Epilogue
"And you'll be alright until I can get to you?"
The fretting was adorable. And deserved.
"Si, mi amor." I said.
I watched as my beautiful Grey Warden turned back to face me.
"I'm just not sure about leaving him for so long." Elissa reached out towards me and I held the bundle in my arms out to her.
"We will be fine amor. He has his nurse and he has me. Baron will stay with him at all times. And if I even have to put him down, Alistair or Anora will be right here with him as well. Nothing will happen." I assured.
Even still, I did love to see Elissa holding our baby.
Ferrous slept soundly for such a small thing that sometimes it worried me.
Which is why Wynne had personally hand picked a young Elven Mage from her apprentices to act as the nursemaid and healer to us.
Evain was more than just a healer though. Due to Elissa's Taint, she couldn't feed her own baby without complicating Ferrous's system, so Evain took that role as well. She'd even cried when accepting it due to having recently lost her own infant in birth. The young Mage had sworn to care for Ferrous as if he was her own and I had taken her aside and given her a reason to fear ever crossing those words.
She knew I was a former Antivan Crow who would not hesitate to remove any and all threats to my family.
Ferrous made a discontented murmur as Elissa hesitated on handing him back to me.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." Elissa said as I leaned closer.
I kissed her as I took Ferrous from her. "I know amor. And I promise we'll both be safe and sound when you return to us."
Elissa snorted. "Well, he will. You...not so much. You are trouble Zev."
I smiled. "Si. But I will do my best to keep all my trouble to a minimum until Ferrous is older."
"Warden, we must leave." One of the recruits she'd collected in Denerim said from behind her in the entry.
Elissa's family home had been turned into a Warden post as well and was much more in use now.
Fergus had said that we were welcome to visit at any time to the Highever home. And we would, eventually.
"I know." Elissa said as she turned. "I'm coming."
I held Ferrous carefully and securely as I watched my wife leave the house with the new and better armor that Alistair had gotten made up for her. His own was also upgraded and now he had a shield that wouldn't break very easily.
I stood in the doorway of the house as Elissa started off with the couple recruits she'd gathered from Denerim and felt nervous myself about letting her go off without me.
Any normal situation, I'd have been at her side. Even now, I wanted to be right there, protecting her.
I'd promised to give her a few more normal teenage years, not let her go gallivanting off as Warden-Commander of Ferelden.
I finally made my way inside the house and headed for the kitchen as I arranged Ferrous in the little carrier I'd rigged up for him so that he was comfortable against my chest and I could have both hands free.
XX
Evain found me in the kitchen an hour or so later as I was sitting and watching cookies brown.
"When Enchanter Wynne told me you were an Antivan Crow, I'd have never imagined seeing you like this." Evain said. "I mean, I know you can be scary, but this was not what I'd have associated with that same man."
I shrugged as she came towards me.
"Honestly...ever since the Blight ended and Elissa and I have settled more here in Denerim with the King while Ferrous wasn't born...I've been lazy. I'd never wish for another battle like that, but at the same time..." I carefully extracted Ferrous from against me and handed him over.
"It's hard being someone who stays at home after living a life of adventure." Evain nodded. She started to head for the door again and I stood.
"Go on and sit here." I motioned at the chair I'd been in.
"You're sure?" She frowned.
"If you're worried for yourself, don't. My history is long and varied, but I have mi amor and she is all I'll need again." I said.
Evain nodded.
I leaned against the heavy table across from the oven to watch my baking even as I heard her adjust clothing to feed Ferrous.
Being that Ferrous had been a little early, he needed more feedings than other babies.
I was glad he'd been early now that there were issues with the new Warden holding Vigil's Keep. I'd only heard a little of it due to the fact that Elissa had asked me not to get involved and to stay with Ferrous.
Darkspawn that could talk and potentially even more dangerous ones.
It made me tense just thinking of her in that danger without Alistair or myself or even Leliana or Morrigan. Someone who could and would look out for her.
"You want to go with her, don't you?" Evain asked.
I scoffed. "Of course I do. Maldición, if anything happens to her that I could have prevented, I will never let her out of my sight again."
I shifted against the table to reach for the mug I'd left on the end.
I sighed after setting it back down. "You have not known us long and I don't mean offense, but I will probably never trust anyone. I may seem softer, but I am not so far removed from being a ruthless killer. Less than a year ago, I was still deeply in the employ of the Antivan Crows and had taken what should have been my last mission."
"Miss Elissa mentioned this. That you were paid to kill her and the King."
