I could feel movement under me and it felt like everything around me was shifting when I started to wake up. The cloth covered my eyes, but it didn't stop me from realizing there was something else on my head.
I groaned as I could still feel the pain.
"She's waking up." I heard the rumbling voice of Sten...from beneath me? In front of me?
I frowned as the movement came to a stop and I reached to try and push the band off my eyes.
A gloved hand covered mine.
"It's alright, we're back in the open part of the Roads." I heard Alistair say.
Zevran let me push the band back as I could feel Sten slowly passing me to him.
I'd been on his back, being carried like a kid.
"Mi amor, how are you feeling?" Zev asked.
"Pain." I said.
"I see." Wynne moved to kneel beside me and I held my hand up to her.
"Physically you've done all you can. For some reason, it just has a slower time on me. I'll keep feeling the pain as it catches up to me over the next couple days." I said as Zev settled me on the ground against his leg.
I watched as he reached into the small pouch at his hip.
"Maybe this will help." He said as he held up a vial.
"What is it?" I frowned as he pried the tight cork off.
"Painkiller. I use it when I can't get to a healer right away." He said. "So...not often usually."
I nodded as he held it up to my lips.
He pulled it back after a small sip. "That should help for a bit. It'll take a moment to kick in."
"You really do keep some weird things." Alistair said.
"What happened?" I asked.
"After you passed out?" Alistair frowned for a moment. "I offered to break the Anvil for Caridin and Leliana talked him into making the crown for the new king as a way of showing that we did find a Paragon. Then I destroyed it for him and he jumped in lava to kill himself so that he'd take all his knowledge with him." Alistair said.
"And we've been on our way back to Orzammar since then. We're almost back now." Leliana said.
I nodded and reached up to pull the stupid crown off my head. "And you all thought it was funny to put this on me?"
"Well, yeah." Alistair shrugged.
"Be funnier on you." I snorted a laugh as I pictured it.
"Ha, no." Alistair gave me a dry look.
Zevran sighed as I could feel the stuff dulling the pain.
I started to push upright using his shoulder and slowly worked to my feet.
I stumbled as it caused the pain to shoot up again, but not nearly as bad as it had been.
"I think we should just keep carrying you." Morrigan said as Wynne got to her feet as well.
"Probably." Zevran said. "It'd be faster anyway."
He turned to put his back to me and I leaned against him.
"Why not Sten?" Alistair asked.
"He's been carrying her." Leliana said. "Give him a break."
Sten just shrugged as I looked over Zevran's shoulder at him. "I do not mind. She does not weigh much."
"Well, I do." Zevran said.
"Ah, let the Elf carry her. Keeps him from annoying the rest of you doesn't it?" Oghren said from ahead of the group.
"Fair enough." Alistair said.
I sighed as I wrapped my arms over Zev's shoulders and leaned my head against his neck.
This was actually a lot more comfortable than Sten's back. But it could have just been because I liked this better.
XX
As we came back into Orzammar, I sighed against Zev's neck. I really didn't like tunnels or underground or tight spaces with no openings.
It was late enough that we just headed straight for our rooms.
Oghren headed off back towards his house saying he'd meet us tomorrow before we went to the Assembly.
Alistair pushed the main door open to the rooms we were using and everyone just followed in after him.
I let Zev set me in the nearest chair as I looked at my group.
"Well guys, we did good today." I said.
"I hope so." Alistair said.
"Think we'll get food tonight?" Leliana asked.
"Depends on if anyone reported that we were back." I shrugged. "Too tired to care."
"You spent half the time sleeping." Alistair frowned at me.
"And? Still tired." I raised a brow at him.
"You sure you're not sick?" Leliana asked me.
I tilted my head. "Haven't felt sick. And it's not my fault I was useless down here. I did what I could."
"Ah, let's just go to bed and hope breakfast comes in the morning." Zevran said.
Sten nodded. "It will not kill us to go to bed hungry once."
I pushed to my feet and started to slowly make my way towards the hall, and the door to the bedroom Zevran and I were sharing.
My leg hurt, but it was tolerable.
