Dragon Age

The Rose of Highever

A/N: Happy new year to everyone. One of my new year resolutions is to finish this story. Even if there's only one of you left reading it, I'll still finish it. During the break I wrote the last two chapters, and was pretty happy with the first draft. If everything goes according to the plan, there should be fifty chapters total, which makes this chapter the middle point.

This was written long age because of my love for Zevran. I was about to throw away this chapter and skip to the next one, but I thought perhaps we should start the year with a lighter tone. Even shows like Lost have its pointless episodes, why not this fic? So here is it.

Zevran's first line is a homage to Jarlaxle from the Forgotten Realms, one of my absolute favorite characters. The book Zevran mentioned was canon, from Human Noble origin. I didn't make that up. Miss Alistair? He'll be back full time next chapter.

Chapter Twenty Five: The Birds and the Bees and the Blades

The path to Orzammar was treacherous and deceivingly further than it appeared on the map. The weather was getting colder as they headed north along Lake Calenhad. But neither the weather nor the road condition would stop the Wardens from pursuing the last treaty. Against all odds, the two young Wardens had gathered support from the Circle of Magi, the dalish elves, and Arl Eamon. With additional assistance from the dwarven warriors, they might just have a fighting chance to end the Blight once and for all.

The group had already set camp for the day, yet there was still an hour or so of sunlight left. Even though what she wanted to do most in this cold weather was to snuggle up to a thick blanket inside her tent with a hot cup of tea, Samantha chose not to waste any time.

In a small clearing near the camp ground, two slender figures danced gracefully to the sound of metal clinking as their blades met. Both clad in leather armors, both with golden hair fanned out as they spun around to dodge the other's weapons. But one of them, as always, had the upper hand; for one was the teacher, the other was his student.

"Faster! Faster, I say!" Zevran swung one of his daggers furiously at Samantha, pushing her back on her heels.

Samantha deflected each swing with her own blade, forced to quicken her speed to keep up with the elf's. Blades clinked; metal rang. Again. And again. And again. Each strike sent a small vibration from the blade of her sword down to her arm. They had been sparring for almost an hour, her arms were getting sore. Yet, her teacher showed no sign of fatigue. If any, Zevran seemed to have nicely warmed up for some real actions.

"Don't just look at my dagger," Zevran reminded her as he attacked even faster. "It won't tell you where I'll strike next."

She shifted her focus from his spinning dagger to his amber eyes and found them briefly glanced at her torso. It wasn't a moment too soon, for the very next second, the elf's second dagger drove straight into her stomach. But Samantha had seen where his eyes landed. She brought her dagger up immediately and deflected Zevran's just in time.

"Good," said Zevran with a grin. He stepped back and retracted both his daggers. "Next time, there won't be any warnings."

"I'll keep that in mind." Samantha flashed him a grateful smile and wiped her forehead with the back of her head, catching her breath from the latest training. The air was cold enough for her to watch her own breath as it puffed out of her mouth.

"You still remember the spinning attack I showed you, yes?"

"Whirlwind, right?"

"Yes, that's just a name. It won't help you if you only know its name. What is important is that you need to practice your steps. Your feet have to be as fast as your blades in this case. You know how to dance, do you not?"

Samantha was surprised by the sudden question, but she answered honestly, "Yes, I took some lessons."

"Ah, I thought so. It's not unlike dancing, the more you practice, the better you are with your footwork. I'll show you one more time. Now, come at me." He beckoned with a cocky smile.

She nodded then charged, but just when she reached striking distance, Zevran started to spin fast as he twirled both daggers in his hands, leaving no opening for her to strike. Just when he turned away from her and exposed his back, he would whip back rapidly, his daggers danced inches from her body. Had he wished her harm, he would have easily extended his blades a bit closer to her and cut her with multiple slashes. Samantha knew the attack could only go on for so long before one became dizzy from the spinning, yet the short amount of time was enough to effectively clear all the surrounding enemies.

Zevran came to a halt and motioned her with a tilt of his chin. "Now you try."

Samantha recalled the previous lesson and gave it a try. Her steps were clumsy and slow comparing to her mentor's. When she came to a halt, she shook her head in disappointment. Apparently, her mentor agreed. "You need more practice. And a sparring partner."

"Aren't you mine?" Samantha asked without thinking, still feeling a bit queasy from the spin.