I snorted before taking a drink of the brandy Alistair had given me last week as a payment for losing so badly at Wicked Grace. "Paid would imply I ever saw money. My life as a Crow was never about being paid. I lived very humbly. Far more so than now. I had a pitiful allowance that went to trivial things. I was never around enough to bother with more and the Crows covered every other expense while I was within the city. I've made my own money along the way."
"So how did you get by?"
"I took a lot of jobs killing people I'd done research on. I didn't research the job of killing the Ferelden Grey Wardens. I just wanted to die at that point. So I volunteered for the mission. Alone." I held the mug in both hands and stared at the low liquid. "I came to Ferelden in the hopes of dying a noble death at the hands of Wardens. To be killed by such a renowned individual with skill and talent like theirs...it is the dream of any Antivan Crow. I mean, who wants to be killed in a gutter?"
"I see. But you obviously weren't victorious or killed." She said.
I sighed. "No. I staged an ambush, thinking there would be more than just mi amor and Alistair as Wardens. I failed to account for the lovely and talented Morrigan, nor for Sister Leliana, or even the Qunari Sten. In all, it should have been an easy fight. It would have been. Morrigan killed the annoying bitch I'd had to deal with as a Mage. Alistair and Sten took out the other meager rogues of the group I'd been assigned. But it was Elissa who had taken me on herself. Now that..." I smiled. "That was where I had truly felt alive. I figured, I didn't mind dying at the hands of a beautiful girl like her. I could have easily killed her, and most of her group then. Morrigan excluded of course. Few can counter Magic like the King can."
"She spared you?" Evain shifted again and I glanced to see her adjusting her robes and holding Ferrous to burp him.
I shook my head. "Not exactly. At the time, I had told her I would give her my life, whatever she wanted to do with it. She took it and told me I'd work for her instead. I didn't care. But I came to. I watched how she acted. She is kind and compassionate. Mi amor would save every life in the world if she could; it's just how she is. To her, saving my life was probably nothing more than the fact that she believes everyone deserves a chance. To me...it meant everything. I spent twenty years believing that I was expendable and replaceable."
I set the mug down and reached to wrap the towel around my hand before reaching into the oven and pulling out the iron pan I'd used to bake.
"Elissa doesn't believe that. She found me as a valued companion. She wanted to know everything about me, about Antiva, about being a Crow, everything. I understood she was just learning, but her enthusiasm was enchanting. And when she was down, it was hard to see her like that. So I cheered her up. As we traveled, we simply grew closer due to our attraction. I adore her body, and cherish her heart. I can only hope she feels the same, since she married me."
"And...no one fought that?" Evain asked.
I stared at the cookie batter in the pan as it made such a wonderful sight all browned.
"Plenty. Her brother for one." I sighed as I reached for a knife to cut the cookie into smaller pieces. "Fergus hated me on sight. Not because I was an Elf mind you, nor that I am Antivan. He simply hated the fact that I am who I am. I am flirty and dirty minded and as I believe Leliana said once "a man-whore" and I promise, those are her words."
"He hated you for that? But he seemed to like you the last time he was here last month."
I nodded as I carefully scraped a cookie from the pan and tossed it between my fingers to cool.
"It took him a little bit, and a round of sparring with Alistair and myself, but he came around to the idea of me being by her side. I put him on the ground so many times in just a few minutes that he stopped trying to get back up. It was a part of the deal. If he beat me, I could never marry Elissa, nor stay by her side at all. If I could make him stop trying to fight, then he'd give me his blessing." I smiled. "Alistair warned him not to challenge me, but Fergus thought he'd have the size and battle experience advantage. That was before we told him what I did for a living of course."
Evain laughed and I held the cooled cookie to her. "Dirty tactic." She smiled as she took the sweet. I went to get another.
"Mmm, maybe so, but effective. And it shows who I am. At any rate, Elissa and I were married by Alistair and Anora and have been happily living here in Denerim for the past few months since the Archdemon. Elissa writes to the Wardens who came from Orlais and have been overseeing the Keep, but this is the first time she'll have visited herself since she was first granted the Keep by Anora." I took a bite of the cookie and scrunched my nose. Too sweet. I looked at Evain. "What do you think?"
"Last recipe was better, but I like this one too."
"Hmm...too sweet for my tastes." I shrugged. "Maybe it'll grow on me." I set it down beside my mug and reached to straighten a clean towel out before scraping the others out onto it to cool separately.
"I have a meeting with my Templar overseer this afternoon if you think you'll be alright until this evening." She stood up.
I nodded and wiped my hands off on the loose tunic I'd been wearing since early this morning.