I didn't have to worry about it too much, because I barely made it a handful of steps before Zev was right there anyway.
He was the epitome of overprotective and I honestly liked it.
I hadn't enjoyed being boxed up by my mother and never allowed to actually fight by my father, and Fergus hadn't helped me fight that either. But Zev would. He'd protect me, but he'd let me go out and get in trouble too.
As I pushed the door open, I heard Leliana speak. "How sweet."
I shook my head at her words as Zev helped me over to the bed.
"How's the pain?" He asked.
"Like I broke my leg and drank a bottle of alcohol to numb it." I said as I reached for the lacing on my pants.
He nodded. "Then it's about how it should be. I'm sorry Healing Magic doesn't work on you."
"Me too. Like I told Morrigan, I wish it were something more useful, like no Magic or all was dulled, or something along those lines."
"Until then, you have everything I have to offer." He said as I shifted to push my pants off. "Let me know if you need more."
I shook my head as I looked up at him. "No. Just you."
He laughed before leaning down to kiss me. "That you can always have."
I jolted when there was a knock on the door.
"Hey, Leliana and I are going to go see if we can't get some food. Want anything?" I heard Alistair through the door.
"Sure." Zevran called back to him.
I sighed as I looked up at Zev. "I can't decide if I'm more hungry or tired at this point."
"I just don't like to sleep on an empty stomach." He grinned. "And we haven't eaten all day."
I nodded.
XX
I sighed as I stretched coming awake.
I traced my fingers over the warm skin under my hand and moved to push up as I opened my eyes.
Zevran was already awake and looked up at me.
"How long have you been awake?" I asked.
"Few minutes now." He said as I sat up fully.
He had lit the lamp, which is probably what woke me.
I rubbed over my eyes as I felt Zev sitting up next to me and then groaned as he leaned to kiss the side of my neck.
"You know, I think I like being woken up with you here." I said as he used one arm behind me to pull himself back just enough to kiss my shoulder.
"Mmm, as do I mi amor." He said as his right hand came to hold mine. He kissed my neck again and I sighed.
"We do have to get up." I didn't want to as he pulled me back against him.
He turned me so that I was sideways across his lap before leaning down and kissing me.
I reached up to brush my fingers over the tattoo on his face before he pulled away and looked down at me.
"You are beautiful." I murmured as I traced my hand across the tattoo on his shoulder.
"As long as you keep believing that." He said.
I smiled before laughing and he grinned. "You can't steal my line." I said as I pushed to sit up and slide from bed.
In front of him, I was starting to not be shy about my body.
But only with him.
The look he gave me as I moved to collect my clothes had me blushing a little.
Especially when I could tell he enjoyed watching me.
Maybe the eight year difference in our age didn't matter as much as I was led to believe. Or maybe it was just because he was the older one.
If we'd been reversed, would more people be upset by it when this Blight was over and we could settle down?
No. I sighed as I pulled the laces tight on each thing I was pulling on.
More likely the upper society I belonged to would be upset by him being an Elf.
But I didn't care. Everyone I loved and whose opinions I might have cared about were dead now. All I had left was Zevran and Alistair and Baron and the others.
"Elissa?" I heard the worry as Zev reached out to me.
"Hmm?" I looked up at him.
"What is the matter amor?" He cupped my face in his hands and he brushed his thumbs over my cheeks and I realized I was crying again.
How out of it was I? "Nothing." I said. I reached up to cover his hands with mine. "I don't know why I'm doing this." I shook my head slightly in his hold.
"You make me worry mi amor." He leaned down to kiss me.
"I'm sorry." I moved to pull my shirt on and Zev dropped his hands.
"You can always talk to me Elissa. Anything to have you not crying."
"I'm sorry Zev, I really don't notice it. I was just thinking about stupid society problems we'd face and I realized that while I don't care what others think about us, everyone who I would have liked to meet you are...gone." I looked down again as he pulled his shirt on.
I was startled when he reached to make me look up again. "I wish I could change that mi amor. But I am glad that you don't care what your peers think of us." He said before kissing me. "Though, if it makes you feel better, anyone who doesn't agree I can always persuade them to see that I'm good enough."