The assassin laughed at her poor choice of words. "I could be yours if you wished." His arched an eyebrow suggestively. "But I don't imagine Alistair would be particularly pleased with that arrangement. You two are still together, yes? As of last night, at least?"

Samantha blinked hard, not quite certain if she'd heard him right. "Pardon?"

"I overheard your exertions with Alistair. It's sill ongoing, yes?"

Her face turned bright red as she was rendered speechless by sheer embarrassment.

"I assume so. I have no intention of stepping into another man's territory, unless both of you are willing. But I don't suppose he's the type to share, judging from how touchy he was when all I did was trying to give him some good advice on how to pleasure you-"

"You... what?" Samantha didn't think her face could get even hotter.

Zevran shrugged casually as if he was chatting about the weather. "I was concerned about his well-being. Last night it did seem as if thing just got going when all grew quiet. He is too young to have this sort of problem. So I offered help."

Samantha shook her head in disbelief. She almost hesitated to ask, but curiosity took over as she sheathed her weapons awkwardly. "...And?"

"Hmph, that fellow doesn't know what he needs. He just plugged his fingers in his ears and walked away."

"So that's why he came to me with his face all red, and when I asked him about it, he absolutely refused to say anything..."

"Oh well, his lost. And yours, I suppose. My condolences, my dear." The smile on Zervan face was one with a hint of sympathy, not mockery.

"He's... fine. We're fine."

Zevran laughed in amusement. "Truly? Well, you can't compare when that's nothing to compare to, no? So indulge my curiosity, my dear woman, who started it?"

Samantha chose her words carefully. "Are you asking what I think you are asking?"

"Perhaps. Who initiated your first... entanglement? He'd probably be too nervous to even start it. You did, didn't you?"

"I most certainly did not!"

"Aha! I didn't know that chantry boy had it in him."

Somehow, Samantha felt the need to explain Alistair's behavior. "He was schooled in the chantry. That particular topic might be... awkward for him to talk about, more so than for the rest of us."

"Ha! You would think chantry houses all the prudes. But you're wrong. Some of the most risque books were written by chantry brothers and sisters. Such as "The Art of Passionate Love" by Brother Capria."

"Is there really such a book?"

"Why, of course. Banned and prohibited. But it only makes the book even more sought after. As the saying goes: forbidden fruits are always the sweetest."

"The book was written by a priest? And it teaches about..."

"Sex? Yes. It's a form of art, and can easily be taught. Just like learning how wield your blades, you need a good sparring partner, and practice is the key. Instead of learning where to stab your target to make your strike most deadly, you learn where to kiss or to touch to bring the most pleasure to your partner. As with fighting, everyone has their weakness. Or in the case of love making, their weakness is where their most sensitive part of their body is. All you need is to find it and exploit it. And they are yours."

Samantha oddly did not feel uncomfortable about the subject the way he approached it. Zevran spoke as if sex and battle were the two sides of the same coin. Perhaps, to him, they were. Now, she was truly curious. "The 'weakness'..."

Zevran nodded. "Everyone has it. Men and women. You and I. For some, it's on their neck; some, behind their ears. Everyone is a bit different. Explore everywhere with your fingers and your lips. Sometimes they don't even know if you ask them, until you hit the spot, and... You'll know from the noise they make or the way their bodies react when you hit the right spot." A mischievous grin appeared on his handsome face.

"The Crows taught you all these?"

"Ha! Well, some of it, yes. It's the art of seduction they taught us to get us closer to our targets. One is often most vulnerable when one is naked, no? But the rest of what I know, I learned from my experience. Just like fighting, there is only so much I can teach you. I can show you the way to handle your blades, but you have to actually get into battles and refine your skills through real fights."

"... Are you suggesting you are going to teach me the art of... seduction?"

The assassin let out a roaring laughter. "But you are already learning, aren't you, my dear Samantha? It's a useful skill, to be sure, one that benefits not just yourself but your partners. I can teach you the art of seduction anytime anywhere. Perhaps later by the campfire? We should invite Leliana to share her experience." Amber eyes twinkled in delight. "That should be fun. But enough about that for now. Come, let's dance some more before the sun goes down."

Samantha couldn't agree more as she unsheathed her weapons and readied for another round of practice.

Unbeknown to Alistair, he had become the real benefactor of today's lesson.