"That'll be fine. I will take Ferrous and visit the King. I expect I'll be back before you, but in the case that I'm not, you don't have to worry about dinner for me." I said as I took Ferrous from her.
Sometimes...it was nice to just relax like this.
Last week I'd just had a nice, lazy day here at the house with Elissa and Ferrous. I'd baked for mi amor and gotten to attend to her completely for the day.
I would never tell anyone, but those were the days I enjoyed the most.
I'd once feared that I'd never be able to settle down like Elissa needed, but now...I feared she wouldn't.
I would never change my mind about loving Ferrous, but maybe it hadn't been the best time to have him. Elissa was still young and liable to travel the world if left to do so. She dreamed of learning and discovering the world for herself as a Warden could.
Now she was relegated to Ferelden, being the Warden-Commander, but she still had that urge to learn.
I tugged on the wrap I'd had Ferrous tucked in earlier and got him situated again as Evain left the kitchen. I could hear it as the young woman gathered her things and headed out the front doors.
My son curled right up against me and made no fuss and I couldn't have been happier.
No, I would always love him. Maybe never quite as much as I loved his mother, but he was mine and I'd never change that.
I brushed my fingers over his soft little blond curls and admired the eyes that looked so much like my own amber.
His blond came from his mother, but his eyes and his darker skin came from me, no doubt about that. And he had the most adorable little, very slightly pointed ears. Nothing like mine, but enough that there was no doubt that he was Elf-Blooded. And no one would ever pick on him because he was just too sweet.
I'd do my best with Elissa to raise him like that too.
I collected up the cookies I'd made in a neat little box, tied my swords at each hip, and headed out the door myself, Baron on my heels once he realized I was actually leaving.
He was such a smart Mabari. I should have sent him with Elissa. But his injured foot still wasn't healed and I was beginning to think it was due less to a fight and more to succumbing to Taint. Not to mention he was on the older side for a Mabari who had actually been a war beast.
He kept at my side, barely limping, as we made our way towards the palace.
XX
I took a blind alley as a shortcut. Not my first time doing so either.
But never normally with Ferrous.
I was used to how dirty Denerim still was after all this time since the Archdemon. Places were cleaning up, but not nearly as much as Alistair would have hoped.
It was only thanks to that dirty cobblestone that I even heard the faint shuffle of feet behind me.
I turned, slipping one of my knives from my sleeve to my hand as I did and brought it up to meet one that had aimed for my back.
I recognized the look of a Crow recruit, after having been with them for so long.
He was just a kid.
I shoved him back and against the wall, taking hold of both hands in my left after dropping the box of cookies.
"The Master sends his greetings." The boy snapped.
I used the hand holding the knife to push back his hood and get a better look.
It wasn't the fact that my old Master was sending recruits after me, that was just formality. It was that he'd sent an Elven boy after me twice now.
"I'm fully aware Master Eoman would like to see me dead." I scowled.
I blocked his attempt to kick me by putting my knee against his leg. He actually winced and I figured it must have been bruised or injured already. No wonder he'd made noise.
"Why did you volunteer for this?" I asked him. "You know it means death to fail."
He actually looked at me with such sad eyes. "You could have been a legend. You were so good. You could have been a Master Zevran."
I scoffed as I freed a hand to begin stripping him of his weapons, tucking them in the side of the wrap Ferrous was tucked into.
He wouldn't be able to touch them with how I'd wrapped him in it.
"I never would have done it." I shook my head as I reached under his cloak and into his shirt to get the last two, taking care to retrieve the ones in his sleeves as well.
"How..." He gave me a shocked look as I took all of his weapons.
"You're the same as me. You also have two in your boots." I said as I let him go. He rubbed at his wrists.
"But...no one..." He couldn't seem to process it as I held my hand out to him, indicating I wanted the two I'd identified as well.
"I spent twenty years with the Crows boy. Besides, your clothes are too tight to conceal weapons effectively without the cloak. And it's too warm here to warrant a cloak."
"It's bloody cold and you know it." He scowled as he knelt to take the two from the top of his boots.
I closed my hands around them and slipped them up my sleeves to settle against mine.
A press of my arms against my sides had them stuck to the tacky side of the band wrapped around my forearm under my sleeve. A little unwieldy stuck next to my own, but I'd make do.
I just shrugged. "Guess one gets used to Ferelden somewhat quickly." I heard as Ferrous murmured and touched his little head.
The kid stared at me for a moment.
"You...and the Warden..."
"Yes. I attempted to kill her, instead, she loved me." I sighed.
"So that's why you never came back. And Taliesen?"
"Dead. He tried to kill mi amor."