"You are good enough Zev." I smiled as he set his forehead against mine. "Good enough for me. I'm just being stupid thinking about stupid things."
Zev laughed softly. "You are a woman, and therefore more judged than others. It is nice to know you'll always have thought out responses to every argument other nobles have against what we have between us."
I sighed. "But is 'I don't care' really a valid argument?" I watched as he started to pull on his armor.
I reached for my own gear and strapped it on as he did.
"Depends. But you're very smart Elissa. I'm sure no matter what others throw at you, you can plan quickly for it." He laughed. "Planning has never been my strong suit. Now, killing...killing and love-making. Killing and love-making and witty retorts. Those I am better at." He smiled at me.
I laughed. "Is that so?" I raised a brow at him. "I'd say you're pretty good at a lot of things you do."
He started to speak before the knock sounded on the door.
"Oi, come on you two, Assembly will be gathering soon." Alistair called through the door.
I shook my head. "Alright." I called back to him. I looked up at Zevran. "At least Alistair is alright with us finally." I sighed.
Zev shrugged. "Wouldn't have mattered to me, but for your sake, I am glad."
I watched him start to head for the door as I secured my sash.
Alistair was in the main room when we came in and I saw a collection of breakfast foods on the table.
Zev and I sat to eat quickly and I smiled as Alistair slid a mug of milk laden coffee in front of me.
XX
As we approached the chamber where the Assembly was being held, I could already hear the arguing.
I took a breath and held the crown Caridin had made in my hands.
"No offense Oghren, but I'm probably going to have to be pretty rude in here to get them to listen to me." I said to the Dwarf standing with us.
He shrugged. "Eh, no skin off my back. I've already decided that I want to travel with you all. I've got nothing left here and I think I'll help you all with your Blight business."
"Well, that's appreciated. Thank you." I said.
He huffed and motioned me to get on with it.
I gripped the crown in my hands before stepping towards the doors.
I had Sten and Zevran at my back and Alistair just a little off to the side on my left and Leliana to my right, with both our Mages somewhat hidden behind the men behind me.
The doors were pulled open and I walked out towards the steps leading down into the open center.
The arguing was even louder in here between the two factions of Dwarven leadership.
I couldn't afford to hesitate as I put on my most authoritative air and tried to look like I belonged in the political scene.
"Will you both shut up." I shouted at the two arguing leaders.
The room went quiet.
Yeah, rude.
But effective.
"My name is Elissa Cousland. I'm a Grey Warden of Ferelden and I've been traveling for over a month in the hopes of gathering a force to fight the Blight with. I came down here to ask for any able bodied Dwarf to be lent to our cause, not to get involved with your affairs." I said. "But seeing as Orzammar has no King, I have to fix that before I have someone to ask."
I looked at Harrowmont as he went to speak, giving him that same silencing glare I'd given Branka. Now that I had experience and maybe a little more confidence, it was starting to get effective. My mother would be proud.
"I was asked to go into the Deep Roads and find Paragon Branka. I found an insane woman lost to madness. She is gone now. But I found something else. I found Paragon Caridin, who listened to the issue as described and gave his verdict on the matter."
"And how do we know that is true?" It was surprisingly Prince Bhelen who raised the question.
I held up the crown. "Because he made this for his choice of King before destroying his forge and vowing to never get involved again. No one will ever find him, nor the Anvil of the Void again."
This time the talk that went around the room was merely them talking between each other.
"You can choose to believe her or not, but I was there too." Oghren stepped forward. "Branka was mad and tried to kill us. Caridin killed himself after destroying the Anvil to keep more like her from going mad over it. This right here is the last thing Caridin made."
"Who did he choose?" Was the question that rose up over the question of why Oghren was even in the Assembly hall. I gather he wasn't well liked by the upper crust of his society either.
"Caridin lived in a time of strict rules and dedication to the past. He lived every day since then wishing he could have changed it." Leliana said. "As he forged this crown, he put in his hope that the future for Dwarves could change."
"He chose Prince Bhelen as the new King of Orzammar." I said, holding it up in his direction.
