. I wish I could have gone with him. How long until I find out about Josie's health? I will pray to the Maker that they make it through this trying time. The baby must sense my stress. "He" is kicking up a storm. "Ugh he has me doing it too!" Alistair is 100% sure the baby is a boy. And of course he has started calling him Duncan. Now I am referring to the baby as a boy. Maybe you are a boy. "What do you think Ducan?" The baby kicks me in the ribs. "I take that as a yes." I smile at my enormous belly. "I told you so." Alistair hugs me from behind. I turn to kiss his handsome face. We exchange several kisses. Some for me, some for Duncan.
"Why are you up? You should be sleeping. The baby will come any day now." He rubs my back. Do I tell him about Josephine? As if reading my mind, "What has you so worried? The knots in your back say you are very stressed. Come on tell me, or I'll kiss it out of you." I bite my lip. He is quite relentless. "Okay but you must promise not to freak out. Or be dramatic!" Alistair frowns and promises. I explain everything to him. And naturally he starts to freak out.
Alistair resumes my pacing. "I owe it to them to help. Or at least know if it worked. Please Leliana, let me do this?" I think on what he has said. I wish for the same thing. I want the knowledge that everything turns out okay. "I will make a deal with you. If I have this baby by tomorow, you can go." Alistair looks defeated. Then a grin creeps up his cheeks.
"I accept your deal. Prepare to be a MOTHER!" He delcared as he stormed out.
~Zevran
Jokes on her for removing the gag. "Is that all you got? Ha ha haaa. I thought the crows had taught you better before I took over." Oline slices another cut into my abdomen. I show no fear. I show no pain. Blood leaks from the freshest cuts. It crusts around the older ones.
Oline circles me. Then she straddles my lap. Pressing her body against mine, she leans forward. "Why Zevran? We could've been so good together. I have amazing skills in the bedroom. I am sexier than some forest knife ear. You shouldn't have banished me from the guild. Or your bedroom! I followed you everywhere. I lost you for a couple days. But When you doubled back, I got lucky. That dull girl has nothing on me. Come on Zevran. Give us a chance." She whispers in my ear.
That gets a reaction out of me. I sneer at her, spitting in her face. She knows where my family is. They aren't safe. I was deciding on whether to kill her or not. But now I must kill her. Noone can know about Josephine. Oline jumps back off of me. "Oh Zevy? Pay attention!" She stabs me in the leg. The dagger sticks out from my leg. Blood wells up around it, spilling from the wound. I sigh, "That tickles." "Shit! Shit! Shit! Why do you have to piss me off?" She pulls rags from her satchel. She stops the bleeding and puts in some stitches. Oline starts cleaning me up. "Let's take a break. I'm hungry and I need my strength for round two. See you soon Zevran. " She closes the door behind her laughing.
I need sleep if I am going to escape. My body has started to heal. I just need to plan. I close my eyes willing myself to sleep. Thankfully it doesn't take long.
~Alistair
Breath in and out. "Come on love you can do this! You're doing great." I reassure Leliana. The following morning and many failed food and potion attempts, she went into labor. And all it took was sex! She screams as she pushes.
The woman is very strong. I may need a mage to fix my hand. I think I heard something crack! "Ahhhhhh! This is all your fault Alistair. I won't be doing this again. In fact keep your cock to yourself!" She hollars. I kiss her temple. I whisper words of encouragment. "A little more your majesty. You just need one more big push!" The midwife assures my wife. I lean forward to watch my son come into the world. Out pop his head and shoulders. Leliana holds open her arms and the baby is placed on her chest. This sweet, fragile bundle of joy is before me. The baby is covered in fluids but we still kiss his head. And of course it's a boy! Little Duncan practices using his lungs and screams.
He flails his tiny arms and wails some more. "He is strong. And as beautiful as his mother." I tell Leliana. The midwife cleans him up after she finishes with Leliana.
Fresh sheets are put on the bed. Everything is clean. Duncan is now feeding at my wife's breast. He has tufts of blond hair. His eyes are the same cerulean blue as his mother. After his feeding, "Do you want to hold him Daddy?" My hands start to sweat. I'm very nervous to hold such a fragile thing. She instructs me how to hold him. How to position his head. I am stiff at first. Duncan opens his sweet blue eyes. He gazes into my soul and something wraps around my heart. This unbreakable connection ties my heart to this tiny human. He yawns and closes his eyes. Duncan falls asleep in my arms. "I promise to protect you and always keep you safe. I love you with all my heart Duncan. You and your mother are my world." I gently kiss his forehead.