"But he...was your partner." I turned to pick up my box of cookies again, hoping they weren't damaged inside. Not that it would matter to Alistair.
I frowned when I couldn't find them and heard the low, mumbled woof. Baron had the cord I'd secured the box with in his mouth.
"Is that...a Mabari?"
"Yes. This is Warden-Commander Elissa Cousland's Mabari."
"She left her Mabari and her kid with you?"
"My child and Baron has claimed me as well." I reached to pat his furry head and left the box with him. "Now, come along. I have to give these over to the King and then we'll be taking a trip back to Antiva."
"They'll kill me." The kid shook his head as he hurried to catch up. Hero worship could warp a person to do things they normally wouldn't. Like obey a former Crow.
I scoffed. "Not with me around. If you'd like to be free of them, you are welcome here." I said.
"I...I couldn't. They'd kill my little sister. She's all I have left and without the Crows, she'll die."
"Is she sick?" I asked.
"Yeah. She was attacked by Darkspawn several months ago and when they were all killed, I found my sister wounded. She's healed physically, but it...it made her sick."
"I see. We have healers you know." I said. "Grey Warden healers. Who would know how to treat her. Much better than the Crows."
"You'd do that?" He asked as we walked down the main street. I nodded at a couple of the local vendors who'd set up food stalls in the street near the palace in the hopes of attracting the King out for lunch every day.
It never failed. Alistair was a sucker for good food.
The kid caught my sleeve. "You'd save my sister?"
"I would ask them to do their best. If she's been Tainted, then there may be no hope at all. But with proper care, she could at least recover and become a Grey Warden."
"I don't want her to be a Warden. I want her to be safe."
I pulled my sleeve free and walked past the guards of the palace. The kid hesitated before following at my wave to keep up.
"I'm sorry, but once a person has contracted the Taint from Darkspawn, they'll either die or they'll have to join the Wardens to live.
Not true, but her life would be safer with the Wardens than the Crows.
"I...you'd do that though? Even though I just..."
I nodded. "Mi amor would, and so I will extend to you the same honors she would. She irritates me with her habit of doing so, but it is who she is."
I come towards the doors. "Ah, Master Arainai, I'm afraid the King just left if you are trying to find him." The guard to the left of the open doors said. I looked at him.
"Left? Where?"
"Um...Vigil's Keep I believe." He looked nervous.
I sighed. "I see. It is that serious then. And the Queen?"
"I would be happy to show you to her." He said.
I shook my head. "That is fine." I looked down at Baron. "Go ahead and take those to her and then be back home."
He huffed at me and started into the building. It wasn't unusual for the guards of the palace to see the Mabari with the red scarf running around the palace with us, so no one would think twice about having him there.
"You won't see the Queen?" The kid asked me as I started to lead him back out to the streets.
"No. Anora and I...don't always see eye to eye. I regret to say I've never quite forgiven her for getting Elissa thrown in Fort Drakon months ago while we had to deal with the Archdemon. Not to say we aren't civil, but I get along much better with the King."
The kid kept up with me as I made my way back towards the house.
"You...don't care that I know where you live?"
I shrugged. "The day you can sneak up on me and kill me, I'll consider myself having lost my skill."
He was quiet for a while until I saw the gates of the house. "I...I want to leave the Crows. Like you did. Will you take me on?" He actually dropped to his knees to put his head on the ground and I turned to look at him.
He was that serious.
I knelt to touch his shoulder. "All you had to do was ask. I'll always help others break free of the Crows. Let me guess. They gave you the double sided blade of a deal: join the Crows as payment for your sisters' healing, or they'd kill you both and say the Darkspawn did it?"
He looked up at me again. "How did you know?"
"They bought me from a whorehouse to pay off my mothers debt to them after her death when I was born. Believe me, it's how House Arainai does it." I said as I stood.
He looked relieved. Like I'd lifted a burden from him. He cared that much about his sister that he was willing to sell himself into the equivalent of slavery to keep her safe and healthy. I could relate.
I headed into the house ahead and heard him scramble to follow me. He wasn't being nearly as quiet now and it was good. Because he wasn't all that good as a quiet Crow.
I normally never took that blind alley with Ferrous after all.
"My name is Barrow." He said as he hurried to catch up. "I suppose you should know who you're taking on."
I nodded and pointed at a chair in the entry. "Sit, stay. I'll be right back. Then we have to pick up someone else and we'll head for the docks."
XX
I gathered clothes for myself, Ferrous, and then packed a bag with proper supplies for us both. Afterward, I went into Evain's room near ours and collected her a bag of clothing and some of the things I knew she normally used to keep her Magic at top form.
