Here is another chapter. Thank you again for your nice review, Arialla. Zevran's dialogues are the base frame for my stories. I also write a lot of own ideas and characters. But this is Zevran's past, so it's important for me that everything still leads to the person the Warden meets in DA:O.

II.7 Clouded Apollo

Parvulis*; 9:25

"Ouch!" Zevran rubbed his left shoulder, his face contorted with pain. "I've already seen a few dwarf merchants in the Waterfront, but I would never have guessed dwarves could fight that good."

Rinna laughed heartily. "What did you think at the sight of their axes and armor? That they invite you to a tea party?"

The young elf shrugged his unharmed shoulder. "You never know. Rough on the outside, seducible core..."

The elven woman snorted loudly and shook her head. "You're impossible Zev, I've never met someone like you."

Zevran gave his comrade a mischievous glance. "Oh, was that a compliment? I like to hear compliments from beautiful women who are so incredibly strong and tough as well."

The two assassins were some leagues south of the city at a trading post. They had successfully completed an unusual mission: to apprehend lyrium smugglers on behalf of the chantry. They usually had their own fighters, but apparently this particular troupe of dwarf fighters was too strong for their templars. So they gave the task to the Crows. It was a struggle after Rinna's taste: Difficult, long, arduous - a challenge. She had been glad that Zevran had joined her mission, in addition to Taliesen and the three rangers of their team. She had never experienced her capo in an open battle before. He had acted much more skilled than she had thought; and she was sure a large part of his whining about his injured shoulder was acted.

"I understand this correctly," Rinna stood in front of the younger elf, as if she would want to hold a speech "The legendary Zevran Arainai who had defeated merchant princes and mages in a duel, whines, when he gets beaten by a simple dwarf shield?" Mockery sparkled brightly in her eyes.

"Aaah, what should I do? I am a weak man. Look at me - I would never willingly fight an open battle. Not without your help, anyway. Look, I cannot move my arm anymore. Without you, I would be completely lost. You protect me on our way home, no? "

Rinna wondered how anyone could sigh heartbreakingly and smile seductively at the same time. Finally she stood up; purposely supporting her weight on Zevran's left shoulder. "Forget it, wimp. If you really want to return to the city already, run after Taliesen. She pushed her chin in the direction of the four figures that moved away to the north with rapid steps. "I'll stay here and enjoy the day." With that, she ran across the lawn and left the elf sitting by the roadside. He smiled and rubbed his arm while shaking his head.

"I want to ask you something, Zevran ..."

Of course, the young elf had followed her. They had spent the afternoon with inconsequential conversations, playful duels and collecting herbs. The hours had flown by. Now, as they sat on a hill, which released a wide view over the landscape and the Rialto Bay in the east, the red golden sun hung already low over the horizon behind them. "Why do you take such jobs … I mean ... like the wife of this silk merchant? That's easy, everyone could do it; and you don't get a lot of coins for it, either."

"Might be it was easy to kill her, Rinna. But that was not the reason. Especially with this woman ... I knew her."

Rinna looked puzzled. "You knew her and overtook the contract killing... Why? Did you hate her?"

Zevran bit his lower lip and looked over to the distant water. "Rinna, you know as good as I do... If the Crows take a contract, it will be accomplished. There is no escape. Everyone else would just have shot a bolt through her throat, poisoned her breakfast or whatever... That's what I wanted to prevent. For me, it was important… you know… that her last hours were happy. She should have a beautiful death. "

Rinna ice-bright eyes were resting on the elf. Did he really believe that? Did he really think he had done something 'good'? "Such a thing like a 'beautiful death' does not exist, Zevran."

She waited if the young elf wanted to reply something, but he did not look like that. Zevran had stretched out on the lawn; his head placed on his right forearm. He chewed on a blade of grass. Since he had taken off his leather vest and wore only a sleeveless shirt, one could see that the skin on his left shoulder had turned black and blue.

"You know, Zevran, I think we're fine. Compared to most other elves, I mean. We have a roof over our heads, comfortable beds, money, enough to eat ... We can spend an afternoon in the open countryside. Days even if we wanted to." She described a wide arc with her arms over the landscape. "I enjoy these little liberties, Zevran. But I never forget who we are."

She began to sort the herbs she had collected during the afternoon into three distinct bundles. She hummed, finally began to sing softly. She had a clear, firm voice, quite deep for a woman.

Look at the bad sign
down on my hand
follow the red line
right to the brand

Pneuma's lost sister
winter's cold gust
wafting dark glister
turning to dust

Rearguard of hollow
open the gate
Clouded Apollo
guidance to fade

Zevran had listened to her with a smile. "Ah, I must be dreaming…" he purred, as she had finished her song; and then tied the small plants bundles with some quick moves of her slender, brown hands in order to tuck them in her belt pouch. "…a charming evening, a beautiful elven lady singing a love song for me…"

"Not a love song!" Rinna replied. Her voice sounded angry. She sighed deeply; then continued in a softer, neutral tone. "The Clouded Apollo is a butterfly that lives in the Dales. This is the area my mother comes from. You see him rarely, but if, it is during this time of year - over the last warm days before the rains start. The locals think he is a herald of death - a dark angel who leads the dead to the Fade."

"So it is a kind of... symbol of Falon Din?"

Rinna looked at the young elf in surprise: "You know the gods of the Dalish?"

Zevran laughed. "Not really. I was told that my mother was a Dalish. But all I know about my people fits on a thumb nail. I lived with one of their clans for a few weeks. That's where I had heard of this Falon Din, the god of fate and death. The crow... should be connected to him somehow as well. "

Rinna moved closer to him, "You lived with the Dalish? When? How did that happen? Was it part of a mission?"

Zevran chuckled. How curious she was... "Aaaah, that's a long story, my dear Rinna." He took advantage of her propinquity to whisper in her ear: "Perfect topic for a pillow talk, no?"

Rinna jumped up and rolled her eyes: "Why can you never make a serious conversation?"

Zevran opened his mouth, but she did not wait for his answer. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she turned around. "Are you coming? I want to be back in the city before the gates close."

Zevran looked after the young woman, as her wiry body moved - fast, powerful with long, springy step. Quite different to Ginera's graceful elegance. Rinna was a truly fascinating woman.

Parvulis / Kingsway – 9th month in the Thedas calendar