Leliana touches my arm. I turn to her while I sit next to her. She wipes my cheeks. I hadn't notice the tears falling on my cheeks. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I will never be able to thank you enough." I tell her. But as I gaze back at my son, I remember our deal. "Zevran needs to feel like this. He needs to experience these feelings. I met your challenge love. I hate to leave you two but I must. I owe them a debt." I give my son back to his mother. I run to pack my things. I alert my guard of the birth of my son. Of the importance of their safety. That should anything happen to a hair on either of their heads, I would unleash the fury of the heavens upon them.
I leave under the cover of darkness. I'm coming Zevran and Josephine.
~Zevran
Scortching pain shoots up my leg. My eyes snap open. The gag is bag over my mouth "Oh good I have your attention. You passed out for a moment." Oline smiled waving a firepoker that is glowing red. She reheats it in the flames, it glows bright orange. She saunters over to me. The torture continues.
Clearly my words keep pushing her over the edge. Her cool composure is weak and hanging on by a thread. I smile knowing I could shake her resolve.
It has been three days of her torture. She cuts, burns, and bruises me. Then fixes me just enough to keep me alive. Late last night she dragged me into standing position with the rafter suspending me. My boots just barely skim the floor. Which gives me an idea. Planning my escape proves difficult. I can hardly focus on anything other than masking my pain. Which angers her even more. She continues poking me. I smell burnt flesh. My stomach rolls due to the aromas and pain. I keep the bile down. "Are you ready to be a good boy? While you were passed out, I got a look at what your packing. I really like what I found! I'll heal you and take you down?" I seeth with anger. My body belongs to Josephine. I won't have Oline defiling it.
She puts the firepoker down and pulls the gag down. "What do you say Zevy? Wanna paly a new game?" She grabs my belt buckle and traces my nipple. She rips it from my waist causing my trousers to slightly lower. I think before I speak. I need to unravel her again. I need to push her further still. I smile wide for her. "You think you have anything I like? Your ass is flat. Your breasts barely fill a wine glass. If I had not heard about you menstarting, I would swear a little boy stood before me. Your shaped like a crate. Practically flat all around. I have heard about your sexual prowess. You're like a baby halla freshly born, trying to stand. Wobbly and unexperienced. No one desired you like you thought they did. You're pathetic at best. The only way you could get me going is if my WIFE was standing next to you. But I guarantee you I couldn't stay hard for long once you started touching me. Your cold clamy claws..."
Oline swings the firepoker and cracks me over the head. My head falls forward and I close my eyes. I fight the darkness trying to consume me. I just need her to believe I am unconscious. "Why Zevran, why?! I just want to be with you." I can hear searching her pack. The bleeding on my head isn't stopping from the pressure she tried to apply. "FUCK! I need to use a potion." Again she goes into her bag.
My forehead is shoved back and she holds my mouth open. I don't flex a muscle. She pours the potion down my throat. I can't help but cough and sputter. But my head falls forward again, eyes closed. "Ugh your lucky you are out. Or I would continue. Shit, control yourself Oline. I need to resupply." She runs from the room. I relax waiting for her to return.
An hour later she returns. "Oh shit he's still unconscious. Don't be dead." Her voice shakes as she checks my pulse. She sighs in relief. Oline splashes me with water. But I don't move. She shakes my entire body, still no movement. "Maybe I have some smelling salts? No more hitting him in the head. Maybe I should move him while he is out?" She says out loud. Her mind seems scattered. I peek from under my eyeleashes. Oline turns on her heel. After some searching, she pulls out a large amount of rope. She stands examining the length.
Feeling my strength return I get a good grip on my bindings and pull myself higher. "Rule one the Crows teach you. Never turn your back on your victim." I roar behind her. Oline drops the rope, I hear her yelp at my sudden intrusion on the silence. I lift my legs up and wrap them around her neck. I squeeze my thighs as hard as I can. Her screams are muffled. She is gasping for air, slowly suffocating. Her nails dig into my calves. Her teeth sink into my flesh. She breaks the skin but I still hold on. Her body starts to sag. I refuse to release her. I use the last of my strength to jerk her sideways. I hear a snap and she hits the floor. A bone presses oddly against her skin. Her neck is broken. I'm drained and bleeding from several places. I don't know how I will get out of this. But I can't try anything as I grow weaker.
My vision is fading. Bright light blinds me and is eclipsed. Just before I pass out, I see a figure move towards me.
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