Never as good as Morrigan, but I'd noticed few Mages were naturally as good.
When I came back into the entry, I found Barrow staring at the picture of Elissa's family.
"That's your Warden, isn't she?" He pointed at her.
"Yes. That is Elissa Cousland and her parents and brother."
"And...you love her, don't you?" He asked.
I nodded. "Very much so."
"I'm sorry I tried to kill you." He shuffled his feet nervously.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"I...fourteen." He looked down.
I thought as much. It wasn't unusual for the Crows to send them out young. They expected him to die. They'd just been following a formality at trying to kill me still.
"I see. And your sister?" I adjusted the two bags on my shoulders to free up a hand to check that Ferrous was still sleeping.
"Eight."
"Your parents aren't alive?"
"No sir. They've been gone for three years now. It's been me and Niala since then."
"That's why you're so protective of her. I assume they were murdered." I led the way out the doors, not even bothering to lock the house up. Elissa and I kept nothing of real value other than Ferrous, though few would ever dare to break in with the Grey Warden banners on the house.
Barrow kept up with me. "Yeah. By shem from the noble part of Antiva City." He said.
"Young nobles I'd guess. Also not uncommon. Even here. Humans do have that arrogance to them that makes them think all Elves are trash." I shrugged.
"But...the guards around here seem to respect you." He frowned.
"Because they know I can kill them all without breaking a sweat and will if they piss me off or hurt my family. And because they respect the Hero of Ferelden enough to extend that courtesy to her husband." I started down the street towards the market, taking the route Evain used to meet with her Templar at the Chantry. He enjoyed the Sisters' cooking there and usually met with Evain over a meal and talked with her about her week in our employment. It was a weekly tradition while he was stationed here in Denerim.
"So that really is your child?" Barrow asked.
"Who's else would he be?" I shifted to angle Ferrous so he could see him better. "Those eyes are definitely mine. And that cute face."
He snorted. "Nah, I think that came from his mother."
I scoffed. "How rude. When you see my wife, you will realize that Ferrous does not match her beauty. No, I'm afraid my child is more like me than his mother in his looks."
"And that is not a bad thing Zevran." I heard the familiar voice of Leliana as we approached the Chantry.
"You're still here?" I asked her.
"Yes. I will be leaving out tomorrow at the behest of the most Divine."
"She wanted to see you, right?"
Leliana nodded as she walked with us to the doors of the Chantry. "You've picked up a new Crow assassin?"
Barrow gave her a wide eyed stare.
"Soon to be former, but si. I will be heading to Antiva to sort this all out and encourage them to stop sending people after me. At least until Ferrous is older." I nodded.
Leliana sighed as she reached to brush her fingers over Ferrous's hair. "And you're taking him with you?"
"Elissa went off this afternoon to Vigil's Keep and Alistair as well. I was still debating on leaving Ferrous simply with Evain here at the palace, but I would have wanted you to keep an eye on her. And if you are leaving..." I reached to open the doors.
"I'm sorry. Had I known, I would have stayed." Leliana sighed.
"It's not a big concern. It's just a formal visit. Evain and Ferrous will be safe. The Crows don't bother with the Alienage in Antiva. No one does." I said.
"I see. You'll leave them there?" She asked as I led the way to the small sectioned off area of the Chantry that served as a small gathering place.
I could see the brown hair of Evain over the railing.
"With old friends of mine, yes."
"Well then, good luck. And I'll send a bird to you and Elissa to keep you informed of my movements. And to check on my beautiful little boy here." Leliana mused up Ferrous's hair again and my baby boy made a soft giggling mumble. Already a heartbreaker. Made me proud.
I nodded. "I'll send you pictures."
Evain finally heard us and both she and the Templar looked up at us.
"Is something the matter Arainai?" He asked.
I sighed and moved to sit and explain to him.
XX
As I could see the Antiva City port, Barrow came up beside me on the ship.
"I know...it might be a little soon for you to trust me..." The kid started to speak and I pulled one of his knives free of my belt and handed it to him hilt first. He hesitated before taking it. "You trust me?"
"I trust no one but Elissa and the King of Ferelden. However, I know you'll need to keep on your guard here in the city. What I am trusting is that you will not use that knife to hurt my baby at the very least. I don't care if you try to kill me, but the next time you aim to hurt him, I will end you."
I watched him swallow with fear before nodding. "Yes sir."
I collected Evain and Ferrous to guide them to the Alienage here in Antiva City.
Finding my old friend in the Alienage wasn't all that hard, and I was somewhat surprised he'd married the daughter of the man who was in charge of the Alienage.