Steward Bandelor came towards me, holding out his hands for the crown and I hesitated before setting it in his hands. I hid my hesitation as nothing more than a shifting of my position. No one saw it.
"It has been decided." The Steward said.
I turned to leave, not caring about the results. I'd meet the new ruler later.
Besides, Prince Bhelen had more supporters in that room than Harrowmont. And he was better with a sword by the way I'd heard people talking around town.
As the doors closed, I could hear the fighting picking up again.
But this time I knew it wouldn't end in a deadlock. And it might even end with bloodshed.
"Well, that was somewhat well done." Alistair said.
"Yeah..." I sighed. "I hate doing that shit."
"I can imagine." Oghren said as he kept up with us.
I nodded and looked up as I stopped and turned around. "Alright, is there anything we might need gear or provision wise that Bodahn won't have gotten?" I looked at Morrigan. "You don't have business down here, do you?" She shook her head and I turned to face the others again. "In that case, if we aren't missing anything?" Leliana shook her head as Sten did. "Then, let us head for the throne room to meet the new King and formally request assistance."
I almost turned before a thought hit me. "You think they've got any really old maps that might have a more accurate location on Haven than Genitivi's notes?" I asked the group.
"I can see if there is anything." Leliana said.
Zevran nodded. "I will go as well. Two pairs of trained eyes are better than one."
I nodded at them. "Go on then, we'll meet you at the statue hall afterward." I said.
Zev took a second to squeeze my hand before leaving with Leliana.
I took the rest of the group towards our destination.
XX
King Bhelen was a lot more agreeable than when we'd brought it up before with him and gladly assigned men for as soon as we sent the word to him.
I didn't even question whether the whole 'surface' thing would be a problem. That was on his end.
I thanked him for his honoring the Treaty and he acted as if it was his pleasure to offer troops.
As we started towards the statue room, I could hear little fights breaking out along our route. Nothing the Guards didn't put down quick enough.
When we entered the entrance room of Orzammar, I found Leliana and Zev already there, laughing over what looked like a hand drawn copy of a map.
They looked up as we came near and I looked down at where they were sitting on the steps.
"You found it?"
Zev nodded as he stood. "Of course mi amor. You set two of the best on this and so it was done quite quickly." He held out the map and I looked at it. This was much more in detail than the note Genitivi had made on it.
"Did you steal this?" I asked him.
"No, he didn't actually." Leliana sounded impressed. "You won't believe it Elissa. He drew that."
I looked again at the map. "Really? So quickly?" I looked up at Zev as Alistair looked down at the map in my hand.
I let him take it from me and he held it so the others could see it.
"His skills are really good." Leliana said.
"Yeah, he drew it." Alistair said. I turned as he held up to page again, this time showing me the back.
It was a perfect likeness of me drawn on the back.
I could only stare at it.
He'd drawn me with a laughing smile and I looked pretty in his drawing. I looked back up at Zevran as I took hold of the page myself again.
"You did this?" I asked.
"Do you not like it?" Zev sounded almost worried.
I shook my head as I held it close. "It's beautiful." I said. "No one has ever drawn me before."
"A shame, because you're very lovely." Zev said with a smile.
"Can you do me?" Leliana asked.
"Provide the paper and ink, and I'll do my best." He said with a shrug.
She nodded and I started to fold up the map as Alistair pulled his own map out. "One more look Elissa." He said.
I held it out for him and he used a smudge of soot from a nearby torch to mark Haven's location on his map. "Good?" I asked.
"Yeah, thanks." I nodded and folded up the page carefully
I would take care of it later, but this was the best I could do now.
We headed for the doors.
XX
I saw Bodahn and Sandal waiting for us near the bottom of the pass and we took a couple minutes to get situated with them again while Oghren familiarized himself with being outside.
"We'll be doing quite a bit of walking, so let us know if you need a break." I said to him.
I estimated, by where on the map Haven was, that it might take three or four days to get there going our normal pace. Probably more like four though.
"I'll be fine." Oghren shook his head.
I started to lead us down the pass again and we took it fairly easy until we got to the main road again.