I knocked on the door of the house he lived in and waited.
It took a moment before the door opened.
The man looked confused for a few seconds before he smiled.
"Zev! Maker above, it is good to see you." Niall ushered me in. "I thought you were dead. I'd have figured the Crows would have run you to the grave by now."
I laughed as I shook my head. "Not just yet. I do have a favor to ask however."
"Oh please, anything for you. Is this your family?" He looked at Evain and Barrow and Ferrous being held.
I shook my head again. "Not entirely. Just the little baby is mine." I reached out for him and Evain let me take him.
"Who would have ever thought that you would have a child?" Niall came closer to look over her. I watched as he saw his little ears. "Zev...who is his mother?"
I smiled. "Warden-Commander and Hero of Ferelden, Elissa Cousland."
He staggered as he took a step back. "You..." He held his hand over his heart. "Maker..." He moved to sit in one of the chairs around the table in the main room. "You never did go small, did you?"
I grinned. "Mmm, you'd like her Niall. Elissa is a most beautiful young woman."
He sighed. "Younger than you I suppose."
"Si. But not by too much. Turned eighteen last month." I frowned as I moved to sit as Ferrous looked curious at me.
Evain had made sure he was fed shortly before we got off the boat, so I knew he wasn't hungry. Nor did he need to be changed. He was just always curious.
It took me a moment before I realized he was staring at my face.
"Ah, you are looking for the marks." I traced a finger over the side of his little face.
"You got rid of them?" Niall asked.
"No. Just covered them. Any that were visible. With my hair colored by the soot and the makeup on my face, there aren't many who could accurately identify me here."
Niall nodded. "You said you were wanting a favor?" He asked.
I nodded. "I was hoping you had a place for Evain and I to stay while I'm here on business."
"Not running from the Wardens are you?"
I snorted. "No. I suspect I'll never want to be rid of mi amor. She is a light to me."
"Good thing someone could put you on the straight path." Niall said. He looked thoughtful. "I haven't the room here as you can imagine, but there is a small two room house that we all just finished cleaning out just around the corner of the alley behind my house. It'll be small, but it should do fine for a bit."
I nodded. "It is appreciated."
"Alright then. I will show you to it."
XX
A week of staying in that tiny house would eventually drive me crazy.
It wasn't being around Evain for that long, nor even Barrow. And especially not Ferrous.
The problem to me was the size.
Barrow and I elected to sleep in the main room, to give Evain some better sense of security.
And the boy had shown a surprising willingness to assist me in my endeavor to assassinate Master Eoman.
But being in such a small house after having been exposed to Elissa's family home in Denerim, and having stayed in the palace itself for a while as the Wardens were setting up base in her home, it was too small.
I never expected to grow accustomed to Ferelden and being the lover of nobility so easily. I'd always assumed I'd settle down here or die as a Crow.
A fortune teller had once said I'd never die young, but I hadn't believed it at the time.
I crept in the shadows on the ninth day we were here in Antiva City and finally saw my chance to take out the Master I'd hated for years.
Barrow even held his breath as he watched me take the life of the man who'd caused us both a hell of a time.
When I let the body hit the ground, the kid finally gasped out for breath.
"It is done. Is your sister where she can be easily removed from their control?" I asked.
He nodded. "They don't normally keep that close of an eye on her, just check on her every so often."
I sighed. "Then let us retrieve her and go back to the house. If we are lucky, the bird has come with the response from Elissa and we can go home and settle things for a good long while."
"You are...amazing, you know that?" He asked as he followed me.
"I'm told." I shrugged.
"Still...thank you for doing all this for me." He said quietly.
I hesitated, waiting for him to spring some kind of trap as I turned to face him.
I wasn't prepared for him to rush me.
But he held no knife and I held mine back as I felt his arms come around me.
It took a second for me to register the boy was crying.
"I'm so sorry I lied to you." He said.
"About what?" I extracted myself from him and watched him reach up with his sleeves to wipe at his face.
"My parents." He caught his sob and I reached to pat his shoulder, unsure of what exactly to do. This wasn't at all the same as when Elissa cried. "I know I told you they died a couple years ago, but that isn't true. My parents were killed shortly after Niala was born. I was seven. I took her and ran away from the Shem who tried to kill us too. I tried to raise her and keep her safe and I stole money to do it. She wasn't sick from Darkspawn, she's sick because we lived in a gutter house. I tried to steal from Master Eoman one day and he caught me and threatened to kill my sister if I didn't work for him. For over a year now, he's had her being cared for in a whorehouse and said if I succeeded in killing you that he would make sure she was moved to a house of her own and I wouldn't have to worry about her being there."
I sighed. "Which whorehouse?" I asked calmly.
XX
The sight of it brought back memories.
I hesitated before pushing the door open.
Immediately I was assaulted by the scents of perfumes and oils and I pushed them aside as I saw old familiar sights from this same place twenty years ago.
The Matron was still the same old woman as before, only she hadn't held up as well as the building had.
I stepped towards the counter she sat on.
"Matron." I said.
"What'll it be? You're a pretty one. If you've the coin, I'm sure any of these girls would be more than happy to accompany you for the night." She rasped.
I shook my head. "I'm not here for that. Though I have to say, all the skills you taught me did come in handy over the years. You were right that I'd grow up to be pretty though."
Her eyes narrowed and it seemed to take a moment as the music from the girl playing in the corner slowed to a stop.
"Well I'll be. Maker's breath, Zevran!" She reached up and pinched my cheek. "You were always such a bad boy."
I eased her off. "Yes, well, I can promise I never got better." I smiled.
She cackled. "I suppose that Eoman was full of shit when he came back and said you were dead. Now, what does bring you back here boy?" She asked as several of the older women came over to us.
"Oh, Zevran." "You've grown up nicely." "Are you going to join us now?" "Have you been taking care of yourself?" "Has someone been taking good care of you?"
The raunchy women I'd grown up with had definitely not changed. And some had held their images nicely. I laughed. "I'm not here to stay, I try to take care of myself fine, and I do have someone very dear to me now who takes very good care of me." I said to them. I looked back at the Matron as she waved her fan violently at them. They giggled and the younger women around the room gave me sultry looks as they watched the older women flaunt around the room again. "I'm here for a young girl you've been given care of."
"Ah. That little Elf brat then. You know my rules on that."
I shook my head. "I'm not here for that Matron. I'm here to take her off your hands. Eoman is dead and you no longer have any reason to expect to take care of her." I said. I reached into my pocket and pulled out several gold coins. "I'm not sure what Eoman offered you to take care of her, but I will give you this for your troubles anyway. You took good care of me and I know you've taken care of her too."
She looked at the coins. "I never wanted the money. I regret letting him take you Zevran." She reached up and I saw what could have passed as a grandmotherly look on her face. "He made you cold and I know you were always such a warm little boy. You'd have made a wonderful addition here and I know your touch was missed."
I sighed as I leaned into her touch for a moment. "It is over and done with. I'm no longer a Crow and will never go back to being that way."
"But they shaped how you treat others. I see it in you."
I nodded. "I am a killer Matron. No doubt about that. They made me into a monster." I smiled. "But I have a new hand to guide me." I reached into my pocket to pull out the small metal tin I kept my coins in.
I flipped it open and showed her the image I'd drawn of Elissa holding Ferrous shortly after he was born. "Mi amor is a lovely woman and the Hero of Ferelden as well as the Warden-Commander."
"Then you did good for yourself." The older woman said proudly. I nodded and closed the tin again to tuck it away. "I'll have the girl brought down shortly. You can tell her brother that she is just fine and nothing happened to her."
I sighed. "Thank you Matron." I said.
XX
Barrow didn't once let go of his sister's hand as we walked back towards the Alienage.
There was absolutely no way anyone couldn't see that they were siblings either. They just looked so much alike. It was nice. And the Matron had even given me back most of my Sovereigns.
Which was good, because otherwise I'd be short for the trip home.
As we crossed the gateway into the main square of the Alienage, I saw a group gathering.
"Give back the child Shem."
"Leave us alone."
"Please, this is a mistake." I heard Evain cry out. "Don't hurt her."
I pushed through the group.
"Zevran." The mumbled acknowledgment started up as I broke into the center.
"Take care of the Shem." Someone snapped.
I stepped forward and pulled the woman holding the baby into my arms. "Mi amor, I have missed you so much."
She shoved me back and glared at me. "How dare you take Ferrous to Antiva without warning me first. Do you even know how worried I was when I got that letter? Oghren had to remind me that you aren't insane." She snapped. "Oghren! And you and I both know that him saying you're not insane is pretty much a contradictory statement."
I gave a hesitant laugh as Evain glared at me. "You didn't tell Lady Cousland that we were going to Antiva?"
"Now amor, it isn't that bad. I promise Ferrous was safe the entire time, just like I promised."
Elissa cradled Ferrous closely and I realized no one around understood most of what we were saying. Evain had already felt out of place not speaking Antivan in a place that spoke primarily Antivan. The Alienage wasn't known for having people who could speak anything but Antivan.
My stupid mind had just been hearing both languages for so long that I didn't even process them as separate anymore.
I looked at the group. "It's alright everyone, she is my wife. Ferrous is her baby, not Evain's."
That started to disperse the group. At least, those who trusted my word.
"Zevran, you are extremely lucky I love you so damn much or I'd have your hide for this." Elissa scowled at me before bringing Ferrous up to her cheek and nuzzling his tiny face.
It was so adorable that I had to remember to have her do it again when I had my book and inks.
I sighed. "Please come to the house we're staying in mi amor. Evain, can you get a meal going?"
The woman nodded and Elissa glared at me again before following Evain.
Barrow looked up at me. "I take it that is not going well?" He asked.
I sighed. "I fear I am going to be staying with the Mabari for a few days when we get home to Denerim."
He actually laughed as he dragged his sister to follow us.
"Poor Zevran." Niala mumbled.
I snorted. "Poor Baron. He won't enjoy that."
Elissa turned to glare at me again. "Poor Baron my ass. He can have your bed."
I looked up with a little more than a startled expression.
"What?" Elissa snapped. "You think I wasn't learning Antivan? Do you take me for a fool? What kind of wife would I be if I weren't learning the language of my husband?"
"Where?" I shook my head.
She hung her head. "Ignacio."
I clenched my fists and then had to take a deep breath. "Elissa...I have been dealing with assassination attempts from the Crows and you didn't think to tell me that you were in constant contact and close proximity to the handler of Crow business in Denerim?"
"Look, you can be angry if you want to, but he signed an agreement that 'Zevran' was dead to him and as far as he was concerned, I was married to a nameless Antivan craftsman who just happened to share the same name. And I agreed to ignore and not ask anything about Crow business." She held tight enough to Ferrous that our child began to cry. In fact, as I saw her shoulders shaking as Evain held the door for her, I watched as Elissa half buried her face in Ferrous's blanket.
I hurried forward and pulled her close again.
"I'm not angry at you mi amor. I'm just...Ignacio is not someone I would have trusted. I'm glad that he hasn't done anything involving you, I truly am. And I'll have words with him when we go home, strictly words and nothing more."
"But." Elissa sounded worried.
"But you should have just asked me amor. I would have taught you Antivan myself if you had just asked me." I sighed as I moved away from her to sit at on the thin bed I'd been sleeping on in the main room.
Ferrous started crying and I held out my hands for him.
Elissa hesitated to hand him over but did and I cradled Ferrous and quieted him as I always did. He never cried for me like that. It just showed how in tune to his mother he was.
I held Ferrous in one arm and reached to tug Elissa to sit beside me and held her close too.
"I just...wanted to surprise you next month." I frowned at her words.
"Next month?"
She nodded. "You forgot your own birthday?"
I shook my head. "How did you even know?"
"Leliana." She smiled. "You forget she is a Bard with a lot of connections."
I sighed. "Right. Well, I suppose the secret is out then."
"Miss Elissa, would you like some quick bread with our dinner?" Evain asked.
"Yes please." Elissa nodded and reached out to touch Ferrous's cheek. "Zev?"
"Mmm?" I watched as Ferrous reached to touch his mother's hand.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you."
I shook my head. "No. I should have given you more notice. I just didn't want to distract you from dealing with the Keep. How did that go anyway?" I asked.
She snorted. "Like shit. Killed too many Darkspawn, new ones, hoping we got them all, lost good men, a few good recruits failed the Joining, oh!" She looked up excited. "Oghren passed the Joining. He decided to stay on with us Wardens. And I helped him get back together with one of his old flames apparently."
"Someone liked him?" I raised a brow and Elissa smacked my chest.
"Play nice. You like Oghren." She said.
Yes, I did. He was an amusing Dwarf. "Do, continue."
She nodded and leaned against me again. "I almost lost both Vigil's Keep and Amaranthine. But I managed to save them both. Barely. There will need to be repairs to both the city and the Keep, but they both still stood when I got on the boat. Alistair is overseeing that before heading back to Denerim. Things should be quieter on the Darkspawn front for a while now that there is no longer an Archdemon or anything else riling them up." She said.
I nodded. "That's good then. You'll have some time to stay at home with Ferrous."
"Yes. And you can handle Crow dealings without worrying about Evain and I and Ferrous."
I sighed. "That'll be nice."
Elissa yawned and I looked at Evain. "Will it be long?"
"Maybe an hour."
I looked back down at Elissa. "Get some sleep mi amor. I promise we will be right here." I urged her to lay down on the bed I had been sleeping on and I tucked Ferrous in against her.
We'd head back for Denerim tomorrow.
